'i Tjy - r«i '*r*§ £ NEBkASKi? "«*'* '* ¦'¦'"">•¦ ¦: "¦ ¦*' ' *:¦*&: - L?.*. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY OF NE>BRfVSKf\ CONTAINING A History of the State of Nebraska Embracing an account of Early Explorations, Early Settlement, Indian Occupancy, Indian History and Traditions; Territorial and State Organization; a Review of the Political History; and a Concise History of the Growth and Development of the State. ALSO A COMPENDIUM OF REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF HUNDREDS OF PROMINENT OLD SET TLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF NEBRASKA. With a Review of their life work; their identity with the growth and development of the State; Reminiscences of Personal History and Pioneer Life, and other Interesting and Valuable Matter -which should be Preserved in History. ILLUSTRf\TE>D. CHICAGO: ALDEN PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1912. CONTENTS GENERAL INDEX. Title Page Table of Contents . History of Nebraska 15 Compendium of Reminiscence and Biography 101 INDEX TO HISTORY OF NEBRASKA. CHAPTER I. Geography, Topography, Climate, Geology, Soil, Natural Resources, Territory, Etc 17 CHAPTER II. Discovery and Early History of the Province of Louisiana; Early Explorations; Early Settlement; the Birth of Ne braska; Principal Events in the History of the State 23 CHAPTER III. POLITICAL. — Territorial Organization; State Organiza tion; Territorial Officers; State Officers; Legislative and Official Roster 45 CHAPTER IV. State Institutions, Societies and Associations eo CHAPTER V. RAILROADS- Early Railroad Building in the State of Nebraska; Influence of Railroads in the Early Develop ment and Growth of the State CHAPTER VI. Miscellaneous Historical Matter; the Locusts or Grass hoppers; Public Lands; Educational; Population of Nebraska; Etc 92 INDEX COMPENDIUM OF REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY OF NEBRASKA Page Abbott, Jacob W: 642 Abel, Will iam Sr 566 Adams, Alexander S., .1017 Adams, Robert 976 Agler, Wm. P 420 Agnew .John S 189 Agnew, William S 379 Ahlman, Herman* 1092 Ahlmann, Albert 726 Ahrendt, Christian H., 978 Ahrens, W. W 973 Akin, Dell, 163 Albertsen, Lorenz 891 Aldrich, Gov. Chester H 101 Alexander, Geo. F 1065 Alexander, William,.. 828 Alexander, William, . . . 1067 Alexander, Wm. C 106 Allen, Benjamin D 853 Allen, George 406 Allen, Hon. Hugh A.,. 112 Allen, Richard B 675 Alvord, Benjamin H., .. 520 Alvord, Walter M 519 Amos, Alfred, 571 Amos, John M 577 Amos, Lycurgus 564 Amsberry, Darius M.,.1000 Amsberry, John A.,... 717 Amsberry Family, The, 999 Amsberrys of Custer County 999 Andersen, John 832 Andersen, Niels 492 Andersen, Peter H 414 Anderson, Arthur J.,.. 821 Anderson, Carl A 931 Anderson, Christian,.. 814 Anderson, Nels 632 Anderson, Robert 881 Andrews, Harvey B., . . 733 Anson, C. T 1073 Appel, Chris 325 Appiegate, E. D 921 Armbrust, Henry 906 Armbruster, Louis 812 Armour, Judge Josiah A 982 Armstrong, Mrs. Alice R 656 Arnold, B. M 772 Arnold, Stephen N., . . 638 Ashworth, Frank 912 Askey, James M 424 Asmus, Carl 998 Asplin, Oliver 497 Atkinson, Rebecca 604 Atkinson ,Wm. H 604 Aubert, Jasper N 374 Auman, John 290 Aurand, Enoch, 195 Avery, Steven D., .... 460 Ayers, John 394 Babcock, Edwin J 268 Babcock, H. A 269 Babcock, Oscar 326 Backhaus, Arthur H., . 612 Backhous, Gus 530 Baggstrom, J. E 984 Bagley, B. S 617 Bailey, Abner 669 Bailey, Daneil Cooley,. 858 Page Bailey, Harry H 691 Bailey, Jere B 716 Baillie, Alexander L., . 566 Baird, James 944 Baird, Robert G 127 Baird, Z. M 204 Baker, Byron H 621 Baker, James N 926 Baker, Thompson 677 Baliman, Alfred L 903 Baliman, Wm. E 334 Baliman, William H., . 838 Ball, William 738 Ballantyne, John A.,.. 728 Balleweg, William,... 743 Barber, Linas W 914 Barker, Joseph H 412 Barnes, Dr. E. M 804 Barnes, Issac C 390 Barnes, Joshua 991 Barnes, Samuel 298 Barnes, Ward W 768 Barnes, William W 1051 Barnett, Jesse G 902 Barnett, W. R 768 Barnhard, Virgil F., . . 643 Barr, Henry W 218 Barrett, Daniel 989 Bartle, Frank 1056 Bartle, Mrs. Veronica J 1056 Barton, S. R 610 Bastian, C. C 976 Bates, William 1018 Bauer, George 565 Baumann, Fred 583 Baumgartner, Joseph,. 388 Baxter, James 934 Bayha, Ben 1019 Bayha, George 1019 Beals, Frank L 939 Bean, Henry C 140 Beaty, George 1080 Becher, John G 882 Becker, Henry B 501 Beckley, James 424 Beckman, Lewis, 790 Beechler, Bernard 650 Bell, A. A., 581 Belz, Louis 340 Beman, Abram P 311 Benda, Anton 812 Benger, George 0 708 Benjamin, Judge John g 996 Beri'n, George H. Sr., . 971 Benner, Christian G. Sr 162 Bennett, Telman N., ..1002 Benson, August, 808 Benson, Daniel 1024 Bergmann, Herman F., 634 Bergstrom, John 737 Berry, Thomas C 909 Berryman, Bell E 228 Best, Leander M 276 Beushausen, Chas. F„ . 942 Bichel, Fred 860 Billeibeck, Henry J.,.. i;26 Billings, Isaac F 132 Birch, Frank 154 Bishop, Asa B 232 Bishop, Curtis, Sr., . . . 267 Bishop, Watson W 634 Bishop, Wm. E 149 Page Bitney, Lewis, 534 Bivens, Francis S 758 Black, Wm. W • 407 Blakeman, Charles E., 574 Blanchard, Thomas, ... 554 Blank, Herman, 601 Bligh, C. H 772 Block, William 1097 Blomgren, Jonas J 680 Blomquast, John E., . . 126 Boehme, Conrad G 238 Boelts, Frederick G., . 328 Boelts, Hon. John G., . 556 Boesen, Henry H 579 Boetger, Rudolf 1042 Bohl, George 389 Bolter, Fred 867 Bonge, Henry 454 Booth, Charles W 1031 Borchers, Otto 890 Borrall, M. A 230 Bovee, John W 10.93 Bowman, Jabez 1 952 Bowman, Dr. Wm. L., . 266 Box, Geo. W 115 Bradburn, Joseph E., . . 875 Braden, Joseph P 384 Bradstreet, N. P 556 Brady, James, Sr 357 Brady, Hon. James T., 306 Branaman, John B 496 Brande, Alfred Lincoln, 382 Brandenburg, John N ....1074 Brandrup, James 270 Brannon, James A 159 Brega, Richard B 694 Bressler, Hon. John T 164 Brewer, David .1031 Bridge, C. L 819 Briggs, Davis H 305 Brinkerhoff, Daniel W., 188 Bristol, Clarence R.,. 650 Britt, Dr. W. H 329' Brittell, Orange 677 Broberg, E. C '..795 Brockmoller, Franz, . . 232 Brookhouser, William, 637 Brooks, Alonzo 557 Brooks, Horace L 206 Brosh, Joe 85!" Browder, Albert B 657 Browder, Arhtur 33S Browder, Elwin E.,.. 331 Browder, James Fletcher 867 Brown, Geo. W 293 Brown, John D., . . . . . 564 Brown, Ulysses G 921 Brown, W. S 131 Brubaker, Martin 1087 Bruce, Ryland F 473 Bruegman, Frank Frederick 679 Bruegman, Henry D.,. 652 Brugger, J. H 240 Brummund, Gottlieb,.. 555 Brummund, Paul, 522 Brune, William 682 Bruns, Frederick 1088 Bryan, John W., 638 Bryan, Joseph 559 Bryant, Wilbur F., 1048 Buchanan, James T.,.. 158 Buche, Chas;, 224 Buckendahl, Henry,... 663 Buckley, William 157 Buckmaster, T. J 362 Buckner, Robert W., ..1064 Bufflngton, J. L., 155 Buhrman, Hon. John H 811 Buhrman, Louis L 1026 Buhrow, John 1065 Bunker, Thomas A.,.. 164" Buntrock, Frank 327 Burdick, Charles S 928 Burdick, James T 647 Burghardt, George 914 Burke, David H., 575 Burke, John C 240 Burke, Mark 241 Burke Family, 240 Burkhead, Joseph W.,. 875 Burkman, Warren 937 Burtwistle, S 440 Busch, John W 165 Bushelman, Anton, . . . 1071 Buss, William, . . 889 Butterfield, Justus,... 525 Calelly, John 731 Calvin, Curtis A 652 Calvin, David A 899 Calvin, Richard E., .... 606 Cameron, Wallen 676 Campbell, Archibald S., 146 Campbell, John F.,-. . . . 886 Campbell, Hon. J. N.,. 179 Campbell, N. G 1004 Gampbell, Wm. F 919 Cannon, Charles Elmer 1011 Cannon, Ralph C 958 Cannon, Hon. Samuel L 1018 Capron, Joseph H, .... 479 Carlson, N. P 984 Carmack, Geo 294 Carpenter, Frederic W., 683 Carr, Rufus G 226 Carroll, Joseph 490 Carsen, John M 875 Carson, Wm. H 193 Carter, Austin L 495 Carter, Chas. E., 330 Case, Robert E 258 Casey, Martin 1021 Cassel, Joseph W.,. 918 Cassin, Michael C 617 Chamberlain, Isaac,... 442 Chamberlin, Walter, . . . 676 Chambers, Geo. W 517 Chase, Henry A., 660 Chicken, Allen, 467 Chilvers, Thomas 586 Chilvers, Wm. B., 185 Chindvall, John 991 Chinn, William H. C.,. 692 Christensen, Jorgen, .. 923 Christensen, Lars P., . . 210 Christensen, Martin,.. 690 Christensen, Niels, .... 1021 Christian, O. S 878 Christian, Peter 134 Christiansen, Christen A 409 Christiansen, Lars S., . 242 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Christon, John, 165 Cizek, Vaclav, 759 Clark, Alfred 348 Clark, David Y., 287 Clark, George A 796 Clark, Henry 289 Clark, Thomas M., . . . . 426 Clark, Wm. M 737 Clausen, Peter 973 Cleary, Albert S 500 Clavland, Chas. E 338 Clement, Hans, Sr 309 Clement, Hans L, Jr., 309 Clement, Nathaniel G., 540 Clemmensen, Lorenz,.. 255 Colander, Andrew 469 Colborn, Abram '. 278 Colborn, Benjamin F., 394 Colborn, Hiram E 221 Colborn, John M 337 Coleman, Isaac A 1055" Collier, David 765 Collier, John, Jr., . . . 745 Collier, William, 750 Collins, Geo. E., 3"87 Collins, Oscar E 735 Collins, Rufus J., . .". ."788 Collins, Timothy 216 '.Collins, Warren G., . . . . 644 Combs, Chas. C 356 Comstock, DeWitt, .... 505 Comstock .William H., 879 Cones, Judge Douglas, 417 Cones, Woods 351 Conner, Samuel P 751 Conner, Stillwell, 443 Conway, John 522 Bool, Jacob 1028 olley, George 854 "Coombs, Mingerson, . . . 253 Odoper, Charles C 937 JCopley, Joseph B 363 Oopsey, George A 1029 Cormeny, W. H 798 Cornell, Albert W 725 Cornfield, James C 1042 Cornfield, John 1042 Gotterman, Benton,... 315 Coutts, William 498 Cover, Levi, 474 Cox, Benjamin F 662 Coyle, John T 710 Cozad, Frank 844 Orabtree, Nathaniel,... 398 Craig, David 806 Craig, John S., 116 Crandall, William P. . 843 Cravath, pbed 104 Crawford, Everett J.,. 866 Crew, Farmer W 513 Crippen, Sidney H 464 Crist, George B 872 Crist, Isaac M 865 Crist, Devi L 691 Crist, Seth S 739 Crites, Wm. H., 467 Crooks, Geo. H., 504 Crosby, C. Guy, 264 Crosby, R. L 265 Crow, Christopher 549 Crowe, Francis, 988 Crowe, William James, 713 Crowley, Rev. Father J. J 475 Cruikshank, James 554 Cruikgank, James G., 607 Culver, Alanson 372 Culver, Chas. W 380 Culver, Delancy L....1098 Culver, Fred F, 372 Cunningham, Alex E., 135 Cunningham, Augustus ]yi 368 Cunningham, David,... 224 Cushing, Francis M.,. 693 Cutler, James H 625 Daily, Alvin 605 Damme, William 937 Dana, Byron H 702 Daniel, Charles L. 543 Dather, Henry H 771 Davis, Charles H 414 Davis, Harrison E 989 Davis, Horace M 923 Davis, Joe G., 805 Davis, John, 618 Davis, John L 635 Davis, Mansell 665 Dean, Jarvis 450 Dean, John N., 296 Dean, William D.,.. 387 Deckert, Jacob 681 Page Dedlow, Charles, 793 Dedlow, Frederick 842 Dedlow, Wm . 399 De Groot, John H., . . 872 Delaney, John, 453 Delano, Fred E 498 Delano, Will Stevens, 738 Denney, Solomon D., .. 919 Dennis, Jasper L., . . . . 870 Derig, -William...' 925 Derry, A. E., 826 Dethlefs, John P 1061 Dewey, George F 585 Dibbert, Christian,.... 606 Dibble, Morgan, 1035 Dickerson, William,... 247 Dickerson, W. T 350 Dickinson, Reuben 148 Dinsdale, George 489 Doane, Halsey A...... 786 Dobesh, > Anton P 795 Dobesh, Frank, ....... 773 Dodd, James W„ 620 Dodge, Erwin 786 Dodge, E. M., 978 Dolbear, David M 264 Doll, William E., 1045 Domon, Albert C 698 Donner, John 570 Douse, Lewis R 813 Dober, Al 823 Dover, Fredrick J 1013 Dover, John W 964 Downie, Hector 1039 Downing, Dr. Albert R 927 Downing, James F., . . . 322 Drake, John E 947 Draube, Herman 389 Dreesen, Mat, 147 Dreesen, Peter 369 Driskell, E. E 553 Drobnyj Anton 408 Ducher, William 1096 Duel, Frank, 244 Dufoe, Lorenzo P 723 Dullerud, Nels 949 Dunbar, William F., . . 775 Duncan, Robert R 920 Dwinell, John 791 Dyar, Alfred W., 610 Dyar, John Walter,.. 610 Easterbrook, Edgar A., 741 Eastman, Wm. G 725 Eberhart, George 864 Eckert, Julius 408 Edgington, Asahel, 119 Edwards, Thomas W.,.1044 Ege, Leopold 990 Eggers, John J., 400 Eggert, Louis 321 Eggleston, Oliver F., . . 806 Elison, Charles S., ...1041 Ellis, H. A 225 Ellis, Mrs. Jane E 225 Embree, Frederick C, . 852 Emerson, Eddie War ren, 584 Emery, William C 737 Ender, Christian 167 Ender, Christian H., (Ill) 168 Enderly, Christian,... 466 Enevoldsen, Hans C, . 105 Enger, Oscar W 897 English, Robert H, ..1050 Envoldsen, Nels, 456 Eppler, Otto R 1091 Erdenberger, Albert,.. 319 Erickson, Nels E 831 Erikson, G. A., 120 Erskine, John A., 322 Etling, Peter 769 Etter, Frank, 475 Evans, Edwin, 532 Evans, Joshua H 946 Evens, Frank M 635 Evers, Conrad 1046 Ewing, Joseph, 1080 Swing, Samuel, 205 Eyerly, James H 809 Eyl, Fred 567 Fagen, Edward 507 Farley, Robert, 817 Farnham, Daniel W„ . . 118 Farrell, Hon. Thos. F., 137 Farris, Capt. William J 545 Fauquier, Thomas,.... 378 Feddern, Rudolph 226 Page Feyerherm, Fred, 131 Fichter, John G 1072 Fiebig, Paul Herman, 802 Field, Chester 723 Filsinger, William 831 Finch, Geo. W 700 "Finch, John, 628 Finkral, Joseph 967 Finley, James D 368 Fischer, Fred, 402 Fischer, Hans W 665 Fischer, Paul 1010 Fiscus, John A. Jr.,.. 792 Fisher, Joseph, 440 Fisher, W. H.,.'... .... 208 Fisher, W. S., 1083 Fisk, James A 904 Fitzsimmons, Geo. W., . 667 Flemming, Peter, 383 Flint, William 824 Flynn, . John, .' 103S Flynn, Richard 871 Foltz, Louis N 956 Forbes, William J 641 Force, Captain Jacob A 735 Ford, Jared P 513 Forsberg, Edward 437 Forsyth, Joseph, 559 Forwood, William G.,.1037 Foster, William 413 Fosterman, William,.. 483 Fowler, Alonzo A b58 bowler, Ephiaim A.,.. S 1G Fox, Robert J 97 2 Fox, Robert S. M 957 Franzen, Dirk 0 613 Franzen, Franz Onkes, 561 Fraser, Charles D 611 Frauen, Paul 371 Frazer, L. L 412 Frederick, John, 720 Frederick, Hon. J. Frank 301 Fredericksen, Jens,... 275 Fredericksen, Peter and Carl 275 Freeman, Harlow H., . 724 Freeman, Parish Moses, 1063 Freeman, W. S 573 Freiberg, G. E 331 Frey, Christian, 908 Frey, James T 908 Frey, Mano 535 Friederich, George, .. .1023 Frischkorn, Theodore,. 841 Frymire, William B., . 648 Fuchs, Florian 213 Fuhrmann, Wm 300 Fullen, Harry, 987 Fuller, Randall 346 Fulton, H 597 Fulton, Samuel G 275 Funk, J. T 1028 Gabelman, J. D. ,..,.. 1058 Gaines, Elbert H 847 Gallaher, Charles L, . . 598 Galyean, George F., . . 517 Galyean, Jesse B 583 Gardner, Rev. N. E„ . . 656 Gardner, Turner 518 Garniss, John 1034 Garrett, Melvin C 335 Garvie, James, 246 Gast, Edward 175 Gates, Stillman, 144 Geersen, Frank 774 Geil, Dellmond A...... 850 Gerecka, Herman 667 Gibbs, Charles L, 775 Giddings, Joseph M., . . 895 Gillett Brothers 503 Gillett, Henry H 503 Gillham, Evan L 1094 Gilligan, Thomas J.,.. 655 Giltner, John M 961 Given, Ellis W., 957 Given, Robert 986 Given, Sampson, 952 Glass, Reuben E 658 Glassey, Matthew H., . 546 Glazier, Hamilton B., . . 783 Gleason, Frederick H., 406 Gleason, Patrick 551 Gleason, William,.... 898 Glover, Samuel Leroy, .. 839 Goble, G 123 Goodenow, Melville B., 526 Goodrich, Erwin W., . . 385 Goff, George W 755 Goke. Conrad 381 Gordan, David B 993 Gormley, Len B 438 Gosnell, Thos. N., 353 Gottschalk, Frederick, 114 Gottschalk, L. Fred,.. 114 Gould, James 183 Gould, James W 182 Gourley, James H 283 Govier, John 697 Graham, William 459 Granquist, Ole 173 Grant, John, 756 Graves, Alexander L., .1061 Graves, Geo. S 1044 Gray, George H.', 481 Greckel,, Fred 1052 GregeTsen, Albert,.... 477 Greiner, P. J 623 Green, Frank H 229 Green, J. T 1086 Green, Hon. O. E 138 Greene, Frank L., . . . . 391 Greenland, Theodore A 451 Greenwald, John 1059 Greenwalt, George W., 868 Greer, Dr. F 1 a v i u s Josephus 961 Grierson, Arthur N, . 855 Griflen, W. W 758 Griffin, Mrs. Pat 643 Grim, W. D 437 Groat, Stillman P. 664 Grobbel, Rev. Peter, ...740 Groeling, Herman 825 Gross, Morris, 1077 Guggenmos, Charles, .1028 Guggenmos, Louis, .. r .1027 Guiles, Henry, 397 Gunderson, Guennes, . . 1005 Gustus, J. A 644 Gutru, Gilbert, 194 Gutru, Levi 159 Haase, Carl Frederick 529 Haase, William,: 152 Hackett, Hosea F 241 Hafner, Detlef 938 Hafner, H. C 950 Hafner, John 991 Haggerstrom, John I., 308 Hagerty, James F., . . 107 Hagfey, Dr. Wm. H. H, 693 Haight, George 537 Hajek, Frank 846 Hall, John A., 533 Hall, Wilson 316 Halligan, John, 130 Halliwill, James W.,». . 615 Halverstein, Gay, 923 Hamilton, John 862 Hammer, Hans 873 Hammerback, J. P 1072 Hampl, Raymond 905 Hancock, William 126 Hanefeldt, August,.... 288 Hanks, G. H 557 Hannawald, Adam F., . 888 Hannawald, Frank O, 945 Hannibal, P. M., 243 Hansen, Chris 409 Hansen, Christian 521 Hansen, Henry 368 Hansen, Frank B 740 Hansen, Lars P 521 Hansen, Rasmus 649 Hanson, Oliver 539 Hanson, Richard 594 Happel, August 333 Harbottle, J. W., 1096 Harding, John H 479 Hards, Ebenezer 237 Harper, George W 1009 Harris, Aaron 345 Harris, John T 749 Harris, R. H 207 Harrsch, E. A 955 Hartley, Anson B., . . . . 211 Hartmann, August,... 564 Hartmann, Martin 447 Hartwell, Amos E 771 Hartwell, Calvin B., . . 771 Hather, Frederick G., .1043 Hather, Geo. T 640 Hather, William J.,.. 911 Haumont, Edmond, . . . 838 Haumont, Jules 1021 Havel, John, 556 Havel, Michael M 6^9 Havens, Walter, 157 Havens, William A 900 Havens, Wm. W 223 Hays, Frank S., 1010 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 11 Page Hays, Marion G 856 Hays, Oliver M 906 Hazen, Dr. Wm., 263 Heater, Noah 832 Hecht, Christian 983 Hecht, George H, 934 Hecht, Herman J 283 Hedglin, Elias L 292 Helmsy, Arnold H., ... 538 Hemenway, Chas. E., .. 181 Hemenway, E. L...... 201 Hemenway, M. H., .... 267 Hemenway, Prescott, . 251 Henderson, Jacob,.... 951 Henderson, Walter M., 770 Hengstler, Andrew,... 731 Henning, John A 355 Henrickson, Knut 866 Henzler, Chris 692 Hering, Julius 750 Herner, David 912 Hetrick, Roland R 941 Heuerman, Geo 376 Hickenbottom, Wm. T., 901 High, B. Y 797 Hild, Jacob F 359 Hill, E. J 843 Hill, Walter F 175 Hill, Wm. H 115 Hill, William J 761 Hille, Adolph ; . . . 360 Hilmer, Fred, 1022 Hilmer, William 1050 Hilton, Eugene 345 Hines, Joseph C, 376 Hinrichsen, Claus 940 Hirschman, Edward B., 311 Hirschman, Frank C, . 127 Hirschman, Franz,... 336 Hirschman, Henry,... 227 Hirschman, John P.,... 271 Hirschman, Julius 212 Hoagland, Dr. H. H.,. 133 Hodges, Frank 291 Hodges, Herbert 128 Hoehne, August J 896 Hoeppner, Theodore,.. 572 Hoes, A. M 166 Hoes, John H 390 Hoffart, Henry 660 Hoffart, Henry G 659 Hofeldt, George, 655 Hoffman, John C.,.. .. 615 Hogue, John H, . , . . . 536 Hohneke, John F 141 Holcomb, Earl L 775 Holden, James G 899 Holecek, J. V 482 Holeman,. Reuben I.,.. 732 Hollenbeck, Aaron 813 Holmes, Benjamin F., 465 Holmes, George W 876 Holmes, James M 745 Holmes, John A 850 Holt, H. E 671 Holtorf, Claus F 873 Hoover, Edward D., . . 700 Hopkins, Andy 926 Hopkins, Jeptha 242 Hoppen, Paul 251 Horrocks, John 708 Horrocks, Samuel,.. 701 Horsham, William,... 817 Horstmann, Christ 119 House, Edward C 710 Housel, Gardner 767 Houtby, Edward 584 HovJand. George B 1043 Howe, George W 963 Hoyt, Hiram H, 893 Hubbard, Solomon O.,. 719 Hubby, John 422 Hudson, Milton 864 Huebner, Anton 309 Huff, Martin H 395 Huffman, James G 485 Hughes, Harry 550 Hughes, James B 593 Huigens, John 497 Hull, Martin, .- 460 Hummel, Anton 161 Hunt, Oscar F 145 Hunt, William H, 680 Hunter, Hon. Chas. W 193 Hurlburt, James E.,.. 834 Huse, Eugene W 139 Huse, William, 622 Hutchinson, James, . . . 1006 Hutto, J. H 209 Huwaldt, August F., . . 277 Huwaldt, William Henry 711 Huxford, Andrew J.,.. 912 Ickler, John, 636 Ingraham, Alonzo F., ..1038 Ira, Dr. G. W 272 Irvine, George 484 Irvine, James, 142 Irvine, James F., .... 935 Irvine, John 202 Jacobsen, William 307 Jacobson, August, .... 1003 James, Geo. C, 404 James, Thomas, 562 James, W. I., 440 Jasper, John 1047 Jenkenson, B 1032 Jenkins, Alonzo O., ..'. 335 Jenkins, David, 259 Jenkins, Evan 447 Jenks, Willard L 569 Jenner, Henry 136 Jensen, Anders 673 Jensen, Andrew P 122 Jensen, Cresten 761 Jensen .Niels 960 Jensen, Niels 0 613 Jensen, Peter 259 Jepson, Peter 1076 Jewell, Ralph 166 Jewell, Wm. P 171 Jilg, William 822 Joll, Francis 1058 John, James M 869 Johnson, A. E 714 Johnson, Andrew,... 483 Johnson, Bennie, 549 Johnson, Byron H 1015 Johnson, C. H, 814 Johnson, F. A 709 Johnson, Gilbert 1015 Johnson, G. W 603 Johnson, J. A 211 Johnson, James W., . . 160 Johnson, John 719 Johnson, L. J., 539 Johnson, L. M 1083 Johnson, L. S 384 Johnson, Meritt A 820 Johnson, N. P 511 Johnson, 0 953 Johnson, Ole 927 Johnson, Mons O. M., . . 318 Johnson, Robert 194 Johnson, T. C 387 Johnston, William 386 Jones, Alfred E 217 Jones, Benjamin M.,.. 572 Jones, Hon. Doctor A., 249 Jones, E. W 474 Jones, W. A 231 Jorgensen, Neils 126 Jorn, John J 755 Joyner, Denton V 954 Joyner, John J 495 Judkins, Francis O, 648 Julyan, Jacob 1001 Junge, M. F 988 Kaczor, Fred 139 Kaelin, Burkhardt J.,. . 799 Kalal, John 452 Kammer, John 1053 Kamrath, Frank 269 Kamrath, William 269 Karnes, Charles L 810 Kasson, Henry D 856 Kaufman, J. D., 457 Kaupp, Christian,.... 501 Kaupp, Wm. A 608 Katy, David, 487 Kay, Judson 1070 Keating, Joseph M.,... 704 Keiter, Frank 177 Kelley, A. J 428 Kelly, T. Frank 538 Kellv, Thomas F., . . . . 537 Keller, Calvin 228 Keller, Frank 300 Kellogg, Charles E., . 695 Kellogg, Cyrus 730 Kellogg, Henry 349 Kellogg, John G 254 Kennedy, Crawford, . .1097 Kenney, Samuel A 104 Kent, Joseph 475 Kent, Nicholas, 802 Kent, Samuel 865 Kenyon, Charles T.,.,1075 Kenyon, L. B 627 Kerbel, Ludwig P 943 Kerr, James H 827 Kibby, C. A 347 Kidder, James W 879 Page Kile, Ransome 631 Kile, Dr. W. T 512 Kilpatric, J„ 639 Kilpatrick, Abraham L 830 Kilpatrick, George, 829 Kilpatrick, Joseph, .. .1085 Kilpatrick,, Joseph H., 829 Kilpatrick, Robert,... 829 Kilpatrick, Stephen D., 830 Kimball, H. J 596 Kimball, Kendrlck W„ 712 King, Absalom Y 669 King, Isaac W 1024 Kingston, Thomas 341 Kinkaid, Eugene A.,.. 994 Kirk, Hon. W. D 102 Kirk, William T 955 Kirkland, George 280 Klentz, August 747 Klentz, W 316 Kliese, Hon. A. F Ill Klingler, Charles N.,.. 792 Kloke, William F 805 Klopping, Henry 675 Klug, Fred 392 Klump, Jacob B 915 Koch, Jacob D 151 Koebke, Fred 770 Koehler, Ferdinand, . . 1029 Koehler, Fred 1030 Koester, John H '146 Kohlhof, Christian,... 324 Koll, Claus J., 558 Kolterman, John Ferdinand 647 Koppelmann, C. H 548 Korth, Robert 291 Kost, J. A., 436 Knaak, Fred 794 Knecht, Theodore 777 Knight, Benjamin 699 Knight, John D 661 Knight, John Gardner, 662 Knoepfel, John 334 Knoepfel, Ludwig,.... 333 Knoll, Louis 748 Kremer, Wm. F 371 Kriewald, Carl 444 Kripner, Anton, 1033 Krueger, G. Henry,... 260 "Krueger, Martin 282 Krueger, "William,... 1098 Kruetzfeldt, Herman A 123 Kruse, Fred, (Knox County) 1082 Kruse, Fred, (Howard County) 947 Knull, Charles 1034 Kuehl, Eggert, . 1079 Kuehl, Fritz H 821 Kuehl, Peter 142 Kull, Frank S 176 Kumm, William 1087 Kurka, Joseph 977 Kyes, John M 925 Kyriss, Fred 256 Ladd, Arthur W 406 Ladd, J. W 854 Lageschulte, Frederick L 836 L'aGrange, Erwin M., . 256 Lamb, Alex 691 Lamb, Bartholomew. . 215 Lammers, Anton K., .. 221 Langenberg, Louis,... 357 Lanman, James 433 Lantis, Charles 589 Lanum, Joel F 953 Larison, John H 273 Larsen, J. P 323 Larson, F. A. 669 Laub, Frederick 595 Laub, Jacob 596 Laub, James W 428 Laub, John P., 145 Laub, William 153 Laudeman, John P 216 Laughlin, George 704 Lauritsen, Hans N 836 Lawrence, Mell 969 Lawson, Christian.... 385 Lawson, Hon. L. C, ... 516 Leach, A. J 1054 Leamey, Martin H 959 Lear, David, 246 Leblanc, Gustav A.,... 763 Lederer, Charles 506 Ledwich, James 684 Ledwich, Robert, 1025 Lee, Severt K 504 Leech, Corydon T.....1014 Leedom, Boyd S 600 Lehman, Louis 365 Lehmann, Frank G., .. 607 Lehmann, F. W., 307 Leibert, George 177 Leibert, Henry, 270 Lemburg, Hans 633 Lenger, Frank H., .... 214 Lenger, John J 178 Lenz, John Ludwig Henry 837 Lerum .Christian...... 800 Leuthaeuser, Albert,... 858 Lewin, James Harvey, 540 Lewis, A. E 588 Libby, E. R 533 Lichyt, H. P 158 Lidmlla, Frank 478 Lierman, William 666 Liesner, E 1096 Lindly, James 577 Lindsay, James A 1060 Lindwurm, George,... 579 Linstadt, Otto F 936 Littell, Geo. W 217 Little, Waldo L 478 Locker, David W 152 Loebel, C. D 819 Lof tus, Mike 205 Loge, Claus 181 Logerwell, Leo 446 Lohr, Wm. R 530 Loney, Henry 1049 Long, Elihu 597 Long, James B 624 Long, Thomas 945 Longe, R., 885 Longe, Thepdor 845 Longfellow, John R., . . 51,4 Longnecker, Harley A., 683 Longiiecker, William H 749 Lothrop, Geo. ' C-, '.'.'.'.'. 268 Louis, Jacob, 833 Lovejoy, John H 360 Lowe, Burleri W 671 Lubeley, August 455 Lubke, Wm. 373 Luce, Samuel M.; 608 Luckert, John C 354 Ludington, John W.,.. 222 Luebke, William 499 Lueck, Carl H 143 Luedeke, Carl 250 Luke, John H., 884 Lumadue, John W., .. 562 Lundy, James W 759 Lybolt, J. H 141 Lynch, Thos. Sr., 173 Lynch Family 173 Lynde, Stephen C 236 Lyon, C. A 137 Maas, Charles 381 Maas, Julius, : 388 Mabeus, Herman A.,.. 602 Machmuller, William,. 661 McAllister, James, . . . : 619 McCandless, Lucian, .. 863 McCandless, Milton W., 484 McCartney, Jacob R., . 696 McClellan, Samuel 276 McClintock, David,... 463 McClintock, Frank,... 445 McCloughan, Geo. W., . 528 McClure, Daniel 662 McClure, James G.,.; 695 McCoy, J. B 959 McCracken, David 473 McCumber, James M., . 468 McCutchen, Hon. Wtn. A 446 McDonald, Andrew P., .1038 McDonald, James V.,.. 252 McDonald, K. W 252 McDowell, Barney 2?7 McFarland, Samuel R., .1067 McGee, Hon. Geo. H... 432 McGehee, E. T '. . . . 995 McGinnis, Andrew N., . 754 McGrath, Phillip 649 McGrath .Thomas 543 McGregor, Gregor 100$ McHenry, James 1085 Mclnerney, M. T 744 Mclninch, Benjamin P 729 Mclninch, John W... .. 728 Mcintosh, Geo. W 611 McKay, Hugh 416 McKelvey, Andrew J.,. 281 McKendry, Elijah 212 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page McKenzie, F. E 257 McKibbon, Jackson W., 203 McLain, Geo.,, 114 McManigal, Daniel, . . . 996 McManus, John,. ...... 262 McNamara, Rev. John C 125 McNichols.'john "p!,'.'. 334 Madsen, Hans P. L 1078 Madsen, Lewis C.,. 941 Madsen,: -Louie C 853 Madsen, Niels M., .... 925 Madsen, Rasmus .-. 218 Mallory, Geo. H 471 Maly, Joseph W 686 Manchester, Orrin 285 Manke, Albert A 722 Mansfield, Augustus G., 819 Mansfield, Edwin T. 819 Mantey, Albert, 451 Manzer, C. E 752 Maricle, Harvey,. 986 Maricle, R. Claude,:.. 323 Maring, Alexander,... 146 Marks, F. A-.,.- '. . . 278 Marsh, Edwin- A 6-78 Marshall, Fred C . . . ., 930, Morten, Herman J;,... 915 Martin, David, ....... .1079 Martin, Judge ,- John Jffi ¦ »..;.-... 689 Mairtin, Richard R,-. . 525- Marwood, Robert^. , .-: . .- 461j Mather, Daniel -;Ev, v. . • - 84S Matheson, Alexander, .,,511, Ma-thews, Dr. t-Alexan ->;•--- . .Jacob F,.i-, :¦/¦ ¦; 888; Mauk, William 8,87 Ma.ze, Orville H-.i i . . , . j 701. Meahan, Edwa*d- J., . .- =582 M£ese, John -&',-.'<. . . i -.- • 210 Meierhenryi Fi-,-/.-. -.-.'. . .- 340 Meikle, John .l -502 Meis, Meinolph,-. . : . . .-. 716 Melland, B.' K., <¦'>:.. 352 Mehebroker, Henry,';.-. 399 Menkens, J. H,.. ;:'... 337 Mensing, Aaron V 106 Mensing, Arthur, 107 Meuret, Henry, . 463 Meyer, Fred; 117 Meyer, K. H 904 Michael Frank J 308 Mick, Lewis 965 Miller, Charles 818 Miller, Charles A 835 Miller, C. T 358 Miller, Ed 282 Miller, Ernest A 265 Miller, Judge E. S., .. 411 Miller, James B. ,.,.'. . 836 Miller, John A 603 Miller, John M 777 Miller, Joshua 1097 Miller, Otto 258 Miller, Philip 646 Miller, Reno J 729 Miller, Seth,.. ..1098 Millnitz, John 968 Mills, Fabius D 974 Mills, Ira P 681 Mills, Richard L 589 Mills, Robert J 1003 Miner, Edgar 834 Minter, William H 1012 Mischke, John M 299 Mithofer, Herman 695 Mittelsta edt, J 1092 Mogensen, Adolph 726 Mohr, Christian 192 Mohr, Herman H 608 Mollin, Gustave A 438 Montgomery, L. D.,. . . . 149 Moon, Judge Walter,. 235 Morehead, Bert E 778 Morgan, Nicholas M., .. 631 Morris, J., R 461 Morrow, Augustus,.... 688 Morrow, Rev .John,... 600 Morse, Alfred A 531 Morse, Hon. Wm. R., . 721 Mortensen, Mrs. Josephine, 220 Mortensen, Martin C.,. . 417 Mortensen, Peter 492 Mortensen, Rasmus,... 220 Mortimer, Thomas 357 Moses, Franz , f. 113 Page Moses, Halsey H, .... 113 Moss, Chas. W., 448 Mcssbarger, Wm 649 Most, Philip 452 Mott, George F 900 Mott, Jack, 861 MOulton, . -Charles 179 Muhm, Fied E 602 Mtihs, ' Gustave, 716 Muller, August W 353 Muller, Gustav, 456 Muller, Jacob 508 Muller, Viggo 226 Mumm, John 366 Munger, Charles Alden, 928 Munger, W. H 631 Munn, Edward C 234 Murschel, Otto, 167 Myers, George W 1077 Myers, Henry H 491 Myers, J. Abner 476 Mytton, Charles J 929 Nahrstedt, Andrew 929 Nathan, Ernest, Sr., ... 628 Nay, Robert 202 Needham, Will A 675 Needhafn.W. H -.' 544 Neely, W. A. K 702 Neese, Isaac M .j. 430 Negley, Wm. D., ...... 302 Neldig, John F 851 Nellor,: Daniel E.,. .. . 393 Netmes, George....... 8-85 Nelsen, Christian. .... . 607 Nelson, Charles 749 Nelson, Chas. J 318 Nelson, Frank,... 110 Nelson, Geo.,. 300 Nelson, Jonas 636 Nelson, Hon. Neil M., . . 688 Nelson;' Nels (Howard I County) . 660 Nelson, Nels (Antelope County) . . 316 Netzer, Henry V 273 Newcomer, Clark 263 Newman, Henry C 969 Nicholas,' Alexander S., 629 Nicholas, Benjamin L., 789 Nichols, Charles H, . . 173 Nichols, Joseph 107 Nicolay, William, 163 Nielsen, Barnie 1013 Nielsen, Enevold, 159 Nielsen, Hans 746 Nielsen, Iver C 787 Nielsen, Martin 998 Nielsen, Niels 367 Nielsen, Niels C 342 Nielsen, Ole 317 Nielsen, Paul, 375 Nielsen, Soren 1023 Nippell, Chas. A 279 Nissen, Peter, (Pierce County) 632 Nissen, Peter, (Cedar County) 468 Nitzel, Adolph, 550 Norling, Eric 624 Novacek, Frank, 1052 Nygren, Nels 260 Oberle, Nick 703 Obermiller, Hans 472 Obermiller, John 464 O'Brien, Alfred 519 O'Donnell, John, 918 Oelsligle, William H.,. 847 O'Gara, Frank 257 O'Gara, Peter Francis. 257 O'Gara, Roger T 286 Ohme, Frank 1062 Oliver, Luther L. 320 Ollis, James A., Jr 343 Ollis, James A., Sr., ... 376 Olsen, Magnes 153 Olson, Andrew C43 Olson, Ebert 285 Olson, Hans 476 Olson, Ole 986 Olson, Peter 1061 Olsson, Ored 739 O'Malley, Patrick, 237 Ondracek, J. M 421 O'Neill, John 139 Opocensky, Fred, ...... 346 Orvis, John R 161 Osborn, A. R 975 Page Osborn, Troy C 674 Ostrem, T. G 254 Ottele, Nickolas 265 Packard, Sanford 201 Paist, Lafe 601 Palmer, Abraham 117 Palmer, Joseph, 421 Pangborn, Charles D., . 563 Papenhausen, John,... 428 Parker, Addison J.,... 403 Parker, Amos S 108 Parker, Jason 403 Parker, Lewis 458 Parker, L. A., 884 Parker, Thomas J.,.. 753 Parker, Wm. M 640 Parks, Harvey 625 Paton, John 441 Patros, Joseph 332 Patterson, George R., . 881 Patterson, M 509 Patzel, August 742 Paul, Carl F. H 546 Paul, Carl F. W 196 Paul, Hon. James N, . 101 Paul, N. J 592 Paulman, George 801 Pearson, Joe 816 Peck, Henry L 377 Pedler, Joseph S 353 Peed, Isaac, 541 Pelster, Joseph 439 Penny, Seth H 429 Pense, William H, 807 Perin, S. L 110 Perrin, Aaron Z 363 Perrlne, E 295 Peter, Frank 592 Peter, Mickel 505 Petersen, Carl L 928 Petersen, Christian P 1030 Petersen, Jens M 1030 Petersen, L, 736 Petersen, Niels C 542 Petersen, Peter 703 Petersen, Peter E...... 712 Petersen, Peter S 980 Peterson, Erick 1060 Peterson, John, 977 Peterson, Lars 260 Petet, James L 940 Pfanstiel, Henry 868 PHeuger, Fred 1078 Pfrehm, Lewis J 278 Pfrehm, William 319 Phelps, Abraham L., . . 616 Phelps, Austin 715 Phelps, Joseph 860 Phelps, William 523 Philbrick, Orlando K., 435 Phillips, E. C 919 Pieper, Christopher,.. 373 Pierce, Alfred* W 742 Pierce, Dwight 958 Pierce, Frank J., 199 Pierce, George 959 Pierce, James 344 Pierce, Jesse 736 Pierce, Louis D 959 Pierce, Samuel W., .... 207 Pierce, William A 377 Pierson, Andrew, 769 Pierson, Louis, 262 Pierson, Perry 1035 Pilger, Fred W 962 Pischel, E. L 963 Pittenger, Gurney R., . 231 Place, Isaac 846 Pochop, Frank, Jr 409 Pochop, John 599 Pocock, John W 645 Pont, Alfred 191 Pont, Benjamin 306 Porter, James P 826 Porterfield, John 155 Postle, Justin F 240 Potts, Wilson W 975 Powell, Russell S 177 Powers, Ned 542 Powers, William E 528 Poynter, Daniel J 112 Poynter, Ex. Gov. W. A 102 Prauner, Carl 898 Predmore, William H, .1057 Prentice, Wm. A 494 Preusker, William 344 Primrose, David 181 Prokop, V. J 997 Prouty, John T 369 Page Pufahl, Edward, 619 Pulcifer, Edwin D., ... 342 Pulliam, Orlando S 203 Puryear, Samuel G 470 Raabe, August 350 Raasch, August 782 Rabeler, Frederick, Sr., 510 Rabeler, Frederick Ph. Jr 510 Rafferty, Michael H., . 617 Ragan, R. J 1057 Ramsey, William H. H 960 Rathbun, Dimic H, ... 766 Raubach, Theodor 746 Rawlings, Milton H.,.. 270 Raymer, Geo 234 Ream, Hon. James D., 881 Reed, A. G 514 Reed, Burrell E 720 Reed, Jeremiah 791 Reeder, Wm .H 480 Rees, Howell 469 Rees, Richard 488 Reeves, A. F ; 989 Reeves, Oscar 954 Rehder, John 864 Rehfeld, Herman, 308 Rehfeld, Richard 209 Rehmus, Gustav, 315 Reid, Amenzo T 312 Reid, Hubert 453 Reigle, J. W 1037 Reimers, Christian A., 480 Reimers, Reinhold, ... 774 Renner, Ignatz 1012 Renner, Paul 948 Reynolds, H. D 1093 Rice, Andrew 609 Rice, George W 901 Rice, William J 594 Richardson, Frederick W 443 Richardson, Geo. E....1095 Richardson, I. 0 742 Rickert, J. W 676 Ridell, C. C 304 Riley, Frederick W., . . 422 Riley, Judge John W., 970 Riley, Patrick E 1081 Rilev, W. W 320 Ringer, Edward 1033 Risk, John W 844 Roberts, Charles 809 Roberts, Dennis 590 Roberts, John B 645 Robertson, Sydney D., . 580 Robertson, Wm. M., . . 640 Robinson, Charles 1087 Robinson, George 833 Robinson, John B 532 Robinson, Rezin R 971 Robinson, Robert T., .. 570 Roe, David 1009 Roe, Henry 794 Roe, Samuel W 667 Roepke, August 639 Rohde, Albert 803 Rohe, Henrv, 1079 Rood, Charles J 687 Rood, Charles P., . . : . . . 727 Rood, Walter G 782 Rood, William H 781 Root, W. H 397 Roper, George A 905 Rork, Frank F 962 Rosburg, Conrad 734 Rose, Christopher N, 274 Ross, Charles E 859 Ross, David M 470 Ross, James, 294 Roth, Jonas S., 825 Rotter, Joseph 920 Routh, Cash M 851 Rowe. Robert F., 889 Rubeck, Henry 721 Ruden, Charles 1020 Ruff, John 215 Ruggless, W. H 325 Ruhlow, Robert 990 Rundquist, M 192 Russell, Albert 672 Rutherford, William,.. 598 Saare, Herman 981. Sahs, John 762 St. Louis, Joseph 765 Samuel, Joseph D 1052 Sandahl, Edward, 715 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 13 Sandberg, Isaac W., .. 336 Sargent, E. Lorenzo,.. 148 Sarles, Preston, 841 Sasse, William F 785 Sattler, Herman Charles 561 Sauders, John 105 Sautter, Jacob 452 Sawyer, John W 243 Sazama, Bart 520 Schaad, William 602 ScKager, Louis 303 Scheer, Ernest, 189 Schellenberg, Paul,.... 365 Schellpeper, Fred 423 Scherer, Franz 190 Scherer, H. A 893 Scherer, John G 886 Scherzberg, Charles, . . 1059 Schilling, Frederick, . . 1053 Schilling, Henry 310 Schindler, Otto 663 Schlecht, William 939 Schlipf, Joseph 1072 Schlytern, Carl 0 535 Schlytern, John G., .... 536 Schmitt, Christ, 1051 Schmitt, G. 0 1096 Schmitz, John B 876 Schmitz, Leonard 787 Schmutz, Henry, 148 Schnell, Fritz 977 Schneringer, Hall B., . 902 Schneringer, Mark E., 968 Schoenauer, A. B., .... 909 Schoepflin, Fred, 674 Sehoning, John O. F., 186 Schott, Geo. A 588 Schow, John S 262 Schow, Seren, "253 Schrawger, Augustas P 544 Schuett, August 222 Schultz, Charles C, .. 981 Schultz, Sven G 455 Schultz, Wm. H 980 Schultze, Amil 676 Schultze, Fritz W 847 Schultze, Paul, 862 Schulz, Carl 673 Schutt, Thomas 523 Schwank, Andreas, . . 410 Schwarz, Fred 979 Schwede, F. A 232 Scott, Charles W 1055 Scott, David P 995 Scott, James P 877 Scott, John 967 Scudder, Albert 997 Scudder, Melvin G., . . . . 538 Seabury, A. P., 553 Seamna, W. L, 624 Sears, Robert M 515 Seeber, Charles 233 Seevers, Robert M 580 Seger, Frank O, 956 Seggern, Menken Von, 199 Seim, John 262 Seip, Wm 418 Sellon, C. 0 509 Shaf er, Albert 948 Shallenberger, Ex. Gov. A. C 103 Sharpless, Jas. F 943 Shaw, David M 392 Shepard, Alonzo 935 Shepherd, W. A 785 Sherbeck, Andrew 878 Sherman, Harry A 284 Shetler, Jeremiah 410 Shoemaker, Lewis,.... 690 Shoemaker, Wm. B., .. 255 Shonsey, Michael 1086 Short, G. W 1090 Shrader, Anthony 174 Shroder, Peter, 887 Shunn, Robert 289 Siem, Henry N 349 Simms, Geo. W 1073 Simms, Isaac Newton. 1047 Simonson, Onon 205 Simonson, Simon 205 Simpson, John 890 Sinsel, Wm. F 502 Sirek, Frank L 1074 Sisson, Francis L., 1033 Sittler, Joseph 965 Skalberg, J. A 676 Skelton, Dr. H. A., 156 Skokan, Louis F., 551 Skoog, Nels J., 272 Slingsby, William h'.,.. 773 Smatlan, Joseph 216 Page Smith, A. A., 783 Smith, Adam 917 Smith, Benjamin F., .. 313 Smith, Chas. H., 196 Smith, Chas. W 340 Smith, Clinton S 191 Smith, Daniel B 571 Smith, Edward, 1091 Smith, Eugene A 247 Smith, F. B., 670 Smith, Henry 134 Smith, Hanford N 150 Smith, Jacob 1094 Smith, James, 891 Smith, James H 302 Smith, John, (Colfax County) 1094 Smith, Joseph B 992 Smith, Moses F., 824 Smith, Nathan A 831 Smith, Oscar A 1014 Smith, William M 379 Snider, W. H 710 Snow, Cyrus H 418 Snyder, Benjamin T., .. 427 Sodersten, Peter M 868 Sommer, Andrew 488 Sonderup, Soren M 1085 Sorensen, Mrs. Anna M., 434 Sorensen, Chas. A 494 Sorensen, Christen 586 Sorensen, Christian... 434 Sorensen, Hans 382 Sorensen, Larke 186 Sorensen, Louis H 443 Sorensen, Paul 889 Sorensen, Sophus A.,.. 646 Sorensen, William,.... 486 Spahr, Wilbur, 642 Speeht, Frank 160 Speer, Wilbur M., 591 Speice, Charles B., ....1092 Spence, Charles, 398 Spires, Frederick K., ..1020 Splittgerber, F., 1088 Splittgerber, Wilhelm, . 157 Splittgerber, Wm. C.,.. 122 Spooner, Alvah F 286 Sprieck, Gotlieb 290 Springsteen, L. K 1095 Squires, Wilbur G 946 Stahl, Julius C 1075 Stahlecker, John 609 Stamer, Henry 1068 Stark, August 496 Stark, S. A., 1039 Starr, John C 568 Stdre, John, 1094 Stearns, A. L 223 Stearns, Thomas J.,... 681 Stedry, Vincent J 842 Steffensen, Niels J.,... 996 Steinbach, T. B 731 Steinkraus, Herman,.. 368 Stephens, James 415 Stephenson, W. H 197 Stevens, Barney 195 Stevens, Sturley T 811 Stevens, William N 1082 Stewart, Chauncey, Jr., 1006 Stewart, Chauncey, Sr., 1006 Stewart, Denzil A 352 Stewart, Edwin 687 Stewart, Frederick A... 781 Stewart, G. W 426 Stewart, Leroy D 116 Stewart, P. B 791 Stewart, Wm. J 425 Stichler, Charles M.,.. 686 Stockwell, Ben F 1004 Stockwell, Dr. James S., 405 Stoetzel, Theodore J.,. . 187 Stokes, Henry George, . 303 Stolp, Art 1099 Stone, Luther 1016 Story, John 372 Stoural, Thomas 164 Stout, William H 670 Strain, Wm. H 696 Strathdee, George 1002 Stratmann, Fred A 321 Strelow, Frank 807 Strickler, Rev. Geo. B., 748 Strom, S. E., 662 Strong-, David E 993 Strope, W. W 271 Stuehenhoff, Henry,... 313 Sueper, Frank 654 Sukup, A. W., 1098 Sullivan, Daniel P.,... 245 Sullivan, James 169 Sullivan, Wm., 328 Page Sward, August 684 Sweeney, Henry 998 Sweet, Charles A 784 Sweetland, Stephen N, 402 Switzer, Virgil M 383 Sydow, Henry, 454 Synovec, Theodore 966 Tackley, John P 1058 Talbot, Dr. Robert. C.,.. 827 Talbot, Dr. Willis E.,.. 828 Talbot, Col. V. C 828 Tannehill, Frank 687 Tatge, Christopher 848 Tatge, Phillip 848 Taylor, Charles E 686 Taylor, Edward G 466 Taylor, Frank J 896 Taylor, Heman 647 Taylor, John 0 1068 Taylor, John P 910 Tawney, W. A., 648 Teatke, Fred 942 Terry, Timothy 693 Texley, Gulbrand H.,.. 235 Texley, O. H 176 Thiessen, John, 651 Thode, Peter J 458 Thoene, Frank A., Sr., . 136 Thomas, David 757 Thomas, D. R 431 Thomas, Dr. Eugene L., 238 Thomas, Van J 400 Thomas, Wesley, 717 Thompson, Andrew J., . 658 Thompson, E. H 197 Thompson, James W., . 472 Thompson, Robert C, . . 651 TKomsen, Hans, 374 Thomson, Dr. Thos. M., 796 Thorn, John B., 779 Thorngate, Geo 292 Thojrngate, Henry, 467 Tichy, Frank, 880 TIchy, Joseph F 524 Tiedke, August 798 T/¦:// 1 couAvy,JV2JB. t JSQD C/IA/W/:, (EPZSCOPAI,) AT /fEALVJSrti, NKBmSJiA CLIFFS 0ArA70fiftAR 1 ft/I Wff.SOl/Z7f OF COOK 1 'FHR. ISKA t$t'j\TORTH /'J.ATVJ:. AFAft Of!.!' J.. I L.I. . I /.'//// -IS ft A %op.,?c//ooc t/oi si: , ?ol '/¦// ///¦ -w//a a:\vm .17- ialejvti.yh .\'s:h/'.i.*/i.i rjiijiKEr j.1"/-/, .x/:. ut it. it .//,•/>. xiuutAsix-A HISTORY OF NEBRASKA. CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATE, GEOLOGY, SOIL, NATURAL RESOURCES, IRRIGATION, ETC. COMPRISING as it does an area larger by 14,259 square miles than all of New Eng land, the state of Nebraska is justly entitled to the important position it holds among the sister states of the republic. Twice the si2;e of Ohio, larger in area by many thousand square miles than England and "Wales combined, Nebraska in area is an empire. The position occupied by Nebraska is quite near the center of the United States. The paral lel of forty degrees bounds it on the south, and the Missouri river is its eastern and northern boundary until the forty-third degree parallel is reached. This parallel then constitutes the north ern boundary until the west line of the state, on the twenty-seventh degree of west longitude, is reached. The western boundary of the state fol lows the twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington south until the forty-first de gree of north longitude is reached. It then fol lows the forty-first degree of longitude east to a point formed by its intersection with the twenty- fifth degree of longitude west from Washington; then south to the fortieth degree of north lati tude. This, it will be seen, takes quite a notch, approximately 7,300 square miles, out of the state. If it were not for this off-set, the state would approximate the shape of a parallelogram. The extreme width of the state from north to south is 208.5 miles, and its length from east to west is approximately 413 miles. Previous to 1882 the 2 area of the state was almost 75,995 square miles. In that year, by act of congress, the northern boundary was straightened, which added approx imately 900 square miles to its- territory, giving a present area of 76,895 square miles, or 49,212,000 acres. In the heart of the great union, grouped among the greatest states of the commonwealth, directly in the great center of the nation's wealth, Nebraska has received the overflow from the east, and blessed them with plenty. And its loca tion, combined with its climate and natural re sources, have made its settlement, growth and development so rapid as to place it among the greatest states in the union in a time so short as to be within the memory of the present genera tion. TOPOGRAPHY. Nebraska has an extremely varied surface. Although there are no elevations high enough to be called mountains, yet in the northern and western parts of the state there are lofty hills of varied character. In the eastern states the ridges are generally the result of elevations and subsi dences of the earth's crust, modified by subse quent aquaeous agencies, but in Nebraska the roll ing lands and hills are caused mostly by erosion. In the east massive rocks mainly make up the body of the hills, while here they are to a certain extent composed of drift materials, loosely com pacted, but chiefly of loess. The bottom lands 18 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. are met with every few miles crossing the state. They are huge and in general shallow troughs ; in breadth, proportionate to the size of the stream. In width they range from a quarter of a mile to twenty-three miles on the Platte and the Missouri. Quite often we find them terraced. These terraces, like broad steps, lead gradually to the bordering bluffs. Sometimes the edges of the low terraces on the bottoms are so worn away that their character is concealed. What was once a terrace has become a gentle slope. The slopes on the bottoms between Crete and Beatrice and Ashland and Lincoln are good examples of this character. In regard to the surface, the curve is the pre dominating geometrical form — streams, terraces, bluffs, valleys, all follow curves. "The curve is the line of beauty." This law is exemplified here. There is an amazing number of valley or bot tom lands. By the thousand they must be num bered. As an example take the region of the Re publican river. On the average of every two miles a tributary valley comes into the bottom from the north side. Counting the small tribu taries with their narrow bottoms, not less than twenty-five per cent, of the entire surface of the state is made up of bottom lands. The gently rolling lands of three-fourths of the state appear very much like billows of the ocean. Sometimes extensive stretches are met with which appear to be level, but even these on closer obser vation show to be gently undulating. From these last mentioned forms to the few isolated sections of limited extent, broken by canons with precipi tous sides, the transition is gradual. It is alto gether a prairie state, with rich alluvial valleys and table lands stretching away into extensive level plains, with a gradual ascent from the Mis souri river westward, reaching an altitude on its western border of between five and six thousand feet above the sea level, and yet the incline is so gradual that in the construction of the Union Pacific railroad up the Platte valley, not a tunnel, trestle or fill of any importance was required, nor a single difficulty encountered from the Missouri river to the west line of the state. Take the state as a whole, it slopes mainly toward the east and in minor degree toward the south. The ascent west from Omaha is at the rate of five and a half feet to the mile for one hundred miles. The sec ond hundred miles increases the ascent to seven feet; the third hundred, seven and a half feet; the fourth hundred to ten and a half feet to the mile, and the ascent of the last fifty miles at the west end of the state is eighteen feet to the mile. The figures are approximately correct. A similar gradual ascent characterizes the south and north lines of the state. The southeastern corner of the state, which is the lowest part of the state, has an elevation of 878 feet. Here the ascent is only one and a quarter feet to the mile. Even less than this is the fall going northward to Dakota City. In western Nebraska the difference in elevation between the Union Pacific railroad and the Re publican valley on the south side is approximate ly 352 feet. From the Union Pacific, on the west line, going northward, the elevation increases until Scott's Bluff is reached, where the elevation of 6,051 feet is the highest point in the state. From here to the valley of the Niobrara, toward the north line, there is a gradual descent. As the elevation at Pine Bluffs, on the extreme western line of the state, on the Union Pacific, is 5,061 feet, the ascent from this point northward is 635 feet, against a corresponding difference of less than 200 feet on the east line of the state. Taking the data, obtained principally by a reduction of railroad surveys in various parts of the state, the average elevation of the whole state is about 2,312 feet. Although there are no large lakes in Nebraska, there are many small ones. Besides the lakes of fresh water, there are a few saline or alkaline. In southeastern Nebraska many springs appear on top of limestone strata that underlie loosely- compacted sandy rocks or shales. In most parts of the state, by sinking a shaft down from fifteen to fifty feet, fresh water can be had in abundance. In Fillmore, Clay, Adams and Phelps counties, and in some other portions of the state we find excep tions to this rule, where there is a great thickness of loess and drift to be penetrated before imper vious strata capable of holding water are reached. Some artesian wells have been bored. Among the rivers of Nebraska, the deep and rapid Missouri is the principal one. At least five hundred miles of this river are on the eastern and northern borders of the state. It is a highway to the commerce and markets of the world. Had it not been for the Missouri, the settlement of this region would have been indefinitely delayed. As the river is navigable for two thousand miles above Omaha, it was a great highway for traffic with the mountain regions of Idaho, Dakota and Montana in early days. However, with the build ing of railroads the business has fallen off. The Missouri river is the only navigable river in Ne braska, and has always been described as an "ex ceedingly crooked, treacherous stream." Its source is in latitude forty-five north, and longi tude 110 :30 west, high up in the Rocky moun tains, and the distance it flows from the Great Falls to its junction with the Mississippi river is 2,575 miles. The Missouri seems to hold a mort gage on the lands that flank it on either side, and it often takes such lands by force, only to' return them when some other change in its ever shifting course is developed. Previous to the exploration made by Lewis and Clark, the impression pre vailed among the Spanish and French residents in what was then known as the Northwestern Territory, that the source of the Missouri was near a point where it joins the Niobrara, and most of the maps in use previous to the exploration re- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 19 ferred to locate its source at or near the point mentioned. Having referred to the Missouri as being the only navigable river touching Nebraska, it will doubtless be of interest in this connection to men tion the first steamer on the Missouri. It was built at Pittsburg by the United Sates govern ment in 1818, and named the "Western Engin eer. ' ' She left her moorings' at Pittsburg May 3, 1819J having on board an exploring expedition sent out by order of the government to explore the Missouri river and the country west of the Rocky mountains. The expedition was under the command of Major S. H. Long, and arrived at St. Louis on June 20, one month and seventeen days after starting. The mouth of the Platte was reached on the 17th of September following, and on the 19th of the same month the expedition cast anchor near the mouth of Boyer river, on the Iowa side, about five miles below Council Bluffs, where it went into winter quarters. The point of encampment was known as Fort Lisa, and was occupied by the Missouri Fur Company as a trad ing post. Here the explorers remained during the winter of 1819-20, Major Long in the mean time returning to Philadelphia, the then seat of government, with reports of the expedition. June 20, 1820, Major Long returned to Fort Lisa with orders for the expedition to proceed overland to the head waters of the Arkansas and Red rivers, for the purpose of exploring said streams and the country contiguous to them, and, in accordance therewith, the expedition left the boat at this point and proceeded up the valley of the Platte, holding councils with the numerous Indian tribes through which they passed. The "Western En gineer," after the departure of the expedition, received a new commander, and was employed for many years thereafter in transporting gov ernment supplies to forts and trading posts along the Missouri river. The Platte is the second great river in Nebras ka. It is nearly 1,200 miles in length. Its head waters originate in the mountains, and some of them in lakelets, fed by the everlasting snows. By the time it reaches Nebraska it is a broad, shallow, sandy, but rapid current. Flowing from west, to east through the state, it divides it, leaving the larger part on the north. It is not navigable. Flood time is about the same for both rivers. Sometimes for the Platte it is a few days or weeks earlier. Among other important rivers and creeks are the Republican, Niobrara, Keya Paha, White, Elkhorn, Logan, the Bow rivers, the Nemahas, the Blues, the Loups, Salt Creek, Weeping Water, the Wahoo, Elk Creek, South and West Iowa creeks, and others. SOIL, AGRICULTURE AND STOCK RAISING. The elements found in the soil of the greater part of Nebraska forms one of the richest and most tillable soils in the world, and the unrivaled fertility of her soil places Nebraska in the front rank among the great grain producing states of the union. The soil of the table and upland is composed of what is known as loess or lacustrine deposit, most valuable of all for agricultural pur poses, and this deposit, of uniform color, prevails over nearly three-fourths of the area of the state. In some places in the northeastern counties it is claimed to be nearly two hundred feet thick, but in the balance of the state it ranges from five to one hundred and fifty feet in thickness. One of the former state geologists, Prof. Samuel Aughey, after a careful analysis of this soil from samples taken in different portions of the state, incorpor ated the following in one of his reports: "From my examination I find that over eighty per cent. of this formation is silieious matter, and so finely comminuted is it that the grains can only be seen under a good microscope. So abundant are the carbonates and phosphates of lime that in many places they form peculiar rounded and oval con cretions. Vast numbers of these concretions from the size of a shot to a walnut are found almost everywhere by turning over the sod and in excava tions. The analysis shows the presence of a com paratively large amount of iron, besides alumina, soda, potash, etc. These elements -form one of the richest soils in the world. In fact, in its chemical and physical properties and the mode of its origin, it comes nearest to the loess of the Rhine and the valley of Egypt. It can never be exhausted until every hill and valley which composes it is entire ly worn away. Owing to the wonderfully finely comminuted silica of which the bulk of the depos its consist, it possesses natural drainage in the highest degree. However great the floods of water that fall, it soon percolates through this soil, which in its lowest depths retains it like a sponge. When drouths come, by capillary attraction, the moisture comes up from below, supplying the needs of vegetation in the dryest seasons. This is the reason why all over this region where this deposit prevails, the native vegetation and culti vated crops are seldom either dried out or drowned out. This is especially the case on old breaking where deep plowing is practiced." Next in importance after the loess or lacustrine are the alluvium deposits. From an analysis made of the bottom lands it appears that, chemi cally, alluvium differs from the loess chiefly in having more organic matter and alumina, and less silica. The soil of the bottom lands is rich in or ganic matter. The depth of this soil varies greatly, it often being twenty feet or more in thickness, and then the sand of the subsoil is reached at a depth of two or three feet. The alkali lands are to be found in different sections of the state, but chiefly in the western portion. In the east half there are scarcely any such lands, the majority of counties having none at all, while in others are small spots. These alkali lands are renovated and made very produc- 20 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tive by irrigation, cultivation and drainage. The time is rapidly approaching when these lands will become the most valuable farming sections of the world. They are not confined to any one geo logical formation, but are found some times on the drift, alluvium or the loess. They increase in number from the eastern to the western portions of the state, and where they have been closely examined they have been found to vary a great deal in chemical constituents. Generally, how ever, the alkali is largely composed of soda com pounds, with an occasional excess of lime and magnesia or potash. Much of the alkali origin ated by the accumulation of water in low places. The escape of the water by evaporation left the saline matter behind, and in case of salt (sodi um chloride), which all waters contain in at least minute quantities, the chloride, by chemical reactions, separated from the sodium, the latter uniting with oxygen and carbonic acid formed the soda compounds. The alkali that exists far doAvn in the soil is also brought up during dry weather by escaping moisture, and is left on the surface when the water is evaporated. One of the most interesting features of the topography of southern Nebraska is the salt bas ins stretching along the west side of Salt Creek from Lincoln five or six miles to the north. An early writer said of these: "In ordinary sunny days, of which the climate of Nebraska is so prodigal, these basins, some of which are a mile in diameter, exactly resemble at a distance, bod ies of limpid water, and it is difficult for a strang er to realize that what he sees reflecting the rays of the sun from a mirrorlike surface is a level floor of compact earth, covered with a layer of saline crystals and intersected with tiny rivers of brine flowing into the creek that obtains from them its name and character." The discovery of these basins was made by the government surveyors in 1856, and at that time great wealth was anticipat ed for those who would erect suitable works for the manufacture of salt. Several companies were organized to manufacture salt, and a great deal of litigation resulted over the rival claims to the various basins. In certain sections of the western portion of the state are found the "sand hills." Sometimes these hills are comparatively barren, but in most places they are fertile enough to sustain a cover ing of nutritious grasses, and these regions are now famous stock-raising areas. In many places in the sandy regions the soil has a mixture of drift and loess which makes it highly fertile when supplied with sufficient moisture. Irrigation, which is treated of in another part of this volume, has already begun in the western portion of the state on an extensive scale, and the wonderful future of this line of development is surely foretold in the success that has been attained along the Platte river by irrigating the lands. This great work as yet is in its infancy, but enough is already proven along this line to safely predict a most marvelous growth and de velopment of the wealth and resources of western Nebraska by scientific and practical irrigation. Nebraska is essentially an agricultural state. The bountiful soil and mildness of climate are especially favorable to cereal crops, and in fact to all the products of the temperate zone, nearly all of which are grown here to perfection, and attain a size and quality rarely found in older states. It is also one of the most favored and important stock-raising countries in the world — in fact, the state of Nebraska, and more especially its north western and western portions, is fairly entitled to the first position among the western states and territories as a stock-producing and stock-sustain ing region. Its vast prairies, abundant, luxuriant and nutritious grasses; its rivers, creeks and springs of clear, sparkling water, and still more, its uniform and delightful climate — these are a few of the more substantial reasons why Nebras ka excels as a stock-raising country. But even in the far western counties mixed farming is fast gaining headway, and the general rule of the moderate farmer is to raise grain along with stock, and the growth in wealth and productive ness of that region has been marvelously rapid and substantial. All of the factors which enter into the deter- Imination of an ideal climate are found in Nebras ka — temperature, forms of belief, condition of the atmosphere, geographical position and rainfall — all combine to make this a climate as satisfactory as can be found anywhere in the union. Long and mild autumns are characteristic here. During these months excessive rains seldom fall. Occa sionally there is a rough spell in October, but almost invariably it is followed by mild weather which is generally prolonged into December and in some years into January. The climate is par ticularly healthful. No spot on the globe is abso lutely free from disease, but this state is singular ly exempt from its severest forms. Fever and ague are more rarely met with here than in most states. Where they do occur it is owing to lim ited local causes or extraordinary exposure, and they are generally successfully "treated by the simplest remedies. Many of these eases .con tracted elsewhere come here in hopes of having the disease cured by this climate, and they are rarely disappointed if nature is given a chance to exert its full health-making power. The cause of the general exemption from this class of diseases and malarial poisons is found in the peculiar cli mate and surface conditions of the state. An early writer, in speaking enthusiastically of this climate, said: "Nearly every one who comes to the state feels a general quickening and elas ticity of spirits. The appetite and digestion im prove wonderfully. Mind and body are lifted up. It must originate from our peculiarities of cli mate. I have myself felt in this state as I have never felt it elsewhere, especially when camping out far away from settlements and alone with COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 21 nature and God, how luxurious existence was aud how pleasant life was intended to be." Western Nebraska as a whole has been what might be called semi-arid, though not in an ex treme sense, as many sections have been produc tive since early settlement. During the last ten years moisture conditions in the entire section have been improving, and the productivity has, therefore, been increasing, which has consequent ly caused a general and gradual increase in land values which is continuing at the present time. Two things in early days caused western Nebras ka to be semi-arid: first, lack of sufficient pre cipitation, and, second, hot winds. There have been years when the annual rainfall was suffi cient, but at the time when the crops were nearing maturity the hot winds from the south and south west would blast them. During the past few years innumerable irrigation projects, both gov ernment and private, have been turning hundreds and thousands of acres in Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming under irrigation. This great trans formation in the southwest will result in elimin ating forever any furher visitations of hot winds which originated in that territory ; at least under no conditions will they again visit this region with such destroying effect as in the past. This vast irrigated district surrounding Nebraska on the west, southwest and south will result in giv ing western Nebraska increased precipitation from the great evaporation occurring there. IRRIGATION IN NEBRASKA. Irrigation in Nebraska has made considerable progress during the past few years, and the work contemplated by the government along the line of storing the flood water of the North Platte river will add a large number of acres to the irrigated area. In the valleys of the Platte and North Platte rivers are found the largest irrigation enterprises of the state. In many places the valley reaches a width of ten to twelve miles, and contains some of the best soil to be found anywhere in the state.- On the Republican some very successful ditches have been operated. The total length of these ditches is nearly two hundred miles, covering about fifty thousand acres. In the northwestern part of the state a large number of canals have been built, using the water from Hat creek, White river and Niobrara river and their tributaries. Most of these ditches are small, but they are of great value, as they furnish the means of supplying winter feed for the cattle which graze upon the' range adjacent to these irrigated sections during the greater part of the year. These small ditches also enable the ranch man to raise a variety of products which would be impossible without irrigation. Many canals have been built,taking their water from the Loup rivers and their tributaries. The largest of these, the Great Eastern canal, which heads a short distance above Genoa, has about seventy miles of canal constructed and in opera tion,' and covers about forty thousand acres of land. These streams flow for the greater portion of their lengths through a section of the state where the natural rainfall is generally sufficient for the production of good crops, and for this reas on only a very small percentage of the flow has been diverted for use in irrigation. Some very extensive schemes for the develop ment of power have been planned, involving the use of the waters of the Loup, Elkhorn and Platte rivers. Only a few canals have been taken out of the Elkhorn and lower Niobrara rivers for irrigation. Among the largest of these is the Elkhorn Valley canal. The Elkhorn river is used extensively for the development of power, and application has been made for water for several large power plants on the Niobrara. Some of the smaller streams such as Lodge Pole, Pumpkin Seed and Frenchman rivers, irri gate an area very much in excess of what would be expected from an examination of the records of their discharge measuremnts. The Lodge Pole, which rarely flows more than twenty cubic feet per second at any point at this writing, supplies seventy-seven miles of canal, covering about twelve thousand acres of land, and a large percentage of this land receives sufficient water to insure the production of good crops. In many localities in Nebraska the land under irrigation has reached a high state of cultiva tion, and a large variety of crops is produced. Under the older canals many well-improved farms are found which will compare favorably with any to be found in the eastern portion of the state. A great deal of alfalfa is grown under irriga tion, and the cultivation of sugar beets is being rapidly developed. The beets show a very large percentage of sugar, and the tonnage is heavy. The abundance of sunshine and the fact that the amount of moisture supplied may be regulated so as to give the growing beets just the amount re quired, and the further fact that the soil seems to be particularly adapted to their growth, make this an ideal locality for sugar-beet culture. Much of the land under irrigation has never been broken up, and is devoted to the production of native hay. The native sod when irrigated pro duces large crops of hay of a very superior qual ity. Within the last few years the supreme court has handed down several opinions which have done much to settle the question of irrigation rights in Nebraska. These decisions declare the irrigation laws of the state to be constitutional, define the rights of riparian owners, and uphold the rights of appropriators who have made bene ficial use of the water. This has done much to es tablish the stability of existing rights and to en- 22 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. courage appropriators. There are still a number of important points which remain unsettled. Nebraska, extending as it does from the Missouri river almost to the mountains, includes within its borders two distinct regions. The eastern portion of the state is within the humid region, and the rainfall is sufficient for successful agriculture. The extreme eastern portion might be classed as semi-arid. Here the rainfall in the past has been very variable. The conditions being so different in different portions of the state render it very difficult to settle many of the questions which arise in regard to the use of water. The question of the distribution of the water of interstate streams is a very important one, and one which should be seettled as soon as possible. Ne braska is particularly interested in this question. A very large part of the land reclaimed in this state receives its water from the Platte rivers. The pioneers of irrigation have gone into- this part of the state and encountered all the hard ships incident to the settlement of a new country, and have brought thousands of acres of land un der the influence of irrigation and added millions of dollars to the value of the state. These people should be protected in the use of water which they have appropriated, and be assured that subsequent appropriators in other states will not be permitted to divert the water and ruin their work of a lifetime. Some system should be devised whereby the appropria- tor of the water of any stream who has made beneficial use of the same, should be protected without regard to state lines or other political subdivisions. In the early days of the settlement of this state there was a great prejudice against irrigation, and any one who advocated it was looked upon as an enemy of the state. Many of the pioneers who settled in the western portion of the state, realizing the uncertainty of agriculture when de pendent upon the natural rainfall, constructed a number of canals which demonstrated the value of irrigation. We quote the following article bearing on this subject from the latest report issued by the state board of agriculture: "Nebraska has now over 2,500 miles of canals, covering over one million acres of land. In the western part of the state the normal flow of many of the streams during the height of the irrigating season has already been appropriated, but only a small portion of the entire flow is used, and a large amount of land can still be reclaimed by an intelligent system of storage and by educating the irrigators to use the water upon the land when it is to be had instead of waiting until the crops are suffering and every one desires to use the full amount of his appro priation. On some of the smaller streams the plan of distributing the water by a time schedule has proven very successful. This allows each appropriator to use all the water available in the stream for a short period, and then turn it out to be used by the next one who is entitled to it. In this way it is possible to accomplish much more than could be accomplished when each irrigator is restricted to the amount of his appropriation, which is sometimes only a fraction of a cubic foot per second, and is allowed to use it for the entire season. "We have a district irrigation law in Nebraska which enables a majority of the land-owners in any territory which is susceptible to irrigation from a common source, to organize & district, and this district has authority to vote bonds for the construction or purchase of works, and to levy a tax to raise money to pay these bonds and also to pay for the maintenance of the works. This law has worked out very successfully in many cases, and we have some districts organized under it which are finely improved and in good financial condition. "There has been considerable development along the line of pumping water for irrigation, and quite a number of plants have been put in operation, employing windmills, water wheels, gasoline and steam engines for the motive power." Taking everything into consideration, Nebras ka has made very good progress in irrigation im provement, and is in position to make still great er development in the future. STATISTICS. In 1874 the government report showed that Ne braska raised only 3,619,000 bushels of wheat. In 1880 this had grown to 12,922,000. In 1890 the government gave the figures as 15,315,000 bushels, and in 1900, 24,810,000, but since then the state has made wonderful development in the way of wheat growing. In 1902 it raised a crop of 52,726,000 bushels; its crop in 1905 was 48,002,000 bushels; in 1906 its wheat yield was 51,709,000 bushels, and in 1907, when the crop was short everywhere, the government report made it 46,879,000 bushels. In 1910 the produc tion of wheat was 45,151,000 bushels. It has also become a great corn-growing state. As late as 1880 its corn crop was only 59,507,000 bushels. Eight years later it raised 144,217,000 bushels. In 1898 the government reported its crop at 158;754,000 bushels; in 1904 it was 260,942,335 bushels; in 1906 its yield was 241,383,537 bush els, and the reports for 1910 give the yield as be ing 178,923,128 bushels. The above figures are given to show by way of comparison the marvelous growth of the state and its development as an agricultural region. The growth has been equally marked in regard to other crops, and also in its manufacturing and commercial interests. This is evidenced by the growth of bank deposits in Nebraska. In 1890 the bank deposits in Nebraska were reported as being $48,770,811. In 1905 they had grown to $134,991,210, and two years later (1907) they COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 23 were given as being $178,361,355.13. On Septem ber 1, 1911, the deposits amounted in round num bers to over $200,000,000. In speaking of the prosperity of the state and the general condition of its people, Governor Sheldon, in closing one of his Thanksgiving proc lamations, said: "Our granaries and our store houses are filled with the products of our farms and our factories. Our pastures and our feed lots contain cattle, hogs and sheep without number. Our commercial and business institutions are sol vent. Our people, realizing that they must go up or go down together, have full confidence in each other's honesty and integrity. The indus trious and frugal for a decade have been well rewarded for their labor. This has enabled them to provide their families with the comforts of life and build beautiful homes in our cities through out the country. For all these things that have promoted our peace, prosperity and happiness, it is fitting that thanks should be rendered unto Him whose invisible hand controls our destiny. ' ' CHAPTER II. THE DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF LOUISIANA; EARLY EXPLORATIONS, EARLY SETTLEMENT; THE BIRTH OF NEBRASKA- PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE. I T is difficult looking back through the mist *¦ of years to arrive at an incontrovertable conclusion as to just when and by whom the mid dle portion of the United States was first visited by white men. There is a wealth of interesting historical documents and writings recounting the invasion of this part of the continent by whites and tracing the march of civilization, most of which base their beginning with the French ex plorers, but it is now regarded as an established fact by many historical writers that the south western and middle portions of the United States were included in Spanish explorations early in the fifteenth century. One of the expeditions which is referred to by many historians is the Coronado expedition. It is related that in about the year 1540, Coronado, who was then governor of New Gallia, organized an expedition and exe cuted a march from Mexico to the region which is now the heart of Nebraska and Kansas. That was as marvelous an undertaking as the history of this continent affords. Not only was the region to be covered an unknown land, but the obstacles to be overcome, the mountains between and sub sequent stretches of sand plains and desert made the undertaking a gigantic one. And yet under these conditions it is said that an army of about one thousand men was pushed across the arid plains, the rugged mountains and barren deserts. which lie between what is now Nebraska and Mexico. This, it must be remembered, was eighty years before the Pilgrims landed on the shores of New England; sixty-eight years before Hudson discovered the river which bears his name ; sixty- six years before John Smith commenced the set tlement of what was afterward to be Virginia; and nearly a century before Jean Nicolet estab lished commercial relations with the Indians of Wisconsin. This expedition was organized to search for fabulous wealth which was supposed to exist in these regions, of which marvelous tales had been carried to Mexico. The end of the long march is graphically told by Judge J. W. Savage, a careful student and an eloquent writer on Ne braska's early history, in the following words: "Northward from the Arkansas river for many weary and anxious hours, the little band which accompanied the adventurous general pursued its way over the Kansas plains. July had come, the days were long and hot and the sultry nights crept over the primeval prairie, seeming to rise like a shadowy and threatening specter out of the grass. But stout hearts and good horses brought them at last to what I am satisfied is the southern boundary of Nebraska. And here, along the Platte river, they found the long-sought King dom of Quivera; here was Tartarrax, the hoary- headed old ruler of the land. But alas for the vanity of human expectations ! The only precious metal they saw was a copper plate hanging to the old chief's breast, by which he set great store; there were no musical bells, no gilded eagle, no silver dishes, no rosary, no image of the Vir gin, no cross, no crown, that they had been led to believe existed. In the midst of his disappoint ment the general took a melancholy pleasure in hanging his guides who had so egregiously mis guided him. It is said that the guides here boldly avowed that they knew of no gold ; that they had brought the invaders into the wilderness to perish with hunger and hardship, to rid the peaceful dwellers in the Rio Grande and Pecos valleys of their hated presence, and met their fate with stoicism which the Spaniards called despair and remorse. Here then, upon the southern boundary of this state at a point not yet easily ascertain- 24 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. able, but doubtless between Gage county on the east and Furnas county on the west, Coronado set foot on the soil of Nebraska and remained for twenty-five days. I have heretofore adverted to the fact that this location of the northern terminus has not met with universal acceptation. The arguments, however, in support of the theory seem to me to be unanswerable. ' ' While it is true that the location of the north ern terminus is not definitely settled, most writers concede that Coronado 's march — following the itinerary given in the Spanish documents and papers — must have carried this band of explorers up somewhere into the Kansas-Nebraska prairies. The land of Quivera, and the Seven Cities of the Buffalo, referred to is surrounded by much gla mour of romantic mystery. Although a number of contemporaneous narratives are preserved refer ring to this kingdom and to remarkable searches made for it, it is singular that hardly any two writers agree as to the location or the ultimate terminus of the searching expeditions. At about the same time another event was transpiring, also under the folds of the Spanish flag, which for years stood undisputed in point of priority, and an epoch is marked in American history by the discovery of the Mississippi by Ferdinand DeSoto in 1542. It is related that in 1542 Ferdinand De Soto, with a band of Spanish adventurers, acting un der a commission from the sovereign of his native land, discovered the Mississippi river about the mouth of the Ouachita. After the sudden death of their leader, in May of that year, his followers, after burying his body in the river, built a small vessel, and in July, 1543, descended the great river to the Gulf of Mexico. Thus the mouth of the Mississippi was discovered one hundred and thirty years prior to the discovery of its upper valley by the French missionary priests. By virtue of this and the conquest of Florida, Spain claimed the country bordering on the Mis sissippi and the Gulf of Mexico, but made no at tempt to colonize it permanently. At that time it was tacitly understood by the various mari time states of Europe that the discovery and oc cupation of any part of the New World made a legitimate title to the country. Although the valley of the Mississippi was thus taken posses sion of by Spain, the failure of that power to con summate its discovery by planting colonies or settlements, made their title void, and the country was left open to be rediscovered and taken pos session of by other powers. In 1534 and 1535 an intelligent and capable French naval officer, Jacques Cartier, discovered and named the St. Lawrence river. He took pos session of that country in the name of his king and built a rude fort, in 1541, near the present site of Quebec. This was sixty-six years before the English made a setlement at Jamestown, Virginia. From that time on the country became known and settlements sprang up along the great river and it became the province of New France. In 1608 Champlain selected the site of the old fort of Cartier 's as the future capital of the pro vince. Champlain made many explorations in and around the country, and in 1609, ascending a tributary of the St. Lawrence, found that beau tiful sheet of water in New York that bears his name. After visiting France, he returned and in 1615, accompanying a tribe of Indians to their far off hunting grounds, discovered Lake Huron. It was early in the seventeenth century when the revived religion of France quickened the fervor of her noble missionary priests. Led by their zeal to the New World, they penetrated the wilderness in all directions from Quebec, carrying the tidings of the Gospel to the heathen. Along the river St. Lawrence, through the chain of Great Lakes, westward, they pushed their way, establishing missions and endeavoring to turn the savages to their faith. This movement be gan in. 1611, when Father La Caron, a Francis can friar, the friend and companion of Cham plain, made a journey to the rivers of Lake Huron on foot and by paddling a bark canoe. In 1632, on the establishment of a government of New France, under the commission of Louis XIII, and the patronage of his great prime minister, Ar- mand Duplessis, Cardinal Richelieu, the work of converting the Indian passed from the order of St. Francis, to that of Loyola, the famed Jesuit. Burning with a pious zeal and animated by a spirit of self-sacrifice, rarely, if ever, paralleled in the history of missionary work, these latter, simple priests, penetrated the wilds of the Cana dian frontier, and through toil and pain, often to martyrdom, carried the cross to the remote tribes of the Mississippi and its tributaries. Brancroft, the historian, says : ' ' The history of their labors is connected with the origin of every celebrated town in the annals of French America ; not a cape was turned or a river entered, but a Jesuit led the way. ' ' In 1634 the Jesuits, Brebeuf and Daniels, fol lowed by Lallemand, made a journey into the far west. Joining a party of Huron Indians, who had been in Quebec, and who were returning to their homes, they pushed their way, enduring, without complaint, untold fatigue and suffering, by lake, river and forest. They penetrated to the heart of the Huron wilderness. Near the shores of Lake Iroquois was raised the first house of the Society of Jesus in all that region, and soon two villages, named St. Louis and St. Ignace, sprang up among the primeval forests that were then the homes of the savage red man. The mission of Brebeuf gave to the world its first knowledge of the water courses of the St. Lawrence valley. From a map published in France in 1660 it is seen that these pious priests had explored the country from the waters of the Niagara to the head of Lake Superior and had heard of or seen the shores of Lake Michigan. As early as 1635 Jean Nicolet, who had been COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 25 one of Champlain 's interpreters, and who had come from his native land, France, to Canada in 1618, reached the western shores of Lake Michi gan. In the summer of 1634 he ascended the St. Lawrence river with a party of Hurons, and thence onward to Lake Michigan, and during the following winter traded with the Indians at what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1635 he re turned to Canada. He was married in Quebec, October 7, 1637, and lived at Three Rivers until 1642, when he died. Of him it is said, in a letter written in 1640, that he had penetrated the far thest into these distant countries and that if he had proceeded "three days more on a great river which flows from that lake (Green Bay), he would have found the sea, ' ' for such was the common be lief in those days, even among geographers and other scientists. The hostilities of the Iroquois, or Five Nations, a confederacy of fierce and bloodthirsty savages, prevented the journey of Raymbault and Picard to the west in 1640, but the following year at the great feast of the dead, held by the Algon- quins, at Lake Nipising, the Jesuits were invited to visit the land of the Ojibway or Chippewa In dians, at what is now Sault de Sainte Marie. Ac cordingly, September 17, 1641, Fathers Raym bault and Jogues left the Bay of Penetanguish- ene in a bark canoe for the rendezvous, where, after a passage of seventeen days, they found two thousand Indians, who had congregated to meet them. At this assembly the fathers learned of many as yet unheard-of tribes. Here was heard the first mention of the Daeotahs, called in the Ojib way tongue, Nadouechionec or Nadouessioux. The latter name, abbreviated by the French, forms the present name of those fierce nomads of the North, the Sioux. It has been truly said "that the French were looking toward the homes of the Sioux, in the great valleys of the Missis sippi and Missouri five years before the New Eng land Eliot had addresse'd the tribes of Indians who dwelt within six miles of Boston harbor." In the ardor of his enthusiasm for discovery Raymbault expected to reach the Pacific ocean, then supposed to be but a few hundred miles west of where the Mississippi river is now found. However, he was laid low by the hand of death, dying in 1642 of sickness brought on by hard ships and exposure. In August, 1654, two fur traders joined a band of Ottawa Indians and made a long journey in to the far west. In two years they returned with some fifty canoes and two hundred and fifty na tives. They described the rivers and lakes of the west, and the tribes whose homes stretched away to the northern sea and mentioned the Sioux who dwelt beyond Lake Superior and who wanted to trade with the white man. In this way the exploration of the western country was extended from the eastward into the wilds of the great west. The adventurous spirits 2% from the St. Lawrence explored the great lakes and adjacent regions, planting the seeds of com merce and civilization, and we see the trend of exploration pushing still westward toward the land of which we write. Among those who should be mentioned as having helped to carry civiliza tion west of the great lakes and who explored considerable territory in what is now Wisconsin and Illinois were Father Rene Menard, Father Claude Allouez and Father Jaquez Marquette. It seems that in the year 1660 the superior of the Jesuits at Quebec, learning of the many savage tribes to the west of the missions, and burning with zeal for the advancement of the cause of Christ and his church, and aiming at the conver sion of the heathen, sent this Father Rene Me nard and another priest as apostles among the red men. Father Menard's "hair had been whitened by age, his mind ripened by long exper ience, and, being well acquainted with the pecul- iarties of the Indian character, he seemed the man for the mission. ' ' The night previous to his departure sleep deserted the eyes of the venera ble priest. He knew that he was going into the land of ruthless, savage barbarians, and he thought of his friends. Two hours past midnight he penned a letter to a friend, the pious simplicity of which is a monument to this estimable priest. Early on the morning of the 28th of August, 1660, in company with the party of fur traders, he departed from Three Rivers. October 15 he arrived at a bay on Lake Superior, to which he gave the name of Ste. Theresa, its discovery oc curring on her fete day. The party remained at this point all winter, hard pressed for want of food, being driven to all sorts of shifts to avoid starvation. Having received an invitation to visit them from the Hurons and Ottawas, Father Men ard started for their villages on the island of St. Michael. In some manner he wandered away from his guide, got lost, and, although the guide sought him faithfully, was never found; he per ished in some unknown manner. Relies of him were found from time to time in Sac and Sioux villages many years after, but no tale ever came to his many waiting friends to tell how or where he died. In the summer of 1663 the news of his death reached Montreal. His succesor was soon found, for the impassive obedience of the members of the Order of Loyola brooked no opposition to the command of a su perior. Father Claud Allouez was chosen to carry the cross to these heathens, and to follow in the footsteps of Father Menard. Impatiently wait ing for the chance to proceed to his work, he was unable to. find conveyance and convoy until the summer of 1665, when, in company with six of his own race and color and four hundred savages, he started. He built a mission at La Pointe, on Lake Superior, where he taught the simple na tives his religion and took up his work among them. Here he, too, heard about the Indians that 26 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. had their homes on the banks of that mighty river, a stream which the natives knew by the name of Messipi. Although he had done a great work exploring the country around the southern boundary of what is now Wisconsin and in the northern part of Illinois, and had preached to all the Indians met with in that region, Father Allouez grew discouraged, and pased on to other fields. Sep tember 13, 1669, he was succeeded by the famous Father Jacques Marquette. The design of discov ering the Mississippi, a stream about which the Indians had told so much, seems to have origin ated with Father Marquette in the same year of his reaching the mission of the Holy Ghost at La Pointe. The year previous he and Father Claud Dablon had established the mission of St. Mary within what is now Michigan. Circumstances about this time were favorable for a voyage of discovery among Indians. The protection afford ed to the Algonquins of the west by the commerce with New France had confirmed their attach ment, and had created for them a political inter est in France and in the minds of Louis XIV and his great financier, Colbert. The intendent of justice in New France, Talon, determined to ex tend the power of France to the utmost border of Canada, and for this purpose Nicholas Perrot was despatched to the west as an emissary. The lat ter proposed a congress or convention of the In dian nations at St. Mary's mission, and the invi tation to attend was extended far and wide. Per rot arrived, and in May, 1671, there assembled at the Sault de Ste. Marie a great gathering of In dians from all parts of the northwest. From the headwaters of the St. Lawrence and the Missis sippi, from the great lakes and the prairies be yond, from the valley of the Red river of the north, and from the plains of Dakota they came, and it was announced that there should be peace, and that they were all under the protection of France. The same year Pere Marquette gathered together one of the broken branches of the Hu rons at Point St. Ignace, which became quite a religious establishment. . These things having been done, the grand ex ploring expedition to the west to discover the great river so often heard about was the next to be attended to. May 13, 1673, Marquette and Joliet, accompanied by five other Frenchmen, set out. Louis Joliet was a native of Quebec, born in 1645. He was educated by the Jesuits for the priesthood. He, however, determined to become a fur trader, which he did. He was sent with an associate to explore the region of the copper mines of Lake Superior. He was a man of close and intelligent observation, and possessed consid erable mathematical acquirements. In 1673 he was a merchant, courageous, hardy, enterprising. He was appointed by the French authorities at Quebec to discover the Mississippi. He passed up the lakes to Mackinaw and found at Point Ignace the reverend Father Marquette, who was ready to accompany him. Their outfit was simple — two birch-bark canoes and a supply of smoked meat and Indian corn. The friendly Indians tried to dissuade the father and Joliet from undertaking this voyage, saying that the Indians of that quar ter were bad; that they were cruel and re lentless, and that the river was the abode of all kinds of demons and evil spirits, but this did not intimidate these bold and hardy men. Passing the straits, they followed the north and west shore of Lake Michigan to Green Bay, where they entered the Fox river. This they ascended with great labor until they came to the village of the Kickapoos and Miamas, the extreme point to which the explorations of the French had as yet extended. Here Marquette was much pleased to see "a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town, ornamented with white skins, red gir dles and bows and arrows which those good peo ple had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank Him for the pity he had bestowed upon them during the winter in having given them an abundant chase." On assembling the chiefs of the village and the medicine men, Marquette made them a speech, telling them that Joliet had been sent by the governor of New France to discover new countries, and himself by God to spread the light of the gospel. He added that he feared not death nor exposure to which he ex pected to be called upon to endure. From this place, under the guidance of two Miami Indians, the expedition started to cross the portage from the Fox to the Wisconsin river. On reaching the latter stream the guide left them and they pushed their way down the rapid waters of the Wisconsin until, upon the 17th of June, their frail barks floated upon the majestic waters of the Mississip pi. Down the mighty "Father of Waters" they voyaged until they reached the mouth of the Illinois. Up the latter stream they paddled their way through a virgin land, encountering many difficulties and privations. At the forks of the river they entered the Desplaines, and by that and the Chicago river reached Lake Michigan and finally Green Bay. At the latter point Father Marquette remained to recuperate his exhausted strength, while Joliet and his companions has tened on to Quebec to report his success to his superiors. The rediscovery of the lower Mississippi re mained for the gallant, daring and indefatigable La Salle, to whose labors, privations and enter prise the French settlements in the Mississippi valley are so largely indebted. La Salle was a poor man, for, having relinquished his patrimony on entering the Society of Jesus, on his honorable retirement from that order he had nothing. In 1667, having in the meantime crossed the seas to the new world in search of fortune, he appeared as a fur trader near what is now the city of Mon treal. His business led him to explore both Lakes Ontario and Erie. Full of enthusiasm for discov ery and for the colonization of the west, he re- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 27 turned to his native land for help and authority to act. He received the title of Chevalier and considerable grants of land in Canada, and re turned in 1678. The same year he conveyed a party from Fort Frontenac (now Kingston, Canada) to the neighborhood of Niagara Falls in a vessel of ten tons. This was the first craft that ever sailed up the Niagara river. In 1679 he launched a vessel of some seventy tons burden. On the 7th of August of that year, amid the salvos of artillery, the chants of the Te Deum by the priests, and the plaudits of the people and In dians, he sailed from the little harbor. He passed through Lake Erie and through the Detriot and St. Clair rivers into Lake Huron. Onward through the straits of Mackinaw into Lake Michi gan his little vessel ploughed its way, and was the first to navigate a sailing craft upon the blue waters of the latter body of water. Coasting down its western shore, La Salle, in his bark, which he had called the Griffin, came to Green Bay, where he came to anchor. He had named his little craft in honor of the coat of arms of his patron, Comte de Frontenac, then governor of New France. It was LaSalle's intention to util ize his vessel in a regular commerce between the Indians and the settlements, but was doomed to disappointment. Having loaded the vessel with furs and peltries, he ordered the crew to return with it to the Niagara river. He journeyed down to the head of Lake Michigan, and, passing up the St. Joseph river, discovered a portage over the swamps and prairies to the Kankakee river. He followed the latter stream to the Illinois, and pad dled down the latter river until he reached a point about where now stands the city of Peoria. Mis fortunes then accumulated upon the head of La Salle. His vessel was wrecked on its voyage down the lakes and its cargo of furs and pelts totally lost, and the expected stores upon which he had depended to found and keep his colony did not come. The men that were with him grew discontented and threatened to desert. Like a man, and a brave and energetic one, he went to work to carry out the object that he had come so far to accomplish. He built a fort just below Lake Peoria, to which he gave the appropriate name of Creve Coeur (Broken Heart). He sent. Accault, Father Hennepin and others who had accompanied him on a voyage up the Mississippi. This expedition, as related further on, was very successful, it being the first party of white men to tread the shores of the Mississippi river near its head and to gaze upon the falls of St. Anthony. After their departure, La Salle set his men to work to build a barge or boat in which to descend the river, but as sails and cordage were necessary, he determined to make the journey back to Cana da. It was in the depth of winter, and he could have no food but what he could gain by the chase, and no drink but what the streams would afford. Leaving the bulk of his little force under his lieutenant, Tonti, he started with three compan ions on this almost unparalleled journey through the wilderness. He accomplished his mission, but on returning to the fort which he had built and where he had left his men, he found it deserted. The party, who had been ordered before his de parture to erect a new fort on the bluff, had been assaulted by a band of Pottawattamie Indians, and, becoming demoralized, had fled to the shores of Lake Michigan for safety. After wasting some time in a fruitless search for his men, LaSalle fin ally, with the party brught with him, started on his long voyage down the Illinois and Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. April 9, 1682, he took pos session of the whole country watered by the great river from its source to its mouth in the name of the king of France, Louis XIV. Thus was the Mississippi river in its lower course rediscovered and taken possession of as French territory, and thus to La Salle belongs the honor of first navigating its length from the mouth of the Ilinois southward. He gave to this vast empire he had added to the French possessions in America the name of Louisiana in honor of the king, Louis XIV, and to the river which is now called the Mississippi the name of Colbert, after that able minister of finance of France, then one of the foremost men of Europe. He erected a col umn or cross near the mouth of the river, bearing the leaden plate with an inscription, which may be translated as: "Louis the Great, King of France and Navarre, Reigning April 9, 1682." He found the three channels of the delta where by the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico. In May, 1683, he returned to France to make a re- porf^of his valuable discoveries. In 1685 he re turned from his native land with a fleet and with emigrants to colonize the country he had found. Owing to the flat, level country, where land min gled with the water in marsh and swamp spread for hundreds of miles along the north coast of the gulf, he was unable to find the mouth of the river. After beating about for some time in search, he was finally abandoned by Beaujeau, who com manded the fleet, who returned to France. With his store ship and two hundred and thirty emi grants, La Salle was driven ashore and wrecked in Matagorda Bay, in what is now the state of Texas. He hastily constructed a fort of the scat tered timbers of the vessel and formed a colony, to which he gave the name of St. Louis. This set tlement, as if by accident, made Texas a part of Louisiana. After a four-months' search, which he con ducted in canoes, for the lost mouth of the river, which proved fruitless, the restless La Salle, in April, 1686, turned his steps toward New Mexico with twenty companions. He hoped to find the rich gold mines of that country, the Eldorado of the Spanish. The colony did not prosper in his absence. Sickness and death soon took off many of the poor emigrants, so that on his return to that place he found it reduced to about forty or 28 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. fifty persons. Moving them to a healthier locali ty, La Salle determined to travel across the coun try on foot to the settlements on the Illinois and to Canada, and bring back emigrants and supplies. January 12, 1687, he started with sixteen men, leaving the fort and settlment in charge of Sieur Barbier. His little party passed the basin of the Colorado and reached a branch of the Trinity river, where, March 20, 1687, the brave and gal lant La Salle was assassinated by three of his own party. One of his biographers, who calls him truly the father of the French settlements in Louisiana, says : ' ' Not a hint appears in any writer that has come under our notice that easts a shade upon his integrity and honor. Cool and intrepid at all times, never yielding for a moment to despair or even despondency, he bore the heavy burdens of his calamities to the end, and his hopes only expired with his breath." In the meantime, in 1680-81, Louis Hennepin, the Franciscan friar, started down the Illinois river to explore its mouth, and on reaching the Mississippi extended his explorations northward as far as the falls of St. Anthony, which he named. The war between the Iroquois and Brit ish colonies on the one side and the French of Canada on the other eommenced in 1689, and any further attempt at colonization of the lower Mississippi was interrupted, and for a number of years exploration and colonization in the west was at a standstill. It is now time to trace the growth of the great French province of Louisiana in another quarter. This was the parent stem from which grew so many of the great and growing states of the northwest, foremost among which is Nebraska. At the close of the seventeenth century France, by right of discovery and occupation, claimed not only Canada and Nova Scotia, then known as New France and Acadia, Hudson's Bay and New Foundland, but parts of Maine, Vermont and New York, together with the whole of the Missis sippi valley and possessions on the Gulf of Mexi co, including Texas as far south as the Rio del Norte. The English revolution of 1688, when William of Orange succeeded James II upon the throne of England, nor the peace of Ryswick in 1697, did not affect these possessions of France in the new world. At the period at the close of the great war which had just been brought to an end by the above treaty, in which so many powers were included, none of the possessions of France in the new world engaged the attention of the French government so much as Louisiana. In 1697 D'Iberville still further aroused the interest of the minister of the colonies and inspired the Comte de Pontchartrain with the idea of building a fort and making a settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi. Two vessels were fitted out, one under the command of the Marquis de Chateau- Morand and the other under D'Iberville. Both left France in October, 1698, to find the mouth of the river, and after touching at Pensacola entered the delta of the Mississippi March 2, 1699. De Chateau-Morand soon went back to Hayti, but D'Iberville ascended the river as far as what is now known as Bayou Goula. At this point he met an Indian chief who handed him a letter, which was written by Tonti, the man who had left his post at Fort Creve Coeur, where he had been placed by LaSalle, and was addressed to the latter as governor of Louisiana. It read as follows: ' ' Sir — Having found the post upon which you had set up the king's arms thrown down by the driftwood, I caused another to be fixed on this side, about seven leagues from the sea, where I have left a letter in a tree by the side of it. All the nations have smoked the calumet with me; they are people who fear us exceedingly since you have captured this village. I conclude by saying it is a great grief to me that we will return with the ill fortune of not having found you after we had coasted with two canoes thirty leagues on the Mexican side and twenty-five on that of Flor ida." The receipt of this letter was twelve years after the death of La Salle and nineteen after he and Tonti had parted at the Peoria fort. Neither knew what had become of the other. Both had sought the other unavailingly. The letter is in teresting as shedding some light on Tonti 's eon- duct, but more so for the peculiarity of the Indian keeping it so long. D'Iberville again descended the Mississippi, and went to the bay of Biloxi, between the Mis sissippi and Mobile rivers, where he erected a fort. Missions, trading posts and small settle ments began to be founded from that time on in the province. As early as 1712 land titles were issued as far north as Kaskaskia in what is now Illinois. Other settlements arose along the Mis sissippi at various points from the mouth of the Illinois southward. The French determined to circumvent the English colonies on the Atlantic coast by building a line of forts from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, as was once sug gested to the French government by La Salle. Part of this plan was carried into execution. Fort Chartres was constructed on the east bank of the Mississippi in what is now Randolph coun- .ty, Illinois, about sixty-five miles south of the mouth of the Missouri river. This was one of the strongest fortresses on the continent at the .time, and its ruins were to be seen a hundred years later. It was the headquarters of the command ant of Louisiana. Shortly after that, the villages of Cahokia, Prairie du Rocher and others sprang into existence. Fort Vincennes, on the Wabash, was founded in 1702. A monastery and college was established in 1712 at Kaskaskia, a very im portant post at that time and afterward the capi tal of the state of Illinois. The French laid claim to all the great Mississippi valley at that time. "France," says Bancroft, "had obtained, under Providence, the guardianship of this immense district of country, not, as it proved, for her own COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 29 benefit, but rather as a trustee for the infant na tion by which it was one day to be inherited. ' ' By the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, France ceded to England her possessions in Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia and New Foundland, but the former power retained the sovereignty of Canada and Louisiana. In 1711 the affairs of the latter were placed in the hands of a governor general, but this only lasted one year. The colony, not meet ing the expectations of the government of the mother country, in 1712 was farmed out to a com pany to be carried on by private capital. In the year 1712 the entire province of Louisi ana, including the vast country between the Rocky mountains on the west and the Alleghan- ies on the east, in fact the entire area drained by the Mississippi, was granted to Anthony Crozart, or Crozat, a wealthy French merchant of Paris. Within this grant was the whole of the territory which now forms the state of Nebraska. It was stipulated that every two years Crozart was to send two ships from France with goods and emi grants. In his grant the river "heretofore called the Mississippi ' ' is named ' ' St. Louis, ' ' the ' ' Mis- sourys" is called "St. Phillip" and the "Qua- bache" (the Wabash and Ohio united) is named "St. Jerome." Louisiana was made dependent upon the general government of New France (or Canada). The laws of Paris were to be observed. Crozart 's patent extended for a term of sixteen years, but was resigned in 1717, after five years. Every Spanish port on the gulf was closed to its commerce, and the occupation of Louisiana was at that time deemed an encroachment upon Spanish rights by that proud nation. Soon after the relin quishment of the Crozart charter the colony of Louisiana was granted to the Mississippi Com pany, projected by the dreamer John Law, of South Sea bubble fame, with a complete monopo ly of its trade and commerce, to declare and pros ecute wars and appoint officers. This company established Fort Chartres, about sixty-five miles below the mouth of the Missouri, on the east side of the Mississippi. Mechanics, miners and arti sans were encouraged to emigrate, and in 1717 the city of New Orleans was founded. The Illinois country received a considerable accession, and settlements now began to extend along the banks of the Mississippi. In 1718 the new company' sent eight hundred emigrants to Louisiana. These people Governor Bienville settled at what is now New Orleans, but three years later the remainder of these people, some two hundred, were found still encamped on the site of the future city, they not having energy enough to build houses for themselves. The larger part had died on account of the climate and malarious condition of the land. In May, 1720, the bubble burst, the land company went into bankruptcy, impoverishing France both in its public funds and private fortunes. The effect on the infant settlement in the new world was more disastrous if possible. The principal occu pation of the new settlers, like their Spanish neighbors, was the search for immense mines of gold and silver, for which they neglected the enormous natural agricultural resources of the country, now the granary of the world and the source of supply of the larger part of the cotton and cane sugar of commerce. The contrast was strong between the colonies of the Latin races and those of Anglo-Saxon origin. In 1719 there arrived in what is now Illinois one Phillipe Francois Renault, who had been ap pointed director general of the mines of Louis iana. With him he brought two hundred miners and artisans. The extent of the country explored at that time embraced among others the head waters of the Minnesota and the Red river of the north, the tributaries of the Missouri, and even extended to the Rocky mountains. About this time hostilities with the Indians broke out, and a war with Spain threatened the lower part of the province. From 1712 to 1746 the settlers in Louisiana fought with the savages. In the latter year, at Butte des Morts and on the Wisconsin river, the Fox Indians were defeated and driven westward. During this time, in 172.9, the Natchez, Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians rose and massacred all within their reach. Military operations against them were taken. The Choc- taws were detached from the confederacy by the diplomacy of Le Sueur, the famous explorer, and the Natchez defeated. The latter 's chief, Great Sun, and four hundred of his people were taken prisoners and sold as slaves in Hispaniola, now the island of San Domingo-Hayti. Thus perished this interesting tribe, who were at that time semi- civilized, or had a civilization of their own ap proaching in some degree that of the Aztec of Mexico. In 1719 Dutisne, a French officer, was sent from New Orleans by the governor of Louisiana into the country west of the Mississippi, and revisited a village of Osage Indians, five miles from the Osage river, "at eighty leagues above its mouth." Thence he crossed to the northwest one hundred and twenty miles over prairies abounding with buffaloes to some villages of the Pawnees. He traveled westward fifteen days more, which brought him to the Paloukahs, a warlike tribe of Indians. Here he erected a cross with the arms of the king September 27, 1719. It is thought that Dutisne set foot on Nebraska soil on this trip. If he did not, he could not have been far from the Nebraska line. From the writings of Charlevoix concerning these explorations, we quote the fol lowing : "We arrived at the mouth of the Missouri on October 10, 1721. I believe this is the finest con fluence in the world. The two rivers are mueh the same in breadth, each about half a league, but the Missouri is by far the most rapid, and seems to enter the Mississippi like a conqueror, through which it carries its white waters to the other shore without mixing them; afterwards it gives 30 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. its color to the Mississippi, which it never loses again, but carries it quite down to the sea. The Osages, a pretty numerous nation, settled on the side of a river which bears their name, and which runs into the Missouri about forty leagues from its junction with the Mississippi, send once or twice a year to sing the calumet amongst the Kaskaskias, and are actually there at present. I have just seen a Missouri woman who told me that her nation is the first we meet with going up the Missouri. This nation (the Missouri) is situ ated eighty leagues from the confluence of the Missouri river with the Mississippi." Charleviox also gives the first information we have of the tribes of Indians above the Missouri nation. Higher up we find the Cansez (Kansas) ; then the Octotatoes (Otoes), which some call the Mactotatas; then the Ajouez (Iowas) and Panis (Pawnees), a very populous nation divided into several cantons which have names very different from each other. All the people I have mentioned inhabit the west side of the Missouri, except the Ajouez (Iowas), which are on the east side, neighbors of the Sioux and their allies. ' ' An other writer says : " It is evident that during the first half of the seventeenth century the country now forming the state of Nebraska was inhabited along its southern border by the Kansas Indians; that the Platte river, then called the Rivere des Panis, was the home of the Pawnees, who also had villages to the northward at a point a considera ble distance up the Missouri river. But to the westward, on the headwaters of the Kansas river, of the Platte river and of the Niobrara, lived the Padouchas, a tribe long since extinct. In about 1721-24 the French, under M. de Bourgmont, erected a fort on an island in the Missouri river above the mouth of the Osage river, which post was called "Fort Orleans." But the stockade was attacked after its comple tion and occupation, and all the garrison slain. Bourgmont, the builder of this Fort Orleans, be fore its destruction, passed many leagues up to the northwest of this fort into the Nebraska and Kansas country, and made firm friends with the Padoucahs, who had previously been seen by Dutisne. In 1732 the Mississippi Company surrendered their charter to the French government, and then came the bursting of the "Mississippi bubble." This company had held possession of Louisiana for fourteen years, and left it with a population of five thousand whites and half as many blacks. On the 10th of April, 1732, the French king de clared the province free to all his subjects, with equal privileges as to trade and commerce. Though the company had done little for the en during welfare of the Mississippi valley regions, yet it did something. The cultivation of tobacco and rice was introduced, the lead mines of Mis souri were opened, and in the Illinois country the cultivation of wheat began to assume some im portance, but the immediate valley of the Missouri and the country to the west remained wholly in possession of the native tribes. For thirty years or more after this there was but little worthy of special mention that transpired in the upper por tion of the Louisiana province. St. Genevieve, on the west side of the Mississippi, within what is now Missouri, was founded, and during 1762 the first village was established on the Missouri river, named "Village du Cote," now St. Charles, Mo. In the same year the governor general of Louis iana granted to Laclede and others a charter under the name of the "Louisiana Fur Com pany," which, among other things, conferred the exclusive privilege of trading with the Indians of the Missouri river. But just before this time, momentous events had transpired in Canada. This country was conquered by the English, and the province of Louisiana became the property of other powers. A brief review of the events leading up to the transfer of Louisiana to Spain by the French will be appropriate in this connection. On the 10th of April, 1732, after the bursting of the "Mississippi bubble" and the surrender of the charter of the Mississippi Company, the control of the commerce of Louisiana reverted to the crown of France. Bienville remained as governor for the French king until 1735. In the meantime a jealousy and rivalry had sprung up between Louisiana and the English colonies on the Atlan tic coast which became fierce and bitter. In 1753 the first actual conflict arose between the French and English colonists. The French exerted every effort to prevent the other colonists from attempt ing to extend their settlements toward the Mis sissippi. The avowal was made of the purpose of seizing and punishing any Englishman found in the Ohio or Mississippi valley. To carry out their purpose the French seized upon a piece of terri tory claimed by Virginia, and, alive to their in terests, protests were made by the colonists of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. In 1753 Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, sent George Washington, then a young man of twenty-one, to the French commandant to demand by what right he invaded British soil in the time of peace be tween France and England. Gardeur de St. Pierre, the French officer in command, was met near the headwaters of the Alleghany by the young colonist, after a difficult winter journey. Washington, on stating his demands, received the insolent answer that they would not discuss right, but as they had discovered the country they would hold it. On the return of Washington in January, 1754, he made his report. Forces were raised', and, under Colonel Washington, marched upon the enemy. They had an action in western Penn sylvania with some of the French troops in which ten of the latter, with their commander Jumonville, were killed. Some twenty French were made prisoners. The French receiving re inforcements, Washington was forced to fall back COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 31 before overwhelming numbers. At Green Mead ows he erected a rude stockade which he called Fort Necessity. Here he was shortly after sur rounded by a force consisting of some six hun dred French and a hundred or two Indians. On the 3rd of July he was forced to capitulate, and July 4, 1754, the British troops (or rather the colonials) withdrew from the Ohio valley. War between England and France broke out in May, 1755. This conflict lasted in the colonies, with various fortunes, until February 10, 1763, when the treaty of Paris was signed by the warring powers of Europe. By this instrument France renounced all her title to New France, now Cana da, and all the land lying east of the Mississippi river, except the island and town of New Orleans. By the conquest of Canada by the British in 1760 the province of Louisiana alone remained to France, but even this she was not in a position to hold. On November 3, 1762, she ceded it to Spain, shorn, however, of its eastern half, which fell, to the English as stated. The entire region of the Missouri river, including all that now forms Ne braska, was thereafter for thirty-seven years Spanish territory. But Spain did not at once take possession of this territory. On February 15, 1764, Laclede's Company established itself on the present site of the city of St. Louis, where he founded that city. A few years later a company of Spanish troops took possession of St. Loilis in the name of the king of Spain, and in 1770 French possession was at an end in so much of upper Louisiana as lay west of the Mississippi, for in that year a lieutenant governor arrived at St. Louis and extended his authority over the whole region. In 1783 Great Britain, by a definite treaty of peace signed September 3, relinquished all claim and ceded to the United States all territory east of the Mississippi river to the Atlantic ocean from a line along the great lakes on the north, south ward to the thirty-first parallel and southern bor- .der of Georgia. This was the treaty of Aix la Cha- "pelle which terminated the revolutionary war. At the same time the British government ceded to Spain all the Floridas which she had taken east of Louisiana and south of the southern limits of the united colonies just freed. It will therefore be seen that as yet the territory now constituting the state of Nebraska was no part of the United States, but remained a possession of Spain and the home of savage nations, visited only by the vagrant trader to traffic in furs with the different tribes. These traders were mostly Frenchmen. Sometimes they would have houses and remain stationary for one, two or even more years, but sooner or later they all departed from the coun try- At an early period after the conclusion of peace, the people of the United States began to demand the free navigation of the Mississippi river. The Spanish power holding one bank en tirely, and both part of its course, assumed that they had exclusive use of it, and demanded heavy tolls on all imports south of the mouth of the Ohio. This was a vexed question at the time, and came at one period near disrupting the country, the intrigues of Miro and Carondelet, the Span ish governors, tending to the separation of the western colonies from the eastern. All these questions were quieted by the treaty of Madrid, October 20, 1795, by which the free navigation of the river was assured and the use of New Orleans as a port of entry or deposit granted. October 16, 1802, these rights were revoked by Morales, then intendent of Louisiana, but this action was not acquiesced in by the governor. Indignation ran high in the United States at that time over the matter. To effectually secure the rights of the United States in the navigation and commerce of the Mississippi, President Thomas Jefferson in January, 1803, sent a message to the senate of the United States, nominating Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe ministers to the court of France, with full authority to conclude a treaty to that end. Previous to this all the Louisianas had passed back into the possession of France. By a treaty made between the republic of France and Spain, the latter power had agreed to furnish a monthly war contribution to France, as she was unable to furnish soldiers for a common war. This debt not being paid, accumulated until pov erty stricken or favorite-ridden Spain could not pay. At the same time the first consul, Bona parte, had constructed out of some fragments of Italy remaining in his hands,- the kingdom of Eturia. Now Spain proposed that she would, on the cancellation of the debt due by her and the gift of the kingdom of Eturia to the deposed prince of Parma, son-in-law of the king of Spain, make over to France her province of Louisiana. This was acceded to, and by the hands of the chief magistrate the new monarchs were crowned in Paris and sent to their new government, and by the treaty signed at Madrid, March 21, 1801, France received back the immense tract of terri tory then known as Louisiana. Thus Nebraska was again French territory. The newly accredited ministers of the United States arrived in Paris at a critical time. The hollow peace which followed the treaty of Amiens between England and France was strained to its utmost. Napoleon, with the admirable foresight which governed all his military measures, saw that this vast colony across the seas would be lost to him if war should break out between France and England. He took measures accordingly. Summoning M. Marbois, the secretary of finance, he broached the idea of selling to the Americans the whole province of Louisiana. In this he was governed by several motives. He felt he was making a friend of the American people and casting a bone of contention between them and the English government, and he also procured money with which to carry on the war. M. Mar bois sent for the ministers and proposed the mat- 32 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ter. Messrs. Monroe and Livingston were neither of them dismayed at their want of powers to make any such treaty, entered into the stipula tion, subject of course to the ratification of their government. By the terms of this paper France ceded to the United States the whole province of Louisiana, for which she was to receive the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the United States assumed also the payment of certain claims against the French government. These latter were by merchants and ship owners who had suf fered loss by the seizure of their vessels and car goes by the Directory, a former government in France. The original price, which was paid through banking houses in Amsterdam, and the "spoliation claims" above mentioned, brought the price of Louisiana up to $27,267,621.98, as officially stated. This treaty was signed April 30, 1803. Much opposition developed in the United States to the ratification of the treaty, New England being particularly bitter against it. The far-seeing statesmen of that day alone ap preciated the vast importance of the territory so cheaply purchased. The administration was bit terly attacked by the federalists, and it was claimed that all kinds of danger to the republic would grow out of the confirmation of the treaty. Sober common sense, however, prevailed, and the treaty was confirmed. In December of the same year the province was officially delivered to the commissioners appointed to receive it, Governor Claiborne of Mississippi and General James Wil kinson of the United States army. It is related that these latter were just in time, as a British fleet was approaching New Orleans to take pos session when the stars and stripes were being hoisted over it. By these means the United States became pos sessed of a territory extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the forty-ninth parallel of north lati tude, and from the banks of the Mississippi to the crest of the Rocky mountains. If the treaty, which was confirmed through the personal influ ence of President Jefferson had miscar ried, our now grand republic would have been bounded on the west by the "Father of Waters," and the vast empire lying west of it, now a valua ble part of the United States, would have been in the possession of a foreign power. To that act of Livingston and Monroe in transcending their powers, the personal influence and wisdom of President Jefferson, and the acquiescence of the senate and the people in an act only after it had been done, is due the fact that Nebraska is now a part of the federal union. At that time the territory since known by the name of the Louisiana purchase included what is now the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota (or the greater part of it), North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. It also in cluded Indian Territory and Oklahoma. The full text of the treaty of cession between the United States of America and the French Re public is as follows : The President of the United States of America and the First Consul of the French Republic, in the name of the French people, desiring to remove all sources of misunderstanding relative to the objects of dis cussion mentioned in the second and fifth articles of the convention of the 8th Vendemaire, an 9 (30 Sep tember, 1800), relative to the rights claimed by the United States, in virtue of the treaty concluded at Madrid, the 27th of October, 1795, between his Cath olic Majesty and the said United States, and willing to strengthen the union and friendship which at the time of the said convention was happily re-estab lished between the two nations, have respectfully named their plenipotentiaries, towit: the President of the United States of America, by and with the ad vice and consent of the Senate of the said States, Robert R. Livingston, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, and James Monroe, Minister Plen ipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of the said States, near the government of the French Republic; and the First Consul, in the name of the French peo ple, the French citizen Barbe Marbois, Minister of the Public Treasury, who after having respectively exchanged their full powers, have agreed to the fol lowing articles: Article I. Whereas, By the article the third of the treaty concluded at St. Ildefonso, the 9th Vendemaire an 9, (1st October, 1800), between the First Consul of the French Republic and his Catholic Majesty, it was agreed as follows: "His Catholic Majesty pro mises and engages on his part to retrocede to the French Republic, six months after the full and entire execution of the conditions and stipulations herein relative to his royal highness, the Duke of Parma, the colony or province of Louisiana, with the same ex tent that it now has in the hands of Spain, and it had when France possessed it; and such as it should be after the treaties subsequently entered into between Spain and other States;" and Whereas, In pursuance of the treaty, and particu larly of the third article, the French Republic has an incontestible title to the domain and the possession of the said territory; the First Consul of the French Republic desiring to give to the United States a strong proof of his friendship, doth hereby cede to the United States, in the name of the French Republic, forever, and in full sovereignty, the said territory, with all its rights and appurtenances, as fully and in the same manner as they have been acquired by the French Republic in virtue of the above-mentioned treaty, con cluded with his Catholic Majesty. Article II. In the cession made by the preceding article, are included the adjacent islands belonging to Louisiana, all public lots and squares, vacant lands, and all public buildings, fortifications, barracks and other edifices which are not private property. The archives, papers and documents relative to the domain and sovereignty of Louisiana and its depencies, will be left in the possession of the Commissioners of the United States, and copies will be afterwards given in due form to the magistrates and municipal officers of such of the said papers ana documents as may be necessary to them. Article III. The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible, according to the principles of the federal consitution, to the en joyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States; and in the meantime they shall be maintained and protected in the free en joyment of their liberty, property and the religion which they profess. Article IV. There shall be sent, by the Government of France, a Commissary to Louisiana, to the end that he do every act necessary, as well to receive from the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 33 officers of his Catholic Majesty the said country and its dependencies in the name of the French Republic, if it has not been already done, as to transmit it in the name of the French Republic to the Commissary or agent of the United States. Article V. Immediately after the ratification of the present treaty by the President of the United States, and in case that of the first consul shall have been pre viously obtained, the Commissary of the French Re- pubic shall remit all the military posts of New Or leans and other parts of the ceded territory, to the Commissary or Commissaries named by the President to take possession; the troops, whether of France or Spain, who may be there, shall cease to occupy any military post from the time of taking possession, and shall be embarked as soon as possible, in the course of three months after the ratifications of this treaty. Article VI. The United States promises to execute such treaties and articles as may have been agreed be tween Spain and the tribes and nations of Indians, until by mutual consent of the United States and the said tribes or nations, other suitable articles shall have been agreed upon. Article VII. As it is reciprocally advantageous to the commerce o'f France and the United States to en courage the communication of both nations, for a limited time, in the country ceded by the present treaty, until general arrangements relative to the commerce of both nations may be agreed on, it has been agreed between the contracting parties, that the French ships coming directly from France or any of her colonies, loaded only with the produce of manu factures of France or her sam colonies, and the ships of Spain coming directly from Spain Or any of her colonies, loaded only with the produce or manufac tures of Spain or her colonies, shall be admitted dur ing the space of twelve years, in the ports of New Orleans, and all other legal ports of entry within the ceded territory, in the same manner as the ships of the United States, coming directly from France or Spain or any of their colonies, without being subject to any other or greater duty on merchandise, or other or greater tonnage than those paid by the citizens of the United States. During the space of time above-mentioned, no other nation shall have a right to the same privi leges in the ports of the ceded territory; the twelve years shall commence three months after the exchange of ratifications, if it shall take place in France, or three months after it shall have been notified at Paris to the French Government, if it shall take place in the United States. It is, however, well understood, that the object of the above article is to favor the manufacturers, commerce, freight and navigation of France and Spain, so far as relates to the importa tions that the French and Spanish shall make into the said ports of the United States, without in any sort affecting the regulations that the United States may make concerning the exportation of the produce and merchandise of the United States, or any right they may have to make such regulations. Article VIII. In future, and forever after the ex piration of the twelve years, the ships of France shall be treated upon the footing of the most favored na tions in the ports above mentioned. Article IX. The particular conventions, signed this day by the respective Ministers, having for its object to provide for the payment of debts due to the citi zens of the .United States by the French Republic, prior to the 30th of September, 1800 (8th Vende maire, 9), is approved, and to have its execution in the same manner as if it had been inserted in the present treaty, and it shall be ratified in the same form and in the same time, so that the one shall not be ratified distinct from the other. Another particular convention, signed at the same date as the present treaty, relative to a definite rule between the contracting parties, is in like manner ap proved, and will be ratified in the same form and in the same time, and jointly. Article X. The present treaty shall be ratified in good and due form, and the ratification shall be ex changed in the space of six months after the date of the signature by the Ministers Plenipotentiary, or sooner if possible. In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed these articles in the French and English languages, declaring, nevertheless, that the present treaty was originally agreed to in the French language; and have thereunto set their seals. Done at Paris, the tenth day of Floreal, in the eleventh year of the French Republic, and the 30th April, 1803. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, [L.S.] JAMES MONROE, [L.S.] BARBE MARBOIS, [L.S.] An act was passed by congress October 31, 1803, which authorized the president of the United States to take possession of Louisiana and form a temporary government thereof. By this act the government was vested in such manner as the president of the United States might direct. But the authority of the general government real ly dates from March 10, 1804, on which date Amos Stoddard assumed the duties of governor of Upper Louisiana. On the 26th of that month congress erected Louisiana into the territory of Orleans and the district of Louisiana. The divi sion line was the southern boundary of Mississippi territory and the thirty-third degree of latitude. So Nebraska was then a part of the district of Louisiana, the latter being all of the French ces sion west of the Mississippi river except the pres ent state of Louisiana. The government of this large district was committed to the officers of the territory of Indiana. The Lewis and Clark expedition was the next move directed toward exploring and improving the newly-acquired territory. This expedition was planned by the president in the summer of 1803 for the purpose of discovering the courses and sources of the Missouri and the most conven ient water communication thence to the Pacific ocean. Capt. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, both army officers, were given command. The party started in May, 1804, and consisted of nine young men from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers of the United States army who volunteered their services, two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a colored servant of Capt. Clark. In addition to these, who were enlisted for the whole expedition, a corporal and six soldiers, also nine watermen, were engaged to accompany the expedition as far as the Mandan nation in order to assist in carrying the stores or repelling an at tack. This expedition embarked in three boats up the Missouri river. On May 25 they reached LaOharrette, a little settlement of seven houses on the Missouri river, about fifty miles above its mouth in what is now the state of Missouri. This was the last settlement of white people on the Missouri river. From this point onward there was no civilization. Continuing up the river the expedition reached and encamped on a large 34 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. island of sand on the north side of the Missouri, immediately opposite the mouth of the river Nemeha, on the evening of July 11. As the party proceeded from this point northwest to the mouth of the Niobrara they explored much of what is now the eastern boundary of Nebraska. An ac count of what they saw is of especial interest in this connection. We therefore give their daily journal until the Platte was reached : "Thursday, 12 (July, 1804). We remained here today for the purpose of refreshing the party and making lunar observations. The Nemaha empties itself into the Missouri from the south, and is eighty yards wide at its confluence, which is in latitude thirty-nine degrees, fifty-five min utes and fifty-six seconds. Capt. Clark ascended it in the pirogue about two miles to the mouth of a small creek on the lower side. On going ashore he found in the level plain several artificial mounds or graves, and on the adjoining hills others of a larger size. This appearance indicates sufficiently the former population of this country, the mounds being certainly intended as tombs, the Indians of the Missouri still preserving the custom of interring the dead on high ground. From the top of the highest mound a delightful prospect presented itself — the level and extensive ¦meadows watered by the Nemahaw and enliv ened by the few trees and shrubs skirting the borders of the river and its tributary streams, the lowland of the Missouri covered with undulating grass nearly five feet high gradually rising into a second plain, where rich weeds and flowers are interspersed with copses of the Osage plum. Further back are seen small groves of trees and abundance of grapes, the wild cherry of the Mis souri resembling our own but larger and growing on a small bush, and the choke cherry which we observed for the first time. Some of the grapes gathered today are nearly ripe. On the south of the Nemahaw and about a quarter of a mile fro n its mouth is a cliff of freestone in which are var ious inscriptions and marks made by the Indians. The sand island on which we are encamped is covered with two species of willow, broad and narrow leaf. "July 13. We proceeded at sunrise with a fair wind from the south, and at two miles passed the mouth of a small river on the north called Big Torkio. A channel from the bed of the Missouri once ran into this river and formed an island called St. Joseph's, but the channel is now filled up and the island is added to the northern shore. Further on to the south is situated an extensive plain covered with a grass resembling timothy in its general appearance, except the seed, which is like flax-seed, and also a number of grape vines. At twelve miles we passed an island on the north, above which is a large sandbar covered with wil lows, and at twenty and a half miles stopped on a large sandbar in the middle of the river, opposite a high, handsome prairie, which extends to the hills four or five miles distant, though near the bank the land is low and subject to be overflowed. This day was exceedingly fine and pleasant, a storm of wind last night from the north-northeast having cooled the air. "July 14. We had some hard showers of rain before 7 o'clock, when we set out. We had just reached the end of the sand island and seen the opposite banks fall in and so lined with timber that we could not approach it without danger, when a sudden squall from the northeast struck the boat on the starboard quarter, and would have certainly dashed her to pieces on the sand island if the party had not leaped into the river, and with the aid of the anchor and cable kept her off, the waves dashing over her for the space of forty minutes, after which the river became al most instantly calm and smooth. The two pirogues were ahead in a situation nearly similar, but fortunately no damage was done to the boats or the loading. The wind having shifted to the southeast, we came at a distance of two miles to an island on the north. One mile above, on the same side of the river, is a small factory, where a merchant of St. Louis traded with the Otoes and Pawnees two years ago. Near this is an extensive lowland, part of which is overflowed occasionally. The rest is rich and well timbered. The wind again changed to the northwest by north. At seven and a half miles we reached the lower point of a large island on the north side. A small dis tance above this point is a river called by the Maha (now Omaha) Indians, the Nishnabatona. This is a considerable creek, nearly as large as the Mine river, and runs parallel to the Missouri the greater part of its course, being fifty yards wide at its mouth. In the prairies or glades we saw wild timothy, lambsquarter, huckleberries, and on the edge of the river summer grapes, plums and gooseberries. We also saw today for the first time some elk, at which some of the party shot, but at too great a distance. We encamped on the north side of the island, a little above Nishnaba tona, having made nine .miles. The river fell a little. "July 15. A thick fog prevented our leaving the encampment before 7. At about four miles we reached the extremity of the large island and crossing to the south (side of the Missouri) at the distance of seven miles, arrived at the Little Nemaha, a small river from the south, forty yards wide a little above its mouth, but contracting as do almost all the water emptying into the Mis souri at its confluence. At nine and three-quar ters miles we encamped on a woody point on the south. Along the southern bank is a rich lowland covered with peavine and rich weeds and watered by small streams rising in the adjoining prairies They, too are rich, and though with abundance of grass, have no timber except what grows near the water. Interspersed through both are grane vines, plums of two kinds, two species of wild cherry, hazelnuts and gooseberries On the south there is one unbroken plain; on the north COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 35 the river is skirted with some timber, behind which the plain extends some four or five miles to the hills, which seem to have little wood. "July 16. We continued our route between a large island opposite to our last night's encamp ment and an extensive prairie on the south. About six miles we came to another large island called Fairsun Island, on the same side, above which is a spot where about twenty acres of the hill have fallen into the river. Near this is a cliff of sandstone for two miles, which is much fre quented by birds. At this place the river is about one mile wide, but not deep, as the timber or sawyers may be seen scattered across the whole bottom. At twenty miles distance we saw on the south an island called by the French I 'Isle Chance, or Bald Island, opposite to a large prairie which we called Baldpoint Prairie, from a ridge of naked hills that bound it, running parallel with the river so far as we could see and from three to six miles distance. To the south the hills touch the river. We encamped a quarter of a mile beyond this in a point of woods on the north side. The river con tinues to fall. "Tuesday, July 17. We remained here this day in order to make observations and correct the chronometer, which ran down on Sunday. The latitude we found to be forty degrees, twenty- seven minutes, five seconds. The observation of the time proved our chronometer to be slow five minutes, fifty-one seconds. The highlands bear from our camp north twenty-five degrees west up the river. Capt. Lewis rode up the country and saw the Nishnabatona about ten or twelve miles from its mouth, at a place not more than three hundred yards from the Missouri, and a little above our camp. It then passes near the foot of the Bald Hills and is at least six feet below the level of the Missouri. On its banks are the oak, walnut and mulberry. "Wednesday, July 18. We passed several bad sandbars in the course of the day, and made eighteen miles, and encamped on the south (of the Missouri), opposite to the lower point of the Oven Islands. An Indian dog came to the bank. He appeared to have been lost, and was nearly starved. We gave him some food, but he would not follow us. "Thursday, July 19. The Oven Islands are small and two in number, one near the south shore, the other in the middle of the river. Op posite to them is the prairie called Terrien 's Oven, from a trader of that name. We encamped on the western extremity of the island in the middle of the river, having made ten and three-quarters miles. "Friday, July 20. We passed at about three miles distance a small willow island to the north and a creek on the south about twenty-five yards wide, by the French called L 'eau' qui Pleure, or the Weeping Water. Thence we made two and one-half miles to another island, three miles far ther to a third, six miles beyond which is a fourth island, at the head of which we camped on the southern shore; (made) in all eighteen miles. "Saturday, July 21. We had a breeze from the southeast, by the aid of which we passed at about ten miles a willow island on the south, near high lands, covered with timber at the bank and formed of limestone with cemented shells. On the oppo site bank is a sandbar, and the land near it is cut through at high water by small channels, forming a number of islands. The wind lulled at 7 o'clock and we reached, in the rain, at the distance of fourteen miles, the great river Platte." On the morning of the 22d of July the party again set sail, and having found at a distance of ten miles from the mouth of the Platte a high and shaded situation on the north side of the Mis souri, they encamped there to make observations and to send for the neighboring tribes for the purpose of making known to them the recent change in the government and the wish of the United States to cultivate their friendship. That time of the year was the one in which the Indians go out into the prairies to hunt the buffalo, but as some hunters' tracks had been discovered and as the plains were on fire in the direction of the In dian villages, it was hoped they might have re turned to gather the green corn. Two men were, therefore, dispatched to the Otoe or Paw nee villages with a present of tobacco and an in vitation to the chiefs to visit the company at their encampment. Their first course was through an open prairie to the south, in which they crossed Butterfly creek. They then reached a small, beau tiful river called Come de Cerf, or Elkhorn river, about one hundred yards wide, with clear water and a gravelly channel. It emptied a little below the Otoe village into the Platte,which they crossed, and arrived at the town, about forty-five miles from the point of starting. They found no Indians there, though they saw some fresh tracks of a small party. The Otoes were once a powerful nation, and lived about twenty miles above the Platte on the southern bank of the Missouri. Being reduced, they emigrated to the neighborhood of the Paw nees, under whose protection they were then liv ing. Their village was on the south side of the Platte, about thirty miles from its mouth, and their number was two hundred men, including about thirty families of Missouris (all that were left), who were incorporated with them. Five leagues above them, on the same side of the river, resided the Pawnees. This nation, once among the most numerous of those inhabiting the valley of the Missouri, had gradually been dispersed and broken until they were now greatly reduced in numbers. They consisted of four bands. The first wTas the one just mentioned, of about five hundred men, to whom of late years had been added the second band called Republican Paw nees, from their having lived previously on the Republican branch of the Kansas river, whence they emigrated to join the principal band on the 36 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Platte. They amounted to nearly two hundred and fifty men. The third was the Pawnees Loups, or Wolf Pawnees, who reside on the Wolf fork of the Platte, about ninety miles from the principal Pawnees. These numbered two hun dred and eighty men. The fourth band originally resided on the Kansas and Arkansas, but in their war with the Osages they were so often defeated that they at length retired to the Red river, where they formed a tribe of four hundred men. To the westward of the Pawnees, upon the Platte, were a number of wandering tribes supposed to have previously been of the Padoucahs, previously mentioned. The expedition again started up the Missouri on the 27th of July. At ten and a half miles, there was seen and examined a curious collection of mounds, on the south side of the river. Not far from a low piece of land and a pond was discov ered a tract of about two hundred acres covered with these prehistoric earthworks of different heights, shapes and sizes, some of sand and some of both earth and sand, the largest being nearest the river. After making fifteen miles the party encamped for the night on the Nebraska side of the Missouri. The next day (July 28) they reached the place where the Iowa Indians former ly lived. These were a branch of the Otoes, and emigrated thence to the river Des Moines. The hunter to the expedition in the evening brought to the camp a Missouri Indian whom he had found with two others, dressing an elk. They were per fectly friendly, gave him some of the meat, and one of them. agreed to accompany him in. He was one of the few remaining Missouris living with the Otoes. He belonged to a small party, whose camp was four miles from the river. He reported that the body of the Otoes were hunting buffalo on the plains. He appeared quite sprightly, and his language resembled that of the Osage, partic ularly in his calling a chief ' ' inca. ' ' This name was probably learned from the Spaniards of New Mexico. Captains Lewis and Clark sent the In dian back the next morning with one of their own party, with an invitation to the Indians to meet them on the river above, and the expedition pro ceeded on its way. What transpired during the next six days is best given in the record of the company : "Sunday, July 29. We soon came to a north ern bend in the river, which runs within twenty yards of Indian Knob creek, the water of which is five feet higher than that of the Missouri. In less than two miles we passed Bower's creek on the north (side of the Missouri), of twenty-five yards width. We stopped to dine under a shade near the highland on the south, and caught sev eral large catfish, one of them nearly white and all very fat. Above this highland we observed the traces of a great hurricane which passed the river obliquely from northwest to southeast, and tore up large trees, some of which, perfectly sound and four feet in diameter, were snapped off near the ground. We made ten miles to a wood on the north (of the Missouri), where we encamped. "July 30. We went early in the morning three and a quarter miles, and encamped on the south (Nebraska) in order to wait for the Otoes. "July 31. The hunter supplied us with deer, turkeys, geese and beaver. One of the last was caught alive and in a very short time perfectly tamed. Catfish are very abundant in the river, and we have also seen a buffalo fish. One of our men brought in yesterday an .animal called by the Pawnees choear toosh, and by the French blair eau or badger. "We waited with much anxiety the return of our messenger to the Otoes. The men whom we dispatched to our last encampment returned with out having seen any appearance of its having been visited. Our horses, too, had strayed, but we were so fortunate as to recover them at the dis tance of twelve miles. Our apprehensions were at length relieved by the arrival of a party of about fourteen Otoe and Missouri Indians, who came at sunset on the 2d of August, accom panied by a Frenchman, who resided among them and interpreted for us. Captains Lewis and Clark went out to meet them, and told them that they would hold a council with them in the morning. In the meantime we sent them some roasted meat, pork, flour and meal, in return for which they made us a present of watermelons. We learned that our man Liberie had set out from their camp a day before them. We were in hopes that he had merely fatigued his horse or lost himself in the woods and would soon return, but we never saw him again. "August 3. The next morning the Indians with their six chiefs were all assembled under an awn ing formed with the mainsail, in the presence of all our party, paraded for the occasion. A speech was then made, announcing to them the change in the government, our promises of protection and advice as to their future conduct. All tbe six chiefs replied to our speech, each in his turn, according to rank. They expressed their joy at the change in government; their hopes that we would recommend them to their great father (the president of the United States) that they might obtain trade and necessaries. They wanted arms as well for hunting as for defense, and asked our mediation between them and the Mahas (Oma- has), with whom they were now at war. We promised to do so, and wished some of them to accompany us to that nation, which they declined for fear of being killed by them. We then pro ceeded to distribute our presents. The grand chief of the nation not being of the party, we sent him a flag, a medal and some ornaments for cloth ing. To the six chiefs who were, present we gave a medal of the second grade to one Otoe chief and one Missouri chief; a medal of the third grade to two inferior chiefs of each nation, the customary mode of recognizing a chief being to place a med- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 37 al around his neck, which is considered by his tribe as a proof of his consideration abroad. Each of these medals was accompanied by a pres ent of paint, garters and cloth ornaments of dress, and to this we added a canister of powder, a bottle of whisky and a few presents to the whole, which appeared to make them perfectly satisfied. The airgun, too, was fired, and aston ished them greatly. The absent chief was an Otoe named Heahrushhah, which in English de generates into Little Thief. The two principal chieftains present were Shongotongo, or Big Horse, and Wethea, or Hospitality; Shosguscan, or White Horse, an Otoe. The first an Otoe, the second a Missouri. "The incidents just related induced us to give to this place the name of Council Bluffs. The situation of it is exceedingly favorable for a fort and trading factory, as the soil is well calculated for bricks, and there is an abundance of wood in the neighborhood, and the air being pure and healthful. It is also central to the chief resorts of the Indians — one day's journey to the Otoes, one and a half to the great Pawnees, two days from the Mahas; two and a quarter from the Pawnees Loups village, convenient to the hunting ground of the Sioux, and twenty-five days' journ ey to Santa Fe. ' ' After concluding the ceremonies of the council, Lewis and Clark set sail in the afternoon and en camped in what is now Nebraska, at a distance of five miles above Council Bluffs. The next day (August 5), after passing a narrow part of the river, they came to a place on the south side of the Missouri, where was a deserted trading house. Here one of the party had passed two years in traffieing with the Mahas. Fifteen miles from their previous encampment brought the expedi tion to a place where it was concluded would be a good stopping place for the night — where the hills on both sides of the river were twelve or fifteen miles from each other. From this point nothing of especial interest transpired during the next three days. Meanwhile a distance of nearly sixty miles was made, when (August 7) four men were sent back to the Otoe village in quest of* the miss ing man, Liberie, also to apprehend one of the soldiers, who left the party on the 4th of the month under pretext of recovering a knife which he had dropped a short distance behind, and who it was feared had deserted. Small presents were also sent to the Otoes and Missouris, and a request that they would join the expedition at the Maha village, where a> peace might be concluded be tween them. On the 11th of the month, after having made sixty miles farther up the Missouri, the expedition halted on the south side of the stream for the purpose of examining a spot where one of the great chiefs of the Mahas, named Blackbird, who had been dead about four years, was buried. He died of the small pox. This chief seemed to have been a person of great considera tion in his nation. August 13 he brought the party at a distance of over forty miles from Blackbird 's grave to a spot where, on the Nebras ka side of the Missouri, a Mr. Mackay had a trad ing establishment in the years 1795 and 1796, which he called "Fort Charles." The diary of the expedition continues: "At fourteen miles (from the previous place of camp ing) we reached a creek on the south on which the Mahas reside, and at seventeen miles and a quarter formed a camp on a sandbar to the south side of the river, opposite the lower point of a large island. From this place Sergeant Ordway and four men were detached to the Maha village, with a flag and a present, in order to induce them to come and hold a council with us. They re turned at 12 o'clock the next day, August 14. After crossing a prairie covered with high grass, they reached the Maha creek, along which they proceeded to its three forks which join near the village. They crossed the north branch and went along the south. The walk was very fatiguing, as they were forced to break their way through grass, sunflowers and thistles, all above ten feet high and interspersed with wild pea. Five miles from our camp they reached the position of the ancient Maha village. It had once consisted of three hundred cabins, but was burnt four years ago, soon after the small pox had destroyed four hundred men and a proportion of women and children. On a hill in the rear of the village are the graves of the nation, to the south of which runs the fork of the Maha creek. This they crossed where it was about ten yards wide, and followed its course to the Missouri, passing along a ridge of hill for one mile and a half and a long pond between that and the Missouri. They then .recrossed the Maha creek and arrived at the camp, having seen no tracks of the Indians nor any sign of recent cultivation. "On the morning of the 15th some men were sent to examine the cause of a large smoke from the northeast and which seemed to indicate that some Indians were near, but they found that a small party who lately passed that way had left spme trees burning, and that the wind from that quarter blew the smoke directly toward us. Our camp lies about three miles northeast from the old Maha village, and is in latitude forty-two de grees, thirteen minutes and forty-one seconds. The accounts we have had of the effects of the small pox on that nation are most distressing. It is not known in what way it was first communi cated to them, though probably by some war party. They had been a military and powerful people, but when these warriors saw their strength wasting before a malady which they could not resist, their frenzy was extreme. They burnt their village, and many of them put to death their wives and children to save them from so cruel an affliction, and that all might go together to some better country. "On the 16th we still waited for the Indians. A party had gone out yesterday to the Maha 38 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. creek, which was dammed up by the beaver be tween the camp and the village; a second went today. They made a kind of drag with small willows and bark, and swept the creek. The first company caught three hundred and eighteen fish ; the second upwards of eight hundred, consisting of pike, bass, fish resembling salmon, trout, red horse, buffalo, one rock fish, one flatback, perch, catfish, a small species of perch called on the Ohio silver fish, a shrimp of the same size, shape and flavor of those about New Orleans and the lower part of the Mississipppi. We also found very fat mussels, and on the river as well as the creek are different kinds of duck and plover. * * * "Friday, 17. In the evening one of the party sent to the Otoes returned with the information that the rest were coming on with the deserter. They had also caught Liberte, but by a trick he made his escape. They were bringing three of the chiefs in order to engage our assistance in making peace with the Mahas. * * * "August 18. In the afternoon the party ar rived with the Indians, consisting of the Little Thief and Big Horse, whom we had seen on the 3d, together with six other chiefs and a French interpreter. * * * "August 19. The chiefs and warriors being assembled at 10 o'clock, we explained the speech we had already sent from Council Bluffs and re newed our advice. * * * "The next morning, August 20, the Indians mounted their horses and left us, having received a canister of whisky at parting. We then set sail, and after passing two islands on the north came to one on that side under some bluffs, the first bluffs near the river since we left Ayauwa (Iowa) village. Here we had the misfortune to lose one of our sergeants, Charles Floyd. He was yester day seized with a bilious colic, and all our care and attention were ineffectual to relieve him. A little before his death he said to Captain Clark, 'I am going to leave you.' His strength failed him as he added, ' I want you to write a letter for me. ' He died with the composure which justified the high opinion we had formed of his firmness and good conduct. He was buried on the top of the bluff with the honors due a brave soldier, and the place of his interment was marked by a cedar post on which his name and the day of his death were inscribed. About a mile beyond this place, to which we gave his name, is a small river about thirty yards wide, on the north side (of the Missouri), which we called Floyd's river, where we encamped. We had a breeze from the south east, and made thirteen miles. ' ' On the 21st of August the party reached the mouth of the great Sioux river, where is now sit uated Sioux City, Iowa, and on the 27th of the same month reached the mouth of the James or Dakota river. Here they met and held a council with the Sioux Indians, a large body of whom were encamped near by. This council was held at Calumet Bluffs on the Nebraska side of the Mis souri, August 30. The Sioux were found by Lewis and Clark to be divided in ten separate tribes or bands — Yanktons, Tetons of the Burnt Woods, Tetons-Okandandas, Tetons-Minnekenoz- zo, Tetons-Saone, Yanktons of the Plains, Wahpa- tone, Mendawarcarton, Wahpatoota and Sista- soone. It was estimated that the men of the en tire nation in 1804 was over twenty-five hundred, representing a population of over ten thousand. From here on to the Rapid river (or as it was called by the French, Rivere qui Court, now the Niobrara) nothing of particular importance oc curred, and here the expedition passed beyond sight of Nebraska soil. The expedition finally reached the Pacific ocean, and returned down the Missouri in the summer of 1806. In the daily journal which was kept by Lewis and Clark an extended account is given of a re markable prehistoric earthwork which they visited before they reached the Niobrara. It was on the south side of the Missouri river, in the north part of what is now Knox county, Nebraska. The journal says: "This earthwork is opposite the upper extremity of Bonhomme Island, and in a low, level plain, the hills being three miles from the river. It begins by a wall composed of earth, rising immediately from the bank of the river, and running in a direct course south seventy-six degrees west, ninety-six yards. The base of this wall or mound is seventy-five feet and its height about eight. It then diverges in a course south eighty-four degrees west, and continues at the same height and depth to a distance of fifty-three yards, the angle being formed by a sloping de scent. At the junction of these two is an appear ance of a horn work of the same height as the first angle. The same wall then pursues a course northwest for three hundred yards. Near its western extremity is an opening or gateway at right angles to the wall, defended by two semi circular walls placed before it, and from the gate way there seems to have been a covered way com municating with the interval between these two walls. Westward of the gate the wall becomes much larger,being about one hundred and five feet at its base and twelve feet high. At the end of this high ground the wall extends for fifty-six yards on a course north thirty-two degrees west. If- then turns north- twenty-three degrees west for seventy-three yards. These two walls seem to have had a double or covered way. They are from ten to fifteen feet in height, and from seven ty-five to one hundred and five in width at the base, the descent inward being -steep while out ward it forms a sort of glacis. At the distance of seventy-three yards the wall ends abruptly at a large hollow place, much lower than the general level of the plain, and from which is some indica tion of a covered way to the water. The space between them is occupied by several mounds scat tered promiscuously through the gorge, in the center of which is a deep, round hole. From the extremity of the last wall, in a course north thir- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 39 ty-two degrees west, is a distance of ninety-six yards over the low ground, where the wall re commences and crosses the plain in a course north eighteen degrees west for eighteen hundred and thirty yards to the bank of the Missouri. In this course its height is about eight feet till it enters at the distance of five hundred and thirty-three yards a deep circular pond of seventy-three yards in diameter, after which it is gradually lower toward the river. It touches the river at a muddy bar which bears every mark of being an encroach ment of the water for a considerable distance, and a little above the injunction is a small circu lar redoubt. "Along the bank of the river and at eleven hundred yards distance, 'in a straight line from this wall, is a second wall about six feet high and of considerable width. It rises abruptly from the bank of the Missouri at a point where the river bends, and goes straight forward, forming an acute angle with the last wall till it enters the river again, not far from the mounds just de scribed, toward which it is obviously tending. At the bend the Missouri is five hundred yards wide, the ground on the opposite side highlands, or low hills on the bank, and where the river passes between this fort and Bonhomme Island all the distance from the bend it is constantly wash ing the banks into the stream, a large sand bank being already taken from the shore near the wall. During the whole course of this wall or glacis, it is covered with trees, among which are many large cotton trees two or three feet in diameter. Immediately opposite the citadel, or the part most strongly fortified on Bonhomme Island, is a small work in a circular form, with a wall sur rounding it about six feet high. The young willows along the water joined to the general appearance of the two shores induces a belief that the bank of the island is encroaching, and the Missouri indemnifies itself by washing away the base of the fortification. The citadel con tains about twenty acres, but the parts between the long walls must embrace nearly five hundred acres." The district of Louisiana was changed to the territory of Louisiana- by an act of congress passed March 3, 1805, which provided for a gov ernor, secretary and two judges. It was detached from Indian territory and erected into a separate territory, so that Nebraska became a part of the "Territory of Louisiana." In 1808 the Missouri Fur Company was established, and an expedition under its auspices was sent out under command of Major A. Henry. He established trading posts on the upper Missouri beyond the Rocky moun tains. In 1805 Manuel Lisa, a wealthy Spaniard, with a party in search of trading grounds, reached the lands north of the Platte. The beauty of the scene caused him to exclaim "Bellevue," by which name the spot has since been designated. It is the pres ent site of Bellevue, Sarpy county, Nebraska. In 1810 the American Fur Company, a great trading monopoly under the control of John Jacob Astor, established a trading post at Belle vue. Francis de Roin was placed in charge of the business there, and a few years later was succeed ed by Joseph Robiaux. In 1842 Colonel Peter A. Sarpy became agent at Bellevue, and for thirty years he was the leading spirit in that region. In 1841 the government transferred to Bellevue the government agency which had previously been located at Fort Calhoun, or Old Council Bluffs. The settlement of Bellevue and the establishing of a trading post there by the American Fur Company in 1810 is claimed by many writers to have been the first settlement made by whites, within the limits of what is now the state of Ne braska. By an act of congress passed June 4, 1812, the "Territory of Louisiana" became the "Territory of Missouri, ' ' within the bounds of which was the present area of Nebraska. It provided for terri torial officers and a council and house of repre sentatives. The members of the house were to be elected by the people. On the 19th of January, 1816, the legislature passed a law making the common law of England the law of the territory. In 1819 an exploring expedition was started from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Rocky mountains under Major Stephen H. Long, the principal object of which was a topographical de scription of the country visited. They came up the Missouri river and reached the mouth of the Platte river on September 15, 1819. Two days later they reached the trading establishment of the Missouri Fur Company, called Fort Lisa. This was five or six miles below Council Bluffs, on the west side of the river. It was occupied by Samuel Lisa, one of the most active persons en gaged in the fur trade. The expedition went into quarters for the winter about a half mile above Fort Lisa on the same side of the river. In the meantime councils had been held with various Indian tribes which eventually resulted in treaties being agreed upon. A treaty between the Otoes and the United States was proclaimed December 26, 1817; one was ratified with the Iowas and one with the Mahas December 26, 1815, and one with the Pawnees as early as January 5, 1812. A treaty was also concluded with the Paw nees Grand and proclaimed January 7, 1819 ; one with the Noisy Pawnee tribe on the same day, and one with the Republican Pawnees January 17, 1819. The Yankton tribe of the Sioux treaty was proclaimed July 19, 1815; the Sioux of the River St. Peter's and those of the Lakes were proclaimed on the same day. The treaties all provided that there should be perpetual peace between the Indians and Americans, and the tribes all acknowledged themselves to be under the protection of the United States. It will, therefore, be seen that at the time of Major Long's visit to Nebraska all the Indian na tions of the Missouri river and its tributaries as 40 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. far up as the homes of the Sioux and down to the region of the mouth of the Nemaha had been treated with by the agents of the general govern ment. Major Long held various councils with the Indians. During the winter of 1819-20 it was de cided to change the course of the expedition and explore the sources of the Platte river. The ex pedition left "Engineer Cantonment" June 6, 1820, and reached the Elkhorn, a considerable tributary of the Platte, the next day. Soon after crossing the Elkhorn the party entered the valley of the Platte. The march was up this valley, on the north side of the stream, until the Loup Fork was reached. In this way the expedition pro ceeded up the Platte valley, crossing the entire state of Nebraska, following the south fork to the Rocky mountains, visiting en route a number of the Indian villages. Major Long's party was the first exploring ex pedition ever to ascend the Platte from its mouth to the confluence of the two forks, but others had descended the river previous to that date. In 1811 a part of the men engaged in Hunt's expe dition to the mouth of the Columbia river, on their return from the Pacific, fell upon the source of the north fork of the Platte, and descended thence to the Missouri. Also in June, 1812, Robert Stewart, one of the partners of the Pacific Fur Company, with several others, while coming from the Pacific, struck the headwaters of the Platte, spent the winter on it, and finally reached the Missouri. It may now be said that the territory included within the present boundaries of Nebraska had been explored. The general features and the homes of its Indian tribes were pretty well known. On the 2d of March, 1819, the congress of the United States created out of the Missouri terri tory the territory of Arkansas. On the 6th of March, 1820, an act was approved, authorizing the people of the Missouri territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of the state into the union. This was assented to by the people in- state convention on the 19th of July following. On the 2d of March, 1821, the state was admitted, with conditions, by a joint resolution of congress. These conditions were accepted, and Missouri became a state by proclamation August 10, 1821. As first estab lished the state was bounded on the west by a meridian passing through the mouth of the Kan sas river. An act was approved June 7, 1836, extending the boundary to the Missouri river north of its intersection with this line whenever the Indian title to this portion should be extin guished and the state express its assent to the change. The Indian title was extinguished by a treaty with the Iowas and Sacs and Foxes Sep tember 17, 1836. This addition was known as the "Platte Purchase," and was sanctioned by the state December 16, 1836, and was declared perfec ted by a proclamation of the president March 28, 1837. This was bringing a state very close to portions of what are now included in Nebraska — only across the Missouri to the present counties of Richardson, Nemaha and the southeast corner of Otoe. After the admission of Missouri as a state into the union, for nearly thirty-three years the coun try now included within the boundaries of the state of Nebraska was practically without a gov ernment, but before the end of this time the coun try was attached to the United States judicial district of Missouri. In the spring of 1822 William H. Ashley, the head of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company of St. Louis, equipped two boats to ascend the Mis souri river to the mouth of the Yellowstone. This was a disastrous expedition, as during the first three months one-fourth of the men were lost by violent deaths, and a good deal of the proper ty by accident, deceit and war with the savages. In the meantime negotiations were being car ried on with the Indians of the various tribes. The Missouri Fur Company, one of the strongest and most active engaged in the trade, had at its head Dr. Pilcher. Benjamin O 'Fallon was one of the principal partners, and was one of the most active in bringing about the treaties between the government and the various Indian tribes of Ne braska and adjacent country already referred to. By a treaty proclaimed December 30, 1825, the Kansas tribe ceded to. the United States a large section of this country. On April 12, 1834, a treaty was proclaimed by which the four confed erate bands of the Pawnees did likewise. The Pawnees as well as the surrounding tribes were greatly ravished by small pox in 1832. Soon after, the Pawnees by treaty agreed to confine themselves to the north side of the Platte, but in a short time the Sioux came down upon them with great slaughter. From this time their numbers rapidly decreased. In 1834, by an act of congress, it was enacted that all that part of the United States west of the Mississippi and not within the states of Missouri and Louisiana or the territory of Arkansas should be considered Indian country for the purposes of the act, and certain regulations were prescribed for its government. This included the whole of the present state of Nebraska. In 1835 another expedition under the direction of the general government traversed the Platte valley. Colonel Henry Dodge was in charge of this expedition, and followed the west bank of the Missouri to the mouth of the Platte, then traced the last-mentioned stream to its source. Colonel John C. Fremont's exploring expedition came in 1842. They reached the Big Blue on June 20, 1842. Fremont reached the confluence of the north and south forks of the Platte river July 2d. From this point the party traveled up the south fork forty miles, where it was decided to divide the party, one to ascend the fork they were then on, the other to cross over to the north COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 41 fork. With five men Fremont continued his journ ey up the south fork, reaching July 5 a point near the western boundary of what is now Keith coun ty, Nebraska. The other party followed the north fork up to the American Fur Company's fort, at the mouth of Laramie's fork (Fort Laramie), where the two parties were reunited and went on west, returning later in the fall of the same year. The second Fremont expedition was undertaken in 1843. During the decade following the time when the Fremont expedition traveled over Nebraska, various circumstances conspired to send thous ands of white men into this region for a longer or shorter' period. First in point of time and num bers were the Mormons. Their home in Nauvoo, Illionis, having been broken up, the greater part of the believers in that faith journeyed slowly across Iowa, and finally, with few exceptions, crossed the Missouri river during the years 1845 and 1846, locating about six miles north of Oma ha, at what is now known as Florence, but which was then called "Winter Quarters" by the Mor mons. Here about fifteen thousand people con gregated. The Indians were hostile to them, com plaining that they cut too much timber, and the complaints caused the exodus of the Mormons. Many of them found temporary shelter on the Iowa side of the river. Soon an expedition of eighty wagons was sent out in search of a per manent home for the Latter Day Saints, which resulted in the selection of the Salt Lake valley, then far beyond the reach of government law and civilization. The presence of these families had no decisive influence on the future of Nebraska. In 1847 the Presbyterian board of missions confirmed the selection of Bellevue for the loca tion of a mission school. This was an important step in the history pf Nebraska. The mission school buildings were finished and formally opened in 1848. In 1849 there set in that wonderfully migratory movement to California directly across what is now within the boundaries of the state. Bands of gold-seekers crossed the Missouri at old Fort Kearney (now Nebraska City), at Plattsmouth, at Bellevue and at Council Bluffs. Another great stream flowed from the southeast, striking the Platte at (New) Fort Kearney, previously called Fort Childs, which had been established on the south side of the Platte, opposite Grand Island. Thus the fever of 1849 swept over all the land, and thousands found their way to the Pacific along the valley of the Platte. The moving host left here and there a permanent impress on the land. The knowledge of this fertile country spread, and later on many of these same "forty- niners" sought its peaceful hills and plains wherein to erect homes for their declining years. Another effect of the emigration was the estab lishment of a ferry between what is now Omaha and Council Bluffs by Wm. D. Brown in 1851 or 1852. In 1853 he made claim to the site of Oma ha. In 1850 a military road was established, leading from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney on the Platte. By this time the territory was being so thor oughly traveled over, that the broad and beauti ful rolling prairies and the rich soil became well known, and it was clear now that it was only a question of time when emigration would cross the Missouri and in an irresistable wave spread itself widely over the fertile plains beyond. The gener al government, therefore, continued the negotia tions for residue of the Indian lands, and as rap idly as possible concluded treaties to restrict the Indians to moderate metes and bounds. Nebraska was the highway to the west, and a place should be given in this history to mention of the events and conditions which were largely instrumental in the original settlement of Ne braska. In remote times — remote for the west — the beginning of "The West" was at the Missis sippi. Western Illinois and Wisconsin and West ern Iowa were accessible by water by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The region beyond was known only to the courageous few who had braved the perils of a wilderness inhabited by hostile tribes. But in 1850, when the fever for gold had spread throughout the east, the limits of civiliza tion had extended so far that supplies of horses, mules, cattle, wagons, coffee, flour, bacon, sugar and the indispensables of a' trip across the plains were obtainable at points on the Missouri river in the state of Missouri. Parties endeavored to reach that stream early in the spring that they might take advantage of the growth of vegeta tion as food for their teams. While some cara vans followed the Arkansas, many more chose to come up the Missouri and travel thence westward along the rich valley of the Platte. Thus was first opened up to observant pioneers the beauties of this region. Hundreds of improvident but eager men set out so late in the season as to en counter the rigor of winter in the mountains, and many perished miserably from exposure and starvation. Others started early enough to safe ly pass the Rocky mountains only to meet their fate in the inhospitable fastness of the Sierra Ne- vadas, where snow frequently piles to the depths of thirty and forty feet in localities. Among the early trials were the dangers incident to crossing a country inhabited by fierce Indians. If the truth could be known, probably every mile from the Missouri to the Pacific would demand at least one headstone to mark a victim's grave. At the time referred to the whole region from the Missouri to the Pacific was vaguely known as "the plains," though it embraced almost every variety of country. First the emigrant crossed the rich, rolling prairies of Nebraska. The soil grew thinner and thinner until it merged into dreary sand, deserts. Upon these he found myr iads of prairie dogs, sometimes living in towns twenty miles square ; herds of graceful antelopes bounded over the hills, and huge, ungainly buffa- 42 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. loes, which numbered millions then, blackened parts of the landscape. A day's journey was from ten to twenty miles. When the company halted for the night, they turned their animals to graze with such precautions as served to prevent their escape; lighted a fire on the prairie of buffalo chips, and supped on pork, hot bread or "flap jacks," and washed the frugal repast down with the inevitable tin cup of coffee. Their trusty guns were kept within easy reach, and the whit ened skull of a buffalo, perhaps killed by some emigrant long before in wanton sport, served as a seat. The wagons were covered with stout can vas, and afforded protection to the few women and children during the later years of the excite ment. All became inured to the conditions of out door life. When large streams were reached, the heavy wagons were floated or hauled, and where it was convenient to do so, rude bridges were con structed over smaller streams. Every source of ingenuity was developed. If a wheel gave way and the mechanical productiveness of the party could not replace it, a cottonwood log with one end dragging on the ground was made to serve instead. If a pole broke, another was extempor ized from the nearest timber. If an ox died, some luckless cow was yoked in his place. Some times one family or one party of half a dozen men journeyed alone, and sometimes there were a hundred or more wagons in a single "train," with their white covers enveloped in an increasing cloud of dust. During the seasons when emigra tion was very heavy, caravans could from an em inence be seen stretching out for miles and miles, and at night every pleasant camping-ground was a populous village. The journey was not without its enjoyments, though one 's philosophy was sore ly tried at times. There were often long delays for hunting lost cattle, waiting for swollen streams to subside, or in climbing the mountains. Storms and mishaps frequently taxed the pa tience of all, and sickness came to feeble frame and hardy men alike. The first of a long line of trains often climbed steep hills instead of going the longer and easier way through ravines, and the followers along the new roads were forced to desert the beaten tracks and risk untried courses or labor on in their wake. It was not uncommon to see from ten to the thirty yoke of cattle hitched to a single wagon, working slowly up the moun tain. The summit reached at last, the wagon would be emptied, and with a huge log trailing behind as a brake, the teams would descend to re peat their experience in ascending with other loads. The wild, majestic scenery along the way may have been a partial compensation to some for the harships they endured, but it is reasonable to believe that few would have re fused to forego those delights if thereby they might have gained easier transit. The tragedies of those days were numerous. The very nature of the journey and the chances of sudden wealth, combined with the freedom of the manner of liv ing, gathered many a desperate character into the civil army. The baser passions were too often allowed full scope, and hence it must be recorded that many a villain found his end at the hands of outraged companions. The travelers were a law unto themselves, and greed or lust were summar ily avenged. An early settler wrote the following vivid de scription of the appearance of Nebraska in 1856: ' ' In 1856 I first came to Nebraska, and the rolling prairies existing between the Big Sandy and Fort Kearney had been burnt off, so that as the cara van with which I was traveling passed along, a wide waste of desolation met the eye. The sur face of the earth was black as charcoal, and here and there was spotted with the bleached bones of buffalo, oxen and wolves. It seemed as though nothing could live in that forsaken-looking coun try, and yet I thought then that where that black, charred surface was, there must have been long blades of brown and yellow grass before the fire swept them out of existence. And I thought,' too, the grass must have been beautifully green in the spring and summer time, and I hoped to see the summer bloom for me again. When I approached the Platte valley from the hills which skirt it, my eyes were delighted with the sight that met my view. Near by lay that beautiful country, its land as level as a floor, the dense groves of trees stretching out as far as the eye could see. It was a gorgeous spectacle, and it seemed to me no valley on the earth could sur pass it in agricultural possibilities. During the winter of 1856-57, I journeyed on to Fort Lara mie. The point at which I struck the Platte must have been two hundred and fifty miles from its mouth. From there to Fort Laramie was about three hundred and seventy-five miles. I, there fore, traveled fully three hundred and seventy- five miles, so that my opportunity for judging of its extent and general features was of the best, although it was seen under most disparaging cir cumstances. That was a terrible winter. From October to May snow was on the ground. On the last day of November our party arrived at Ash Hollow, returning from Fort Laramie. The snow was a foot deep at the former place. That night another storm came on and continued for several days and nights. When it was over we were snow-bound. We remained there two weeks and then moved on to a village of Ogallala Sioux In dians, where we remained more than a month and were kept from starving by the kindness of the Indians, who gave us all the buffalo meat we needed for our food. From this village to Fort Kearney we journeyed on the ice of the Platte river. On the land the snow lay two feet deep while the valleys were filled full with drifting snow For months there was nothing to be seen but the dazzling whiteness of the snow We were sixteen days in going from Ash Hollow to Fort Kearney, a distance of one hundred- and fifty miles, and necessarily encountered many hard COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 43 ships and privations on the way. A few days after our arrival at the fort another severe storm came on with strong winds. This lasted several days, and completely buried the one-story houses of the fort in the drifts. Barracks, officers' quar ters, stables, all were covered, and trenches had to be dug around haystacks to prevent the cattle from walking on top of them. Cuttings were made from door to door of the houses to allow the inmates to go in and out. The season was terrible, but it was general throughout the north west. It was an unfavorable time to form an opinion of the region, but I nevertheless resolved to make it my future home. I kneAv that the snow would finally disappear, and so it did. In June the valley of the Platte was decked with living green, the trees were rich with foliage, and birds chirped forth their songs of joy." Early in the fifties a movement was begun which culminated in the organization of Nebraska as a territory. On February 10, 1853, a bill, organ izing the territory of Nebraska, passed the house, but failed to pass the senate. On the 14th of De cember, 1853, the second bill was introduced in the senate, and on May 30 the organic act creat ing the territory of Nebraska was signed by President Pierce and became a law. The first territorial officers appointed by President Pierce were as follows: Governor, Francis Burt, of South Carolina ; secretary, Thomas B. Cuming, of Iowa; chief justice, Tenner Ferguson, of Michi gan; associate justices, James Bradley, of Indi ana, and Edward R. Hardin, of Georgia; marshal, Mark W. Isard, of Arkansas; attorney, E. Esta- brook, of Wisconsin. Governor Burt reached the territory in ill health on the 6th of October, 1854, and proceeded to Bellevue. He took the oath of office October 16, 1854, but his illness proved of a fatal charac ter, and he sank rapidly. His death occurred October 18, 1854, and the duties of organizing the territorial government devolved upon Secre tary Cuming, who became acting governor. Practically the first official act in the territorial government was the issuance of a proclamation announcing the death of Governor Burt. At the time of its organization, the territory was divided into eight counties, viz : Burt, Wash ington, Dodge, Douglas, Cass, Pierce, Forney and Richardson. The official headquarters of the territory were located temporarily at Bellevue until the assem bling of the legislature in January, 1855. There was intense rivalry over the location of the capi tal between Bellevue, Florence, Plattsmouth, Ne braska City and Omaha, but it was decided in favor of Omaha. The erection of a capital build ing at Omaha was commenced in the fall of 1855, which was completed by January, 1858. It was a commodious brick building. In the fall of 1854 the first census of the terri tory was taken by virtue of a proclamation issued by the governor, and on December 12 of the same year the first election was held. In March, 1860, the question of forming a state government was submitted to the people and de feated by a vote of 2,372 to 2,094. The matter of state organization was again taken up in 1864. On April 19 of that year the en abling act passed by congress was approved by the president and became a law. Nebraska was now a state. In the meantime settlements were being made by a sturdy and thrifty class of pioneers in var ious portions of the state, and the inhabitants set tled down to peaceful pursuits of husbandry. From this time down to the present time we will here treat of only the most importnat points that have proven mile posts in the history of the state. For the more detailed mention of the different phases of the growth and development of the state we refer the reader to the special articles elsewhere in this volume. The growth and development of the state and its settlement had only begun to reach substan tial proportions when it was interrupted by the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. In May, 1861, Governor Alvin Saunders issued a procla mation calling for the immediate raising of a reg iment of infantry. In pursuance to this, compan ies A, B, C, D, E, F and G, of the first regiment, were all sworn into the service in June, 1861. Three more companies were sworn into the ser vice in July, and all these companies took their departure for St. Joseph. In August a call was issued for two companies of cavalry to join the First regiment. In 1862 and also in 1863 a number of compan ies of cavalry were organized and mustered into the service. Additional companies of cavalry and infantry were organized in 1864 and sent to the front. In 1864 and 1865 the Indians along the frontier gave the whites a great deal of trouble, and many depredations were committed. On July 25, 1865, an attack was made on Platte Bridge station by one thousand Indians. In 1866 the state constitution was adopted by a vote of the people, and on March 1, 1867, Presi dent Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation de claring Nebraska a state. The first session of the legislature after the admission of the state into the union met May 16, 1867, under a proclamation issued by Governor Butler. The first state legislature (1866-67) appointed Governor David Butler, Secretary of State T. P. Kennard and State Auditor John Gillespie a com mission for selecting a site for the state capital. The commissioners commenced their search in July, 1867, and made a thorough examination of all territory designated by the act of the legisla ture, which embraced the counties of Lancaster, Seward and a part of the counties of Butler, Saunders and Saline. Seventy-two sections of land and twelve salt springs had been donated to 44 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the new state by the general government, and these were located by the governor within a rad ius of twenty miles of the Great Salt Basin. The balloting of the commissioners for the location of the state capital occurred July 29, 1867, and re sulted in favor of Lincoln (then called Lancas ter). Work on the capitol building was com menced promptly. The building was sufficiently completed by December, 1868, for occupancy, and on December 3, 1868, Governor Butler issued a proclamation announcing the removal of the seat of government to Lincoln, and ordered the transfer of the archives of the state to the new capitol. In 1869 the University of Nebraska was founded. On the 10th of May, 1869, there occurred an event which marked one of the most important mile posts, not only for Nebraska alone, but in American history as well — the completion of the Union Pacific railroad to Ogden. On that day two oceans were united, a continent was spanned by iron bands, and a revolution was accomplished in the commerce of the world. The event was observed in Omaha by a grand celebration. In 1871 articles of impeachment were formu lated against Governor Butler. The trial began March 14, and resulted in an order for his removal from office. On September 19 of this year a new constitution was submitted to a vote of the people and rejected. The first serious devastation by grasshoppers occurred in July, 1874. In 1875 a new constitu tion was adopted by a vote of the people. In 1878 the state historical association was organized. In 1882 a great strike took place on the Bur lington railroad, resulting in serious rioting which required the militia to quell. In 1890 an Indian insurrection occurred at Pine Ridge agency, which assumed such serious pro portions as to require the calling out of the national guards. The census of this year gave Nebraska a population of 1,058,910. In 1894 began the "famine period." The hot winds in July of this year throughout practically the whole state parched all vegetation, causing virtually an entire failure of crops of all kinds. The crop failures (1894-1895) resulted in great suffering in the western part of the state. In January, 1895, the legislature passed a relief bill, appropriationg fifty thousand dollars for the re lief of the western sufferers. This was followed in March of the same year by an additional appro priation of two hundred thousand dollars. In 1898, shortly after the breaking out of the Spanish-American war, Governor Holeomb issued a proclamation calling for volunteers, and as a result of this the First and Second regiments were mustered in at Lincoln May 9 and 10, 1898. The Third regiment was mustered in at Fort Omaha on July 7 of the same year. One of the important events of recent years in Nebraska that should be mentioned was the open ing of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha June 1, 1898. The foregoing covers the most important events that would be considered as marking epochs in the history of the state. It may be said that the principal setbacks which the state has suffered were those caused: First, by the civil war in 1861-1865, which temporarily delayed the settle ment and development of this region by the drawing into the service of the government many of the able-bodied men from all parts of the country. But the delay was only temporary, aud the emigration set in with renewed force immedi ately after the close of hostilities, and many of the war veterans found their way to Nebraska to settle down to peaceful avocations. Second, the occasional outbreaks of the Indians in early days may be said to have been one of the causes which for a time most seriously delayed and interrupted the growth of the state, as many living in the eastern states were deterred from emigrating to Nebraska through fears of the Indians, aroused by the occasional outbreaks and the sensational rumors that were current in the east. The third great interruption to Nebraska's growth was from the grasshopper raids of the "seventies." Fourth, the drouth and consequent failure of crops which occurred about 1894 proved a serious set-back to Nebraska as well as to the entire western country. These, however, may all be justly considered as being the usual and ordinary set-backs that must be met in the development of any new country. With these exceptions it may be said that the for ward progress of the state has been steady and rapid. The seasons have come and gone, leaving bountiful crops to enrich and supply the wants of all, and prosperity reigns supreme throughout the length and breadth of the state. The changes that have been wrought are truly marvelous, and as these things of only half a century are contem plated, one can scarcely realize or comprehend that the wonderful results of time 's marvel- work ing hand are the achievements of a period so brief as to be within the remembrance of men who are still living. Turn back, as it were, the leaves of time's great book to but a half century ago, and the stranger would have gazed upon a landscape of great beauty, selected by the red men as their camping ground, with that singular appreciation of the beautiful which nature made an instinct in the savage. These vast and rolling prairies were as green then as now; the prairie flowers bloomed as thickly and diffused their fragrance as bountifully. It was the home of the red man with scarcely a trace of civilization But today, what a contrast ! Then all was as na ture had formed it with its varigated hues of vegetation— in winter a' dreary snow-mantled desert, in summer a perfect paradise of flowers Now all traces of the primitive are obliterated In place of the tall prairie grass and mangled underbrush one beholds the rich, waving fields of COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 45 golden grain. In place of the dusky warriors' rude eabins are the substantial and often elegant dwellings of the thrifty farmers, and the "iron horse," swifter than the nimble d,eeri treads the pathway so recently the trail of the red man. Cities and villages, the peer of those which have been centuries in building, have sprung up as if by magic ; civilization and progress are apparent on every hand; schools and churches adorn the former prairies, and the result is a prosperous land filled with an enterprising, intelligent and happy people. CHAPTER III. POLITICAL, TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION, STATE ORGANIZATION, AND OFFICIAL ROSTER. LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS TOWARD SECURING TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION. In 1851 and 1852 the first effort was made to erect a territory west of Missouri and Iowa, which was abortive, and the matter did not reach a vote in congress. At the next session, 1852-53, Willard P. Hall, of Missouri, on December 13, 1852, offered a bill in the house of representatives organizing the territory of "Platte," which included in its area what is now the greater part of Nebraska, the northern limit of the region being generally described as "the Platte river." The bill was re ferred to the committee on territories. From that committee William A. Richardson, of Illinois, re ported a bill organizing the territory of Nebras ka, covering the same area. The report did not meet with the approval of the southern members, and they made such a fight on it that the report presented recommended that the bill be rejected. Notwithstanding the objections, however, the bill passed the house by a vote of 98 to 43, February 10, 1853. Now began the contest which became notorious in the history of the nation. The bill went to the senate heralded by pro-slavery blasts of warning. There was organized secretly a sys tem to prevent free soil from becoming a new ter ritory unless a similar tract of slave soil should be set off as a counterpoise in the national legis lature, for to admit a free territory without one dedicated to slavery was to give the anti-slavery faction a political lever that might be used against the south. The bill reached the senate, where it was moved to "lay it on the table." This defeated the bill by a vote of 23 to 17, the senators from the slave states, with the exception of those from Missouri, were solidly arrayed against the bill. In the meantime the people of Iowa and many localities in the west had manifested their disap proval of the lines described in the bill, and they began to impatiently insist that the country west of the Missouri river be opened to settlement. Thousands of emigrants were camping along the eastern banks of the Missouri, impatiently await ing the extinguishment of the Indian title to lands, and were awaiting the permission of the general government to cross over and settle in the new territory. And to that end in the fall of 1853 a considerable number of persons crossed the Missouri from Iowa, and, assembling at Belle vue and Old Fort Kearney, proceeded to hold an election for a delegate to represent their inter ests at Washington in securing a territorial or ganization. Said election was held on the 11th of October, 1853, and resulted in the unanimous choice of Hon. Hadley D. Johnson, a prominent lawyer and leading citizen of Council Bluffs, Iowa. On the 14th of December, 1853, a bill was intro duced in the senate by Augustus C. Dodge, sena tor from Iowa, providing for the organization of the "Territory of Nebraska." This measure ad hered to the former boundaries, and it was re ferred to the committee on territories. The bill contained no clause interfering with the interdict on slavery in this region laid down by the Mis souri compromise. The report of this committee contains so much information concerning the sit uation at that time that we quote the following from it, viz: "A question has arisen in regard to the right to hold slaves in the territory of Ne braska when the Indian laws shall be withdrawn and the country opened to emigration and settle ment. By the eighth section of an act to author ize the people of Missouri territory to form a con stitution and state government, and for the ad mission of such state into the union on an equal footing with the original states, and to prohibit slavery in certain territories, approved March 6, 1820, it was provided : ' That in all that territory ceded by France to the United States under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of thirty-six and one-half degrees north latitude, not included within the limits of the state contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude otherwise than a punishment of crimes shall be and hereby are prohibited; provided always that any person 46 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. escaping into the same, etc., such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person or persons claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid. ' Under this section, as in the ease of the Mexican law in New Mexico and Utah, it is a dis puted point whether slavery is prohibited in the Nebraska country by valid enactment. The de cision of this question involves the constitutional power of congress ±o pass laws prescribing and 'regulating the domestic institutions of the various territories of the union. In the opinion of these eminent statesmen who hold that congress is in vested with no rightful authority to legislate upon the subject of slavery in the territories, the eighth section of the act preparatory to the admission of Missouri is null and void, while the prevailing sentiment in large portions of the union sustains the doctrine that the constitution of the United States secures to every citizen an inalienable right to move into any of the territories with his prop erty of whatever kind and description, and to hold and enjoy the same, your committee do not feel themselves called upon to enter the discussion of these controverted questions. They involve the same grave issues which produced the agitation, the sectional strife and fearful struggle of 1850. As congress deemed it wise and prudent to refrain from deciding the matter in controversey then * * *so your committee are not prepared to recom mend a departure from the course pursued on that memorable occasion, either by affirming or repeal ing the eighth section of the Missouri act, or by any act declaratory of the meaning of the constitu tion in respect to the legal points in dispute. It is apparent that the compromise measures of 1850 affirm and rest upon the following propositions : First, that all questions pertaining to slavery in the territories and the new states to be formed therefrom are to be left to the people residing therein. ' ' When the report of the committee was present ed Archibald Dixon, of Kentucky, gave notice that he would, when the bill came up, offer as an amendment a clause that the eighth section of the Missouri act "shall not be so construed as to ap ply to the territory of Nebraska or to any other territory, but that the citizens of the several states shall be at liberty to take and hold their slaves within any of the territories or states to be formed therefrom." This, of course, would have annulled the compromise act, and it reopened hostilities. It was in the midst of this discussion and controversy that Hadley D. Johnson, repre senting the Nebraska people, reached Washing ton. He had no official status, but as representa tive of a large region affected by the measure he was admitted to the councils of the committee on territories. He had a good deal of influence with the committee, and it was mainly through his ef forts that Senator Douglas requested the reeom- mital of the bill. On January 23, 1854, a bill re taining the title was offered, but so amended as to leave but little of the original document. Two territories were now proposed, one to be called "Kansas," the other "Nebraska." The amended bill contained the following important provisions concerning slavery: First, that all questions per taining to slavery in the territories, and in the new states to be formed therefrom, are to be left to the decision of the people residing therein, through their appropriate representatives. Second. That all cases involving the title to slaves and questions of personal freedom are re ferred to the adjudication of local tribunals with right of appeal to the supreme court of the United States. Third. That the provisions of the constitution and laws of the United States in respect to fugi tives from service are to be carried into faithful execution in all the original territories, the same as in the states. The fight that followed over this bill was a hotly-contested one. Senator Douglas introduced an amendment affirming the principle of non-in tervention by congress, which prevailed. Senator Chase moved "that the people of the territory may, if they see fit, prohibit the existence of slav ery therein. ' ' This was voted down. The contest and debate that followed was one of the most notable in the history of the country. It is not necessary to follow it in detail in this connection. So far as the destiny of Nebraska is concerned it is only necessary to say that the senate passed the amended bill by a vote of 37 to 14 on March 3, 1854. In May a bill was passed by the house, in form as an original measure, although it was in essence the amended senate bill. This was sent to the senate May 24, and was passed. The bill was approved by President Pierce May 30, 1854. The territory embraced 351,558 square miles, extending from the fortieth parallel of north latitude to the British possessions on the north, and from the Missouri river on the east to the summit of the Rocky mountains on the west. The creation of the territory of Colorado, Febru ary 28, 1861, decreased the area by 16,035 square miles, and the creation of the territory of Dako ta, March 2, 1867, further diminished the area by 228,907 square miles. At one time a triangular tract of 15,378 square miles was attached from Washington and Utah territories, lying on the southwest slope of the Rocky mountains, but this was afterwards included in the 45,999 square miles which went to form the territory of Idaho March 3, 1863. NEBRASKA AS A TERRITORY. The following is the full text of the organic act which created the territory of Nebraska: Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress Assembled, That all that part of the territory of the United States included within the following limits, except such portions thereof as are hereafter expressly exempted from the opera tions of this act, to-wit : Beginning at a point on COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 47 the Missouri river where the fortieth parallel of north latitude crosses the same, thence west on said parallel to the east boundary of the territory of Utah on the summit of the Rocky mountains, thence on said summit northward to the forty- ninth parallel of north latitude, thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the ter ritory of Minnesota, thence southward on said boundary to the Missouri river, thence down the main channel of said river to the place of begin ning, be and the same is hereby created into a temporary government by the name of the Terri tory of Nebraska, and when admitted as a state or states, the said territory or any portion of the same shall be received into the union with or without slavery as their constitution may pre scribe at the time of their admission; provided, that nothing in this act contained shall be con strued to inhibit the government of the United States from dividing said territory into two or more territories in such a manner and at such a time as congress shall deem convenient and prop er, or from attaching any portion of said territory to any other state or territory of the United States. Provided further, that nothing in this act con tained shall be construed to impair the rights of person or property now pertaining to the Indians in said territory so long as such rights shall re main unextinguished by treaty between the United States and such Indians, or to, include any territory which by treaty with any Indian tribe is not, without the consent of said tribe, to be in cluded within the -territorial limits or jurisdiction of any state or territory, but all such territory shall be excepted out of the boundaries and con stitute no part of the territory of Nebraska until said tribe shall signify their assent to the presi dent of the United States to be included within said territory of Nebraska, or to affect the au thority of the government of the United States to make any regulations respecting any such In dians, their lands, property or other rights by treaty, law or otherwise, which it would have been competent for the government to make if this act had never been passed. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power and authority in and over said territory of Nebraska shall be vested in a govern or who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and quali fied, unless sooner removed by the president of the United States. The governor shall reside within said territory, and shall be commander-in- chief of the militia thereof. He may grant par dons and respites for offenses against the laws of said territory, and reprieves for offenses against the laws of the United States until the decision of the president can be made known thereon. He shall commission all officers who shall be appoint ed to office under the laws of said territory, and shall take care that the laws shall be faithfully executed. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be a secretary of said territory who shall re side therein, and hold his office for five years un less sooner removed by the president of the United States. He shall record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the legislative assembly here inafter constituted, and all the acts and proceed ings of the governor in his executive department. He shall transmit one copy of the laws and jour nals of the legislative assembly within thirty days after the end of each session, and one copy hi the executive procedings and official correspondence semi-annually on the first days of January and July of each year, to the president of the United States, and two copies of the laws to the president of the senate and to the speaker of the house of representatives to be deposited in the libraries of congress. And in case of the death, removal, resignation or absence of the governor from the territory, the secretary shall be and he is hereby authorized and required to execute and perforin all the powers and duties of the governor dur ing such vacancy or absence, or until another governor shall be duly appointed and qualified to fill such vacancy. See. 4. And be it further enacted, That the legislative power and authority of said territory shall be vested in the governor and a legislative assembly. The legislative assembly shall consist of a council and house of representatives. The council shall consist of thirteen members having the qualification of voters as hereinafter pre scribed, whose term of service shall continue two years. The house of representatives shall, at its first session, consist of twenty-six members, pos sessing the same qualifications as prescribed for members of the council, and whose term of service shall continue one year. The number of repre sentatives may be increased by the legislative assembly from time to time in proportion to the increase of qualified voters; provided, that the whole number shall never exceed thirty-nine. An apportionment shall be made as nearly equal as practicable, among the several counties or dis tricts for the election of the council and represen tatives, giving to each section of the territory rep resentation in the ratio of its qualified voters as nearly as may be. And the members of the coun cil and of the house of representatives shall reside in, and be inhabitants of, the district or county or counties for which they may be elected, re- spectivley. Previous to the first election, the gov ernor shall cause a census or enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified voters of the several counties and districts of the territory to be taken by such persons and in such mode as the governor shall designate and appoint, and the persons so appointed shall receive a reasonable compensa tion therefor. And the first election shall be held at such time and places, and be conducted in such a manner, both as to the persons who shall super intend such election and the returns thereof, as the governor shall appoint and direct; and he shall at the same time declare the number of mem- 48 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. bers of the council and house of representatives to which each of the counties or districts shall be entitled under this act. The persons having the highest number of legal votes in each of said coun cil districts for members of the council shall be de clared by the governor to be duly elected to the council ; and the persons having the highest num ber of legal votes for the house of representatives shall be declared by the governor to be duly elect ed members of said house : Provided, That in case two or more persons voted for shall have an equal number of votes, and in case a vacancy shall otherwise occur in either branch of the legisla tive assembly, the governor shall order a new election; and the persons thus elected to the leg islative assembly shall meet at such place and on such day as the governor shall appoint ; but there after, the time, place and manner of holding and conducting all elections by the people, and the apportioning the representation in the several counties or districts to the council and house of representatives, according to the number of quali fied voters, shall be perseribed by law, as well as the day of the commencement of the regular ses sions of the legislative assembly: Provided, That no session in any one year shall exceed the term of forty days, except the first session, which may continue sixty days. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That every free white male inhabitant above the age of twenty-one years, who shall be an actual resident of said territory, and shall possess the qualifica tions hereinafter described, shall be entitled to vote at the first election, and shall be eligible to any office within the said territory ; but the quali fications of voters, and of holding office, at all subsequent elections, shall be such as shall be prescribed by the legislative assembly : Provided, That the right of suffrage and of holding office shall be exercised only by citizens of the United States, and those who shall have declared on oath their intention to become such, and shall have taken an oath to support the constiution of the United States and the provisions of this act. And provided further, That no officer, soldier, seaman or marine, or other person in the army or navy of the United States, or attached to troops in the service of the United States, shall be allowed to vote or hold office in said territory, by reason of being on service therein. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the legislative power of the territory shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation consistent with the constitution of the United States and the provisions of this act ; but no law shall be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil ; no tax shall be imposed upon the property of the United States; nor shall the lands or other pro perty of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or other property of residents. Every bill which shall have passed the council and house of representatives of the said territory shall, be fore it becomes a law, be presented to the governor of the territory; if he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, who shall enter the objections at large on its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsi deration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two- thirds of that house it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, to be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the governor within three days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the assembly, by adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That all township, district and county officers, not herein otherwise provided for, shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, in such manner as shall be provided by the governor and legislative assembly of the territory of Nebraska. The gov ernor shall nominte, and, by and with the advice and consent of the legislative council, appoint all officers not herein otherwise provided for; and in the first instance the governor alone may ap point all said officers, who shall hold their offices until the end of the first session of the legislative assembly ; and shall lay off the necessary districts for members of the council and house of represen tatives and all other officers. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That no member of the legislative assembly shall hold, or be appointed to, any office which shall have been created, or the salary or emoluments of which shall have been increased, while he was a member, during the term from which he was elected, and for one year after the expiration of such term; but this restriction shall not be ap plicable to members of the first legislative assem bly; and no person holding a commission or ap pointment under the United States, except post masters, shall be a member of the legislative as sembly, or hold any office under the government of said territory. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the judicial power of said territory shall be invested in a supreme court, district courts, probate courts, and in justices of the peace. The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two associate justices, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and who shall hold a term at the seat of government of said territory annually, and they shall hold their offices during the period of four years, and until their successors shall be appoint ed and qualified. The said territory shall be di vided into three judicial districts, and a district court shall be held in each of said districts by one of the justices of the supreme court, at such times and places as shall be prescribed by law \FBBB£RrCFZS FEAF JVFAR K-l LFA7T/A'E,XfMf?ASftA FORD ON FEifA Mll/1 CREEfC AFAR Af/LLS, A'FRRASFA CLfFF.S OA'PflAI CREEK/VOFFH OFA/A'JllY/fiJJ/.AEFIt IS/TA CUFFS "X .VIOERARA ftfl /¦'//. .YOIt'17/.llE SfHRFS.FEBSASKA CjROJY BUFTFJS , CAUIFOfi/f, A'EBRAS/fA NOfflTi PLATTE Pirj2RHT£AR PAX2T0NJ^ESJR4^^ COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 49 and the said judges shall, after their appoint ments, respectively reside in the districts which shall be assigned them. The jurisdiction of the several courts herein provided for, both appellate and original, and that of the probate courts and justices of the peace, shall be as limited by law: Provided, That justices of the peace shall not have jurisdiction of any matter in controversy when the title or boundaries of land may be in dispute, or where the debt or sum claimed shall exceed $100; and the said supreme and district courts, respectively, shall possess chancery as well as common law jurisdiction. Each district court, or the judge thereof, shall appoint its clerk, who shall also be register in chancery, and shall keep his office at the place where the court may be held. Writs of error, bills of exception and appeals shall be allowed in all cases from the final decisions of said district courts to the su preme court, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law ; but in no case removed to the supreme court shall trial by jury be allowed in said court. The supreme court, or justices there of, shall appoint its own clerk, and every clerk shall hold his office at the pleasure of the court for which he shall have been appointed. Writs of error, and appeals from the final decisions of said supreme court, shall be allowed, and may be taken to the supreme court of the United States, in the same manner and under the same regula tions as from the circuit courts of the United States, where the value of the property, or the amount in controversy, to be ascrtained by the oath or affirmation of either party, or other com petent witness, shall exceed $1,000; except only that in all cases involving title to slaves, the said writs of error or appeals shall be allowed and de cided by the supreme court, without regard to the value of the matter, property or title in contro versy; and except also that a writ of error or appeal shall also be allowed to the supreme court of the United States, from the decision of the said supreme court created by this act, or of any judge thereof, or of the district courts created by this act, or of any judge thereof, upon any writ of habeas corpus involving the question of personal freedom. Provided, That nothing herein con tained shall be construed to apply to or affect the provisions of the "act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the ser vice of their masters," approved February 12, 1793, and the, "act to amend and suplementary to the aforesaid act," approved September 18, 1850; and each of the said district courts shall have and exercise the same jurisdiction in all cases arising under the constiution and laws of the United States as is vested in the circuit and district courts of the United' States ; and the said supreme and district courts of the said territory, and the respective judges thereof, shall and may grant writs of habeas corpus in all cases on which the same are granted by the judges of the United States in the District of Columbia; and the first 3 six days of every term of said courts, or so much thereof as shall be necessary" shall be appropriat ed to the trial of causes arising under the said constitution and laws, and writs of error and ap peal in all such cases shall be made to the su preme court of said territory, the same as in other cases. The said clerk shall receive in all such cases the same fees which the clerks of the district curts of Utah territory now receive for similar services. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of an act entitled "an act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters," approved Febru ary 12, 1793, and the provisions of the act en titled "an act to amend, and supplementary to, the aforesaid act," approved September 18, 1850, be, and the same are hereby declared to extend to and be in full force within the limits of said territory of Nebraska. See. 11. And be it further enacted, That there shall be appointed an attorney for said territory, who shall continue in office for four years, and un til his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the president, and who shall receive the same fees and salary as the attor ney for the United States for the present territory of Utah. There shall also be a marshal for the ter ritory appointed, who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be ap pointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the president, and who shall execute all processes issuing from the said courts when exercising their jurisdiction as circuit and district courts of the United States; he shall perform the duties, be subject to the same regulations and penalties, and be entitled to the same fees, as the marshal of the district court of the United States for the present territory of Utah; and shall, in addition, be paid $200 anuually as a compensation for extra service. Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That the governor, secretary, chief justice and associate justices, attorney and marshal shall be nominated, and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the president of the United States. The governor and secretary to be ap pointed as aforesaid shall, before they act as such, respectively take an oath or affirmation before the district judge, or some justice of the peace in the limits of said territory duly authoriz ed to administer oaths and affirmations by the laws now in force therein, or before the chief justice or some associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, to support the con stitution of the United States and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices, which said oaths, when so taken, shall be certi fied by the person by whom the same shall have been taken; and such certificates shall be re ceived and recorded by the said secretary, among the executive proceedings; and the chief justice and associate justices, and all other civil officers 50 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in said territory, before they act as such, shall take a like oath or affirmation before the said governor or secretary, or some judge or justice of the peace of the territory, who may be duly commissioned and qualified, which said oath or affirmation shall be certified and transmitted by the person taking the same to the secretary, to be by him recorded as aforesaid; and afterward the like oath or affirmation shall be taken, certified and recorded, in such manner and form as may be prescribed by law. The governor shall receive an anuual salary of $2,500. The chief justice and associate justices shall each recieve an annual salary of $2,000. The secretary shall receive an annual salary of $2,000. The said salaries shall be paid quarter-yearly, from the dates of the respective appointments, at the treasury of the United States; but no such payments shall be made until said officers shall have entered upon the duties of their respective appointments. The members of the legislative assembly shall be en titled to $3 each, per day, during their atten dance at the sessions thereof, and $3 each for every twenty miles' travel in going to and re turning from the said sessions, estimated accord ing to the nearest usually traveled route, and an additional alowance of $3 shall be paid to the presiding officer of each house for each day he shall so preside. And a chief clerk, and assis tant clerk, a sergeant-at-arms and doorkeeper, may be chosen for each house; and the chief clerk shall recieve $4 per day, and the said other officers $3 per day, during the session of the leg islative assembly; but no other officer shall be paid by the United States : Provided, That there shall be but one session of the legislature an nually, unless on an extraordinary occasion the governor shall think proper to call the legisla ture together. There shall be appropriated, an nually, the usual sum, to be expended by the gov ernor, to defray the contingent expenses of the territory, including the salary of a clerk of the executive department ; and there shall also be ap propriated annually a sufficient sum, to be ex pended by the secretary of the territory, and upon an estimate to be made by the secretary of the treasury of the United States, to defray the ex penses of the legislative assembly, the printing of laws, and other incidental expenses ; and the gov ernor and serectary of the territory shall, in the disbursement of all moneys intrusted to them, be governed solely by the instructions of the secretary of the treasury of the United States, and shall, semi-annually, account to the said secretary for the manner in which the aforesaid moneys shall have been expended ; and no expen ditures shall be made by said legislative assembly for objects not specially authorized by the acts of congress making the appropriations, nor beyond the sums thus appropriated for such- objects. Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the legislative assembly of the territory of Nebraska shall hold its first session at such time and place in said territory as the governor thereof shall appoint and direct; and at the said first session, or as soon thereafter as they shall deem expedi ent, the governor and legislative assembly shall proceed to locate and establish the seat of govern ment for said territory at such place as they may deem eligible ; which place, however, shall there after he subject to be changed by the said gover nor and legislative assembly. Sec. 14. And be it further enacted, That a delegate to the house of representatives, of the United States, to serve for the term of two years, who shall be a citizen of the United States, may be elected by the voters qualified to elect mem bers of the legislative assembly, who shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges as are exercised by the delegates from the several other territories of the United States to the said house of representatives; but the delegate first elected shall hold his seat only during the term of con gress to which he shall be elected. The first elec tion shall be held at such time and places, and be conducted in such manner, as the governor shall appoint and direct; and at all subsequent elec tions the times, places and manner of holding the elections shall be prescribed by law. The person having the geatest number of votes shall be de clared by the governr to be duly elected, and a certificate therof shall be given accordingly. That the constiution and laws of the United States which are not locally inapplicable shall have the same force and effect within the said ter ritory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the United States, except the eighth section of the act pre paratory to the admission of Missouri into the Union, approved March 6, 1820, which being in consistent with the principles of nonintervention by congress with slavery in the states and terri tories, as recognized by the legislation of 1850, commonly called the compromise measures, is hereby declared inoperative and void, it being the true intent and meaning of this act not to legislate slavery into any territory or state nor to exclude it therefrom, but leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to revive or put in force any law or regulation which may have existed prior to the act of 6th March, 1820, either protecting, estab lishing, prohibiting or abolishing slavery. See. 15. And be it further enacted, That there shall hereafter be appropriated, as has been cus tomary for the territorial governments, a suffi cient amount, to be expended under the direc tion of the said governor of the territory of Ne braska, not exceeding the sums heretofore ap propriated for similar objects, for the erection of suitable public buildings at the seat of govern ment, and for the purchase of a library, to be kept at the seat of government, for the use of the governor, legislative assembly, judges of the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 51 supreme court, secretary, marshal, attorney of said territory, and such other persons, and under such regulations, as shall be prescribed by law. Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That when the lands in the said territory shall be surveyed under the direction of the government of the United States, preparatory to bringing the same into market, sections number 16 to 36 in each township in said territory shall be and the same are hereby reserved for the purpose of being ap plied to schools in said territory, and in the states and territories hereafter to be erected out of the same. Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That, until otherwise provided by law, the governor of said territory may define the judicial districts of said territory, and assign the judges who may be ap pointed for said territory to the several districts ; and also appoint the times and places for holding courts in the several counties or subdivisions in each of said judicial districts by proclamation, to be issued by him ; but the legislative assembly, at their first or any subsequent session, may or ganize, alter or modify such judicial districts; and assign the judges, and alter the times and places of holding the courts, as to them shall seem proper and convenient. Sec. 18. And be it further enacted, That all officers to be appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, for the territory of Nebraska, who, by virtue of the pro visions of any law now existing, or which may be enacted during the present congress, are re quired to give security for moneys that may be intrusted with them for disbursement, shall give such security, at such time and place and in such manner as the secretary of the territory may prescribe. Approved May 30, 1854. The first territorial officers were appointed under the provisions of the organic act, by Presi dent Pierce, as follows: Francis Burt, of South Carolina, governor; Thomas B. Cuming, of Iowa, secretary; Tenner Ferguson, of Michigan, chief justice; James Bradley, of Indiana, and Edwin R. Hardin, of Georgia, associate justices; Mark W. Izard, of Arkansas, marshal and Experience Estabrook, of Wisconsin, attorney. Governor Burt reached the territory, in ill health, on the 6th of October, 1854, and proceeded to Bellevue, where he was the guest of Rev. Wm. J. Hamilton at the Old Mission house. His illness proved of a fatal character, and he sank rapidly until his death, which occurred October 18, 185-1. With the death of Governor Burt the duties of organizing the territorial government de volved upon Secretary Cuming, who, by virtue of his office, became acting governor. The first' official act performed in the territory by an ex ecutive officer was the issuance by Governor Cuming of the following proclamation: "It has seemed good to an all-wise Providence to remove from the territory by the hand of death its chief magistrate, Governor Francis Burt. He departed this life this morning at the Mission House in Bellevue, after an illness protracted since his arrival, during which he received the most faithful medical aid and assiduous attention. His remains will be conveyed, on Friday next, to his home in Pendleton, South Carolina, attended by a suitable escort. In this afflictive dispensa tion, as a mark of respect and affection for the lamented and distinguished executive and a sign of the public sorrow, the national colors within the territory will be draped in mourning, and the territorial officers will wear crape upon the left arm for thirty days from date. "Given under my hand at Bellevue, Nebraska Territory, this 18th day of October, A. D., 1854. (Signed) T. B. Cuming, Acting Governor of Ne braska. ' ' The official headquarters remained at Belle vue until the assembling of the first territorial legislature in January, 1855, when Omaha be came the seat of government. The machinery of the territorial government was set in motion in 1854. In October the acting governor issued a proclamation, by virtue of which the first cen sus was taken. It was completed November 20, 1854, and gave the territory a total population of 2,732. Of this number 13 were reported as being slaves. There were 929 white males over twenty-one years of age reported. Immediately after the census was completed, an election was held, at which a delegate to congress and mem bers of the first territorial legislature were chosen. The territory was divided into eight counties, viz: Burt, Washington, Dodge, Douglas, Cass, Pierce, Forney and Richardson. Burt county was bounded as follows: Com mencing at a point on the Missouri river two miles above Fort Calhoun, thence westwardly, crossing the Elkhorn river one hundred and twenty miles to the west boundary of lands ceded to the United States, thence northerly to Mauvaise river and along the east bank of the same to Eau Qui Court or Running Water, thence easterly to the Aaoway river and along the south bank of it to its mouth, and thence southerly along the Mis souri river to the place of beginning. This coun ty was sub-divided into two voting precincts — one called the Tekamah precinct, at the house of General John B. Robinson, who with W. N. Byers and B. R. Folsom formed the board of election, W. W. Maynard and N. C. Purple clerks, and the second precinct called Black Bird, located at the Black Bird house, with Frederick Buck, Dr. Shel ley and John A. Lafferty, judges, and Lorenzo Driggs and William Sherman, clerks. Washington county was bounded as follows: Commencing at a point on the Missouri river one mile north of Omaha City, thence due west to the dividing ridge between the Elkhorn and Missouri rivers, thence northwesterly twenty miles to the Elkhorn river, thence easterly to a point on the 52 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Missouri river, two miles above Fort Calhoun, and thence southerly along said river to the place of beginning. There was one precinct of voting in this county. It was at the postoffice at Florence, or "Winter Quarters." Anselam Arnold, Charles How and William Bryant were appointed judges of election, and Henry Springer and William More, clerks. Dodge county was bounded as follows: Com mencing at a point on the Platte river twenty miles west of Bellevue, thence westerly along Platte river to the mouth of Shell creek, thence north twenty-five miles, thence east to the divid ing ridge between the Elkhorn and Missouri riv ers, thence southerly to the place of begin ning. The voting place was at the house of Dr. M. H. Clark in Fontenelle precinct. The judges of election were William Kline, Christopher S. Leiber and William S. Estley ; the clerks, William Taylor and E. G. McNeely. Douglas county was bounded as follows : Com mencing at the mouth of the Platte river, thence north along the west bank of the Missouri river to a point one mile north of Omaha City, thence west along the south boundary of Washington county twenty miles, thence south .to the Platte river, and thence east to the place of beginning. Two precincts or places of voting were established — one at the brick building at Omaha City and the other at the Mission house at Bellevue. David Lindley, T. G. Goodwill and Chas. B. Smith were appointed judges of election, and M. C. Gaylord and Dr. Pattee clerks, in the Omaha precinct. Isaiah Bennett, D. E. Reed and Thomas Morton were appointel judges of election, and G. Hol- lister and Silas A. Strickland clerks, in the Belle vue precinct. Cass county was bounded on the north by the Platte, east by the Missouri, south by the Weep ing Water river to its headwaters, thence wester ly to the west boundary of lands ceded to the United States, and thence by said boundary northward to the Platte. Two precincts were named — one at the house of Colonel Thompson, the Kenosha precinct, with J. S. Griffith, Thomas B. Ashley and L. Young judges, Benjamin B. Thompson and William H. Davis clerks; the other at the house of Samuel Martin, with James O'Neil Thomas P. Palmer and Stephen Willes judges, and T. S. Gaskill and Levi G. Todd clerks. Pierce county (now Otoe) was bounded as fol lows: Commencing at the mouth of Weeping Water river on the Missouri, thence westward to its headwaters, thence due west to the west boundary of lands ceded to the United States (one hundred miles), thence south twenty miles to the north line of Farney county, thence due east along the Farney county line to Camp creek and along the north bank of said creek to the Missouri river, thence northward along the river to the place of beginning. The single pre cinct was located at the house of Major H. P. Downs. The judges were William C. Fowlkes, Simeon Hargous and Henry Bradford ; the clerks were James H. Cowles and James H. Decker. Forney county (now Nemaha) was bounded as follows: Commencing at the mouth of Camp creek, thence to the headwaters of the same, thence due west to a point sixty miles from the Missouri river, thence due south twenty miles, thence east to the headwaters of the Little Nemaha river, thence along said river to the Missouri, following the Missouri northerly to the place of beginning. One voting precinct, known as Brownville, was established at the house of Richard Brown. Richard Brown, Allen L. Coate and Israel Cum ing were appointed judges of election, and A. J. Benedict and Stephen Sloan clerks. Richardson county was bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of the "Half -Breed Tract," thence westerly along the Little Nemaha river, thence westerly to a point sixty miles west of the Missouri river, thence south to the fortieth parallel, the boundary be tween Kansas and Nebraska, thence east to the Missouri river, thence north along the Missouri and west ten miles to the southwest corner of the "Half -Breed Tract," thence north to the place of beginning. Two precincts were designated — one at the house of William Level in precinct No. 1, with John Purket, Robert T. Archer and James M. Roberts judges, William V. Soper and John A. Singleton clerks. Precinct No. 2 was at the house of Christian Bobst, with Henry Shellhorn, Henry Abrams and William J. Burns judges, Christian Bobst and W. L. Soper clerks. Another county designated as Jones county was to be created under the first division of the terri tory, but certain irregularities in the surveys de cided Marshal Izard to report adversely to the measure. This county would have included the southernmost section of the territory from sixty miles west of the Missouri river westward, from the north corner of Richardson county as then established along the Platte, to the one hundred and third degree of west longitude, thence along the southwest boundary of Richardson county. Another county composed of what is now Sar py (then commonly spoken of as the "burnt dis trict") was designated under the name of Oma ha, but for some reason no official promulgation of its creation was made, and the section became a part of Douglas county. The following apportionment of councilmen and representatives was made in accordance with the census returns of November 20, 1854, viz: Burt county, one councilman, two representa tives; Washington county, one councilman, two representatives; Dodge county, one councilman, two representatives; Douglas county, four coun cilmen and eight representatives; Cass county, one councilman and three representatives ; Pierce county, three councilmen and five representatives ; Forney county, one councilman and two repre sentatives; Richardson county, one councilman and two representatives. The first general elec- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 53 tion for members of the legislature and a delegate to congress was held on December 12, 1854. The first territorial legislature convened at Omaha January 16, 1855, and the occasion cre ated intense excitement. The official roster of the first legislature stood as follows: Council. — Richardson county, J. L. Sharp, president; Burt county, B. R. Folsom; Washing ton county, J. C. Mitchell; Dodge county, M. H. Clark; Douglas county, T. G. Goodwill, A. D. Jones, 0. D. Richardson, S. E. Rogers ; Cass coun ty, Luke Nuckolls ; Pierce county, A. H. Bradford, H. P. Bennett, C. H. Cowles; Forney county, Richard Brown. Officers.— Dr. G. F. Miller, Om aha, chief clerk ; 0. F. Lake, Brownville, assistant clerk; S. A. Lewis, Omaha, sergeant-at-arms ; N. R. Folsom, doorkeeper. House. — Douglas, county, A. J. Hanscom, speaker, W. N. Byers, William Clancey, F. Dav idson, Thomas Davis, A. D. Goyer, A. J. Popple- ton, Robert Whitted; Burt county, J. B. Robert son, A. C. Purple ; Washington county, A. Archer, A. J. Smith; Dodge county, E. R. Doyle, J. W. Richardson; Cass county, J. M. Latham, William Kempton, J. D. H. Thompson; Pierce county, G. Bennett, J. H. Cowles, J. H. Decker, W. H. Hail, William Maddox; Forney county, W. A. Finney, J. M. Wood; Richardson county, D. M. Johnson, J. A. Singleton. Officers. — J. W. Paddock, chief clerk; G.. L. Eayre, assistant clerk; J. L. Gibbs, sergeant-at-arms; B. B. Thompson, doorkeeper. During the first session of the legislature many important matters were provided for. The local machinery of government was provided for, county offices created and the nature and emolu ments thereof fixed, the offices of territorial audi tor, treasurer and librarian fixed. The legislature adopted the criminal code of Iowa, with necessary alterations, as the code of the territory. Napol eon B. Gidding, who had been elected delegate to congress, was instructed to use his influence in securing the passage of a homestead law for Ne braska similar to that of New Mexico and Ore gon. Educational affairs received early recogni tion. The Simpson University at Omaha, the Ne braska University at Fontenelle, and the Nebras ka City Collegiate and Preparatory Institute were incorporated at this first session. Governor M. W. Izard, who had been appointed governor to succeed Governor Burt, deceased, arrived and took the oath of office February 23, 1855, and de livered his first formal message to the legislature February 27. The agitation over the permanent location of the state capital at this time was intense. The . efforts of the Omaha men were crowned with suc cess in the matter of the seat of government. Governor Izard appointed James C. Mitchell as the sole commissioner to locate the capitol build ing. On the 17th of March Commissioner Mitchell reported to the governor that he had that day se lected the center of Capitol Square in Omaha City as the site for the edifice. One of the measures passed by the first legisla ture was an act adopted March 6, 1855, relative to the claims of squatters. At this time the terri tory contained hundreds of would-be settlers who were temporarily debarred from becoming legal citizens and at the same time owners of the lands of their choice because at that period the public domain was not fully in the market. The survey was begun and prosecuted as speedily as possi ble, but not rapidly enough to gratify the ambi tion of emigrants or the greed of speculators. Those men who were determined to remain and abide their time were known as "squatters," and so numerous was this element that legislation in its behalf was enacted as a protection against the abhorred class called "claim jumpers," or men disposed to violate the unwritten law of the ter ritory. As in all new countries where expressed laws were inadequate to insure equity and peace, the citizens formed clubs, and through the action of those informal but efficient organizations or der was maintained. By this act of March 6, 1855, it was provided that each claimant might hold three hundred and twenty acres when a member of a club, which was duly governed by established rules, a copy of which was filed with the registrar of the county. The clubs were vested with certain legislative power for their neighborhood. The constitutionality of this act was not permitted to be discussed. The clubs were a government unto and for themselves, as many a wretched man was able to testify after daring their wrath. The first formal census of the territory was taken in 1855 in order that a readjustment of legislative representatives might be made. The reports from the existing counties showed popu lation as follows: Burt county, 85; Cass, 712; Dakota, 86 ; Dodge, 139 ; Douglas, 1,028 ; Nemaha, 604; Otoe, 1,188; Pawnee, 142; Richardson, 299; Washington, 207; total, 4,491. Pierce county ceased to exist. The one now bearing that name dates from 1859. Dakota county was not accred ited in the legislative proceedings with a repre sentative. The second session of the assembly convened in Omaha December 18, 1855. The changes in the council were: John Evans, Dodge county, vice M. H. Clark, deceased ; A. A. Bradford, Otoe county (newly-created county), and S. M. Kirk- patrick, Cass county, vice Luke Nuckolls. The council officers were : B. R. Folsom, president ; E. G. McNeely, chief clerk; M. B. Case, assistant clerk; C. W. Pierce, sergeant-at-arms. The house roster was: A. D. Kirk, Richardson county; W. H. Hoover, Richardson and Nemaha jointly; Charles McDonald, Richardson and Pawnee joint ly. The census gave Pawnee county a population of one hundred and forty-two, and this, it was claimed by some, entitled it to representation. After considerable debate, Thomas R. Hare was accorded a seat, but he resigned January 11 after it became apparent that his presence might in- 54 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. validate the acts of the body since the bill creat ing the territory stipulated that the house should be composed of only twenty-six members. The remainder of the body was: W. A. Finney, L. A. Chambers, Nemaha county; James H. Decker, M. W. Riden, J. Sterling Morton, William B. Hail, J. C. Campbell, John Boulware, Otoe county; A. M. Rose, Otoe and Cass jointly; John F. Buck, William Laird, J. McF. Hagood, Cass county; George L. Miller, William Larimer Jr., Levi Harsh, W. E. Moore, Alexander Davis, Leavitt L. Bowen, Alonzo F. Salisbury, William Clancy, Douglas county; P. C. Sullivan, Washington county; William B. Beck, Washington and Burt jointly, and Thomas Gibson, Dodge county. The organization of the house was perfected by the election of the following officers : P. C. Sulli van, speaker; H. C. Anderson, chief clerk; I. L. Gibbs, assistant clerk; A. S. Bishop, sergeant-at- arms ; E. B. Chinn, doorkeeper. The auditor's first report was submitted which gave a valua tion of the property, real and personal, in the territory of $617,822, not including the newer counties. A bill providing that counties in the then un inhabited regions should be organized with boun daries of twenty-four miles square without refer ence to the Platte or other streams, was success fully passed. The so-called first report of the superintendent of public instruction was made under date of January 5, 1857, by H. Anderson. The report covers two pages of the journal, and is but a statement of what should be done rather than what had been performed in pursuance of an act entitled "Common Schools," approved January 26, 1856, which act is the origin of the public school system of the state. January 5, 1857, the third annual session of the territorial legislature began. The following members composed the council : Douglas county, A. F. Salisbury, George L. Miller, S. E. Rogers, L. L. Bowen for the northern district; southern district of Douglas, Washington, Burt and Cum ing counties jointly, James A. Allen; Otoe coun ty, A. A. Bradford, Mills S. Reeves ; Cass county, S. M. Kirkpatrick; Nemaha county, R. W. Fur nas; Washington county, William Clancy; Rich ardson and Pawnee counties, Charles McDonald; Dodge, Cass, Otoe jointly, Jacob Safford; Dakota county, A. W. Puett. The officers were: L. L. Bowen, president; 0. F. Lake, chief clerk; T. H. Robertson, assistant clerk; Samuel A. Lewis, ser geant-at-arms; Patrick McDonough, doorkeeper. The house was organized by the election of I. L. Gibbs, speaker; J. H. Brown, chief clerk; S. M. Curran, assistant clerk; P. Lacomb, sergeant-at- arms; J. Campbell, doorkeeper. The members were: Richardson and Pawnee counties, A. F. Cromwell, N. J. Sharp; Nemaha county, W. A. Finney, I. C. Lawrence, S. A. Chambers; Otoe county, H. P. Downs, I. D. White, H. C. Cowles J. C. Ellis, I. L. Gibbs, W. B. Hail; Cass county^ W. M. Slaughter, H. C. Wolph, Broad Cole ; Cass, Lancaster and Clay counties jointly, J. A. Card- well; Douglas county (southern district), S. A. Strickland, Joseph Dyson, C. T. Holloway, John Finney; Douglas county (northern district), W. E. Moore, H. Johnson, J. Steinberger, M. Mur phy, R. Kimball, Jonas Seely, A. J. Hanscom, George Armstrong; Dodge and Platte counties, Silas E. Seeley; Washington county, J. A. Stew art, William Conner, E. P. Stout; Burt county, G. M. Chilcott. On December 8, 1857, the fourth session began with no change in the roll of the council members from the foregoing session. Hon. George L. Mil ler, of Omaha, was elected president; Washburn Safford, chief clerk ; S. H. Elbert, assistant clerk ; George A. Graves, enrolling and engrossing clerk; John Reck, sergeant-at-arms; Jacob R. Cromwell, doorkeeper. The house chose Hon. J. H. Decker, of Otoe county, speaker; S. M. Curran, chief clerk; R. A. Howard, assistant clerk; Albert Mathias, ser geant-at-arms, and Isaac Fisher, doorkeeper. The roll of the house showed : Richardson and Pawnee counties, A. F. Cromwell, Wingate King; Nemaha and Johnson counties, A. J. Benedict, J. S. Minick, S. A. Chambers; Otoe county, J. Ster ling Morton, J. C. Campbell, J. G. Abbey, D. B. Robb, W. B. Hail, J. H. Decker; Cass county, E. A. Donelan, T. M. Marquette, L. Sheldon; Sarpy county, S. A. Strickland, C. T. Holloway, James Davidson, Amos Gates; Douglas county, George Armstrong, J. Steinberger, George Clayes, J. S. Stewart, M. Murphy, A. J. Poppleton, W. R. Thrall, J. W. Paddock ; Washington county, J. A. Stewart, P. C. Sullivan, P. G. Cooper; Burt and Cuming counties, William B. Beck; Dakota and Cedar counties, W. G. Crawford, E. C. Jones; Dodge and Platte counties, J. M. Taggart. On September 21, 1858, the fifth session of the legislature began. The following members com posed the council: Richardson and Pawnee counties, Charles McDonald, whose seat was con tested by E. S. Dundy; Nemaha county, R. W. Furnas ; Otoe county, Mills S. Reeves, W. H. Tay lor ; Otoe, Cass and Dodge counties, John H. Chee- ver ; Sarpy county, L. L. Bowen ; Douglas county, G. L. Miller, W. E. Moore, John H. Porter ; Wash ington county, George E. Scott; Burt, Washing ton and Sarpy counties, George W. Doan; Dako ta county, W. G. Crawford. Hon. L. L. Bowen was elected president; S. M. Curran, chief clerk; John G. Tredway, assistant clerk; John McA. Campbell, sergeant-at-arms, and John Reck, door keeper. In the house the roll stood: Richardson and Pawnee counties, William C. Fleming, A. C. Dean ; Nemaha and Johnson counties, M. F. Clark Jesse Noel, S. G. Daily; Otoe county, John Cass'ell, 0 P. Mason, H. P. Bennett, George F. Lee, W B Hall ; Cass county, William A. Davis ; William J Young, T. M. Marquette, R. G. Doom; Sarpv county, Charles C. Norwood, Stephen H Wat COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 55 ties; Douglas county, James H. Seymour, Clinton Briggs, Augustus Roeder, James Stewart, William A. Gwyer, R. W. Steele, John A. Steinberger, George Clayes; Dodge and Platte counties, Henry W. DePuy; Washington county, C. D. Davis, P. G. Cooper, L. W. Kline; Burt county, David L. Collier; Dakota, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, John Taffe, D. T. Bramble. The officers of the house were : H. P. Bennett, speak er; E. G. McNeely, chief clerk; Hugh McNeely, assistant clerk; J. D. N. Thompson, sergeant-at- arms ; F. H. Rogers, doorkeeper. On the 1st of November, 1858, Representative S. G. Daily introduced a bill "to abolish slavery in the Territory of Nebraska." This bill, with various changes and amendments, occupied a great deal of the time of the various sessions of the legislature until January 1, 1861, when a bill prohibiting slavery was passed over the veto of Governor Black. This matter is treated at length in another part of this work. Governor Richardson's term extended only from January 12, 1858, to the 5th of December of the same year. Secretary J. Sterling Morton as sumed the functions of executive at that date, continuing as acting governor until the arrival of Governor Samuel W. Black May 2, 1859. On December 5, 1859, the sixth session of the territorial legislature convened at Omaha. The only changes in the council were : Thomas J. Boykin, of Sarpy county; Thomas T. Collier, of Dakota county, and W. A. Little, of Douglas county, who succeeded Messrs. Bowen, Crawford and Moore respectively. The officers of the coun cil were : F. A. Donelan, president ; S. M. Curran, chief clerk; E. A. Allen, assistant, clerk; J. F. Coffman, sergeant-at-arms, and R. R. Kirkpat- rick, doorkeeper. The house roll was : Richardson county, Hous ton Nuckolls, J. F. Burbank, Nathan Myers; Ne maha county, George Crowe, W. W. Keeling, Jesse Noel, John P. Parker ; Otoe county, John C. Campbell, Alex Bain, Truman H. Adams, Stephen H. Nuckolls, Milton W. Reynolds, William H. Broadhead; Cass and Lancaster counties, J. N. Stephenson, William S. Latta, William R. Davis, Samuel Maxwell, T. M. Marquette ; Sarpy county, Matthew J. Shields, Silas A. Strickland; Douglas county, A. J. Hanscom, D. D. Belden, Harrison Johnson, George F. Kennedy, George B. Lake, A. B. Malcomb ; Washington county, James S. Stew art, J. S. Bowen; Burt and Cuming counties, David S. Collier; Dakota county, George A. Hinsdale, Barnabas Bates; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, James Tufts. The officers were: Silas A. Strickland, speaker; James W. Moore, chief clerk; George W. Rust, assistant clerk; J. W. Coleman, sergeant-at-arms; N. J. Sharp, doorkeeper. Among the most important legislation of the sixth session was "an act to frame a constitution and state government for the State of Nebraska. ' ' The proposition was submitted to the people March 5, 1860, and decided adversely by a vote of 2,372 against it and 2,094 for it. On December 3, 1860, the seventh session of the territorial legislature convened. The council stood: Douglas county, John M. Thayer, David D. Belden, W. A. Little; Dakota, Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, John Taffe; Wash ington county, John A. Unthank; Sarpy county, Silas A. Strickland; Cass county, T. M. Mar quette ; Otoe county, William H. Taylor, John B. Bennett; Nemaha and Johnson counties, T. W. Tipton; Richardson and Pawnee counties, E. S. Dundy; Cass, Otoe and Dodge counties, Samuel H. Elbert ; Burt, Washington and Sarpy counties, John Q. Goss. The officers were : W. H. Taylor, president; E. P. Brewster, chief clerk; D. H. Wheeler, assistant clerk; W. H. James, sergeant- at-arms ; D. C. Slader, doorkeeper. The house stood: Richardson county, F. A. Tisdel, A. M. Acton, H. B. Porter; Nemaha coun ty, Thomas R. Fisher, James Hacker, John P. Baker, George Blane ; Pawnee cpunty, E. W. Fowler; Johnson, Clay and Gage counties, Hiram W. Parker ; Otoe county, Samuel P. Sibley, Alfred Mathias, Adin G. Cavins, Charles H. Cowles, Jacob Sallenberger, Hiram P. Downs; Cass and Lancaster counties, William Reed, E. W. Barnum, W. R. Davis, Lauden Mullen, W. Gilmour; Sarpy county, James Davidson, Amos Gates, William Cleburne ; Douglas county, John I. Reddick, S. A. Lowe, J. T. Griffin, Merrill H. Clark, Henry Grebe, Ezra T. Millard; Washington county, Giles Mead, H. W. DePuy; Dodge county, M. S. Cottrell; Burt county, J. R. Hide; Dakota coun ty, William T. Lockwood, Thomas Coleman; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, Amos S. Chase. The officers were : H. W. DePuy, speaker; George L. Seybolt, chief clerk; S. D. Bangs, assistant clerk; F. M. Virden, sergeant-at- arms ; W. A. Pollock, doorkeeper. The roster of the eighth session stood: Coun cil — John Taffe, president; R. W. Furnas, chief clerk; William Lehmer, assistant clerk; J. W. Chapman, sergeant-at-arms; A. J. Warner, door keeper. The only changes from the preceding session were: F. W. Sapp, Douglas county; C. Blanchard, Sarpy county; John McPherson, Nemaha and Johnson counties; S. M. Kirkpat- rick, Cass, Otoe and Dodge counties. The house — A. D. Jones, speaker; George L. Seybolt, chief clerk; J. W. Virtue, assistant clerk; F. C. Morri son, sergeant-at-arms ; John Wolfue, doorkeeper. The representation — Richardson county, L. All- gawahr, J. S. Ewing, H. B. Porter ; Nemaha coun ty, A. S. Holladay, George Crowe, William Reed, John Crothers; Pawnee county, David Butler; Johnson, Clay and Gage counties, Nathan Blake- ly; Otoe county, M. W. Reynolds, J. H. Croxton, J. Closser, W. P. Birchfield, W. Buchanan, N. B. Larsh; Cass and Lancaster counties, S. E. Eiken- berry, Isaac Wilds, James Chalfant, W. F. Cha- pin, E. W. Barnum ; Sarpy county, W. D. Rowles, Stephen H. Wattles, Henry T. Clarke; Douglas 56 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. county, James H. Seymour, Joel T. Griffin, A. D. Jones, Merrills H. Clark, Oscar F. Davis, Aaron Cohn; Washington county, John S. Bowen, E. A. Allen; Dodge county, E. H. Barnard; Burt coun ty, S. T. Learning; Dakota county, C. O'Connor, Barnabas Bates; Dakota, Dixon and L'eau Qui Court counties, Daniel McLaughlin ; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, R. M. Hagaman; Platte, Green, Calhoun and Butler counties, John Reck ; Hall and Monroe counties, Enos Beall. The ninth session of the territorial legislature assembled at Omaha on January 7, 1864. In the council were: T. M. Marquette, J. E. Doom, 0. P. Mason, John C. Campbell, David Butler, William A. Little, John R. Porter, John McCor- mick, E. A. Allen, Frank Welch and A. H. Jack son. E. A. Allen was chosen president; J. W. Hollingshead, chief clerk; John H. Mann, assist ant clerk; S. A. Lewis, sergeant-at-arms, and W. B. Dixon, doorkeeper. In the house: Douglas county, John Ritchie, George B. Lake, Daniel Gavitt, Joel S. Smith, B. E. B. Kennedy, Henry Grebe; Otoe county, Henry A. Newman, Francis Sim, F. Renner, C. W. Seymour, W. McLennan, A. T. McCartney; Dodge county, Isaac E. Heat- on; Platte county, John P. Becker; Dakota, Dixon and L'eau Qui Court counties, J. 0. Fish er; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, N. S. Porter; Burt and Cuming counties, D. Hobbs; Washington county, J. Evans, H. J. Roh- wer; Richardson county, Lewis Allgawhar, J. C. Lincoln, M. W. Breman ; Sarpy county, C. Blanch- ard, Amos Gates, John Whalen; Cass and Lan caster counties, J. W. Chapman, H. C. Pardee, D. G. Todd, R. D. Hoback, J. S. Gregory, Jr., ; Paw nee county, George L. Griffing; Nemaha county, G. W. Fairbrother, Lorenzo Rice, C. G. Dorsey, Joseph Dash. The officers were: George B. Lake, speaker; R. Streeter, chief clerk; T. A. Moore, sergeant-at-arms. During the session of congress, 1862-1863, a bill was introduced late in the session, authorizing the territories of Nebras ka, Colorado and Nevada to take the preliminary steps toward admission into the union as states. This measure did not reach final action during the life of that, session. The proclamation of eman cipation issued by President Lincoln January 1, 1863, was approved by the ninth legislature. On January 5, 1865, the tenth session of the territorial legislature convened at Omaha. The council was divided into districts for the first time. First, Thomas L. Griffey, Dakota, Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties; second, Ed win A. Allen, Washington, Burt and Cuming counties ; third, John R. Porter and B. E. B. Ken nedy, Douglas county; fourth, C. Blanchard, Sarpy and Dodge counties; fifth, Isaac Albert- son, Platte, Monroe, Merrick, Hall, Buffalo, Kearney and Lincoln counties ; sixth, J. W. Chap man, Cass county; seventh, J. G. Miller, Cass, Lancaster, Saline and Seward counties; eighth, 0. P. Mason and John B. Bennett, Otoe county; ninth, Andrew S. Holladay, Nemaha county; tenth, Oliver P. Bayne, Richardson county; elev enth, J. N. McCasland, Pawnee, Gage, Johnson, Clay and Jones counties. The officers were: 0. P. Mason, president; John S. Bowen, chief clerk; W. W. Morgan, assistant clerk; Samuel Gamble, sergeant-at-arms; Charles Bryan, doorkeeper. The house was composed of: Richardson county, Oliver W. Dunning, F. A. Tisdel, Charles F. Walther, E. H. Johnson; Pawnee county, John Briggs; Nemaha county, William B. Phillips, George Crowe, J. W. Taylor, Samuel Petit; Otoe county, Mason Crouch, R. Hedges, John Beuter, George P. West; Cass county, S. M. Kirkpatrick, Samuel Maxwell, J. T. A. Hoover, J. McF. Ha- good; Johnson county, Milo K. Cody; Lancaster, Seward and Saunders counties, William Imlay; Sarpy county, Amos Gates, Martin Langdon; Douglas county, E. L. Emry, A. J. Critchfield, Charles M. Conoyer, Charles H. Browne, James W. Pickard; Dodge county, W. H. Ely; Platte county, Guy C. Barnum; Washington county, W. N. McCandish, H. M. Hitchcock; Dakota county, John Hefferman ; Dakota, Dixon, Cedar and L 'eau Qui Court counties, Nathan S. Porter; Dakota, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, G. A. Hall; Gage and Jones counties, H. M. Reynolds; Sa line, Butler, Kearney and Lincoln counties, A. C. Leighton; Lancaster county, John Cadman; Burt and Cuming counties, John D. Neligh. The offi cers were: S. M. Kirkpatrick, speaker; John Taffe, chief clerk; Walter C. Heydon, assistant clerk; Anson Rising, sergeant-at-arms; Mitchell Fleming, doorkeeper. On January 4, 1866, the eleventh session of the territorial legislature met at Omaha. The coun cil was : T. L. Griffey, E. A. Allen, B. E. B. Ken nedy, J. R. Porter, J. Albertson, J. S. Miller, J. W. Chapman, John Bennett, 0. P. Mason, A. S. Holladay, 0. P. Bayne, J. N. McCasland. The officers were: 0. P. Mason, president; W. E. Harney, chief clerk; William W. Watson, assist ant clerk ; Charles Ulry, doorkeeper. The house: Richardson county, L. Crounse, William Parchen, J. D. Ramsey, John Jay Hart; Pawnee county, John R. Butler; Nemaha county, W. B. Phelps, John Green, W. A. Pollock; Otoe county, John H. Maxon, James Thorn, M S Campbell, Albert Tuxbury, James A. Gilmorej Cass county, Joseph Arnold, W. F. Chapin, Sam uel Maxwell, Benjamin Austin; Johnson county, James Robinson; Lancaster county, John Cad man; Clay, Lancaster, Seward and Saunders counties, Marcus Brush; Sarpy county T H Robertson, N. P. Lefler; Douglas county, G b" rn' J,VW- Paddock> 0. H. Brown, Fred Drexel, J. G. Megeath; Dodge county, J. G. Smith; Platte county, G. C. Barnum; Washington coun ty, Ji.H. Clark, Charles Eisley; Dakota county, Cornelius O'Connor; Dakota, Cedar, Dixon and L eau Qui Court counties, R. H. Wilbur; Dakota, Cedar and L eau Qui Court counties, L. E. Jones The officers were: James G. Mageath, speaker'; George May, chief clerk; E. S. Towle, assistant COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 57 clerk; Chester Lusk, sergeant-at-arms; Dennis Dugan, doorkeeper. The preceding year had witnessed the close, of the rebellion and the return of national peace, but the Indian war upon the western borders of Nebraska still continued when this legislature met. During the year 1865 the savages, embold ened by temporary successes, had grown exceed ingly reckless in their assaults upon settlers and upon the overland stages and telegraph lines. Outrages of the most atrocious character had been repeatedly perpetrated. It had become nec essary to call upon congress for more stringent action for the suppression of this form of lawless ness. This year (1866) the laws of the territory were revised, arranged and issued in the form of re vised statutes, the immense labor being completed in time for presentation early in the session and approved February 12, 1866. The new laws went into effect July 1. On the 19th of April, 1864, an act of congress was approved by the president and became a law, enabling the people of Nebraska to form a state constitution and government, but the continu ance of the war and the consequent disturbance of national affairs, united with the partial suspen sion of emigration to the west and the Indian troubles on the frontier, united in rendering this permission undesirable. The territory had been drained of many men and much treasure in its generous assistance of the government during the years of its struggle for existence. With the re turn of peace and the suppression of border out lawry, however,' came an awakening conscious ness of the value of state institutions. The peo ple once more turned their attention to the sub ject and revived an interest in the enabling act. The constitution was framed early in 1866, em bodying these essential features: Declaring equal inherent rights to all men, pro hibiting slavery in the state, maintaining freedom of speech and press, establishing the right of pe tition to the people, the justice of trial before the law, civil and religious liberty, the perpetuation of free government and the rights of the people, declaring the elective franchise belongs to "white" citizens, vesting the government of the state in the legislative, the executive and the ju dicial branches and defining their powers and jurisdiction, providing for methods of revenue and limiting expenditures, describing the juris diction , of the state over the eminent domain, naming the boundaries of the state, and arrang ing for the fundamental machinery of a state after the. "manner and order usual in such mighty undertakings." The constitution provided that it should be voted upon June 2, 1866. The legislature author ized the submitting of the question and the elec tion of state officers by an act approved by Gov ernor Saunders February 9, 1866. At this elec tion the constitution was adopted by the follow- 3% ing vote : For adoption, 3,938 ; against, 3,838. It was approved and signed by Governor Butler February 21, 1867. NEBRASKA AS A STATE. On March 1, 1867, the president issued his proc lamation announcing the admission of Nebraska into the union, and on March 2nd Hon. T. M. Mar quette presented his credentials in the house of representatives and consummated the bond. On the 4th of April Governor Butler issued his call for an extra session, and on the 18th of May the legislators came together and set in motion the machinery of the state. The constitution provided that the first session of the so-called state legislature should meet July 4, 1866, and in accordance therewith the members chosen at the preceding election assembled in Omaha in formal conclave on that day. The ros ter of that body was: House — Richardson coun ty, William Parchen, B. F. Cunningham, J. M. Deweese, J. T. Hoile ; Pawnee county, C. H. Gere ; Gage and Jones counties, N. Blakely; Nemaha county, George W. Fairbrother, W. G. Glasgow, Daniel C. Sanders, W. A. Pollock; Johnson coun ty, A. W. Gray ; Otoe county, E. S. Reed, A. Tux- bury, D. M. Anderson, James Thome, John Graves; Lancaster, Seward and Saunders coun ties, James Queen ; Lancaster county, Ezra Tullis ; Cass county, S. Maxwell, W. F. Chapin, T. R. Bell, H. D. Hathaway; Sarpy county, T. H. Rob ertson, J. D. Smith; Douglas county, P. O. Han- Ion, A. J. Critchfield, J. W. Paddock, V. Burkley, W. A. Denton; Dodge county, George J. Turton; Platte county, E. W. Arnold; Platte, Merrick, Hall and Buffalo counties, James E. Boyd ; Wash ington county, David McDonald, W. R. Hamil ton; Burt and Cuming counties, G. P. Thomas; Dakota county, A. H. Baker; Dakota, Dixon, Ce dar and L 'eau Qui Court counties, R. H. Wilbur ; Dixon, Cedar and L 'eau Qui Court counties, Kelly Frazier. Officers — W. A. Pollock, speaker; J. H. Brown, chief clerk; J. T. Davis, assistant clerk; F. M. Dovington, sergeant-at-arms; E. A. Graves, doorkeeper. Council — Nathan S. Porter, Frank Welch, James G. Megeath, M. C. Wilbur, David Leach, Vincent Krummer, Thomas K. Hann, John Cadman, S. H. Calhoun, Oliver Stevenson, S. M. Rich, F. D. Tis- dale, A. S. Stewart. Officers — F. Welch, presi dent ; C. E. Yost, chief clerk ; E. K. Valentine, as sistant clerk; Wilson E. Majors, sergeant-at- arms; P. Judson, doorkeeper. The following is the text of the proclamation issued by President Andrew Johnson, declaring Nebraska a state : "Whereas, the Congress of the United States did by an act approved on the 19th day of April, 1864, authorize the people of the Territory of Nebraska to form a constitution and state govern ment and for the admission of such state into the union on an equal footing with the original states upon certain conditions in said act specified, and, 58 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. "Whereas, said people did adopt a constitution conforming to the provisions and conditions of said act and ask admission into the union, and, "Whereas, the Congress of the United States did on the eighth and ninth days of February, 1867, in mode prescribed by the constitution, pass a further act for the admission of the State of Nebraska into the union, in which last-named act it was provided that it should not take effect ex cept upon the fundamental condition that within the State of Nebraska there should be no denial of the elective franchise or of any other right to any person by reason of race or color, excepting Indians not taxed, and upon further fundamental condition that the legislature of said state, by a solemn public act, shall declare the assent of said state to the said fundamental condition, and should transmit to the President of the United States an authenticated copy of said act of the legislature of said state, upon receipt whereof the President, by proclamation, should forthwith announce the fact, whereupon the said founda- mental condition should be held as a part of the organic law of the state, and thereupon and with out any further proceeding on the part of the Congress, the admission of said state into the union should be considered as complete; and, "Whereas, within the time prescribed by said act of the Congress on the eighth and ninth days of February, 1867, the legislature of the State of Nebraska did pass an act ratifying the said act of Congress of the eighth and ninth days of Feb ruary, 1867, and declaring that the aforenamed provisions of the third section of said last-named act of Congress should be a part of the organic law of the State of Nebraska; and, "Whereas, a duly authenticated copy of said act of the legislature of the State of Nebraska has been received by me; "Now, therefore, I, Andrew Johnson, Presi dent of the United States, do in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress last herein named, declare and proclaim the fact that the fundamental conditions imposed by Congress on the State of Nebraska to entitle that state to ad mission to the union have been ratified and ac cepted, and that the admission of the said state into the union is now complete. "In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. "Done at the City of Washington this first day of March in the year of our Lord, 1867, and of the independence of the United States of America the ninety-first. "By the President: "Andrew Johnson. "Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State." The twelfth and last session of the territorial legislature met at Omaha January 10, 1867. The roster is here given : Council — Barnabas Bates, J. D. Neleigh, G.W. Doan, W. Baumer, E. H. Rogers, F. K. Freeman^ Lawson Sheldon, James E. Doom, M. S. Reeves, W. W. Wardell, T. J. Majors, W. A. Presson and A. S. Stewart. Officers — E. H. Rogers, president; 0. B. Hewett, chief elerk; L. L. Holbrook, assist ant clerk; E. A. Kirkpatrick, sergeant-at-arms; John Cadman, doorkeeper. House — Pawnee county, John R. Butler; Rich ardson county, G. Duerfeldt, J. M. Deweese, Jos eph T. Hoile; Nemaha county, George Crowe, William Daily, Lewis Waldter, C. F. Haywood; Otoe county, W. M. Hicklin, J. R. Graves, A. F. Harvey, D. M. Anderson; Cass county, D. Cole, W. F. Chapin, Isaac Wiles, A. B. Fuller; John son county, A. W. Gray; Lancaster county, E. H. Hardenberger ; Lancaster, Seward and Saunders counties, E. L. Clark; Sarpy county, George N. Crawford, A. W. Trumble; Douglas county, G. W. Frost, D. S. Parmelee, H. Link, S. M. Curran, E. P. Child; Dodge county, J. E. Dorsey; Platte county, John E. Kelley; Washington county, L. J. Abbott, Amasa S. Warwick; Dakota county, Daniel Duggan; Platte, Merrick, Hall and Buffa lo counties, John Wallichs ; Gage and Jones coun ties, Hugh M. Ross, Burt and Cuming counties, Martin Stuefer; Lincoln, Kearney, Saline and Butler counties, William Baker. Officers — W. F. Chapin, speaker; J. S. Bowen, chief clerk; W. S. Brewster, assistant clerk; J. M. Howard, ser geant-at-arms. The constitution provided that senators and representatives should be elected biennially on the second Tuesday in October, at which time the state officers were also to be chosen. This, how ever, did not apply to the first set of officers des ignated under the constitution, those named un der what may be termed, for distinction here, the provincial officers. That first election was ordered by the constitution to take place June 2, 1866. Under this provision Hon. T. M. Marquette was elected representative in congress. The vote for treasurer (which may be taken as a fair estimate of the party lines) was 4,756 for the republican candidate to 4,161 for the democratic. In accord ance with the requirements of the constitution, although the territory was still out of the union as a state, the first regular election was held on the second Tuesday in October. Then it was that Hon. John Taffe was elected to congress. The new state began its existence under the official guidance of David Butler, governor; Thomas P. Kennard, secretary of state; John Gillespie, aud itor; Augustus Kountze, treasurer; Thomas P. Kennard, librarian ; Champion S. Chase, attorney general. The congressional representatives were : Senators, John M. Thayer and Thomas W. Tip ton; representative, John Taffe. The so-called third session of the state legisla ture (but in reality the first session) met at Oma ha under proclamation of Governor Butler, May 16, 1867. The state comprised eleven senatorial districts, represented by the following named senators: First district, Harlan Baird; second COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 59 district, J. T. Davis; third district, Isaac S. Has- call and J. N. H. Patrick; fourth district, E. H. Rogers; fifth district, F. K. Freeman; sixth dis trict, Lawson Sheldon; seventh district, J. E. Doom; eighth district, W. W. Wardell and Mills S: Reeves; ninth district, Thomas J. Majors; tenth district, William A. Presson; eleventh dis trict, Oscar Holden. Hon. E. H. Rogers, of Dodge county, was elected president; L. L. Hol- brook, secretary; Seth Robinson, assistant secre tary; D. W. McKimmon, sergeant-at-arms; E. K. Caldwell, doorkeeper. The house consisted of: Richardson county, J. T. Hoile, G. Duerfeldt, J. M. Deweese, T. J. Col lins; Pawnee county, J. R. Butler; Nemaha coun ty, William Daly, George Crowe, Louis Waldter, C. F. Hagood; Otoe county, A. F. Harvey, W. H. Hicklin, John B. Bennett, George W. Sroat, D. M. Anderson ; Cass county, W. F. Chapin, D. Cole, A. B. Fuller, Isaac Wiles; Clay, Lancaster, Sew ard and Saunders counties, E. L. Clark; Saline, Lincoln, Benton and Kearney counties, William Baker; Sarpy county, A. W. Trumble, George N. Crawford; Douglas county, G. W. Frost, J. M. Woolworth, Martin Dunham, Joel T. Griffin; Platte county, John E. Kelley; Washington coun ty, D. C. Slader, John A. Unthank ; Burt and Cuming counties, Austin Rockwell; Dodge coun ty, Henry Beebe ; Dakota county, James Preston ; Johnson county, George P. Tucker; Dakota, Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, "Hen- ry Morton ; Gage and Jones counties, Oliver Townsend; Lancaster county, John Cadman. Hon. W. F. Chapin, of Cass county, was elected speaker; J. S. Bowen, chief clerk; W. B. Smith, assistant clerk; D. Labor, sergeant-at-arms; E. L. Clark, doorkeeper. The specific purposes for which this extraor dinary session was called was the enactment of laws and the amendment of existing statutes to harmonize with the new order of government. The fourth session of the legislature was called for the purpose of making such provision as was essential under the constitution of the United States for the election of electors for president and vice president, this important duty having been unprovided for in previous sessions. The legislature met in Omaha, October 27 and 28, 1868, and on the- last-named day passed a bill which was approved by Governor Butler, defin ing the method of choosing electors. The fifth session of the legislature (which is incorrectly called the "first regular session" on the title page of the journal) was the first to meet in Lincoln after the removal of the capital to that place. It was also the first session by operation of the constitutional law under the supreme or dinance of 1866, the preceding sessions since the passage of the constitution having been either practically territorial legislatures, or "called" sessions of the state body, hence the designation as "first regular session." The legislature met January 7, 1869. The members of the senate were by districts as fol lows: First, Richardson county, E. E. Cunning ham; second, Nemaha, Charles J. Majors; third, Nemaha, Richardson and Johnson, I. Reavis; fourth, Pawnee, Gage, Jef ferson, Saline and Lancaster, C. H. Gere ; fifth, Otoe, T. Ashton and T. B. Stevenson; sixth, Cass, H. D. Hathaway; seventh, Cass, Sarpy, Saunders, Butler and Seward, W. F. Cha pin; eighth, Douglas, E. B. Taylor and G. W. Frost ; ninth, Washington and Butler, William F. Goodwill; tenth, Platte, Merrick, Hall, Buffalo, Kearney and Lincoln, Guy C. Barnum. The sen ate chose Hon. E. B. Taylor, of Douglas county, president; S. M. Chapman, secretary; J. R. Pat rick, assistant secretary; W. H. Miller, engross ing clerk; George Vandeventer, enrolling clerk; W. A. Pollock, sergeant-at-arms ; John Bradshaw, doorkeeper. The house was composed of : Richardson coun ty, 0. C. Jones, Delos A. Tisdel, J. E. Gardner, J. T. Hoile; Pawnee county, A. S. Stewart; Gage and Jefferson counties, Nathan Blakeley; John son county, Hinman Rhodes; Nemaha county, J. S. Church, H. Steinman, George Crowe, G. R. Shook; Otoe county, James Fitchie, W. McLen nan, A. F. McCartney, J. W. Talbot, A. Zimmer- er; Lancaster county, Ezra Tullis; Cass county, David McCaig, J. McF. Hagood, G. L. Seybolt, Joseph McKinnon; Saunders, Seward and Butler counties, Marcus Brush; Saline, Lincoln and Kearney counties, J. S. Hunt; Sarpy county, J. N. Case and J. D. Smith; Douglas county, S. C. Brewster, Joseph Fox, J. B. Furay, J. T. Griffin, D. S. Parmelee and Edwin Loveland; Dodge county, E. H. Bernard; Platte county, C. A. Speice; Hall, Buffalo and Merrick counties, Wells Brewer; Washington county, Christian Rathman and W. H. B. Stout; Burt and Cuming counties, Watson Parrish; Dakota county, John Naffziger; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, C. B. Evans. The officei-s were: Hon. William McLennan, of Otoe county, speaker; John.S. Bowen, chief clerk; C. H. Walker, assist ant clerk; E. L. Clark, sergeant-at-arms; H. J. Mumford, doorkeeper; Jesse Turner, engrossing clerk; Abram Deyo, enrolling clerk. The sixth session of the legislature was an ex traordinary convention for twenty specific pur poses, first among which was the ratification of the proposed fifteenth amendment to the constitu tion of the United States. The. measure of great est state interest was the erection of a peniten tiary, and the remaining objects of the session varied in importance from the incorporation of cities to the payment of the legislators. On February 17, 1870, the legislature met at Lincoln. The new representatives were Samuel Carter, Leander W. Pattison, from Richardson county; Hiram 0. Minick, from Nemaha county- Fordyce Roper, from Gage and Jefferson coun ties, and C. A. Leary, from Douglas county. Speaker McLennan presided. The new members 60 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of the senate were: Second district, William Daily, Sr. ; third district, Samuel A. Fulton and Eugene L. Reed. Immediately after the close of the sixth session, the seventh session assembled at 8 :30 p. m., March 4, 1870, on the order of Governor Butler, whose proclamation was issued during the day. The session was in fact but the continuance of the preceding session. The objects enumerated in the executive message were the necessity of a passage of a herd law, the ratification of a con tract made by the governor for the conveyance of certain lands to Isaac Cahn and John M. Ev ans to aid in the developmnets of the saline inter ests of the state, and some local measures. The result of the session was not favorable to the de sire of Governor Butler relative to his action in the saline land contract. The eighth session of the legislature began January 5, 1871. The senate consisted of : First, Richardson county, E. E. Cunningham; second, Nemaha county, E. W. Thomas; third, Nemaha, Richardson and Johnson counties, George P. Tucker; fourth, Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline and Lancaster counties, A. J. Cropsey; fifth, Otoe county, David Brown and Robert Hawke; sixth, Cass county, Lawson Sheldon; seventh, Cass, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward and Butler coun ties, Willett Pottinger, contested successfully by A. W. Kennedy, who sat during the latter part of the session; eighth, Douglas county, Frederick Metz and I. S. Hascall; ninth, Washington and Burt counties, B. F. Hilton; tenth, Dodge, Stan ton, Cuming, Cedar, Dixon and L'eau Qui Court counties, A.W.Tennant, contested unsuccessfully by J. D. Neighley ; eleventh, Merrick, Hall, Buffa lo, Kearney and Lincoln counties, Leander Ger- rard. Hon. E. E. Cunningham was elected presi dent ; C. H. Walker, secretary ; C. M. Blaker, as sistant secretary; A. T. McCarthy, engrossing clerk (Miss Cornelia Frost received two votes for this office, two less than Mr. McCarthy, the first instance of a woman being nominated for office in the Nebraska legislature) ; G. G. Beecher, en rolling clerk; L. L. Kline; sergeant-at-arms; C. E. Hines, doorkeeper. The house contained: Richardson county, H. W. Sommerland, James Wickham, Henry Schockj Ruel Nims ; Nemaha county, William Daily, S. P. Majors, G. R. Shook, De Forest Porter; Pawnee county, G. W. Collins; Gage and Jefferson coun ties, D. C. Jenkins; Johnson county, Hinman Rhodes; Otoe county, W. E. Dillon, J. E. Doom, Eugene Munn, John Oberton, J. W. Conger; Lan caster county, S. B. Galey; Cass county, F. M. Wolcott, J. K. Cannon, J. M. Patterson, John Rouse; Saunders, Seward and Butler counties, A. Roberts; Saline, Lincoln and Kearney coun ties, Isaac Goodin; Sarpy county, E. N. Grin- nell, Chas. Duby; Douglas county, John Ahman- son, T.F. Wall, J. C. Myers, E. Rosewater, W. M. Ryan, L. S. Reed; Dodge county, A. C. Briggs; Platte and Colfax counties, A. J. Hudson; Hall, Buffalo and Merrick counties, Enos Beall; Wash ington county, Elam Clark, H. C. Riordan; Burt and Cuming counties, Frank Kipp; Dakota coun ty, James Clark; Dixon, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, D. J. Quimby. Officers — Hon. Geo. W. Collins, speaker; Louis E. Cropsey, chief clerk; J. R. Webster, assistant clerk; D. L. Sny der, engrossing clerk; Charles Culbertson, ser geant-at-arms; E. L. Clark, doorkeeper. By an irregularity in the journals, the election of Miss Cornelia Frost is not recorded, but that lady qualified as enrolling clerk, and so served. On the 9th of January, 1872, in accordance with the order of adjournment, the legislature reassembled in what was known as the eighth ad journed session. The ninth session of the legislature convened January 9, 1873, with the following senate: First district, W. D. Scott; second, G. R. Shook; third, A. Bowen; fourth, E. W. Barnum; fifth, W. A. Gwyer and 0. Wilson; sixth, L. W. Os born; seventh, J. C. Crawford; eighth, S. W. Hayes ; ninth, G. C. Barton ; tenth, Job A. Dillon ; eleventh, S. B. Pound; twelfth, N. K. Greggs. Officers — Hon. W. A. Gwyer, of Omaha, presi dent; D. H. Wheeler, secretary; L. S. Estell, as sistant secretary; W. D. Wildman, sergeant-at- arms; S. L. Barrett, engrossing clerk; William Caffrey, enrolling clerk; C. E. Hine, doorkeeper. The house consisted of: Richardson county, E. S. Towle, C. L. Metz, H. Holcomb; Nemaha county, C. Blodgett, C. W. Wheeler ; Otoe county, J. H. Masters, J. W. Patrick, Logan Enyart, Paul Schminke; Cass county, J. W. Barnes, J. L. Brown; Pawnee county, A. H. Babcock; Johnson county, L. H. Laflin; Gage county, J. B. McDow ell; Lancaster county, A. K. White, S. G. Owen; Saunders county, W. H. Deck; Saline county, 0. W. Baltzley; Jefferson, Nuckolls and Webster counties, Silas Garber; York, Polk, Butler, Platte, Hamilton, Clay and Adams counties, J. E. Cramer; Lancaster, Saunders, Gage, Jefferson and Pawnee counties, M. H. Sessions; Sarpy county, George S. Burtch; Douglas county, C. F. Goodman, W. R. Bartlett, J. L. Webster, M. Dun ham, H. L. Dodge, E. G. Dudley; Washington county, Henry Sprick; Burt county, Austin Nel son; Dodge county, Milton May; Cuming and Wayne counties, R. F. Stevenson; Dakota and Dixon counties, R. H. Wilbur; Platte and Colfax counties, A. J. Arnold; Madison, Stanton, Pierce, Cedar and L'eau Qui Court counties, L. M. How ard; Hall, Merrick, Greeley, Howard, Boone and Antelope counties, Ed Parker; Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington and Dodge counties, Bruno Tzschuck. Officers— Hon. M. H. Sessions, speak er; J. W. Eller, chief clerk; E. Chadwick, assist ant clerk; U. B. Balcombe, enrolling clerk; J. F. Zediker, engrossing clerk; D. V. Stevenson, ser- genat-at-arms. The tenth session was an extra one, beginning March 27, 1873, for the purpose of taking action COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 61 on matters relating to the boundaries of certain counties and other legislation. The eleventh session of the legislature began January 7, 1875. The senate roll stood: First district, T. C. Hoyt; second, J. B. Fisher; third, J. E. Lamaster; fourth, S. M. Chapman; fifth, C. B. Rustin and J. S. Spaun; sixth, Waldo Lyon; seventh, Alexander Bear; eighth, H. D. Perky; ninth, Guy C. Barton; tenth, Rufus H. Abbott; eleventh, C. C. Burr; twelfth, N. K. Briggs. Officers — Hon N. K Briggs, president; D. H. Wheeler, secretary; C. L. Mather, assistant secretary; George F. Work, engrossing clerk; J. W. Conger, enrolling clerk; Levi A. Stebbins, sergeant-at-arms; C. E. Hine, doorkeeper. The house was composed of: Richardson coun ty, Henry Fisher, E. S. Towle, Seth W. Beaks; Nemaha county, Church Howe, C. M. Hayden; Otoe county, N. R. Pinney, Logan Enyart, J. H. Tomlin, Eugene Munn; Cass county J. L. Brown, H. W. Farley; Pawnee county, W. F. Wright; Johnson county, C. A. Holmes; Gage county, J. B. McDowell; Lancaster county, A. T. Hastings, Louis Helmer; Saunders county, J. F. Roll; Seward county, D. C. MeKillip; Saline county, G. H. Hastings; Thayer, Jefferson, Nuck olls and Webster counties, F. J. Hendershot; York, Polk, Butler, Platte, Hamilton, Clay and Adams counties, Albinus Nance; Lancaster, Saunders, Gage, Johnson and Pawnee counties, Thomas C. Chapman; Sarpy, James, Davidson and Douglas counties, B. H. Barrows, J. M. Thurston, Jacob Weidensall, John Baumer, Frank Murphy, A. H. Baker; Madison, Stanton, Cedar, Pierce and Knox counties, R. S. Lucas; Hall, Merrick, Howard, Greeley, Boone and Antelope counties, Loran Clark; Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington and Dodge counties, J. W. Barnes; Lincoln, Cheyenne, Dawson, Buffalo, Sherman, Valley, Kearney and Franklin counties, M. V. Moudy; Washington county, E. S. Gaylord; Dodge county, J. C. Seely; Col fax county, Frank Folda; Burt county, W. G. Olinger; Dakota county, B. F. Chambers; Cum ing county, J. C. Crawford. Officers — Hon. E. S. Towle, speaker; G. L. Brown, chief clerk; J. F. Zediker, assistant clerk; S. B. Jones, engrossing clerk; Miss Sarah C. Funke, enrolling clerk; J. W. Manning, sergeant-at-arms; J. W. McCabe, doorkeeper. The state constitution of 1875 was presented to the people for ratification or rejection in 1875. It was ratified by a vote of 30,202 against 5,474, which were against it. On December 5, 1876, the twelfth session of the legislature was called to pass upon the question of the legality of the election of Amosa Cobb to the office of presidential elector. Mr. Cobb was chosen by ballot in joint convention of both houses on the same day as the preceding session of the thirteenth session of the legislature was held for the purpose of canvassing the popular vote cast for the state ticket and congressman. On January 2, 1877, the fourteenth session of the legislature convened in regular session. The senate consisted of the following members: First district, J. W. Holt, P. W. Birkhauser; sec ond, Church Howe; third, G. W. Covell, C. H. Van Wyck; fourth, S. M. Chapman; fifth, G. W. Ambrose, C. H. Brown; sixth, A. N. Ferguson; seventh, W. C. Walton; eighth, G. F. Blanehard; ninth, J. C. Crawford ; tenth, Isaac Powers, Jr. ; eleventh, S. W. Hayes; twelfth, John Aten; thir teenth, G. H. Thummel; fourteenth, J. E. North; fifteenth, H. Garfield; sixteenth, A. M. Bryant; seventeenth, Thomas P. Kennard and C. N. Baird; eighteenth, T. W. Pepoon; nineteenth, L. W. Colby; twentieth, J. W. Dawes; twenty-first, E. C. Cams ; twenty-second, W. M. Knapp ; twen ty-third, M. W. Wilcox ; twenty-fourth, J. S. Gil- ham; twenty-fifth, E. C. Calkins; twenty-sixth, B. I. Hinman. Officers — Hon. Othman A. Abbott, president; Hon. George F. Blanehard, president pro tem;-D. S. Wheeler, secretary; E. J. Baldwin, assistant secretary; Thomas Harlan, sergeant-at- arms ; Miss Ella Marlay, enrolling clerk; Miss Mollie Baird, engrossing clerk; M. J. Houck, doorkeeper. The house roll by districts was : First district, J. D. Gillman, William Gerdis, Joseph H. Myers; second, E. Jordan, W. J. Halderman; third, Wil liam Anyan, L. M. Boggs; fourth, W. H. Doolit- tle, William R. Spicknall ; fifth, J. G. Evans, John Freriehs, J. J. Mercer; sixth, George McKee, F. W. Robb, J. B. Elliott, Paul Schminke; seventh, John Cadman, W. C. Griffith, Henry Spellman, R. 0. Phillips; eighth, J. A. Jury, M. M. Runyon, E. M. Mengel ; ninth, J. C. Gilmore, T. N. Bobbitt, J. M. Beardsley; tenth, S. F. Burtch; eleventh, A. H. Baker, J. S. Gibson, William Neville, P. P. Shelby, G. E. Pritchell, James Creighton, L. L. Wilcox, Thomas Blackmore ; twelfth, H. B. Nico- demus, N. S. Belden; thirteenth, Henry Sprick; fourteenth, F. M. Johnson; fifteenth, W. J. Meicker, J. W. Pollock; sixteenth, J. C. Heffer- man; seventeenth, J. P. Walters; eighteenth, L. C. Champlin; nineteenth, W. W. Fitzpatrick; twentieth, S. T. Caldwell; twenty-first, J. E. Smith; twenty-second, S. Sadler; twenty-third, James W. Small ; twenty-fourth, C. M. Northrup ; twenty-fifth, E. Whitcomb, T. B. Parker, James McCreedy; twenty-sixth, Thomas Wolfe, Thocas A. Healy; twenty-seventh, S. V. Moore, Lee Love; twenty-eighth, Thomas B. Johnson ; twenty-ninth, Peter Harrison ; thirtieth, S. W. Switzer ; thirty-first, Anthony Reis ; thirty- second, B. B. Mills ; thirty-third, N. J. Paul ; thir ty-fourth, Henry A. Bruno; thirty-fifth, Albinus Nance; thirty-sixth, Cyrus Allen; thirty-seventh, N. W. Wells; thirty-eighth, C. C. Barnum; thirty- ninth, Alexander Bear ; fortieth, G. A. Hall ; for ty-first, C. F. Eisley; forty-second, C. H. Frady; forty-third, Thomas G. Hullihen; forty-fourth,W.' B. Lambert ; forty-fifth, Loren Clark ; f orty-sixthj J. H. McColl; forty-seventh, A. H. Bush; forty- eighth, A. E. Harvey; forty-ninth, W. P. P. St 62 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Clair; fiftieth, Samuel Barker; fifty-first, D. P. Whelpley; fifty-second, J. 0. Chase. Officers — Hon. Albinus Nance, speaker; B. D. Slaughter, chief clerk; J. F. Zedizer, assistant clerk; W. B. White, enrolling clerk; Hannah M. Kellum, en grossing clerk; L. B. Palmer, sergeant-at-arms; H. W. Gregory, doorkeeper. The fifteenth session of the legislature met January 7, 1879. Below is given the roster of the senate: First district, P. W. Birkhauser, G. P. Stone; second, Church Howe; third, C. H. Van Wyck, D. T. Hayden ; fourth, Orlando Tefft ; fifth, C. K. Coutant, C. H. Brown; sixth, C. V Galla gher; seventh, John A. Cuppy; eighth, William Marshall; ninth, Louis Otterstein; tenth, W. B. Beck; eleventh, Louis Ley; twelfth, 0. P. Sullen- berger; thirteenth, E. W. Arnold; fourteenth, J. T. Clarkson; fifteenth, W. F. Kimmell; sixteenth, T. A. Bonnell; seventeenth, E. E. Brown, M. B. Cheney; eighteenth, B. F. Dorsey; nineteenth, James A. MeMeans; twentieth, J. H.- Grimm; twenty-first, T. L. Norval; twenty-second, D. A. Scovill; twenty-third, J. F. Coulter; twenty- fourth, A. L. Wigton; twenty-fifth, John D. Sea man; twenty-sixth, George H. Jewett. Officers — Hon. Edmund C. Cams, pesident; Hon. William Marshall, president pro tem; Sherwood Burr secretary; C. H. Babcock, W. M. Seely, assistant secretaries; Miss Kate E. Stover, engrossing clerk; J. T. Allen, enrolling clerk; J. N. Cassell, sergeant-at-arms; W. H. Thomas, doorkeeper. The house roll by districts was : First district, John Kloepfel, B. R. Stouffer, W. M. Patton, J. Fenton; second, R. A. Kennedy, S. Bornard; third, John Sparks; fourth, S. B. Starrett, W. R. York; fifth, W. A. Pollock, N. Johnson, E. Lash; sixth, J. L. Mitchell, R. D. Brownlee, Jacob Lisk, George Ferguson; seventh, M. H. Sessions, S. G. Owen, W. W. Carder, T. R. Burling; eighth, H. A. Fisher, B. F. Hammitt, F. E. Davis; ninth, R. B. Windham, I. F. Polk, Isaac Stone ;tenth, Amos Gates; eleventh, Geoge Plumbeck, L. M. Bennett, R. E. Gaylord, Patrick McArdle, W. H. Bums, J. S. Gibson, B. E. B. Kennedy, C. J. Karbach; twelfth, C. F. Eiseley, G. M. Dodge; thirteenth, Giles Mead, J. J. Thompson; fourteenth, Ribert Hanson; fifteenth, B. A. Thompson, John E. Long; sixteenth and seventeenth, W. H. Vander- bilt; eighteenth, C. B. Slocumb; nineteenth, G. C. Bruce; twentieth, R. M. Simonton; twenty-first J. E. Smith ; twenty-second, R. A. Batty ; twenty- third, H. A. Draper; twenty-fourth, J. D. Jen kins; twenty-fifth, M. B. C. True, J. W. Gilbert, N. H. Moore ; twenty-sixth, H. A. French, William Hickman; twenty-seventh, W. T. Scott, W. H. Keckley; twenty-eighth, R. W. Grayhill; twenty- ninth, G. H. Bush; thirtieth, J. H. Davis; thirty- first, A. H. Bradley; thirty-second, P. J. Demp ster; thirty-third, J. F. Frederick; thirty-fourth, J. W. Sparks; thirty-fifth, T. S. Sparks; thirty- sixth, F. Englehard ; thirty-seventh, N. W. Wells ; thirty-eighth, T. C. Ryan; thirty-ninth, C. P. Mathewson; fortieth, J. A. Ziegl^r; forty-first, R. N. Day; forty-second, Tobias Mack; forty-third, B. Y. Shelly; forty-fourth, F. H. Trowbridge ; f orty-fif th, Oscar Babcock ; forty- sixth, T. L. Warrington; forty-seventh, Sidney Baker; forty-eighth, R. H. Rohr; forty-ninth, F. W. Gassman; fiftieth, A. W. Vandeman; fifty- first, D. C. Loveland; fifty-second, M. S. Price. Officers — Hon. C. P. Mathewson, speaker; B. D. Slaughter, chief clerk; J. F. Zedicker, T. H. Ben ton, assistant clerks; Miss Kate Strickland, en grossing clerk; W .P. Squire, enrolling clerk; Isaac Goodin, sergeant-at-arms; C. H. North, doorkeeper. The foregoing pages have carried the various sessions of the legislature through territorial or ganization, and also through the first dozen years of statehood in consecutive form. This was during the formative period of the history of the state. The men who served in the councils of the state during these years may truly be classed as pioneers, and they were the representative men of their day from the various portions of the state. MEMBERS OF THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE FROM 1866 TO 1910 INCLUSIVE. In the following pages we present in alphabet ical list of the members of the Nebraska legisla ture from 1866 to 1910 inclusive. The name is given first, together with the county from which the party was elected, and the figures indicate the sessions in which the party served: SENATORS. Abbott, Rufus, Pawnee county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Akers, Wm. R., Dawson county, session 24. Albert, I. L., session 32. Alden, J. M., Pierce county, session 2 8. Aldrich, C. H., Butler county, session 30. Alexander, C. L., Adams county, session 26. Allen, E. N, Furnas county, session 2 7. Ambrose, Geo. W., Douglas county, session 14. Anderson, C. B., Saline county, session 28. Arends, J. H., Otoe county, sessions 26, 27. Arnold, E. W., Hall county, session 15. Ashton, F. W., Hall county, session 30. Ashton, T., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Aten, John, Dixon county, session 14. Babcock, Wm. N, Douglas county, session 23. Baird, Cyrus N, Lancaster county, session 14. Baird, Harlan, Richardson county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Baldrige, Howard H., Douglas county, session 27. Baker, Sidney, Buffalo county, sessions 16, 17. Ballentine, D. O, Lincoln county, sessions 16, 17. Banning, W. B., Cass county, sessions 31, 32.. Barker, L. D., Saline county, session 18. Barnum, Guy C, Buffalo county, sessions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 10, 11, 12, 13. Barnum, E. W., Cass county, sessions 9, 10. Bartling, H. H., Otoe county, session 32. Barton, G. O, Lincoln county, sessions 9, 11. Barton, W. R., Johnson county, session 26 Bartos, F. W., sessions 31, 32. Bauer, Wm. E., Butler county, session 24. Beardsley, S. W., Lancaster county, session 21. Beal, C. W., Custer county, session 2 5. Bear, Alexander, Madison county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Beck, Wm. B., Burt county, sessions 15, 22. Beghtol, P. F., Lancaster county, sessions 28, 29. Berlet, Peter, Nemaha county, session 27. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 63 Besse, C. R., session 31. Birkhauser, P. W., Richardson county, sessions 14, 15. Black, Joseph, Buffalo county, session 24. Blanehard, Geo. F., Dodge county, session 14. Bodinson, C. F., sessions 31, 32. Bomgardner, D. E., Kearney county, session 18. Bonesteel, H. E., Knox county, session 20. Bonnell, T. A., Saunders county, session 15. Bowen, A., Otoe county, sessions 9, 10. Brady, James T., Boone county, session 28. Bresee, Charles P., Sheridan county, session 29. Bressler, John T., Wayne county, session 24. Bressler, John T., session 24. Brown, Charles H., Douglas county, sessions 14, 15, 18. Brown, David, Otoe county, session 8. Brown, E. E., Lancaster county, sessions 15, 18. Brown, Ezra, Clay county, sessions 18, 19. Brown, E. P., sessions 31, 32. Brown, J. Marion, Washington county, session 22. Brown, O. F., Platte county, session 18. Brown, R. G., Clay county, session 20. Brown, W. C, Keyapaha county, session 28. Bryant, A. M., Saunders county, session 14. Buck, S. H., Otoe county, sessions 30, 31. Buckworth, A. D., Lincoln county, session 19. Buhrman, J. H., Howard county, session 32. Burnham, S. W., Lancaster county, session 20. Burns, Joseph, Lancaster county, session 30. Burns, J. F., Dodge county, sessions 16, 17. Burns, Martin, York county, sessions 16, 17. Burr, C. C, Lancaster county, sessions 11, 12, 13, 19. Burton, George W., Harlan county, session 21. Butler, David, Pawnee county, session 18. Byrnes, J. C, Platte county, session 30. Cady, A. E., Howard county, session 29. Cady, H. F., Otoe county, sessions 16, 17. Cadman, John, Lancaster county, session 1. Cain, J. R., Jr., session 31. Caldwell, G. H., Hall county, session 24. Caldwell, S. T., Clay county, session 25. Calhoun, L. H., Otoe county, session 1. Calkins, D. K., Franklin county, session 20. Calkins, Elisha C, Buffalo county, session 14. Campbell, Frank, Holt county, session 27. Campbell, J. E., Sarpy county, session 20. Campbell, J. N., Nance county, sessions 23, 24. Campbell, Wm., Otoe county, session 17. Canaday, J. S., sessions 25, 26. Canfield, George, Douglas county, session 18. Cams, E. C, Seward county, session 14. Case, 0. C, Webster county, session 18. Casper, C. D., Butler county, session 20. Castle, G. H., Gage county, session 17. Chapin, Wm. F., Cass county, session 5. Chapman, S. M., Cass county, sessions 11, 12, 13, 14. Cheney, M. B., Lancaster county, session 15. Cherry, A. B., Gage county, session 19. Christofferson, George, Douglas county, session 22. Clarke, A. L„ Adams county, session 30. Clarke, C. H., Douglas county, session 23. Clarke, H. F., Sarpy county, session 19. Clarkson, J. T., Platte county, session 15. Coffee, C. J., Boyd county, session 28. Colby, L. W., Gage county, sessions 14-20. Collins, Geo. F., Gage county, session 22. Conaway, J. B., York county, session 25. Conger, W. H., Boone county, session 20. Conkling, A. T., Washington county, session 18. Conner, A. H., Buffalo county, sessions 18-21. Coon, C. B., Adams county, sessions 16, 17. Cordeal, John F., session 32. Cornell, C. H., Cherry county, session 21. Correll, E. M„ Thayer county, session 23. Coulter, F. B., Hall county, session 22. Coulter, J. F., Fillmore county, session 15. Coutant, C. K., Douglas county, session 15. Covell, G. W., Otoe county, session 14. Cox, H. A., session 32. Cox, J., Hamilton county, session 28. Cox, J. M., sessions 31, 32. Crane, T. D., Douglas county, session 24. Crawford, J., Holt county, session 24. Crawford, J. C, Cuming county, sessions 9, 10-14. Cropsey, A. J., Jefferson county, session 8. Cross, George, Jefferson county, session 24. Crounse, Lorenzo, Washington county, session 27. Crow, Jos., Douglas county, session 26. Cummins, H. B., M. D., Seward county, session 27. Cunningham, E. E., Richardson county, sessions 5, 6, 7, 8. Cuppy, J. A., Washington county, session 15. Currie, F. M., Custer county, sessions 26, 27. Daily, Wm., Sr., Nemaha county, sessions 6, 7. Daily, Wm., Nemaha county, sessions 16, 17. Dale, W. F., Harlan county, sessions 23, 24. Darner, J. H., Dawson county, session 23. Davis, Jesse T., Washington county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Dawes, J. W., Saline county, session 14. Day, C. A., Saunders county, session 19. Day, George L., Nuckolls county, session 28. Day, T. J., Garfield county, session 22. Dean, Frank A., Phelps county, session 28. Dearing, W. H., Cass county, session 2 5. Deck, W. H., Saunders county, session 18. Dern, John, Dodge county, session 21. Diers, Herman, session 31. Dillon, J. A., Johnson county, sessions 9, 10. Dimery, Martin W., Seward county, session 2 9. Dinsmore, J. B., Fillmore county, sessions 16, 17. Doane, Geo. W., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Dodson, P. F., Saline county, session 30. Dolan, J. W., Redwillow county, sessions 18, 19. Donahoe, J. A., session 31. Doom, Jas. E., Cass county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Dorsey, B. F., Johnson county, session 15. Dundas, John H., Nemaha county, session 25. Dunn, J. A., Platte county, session 2 6. Dunphy, R. E., Seward county, session 18. Duras, C, Saline county, session 20. Durland, A. J., Madison county, session 19. Dye, Wm., Fillmore county, session 18. Dysart, Wm., Nuckolls county, sessions 22, 23. Edgar, Wm. H., Gage county, session 27. Eggleston, G. W, Lancaster county, sessions 22, 2 3. Einsel, E. D., Phelps county, session 19. Epperson, Chas. H., Clay county, sessions 29, 30. Ervin, J. R., Johnson county, sessions 16, 17. Evans, A. J., Butler county, sessions 16, 17. Evans, J. H., Douglas county, session 25. Everett, F., Burt county, session 23. Farrell, T. F., Merrick county, sessions 25, 26. Feltz, F. Q., Keith county, session 25. Ferguson, A. N., Douglas county, session 14. Fisher, J. B., Nemaha county, sessions 11, 12, 13, 18. Filley, Elijah, Gage county, session 18. Filson, G. M., Richardson county, session 19. Fowler, C. A., Fillmore county, session 26. Freeman, F. K., Kearney county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Fries, M. L., Valley county, sessions 28, 2 9. Fritz, Nick, Thurston county, session 25. Frost, G. W., Douglas county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Fuller, Frank, Wayne county, session 20. Fulton, S. A., Johnson county, sessions 6, 7. Funck, I. W., Gage county, session 20. Gallagher, C. V., Douglas county, session 15. Gallogly, Jos. J., Merrick county, session 21. Gamill, John C, session 31. Garfield, H., Butler county, session 14. Gere, C. H., Lancaster county, sessions 5, 6, 7, 16, 17. Gerrand, Leander, Buffalo county, session 8. Gibson, L. C, Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Giffert, D. C, Cuming county, session 26. Giffln, W. D., Dawson county, sessions 28, 29. Gilham, J. S^. Adams county, session 14. 64 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Gilligan, John P., Holt county, session 29. Glover, H. B., Custer county, session 30. Goehner, J. F., Seward county, session 19. Gondring, J. N., Platte county, session 25. Good, Ellis E., Nemaha county, session 29. Goodrich, L., Fillmore county, session 30. Goodwill, W. F., Washington county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Gould, E. D., Greeley county, sessions 29, 30. Graham, Alex, Gage county, sessions 23, 24. Graham, L. M., Frontier county, session 25. Graham, Thos., Seward county, sessions. 16, 17. Gray, W. M., Valley county, sessions 23, 24. Griggs, N. K., Gage county, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Grimm, J. H., Saline county, session 15. Grothan, O., Howard county, session 25. Gwyer, Wm. A., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Hahn, L., Adams county, sessions 23, 24. Halderman, W. J., Richardson county, session 26. Hale, F. J., Madison county, sessions 23, 26. Hall, Joseph, Burt county, session 28. Hall, Mathew A., Douglas county, session 28. Haller, W. D., Washington county, sessions 25, 29. Hanna, D., Cherry county, session 30. Hanna, T. K., Cass county, session 1. Hannibal, R. R., Hall county, session 26. Harris, C. L., Boone county, session 18. Harris, J. E., Otoe county, session 23. Harlan, Nathan V., York county, session 27. Harrington, R. B., Gage county, sessions 16, 17. Harrison, T. O. C, Hamilton county, session 18. Harrison, W. H., Hall county, session 28. Harsh, A. F., Kearney county, session 2 9. Hart, David, Adams county, session 29. Hascall, J. S., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 8. • Hastings, Shelby, Butler county, session 2 8. Hastings, W. G., Saline county, session 19. Hasty, D. S., Furnas county, session 28. Hatfield, J. D., session 31. Hathaway, H. D., Cass county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Hawke, Robert, Otoe county, session 8. Hayes, S. W., Dodge county, sessions 9, 10, 14. Hayden, D. T., Otoe county, session 15. Heapy, J. W., Sherman county, session 25. Heartwell, J. B., Adams county, session 20. Hedge, J. C, Adams county, session 28. Heist, G. W., Dawson county, session 18. Henry, F. J., session 31. Higgins, J. M., Cass county, session 2 0. Higgins, P. M., Colfax county, session 20. Hill, J. F., Adams county, session 22. Hilton, B. F., Washington county, Session 8. Hinman, B. I., Lincoln county, session 14. Hitchcock, J. H., Johnson county, session 24. Hoagland, W. V., Lincoln county, session 32. Hodges, B., Kearney, Phelps and Harlan counties, session 27. Hoebel, Louis, Otoe county, session 19. Holhrook, W. D., Dodge county, sessions 24, 26, 30. Holden, Oscar, Pawnee county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Holmes, C. A., Johnson county, session 20. Holt, J. W., Richardson county, session 14. Hoover, J. S., Webster county, session 21. Horn, Valentine, Hamilton county, session 22. Hortan, Richard S., Douglas county, session 32. Howard, F. M., Hamilton county, session 26. Howe, -Church, Nemaha county, sessions 14, 15, 19, 21. Howe, J. D., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Howell, E. E., Douglas county, sessions 25, 31. Howell, M., York county, sessions 18, 19. Howell, Rob't B., Douglas county, session 28. Hoyt, T. C, Richardson county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Hughes, Hugh, Platte county, session 29. Hurd, L. G., Clay county, session 21. Hyers, Rob't W., Cass county, session 19. Ijams, W. H., Douglas county, session 21. Jackson, H. W. L., Gage county, session 29. Jansen, Peter, Gage county, session 32. Jeff coat, John, Douglas county, session 25. Jeffres, E. W., Greeley county, session 24. Jennings, W. H., Thayer county, sessions 28, 29. Jewett, G. H., Lincoln county, session 15. Jewett, L. H., Custer county, session 21. Johnson, L. L., Clay county, sessions 23, 25. Jones, R. W. W, Otoe county, session 29. Keckley, C. R., York county, sessions 20, 21. Kelper, G. F., Pierce county, session 22. Kemp, J. H., Nance county, session 32. Kennard, T. P., Lancaster county, session 14. Kent, L. H., Kearney county, session 30. Ketchum, Smith, session 31. Kimmell, W. F., Butler county, session 15. King, E. L., Polk county, sessions 30, 31. Kinkaid, M. P., Antelope county, session 18. Klein, Jacob, session 31. Knapp, W. M., York county, session 14. Knepper, A. J., Butler county, session 26. Kohl, P. H., Wayne county, session 32. Koontz, J. N., Hayes county, session 22. Krumbach, Charles, Polk county, session 27. Krummer, L., Platte county, session 1. Latta, J. P., Burt county, session 30. Lamaster, J. E., Otoe county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Laverty, Alex, Saunders county, sessions 29, 31. Leace, David, Sarpy county, session 1. Lee, J. D., Boyd county, sessions 25, 32. Lehr, W. J., Saunders county, session 24. Lewis, T. L., Burt county, session 19. Ley, L., Madison county, session 15. Liddell, John L., Douglas county, session 27. Lindsay, H. C, Pawnee county, session 24. Lindsay, J. P., Furnas county, sessions 20, 21. Liniger, G. W, Douglas county, session 20. Linn, J. L., Richardson county, sessions 20, 21. Lobeck, C. 0., Douglas county, session 23. Love, E. M., Antelope county, session 19. Lowley, G. W., Seward county, session 23. Luce, C. A., Harlan county, session 3 0. Lyman, J. N., Adams county, session 27. Lyon, W., Burt county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Maher, M., Platte county, session 21. Majors, T. J., Nemaha county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 31. Manning, J. R., Wayne county, session 21. Marshall, Charles, Otoe county, session 28. Marshall, Wm., Dodge county, session 15. Martin, Francis, Richardson county, session 27. Mattes, John, Jr., Otoe county, sessions 22, 23. McAllister, W. A., Platte county, session 19. McCargar, H., Saline county, sessions 26, 27. McCarty, T. F., Howard county, session 23. McDonald, B. F., Thurston county, session 23. McGann, M. W., Boone county, session 25. McGrew, J. B., session 32. McKeeby, G. E., Webster county, session 24. McKesson, J. C. F., Lancaster county, sessions 24, 30. McMeans, J. S., Fillmore county, session 15. McNamar, C. W., Dawson county, session 20. McShane, J. A., Douglas county, sessions 18, 19. Megeath, James G., Douglas county, session 1. Meiklejohn, G. D., Nance county, sessions 19, 20. Meredith, George W., Saunders county, sessions 2" 28. Meserve, Wm. A., Knox county, session 29. Metz, F., Douglas county, session 8. Metz, Fred, Douglas county, session 19. Michener, N. S., Polk county, session 22. Mighell, E. E., Hamilton county, session 24. Miller, James E., Buffalo co'unty, sessions 26, 27. Miller, J. E., session 31. Miller, J. P., York county, session 23. Miller, Wm., Burt county, session 25. Mills, M. A., Polk county, session 19. Mockett, John H., Jr., Lancaster county, session 29. Moore, R. E., Lancaster county, sessions 20, 22, 23. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 65 Morehead, John H., session 32. Morgan, W. A., Dixon county, session 26. Morse, W. R., Hall county, sessions 16, 17. Muffly, C. T., Madison county, session 25. Mullen, J. P., Holt county, session 23. Murphy, G. A., Gage county, session 25. Mutz, Otto, Keyapaha county, session 25. Myers, Jolin C, Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Myers, F. L., session 31. Nesbit, J. I., Lincoln county, session 21. Newell, W. H., Cass county, sessions 26, 27. Nielson, Fred C, Cuming county, session 29. Norris, C. H., Pawnee county, session 19. Norris, Charles I., Pawnee county, session 28. Norris, W. F., Dakota county, session 18. North, J. E., Platte county, sessions 14, 23. Norval, R. S., Seward county, session 21. Norval, T. L., Seward county, session 15. Noyes, Isaac, Douglas county, sessions 24, 26. O'Connell, J. G., Johnson county, session 30. O'Neill, H., Holt county, session 26. O'Neill, Richard, Lancaster county, sessions 27, 28. Ollis, J. A., sessions 31, 32. Olson, Andrew R., Cuming county, session 27. Osborn, L. W., Washington county, sessions 9, 10. Osborn, John M., Pawnee county, session 25. Otterstein, L., Cuming county, session 15. Owens, E. D., Dawson county, sessions 26, 27. Packwood, Samuel, Knox county, session 23. Paschal, Joseph L., Platte county, session 27. Patrick, J. N. H., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Patrick, W. R., Sarpy county, session 30. Patterson, J. M., Cass county, session 18. Paul, J. N., Howard county, session 19. Paulsen, J. T., Douglas county, session 21. Paxton, Wm. A., Douglas county, session 21. Pemberton, L. M., Gage county, session 28. Pepoon, T. W., Johnson county, session 14. Perkey, H. D., Saunders county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Perkins, J. W., Dixon county, sessions 16, 17. Peterson, J. E., Franklin county, session 29. Phillips, F. W., Holt county, session 30. Pickett, T. J., Jr., Saunders county, session 21. Pickens, Wes, session 32. Pierce, C. W., Lancaster county, sessions 16, 17. Pitney, O. R., Webster county, session 27. Placek, E. E., session 32. Polk, M. D., Cass county, session 21. Pope, John D., Saline county, sessions 21, 23, 24. Porter, N. S., Dakota county, sessions 1, 5, 6, 7. Pottinger, W., Saunders county, session 8. Pound, S. B., Lancaster county, sessions 9, 10. Powers, Isaac, Jr., Burt county, sessions 14, 16. Poynter, W. A., Boone county, session 22. Presson, W. A., Richardson county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Prout, F. N„ Gage county, session 26. Putnam, F. C, Hamilton county, session 19. Randall, Charles A., Madison county, sessions 30, 31. Randall, H. L., Phelps county, session 22. Ranson, F. F., Otoe county, session 21. Ransom, F. T., Douglas county, sessions 25, 27, 31. Rathbun, F. M., Furnas county, session 24. Raymond, I. M., Lancaster county, session 21. Raymond, L. L., session 31. Reagan, John E., Douglas county, session 32. Reavis, Isham, Nemaha county, session 5. Reed, E. L., Richardson county, sessions 6, 7. Reeves, M. S., Otoe county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Reuting, Henry, Clay county, session 27. Reynolds, B. W., Dodge county, session 2 8. Reynolds, S. S., Butler county, session 18. Reynolds, W. H., Dawes county, sessions 26, 32. Rich, H. M., Jefferson county, session 18. Rich, S. M., Nemaha county, session 1. Ritchie, W. E., Butler county, session 25. Robbins, A. M., Valley county, session 20. Robinson, J. C, Cedar county, session 21. Rocke, J., Lancaster county, session 26. Roche, J. J., Antelope county, session 21. Rogers, E. H., Dodge county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Rogers, J., Otoe county, session 18. Root, J. L., Cass county, session 30. Rustin, C. B., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Sackett, H. E., Gage county, session 30. Sanders, W. A., Saunders county, sessions 22, 23. Sang, Charles, Dodge county, session 18. Saunders, C. L., Douglas county, sessions 28, 29, 30. Saunders, S., Knox county, session 24. Schaal, W. D., Sarpy county, sessions 25, 26. Schminke, Paul, Otoe county, session 20. Schoenheit, A., Richardson county, session 18. Schram, S., Butler county, session 22. Scott, A. R., Richardson county, session 23. Scott, W. D., Richardson county, sessions 9, 10. Scoville, D. A., York county, session 15. Seaman, J. D., Buffalo county, session 15. Selleck, Wm. A., Lancaster county, session 32. Shanner, L. T., Holt colinty, session 21. Shea, J. C, Douglas county, session 22. Sheldon, George L., Cass county, sessions 28, 29. Sheldon, L., Cass county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 8. Shervin, J. E., Dodge county, sessions 19, 20. Shreck, George W., York county, session 29. Shook, G. R., Nemaha county, sessions 9, 10. Shumway, H. P., Dixon county, session 22. Sibley, C. G., Frontier county, session 30. Skiles, C. McC, Butler county, session 32. Skinner, J. B., Nuckolls county, session 19. Sloan, C. H., Fillmore county, session 24. Sloan, Robert J., Fillmore cdunty, session 28. Smith, A., Lancaster county, session 19. Smith, B. K., Madison county, sessions 16, 17. Smith, Chas. C, session 32. Smith, G. N, Buffalo county, sessions 22, 23. Smith, H. L., Fillmore county, session 19. Smith, J. F. S., Antelope county, session 26. Smith, Richard, Douglas county, session 24. Snell, W. H., Jefferson county, sessions 19, 20. Sowers, A. H., Adams county, sessions 18, 19. Spaun, J. S., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Spencer, E. R., Lancaster county, session 25. Spencer, J. T., Dakota county, session 19. Spohn, G. P., Nuckolls county, session 26. Sprecher, John C, Colfax county, session 24. Sprick, H., Washington county, session 20. Starbuck, J., Thayer county, session 22. Steele, C. F., Jefferson county, sessions 25, 26, 27. Sterling, J. H., Fillmore county, session 20. Steufer, Wm., Cuming county, session 24. Stevens, J. K., Lincoln county, session 22. Stevenson, O., Otoe county, session 1. Stevenson, T. B., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Stewart, A. S., Pawnee county, session 1. Stewart, H. G., Dawes county, sessions 23, 24. Stone, G. A., Richardson county, session 15. Sullenberger, , Saline county, session 15. Sutherland, , Burt county, session 21. Switzler, W., Douglas county, session 22. Sykes, T. P., Adams county, session 25. Taggart, F. D., Adams county, session 21. Talbot, A. R., Lancaster county, sessions 25, 26. Tanner, J. H., session 31. Tanner, John M., session 32. Taylor, E. B., Douglas county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Taylor, S. B., Washington county, sessions 16, 17. Taylor, W. M., Loup county, session 22. Tefft, O., Cass county, sessions 15, 16, 17, 23, 24. Tennant, A. W., Dodge county, session 8. Thatch, S. H., Stanton county, session 18. Thomas, B. F., Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Thomas, E. W., Nemaha county, session 8. Thomas, S. L., Cass county, session 22. Thompson, O. R., session 31. Thompson, John, Dodge county, session 23. Thompson, R. M., Buffalo county, session 30. Thorne, W. E., Webster county, session 30. 66 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY Thummel, G. H., Hall county, session 14. Tibbets, G. W., sessions 31, 32. Tisdale, F. D., Richardson county, session 1. Trompen, John J., Lancaster county, session 27. Tucker, E. A., Richardson county, session 29. Tucker, G. P., Johnson county, session 8. Turk, W. W., Richardson county, sessions 16, 17. Turner, Edward, Saline county, session 22. Turner, M. K., Platte county, sessions 16, 17. Tzschuck, Bruno, Douglas county, session 20. Umstead, J. H., Nance county, session 2 8. Van Boskirk, J. R., Cherry county, session 27. Vandemark, J. K, Saunders county, session 20. Van Dusen, J. H., Douglas county, session 26. Van Housen, J. C, Colfax county, session 22. Van Wyck, C. H., Otoe county, sessions 14, 15, 16, 17. Varner, L. A., session 32. Volpp, Fred, sessions 31, 32. Vore, T. A., Saline county, session 29. Wall, Aaron, Sherman county, sessions 28, 29. Walker, P. H., Lancaster county, sessions 17, 18. Walton, W. C, Washington county, session 14. Wardell, W. W, Otoe county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Warner, C. A., Fillmore county, session 22. Warner, William P., Dakota county, session 28. Warren, A. G., session 31. Watson, E. G., Saline county, session 25. Watson, J. C, Otoe county, session 24. Way, W. A., Platte county, session 28. Webber, Chris, Greeley county, session 27. Welch F., Washington county, session 1. Weller, A. A., Otoe county, session 25. Wells, H. M., Saline county, sessions 16, 17. Wetherald, F. W., Thayer county, session 21. Whaley, M. H., Merrick county, session 29. Wherry, R. A., Richardson county, sessions 16, 17. White, C. C, Saunders county, sessions 16, 17. Wigton, A. L., Adams county, session 15. Wilbur, M. C, Douglas county, session 1. Wilcox, F., M. D., Thayer county, session 30. Wilcox, M. S., session 32. Wilcox, M. W., Fillmore county, session 14. Williams, C. W, Johnson county, session 22. Williams, J. J., Wayne county, session 29. Wilson, O., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Wilson, W. H., Pawnee county, session 30. Wilson, W. W., Dawes county, session 22. Wiltse, George W., Cedar county, sessions 30, 31. Wilsey, Albert, Frontier county, sessions 29, 30. Wolbach, S. N, Hall county, sessions 20, 21. Woods, L. H., Pawned county, session 22. Woostenholm, J. A., Hall county, session 2 7. Wright, C. J., Seward county, session 2 0. Wright, J. B., Lancaster county, session 24. Young, J. L., Johnson county, session 2 8. Young, L. W., Furnas county, session 23. Young, W. W., Stanton county, session 27. Zehrung, H., Cuming county, sessions 16, 17. Zeigler, T. F., Cedar county, session 27. REPRESENTATIVES. (1866 to 1910) Abbott, N. C, Lancaster county, sessions 16, 17. Abel, A., Dawson county, session 18. Abrahamson, O., Kearney county, sessions 20, 21. Adams, G. M., Dawes county, session 30. Adams, J. M., Cheyenne county, session 19. Agee, A. W., Hamilton county, session 20. Ahmanson, J., Douglas county, session 8. Aikin, R. M., Nuckolls county, sessions 19, 20. Albert, H., Gage county, session 22. Alden, J. M., Cedar county, session 22. Alderman, F. B., Cuming county, session 25. Alderson, T. E., Madison county, session 30. Alexander, T. J., Nemaha county, session 20. Allen, C, Butler county, session 14. Allen, H. A., Holt county, sessions 31, 32. Allen, James, Douglas county, session 2 4. Ames, G. W., Do'uglas county, session 23. Ames, W. R., Otoe county, session 22. Anderson, C, Kearney county, session 32. Anderson, Charles, Hamilton county, sessions 28, 29. Anderson, C. J., Douglas county, session 29. Anderson, D. M., Otoe county, sessions 1, 2, 3, 4. Anderson, F. E., Knox county, session 28. Anderson, G. W., Lancaster county, session 26. Anderson, N., Fillmore county, session 17. Anderson, Victor, Kearney county, sessions 27, 28. Andres, H. C, Buffalo county, session 20. Andres, P., Douglas county, session 20. Andrews, J. A., Frontier county, session 27. Ankeny, H. T., Cedar county, session 25. Anness, W. W., Otoe county, session 32. Anyan, W., Gage county, sessions 12, 13, 14. Armitage, H. G., Adams county, session 18. Arnold, A. J., Platte county, sessions 9, 10. Arnold, E., Gage county, session 22. Arnold, E. W., Platte county, session 1. Armstrong, J. W., Nemaha county, sessions 26, 27, 30. Armstrong, F. W., session 31. Ashburn, S. P., Buffalo county, sessions 9, 10. Ashby, T. F., Franklin county, session 18. Ashby, W., Clay county, session 24. Atwood, S. S., Seward county, sessions 28, 29. Ayer, S. O, Buffalo county, sessions 16, 17. Babcock, A. H., Pawnee county, sessions 9, 10. Babcock, C. F., Redwillow, session 18. Babcock, N. S., Fillmore county, sessions 16, 17. Babcock, O., Boone county, session 15. Babcock, W. E., Furnas county, session 2 0. Bacon, F., Dawson county, session 24. Bacon, George E., Dawson county, sessions 28, 29. Bailey, J. B., Washington county, sessions 16, 17. Bailey, O. J., Franklin county, sessions 20, 21. Bailey, S. M., Jefferson county, session 19. Bailey, Willard F., Buffalo county, session 32. Baird, H., Dakota county, session 2 0. Baird, J. P., Valley county, session 30. Baker, A. H., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13, 14. Baker, B. S., Thayer county, session 21. Baker, D. W., York county, sessions 30, 31, 32. Baker, S., Franklin county, session 15. Baker, W., Saline county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Baldwin, A. S., Dawson county, sessions 16, 17. Baldwin, C. W., Douglas county, session 25. Ballard, J. R., Fillmore county, sessions 20, 21. Baltzley, 0. W., Saline county, sessions 3, 4, 9, 10. Barclay, A., sessions 31, 32. Barker, A. H., Dakota county, session 1. Barker, S., Cass county, session 14. Barnard, E. H., Dodge county, session 5. Barnard, S., Pawnee county, session 15. Barnes, J. W., Cass (Douglas) counties, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Barnes, S. C, Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Barney, R. E., Buffalo county, session 19. Barnum, G. C, Platte county, session 14. Barrows, B. H., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Barry, P. H., Greeley county, sessions 23, 24. Bartels, H. C, session 32. Barton, L., Kearney county, session 18. Bartoo, A. E., Valley county, sessions 28, ^9. Bartholomew, , Antelope county, session 22. Bartlett, E. M., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Bartlett, W. R., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Barrett, George, Buffalo county, session 30. Barrett, G. W., session 31. Barrett, J. H., Cuming county, session 20. Bassett, S. C, Buffalo county, sessions 19, 32. Bates, M. A., session 31. Batty, R. A., Adams county, session 15. Baumer, J., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Beal, C. W., Custer county, session 23. Beall, Charles H., Clay county, session 27. Beall, E., Hall county, session 8. Beals, S. W., Richardson county, sessions 11, 12, 13. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Bear, A., Madison county, session 14. Beardsley, J. M., Cass county, session 14. Becher, Dirk A., Platte county, sessions 27, 28. Becher, G. G., Platte county, session 24. Beck, H. S., Pierce county, session 24. Beckman, H., Seward county, session 21. Bedford, Wm. H., Holt county, session 29. Bee, E. R., Furnas county, session 24. Beebe, H., sessions 3, 4. Beekly, Wm. H.„ Seward county, session 27. Beethe, C. H., Johnson county, session 27. Begole, B. H., session 31. Beisner, Conrad, Thayer county, sessions 26, 27. Belden, H. S., Richardson county, session 28. * Belden, N. S., Dodge county, session 14. Bell, T. R., Cass county, session 1. Bender, John W., Platte county, session 29. Benedict, E., Douglas county, session 24. Bennett, J. B., sessions 3, 4. Bennett, L. M., Douglas county, session 15. Bentley, W. G., Saunders county, session 20. Berkley, H., Fillmore county, session 18. Berlin, R. H., Douglas county, session 21. Berlet, P., Johnson county, session 26. Bernard, J. J., Pawnee county, sessions 24, 25. Berry, E. M., Pawnee county, session 21. Bertrand, G. E., Douglas county, session 22. Besse, C. R., Webster county, session 30. Best, F. C, Douglas county, session 30. Beverly, J. A., Douglas county, session 26. Bick, H., Seward county, sessions 16, 17, 20. Bickley, W. M., Madison county, session 19. Bierbower, V., Cheyenne county, session 18. Bigland, I. S., session 31. Billings, O. P., Keyapaha county, session 25. Bisbee, M. B., Holt county, session 21. Black, Cyrus, session 31. Blackmore, T., Douglas county, session 14. Blaco, R., Washington county, .session 19. Blaine, W. H., Fillmore county, session 19. Blake, P., Johnson county, sessions 25, 26. Blakely, N., Gage county, sessions 1, 5. Blodgett, C, Nemaha county, sessions 9, 10. Blystone, W. J., Lancaster county, sessions 30, 31. Bobbit, T. N., Cass county, session 14. Boelts, J. G., session 31. Boggs, L. B., Gage county, session 14. Bohacek, W., Saline county, session 21. Bolen, J. M., Butler county, sessions 29, 30. Boland, P. G., session 31. Bolin, H., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Bonham, Luther, session 32. Booth, J., Dodge county, session 19. Borland, P. G. H., Douglas county, session 32. Borroughs, W. W., Merrick county, session 29. Bortis, C. W., Clay county, session 21. Botts, F. J., session 31. Boulier, Alex, Saunders county, sessions 26, 27. Bowman, A. H., session 31. Bowman, G. G., Platte county, session 20. Bowman, H. E., Nuckolls county, session 29. Bower, S., Howard county, sessions 25, 26. Boyd, James, Nuckolls county, session 27. Boyd, J. E., Platte county, session 1. Boyd, R. W., session 31. Bradley, A. H., Lincoln county, session 15. Brady, J., Buffalo county, session 24. Brancht, H. G., Colfax county, session 21. Brandt, Wm'., Jr., Lancaster county, session 19. Brecht, Chas., Richardson county, session 32. Bredeson, Ole, Polk county, session 22.' Breen, J. J., Douglas county, session 22. Brennan, J. C, Douglas county, session 22. Brewer, W., Hall county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Brewster, S. C, Douglas county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Briggs, A. C, Dodge county, session 8. Brink, A. P., Boone county, session 21. Britton, J., Stanton county, session 18. Broatch, W. J., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Brockman, J. M., Richardson county, sessions 23, 24. Broaderick, J. E., session 31. Broaderick, M., Clay county, sessions 26, 27. Brokaw, W. A., Seward county, session 24. Brownell, R. C, Saunders county, session 24. Brownlee, R. D., Otoe county, session 15. Bruce, G. C, Thayer county, session 15. Bruno, H. A., Merrick county, session 14. Brush, M., Saunders county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Brown, C. M., Furnas county, session 27. Brown, David, Cass county, session 27. Brown, D. J., Seward county, sessions 18, 23. Brown, E. A., Sherman county, sessions 30, 31. Brown, E. P., Lancaster county, session 30. Brown, E. W., Lancaster county, sessions 30, 31. Brown, G. W., Boone county, sessions 16, 17. Brown, J. L., Cass county, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Brown, W. W, Frontier county, session 20. Buckley, J. B., Polk county, session 30. Buffington, J. R., Gage county, session 19. Bulla, J. H., Douglas county, session 32. Bunner, T. C., Douglas county, session 19. Burch, J. C, Gage county, session 24. Buresh, Vaclav, Douglas county, session 27. Burgess, H. C. N, Lancaster county, sessions 28, 29. Burke, D. W., Cuming county, session 24. Burkett, E. J., Lancaster county, session 25. Burkley, V., Douglas county, session 1. Burling, T. R., Lancaster county, session 15. Burman, F., Douglas county, sessions 25, 26. Burnham, A. J., Cherry county, session 21. Burnham, S. W., Lancaster county, session 19. Burns, E. C, Dodge county, session 24. Burns, J., Lancaster county, sessions 23, 24, 26, 29. Burns, W. H., Douglas county, session 15. Burtch, G. S., Sarpy county, sessions 9, 10. Bush, A. H., Franklin county, session 14. Bush, G. H., Hall county, session 15. Bushee, B. K, sessions 31, 32. Busse, C. H. W., Burt county, session 32. Butler, J. H., Douglas county, session 2 5. Butler, J. R., Pawnee county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Butt, William, session 31. Byram, H. D., Burt county, sessions 25, 30. Cady, A. E., Howard county, session 21. Cadman, John, Lancaster county, sessions 2, 4, 14. Cain, J. B., Hamilton county, sessions 23, 24. Cain, J. R., Jr., Richardson county, session 27. Caldwell, J. L., Lancaster county, sessions 20, 21. Caldwell, P. A., Clay county, sessions 28, 29. Caldwell, S. T., Nuckolls county, session 14. Calkins, J. T., Saline county, session 27. Callahan, T. C, Saline county, session 19. Cameron, M., Washington county, sessions 20, 21. Campbell, B. W., Clay county, session 25. Campbell, R. W., Merrick county, session 24. Cannon, J. F., Cass county, session 8. Cannon, S. S., Sherman county, session 20. Cantlin, J. R., Dodge county, sessions 16, 17. Capek, T., Douglas county, session 22. Carder, W. W., Lancaster county, session 15. Carlin, J. J., Rock county, session 30. Carlson, O., Kearney county, session 24. Carman, A. A., Johnson county, sessions 16, 17. Carnaby, Wm., Douglas county, session 18. Carpenter, G. J., Jefferson county, session 23. Carpenter, R. C, Butler county, session 22. Carr, John F., session 31. Carrigan, D., Cheyenne county, session 16. Carter, S., Richardson county, sessions 6, 7. Carton, J., Holt county, session 26. Case, E. S., section 31. Case, J. H., Clay county, sessions 16, 17. Casebeer, J. H., Gage county, sessions 25, 29. Casper, C. D., Butler county, sessions 23, 24. Casper, C. F., Butler county, session 19. Cassell, Job, Otoe county, sessions 28, 29. 68 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Burtch, S. F., Sarpy county, session 14. Castle, G. H., Gage county, session 18. Cawthra, R., Gosper county, session 26. Chaddock, L., Seward county, session 17. Chambers, B. F., Dakota county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Chambers, J. H., Washington county, session 26. Champlin, L. C, Jefferson county, session 14. Chapman, T. P., Lancaster county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Chapman, W. O., Saline county, session 24. Chapin, C. C, Franklin county, session 18. Chapin, W. F., Cass county, sessions 1, 2, 3, 4. Charlston, C. O., Harlan county, session 18. Chase, C. H., Stanton county, sessions 24, 31. Chase, J. N., Sarpy county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Chase, J. O., Fillmore county, session 14. Chittenden, W. E., Gage county, sessions 25, 26. Church, J. S., Nemaha county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Chirstenson, A. C, Kearney county, session 29. Christopherson, J., Douglas county, session 18. Christy, G. S., Nemaha county, session 28. Christy, H., Dodge county, session 21. Christy, S. W., Clay county, session 21. Clapp, H., Jefferson county, session 22. Clark, A. F., Colfax county, session 18. Clark, E., Washington county, session 8. Clark, E. L., Lancaster county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Clark, H. G., Douglas county, session 18. Clark, Jas., Dakota county, session 8. Clark, L., Hall (Boone) counties, sessions 11, 12, 13, " 14. Clark, P. F., Lancaster county, sessions 25, 26. Clark, R. A., Richardson county, sessions 25, 31. Clark, T. S., Polk county, session 15. Clark, H. T., Jr., Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Clarke, E. D., Cherry county, session 32. Clay, J. H. M., Lancaster county, session 2 8. Clayton, I. R., Gage county, session 32. Coats, W. N., Holt county, sessions 28, 29. Coffee, Charles F., Dawes county, session 27. Cole, A. V., Adams county, sessions 19, 20. Cole, Charles, Richardson county, sessions 16, 17. Cole, D., Cass county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Cole, I. M., Hall county, session 18. Cole, J. W., Hitchcock county, session 24. Cole, William, Kearney county, session 25. Coleman, A., Polk county, session 21. Coleman, J. M., Antelope county, session 21. Collins, G. W., Pawnee county, session 8. Collins, J. S., Saunders county, session 18. Collins, T. J., Richardson county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Collins, W., Cuming county, session 21. Colpetzer, F., Douglas county, session 18. Colton, G. R., Butler county, session 23. Colton, Wm., York county, session 32. Conaway, J. B., York county, session 2 4. Cone, T., Saunders county, session 30. Conger, J. W., Otoe county, session 8. Conger, W. H., Sherman county, session 19. Connelly, J. F., session 31. Conwell, M., Fillmore county, session 26. Cook, J. M., Nuckolls county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Cook, W. L., Jefferson county, session 18. Cooksey, W. H., Fillmore county, session 27. Cooley, A. S., Cass county, sessions 23, 24. Cooperrider, I. J., session 31. Cope, J. A., Pawnee county, sessions 19, 20. Coppoc, Ed, Holt county, session 27. Copsey, A. H., Custer county, sessions 28, 29. Corbin, O. A., Nemaha county, session 21. Corneer, S. A., Douglas county, session 27. Cornelius, G., Hall county, session 19. Cornell, W. H., York county, sessions 12, 13. Cornish, A. J., Lancaster county, sessions 22, 23. Corr, T., Seward county, session 19. Correll, E. M., Thayer county, sessions 16, 17. Cosgrove, J. H., Garfield county, session 26. Cox, J., Hamilton county, sessions 18, 19. Cox, Levi, Douglas county, sessions 25, 26. Crab, John, session 31. Craig, W. S., Burt county, session 20. Cramb, J. C, Thayer county, session 22. Cramb, J. O., Jefferson county, session 24. Cramer, J. E., York county, sessions 9, 10. Crane, M., Valley county, session 20. Crane, T. D., Douglas county, session 23. Cravens, Joseph M., Pawnee county, sessions 28, 29. Crawford, G. N., Sarpy county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Crawford, J., Cass county, session 19. Crawford, J. O, Cuming county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Creighton, J., Douglas county, session 14. Crissey, H. G., Johnson county, session 27. Critchfield, A. J., Douglas county, session 10. Crockett, Charles, Knox county, session 27. Crockett, C, Knox county, session 26. Cronk, J. H., Valley county, session 25. Crook, W. H., Richardson county, session 19. Cropsey, D. B., Jefferson county, sessions 28, 29. Cross, George, Jefferson county, session 23. Crow, J., Douglas county, sessions 24, 25. Crowe, George, Nemaha county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 5. Cruzen, A. R., Frontier county, session 21. Culdice, C. H., Saline county, session 30. Cunningham, A. V., Hamilton county, sessions 28, 29. Cunningham, B. F., Richardson county, session 1. Cunningham, • -, Harlan county, session 26. Currie, Frank, Dawes county, sessions 28, 29. Curtis, C. E., Douglas county, session 2 5. Curtis, C. W., Madison county, session 22. Cushing, R. C, Douglas county, session 21. Dahlsten, Peter, Wheeler county, session 27. Daily, William, Nemaha county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 8. Dastal, Joseph, session 31. Davenport, H. H., Cedar county, session 18. Davidson, J., Sarpy county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Davies, J. A., Cass county, sessions 23, 24. Davis, F. E., Saunders county, session 15. Davis, J. H., Buffalo county, sessions 15, 28, 29. Davis, F. J., Cass county, session 30. Dawson, J., Harlan county, session 18. Day, R. N., Burt county, session 15. Dech, W. A., Saunders county, sessions 9, 10. Decker, F., Thayer county, session 22. Delaney, M. C, Butler county, sessions 21, 24. Dempster, John A., Fillmore county, sessions 20, 21. Dempster, P. J., Harlan county, sessions 15, 19. Dempsey, W., Boxbutte county, session 24. Denman, H. C., Hall county, session 21. Denman, Z. H., Hall county, session 18. Denton, W. A., Douglas county, session 1. Dernier, William Deles, Cass county, sessions 28, 29. Detweiler, J. O., Douglas county, session 2 6. Detrick, H. M., York county, sessions 28, 29. Dew, J. S., Johnson county, sessions 16, 17, 23. Deweese, J. M., Richardson county, sessions 1, 2, 3, 4. Dickerson, A., Sherman county, sessions 22, 23. Dickinson, J. W., Lancaster county, sessions 20, 21. Diers, Herman, York county, session 27. Diller, W. H., Jefferson county, sessions 20, 21. Dillon, W. E., Otoe county, session 8. Dimmick, J. M., Franklin county, session 23. Dittman, R. A., Otoe county, session 26. Dobry, J. G., Colfax county, sessions 26, 28. Dobson, R., Fillmor,e county, sessions 22, 23, 25. Dodd, J. F., Howard county, session 18. Dodge, G. M., Dodge county, session 15. Dodge, H. L., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Dodge, N. P., Jr., Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Doolittle, W. H., Johnson county, session 14. Doom, J. E., Otoe county, session 8. Doran, T. H., Garfield county, sessions 29, 30. Dort, E. H., Nemaha county, session 32. Douglas, J. A., Rock county, sessions 28, 29. Dostal, Jos., Butler county, session 32. Dowty, J. R., Richardson county, sessions 16, 17. Dolezal, Frank, sessions 31, 32. Draper, D. S., Cass county, session 18. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 69 Draper, H. A., Clay county, session 15. Draper, S., Knox county, session 18. Duby, C, Sarpy county, session 8. Dudley, E. G., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Duerfeldt, G., Richardson county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Dunham, M., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 9, 10. Dunkin, M. W., Otoe county, session 30. Dun, F., Colfax county, session 22. Dunn, W. J., Saline county, session 21. Eager, DeWitt, Seward county, session 25. Eager, Earl O., Lancaster county, session 32. Eastman, L. H., sessions 31, 32. Eastman, W. G., Custer county, sessions 25, 26. Eberman, J. H., Thayer county, session 19. Edmondson, J. H., Hamilton county, session 27. Eggenburger, Peter, Fillmore county, sessions 28, 32. Eggleson, G. W., Lancaster county,, session 20. Eickhoff, A., Cedar county, session 23. Eighmy, P. H., Brown county, session 25. Eisley, C. F., Burt (Madison) counties, sessions 14, 15, 20. Elder, S. M., Clay county, sessions 22, 23. Eller, I. C, Washington county, session 30. Elliott, A., Harlan county, session 21. Elliott, J. B., Otoe county, session 14. Ellis, C. C, Johnson county, session 20. Ellis, E. E., Dixon county, sessions 23, 32. Ellis, F. O., session 31. Elwood, H. C, Antelope county, session 26. Ely, J. F., Nemaha county, session 24. Emerson, C. D.,- Kearney county, session 19. Endicott, J. J., Seward county, session 26. Endorf, F. W., Saline county, session 25. Englehard, F., Seward county, session 15. Engstrom, P. G., Phelps county, session 29. Enyart, L., Otoe county, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Ernst, William, Johnson county, session 29. Esterling, J. M., Buffalo county, session 26. Evans, C. B., Dixon county, session 5. Evans, I. D., Adams county, sessions 26, 32. Evans, John E., Lincoln county, session 27. Evans, J. L., session 31. Everett, B. W., Burt county, session 19. Everett, F., Burt county, session 21. Ewan, J. G., Nemaha county, session 14. Ewing, J., Hall county, session 20. Fablinger, G., Nemaha county, session 18. Fairbrother, George, Nemaha county, session 1. Fannon, George, session 31. Farley, H. W., Cass county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Farley, J. J., Hamilton county, session 21. Farley, W. I., Hamilton county, session 30. Farnsworth, J. B., Keyapaha county, session 23. Farrell, J., Dodge county, session 23. Faxon, J. W., Gage county, session 22. Fee, J. R., Cherry county, session 22. Feeno, S. B., Douglas county, session 21. Feichtinger, C, Dodge county, session 22. Felker, W. S., Douglas county, sessions 22, 25. Fellers, A. H., Richardson county, session 27. Fellers, E. E., Platte county, session 28. Felton, G. A., Nuckolls county, sessions 22, 23. Fenlon, Peter F., Butler county, session 29. Fenton, J., Richardson county, session 15. Fenton, Wm., Richardson county, sessions 20, 21. Ferguson, G., Otoe county, session 15. Fernow, M., Adams county, session 25. Ferrar, H. S., Hall county, sessions 28, 29. Field, A. W., Lancaster county, sessions 18, 19. Fieldgrove, H., Buffalo county, session 21. Filley, E., Gage county, sessions 16, 17. Filley, H. Clyde, Gage county, session 32. Fishback, George C, Clay county, sessions 28, 29. Fisher, A. G., Dawes county, session 26. Fisher, H., Richardson county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Fisher, H. A., Saunders county, session 15. Fitchie, J., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Fitle, Frank J., Douglas county, session 29. Fitzpatrick, W. W., Thayer county, session 14. Flamme, Wm., Otoe county, session 22. Fletcher, W. G., M. D., Antelope county, session 30. Flynn, T. J., Douglas county, session 26. Fogarty, J. L., session 31. Folda, F., Platte county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Ford, Harvey, Thayer county, session 28. Ford, P., Douglas county, session 22. Ford, P. H., Phelps county, sessions 22, 23. ' Foster, Harry A., Douglas county, session 29. Fouke, G. R., Gage county, session 25. Fowler, Charles A., Fillmore county, session 27. Fox, G. W., Dawson county, session 20. Fox, Jos., Douglas county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Frady, C. H., Stanton county, session 14. France, C. L., Otoe county, session 30. France, T. M., Cuming county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Frantz, M. F., Saline county, session 20. Frazier, K., Dixon county, session 1. Frederick, J. F., Howard county, sessions 15, 16, 17. Freeburn, Wm., Johnson county, session 18. French, H. A., Seward county, session 15. Frerichs, J., Nemaha county, session 14. Fretz, I. S., Valley county, session 26. Fried, Wm., Dodge county, sessions 16, 17. Friedrich, M. L., Cass county, sessions 27, 28. Fries, S. M., Howard county, sessions 28, 30, 31, 32. Fritz, N., Thurston county, session 24. Frost, G. W., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Frost, W. S., Burt county, session 22. Fuchs, J. W., Platte county, session 20. Fuller, A. B., Cass county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Fuller, F. W., Sherman county, session 21. Fuller, George W., Seward county, sessions 26, 27, 32. Fuller, J. N, Gage county, session 20. Fulton, S., Harlan county, sessions 22, 23. Funk, P. C, Phelps county, session 30. Furay, J. B., Douglas county, session 5. Gaffin, J. N., Saunders county, sessions 22, 23, 25. Gafford, C. C, Gage county, session 20. Gale, A. H., Brown county, session 22. Galey, S. B., Lancaster county, session 8. Gallagher, Felix L., session 32. Gallogly, O., Brown county, session 27. Gait, A. A., Clay county, session 32. Gamble, A. J., Dodge county, session 20. Gandy, Jesse, Custer county, session 32. Garber, S., Jefferson county, sessions 9, 10. Gardner, J. F., Richardson county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Gardner, W. A., Douglas county, sessions 21, 22. Garvey, P., Douglas county, session 20. Gassman, F. W., Cheyenne county, session 15. Gates, A., Sarpy county, sessions 15, 16, 17, 21. Gates, J. M., session 31. Gawne, W. Y. R., Merrick county, session 27. Gaylord, E. S., Washington county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Gaylord, F., Buffalo county, session 25. Gaylord, R. E., Douglas county, session 15. Gelwick, C. C, Butler county, session 2 8. Gerdes, Henry, Richardson county, sessions 22, 23, 25, 29, 31, 32. Gerdes, W., Richardson county, session 14. Gere, C. H., Pawnee county, session 1. Gibson, J. S., Douglas county, sessions 14, 15. Gifford, W. M., Pawnee county, sessions 22, 23. Gilbert, D. W., Douglas county, session 28. Gilbert, E. A., York county, session 21. Gilbert, J. W., Saline county, session 15. Gilchrist, L. W., Sheridan county, session 21. Gill, D., Thayer county, session 19. Gillilan, J. J., Lancaster county, session 22. Gilman, J. C, Cass county, sessions 14, 20. Gilman, J. D., Richardson county, session 14. Gilman, L. S., Lancaster county, session 30. Gishwiller, C. W., Franklin county, sessions 27, 28. Givens, F., Cuming county, session 25. Glasgow, W. G., Nemaha county, session 1. 70 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 30. 10. 26. Glenn, R. A., Franklin county, session 19. Gliem, Philip, Redwillow county, sessions 29, Goar, I. N, Custer county, session 24. Goddard, S., Frontier county, session 22. Goldsmith, B., Cuming county, session 23. Good, Ellis E., Nemaha county, session 28. Goodin, I., Saline county, session 8. Goodman, C. F., Douglas county, sessions 9, Gordon, H., Holt county, session 18. Goshorn, J. S., Thayer county, session 25. Goss, C. A., Douglas county, session 2 3. Goss, T. S., Wayne county, session 23. Gow, J., Sarpy county, session 18. Graff, C, Cuming county, sessions 30, 31. Grafton, W. S., Saline county, session 26. Graham, R. B., Lancaster county, session 16. Grammer, C, Howard county, session 23. Grandstaff, J. L., Webster county, sessions 2 5, Graves, John, Otoe county, session 1. Graves, J. G., Otoe county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Graver, Wm., Nemaha county, session 18. Gray, A. W., Johnson county, session 1. Gray, F. W., Douglas county, session 18. Gray, W. D., Fillmore county, session 16. Graybill, R. W., Hamilton county, session 15. Green, O. E., Platte county, session 21. Green, S. L., Redwillow county, session 20. Green, S. W., Holt county, session 30. Gregg, F. M., Wayne county, session 28. Greig, James, Platte county, session 30. Grell, Claus, Sarpy county, sessions 25, 26, 27. Grenell, E. N., Sarpy county, session 8. Griffin, B. F., session 31. Griffin, J. T., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Griffith, P., Adams county, sessions 23, 24. Griffith, W. C, Lancaster county, session 14. Grigg, James, session 31. Grimes, H. M., Valley county, session 18. Grimes, M. C, Holt county, session 25. Grinstead, R. E., Richardson county, session Grossman, John H., Douglas county, session 32 Grosvenor, J. H., Hamilton county, sessions 25, Grout, A. P., Otoe county, session 18. Groves, C. E., session 31. Gumaer, A. W., Howard county, session 19. Grueber, Wm., sessions 31, 32. Gurnett, J. M., York county, session 22. Gustafson, C. H., Saunders county, session 32. Guthrie, D., Nuckolls county, session 24. Hadsell, E. H., session 31. Hagemeister, W., Hamilton county, session 30. Hagood, J. McF., Cass county, session 5. Hahn, L., Webster county, session 21. Hairgrove, E. E., Clay county, session 24. Hall, E. J., Hall county, session 22. Hall, G. A., Cedar county, session 14. Hall, G. L., Lancaster county, session 21. Hall, James, Brown county, session 26. Hall, James, Cass county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Hall, Joseph, Burt county, session 2 7. Hall, P. J., Saunders county, session 19. Hall, T. F., Douglas county, session 8. Haldeman, W. J., Pawnee county, session 14. Haller, W. D., Washington county, sessions 23, 24, 26, 32. Hamer, T. F., Buffalo county, session 30. Hamilton, D. W., Butler county, sessions 25, Hamilton, W. R., Washington county, session Hammitt, B. F., Saunders county, session 15. Hampton, I. B., Webster county, session 21. Hand, W. E., Cass county, session 2 9. Hanks, H. H., Otoe county, session 2 7. Hanna, David, Cherry county, session 28. Hanna, J. R., Garfield county, session 21. Hansen, I. E., Merrick county, session 30. Hanson, R., Burt county, session 15. Hanthorn, James, Nuckolls county, session 21. Hardenburg, E. H., Lancaster county, session I 18. 32. 5, 26. 27. 1. Hardin, D. S., Harlan county, session 32. Harding, W. A., Burt county, session 21. Hardy, H. R., Polk county, session 26. Harlan, N. V., York county, sessions 19, 20. Harkson, H., Lancaster county, sessions 24, 26. Harmon, F. P., Adams county, session 23. Harmon, W. J., Saunders county, sessions 28, 29. Haroxby, Fred G., Nemaha county, session 27. Harrington, W., Burt county, session 18. Harrington, B. S., sessions 31, 32. Harris, D. H., Otoe county, session 26. Harris, J. E., Buffalo county, session 27. Harris, R. D., Keith county, session 24. Harrison, C. J., Saunders county, session 20. Harrison, M. T., Otoe county, session 30. Harrison, P., Hall county, session 14. Harrison, W. G., Washington county, session 28. Harrison, W. H., Hall county, session 24. Hart, J. E., York county, session 30. Harte, A. C, Douglas county, session 24. Harvey, A. E., Furnas county, session 14. Harvey, A. F., Otoe county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Harvey, A. R., Douglas county, session 30. Hasik, John D., Butler county, session 32. Hastings, A. T., Lancaster county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Hastings, A. J., Webster county, session 26. Hastings, G. H., Saline county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Hatch, W. D., Washington county, session 18. Hatfield, I. H., Lancaster county, session 32. Hathaway, H. D., Cass county, session 1. Hathorn, J. E., Redwillow county, sessions 26, 27, 28. Haven, H. H., Buffalo county, session 18. Havlik, J., Saunders county, session 24. Hayden, B. H., Saline county, session 20. Hayden, C. M., Nemaha county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Hays, G. W., York county, sessions 17, 21. Haywood, C. F., Nemaha county, sessions 1, 2, 3. Hazen, S. M., Gage county, session 19. Heacock, P. S., Richardson county, sessions 16, 17. Healey, T. A., Seward county, session 14. Heath, E. L., Sheridan county, session 22. Hector, Fred, session 31. Hefferman, D. O, Dakota county, sessions 30, 31. Hefferman, J. C, Dakota county, session 14. Heimrod, G., Douglas county, session 20. Heinrich, J., Dodge county, sessions 18, 19. Helliger, Henry, Jefferson county, session 32. Helmer, L., Lancaster county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Helms, J. H., Hamilton county, sessions 16, 17. Hendershott, F. J., Thayer county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Henderson, R., York county, session 25. Henry, D. P., Johnson county, session 19. Henry, H. R., Holt county, sessions 22, 23, 30, 31. Herman, S. J., Saline county, sessions 16, 17, 22. Hermanson, Niels, Howard county, session 29. Herron, J. R., Antelope county, session 28. Herzog, H. H., session 32. Hibbert, Thos. E., Gage county, sessions 26, 27. Hicklin, W. M., sessions 3, 4. Hickman, William, Seward county, session 15. Hicks, C. E., Webster county, session 26. Higgins, J. M., Cass county, session 19. Higgins, W. P., Custer county, session 23. Hile, L. L., Buffalo county, session 25. Hill, John C, Chase county, sessions 29, 30. Hill, J. S., Butler county, session 21. Hill, R. H., Clay county, session 25. Hill, W. C, Gage county, session 21. Hinds, L. B., Gage county, sessions 23, 24. Hinkle, H. S., Sarpy county, session 22. Hinnick, C. W., Garfield county, session 22. Hoare, Fred, Platte county, session 29. Hocknell, G., Redwillow county, session 19. Hoebel, L., Otoe county, session 18. Hogrefe, W. H., Richardson county, sessions 28, 29. Hoile, J. T., Richardson county, sessions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Holcomb, H., Richardson county, sessions 9, 10. Holbrook, W. D., Dodge county, session 25. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 71 Holland, L. J., Redwillow county, session 25. Holliet, J. G„ Lancaster county, sessions 28, 29. Hollman, J., Dakota county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Holmes, C. A., Johnson county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Holmes, E. P., Pierce county, session 19. Holmes, R., sessions 31, 32. Holsworth, W., Dakota county, session 19. Holt, F. H., Gage county, session 19. Homer, J. C., Saunders county, session 18. Hooper, E., Hall county, session 21. Home, O., Otoe county, session 21. Horner, Wm., Dawson county, session 25. Horst, Geo., Polk county, sessions 20, 23, 24. Horton, W. H., Keyapaha county, sessions 27, 29. Hospodsky, J., sessions 31, 32. Hostetter, C, Merrick county, sessions 16, 17. Houck, M. D., Douglas county, session 26. Householder, W. B., Webster county, session 27. Housh, F. M., Antelope county, session 32. Howard, L. M., Madison county, sessions 9, 10. Howard, A. S., Adams county, session 30. Howard, Edgar, Sarpy county, session 24. Howard, E. E., Clay county, sessions 18, 19. Howard* Jeremiah, session 31. Howard, T. J., session 32. Howe, C, Nemaha county, sessions 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 22, 23. Howe, F. A., Dodge county, session 30. Howe, H. R., Nemaha county, session 29. Hoy, C. H., Polk county, sessions 27,' 28. Hudson, A. J., Platte county, session 8. Huff, E. T., Sarpy county, session 19. Hull, O., Harlan county, sessions 24, 25. Hullihen, T. G., Knox county, session 14. Humphrey, Fred, session 31. Humphrey, Geo. C, Hall county, session 27. Humphrey, G. M., Pawnee county, session 18. Hunggate, J. H., Douglas county, session 21. Hunker, F. D., Cuming county, session 29. Hunt, Cary M., Douglas county, session 27. Hunt, J. S., Saline county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Hunter, Chas. W., Howard county, session 27. Hunter, Chas., Webster county, session 28. Hunter, J. M., Holt county, session 21. Huse, J. B., Douglas county, session 22. Hyatt, N. S., Platte county, session 25. Irwin, W. J., Platte county, sessions 19, 23. Israel, F., Dundy county, session 26. Jackson, A. H., Pawnee county, sessions 16, 17. Jackson, N. D., Antelope county, session 29. Jackson, S. K, Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. Jahnel, Frank, Washington county, sessions 28, 29. James, P. H., Gage county, session 23. Jamison, James M., Saunders county, session 27. Jansen, P., Jefferson county, session 2.6. Jeary, E., Cass county, session 20. Jenkins, D. C, Gage county, session 8. Jenkins, E. M., Thayer county, sessions 23, 24. Jenkins, G. E., Jefferson county, session 25. Jenkins, J. D., Fillmore county, session 15. Jenness, R. H., Douglas county, session 24. Jennison, A. J., Clay county, session 30. Jensen, J., Fillmore county, session 23. Jensen, Thos., Butler county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Jindra, J., Saline county, session 19. John, James, Furnas county, session 32. Johnson, Benj., Saunders county, sessions 16 ,17. Johnson, Chas. T., Douglas county, session 27. Johnson, Eric, Phelps county, session 21. Johnson, Erick, Adams county, sessions 29, 31. Johnson, F. G., Saline county, session 30. Johnson, F. M., Burt county, session 14. Johnson, J. L., Hall county, session 23. Johnson, J. S., Phelps county, sessions 26, 28. Johnson, J. V., Valley county, session 22. Johnson, N., York county, session 23. Johnson, Nels, session 31. Johnson, Porter C, Johnson county, session 32. Johnson, T. B., Hamilton county, session 14. Johnston, B. F., Nemaha county, session 23. Johnston, J. C, Lancaster county, session 19. Johnston, J. W., Douglas county, session 24. Johnston, N., Nemaha county, session 15. Johnston, S., Seward county, session 22. Jones, Cass, Richardson county, sessions 28, 30. Jones, C. K., Adams county, sessions 16, 17. Jones, D. A., Wayne county, session 25. Jones, D. N., Nemaha county, session 25. Jones, G. U., Gage county, sessions 25, 26. Jones, John M., Clay county, session 32. Jones, J. O., Polk county, session 18. Jones, O. C, Richardson county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Jones, R. F., Burt county, session 22. Jones, R. W. W., Otoe county, session 28. Jones, T. P., Richardson county, session 24. Jones, W. B., Polk county, session 29. Jordan, E., Pawnee county, session 14. Jordan, Wm., Buffalo county, session 27. Jouvenat, Frank, Boone county, sessions 27, 28, 29. Judd, L. P., Boone county, session 24. Junkin, George C, Gosper county, sessions 28, 29. Jury, J. A., Saunders county, session 14. Kaley, C. H., Webster county, session 17. Kaley, C. W., Webster county, session 29. Kaley, H. S., Webster county, session 16. Kaley, J. L., Webster county, session 19. Kapp, G. F., Boyd county, session 25. Karback, C. J., Douglas county, session 15. Katons, Otto, session 31. Kaup, W., Saline county, sessions 23, 24. Kavney, John, Butler county, sessions 27, 28. Keckley, C. R., York county, session 23. Keckley, W. H., York county, session 15. Kehoe, J. A., Platte county, session 19. Keifer, J. W, Jr., Nuckolls county, session 30. Keiper, G. F., Cedar county, sessions 20, 21. Keister, H. C, Boone county, sessions 25, 26. Kelley, J. E., Platte county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Kelley, J. W., session 31. Kempton, W. H., Saline county, sessions 16, 17. Kennedy, B. E. B., Douglas county, session 15. Kennedy, J. A. C, Douglas county, session 28. Kennedy, R. A., Pawnee county, session 15. Kenney, A. J., Franklin county, session 20. Kent, Walter R., session 32. Kerns, J. W., Nemaha county, session 28. Kessler, J. F., Burt county, session 23. Keyes, C. E., Sarpy county, session 23. Killen, D. J., Gage county, sessions 30, 31. Kilmer, G. M., Saline county, session 19. King, E. L., Polk county, session 19. King, H. G., Saline county, session 20. King, H. P.; Seward county, session 16. Kipp, F., Burt county, session 8. Kirk, W. L., Knox county, session 32. Kittle, E. H., Sherman county, session 2 8. Kloepfel, J., Richardson county, sessions 15, 16, 17 Klope, R. F., Cuming county, session 23. Knowles, J. H., Dodge county, session 30. Knox, D., Douglas county, session 20. Knox, Oscar, Buffalo county, sessions 28, 29. Koetter, F. W., Douglas county, session 28. Kotouc, Otto, Richardson county, session 32. Kraus, J. P., session 31. Krick, E., Kearney county, sessions 22, 23. Kruse, J. D., Knox county, session 22. Kruse, J. G., Knox county, session 23. Kuhl, John, Cedar county, sessions 30, 31, 32. Kuony, J. B., Washington county, sessions 18, 19. Kyd, Robert R., Gage county, session 29. Kyner, J. H., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17, 23. Laflin, L. H., Johnson county, sessions 9, 10. Laflin, R. W., Gage county, session 27. 72 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Lahners, Thos., Thayer county, sessions 29, 30. Laird, G. C, Dodge county, session 18. Lamar, C. M., Saunders county, session 25. Lamb, C. L., Stanton county, sessions 16, 17. Lambert, Wm. B., Antelope county, session 14. Lamborn, J. J., Redwillow county, session 23. Lamp, H. A., Washington county, session 22. Lane, A. W., Lancaster county, sessions 26, 27. Langhorst, H., Fillmore county, session 23. Larson, L. P., Dodge county, session 21. Lash, E., Nemaha county, sessions 15, 21. Latta, J. P., Burt county, session 20. Laughlin, J. C, Burt county, sessions 16, 17. Lawrence, F. P., sessions 31, 32. Leary, C. A., Douglas county, sessions 6, 7. Leeder, Ed, Douglas county, session 30. Lee, C. H., Merrick county, session 19. Lee, J. M., Furnas county, sessions 18, 19, 21. Lee, Michael, Douglas county, sessions 29, 30.- Leibhart, , Hamilton county, session 19. Leidigh, L. W., Otoe county, session 23. Leidigh, G. W., sessions 3.1, 32. Lehman, G. S., Platte county, sessions 16, 17. Lemar, C. M., Saunders county, session 2 6. Ley, H., Wayne county, session 21. Lichty, John, Richardson county, session 27. Liddell, J., Douglas county, session 2 5. Liesveld, H. J., Lancaster county, sessions 19, 20. Lindsey, Geo. W., Webster county, session 32. Line, W. C, Jefferson county, sessions 2 9, 30. Lingenfelter, G. C, Cheyenne county, session 23. Linkart, G. A., Madison county, session 23. Linn, J. L., Pawnee county, sessions 16, 17. Lisk, J., Otoe county, session 15. Livengood, H. O, Franklin county, session 29. Liver, C. B., Douglas county, session 32. Lockner, A., Douglas county, session 23. Logsden, S., Fillmore county, session 30. Loomis, F. F., Butler county, sessions 25, 26. Loomis, Geo. L., Dodge county, sessions 27, 28. Lomax, H., Custer county, session 22. Long, J. E., Cuming county, session 15. Lord, G. W., Butler county, session 2 0. Lord, J. S., Richardson county, session 2 9. Love, L., York county, session 14. Loveland, D. C, Platte county, session 15. Loveland, E., Douglas county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Lowe, Elliott, Harlan county, session 27. Lucas, R. S., Madison county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Luce, C. A., Harlan county, sessions 19, 29. Luthy, J. W., Richardson .county, session 18. Lux, Joseph, session 31. Lynch, J. O., Dawson county, session 23. Mack, T., Stanton county, session 15. Mackey, C, Custer county, sessions 29, 30. Majors, S. P., Nemaha county, session K. Majors, T. J., Nemaha county, session 21. Mangold, Pater, Douglas county, session 28. Mann, W. H., Saline county, sessions 25, 26. Marble, Wm. H., Saunders county, session 19. Marks, Robert H., Fillmore county, session 2 9. Marlatt, John, Kearney county, session 30. Marlott, J. W., session 31. Marsh, F. A., M. D., Seward county, session 30. Marshall, Chas., Otoe county, session 27. Marshall, C. C, Washington county, session 25. Marshall, F. H., Harlan county, session 20. Martin, L., York county, sessions 18, 19. Mast, S. D., session 32. Masters, F. W., Furnas county, session 30. Masters, J. H., Otoe county, sessions 9, 10. Matheson, J. G., Wayne county, session 22. Matthewson, C. P., Madison county, session 15. Mathieson, J., Douglas county, session 20. Mattes, J., Jr., Otoe county, session 21. Matteson, G., Dixon county, session 24. Mattrau, H. C, Madison county, session 32. Maxwell, S., Cass county, session 1. May, M., Dodge county, sessions 9, 10. McAllister, G. C, Deuel county, sessions 28, 29. McAllister, W. A., Platte county, session 18. McArdle, P., Douglas county, sessions 15, 19. McArdle, E. J., Douglas county, session 32. McBride, D. L., Redwillow county, session 24. McBride, J. C, Lancaster county, session 21. McCaig, D., Cass county, sessions 5, 6, 7. McCall, C. J., session 31. McCann, W. A., Cheyenne county, session 20. McCarthy, Con, Cuming county, session 32. McCarthy, J. J., Dixon county, sessions 2 6, 27. McCarthy, R. S., Greeley county, session 25. McCartney, A. F., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. McClay, John H., Lancaster county, session 29. McClellan, M. E., Valley county, session 32. McClure, H. W., Knox county, sessions 16, 17. McClure, N. T., Lancaster county, sessions 16, 17. McColl, J. H., Dawson county, session 14. McConaughy, G. M., Polk county, session 20. McCoy, Henry, Douglas county, session 27. McCracken, D., Franklin county, sessions 25, 26. McCready, J., Saline county, session 14. , McCullough, C. W., Gage county, session 30. McCulloch, D. A., Harlan county, session 28. McCutchen, W. A., Boone county, sessions 22, 23. McDonald, D., Washington county, session 1. McDougall, M., Saline county, sessions 16, 17. McDowell, J. B., Gage county, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. McElhinney, J. C, Burt 'county, session 29. McFadden, W., York county, session 24. McGavock, A., Douglas county, session 18. McGee, G. H., Antelope county, session 25. McGinley, W. J., Otoe county, session 26. McGrew, S. W., Nemaha county, session 20. McKee, G. M., Otoe county, session 14. McKelvie, S. R., Lancaster county, session 32. McKenna, A. P., Sarpy county, session 20. McKesson, J. C. F., Lancaster county, sessions 22, 23. McKillup, D. C, Seward county, sessions 9, 11, 12. 13. McKinnon, J., Cass county, sessions 5, 6, 7, 16. McKissick, John W., Gage county, session 32. McLain, John, Seward county, sessions 28, 29. McLennan, W., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. McLeod, Chas., Stanton county, session 29. McLeod, D., Colfax county, session 25. McMillon, J., Douglas county, session 21. McMullen, Adam, Gage county, sessions 29, 30.. McNickle, A. B., Gage county, session 21. McNitt, R., Webster county, session 24. McReynolds, L., Clay county, session 22. McShane, J. A., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17. McVey, E. A., Clay county, session 23. McVicker, W. J., Cuming, Dodge counties, sessions 14, 24. McVicker, W. D., session 31. Mead, G., Washington county, session 15. Mead, Geo. E., Douglas county, session 27. Meeker, C. W., Hitchcock county, session 21. Memminger, F. T., Madison county, sessions 26, 28. Mendenhall, J. E., Jefferson county, sessions 27, 28. Mengel, E. M., Saunders county, session 14. Meradith, Wm., York county, sessions 28, 29. Mercer, J. J., Nemaha county, session 14. Merrick, H. J., Gage county, sessions 23, 24. Metz, C. I., Richardson county, sessions 9, 10. Metzger, A. H., Cherry county, session 30. Metzger, C. E., Cass county, session 32. Meyer, Ernest, Nuckolls county, session 32. Meyers, J. H., Richardson county, session 14. Mickey, J. H., Polk county, sessions 16, 17. Milbourn, G. F., Kearney county, session 2 6. Miller, E., session 31. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 73 Miller, L. W., Madison county, session 18. Miller, M., Butler county, sessions 19, 20. Miles, B. F., Richardson county, session 19. Miles, F. W., Saline county, session 24. Mills, B. B., Harlan county, session 14. Mills, M. H., Lancaster county, session 25. Milligan, J. O., Dixon county, sessions 29, 30. Mikesell, S. P., Dixon county, session 28. Minick, H. O., Nemaha county, sessions 6, 7. Minnix, H. C, Adams county, session 20. Miner, A. J., Lancaster county, session 32. Miskell, Edw. W., Saline county, session 27. Mitchell, J. B., Seward county, session 25. Mitchell, J. L., Otoe county, session 15. Moan, J. M., Cuming county, session 22. Mockett, John H., Jr., Lancaster county, sessions 27, 28, 32. Modie, A. C, Redwillow county, session 22. Moehrman, H., Franklin county, session 24. Montgomery, R. W., Furnas county, session 16. Moran, O. S., Platte county, sessions 25, 26. Moody, O. H., Custer county, session 32. Moore, Frank, sessions 31, 32. Moore, J. O., Otoe county, sessions 16, 17. Moore, N. H., Saline county, session 15. Moore, S. V., York county, sessions 14, 16, 17. Moriarity, John F., Douglas county, session 32. Morrison, J. R., Thayer county, sessions 25, 26. Morrison, W. W., Gage county, session 18. Morrisy, F. R., Douglas county, session 21. Morsman, E. N., Jr., Douglas county, session 28. Morton, H., Dakota county, sessions 3, 4. Moudy, M. V., Lincoln county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Mullen, J. P., Holt county, session 22. Mullen, P. M., Douglas county, sessions 16, 17, 27. Mulvahill, J., Douglas county, session 19. Munger, T. C, Lancaster county, session 24. Munn, E., Otoe county, sessions 8, 11, 12, 19. Murphy, F., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Murphy, M. J., Saline county, session 32. Murphy, P. A., Fillmore county, sessions SO, 31. Murray, Mark W., Thurston county, sessions 26, 27. Musick, John R., Nuckolls county, session 28. Muxen, Mathew E., Douglas county, session 29. Myers, E. L., Rock county, session 24. Myers, H. A., Douglas county, session 26. Myers, J. C, Douglas county, session 8. Nance, A., York and Polk counties, sessions 11, 12, 13, 14. Nason, W. N., Dduglas county, session 23. Naffziger, J., Dakota county, sessions 5, 6. Neff, W., Franklin county, session 30. Neir, C. E., Hamilton county, session 32. Nesbit, J. F., Burt county, sessions 25, 26. Neligh, J. D., Cuming county, session 19. Nelson, A., Burt county, sessions 9, 10. Nelson, N. M., Pierce county, session 28. Nelson, N. P., Dodge county, sessions 22, 23. Nelson, H. J., Dodge county, session 32. Nelson, W. T., Douglas county, session 28. Nettleton, D. M., Clay county, sessions 18, 19, 30, 31. Neumeyer, G. W., Merrick county, session 19. Neve, W., Douglas county, session 21. Neville, Wm., Douglas county, session 14. Neville, W., Cass county, session 18. Newberry, F., Hamilton county, sessions 22, 23. Newcomer, D. D., Webster county, sessions 19, 20. Newton, W., Clay county, session 20. Nichol, J. R., Antelope county, sessions 19, 20. Nichols, D., Buffalo county, session 22. Nicodemus, H. B., Dodge county, session 14. Nims, R., Richardson county, session 8. Nordgren, T. E., Hamilton county, session 32. Norris, C. H., Pawnee county, session 20. North, F., Platte county, session 18. Norton, J. M., Polk county, session 32. Northrup, C. M., Fillmore county, session 14. Noyes, C. E., Cass county, sessions 30, 31. Nutzman, F. L., session 32. Oakley, R. H., Lancaster county, sessions 22, 23. O'Connell, J. G., session 31. Olinger, W. G., Burt county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Ollis, J. A., Jr., Valley county, session 27. Olmstead, F. D., Adams county, session 21. Olmstead, F. P., Adams county, session 19. Olmstead, R. H., Douglas county, session 26. Olson, C. O., Phelps county, session 27. Olson, P. B., Saunders county, sessions 22, 23. Orton, S. W., Cass county, session 24. Osgood, C. E., Lincoln county, session 19. Overton, J., Otoe county, session 8. Overton, N, Otoe county, sessions 16, 17, 20. Owen, S. G., Lancaster county, sessions 9, 10, 15. O'Hanlon, P., Douglas county, session 1. O'Sullivan, P. F., Cuming county, session 21. Paddock, J. W., Douglas county, session 1. Page, B. W., session 14. Palmer, A. S., Dixon county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Palmer, J., Saline county, session 18. Patterson, J. M., Cass county, session 8. Pattison, L. W., Richardson county, sessions 6, 7. Patton, W. M., Richardson county, session 15. Patrick, J. W., Otoe county, sessions 9, 10. Parchen, W., Richardson county, session 1. Parish, W., Burt county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Parker, E., Hall county, sessions 9, 10. Parker, H. C, Howard county, session 22. Parker, S. M., Otoe county session 29. Parker, T. B., Saline county, session 14. Parmalee, D. S., Douglas county, sessions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Parry, J. M., Otoe county, sessions 16, 17. Paul, N. J., Howard county, session 14. Paxton, W. A., Douglas county, sessions lo, 17. Payne, R., Otoe county, session 18. Peabody, V. P., Nemaha county, session 29. Peabody, U. P., Nemaha county, session 17. Peck, W. W., Holt county, session 26. Pemberton, W. J., Jefferson county, session 2 0. Perkins, Geo. A., Fillmore county, session 29. Perkins, J. M., Fillmore county, session 24. Perry, E. B., Furnas county, sessions 28, 29. Persinger, L. C, Webster county, session 27. Peters, J., Boone county, session 20. Peterson, A. M., Cuming county, sessions 16, 17. Peterson, E. W., Burt county, session 19. Phelps, C. W., Dundy county, session 24. Phillips, R. O., Lancaster county, session 14. Pickens, Wes, session 31. Pilger, A., Wayne county, sessions 30, 31. Pinney, N. R., Otoe county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Plumbeck, G., Douglas county, session 15. Pohlman, J. H., Nemaha county, sessions 22, 24. Polk, J. F., Cass county, session 15. Pollard, E. M., Cass county, sessions 24, 26. Pollock, J. W., Cuming county, session 14. Pollock, W. A., Nemaha county, sessions 1, 15. Pool, C. W., session 31. Porter, DeF., Nemaha county, session 8. Porter, W. F., Merrick county, sessions 22, 23. Pospisil, John J., Saunders county, session 29. Post, Mark F., Knox county, session 29. Potts, G. W., Pawnee county, session 32. Potter, R. K, Buffalo county, session 21. Poynter, W. K, Boone county, session 19. Preston, J., sessions 3, 4. Price, M. S., Fillmore county, session 15. Prince, F. P., Madison county, session 24. Prince, W. A., Hall county, sessions 26, 32. Pritchett, G. E., Douglas county, session 14. Puis, W. H., Cass county, session 32. Purnell, C, Lincoln county, session 22. Putney, W. W., Antelope county, sessions 16, 17. Quackenbush, E. B., Nemaha county, sessions 30, 32. 74 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Queen, J., Lancaster county, session 1. Quimby, D. J., Dixon county, session 8. Raines, R. F., session 31. Ramey, D. M., Saline county, session 18. Ramsey, J. H., Gage county, session 28. Randall, W. S., Clay county, session 20. Ranney, H. D., Webster county, session 18. Ransom, F. L., Otoe county, sessions 16, 17. Raper, W. B., Pawnee county, sessions 30, 31. Ratcliffe, J. R., Merrick county, session 18. Rathman, C, Washington county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Raymer, H., St. Lincoln county, session 21. Raymond, I. M., Lancaster county, session 20. Ream, J. D., Custer county, session 27. Redman, Herman, Adams county, session 27. Redmond, W. D., Nemaha county, session 30. Reed, C. C, Johnson county, session 28. Reed, E. S., Otoe county, session 1. Reed, G. C, Harlan county, sessions 16, 17. Reed, Lewis S., Douglas county, session 8. Regan, Richard C, session 32. Reis, A., Lincoln county, session 14. Rejcha, F., Lancaster county, session 30. Remington, D. D., Seward county, session 24. Renkel, W. F., Webster county, session 30. Reyman, M. B., Nemaha county, sessions 16, 17. Rhea, R. C, Seward county, session 23. Rhodes, H., Johnson county, sessions 5, 6, 7, 8. Rhodes, H. F., Valley county, sessions 23, 24. Rhodes, J., Pawnee county, session 21. Ribble, Curtis W., Saline county, session 28. Rice, A. E., Holt county, session 19. Richr E., Douglas county, session 25. Richards, C. L., Thayer county, session 24. Richardson, F. W., Madison county, sessions 2 4, 2 9. Richardson, L. O., Frontier county, session 30. Ricketts, M. O., Douglas county, sessions 23, 24. Rief, C, Hall county, session 20. Riggs, J. H., Douglas county, session 28. Riha, F. J., Douglas county, session 32 Riley, A., Webster county, sessions 22, 23. Riley, J. E., Douglas county, session 19. Riordan, H. C, Washington county, session 8. Ritchie, C. A., session 31. Ritchie, W. E., Seward county, session 22. Robb, F. W., Otoe county, session 14. Robb, W., Johnson county, session 21. Robberts, J. C, Platte county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Robbins, W. E., Gage county, sessions 28, 29. Roberts, A., Saunders county, session 8. Roberts, Joseph, Dodge county, sessions 2 8, 29. Roberts, E. W., sessions 31, 32. Roberts, J. E., Douglas county, session 25. Robertson, J. A., Holt county, sessions 24, 25. Robertson, S. P., Nemaha county, session 19. Robertson, T. H., Sarpy county, session 1. Robinson, C. S., Brown county, session 23. Robinson, J. F., Stanton county, session 19. Robinson, W. D., Lancaster county, session 24. Roche, J. J., Antelope county, session 18. Rockwell, A., Burt county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Roddy, P., Otoe county, sessions 24, 25. Rohan, P. F., Cedar county, session 22. Rohr, R. H., Furnas county, session 15. Rohwer, Henry, Washington county, session 27. Rohrer, Jacob J., Saline county, sessions 29, 30. Rolf, D. P., Otoe county, session 2. Roll, J. F., Saunders county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Root, A., Cass county, session 19. Root, H. D., Cass county, sessions 16, 17. Roper, F. E., (Gage and Thayer) counties, sessions 6, 7, 20. Roper, W. B., Pawnee county, sessions 12, 13. Rosewater, E., Douglas county, session 8. Rothlenter, F., Cherry county, session 24. Rothsack, W. A., session 31. Rouse, G. L., Hall county, sessions 24, 25, 26, 28, 29. Rouse, J. P., Cass county, sessions 8, 12, 13. Ruggles, L. G., Dundy county, sessions 22, 23. Runyan, M. M., Saunders county, session 14. Russell, B. P., Valley county, session 19. Russell, H. C, Colfax county, session 20. Russell, W. J., York county, session 18. Ryan, T. C, Platte county, session 15. Ryan, W. M., Douglas county, session 8. Saberson, S., session 31. Sadilek, F. J., Saline county, session 18. Saddler, W. G., Adams county, sessions 28, 29. Sadler, S., Adams county, session 14. Sagl, Anton, session 32. Sanborn, C. W., Sarpy county, session 32. Sandall, Andrew L., York county, session 27. Sandall, A. L., York county, session 26. Sanders, D. C, Nemaha county, session 1. Sargent, J. E., Custer county, session 21. Satchell, N. M., Cass county, sessions 20, 21. Saunders, Geo. W., Knox county, session 30. Savage, E. P., Sherman county, session 18. Schaible, M. J., Richardson county, session 26. Schappel, C. A., Pawnee county, sessions 22, 23. Scilley, Hugh, Dodge county, session 29. Scheele, Henry, sessions 31, 32. Schelp, W., Platte county, sessions 22, 23. Schick, T. L., Nemaha county, session 16. Schickedantz, H., Howard county, session 24. Schinstock, Henry, Cuming county, session 2 7. Schlotfeldt, H., Hall county, sessions 22, 23. Schminke, P., Otoe county, sessions 9, 10, 14. Schock, H., Richardson county, session 8. Schoettger, H. D., Washington county, sessions 30, 31. Schoville, F. A., Saunders county, session 19. Schrader, C, session 18. Schram, C. W., Dixon county, session 2 5. Schueth, Charles, Platte county, session 32. Schwab, H., Dodge county, session 2 0. Scott, A., Pawnee county, sessions 2 6, 2 7. Scott, A. J., Buffalo county, sessions 23, 24. Scott, J. P., Saunders county, sessions 16, 17. Scott, R. M., Dawson county, session 22. Scott, W. T., York county, session 15. Scoville, D. A., Hamilton county, session 21. Scudder, A. L., Hall county, session 30. Sears, F. A., Hall county, sessions 16, 17. Sears, Wm. G., Burt county, sessions 27, 28. Seed, A., Seward county, session 21. Seeley, J. C, Dodge county, sessions 11, 12. 13. Selden, P., Platte county, session 14. Severe, O. A., Otoe county, session 25. Severin, F. C, Lancaster county, sessions 21, 22. Sessions, M. H., Lancaster county, sessions 9, 10. 15, 18. Seybolt, G. L., Cass county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Shamp, J., Lancaster county, session 20. Shedd, H. H., Saunders county, sessions 16, 17. Shelby, P. R., Douglas county, session 14. Sheldon, A. E., Dawes county, session 2 5. Shelley, B. Y., Knox county, session 15. Shelly, Thos. C, Douglas county, session 2 8. Shellhorn, E. J., Lancaster county, session 27. Shephard, G. W., Saunders county, session 21. Sheridan, I. A., Redwillow county, session 23. Shinstock; Chris, Cuming county, session 28. Shipley, J., Cuming county, session 22. Shipley, W., Hitchcock county, session 28. Shook, G. R., Nemaha county, sessions 5, 6, 8. Shook, J. H., Richardson county, session 24. Shore, J. H., Cherry county, session 2 6. Shrader, C. D., Custer county, session 22. Shryock, W. B., Cass county, session 22. Shubert, J. F., Richardson county, session 30. Shull, J. C, Nemaha county, session 25. Shoemaker, W. S., sessions 31, 32. Siecke, C. L., Cuming county, session 26. Sill, J. A., Burt county, sessions 16, 17. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 75 Silver, H. H., Gage county, sessions 16, 17. Simanek, T., Saunders county, session 20. Simms, B. M., Harlan county, session 2 0. Simonton, R. N, Nuckolls county, session 15. Sinclair, J., Otoe county, session 23. Sindelar, J. B., Colfax county, session 32. Sink, J. W., sessions 31, 32. Sisson, E. F., Burt county, sessions 23, 24. Skeen, Ben T., sessions 31, 32. Slader, D. C, Washington county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Slater, A. B., Stanton county, session 20. Slocumb, C. R., Jefferson county, sessions 15, 16, 17. Smalser, H., Sherman county, session 29. Small, J. W., Clay county, session 14. Smith, A. A., Boone county, session 30. Smith, C, Richardson county, session 26. Smith, D., Douglas county, sessions 25, 31. Smith, G. F., Holt county, sessions 23, 24. Smith, H. M., Saline county, session 26. Smith, H. O., Dawson county, session 19. Smith, Herschel V., Saline county, session 2 8. Smith, G. L., Butler county, session 26. Smith, J., Saline county, sessions 22, 23, 24. Smith, J. D., Sarpy county, sessions 1, 5. Smith, J. E., Webster county, sessions 14, 15. Smith, Robert A., Burt county, session 29. Smith, Roscoe R., Boone county, session 32. Smith, T., Johnson county, session 23. Smithberger, L., Stanton county, sessions 2 6, 2 7. Smythe, C. J., Douglas county, session 2 0. Snyder, A., Douglas county, session 21. Snyder, D. C, Johnson county, session 2 5. Snyder, J., Harlan county, session 30. Snyder, Joseph, session 31. Snyder, J. M., Sherman county, session 2 5. Soderman, E., Phelps county, sessions 22, 23, 24, 25. Somers, W. H., Lancaster county, sessions 12, 13. Sommerlad, H. W., Richardson county, sessions 1, 8. Spackman, E. B., Nance county, session 24. Spanogle, A. J., Hamilton county, session 18. Sparks, J., Gage county, session 15. Sparks, J. W., Merrick county, session 15. Speice, C. A., Platte county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Spellman, H., Lancaster county, session 14. Spencer, Alvin D., Gage county, session 27. Spencer, E. R., Lancaster county, sessions 23, 24. Spier, S. S., Gage county, session 28. Specher, John C, Colfax county, session 2 7. Sprick, H., Washington county, sessions 9, 10, 14, 16, 17. Spricknall, W. R., Johnson county, session 14. Springer, E. F., Scottsbluff county, session 30. Spurlock, Geo. M., Cass county, session 28. Sroat, G. W., Otoe county, sessions 3, 4. Stalder, Albert E., Richardson county, session 30. Starrett, S. B., Johnson county, session 15. Startzer, Samuel, Sarpy county, session 28. Staver, H. 0., Richardson county, session 19. St. Clair, W. P. P., Cheyenne county, session 14. Stebbins, J., Buffalo county, session 22. Stebbins, L., Lincoln county, session 25. Stebbins, ,W. M., Dawson county, session 32. Stedman, E. J., session 31. Stedwell, A., Buffalo county, session 18. Steever, A., Polk county, session 18. Steinaur, N. A., Pawnee county, session 30. Steinman, H., Nemaha county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Steinmeyer, Henry, Gage county, session 2 7. Stephenson, D. V., Richardson county, session 18. Sternsdorf, G. J., Douglas county, session 22. Stettson, Delbert A., Saline county, sessions 28, 29. Stevens, A. D., Fillmore county, session 22. Stevens, H., Platte county, session 22 Stevens, J., Furnas county, sessions 22, 23. Stevenson, R. F., Cuming county, sessions 9, 10. Stevenson, T. B., Otoe county, session 19. Steward, J. B., York county, session 22. Stewart, A. S., Pawnee county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Stirk, J. W., Madison county, session 21. Stirling, J. H., Fillmore county, session 19. Stockwell, H. M., Antelope county, session 27. Stoeker, W. F., session 31. Stolz, J. P., Seward county, session 30. Stone, I., Cass county, session 15. Storm, J. D., Nemaha county, session 22. Stouffer, B. R., Richardson county, session 15. Stout, W. H. B., Washington county, sessions 5, 6. 7. Straub, V., Otoe county, session 25. Sturgess, T. F., Douglas county, session 26. Suessenbach, H., Douglas county, session 18. Sullivan, J. J., Platte county, session 20. Suter, L. H., Antelope county, sessions 23, 24. Sutherland, W. J., Colfax county, session 19. Sutton, A. L., Douglas county, sessions 23, 24. Sutton, W., Pawnee county, sessions 24, 25. Swan, H. N, sessions 31, 32. Swan, J. T., Nemaha county, sessions 31, 32. Swanson, Daniel, Dodge county, session 27. Swartsley, J. C, Platte county, session 21. Swearingen, J., Seward county, session 18. Sweet, F., Merrick county, sessions 20, 21. Sweezy, F. A., Webster county, session 28. Switzer, S. W., Buffalo county, session 14. Taggart, R. M., Otoe county, session 19. Talbot, J. W., Butler county, session 30. Talbot, J. W., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Talcott, J. M., session 31. Tanner, J. W., Nance county, sessions 26, 27. Taylor, A. B., session 31. Taylor, F. M., Johnson county, session 22. Taylor, H. G., Merrick county, session 32. Taylor, J. H., Douglas county, session 25. Taylor, W. H., Butler county, sessions 22, 25. Taylor, W. H., Fillmore county, session 26. Taylor, W. J., Custer county, sessions 26, 27, 31. Taylor, W. Z., Frontier county, sessions 18, 19, 31, 32. Tefft, C. R., Lancaster county, session 2 7. Ten Eyck, W. B., Douglas county, session 28. Thiessen, J. P., Jefferson county, sessions 3 0, 31. Thorn, J., Otoe county, session 1. Thomas, A. N., Hamilton county, session 24. Thomas, G. H., Colfax county, session 19. Thomas, G. P., Burt county, session 1. Thomas, I., Burt county, session 18. Thomas, J. W., Cass county, session 19. Thomas, W. P., session 31. Thompson, A. L., Jefferson county, session 19. Thompson, F. A., Clay county, session 26. Thompson, J. J., Washington county, session 15. Thompson, M. J., Boone county, session 18. Thompson, Oscar, Cuming county, session 29. Thompson, R. A., Cuming county, session 15. Thompson, W. T., Merrick county, sessions 26, 28. Thomssen, Wm., Hall county, session 27. Thornton, S. W., Buffalo county, session 20. Thorpe, Wm. P., Garfield county, session 28. Thurston, J. M., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Timme, H., Douglas county, session 24. Tingle, A. H., Holt county, session 20. Tisdel, D. A., Richardson county, session 5. Tomblin, D. M., Furnas county, session 17. Tomlin, J. H., Otoe county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Tooley, J. J., Custer county, session 28. Towers, L. H., Adams county, session 18. Towle, A. L., Knox county, session 21. Towle, E. S., Richardson county, sessions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Town, W. A., Thayer county, session 18. Townsend, O., Gage county, sessions 3, 4. 76 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Tracey, J., Lincoln county, session 20. Trask, I. N., Fillmore county, session 28. Troup, A. C, Douglas county, session 19. Trowbridge, F. H., Antelope county, session 15. True, M. B. O, Saline county, session 15. Truesdale, S. A., Thayer county, sessions 20, 21. Trumble, A. W., Sarpy county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Tucker, F. S., Douglas county, sessions 29, 30. Tucker, G. P., Johnson county, sessions 3, 4. Tucker, J. M., York county, session 26. Tullis, E., Lancaster county, sessions 1, 5, 6, 7. Turner, C. M., Seward county, session 19. Turner, G. R., Gage county, session 18. Turner, W. L., Knox county, session 20. Turtle, W., Douglas county, sessions 8, 19. Turton, G. J., Dodge county, session 1. Tuxbury, A., Otoe county, session 1. Tweed, Robert, Thayer county, session 27. Tyson, W., Washington county, session 20. Tzschuck, B., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Uerling, P., Adams county, session 25. Uhl, Mel, Douglas county, session 27. Underhill, G. C, Otoe county, session 20. Unthank, J. A., Washington county, sessions 1, 3, 4. Vandergrift, John, Sherman county, sessions 26, 27. Vanderman, A. W., Cass county, session 15. Vanderbilt, W. H., Dixon county, session 15. Vanderventer, W. N., Richardson county, session 22. Van Duyn, J. N., Saline county, session 23. Van Horn, S. S., Dodge county, session 25. Van Housen, J. C, Colfax county, sessions 23, 24, 30. Varner, L. A., Johnson county, session 19. Veach, M. A., Richardson county, session 20. Vlasek, J. J., Saunders county, session 28. Vopalensky, F., Saunders county, session 30. Vorhes, J. T., Hamilton county, session 22. Voter, Frank P., Cedar county, session 29. Wait, A., Otoe county, session 24. Waite, C. E., Lancaster county, session 2 5. Waite, Wilbur S., Sherman county, session 32. Waitt, G. W., Dixon county, session 19. Walker, Chas. R., Dundy county, session 27. Walker, M. K., Pawnee county, session 18. Walcot, F. M., Cass county, session 8. Waldron, W. H., Adams county, session 22. Waldter, L., Nemaha county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Wallichs, J., Platte county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Walling, A. M., Colfax county, sessions 16, 17. Walling, J., Dawson county, session 26. Walsh, J., Douglas county, session 30. Walters, J. P., Dixon county, session 14. Ward, John, Sarpy county, session 29. Wardlaw, J. M., Gage county, sessions 20, 23. Waring, E. M., Holt county, sessions 27, 28. Warner, Chas. J., Lancaster county, sessions 27, 28, 29. Warrington, T. L., Dawson county, session 15. Wart, M. H., Knox county, session 24. Watts, S. F., Lincoln county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Watson, A. J., Cedar county, session 27. Watson, G. P., Pierce county, session 26. Watson, J. C, Otoe county, sessions 20, 21, 22, 23. Weaver, A. J., Richardson county, session 26. Webb, E. M., Custer county; session 25. Weber, B. R. B., Saunders county, session 21. Weber, L. O, Washington county, session 24. Weborg, C. J., Thurston county, session 28. Webster, J. L., Douglas county, sessions 9, 10. Weems, J., Nance county, session 30. Weems, J. H., session 31. Weesner, W. L., session 32. Weibe, C. E., Hall county, session 25. Welch, W., Polk county, session 25. Weller, H. D., Richardson county, session 21. Wells, H. C, Franklin county, sessions 16, 17. Wells, J., Dawson county, session 21. Wells, N. W., Colfax county, sessions 14, 15. Wenzl, John F., Pawnee county, sessions 26, 27. Werham, W. S., Jefferson county, session 18. Werner, E., Richardson county, session 22. West, F. S., session 31. Westcott, M. H., Lancaster county, sessions 17, 18. Westover, H., Valley county, session 21. Wetherald, F. M., Thayer county, session 20. Whedon, C. O., Lancaster county, sessions 16, 17, 18. Wheeler, C. F., Furnas county, sessions 25, 26. Wheeler, C. H., Nehama county, sessions 9, 10. Whelpley, D. P., Platte county, session 14. Whitcomb, E. W., Saline county, session 14. White, A. K., Lancaster county, sessions 9, 10. White, E. O., Hall county, session 30. White, Francis E., Cass county, sessions 20, 21, 22. White, F. E., Knox county, session 19. Whitehead, J., Custer county, session 21. Whitford, A. D., Dixon county, session 21. Whitham, J. W., Johnson county, sessions 29, 30. Whitmore, John A., Hamilton county, session 27. Whitmore, W. G., Douglas county, sessions 19, 20. Whitney, Howard, Sarpy county, session 30. Whitzel, I. J., Fillmore county, session 18. Whyman, F. E., Gage county, session 21. Wickham, J., Richardson county, session 8. Wiedensall, J., Douglas county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Wilbur, R. H., Dakota county, session 1. Wilbur, R. S., Dakota county, sessions 9, 10. Wilcox, Burton E., Douglas county, session 27. Wilcox, J. A., Redwillow county, session 21. Wilcox, L. T., Douglas county, session 14. Wilcox, W. T., Lincoln county, session 26. Wilder, T. G., Webster county, session 24. Wiles, I., Cass county, sessions 2, 3, 4. Wilhelmsen, J., Howard county, session 20. Wilkinson, Richard, Cass county, session 27. Williams, H., Nemaha county, session 19. Williams, J. W., Gage county, sessions 21, 22. Willams, T. J., Franklin county, session 22. Wilsey, A. E., (York, Hamilton) counties, sessions 16, 20. Wilson, C. G., Webster county, session 22. Wilson, F. C, Custer county, session 30. Wilson, J., Buffalo county, session 23. Wilson, J. L., York county, session 20. Wilson, V. E., session 31. Wilson, W. H., Pawnee county, sessions 28, 29. Wimberly, T. M., Lancaster county, session 25. Windham, R. B., Cass county, sessions 15, 16, 17, 29. Winslow, W., Gosper county, session 2 5. Winspear, J. H., Douglas county, session 19. Winter, T., Brown county, session 21. Wissenburgh, H., Lancaster county, session 18. Withnell, C. H., Douglas county, session 23. Wolbach, S. N., Hall county, session 19. Wolenweber, N., Seward county, session 20. Wolfe, T., Seward county, session 14. Wolph, H. C, Cass county, session 18. Woodard, J. M., Hamilton county, sessions 25, 26. Woods, J. D., Sheridan county, session 23. Woolworth, J. M., Douglas county, sessions 3, 4. Wooster, C, Merrick county, session 25. - Worl, W., Lancaster county, session 18. Worthing, H., Dawson county, sessions 30, 31. Wright, J. B., Lancaster county, session 19. Wright, J. H., Nuckolls county, sessions 25, 26. Wright, P. G., Dixon county, session 20. Wright, W. F., Pawnee county, sessions 11, 12, 13. Wyatt, C. C, Madison county, sessions 16, 17. Wyman, E., Buffalo county, session 26. Yeiser, J. O., Douglas county, session 25. York, W. R., Johnson county, session 15. Young, B., Thayer county, session 18. Young, L. J., session 31. Young, J. R., Douglas county, session 20. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 77 Young, T. T., Cass county, sessions 25, 26. Yutzy, J. C, Richardson county, sessions 20, 21. Zellers, M. T., Dodge county, session 26. Ziegler, J. A., Cedar county, sessions 15, 16, 17. Zimmerman, D. S., York county, session 25. Zimmerman, P. F„ Madison county, session 27. Zimmerer, A., Otoe county, sessions 5, 6, 7. Zimmerer, F., Dawson county, session 27. Zink, J. W., Sherman county, session 24. Zink, V., Johnson county, session 24. Zuelow, Otto, Colfax county, session 29. TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. The following is a list of the various gentlemen who filled the most important positions in Nebraska during territorial times, viz: Governors. — Francis Burt served from October 16, 1854, until the time of his death, October 18, 1854, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary T. B. Cuming to February 20, 1855. Mark W. Izard from February 20, 1855, to October 25, 1857,when he resigned, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary Cuming to January 12, 1858. Wil liam A. Richardson from January 12, 1858, to December 5, 1858, when his death occurred, and the vacancy was filled by Secretary J. Sterling Morton until May 2, 1859. The next was Samuel W. Black, who served until February 24, 1861, when he resigned to enter the army, and the va cancy was again filled by J. Sterling Morton. Alvin Saunders was the next incumbent of the office of governor, and served until February 21, 1867. Secretaries. — Thomas B. Cuming from August 13, 1854, to the time of his death, March 12, 1858. John B. Motley from March 23 to July 12, 1858. J. Sterling Morton from July 12, 1858, to May 6, 1861. Algernon S. Paddock until February 21, 1867. Auditors. — Charles B. Smith, March 16, 1855, to August 3, 1857. Samuel L. Campbell to June 1, 1858. William E. Moore to August 2, 1858. Robert C. Jordan to October 8, 1861. William E. Harvey to October 10, 1865, when he was suc ceeded by the last under territorial organization, John Gillespie. Treasurers. — B. P. Rankin was the first territor ial treasurer. Term of office began March 16, 1855. He was succeeded by William W. Wyman, whose term began November 6, 1855. Augustus Kountze was next. Term of office began October 8, 1861. Librarians. — The first was James S. Izard, whose term of office began March 16, 1855. H. C. Anderson, term began November 6, 1855. John H. Kellom, term began August 3, 1857. Alonzo D. Luce, term began November 7, 1859. Robert S. Knox, term began June, 1861. Supreme Court, Chief Justices. — Tenner Fer guson, term began October 12, 1854. Augustus Hall, term began March 15, 1858. William Pitt Kellogg, term began May 27, 1861. William Kel logg, term began May 8, 1865. William A. Little, 1866, died in office. Oliver P. Mason, 1866. Supreme Court, Associate Justices. — Edward R. Harden, term began December 4, 1854. James Bradley, October 25, 1854. Samuel W. Black, 1857. Eleazer Wakeley, April 22, 1857. Joseph Miller, April 9, 1859. William E. Lockwood, May 16, 1861. Joseph E. Streeter, November 18, 1861. Elmer S. Dundy, June 22, 1863. Clerks of the Supreme Court. — H. C. Anderson, 1856. Charles S. Salisbury, 1858. E. B. Chand ler, 1859. John H. Kellom, 1861. William Kel logg, Jr., 1865. District Attorneys. — D. S. McGary, term of of fice began May 10, 1855. Jonathan H. .Smith, June 9, 1855. S. A. Strickland, June 11, 1855. John M. Latham, November 6, 1855. Jacob Safford, November 6, 1855. William Kline, November, 1855. James G. Chapman, August 3, 1857. William McLennan, August 3, 1857. George W. Doane, August 3, 1857. U. C. Johnson, October 11, 1859. United States Marshals. — Mark W. Izard, term of office began October 28, 1854. Eli R. Doyle, April 7, 1855. Benjamin P. Rankin, March 29, 1856. Phineas W. Hitchcock, September 19, 1861. Territorial Delegates to Congress. — Napoleon B. Gidding, elected December 12, 1854. Bird B. Chapman, elected November 6, 1855. Tenner Ferguson, elected August 3, 1857. Experience Estabrook, elected October 11, 1859. Samuel G. Daily, elected October 9, 1860. Phineas W. Hitchcock, elected October 11, 1864. STATE OFFICERS OF NEBRASKA FROM ITS ORGANIZATION. In the following pages we give a list of all the most important state officials of Nebraska from the time of its organization as a state: Governors. — David Butler from February 21, 1867, to June 2, 1871. Elected in 1866, but did not enter upon the duties of the office until the admission of the state into the union. Wm. H. James, acting governor from June 2, 1871, to ary 13, 1873, to January 11, 1875. Silas Garber. January 13, 1873. Robert W. Furnas from Janu- term began January 11, 1875. Albinus Nance, term began January 9, 1879. James W. Dawes, term began January 4, 1888. John M. Thayer, term began January 6, 1887. James E. Boyd, term began January 8, 1891. Lorenzo Crounse, term began January 13, 1893. Silas A. Holcomb, term began January 3, 1895. William A. Poyn ter, term began January 5, 1899. Charles H. Dietrich, term began January 3, 1901. John H. Mickey, term began January, 1903. George L. Sheldon, term began January, 1907. A. C. Shal- lenberger, term began January, 1909. Chester H. Aldrich, term began January, 1911. Lieutenant Governors. — Orthman A. Abbott, term began January 4, 1877. Edmund C. Carns| term began January 1, 1879. A. W. Agee, term began January 4, 1883. H. H. Shedd, term began January 8, 1885. George D. Meikeljohn, term began January 3, 1889. Thomas J. Majors, term began January 6, 1891. Robert E. Moore, term 78 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. began January 3, 1895. James E. Harris, term began January 7, 1897. E. A. Gilbert, term began January 5, 1899. Ezra P. Savage, term began January 3, 1901. Edmund G. McGilton, term be gan January, 1903. M. R. Hopewell term began January, 1907; re-elected, term began January, 1909; re-elected, term began January, 1911. Secretaries of State. — Thomas P. Kennard, term of office began February 21, 1867. William H. James, term began January 10, 1871 ; acting gov ernor from June 2, 1871, to January 13, 1873. John J. Gosper, term began January 13, 1873. Bruno Tchuck, term began January 11, 1875. S. J. Alexander, term began January 9, 1879. Edward P. Roggen, term began January 4, 1883. Gilbert L. Laws, term began January 6, 1887 ; resigned November 20, 1889, to fill unexpired term in congress caused by the death of James Laird. Benjamin R. Cowdery, appointed by Gov ernor Thayer to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Secretary Laws, term began No vember 20, 1889. John C. Allen, term began January 8, 1891. Joel A. Piper, term began Jan uary 3, 1895. William F. Porter, term began January 7, 1897. George W. Marsh, term began January 3, 1901. A. Galusha, term began Janu ary, 1905. George C. Junkin, term began Janu ary, 1907; re-elected November, 1908. Addison Wait, term began January, 1911. State Auditors. — John Gillespie, term of office began February 21, 1867. Jefferson B. Weston, term began January 13, 1873. F. W. Liedtke, term began January 9, 1879. John Wallicks, term began November 12, 1880. H. A. Bab cock, term began January 8, 1885. Thomas H. Benton, term began January 3, 1889. Eugene Moore, term began January 13, 1893. John F. Cornell, term began January 7, 1897. Charles Weston, term began January 3, 1901. Edward M. Searle, Jr., term began January, 1905. Silas R. Barton, term began January, 1909. State Treasurers. — August Kountze, term of office began February 21, 1867. James Sweet, term began January 11, 1869. Henry A. Koenig, term began January 10, 1871. J. C. McBride, term began January 11, 1875. George M. Bart lett, term began January 9, 1879. Phelps D. Sturdevant, term began January 4, 1883. Charles H. Willard, term began January 8, 1885. John E. Hill, term began January 3, 1889. Jos eph S. Bartley, term began January 13, 1893. John B. Messerve, term began January 7, 1897. William Steufer, term began January 3, 1901. Peter Mortensen, term began January, 1903. L. G. Brian, term began January, 1907. W. A. George, term began January, 1911. Attorneys General. — Champion S. Chase, term of office began February 21, 1867. Seth Robin son, term began January 11, 1869. Geo. H. Rob erts, term began January 10, 1871. J. R. Web ster, term began January 13, 1873. Geo. H. Roberts, term began January 11, 1875. C. J. Dilworth, term began January 9, 1879. Isaac Powers, Jr., term began January 4, 1883. Will iam Leese, term began January 8, 1885. George H. Hastings, term began January 8, 1891. Arthur S. Churchill, term began January 3, 1895. Con- stantin J. Smyth, term begau January 7, 1897. Frank N. Prout, term began January 3, 1901. Norris Brown, term began January, 1905. Wm. T. Thompson, term began January, 1907. Grant G. Martin, term began January, 1911. Commissioners of Public Lands and Buildings. — This office was created in 1875. F. M. Davis, term of office began January 4, 1877. A. G. Ken dall, term began January 6, 1881. Joseph Scott, term began January 8, 1885. John Steen, term began January 3, 1889. A. R. Humphrey, term began January 8, 1891. Henry C. Russell, term began January 3, 1895. William V. Wolfe, term began January 7, 1897. George D. Follmer, term began January 3, 1901. Henry M. Eaton, term began January, 1905. Edward B. Cowles," term began January, 1909. Superintendents of Public Instruction. — This office was created by the act of the legislature February 15, 1869. S. DeWitt Beals was appoint ed by Governor Butler, term of office began Feb ruary 16, 1869. J. M. McKenzie, term began Jan uary 10, 1871. S. R. Thompson,, term began Janu ary 4, 1877. W.W.W. Jones, term began January 6, 1881. George B. Lane, term began January 6, 1887. A. K. Goudy, term began January, 1891. Henry R. Corbett, term began January 3, 1895. William R. Jackson, term began January 7, 1897. William K. Fowler, term .began January 3, 1901. Jasper L. McBrien, term began January, 1905. E. C. Bishop, term began January, 1909. James W. Crabtree, term began January, 1911. Supreme Court, Chief Justices. — Oliver P. Ma son appointed by Governor Butler, term began 1867. Geo. B. Lake, term began January 16, 1873. Daniel Gantt, term began January 3, 1878. Samuel Maxwell, term began May 29, 1878. Geo. B. Lake, term began January 5, 1882. Amasa Cobb, term began January 3, 1884. Samuel Max well, term began January 7, 1886. M. B. Reese, term began January 5, 1888. Amasa Cobb, term began January 9, 1890. Samuel Maxwell, term began January 7, 1892. T. L. Norval, term began January 4, 1894. A. M. Post, term began Janu ary 9, 1896. T. O. C. Harrison, term began Janu ary 6, 1898. T. L. Norval, term began January 4, 1900. John J. Sullivan, term began January, 1903. Silas A. Holcomb, term began January, 1905. S. H. Sedgwick, term began January, 1907. M. B. Reese, term began January, 1911. Supreme Court, Associate Justices. — George B. Lake, term of office began February 21, 1867 ; re elected 1872-1877. Lorenzo Crounze, term began February 21, 1867. Daniel Gantt, term began January 16, 1873. Samuel Maxwell, term began January 16, 1873; re-elected 1877-1887. Amasa Cobb, term began May 29, 1878 ; appointed to fill vacancy; elected 1878; re-elected 1879-1885. M. B. Reese, term began January 3, 1884. T. L. Nor- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 79 val, term began Januarv 9, 1890 ; re-elected 1895. A. M. Post, term began" 1892. T. 0. C. Harrison, term began January 4, 1894. John J. Sullivan, term began January 6, 1898. Silas A. Holcomb, term began January 4, 1900. Samuel H. Sedg wick, term began January, 1903. John B. Barnes, term began January, 1905. C. B. Letton, term be gan January, 1907. Jesse R. Root, term began January, 1909.- W. B. Rose, term began January, 1911. Jacob Fawcett and S. H. Sedgwick. Supreme Court, 1911-1912.— M. B. Reese, chief justice; J. B. Barnes, C. B. Letton, Jesse R. Root, W. B. Rose, Jacob Fawcett and S. H. Sedgwick. REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. Territorial Delegates in Congress. — Napoleon B. Gidding, elected December 12, 1854. Bird B. Chapman, November 6, 1855. Fenner Ferguson, August 3, 1857. Experience Estabrook, October 11, 1854. Samuel G. Daily, October 9, 1869. Phineas W. Hitchcock, October 11, 1864. United States Senators. — The following is a list of different parties who have represented Ne braska in the United States senate since the ad mission of the state into the union, viz : John M. Thayer, 1867-71; Thomas W. Lipton, 1867-75; Phineas W. Hitchcock, 1871-77; Al gernon S. Paddock, 1875-81; Alvin Saunders, 1877-83; C. H. VanWyck, 1881-87; Charles F. Manderson, 1883-95; Algernon S. Paddock, 1887- 93; W. V. Allen, 1893-99; John M. Thurston, 1895-1901; H. L. Hayward, 1899, died in office; W. V. Allen, 1899-1901; Charles H. Dietrich, 1901; Joseph H. Millard, 1901; E. J. Burket, 1907; Norris Brown and Gilbert M. Hitchcock. Representatives. — The following is a list of the different parties who have represented the vari ous Nebraska districts in the house of represent atives since the organization of the state govern ment: XXXIX Congress, 1865-67, T. M. Ma-rquette. Mr. Marquette, who was elected to represent Ne braska in the house, presented his credentials March 2, the day following President Johnson's proclamation of the admission of Nebraska, and thereby limited his own term to the short period of two days, as this session expired March 4, 1867. XL Congress, 1867-69, John Taffe. XLI Congress, 1869-71, John Taffe. XLII Congress, 1871-73, John Taffe. XLIII Congress, 1873-75, Lorenzo Crounze. XLIV Congress; 1875-77, Lorenzo Crounze. XLV Congress, 1877-79, Frank Welch. Thom as J. Majors to fill vacancy. XL VI Congress, 1879-81, E. K. Valentine. XL VII Congress, 1881-83, E. K. Valentine. XLVIII Congress, 1883-85— First district, A. J. Weaver; second district, James Laird; third dis trict, E. K. Valentine. XLIX Congress, 1885-87— First district, A. J. Weaver; second district, James Laird; third" dis trict, Geo. W. E. Dorsey. L Congress, 1887-89 — First district, John A. McShane ; second district, James Laird ; third dis trict, Geo. W. E. Dorsey. LI Congress, 1889-91— First district, W. J. Con- nell; second district, James Laird (died in office and Gilbert L. Laws filled vacancy) ; third dis trict, Geo. W. E. Dorsey. LII Congress, 1891-93— First district, W. J. Bryan; second district, W. A. McKeighan; third district, O. M. Kern. LIII Congress, 1893-95— First district, W. J. Bryan; second district, H. D. Mercer; third dis trict, George Meiklejohn ; fourth district, E. J. Hainer; fifth district, W. A. McKeighan; sixth district, O. M. Kern. LIV Congress, 1895-97— First district, J. B. Strode ; second district, H. D. Mercer ; third dis trict, George Meiklejohn; fourth district, E. J. Hainer; fifth district, W. E. Andrews; sixth dis trict, O. M. Kern. LV Congress, 1897-99— First district, Jesse B. Strode; second district, David H. Mercer; third district, Samuel Maxwell; fourth district, Wil liam L. Stark; fifth district, R. E. Sutherland; sixth district, William L. Green. LVI Congress, 1899-1901— First district, E. J. Burkett; second district, David H. Mercer; third district, John S. Robinson; fourth district, Wil liam L. Stark; fifth district, R. D. Sutherland; sixth district, William L. Green (died in office, William Nevill to fill vacancy). LVH Congress, 1901-03— First district, Elmer J. Burkett; second district, David H. Mercer; third district, John S. Robinson; fourth district, William L. Stark ; fifth district, A. C. Shallenber- ger; sixth district, William Nevill. LVIII Congress, 1903-05— First district, Elmer J. Burkett ; second district, Gilbert M. Hitchcock ; third district, J. J. McCarthy ; fourth district, Ed mund H. Hinshaw; fifth district, George W. Nor ris; sixth district, Moses P. Kinkaid. LIX Congress, 1905-07 — First district, Elmer J. Burkett; second district, John L. Kennedy; third district, J. J. McCarthy; fourth district, Edmund H. Hinshaw; fifth district, Geo. W. Norris; sixth district, Moses P. Kinkaid. LX Congress, 1907-09— First district, E. M. Pollard; second district, G. M. Hitchcock; third district, J. T. Boyd; fourth district, Edmund H. Hinshaw; fifth district, George W. Norris; sixth district, Moses P. Kinkaid. LXI Congress, 1909-11— First district, John A. Maguire; second district, Gilbert M. Hitchcock; third district, James P. Latta; fourth district, Edmund H. Hinshaw ; fifth district, Geo. W. Nor ris; sixth district, Moses P. Kinkaid. LXII Congress, 1911-13— First district, John A. Maguire ; second district, C. O. Lobeck ; third dis trict, James P. Latta ; fourth district, Chas. Sloan ; fifth district, George W. Norris; sixth district' Moses P. Kinkaid. CHAPTER IV. STATE INSTITUTIONS, SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS. THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. The University of Nebraska, located at Lincoln, was founded by an act of the legislature passed in 1869. It was opened and students received in 1871. The various acts of the legislature provid ing for its organization authorized the estab lishing of various departments, and laid the ground work for one of the greatest educational institutions in the union. Allen R. Benton, Ph. D., was the first chancellor. The university comprises the graduate school, the college of literature, science and the arts, the industrial college, the college of law, schools of agriculture,' mechanical arts and domestic sci ence. Collegiate courses preparatory to law and journalism and medicine, as well as the special teachers' course and summer sessions, are offered. The regents of the university have also entrusted to their care the U. S. experiment station, and the central office of the Nebraska section of the cli mate and crop service of the U. S. weather bureau is located within its grounds. Courses in univer sity extension, including farmers' institutes, are given as a means of education to those be yond the bounds of the university. Admission to the university is by certificate from about seven ty-five accredited schools or by examination. The degrees are A. B. ; B. Sc. ; B. Sc. in engineering courses ; LL. B. ; A. M. ; and Ph. D. Tuition is free except in the professional and special courses. where a nominal fee is charged. A matriculation fee of five dollars is provided by statute. A sys tem of fellowships and scholarships exists, and in each county maintaining a first-class three or four year high school a scholarship is awarded the student passing the best competitive examina tion. Several prizes are offered along certain lines of college activity, such as oratory and liter ature. The university has a campus in the cen ter of the city of Lincoln of twelve acres, and an experiment station farm of three hundred and twenty acres. There is a score of buildings, the most prominent being university hall, the chemi cal laboratory, Grant memorial hall containing the armory and gymnasium, library building, Nebraska hall, mechanic arts hall, the library, the Pathotriological laboratory, dairy hall and soldiers' memorial hall. The college farm (including the experiment station farm) was secured by the exchange of state land and the payment of about $20,000 out of state funds. The property is now valued at about a quarter of a million dollars. On the farm are the buildings for the use of the experi ment station. The total value of the entire prop erty of the university is now estimated at over one million dollars. THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The fifth territorial legislature, in an act op- proved October 14, 1858, providing for the or ganization of county agricultural societies, es tablished a territorial board of agriculture to re ceive and digest reports from, and of the several organizations, and to hold annual meetings for the purpose of deliberating and consulting as to the wants, prospects and conditions of the agri cultural interests throughout the territory. This hoard as originally constituted, consisted of Thomas Gibson, Harrison Johnson, A. D. Jones, E. Estahrook, J. M. Thayer, Christian Bobst, Robert W. Furnas, Jesse Cole, S. A. Chambers, Jerome Hoover, Mills S. Reeves, Broad Cole, J. C. Lincoln, Harlan Baird, Joel T. Griffin and E. H. Chaplin, duly created a body corporate, with perpetual succession, empowered to fill vacancies in its membership, and to elect officers in its dis cretion. The first meeting of the board was held in Omaha, October 30, 1858, the election of officers for the ensuing year resulting as follows : Presi dent, R. W. Furnas; secretary, A. D. Jones; treasurer, J. M. Thayer; board of managers, E. H. Chaplin, H. Baird, M. S. Reeves, Broad Cole and C. Bobst. It was determined at this meet ing that the first annual fair be held three days in succession, in September, 1859, in such county as offered the largest donations, privileges and best accommodations. Under this arrangement Otoe county was selected as the location and the first territorial fair was held at Nebraska City, September 21, 22 and 23, 1859. The amount actually awarded in premiums was $355, in ad dition to a gold watch, saddle and bridle, and two sets of jewelry valued at $115, and a goodly number of diplomas. The address of the occa sion was delivered by J. Sterling Morton. At the end of the report of the fair to the next legisla- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 81 ture, the committee "beg leave to say that this first territorial fair of Nebraska, though not a complete success, was far from a failure. Taking all things into consideration, it is a marvel that we have done half so well." This was the only territorial fair ever held in Nebraska, no decided effort appearing to have been made toward another exhibition until 1868, when the board having been changed to a state organization by the admission of the territory, held a second annual fair, also at Nebraska City, October 7, 8 and 9, 1868. Under the state or ganization the number of incorporated members was increased from sixteen to twenty-eight. In early days of the state's history, the state fairs were held at various places, including Nebraska City, Brownville, Omaha and Lincoln. The state board of agriculture embraces all the minor kindred organizations — the horticultural society and others, — reports of which are incor porated in the official statements of the board to the legislature. It has since its institution as a territorial organization fostered, encouraged and developed the farming interests of Nebraska, stim ulating honest rivalry. To it the state owes much of its present popularity, and to the indefatiga ble efforts of its officers is due in great measure the fact not that Nebraska is an agricultural state, but that she is preeminently because scien tifically such. The object of the association has been and is to advertise and make known in every possible .way the agricultural advantages, prod ucts, resources, possibilities and promises of the state. Of late years this has been done not only by holding annual fairs and exhibitions, but by the publication of a four-hundred-page volume of agricultural, horticultural, dairy, forestry, live stock, crop, botanical, geological, entomolog ical, meteorological, civil engineering, zoological and other important data and information. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. The Nebraska school for the deaf and dumb was established in 1869, with Professor William M. French as principal. The object of the institu tion as set forth in the law and in the first report of the superintendent, is "to promote the intel lectual, physical and moral culture of the deaf and dumb by a judicious and well-adapted course of instruction, that they may be reclaimed from their lonely and cheerless condition, restored to society and fitted for the discharge of the duties of life. ' ' The object of the organization has remained the same and in many instances has been accom plished. The first year there were enrolled twelve pupils, and the school was housed in a rented building. This institution is doing excellent work in carrying out the intent of the law and the ob ject of the school. An exhibit was made at the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition of the work from all departments of the school, which attracted marked attention. The exhibit was awarded a diploma and gold medal by the exposition, and the committee appointed to judge of the work done in the education of the defec tive classes, awarded the Nebraska School for the Deaf a diploma for first rank. This committee awarded but one of first rank. THE NEBRASKA INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND. This institution, which is located at Nebraska City, was opened in 1875. To secure the institu tion, Nebraska City donated $3,000 and ten acres of ground just north of the city limits. On this site substantial buildings have been erected, and the institution is admirably conducted and doing good work. The school was first opened in rented rooms March 10, 1875. At the beginning there were only three students, but the enrollment reached twenty-one by the close of the first two years. Samuel Bacon was the first superinten dent. STATE PENITENTIARY. The Nebraska state penitentiary is located at Lancaster, about three miles south of the city of Lincoln. Under grants from the congress of the United States, by acts of 1864 and 1867, the state of Nebraska received 32,044 acres of land for pen itentiary purposes. The act providing for the building of the state penitentiary on the site do nated for that purpose by Captain W. T. Dona- van and Mr. Hilton, was passed March 4, 1870. W. W. Abbey, W. W. Wilson and F. Tlemplin were appointed prison inspectors to attend to selling the land granted by the government for prison purposes and to superintend the building, $5,000 being appropriated for the erection < of a temporary prison. The first warden of the peni tentiary was Henry Campbell. The institution has always ranked high among the penal institu tions of its class in the country. NEBRASKA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. This institution is located at Lincoln. As early as 1865 it was found necessary to make provision for the insane in the territory of Nebraska. Four cases were already being cared for in an Iowa hospital. The legislature authorized the govern or to make some arrangement with the state of Iowa by which they received and cared for the insane at the expense of Nebraska. Under this arrangement fifty patients were sent at various times to the hospital at Mount Pleasant. Soon after Nebraska became a state the governor, sec retary of state and auditor of public accounts were appointed a board of commissioners to lo cate a site for a state lunatic asylum near the city of Lincoln. The first building was completed at a cost of $137,000 in the fall of 1870, and the first patient was admitted November 26 of that year. Early in the following December seventeen pa tients were brought over from Mount Pleasant to the new institution, and four were admitted who 82 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. had been confined in the Pawnee county jail. Dr. N. B. Larsh was the first superintendent. In April, 1871, the institution was destroyed by fire. Five patients were reported missing and were never afterwards accounted for. The re maining patients were taken to Lincoln and cared for in rented houses until a temporary building was erected on the asylum grounds. As there was no appropria tion available and the citizens of Lincoln were fearful lest the institution should be removed to some rival city, they advanced the funds neces sary to build a temporary frame structure, which did service as a hospital until a new stone build ing was erected the following year. Since that time the institution has been enlarged by the erection of additional buildings until today it is one of the most modern institutions of its kind in the country. As the population of the state increased, the number of insane persons likewise increased, thereby making it necessary to increase the capacity of the hospital. The congestion was also relieved by the erection of other institutions at Hastings and Norfolk. The first patients were sent to the Norfolk hospital February 15, 1888, and to the asylum for the chronic insane at Hast ings August 1, 1889. Originally the state guar anteed the expense of caring for insane patients and when possible collected the amount so ex pended from the estate of the patient or from his or her natural guardians. Later the superinten dent certified to the auditor the number of pa tients from each county, and the auditor of pub lic accounts certified to the commissioners of the several counties the amounts due for the main tenance of their insane. In 1883 this was changed, and the state assumed the entire expense of car ing for this class of persons. No effort has been spared to bring the hospital service up to the highest standard of efficiency, and the citizens of Nebraska may well be congrat ulated on the excellent reputation which the Ne braska hospital for the insane bears in the sur rounding states. ASYLUM FOR THE CHRONIC INSANE. The asylum for the chronic insane was located near the city of Hastings in the year 1888, the first building being erected from an appropiation allowed by the legislature of 1887. The capacity of the building at the time was one hundred and eighty patients. The institution was opened for the admission of patients in August, 1889, Dr. M. W. Stone being the first superintendent, having been appointed by Governor Thayer. The object of the institution is to care for the more quiet and those found to be chronic after treatment in the asylums of the state for the acutely insane. The legislature has since from time to time made large appropriations for additional buildings for enlarging the scope and usefulness of the institu tion. NORFOLK HOSPITAL FOR INSANE. The Norfolk hospital for insane owes its origin to an act of the legislature of 1885 appropriating $75,000 to build an insane hospital within three miles of the city limits of Norfolk, provided the city should donate three hundred and twenty acres of good land upon which to locate said in stitution. The three hundred and twenty acres were donated, commanding a most beautiful view of the lovely valley of the Elkhorn, its tributary the north fork, and the surrounding country. The first building was completed in November, 1886. The legislature has from time to time made liberal appropriations to extend and enlarge this institution, and it ranks among the most import ant eleemosynary institutions of the state. NEBRASKA INSTITUTION FOR FEEBLE MINDED YOUTHS. This institution is located at Beatrice, Gage county. It was established by the state of Nebras ka in 1885 for the benefit of feeble-minded child ren between the ages of five and eighteen years, who are by reason of their affliction denied the educational advantages of the public schools, and who likewise, because of their physical weakness, are necessarily dependent. We quote the follow ing from the act of the legislature creating this institution, viz: "Besides shelter and protection, the prime object of said institution shall be to provide special means of improvement for that unfortunate portion of the community who were born or by disease may become imbecile or feeble minded, and by a well-adapted course of instruc tion reclaim them from their helpless condition, and through the development of their intellectual faculties fit them as far as possible for usefulness in society. To this end there shall be furnished them such agricultural and mechanical education as they are capable of receiving." Children who are residents of Nebraska, who are feeble-minded, and those who have such marked peculiarities or eccentricities of intellect, or those who by reason of their being backward are unable to receive the benefits of the common schools and ordinary methods of instruction, are entitled to care and training free of charge, except the expense of necessary clothing and transportation to and from their homes. Since the institution was founded, about one thousand applications have been made for admission, about half of which have been received as patients. The work of the institution covers a useful scope. Aside from the school duties, the girls are taught sewing, house work, cooking and all branches of domestic em ployment, while the boys are instructed in brush making, carpenter work, farm work and such other branches of employment as may be useful to them after leaving the schooL THE HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS. This institution is located at Lincoln. In 1876 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 83 some of the charitable women of Nebraska or ganized a society known as the "Home for the Friendless," the object of which was to furnish a refuge for friendless children, girls, young women and old ladies. This society was duly incorporated under the laws of the state of Nebraska, and has been managed continuously from the time of its incorporation by a board of ladies who have served without pay, mileage or financial recom pense whatever. Absolutely non-sectarian, as every religious organization has been represented, and absolutely non-political. In 1881 the state legislature appropriated the sum of $5,000 to aid the society in the erection of a permanent build ing. As the state has grown, this charitable work has increased, and several legislative appropria tions have been made to- assist the society in car rying on their great work. It can safely be said that thousands of friendless children have been received within the shelter of this institution and permanent homes have been found for them among the substantial citizens of the state. A record- is kept of each child, and a useful future is assured to these unfortunate children who otherwise would have contributed to the haunts of vice and swell the roll of criminals. Over a thousand wives and mothers have been cared for by the home, besides earing for many aged in mates. The magnitude of this work can only be appreciated by those who intimately acquaint themselves with the work of the society. Chris tian women have devoted much of their time and contributed of their substance to the caring for these unfortunates for years. Auxiliary societies have been organized by the charitable women of many towns throughout the state, and the foun dation has thus been laid for great charitable work in the future. SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME-GRAND ISLAND The soldiers ' and sailors ' home at Grand Island was established under an act of the legislature of 1887. This act constituted the board of public lands and buildings a commission to locate and establish a home for honorably discharged sol diers, sailors and marines and hospital nurses who served in the United States army or navy or hos pitals during the war of the rebellion, and who by reason of such service, old age or otherwise have become disabled from earning a livelihood, pro viding such applicants have been actual bona fide residents of Nebraska for two years next preced ing such application. This commission approved and accepted a site near the city of Grand Island, containing six hundred and forty acres of land, which was donated to the sta'te by the citizens of Grand Island. The management of the home is vested in a visiting and examining board consist ing of five persons, appointed by the governor, three of whom must be honorably discharged vol unteer soldiers, and two of whom must be either wives, sisters or daughters of honorably dis charged soldiers and members of the Woman's Relief Corps of Nebraska. SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME — MILFORD. A branch of the soldiers' and sailors' home was established by an act of the legislature, which took effect April 9, 1895. This home is located near Milford, on the banks of the Blue river, and the site comprises about thirty-five acres. It con sists of the sanitarium, park and springs, together with a brick and stone building surrounded by broad piazzas. The home is governed in like man ner as the soldiers' and sailors' home at Grand Island. THE INDUSTRIAL HOME — MILFORD. The industrial home at Milford was established in 1888. Its object is to protect and care for the unfortunate and homeless girls, and thus prevent crime. In this institution a home is offered and an opportunity given to commence life anew, as without this opportunity and refuge, often, if the will to reform is evident, the way is completely hedged in. The institution is doing excellent work, and is a charitable enterprise that is worthy of the support of the state. STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. The state industrial school at Kearney was es tablished by the legislature of 1870 under the title of State Reform School. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the erection of the first building and its temporary maintenance. The first building was completed in 1881, and the records of the school show that the first boy was committed by W. H. Ely, county judge of Dodge county, July 12, 1881. Since that time nearly fifteen hundred boys have been committed to the school by the different counties of the state, be sides about two hundred girls that were sent here previous to the establishing of the girls ' industrial school at Geneva in 1891. In 1887 the legislature changed the title of the Kearney institution from the State Reform School to that of the State In- • dustrial School, the name it now bears. The in tention of the change in the name was to remove the school as much as possible from a penal insti tution to that of educational and industrial train ing with the sole purpose in view that as far as possible no stigma should be attached to the un fortunate and wayward youths that have received their education within its confines. THE GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. The girls' industrial school at Geneva was es tablished in 1891, and the main building was com pleted during the same year. Up to this time the boys and girls were in one school at Kearney. The site for the school is located less than a mile from Geneva, Fillmore county, on a beautiful elevated tract of land containing forty acres. 84 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. This institution has done and is doing noble work. The school is divided into classes, or families as they are called, and graded or placed according to the commitment and are assigned a certain number of demerits that must be cancelled by good behavior. They are detailed regularly every three months in the industrial departments, and work one-half of each day and are in school the other half day. All are committed until they are twenty-one years old unless sooner released by the governor or the board. They have an hour and a half to play each day, and there seems to be as much happiness as is found in the ordinary boarding school. When a girl has worked out on her "honor" and has no home, one is provided for her, where she goes on trial and is reported monthly. Many such are now commanding good wages. Some have married and have homes of their own. While inmates are committed here for certain offenses, it is not a prison, nor does it re semble one in any way. It has no fences nor bars on the windows, and the surroundings are as in viting as any high school. The girls are not here to take punishment for past mistakes, but for edu cation and protection from all harm, especially evil influences. No home has better moral train ing. STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. The legislature of 1879 passed an act creating the board of fish commissioners for the purpose of protecting, propagating and stocking the waters of the state and to arouse interest in fish culture. Governor Garber appointed as the first board of fish commissioners William L. May of Fremont, C. W. Kaley of Red Cloud and B. E. B. Kennedy of Omaha. The present site, consisting of fifty- two acres of ground lying along the Platte river in Sarpy county, just south of the village of South Bend, was' purchased in 1880, and being well watered with several magnificent springs, has proven well adapted for the purpose for which it was acquired. J. G. Romine, of South Bend, was the first superintendent, appointed at a salary of $500 per annum. The board of commissioners received no salary, but were allowed $250 per an num for expenses. The superintendent's salary is now $1,200 per annum, and he is allowed sever al assistants. When the station was first located considerable attention was paid to the hatching and distribution of white fish and land-locked salmon, but it soon became apparent tbat the waters of this state were not adapted to these kinds of fish, and this work was discontinued, and the work of hatching carp, black bass, brook, rainbow and brown trout was taken up. The scope of the work has gradually been broadened until now, in addi tion to the varieties named, they also propagate crappie, perch, catfish, rock bass, tench and sev eral kinds of ornamental fish, and on the whole the work has been very successful. NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. The Nebraska State Historical Society was or ganized September 25 and 26, 1878, at Lincoln, with the following as charter members : Dr. Geo. L. Miller, Chris Hartman and J. T. Allen, Doug las county; Governor Silas Garber and H. S. Ka ley, Webster county; S. R. Thompson, T. P. Ken nard, W. W. Wilson and Samuel Aughey, Lancas ter county; Rev. J. M. Taggart and J. H. Croxton, Otoe county ; C. H. Walker, Franklin county ; Hon. L. Crounse and E. N. Grenell, Washington coun ty; Prof. C. D. Wilbur, Saline county; J. Q. Goss, Sarpy county; D. H. Wheeler and William Gil- more, Cas*s county; O. T. B. Williams, Seward county; h. B. Fifield, Buffalo county; Rev. L. W. B. Shryrock and E. Shugart, Gage county; Wil liam Adair, Dakota county; Robert W. Furnas, Nemaha county ; H. T. Clark, Sarpy county ; J. H. Brown, A. Humphrey, J. H. Ames, John Cadman and A. G. Hastings, Lancaster county ; J. A. Mac- Murphy, Cass county; Hiram Craig, Washington county; J. J. Budd, Douglas county; F. J. Hen- dershot, Thayer county; S. A. Fulton, Richard son county; Theron Nye, Dodge county. A constitution was adopted, providing officers and regulations, and the first president, secretary and treasurer were respectively: Hon. Robert W. Furnas, Prof. Samuel Aughey and W. W. Wilson. The organization remained unchanged from 1878 to 1883, having a president, recording secre tary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and board of directors. During this time the funds of the society consisted solely of fees and dues paid in more or less irregularly, and were very small. The members first met at the old Commercial Hotel to organize, but usually thereafter the an nual meetings were held in some room at the state university. The secretary, Prof. Aughey, gathered a small nucleus of a library, consisting of dona tions from R. W. Furnas, D. H. Wheeler, Moses Stocking and others. The society began also to carry out some of its proposed objects. These were: (1) To collect all material relating to the history of Nebraska; (2) to publish as much of it as possible; (3) to found an historical library. A subject of no small interest at the time the society was organized was that of the "historical block." This was block twenty-nine of the orig inal plat of the city of Lincoln, later known as "Haymarket Square," and having the city offices on it, which was set apart by act of the com missioners and of the state legislature, February 15, 1869. It was called "State Historical and Li brary Association Block, ' ' and was for the benefit of the ' ' State Historical Library Association, ' ' or ganized August 26, 1867. The society in question had some sessions, and its president for some time was Hon. John Gillespie. But for some reason the legislature, by act of February 24, 1875, took away this block and gave it to the city of Lin coln. On the organization of the Nebraska State Historical Society in 1878 an effort was made to COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 85 ascertain whether it was possible to recover this block for the latter society, but the attempt was abandoned. In 1883, by act of the legislature February 23, 1883, the society was made a state institution and a sum appropriated for its support. This opened up to the society a way to accomplish the purpose of publishing historical material. The first vol ume was issued in 1885, which has been followed by a number of additional volumes. The biennial appropriations of the legislature for its support have increased from time to time, but have hard ly kept pace with the needs of the society. Ne braska has made a good beginning in the matter of collecting its own history, but its work does not as yet compare with that of most of its sister states. The plans of the officers of the society for the future contemplates an increase in the work and effectiveness of the organization. STATE BAR ASSOCIATION. The Nebraska State Bar Association was organ ized January 6, 1876. The constitution states the objects of the organization as. follows: The as sociation is established to maintain a high stan dard of professional integrity among the mem bers of the Nebraska bar; to cultivate social in tercourse and courtesy among them; to encour age a thorough and liberal legal education, and to assist in the improvement of the law and the due administration of justice to all classes of so ciety without distinction. ' ' The constitution pro vided for its incorporation under the laws of the state, appointing the president to take the neces sary steps in the matter. Any member of a coun ty association may become a member, and all judges of the supreme, district and federal courts of Nebraska are members by virtue of their offi ces, and have all the privileges of membership except voting. Its constitution provides for pun ishment of its members for misconduct toward the association and the administration of justice, but it is also a vigilance committee to look after and punish in the courts the misconduct of non- members. NEBRASKA PRESS ASSOCIATION. An organization was effected on December 6, 1859, of what was know as the Editors' and Pub lishers' Association of Nebraska Territory. The first meeting was held at the Herndon House, Omaha, the following persons being present: Thomas Morton and M. W. Reynolds, of the Ne braska City News; R. W. Furnas, of the Brown- ville Advertiser; T. H. Robertson, of the Omaha Nebraskan ; E. Giles, of the Plattsmouth Sentin el ; Burbank & Jamison, of the Falls City Broad Axe ; E. D. Webster of the Omaha Republican, and ex-editors H. D. Johnson, J. W. Pattison and S. Belden. On this occasion M. W. Reynolds was elected president, R. W. Furnas vice president and M. H. Clark secretary. Among the resolutions adopted at this meeting is one: "That a public journal is an impersonality, and should be so treated on all occasions, and that in our inter course with each other we will neither use offen sive personalities nor encourage them in others, but that we will at all times discourage their use as ungentlemanly and degrading to the profess ion of journalism. ' ' At this meeting Geo. A. Hins dale and J. . Sterling Morton were elected hono rary members. The next reunion was held September 14, 1864, when the members of an "Editorial Convention" assembled at Nebraska City, the object as ex pressed in the call being to adopt uniform rates of advertising. T. H. Robertson was elected pres ident, W. H. H. Waters secretary, and a commit tee was appointed to prepare a schedule of prices. The rates as adopted secured publishers $2.50 for weekly subscriptions, $1.00 per month for daily subscriptions, $5.00 per year for tri-weekly sub scriptions. Legal and transient advertisements to be inserted at the rate of $1.50 per square for first insertion, $1.00 for each subsequent insertion, and the price of all job work advanced fifty per cent. In January, 1873, a preliminary meeting of the "Nebraska Press Association" was held in Lin coln, at which Major Caffrey acted as chairman and J. A. MacMurphy as secretary. With the ap pointment of committees the meeting adjourned until February 27, 1873, at which time a constitu tion and by-laws were adopted. No meeting was held in 1874, but the organization has been main tained, increasing in importance and in the num ber of members and with growing zeal in the pro fession up to the present day. Its membership is representative of all sections of the state, and its tendency the creation of personal good will and harmony. STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY. The organization of the Nebraska State Medi cal Society was effected at a meeting held in Oma ha June 24, 1868. It was then declared that such an institution "organized and conducted so as to give frequent united and emphatic expression to the views and aims of the medical profession in this state, must at all times have a beneficial in fluence and supply more efficient means that have hitherto been available here for cultivating and advancing medical knowledge, for elevating the standard of medical education, for promoting the usefulness, honor and interests of the medical profession, for enlightening and directing public opinion in regard to the duties, responsibilities and the requirements of medical men, for exciting and encouraging emulation and concert of action in the profession, and for facilitating and foster ing friendly intercourse between those who are engaged in it. ' ' The members of the society were by the constitution divided into three classes delegates, members by invitation and permanent members. The constitution was signed by the fol- 86 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. lowing as the charter members : G. C. Monell, M. D. ; H. P. Mathewson, M. D. ; James H. Peabody, M. D. ; J. C. Denise, M. D. ; S. D. Mercer, M. D. , of Douglas county; R. R. Livingston, M. D., of Cass county; D. Whitinger, M. D., N. B. Larsh, M. D., of Otoe county, and J. P. Andrews, M. D., and August Roeder, M. D., of Washington coun ty. The first officers elected were as follows: Gilbert C. Monell, president; Robert R. Livings ton, vice president ; N. B. Larsh, second vice pres ident; J. C. Denise, corresponding secretary; S. D. Mercer, permanent secretary; Daniel Whitin ger, treasurer. The first annual convention was held at Ne braska City, June 1 and 2, 1869. The society is today in prosperous condition, and growing in power and influence. It has from time to time issued full and valuable reports of its proceed ings, accomplishing as far as possible that which it aimed to do — elevating the standard of medi cal education, and promoting the usefulness, hon or and interests of the medical profession. CHAPTER V. RAILROADS. The question as to who it was that first sug gested the possibility of building a railroad across the continent has been a disputed one. It was discussed by public men early in the century, and was mentioned in various journals and news papers, but it gradually assumed more definite shape and culminated finally in the organization and construction of the Union Pacific railroad. While the scope of this work forbids an extended history of each particular road that has aided in the progress of the state, the inception and build ing of the great Union Pacific is so intimately connected with the pioneer history of Nebraska that the writer believes a more extended history of its inception and growth will be found inter esting in this connection. The claimants for the honor of having first in troduced the subject of a trans-continental rail way to the American people have been numerous and persistent. The subject has been mooted time out of mind, and the question, "who first suggested the Pacific railway?" propounded and repeated incessantly. It is said that Jonathan Carver foreshadowed its construction as early as 1778, and if true he was fartherest ahead of all men of the age in which he lived. When during succeeding years it was again and again men tioned and pronounced impractical, California, rich in wealth and resources, sprang as if by magic from the desert, and the undertaking be came an enterprise of the present rather than of the future. Since then the march of progress has with magestic tread swept across the continent, populating the valleys, developing the agricultur al resources of the plains, bringing to light the hidden mineral wealth of the mountains and in scribing her name on the brightest pages of his tory in every state. Upon the banks of the Fath er of Waters the steps of progress impatiently lingered, but spanning that stream she swept along her magnificent career. Next she reached Nebraska, touching into life with her magic wand the hidden wealth therein sleeping. The Rocky mountains were crossed and the Queen of the Pacific reached. As early as 1835 the Rev. Samuel Parker, in his journal of a trip across the continent, recorded an opinion that the mountains presented no insup erable obstacle to a railroad. In 1836 John Plumbe, Jr., a Welshman, but a naturalized American, residing at Dubuque, commenced in person at his own expense the survey of a route for a railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean, directing public attention to its importance in several well-written articles in the newspapers of the day. In 1838 he succeeded, through the in fluence and efforts of the Hon. George W.Jones, in procuring an appropriation from congress to de fray the expenses of locating the first division of the line, devoting his entire attention to and making constant exertions for the promotion of this great national object. He lived until after the gold discoveries of California, and used them as additional arguments in support of his pet scheme. Among the many claims is also that ad vanced by the friends of John Wilgus, formerly a resident of Brownsville, Pennsylvania. A full review of the Wilgus claims are contained in an article published in the Uniontown (Pennsylvan ia) Republican-Standard, from which we quote the following: "Many public men bask in borrowed light, and in no instance is this proposition more signally illustrated than in the case of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, who, as history records! is the accredited father of the Pacific COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 87 railroad. Men of true moral and intellec tual worth are more often modest and unassum ing, and though deserving the gratitude of their fellow men, live in obscurity, and go to their re ward hardly known outside the village in which fortune cast their lot. Such a man was John Wil gus, the man who above all others is entitled to the credit and honor of originating the idea of a railroad to the Pacific. Born in comparative ob- ' scurity in a small town in southwestern Pennsyl vania in the latter part of the last century, he very early gave promise of having more than bright intellect. Poverty and a lack of schools stood in his pathway, but his insatiable desire for learning was only limited by insurmountable ob stacles incident to a new settlement on the border. The Bible was his companion from his youth, and in his manhood and declining years he who sought a controversy on religious dogmas must come fully armed and equipped. He had examined in detail all controverted points, read all the standard au thors on Bible lore, memorized whole chapters and books of the Bible, and from studies and .re searches in the various departments, culling here and there logic and analogy, and with a memory never at fault when a topic was once scanned, he was a formidable opponent. While yet a young man he conceived the idea of a railroad to the Pa cific, and this not when railroads were out of their swaddling clothes,' but in their infancy, be fore mountains had been sealed and rivers spanned. He contemplated and suggested congressional aid by giving ten miles of public land on each line of the surveyed routes, laying the road out so as to run through the county seats of successive counties. The eastern terminus should be the western shore of Lake Su perior, near the present site of Duluth, also that it should cross the Rockies where the present road crosses, and its western terminus should be the Bay of San Francisco. Drawing a map and plan of his proposed railroad, he drew up a letter de tailing the plans and methods and the reasons for the same, and forwarded the whole to Hon. An drew Stewart, who was then a representative in congress from Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The plans and details were shown to a number of members, and it was thought advisable to have any proposition relating thereto come from a western man, and Mr. Benton, who was nearing the zenith of his glory, was selected: Mr. Benton arose in his place in the senate on the following day, and proposed the building of a railroad to the Pacific. Mr. Stewart wrote to Mr. Wilgus the disposition made of his submissions. Years after, in the later years of Mr. Stewart 's life, when the Pacific road was building, he wrote a letter to Mr. Wilgus, recognizing him as the original pro poser of the road, and complimenting him upon the grand consummation about to dawn upon his early hopes." The letter referred to, and which is the only evidence now obtainable to substantiate Mr. Wil gus' title to the honor, reads thus: Uniontown, Pa., June 25, 1869. John Wilgus, Esq., Brownsville, Pa. Dear Sir: I have just received your letter of yesterday, inclosing your communication to the Commercial in reference to a correspondence be tween us relative to the "Pacific Railroad" be tween twenty and thirty years ago, and request ing me to give you my recollections in reference to that matter. I have a perfect recollection of having received numerous letters from you, urging me as a mem ber of the committee on railroads and canals to call the attention of congress to this subject, in which you took so much interest. Your first route was from Lake Michigan, by the Columbia river, to the Pacific, but after the acquisition of California you changed it from St. Louis to San Francisco. Of this route you sent me a very handsome map, following, according to my recollections, very nearly the route on which the road has been lately built, which map I had, as you say, suspended in the hall of the house of representatives for the inspection of the members. I drew up a resolution authorizing the president to employ a corps of engineers of the United States army to examine and report upon the prac ticability of the proposed project, which resolu tion I submitted to a number of members of con gress, but especially to those of the west, who were most favorably disposed. Upon consideration and reflection, however, I concluded that the resolution had better be first offered in the senate, being a smaller body, and where the small western states were comparative ly much stronger than in the house. I therefore took the resolution with your map to the senate,' where I was advised by those friendly to the pro ject to hand the papers to Colonel Benton, whose son-in-law, Colonel Fremont, had made the pre liminary explorations. I did so, and he promised to attend to the matter in which he also took a very lively interest. I advised you of this ar rangement, with which you expressed yourself as satisfied, and said you would " write to Colonel Benton on the subject, who afterwards informed me you had done so. Without referring to the journals to which I have not now access, I can not undertake to state the action of the senate on the subject, but may do so hereafter, and should I find anything further material to your inquiry, I will let you know. Very respectfully your friend, etc., A- Stewart. Lewis Gaylord Clarke in 1838 wrote to the Knickerbocker: "The reader is now living who will make a railway trip across the continent." In 1846 Asa Whitney began to urge the project of building a line from the Mississippi to Puget Sound if congress would donate public lands to the width of thirty miles along the entire road. Later experience has shown that the proceeds 88 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. sought by Whitney would have been utterly in sufficient. His plan was conceded to be superior to that submitted by Mr. Plumb, but it was not acted upon. In 1850 the first Pacific railroad bill was introduced into congress by Senator Benton, of Missouri. "Old Bullion" contemplated a railroad only "where practicable," leaving. gaps in the impassable mountains to be filled up by wagon roads. The Alleghanies were not even then crossed by an unbroken railway, but by a series of inclined plains, upon which the cars were drawn up and let down by stationary en gines. In all ages mankind has sought the short est, most expeditious and economical route to market. The work was demanded in a national point of view, and across the state of Nebraska must the road be built. The questions which pri marily suggested themselves — would it pay? how should it be built? and where was it to leave the frontier? — were made the subjects of careful consideration. In 1851 the Hon. S. Butler King submitted a plan which received almost universal approval. It was, practically, that the govern ment should guarantee to any company or per sons who would undertake and complete the road a net dividend of five per cent for fifty or one hundred years, the road to be constructed under the supervision of an engineer appointed by the government, the cost of the road not to exceed a certain sum, and the guaranty not to begin until the road was completed and equipped for opera tion. In 1853-54 nine routes were surveyed across the continent on various parallels between British America and Mexico, under the supervision of Jefferson Davis, then secretary of war. The re sults were summarized in the interests of the ex treme southern line. Up to this period the Ca nadians and many residents of the United States believed that a railway could not be built south of the British possessions unless it was carried far down toward Mexico. In spite of all this, how ever, the Union Pacific shouldered the enterprise, and in four years built a total of 1,090 miles. With each returning session of congress there after convened the benefits and peculiarities of these several routes were submitted. The imprac ticability of building the road had been from time to time removed by reports of engineers engaged in surveying designated routes, and many advo cates were found to urge that the geography of the country and other features of excellence dem onstrated incontestibly that the old Mormon trail up the Platte river was the most available. A number of appeals were made to congress, urging that a reasonable grant of land and other aid be made as would give an impulse to the building of the road. As regarded the Platte valley route, its superiority was insisted upon, and the truth of history cited in that behalf. In the early days of Brigham Young's domination, trusty emmissaries were by him dispatched for the purpose of obtaining a knowledge of the best road from the Missouri to Salt Lake. After every possible and impossible route had been ex plored, this shrewd leader, who had more at stake than any man who ever crossed the western prairies, chose the North Platte route. The speed and safety with which he and his followers traversed it attest a sagacity which only a thor ough knowledge of the country would enable him to employ. The first emigrants to California crossed the Missouri at St. Joe, Leavenworth, Kansas City, Independence and elsewhere, but after the country had been explored thoroughly the emigration of 1852 was by way of Council Bluffs and the north Platte route. From the earliest days of the territory the people and offic ial representatives of Nebraska favored the speedy completion of a line through the valley of the Platte. The proceedings of the legislature prove this. Every governor from Cuming to Saunders advocated the measure, and a most ur gent spirit was manifested from 1855 to 1865. On January 20, 1858, a committee of congress, through Senator Gwin of California, reported a bill, which proposed to locate the road at some point between the Big Sioux and Kansas rivers to San Francisco. It provided for the donation of alternate sections of land on each side of the route, and $12,500 per mile, the same to- be ad vanced on the completion of every twenty-five miles of the road until $25,000,000 was reached, the amounts to be returned in mail and army ser vice and transportation, etc. This bill, however, was killed in the senate. At the session of 1859-60 another effort was made and a bill intro duced in the house by Mr. Curtis of Iowa. It provided for the construction of a road across the -continent, with branches from two points on the navigable waters of the Missouri to converge and unite within two hundred miles of that stream, thence ran to the Sacramento river. The bill ran through a long and excited debate, and was amended in several particulars, and finally was rejected by congress. The great difficulty at this time seemed the selection of a route. In 1861 the war came on and monopolized pub lic attention, but early in 1862 the possibility of constructing the road was again brought up, and at this time first took definite shape. On Febru ary 5, 1862, Mr. Rollins, of Missouri, introduced a bill to aid in constructing a railroad and tele graph line from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. The bill was finally passed by both houses of congress June 24, 1862, and was approved July 1, 1862, thus creating "The Union Pacific Railroad Company." The bill provided for the amount of the capital stock, the election of directors, the right of way through public lands, the extin guishment of Indian titles, the dona tion of alternate sections except mineral land*,, the conveyance of lands upon completion of forty consecutive miles of road, and the issue and pay ment of bonds therefor, besides various other pro visions. The act was amended later, and the company was formally organized October 29, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 89 1863, by the election of a board of thirteen direc tors. Work on the road was commenced at once, and progressed rapidly. On March 13, 1866, it was announced that sixty miles of the road had been completed, and awaited examination by the commissioners of the government. The comple tion of the road occurred on May 10, 1869. The foregoing covers briefly the facts leading up to the inception and building of the Union Pacific. PIONEER RAILROADS IN NEBRASKA. The Union Pacific railroad was the first railway enterprise commenced in Nebraska. The mere talk of the project of building this line from the Missouri river westward to the Pacific attracted a great deal of attention to the west, and espec ially was emigration to Nebraska hastened by this. The location of the road and the commence ment of operations looking to the building of its route tended to fill up Nebraska, then a territory with a thrifty population, as also to develop the agricultural and mineral wealth of the country beyond. The immediate effects were, of course, experienced by that portion of the domain through which the road passed, and in other portions of the territory as its influence grad ually extended. The great empire west of Omaha along the base of the Rocky mountains, rich in mineral wealth beyond any other por tion of the country, filled up rapidly with the people. The productive lands of Nebraska were brought into requisition to furnish them with wheat, corn, potatoes and other cereals and esculents, and the wholesale merchants of the metropolis contributed to their necessities. The building of the road cheapened transporta tion and in every way promoted the growth and development of Nebraska. The bill passed by congress creating the "Union Pacific Railroad Company," which was approved July 1, 1862, provided for the construction of a continuous railroad and telegraph line from "a point on one hundredth meridian of longitude west of Greenwich, between the south margin of the Republican river and the north margin of the valley of the Platte river, in the territory of Ne braska, to the western boundary of Nevada terri tory. " This great national enterprise was form ally organized in the city of New York October 29, 1863, by the election of the first board of direc tors as has already been stated. At that time four lines of railroad had been projected and were in process of construction across the state of Iowa — the Burlingtoii & Missouri; the most southern; the Mississippi & Missouri, the next north ; the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska, farther north, and the Dubuque & Sioux City. The first named was in operation about one hundred miles' westward from Burlington, with its western terminus undecided. The Mississippi & Missouri was in operation from Davenport to Grin- nell, with its western terminus decided as Coun- 4% cil Bluffs, opposite Omaha. The Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska road was in operation from Clinton and Lyons to Marshalltown, and the Dubuque & Sioux City was operated a short distance west of Du buque, with its western terminus at Sioux City. For this latter road a connection with the trunk line of the Pacific road was expressly provided in the act of congress incorporating the Union Pa cific, obliging that company to construct a branch to a point opposite Sioux City whenever a road should be completed there to cross the state of Iowa. At this time there was great anxiety throughout the west as to what place on the Mis souri river the president would select as the ini tial point of the Union Pacific road, and Omaha, it was insisted upon, offered superior inducements in that connection. On the morning of Wednes day, December 2, 1863, the engineer of the road received a telegram from New York, announcing that the president of the United States had fixed the' initial point of the road on "the western boundary of the state of Iowa," opposite Omaha, and directing him to formally "break ground" and inaugurate the great work. To aid in the construction of this great national highway, the United States government conferred upon the Union Pacific a magnificent land grant, amount ing to over twelve million acres, contained, in al ternate sections of one square mile each within a breadth of twenty miles on either side of the rail road, and extended along its entire line. The act passed by congress required that one hundred miles of the Union Pacific railroad between the Missouri river and the one hundredth meridian be completed within three years after filing of the company's assent of the organic law filed June 27, 1863. Considerable delay was occas ioned by various interests fighting to secure the location of the line where it would serve specula tive enterprises, but in 1865 the work of construc tion was being pushed with vigor. On March 13, 1866, it was announced that sixty miles of the road had been completed and awaited examina tion by the commissioners of the government. Soon after the first hundred miles were completed in July, 1866, one hundred and thirty-five miles were announced as ready for the "cars" west of Omaha. The final completion of the line to the Pacific ocean, one of the great events of the cen tury, occurred on May 10, 1869. On that day two oceans were united and a continent was spanned by the bands of iron, over which was to flow the commerce of the nation. An early writer, speaking of . this event, said: "Fruitful as has been the present century in important discoveries and useful inventions, varied and multiform as have been the improvements wrought out by patient toil and unequaled energy of the men of the age in which they lived, no sin gle achievement will compare in its immediate and ultimate consequences to the material pros perity of the people, not only of America, but of Europe and Asia, with the grand work which 90 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. reached its final consummation on Monday, May 10, 1869." The bridge across the Missouri river at Omaha was completed in March, 1872, at a total cost of one million four hundred and fifty thousand dol lars. The first line from the east to salute the people of Omaha with the screech of the engine whistle was the Chicago & Northwestern, the first train on that road entering the city on Sunday, Janu ary 17, 1867. The Missouri river was crossed on a pile bridge, which for several years was used during the winter months for crossing the river, it being removed during the months of naviga tion and a ferryboat employed in its place to transfer freight and passengers. The second road to reach the state was the St. Joseph & Council Bluffs line. The Burlington & Missouri was com pleted to the city of Omaha in 1868. The Omaha & Northwestern was built to Herman, a distance of forty miles, in October, 1871, and during the same year the Omaha & Southwestern was com pleted to the Platte river. In February, 1869, the legislature of Nebraska appropriated two thousand acres per mile to any railroad which should complete ten miles of its route within one year, the grant in no case to ex ceed one hundred thousand acres. It was stated that the members of the legislature appreciated its importance of prompt action, and realized that the railroads alone could effect the desired end, and appropriated altogether five hundred thous and acres of land for the purpose of internal im provements. Movements to take advantage of this act were inaugurated in various portions of the state during the summer of 1869. Early in October, 1869, James E. Boyd, of Omaha, made through the public press a proposition, the sub stance of which was that he would be one of twenty men to advance ten thousand dollars for the purpose of constructing the Omaha & North western road over a route projected from Omaha to the Niobrara river. On the 19th of November, 1869, articles of incorporation were drawn up, and the organization of the company was per fected a few days later. The work of building the road was pushed with wonderful rapidity, and on February 3, 1870, the railway was com pleted ten miles on its route at a cost for mater ials of one hundred and ninety-eight thousand dollars. During 1870 twenty-six and one-half miles of road were completed to DeSoto, and a lease entered into with John I. Blair, of a branch of the Missouri & Pacific road, known as the "DeSoto Plug," by which communication be tween Omaha and Blair became direct and regu lar. On the 7th of October, 1871, the road was completed to Herman, on the line of Washington and Burt counties. As showing the liberality with which railroads were treated by the state and the public generally in those days, it may be said that the company received two hundred thousand dollars in ten per cent twenty-year bonds from Douglas county, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in eight per cent, twenty-year bonds from Washington county for the building of the line from the south to the north line of the latter county; in addition, two thousand acres of land per mile from the state and liberal donations from other northern counties. During 1872 the roadbed was graded to Tekama, but as the panic of 1873 came on it was not completed to Tekama until August, 1876, at which time the company received forty-five thousand dollars in bonds from Burt county. The following year the road was sold under foreclosure proceedings and reorgan ized, and later was pushed on northward. The Omaha & Southern Railroad Company was one of the projects organized to take advantage of the act of the legislature passed in February, 1869, appropriating two thousand acres of land per mile to any railroad which should complete ten miles of its route within one year. This com pany was organized November 27, 1869, when officers were elected and plans laid for pushing the work. The affairs of the road were conducted with signal ability with a view solely to the com pletion of the first ten miles before the first of February, 1870. The work of grading was let to Smiley & Meson, McCarth & Fleming, William Knight and John Green, and commenced without delay, so that its completion was reached and the last rail laid on the evening of January 29, 1870, at a total cost of one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars. The celerity with which this railroad and also the Oma ha & Northwestern line (which is mentioned elsewhere) was incepted, pushed for ward and completed the desired number of miles, was something marvelous and up to that time ex ceeded anything in the annals of railroad build ing. Sixty days previous to their completion the ties of both roads were in the primeval trees of the forest, the iron composing the rails was in a crude state six hundred miles away from where they were to be subsequently laid. This road, as previously stated, soon after its construction be came a part of the Burlington & Missouri River, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system. On the 11th of August, 1866, authority was ob tained under the general law of Nebraska by the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company to build a railroad from the Nebraska state line to Fort Kearney. The Northern Kansas Railroad Company was consolidated with this company, and the rights to land granted by act of congress July 23, 1866, of one million seven hundred thous and acres was thereby obtained. Subscriptions from municipal corporations to the amount of one million twenty-five thousand dollars were se cured in aid of building the road. Work was com menced, and eighty miles of the line were com pleted and in operation in October, 1870, at a cost of about one million five hundred thousand dol lars. In 1871 the line was extended forty-eight compendium OF History, Reminiscence and biography. 91 miles, and in the following year it was completed to Hastings. It later passed into the hands of the Union Pacific Company, and was extended to Grand Island in the summer of 1879. Later it was extended further north. Harrison Johnson, an early writer of Nebraska history, said of this line : ' ' The total cost of the line from St. Joseph to Hastings was five million four hundred forty-nine thousand six hundred twenty dol lars and twenty-seven cents, of which stockhold ers paid one thousand four hundred dollars, seven hundred eighty-two thousand seven hundred twenty-seven dollars and ten cents from state and municipal aid, and the remainder four million six hundred sixty-five thousand four hundred and ninety-three dollars and sixty-seven cents from the proceeds of mortgage bonds." Early in the "seventies" the project of build ing what was then called the "Julesburg Cut- Off" or the "Omaha & Denver Short Line" at tracted a good deal of attention. In 1873 the Union Pacific road first fostered the enterprise of building this line, and much of the projected line was graded between 1873 and 1875, when certain complications with the then inimical Kansas Pa cific forced an abandonment of the scheme. Upon the completion of the purchase by the Union Pa cific of the Kansas Pacific, however, the recon struction of the line was recommenced early in 1880, and it was rapidly pushed to completion to Denver. On January 17, 1870, the first passenger train from Chicago to Council Bluffs over the line of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad marked the completion and opening of a third line of rail way from Chicago to Omaha. To the Chicago & Northwestern is due the credit of having been the first, followed soon afterward by the completion and open ing of traffic on the Iowa division of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. This was fol lowed, as stated, by the Burlington & Missouri River Railway, a continuation of the Chicago,Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad. This line became a part of the great organization known as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad system. They rapidly pushed their lines beyond the Mis souri river by acquiring other lines already built or under construction, and by the construction of new lines. Their lines now traverse the richest portions of the state. In 1871 a line of railway was built from Ne braska City to Lincoln, a distance of fifty-eight miles, by a company organized that year under the title of the Midland Pacific Railroad. It was extended to Seward, eighty-three miles from Ne braska City, in 1874. It was the intention of the original company to build a line to Fort Kearney, or to some point farther east on the Union Pacific road. A branch was also projected from the main line in Otoe county to Fort Riley in Kansas. The line was, however, sold under foreclosure and re organized under the name of the Nebraska Rail way, and later passed into the hands of the Bur lington & Missouri Company in 1876, and later was pushed on westward to York and Aurora and Central City in Merrick county, and was also ex tended southward from Nebraska City. The Sioux City & Pacific Railroad was one of the pioneer railroads of northeastern Nebraska. The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley road, which was operated by the Sioux City & Pacific, was also among the pioneers. The first ten miles of this road was completed December 31, 1869. This line reached Stanton, the county seat of Stanton county, in 1879. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, with lines from Sioux City to Omaha and branches, was a pioneer in northwestern Nebraska, and was an important factor in the growth, settlement and development of that region. These lines are now a part of the Northwestern system, one of the greatest of America's railway organizations. The North western system has extended their lines through out all of northern and eastern Nebraska. RAILROADS OF TODAY. The foregoing pages have treated of the rail road development in Nebraska in early days. Perhaps no state in the union owes more of its rapid growth to the railroad than does Nebraska. The last thirty years has been an era of railroad building throughout the west, and especially is this true of Nebraska. The state has been cov ered with a net-work of rails that extend to all parts of the commonwealth, and in all directions the lines radiate into the outer world. Transpor tation facilities today are excellent, not only with in the state, but in all directions with the centers of trade and commerce of other states. The Union Pacific has its main line extending. through the state from east to west, making it the greatest of all highways between the east and the Pacific coast. It also has various branches in Ne braska extending north and south from the main line, notably those reaching the following named towns: Norfolk, Albion, Spalding, Ord, Callawa and Stromsburg; also a branch south through Lincoln to connect with the Union Pacific lines in Kansas, and they also control the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railway, extending from Grand Island southeast to St. Joseph, Missouri. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system trav erses the entire state of Nebraska from east to west, with various branches. The Chicago & Northwestern line, together with the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, which it controls, is another of the great railway systems that today serve much territory within the state and connect the state with the outside world. Their main line to the northwest and to the Black Hills, with var ious branches, serve the north and northeastern part of Nebraska, while branches also extend southwest to Hastings, Superior and Lincoln. In 92 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. addition to these, there are a number of other im portant lines of railway that have trackage inter est in the state and add to the transportation fa cilities of Nebraska in connecting the state with the outside world, among which should be men tioned the following: The Missouri Pacific, Kansas City & Northwestern, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Chicago Great Western, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, Great Northern, and the Illinois Central.. CHAPTER VI. MISCELLANEOUS HISTORICAL MATTERS. THE LOCUST OR GRASSHOPPERS. In the early history, of Nebraska nothing ex cited more general interest than the locust ques tion. Early in the decade between 1860 and 1870 these insects invaded portions of the state and wrought great havoic and damage, but the great est damage was done during the latter part of the following decade — the damage they accom plished being particularly great in 1874, 1876 and 1877. In those days there were generally a num ber of years between great locust invasions. It never occurred that the whole state suffered at one time, but in those years small visitations were more frequent and over comparatively small areas. This is now all a thing of the past, but as it forms one of the most interesting features of the natural history of Nebraska, we present the following article on this subject written by Prof. Samuel Aughey, Ph. D., in 1880, when the lo cust question was one of vast importance to the settlers of the western states, including Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and the Dakotas. The settlers had then only recently suffered severely from the locust visitations and were constantly in fear of their reappearance. "The permanent habitat of the migrating locust is the region between latitude 43 degrees and 53 degrees north, and 103 degrees and 114 degrees west of Greenwich. From their native habitat may move mainly in an easterly, south easterly and southern direction. Moving in this direction those that commence migrating from northern Montana by the middle of July reach southern Dakota territory, and in some cases probably Nebraska and even Kansas, sometime in August or September. Generally, however, those that come into Nebraska and Kansas were hatched and matured south of Montana. It takes generally from two to three seasons for them to reach these latitudes. Often the numbers that alight are amazing. During July, in 1866, in Cedar county, their numbers were so great that the sun was darkened. Many of the tree limbs were broken under their weight. This was an exceptional case. However, they often complete ly covered the ground. Generally, the cereal grains are already harvested when the migrating locusts reach Nebraska. Wheat, oats and barley are safe. Corn and the gardens are the victims if they come before the former is sufficiently ripened to resist their attacks. A swarm of lo custs in July and August can ruin a field of corn in a few days and sometimes a few hours. Often the fields are only partially destroyed. Some times the silk and foliage are partially eaten off and the ends of the ears bared, so that the crops cannot mature. If they leave at this stage of their proceedings, all is well, and if not their eggs are deposited and the wheat crop endangered during the coming spring. The countless num bers that are hatched out, if the spring happens to be favorable to them, become exceedingly voracious. As1 they soon commence to move by jumping in one direction, when abundant they are apt to devour everything in their path. This continues until they are old enough to fly, when they depart for other regions. Generally some corn can be saved and late planting may entirely escape. Often the third planting of corn during locust years yielded a fair crop. The cereal grains have, however, in some places and during a few years, been largely destroyed during the time between the hatching out and flying of the locusts. As yet no successful method has been devised to destroy the locusts on their first ap pearance in migrating swarms from the north west. The eggs, however, which are laid in autumn, have been frequently destroyed by re peatedly harrowing the ground, breaking up the nests and exposing them to the action of rain and cold and birds. Plowing them under very deep also destroys great numbers. When they hatch out in the spring in destructive numbers, the most vigorous methods need to be employed. One of the most successful ways of destroying them is the digging of ditches around the fields, across the path on which they are moving. If the trenches are made from twelve to fourteen inches deep, and still deeper holes dug every few rods COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 93 in the trenches, the young locusts first get into the trenches, then into the holes, where unable to get out, they can be destroyed by piling ground on them. Some farmers have saved their entire crops in this way in the midst of the most infested districts. However, nature has its own method of destroying locusts. The locust's natural habi tat is a high, dry region where the rainfall is from ten to twenty inches a year. They cannot long endure a combination of low altitudes and moisture, combined with extreme and sudden changes of temperature. Hence, the locust can never become localized in Nebraska. From the time they leave their native habitat, constiutional impairment sets in, and a few years in lower moisture regions exterminates them, unless they speedily return to their upland dry home. Gen- . erally, there are many years between great locust invasions. It never occurs that the whole state suffers .at once, while the small visitations have been more frequent, the destructive ones occur at very long intervals and over comparatively small areas. The small area under cultivation even in the thickest settlements has been hereto fore one reason for the destructiveness of locusts. The locusts seemed to select the corn fields and gardens for their feeding grounds. When the area under cultivation is trebled, the amount of damage they can do will be more than one-half less. Another more potent agency against their increase and destructiveness is the increasing rainfall of the state. The presence of the locust is by no means the pest that it sometimes has been represented to be." (1880). The following very interesting article on the grasshopper raids was written by Harrison John son, in 1879, viz: "During the growing seasons of 1874 and '75 the Rocky Mountain locust, or grasshopper, visited Nebraska and did incalcu lable damage by devouring the crops in a large portion of the state. In many sections, more particularly in the western and middle counties, the destruction of crops by these insects was al most complete, not a vestige of anything green being left untouched by them ; and as many of the farmers living in the sections so afflicted were new settlers, the total loss of their crops upon which they were dependent for the support of their families, was a great calamity and caused much distress and suffering. The destitution was so widespread and so great in some localities, that public aid was asked, for the relief of the suffer ers. The prompt and generous responses to the call by the people of the east and other localities not so afflicted, in forwarding provisions, cloth ing and money, saved many a poor family from actual want if not starvation. "While it is true that the damage done by the grasshoppers was very great, and caused much genuine distress among the people in several of the counties yet the whole matter was grossly exaggerated and enlarged upon by a certain busy class of persons who somehow always come to the front on such occasions, • actuated, generally, more by a desire to further their own selfish ends than by any kindly, true feeling for the dis tressed. This blatant, noisy class, with their loud demonstrations and universal begging, not only disgusted the more sensible people, but did the state an injury next to that of the grass hoppers themselves. "Yet it is a stubborn fact that the timely suc cor sent to the settlers in the devastated districts saved much suffering among the poorer portion; and the people of Nebraska owe a lasting debt of gratitude to the noble men and women of the east, who contributed so willingly and bounti fully to their aid in time of need. By an act of the legislature of Nebraska, fifty thousand dollars were donated as a relief to the grasshopper suf ferers, which amount was judiciously expended and distributed for that purpose, but the grass hopper scares have passed away, we hope, for ever; the seasons have come and gone, leaving us with bountiful crops of all kinds to enrich and supply the wants of all, and prosperity reigns supreme throughout the length and breath of the state." (1879). PUBLIC LANDS. In early days the public lands in Nebraska were given with a lavish hand to aid in the set tlement, growth and development of the country, as well as for internal improvments, railway grants, and school purposes. The state received from the general government millions of acres for various purposes. The records show that during the first ten years of statehood the state received grants of land aggregating nearly three and a half million acres, as follows: For internal improvement 500,000 acres; for agricultural col lege, 90,000 acres; for university, 46,080 acres; for public buildings, 12,800 acres; for peniten tiary, 32,000 acres; for saline purposes, 46,080 acres ; for common school purposes two, sections in every township, aggregating about 2,650,000 acres. The 500,000 acres for internal improve ment purposes were granted to the state upon its admission to the union, under the provisions of an act of congress, approved September 4, 1841. These lands were selected through agents appointed for that purpose, and disposed of in pursuance to the provisions of an act of the legis lature, approved February 15, 1869. Up to Feb ruary 24, 1874, the general government had turned over 504,131 acres of land to Nebraska for internal improvement purposes. These lands were disposed of by the state in the following manner. Deeded to Saline county for bridges, 1,000 acres ; Gage county for bridges, 1,000 acres ; Elkhorn & Missouri Valley R. R., 100,030 acres; Midland Pacific R. R., 100,384 acres; Brown- ville & Ft. Kearney R. R., 19,989 acres; Bur lington & Missouri River R. R., 50,104 acres; Sioux City & Pacific R. R., 47,327 acres; Omaha 94 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. & Southweestern R. R. 100,010 acres; Omaha & Northwestern R. R., 80,416 acres; Burlington & Southwestern R. R., 20,000 acres ; Atchison & Ne braska R. R., 12,841 acres. The railroads received from the government an immense amount of land in the way of land grants. The aggregate amount of lands in- Nebras ka received by the Union Pacific Railway from the govenment was about 5,926,400 acres, all contigu ous to their line of road, and about half of these lands were in the Platte Valley. The Burlington & Missouri River Railway received from the gov ernment a land grant in Nebraska amounting to 2,382,208 acres; they received from the state of Nebraska 50,104 acres, and when they took pos session of the Omaha & Southwestern Road, they acquired the land grant made to that line by the state, of 100,010 acres. These lands were situated chiefly in the north-central and south-central por tions of the state, and were designated as "North Platte" and "South Platte" lands. The railroad lands were placed on the market at extremely low prices and on very reasonable terms, a very small cash payment being required and long time being given for payment of the balance at low rates of interest. These conditions greatly stimulated the settlement of the state. On the first of January, 1863, the homestead law went into effect, and thereby public lands were subject to entry by those who acknowledged their intention to settle permanently, for a mere ly nominal fee. Congress, in order that the bene fits of the law might be justly distributed, from time to time amended its provisions and enlarged its scope. Liberal provisions were made by which the soldier, his widow and his orphans were per mitted to receive enlarged privileges in securing homesteads, thus adding to the national recogni tion of the principle that every citizen of the re- republic was entitled to the rights to make him self a home upon the public domain, the still nob ler and higher doctrine that it was the nation's duty to reward the defenders of the country and provide homes for the families of those who gave up their lives in its defense. The preemption law also helped materially the early settlement and development of Nebras ka. Under this law, with certain restrictions, every person who was the head of a family or over tweny-one years of age and a citizen of the United States, was entitled in early days to enter a quarter section of land under the preemption act. The rules of the general land office in those days repuired a person to build a house and break at least ten acres of land before he could make final proof and perfect his title to the land, and in order to take a preemption a settlement on the land was required to be made within sixty days from the date of filing the claim. A patent could be secured at the expiration of thirty months from the time of filing on payment of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre where the land was located outside the limits of a railroad land grant and two dollars and fifty cents per acre if within such limits. Another important method of securing title to public lands was by means of the "timber culture entry," or "tree-claim act," and this act left its impress throughout all the prairie regions of the west. Only one timber culture entry was per mitted on each section, and this class of entries could only be taken upon "prairie land," or land naturally devoid of timber. No residence on the land was required. The law required that for a timber culture entry of one hundred and sixty acres, five acres be broken within the first year; that it be cultivated the second year, and planted to forest trees four feet apart each way within the third year, and that a second five acres be broken the second year, cultivated the third year, and planted as in the first instance the fourth year, and that if the ten acres be kept in a growing condition, a patent was issued for the tract at the expiration of eight years, provided that not less than six hundred and seventy-five trees be found in a growing con dition at the expiration of that time. The law also provided tha£ in case the trees, seeds or cut tings should be destroyed by grasshoppers, or by extreme and unusual draught, for any year or term of years, the time for planting such trees, seed or cuttings should be extended one year for every such year that they were so destroyed. EDUCATIONAL. In educational matters Nebraska has kept pace with any of the other states in the union. Profit ing by the experience of the older states, Nebras ka at its organization incorporated into her com mon school system all that had been proven by experiment to be the best and most advantageous methods. To show the growth and development along educational lines, we will state that in the year 1870 there were in the state only seven hun dred and ninety-seven districts, employing five hundred and thirty-six teachers, and serving thir ty-two thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine children. The value of school property at that time was approximately $178,604. For the pur pose of comparison we give the following statis tics for the school year — twenty-six years later — in 1906, viz : In 1906 there were in the ninety counties a total of 6,671 districts, employing 9,639 teachers, occupying 6,780 school houses, and serving 373,829 children of school age. The total value of school district property at this time was $12,076,569. The number of graded schools in the state in 1906 was 492, giving employment to 3,570 teachers. These figures speak well for the intelligence of the people of any state. There are a great many institutions of higher learning scattered throughout the state. The State University, located at Lincoln, was estab lished by act of the legislature in 1869, and opened in 1871. It is mentioned at length else- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 95 where in this volume. The following is a list of the most important colleges, academies, business and normal schools in the state, giving the loca tion of each, viz : Aurora Normal and Business College at Aurora, Bellevue College at Bellevue, Brownell Hall at Omaha, Brown's Business Col lege at Lincoln, Central College at Central City, Chadron Academy at Chadron, Convent of the Holy Child Jesus at Lincoln, Cotner University at Bethany, Creighton University at Omaha, Cus ter College at Broken Bow, Dana College at Blair, Doane College at Crete, Franciscan Monastery at Humphrey, Franklin Academy at Franklin, Fre- montCollege and School of Pharmacy at Fremont, Gates Academy at Neligh, Grand Island Business and Normal College at Grand Island, Grand Island College at Grand Island, Hastings Business Col lege at Hastings, Hastings College at Hastings, Kearney Military Academy at Kearney, Lincoln Business College at Lincoln, Lincoln Syllabic Col lege at Lincoln, Luther Academy at Wahoo, Lutheran Seminary at Seward, Nebraska Normal College at Wayne, Nebraska Wesleyan University at University Place, Northwestern Business Col lege at Beatrice, Omaha Commercial College at Omaha, Orleans Seminary at Orleans, Pawnee City Academy at Pawnee City, St. Catherine Academy at Jackson, St. Francis Academy at Co lumbus, St. Mary's Academy at O'Neill, St. Paul Normal and Business College at St. Paul, St. Theresa Parochial High School at Lincoln, Union College at College View, Ursuline Convent at Falls City, Weeping Water Academy at Weeping Water, York Business College and Normal School at York, York College at York. POPULATION OF NEBRASKA. The first census of the territory now comprising Nebraska was taken in the fall of 1854, being completed on the 20th of November of that year. It gave the territory a total of 2,732 white popu lation. The first United States census was taken in 1860, and this may be said to have been the first enumeration taken with any reasonable de gree of accuracy. This gave the territory a pop ulation of 28,841. Taking the United States cen sus, taken every ten years, as a basis, the follow ing table shows the growth of the population of Nebraska : In 1860 its population was . . In 1870 its population was. . In 1880 its population was . . . In 1890 its population was. . . In 1900 its population was. . In 1910 its population was . . . . 28,841 122,993 452,402 1,058,9101,068,5391,192,214 DID SLAVERY EXIST IN NEBRASKA? To the average reader of today it will be inter esting to know that at one time in the history of Nebraska the existence of slavery within its bor ders furnished the most important topic for dis cussion and legislation at several sessions of the territorial legislature. On November 1, 1858, a bill was introduced in the territorial legislature "to abolish slavery in the Territory of Nebras ka." The bill was referred to a committee of five, three of whom recommended the passage of the bill, but- two of the committee presented a minor ity report in which they "regretted the introduc tion of the bill, fearing it was done at the prompt ings of political ambition, and that the discussion of an abstract question having no bearing on the practical affairs of the territory could but sow the seeds of dissension." The bill was laid on the table and the matter went over to the next session. On December 7, 1859, a bill was introduced "to abolish and prohibit slavery or involuntary ser vitude, ' ' by William H. Taylor, and was referred to a committee consisting of William H. Taylor, George W. Doane and George L. Miller. The report of Mr. Taylor, of this, committee, contains so many interesting facts bearing on the subject that we quote from it the following: "The ostensible objections urged against the passage of the bill are two-fold in their character. First, it is said by the opponents of free states and free territories that "slavery does not practically exist in Nebraska territory." In reply I affirm the converse of the proposition to be true, and will give the facts to show that slavery does prac-* tieally exist in Nebraska. There has never been to my knowledge a federal officer appointed to any office in this territory from any slave state of this union who has not brought with him into the territory a negro or negroes who have been and are now held in slavery. E. A. Deslonde, receiver of public moneys at Nebraska City, has one or two slaves. Now if slavery does not exist here, then the slave is free the instant he sets foot on Ne braska soil, provided he came with his master for the purpose of residing in Nebraska. I know of my own knowledge that Hon. S. F. Nuckolls, a democratic member of the territorial legislature, had three colored persons whom he claimed as slaves up to a very late period. Two of these per sons escaped from Mr. Nuckolls in the winter of 1858-59, and the other, a colored man of twenty- five years of age, was sold by him, if I am correct ly informed, and carried to some of the southern slave-holding states as a slave in the spring of 1859. This man has been a resident of Nebraska for about three years. Mr. A. Majors, one of the government contractors, has a number of colored persons in Nebraska City whom he claims as slaves now in the territory of Nebraska. Judge C. F. Holly has two colored persons whom he claims as slaves. How many more there are in the territory at the present time I am not advised, but the fact is indisputable. African slavery does practically exist in Nebraska. Our eyes cannot deceive us, and if slavery is wrong — morally, socially or politically — it is wrong to hold one slave. There is no distinction in principle be tween holding one human being in bondage and ten thousand. 96 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Again as evidence that slavery does exist and is considered to be a legal institution here, I have only to cite the fact that Hon. S. F. Nuckolls, be fore alluded to, has instituted suit in the second judicial court of this territory against certain parties residing in the state of Iowa for the value of two colored persons, his slaves, whom he alleges were abducted from him in the spring of 1858-59, which is now pending in said court and undecided. "Second. It is said by those who oppose the passage of this bill that the 'let-alone policy is the most commendable ? Why curse our virgin soil in favor of freedom, a free territory and a free state, why recommend the 'let-alone policy' as most commendable? Why curse our virgin soil with the foot-print of African slavery? * * * I would ask of the opposers of this bill, when is the proper time to pass an act like the one under consideration? Shall we wait until slavery has acquired a permanency? * * * It is said that 'naught but mischief can arise from the ill-timed and injudicious agitation of the question.' * * If a constitutional convention was now in session, it would be said by those who oppose the bill, 'Don't agitate the question.' * * * Gentle men of the council, if you are honestly in favor of Nebraska being a free territory and ultimately a •free state, how can the passage of this bill gen erate an injurious agitation ? Men holding a com mon sentiment and desiring a common object do not get up an ill-timed and injudicious agitation. Nothing short of a sincere opposition to free white labor and a free territory can produce agitation or excitement. Remember it is the clashing of public sentiment upon the same subject matter, and not its argument, that produces the results contemplated by you. Vote for this bill that makes Nebraska free and prevents persons being held in slavery, and there will be no agitation. We will have then done all in our power and our whole duty to rid ourselves of the cursed institu tion of slavery. But, it is objected, the bill pre supposes the existence of slavery by virtue of the constitution of the United States. It pre-supposes no such thing, but simply admits the fact that persons are today held in slavery by usage or cus tom or somehow, and that it ought not to be per mitted. However, we all do know that this ad ministration and a majority of the American sen ate and ninety-three democrats in congress of the United States contend that slavery exists in all the territories of the United States by virtue of the constitution as much and as certainly as in Georg ia or South Carolina. "Attorney General Black has recently written several pamphlets to demonstrate this proposition. It cannot be denied, it is contended by a large party in this country, that the people of the terri tories in their territorial capacity have no power to legislate upon the subject of slavery until they become sufficiently numerous to form a state con stitution and ask admission into the union, and this same party maintains that congress has pow er to legislate upon the subject, thus leaving the people of the territories to be cursed with slavery without the ability on their part or on behalf of congress to get rid of it so long as the territorial existence continues, while on the other hand it is contended that the people of the territories in their territorial capacity have the right and pow er to prohibit and abolish slavery. This position is contended for and sustained by arguments of great force. How the friends of Senator Douglas can oppose this bill if they are really in favor of making Nebraska a free state is astounding to me. We can account for the opposition of the ad ministration democracy. The territory of Kansas has prohibited slavery after an unprecedented struggle against the policy of the two last admin istrations, and why should not Nebraska act? Believing that the power exists in the territorial legislature under and by virtue of the organic act, and every community has the inherent right to regulate its own affairs and institutions free from foreign or federal intervention, and that Nebraska should be a free territory and forever dedicated to free white labor, and knowing that slavery does practically exist here, I earnestly recommend the passage of the bill. "All of which is respectfully submitted to the consideration of the council. "William H. Taylor, Chairman." This report was, under the rules, laid over for future action, whereupon Hon. George L. Miller submitted the following minority report: "The first question suggested by the examina tion of this measure refers to the necessity, if any, which exists for the enactment of such a law in this territory. It is understood that our power to pass such a law and to impart to it validity is ex tensively desired, and as there is known to be in the territory as well as throughout the union great diversity of opinion both as to the power of the territorial legislature over the question of slavery and the expediency of attempting its ex ercise, your committee deem it extremely inju dicious for the legislature to lend itself to the agitation of a subject which to the people of Ne braska is conceded to be really of no practical importance. As to the necessity which exists at present or is likely to exist in the future for such a law in this territory there can be no two intelli gent opinions. No sane person for a moment sup poses that Nebraska is in the slightest possible danger of being either a slave territory or a slave state. Popular sentiment in Nebraska is univer sally against the institution of slavery, and even if it were not and the public voice were to pro nounce today in favor of its establishment here. the controlling laws of nature peculiar to this latitude would utterly preclude the possibility of -its obtaining a permanent place among us. Sup pose it true, which it is not, that the territory does furnish a profitable field for slave labor, who is there so infatuated as to believe for an instant that this territory, peopled almost entirely by men COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 97 whose associations from infancy and whose edu cation in the midst of free institutions have con ducted them into manhood not only with all their prejudices but with all the convictions of their judgment against the institution — who so foolish as to say that legislation is required or ought to be granted upon this subject? Your committee have felt it to be their duty to inquire into the cause which induced the introduction of the bill under consideration. Having made diligent search with the view to ascertaining whether any slaves exist in Nebraska, to their utter surprise, after four days' anxious inquiry and labor, they are prepared to report to the council that south of the Platte river, owned and held as such by highly respectable gentlemen, there are six and a half slaves, the fractional portion referring to a small negro boy who is in excellent and humane keeping, in that section of the territory. Now, instead of becoming alarmed at this information, your committee are rather disposed to congratu late the council and the country upon the fortun ate condition in which these slaves are found. We are happy to add on the best of authority that their servitude is entirely voluntary, and that they are perfectly contented with their lot. It is to be observed that these slaves were original ly from Missouri and Louisiana. One of them, we are informed, proves a great burden to his owner by being subject to fits. What can be done to lighten the burden of the master or remedy the terrible malady of the slave we leave to your careful and candid consideration. At all events it is very clear that in removing to this territory these slaves have been changed from a worse to a better condition, and surrounded as they are by increased comforts and having before them the almost certain prospect of ultimately gaining their freedom, it would seem to be absolute cruel ty in the legislature, even if it had the power and the purpose to do it, to enact a law here which would compel their owners to sell them into a worse bondage where these prospects would be forever blasted. A noticeable fact is to be found by reference to the census record of 1855. At that time thirteen slaves existed in Nebraska. Under the operation of incidental causes, aided by the stealing propensities of an unprincipled set of abolitionists inhabiting a place called Civil Bend, Iowa, the number has been reduced to the insignificant figure of six and a half slaves, all told. * * * "Your committee respectfully recommend that the bill be referred to the committee of the whole, and that it be made the special order for some future day of the session. ' ' A second report was submitted by Hon. George W. Doane, the third member. This gentleman re ported after the two preceding reports had been read and concurred "in the main with the views expressed in the report submitted by Mr. Miller." He did not admit that practically slavery had any existence in the territory. ' ' To agree that because a single instance may be found of a returning emi grant from Utah who has pitched his tent in some remote part of the territory and is cohabiting with two women claiming to be his wives, there fore polygamy exists as an institution in the ter ritory, would be quite as conclusive and sensible as the attempt made by the chairman of this com mittee to fasten upon our fair territory the stigma of slavery by the very slender data upon which his conclusion is based. * * * But if slavery does legally exist in the territory, as the bill re ported by the chairman would advertise to the world that it does, is it proposed to confiscate the property of such as are interested in that descrip tion of property by an unconditional abolition of the tenure by which it is held? And if it does not legally exist, what is the necessity of legislating for its abolition? The evil must be corrected by the judicial and not by the legislative branch of the government." Mr. Doane waived discussion of the principle involved in the abstract question of the right or wrong of slavery, and merely on the ground of inexpediency at that moment re ported adversely to the bill. Still another bill "to abolish and prohibit slav ery in Nebraska" was presented to the legislature December 7, 1859, by T. M. Marquette of Cass county, which was passed on the 17th of Decem ber by a vote of twenty-one to seventeen. This bill, however, when it reached the council, was "indefinitely postponed." At this time it was proposed as a substitute that a resolution be passed by both branches of the legislature, mak ing the following declarations: "That slavery does not exist in the territory, and there is no danger of its introduction ; that it is unnecessary to waste the time of the legislature in enacting any legislation relating thereto; that being op posed to slavery and asserting its right to the full control of such matters within the territory, the legislature declares itself prepared to take what ever action may be necessary to prohibit or ex clude slavery at any time it may become neces sary, but that the agitation of this question at -that time was believed to be ill-timed, unnecessary, pernicious and damaging to the fair name of the territory. ' ' This resolution was not acted upon. On the 29th of December, 1859, a bill for the prohibition of slavery in Nebraska was introduced by Mr. Little, which passed both houses of the legislature. The report of the committee to which this bill was referred is interesting at this day, as it shows the intense feeling that the question had wrought. We quote from the report the follow ing : ' ' The question, disguise it as you will, which is involved in this bill is the great question of the age. Our entire union is divided into two great parties on this question. One party struggles ever to uphold the principles of this bill, the other labors as earnestly for its overthrow, and we are now called to take one side or the other. The power to prohibit, in the opinion of the majority of your committee, is conferred on us by our or- 98 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ganic act, and by this measure the opportunity is given us to test our fidelity to freedom and our opposition to the extension of slavery. The op ponents of this measure have not a single reason to advance why this bill should not pass. They put forth, however, some excuses for op posing it. They come forth with the miserable plea that they are opposed to blotting our statute books with useless legislation. Sir, this is not so much a plea against this law as it is in favor of blotting our territory with slavery. They say that slavery does not exist here, and that this measure is useless. This excuse will not now hold good, for a president's message has just reached us, in which it is declared, and in this opinion he is backed by a powerful party, that men have the right to bring slaves here, and to hold them as such, and that this is slave territory. We, it is true, may not be of opinion that this doctrine is true, but, sir, if men declare that they have the right to make this a slave territory, shall we not prohibit them in this act and prevent the wrong they would do us? If the friends of slavery in sist that they have the right to hold slaves here, shall we tamely submit to it? If they insist on making this a slave territory, which they do, shall we not insist that it shall, be forever free ? ' ' This bill was passed by both houses of the leg islature January 3, 1860, and placed in the hands of Governor Black for approval. On the 9th of January he returned it with his veto. The most important objections noted in the veto message were the following: "This act necessarily involves the whole ques tion of power or jurisdiction over the subject matter. If slavery exists here in law or in fact, ' to prohibit it is to abolish it. If it does not exist, where is the need for legislation? This bill is in tended to interdict slavery or involuntary servi tude within the territory, and raises the question whether the territorial legislature can do it. For the purpose of considering the question with dis tinctness, I will first examine it, as it may or may not be affected by the treaty with France. This territory was a part of Louisiana, and all agree that when we acquired Louisiana in 1803 it was slave territory, and slaves were property. The third article of the treaty by which Louisiana was acquired by the United States is important at this point. It provides 'that the inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the United States and admitted as soon as possible, according to the provisions of the federal consti tution, to the enjoyment of all the rights, privi leges and immunities of citizens of the United States, and in the meantime they shall be pro tected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, prop erty and religion which they profess. * * * Nebraska was acquired to become a state, and for no other purpose. For this purpose, and this alone, is there any power under the constitution to acquire foreign territory? * * * It is a stipulation in the treaty 'that the inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the union of the United States,' and it is every whit as strong a stipulation as that 'in the meantime they shall be protected in the free enjoyment of liberty, property and religion.' The faith of the country is pledged to it, and it is just as good to the inhabitants of Nebraska territory today or any day as it was to the first inhabitants in 1803. Mr. John Quincy Adams understood this perfect ly, and disposed of the question very briefly and conclusively when Arkansas was before congress for admission in 1836. 'She is entitled to ad mission as a slave state as Louisiana and Missouri have been admitted' by virtue of 'that article in the treaty for the purchase of Louisiana which secures to the people of the ceded territories all the rights, privileges and immunities of the orig inal citizens of the United States, and stipulates for their admission, conformably to that princi ple, into the union.' " The argument contained that "if a party is a citizen of some one of the United States, he has the right to enter into the territory clothed with all his rights. He takes his property with him from his own state, and if he may not do so, then the territory is not acquired for the common and equal benefit of the several states. The territorial legislature was deemed but a temporary depart ment, having no right or power to pass a law which was regarded as conflicting with the indi vidual rights of citizens." This veto prevailed, and the matter was again indefinitely postponed. When the seventh session of the legislature con vened December 3, 1860, the question of slavery again came to the surface. On the 6th of Decem ber Mr. Mathias introduced in the house a bill ' ' to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude in the territory," and on the following day Mr. Thayer introduced the bill in the council. The bill was ratified by both houses, and was presented to Governor Black for approval, but on the 1st of January, 1861, it was returned to the legislature unsigned with a lengthy message, giving the grounds on which the veto rested, they being mainly a duplicate of the reasons assigned for the former veto. The bill, however, was promptly passed over the veto, and became a law. Thus after a long and intensely heated contest, the sub ject was disposed of to the permanent honor of Nebraska. REMINISCENCE and BIOGRAPHY. GOVERNOR CHESTER HARDY ALDRICH. Governor Chester Hardy Aldrich was born at Pierpont, Ohio, on the 10th of November, 1862. His parents were George W. and Sophrona E. (Hardy) Aldrich. Chester Hardy Aldrich was given excellent training and educational advan tages in his youth, and grew up with everything in his favor for making a success in life. After a thorough preliminary education, he entered the Ohio State University, from which he was gradu ated with the class of 1888 with the degree of A. B. The degree of L. L. B. was conferred upon him in 1911 by the Nebraska Wesleyan University. Our subject was married June 4, 1889, to Sylvia E. Stroman of Ulysses, Butler county, Nebraska. While still a young man Chester Hardy Aldrich left his Ohio home and came west. He settled at David City, Butler county, Nebraska, where he was admitted to the bar in 1891, and began the practice of law. He still makes David City his home. He has varied business interests, and de votes a great deal of attention to stock raising. He has always taken an active interest in all mat ters that affected the public welfare, and is one of the leaders of thought and action of the state. He was a member of the state senate in 1907, and in 1910 was elected governor for the term begin ning January, 1911. In political affairs Mr. Al drich is a republican, and in religious affiliations a Methodist. He is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar. A man of high character and integrity, he holds the respect and esteem of his fellow men of all parties and creeds. HON. JAMES N. PAUL. Hon. James N. Paul, probably better known than any resident of Howard county, Nebraska, and, as his name would indicate, one of the found ers of the city of St. Paul, is a gentleman of large means, and a leader in the affairs of his county and state. In 1901 Mr. Paul was appointed judge of the eleventh judicial district of Ne braska, and is still on the bench, having been elected for a second term without opposition. Judge Paul is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, born September 23, 1839, and in 1840 the family moved to Meigs county, Ohio. He received his early educa tion there, and at the age of twenty began the study of law in Gallipolis, Ohio. In 1864 he en listed in Company H, one hundred and fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, saw considerable hard service, and was mustered out of the army at Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1865. He then went to Leav enworth, Kansas, and continued his law studies while working as a civil engineer, remaining there four years, when he came into Nebraska as a civil engineer and surveyor, following this work for eight years. He was admitted to the bar in St. Paul, Nebraska, in 1873. Three years previously he and a brother, N. J. Paul (whose sketch ap pears in this book) had spent some time in How ard county, laying out the village plat of St. Paul. In 1873 Judge Paul established the first news paper in St. Paul, called the "Howard County Advocate," continuing the publication of the or gan for about seven years, at which time he gave up newspaper work and turned his entire at tention to his law practice, real estate deals and various other interests. He succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice in the general courts of Nebraska. In 1885 he was elected a member of the state senate and chairman of the judiciary committee, serving one term. On December 24, 1869, Judge Paul was mar ried to Mary F. Paul of Leavenworth, Kansas, and to them have been born the following chil- 102 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. dren : Charles Howard, who is a lawyer, is mar ried, and resides in New York city; Herbert J., who with his family lives in St. Paul, he being court reporter for the eleventh judicial district; James Leonard, civil engineer, also living in St. Paul with his family, and Willard S., cashier in the St. Paul State Bank. Mrs. Paul is a lady of charm and rare mental attainments, active in the Federation of Women's Clubs in the state, and the entire family are held in high esteem by as sociates. EX-GOVERNOR W. A. POYNTER. Among the prominent men in public life of Nebraska, none is held in higher esteem by the people of that state than the gentleman above mentioned, now deceased. His faithful discharge of his official duties, his upright character and lovable disposition, have placed him among the most highly esteemed men of his time, and in his demise the people of his locality have lost a faith ful and disinterested friend, his party a strong advocate and the church of Christ an elder and workmen above the average. W. A. Poynter was born in Woodford county, Illinois, on May 29, 1848, and there grew to man hood. He was educated at Eureka college, gra duating from that institution with an A. B. de gree, and later the degree of A. M. was conferred on him from his alma mater. He was married in October, 1869, to Maria J. McCorkle, and to them were born two children, C. W. M. Poynter, M.D., and Mrs. Josephine Bick- ford, both now living in Lincoln, Nebraska. On coming to Nebraska, he soon entered into the work of reform in political matters. He was foremost in the Farmers Alliance and the Anti- Monopoly movement, which finally culminated in the populist party. Of this party he was one of the founders and always a leader. As a populist he was elected governor, and went direct from his farm — from the plow handles and dairy — to the executive chamber. Mr. Poynter led an ac tive life, making his home in Illinois up to 1879, at which time he came to Boone county, Nebraska, and settled on a farm in Rozelma precinct, which he owned at the time of his death, which occurred on April 5, 1909, while he was transacting busi ness at the state house. Mr. Poynter was elected state representative while living on his farm, and later was elected to the senate, and speaker of the senate, filling both offices with dignity and ability. His party was one of reform, and he was one of the fondest, always a trusted leader. In the fall of 1898, he was elected governor of Nebraska, and made his residence in Lincoln from that time on. For five years prior to his death he was on the Univer sity Institute force, and spent the winter lectur ing all over the state, gaining the acquaintance of a wide circle of people, and becoming very well known among the leading men in state and national affairs. In this work his evening lecture was very popular and a great inspiration to agri culturalists. On the morning preceding his death he went to the state house to plead for the daylight saloon bill, not that he favored the saloon at all, but that this much of a reform might be accom plished. After closing his speech, which was full of earnestness and eloquence, he stepped back in line with the others and immediately expired. He was a man of noble character, always fighting for the best in life, and carrying this thought to the last, faithful to the last, and he left many friends among all classes to mourn his demise. Mr. Poynter was a thorough christian, and had spent his life in active service of the church. At the time .of coming to Nebraska, he took a leading part in planting the church in his neigh borhood, which still stands, a strong influence for good. All the enemies he left were those who opposed him in his works of righteousness and efforts at reform. HON. W. L. KIRK. The above gentleman is the genial editor of the Creighton News, and while not born in Ne braska, has spent practically his entire career within the state, having been brought to Richard son county while an infant in arms. This was before the grasshopper raid struck the state, and he well remembers the time when for two years his father's crops were consumed by the pests. After the family's removal to Antelope county, in 1881, they were often threatened with prairie fires, and occasionally schools were dis missed in order to help fight the flames. Sand storms frequently devastated their crops, as after a three-days' blow there was usually no sign of vegetation, but after a rain — which generally fol lowed these storms — the green blades were again brought out. During the blizzard of 1888, which is well remembered by every old-timer, Mr. Kirk barely escaped being caught in the storm. He had his horse saddled, intending to visit a neigh boring school, when, noticing the threatening clouds, he decided to wait a while, and inside of ten minutes the snow blew so fiercely that he was unable to see the house. Mr. Kirk has seen this country in its primitive state, when its land would not be accepted as a gift, and often compares it with the present, when its soil produces as large crops as can be found in any section in the coun try. Mr. Kirk is a son of Wm. T. and Mary B. Kirk, who are natives of Mason county, Kentucky, and are now residing in Plainview. His birth occurred on January 30, 1869, in Mason county, Kentucky. He was educated in the country schools of Rich ardson and Antelope counties, attending the Creighton high school later. While a student there, he worked for his board, and in his spare moments learned to set type in the office of the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 103 Creighton News. After attending school two years, he quit, entering the office of Lucas & Lo gan, printers and publishers of the Courier, doing chores for enough to keep him in pocket money. He was employed by that firm with an increase of two dollars per week, until his parents removed to Plainview, where he joined them, and secured work with the Plainview Herald, which was pur chased later by his father and himself. After running the paper for a time, he sold it and leased the Osmond Herald, selling his interest in the latter business in 1892 to its present owner, B. S. Leedom. He then worked as a compositor for some time, and leased the Elgin Advance in March, 1893. He prospered for the first year, then, times being hard and the effects of the panic of that year becoming felt considerably, he aban doned the business and started all over again. For three years he was editor and manager of the Neligh Yeoman. When that journal changed hands, he severed his connection with it, return ing to Plainview and entering the employ of N. E. Foster, its owner. During the latter 's incum bency as chief clerk of the legislature, Mr. Kirk had entire management for six months. He was next employed by W. E. Powers on the Pierce Leader until September, 1901, when he returned to the office in which he first learned to set type, leasing the paper of H. L. McCoy. He has run this paper ever since, building up the circulation and improving the office in every way, infusing new life in it, and making it one of the first pub lications in the county, and, in fact, in north eastern Nebraska. Mr. Kirk was married at Plainview, April 28, 1892, to Rosa M. Buckingham, and they are the parents of two daughters, Opie and Esther. Politically Mr. Kirk is a staunch republican, who gives forcible expression of his views in his ably conducted journal. He served as a member of the house in the thirty-second session of the Nebraska legislature, being elected from a demo cratic district, overturning a four hundred ma jority; served on the insurance, immigration, labor and public printing committees, and was chairman of the house committee on university investigation, looking into the needs and condi tions of the state university. A heavy democratic majority did not give a republican much show, but he got one bill through to become a law. He was an active member, and received considerable recognition, although a minority member. Mr. Kirk has been a member of the school board for the past five years, serving as secretary most of that time. He is a prominent Mason Past Chancellor Commander of the K. of P., also a leading member of the M. W. A. and Royal Highlanders. Mrs. Kirk holds the office of Past Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star. GOVERNOR A. C. SHALLENBERGER. Ex-Governor A. C. Shallenberger has for many years been one of the most prominent residents of Alma, Nebraska, and is widely known through Harlan county and the surrounding country as a successful agriculturalist and stockman. He is president of the Bank of Alma, which he estab lished in 1887, and of which he was cashier for six years, from 1887 to 1893 inclusive, then be came the head of the institution. He served for some time as mayor of Alma, and represented this district in congress in 1900. In 1906 he was the democratic candidate for governor of Ne braska, and again in 1908, when he was elected to that office and served one term. Mr. Shallenberger was born in 1861 at Toulon, Illinois. He came to Nebraska in 1880, settling in Polk county. He was then eighteen years of age, and for some time after locating here was employed as a clerk in a store at Osceola, Ne braska, and also at Stromburg, Nebraska. He has five brothers, two of whom are managers for the International Harvester Company, and three are engaged in the banking business, so it was only natural for him to select this line of work. The Bank of Alma has a capital of $30,000. To illustrate the rapid growth of the Bank of Alma, it is only necessary to say that while seventeen years ago the deposits were only $8,000, they are today over $200,000. Then there were no farm ers' accounts, and now the bank carries many hundred accounts, the greater portion of them be ing from farmers, which shows the wonderful progress of this vicinity and the prosperity of the farmers and stockmen. Since 1890 lands in this section of Nebraska have advanced from two hun dred to three hundred per cent. Mr. Shallenber ger is the owner of one thousand seven hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land located near Alma, and since 1890 he has raised and fed large numbers of cattle and hogs each year. The farm land about here has become so high that he has gone out of ordinary stock, and breeds only the best, and keeps only thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, preferring these, as they serve the dual purpose of beef and dairy, and the latter pays better on high-priced land than beef cattle. At the Nebraska State Fair in 1906, "Bar None II" took first prize and sweepstakes, and at the Royal exhibit held at Kansas City he captured second prize for yearling bulls. Mr. Shallenberger cap tured eleven first prizes in 1907, and in 1908 cap tured nine first prizes. He has now seventy-five to one hundred thoroughbred shorthorns in his herd, and at his sales held each year, buyers come from all over Nebraska and Kansas, recognizing the fact that they will get nothing but the best of stock. There is probably no man in western Ne braska who has made a closer study of financial and agricultural conditions of the state, and he is recognized as an authority on these subjects. Mr. Shallenberger was married in 1884 to Miss Eliza Zilg of Spring Green, Wisconsin. They have three children: Martin Shallenberger, who is second lieutenant of the sixteenth United States 104 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. infantry; Grace Shallenberger, at the University of Nebraska, and Dorothy Shallenberger, at home. OBED CRAVATH. Among the truly self-made and highly success ful pioneers of Nebraska, the name of Obed Cra- vath deserves a prominent place. During his career of forty years as a farmer, he can boast of never having had a failure of crops, although passing through pioneer experiences in both this state and Minnesota. He now resides in Fuller- ton with his family, retired from active labor, and is numbered among Nance county's substantial and worthy citizens, an active man of affairs, and widely known throughout the entire region. We are pleased to present a portrait of Mr. Cra- vath on another page. Obed Cravath is a native of Michigan, born in Washtenaw county, April 27, 1835, and is a son of Obed and Hannah Cushman Cravath. He re ceived his education in his home state, and was interested in farming there as a young man. His father died when he was but four years of age, and his mother remained on the home farm until her death, which occurred in 1851. In the sum mer of 1855 Mr. Cravath went to Minnesota, took up a claim in Olmsted county, and after making arrangements for proving up on the land, re turned to Michigan, where in April of the follow ing year he was married to Charlotte E. Kellan, also born and reared in Michigan. After their marriage, they moved to Mr. Cravath 's claim in Minnesota, remaining on the place for five years, then purchased additional land and established a permanent home. In 1878 Mr. Cravath made a trip through the country, taking in different parts of Nebraska, and came through Nance county, which seemed to him to be a. very desira ble country, and two years later brought his fam ily here, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty, township seventeen, range six, which formed their home farm for fifteen years. He added to his original place until he now owns four hundred and five acres. They then located in Fullerton, and have since made their home in the little city. During his career as a farmer, Mr. Cravath has been very successful and is num bered among the substantial and prosperous men of his county. Mr. and Mrs. Cravath have no family of their own, but have one adopted daughter, Inez Marie, who lives with them. In 1893 Mr. Cravath was elected county clerk on the populist ticket, and was also ex-officio clerk of the court. While liv ing in Minnesota he was assessor of his township, also chairman of the board of supervisors, county commissioner and justice of the peace for six years. As justice of the peace Mr. Cravath per formed one marriage ceremony, and as clerk of the court signed one man's death warrant. With the exception of the office of justice of the peace, which he filled three terms, Mr. Cravath was elec ted and filled the other positions for one term each. He was born in Michigan when it was a territory, and moved to Minnesota before it be came a state. During his entire life, he has acted as pall bearer at only one funeral, and once offi ciated as funeral director. SAMUEL A. KENNEY. One of the oldest residents of northeastern Nebraska is Samuel A. Kenney, who is also one of the earliest settlers of Stanton county. He was born in Washington county, Maryland, April 2, 1823, and ijs the son of Samuel and Margaret Hanna Kenney, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Washington county. The father died at the age of fifty-six, but the mother lacked only four years of the century mark when she died. When Samuel A. was only six months old, his father moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, and settled sixteen miles west of where Columbus was later platted for the state capital. At that time, this was the extreme frontier, and the set tler was abliged to carry his rifle with him at all times, for • the thick woods sheltered panthers, lynx and wild cats, any of them being dangerous to meet when unarmed. Mr. Kenney grew up on the farm here, and when about twenty, went to Zanesville and worked for seven years at the tanner's trade. In August, 1850, Mr. Kenney married Almina Elizabeth Vermillion at Gratiot, Ohio. She was a native of Virginia. In the fall of that year, Mr. Kenney and his bride pushed still farther west ward, becoming pioneers in Coles county, Illinois. At one time he and his wife picked a pailful of wild strawberries on the present site of Mattoon. He lived here for two years and one-half, and with the restlessness of the true pioneer, again moved west to the fore front of civilization, reach ing Madison county, Iowa, in June, 1853. He made this place his home for six years, and de veloped a good farm in the midst of the wilder ness. At this time so many big timber rattle snakes were found that the county offered a bounty, and the old records show that over five thousand and two hundred were killed in one day. In the summer of 1860, Mr. Kenney and his family returned to Ohio, his wife not having seen her old home and kindred since leaving as a bride ten years before. The family traveled back in the same prairie schooner that had carried them west. They passed through Mattoon, their former home for a few years, the day on which Lincoln was first elected to the presidency. They remained in Ohio through the winter, enjoying a long visit with home folks and old friends until about the time that the war broke out. For weeks they retraced their steps until they reached their Iowa home. During the long and fierce struggle between OBED CRAVATH. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 105 the north and the south, Mr. Kenney lived on his Iowa farm, but in 1869 he sold his lands and again pushed onward to the ever-receding frontier. He had heard of the rich prairies of Nebraska, and made his way direct to the Lowery farm in Stan ton county, the owner of which was a relative of one of their Iowa neighbors. They rested here a few days, then pushed on, and in June finally located on a homestead two miles north of where Stanton now stands. Mr. Kenney homsteaded a quarter section at first, and later purchased an eighty-acre tract ad joining. He at one time owned an additional half section, but as land was a drug on the market, and taxes often were higher than the value of the crops produced, he sold it. Mrs. Kenney died here in 1895 at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. Kenney, however, remained here until 1906, when he retired from active management of the farm. The first building on this homestead was a three-room dugout, in which the family lived for eight years. The lumber for the door of this primitive dwelling was hauled from Omaha, one hundred miles or so away. In 1877 he built a more comfortable dwelling and barn. , Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenney: Margaret Hanna, whose wedding was one of the first in Stanton county, when she mar ried Wm. H. Brown; Christiana (Mrs. Jos. Pi- lant) ; Emma (Mrs. Harry Harris) ; Ella (Mrs. Thos. Shillington) ; Perry, James, Albert, Anna Belle (Mrs. Amos Prawitz), Katie (Mrs. Adam Warner) and William. Two of the children died. In politics Mr. Kenney is a democrat, and he is also a member of the Methodist church. He is remarkably well preserved for a man nearing ninety, active and clear-minded, and bids fair to round out a century or more. His heart is as young as it ever was, and he takes as much interest in children as when his own were small, and, as for the children, they are firmly per suaded that there is no one, in the whole world, who can tell such wonderful stories as Grandpa Kenney. JOHN SAUDERS. The name of John Sauders is familiar to the residents of Pierce county, Nebraska, where he has lived for many years. Locating here in 1881, when this region was practically in its infancy, he has taken a leading part in its development and growth from its early settlement. Mr. Sauders was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 7, 1841, and is the son of John and Ellen (Ainsted) Sauders, natives of Pennsyl vania and Maryland, respectively. Our subject has one brother, William Sauders, who lives in Sidney, Ohio. When leaving his native state, our subject went to Cairo, Alexander county, Illinois, where for six or seven years he followed the river be tween Pittsburg on the Ohio and LaSalle on the Illinois, and from Keokuk to New Orleans on the Mississippi. In 1867 he settled in McLean county, Illinois, and farmed near Randolph for a period of ten years. He then moved to Ringo county, Iowa, where he lived for four years, finally set tling in Pierce county in 1881, filing on the two middle eighties of the west half of section five, township twenty-eight, range four. He lived in a dugout for twelve years, then built a good house. He has developed this land into a fine place, with a seven-acre grove of thrifty trees. Mr. Sauders went through the hardships to which this section was subjected in the early days, but fortunately was one of the few who suffered no loss in the blizzard of 1888. Like other early settlers, his only fuel for eight years was hay and corn. At the outbreak of the civil war, Mr. Sauders served two months in the state militia, and then enlisted in company E, Eighteenth Illinois infan try, at Cairo, May 28, 1861. He served his coun try for three years, receiving his discharge at Springfield, Illinois, June 11, 1864. He fought in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Vicks- burg, besides many smaller engagements and skirmishes. He received a number of slight flesh wounds, but never reported them, fearing dis charge. He was in the hospital three times, but reported again for duty as soon as possible after getting again on his feet. In politics Mr. Sauders is a staunch repub lican. HANS C. ENEVOLDSEN. Hans C. Enevoldsen, for many years a prom inent resident of Loup Fork precinct, Howard county, is a prosperous farmer, and commands the respect of a large circle of acquaintances. He is a gentleman of untiring energy, possessed of sterling characteristics, and has prospered in his chosen calling. Mr. Enevoldsen was born in Denmark, De cember 10, 1849. He is a son of Enevold and Inger Christiana Petersen, and was the youngest member of their family of five children. Hans grew up in his native country, and was married there to Marie Elsie Andersen in 1872. They followed farming for about ten years after their marriage, then the entire family, consisting of himself, wife and five children, came in an emi grant ship to America. They traveled directly to Nebraska, locating in Howard county, Mr. Enevoldsen purchasing some land on section thirteen, township thirteen, range twelve, which is still used as the home farm. Since coming here, Mr. Enevoldsen has seen considerable of the early settlers' life. He started in the face of many difficulties, living in a sod shanty for many years, and in spite of hard ship and privation has succeeded in putting his farm in first-class shape, having much of the land in a high state of cultivation, and engaging sue- 106 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. cessfully in mixed grain and stock raising. He has erected good farm buildings of all kinds, has a handsome residence, and, together with his fine family of eleven children, enjoys the comforts of a modern home and up-to-date farm. Mr. Enevoldsen 's children are named as fol lows: Andrew, Jens, Martin, Niels, Christina, Inger, Annina, Martinus, Elbena, Christ and Fred. Andrew, Martin, Inger and Annina are married, and have comfortable homes in different parts of the country, while the balance are at home, and following honorable callings. In the early years, our subject was closely iden tified with the upbuilding of his locality, helping to establish the schools, and for many years has been a member of the school board in district number twenty-eight. WILLIAM C. ALEXANDER. William C. Alexander, familiar to all residents of Howard county, is one of her public-spirited citizens and leading business men, prominent in official circles. He has a pleasant home in St. Paul, and is classed among the well-to-do and successful men of affairs in his section. Mr. Alexander is a native of Iowa, born in Clinton county, October 21, 1870, and is the eld est in a family of twelve children born to William and Maggie Alexander. When he was an infant of less than one year of age, his parents came to Howard county, and he has the distinction of being one of the very first white children- in the county. He lived at home until he was twenty- three years old, at that time starting out for himself, following farming for three years. He then be gun in the pump and windmill business, doing, in connection with this line, general repair work. He continued in this business for some time, then became a salesman for the Deering Harvester Company. He has been more than usually suc cessful in this line, as he is an expert in field work in the way of setting up machinery, being a nat ural mechanic and capable in every way. He was with the Deering Company for five years, then allied himself with the McCormick Company, remaining with them for one year. In 1903 he again went into the pump and windmill business, establishing himself in Elba, where he secured all the work he was able to do. In the same year he was elected sheriff of Howard county, filled the office with credit, and was re-elected twice, serving in all for six years, his last term expiring January 6, 1910. He has also filled minor county offices to the satisfaction of all, and has gained the confidence of his fellow men by his integrity and sterling worth, counting his friends by the score. Since the expiration of Mr. Alexander's term as sheriff of Howard county, he has been employed as salesman for the International Har vester Company, his territory extending west and northwest of Grand Island. September 21, 1905, Mr. Alexander was mar ried to Mary Davis, who departed this life in 1908, her death occurring in St. Paul. Mr. Alex ander and his wife, prior to their marriage, set tled in St. Paul in 1904. Mr. Alexander was married the second time to Marie Green of Blue Hill, who comes of an old pioneer family of Nebraska, her father, mother and seven children having settled in Saunders county in 1881. Later they moved to Webster county, where the parents and four children still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have a pleasant home in St. Paul, and are popular members of society there. AARON V. MENSING. Aaron V. Mensing, who is among the old settlers in Valley county, Nebraska, owns a good ranch, which he has improved in splendid shape, and he occupies a foremost position among the well-to-do and progressive farmers and ranch men of his county. Mr. Mensing is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community for his active public spirit and good fellowship. Mr. Mensing was born in the town of Edins- burg, Saratoga county, New York, February 7, 1848, and was the eldest of three children in the family of Garret and Henrietta (Van Vleck) Mensing, who had two sons and one daughter. The father was a native of Holland, and the mother, of Holland descent, was born in Sarato ga county, New York. The Mensing family moved to Calhoun county, Michigan, in 1854, going thence to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 1860. Remaining in Wisconsin two years, they next moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, in which state the parents resided until the time of their death. Aaron Mensing, the subject of this sketch, returned to Michigan in the fall of 1863, and September 1, 1864, enlisted at Jackson in the Seventh Michigan Battery, and served until the • close of the war, being mustered out at the same place August 5, 1865. Most of his service was performed around Mobile. Mr. Mensing was only in his sixteenth year at the time of his enlistment. After being mustered out, he re turned to Michigan, and remained there until the fall of 1867, teaching school in the winter of 1866 and 1867. Going to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1867, Mr. Mensing was connected with the quartermaster's department at Fort Russell. Here he had fron tier experience, freighting from Julesburg, Colorado, the terminus of the railroad, and points in Wyoming, to Montana, as far as Fort C. F. Smith, and continued in this until the Indians burned all the relay ranch stations, a wild life apparently enjoyed by Mr. Mensing. He re turned to Michigan in 1868, and during his resi dence there was married to Miss Harriett E. Doty, to which union one child was born, Edith, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 107 who is the wife of William Kauffman, residing in San Diego, California. After marriage, Mr. Mensing moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where his parents lived at the time. A second marriage occurred at Austin, Moore county, Minnesota, April '17, 1880, the bride being Mrs. Charles E. Davis, whose maid en name was Mary J. Stevens, a native of Rush county, Indiana. Her parents, William B. and Lovina (Mitchell) Stevens, were natives of Ken tucky and Ohio, respectively. Of the first mar riage, Mrs. Mensing became the mother of two daughters, Nettie E., deceased, and Daisy V., now living in Ord. Mr. and Mrs. Mensing are the parents of one son, Arthur, living on the same section with his parents. Mr. Mensing moved from Fillmore county, Minnesota, to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1884, and in April homesteaded near North Loup, where they lived seven years. Mrs. Mensing and three children, two by her first marriage, and their son, Arthur, joined Mr. Mensing in Valley county, Nebraska, in October of 1884. During his four years' incumbency of the sheriff's office, Mr. Mensing lived in Ord, and for three years later. His present place was purchased in 1893, and comprises, with land owned by Arthur eight hundred acres of fine land. Mr. Mensing resides on the northeast quar ter of section ten, township twenty, range thirteen, there being three hundred and twenty acres in this farm, which includes the southeast quarter of section three. Mr. Mensing has in past years been an active factor in the upbuild ing of Valley county, and is a prominent man along all lines. Mr. Mensing 's son, Arthur, lives on the ad joining quarter section to the west of his father, and owns the west half of section three, making a solid body of four hundred and eighty acres of land. He was married to Miss Emma Nay, August 30, 1906, and now has two children: Randall and Alice. A sketch of the Nay family is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Mensing have had a varied ex perience in Valley county, and enjoy the esteem and respect of many friends. Mr. Mensing served Valley county as sheriff in 1892-1893- 1894-1895. He is a member of his school board, district number thirteen, also treasurer, and has served as justice of the peace of Noble town ship since 1908. In politics he believes in the principles of the populist party, and affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Fourteen years of Mr. Mensing 's early life in Nebraska were spent in a sod house, the usual dwelling of the pioneers of the plains. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Mensing breasted the storm, following after a neighbor's children, fearing they might be lost, having started for home just before the storm broke. Returning, he drove a neighbor's mules to his place and kept them there over night. JOSEPH NICHOLS. Prominent among the old settlers and agri culturists of Madison county, Nebraska, is Joseph Nichols, who, until recent years, resided in sec tion thirty-five, township twenty-one, range one. He is accorded a high place because of his ster ling qualities and fine personality. He has al ways held the best interests at heart for his. home state and county, and also for his fellow citizens, and has been an active spirit along all lines pertaining to the welfare of his community. Mr. Nichols is a native of Vigo county, Indi ana, his birth occurring in that state, December 27, 1835. He is a son of William and Maria (Grundy) Nichols, who were natives of New England. The mother died when our subject was but a small boy. The father served in the war of 1812, and at the time of his death was a highly respected citizen of Kankakee county, Illinois. Mr. Nichols grew to manhood in his native state, receiving the usual school advantages, and in 1837 moved to Illinois, and while residing here, enlisted in the army during the civil war, joining company H, Seventy-sixth Illinois infan try, first under Captain Dan Plummer, who after ward died at Vicksburg. He also served under Generals Grant and Sherman, and when General Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Nichols' regiment was detached and sent to Mo bile. He enlisted August 5, 1862, and partici pated in the battles of Jackson Cross Roads and Blakely, Alabama, and the siege of Vicksburg, being mustered out July 22, 1865, at Galveston, Texas. In 1882 Mr. Nichols came to Madison county, Nebraska, from Kankakee, Illinois. He lived in Madison county until 1885, when 'he went further west to Cheyenne county, where he took up a homestead and built a sod house. He also took up a tree claim, and, proving up on all the land, returned to Madison county, where he has since made his home. December 25, 1860, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Rosealie Moran, a native of Canada. They are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Frank, Adele, Reuben and Ross. Mr. Nichols' son resides on the farm at present, Mr. Nichols having retired and become a resident of Madison. JAMES F. HAGERTY. James F. Hagerty, now living retired from active life at Sargent, Nebraska, is identified with various interests in the town, and is one of the best known men in the county. He was born in Grundy county, Illinois, April 18, 1860, being the second born of the five children of Patrick and Ann (O'Neill) Hagerty, and the only one of the family to settle in Nebraska. His parents were natives of county Meath, Ireland, and both 108 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. are deceased. The father died in Grundy county in 1867, and the mother in Chicago in the spring of 1897. Mr. Hagerty was reared in Illinois, and in the spring of 1879, in company with William Laughlin and family, came to Custer county, Nebraska, afterward taking a homestead on the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, town ship twenty, range eighteen. He was married in Ord, September 23, 1884, to Miss Vida Tobias, a native of Tazewell county, Illinois, and daugh ter of Israel Tobias and wife, who took a home stead in Custer county in 1879. They made their first home on the homestead, which was located near Sargent, and soon afterward Mr. Hagerty became assistant cashier of the Custer County Bank, the first bank in the county. After, proving title to his claim, he moved to Sargent, which remained his home until 1895. He then removed to Utica, Illinois, where for five years he conducted a grain business. Re turning to Sargent in 1900, he formed a part nership with A. L. Conhiser, and they opened a general store. Mr. Hagerty soon purchased the interest of his partner, and carried on the busi ness until the latter part of 1910, when he re tired from active business. He and his wife have a fine modern home, and have many friends and acquaintances in Sargent. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Sargent, and is interested in various other enterprises. He has always supported the best interests of his county and state, and has helped build up useful enterprises in the region where he has lived so many years. During his early years in Nebraska, he taught in the public schools, dur ing the second and third years being employed in Custer county. He has witnessel the wonder ful growth and" development of central Nebras ka during the past thirty-two years, and has done his share to help in the general progress. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hagerty: William F. and Leroy W., living at home, and two who are deceased. AMOS S. PARKER. One of the earliest of the old settlers, or rather one of the oldest of the early settlers, still living in Cedar county, Nebraska, is the venerable Amos S. Parker of Hartington. He came in the early days, when ox teams were the only means of transportation, intervening part of the way between the frontier and the western terminus of the railroads, three hundred miles to the east. Over this distance he plodded along afoot with several companions returning to their eastern homes after their prospecting journey to Nebraska plains. Mr. Parker was born in the town of Dalton, Coos county, New Hampshire, April 29, 1835, a son of Amos and Nancy (Pay) Parker, both of Yankee birth and breeding. He received the practical education of New England lads, and on attaining his majority, made a trip to the west. He was a member of a surveying party in northern Wisconsin, and came on to Nebras ka. Starting for Cedar county, September 5, 1857, with two yoke of oxen, from Dubuque, Iowa, they were one month on the way, reaching the now deserted village of Waucapana, in Cedar county, June 17. On October 19 the same party started back east on foot, as their funds were low, and they kept to the roads for over three hundred miles. At Independence, Iowa, they took the stage for Dubuque, and then traveled by rail back to New Hampshire. Of these four men, Mr. Parker is the sole survivor. While at his eastern home, Mr. Parker was married on the last day of the year 1857, and in the spring following, started for the frontier wilderness with his bride. It took courage for a woman, just out of girlhood, to leave comfort and safety in the old home, and travel thous ands of miles to an open wilderness, where hos tile bands of Indians were still roaming, and occasionally committing depredations. A hor rible massacre was actually committed within a few miles of their home six years after their settlement in the county. They journeyed by rail to St. Louis, and traveled thence by boat to Sioux City, Iowa. They left on the 18th of March, and arrived at Sioux City the 11th of April, spending three Sundays on sand bars. At Sioux City Mr. Parker left his bride and came out to the settlement alone, reaching Waucapona March 17. In June, Mr. Parker secured an ox team, drove to Sioux City, and brought his bride to her new wilderness home. Here they lived happily until the Indians began their depreda tions, when Mr. Parker, growing uneasy, sent his wife and child back to their New Hampshire home for two years. She left Yankton, August 9, 1862, and reached the town on her return, August 9, 1864, just two years to a day separated them. Mr. Parker preempted on a piece of timber land near St.James which was the first claim under the law ever perfected in Cedar county. He lived on this tract until April, 1861, when he moved to Green Island, and was farming here' until the time of the great flood of March, 1881. When the danger from the rising waters became immi nent, Mrs. Parker took her children to a sister's, further from the river, and on higher ground. In going there, they were compelled to cross several sloughs, through which water was already running, on the deep snow drifts and on fences, Mr. Parker wading beside them to keep them from falling into the icy water. He re turned to the home, and remained there until the crest of the water was within two feet of the second story ceiling, when a neighbor reached him in a boat, and brought him off to safety. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 109 One may imagine his discomfort, with clothing saturated with ice-cold water. For four days, one hundred and ten people found refuge in one small house, eating and sleeping in turns as they could. But such is western hospitality and their spirit of helpfulness that all were made welcome by Mrs. Parker and her sister. After his own rescue, Mr. Parker went to the relief of others in like peril, and saved some of them from a watery grave. When the waters subsided and all decided to abandon Green Island, as floods were likely to occur again, a settlement was made at Aten, and here Mr. Parker removed his house, and rebuilt it into a hotel, the first in the village, which he kept until 1900, when he re moved to Hartington. He has engaged in mar ket gardening here since coming to town. Be ing endowed with Yankee energy, he cannot be content to sit idly by. Mr. Parker was married in Coos county, New Hampshire, December 31, 1857, to Miss Mary N. Lowd, who was born in the town of Dalton, Coos county, New Hampshire, January 26, 1835, a daughter of Benjamin and Betsy (Marden) Lowd, both natives of the mountain state. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of four child- and Mrs. Parker are the parents of four chil dren: William B., who resides near Wellington, ing several carloads of honey every year; Mary 0., is the wife of Frans Nelson, for many years president of the First National Bank of Hart ington, and now head of the Commonwealth Insurance Company in Omaha; George I., suc ceeded Mr. Nelson as president of the bank, and resides in Hartington; and Sadie, wife of John J. Nohr, who resides on a ranch near Morris, Colorado. Parents who have reared a family of such excellent children, and have seen them so well established, are a credit to the state and nation; to them all honor is due. Mr. Parker is independent in politics, voting for the man he considers best fitted to serve the public, regardless of party lines. The many blizzards of the early days were made light of by the early settlers, and many are the times they were out for hours in the blinding, icy blasts. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Parker had hitched up, and was ready to start on a drive, when the storm broke. For several days after, he was kept busy shovel ing the drifting snow from his barns and sheds to keep his stock from smothering. After returning from her two years' sojourn in New Hampshire, Mrs. Parker experienced little trouble from the Indians though at one time they crowded into her house as thickly as they could stand, demanding that she feed them. Provisions for such a crowd she had none, so she drove them from the house, saying "punca- chee," meaning in their language, begone. Mrs. Wiseman, who had gone to Yankton for provi sions at the time her children were killed, spent the night before their massacre with Mrs. Parker in her house. During the time of his wife's absence, Mr. Parker lived at Yankton part of the time, and was in a small party who went with the owner of a saw mill there, to Sioux City to get missing parts of his own mill from that of a mill at Sioux Falls, the owner of which had been driven off by the Indians. The town was deserted, and on that drive of eighty miles and return, not a human being was seen, all having been driven out by the hostile Sioux. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are among the last left of the earliest settlers, but are hale and hearty, and it is hoped will be with us for years to come. JOSEPH B. WHITE. Joseph B. White, whose biography forms an interesting page in the history of the early set tlement of Nebraska, is a resident of Central City, Nebraska, where he has become widely and favorably known. He is one of the energetic and prosperous citizens, and enjoys a pleasant home and many warm friends. Mr. White was born in New York state, July 24, 1837, and was sixth of seven children in the family of Joseph and Sarah (Sprague) White, who had four sons and three daughters. Joseph White, Jr., in his seventeenth year, went to Blackhawk county, Iowa, to the town of Water loo, which was his home place until 1871. Mr. White learned the masons' trade, and followed that occupation until his retirement from active work several years ago. In 1861 Mr. White enlisted in company I, Third Iowa volunteer infantry, and was mus tered out in February, 1864. Mr. White, at the time of being mustered out, was in company C, Thirty-first Iowa volunteer infantry, as a non commissioned officer. After being mustered out, he re-enlisted. During the war he participated in many of the notable battles and engagements, and was with Sherman at Chickasaw Bluffs, at the' capture of Fort Hindman in Arkansas, the siege of Vicksburg, and in many other engage ments and skirmishes. He is an honored veteran of the civil war, with an enviable record. After being formally mustered out, he returned to Blackhawk county, Iowa, again taking up his trade. Mr. White was married to Miss Laura Ann O'Neill in Waterloo, September 27, 1865, and in April, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. White and three chil dren moved to Lone Tree, Merrick county, Ne braska, now known as Central City. Mr. White from that time engaged continuously in his trade of master mason and builder. Mr. and Mrs. White have had ten children, seven of whom were born in Merrick county. Nine of them are living and married: Margaret Lenore, wife of Hugh L. Miller, has ten children and lives in Idaho ; Emeline, wife of John Baird, 110 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. has one child, and lives in Grand Island, Nebras ka; Elizabeth, wife of David Jackson, has two children, and resides in Pratt, Kansas; Laura, wife of Sid Baird, lives in Grand Island, Ne braska; Hattie, wife of Bert Hughes, has two children, and resides in Colorado; Rose, married to James Danks, has one child, and lives in Da kota; Josie, wife of Albert Miller, has one child, and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; Arthur, mar ried, has two children, and lives in Central City; Daisy, wife of David Green, has two children, and lives in Wallace, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. White have twenty-one grand children. Mr. White has seen Central City grow from nothing to its present position as one of the most desirable residence cities in Nebraska. Mr. White is a republican, and has served on the city council of Central City for many years almost continuously, of which he is now president. He is also a Mason of high standing, and in earlier years served as justice of the peace in Lone Tree township. Mr. and Mrs. White live in their pleasant home in Central City, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. FRANK NELSON. While the west is full of self-made men, few have succeeded so well from such small begin ning as has Frank Nelson, the genial banker and financier of Niobrara. Mr. Nelson was born in Christianhamn, Sweden, August 13, 1854, and remained there with his parents until his thirteenth year, when the entire family emigrated to America, cross ing the North Sea from Gottenburg to Hull, and proceeding to Liverpool by rail, there embark ing in a vessel for New York. Their first stop was at Moline, Illinois, where some friends had located, and from there they went to Keokuk, Iowa, remaining for several years. Frank se cured employment in quarrying and blasting stone in building the canal and the lower lock in the river, and later returned to Moline, where his superior knowledge of quarrying and blast ing soon advanced him to the superintendency of this branch of construction on the water- power plant which the government was erecting between the main shore and the island of Rock Island. In the fall of 1870, the father and moth er moved to Nebraska, settling on a farm in the northwest quarter of section twenty-eight, town ship thirty-two, range two, and Frank joined them there in February of the following year, helping get their farm started in their new loca tion. For the first few years they had bad luck with crops, and often it was difficult to even pro cure sufficient food for the family. About this time our subject was married, and started for himself. He tried farming, and managed to make a living, but lost everything he had by prairie fires. After a time, he purchased a piece of timber along the Missouri river, and opened a woodyard, supplying fuel to the steamboats that plied the stream, and continued in this busi ness until the fall of 1879, at which time he returned to his farm, and resided there up to 1885. In the fall of 1875, he was elected county commissioner, his nomination being made a few weeks prior to his coming of age. He served in this capacity for six years, and later as county clerk for a like period. In 1890 he bought a third interest in the Niobrara Valley Bank, and was elected vice president of the institution, and six years later obtained a larger interest, being made president. Since that time he has been widening his opera tions along the line of the Northwestern rail road, purchasing banks at Cross, Bristow, Ver- del, Lynch and Monowi. The first two he has since sold, but retains the management of the others, which comprise a perfect chain of strong financial institutions tributary to the parent bank. Mr. Nelson married Martha B. Lee in 1879. She is a native of Knox county, a daughter of Alfred Lee, who was one of the earliest settlers in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have four children, as follows: Marion C, associated with his father in the banking business at Niobrara; Harry L., in charge of the bank at Verdel; Winnifred B., a graduate of the Niobrara High School, also of the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Omaha, class of 1907; and Howard, who is a student of St. John's Academy near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Nelson is a republican, and one of his party's "wheel horses" in this part of the state. He was a member of the national convention that nominated our strenuous president in 1904. Mr. Nelson has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1887, and has attained to the thir ty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry, cross ing the hot sands of the desert in Tangier Temple of the Mystic Shrine in 1887. ' With Mrs. Nelson, he is also a member of the Niobrara Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. SIMILIEN L. PERIN. Similien L. Perin, postmaster of Sargent, Nebraska, is one of the very early settlers of Custer county, and is one of the best known men of central Nebraska. He has, throughout the years of his residence there, supported the best interests of his community, and during the hard est years never lost faith in the future of the county and state. Mr. Perin was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 13, 1852, eldest of the eleven children of Samuel and Sophia (Rueblo) Perin, ten of whom now survive, namely: Similien; S. W., of Lincoln, Nebraska; A. Z. and G. F., of Sargent; two sons in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; John L., of the Philippine Islands, in charge of the United States government stations SIMILIEN L. PERIN. MRS. SIMILIEN L. PERIN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Ill at Balabac; Mrs. James D. Courtney, of Omaha; Mrs. William Crinklaw; Mrs. Granville Ivers, of South Dakota. The father of these children was a native of Ohio, born near Cincinnati, and of German descent, and the mother was born in New Orleans, where they were married, and was of French parentage. He was a civil engineer by profession; settled in Custer county about 1884-5, and died on his homestead in January, 1888. His widow died in Lincoln, May 13, 1911. In infancy Similien L. Perin accompanied his parents to Davenport, Iowa, and soon after wards to Council Bluffs. At this time the father surveyed a large part of eastern Nebraska. While the boy lived in various parts of Iowa and Nebras ka, he received most of his education in the form er state, where most of his early life was spent. In the spring of 1879 he came to Custer county, look ing for a place to locate and homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land and a tree claim of like size adjoining, on sections ten and eleven, township nineteen, range eighteen.He began plow ing the virgin soil on his land that summer, and also broke land where the town of Sargent was afterward located. In the fall of the year, he returned to Iowa to spend the winter season, and the following spring brought his two brothers, S. W. and A. Z., with him, making the trip with covered wagons, and bringing with them horses and cattle. In June, 1882, at Ord, Nebraska, Mr. Perin was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Tobias, a native of El Paso, Illinois, and the first teacher in the school at West Union, Custer county. They established their first home on the Custer county homestead, their nearest trading point then being Grand Island, one hundred miles dis tant. Later, when the country began to be more settled, Mr. Perin moved to the south side of the river in order that he might have the benefit of better feeding privileges for his stock. He was obliged to meet many inconveniences and hard ships in those days, and when going for supplies found it hard to cross the river, as there was no bridge constructed until he had lived in the locality four years. He was instrumental in or ganizing school district number eighty-eight, and served many years as a member of its board. In the fall of 1900, when the railroad was constructed through Sargent, Mr. Perin moved to that town and opened a hotel, later conducting a station of the Beatrice Creamery Company there. In 1905 he was appointed postmaster, and still holds that office. He and his wife have had four children: Harold I., married, and liv ing in Sargent; Louis E., assistant manager of Dierk's lumber yard in Sargent; Willis W., at home, and Vida, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Perin, always public-spirited, lent his aid in the support of the progress an.d devel opment of the central part of the state. He and the other members of the family have taken an active part in social and religious circles. He is a prosperous and successful business man, and owns two hundred and fifty acres of land ad joining the town of Sargent, besides good city properties. Mrs. Perin is a daughter of Israel C. Tobias and wife, early settlers of Custer coun ty. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Perin appear on another page of this volume. HON. AUGUSTUS F. KLIESE. Augustus F. Kliese, who holds the office of county judge of Nance county, Nebraska, is a gentleman of brilliant, intellectual attainments and exceptional business ability, and who, during his career as leader of affairs, has proven himself highly worthy of the confidence imposed in him by his fellow men. Judge Kliese is a native of Prussia, born March 14, 1839. He was the eldest of six chil dren in the family of Frederick and Fredericka Kliese. When Augustus was a lad of four years, the entire family came to America, their first settlement being made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the father and mother remained for five years, and then moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, where the mother died about 1852, after which the father moved to Washington county, Wis consin, where his death occurred in 1901. Our subject remained in Wisconsin up to 1858, at that time enlisting in company F, First United States infantry of the regular army, going with his company to Texas on frontier service. After two years spent in that part of the country, he returned to Wisconsin, and in 1862 enlisted in company A, Twenty-second Wisconsin volunteer infantry, seeing active service for over a year, then was discharged, and received the appoint ment of second lieutenant of company B, Sev enteenth United States volunteers, colored troops. On February 6, 1864 he was promoted to first lieu tenant company E, of the same regiment, serving as such up to October 26 of the following year, then received his commission as captain of com pany F, of his regiment, filling this office up to April 25, 1866, when he received his honorable discharge from the army at Nashville, Tennes see. He was on continuous duty for over four years, gaining the reputation of being a most faithful and conscientious man in the service, taking part in numerous battles, during which he never received a severe wound. In the month of October, 1864, Mr. Kliese ob tained a twenty-day leave of absence, made a trip to Janesville, Wisconsin, and was there married to Charlotte M. Weber, at the home of her parents. After leaving the army, they made Wisconsin their home up to the winter of 1868. Then Mr. Kliese went to Evanston, Illinois, where he was soon afterward joined by his wife and babe, and for eleven years they made that city their home. From there they moved to Wheaton, Illinois, settled on a farm, and re mained on the place up to March, 1885, at that 112 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. time coming to Nance county, Nebraska, where they have resided ever since. Our subject has been engaged in different lines of work since locating here. He carried on an implement and furniture business in Belgrade for ten years. He has been a leader in public life during his residence in the region, and in the fall of 1907 was elected to his present office. Judge and Mrs. Kliese have had nine children, six of whom are now living, all married, and fill ing honorable positions in life. They are named as follows: Edward A., Lottie A., Alice A., Mary E., John L. and Hattie B. HON. HUGH A. ALLEN. Hon. Hugh A. Allen of Atkinson, twice the representative of his district in the Nebraska legislature, came to the state in February, 1884, and settled on a quarter section of good land, seven miles northwest of Atkinson. The follow ing year he sold that tract, and moved into town, engaging in the real estate business, and since that time he has bought, sold and traded thous ands upon thousands of acres of Holt county land, and has prospered in this enterprise to a gratify ing extent. Mr. Allen was born near Danville, Vermillion county, Illinois, October 5, 1849, was reared on a farm southeast of Rossville. About the time he reached his majority, he went to Hoopeston, where for about fifteen years he was employed at various kinds of labor. However, seeing small prospects for acquiring a competency in his na tive state, and learning of the opportunities offered in the west, through the reports of his father, who had moved to Nebraska in 1882, he followed his parents to Holt county, and settled on the farm above mentioned. He is a son of William I. and Emily (Newell) Allen, who is included in the circle of relationship to Ethan Allen of revolutionary fame. The father is a native of Burlington, Vermont, and the mother of Kentucky. The parents came to Illinois in the forties, and lived in that state until their coming to Nebraska in 1882. Upon coming to the latter state, they settled in Cherry county, where they lived until 1891. Mr. Allen was married (first) in Holt county, in 1887, to Mary E. Logan. His second marriage took place in Lancaster county in 1905, when he was united with Mrs. Adelaide Spencer, who, by her former marriage to Simeon K. Spencer, had a daughter, Natalie, now a pupil in the Atkinson high school. In politics Mr. Allen is a republican, and in 1908 and again 1910 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature. He has been suc cessful in a business way since coming to Ne braska, and has been able to acquire a compe tency that will keep him in comfort when old age shall overtake him.He enjoys the full confidence of his neighbors and fellow men, and his course of action in his public life during the year 1909 was such as to commend him for a second term, which he began in the session of 1911. He is always to be found supporting measures for the benefit of the common people, of whom he considers him self one, and he understands them and their needs, as they in turn understand him, which accounts for their endorsement of him, and their support for a second term of office. Mr. Allen is a member of the Methodist Epis copal church, and, fraternally, belongs to the Masons and the A. O. U. W. When he first came to Nebraska, deer were still to be seen on the prairie, though the buffalo had been driven farther west. Many of the set tlers in those days used hay for fuel, but he never did so. Prairie fires were of frequent occurrence in the early days, and among the worst he ever assisted to fight was one that threatened a neigh bor's buildings. With two other men, Mr. Allen worked to save this property, and at the time of doing it they were in imminent danger them selves, having to wrap their heads in wet blankets in order to enable them to get close enough to the fire to work effectually to extinguish it. He has witnessed a remarkable change in conditions and surroundings since coming west, and has borne his share in promoting the general wel fare and advancement of his community. DANIEL J. POYNTER. Daniel J.' Poynter, editor and publisher of the Argus at Albion, Nebraska, is one of the best known professional and business men of his county and state. Our subject was born in Woodford county, Illinois, on June 4, 1857, and was the youngest of three children in the family of William C. and Hulda Poynter. Daniel J. Poynter is the only member of the family now living. His father was always active along religious, lines, a member of the ministry, and an elder in the Church of Christ for fifty years in Illinois, coming to Nebraska in 1888 in order to be near his sons, W. A. and our subject, who had settled here. He died in Albion on Christmas day, 1899, and his wife's death occurred in Albion in 1908. Our subject left his native county when he was nineteen years of age, settling in Iroquois county, Illinois. He was married to Florence A. Gray, at the home of her parents near Butler, Illinois, on October 3, 1876, and they located on Mr. Poynter 's farm in Iroquois county, remaining there until they came to Nebraska in 1881. His first location here was on Plum creek, a few miles southwest of Albion, purchasing an original homestead and timber claim relinquish ment on section eighteen, township nineteen, range six. He worked the farm for twelve years, engaged in grain and stock raising, and was reas onably successful in both. In the fall of 1893 he was elected county treasurer on the fusion, later COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 113 called populist, ticket, and two years later re elected to the same office by' a handsome major ity. He is one of the original Farmers' Alliance men of Boone county, and up to the present time has been a wide-gauge man with populistic ten dencies. He is an active worker along educa tional and moral lines, enjoys a statewide ac quaintance with well-known men, and has the esteem of all. Mr. Poynter was really the organizer of the Church of Christ and Sunday school in his com munity while still living on the farm. He started a class, with the help of his brother, W. A., at the Rozelma school house shortly after locating in the county, and from this, the movement grew to a well-established church with a wide attendance, and this portion of his life has been his greatest pride. Mr. Poynter came into control of the Argus plant in April, 1898, and this paper has always been an advocate of the best interests of Boone county. It enjoys a large circulation as a week ly, is housed in a fine brick block, and has a splendid modern equipment for the prompt and proper execution of all orders received. Mr. and Mrs. Poynter have two children, Irene and John F., both married and living in Boone county. HALSEY H. MOSES. Although a resident of the state for a briefer period t|han the earliest settlers of Nebraska, Halsey H. Moses has been represented here in the person of a son since the days when Wayne county was an open prairie wilderness. He first came to Wayne county in the spring of 1869,to view a tract of five hundred and twenty acres, southwest of where Wayne is now located, which he had pur chased in the previous fall without even seeing it. This he held for nearly a decade, in its wild state, when his eldest son came in the spring of 1877 and began farming the tract, and he has been an occupant of the land ever since. Mr. Moses bought and sold land from time to time, as a choice piece came into the market, or he found a favorable opportunity to sell to advantage. At present he owns some eight hundred acres of fine land southwest of the county seat, on which his first-born, and his two sons, reside, engaged in stock raising and stock dealing. Mr. Moses was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, July 12, 1830, was a son of Jonathan Moses, whose immigrant ancestor, John Moses, came to the colonies in 1632, and from him sprang the branch of the family to which Halsey H. Moses belongs. The father was born in Norfolk, Litchfield county, Connecticut, as was the mother, Abigail Plumleigh. The father died in 1841, at the age of sixty-one years, and the mother died in 1856, at the age of sixty-six years. They came to Ashta bula county, Ohio, in June, 1814, settled on a 5 farm, and there lived out their days. The prop erty has never since gone out of the family, nor has it passed into the hands of even the third gen eration. An elder brother, Harlow Moses, owned it until he was ninety-two years old. when Mr. Moses purchased the old homestead, and his younger son now occupies the farm. His first dwelling was a log house, but he soon built a commodious frame dwelling, which is still in a good state of preservation. Mr. Moses was reared in Ashtabula county, eight miles from the home of the famous Joshua R. Giddings, who, by the way, was one of the committee to examine Mr. Moses for admission to the bar. He had read law in the office of A. L. Tinker of Paynesville, and in August, 1851, a few weeks after attaining his majority, Mr. Moses was admitted to the bar, after an examination as to his proficiency by a eommitee composed of Joshua R. Giddings, Benjamin F. Wade, Judge Horace Wilder, Judge Laban Sherman and Judge Darius Caldwell, all prominent men in their time, of the Ohio bar. Opening an office in Astabula, he was an active member of the bar until 1862. The next ten years he was located in Warren, Trumbull county, and from that time until the spring of 1888, when he retired from practice and came west, he was a leading member of the bar in Youngstown, Ma honing county, where he attained no little emi nence as a man of wide learning in his profession. One of the standard text books of the profession is "Moses on Mandamus," which has been a rec ognized authority on the subject since its publi cation in 1866. An anecdote is related of Inger- soll, who was making liberal use of the volume in a case before Judge Blodgett of Chicago. His reply, not overly pious, assured the judge that the Moses who wrote of mandamus was not the Moses to whom he referred in one of his famous lectures. It was while living in his native county that Mr. Moses had office thrust upon him. His neighbors secured his appointment under Presi dent James Buchanan as postmaster of Rock Creek, the arrival of the commission being the first notice he had of the honor. He qualified, appointed a deputy who attended to the mails, and continued to give his attention to the legal profession. Mr. Moses was married in Ashtabula county, in 1852, to Miss Jane Murdoek, a native of Mesopo tamia, Ohio. She died in November, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight. Of their four children, two sons survive. Franz E., occupies part of the farm near Wayne. He graduated from the college at Hiram, Ohio, and then took the engineering course at Raines' Seminary, Youngstown, Ohio. Since coming to Wayne county he has served a term or two as county surveyor. Franzi Moses was united in marriage to Miss Martha Johnson, to whom two sons and two daughters have been born. Halsey S., is engaged in stock dealing and breeding on part of Mr. 114 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Moses' big ranch; Edith, is the wife of Chester Chubb, of Michigan City, Indiana; Martha, an expert stenographer and china decorator, is em ployed at Crete, Nebraska; Irving, is in partner ship with his brother on the ranch. Mr. Halsey H. Moses' younger son, Hosmer, is married, and occupies the old homestead in Ashtabula county, Ohio, that has been in the fam ily nearly a hundred years. Mr. Moses has been a life-long democrat although not a narrow-minded one — he will not support an unworthy candidate on his own party ticket if a better one opposes him. He has been a Mason since early life, having been raised to the Master's degree in the lodge at Warren. Since 1903, Mr. Moses has spent the winters in Pasadena, California, leaving for the sunny flower-land about the middle of November, and returning when the weather is settled in the spring. A man of four-score years, he is as active in mind and body as one of three-score or less, and gives promise to rounding out an even cen tury. L. FRED GOTTSCHALK. The gentleman whose name heads this review comes from a family of the oldest and best-known settlers of Platte county, Nebraska, who have always served their county and state to the utmost. L. Fred Gottschalk, son of Frederick and Margetha (Loy) Gottschalk, was born in Colum bus, Nebraska, April 30, 1864, and was the second of three children, and is the only one now living. His parents are both deceased, the death of his mother occurring May 31, 1901, and that of his father August 18, 1905, at Columbus, Nebraska. Mr. Gottschalk received his elementary educa tion in the home schools, and in the years of 1885-86-87-88 was a student at Ann Arbor, Michi gan, studying along the lines of civil engineering. The five years following student life, he was engaged with Ann Arbor city engineer, and after wards he was engaged in construction work for various railroads, his last employment being heavy rock work on the Union Pacific railroad through Wyoming. In the early nineties he spent nearly two years in the mountains of Kentucky, surveying for a land syndicate, during which time much trouble was experienced with moonshiners and mountain natives, who are a lawless people, being wholly without moral consciousness. They many times threatened the lives of the surveying party, several of whom were killed. These moun taineers strenuously objected to all progress and civilizing influences. On January 27, 1892, our subject, Mr. L. F. Gottschalk, was married to Miss Sophia M. Grayer of Ann Arbor, Michigan, one child being the re sult of this union, which died in infancy. Mrs. Gottschalk died April 29, 1893. On March 13, 1894, Mr. Gottschalk was mar ried to Helena Hoehen of Columbus, Nebraska, and they are the parents of six children, who are named as follows : Louise, Irma, Margaret, Frederick 0., Constance and Helen, all residing under the parental roof. Mr. Gottschalk is one of the few native-born pioneers of Platte county, Nebraska. L. Fred Gottschalk, our subject has been very prosperous and successful, and in 1908 built one of the finest houses in the city, on the homestead site of his father's original claim. In 1901, Mr. Gottschalk retired from railroad survey work,and is now engaged in local work and land deals. In his engineer work, Mr. Gottschalk has covered twenty-five states. Frederick Gottschalk, the father of our sub ject, was born in Germany, January 27, 1827, and came to America in 1853, locating in Pennsylvania for over two years, and came to Platte county, Nebraska, in 1856, where he purchased one hun dred and twenty acres of land from the govern ment, paying $1.25 per acre, which land is now incorporated in the city limits of Columbus. Mr. Gottschalk lived on this farm until the time of his death, August 18, 1905. He was a member of the very first group of settles in Platte county, and was closely identified with all pertaining to the interest and welfare of his county. On August 25, 1861, Mr. Gottschalk was mar ried to Margetha Loy, in Columbus, Nebraska, Miss Loy being of German birth. Three children were born to them, two of whom are deceased, the surviving son being L. Fred. GEORGE MCLAIN. In reviewing the history of Antelope county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place must be accorded the gentle man above named. Mr. McLain is a pioneer set tler, coming here in 1883, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in his region. He is a well-known farmer and stock man, and resides on section three, township twenty-seven, range seven. Mr. McLain is a native of Winnesheik county, Iowa, where he was born January 30, 1862. He grew to manhood in his native state, helping his father on the farm and attending the district school. In 1883, our subject started out for him self, coming to Nebraska, where he thought there were better chances for a young man to gain a competence, locating in Antelope county, on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. Here he engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, and has met with success. He first built a sod house, and lived in that three years, when he erected a frame house, which is a comfortable residence. Mr. McLain was united in marriage July 15, 1885, to Miss Caroline Seabach, and they are the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 115 parents of five children, as follows : Roy, Minnie, Floyd, Bell and Dewey. Our subject's father, William B. McLain, was born in New York, but was of Scotch descent, his parents being natives of Scotland. He served in the civil war as an Iowa Volunteer from 1863 to 1864. Our subject's mother was born in Cana da, but was of German descent, her parents being born in Germany. Mr. McLain, our subject, has a well-improved place, with good buildings, a comfortable resi dence, and fine orchard and groves. Here he and his family reside, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. McLain is a member of the A. 0. U. W., and is affiliated politically with the republican party. GEORGE W. BOX. George W. Box, whose name heads this person al history, while now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa, was one of the most widely-known pioneers of Pierce county, and made that part of Nebraska his home for over twenty-five years. He settled in Pierce when that town was first started, and remained to see it grow into a prosperous and thriving commercial center. Mr. Box was born in Chicago, Illinois, Decem ber 8, 1855, and grew to the age of twelve years in that city, at which time his parents moved to Delaware county, Iowa. There he finished his education in the common schools, and learned the trade of blacksmith, coming from there to Pierce, Nebraska. His father, Henry D. Box, is a venera ble resident of Greeley, Iowa. He is ninety years of age, and is the oldest voter in Delaware county. His native place is Devonshire, England, and his wife was born in Cornwall. Henry D. Box crossed the Atlantic three times in the days of sailing vessels, one of these voyages lasting three months, and on the trip with his bride, they were on the sea for two months. George Box was one of the earliest settlers of Pierce, locating here in May, 1876, at which time the town consisted of but five buildings — the court house, school, one store, one hotel and a dwelling. He opened a blacksmith shop, continu ing the work for two years. He was then married, and took charge of the Pierce Hotel, conducting the place for four years, then sold his interests and moved to Plainview, where he engaged in the mercantile business for five years. He then re turned to Pierce, and for a time kept the Pierce Hotel, and later the Commercial House, adding to the latter a profitable livery business, which he purchased from George Chase in 1886. He disposed of his holdings in 1892, and removed to Norfolk, engaging in the livery business, and, shortly thereafter, opened an implement and grain store there. In 1902 he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where he represented the New York Life Insurance Company, in which he proved very successful, continuing up to 1909, at which time he accepted a position with the Elkhorn Life and Accident Insurance Company of Norfolk and'he is carrying into his new association the energy with which he has won success in other fields. Mr. Box was married in Staunton county, Nebraska, in 1878, to Miss Louisa Hinkle, who was a native of Wisconsin. She died in April, 1907. Mr. Box is high up in Masonic circles, is a member of Norfolk Lodge No. 55, Damascus Chapter No. 23 and Damascus Commandry No. 100, all of Norfolk. Politically he is a life-long democrat, and has been honored by his party in various political positions, serving as deputy sheriff and county clerk, and one term as sheriff of Pierce county, Nebraska. WILLIAM HENRY HILL. William Henry Hill, who is probably one of the best-known citizens of Howard county, re sides in the beautiful city of St .Paul. He is one of the earliest pioneers in that region, and, during his early residence here, followed farming, after wards engaging in the contracting and building business,and was for a number of years connected with the bridge building department of the Union Pacific railroad. He is a man of wide experience, and has met with decided success in his different business ventures. Mr. Hill is a native of Medina county, Ohio, and was born July 29, 1840. He is a brother of Walter F. Hill (a sketch of whom appears in this volume on another page), and his childhood was spent in the vicinity of his birthplace, remaining on the home farm until his twenty-second year. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the army, and went with Company I, 103rd Ohio regiment of infantry, to the struggle, serving until the close of the war. He participated in a number of the fa mous battles of civil war history, chief among them being the siege of Knoxville, Buzzard's Roost, the siege of Atlanta, and was all through that vicinity with his company, including the engagements at Franklin and Nashville, Tennes see, besides numerous minor skirmishes. In June of 1865 Mr. Hill received an honorable discharge from the army, and returned to his home, remaining there for about a year and a half, and during that time was united in mar riage to Miss Mary Jane Merton of Portage coun ty, Ohio. The young couple settled in Portage county,and followed farming for about three years then moved into Missouri, where they farmed until the spring of 1872, when they came to Howard county, the family consisting at that time of Mr. and Mrs. Hill and little daughter. They located on a homestead in section two, township ten, range fourteen, proved up on the claim, and farmed for about thirteen years, retiring from 116 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. active farm work in 1885, when they moved to St. Paul, where Mr. Hill bought a comfortable home, which they still occupy. For about ten years after coming to St. Paul, Mr. Hill was en gaged in doing bridge work for the Union Pacific railway company, then began at the builders' and contractors' trade, of which he has made a suc cess. During his early residence in Howard county, Mr. Hill was director of school district number fifteen for a number of years, and aided in every way possible to develop his locality along educa tional and commercial lines. He has held different township offices of trust, and, with his good wife, is classed among the prominent early pioneers of the county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hill, but only three of them are now living, name ly: Cora M., wife of Chas. Dunn, they having three children and residing in Howard county; Inez M., wife of L. A. Parker, parents of two children, and living in Cotesfield; Edna M., wife of Lee DeBord, who have one son, their home be ing in Brayton, Nebraska. The parents of Mrs. Hill are dead, but she has two sisters living, one of whom resides in St. Paul and the other in Pennsylvania. Mr. Hill's father and mother both died in Ohio. One brother, Vanrensler, lives in Ohio, Walter F., mentioned above, and one sister, Mrs. Julia Kemple, also living in Ohio. LEROY D. STEWART. The rising generation now coming to the front is in no way unworthy of their sires, as they ex hibit the same unflinching courage, the persever ance, and the dogged determination to surmount all obstacles which sustained the hardy pioneers in their fight against the wilderness. Leroy D. Stewart may justly be called one of the "native sons" of Nebraska, having been born in Greeley county, near the Valley county line, May 11, 1885, the fifth child of Alza and Mamie (Burdick) Stewart, who were the first to take a homestead in Greeley county, and the first to take a timber claim in Valley county. Mr. Stewart lived on the old homestead until his twenty-first year. During that time he re ceived the usual school advantages, attending the district school, and later going to the High School in North Loup. He graduated from the latter institution in 1906. On the second of November of the year follow ing, he was married to Miss May Gertie Schultz, a native of Newton, Iowa,of which union three chil dren have ben born : Jeanette and Thurwin, and an infant born June 22, 1911. Mrs. Stewart is a daughter of Clint C. and Lizzie (Preston) Schultz, who moved from Jasper county, Iowa, to Valley county in 1889. In 1909 Mr. Stewart purchased a quarter sec tion of land on section thirty-three, township eighteen, range thirteen, a little southwest of North Loup, and here he resides at this time. He has made extensive improvements, and the farm is now considered one of the finest in that part of the country. Mr. Stewart devotes consid erable attention to raising stock, as well as to the usual agricultural work. Besides this, he has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of his county and state. As may be imagined, Mr. Stewart and his family are prominent in the social life of the community. He is a prohibitionist in political faith, and a member of the Friends' church. One of his earliest recollections is of a band of Indians which camped near their place, to whom his father gave a load of watermelons. One of the early blizzards he recalls by having seen some of the calves on the place dug out from deep drifts of snow that had covered them. JOHN S. CRAIG. John S. Craig, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Madison county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality some forty years. He now resides in section twenty-five, township twenty-four, range two, and is promin ently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in this section of the country. After many years' hard labor in building up his farm, he is now prepared to enjoy the remaining days of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends. Mr. Craig was born December 14, 1836, in the state of Ohio, was a son of William and Martha (Hile) Craig, both natives of the Keystone state, of Scotch and Irish descent, our subject's ma ternal grandfather serving in the Revolutionary war. Our subject, with his parents, left his na tive state and settled in Indiana, where the family remained eight years, and from there moved to Millville, Iowa. While residing in Iowa, Mr. Craig, our sub ject, enlisted in the army, joining company G, Twenty-first Iowa infantry, under General Dav idson. Mr. Craig served as a private on entering the service, was promoted to second lieutenant, then to first lieutenant, and later to captain. The first winter (in 1862) they went to Dubuque, Iowa, but early in 1863 they were stationed at St. Louis. Mr. Craig participated in the battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi, and was in the siege of Vicksburg from May 1 to July 4, 1863, and also took part in the battle of Black River Bridge ; was at New Orleans in 1864, and then spent the winter in Texas. On July 16, 1865, he received his honorable discharge. In 1869, Mr. Craig started for the west from Clayton county, Iowa, coming by the popular route in those days — that of a prairie schooner. They were one month on the road, landing in ABRAHAM PALMER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 117 Madison county, Nebraska, June 24. Here Mr. Craig, with his family, settled and took up a pre emption claim of eighty acres of land, and proved up on the same. He then took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he also proved up and improved. He first built a good log house, in which the family lived for fifteen years, during which time he steadily prospered, finally building a fine residence. In those first years of residence in this section of the country, the hardships and discouragements of Mr. Craig and his family were great, which was due to the new and unsettled condition of the region, the virgin soil not knowing the cut of a plow, and scarcely knowing the trod of white men's feet. During the first few years, the crops that had with so much difficulty been planted and cared for, were completely destroyed by the grasshopper pests that devastated the western country at that time, making it very hard for this little family to pass through those trying periods. Mr. Craig was united in marriage in 1860, to Miss Caroline Griffith, and they are the parents of four children: Sevilla, Minerva, Ariel and Adrian. They are a fine family, and enjoy the esteem and good will of a host of friends and acquaintances. They are members of the Chris tian church, and Mr. Craig is a democrat. ABRAHAM PALMER. Persistent and energetic industry have placed this gentleman among the prosperous and successful citizens of Nance county, Nebraska. He is one of the early settlers of Timber Creek township, and the owner of large landed interests, which have been gained only by the strictest econ omy and excellent management. The hardships which have fallen to the lot of Mr. Palmer and his family would have discouraged those of less per sistent natures, have only tended to make them more determined and spurred them to stronger action. With undaunted courage he has faced misfortune, suffering and hardship incident to the life of the pioneers in the west, and through all has remained to enjoy a fitting reward for his labors. He is now a resident of Fullerton, the owner of a fine home there, in addition to large farming interests in the county, and is held in the highest esteem by those with whom he comes in contact, in a social or business way. His portrait appears on another page of this volume. Our subject is a son of Thomas and Susan Palmer, and was born in England in 1832. He was brought up there, and was married February 20, 1854, to Emma Wilson, in the Parish church in Nuneaton, by the Rt. Rev. Vicar C. E. Savage. After two years in their native country, the young couple came to America, landing in New York City February 12, 1857. They went direct ly to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Palmer secured employment. After remaining there but a short time, they went to Connecticut, and he began work with the Hazard Powder Company, and continued with that concern for twenty-six years. Then he decided to try his fortune in the west, and came to Nebraska, locat ing in Nance county in 1883. The following year he was joined by his family. Their first home was on Timber creek, living there for ten years, Mr. Palmer being engaged in the stock business and also doing mixed farming. In 1893 they removed to Fullerton, still owning the farm and considera ble land in the vicinity. Mr. Palmer has been very successful in his various enterprises, and is counted among the well-to-do men of his county, owning at the present time seven hundred and twenty-nine acres in Nance county alone, most of this being under cultivation. Besides this land, he has outside interests and the fine home which he occupies in Fullerton. He is now (in 1911) seventy-nine years of age, still active, and takes much interest in local affairs. Mrs. Palmer died in 1906, survived by her family of eight children, who are : Thomas, John, Abraham, Joseph, William, Mary, Emma and George, all married and settled in comfortable homes, highly esteemed by their associates. FRED MEYER. Among the prominent early settlers of Greeley county may be mentioned the above gentleman, now residing in the city of Scotia. He is a veter an of the civil war, and as he was true and loyal to his country in the struggle of that day, so he has proven worthy as a citizen of the esteem and respect of his fellow .men. Mr. Meyer was the eldest child in the family of Fred and Martha (Meygerter) Meyer, and first saw the light of day on the 12th of April, 1840, in Bremen, Germany. In 1853, like many another humble family in Germany, Mr. Meyer's parents decided to try their fortunes in the newer country, sailing from Bremen, Havre, in the "Magdalena, " an old sail ship. They landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks, during which time Mr. Meyer, then a lad of thirteen, was sick most of the time, hav ing contracted fever and ague before leaving the old country. They located in Lake county, Indiana, where the father and mother lived until their death, which occurred on May 5 and 7, respectively, in 1885, within two days of one another. They were together in death as they had been for so many years in life. Mr. Meyer completed his education after com ing to this country, while living in Indiana. When the war began, he enlisted at Chicago, September 28, 1861, in company F, ninth Illinois cavalry, and served until the end of the war. He was engaged in a number of battles some of the more 118 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. famous being those - of Tupulo, Mississippi ; Franklin, Nashville and Pulaski, Tennessee. After the war, Mr. Meyer returned to Indiana and pursued his former calling, that of farming, and on March 28, 1867, he married Miss Lovina Locker, a native of the Hosier state, and daugh ter of Louis and Harriet (Glass) Locker. In 1873 they removed to Joliet, Illinois, where they remained for four years, Mr. Meyer finding work in a quarry. Then they concluded it would be better to push on further west, where land was cheaper and more plentiful. Accordingly, in the spring of 1878, Mr. Meyer and his family came to Greeley county, Nebraska, where h'e filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty, township eighteen, range eleven, and also on a like amount of timber land adjoin ing the other claim. For thirty-two years this property remained the home of our subject and his family, during which time improvements were made constantly, new buildings erected, or more complete equipments added to those already standing, until it is one of the finest estates in this section of the state. In the summer of 1910 Mr. Meyer moved to Scotia,where he has just com pleted a fine, modern home. He still retains an oversight over the large estate of five hundred and sixty acres which he possesses, but has retired from active work. During all these years, Mr. Meyer has not by any means neglected his part in public affairs, as he helped to organize his school districts, num bers twelve and thirty-two, and has served in various offices in connection therewith. He has also served as precinct assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are the parents of three children : Hattie J., now Mrs. George Milne, living in Greeley Center, Nebraska, has three children; Martha A., now Mrs. George P. Hoke, a resident of Greely county, has one child; and David E., now living on the old homestead, is married, and has three children. The family is prominent soc ially. Mrs. Meyer's mother, Mrs. Harriet Locker, is still living in Scotia at the advanced age of eighty-six. Mr. Meyer was reared in the Evan gelical church, is a republican in politics, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Meyer's first residence was an adobe house constructed of cedar posts secured near Burwell, to which willow branches were nailed. Between these two walls, mud and slough grass were tightly pressed, making a warm and substantial dwelling. This was later covered with weather- boarding, and two additions built from time to time, this forming the principal part of the farm residence. Elk, deer and antelope were to be seen in droves in those early days, and an antelope was killed on the creek near his house. During the dry year, 1894, nothing was harvested on the place, not even the amount necessary to seeding. Several times hail destroyed all their crops, but in the main Nebraska has proven to be the land of prosperity. SMITH WAIT. Among the older settlers of Cedar county may be mentioned the above gentleman, Smith Wait. Although he was not one of the earliest settlers of the county, he has taken such a prominent part in all affairs pertaining to the well-being of the community, and has in so many ways as sisted in the development of this region, that he is with truth counted among the pioneers in many lines. Mr. Wait was born in 1836 in Vermont, the son of John and Polly Wait. Although American- born himself, his mother was German and his father was of Scotch-English descent. His grand father served during the revolutionary war, and was in many engagements, being taken pris oner by the British on one occasion, although he was lucky enough to escape later on. The grand father lived to an advanced age, and one of the precious little keepsakes in the family of Mr. Wait is a wallet made by the grandfather in 1856. Mr. Wait spent his boyhood and early man hood years in Vermont, on the farm. In 1863 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ran dall, and four children have been born to them, all of whom are living. Their names are as fol lows : Merton H., Cora A., Ella May and Iven Mr. Wait, in i868, came to Ida county, Iowa, and had much to do with affairs there. In 1890 Mr. Wait and his family came to Cedar county, where he bought the Boeman homestead, located in section twenty-six, township thirty, range two, east. Coming to Nebraska at a comparatively late date, of course he escaped some of the un- pleastant experiences of the earlier settlers, such as having his crops destroyed by grasshoppers, but he met with more than one discouragement as it was. However, with true Anglo-Saxon perse verance, he still remained, and now, after years of toil, is the possessor of a fine, well-improved farm and comfortable' home. Mr. Wait and family have been prominent in a social and educational way for many years, and enjoy the respect of numerous friends. DANIEL W. FARNHAM. Among the men who have played an important part in the development of eastern Nebraska, and especially Merrick county, none is held in higher esteem than the man whose name heads this arti cle. The life of Mr. Farnham has been a busy one, and he is now able to enjoy his later days in peace and comfort. Daniel W. Farnham, son of Eli and Jerusha (Loomis) Farnham, was born in Galesburg, Illinois, December 6, 1838, and was eldest of four children. He has one sister residing in Gales- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 119 burg, Illinois, the others being deceased, as are also the parents. The father died October 10, 1882, and the mother, December 18, 1872, both in Galesburg, Illinois. Our subject was educated in the schools of his home state, and attended Knox College for three years. His father was the first school teacher in Galesburg, and Daniel received his first three years ' instruction under his father 's tutelage. He later engaged in farming, and on February 29, 1860, was united in marriage to Emeline Butler, who was born in New York state, but came later on to Illinois. In the spring of 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Farnham and three children came to Nebraska, locating in Lincoln for one year, going to Beatrice, Nebraska, the following year. In 1884 they moved to Mer rick county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, being the northeast quarter of section twenty-seven, township fourteen, range seven, west, which remained the home place until 1909, when Mr. Farnham retired from the farm and moved to Central City and purchased a good home, where he now lives. Mrs. Farnham died May 20, 1908, on the home farm, survived by her husband and three chil dren, they having had four children in all : Mary B., wife of George A. Baker, had five children, and lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, died in 1892 ; Fanny L., wife of Theo. Swartout, has three chil dren, and resides in Merrick county; Edwin R. married, has six children, and lives in Wheatland, Wyoming; Florence O, wife of John McKendry, has five children, and resides in Central City. Mr. Farnham 's oldest grand-daughter, Nellie Baker, married D. L. Gardner, who lives in Ar cher, Nebraska, and they have seven children. Alice Baker, another grand-daughter, married Geo. A. Johnston, and they have one child, and live at Central City. Grace Baker, another grand daughter, married Randall Cronin, and lives in Colorado. Albert J. Baker, a grandson, is mar ried, and lives at Lincoln, Nebraska. E. R. Swartout married Grace Braucher, and lives in Central City. Mr. Farnham has been prosperous and suc cessful, and is widely and favorably known. He is a man of affairs, and takes an interest in all pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state. Mr. Farnham is a member of the M. E. church, as was his wife. In politics he is inde pendent. CHRIST HORSTMANN. The gentleman whose name heads this person al history is a prosperous and successful agri culturalist of Knox county, Nebraska, being pro prietor of a valuable tract of land in section twenty-five, township thirty, range six, well im proved with buildings, orchards and groves. He is known as one of the leading men of his locality, who has done much to bring about the present success of his community. Mr. Horstmann is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in 1844, on a farm in Germany, province of Westphalia. He received his early education in his native land, and in 1867 sailed for America, the mecca of so many sturdy sons of the German fatherland, who have contributed so largely to the growth and welfare of this part of the western country. After landing in the United States, Mr. Hortsmann settled in the state of Indiana, where he remained until 1888, in that year coming to Knox county, Nebraska. Here he bought land of Casper Huffman, improving it and building a good home, and he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of choice land, and has one of the finest groves in the country. Mr. Horstmann was united in marriage in 1872 to Miss Hanah Lampe, and Mr. and Mrs. Horstmann are the parents of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Annie, Caroline, Lizzie, Mary, William, Emma and Fred. Minnie, Sophia, Henry and Carl are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Horstmann and family are highly esteemed by all in their community and enjoy the respect of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In his twenty-three years of residence in Knox county, Mr. Horstmann has gained the high re gard and esteem of all with whom he has had to do, his dealings with men being of the highest standard of integrity and fairness. ASAHEL EDGINGTON. The gentleman whose name heads this review is an old and prominent resident of Fullerton, Nebraska. He was born in the town of Edging- ton, Illinois, June 1, 1841, and is a son of Daniel Edgington, after whom the town of that name was called. Asahel Edgington was reared in his native state, receiving his elementary education in the schools of Rock Island, and later attended the Rensselaer Institute at Troy, New York. He also spent some time in Chicago, graduating from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College of that city. In 1864 he came to Colorado, traveling across the plains with an ox team, and located about forty miles west of Denver, which place at that time was simply a village instead of the beautiful and thriving business city we now find it. In June of the following year, he returned to Illinois and engaged in farming, following that vocation in his native state up to 1867, and in February of that year was united in marriage to Josephine B. Carpenter, who also was born and raised in Edgington, and for a number of years was a public school teacher there. After their marriage, the young couple settled in Washing ton, Iowa, engaging in stock-raising business, re maining in that region up to December, 1882, when they came with their family to Nebraska, locating in Nance county. They were among the first to set tle in that vicinity, and our subject started in the 120 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. real estate and banking business at Fullerton, which at that time was a very small village. During those years he bought and sold many large tracts of land, at different times handling deals involving from three to four thousand acres of land in one day, the price averaging from two and a half to four dollars per acre. While he was instrumental in aiding greatly in settling the country and building it up by his operations, he also purchased for himself one hundred town lots and four quarter sections of land, which grew to be very valuable. He was more than usually successful in his work, and has been an important factor in the commercial and financial affairs of Nance county, as, besides his real estate business, he was for several years engaged in the general merchandise business, and built up a nice patronage throughout the region. In 1887 Mr. Edgington purchased twenty acres adjoining the town of Fullerton on the south, which he laid out in streets and platted the tract, and this is now known as "The Edging ton Addition." It has been built up in good shape, and has become one of the popular resi dence sections of the town. Mr. Edgington him self has a home surrounded by ten acres of ground, beautifully laid out, and he is engaged in fruit growing and poultry raising, doing a flourishing business in both lines. This place is within the city limits, and is a very valuable property. Since locating in Nance county, Judge Edging ton has taken a foremost part in its affairs. He has passed through all the early times, remembers well the days when Indians were numerous here, and also when the plains abounded in antelope and other game. In 1902 Judge Edgington and wife went to Santa Cruz, California, intending to live there, but after a stay of three years they returned to Nebraska, and have remained here since, surrounded by every comfort, and having a host of warm friends in the community. Judge Edgington 's family consists of five children, namely: Grace J., wife of Wm. Jenkins, they living at Prosser, Washington; Leona E., widow of Morris E. Thorp, who died in 1902, Mrs. Thorp having one child, and is now living in Los Angeles, California; Stella M., wife of Clarence B. Nonnamaker, parents of one child; Bernard A ., married, and Carl Edgington, the three last mentioned residing at Morenca, Arizona. Mr. Edgington served as county judge from 1891 to 1893, afterwards being appointed deputy sheriff, which office he held for eight years, and during his early residence here was a member of the school board of district number one. G. A. ERIKSON. Norse blood has played a great part in the development of the great northwest, as it has in all parts of the country where the Norseman has found it agreeable to settle. It was largely due to the invention of the "Monitor" by an illustrious Scandinavian that the civil war was closed as it was, with a united country instead of two warring, jealous governments. G. A. Erikson, vice president of the First National Bank of Naper, is a native of Norway, born in the city of Fredrikshald, July 12, 1859. His father, Peder Erikson, was a native of the same city, and when grown to man's estate, learned the painter's trade, and found employ ment in the service of the government in their navy yard there. He married Miss A. Reiss, who was also a na tive of Norway, remotely decended from Danish and German ancestors. In 1869 Peder Erikson and family set sail in an old Norwegian full- rigged ship, about three hundred feet in length, embarking at Christiana. After a voyage of twenty-four days, they landed in Quebec the latter part of July or the first of August. Here they trans-shipped to a lake vessel, ascended the St. Lawrence river and Lake Ontario, through the Welland canal to Lake Erie, and thence to De troit. Here they again transferred to a vessel, bound for Milwaukee, whence they traveled by rail to Madison, Wisconsin, where Henry Erikson, an elder son, had preceded the family, reaching their destination about the middle of September. Henry had been a marine engineer in the old country, plying the coast of Norway to Tromsoe and Hammerfest. He had come to America in 1865, and had established himself on a farm near Madison, and then sent for the rest of the family to join him. The father farmed with the son until coming to Nebraska in the year of 1872. He rented a farm three miles west of Nebraska City for one year, and then moved to town, and plied his trade there until rheumatism compelled his abandonment of labor. He died in August, 1878, having been an invalid for about four years. Gustav A. Erikson began to make his own way in the world at the age of fourteen, when in October, 1874, he secured a clerkship in a small grocery store in Nebraska City. Two and a half years later he secured a position in a large gen eral store, remaining nearly the same length of time. Going to Blair in the spring of 1879, he secured a position in a general merchandise establishment. After two and a half years here, he went to Omaha and secured a clerkship in Cruikshank & Company's store, the largest dry goods establishment in the city at that time, which later went into the hands of N. B. Faulkner & Company, who were succeeded by Thomas Kilpatrick, the present proprietor. After a year in Omaha, Mr. Erikson had an opportunity to join a United States surveying party as field writer, and also filled nearly every position in the party from time to time, even using the instruments. The party spent six months in the Utah mountains, during which time Mr. Erikson experienced life in the wilderness. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 121 On one trip for mail, he rode sixty-five miles one Saturday, swimming Golden river on his saddle mule to get to the camp where mail was expected. Resting over Sunday, during which time his wet clothing was dried, he was piloted to a lower ford some ten miles further down the stream, and after seventy-five miles' hard riding, reached camp on Monday with the coveted missives from the east. Several times he drove a span of mules to Fort Thomberg for supplies, the trip usually occupying three days. On one occasion, the weak er mule gave out about four o'clock in the after noon, and the last twenty miles were not cov ered before midnight, Mr. Erikson having had to unhitch the rest and feed three times on that weary stretch of road, at the last having to walk and prod the mule in the side, a most weary and desolute journey through an uninhabited count- try. After his season in the mountains, Mr. Erikson returned to Blair, and to the service of the firm in whose employ he had been before, and re mained with them until the spring of 1886. At that time he became traveling salesman for the Canfield Manufacturing Company, with territory on the Union Pacific, Burlington and Missouri River (now O, B. & Q.), Missouri Pacific, and St. Paul and Omaha railroads, making towns as far from the Missouri river as North Platte, Hold- redge, Auburn, Scribner and Albion. After eighteen months on the road, he formed a part nership under the firm name of Erikson & Thomp son, and was in business in Blair for nine years. In 1891, when the reservation was opened and Boyd county was opened to settlement, Mr. Erik son came to Naper in charge of the William Knotter Company's business, handling lumber, implements and grain, and he was manager of their large business for nearly twelve years, re signing January 1, 1910, to take the vice presi dency of the First National Bank, which was formed by the consolidation of the two former banks in Naper, and in which he bought a block of stock in December, 1909. Mr. Erikson was married in Blair, September 2, 1885, to Miss Louise Kemp, a native of Wal worth county, Wisconsin. Her father, Thomas A. Kemp, was born near York, England, and came to America about 1823. Her mother, who was Mary Haller before marriage, was born in Vermont of Swiss parentage. They settled in Wisconsin when that country was new, and saw the country change by the axe of the settler from a virgin forest to a thickly-populated farming country. Mr. and Mrs. Erikson are the parents of one daughter, Vera F., born in Blair, Nebraska. After graduating in the Blair schools, she fin ished the course of the Carleton College at North- field, Minnesota, in June, 1908. She had numer ous offers of positions to teach, but accepted that of Clarkfield, Minnesota, in the fall of 1908. She has since taught at Crete, Nebraska, that she 5y2 might be in her native state and nearer home. Here she specialized, teaching German and math ematics. Mr. Erikson is a republican in politics, and, with his family, is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Erikson well remembers the blizzard of January 12, 1888, having been out in it for a time. He was then living in Blair, and went to the railroad station to meet a friend. On the way back to the store, he found the storm so blinding and suffocating that he had to turn his back to the blast, and shoulder his way through the icy mist. Later, in going home to supper, three blocks south, with the storm at his back, he made easier progress. In the summer of 1907, Mr Erikson took his family with him when he revisited the fatherland and toured an interesting part of Europe. The daughter had credits sufficient to permit her leaving school without prejudice four weeks be fore the close of the spring term, and to delay a fortnight entering the classes in the fall. Leav ing home the first of May and returning the first of October, they traveled through Scotland, the west coast of England, and Norway as far north as Hammerfest, making visits of longer or shorter duration in Bergen, Trondhjem and Swolvaer, and toured part of Sweden while on the Scan dinavian peninsula. On the continent they vis ited Denmark, Germany, and from Cologne up the Rhine, and then through the Black Forest ; in Switzerland, the Falls of the Rhine, Neuhausen, Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, Interlaken and Geneva, and after eight days in Paris, a like number in London, a day at Oxford and another at the old walled town of Chester and Marston Moors and a day on Stratford-on-Avon, they crossed to Ire land, where they attended the exposition at Dublin before embarking for home at the city of Londonderry, having enjoyed a most delightful summer's travel. They will again visit the old country within a year or two, touring the Medit erranean countries, Austria and the Tyrolean Alps. They have traveled much in the western world, having been as far south as Cuba, and north and west to the mountain states. Travel as a broadening means of culture, is well exem plified in Mr. Erikson and his family, who can relate interestingly many incidents of history and personal experience in the old as well as the new world. OLIVER E. WALTERS. Oliver E. Walters, county clerk of Boone county, is a son of Oliver M. and Elizabeth L. (Phillips) Walters, and was born in Brooklyn, New York, February 9, 1857, the eldest of two children, the brother dying in infancy. His father died October 14, 1861, in New York, and the mother died September 5, 1907, in Albion, Nebraska. 122 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In 1876 Mr. Walters moved to Waterloo, Iowa, with his parents, where he engaged in the coal business about a year, then went on a farm until 1879, when he came to Boone county, Ne braska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in the southwest quarter of section twenty, township twenty-two, range seven, sell ing same about five years later. In July, 1885, Mr. Walters organized what was known as the Walters & Price General Merchan dise Company at Garner Postoffice, fifteen miles northwest of Albion. In 1890 he moved with his family to Petersburg, Boone county, where he followed clerking, etc., and later engaged in the real estate business and edited a newspaper, re maining there thirteen years, during which time he also served as treasurer of the school board in 1902 and 1903, chairman of the town board in 1902, and justice of the peace for eight years. On January 1, 1904, Mr. Walters was ap pointed deputy county clerk of Boone county, serving four years, and was then elected county clerk in the fall of 1907, taking charge of the office January 1, 1908, which office he is still filling to the satisfaction of his county. On November 26, 1885, Mr. Walters was mar ried to Miss Cora E. Martin of Boone county, at Albion. Mr. and Mrs. Walters have had five children, three of whom are living: Oliver H., a printer in Columbus, Nebraska; Edna L., mar ried to W. E. Baker, lives in Boone county, Ne braska; Louis E., deceased; Mabel E., deceased, and Clifford E., who resides at home. Mr. Walters ' life history tells of the prosperity and success he has won, and besides the above chronicled facts, he has land interests in western Nebraska and local property in Albion, his pres ent home. Mr. Walters has made his impress on the history of his county, and he and his family enjoy the respect and high esteem of all who know them, and their friends are legion. WILLIAM C. SPLITTGERBER. The prosperity enjoyed within the borders of Wayne county, Nebraska, is due in large meas ure to the enterprise and thrift of the farmers of that region. Their well-improved and well-tilled farms show good management and painstaking care, which has resulted in their present prosper ity. Among the prominent farmers may be men tioned the gentleman above named. He has been a resident of the county for a number of years, and is a substantial farmer, having acquired a good home by persistent industry and honest deal ings, and is esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Splittgerber was born in Germany, near Berlin, in 1855, and is the son of Carl and Caro line Splittgerber. His early years were spent in his native land, where he obtained his education. In 1881 the Splittgerber family left their home to come to America, the land of liberty and opportunity. They came by way of Bremen and Baltimore, and started at once for the west, where land was cheap and there was an equal chance for all. They came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and Carl Splittgerber bought one-half section of land, upon which he lived for eight years. He then moved with his wife to Wisner, where he lived until his death in 1904. After his death the farm was divided between his sons, William C. and Emil; William C, now owning two hun dred and forty acres of the old home place. He now has a well-equipped farm, with all necessary buildings, fences, stock and machinery. There is also now a fine orchard of two acres of fruit trees, all bearing well. Mrs. Carl Splittgerber has made her home with her son, William, since the death of her husband. In 1886 our subscriber was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Ahlfers. They, are the parents of two children, Paul and Hulda. Mrs. Splittgerber, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to America in 1883 alone, and joined an aunt in Saline county. In 1885 she came to Wisner, where she lived with another aunt until her marriage the following year. ANDREW P. JENSEN. A history of Nebraska would not be complete without mentioning the name of Andrew P. Jen sen, who for the past twenty-nine years has been a substantial and progressive citizen, always tak ing a keen interest in things pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county. Andrew P. Jensen was born in Denmark, De cember 11, 1854, a son of Jens Peterson, and by a peculiar Scandinavian custom takes his last name from his father's first. He was fourth in a family of six children, and has two sisters re siding in Garfield county, Nebraska, the other children being deceased. The father, Jens Pet erson, lives in Ord, Nebraska, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1884. The mother died in 1904, in Valley county, Nebraska. Our subject received his education in the schools of his native country, and at the age of fifteen began to learn the car penter trade, which he finished in due time, and later followed alternately with farming. On July 21, 1876, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Peterson, also a native of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Jensen have had two children, namely : Marie, who is the wife of John Frandsen,. has one child, and lives in the state of Montana, and Iner, deceased in 1887 in infancy. In 1881 Mr. Jensen came with his wife and one daughter to America, locating in Omaha, Nebras ka, where he worked at his trade until May, 1884. He then moved his family to Valley coun ty, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township thirty, range fourteen, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 123 where he remained until the fall of 1885. Owing to cyclone and hailstorms, there was a total fail ure of crops, and Mr. Jensen felt the necessity of going back to Omaha, where he could work at his trade. In July of 1893 he again moved his family on his Valley county farm, where they remained until August 17, 1908, when Mr. Jensen retired from active farming and moved to Ord, where he has a bee-hive factory. Mr. Jensen is a successful man of affairs, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, which is a fine stock and grain farm, well im proved, and has also fourteen acres of timber land. He is a progressive man, interested in all per taining to the welfare of his home county and state, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Jensen served as director of his school district, number twelve, for some years. G. GOBLE. A typical pioneer of eastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named, G. Goble. He has lived many years in this section of the country, and has taken part in the growth - and development of this region, building up for himself a substantial home and future by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Antelope county. Mr. Goble was born in 1862 in the state of Michigan, and is the son of Enos H. and C. (Ve- netta) Goble, the father being a native of Penn sylvania, and the mother a native of New Jersey. Our subject's father served his country in the civil war, enlisting in company F, Twenty-fifth Michigan infantry, remaining in the army from 1862 to 1865. Eight years later he went ' to Kansas, in 1873, taking up a homestead about thirty miles southwest of Topeka, and here the family experienced many discouragements, suf fering from the hot winds and grasshopper raids, and the hard winter of 1873. Becoming dissat isfied in that locality, our subject's father and family returned to Michigan. In 1879 E. H. Goble and family came to Antelope county, Ne braska, taking up a tree claim on the northeast quarter of section thirty-one, township twenty- eight, range seven, and here they built a small frame house and planted fifteen acres of timber. E. H. Goble died, February 23, 1887. G. Goble, our subject, in 1888, took up a home stead in the southwest quarter section thirty-one, township twenty-eight, range seven. On this homestead he built a sod house, in which he lived four years, and then built a frame house. In 1901 he bought out the heirs' interests in his father's tree claim, and moved onto that farm, where he now resides, and he has a well-improved and valuable property there. In 1906 Mr. Goble was united in holy matri mony to Miss Elizabeth Hobson, and Mr. and Mrs Goble have had two children born to them, whose names are as follows : Harold and May. Mr. and Mrs. Goble and family are pleasantly situated in their fine home, and enjoy the respect and high regard of all who know them. HERMAN A. KRUETZFELDT. Herman A. Kruetzfeldt, a well-to-do farmer, energetic and industrious, a typical representa tive of the sturdy German race, who came to this country to establish a home and accumulate a competence for his old age, resides on his farm, the northwest quarter of section thirty, township twenty-eight, range one. Although not one of the oldest settlers of Nebraska, Mr. Kruetzfeldt, since coming to this part of the country, has always done his share for the benefit of his community. Mr. Kruetzfeldt was born in the village of Stein, province of Holstein, Germany, August 9, 1863, the year before that region .was ceded by Denmark to Germany. He is the son of Joachim and Anna (Klindt) Kruetzfeldt, also natives of Holstein. On coming to America in 1881, Mr. Kruetzfeldt sailed from Hamburg to New York in the "Cymbria, " which some years later foundered at sea. He came directly to Davenport, Iowa, and for six years worked as a farm hand in Scott county. He then moved to Cass county, renting a farm from his father-in-law for fifteen years. In 1900 he came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he has since made his home. His farm is a fertile tract of land, on which is a beautiful grove surround ing the substantial buildings, and an orchard of goodly size. Mr. Kruetzfeldt was married in Davenport, Iowa, February 18, 1885, to Miss Augusta Gottsch, a native of Scott county, and daughter of Joac him and Magarita (Lamp) Gottsch, natives of the village of Stein, Denmark, whence the father sailed the seas some eight or nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Kruetzfeldt have had four children : Harry, William, Arnold and Maud. Harry was educated at a business college in Davenport, Iowa, and is manager of the Edwards & Bradford Lumber Company at McLain ; William received his educa tion in Wayne, Nebraska, and is manager for the same company at Belden, and Arnold is being edu cated at the college at Wayne. In politics, Mr. Kruetzfeldt votes the demo cratic ticket. He belongs to the Sons of Herman lodge, and he and his family worship at the Ger man Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Kruetzfeldt and family are highly respected by all who know them. PETER D. VORHES. The gentleman above named, now deceased, was a prominent old settler and well-known resi dent of Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. Vorhes died in Grand Island in February, 1902, and his 124 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. death was deeply felt by all who knew him, as he was looked upon as one of the leading public- spirited men of the county, and held in the high est esteem and respect by his fellow men. Peter D. Vorhes was born in New York state, February 15, 1830. He moved to Michigan with his parents when a small boy, and when a young man, in company with his brother Fred, went to California, remaining in that country for about fifteen years. There they were engaged in black- smithing, prospecting, mining, etc., saw a great deal of the western life, and succeeded in getting together some property. Peter returned to Michigan, and was mar ried there to Miss Emil J. Goodman of Oakland county, and they made that locality their home up to the spring of 1877, when the family, con sisting of himself, wife and daughter, Ada Jane, now the wife of W. E. Baliman, came to Howard county, and settled on a homestead, which our subject purchased, on section thirty-two, town ship thirteen, range nine. They worked hard, and passed through all the early Nebraska times, meeting many discouragements in the early days, but gradually succeeded in improving their homestead. At one time a prairie fire swept the country, and burned a barn and granary contain ing his season's seed and grain supply. The house which he built was the first frame built in his section of the country, some of the lumber being brought by team from Omaha. In 1890 Mr. Vorhes built a home in Grand Island, and moved to that city, where he engaged in the wagon-making business. In 1891 he re turned to the farm and remained two years, and then went back to Grand Island, which remained his home until his death. He was known as a prosperous and progressive farmer, his success due entirely to his thrift and industry. JOHN WAGNER. Among the worthy citizens given to America by the fatherland, none stand higher in his own community than the Wagner brothers, John and Matthew. John Wagner was born near the town of Bittburg, in the village of Meserich, Rhine Province, Prussia, September 2, 1842. He was employed at farm labor the years he lived in the fatherland, and naturally found farming a con genial occupation on reaching the new world. According to the custom of the old country, he served something over three years in the Prussian army, from 1863 to 1866, during which time he participated in the wars with Sehleswig, Holsteine and Austria, in 1864 and 1866, respec tively, in the artillery service. He began his military career in Berlin, and was honorably dis charged there at the end of his enlistment. In 1868 the brothers emigrated to America, sailing from Antwerp to Liverpool, and on April 15, thence on the "Erin," landing in New York the 9th of May. Proceding direct to Chicago, John Wagner worked there ten days to secure funds for transportation to Monmouth, Illinois. In July he went to Milwaukee, and soon after to a farm three miles from Waukegan, Illinois. About the first of September he found employ ment on a railroad, then being constructed through Iowa, and first set foot on Nebraska soil at Omaha some time in November. Omaha was then a comparatively small town, and the gate way to the west. In the spring Mr. Wagner se cured employment as driver in the government service, and was stationed at Cottonwood Springs, near the junction of the North and South Plattes. During the six months he worked here, he had many hard experiences. One day, while working on the bridge across the North Platte river his revolver fell into the river ; in grabbing for it, he jerked his watch from his pocket, and so far as known both are there in the river to this day. Lice, "chinches" and sand fleas were numerous in every camp. For safety from the Indians, men dug short tunnels into the hills for sleeping quarters. In these they spread grass, and rolled up in their blankets with their rifles and revolvers at their sides. One time, in swimming the Platte, the current carried him a mile and a half down the stream before he could make a landing on the other side. While at Cottonwood Springs, Mr. Wagner became acquainted with Mr. Zeph and Mr. Hengstler, now for years neighbors in Knox county. Returning to Omaha, Mr. Wagner se cured work with Louis Crow, who established the first packing house in the city, it being located at Fifteenth and Douglas streets, and remained in his employ three years. For a short time the brothers worked in Plattsmouth, and then re turned in the spring of 1871, to Omaha, to pur chase oxen, a wagon and supplies for their trip to Knox county, which was recommended to them as being a desirable place to locate. Travel was slow as they had no feed, and were compelled to stop after a few hours' travel to allow the oxen to graze. In coming, they followed up the Little Elk horn to near where Osmond now stands, and then turned to the northwest, over the watershed, into the valley of Bazile creek. At that time in Creighton there was but one sod shanty on the east side of the creek. George Quimby had laid out a townsite called Mansfield, about a mile south of the present site of Bazile Mills. Here Mr. Wagner, with his brother, arrived on Good Friday, which fell in April that year, a few hours before the "Bruce Colony," which had wandered out on the Elkhorn, crossed back to Niobrara, and finally reached their destination from the north, instead of from the south, as they had at first intended. Henry Mecke and Sebastian Zeph had preceded them a short time, and secured claims in the neighborhood. Mr. Wagner located a homestead claim a mile north and west from Creighton, and in the fall returned to Omaha, where he worked until spring. MR. AND MRS. JOHN WAGNER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 125 While here, he married, and in the spring started for his new home with his young wife. The railroad extended to West Point or Wisner, and here Mr. Wagner engaged a settler, living eight miles from West Point, to bring him to Creighton. Here he purchased a cow, some chickens, and secured some wheat. There being no way to take the cow with him at the time, Mr. Wagner returned some months later, walking nearly all the way to West Point — a little less than sixty miles — and on foot led the cow back to his Knox county home, purchasing a milk bucket at Norfolk on the way. How many young men these days would walk a hundred miles to supply the source of milk and butter for their family ? There was a log house on Mr. Wagner's homestead, built by an early pioneer who had become discouraged and abandoned his claim. Here the family lived some years, until a more commodious frame house could be erected. Here Mr. Wagner lived until October, 1903, when he came to town, that his children might attend parochial school. Mr. Wagner was first married October 25, 1872, to Miss Lydia Horst, a native of the prov ince of Hanover, Germany, who came to America in 1867. Her people died in Germany, and she came to the United States when twelve years old, with neighbors, and lived first in Illinois, later in Iowa, and finally moved to Omaha. Nine chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wagner. The eldest, Helen, is the wife of A. R. Johnson of Plattsmouth; Margaret is married to Frank Abbenhaus, a farmer living near Bloomfield; Katie, with her husband, John H. Abbenhaus, is now living on a claim in Tripp county, South Dakota; Mary Theresa died at the age of eight years ; Mathew J., is part owner of an elevator in Creighton ; Ann, the wife of Wm. Young, lives in Antelope county; Frank H., is in business with Mathew; Leonard J., cultivates the home farm; and Mary, the youngest is housekeeper for her brother, Leonard J. The wife and mother died August 19, 1890. On January 22, 1894, Mr. Wagner was mar ried to Mrs. Franceska M. Haak, a native of Washington county, Wisconsin, born March 19, 1854. Her parents, Franz and Catherine (Gersing) Schneider, were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1847. They moved to Nebraska in 1873, settling in Knox county. Here they endured many hardships, the girls having to work in the fields with the men in order to make a living for the family. At times their only food was corn bread and water for breakfast and supper, and the same with a small piece of bacon for the noon meal — not a very nutritious ration for young women pitching wheat in the fields all day. Franceska Schneider was married to Peter Haak, September 12, 1878. He was a German, but born in Poland, June 22, 1848, and died on his farm north of Creighton, March 21, 1893. During the early years of his residence in Knox county, he freighted across the country to Yankton for the merchants at Bazile Mills. He worked for a time in the reconstruction of a railroad through the country, and at times during, his absence, Indians came to the house to ask for food. Mrs. Haak always gave them what she had, having no fear of them, and never had any of their stock molested. Their children are: Leo, who farms on the homestead claim near Winnetoon; Luke Z., residing on the timber claim secured by his father; and Mary O, who keeps house for her younger brother. Of their second marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wag ner are the parents of one daughter, Adelia C, a student in the parochial school in Creighton. During the first years of the settlement of northern Nebraska, great herds of Texas cattle were driven across the country to the Niobrara to issue as beef to the Indians. They were al lowed to cross the farms of the settlers, tramp ling the crops and where they had passed, the ground was pressed so hard it required a re-plow ing. No satisfaction was given the settlers for this destruction of their crops, and little com plaint was made ; the cattlemen carried arms, and were too ready to use them. Blizzards caused great suffering. Mr. Wagner had his face, nose and cheeks frozen in such a storm. He allowed the oxen to flounder their own way through the open prairies, he not daring to lose his hold on the wagon, as he might never have found it again, nor his home. Crossing the Little Elkhorn at through. Mr. Wagner had to walk several miles in his wet clothes before he found a cabin in which to spend the night, and did not get his clothing dried until along in the next day. In the blizzard of 1888 he lost thirteen cattle, a good share of all he had. After "the winter of the deep snow," 1880 and 1881, snow lasted until into the summer. Enough was found in the canyons near Bazile Mills to freeze ice cream at the Fourth of July picnic. Money and work were so scarce that Mr. Wagner walked to West Point — sixty miles — several seasons to labor in the harvest fields, and then walked home with the proceeds and a few provisions. To save matches, they were carefully split into four pieces, and each piece being made to do the service of a whole match. Groceries for a year or two were hauled from Yankton, fifty miles away. And for coffee, queer substitutes were found. They used parched corn at Dry Creek, dried peas at West Point, wheat at Pierce, and burnt bread at Bazile Mills. Mr. Wagner leans toward the populist princi ples in political matters. The family all worship at the altar of the Catholic church, and the three youngest children have been educated in paroch ial schools, which were established at Creighton in 1903. After years of struggle and hardship, Mr. Wagner has secured a competency, and is enjoy- 126 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ing his ease in his comfortable village home. On another page will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner. NEILS JORGENSEN. Neils Jorgenson, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Valley county, Nebraska, has been a resident of central Nebraska for the past twenty-six years. He has acquired a valuable property through his industry and thrift, supplemented by good management and honest dealings, and well merits the success he has attained. Mr. Jorgensen was born in the village of Horseus, Linerip district, province of Jutland, Denmark, February 4, 1847, a son of Jurgen and Mina (Janssen) Neilson. He received his educa tion in the schools of his home country, and later engaged in farming. In the summer of 1884 he came to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York, the voyage lasting two weeks. Locating in Cedar county, Nebraska, he engaged in farm labor for nearly two years, and in 1885 moved to Holt county, where he homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land, six miles north of Amelia, and this remained the home place until 1893, when he came to Valley county, and pur chased four hundred and eighty acres in section ten, township twenty, range fourteen, which is now the home place. He owns one hundred and sixty acres in Elyria township, and a quarter section in Garfield county. The family lived in a sod house for a time, and in 1901 built a sub stantial frame dwelling, and good barns and other farm buildings from time to time. He also lived in a sod house for seven years in Holt county. On August 11, 1884, Mr. Jorgensen was mar ried to Miss Hannah Worm, who also was born in Denmark, and came to America in 1884. She is a daughter of Wilhelm and Carin (Jensen) Worm. Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen have had five children, namely : William, who resides at home ; Henry, married, and residing on the Garfield county farm; and Walter, Mena and Nora, who are residing under the parental roof. Mr. Jorgensen is a prosperous and successful man of affairs, owning eight hundred acres of good land, all in Nebraska. He is a man inter ested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. Jorgensen has served twelve years as moderator of his school districts, numbers forty-five and fifty-four, which record demon strates his interest along educational lines. JOHN E. BLOMQUAST. John E. Blomquast, son of Ole and Margaret Blomquast, was born in Sweden, April 21, 1843, second in a family of three children, and is now the only survivor of the family, a brother and sister being deceased, and his father died in February, 1871, and the mother in August, 1868. On July 25, 1869, Mr. Blomquast was joined in wedlock to Miss Augusta Eklund, also a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1869, a daughter of Alex and Breta Eklund. Her father died in 1887 and the mother in 1900, both in Platte county, Nebraska. She has a brother re siding in New Zealand, Australia. In 1877 Mr. Blomquast located in Platte coun ty, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, which remained the home place about twenty-two years, during which time he purchased eight hun dred acres more. In 1900 Mr. Blomquast retired from farm life, and moved to Newman Grove, Madison county, where he built a fine home, which is his present residence, and in 1905 sold his Platte county in terests. In 1894 Mr. Blomquast became interested in banking, and was vice president of Newman Grove State Bank until 1905, and has also been vice president of the Citizen's Bank in Newman Grove for several years. He served Platte county as supervisor for one year, and was on the school board about twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Blomquast have had three chil dren : John A., who is married, lives in Boise City, Idaho; Albertina E., died March 21, 1908, she had been married to Eric Hollgrin, and lived in Newman Grove, two children being born to them ; and Alfred E., who resides in Walla Walla, Washington. Mr. Blomquast is well known, having been prominent in business circles, and is a progressive man, alive to all the interests of his state and country. WILLIAM HANCOCK. The Hancocks were the fourteenth family to locate in Sherman county, and have always stood for the best interests and welfare of their com munity. William Hancock, who has spent most of his life in the county, well remembers pioneer conditions and experiences. He was born August 14, 1861, in Sullivan county, Indiana, and is a son of Samuel and Rachel (Davis) Hancock, the father a native of Georgia and of Irish extraction, and the mother a native of Ohio, of German descent. Samuel Hancock, who was an orderly sergeant in the union army during the civil war, brought his family to Sherman county in 1873, and secured a homestead, where he spent his remaining days. His wife died in 1887 and he in 1900. William is the fifth of eight children, and he has one brother in Colorado, a brother and two sisters in Nebraska, two sisters in California, and a sister in Oregon. William Hancock received most of his educa tion before coming to Nebraska, and there learned to help with improving and operating the land. As a young man, he spent some time in construe- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 127 tion work for the B. & M. and the Union Pacific railroads, and later engaged in farming on his own account. His first purchase of land was one hundred and sixty acres, which he secured in 1895, later owning and operating various farms, and in 1905 he bought his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-nine, township fourteen, range fifteen, where he has erected a very comfortable residence and other buildings, and made many needed im provements.' His land is now in a high state of cultivation, and he is accounted one of the most successful farmers of the vicinity, being widely and favorably known, as he is one of the oldest settlers in the county. He has always been much interested in the cause of education and other movements for the public welfare, and for the past ten years has served school district number thirteen as school treasurer. Mr. Hancock was married at Loup City, May 11, 1892, to Miss Cora Castner, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Elijah and Eliza (Kitchen) Castner, both of German descent, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Ohio. Her father died in Pennsylvania in 1899, and her mother in Ohio in 1877. She has two brothers in Pennsylvania, a brother in Ohio, and a sister in Sherman county, Nebraska. Nine children have blessed the union of Mr. Hancock and wife, all at home, namely: Harold L., Earl S., Arthur L., Cecil J., Sadie G., Hemple M., Fern H., Ernest W. and Russell. For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hancock lived in a sod house before building a frame dwelling. In politics Mr. Hancock is a democrat. He is a member of the A. 0. U. W. and the Degree of Honor. FRANK C. HIRSCHMAN. In selecting land on which to build a perman ent home, much is to be considered. The task is less difficult in a country where civilization has marked the causes and effects of the elements on human work, but in a pioneer country, where little except the boundless prairie is in evidence, the task becomes one of more difficulty. To decide unwisely means many years of futile toil before one is convinced of the waste of time and endeav ors, while a wise judgment brings reward beyond the expectations of all. Among the early settlers of Cedar county, who have been intimately identified with its growth and development, may be mentioned Mr. Hirsch man, who is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born there in 1855, the son of Fred- land and Anna Myra Hirschman. As may be sup posed, both parents were foreign born, the father being an Austrian and the mother a Prussian. The father came to this country on a sailing vessel, and was forty-two days on the sea. He took a lively interest in the affairs of his adopted coun try, and when the civil war broke out, he enlisted, and served for some time under Sherman. Mr. Hirschman lived with his parents in Wis consin until 1871, when the whole family decided to join the westward migration. They took the overland route, and drove from Wisconsin to Cedar county, Nebraska, where they purchased what was known as the "Joseph Knox home stead. ' ' There was nothing but a small ' ' shanty ' ' on the place at that time, which has long since been replaced by a comfortable and commodious home. The farm itself has been improved in many ways, and is now very valuable. Following the usual experience of the early settlers, Mr. Hirschman and his people suffered many hardships. For the first four years they were unlucky enough to have the grasshoppers take all the crops. Then during the second win ter after their arrival in Nebraska, they suffered much by reason of an unusually heavy snowstorm. They also lost all of the crops in 1894 by the hot, dry winds prevalent during the greater part of that summer. However, Mr. Hirschman persevered in his efforts, and by the exercise of unending thrift and economy, was able to add, little by little, adjoin ing lands, until he is now the possessor of about seven hundred acres of highly-improved land, an estate quite as valuable as any to be found in that section of the state. In 1879, just eight years after coming to Ce dar county, Mr. Hirschman married Miss Bertha Dreason. They are the parents of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Hirschman have always been thoroughly interested in the growth and develop ment of the state, and they enjoy a more than local prominence. ROBERT G. BAIRD. Robert G. Baird, retired farmer, son of Hugh and Martha (Brown) Baird, was born in Ran dolph county, Illinois, October 31, 1839. He was the fifth of ten children, of which only three are living, Mr. Baird and a brother and sister who reside in Illinois. His parents were natives of South Carolina, but died in Randolph county, Illinois, his mother in November, 1880, and his father in 1856. Robert G. Baird was educated in his home schools, and later engaged in farming in Ran dolph county. On May 11, 1861, Mr. Baird en-' listed in the service of his country from the state of Illinois for state service, subject to call of the United States, and on June 11, one month later, was assigned to company H, Twenty-second Illinois infantry, serving something over three years, receiving his discharge July 8, 1864, in Spring field, Illinois. He enlisted in the first company organized in Randolph county. While in the service, he participated in the battle at Belmont, serving mostly on detached duty. After he re turned to Illinois, Mr. Baird engaged in farming. 128 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. On January 18, 1866, he married Mary J. Mc Donald, who was born in Randolph county, Illinois. Her parents were William and Jane (McClelland) McDonald, both of Scotch-Irish descent, who came from South Carolina to Randolph county, Illinois, at an early date. Mrs. Baird was the eighth in a family of twelve chil dren, five of whom are now living. In the fall of 1871, our subject came with his family, in company with his brother, James Baird, and family, to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section twelve, township fourteen, range six, which has since that time remained the home place, with the exception of eight years spent in Illinois, between 1877 and 1884. Mr. Baird was instrumental in organizing his school district, number twenty-one, and served in the various offices of its boards for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are charter members of the First Presbyterian church in Merrick county, which was organized at Central City in 1872. They have had ten- children: Wm. H., deceased in infancy; Prudence A., deceased in 1902; Hugh A., who is married, and has three children, and lives in Central City; Lucinda E., married to W. S. Desh, who have four children, and reside in Central City; Mary J., married to M. G. Scudder, who have four children, and reside in Central City; Martha A., who was married to C. H. Crites, has four children, and lives in Central City (Mr. Crites, a Union Pacific brakeman, was killed while on duty, in 1906) ; Elizabeth, who re sides at home ; Robert B., who is married, and re sides in Merrick county; Cora A., married to George E. Bbckes, Central City; and David M., married, who lives on the original homestead, and has one child. In the spring of 1910, Mr. Baird retired from the farm, and moved to Central City, where he purchased a good home, their present residence. He is an active man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county, and is widely and favorably known. REV. JOHN G. McNAMARA. Few men in the priesthood have won higher favor in their community than John G. McNamara, pastor of St. Andrews Catholic church of Bloom- field. "Father Mack," as he is familiarly called, is a favorite with both Protestants and Catholics, and has been a power for good in his parish. John G. McNamara was born in Wisner, Ne braska, March 1, 1872, a son of James and Mar garet (Carpenter) McNamara, both natives of old Ireland, the father from County Mayo, the moth er from Queen's county. James McNamara came to America in 1863, sailing from Queenstown in a full-rigged ship, and landed in New York, whence he came west to Kankakee county, Illinois. Here he farmed for eight years, and after his marriage, March 7, 1871, came west with his bride and set tled in Cuming county. The mother emigrated to the States in 1868, the voyage lasting six weeks. After living for a time in Cincinnati, she came to Kankakee, where her marriage took place. Mr. McNamara bought a farm, six miles from Wisner, Nebraska, and resided here until 1903, when he retired from active life, and moved to Wisner to make his home. "Father Mack" was reared on his father's farm near Wisner, attending the country schools for five years, and for three years the Guardian Angels' parochial school at West Point. For five years he was a student of St. Francis' College at Quincy, Illinois, graduating in the classical course, and finished in theology and philosophy in Mt. St. Mary's Seminary at Cincinnati, grad uating March 4, 1897, the day of MeKinley's inauguration. His first appointment was as assistant to the priest in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he officiated about eighteen months, and was next sent to the Church of the Sacred Heart at Omaha for one year. Jackson, Nebraska, was his next field of labor, and after a year of services there, he was assigned to the Bloomfield church, November 4, 1900. When "Pather Mack" came to the parish here, the church, a small one, was in the low ground near the creek. He soon formed plans for some thing better. He purchased several acres of land on the high ground in the southeast part of town, and built a substantial rectory in 1901. Tn 1903 a commodious church building was erected on the lot adjoining. This was entirely paid for within four years, though the effort necessary to accom plish this was great, especially when it is con sidered that the parish is small and many of the parishioners poor. When this was all accom plished," Father Mack" thought to let building en terprises rest the remainder of his pastorate here, but the needs of a school, where the young of his parish might receive better education under the supervision of teachers of their faith, began to stir himself again, with the result that in the summer of 1910 a three-story modern school build ing was erected opposite the pastoral residence — a building modern in all its details, which, with all equipments, will cost in the neighborhood of twelve thousand dollars. To all of these enterprises "Father Mack" has given freely of his time, his thought, his energy and his money. His heart and soul have been in this work, and it is little wonder he stands high in the affection of his flock, and in that of his neighbors and fellow townsmen. A man who can in ten short years come into a small and im poverished parish and add so many sightly edi fices to the public buildings of a town, is truly a public benefactor. HERBERT HODGES. Herbert Hodges, an early settler of Nance county, is now owner of extensive farm lands in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 129 that locality, and enjoys a comfortable compe tence and enviable name by his efforts in helping build up the best interests of his section. He enjoys a nice home in Fullerton township, where he has spent many years. Mr. Hodges was born in Kent county, Michi gan, October 8, 1869. He is the eldest of three children in the family of Frank and Jane Hodges, two born in Michigan and a daughter after coming to Merrick county, where the family settled when Herbert was four years old. They moved into Nance county in the fall of 1877, the father pur chasing three hundred and twenty acres of farm land on sections thirty-one and thirty-two, town ship seventeen, range six, and erecting a dwelling on the first-named section. Here our subject grew to manhood, receiving his early education in the public schools, and later attending the Commercial College at Omaha. In 1891 he began working rented land for his father, and also got together a bunch of stock, and was successful in building up his farm, gradually putting improvements on it, planting trees and groves, and got it in first class condition, then changed his residence to where he owned one hundred and sixty acres, which has been his home farm ever since. He is now the owner of four hundred and fifty-four acres of land, three hundred and fifty-four acres being situated in section thirty-one, Fullerton township, and one hundred acres in section twen ty-six, Timber Creek township, Nance county. Mr. Hodges was married January 1, 1893, to Miss Lillie Vosburgh, daughter of Willis and Minerva Vosburgh, who made Nance county their home for a number of years. Her father is now dead, while Mrs. Vosburgh makes her home in California. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have four children, namely: Nellie, Stella, Herbert F. and Pearl, all now living at home. Both of Mr. Hodges' parents are deceased. Mr. Hodges is a man of sterling character, energetic and capable, a good business man, and has been very successful during his career. He has taken an active interest in local affairs dur ing his residence in Nance county, helping to es tablish the schools, etc., and for the past seven teen years has been a member of. the school board of district number fifty-three. THEODORE WHEELER. Theodore Wheeler, one of Atkinson's first business men, and now living retired from active work, first came to Nebraska in 1880. October 10 of that year he filed on a homestead and timber claim, fifteen miles northwest of town. He and a son, Willard A. Wheeler, opened a store at Atkin son, January 1, 1881, as soon as a building could be erected, and they continued in business until 1885, when the store was sold. During this time, they were also interested in a ranch, the son man aging the store and the father the ranch. In 1887 the ranch was rented, and the father has since been a resident of Atkinson. The two men con tinued business in the line of raising cattle and sheep until 1904, when they sold out. Theodore Wheeler was born in Mendonville, New York, September 27, 1830, and lived in his native place until 1860, when he removed to the state of Illinois. He resided near the county seat of Kankakee county two years, then moved to Iroquois county, and lived on the "Hurricane Farm," which was the property of Lemuel Milk, until he came to Nebraska in 1880. His contract with Mr. Milk provided for a partnership, which was very satisfactory to both parties during its life. Upon making the trip to Nebraska, Mr. Wheeler traveled as far as Wahoo by rail, and as there was then no railroad reaching to Holt county, he made the rest of the journey by wagon. Mr. Wheeler is a son of George W. Wheeler, who ws born in Mohawk Valley, New York, December- 19, 1799, a few days after the death of the first president of the United States, after whom he was named, and his christening occurred on the day of Washington's funeral, although the news of the death of the illustrious man was not received until three weeks after his demise — so slow was the dissemination of news in those days. Mr. Wheeler's marriage occurred in Mont gomery county, New York, June 26, 1859, when he was united with Miss Elizabeth Andrews, who was born in Oppenheim, New York, daughter of Sabina and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Andrews. Two children blessed their union, Willard A. and Elma. The latter died in 1881, at the age of nineteen years, and was the first person interred in the cemetery at Atkinson. Willard A. Wheeler was born in Montgomery county, New York, February 19, 1860, and was but a few months old when his parents removed to Illinois. He was reared in the latter state, and there became a valuable assistant to his father in carrying on the farm. Since attaining man hood, he has been his father's business partner in all ventures in which the latter has been inter ested. He managed their store five years, and after its sale was appointed postmaster at At kinson under Cleveland during his first admin istration, his commission being dated in the fall of 1885, and his term ending four years later. In 1890 he went to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and there opened a real estate and abstract office, in which he continued six years. In 1897 he began active management of the Wheeler ranch, remaining there until 1903, and soon after his return to Atkinson, established a cement block factory that has since then been furnishing ex cellent building material in many varied forms, to customers over a wide area of territory. He has built up an excellent trade in the plainer styles of artificial stone, and also keeps a stock of many varieties for special use, and he is also able to manufacture on short notice any form of 130 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. concrete product for either plain or ornamental use. The first marriage of Willard A. Wheeler took place June 6, 1886, his bride being Miss Laura Graham, daughter of Samuel L. and Belle (Taylor) Graham, who died eighteen months after their marriage, leaving one daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. Wheeler was married again at Hot Springs, South Dakota, to Miss Carrie Olsen, a native of Norway, who died February 19, 1904. Father and son are life-long democrats, and have always given their hearty support to the candidates of their party who have been worthy of their allegiance. The elder Mr. Wheeler be came a member of the Masonic order in the lodge of Chebanse, while living in Iroquois county, Illinois, and is now the only charter member left of the lodge at Atkinson, in which his son has received three degrees. While a resident of Hot Springs, the latter joined the Chapter, and served as high priest in that branch of the order. He was also a member of the Commandery there. One of the early experiences which the Wheelers remember of their early life in Nebras ka, is the blizzard of October 15 to 17, 1880, which overtook them while they were excavating the cellar for their new store building, and this had to be shoveled out later, as it was entirely filled. The building preceding the one they then erected was a mere shack, and theirs was the first pretentious store building in the town, the lum ber for it being hauled from Niobrara, seventy miles across the open country, six days being required for the round trip necessary to bring each load. Mr. Wheeler also erected the first barn that was made of lumber, the previous ones used there being of sod with hay roofs. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Willard Wheeler, then serving as post master, happened to be at home eating dinner when the storm arose, and so severe was it that he could not return to the office, where his depu ty kept lone watch until the closing hour, with no work to attend to, as none ventured out in so severe a storm for their mail. One of the sad events which occurred during their early years in Nebraska was the tragic death of the Biglow brothers, who were caught by the caving in of a well they were digging. They had come to the state with Mr. Wheeler, and he was one of the many neighbors who came from miles around and dug desperately to accomplish their rescue. However, on account of the caving in of the sandy soil, this work was fraught with great danger. Although one of them lived four days, it was five days before their bodies could be reached, on account of the conditions above described. This untoward event cast a gloom over the entire settlement, which was then small, and could ill afford to spare any of its citizens The elder Mr. Wheeler freighted all the mer chandise for their general store from Neligh, and frequently was in the wagon train with Mr. Peacock, a prominent and well-known settler of Rock county. Deer, antelope and elk were plen tiful in the earliest days, and venison was at times their only meat during the first few years. Freighters from the west frequently killed cattle on the ranges as they came eastward, and sold meat to the settlers, who did not ask whose cattle had been killed — necessity knowing no law. "Doc" Middleton, Ardmore, "Kid" Wade and other noted "rustlers" were well-known figures on the frontier, and were frequently to be seen in the Atkinson stores. Fuel was hard to get in the first years, and coal was to be had only at the railroad terminus, and at one time cedar posts, standard mediums of exchange, were the only fuel available at the stores. Billie Reed, who had shot the sheriff at 0 'Neill, was caught in Atkinson, five men in the posse suspecting that he was in Mr. Wheeler's house, which they surrounded, much to the fright of Mrs. Wheeler. It transpired, however, that he was hiding in a store across the road, from which he was finally dislodged. At his trial, where he was supported by all the cattlemen of that region, he was cleared. Those wild days are now but a memory, and stand in strange contrast to the present staid, well-settled condi tion of the country, exciting wonder that so great a change could take place in the space of time that has marked comparatively a few short years. JOHN HALLIGAN. John Halligan, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Boone county, is the owner of a valua ble estate in Manchester precinct. By his thrift and energy, aided by a natural business ability, he has gathered about him an ample sufficiency of this world's goods to guarantee immunity from want in his old age. Mr. Halligan was born in Kings county, Ire land, on March 18, 1848, being the fourth of six children in the family of John and Ann Halligan. When John was two years of age, the father, mother and four children came to America, their first settlement being in Montgomery county, New York state. They remained there for several years, then removed to Racine county, Wiscon sin, and later to Juneau county, that state, where our subject received his early education. The father was a farmer, he dying in Juneau county about 1855, and his wife died at the home of our subject in 1879, in Boone county, Nebraska. Our subject came into Boone county in 1874, homesteading on section ten, township twenty, range five, and later removed to section twelve, which is his present location. He had a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, situated in Jennings valley, improved in splendid shape, with good buildings and every equipment for carrying on a model stock and grain farm. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 131 Since coming to Nebraska, Mr. Halligan has experienced the real old-time hardships and difficulties familiar to the pioneers of the west. He has been intimately identified with the growth and development of the county in which he chose his home, and through it all has become success ful in a marked degree, gaining the friendship and esteem of all with whom he has had to do. He is prominent along educational lines, a man who is recognized by all as a clear thinker, fluent speaker, and, although not an office holder, is ever active in political matters. Mr. Halligan was married in Platte county, Nebraska, October 30, 1877, to Miss Ellen Tierney, her family having settled in Boone county in the same years as our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Halligan have been born six. children, the follow ing of whom are now living: Dr. Raymond S. who is married, and the father of two children ; he is a graduate of the medical department of the Northwestern University, Chicago, and is now living in Flint, Michigan; Gerald P., Anna and John Emmett. Mr. Halligan has one brother living in Albion. For the past twenty years Mr. Halligan has been a director of school district number sixty- one. W. S. BROWN. Mr. W. S. Brown, known throughout this section as an able and progressive farmer, resides in his pleasant home on section one, township twenty-five, range three, and is one of the respec ted citizens of the county. Since coming to this locality, many years ago, he has always taken a foremost place in the development of this region. He has succeeded in building up a good farm, and may be classed among the self-made men of the locality, and has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow men. Mr. Brown is a native of the state of Ohio, and was born October 30, 1842, the son of W. B. and Myra Brown, both from Pennsylvania. Both parents were of German descent. In 1850, when our subscriber was only eight years old, the family removed to Livingston county, Illinois. It was here that he grew up and received his education, and it was in this state, also, that he was married. In 1880, Mr. Brown came to Pottawottomie county, Iowa, but remained there only five years, when he again moved, this time coming to Wayne county, Nebraska, where, the year before, he had bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which has since been his home. He has made many improvements on the place since it came into his possession, and it is now one of the best-equipped in the county, with buildings, grove and orchard and well-tilled fields. In 1861, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Almyra Zigler, of Illinois, who died in 1867. In 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Hart, of Ohio, who died in 1896. He is the father of eight children, all by the second wife. Their names are Cora Bell, Lawrence, Mary, Chester, deceased, Leroy, Lucy, Bertha and Wayne. He was again married in 1900, this time to Miss Laura Frederick, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Brown is a republican. FRED FEYERHERM. One of the most successful early settlers of Staunton county is the genial Fred Feyerherm, now retired, living in the county seat. He has been successful, not only as a landed proprietor, but as a merchant and honored county official as well. Mr. Feyerherm was born in the town of Bar- walde, province of Brandenburg, Prussia, Febru ary 26, 1852. Here he spent the years of his childhood and youth, as his parents, Frederick, W. and Eleanor (Rindfleisch) Feyerherm, did not leave Germany until 1868. They sailed from Hamburg on the steamer "Utonia," and arrived in New York city after a voyage of fourteen days. The father settled with his family in Cuming county, where a brother had preceded him, and lived out his days on the farm. Fred remained at home with his parents, working the farm for his father, until he was twenty-four years old. He was then married at Rock Creek to Miss Bertha Schultz, daughter of John M. and Sophie (Dewitz) Schultz, natives of Altruednitz am Oder, in the province of Bran denburg, who came to this country in 1867. After his marriage, Mr. Feyerherm took charge of his father's farm in his own right, living there some seven years or more. In 1883, he removed to Staunton county, and bought a farm about five miles from the county seat, to which the family moved after a year's residence on the farm. Mrs. Feyerherm was a delicate woman, and her strenght did not prove equal to the demands made upon it by the work on the farm in those early days, and it was hoped that a few years of the greater ease in town would fully restore her to health. Mrs. Feyerherm once had the unusual experience of reading her own obituary. A neighbor died when Mrs. Fey erherm was critically ill, and the report went out that she had passed away. Coming to town, Mr. Feyerherm engaged in the implement business, continuing in that line for twenty-one years, until his election as county treasurer in the fall of 1905. He served the public in this capacity so acceptably that he was called upon to fill the position a second term, carrying every precinct in the county. This is an endorse ment of his administration of which any official might be proud, when it is considered that he is 132 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. a republican, while the county is strongly demo cratic. Mr. Feyerherm passed through the vicissitudes of a pioneer's life in Nebraska, and has seen the country develop from the time when it was almost entirely wild, with flocks of antelope ranging over the prairies, to its present state. Indians gave them but little trouble, although when the men were away working, their incessant begging for bread or flour used to make the feminine por tion of the household nervous. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Feyerherm, seven are living. Their names are as follows: Ella (Mrs. Alfred Claus), of Lewiston, Minnesota; Fred; Clara (Mrs. Henry Schwartz), of Menominee, Wisconsin ; Eric, Edith, Irene and Freda. Mr. Feyerherm and his family are members of the St. John's Lutheran church of Staunton. This family is«well known socially, their musical talents alone being sufficient to bring them into notice. All of the children have fine voices, and they are also pianists of no ordinary ability. The young ladies are members of an excellent female quartet, which has attracted more than local attention, being recognized as splendid talent in western Nebraska. ISAAC F. BILLINGS. Isaac F. Billings, who resides in section twenty- six, township twenty-seven, range eight, Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the progressive farm ers of that locality. He is a gentleman of firm characteristics, whose high standing as a worthy citizen is well merited. Mr. Billings is a typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska, has lived many years in this section of the country, and has taken an active interest in the growth and development of this region, building up for himself a substan tial home and fortune. Mr. Billings was born March 25, 1843, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and was the eldest of five children in the family of Charles and Lucinda (Fields) Billings. Our subject's father was born in 1816, in the state of New York, and was a descendant from Ireland. He died in 1901. The mother of our subject was a native of Ver mont, bom in 1828, and died in 1895. Our sub ject, with his parents, moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan, where he lived seven years, and from thence to Illinois, where they lived one year, then moving to Minnesota, where they took up a home stead, on which they built a log house, sixteen by sixteen feet, where the father and mother and five children lived for twenty years. In 1877, the family came overland, in a covered wagon, to Nebraska, where Mr. Billings took up a home stead and timber claim in Holt county, near what is known as "Gunter bridge," near Ewing. Here the family experienced many hardships in those pioneer days, and, like so many other brave pioneer farmers, they lost their crops by the grasshopper raids. The winters of 1880 and 1881 were very hard for a family just starting in this section of the country. Antelope and deer were plentiful in those days, which proved to be very fortunate for our subject and family, as the snow was very deep, and they could not get to market at Norfolk, that being the nearest market, and they could occasionally go out and bring down a deer, keeping themselves supplied with meat. On November 14, 1884, Mr. Billings was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Ball, and Mr. and Mrs. Billings are the parents of the follow ing children: Arthur, Charles, Earl and Mabel. Arthur is married to Miss Bertha Rankin. Mrs. Billings' parents were early settlers in Nebraska. They drove from Jo Daviess county, Illinois, to Blaine township, Nebraska, in the early days, taking up a homestead. Her father was born in the state of New York, and was a descendant from England. Mr. Billings took up a homestead in section two, township twenty-six, range nine, in Holt county, Nebraska, and built a log house, as he was close to the Elkhorn river, and could get logs easily. In 1902, he came to Antelope county, and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land from Mr. Comstock, and is now owner of one of the finest farms in Antelope county, which is known as the "Prairie Belle Farm." Mr. Billings relates many interesting remin iscences of early days in Nebraska. In Septem ber, 1879, a severe prairie fire burned its way across the prairie, and to save the hay, Mr. Bil lings plowed a fire guard around his stacks, and then started a back fire. His fire burned back about two rods, when a tumbling weed, which was ignited, blew back, and set fire to the stack. and the fire then swept on. Mr. Billings had to run for shelter to a cornfield, which was near. The fire jumped Elkhorn river, and swept on toward O'Neill, but Mr. Billings' house and buildings escaped. NORTON WRIGHT. Norton Wright, owner of the Walnut Grove Farm, through his long residence in Pierce coun ty, Nebraska, and his wide experience in farming, has become thoroughly versed in the growth and development of that region. He is one of the leading citizens of his community, and has ac quired valuable possessions by his industry and good management, supplemented by honesty and integrity. Mr. Wright was born in Ocean county, Michi gan, August 9, 1869, and is the son of Amos and Josephine (Crawford) Wright, the father being a native of Canada, and the mother of the south east part of Michigan. The Wright family moved from Michigan to Butler county, Nebraska, in 1874, driving across country, the trip occupying thirty-six days, camping by the wayside. They settled in Butler county, living the first six years "WALNUT GROVE FARM,'' RESIDENCE OF NORTON WRIGHT. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 133 in a sod house. The first year they failed to get a crop planted, and the two following years the grasshoppers took every blade of wheat and corn. In 1880, the father filed on a homestead in Ante lope county, eight miles west of Plainview. During the following winter, snow drifted over the barn to such a depth that a tunnel was necessary, and during this winter they burned hay for fuel most of the time, and cornstalks were hauled half a mile for the same purpose. A son riding out from O'Neill was from early morning until midnight making eighteen miles, on account of the snow, having to borrow a mule to complete the journey, his horse becoming exhausted on the way. Flour, at times, could not be procured, and johnny cake was their only food. But they lived to attain comfort and competence before leaving Nebraska. The elder Wright returned to Michigan in 1889, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. One half-section he sold for six hundred dollars — it could not be bought now for sixteen thousand dollars. Norton Wright was united in holy matrimony, April 10, 1889, to Miss Emma Davis, a native of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, born July 22, 1869. Her parents, Oathniel and Maggie (Riegel) Davis, were also natives of that state. They came west in February, 1870, and settled in Madison county, remaining thirteen years, when they bought a settler's timber claim in the southeast quarter of section seven, township twenty-seven, range four, and later sold to Mr. Wright, and which he has since -extensively improved. In the blizzard of 1888, he made his way some forty rods to the school house, and safely returned with a nephew. He escaped the three-day blizzard, beginning October 15, 1881, by fortunately re turning home from the range the evening before. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright, five children have been born, named as follows: Charles L., Mag gie M., Henry 0., Loretta (died in 1907) and Winetta. Ava, an adopted daughter, has been with them almost since infancy. They are a fine family, and enjoy the esteem and respect of all who know them. Mr. Wright has two hundred and forty acres of land, on which is a ten-acre grove. • The grove to the west of the house is of fine growing wal nuts, which gives the farm its name. An orchard of about one hundred trees, some of which have been bearing a number of years furnishes an abundance of fruit — apples, cherries and plums being the principal varieties. The farm supports from fifteen to twenty houses, thirty to forty cat tle, and a hundred and fifty cows. All this is the result of the personal effort of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Few in the west began with as little, few suffered greater privation, and not many have attained from such a small begin ning such great success. At the time of their mar riage, this worthy couple lacked the price of a license fee, and had to borrow the amount from a friend. Hand in hand and side by side they have struggled along, adding dollar to dollar and acre to acre, until they have now attained a com petency. They built, in the summer of 1910, a handsome ten-room house that is not excelled in appearance and surroundings by any in the coun ty. Surely, Walnut Grove Farm is a comfort to the owner, and a credit to the community. We are pleased to call your attention to a large view of Walnut Grove Farm on another page of this work. Mr. Wright is a staunch republican. DR. HIRAM H. HOAGLAND. What persistence in an idea, what persever ance in a course laid out will do is illustrated in the life of Doctor Hiram H. Hoagland, of Plain- view, Nebraska, who, by the exercise of those traits, accomplished his purpose . of becoming a physician against conditions and discouragements that would have appalled a less resolute man. Born in Fox township, Sullivan county, Penn sylvania, October 19, 1832, the first twenty-two years of his life were spent there. While still a youth, he began the study of medicine in the office of Doctor Webster, of Hill's Grove, Pennsylvania, and was making good progress in his profession. His marriage in his twentieth year delayed ma terially his progress in his profession, as the sup port of an ever-increasing family drove him to the earning of daily bread at a time when he should have been prosecuting his studies. For sustenance he found work at the blacksmiths' trade in various towns throughout Pennsylvania, reading in the office of some local physician in each town where he happened to reside. He was still busily pursuing his studies when the war broke out, and during the latter year of the war enlisted in company C, First New York veteran cavalry, in September, 1864, and served until the close of hostilities, seeing service in West Virginia, near Charleston, guarding the salt works. Having attained the desired proficiency in his chosen profession, Doctor Hoagland returned to Bradford county after the war, and began prac tice, continuing in the profession there and in Susquehanna county until 1871, when he came west. Locating in Carroll county, Iowa, he prac ticed there four years, then removed to Denison, Crawford county, Iowa, where he was engaged in practice until his removal to Nebraska, in 1880. In the spring of that year, he came to Ante lope county, and filed on a homestead claim, eight miles west of Plainview, and began the life of a pioneer. His desire was to abandon the practice of medicine, but a colony from Denison would have no other physician, and his fame as a healer soon spread throughout the countryside. About ten years after settlement in Nebraska, he bought a tree claim, the seventh claimant' on the same land, planted his trees, and made good his title. 134 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In 1898, he removed to Plainview, and has, since 1908, served as justice of the peace, having filled the same office for twelve years in Antelope county. Doctor Hoagland was first married in Brad ford county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, to Miss Fannie Harrington, who died at Elmyra, New York. Of six children born to them, but two survive, Gertrude, wife of Frank Crandall, of Chicago, and George, living at Elmyra, New York. Of his second marriage, in Carroll county. Ipwa, to Miss Lodema Colclo, two children were born, both of whom have followed the mother to the grave. The Doctor was married in Antelope county, Nebraska, to his present wife, who was Miss Ella Passmore, a native of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. Their four children are : Vera, a teacher of South Dakota; Erma, who was for a time teaching in Nebraska and South Dakota ; Ora Delos, the only son, is a student of the Plainview schools, class of 1912, as is Lida Mary, the youngest. The Doctor has had a varied life, extending from the old established customs and institutions of the east to the wild and open country of the western frontier. He has passed through the scenes of peace and war, and knows what it means to earn his daily bread by the brawn of his sinewy arm, as well as by the brain and skill of the pro fessional man. He bears up well the weight of his many years, and has won, by his sterling char acter and worth, the respect and good will of all his fellow townsmen. HENRY SMITH. A leading old-timer of eastern Nebraska is found in the gentleman above mentioned, having come to Howard county in the year of 1879, when that region was just beginning to be settled by many who had come to this new country to build up a home and fortune through industry and perseverance, and who by dint of good manage ment and oft times much privation, have accum ulated a competence, and helped to make the his tory of the west. Mr. Smith was born in Elk county, Pennsyl vania, near St. Mary's, February 28, 1861. When our subject was nine years of age, the family of father, mother, brother and three sisters moved into Benton county, Indiana, where the father fol lowed farming, and here they remained nine years. In February of 1879, the family, excepting two sisters who had married, moved into Howard county, Nebraska. One of the sisters was married to Vincent Horak, and one to Lewis Anstett, and both families later became residents of Howard county. Vincent Horak died on his home farm in St. Libory district, in June, 1901, survived by his widow and eight children. Upon first coming to Howard county, our subject's father homesteaded on section eighteen, township thirteen, range nine, which remained the home farm until his death, which occurred March 25, 1905. The mother had passed away in June of 1903. Mr. Smith had, upon coming to Howard county, remained on the homestead farm several years, assisting his father to break up the land. On becoming of age, he took up a timber claim on the southeast quarter of section twelve, town ship thirteen, range ten, which has always re mained his home farm. This is well equipped with good buildings, and is known as Sunny-Side Farm. Mr. Smith was married to Miss Flora Rice, on the Rice homestead farm in Howard county, July 15, 1886. Miss Rice was a native of Illinois, and came into Howard county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have nine children — a charming fam ily: Viola and Laura, who are teachers in the public schools; Leo, Margaret, Carl, Catherine, Elizabeth, Paul and Bertha, all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. Smith is active in all matters of import ance to his home, county or state. He has passed through much of the early hardships of pioneer life, and is a self-made man. He has been treas urer of his school district, number forty-six, for fifteen years. PETER CHRISTIAN. Peter Christian and wife are to be classed with the honored pioneers who came to Nebraska at a time when they had to endure many adverse conditions, and win their way to success by un tiring energy and industry. They have been identified with the upbuilding and progress of central Nebraska, and were among the number who began their life there in sod shanties. Mr. Christian was born in the town of Faa- borg, isle of Fyen, Denmark, the second child of Jens Christian and wife. He first saw the light of day May '18, 1848, and had one brother and one sister. He was the only one of his family to come to America, which he did after receiving a common school education in his native land. He came in 1866, sailing from Copenhagen in the "Prairie Queen," making a landing at Chris tiana, where three hundred more emigrants were taken aboard. They landed in New York citv, May 1. Mr. Christian first followed lumbering, river driving and farming in Wisconsin, locating first in Winnebago county. He was married at Berlin, Wisconsin, March 8, 1873, to Hannah E. Clausen, daughter of Jacob and Karen Clausen, who came from Denmark in 1866, and now reside at Den mark, Brown county, Wisconsin. Mrs. Christian was the eldest of their children — two sons and three daughters — all of whom live in Wisconsin, except Mrs. Christian. Mr. Christian's parents died in Denmark, both about 1876, and his brother and sister still live in their native country. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 135 In the fall of 1877, Mr. Christian and wife moved to Brownsburg, Hendricks county, Indiana, where he was superintendent of a big farm owned by a wealthy citizen of Indianapolis. In the spring of 1881, he drove with a prairie schooner to Valley county, traveling over the trail taken by others, who were going in the same general direction. The journey lasted seven weeks, de lays being caused by having to ford streams or ferry, all bridges having been washed away by the unprecedented floods of the spring. Even the bridge across the Missouri river at Platts- mouth was swept away. They had but about fif teen dollars cash capital, and had many hard years before them. They located on the home stead on the northeast quarter of section twelve, township seventeen, range sixteen, and this re mained their home for many years. He became interested in selling windmills, pumps, etc., and erected the first implement store in the then new town of Arcadia, in 1884, remaining in that busi ness until 1895. Prior to engaging in that line, he had paid considerable attention to the stock business, and for the past fifteen years has been extensively interested in buying and selling, feed ing and shipping cattle and hogs. He has been a pioneer business man along various lines, and has always had the best interests of the region at heart. He sold the original homestead tract, but still owns his first purchased farm near Arcadia. He and his wife now reside in one of the finest modern homes in Arcadia, and have a large num ber of friends there. They have an adopted son, Jesse W. Christian, who is a carpenter, builder and contractor by occupation. He lives in Arcad ia, is married, and he and his wife, who was Miss Emma Stone, are parents of three sons and three daughters. Mr. Christian and wife have also taken into their home at various times other children who were in need of tender care and attention, and are possessed of kind hearts and generous natures. Mr. Christian has assisted in no small way in the upbuilding and welfare of Arcadia, not only as a business man, but as a citizen who is always ready to help in any measure of progress. Mrs. Christian well remembers their early days in the dirt-roofed sod house, which offered such poor protection from the storm and rain. In those times she often remained at home to care for the cattle and hogs, while her husband worked away for a time to help with their finances, during her full share to help make a start in the new home. . Mr. Christian has been a life-long republican, casting his first American vote for Grant at the time of his first campaign. He has weathered many of the storms and blizzards that swept the west, and one hailstorm that he encountered was especially severe, having torn the top of his buggy to a shapeless wreck. ALEX. E. CUNNINGHAM. Alex. E. Cunningham, an agriculturist of prominence in Madison county, Nebraska, resides in Battle Creek precinct, on section twenty-seven, township twenty-three, range two, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to. the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Cunningham is a native-born Nebraskan, his birth occurring on his father's homestead farm in Madison county, April 13, 1873. He is a son of Augustus M. and Mary E. (Ellis) Cunningham, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. The father came to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1871, and this has remained his home ever since. He served in the civil war, enlisting in Company A, First Pennsylvania infantry, in 1861, and received his honorable discharge in 1864. During his service, he was wounded at the battle of Gettys burg. Our subject's father moved to Nebraska in 1871, as before stated, coming from Pennsylvania, his native state. After his arrival here, he took up a homestead claim on section twenty-seven, township twenty-three, range two, which remains the old homestead farm to this day, and where our subject now resides. On this land was built a shanty, ten by twelve feet, where three families lived a part of one winter. During the first years of residence on the fron tier of the far west, our subject's parents and family, like so many of the brave sons who came to this new, unsettled region, endured many hard ships and privations, as well as frequent dangers. The first few years, the grasshoppers came in hordes, and cleaned up crops and pasture, leaving barren wastes of ground, where but a short time before their arrival, plentiful and promising crops had been growing almost ready for harvest. This was about the greatest source of losses the early settlers had to endure. Many times the family were compelled to burn hay and cornstalks to keep warm in the winter, as wood and coal were hard to get, and the price too high to permit of using for fuel in this region. As late as 1894, the family again lost the season's crops by the hot winds, which came as a result of the great drouth of that year, all vegetation being burned to a crisp. But those are days which have passed to history, and our subject now enjoys the com fort and prosperity which time and improvement have brought to this section of the country. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine land and a good home. Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage in 1906 to Mrs. Effie Cunningham, a native of Illi nois. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have, had two children to bless their union, Arthur and Leona. Mrs. Cunningham had one son by her former marriage, Newell Cunningham, who resides with his step father. Mr. Cunningham is a republican. 136 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. HENRY JENNER. It is probable that among the early settlers of Nebraska there is not a one who is more widely know than the above, who is now a resident of Loup City. He came to this county in 1883, and since that time has made it his home. For more than a quarter of a century he has lived in Loup City, and during this long period of time he has accomplished many things for the city. It is indebted to him for Jenner's Park, one of the well-known resorts of the locality, and much of its progress in other ways can be traced to his enterprise and public spirit. Henry Jenner was born in London, England, on the 14th of March, 1861, and was the second of eight children born to Henry and Jemima Garches (Bond) Jenner. But of this large fam ily, five of the children are still living — three sisters in England and one brother, Robert, in Loup City. Both parents died in the old country. Mr. Jenner received his elementary education under private instructors, and after spending seven years in the famous school at Eaton, en tered King's College in London, where he re mained four years. After leaving this college, he engaged in the business of brewing for three years. In 1882, he came to America, sailing from Liverpool to New York in the ' ' City of Chester, ' ' and located in Sherman county, Nebraska. The next year, in company with his brother, Robert Bond Jenner, he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, about seven miles south of Loup City, where they lived for five years, then sold and moved to town, where Mr. Jenner engaged in the creamery business in partnership with H. M. Mathew. In September, 1892, Mr. Jenner married Miss Laura Lee Smith, a native of Tennessee. Her father, Andrew Jackson Smith, came to Sherman county, Nebraska, in 1879. His wife, who was Loania V. V. Norton before marriage, followed with the children the next spring. Three chil dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jenner — Constance, Henry and Robert. Mr. Jenner is one of the younger men among the early settlers, but his liberal education and natural progressiveness have tended to make him remarkable among the sturdy pioneers. He has always been interested in all measures tending to the betterment of the conditions in his adopted home, and has not hesitated to give freely of both time and means in order to accomplish the end sought. For fourteen years he served as water commissioner, superintending the munici pal water works. About 1898, he purchased some land adjoin ing the city limits, seven acres of which he has devoted to a private amusement and zoological park, known as Jenner's Park. He now has about two hundred animals of various kinds here, and many interesting curios from many parts of the world. Besides these, there are all kinds of devices for amusing both young and old, a splendid dancing and refreshment pavilion, etc. The grounds are beautified by the many and rare flowers, which are kept in the finest possible order, as well as the many tiny ponds filled with hundreds of darting, flashing gold fish. It is a park which would do credit to a much larger city than Loup City. Mr. Jenner's long residence, in this city, to gether with his remarkable personality, have made it possible for him to come in contact with many hundreds of people, and he is respected by every one with whom he has an acquaintance. Mr. Jenner was reared in the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a republican. FRANK A. THOENE, SR. One of the oldest of Nebraska's citizens, one who has for nearly forty years been a resident of Cedar county, is Frank A. Thoene, now living retired from active farming, in Hartington. Mr. Thoene was born in the village of Arpe, province of Westphalia, Germany, December 24, 1833, a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Jutte) Thoene. He lived in his native land, engaging in farm labor, until his emigration to America in 1861. Sailing from Bremen in a full-rigged ship, after a voyage of six weeks he landed in New York, July 15, 1861, and proceeded at once to Detroit, Michigan, where friends from his native village had preceded him. Here he found work in a fac tory for a time, but quit work to enlist in the army, going to the front in October of 1861. The company in which he was enrolled went to St. Louis, Missouri, to join Sigel's Brigade, and was mustered in as Company G, Fifth Mis souri Volunteer Infantry, and was quartered for a time at Benton Barracks. His company was the only only one of the regiment' that was not engaged in a mutiny on the Arkansas border, but was for a time under arrest with the others. They saw service in the Ozark region, between St. Louis and southwest Missouri, and were marched through the south part of the state to Cape Girardeau, and were transported thence to St. Louis by boat, serving in all thirteen months. After his discharge, Mr. Thoene returned to Detroit. Here he worked for six months, and then journeyed to the northern peninsula, and worked in the copper mines for two and a half years. From that time until 1872, he was em ployed in Detroit in a wholesale store, resigning his position to remove to Nebraska. On reaching Cedar county, he settled in Bow valley, on a homestead, to which he has continually added until he now owns thirteen hundred and sixty acres of as fine land as is to be found in Nebras ka. Foreseeing the future development of the state, he early began buying at a time when he COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 137 secured titles at from four to nine dollars an acre. One farm of two hundred and eighty acres lies within a mile of Hartington to the west, and is a very valuable tract of land. In March, 1907, Mr. Thoene resigned the reigns of management to his sons, and, purchasing a cottage in Hart ington, retired to a life of greater ease. Mr. Thoene was married at Detroit, Michigan, in the fall of 1866, to Miss Otilda Arens, born in Westphalia in 1838. Her death occurred in March, 1911. Of their eleven children, eight are living, two having died in infancy and one in maturity. The ones attaining maturity are Frank A., junior, farming in Cedar county; Ma tilda, deceased, who was the wife of Theodore Peitz ; Joseph occupies part of the old home farm; Toney cultivates one of his father's farms at Fordyce ; Mary is the wife of Peter Lauer, living two miles west of Hartington ; Henry is farming in Texas ; Lizzie, who is the wife of John Stappert, lives on their farm in Bow valley ; Fred is farming near St. Helena, and John, the young est, shares the old home farm with Joseph. Mr. Thoene, being a soldier at the time, was allowed to cast his first vote in 1861, although he had been in America but a short time. He supported the democratic party until 1880, but has since been a republican. He was reared a Catholic, and is now a member of the church in Hartington. He is a comrade of Post No. 179, Grand Army of the Republic, at Hartington. He was one of the first assessors of his precinct, and held that office for several years. Mr. Thoene, like other settlers, endured many hardships during the early days. The first year he raised a good crop on the small acreage he had broken, but the second year the grasshoppers took everything he had sown. His first year he had twelve acres of corn, twelve of wheat and twelve of oats. He raised six hogs, hauled five dressed ones to Yankton, and got only $31.00 for the lot, all the cash they had to live on for two years, until the crop of 1874 was raised. For tunately the grasshoppers passed over his land io later years, when others were suffering severe losses. The family suffered from blizzards, too, that of October, 1880, taking toll of him to the extent of eight or ten head of stock, while a neighbor lost all he owned. But, withal, life in Nebraska has been a suc cessful one for- Mr. Thoene. He suffered many bitter trials and endured many hardships, but he endured to the end, and in the evening of life Mr. Thoene can take life easy without a thought or care of the morrow. HON. THOMAS F. FARRELL. Among the early settlers in eastern Nebraska, who labored for the upbuilding of that region and has met with marked success and gained a high station as a citizen, none commands higher respect and esteem than the subject of this review. Mr. Farrell is a gentleman of active public spirit, and has been prominent in local, county and state affairs for many years past, and is universally esteemed as a worthy citizen. Thomas F. Farrell, son of John and Catherine (O 'Conner) Farrell, was born in Canada, December 25, 1858, and was the eldest in a family of nine children, of whom one brother resides in Oregon, one in North Dakota, and another in Idaho, and three sisters live in Merrick county, Nebraska. The mother died in 1899, as did also the father, both on the old homestead in Ne braska. In April, 1871, when twelve years of age, Mr. Farrell came with his parents to Merrick county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-four, township thirteen, range seven, in Chapman township. He received his education in the schools of Canada and Nebraska, and later en gaged in farming. About 1882, Mr. Farrell, our subject, pur chased eighty acres, which was his home place twenty-five years, but he is now living on his father's homestead. He has been prosperous and successful, and owns something over two hun dred acres of fine farming land, all under culti vation. In politics, Mr. Farrell is a populist, and was a member of the Nebraska state senate, rep resenting the eighteenth district two terms, from 1897 to 1901 inclusive. He also served nine years on the school board of his district. Mr. Farrell was married June 10, 1884, to Miss Sarah Gallagher of Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl vania. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell have had ten chil dren born to them, seven of whom are living: Veronica, wife of John Malloy, has one child and lives in Saunders county, Nebraska; Teressa, Paul, Gertrude, Thomas, Vivian and Ragina, all of whom reside under the parental roof; Ed ward, deceased; Agnes and Harry, deceased in infancy. Mrs. Farrell's father, Barney Gallagher, died in 1907, and her mother still lives in Palmer, Nebraska. A sister lives in Canada, one in Los Angeles, another in the state of Washington, and still another in Chicago. She has a brother residing in South Dakota, one brother and two sisters in Merrick county. Mr. Farrell is one of the well known men of this part of the state, and has been closely iden tified with the interests of Nebraska. He is a progressive man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known. C. A. LYON. Mr. C. A. Lyon, who resides on section five, township twenty-nine, range five, Knox county, is one of the leading old-timers in this section, and has always done his full share in the better ment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. 138 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Lyon is a native of New York state, and was born at Buffalo, February 2, 1842. He is a son of Lewis and Samanthe Lyon, of Irish and English descent respectively. Our subject's grandmother, on his mother's side, was in Boston at the time of the famous tea party, and well remembered that stirring event. His great grandfather, Ethan Allen, served in the revolu tionary war. Mr. Lyon's early childhood was spent in his native city, and at the tender age of three years, his parents moved to Wisconsin, where the family remained until he was ten years old, and then they migrated to Iowa. His education was ob tained in the public schools of Wisconsin and Iowa, where he spent his boyhood days. While living in Iowa, he enlisted in Company F, 3rd Regiment of Iowa Infantry, under Captain C. A. Neweomb, and served through the entire war. He was wounded at Blue Mills, Missouri, was laid up for some time, and in February, 1862, was discharged on account of another disability. In August, 1862, he re-enlisted at West Union, Iowa. He saw active service and participated in many battles and minor engagements, being wounded again at Springfield, Missouri. He received his discharge in August, 1865, and returned to his home in Iowa, remaining there engaged in a harness shop and farming up to 1872. In the month of May of that year, he started out by wagon team for Nebraska, and selected a location in section nine, township twenty-nine, range five, filed on a homestead, and begun to build up a farm. He at once put up a dugout and sod house combined, in which they lived for several years. During the first three years, the grasshoppers took about all they raised, which was a serious hardship in those days, times being extremely hard for the poor settler at the best. In 1894, the hot winds burned up all his crops. He managed to make a bare living, often himself and family being without the common necessaries of life. Many times dur ing his early residence here in Nebraska, the entire settlement was forced to fight for days the stubborn prairie fires that threatened their homes and stock. After a hard struggle for existence, Mr. Lyon finally begun to accumulate a nice property, and at the present time he is the owner of a valuable estate and beautiful home, situated on section five, township twenty-nine, range five, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres of the finest land in the county. October 1, 1867, Mr. Lyon was united in mar riage to Miss Sara A. Howard, and to them two children were horn, both now married and set tled in comfortable homes in this locality. Mary, the elder, is the wife of James C. Squires, while Inez married John Neyens. Mr. Lyon has always bcrm active in local affairs, and has done much toward promoting the growth of the commercial and agricultural interests of Knox county. During the early days he served as county superintendent of schools, and proved a most popular and efficient official. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Bazile Mills. HON. OKELEY E. GREEN. Okeley E. Green, an able representative of the commercial and financial interests of Nance county, is president of one of the leading banks in Genoa, also one of the large land-owners of this section of the state. He is actively interested in the cattle business, breeding and raising thor oughbred stock, and is quoted as an authority on all matters pertaining to that line of work. With his family, he occupies a beautiful res idence in Genoa, and all are popular members of the social life of the pretty little city. Mr. Green is a native of Astabula county, Ohio, born on March 20, 1854, and when an in fant about one year of age, removed with his parents to Illinois, where his childhood was spent. In 1875 he went to Iowa, locating at Walnut, where, in company with his brother, F. H. Green, he engaged in the hardware, implement and grain business. They were very successful in their venture, and carried it on for a number of years, remaining there up to 1883, at which time our subject came to Nebraska, and purchased the Bank of Genoa, and was the sole owner and manager of the same for about thirteen years. He then reorganized the institution, taking in L. L. Green and others, and incorporated it under the name of the Commercial State Bank. In 1899 they again reorganized it as the First Na tional Bank of Genoa, electing Mr. Green as its president, which office he still holds, Mr. Green is owner of a fine stock farm, com prising fourteen hundred acres, known through out the entire country as " Cloverdale, " which is devoted to the breeding of pure-bred Hereford cattle exclusively, and he has a large herd, con taining some of the finest animals of this breed in the west. He also has one thousand acres of highly-cultivated land in South Dakota, all under his personal supervision. Mr. Green has always taken a foremost part in every movement formulated for the advance ment of his county and state. He was school director for twenty years, and in 1888 was elected a member of the Nebraska legislature. The fol lowing term he was nominated again, but posi tively declined re-election, as he desired to devote his time entirely to his various private enter prises. He is a strong democrat, a leader of his party in local affairs. Mr. Green was married in 1879 at Walnut, Towa, to Miss Maude M. Perrigo, of Boscobel, Wisconsin, and to them have been born two children, one of whom died in infancy, while a COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 139 daughter, Ethel I., married Sherman Leonard. They live at Nampa, Idaho, and are the parents of one child, a son. Our subject is a direct descendant of General Green, of revolutionary fame, who distinguished himself in various famous battles, particularly at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, etc., and who succeeded General Gates in com mand of the southern army in 1780. Our sub ject's father was Leander L. Greene, also prom inent in the affairs of his time. Our subject is prominent in Masonic circles, having been high priest of the local chapter since 1890. He was worshipful master for sev eral years, of his blue lodge. He was the prime mover in organizing the chapter and blue lodge in Genoa. Mrs. Green also holds a prominent position in social circles. She was grand matron of the Nebraska state Eastern Star for one year, and for several years was a grand officer, and is now local matron of the Genoa Eastern Star, also chairman of the board of the Eastern Star home at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. FRED KACZOR. Fred Kaczor, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska, hr been a resident of that locality for fifteen years, and lives on section eleven, township thirty-four, range twelve. He is one of the foremost farmers and stock men, and, after many years ' hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. Mr. Kaczor is a native of Germany, born 1841 in Brandenburg village, province of Prussia. The father died when our subject was a small boy. In 1869 Mr. Kaczor left his native land on a sailboat, and spent fifteen days on the sea. He landed in Canada, where he worked in a tannery, and after a residence of about thirteen years here, .went to Holt county, Nebraska, where he bought a tree claim, remaining there fifteen years. In 1895, Mr. Kaczor came to Boyd county, Nebras ka, and took up the homestead where he now lives, first putting up a sod house, and later a good frame house. In 1867, Mr. Kaczor was united in marriage to Miss Tena Aldt, and Mr. and Mrs. Kaczor were the parents of nine children. Mrs. Kaczor died in the year of 1902, deeply mourned by her husband and family, and a host of friends and acquaintances. JOHN O'NEILL. John 0 'Neill, retired farmer, son of Felix and Penelope 0 'Neill, was born in the state of Massa chusetts, February 17, 1848. He was an only child. His father died in 1848, and the mother in 1896. In 1857, our subject went with his mother to Wisconsin, where they remained two years, from thence going to Minnesota, where they lived one year. From there they went to St. Louis, Mis souri, where our subject was employed in the glass factory. Later the family returned to Wis consin. On January 29, 1870, Mr. O'Neill was married to Miss Mary J. Mathews, of Racine, Wisconsin. On June 1, 1874, Mr. O'Neill, with his wife and two sons, came across the plains to Boone county, Nebraska, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section eight, township twenty, range five, west, which re mained his home farm until 1903, when Mr. O'Neill retired from active farm life, and moved to Albion, where they built a fine home in which they now live. Mr. O'Neill has been prosperous and success ful, and owns four hundred acres in Boone coun ty, aside from valuable city property. He is a member of the Albion city school board, and has served seventeen years as a director of his school district, number forty-nine. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill have had ten children, eight of whom are living: Phillip B., who re sides in South Dakota; John P., married and lives in Albion, and has one daughter; Edith M., who is married to E. J. Brady, has five children, and lives in South Dakota; Mary, married to T. A. Thompson, and lives in Albion; Geneveive, Anna and Frances reside under the parental roof ; Catherine and Ellen, who both died in infancy; and Thomas F., who is married, and lives in Oregon. Mrs. O'Neill has four brothers, one of whom resides in Albion, one in Fremont, Nebraska, another in Palo Alto, California, and the other in the state of Mississippi. Her father died September 21, 1888, and her mother died March 9, 1898. Mr. O'Neill is one of the early pioneers who has passed through much of Nebraska's history, and met all the discouragements and hardships in cidental to pioneer life. He is widely and favora bly known, and since 1900 has been president of Boone County Agricultural Association, one of the largest of its kind in Nebraska. EUGENE W. HUSE. Eugene W. Huse, editor of the "Wayne Her ald," has been reared in a print shop. Coming, as he does, of a journalistic family, it would be strange if he had not made this his vocation. Mr. Huse was born in Janesville, Minnesota, December 14, 1870, and was only two years of age when the family moved to Ponca. Here he attended the town schools, from which he gradu ated in 1890. Then he began work in the office of the "Ponca Journal," which his father estab lished. In 1899, he accompanied his father to 140 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Klamath Falls, Oregon, where for four years they published the "Klamath Republican." Selling that journal, they returned to northeast ern Nebraska in October, 1903, and published the "Wayne Herald" for a year. On the sale of that paper a year later, Mr. Huse was employed by E. Cunningham, the purchaser, to edit and manage it for him, and this arrangement contin ued two years. In the fall of 1906, Mr. Huse was employed to take the management of the "Daily Express" at Beatrice, Nebraska. The paper had been used in furthering political ambitions to its detriment, and Mr. Huse was instructed to give attention to building up the paper rather than to fostering political factions. He succeeded beyond the ex pectations of himself or the owner. Walt Mason, of the "Emporia Gazette," with whom Mr. Huse had become well acquainted in Beatrice, pays him a glowing tribute on his success in managing the "Express." Mr. Huse returned to Wayne in 1909, bought the "Herald, and is now issuing a twelve-page weekly, all home print, that is not excelled for news and typographical make-up by any of its class in Nebraska. Mr. Huse was married in Wymore, Nebraska, August 19, 1896, to Miss May Fisher, whom he met while she was visiting a relative in Ponca. She was born in Selins Grove, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Snyder) Fisher. They have three daughters: Olive, Dorothy and Edith. Mr. Huse is a staunch republican in political views and gives the party candidates his hearty support. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of Ameri ca. Mr. Huse remembers several of the early bliz zards that swept the west since their family came to the state. Ponca was at times threatened with prairie fires in the early days, and all were called out to fight them. Mr. Huse has seen the west in all phases of its development; has seen the old towns that were the first centers of civilization on the fron tier wilderness ; has seen towns, like mushrooms, spring up over night, and has seen the open, boundless plain develop into a highly cultivated farming community with its pastures, meadows and fields interspersed with groves of fine, tall trees closely resembling those of the original forests further east. HENRY C. BEAN. In presenting to the public a history of Ne braska, the list would not be complete without having mentioned the name of the gentleman above named. Mr. Bean is one of the leading old settlers of Platte county, Nebraska, having re sided in this locality for the past forty-three years. Henry C. Bean, son of Henry and Abolinia (Kisbert) Bean, was born in Cumbaeh, Germany, on January 7, 1830. When nineteen years of age, he came to America, landing in New York City, where he remained for a couple of years, and from thence going to Jersey City, where he worked in a whalebone factory. In 1854, Mr. Bean went to California, and engaged in mining, remaining there until the spring of 1859, when he returned to New York for six months. He then returned to his mining interests in Califor nia, making this trip by water. In April, 1866, Mr. Bean was married to Miss Mary Leavey in New York state. Miss Leavey was born in Ireland, but later became a resident of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Bean soon moved westward, and Mr. Bean was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, which was then extending its line west. Mr. Bean be ing with the advance work, and reaching the point where Cheyenne, Wyoming, is now lo cated, helped to pitch the first tent in the chosen site of that western city. He later was em ployed by the government in construction work at Fort Russel, Wyoming. In the fall of 1868, Mr. Bean came with his family to Nebraska, locat ing in Dawson county, where they resided six months, and then came into Platte county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-four, township seventeen, range one, west, and also pre-empted and timber- claimed three hundred and twenty acres in Holt county. Mr. Bean and family lived on the homestead for forty-one years, making it a fine and highly- improved place, which is situated four and one- half miles southwest of Columbus. Mr. Bean was instrumental in organizing his school district, that of number five, and for over thirty years served in the various offices of its board. He also served as precinct assessor six terms. In 1906, our subject retired from farm life, and- moved to Columbus, where he purchased a good home, their present location. Mr .and Mrs. Bean have had nine "hildren born to them, whose names follow: Cornelia L., resides in Chicago ; Fred E., who is married, and has one child, and lives on the original home stead; Sophia, now Mrs. Alvin Phillips, lives in Columbus; Nellie who is married to Charles Olcott and has five children, resides in Polk county, Nebraska; one infant deceased; Emma, married to Howard Smith, who has one child, lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado; George in California, and Charles and Martha, who still reside with their parents. On September 1, 1860, Mr. Bean enlisted in Company K, Ninth United States Infantry, serv ing five years. The principal battle he engaged in was that of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Later he was on guard duty along the Mississippi river, RESIDENCE OF J. F. HOHNEKE. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 141 and from there was sent to California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, where he was engaged in fighting Indians, and was wounded in a skirmish with them. He received his discharge in September, 1864, in San Francisco, California, and after the war, he visited his old home in Germany for six months. Mr. Bean is one of the best known men of his county, having, as before stated, resided therein for forty-three years. He has been prosperous and successful. JOHN FREDERICK HOHNEKE. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Stanton county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a fore most place. Mr. Hohneke has aided in no slight degree in the development of the agricultural and commercial resources of this region, and has nobly performed his part in advancing the cause of progress in this section of the country. Mr. Hohneke is one of the adopted sons of our state, and was born in 1860 in the province of Brandenburg, Germany. His early years were spent in his native land, but in i873, he, with his parents, Fred and Agost Hohneke, came to this country, and, joining in the stream of em igrants going west, came on to Stanton county, where the father took up a homestead located on section two, township twenty-four, range two, east. The first few years here on the claim were long and hard, owing to the heavy losses of crops occasioned by the ravages of the hordes of grass hoppers. Prospects brightened somewhat later on, however, and conditions improved. They took up a timber claim near by, and among the first things done by the subscriber's father was to plant an orchard and grove on the original homestead claim. Today there is a remarkably fine tract of or chard and grove, about twelve acres in extent, which forms one of the valuable assets of the sub scriber, who still lives on the old homestead. Many improvements have been made since the days when he first came here as a boy. The old log house which was erected with great expendi ture of time when they first came, has disap peared, for one thing, in order to make room for a more modern home, a picture of which appears on another page. In 1886, Mr. Hohneke was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hellegos. In 1889, he was again married, to Miss Anna Whittenburg, who is still living. Their home has been blessed with eight children, named as fol lows: Mary, Minnie, Ella, Edith, Mate, Fred, Henry and Louise. Mr. Hohneke and his family have always taken a prominent part in all social lines in the neighborhood. Mr. Hohneke himself is reckoned among our most prosperous and substantial citizens, and enjoys the respect of a wide circle of friends. J. H. LYBOLT. J. H. Lybolt, one of the old settlers of the re gion where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-one, township twenty-six, range six, Antelope county, Nebraska. He has done his share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Lybolt is a native of Schuyler county, New York, where he was born on a farm in 1845, and grew up to his young manhood days in his birth place, receiving his education in the country schools, and helping his father work the home farm. On June 12, 1862, our subject enlisted in the civil war, Company E, One Hundred Seventh New York Volunteers under Captain Morgan, at Elmyra, New York; was sent to Arlington, Heights, Fort Lyons, Virginia, and while there the regiment was without guns ten days in camp, when after receiving their guns they partici pated in the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam — from light of day until after dark — then on to Maryland Heights; then to Harper's Ferry where they felled timber; and under General Burnsides -across to Fredericks burg, where our subject was sent on a furlough. He again joined his regiment in May, and was active in the battle of Gettysburg, and served un der General Slocum. He participated in the battle of Stevens Station, and from there to Lookout Mountain. General Grant then had command of the army and General Gary of the Second Divi sion; our subject was sent to guard the railroad from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga. On the 4th day of May our subject's regiment broke camp and started with General Sherman on his famous march to Atlanta, starting from Dallas, where they were one hour and fifteen minutes in the battle, and lost one hundred ninety-seven men out of five hundred; they then went to Pump kin Vine Creek, and then General Sherman took his command around the city of Atlanta, and left our subject's corps, (20th) in front of the city, and the next day the regiment moved into Atlan ta, from where they started to the sea by the way of Davidboro. They were in camp at Savan nah all winter. They participated in battles at various points, finally coming to Washington, where our subject with his regiment partici pated in the Grand Review. Mr. Lybolt was with the oldest regiment in the division. When he enlisted there were one hundred and twelve men in his company, and only sixteen were left to be mustered out on June 4, 1865. After the war our subject returned home and in 1869 start ed for the west, coming to Saunders county, Ne- 142 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. braska where he homsteaded land in southwest quarter, section twenty-two, township fifteen, range six, east, where he remained about twelve years, and in 1879 moved to Antelope county, Ne braska where he took up a tree claim in section twenty-two, township twenty-seven, range six, where he and a friend built a shanty so it would stand on two claims, and here they "batched" it for several years. The grasshoppers and hot winds destroyed all the crops in 1874 and 1875, which made it very hard for a young man with out means. They had to burn hay and corn for fuel in those days, corn being six cents a bushel, and they had to go way to the Platte river for wood. Mr. Lybolt now owns two hundred forty acres of land, twenty-five acres of which are de voted to trees. Mr. Lybolt was married to Miss Margaret Caddock, to which union one child was born: WiUiam, who is married to Ethel Baynard, and they are the parents of two children. Mrs. Lybolt died in 1901. In 1906 Mr. Lybolt was again married, this time to his schooldays sweetheart, Miss Stevens. Her father's land and of our subject's father joined in New York state. Mr. Lybolt 's father, Jacob Lybolt, was born in New York, and fought in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. Our subject's mother was a native of New Hamp shire. Mr. Lybolt is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., Woodmen, and Workmen lodges, and is highly respected by all. PETER KUEHL. Peter Kuehl, proprietor of one of the most valuable farms in Pierce county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality since 1886. He is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost, farmers and stockmen in Ne braska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his farm is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. Mr. Kuehl is a native of Germany, being born in the village of Hensted, province of Holstein, in May, 1855. Mr. Kuehl's father was Hans Kuehl, who was born in Germany. Our subject came to America in 1872, landing in New York City after a fourteen days' voyage on the ocean, and after spending one and one- half days in this city, and several months in Chi cago, he went to Clinton county, Iowa, where he lived three years and three months. He then went to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he resid ed three years, and thence to Douglas county, Nebraska, where he lived eight years, and experi enced suffering through the memorable hailstorm of 1884. Mr. Kuehl then took up a homestead in Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1886, situated in the southeast quarter of section three, Dry Creek township, and has been a resident of this county for twenty-four years. He has experienced all the discouraging incidents subject to the early days, and gives an interesting story of the bliz zard of 1888. On that memorable day, with his hired man, he started from home at twelve o'clock to go after the children at the school house which was one mile from home. They reached the school house, and with the two children, Liz zie and Henry, started for home, but became lost and did not reach their destination until very late in the evening. Peter Kuehl was married in 1877, to Miss Sophia Ohm, also a native of Germany, being born at Mechlenberg. They are the parents of eleven children, a fine family, whose names are as follows: Lizzie, Henry, Minnie and Willie, twins, John, Anna, Tillie, Peter, Alice, George, and Herman. Three are married : Lizzie, wife of Charles Wasberg, has two children and lives in the state of Colorado; Henry was married to Miss Elsa Fulton, and they have two children, and Willie was joined in wedlock to Miss Lizzie Crouse and they have three children. Mr. Kuehl is a staunch republican, voting that ticket in both state and local elections. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of land in Pierce county. JAMES IRVINE. The name of Irvine is a familiar one to all who have passed any length of time in Howard county, in that this family is among the very ear liest settlers of that part of Nebraska, and the gentleman above mentioned has passed through all the ups and downs of pioneer life, ever taking a prominent part in the upbuilding of his county and state. James Irvine is a native of Lauderdale, Kirk- hill village, Scotland, born on October 7, 1846. He was the second child in a family of nine, con sisting of seven boys and one girl. His parents were James and Janet (Lock) Irvine, both of whom were born and reared in Lauderdale. Mr. Irvine grew up in his native country, leaving there for the United States in 1869, and. landing in New York on June 8th. His first location was at Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he remained for several months, then went to Cascade, Iowa. There he engaged in farming, but after only one year in the vicinity came on to Nebraska, stop ping at Omaha. He was accompanied by his brother George, and two friends, James Baxter and Alex Lamb, arriving in Howard county about the first of April, 1871. Our subject filed home stead rights in southeast quarter, section twen ty-four, township fourteen, range twelve, proved up on one hundred and sixty acres, and later sold the land. About 1899 he purchased his present farm which is situated on section sixteen, of which about two hundred and sixty acres are under cul tivation. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Irvine purchased COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 143 three hundred and twenty acres, which was the west half of section nine, and in February, 1910, added to it three hundred and twenty acres ad joining it, lying in section eight, so he is now owner altogether of nine hundred and sixty acres in. Logan and Fairdale precincts. He engages in mixed farming and stock raising, running a large bunch of high grade Shorthorn cattle, also raises a herd of hogs each year which he disposes of at the nearby markets. His place is completely equipped with substantial buildings and improve ments of all kinds, and he is classed among the progressive and well-to-do residents of Howard county. Mr. Irvine was joined here in 1873 by his father, mother and two brothers, other members of the family coming here prior to that time, so that all were early settlers in the locality. Mr. James Irvine, senior, died here November 13, 1906, while the mother passed away in 1881. On November 28, 1876, our subject was united in marriage to Margaret Jane Welsh, daughter of Peter Welsh, who is an early settler of Howard county, the ceremony taking place at the home of her parents in Kelso precinct. Mrs. Irvine's fam ily were natives of Canada, settling in Howard county about 1876, and both her mother and father died here. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Irvine, namely : Martha Jane, Adelaide B., George L., Glenn W., and Clarence S., the first two married, while the three others are single. During 1884 to 1890 inclusive, Mr. Irvine was county commissioner of Howard county, and at other times held precinct office. Politically he is a democrat. CARL H. LUECK. One of the early settlers of Valley county, who has been indentified with much of the history and development of that region, is Carl Lueck, who owns a large farm, and raises considerable stock. He was born in the village of Kleinsabien, pro vince of Pomerania, in Germany, May 9, 1857, and is the fifth of six children born to William and Hannah (Beig) Lueck, both of whom died in Ger many. He has one brother living in Germany, and the others are deceased. He received his education in his native land and reached man hood on his father's farm. He emigrated to America in 1881, crossing the North Sea from Stettin to Hull in the "Otto," and embarked at Liverpool, April 27, on the "Spain," landing in New York the 8th of May. He came direct to Merrick county, Nebraska, and after spend ing two years there, he came to Valley county in the month of January, 1883, making his home here since that time. He secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on the north west quarter of section ten, township seventeen, range fifteen, and improved and developed it until he had a well-equipped stock and grain farm. He is a successful man of busi ness and has now acquired six hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, lying in sections three, nine and ten, where he raises considerable stock. He has been active and interested in local affairs, helped organize school district number fifty-nine, of which he served as moderator for several years. He is well and favorably known in his part of the county and is counted a useful, public-spirited citizen, with a reputation for hon est and upright dealing. January 13, 1883, Mr. Lueck married Miss Jo hanna Marks, a native of the village of Oenhau- sen, Westphalia, Germany, who came to America in 1872. She is a daughter of Ernest and Char lotte Marks. They settled in Dane county, Wis consin, and moved on west to Valley county in 1880. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lueck, namely: Helena J., died in in fancy; Frederick William, of Valley county; Otto R, at home; Hannah S., married P. P. Cook and they live in Valley county; Carl H., junior, at home ; Minnie, deceased ; Martha L. and Henri etta Susan at home. The family are prominent socially and have a large circle of friends. Mr. Lueck, with his family, is a member of the Evan gelical church, and he is a republican in polities. Like the typical pioneer of the west, Mr. Lueck lived for a time in a sod house. Deer and antelope were to be found in the country when he eame, and one antelope was secured for the family larder. Among the early privations of the first settlers were the dry years, especially 1894, when Mr. Lueck raised nothing but a little corn. WILLIAM L. WILL. Among the pioneer settlers of Madison coun ty, Nebraska, who came to this locality in the early seventies and endured many privations and hardships in the early days, is William L. Will, who now resides in section thirty-six, town ship twenty-two, range one, where he is sur rounded by a host of good friends, and many ac quaintances and neighbors, respected and esteem ed by all with whom he has to do. Mr. Will is a native of Vermont state, where he was born August 20, 1846, and is a son of Wil liam and Phoebe (Roach) Will; the father was born in England, and in the very early days came to America, embarking in a sail boat ; he died when our subject was but a child of four years. The mother was a native of Vermont state, a daughter of Phineas Roach, and died in 1897. In 1870 Mr. Will came to the west, locating in Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead in section twenty-eight, township twenty-one, range two ; here he put up a sod house in which he lived fourteen years, then building a good frame house. In those early days of pioneer life on the western frontier, Mr. Will experienced many hardships and discouragements. Columbus, thir ty-five miles distant, was the nearest market 144 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. place, taking two days to cover the journey to and fro. Grasshoppers were a great source of destruction during the first years of residence here and in 1873 and 1874 they devoured the en tire crops of those years ; prairie fires were anoth er danger that had to be fought and almost con tinually checked, the rolling, seething mass of flames utterly destroying everything in their path, leaving nothing but wide stretches of blackened ground where a few moments before had waved the green grasses of the open prairie. Our sub ject and family often fought these fires to save their lives and property. In 1870 Mr. Will was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Harris, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Warren H., and Susan (Harris) Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Will are the parents of five children, namely : Phoebe, Dr. C. L. Will, Myrtle, Roxy, Lewis, and Murl. In 1901 Mr. Will took charge of the Hurne ranch, the land where he now resides, and has a fine home where he and his family enjoy the es teem and respect of a host of friends. STILLMAN GATES. Stillman Gates has one of the pleasantest homes of Sargent, Nebraska, surrounded by a beautiful lawn and well kept flowers and shrubs. He has lived there since the spring of 1909, re tired from active life, and owns thirty-eight acres of well improved land in the place. He is a na tive of Chautauqua county, New York, born Oc tober 6, 1835, eldest of the five sons and three daughters of Lorison and Salome (Felt) Gates. The father was born in New York and the moth er in Vermont, and they were married in Elling ton, New York, December 4, 1834. Stillman Gates has in his possession his grandfather's gun, which was made in 1803, an original flint-lock, made over into a cap lock, and later arranged to take shot for amunition. In the spring of 1837 the family moved to Huron county, Ohio,, where they lived until 1852, and where the following children were born to them : Lorison, Salome, Ira, Jane, Hosea, Goodwin and Ruth. In the fall of 1852 they came to Porter county, Indiana, their home for a number of years. The father was an ordained minister of the Christian church, and held different pastorates in Ohio. Several years before his death he moved to LaPorte, Iowa, where he passed away September 17, 1902, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife had died in Porter county, Indiana, January 3, 1869. Of their eight children, but three now survive : Stillman, Hosea and Jane. Hosea lives in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Jane, Mrs. Clark, lives in Estherville, Iowa. Stillman Gates left home about the time he reached his majority, and was married in Wheat- field, Jasper county, Indiana, April 2, 1857, to Mary McNeal, daughter of James and Hope (Gif- ford) McNeal of St. Lawrence county. Five chil dren were born to this union: James Lorison, married and living in Arkansas, has seven chil dren: Herbert, married and living at Broken Bow, has eleven children; Harry S., married and living in Omaha; Frederick A., deceased; Sa lome, wife of Oliver L. Swick, of Custer county, has six children. Thus it may be seen that Mr. Gates has twenty-four living grandchildren. He lived in Indiana after his marriage for many years and there his wife died. He now has one great grandchild, a daughter born to Mrs. Howe Gates, son of Herbert P. Gates. Mr. Gates was married (second) in Jasper county, Indiana, to Susannah Brown, January 12, 1873. In the spring of 1877 they moved to Tama county, Iowa, and in June, 1879, he made a trip with a horse to Custer county, Nebraska, looking for a location. He then made an entry on a homestead on section five, township nineteen, range twenty, also a timber claim, and returned to Iowa. In December of the same year he mov ed with his family from their Iowa home to the homestead, having a four-horse team and wagon, with a house, six by sixteen feet, on wheels. They made the trip in the dead of winter and encount ered many hardships before reaching their desti nation. During the early years they did their trading at Grand Island, making many trips over the road. Gates postoffice in Custer county was named for Mr. Gates and for many years he serv ed as postmaster. The local church and school house were built on his farm. He was one of the first settlers in his locality and for many years was active in the upbuilding and growth of the community, being the friend of progress along all lines. He served for a number of years as justice of the peace and in other local offices. He had a country store at Gates and was one of the best known men in the county. He owned five hun dred and sixty acres of choice land, and was suc cessful as a farmer and stockman. In the spring of 1909 he retired from the farm and moved to his present place in Sargent, where he has every con venience obtainable and enjoys the well earned ease to which he is entitled. On January 11, 1910, at Taylor, Loup county, Nebraska, Mr. Gates was united in marriage with Mary A. Cummins, an old resident of Nebraska, coming in 1884. Her maiden name was Downing and she was born in New York state, a daughter of Henry and Mary Downing. She has two broth ers living, John Downing, living on the old home place, in St. Lawrence county, New York, and George E., of De Kalb, New York. By her first marriage she* has four surviving children, name ly : Frank Calkins, married and living in Wyom ing; Eva, wife of Robert Ledger, of Garfield county, Nebraska, has two children ; Theodore Calkins, married and living in Sargent, has three children; Lillian, wife of Fred Robbing, of Paw nee county, Nebraska. Another daughter, Gracie, married Frank York and died in . 1905, leaving one daughter, Inez. Mr. York lives in Garfield county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Gates have a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 145 wide circle of friends and are active in moral, educational and all progressive lines. JOHN H. KOESTER. The present prosperity enjoyed by the people of the great state of Nebraska is in reality due to the efforts of those men of perseverance and stalwart determination who came to the state when it was still young, before it had developed into an agricultural and commercial centre ; when the howl of the lonely coyote or the distant thun der of the hoofs of the flying bison took the place of the whir of farm machinery or the chime of the church bells. John H. Koester, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1852 in Germany, the son of H. and Tena Koester. As his father was a small farmer, John remained at home and secured a good edu cation, helping on the farm when not engaged in study. In 1869, he decided to come to America, and with relatives, came by steamer to New York, thence by train to Iowa. They remained in this state until 1884, when they removed to Cedar county, Nebraska. Here, after a short time, Mr. Koester bought a quarter-section of fine land from W. A. Pollock, who was one of the original settlers, which is situated in section thirty-six, township thirty, range two-, east. Here Mr. Koester had lived ever since, adding improvements from time to time until now his farm is regarded as one of the most valuable in that community. For the first four years after coming to Cedar county, Mr. Koester "batched it" in his little house, but becoming tired of a lonely life, mar ried Miss Hannah Clawson in 1888. Three chil dren have been born to them, all of whom are liv ing, Katie M., Carl H., and Frank E. Mr. and Mrs. Koester have made hosts of friends in the community and are much respected by all who know them. JOHN P. LAUB. The gentleman above mentioned is one of the prosperous younger members of the farming and ¦ranching community of Merrick county, Nebras ka, whose entire career has been passed in this state, he being born here March 31, 1877, three and a half miles north-east of Chapman, where his father was a pioneer. Our subject was second in a family of seven children born to William and Margaret (Donovan) Laub, who had five sons and two daughters. The father came to Merrick county, Nebraska, in company with his brother, Frederick Laub, in the spring of 1871 and home steaded land in the north-east quarter section thirty-two, township thirteen, range seven. In October, 1874, Mr. Laub, Sr., married Miss Mar garet Donovan, and all their children were born on the old homestead farm in Merrick county. 6 The father's death occurred at his home in Cen tral City, October, 1907, survived by his widow and five children. A biographical sketch of the father appears on another page of this work. John P. Laub, subject of this sketch, was brought up on the farm and received the usual schooling and also had the advantage of a busi ness college course. He went out in life for him self about his twenty-first year, and has been en gaged in various enterprises, . such as farming, hardware business, owner and operator of a threshing machine, and is now engaged in the ce ment business. Mr. Laub was married to Miss Minnie Hollis- ter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hollister, at their home in Chapman, Nebraska. Mrs. Laub is also a native-born of Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Laub have two children: Donald Roy, and Robert Neal. Mr. Laub is a Merrick county boy, who is known as one of the most energetic young busi ness men of the county, and is affilliated with the republican party, having been committeeman of his county on the central committee. Both Mr. Laub and his wife can be classed amongst the pioneers of Merrick county. They are well known young people, having many friends. OSCAR F. HUNT. The state of Illinois has given her quota of settlers to the West, and among the most worthy of these in Nebraska, may be mentioned Oscar F. Hunt. He was born near Chicago on June 16, 1850, and is a son of Stephen G. and Louisa (Sal- sbury) Hunt, both of whom are now deceased. The family settled in Knoxville, Iowa, in 1852, remaining there up to 1857, at which time they went to Huntington county, Indiana, which was their home for about eight years, Oscar attending the country schools in their vicinity. From there they returned west, settling in Knox county, Mis souri, and it was while they were making this trip across the country that news reached them of the assassination of President Lincoln, which left an indelible memory upon our subject's mind. While in Missouri Mr. Hunt learned the car penter's trade and followed the work there for several years, coming to Nebraska in 1886. He was undecided in which part to locate, but trav eled on through the state until he reached the in June, his family following in September of that year. The tract on which he first located has been his home up to the present time, and he northern border line, and arrived in Knox county has improved it wonderfully, planting groves, re modeling the buildings, etc. When he took this place there was no brush or a tree large enough to furnish even a switch, and so rapidly have those Mr. Hunt planted grown that the largest have already been felled for fuel, and the second growth is coming on. Mr. Hunt's first 146 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. employment after reaching the vicinity, was with Bayha Brothers as a carpenter, and after a short time he began independently, since then having worked at Santee, Yank ton, Sioux City and Mason City, Iowa, and has gone as far west as Seattle in his work. In 1898 Mr. Hunt retired from the building business and engaged in farming, having a fine tract of land in a splendid location, and is making a success of it. He was also a homesteader in Lyman county, but sold out after proving up on the land. On March 30, 1873, Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Hiatt, who is a native of Ohio. They have three children, as follows : Anna M., wife of Chas. Wort, they having recent ly moved to Butler county, Missouri; Fred L. who for eighteen months was in the army, sta tioned in the Philippines as quartermaster ser geant of Company C, First South Dakota Volun teer Infantry; and Flora B., still living with ber parents on the home farm. Mr. Hunt is a republican in politics, and takes a lively interest in state and national affairs. Both himself and wife are members of the Bap tist faith. ARCHIBALD S. CAMPBELL. Among the well-known pioneers of Nance county who have for many years worked hard to accumulate a competence, and when this has been accomplished, has retired to make way for oth ers, we mention the gentleman above, who is now enjoying the fruits of an honorable and suc cessful career. He is now a resident of Fullerton, where he owns a beautiful home and enjoys the esteem and friendship of a large number of con genial people. Archibald S. Campbell was born in Greene county, Tennessee, May 26, 1836, and is the second in order of birth in a family of ten chil dren in the family of Adam and Susannah Camp bell, who were natives of that state, and spent their entire lives there, the former dying in his sixty-ninth year and the mother at the age of sixty-two, at the old homestead. Our subject lived in his home county until he was twenty-one years of age, receiving his education there, and following farming during this time. He was mar ried there to Miss Nancy Jones at the home of her parents, on September 24, 1854, her par ents being also life residents of Greene county. The newly-married pair settled on a farm, and re mained in that vicinity for three years, then, with their little son, Landon W., left the county, trav eling overland by team and wagon to Atchison county, Missouri, where they located on a tract of unimproved land, and began to make a home for themselves. This they operated up to the spring of 1883, at that time coming to Nance county, Nebraska, which was still a thinly-settled region. Mr. Campbell purchased land in both Boone and Nance counties, engaged in the stock business, raising and shipping cattle, etc., and also farmed considerable land. During those early years, he at different times owned and operated large tracts of land, and also handled real estate extensively, doing a loan business throughout the section, and became especially well known to the non-resident property owners, handling a great deal of business by reason of his prompt attention to their wants, and having a high reputation for honesty and integrity. At one time Mr. Campbell owned about 1800 acres of land in Nance, Boone and Greeley coun ties, but as it advanced in value, he sold until at the present time he owns three hundred and twenty acres in Nance county, and the same amount in Thomas county, Kansas. In 1893, Mr. Campbell moved to Fullerton, purchasing some land just inside of the city lim its, on which he built a fine home, which is situ ated on a high spot near the outskirts of Fuller- ton, giving a splendid view of Loup river valley and from which the entire town can be seen. This is one of the most beautiful locations in the town, having elegant trees, fine lawns, and is one of the show places of Fullerton. During the year 1862, Mr. Campbell lived in Omaha, and well remembers the early days of Ne braska, becoming familiar with the exact condi tions then existing relative to land values, the opportunities afforded settlers in the region, etc. At that time John I. Redick, of Omaha, offered our subject sixty acres of well improved land ly ing within what is now the town site of that place, on the basis of fifteen dollars per acre, and this land is at the present time valued at $4,000 a front foot. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had nine chil dren, eight of whom are still living, namely: Landon W., married, father of two children, and residing at Oberlin, Ohio; Martha Susannah, wife of Dr. I. C. Murphy, of Fullerton; William A. T., married, father of two children, living in Seattle, Washington; Jacob N., married, having a family of six children, also living in Fullerton; Mary Helen, wife of G. H. Ellsworth, two children, they living in Iowa City, Iowa; John B., married, five daughters, living in Nance county; Robert A., of Wenatchee Valley, Washington, and Al bert B., of Seattle, Washington. The family is prominently known throughout the region, and have been identified with its social life during their residence here. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Presbyterian church, and at the present time, Mr. Campbell is an elder of the church. ALEXANDER MARING. Alexander Maring, a retired farmer residing at Atkinson, Nebraska, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born April 10, 1841, and lived there until thirteen years of age. He is a son of Moses and Eleanor (Monroe) Maring, natives of New M. DREESEN AND FAMILY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 147 Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. In 1854 the family removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, then on the frontier, where deer and other game were plentiful, and furnished a large part of food for the settlers. At the outbreak of the war, Mr. Maring offer ed his services and became a member of Company D, Sixth Iowa Volunteers, enlisting July 17, 1861, and serving until the close of the hostilities. The first important battle in which he participated was Shiloh, and there he received a baptism of fire. He was also a participator in the siege of Vicksburg, the second battle at Jackson, the as sault on Mission Ridge and the battle of Knox. While spending the winter at Scottsboro, Ala bama, Mr. Maring veteranized, December 25, 1863, and took a thirty-day furlough before the activity of spring affected the army. He took part in the Atlanta campaign, and after the fall of that stronghold, marched with Sherman to the sea. The regiment was in Goldsboro, North Car olina, when word reached them of General Lee's surrender, and were near there when they heard the sad tidings of Abraham Lincoln 's death. After his participation in the grand r*eview at Wash ington, which was the most impressive military pageant of modern times, Mr. Maring returned home. They made the journey from Washington to Parkersburg, West Virginia, by rail, traveled thence to Louisville, Kentucky by boat, and were there mustered out, being later paid and dis charged finally at Davenport, Iowa, July 27, 1865. Near the end of the war and while on furlough, Mr. Maring lived on the home farm until his mar riage, then rented land and began farming on his own account. He first made a visit to Nebraska in 1873, and worked one season six miles west of Belleview. At that time Omaha was a compara tively small town, giving little promise of devel oping into the present large and important city. In 1879 he rented land in Missouri two years, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land near New Town, Missouri,, remaining there until his return to Nebraska, which was made in 1884. He has, since that time, been a resident of Holt county and at first pre-empted a quarter section of land four and one-half miles south of Emmet, which he later converted into a timber claim. He also homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land there, and carried on farming on this land until 1908, when he purchased a house in Atkinson, and moved into it. Mr. Maring 's marriage occurred April 3, 1863, near Centerville, Iowa, when he was united with Miss Lucinda Maring, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Bruce) Maring. Six children were born to them, namely : Leander, deceased ; Lo- gan is living on a Kinkaid homestead in Garfield county; Thomas has a ranch eight miles south of Atkinson ; John occupies the home farm, south of Emmet; Joseph, a twin of William (who is deceased), has a ranch eighteen miles northeast of O'Neill. In politics Mr. Maring is a republican, and while living nearer to O'Neill was an active and prominent member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a highly honored citizen, and can look back with pleasure on the record won while in his country's service. Mr. Maring well remembers the events of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and was out in the storm most of the afternoon of that day, getting his stock under shelter. After coming to the state, he lived four years in a sod house before erecting a frame dwelling, and he and his wife experienced the usual difficulties and hardships that attended pioneer life there. An telope were plentiful when they first settled there, and when a boy in Iowa, Mr. Maring frequently saw black wolves, although they had been ex terminated before "he reached maturity. He would consider the wonderful development made in the West since he left his native state as al most incredible had he not been a witness of it. The open country of the early days has given place to thickly settled communities, and Mr. Maring and his family have contributed their full share in the advancement of agricultural and commercial activity in the region where they now live. MAT DREESEN. One of those who has achieved considerable distinction among the old settlers is Mat Dreesen, who is the owner of a fine farm in Cedar county. He has spent many years of unremitting toil, but is now reaping the benefits of his thrift and careful management. Mat Dreesen was born in Wisconsin in 1870, and in 1873, in company with his parents and brother, he took the long trip across the plains to Cedar county, Nebraska. He still retains possession of the timber claim which the parents took up at an early date. Many and obvious disadvantages were to be contended with by the settlers at that time. The nearest market towns were Sioux City and Yank ton, and going to market meant a long and ted ious trip. Grasshoppers and prairie fires in sum mer, and blizzards in winter, were also to be reckoned with. Even so late as 1894, the crops were destroyed by the hot winds prevailing throughout the season. However, most of them persisted in their efforts to make a habitable country out of those forbidding plains, and the years have told the story of the success of these tried and true pioneers. In 1893, Mr. Dreesen was married to Miss Maud J. Suing. Four children have been born to them: Lillian, Frederick, Elmo and Otis. Mrs. Dreesen is a daughter of Bernhard and Magdeline (Kock) Suing. Her parents were 148 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. natives of Germany, and were married in Balti more, but came to Nebraska in 1886. Mr. Dreesen is treasurer of his school district, number fourteen. We present a family group portrait of Mr. Dreesen and family on another page. E. LORENZO SARGENT. E. Lorenzo Sargent, one of the prominent business and professional men of Cedar Rapids, Boone county, Nebraska, is possessed of excep tional ability, and has made a place for himself among the leading residents of his community by his honest efforts and energetic labors. Mr. Sargent is a native of Lempster, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, born on July 1, 1846, and was the ninth of ten children in the family of Asa and Charity Sargent. He remained on his father's farm until his fourteenth year, as sisting in the farm work and attending the local school, living, in his early years, the usual life of the New England farm boy. His father died when he was five years old, and the mother kept her family together on the farm until each was ready to start out for himself. Lorenzo Sargent secured work in the cotton factory, and followed that employment for two years, then went to Oakland county, Michigan. His later education was received in the Utica schools, and in 1864 he enlisted in Company D, of the Twenty-second Michigan Volunteer Infan try, saw hard service with his regiment. He was mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on September 8, 1865, going immediately to Mar shall, Michigan, where he was a teacher in the High School for one term. He then made up his mind that he wanted to enter the mercantile field, and began work in a hardware store, re ceiving as wages his board and room, soon ad vancing until he had gained a good position in the line of work he most desired. He remained in Marshall for seven years, then went to Olivet, Michigan, where he started for himself, carry ing on a successful trade for several years. He then came to Boone county, Nebraska, and he purchased a piece of land close to what is now the town of Cedar Rapids, building the first house in that place, and was the first white man to settle there. This is now a thriving town, with a population of one thousand people, and is one of the cleanest and most progressive little villages in the whole state of Nebraska. Mr. Sargent farmed and carried on a success ful stock business up to 1889, at which time he opened his office and engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan business. He is a member of the Boone County Bar Association, and is con nected with several lodges, being confidential adviser for numerous non-resident property own ers, as well as very many of his home people. He has for the past twenty-five years been a member of the school board, has served as vil lage clerk, and takes an active interest always along educational and moral lines. Mr. Sargent was united in marriage in Roch ester, New York, on June 1, 1870, to Miss Rosa B. Sherman, who was a native of that place, and daughter of former Chief of Police Sherman. To them has been born one son, Winfield R., who is married, and a well-known citizen of Cedar Rap ids, being connected with the American Order of Protection. He has three children. HENRY SCHMUTZ. Through exceptionally good management and persistent labor, the gentleman named above has acquired a well-developed farm, and is enabled to enjoy the comforts of modern farming. He is one of the progressive and successful farmers of this locality, and for many years has been iden tified with the agricultural development of this section of the country. Mr. Schmutz is a native of the province of Holstein, Germany, where he was born Septem ber 29, 1853, the son of John and Margaret Schmutz. He received his education in Germany, and spent the years of his childhood and young manhood in the little village where he was born. In 1882, our subscriber left his native land for America, believing that here alone he would be able to find the opportunity to make the most of himself. He came first to Iowa, where he re mained four years, and worked out ; then, in 1886, he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and located, later purchasing the farm which is still his home. He has made many improvements since buying the farm, and it is now one of the best-equipped in the community. Mr. Schmutz owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. December 14, 1888, Mr. Schmutz was united in marriage to Miss Helen Lage, and they were the parents of five children, named as follows : • Emma, Ida, Adele, Henry and John, who died when eight years old. Mr. Schmutz died Novem ber 2, 1909. REUBEN DICKINSON. Reuben Dickinson, retired farmer, resides in Schuyler, Colfax county, Nebraska, where he is one of the foremost and most substantial citizens of the locality. He is one of the oldest settlers of Colfax county, having lived here close to two- score years. He has always been a potent factor in the upbuilding of his home county and state, and has been amply rewarded for his steadfast ness to the best interests of all, now being a well- to-do, prosperous citizen. Mr. Dickinson is a native of England, his birth occurring in Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely, April 2, 1846, a son of David and Mary (Wright) Dickinson, natives of Lincolnshire, England. He was fourth in the family of five children, and has one brother residing in England, and a sister in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 149 Oklahoma. His father died in Colfax county, Nebraska, in the year 1881, and the mother passed away in England in the early fifties. Mr. Dickinson grew to manhood in his home country, receiving the usual school advantages, and later engaging in farming. In May of 1864, he came with his uncle and aunt to America, locating in Camden, New Jersey, for a few months. He then went to Henry county, Illinois, where he followed farming part of the time, and when not engaged in that, was employed on the railroad. On December 28, 1865, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage to Miss Alice Parson, a native of Illinois, her birth occurring in Whiteside county. The marriage took place in Atkinson, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have had twelve children born to them, whose names are as ' follows : Mary R., wife of John Clement, they having four children, and residing in Yuma, Colorado; Louisa, also married, she and her husband, Alfred Childrey, and four children being residents of Stanton county, Nebraska; David is married, has seven children, and resides in Stanton county, Nebras ka; Edward, also married, has one child, and lives in Stanton county; Joseph resides in Mis soula, Montana; William, married, lives in Stan ton county, and has one child; Emily, who re sides at home, is a student in a Lincoln business college; Alice, wife of Homer Pont, has three children, and resides in Colfax county; Frank is a student at Lincoln University; and Harry, Beulah and Viola, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Dickinson died on May 14, 1902, on the home farm, deeply mourned by her husband and family and many kind friends. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Dickinson came with his wife and three children to Colfax coun ty, Nebraska, taking up a homestead of eighty acres on the north half of southwest quarter of section eighteen, township twenty, range four, which remained the home place about six years. He then moved on his farm of two hundred and forty acres, which was located one mile east of the old homestead place, living on this farm, which he had purchased, until 1904. Mr. Dick inson then retired from farming, and moved to Schuyler, where he purchased a good home, and now resides. On January 27, 1904, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage to Miss Ann Russell, also- a native of England, the marriage ceremony taking place in Atkinson, Illinois. Mr. Dickinson is a prosperous man of affairs, and owns two hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land, aside from good city property in Schuyler. He has served as school moderator for his district, number thirty-two, in the early days. In the early seventies, Mr. Dickinson helped to organize United Brethren church, and has been active in many other ways in the best interests of his home county and state. Mr. Dickinson has passed through the many hardships and trying experiences that beset the early settler on the western frontier. He is wide ly and favorably known. L. D. MONTGOMERY. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in Holt county, Nebras ka, and since locating here in 1873 has taken a foremost part in the development of this region, and has one of the most beautiful homes in Holt county. Mr. Montgomery is' of the opinion that the average man here is much better off financial ly than in Illinois, which is his former residing place, as the land here costs less and crops grow just as well with less labor, one man taking care of one hundred and sixty acres as easily as he could fifty acres in Illinois. Since locating here, Mr. Montgomery has had fair success every year, with the exception of 1894, when his crops were burned out by hot winds, and that year every one suffered some loss. Our subject has two hundred and forty acres of good land in Antelope county, and four hundred and eighty acres in Holt coun ty. Mr. Montgomery was born April 8, 1858, m Warren county, Illinois. His father, Alfred, was born in 1822 in the state of Kentucky, as was also our subject's mother, who was Nancy Thompson. She died when our subject was a small boy. In the year of 1881, Mr. Montgomery came to York county, Nebraska, and worked there for two years. In 1883, he came to Holt county, where he took up a homestead in section twenty-five, township twenty-seven, range nine, and, buying a log house, moved it on this claim,- living in this house five years, and planted twelve acres of fine trees on the land. This claim is still his residing place, where he and his family reside and enjoy the respect and high regard of all who know them. On October 5, 1887, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage to Miss Luella Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are the parents of six children: Alfred; Hugh; Thomas and Theodore H. (twins) ; Frank, and George. Mr. Montgomery devotes a great deal of at tention to fine stock, and has a splendid lot of high-grade Shorthorn milch cows, and also about sixteen head of good work horses. WILLIAM E. BISHOP. William E. Bishop, a large land-owner of Pierce county, Nebraska, has done his share to ward the development of the agricultural re sources of that region. He is a man of wide ex perience, and his good business judgment and integrity have placed him among the prosperous men of his county. Mr. Bishop has an elegant home in the beautiful little city of Pierce, where 150 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his family is among the popular members of- soc ial and educational circles. Mr. Bishop is a native of Guilford, Connecti cut, and a son of Jonathan and Fannie M. (Gris- wold) Bishop, the former a descendant of John Bishop, who was born in Guilford, Kent county, England, and it was after that town that our subject's birthplace was named. He was born in the first stone house ever erected by the Eng lish in New England, which was owned by the Bishop family for three generations. His boy hood was spent in that vicinity, and he was mar ried there in 1867 to Ellen A. Stone, a daughter of Charles M. and Ellen M. Stone, the former a descendant of James Stone, who was a member of the first colony settling in Guilford, Connecti cut. The mother of Charles M. Stone was a de scendant of Governor William Leete, one of the first executives of that state. In the spring of 1868, Mr. Bishop and his young wife migrated to Linn county, Missouri, where they purchased a farm and cultivated it for ten years, during which time he ran a planing ' mill for one year. In 1878 they returned to the old home place in Guilford, and spent a year visiting relatives, and rid their bodies of malaria acquired in Missouri. The following year they returned, bringing with them two young men who wished to locate in the west, and, shortly after, they sold their farm, and, loading their goods on wagons, came across .the country to Pierce county, Nebraska, being seventeen days on the road, spending the nights camped out under their wagons, except two or three, when they were able to find lodging with friendly settlers along the way. They reached Pierce on April 1, 1879, the town at that time consisting of just seven buildings, and the population comprising ten men and three women. Mr. Bishop was interested in a tract of thirty-two hundred acres of land, sit uated eleven miles north of Pierce, which was subsequently made into a fine ranch. Lumber for the ranch house was hauled a distance of sixty-five miles, from Wisner, then the nearest railroad point, and except for the help of a car penter for one week, Mr. Bishop did the entire work of building. During these first years on the ranch, Mrs. Bishop often spent many days with only a dog for companionship. There were but four neighbors between their ranch and Pierce, and their nearest neighbor north was twenty-four miles away. For a number of years not a friendly light could be seen from their win dows at night. They engaged in cattle and sheep raising dur ing the first years, and later engaged in horse and mule breeding. Remaining on the ranch for eight years, they built a good residence in Pierce, and have made that their home since that time. The ranch has been sub-divided in a number of smaller farms, each supplied with a complete set of buildings, and the entire tract is now under cultivation. In October, 1880, the country in their vicinity was swept by a terrific blizzard. Mr. Bishop was away from home, accompanied by a neighbor, whose unfinished house was open to the weather. The neighbor's wife and foster daughter, five years old, being in the unfinished house, Mrs. Bishop sent for them, and found the two nearly frozen, with the child in convulsions. She had them brought to her house, and succeeded in get ting the frost warmed out of them, they coming out of their experience with no serious results. After locating in Pierce, Mr. Bishop became interested in different enterprises, dealing large ly in lands, and at times having as much as five thousand acres under his control. He has been one of the leading business men since coming here, and has also held various public offices, serving as county surveyor for twelve years, and precinct assessor for many terms. He is a mem ber of the Congregational church, while his wife is an Episcopalian. In politics he is a staunch republican. He has been a Mason since March 9, 1886, and is a charter member of Evergreen lodge, number one hundred and fifty-three, which he served several years as Master, and many years as treasurer. He is also a charter member of the Norfolk lodge of Elks. HANPORD N. SMITH. Hanford N. Smith, who resides in the beauti ful and progressive city of St. Paul, is a man who enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and respect of all with whom he has to do since locating here many years ago.' Mr. Smith was born in Tompkins county, New York, August 7, 1832, making him one of the oldest men in this section of the country. He spent his boyhood in New York state, at the age of twenty-two years going into northern Wiscon sin, where he spent the winters in the lumber camps, and during the summers sailed the great lakes, having a captain's commission. He is one of the pioneer sailors, and well remembers the difficulties encountered in navigation during the earlier days. He next went to California, and entered the mining region, spending about two years in the west, then returned to Wisconsin, and again sailed the lakes, following this work up to about 1861. At the breaking out of the war, Mr. Smith enlisted in the Wisconsin Infantry, Company E, Fourteenth regiment, and served until the close of the struggle. He saw much hard service as a soldier, the principal battles in which he par ticipated being the battle of Shiloh (after which action he was made commissary sergeant of the Fourteenth Wisconsin Regiment as a reward for conspicuous bravery on the battlefield) ; the bat tle of Iuka, Corinth, a three-days' engagement, and the battle of Vicksburg, a siege of forty- seven days. ¦ After the surrender of Vicksburg, his regiment was discharged, this occurring on COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 151 December 12, 1863, and on the same day Mr. Smith re-enlisted, although his furlough of thirty days was spent in Wisconsin and New York state. He was married in January, 1864, while on this furlough, to Harriet Garrison, of Tompkins coun ty, New York, and after several days' visit with friends in the vicinity of his birthplace, returned to his post in the army, later taking part in the battles of Fort Duressa, Champion Hill, Yellow Bayou, the engagement with Price and Marma- duke, near Kansas City, Missouri, which resulted in the capture of Marmaduke, and the action at Nashville, Mobile, besides many other minor skirmishes. After leaving the army, Mr. Smith returned to Wisconsin, taking up his old work on the lakes, and continued up to December, 1872, at which time he had the misfortune to have a bad wreck, and this decided to give up the perilous business of sailing. He looked about for a new location, and finally decided on Nebraska, coming here in February of 1873. He took up a home stead on section eighteen, township ten, range thirteen, of Howard county, and there remained for several years, succeeding in building up a fairly good farm. In 1876, he went into the Black Hills, where he engaged in mining, putting in about a year in that region, then returned to Nebraska, settling in St. Paul, where Mrs. Smith died, December 20, 1877. Mr. Smith has been one of the prominent bus iness and public men of his region for the past forty years. He has held various high offices of his county, being elected county superintendent of public instruction in 1874, and serving for two years. In 1894 he became assessor, holding office for five years, and after a lapse of ten years was again elected for a two-year term. He has also served as water commissioner for one term. For many years he was justice of the peace, and through these different positions has become fa miliarly known to every resident of the county, and gained the respect and esteem of all by his straight-forward actions and sterling integrity. Mr. Smith was married the second time, May 20, 1884, to Mrs. Laura Oglesbee, of St. Paul, and to them have been born three children: Hanford Nelson, Jr., Addie May and Clara, all of whom are married and settled in comfortable homes in St. Paul, where they are surrounded by a host of warm friends. JACOB D. KOCH. Among the early settlers in the eastern part of Nebraska, who came here when the place was still practically a wilderness, and out of its wild state succeeded in building up a good home and valuable possessions, is the gentleman above named. Mr. Koch has spent all but five of his span of fifty-nine years in Nebraska state, which well entitles him to the name of old set tler. He is recognized as one of the leading old- timers and worthy citizens of his locality. Jacob D. Koch, son of Joseph and Mary (Rheinfrank) Koch, was born in Pike county, Ohio, July 18, 1851, and was second in a family of thirteen children. He has six brothers and four sisters residing in Nebraska, the other children being deceased, as are also the parents. The father died on his home farm in Cass county, Nebraska, in February of 1903, the mother also passing away in Cass county, her death occur ring in the year 1896. In- 1856, Mr. Koch, subject of this sketch, with his parents, drove overland from Ohio to Nebras ka, locating in Cass county. Here Mr. Koch re ceived his education, and later engaged in farm ing. In 1882, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on Mira Valley of Valley county, in section twenty-one, township eighteen, range fourteen, which is still his home place. He now bas two hundred and forty acres in the tract. In September of 1872, Mr. Koch was united in marriage to Miss Mary Janssen, a native of Germany, born near Marienhoff, East Fresin. In 1869, she came to America with her father, Rein- hardt Janssen, who settled in Cass county, Ne braska, near Plattsmouth. Her mother was Mary Hoester before marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Koch were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy: Joseph R., who is married, and has four children ; Andrew, also married, has two sons; Edward, married, has one child, and James, married, has four children, all of Valley county, and Harry and Fred, who reside under the par ental roof. In the spring of 1883, Mr. Koch moved, with his wife and children, on the Valley county farm. Mrs. Koch died, June 12, 1889, on the home farm, survived and deeply mourned by her husband and six children. Mr. Koch is a prosperous, successful man of affairs, owning a fine stock and grain farm of two hundred and forty acres. He makes a spec ialty of Galloway cattle. Mr. Koch was instru mental in organizing his school district, number nine, of which he served as director for some years. Mr. Koch has resided in Nebraska for fifty-four years, and has passed through much of Nebraska's history, and is widely and favora bly known. On January 12, 1896, in Cass county, Nebras ka, Mr. Koch was married to Johanna Janssen, sister of his first wife. Mr. and Mrs. Koch have had two children, sons, namely: Jacob Daniel and George William, who reside at home. Mrs. Koch's father died in Nebraska in 1878, and her mother passed away in 1862 in Germany. In 1906 Mr. Koch built a new home on his farm, and the farm is well improved in every way. . Mr. Koch and family are highly esteemed and respected, and are surrounded in their home by a host of good friends and neighbors. In politics he is a republican. 152 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In the dry year, 1894, Mr. Koch raised a little corn in the low places, but not enough to be profitable, and in 1896 lost nearly all his grain by hail. Mr. Koch lived for a time in a log dug-out in Cass county, but has enjoyed having a much better dwelling since coming to Valley county. WILLIAM HAASE. The gentleman above mentioned is a native- born Nebraskan, having been born on a farm in Madison county locality, January 8, 1872. « Since attaining his maturity, he has been closely identi fied with every movement for the benefit of the region, and assisted materially in its development and growth, as did his father before him. Mr. Haase resides in Norfolk precinct, in section eight, township twenty-four, range one, where he has a pleasant home and valuable estate. Mr. Haase is a son of Fred and Louisa (Raasch) Haase, the father being a native of Germany, who left his native land when he was but fifteen years of age, embarking on a sailboat, and being on the sea eight weeks. In 1868 he came to Nebraska from Wisconsin by the usual route of those days — driving by ox team^ — locating in Madison county, where he took up a homestead, and on this land built a log house. Here he experienced many hardships in those very first days of settlement, some forty odd years ago. The grasshoppers destroyed all the crops during the first years, which was very discouraging to the new settlers in the almost unpopulated country, where work, food and money were scarce. They also fought prairie fires many times to save their homes and lives. Deer and antelope were plentiful then, and fre quently could be seen grazing in large herds. Our subject remembers many of these incidents, and relates many interesting instances of the earlier days, when he was but a young lad. In 1891 Mr. Haase was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Doomer, who is a native of Ne braska, and daughter of William and Rosie (Miller) Doomer. Mr. and Mrs. Haase are the parents of the following named children: Al- vina, Adolph, Elsie, Eimel and Leona. They are a fine family, and in their pleasant home are sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquaint ances. Mr. Haase is one of the younger old settlers in Madison county, and has a bright future be fore him. He now owns three hundred and nine ty acres of fine land, three acres of which he has set to trees. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is a democrat. DAVID W. LOCKER. For nearly forty years the gentleman named above has been identified with the farming inter ests of Greeley county, and during this time he has acquired a valuable estate of nearly five hun dred acres by dint of his industry and thrift. He is now retired from active management of his possessions, and is living in the city of Scotia, one of the substantial and highly esteemed citi zens of the community. David W. Locker, the son of John L. and Harriet (Glass) Locker, was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 18th of December, 1846. He was the eldest of seven children, six of whom are now living. The father was a native of Bishopsheim, province of Baden, Germany, who came to this country in 1842. He died in his eighty-fifth year, on the first of February, 1905, while the mother, in her eighty-seventh year, is still living in Sco tia. The first few years of Mr. Locker's life were spent in Dayton, Ohio, and Niles, Michigan, when the family moved to Lake county, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood, receiving his educa tion in the local schools. When only fifteen years of age, in 1862, our subject did what so many other patriotic boys did — enlisted at Indianapolis in the Twenty-fourth Indiana Battery, Light Ar tillery, and served until the close of the war, re ceiving his discharge on August 3, 1865. During his three years of service, young David was in many decisive and dangerous engagements. At one time the detachment followed closely on the heels of Morgan and his men on his memorable raid through Kentucky and Ohio. His battery marched over four thousand miles during its service, and at one time traversed three hundred miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Tunnel Hill, Georgia, to take part in that campaign. He was present at the siege of Knoxville and the fall of Nashville, and took part in minor engagements at Horse Shoe Bend, Cumberland River, Ken tucky, Sweetwater, Tennessee, Resaca, and at the fall of Atlanta at the close of that memora ble campaign. He served under Thomas the latter part of the war, and was under his com mand when peace was declared. After the war was over, Mr. Locker returned to the old home in Indiana, but soon after went to Chicago, Illinois, where he learned carpentry, and worked at his trade for twelve years. Then, realizing that greater opportunities were to be found in the west, he went to Kansas in 1871, but remained there only a few months. He then went to the Indian Territory, but remained there only eight months. Next he proceeded to Ar kansas,, where he spent two years, and then final ly decided to locate permanently in Greeley coun ty, Nebraska. He took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and also a timber claim of equal size adjoining, in section six, township seventeen, range eleven. On January 24, 1880, in Lake county,' Mr. Locker married Miss Mary Brandt, a native of Hanover, Germany, who came to America with her parents, Dietrich and Anna (Bishop) Brandt, when only three years of age. Her parents were COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 153 natives of Hanover and Bremen respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Locker have had four children born to them: Edward H., living in Greeley county,, on part of the old farm; Ella, now Mrs. Henry Thurnagle,. of Grand Island; Anna J., now Mrs. Arthur Schilling, of Greeley county; and William D., who, with his wife and one child, is now living on the old homestead. Mr. Locker has been associated with all move ments of public interest ever since his first resi dence in the county. He was instrumental in organizing school district number twelve, serv ing on the board for fourteen years. He has also served the public for two terms as supervisor in the county board. For the past three years he has also been president of the Scotia Indepen dent Telephone Company. MAGNES OLSEN. Magnes Olsen, retired farmer of Hartington, is one of Sweden's creditable contributions to American citizenship. He was born where Char- lottenberg now stands, then only a farming dis trict, on August 22, 1833. His father, Ole Dahl, died before Mr. Olsen emigrated to America, and his mother had been dead some years at that time. Mr. Olsen farmed in the old country until his migration to America in 1868. In his journey hither, he crossed the North Sea from Guttenberg to Hull, thence by rail to Liverpool, when he embarked on the "City of Paris" for New York, which was reached after a voyage of twelve days. He came west, reaching Chicago on the 24th of June, whence he journeyed to Lisbon, Illinois, and worked eleven days in the cornfields there for money to take him to Madi son, Wisconsin, where many of his countrymen had settled. Here he lived for five years, farm ing most of the time prior to his migration to Nebraska. A colony of friends made the trip overland with ox teams, the journey extending into the sixth week before their destination was reached. Mr. Olsen settled on a homestead a mile north west of where Hartington now stands. He has herded cattle many times over the present town- site when there was nothing here but waving prairie grasses. He lived on his homestead seven years, and then sold, buying a quarter section ten miles southwest of Hartington, on which he resided until 1910, when he retired from active farming, and moved to town. Mr. Olsen was married in Norway, February 15, 1858, to Miss Bertha Jansen. On his migra tion to America, the wife remained in the old country for a year, while Mr. Olsen earned and saved enough to send for her and the children, and a joyous reunion it was, after the absence of a year. Ten children were born to them, of whom only one is deceased. The living are : Olaf, farming five miles north of town; John resides in Hartington; Mary is the wife of Steve 6% Seim, a retired farmer, who is street commission er of Hartington; Chris lives in Laramie, Wyom ing; Dina is married to Mike Markeson, who resides in Lawton, Oklahoma; Peter is living in Hartington; Julius in Omaha; and Simon and Edward, the youngest, have homesteads in Ly man and Tripp counties, South Dakota. Clara, the deceased child, was born next after Julius. The early days in Nebraska were fraught with many trials; markets were distant, and prices low ; grasshoppers destroyed, the crops for three years, leaving little or nothing in their wake. In 1880, Mr. Olsen made eighteen trips to Yankton and two to Vermillion, disposing of his crop and freighting provisions back to Cedar county. Deer and antelope were plentiful in the sixties, but it was but a short time until they were all killed or driven off. There was much suffering at times during the severe blizzards, and in that of January 12, 1888, John was away from home, teaching school. Wheat and other grain found a market at St. Helena, whence it was shipped to St. Louis by boat. The price of it was paid half in cash and half in trade at the store. The Indians were fairly good neighbors on the whole, but occas ionally sold a settler his own axe if he were neg lectful in bringing it in when staking out his cattle. Mr. Olsen lived during the first winter in a sod house with a hay roof, but built a better dwelling the following spring. Church services were not so numerous in the early days, though there was a congregation near Hartington. Mr. Olsen and others drove forty miles across the country to the southwest to organize a congregation, with the Reverend N. G. Tvedt. Religious fervor was not at ebb tide, even if the settlements were small and few between. Mr. Olsen is independent in politics, and, like most all Scandinavians, is a member of the Luth eran church. WILLIAM LAUB. (Deceased.) William Laub, deceased, was for many years one of the leading citizens of Merrick county, Ne braska, and to his efforts were due much of the prosperity enjoyed in that region. He was a man of strong character and during his lifetime en joyed the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact, and his memory is cherished by a host of warm friends throughout the country. William Laub, son of Phillip and Anna Laub, was born in Germany, province of Bavaria, March 29, 1843, and was third in a family of elev-' en children. Three brothers reside in Merrick county, Nebraska ; one sister in Omaha ; one sis ter in Kansas, and the others are deceased, as are also the parents. In 1848 our subject came with the family to America locating in Illinois where 154 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Laub received his education and later engag ed in farming. In the spring of 1871, in company with his brother, Frederick Laub, came to Merrick county Nebraska, and timber-claimed one hundred and sixty acres in the north-east quarter section thir ty-two, township thirteen, range seven, west, which remained the home place until April of 1900, when Mr. Laub retired from the farm and moved to Central City where he built a fine house, living there until the time of his death, Novem ber 17, 1907. He was survived by his wife and six children: Alvin S., who is married and lives in Central City, has one child; John P., married has two children and resides in Chapman; Wil liam Edward, deceased April 15, 1909, survived by his wife and three children who reside in Chapman, Nebraska; Mary Elida, married to Thomas Costello, has three children and lives in Cozad, Nebraska ; Alice Rachel, married to Harry Parsons, lives in Central City; and Daniel Earl, who is married and lives on the old timber claim. Mr. Laub served on the school board of his district number fifty for a number of years, and later was also a member of the city council in Cen tral City. He was prosperous and successful, and owned nine hundred and sixty acres of stock and grain farming land in Merrick county, and also splendid city property. On October 1, 1874, Mr. Laub was married to Margaret Donovan of Pennsylvania who came to Nebraska in 1868. Mrs. Laub lives in the Central City home surrounded by a large circle of friends. Mr. Laub was a man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and coun ty. He passed through the trying experiences and discouragements of frontier life, and was the first man to ship a ear-load of grain out of Chap man. Mrs. Laub is carrying on the large stock and farming interests left her by her husband. THOMAS STOURAL. Prominent among Knox county, Nebraska, old settlers is Thomas Stoural, who since the fall of 1873 has made this region his home, and who has done his share in the developing of the agricul tural resources of this section of the county. Mr. Stoural lives on section eleven, township thirty, range six, where he has built up a valuable pro perty through his industry and good manage ment. Mr. Stoural is a native of Bohemia, born in 1857, and is the son of Albert and Magdaline Stoural. When but a young man, our subject left his native home for America, to make a for tune for himself. After landing in the United States, in 1870, Mr. Stoural first came to Chicago, Illinois, where he stayed two years and worked out. He then came to Knox county, Nebraska, with his parents, where they took up homesteads and tree claims. First our subject built a sod house in which he lived five years, then building a good frame house. Mr. Stoural has struggled and worked faith fully to build up his home and gain a competence for himself, and in the1 earliest days of his settle ment here he endured many hardships and dan gers. For the first few years he worked out in Knox county to make money to keep up his home stead. He suffered severe losses through the grasshopper pests which destroyed all his crops during the first years of his residence on the homestead. The Indians were a source of uneasi ness to the settlers of the region in those days, and they experienced many a scare from them, but the Indians were not so hostile to the settlers of this locality as they were to other portions of Knox county. Mr. Stoural was united in marriage in 1884, to Miss Antonia Divis, and they are the parents of seven children, named as follows: Minnie, Emanuel, Clara, George, Frank, Martha and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Stoural and family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and they are one of the substantial families of the community. FRANK BIRCH. Frank Birch, one of the oldest settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range three, in Pierce county, Nebraska. He has done his full share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Birch is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born December 8, 1855, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Williams) Birch. Our sub ject's grandfather was a native of Vermont, where he followed the occupation of ship build ing. The father, Thomas Birch, was born in New York state, and after he was grown to manhood and married, he was drafted in the army, and died in a short time of wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness in 1863, our subject be ing but a small boy at that time. Mr. Birch's mother was born in 1836 and died in 1900. Her father was born in England and ran away from his native land and came to America. Mr. Birch grew up in New York state, where he received a common school education and was early obliged to make his own way in the world,. his father dying when the boy was six or seven years of age, he was bound out for his board and clothes, receiving but a scant amount of either. When nineteen years of age, he bought the remainder of his time, seventeen months, for ten dollars per month and began life for himself. In 1879 he came to Nebraska and secured land in section twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range three, it then being an entirely undevel- HOME OF J. L. BUFFINGTON. "ELMWQQD DAIRY FARM," RESIDENCE OF FRANK BIRCH, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 155 oped country. He filed first on a timber claim and later on a pre-emption, and here he built a board shack, in which he lived for a time. As his means increased he erected good barns and other buildings, besides a substantial nine room house. We show a view of the premises with its fine sur rounding grove and orchard on another page of this work. Mr. or Mrs. Birch was in charge of Birch postoffice for fifteen years. This office was established on his farm when star routes were the order of the day. Mr. Birch is now in very comfortable circum stances, but passed through many hardships and privations during his early settlement here. Mr. Birch was united in matrimony January 30, 1884, to Miss Jane Woodward, also a native of St. Lawrence county, daughter of Richard and Caroline (Coleman) Woodward, natives of Eng land and Canada, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Birch are the parents of four children : Minnie, who graduated from the Wayne Normal in 1908 and received a three-year certificate, is the wife of Lee Graeser; Harry, graduated at Wayne in April, 1911 ; Homer, now attending the Wayne institution, and Allan. Mr. Birch has a fine farm of three hundred and fifteen acres, seven acres of which is a fine grove of trees. This place is known as Elmwood Dairy Farm, with fifteen to twenty cows supply ing cream throughout the year. Mrs. Birch is a member of the Free Methodist church. In poli tics Mr. Birch is independent of party lines. J. L. BUFFINGTON. Mr. Buffington is one of the well known old timers of eastern Nebraska, having come here when the country was a barren prairie, and when it was being settled by those brave pioneers who came here prepared to suffer all kinds of hard ships and privations in order to make a success and acquire a home and fortune. Many of these pioneers have remained and seen the wilderness develop into a fertile tract, and are now the own ers of fine farms and are leading citizens of their locality. Mr. Buffington resides on section twen ty-one, township twenty-four, range eight, in Staunton township, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, having twenty acres of fine orchard and grove trees. Mr. Buffington is a native of Ohio, born Oc tober 9, 1850, in the same house that his father, George Buffington, was born in. From Ohio Mr. Buffington moved to Illinois where he was em ployed by the Panhandle railroad as boiler-maker and machinist for fifteen years. Mr. Buffington 's father served in the Civil war, enlisting in 1863 in One Hundred Sixty-first Ohio Volunteers un der General Seigel. In 1877, our subject came to Washington county, Nebraska, and from there he went to Holt county in 1885 where he took up a homestead in section twenty-four, township twen ty-four, range thirteen, building on this land a sod house. Mr. Buffington was united in matrimony, April 11, 1879, at Blair, Washington county, Nebraska, to Miss Catherine Thyme. Mr. and Mrs. Buffington have one child, Minnie, who is the wife of Allen Wilson, living in Stanton township. They have two chil dren, Clarence J. and Katie E. In 1889, Mr. Buff ington with his family came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which, as before stated, there are twenty acres of trees. Mr. Buffington is of English descent, his ances tors having come from England, although his father and mother were born in Ohio. They had five children: John, Sarah, Ellen, Jacob and Carrie. His brother John served five years in the war of the rebellion, enlisting in 1861 and serving un til '65. He was wounded twice. He died in 1896. His sister Carrie, the youngest, died in 1859. His other sisters are still living ; his sister Sarah now resides in Blair, Washington county, Nebraska. Sister Ellen lives in Herman, Washington county, Nebraska. On January 12, 1888, Mr. Buffington who then lived in Holt county, started to walk to town to get some thread for his wife. When but two and one-half miles from home he was overtaken by that famous blizzard of that day and forced to return; when he was about sixty rods from the house (which was made of sod) he was so blind ed by the storm that he lost his way and was driv en into a grove which was near the house. Here he thought he would be able to locate the house but failed and became so exhausted that he laid down on what he supposed to be a snow drift, when a very strong gust of wind turned him com pletely over and when he stopped rolling found himself lying up against the house which he had been looking for, into which he hurried utterly exhausted from his experience with the blizzard, said to have been the worst in the history of Ne braska. Mr. Buffington is a broad minded man and one who has won the respect and esteem of all by his many sterling qualities. A view of the family home is presented on another page of this volume. JOHN PORTERFIELD. John Porterfield, an energetic and thrifty resident of Fullerton, has for many years follow ed the occupation of contractor and builder in Nance county, and in this work has accumulated a comfortable property, and gained the esteem and respect of his fellowmen. In the past year he has become acting manager of the Edmunds Creamery company's station in Fullerton, which position he is now filling to the satisfaction of his firm. Mr. Porterfield is a son of James and Eliza 156 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Porterfield, born March 2, 1844, in Dover, Illinois. He was reared there, following farming during his younger years, and on August 27, 1857, was married to Frances A. Belden, of New York state, who had been a teacher in the public schools of that state for several years. The year following their union they settled in Atchison county, Kan sas, there engaging in farming, and remained for a number of years. He then learned the stone masonry trade, also that of builder, and started in the contracting business, going to Genoa, Ne braska, in 1882. He only lived in that city for one year, then moved to Fullerton, which has been his permanent residence since that time. Here he has followed his trade and become one of the prominent business men of the section, handling many large contracts, and proving his ability and true worth as a master of that vocation. In the winter of -1909. Mr. Porterfield began buying cream, poultry, and eggs, since which time he has been continuously employed in that line of work. Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield have had eight chil dren, six of whom are now living, namely : James O, of Boise City, Idaho ; Alice, wife of Franklin Hollensteiner, living in Missoula, Montana; Cyn thia, wife of Chas. E. Carter, they living in Ful lerton ; Helen, now Mrs. Roy Wilbur, also of Mis soula, Montana, and Mabel and Marion, twins. The latter lives at home, and is a teacher in the Fullerton schools, while the former is the wife of E. H. Davis, and resides in Wolbaeh, Nebraska. The entire family are well known, and enjoy a large circle of friends. In 1895 Mr. Porterfield was elected police judge of his county, and served ten consecutive years, or five terms. He was president of the school board for a number of years, also serving in that body in various other capacities. In 1884 he held the office of street commissioner, and also marshal of the village, and, in fact, has, during his career in Nebraska, been almost con stantly in the service of the people. DR. H. A. SKELTON. To find office equipment equal to that of a city hospital, a country physician who almost annual ly takes post-graduate courses, thus keeping abreast of the times, in the far west in a practical ly new country, is a surprise indeed. A hasty vis it to the office of Dr. H. A. Skelton, of Spencer, will give one that surprise, and convince him of the unusual. Dr. Skelton 's first recollections of Nebraska date back to the latter part of December, 1881, when his father, J. B. Skelton, an attorney from the middle west, settled in O'Neill, and began the practice of his profession. He was born in India na, where he read law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced at Princeton, in Gibson county, for a number of years. He attained the age of sixty- six years, passing away in 1896 at Monetae, Mis souri, where he had resided for some years prior to his demise. H. A. Skelton was born in Princeton, Indiana. on May 16, 1867, and there attended the city schools from which he graduated in 1883. Instead of following the lines of least resis tance and adopting his father's profession, the boy had a strong bent for the art of healing, and wisely yielded to the impulse, as after events proved. He began the study of medicine in 1886 under the tutelage of Dr. J. E. Shore, remaining with this precepter for five years. He then at tended the lectures in Drake university at Keo kuk, Iowa, graduating in 1891, after which he im mediately began his practice at Page, Nebraska. He continued at that point up to 1902, then came to Spencer, being received with favor from the first, since which time he has enjoyed a wide and lucrative patronage. One secret of his success is the fact that he has not allowed himself to stag nate, being ever on the alert to absorb new ideas in recognized medical therapy, thoroughly fa miliarizing himself with advanced science through a course in the Chicago Clinic in 1899, and again in 1900 and 1901. In 1904, 1907, and 1909 he took up a higher course of study in the Polyclinic college, and it is his intention to spend some time each year in the famous medical schools of the country, to better fit himself for coping with the ills flesh is heir to. Dr. Skelton has in his office equipment one of the largest static electrical machines known to the medical profession, including all of the latest attachments and improvements. In 1909, feeling that there was great need of a place where spec ial cases might be under the constant care of a physician, Dr. Skelton established a hospital in Spencer, which is the only one along the line of the Northwestern, north of Norfolk, and to show that his judgment is correct, it is interesting to know that there is seldom a vacant bed in the in stitution, which is a boon to suffering humanity. along the borders of the two states and a source of gratification as well as revenue to the physi cian. Dr. Skelton is descended from a long line of patriotic ancestors, his father serving during the entire period of hostilities in the civil war, while his maternal grandfather, Colonel Duncan, was a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, and located in Evansville, Indiana, in 1813. He was a kins man of the Logans in the old north state, ances tors of the famous cavalry officer, "The Black Eagle," whose father moved further west and settled in Jackson county, Illinois. Colonel Dun can fought in the battle of Tippecanoe in the war of- 1812, and drew a pension for his services un til 1898, when he died, having almost attained the century mark. On his paternal side, a great- great-grandfather was a colonel in the Revolu tionary war, also the war of 1812, besides serving in the famous battle in northwest Ohio. He was a native of Lexington, Kentucky, passing away, at COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 157 an -advanced age, in Ohio, where for many years prior to his death he had resided. Dr. Skelton was married at Page, Nebraska, January 1, 1896, to Miss Ruby Chase, a native of Iowa, daughter of Perry and Delia (Hanley) Chase, who were early settlers in Page. Two chil dren were born to Dr. and Mrs. Skelton, Perry and Harold, both intelligent and sturdy young westerners, and the pride of their parents ' hearts. Dr. Skelton is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Politically, he is a staunch supporter of republi can principles as expounded by Roosevelt and Taft. WALTER HAVENS. Walter Havens, a capable and successful busi ness man of Loretta, is one of the earliest settlers in Boone county, and has passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to pioneer life in the west. Our subject is a son of William and Mary Ha ven, and was born in McLain county, Illinois, on October 19, 1848, he being the eldest of three chil dren. When he was an infant of two years of age his parents moved to Delaware county, Iowa, where he received his education and grew to manhood, following farming with his father there up to 1877. On October 1 of that year, Mr. Ha vens came into Nebraska, locating on a homestead on section thirty-four, township twenty-one, range seven, and begun to develop a farm. He passed through pioneer experiences on that place, and succeeded in improving his homestead in good shape, remaining on it up to 1892, at which time he sold the same and moved to Boone, making that his home for a number of years, still farming in the vicinity on rented lancL In 1905 he in vested in the hotel and livery business in Loret ta, and has carried this on since that time — also dealing in real estate and buying, selling and ship ping stock. Mr. Havens has one brother, William, who also resides in Loretta, and a sister married and liv ing in Albion. His father died here in March, 1907, while his mother makes her home in Albion, the entire family being well known throughout this part of Nebraska. On January 1, 1867, Mr. Havens was married in Iowa, to Miss Nancy Wheelus, and of their un ion three children were born, Fred, who died in 1881 ; Minnie, wife of Fred Barnes, and mother of three children, they living in Loretta, and Wil liam A. Havens, also married and living with his family of three children, one mile west of Loret ta. Mrs. Walter Havens died in 1875, and four years later our subject was married the second time, to Miss Leora Galyean, also of Iowa, they being the parents of two children, J. Ernest Ha vens, married and living in Loretta, and Gertie L.. who is now Mrs. Harry E. Williams, also living in Boone county. Mr. Havens has been active in local affairs in Boone county since settling here. He has held different township offices, and was for a number of years director of school district number seven ty-two. WILHELM SPLITTGERBER. Prominent on the list of prosperous and suc cessful farmers of Wayne county, is the above named gentleman, who has for many years occu pied the valuable farm located on section twenty- two, township twenty-five, range three. For more than a quarter of a century, he has been as sociated with the agricultural interests of this re gion and has accumulated his property by per sistent and honest labor. He is well known throughout the locality, and has gained the high est esteem of all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Splittgerber was born in Prussia, Ger many, in 1831, and is the son of William and Christna Splittgerber. He grew up in his native land, received his education there, and was mar ried there in 1852. His first wife died and he was again married in 1874. It was not until he was nearing middle age that he came to America, on account of the op portunities that it offered his family. He came by way of Bremen to Baltimore in 1881, and at once came to the west, where he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which has been his home since that date. He has added to it, un til he now owns one thousand, one hundred and twenty acres of land. He has made extensive im provements since that time, and the comfortable home and well-equipped farm now speak elo quently of thrift and good management. In 1874, long before he left Germany, Mr. Splittgerber was united in marriage to Miss Al- bertina Falk. They were the parents of a large family : five boys and three girls. There were two children by the first marriage, whose names are : Emil and Helen. Those born of the second marriage are : Hugo, Hulda, William, Emma, Agnes, Bernhard, Carl and Gustave. The family attend the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Splittgerber is a democrat. WILLIAM BUCKLEY. William Buckley, a typical pioneer of north eastern Nebraska,- who is respected and esteemed as a public-spirited and upright citizen, is hon ored as a veteran of the civil war. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born March 8, 1846, a son of James and Hannah (Sanford) Buckley, natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather came to America from England as a young man. The parents spent their lives in Pennsylvania. Mr. Buckley spent his boyhood and early youth of Pennsylvania. His grand father came to cation, and being reared to the occupation of me chanic. He enlisted in 1863 in Company K, One 158 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under General Carl Warren, command er Fifth army corps, and received his honorable discharge in 1865. He participated in many im portant battles and was wounded two times in the battle of Five Forks, Virginia. He was wounded once previously. Upon leaving the army he re turned to his former home and engaged in black- smithing. In 1880, Mr. Buckley brought his family to Ne braska, and took up a homestead in Stanton coun ty. They lived a few years in a " dug-out, ' ' then he erected a comfortable frame house. He has made all needed improvements, and has developed a good stock and grain farm, at the same time do ing his share to aid in the upbuilding of his com munity, and the advancement of educational measures and other movements for the general welfare. He is one of the substantial men of his region, of unquestioned integrity and reliability, and has many warm friends. In 1877, Mr. Buckley was united in, marriage with Miss Anna Landies, a native of Pennsyl vania, and daughter of William Landies and Re becca June (Beck) Landies. One child has been born of this union: Hannah Jane, now Mrs. William Mabe. The family reside on section twenty-eight, township twenty-four, range one. James David Mabe, his grandson, makes his home with Mr. Buckley during such times as he is not in attendance at school. H. P. LICHTY. H. P. Lichty, an agriculturist of prominence in Antelope county, Nebraska, resides in Eden precinct and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity, thrift and economy have added so much to the material growth and wealth of Ne braska. Agriculture forms the basis of wealth in that part of the country, as indeed in most sec tions of the United States. It is therefore of great importance that the class of people who inhabit the great farming regions of the country should represent those elements of sterling worth so prominently displayed by the majority of the ear ly settlers and their descendants. Mr. Lichty is a descendant from Switzerland, his father, George Lichty, having come from that country to America when but a small boy, and, with his parents, settled in Pennsylvania. Our subject's parents Avere George and Mary (Blair) Lichty, the father was born in 1813, and the mother was a native of Pennsylvania, being born in that state. They came to Iowa in 1854. Our subject's brother was in the civil war, enlist ing in 1861 in the Twenty-fourth Iowa Regiment, and was wounded twice. Mr. Lichty was joined in holy matrimony to Miss Jane Miller, and seven children have been born to them whose names are as follows: Jane, who is the wife of Mr. Swan, and has two chil dren; Alexander, who is married to Lizzie Hie- ter and has three children; David, who married Hattie Napier, has two children; John, married Mable Clifton and has one child; Walter, who married Lulu Bledsoe, and Robert and Flossie. Mrs. Lichty 's people were early settlers in Ne braska. Mr. and Mrs. Lichty first lived on the Otto reservation where Mr. Lichty bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, and while residing there they were hailed out twice. Mr. Lichty with his family then came to Antelope county and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and built a good frame house in which he now lives, and has added to his possessions until now he owns nine hundred and sixty acres of fine land, twenty acres of which are given over to trees. Mr. Lichty is affilliated with the Workman and I. 0. 0. F. lodges, and enjoys the highest re spect and regard of the community. JAMES T. BUCHANAN. James T. Buchanan, since 1883 a resident of Pierce county, Nebraska, has identified himself with the interests of the eastern part of the state, and by building up a fine farm and lending his influence for good citizenship, he has become one of the deservedly successful and prosperous citi zens of his locality. Mr. Buchanan is a Virginian by birth, having been born in Smyth county, June 18, 1857. He is the son of James L. Buchanan, who was born in 1818 ; the mother was Nancy H. Buchanan, who was born in 1820. During the civil war, Mr. Buchanan's father enlisted in the confederate army, serving three years and was promoted to a captaincy, which office he filled creditably to the cause. In March, 1884, our subject moved to Boscow county, Texas, and in 1888 to Ellis county, where he remained four years, coming to Pierce county Nebraska, in October, 1891, where he rented a farm. He continued to rent until 1908, when he bought one hundred and twenty-two acres of good land, being that part of the southwest quarter of section twenty-four, township twenty-eight, range two, which lies south of the Burlington railroad. Among other misfortunes Mr. Buchanan lost all his crops by hail in 1905. Mr. Buchanan was married October 4, 1874 to Miss Betty Kincanon, and seven children have been born to this union; Ollie, wife of B. A. Thompson; Maggie, wife of Albert Parsons; Leonard, who married Susan Hughes; William Jackson married Verna Moore; Nancy, wife of Luther Bolen ; Ernest, died in 1901, and Clarence, who is the youngest of the family. Mr. Buchanan takes an interest in local affairs, at all times lending his aid and influence for good government and the bettering of conditions in his community. He is a democrat. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 159 ENEVOLD NIELSEN. Enevold Nielsen, a prominent farmer of How ard county, is one of the men who carries on a di versified system of agriculture in a most success ful manner, with results that richly reward his thrift and industry. Mr. Nielsen was born in Denmark, November 16, 1866, and was the eldest child in the family of Niels and Mariane Envoldsen, consisting of four boys and three girls. When Enevold was a lad of six, the father came to America, going first to Chicago, where he secured employment at his trade as a carpenter, remaining there for a few months, then came on to Howard county. Here he took a homestead on section twelve, township thirteen, range twelve, proved up on an eighty-acre tract, and made it his home until his death, in 1906. He was survived by his wife and four children. Enevold Nielsen, the mother and his brother and two sisters, left Denmark about a year after the father had come to this country, intending to join him in his new home. One daughter died on the trip across, and the others arrived safely at Grand Island in the spring of 1873. Our subject spent his boyhood on the home stead, assisting his father until he was twenty- one years of age, then returned to Denmark for a visit. He spent four months there and upon his return to Nebraska purchased eighty acres of land adjoining the home place, and started to de velop a farm for himself. He succeeded in build ing up a comfortable home, adding to his acreage as, he became more prosperous, and now owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land on section twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve. His farm is one of the best equipped and most productive in the locality, supplied with all good, substantial farm buildings, and he is re garded as a progressive and up-to-date agricul turist. Mr. Nielsen was married at his father's home on September 10, 1889, to Annie Petria Petersen, who was born in Denmark and came to this coun try the year previous to her marriage. To them have been born six children, five of whom are now living. They are named as follows: Chris tina, Mary, Niels, Martin and Inger, all residing on the homestead and forming a most interesting family group. Niels (1) died when about two and one-half years old. Mr. Nielsen has been active in local and coun ty affairs, helping in every way possible to ad vance the best interests of his community. He has for a number of years been a member of the school board in district number twenty-eight. JAMES A. BRANNON. Although still a young man, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has ac complished much in the way of securing for him self a good home and competence, gained through strict attention to his duties in carrying on suc cessfully a thirty-acre farm on section two, town ship seventeen, range thirteen, in Valley county Nebraska. The greater part of his life has been spent in that state, and he has become well and favorably known to all residing in the vicinity of his home. James A. Brannon was born in Fairfield, Iowa, on December 18, 1868. His parents died when he was but eighteen months old, and he was adopted at that age by Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Cross, who came into Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1879, bringing our subject with them, and his early education was acquired in the schools of that county, later attending the Valley county schools, as the family moved to the latter county in 1884. At the age of twenty-one James went into Custer county and pre-empted eighty acres in Sargent township, although he still made his home a part of the time in Valley county with his foster parents. Mr. Cross served all through the civil war. He was a member of Company E, of the Second Iowa Infantry, and achieved considerable distinction as a brave soldier. He died in July, 1881, and left behind him many sincere friends in Hamilton county. His widow now resides at Comstock, Nebraska. On April 19, 1893, Mr. Brannon was married to Sylvia E. Green, who was born and raised in Valley county, a daughter of Joseph and Emeline (Van Horn) Green, they being early settlers in the locality. The father was, a native of New York, while the mother was born in Ohio, her parents moving to Clinton, Iowa, while she was a girl. Mr. and Mrs. Brannon have one ' son, Riley U. Brannon, who lives at home, and also Elsie M., an adopted daughter. The family have a very pleasant and com fortable home, consisting of thirty acres of the original Green homestead, the estate lying one and a half miles south of North Loup. Mr. and Mrs. Brannon are members of the Seventh Day Baptist church. He affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a populist and prohibitionist in political views. LEVI GUTRU. The gentleman above mentioned has the dis tinction of being one of the very earliest settlers in the town of Newman Grove, Nebraska. He is also a pioneer merchant of that now thriving city, and at the present time is successfully carrying on an extensive real estate business. Mr. Gutru and his family enjoy the comforts of a modern residence, and are among the promin ent members of the social life of their beautiful city. Levi Gutru was born in Norway on May 30, 1855, and was the third in order of birth in a family of eight, resulting from the union of 160 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Gulbrandt and Ingeburg Gutru, and he grew to manhood in his native land. In June, 1872, he took passage on an emigrant ship bound for the United States, and landed in New York in due time, going directly to Dane county, Wis consin, for settlement, there going to work on a farm, and in the winter working in the pine woods. The following year he was joined by his father, mother and the balance of the chil dren, the father taking a farm, and all living to gether up to 1877, when our subject left Wis consin and came to Nebraska. Mr. Gutru homesteaded in Boone county, but only lived on the place a short time, then re moved to a claim about four miles east of New man Grove, which he occupied for five years, at the end of that time returning to Boone coun ty, where he again engaged in farming and stock raising. About 1887, at the time Newman Grove came into existence as a town, Mr. Gutru moved there, being one of the original settlers. He at once engaged in the stock business, buying, selling and shipping cattle and hogs, and con tinued in the business up to 1907. He was also for many years in the implement business there, and was one of the successful merchants of the place. Several years ago he started a real estate office, and has handled many large deals in lands in Nebraska and the adjoining states. Since locating here, Mr. Gutru has been active in the development of the region, and has watched every change that has come to that portion of the state. Mr. Gutru was united in marriage, October 11, 1877, to Miss Ingeborg Oleson, at Newman Grove. To. Mr. Gutru and his good wife have been born seven children, two of whom are now deceased, the surviving five named as follows: Ida Marie, who is the wife of Archie Robinson; George Henry, a prominent banker of Newman Grove; Marian, wife of George B. Howell, they living in South Dakota, and Lily and Jeanette, living with the old folks. They are a very inter esting family, and are honored with the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Gutru and his family occupy one of the handsome resi dences in Newman Grove, and are popular in business and social circles. The father of our subject is dead, but his mother and two brothers still make Wisconsin their home. One sister lives in Boone county, and a brother is a well-known resident of New man Grove. Mrs. Gutru 's father and mother are deceased, two brothers living in different parts of Nebraska. JAMES W. JOHNSON. James W. Johnson, a successful stock and grain farmer of section twenty-nine, township fourteen, range fifteen, Sherman county, Nebras ka, is widely and favorably known as a man of affairs and influence in his community. He has spent most of his life in Nebraska, and is one of the younger men among the state's early set tlers. Mr. Johnson was born at Newton, Iowa, July 24, 1866, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Wat son) Johnson, third in a family of ten children. The father is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. Five sons — George E., Walter, Frank, Charles and Ernest — live in Valley county, Ne braska. Three daughters — Mrs. Maggie Van Scoy, Mrs. Fanny Sample and Mrs. Kate Paulser — live in Valley county. At the age of twelve years, James W. John son came with his parents to Hall county, Ne braska, where the family remained three years, then moved to Valley county, where the father secured a homestead, on which he still resides. The son received his early education in Iowa, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, learn ing all kinds of farm work. In 1889, he pur chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sherman county, which he operated for sixteen years, and in 1905 secured the one hundred and forty-acre farm where he now lives. He erected a very comfortable home, and otherwise improved the place, bringing it to a high state of cultiva tion. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs in his community, and has served many years as a member of the school board, being now director of district number thirteen, and he has also served as township clerk. March 2, 1902, Mr. Johnson - married Miss Frances Huckelberry, a native of Marion county, Illinois, daughter of Philip and Matilda (Hewett) Huckelberry, both also born in Illinois. Her father died in Sherman county in 1904, and her mother now resides in Burt county, Nebraska. Mr. Huckelberry and wife had eight children. those besides Mrs. Johnson being: a daughter in Indiana, a daughter in Illinois, two sons and two daughters in Nebraska, and one son in Illi nois. To Mr. Johnson and wife three children have been born, namely: Alta M., a student in ", the St. Paul Business College ; Mata, a student in the same institution; and Ellen Marie at home. Mr. Johnson is a populist in political faith. and, fraternally, a member of the Modern Wood men of America. On his first Sherman county farm, Mr. John son lived for eight years in true pioneer style before building a modern frame dwelling. FRANK SPECHT. Energetic efforts and intelligence go hand in hand in the building of one 's fortune, regardless of the vocation to which they are applied. One of the highly-improved farms in Cedar county is that owned by Frank Specht, who is the possess or of a fine quarter-section there. The comforta ble circumstances of this gentleman have been JOHN R. ORVIS, DECEASED AND MRS. CHANEY ORVIS. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 161 brought about by the exercise of unceasing in dustry and labor, good judgment and thrift. Mr. Specht is not only an old settler, but is also one of the "native sons" of Cedar county, or very near it, having been born in Jones coun ty, Iowa, about three weeks prior to the start to Nebraska in 1873. His parents, Frederick and Sophia Specht, were Germans, and came to this country in 1869, the trip on an old-style sailing vessel taking six weeks. They came to Iowa at once, and lived there until 1873, when they re moved to Cedar county, coming by the overland route. They bought one hundred and sixty acres here, and . built a tiny dug-out. Later, a slab house, fourteen by fourteen feet, was built, the walls plastered with clay, and here they lived for ten years. Misfortune attended their early years, in the way of prairie fires, plagues of grasshoppers, and heavy snows. Sioux City, many miles away, was their nearest market at this time, and often dur ing those early days they burned weeds and corn stalks to keep warm, as they had to go twenty- five miles for wood. Despite these discourage ments, the family remained, and gained the high esteem and respect of their fellow settlers. The son now farms one hundred and sixty acres ad jacent to the old homestead, which he has ac quired since his marriage, and he has improved the land and built a comfortable modern home for himself and family. In 1897, Mr. Specht was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Merrick, also a native of Iowa, and to them two children have been born, Henry F. and Edward J. JOHN R. ORVIS, (Deceased.) The late John R. Orvis was one of the most prominent citizens of Sargent, and was a very early settler of Custer county, passing through various stages of its history. He was well known as a business man of ability and enterprise, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all with whom he had dealings'. He was a son of Victor M. and Lucretia (Tyler) Orvis, born in Cattarau gus county, New York, November 27, 1835. He was the eldest of their seven children, only three of whom now survive: Henry C, of Burwell, Nebraska; one daughter in California, and an other daughter in Iowa. The parents were born in the state of New York, and both died in Iowa, In early childhood, Mr. Orvis was taken by his parents to Illinois, where he was reared ' on a farm, and received the usual educational advantages of a farmer 's son in those times. Later he engaged, in farming, and also conducted a blacksmith shop. He was married in Monroe county, Wisconsin, April 24, 1859, to Miss Chaney M. Sweet, who was of New York birth, daughter of George W. and Malvina (Camp) Sweet, na tives of New York. The father served in the civil war, took a homestead in Custer county in November, 1877, and died in North Loup in 1891. The mother died in Sargent, Nebraska, in April, 1910. Mrs. Orvis has a sister in Mich igan and a brother in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Orvis made their first home on the Illinois farm, where they lived until 1863, when they removed to Fayette county, Iowa, where he established a general mercantile busi ness. In the spring of 1877, they came overland with their six children to Custer county, Ne braska. He secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land at West Union, and also a timber claim of eighty acres adjoining. This was the home place, and for fifteen years Mr. and Mrs. Orvis conducted a hotel in connection with farming. In 1905, Mr. Orvis sold his farming interests to his youngest son, and retired from active life, locating in Sargent, where he erected a fine home. This was his home until his death, March 23, 1910. He left a widow and eleven children : Clara R. married Henry Groff, and they live in Sargent; Laura E., wife of Elias Whaley, • lives in Colorado, and they have five children; Ida M. married Leonard Bisco, and died October 12, 1887, and is survived by her husband and three children ; Harris W., died October 1, 1867 ; Lillie B., is the wife of Joseph Simler, of Sargent, and they have four children; Cinda E., wife of God- lop Zeller, of Sargent, has five children; James A., of Custer county, is married, and has three children; Wilbur R. and Willis J., twins, the former of whom is married, lives in Sargent, and has five children, and the latter died August 25, 1875 ; George V, of Walworth, Nebraska, is mar ried, and has two children ; Burt L., married, and living in West Union, Nebraska, has three chil dren. Mrs. Orvis lives in the pleasant home in Sargent, where she is surrounded by a large circle of friends, and where many of her children are near at hand. Portraits of John R. Orvis, deceased, and Mrs. Chaney Orvis will be found on another page of this volume. ANTON HUMMEL. Perseverance and diligence are the stepping- stones to success. These characteristics, supple mented by honesty and good citizenship, are among the many attributes possessed by the gen tleman herein named. Anton Hummel was born in Pennsylvania, January 6, 1838, and was youngest of five chil dren in the family of Anthony and Francisco Hummel, who had three sons and two daughters. Our subject was born and raised on a farm in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and in Septem ber, 1861, enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, and par ticipated in the battles of Gettysburg and Chan- cellorville, and received his discharge at Har- 162 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. risburg, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1862, when he returned home. In July, 1866, Mr. Hummel was married to Miss Ursula Jacobs, to which union four children have been born : John, married and living in Central City; Anna, residing at home; Magde- lina, also at home ; and Chris, married and living on the home farm. Mrs. Hummel, the mother, died on the home farm, October, 1890. In March, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Hummel and four children came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where they purchased land and made a home, selling the same in 1883, returning to Pennsyl vania for a four months' stay, then returned to Merrick county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section fourteen, township fourteen, range seven, which has remained the home farm until this date, where Mr. Hummel now owns three hundred and twenty acres in the farm and forty acres of hay land. Mr. Hummel and family are well known, and have the respect and esteem of many friends, and are prosperous and successful. CHRISTIAN G. BENNER, SR. One of the very last of the earliest settlers in the old town of Niobrara was the venerable Christian G. Benner, who remained after most of the buildings had been moved away. For over fifty years he was a resident of the town. His death occurred September 3, 1910. Mr. Benner was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, on December 2, 1827. When about seven years of age, the family moved to Noble county, Indi ana, which place was then on the frontier of civilization, and made that their home up to 1844, when they again migrated west, settling in Lee county, Iowa, near the banks of the Des Moines river. As a young man, Christian followed rafting and freighting on that stream, also on the Mississippi river, floating logs as far down as St. Louis. In 1848, he went to Appanoose county, remaining for about five years, then removed to Glenwood. In the fall of 1855, he moved to Sioux City, and there, in company with a brother, William Benner, opened the first hotel in the town, the building being a double log structure, and fitted up in a very orderly man ner indeed, in marked contrast to the fine hos- telries to be found there at the present time. They ran the place for three years, at which time our subject came to Nebraska, landing in Nio brara on the first day of June, 1858. He at first engaged in farming, and during his early resi dence in the section, freighted across the prairie to Sioux City, and sometimes went as far as Omaha with Mr. Westermann, who was an Indian trader. At one time, Mr. Benner took a six weeks' hunting trip up the Niobrara river, when deer, elk and antelope were to be seen on every side. Buffaloes were still quite plentiful, and their hides were a staple article of commerce. During the flood of 1881, Mr. Benner took his wife to the Draper House in order to be out of the way of the worst of the waters, and then turned his attention to the work of rescue, with others, helping save a number of settlers whose homes were submerged. Mr. Benner told the writer that he remem bered when the Santee tribe were removed to the reservation east of town, after the massacre at New Ulm, Minnesota. Mr. Benner was married in Centerville, Iowa, on December 21, 1849, to Lorania Fuller, who died in Niobrara, June 9, 1883. Of their ten children, eight survive, only one of whom, William O, is now living in Knox county, and he farms a fertile tract of land lying on the old site of Niobrara. HUGO VOGEL. Hugo Vogel, who is now a resident of Fuller- ton, Nebraska, was formerly a resident of section twenty-six, Loup Ferry township. He is a strik ing and impressive representative of Nebraska brawn and muscle, having spent almost his entire career on a farm in the great western country. He has passed through all the varied experiences, gaining an enviable reputation as a progressive agriculturist, and is highly esteemed in the local ity in which his honorable and useful career is being run. Mr. Vogel is a native of Germany, born Janu ary 10, 1845, and is the fifth in a family of eight children, the parents being John and Waldburga Vogel. When Hugo was nine years of age, the entire family, with the exception of one daugh ter, who died in infancy, came to the United States, landing in New York City on July 4, 1853. They went immediately to North Glosen- bury, Connecticut, remaining there for four years, the father engaged in making of fine cut lery. At that time, which was in the spring of 1857, Mr. Vogel, Hugo and one daughter moved into Iroquois county, Illinois, where they pur chased a small farm and began mixed farming, being joined by the balance of the family later on in the same year. The father died there in 1860, and the mother followed him in 1876, and there are now living two girls and three boys — our subject and one brother, Julius, in Gage county, Nebraska, another brother, Carl, in Iro quois county, Illinois, while the sisters, Mrs. Mary Rosenbaum and Mrs. Augusta Lutz, are now liv ing in Terre Haute, Indiana. Hugo Vogel settled in Fullerton in March, 1880, making his home in the town for two years. He then purchased two hundred and forty acres on section twenty-six, township sixteen, range seven, moving his family on the farm in the spring of 1882, where they continued to reside until April, 1910, when they moved to their home in Fullerton, which they intend making their permanent residence. Mr. Vogel was one of the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 163 first settlers in this portion of Nance county, and passed through all the early Nebraska times. He was elected county commissioner in the same year of settling on his farm, serving for three years, and was also supervisor of his district, which was one and the same office, the system having changed during later years. He has al ways been interested in the development of the region along educational lines, and was director of school district number eleven for a number of years. On February 15, 1876, Mr. Vogel was mar ried at Paxton, Illinois, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Cunningham, who is a daughter of Philander and Julia Cunningham, and a native of Pennsylvan ia, her parents coming into Illinois about 1855 from that state. After his marriage, Mr. Vogel started farming for himself on a rented place. One son was born in Illinois, Frederick, he dying in Nance county in 1885, while Harry A. and Helen Louise are both living at home now. Mr. Vogel and his family are well known throughout their section of the country, and are held in the highest esteem. They have a pleas ant home in Fullerton, and a valuable estate, the farm place being supplied with substantial farm buildings, and producing good crops of small grain. He also engages in stock raising, and takes especial pride in keeping his farm in the finest shape, having planted many trees, and also has a very fine orchard. Mr. Vogel is a prominent Knight of Pythias. DELL AKIN. Although versatility is a striking character istic of many western men, few have won signal success in as many lines as Dell Akin, editor and postmaster, living at Atkinson, Holt county, Ne braska. At one time or another he has followed the various vocations of merchant, Indian trader, clerk, farmer and ranchman, editor and post master, in all of which he has acquitted himself in a creditable manner, showing him to be essen tially a son of the west. He first saw the light at Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, ' September 23, 1860, a son of Ben F. and Elizabeth (Butler) Akin, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and New York. In 1882 the family came to Holt county, and the father filed claim to a homestead on Red Bird creek. As a boy, Dell Akin attended the common schools, and the high school at Osage, Iowa, then one of the best institutions of its kind in that part of Iowa, and in 1877 he came to Holt county, Nebraska, where he opened a small store, trad ing with the Indians some years at the mouth of Red Bird creek, they crossing the Niobrara from their reservation in what is now Boyd county. At that time Paddock was the county seat, al though little business was transacted there. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Akin disposed of his store, and spent two years in Niobrara, where he was employed as clerk by various merchants. He was living there at the time of the memorable flood of 1881, and helped efficiently at the work of rescuing those who were marooned. He was awakened by the sound of water, sprang from bed to find himself ankle deep in icy water, and by the time he had taken his soaked trousers from the floor, he was knee deep in the water. As he reached the sidewalk, he was thrown aside by a piece of ice which struck him. He and a Mr. Moore procured a boat, and did noble work in caring for those in distress. One amusing incident was connected with a woman, who, with a child and dog, was sitting on top of a table above the water, and when Mr. Akin reached her, she would not go first, leaving the child and dog, and did not wish to have either of them taken first without her, so he had to take all three on his back, and carry them to the boat at the door. Upon reaching it, he slipped, dump ing his load into the boat with such force as nearly to capsize it. The woman's husband had fled at the first sign of danger, making his escape to higher ground, and leaving his family to their fate. One man, too tipsy to care for himself, was found perched on the shelving of the Bone- steel store, and taken away by boat, being too much overcome from the effects of drink to help himself. Soon after the incidents just related, Mr. Akin moved to O'Neill. He had filed claim on a homestead and timber claim, five miles east of the town, in 1879, and lived there from 1881 until 1885, perfecting his title. He then traded his land for a ranch, southwest of Atkinson, lying in Holt and Rock counties, which he owned until 1902, and sold it to invest in land nearer the town. In 1890, Mr. Akin moved into Atkinson, but still operated his ranch, and raised cattle and horses for the market. In 1900, he purchased the Atkinson "Graphic" from Lee Henry, and has since ably conducted this sheet as a staunch advocate of republican principles. Since assum ing charge, he has greatly increased the circula tion, and has one of the progressive papers of his part of the state. He has an editorial page that keeps its readers in touch with the leading issues and questions of the day, and the news depart ment is kept up to a high standard. In 1902, Mr. Akin was appointed to the office of postmaster of Atkinson, taking office in No vember of that year. He takes an active interest in the campaigns of the republican party, and makes his influence felt at all times, especially when a campaign is in full swing. He is now the precinct central committeeman, and has the confidence of his fellow workers in the cause. September 23, 1882, Mr. Akin was married in O 'Neill to Miss Fannie Scott, a native of Missouri. Three children have been born to this union: Bertha, wife of James Russell, of Portland, Ore- 164 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. gon ; Jesse, of Atkinson, and Frank, now in Port land. Mr. Akin married (second) in Atkinson, March, 1902, Miss Luella Boehme, a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, whose father, Conrad Boehme, was one of the earliest railroad men in Holt county. Mr. Boehme is mentioned at con siderable length elsewhere in this work. By his second marriage, Mr. Akin became the father of two children, Erma and Dell, junior. Mr. Akin was living on his ranch at the time of the notable blizzard of January 12, 1888. Seeing it coming, he got the cattle to their sheds before the storm broke, but spent most of the day shoveling snow, which drifted into the sheds so fast that the cattle were lifted on the drifted, trampled snow until their backs touched the poles of the roof. For a time after moving on his ranch in Holt and Rock counties, Mr. Akin lived in a sod house. The family used hay and big hay-burners (still in use in the sand hills), though they never used it twisted as it had to be prepared before the in troduction of the hay-burners into the state. Deer, antelope and elk were to be found when Mr. Akin first came to Nebraska, and there are still buffalo on the Yankton agency, Mr. Akin at one time seeing a buffalo cow that had strayed from the herd and passed through Holt county. In an early day, Mr. Akin was caught in the river in a hail storm so severe that the bark was torn from many trees, and they were killed. Mr. Akin relates humorous sides of the Indian scare of 1881. Soldiers from Fort Randall were shooting off condemned ammunition, and when a mail carrier jokingly asked them the cause, they soberly remarked to him that "Hell's broke loose." Without waiting to hear more, the ques tioner hastened to spread the alarm through the country side, with the result that part of the country was almost depopulated, and some of the fugitives never returned to their homes. Mr. Akin and a Mr. Parker rode toward the reserva tion to investigate the cause of the rumor, not withstanding Mrs. Parker's tears because she thought her husband was going into dire danger. Upon reaching the river, the two picketed their horses, and swam across to Mr. Lamoraux's (a squaw-man living on the north side of the stream), and found there was no foundation for Mr. Akin knew "Doc" Middleton, "Kid" Wade and others of their gang, and spent freely of bis time and money in the effort to help bring to justice the murderers of County Treasurer Scott. In spite of threats, he kept at work on the case as long as he saw a hope of carrying out a successful prosecution. Mr. Akin is one of the best known men in the county, and, during his active life, has been identified with its measures of progress and advancement. He is well liked and popular, and has numerous friends. THOMAS A. BUNKER. This gentleman has resided in Boone county, Nebraska, for over twenty years, becoming fa miliar to all there, and he occupies a foremost position among them as an energetic agriculturist and public-spirited citizen. He is a representa tive farmer, owns a fine estate, and makes his home in Ashland precinct. Thomas A. Bunker was the eldest of two sons born to Obadiah and Parmelia Bunker, he first seeing light on July 13, 1842. His birthplace was in Caledonia county, Vermont. The Bunker fam ily trace their ancestors back to the coming of the Mayflower, and our subject is the only member of his family now living, his mother departing this life in 1859, and his father in 1888. About 1862, the family removed to New Hampshire, but shortly afterwards Thomas returned to his old home in Vermont, where he received his educa tion, later going to Wisconsin, where he worked in the pine woods for some years. While there he was married in 1869 to Miss Emma Hoyt, and they settled in Iowa, and en gaged in farming and stock raising. About 1871, they went to Howard county, Iowa, remaining up to 1889, at which time they migrated to Boone county, purchasing land in section twenty-six, township twenty-one, range seven, which has been their home farm up to the present time. Mr. Bunker has made a success of farming, and is now owner of one of the finest farms in Boone county. He has a very pleasant home. They had one daughter, who died in 1876. In reviewing the history of the Bunker fam ily, going back to the Pilgrim days, three broth ers came over on the Mayflower, landing at Pil grim Rock. One went to sea, and was lost. One entered the revolutionary war, and after return ing from war, disappeared, and all trace of him was forever lost. The remaining brother located in Massachusetts, and the grandfather of our subject settled in Vermont. He was a captain in the militia of Vermont in his day, and noted as the strongest man in Caledonia county, living to the ripe old age of ninety-eight years. The father and mother of Mrs. Bunker are deceased. She has one brother and one sister, the Hoyt family also tracing their descent from the Pilgrim days. HON. JOHN T. BRESSLER. One of the oldest citizens in point of residence in Wayne county, Nebraska, is John T. Bressler, mayor of the city of Wayne. He- first came to the county in April, 1870, and filed on a home stead in the southeast corner of the county, a few miles from the old county seat, La Porte. He lived on the land six or seven years, and then moved to La Porte, having been elected county treasurer, in which office he served four years. During this time, he organized the Logan COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 165 Valley Bank, the first financial institution in the county. He was interested in real estate during the same period, and was instrumental in getting many of the early settlers located in the county. In 1881, he moved to Wayne, with the change of the county seat, and bought the Bank of Wayne County, which was consolidated with the Logan Valley Bank. This was later reorganized into the First National Bank, and of this Mr. Bressler owned a controlling interest, and served as president until 1889. Selling part of his hold ings at this time, he became vice president, and has held that office since. He holds large areas of real estate in Wayne county, and deals in real estate and farm loans within a wide radius of Wayne. He is the local representative of many non-resident owners of lands in the west, attend ing to their interests as assiduously as he would his own. Mr. Bressler was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1849, attending only the country schools. His parents, Daniel and Mary Ann (Tannyhill) Bressler, spent their en tire lives in the Keystone state. A brother, An derson Bressler, came to Wayne in 1898, and is engaged in the insurance business. Mr. Bressler was married in Dakota county, Nebraska, July 21, 1880, to Miss Julia Fair, a daughter of Mark and Jane Fair. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bressler. They are : Maude, George (who died at the age of two and a half years), Ruth, Kate, John T. and Doro thy. Mr. Bressler was living in Nebraska during the time of the grasshopper raids. He lost crops several years, and his crops were entirely de stroyed in 1874. He passed through three of the most notable blizzards of 'the last forty years — those of April 12 to 14, 1873 ; October 15 to 17, 1880, and that of January 12, 1888, in which he was for a few minutes bewildered and lost in getting his children home from school. Mr. Bressler reached the country before the Indians were entirely subdued, and when a neighbor, named Munson, living but two miles distant, was killed and scalped by them, he realized the dan ger was great, and sought safety for a few weeks. Mr. Bressler is a leading republican, high in the councils of his party. He was a delegate to the convention at St. Louis that nominated Mc- Kinley in 1896, and was Nebraska's member of the notification committee that officially carried the news to Canton. He was appointed one of the five government directors who represented the United States on the board of the Union Pa cific railroad when the government withdrew from the management. He served one term in the State Senate, being elected in 1894, and was elected Mayor of Wayne in the spring of 1909. Mr. Bressler is a member of the Odd Fellows' and Masonic lodges of Wayne, and the Chapter, Council and Commandary of Norfolk. JOHN W. BUSCH. John W. Busch, retired farmer and an old settler of Colfax county, Nebraska, is a promin ent and substantial citizen of Schuyler, where he and his family now reside. Mr. Busch has lived in Colfax county for the past forty-two years or more, and has been persistent and faithful in his duty to his home state and county, and well de serves the prosperity and comfort he now enjoys. Mr. Busch is a sturdy son of Germany, his birth occurring in that country, January 1, 1848. He is a son of Christ and Dora (Mueller) Busch, and was eldest in a family of seven children. He has one brother residing in Howells, Nebraska. One brother died in Germany. He has three sis ters in Colfax county and one in Germany. The parents are deceased, their deaths occurring in their native land of Germany. In the fall of 1867, Mr. Busch came to Amer ica, locating in Wisconsin, where he followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1869, he came to Colfax county, and bought eighty acres of good land in the east half of the northwest quarter of section four, township seventeen, range three, which remained his home place for thirty- four years. On January 14, 1873, Mr. Busch was married to Miss Mary Brum, who was also a na tive of Germany. Mrs. Busch died in January, 1884, survived by her husband and five children : George, who is married and living in Schuyler; Minnie, wife of William Schuldt, has two children, and resides in Schuyler; Frank, also married, has one child, and lives in South Dakota ; and Johnnie and Clara, both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Busch is a democrat in politics, and in 1894 was elected county treasurer, serving his constitu ents well for two terms. He also served in the various offices of his school district, number thir teen, for many years. On April 18, 1884, Mr. Busch was united in marriage to Anna Schebal, who was also bom in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Busch have one child, Lilly, who is the wife of Reverend Carl Wilhelm, who reside in Dorrance, Kansas. Mr. Busch has been prosperous and successful, and owns six hundred and forty acres of good farm land. In 1903, he retired from the farm, and moved to Schuyler, where he purchased a fine home, which is the present dwelling place. Mr. Busch is one of the earliest settlers of his county, has passed through all the discouragements and hardships incidental to pioneer life, and is widely and favorably known. He is a director in Schuy ler National Bank, also of Richmond State Bank, president of Schuyler Savings Bank, and a stock holder in Howells State Bank. JOHN CHRISTON. Prominent among Antelope county old settlers may be mentioned the name of John Christon, who, since the fall of 1885, has made this region 166 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his home, and has done his share in the developing of the agricultural resources of this section of the county. Mr. Christon lives on section thirty, town ship twenty-seven, range eight, where he and his family enjoy the respect of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Christon was born April 14, 1876, in Car roll county, Illinois, and is the son of Peter and Anna M. (Jensen) Christon, both natives of Den mark, the father being born in 1856, and died in 1895. Mr. Christon 's father came to Nebraska in the very early days, and took up a homestead in section thirty, township twenty-seven, range eight, Antelope county, where our subject now lives. He first built a board shanty, and here they experienced great difficulty in keeping warm, hav ing to burn cornstalks to keep the children from freezing to death. In 1904 they suffered the loss of almost all their crops by reason of the severe drought of that year. On March 4, 1901, Mr. Christon was united in marriage to Miss Ernestine Iburg, and Mr. and Mrs. Christon are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Carl, Irvin, Marie and Walter. Mr. Christon has made a good home, and is justly entitled to the competency he has attained as the result of constant and intelligent effort. He has done his share in the developing of the coun try as a pioneer settler, and he and his family are enjoying the respect and esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances. RALPH J. JEWELL. Ralph J. Jewell, marble dealer at Plainview, Nebraska, is a typical westerner — energetic, sturdy and reliable. He first came to Nebraska in the fall of 1878, and filed on a timber claim, and a year later filed on a homestead claim, moving on it in March, 1880. The land lay in Antelope county, five miles southwest of Plainview, which then consisted of but a few houses. In 1888, Mr. Jewell moved to town, and for two years was proprietor of a hotel, and then went to Pierce, where he learned baking, and was in business there one year. He was in the dray busi ness a few years, and then rented a farm, one mile west of Plainview, which he cultivated some five years, spending his spare time in the sale of mon uments and tombstones, which later became his regular vocation. Moving into town, he built a bakery, and worked at that business until the building burned. He rebuilt, and for three and a half years was engaged in furnishing the town people their daily bread. Mr. Jewell again entered the marble and gran ite business, in which he has since been engaged. In 1904, he formed a partnership with Harvey Stocking, and opened an office in the main part of town, each bringing to bear in the business a reputation for energy and reliability. In 1910, he sold his interest, and the following spring pur chased and took control of the entire establish ment. Mr. Jewell was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, July 2, 1852, aud lived in his native county until 1869. He lived at Canaan, Connecti cut, two years, and then moved to Denison, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until he migrated to Nebraska. He is the son of Milo and Sarah (Mc- Lava) Jewell, the former of English, and the lat ter of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Jewell was married in Denison, Iowa, No vember 22, 1876, to Miss Hattie Bush, daughter of Drury and Maria (Hutchens) Bush. The mother of Mrs. Jewell died at her daughter's resi dence. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jewell, four lived to be grown: Clara Belle, the eldest, who married Loren William Box, they having two children, Ralph and Gladys, died August 22, 1906 ; Elmer is owner of a farm, three miles from Long Pine; Fred ran a restaurant and bakery at Ute, Iowa, for a time, and then spent a year in New Mexico, returning to Ute in 1911; Viola, who is an expert trimmer, married William Smith, who is a popular clerk in Plainview. Mr. Jewell is a republican, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America lodges, and, with his wife, is a member of the Congregational church. During the severe blizzard of January 12, 1888, and the memorable hailstorm of June, 1890, Mr. Jewell was living in town, and so escaped the dan gers and discomforts of those living in the coun try, who had cattle out in the storm to be rescued. One of his most discouraging experiences occurred during his first year's residence in the west. To get wood for fuel, he had to go nine miles beyond Neliegh, a distance of about thirty-five miles. On the return trip, the axle-tree of his wagon broke, but a nearby settler loaned him a wagon, on which to get his load home. The return of the borrowed wagon necessitated fifty miles more travel, which, together with delay and repairs on his own ve hicle, made it a very expensive load of wood. Rather than risk the time and expense, the fam ily, after that, burned hay. Mr. Jewell has traveled much over northeastern Nebraska, has a wide acquaintance with the coun try and the sturdy people who have developed it, and enjoys their confidence and respect to a de gree that few have done who have had as exten sive dealings with so many and such a varied class of citizens. ALBERTES M. HOES. The life of the gentleman here named furnishes an example worthy of the emulation of the rising generation, as through good management, persist ent efforts, strict honesty and painstaking care, Mr. Hoes has acquired a valuable estate in How ard county, and is known throughout the locality MR. AND MRS. CHRISTIAN ENDER AND CHILDREN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 167 as one of the leading old settlers. His home is now in Grand Island, Nebraska, having moved there a short time ago. Albertes M. Hoes is a native of Maryland, born on July 28, 1851, and, with his parents, settled in northern Illinois when he was a child of six years. There he grew to manhood, and spent some time in different parts of the country, living in Cali fornia with his family for a number of years. He is a brother of John H. Hoes, whose sketch ap pears in this volume. Mr. Hoes first came to Howard county, Ne braska, in 1883, settling on a tract of land on section three, township fourteen, range nine, on May 6. He developed a good farm, passed through the pioneer period here, made his place one of the paying stock and grain tracts in his section, and, with his family, is prominent among Howard county's well-to-do old-timers. On January 16, 1881, Mr. Hoes was married to Idella McBride, the ceremony taking place in Cali fornia. Mrs. Hoes is a native of Ohio, and both her father and mother are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hoes had no children of their own, al though they have raised two adopted children, one a girl, now the wife of Clyde Applegate, well known in Howard county, and the other a boy, now married and living in Polk county. Our subject takes a lively interest in all county and state affairs, and has held numerous precinct offices. OTTO MURSCHEL. As an old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, an agriculturist of untiring energy and persever ance, and worthy citizen, the gentleman here named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent over twenty-four years of his life in their midst, has gained a host of staunch friends and incidentally acquired a good home, and placed himself in a position to be counted among the substantial citizens of this region. Mr. Murschel was born in Iowa City, Iowa, April 2, 1868, and was fourth of five children in the family of John G. and Charlotte (Doll) Mur schel, who had three sons and two daughters. The parents died in Iowa City, both passing away in the year 1899, survived by four of their children : Albert Murschel, who lives in New York City; George J. lives in Santa Clara, California; and Emma, now Mrs. Emma K. Ahrens, resides in Iowa City, Iowa. Otto Murschel, the principal subject of this sketch, lived in Iowa City until attaining the age of eighteen years. He received the usual school ing, and in his eighteenth year left his Iowa home, going to Omaha, Nebraska, remaining there for six years. Mr. Murschel, prior to his eighteenth year, worked in a drug store, and when in Omaha was connected with the barber trade. In his twenty-fourth ye.ar he returned to Iowa to attend business college in Iowa City, and took a com mercial course there for one year, returning to Omaha when he had completed same. Shortly after, on May 10, 1893, he came to Ord, Valley county, taking up his occupation as barber. He then engaged in the restaurant and bakery busi ness, in which he continued until the fall of 1909. Mr. Murschel, during his residence in Ord, has been actively connected with the democratic party, and also actively engaged in the upbuild ing of Ord and also of Valley county, and is a young man progressive along all helpful lines. He was a member of the city council in 1902, served as city clerk of Ord in 1903, and creditably filled the important office of mayor for a period of three years, taking the chair in 1904. In 1906 he was a candidate for county treasurer, and de feated. In the fall of 1909, he was nominated by his party for county clerk, being elected in a re publican county, and is the only county official of democratic faith. Mr. Murschel was united in marriage in Coun cil Bluffs, Iowa, January 3, 1895, to Miss Anna Hansen, who is a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Murschel has always stood for progress ive, modern improvements in city affairs. CHRISTIAN ENDER. Christian Ender, well known and highly re spected as a leading citizen of Howard county, Nebraska, resides on section five, in Elba precinct. He is a truly successful agriculturalist, and his entire estate bears evidence of good management, thrift and prosperity. Mr. Ender was born in Switzerland on Novem ber 1, 1845, and the first six years of his life were spent in that country, then with his parents and two brothers he came to America, locating at first in Washington county, Wisconsin, where they settled on a farm and remained for about thirteen years, during which time our subject received his education, attending the common schools only. The old folks remained in Minnesota from the time of settling there in 1864, the father's death occur ring in 1907, while the mother still makes it her home. Christian Ender, junior, enlisted in Company A, Fifty-third Wisconsin Volunteers, on March 13, 1865, this being the last call for troops, and, with his regiment, only got as far as St. Louis, Missouri, shortly afterwards being mustered out at Madison, Wisconsin, on the 12th of August, 1865. He then returned to his home in Minneso ta, remaining there for two years, then enlisted in the United States Regular Army for three years of service, and at the end of that time re-enlisted for five years. During these years he came through Nebraska with his com pany, on frontier service, continuing in the army up to 1873, at which time he was discharged at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. In 1871, the regiment was stationed near Elba, Howard county, Ne- i68 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. braska, on the North Loup river, and at that time Mr. Ender took up a pre-emption claim on section five, township fifteen, range eleven, and proved up on the tract. Later he filed on a homestead on section six, also proving up on this. He had been married in Omaha in April, 1869, to Miss Bertha Johnson, of that city, and, after filing on his homestead, his wife and their two children held the claim down and started to build up the home while he re mained in the service of the government. During Mrs. Ender 's career as a pioneer here, she met with numerous frontier experienecs, at various times having trouble with the bands of Indians who infested the country, and had she not been a woman of more than ordinary spirit, would have become intimidated by these hardships, and given up the struggle, but she stuck to her little home until joined by her husband, who went out of the army about 1874, and settled on his homestead with his family, which they developed together into a productive and well-improved farm. Mr. and Mrs. Ender have had eight children, six of whom are now living, namely: Christian, III., William, Margaret, Mary, Sarah and Annie, all married and living in Howard county, the entire family being well known and highly re spected as worthy and progressive citizens. Por traits of Mr. and Mrs. Ender and their children appear on another page of this volume. CHRISTIAN H. ENDER, III. Christian H. Ender, III, was born in Omaha, February 6, 1870. His early education was re ceived in Howard county, and he has spent nearly all his life on a farm, during his boyhood helping his father in carrying on the home place, and since then owning extensive farming interests on his own account. He attended the U. B. College at Gibbons, Buffalo county, for six weeks, remaining with his parents until his twenty-ninth year, then starting for himself, purchasing land on section eighteen, township sixteen, range eleven, which he has converted into a model farm. He has erected fine buildings of all kinds, and engages in stock and grain rasing on a large scale. Mr. Ender is proprietor of considerable land, his home farm being admirably situated on the North Loup river, making it one of the best located in that section of the country for the purpose to which he has it devoted. During his younger years, Mr. Ender learned the jeweler's trade, and has done considerable of this work in his section, known far and wide as the "Country Jeweler" of this locality. Mr. Ender was married in 1889 to Rose Eliza beth Nelson who is a native of Illinois, coming to York county, Nebraska, with her parents in 1881. They have a family of five children, named as follows : Edward A., William Glenn, Ruth, Alice and Bertha, all bright and interesting young peo ple, and all living at home at the present time. Mr. Ender has always taken an active and lead ing part in the affairs of his vicinity. He was di rector of school districts number eleven and fourteen for thirteen years during his early residence in his present locality. He at one time held the office of president of the Independent Telephone Company, and at present is shipper of the Farmer 's Co-operative Society at Cotesfield. WILLIAM NICOLAY. It is impossible to give a complete history of north-eastern Nebraska without including a sketch of the life of William Nicolay, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers of this region. Mr. Nicolay owns a farm in section thirty-one, township twenty-three, range two, but has retired and lives in Battle Creek where he and his family enjoy the high esteem and respect of all who know them, and their friends and acquaintances are many. Mr. Nicolay is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred August 24, 1847, in the province of Holstein; he is a son of Carson and Margurite (Tyson) Nicolay, both natives of Holstein Ger many. Mr. Nicolay grew to manhood in his native land, receiving the usual school advantages, and after reaching the required age, served in ithe army of the German Empire, participating in the war between France and Germany in 1870. In 1881, Mr. Nicolay left the fatherland, sail ing from Bremen to New York on the steamship "Bremen;" he had heard such glowing accounts of the prosperous country of America, and of the cheap land to be obtained there, that he decided to try his fortunes in the New World. After land ing in the United States, Mr. Nicolay proceeded westward to Iowa, remaining there one year. In 1884 he came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, known as the Fannie Bauer homestead, and "batched" it until 1888. Mr. Nicolay now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, which is well improved, and has a fine orchard of two acres. Mr. Nicolay was united in marriage, October 10, 1888, to Miss Catherine Borcher, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Deithlif Borcher, who was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolay are the parents of five children whose names are as follows : Willie, Bertha, Marguret, Theresa and Nina. Mr. Nicolay and family are well and favor ably known in the community in which they re side, and have many good friends and acquaint ances. They are members of the German Luth eran church, and Mr. Nicolay is a democrat. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 169 MOTT E. VANDENBERG. Mott E. Vandenberg, now retired from active life and a resident of Sargent, Nebraska, became well known as a success stockman of the central part of the state and for his specializing in short horn cattle. He has long been identified with the best interests of Custer county, where in early years he was an original homesteader, taking up the breeding of high-grade stock. He was born at Cape Vincent, Jefferson county, New York, December 8, 1855, the only child of Cornelius and Sarah (Chase) Vandenberg. The father, of Hol land ancestry, was born in Saratoga, New York, and died in that state in August, 1856. The moth er was also born in Saratoga and was of English parentage. She died in 1883. His father was in railroad service and died while our subject was a young boy, and he had to make his way in the world and gain an education in the local schools. He engaged in various occupations while a young man and spent some time as a teacher in the New York schools. He took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's College, from which he grad uated in 1873, having made a specialty of banking methods. In the spring of 1878 he decided to seek the larger opportunities offered to young men in the west and came to Custer county, pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township nineteen, range eighteen. He hauled lumber from Grand Island for building, and started in the cattle business on his own account. Later he secured a homestead and timber claim comprising three hundred twen ty acres of land on sections twenty-five and twenty-six, township nineteen, range eighteen, which was his home place for many years. He was married on New Year's eve, 1884, at the home of the bride's parents at Douglas Grove, Custer county, to Miss Martha Comstock, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, and came to Custer county with her parents in March, 1882. For several years she was a teacher in Ne braska schools, and attended the first teachers' institute in the county, held at Broken Bow. Her parents, DeWitt and Martha (Bennett) Com stock, now live at Comstock, and are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Vanden berg became parents of five children: Evert D., of Dillon, Montana; Alison G. and Elosia, at home; Mort is deceased, and Nielson (also at home.) Mr. Vandenberg passed through an early period of Nebraska history and was one of the organizers of school district number one hundred and eighty-eight, serving for some, time as di rector of the' board. He and his wife made their home on the homestead for many years and be- ¦ came the owners of seven hundred acres of well improved and equipped land. For twenty- five years he specialized in pure bred Poland China hogs, having one of the oldest established herds of the big type of these hogs in the west. In 1907 he retired from farm life and moved to Sargent where he purchased a comfortable home which is now the residence of the family. They are well known and highly respected as a representative family. JAMES SULLIVAN. James Sullivan, a prosperous retired farmer of Hartington, was born November 9, 1840, seven miles from the city of Wexford, Ireland, in the county of the same name. His parents, Daniel and Ellen (Doyle) Sullivan, emigrated to America in 1858 with their three sons and one daughter, sail ing from Liverpool to New York in a steamer of the Black Ball line, being three weeks and three days on the ocean voyage. They landed at Castle Garden the latter part of June and arrived at Madison, Wisconsin, their destination, the 6th or 7th of July. The family resided in Madison, where the three sons, of whom James was the youngest, found work to support their aged par ents, the father being an invalid and unable to perform hard manual labor. For a few years, James was engaged in farm labor, and then farmed on shares for three years before coming to the west. Mr. Sullivan migrated to Nebraska with a col ony of friends, driving across the country in a prairie schooner. They crossed the Missouri river at Sioux City and reached St. James on the 4th of July, 1866. He settled eight and a half miles east of where Hartington is now located, at the village of Waupanica, now deserted by all its inhabitants, leaving only a name. The school later established on Mr. Sullivan's farm perpetuates the Indian name, being called the Waupanica school. Mr. Sullivan filed on a homestead and later on a timber claim, to both of which he perfected title ; to these he later added forty acres, making a fine tract of three hundred and sixty acres of fine farming and grazing land. Grasshoppers proved to be a pest from the very start, and seriously re duced the crops raised, some years destroying ev ery thing that had been sown. On one occasion at harvest time Mr. Sullivan, who had been wearing two shirts during the chill of the early morning, removed one as the day grew warm and left it on a shock of wheat ; while the men were at din ner a cloud of grasshoppers descended, and when Mr. Sullivan looked for his shirt he found it eaten into shreads. They were not always so bad as anticipated; one spring the wheat in Mr. Sulli van's fields was a foot high when the pests ar rived; they began eating their way into his field. but after covering an acre or two, arose and sailed away on the wind. With favorable rains the wheat sprouted again and the entire field averaged forty-two bushels to the acre. The land in those days of virgin soil frequently produced forty-five or more bushels to the acre, and less than thirty was considered a poor crop. 170 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Sullivan's first dwelling was a log house covered with slabs and earth, but he soon built a more commodious dwelling in which he lived in' comfort until retiring and moving to town in the fall of 1901. He owns a neat cottage residence in the south-west part of town, and having worked hard the early years of his life is now enjoying his reward and is taking life easy, free from worry or care of the morrow. Mr. Sullivan was married in Madison, Wiscon sin, in November of 1865, to Miss Ann Lacy, who was born in the community from which Mr. Sul livan came. She was a daughter of Patrick and Ann (Bulger) Lacy who died in old Ireland be fore their children emigrated to the states. Mrs. Sullivan came to America with a brother who settled in Wisconsin, near Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan had six children born to them, four of whom are living ; they are : Daniel, who is farming eight miles east of Hartington ; Moses, lives in Laurel, Nebraska; Laura, wife of John Waltz, with whom our subject now lives, in Hartington ; and John, who cultivates the home farm at Wau- capana. Mrs. Sullivan died in January, 1911. Mr. Sullivan well remembers the worst blizzard that swept the country since the coming of white settlers, that of January, 1869. He had started for some posts he had bought of a neighbor nine miles from home, and was six miles from home when the storm overtook him. The snow drifted so badly that he lost the track he was retracing, and was in the storm from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon; driving was out of the question, so he led the team, and in doing so froze his hands until he feared he might lose them. He finally found himself at a neighbor's a mile and a half from home, and put his horses into the stable, where another belated traveler had already crowded his, packing eight horses into a space intended for only three. After resting himself and horses he again breasted the storm, anxious to get home where he knew his wife was worrying over his absence. He was stiff from cold from again lead ing his team, but the warmth of his home soon made him comfortable again. Waucapana was on the old Indian trail be tween Santee and Ponca, and at times from five hundred to a thousand of them camped near Mr. Sullivan's home. They were in the main good neighbors ; true, they were careless with fire, and one season allowed the flames to get into a corn field of Mr. Sullivan's, and burnt it off, but he found them less vicious than many of the early settlers pronounced them to be. He came home one day to find his house full of them, and his wife and child frightened nearly to death. He pre tended to be very, angry, and drove them from the house. His team, which in his haste he left untied, were frightened at their red blankets, and ran away; bnt, fortunately, circled around, and got back nearly to the house, where he caught them uninjured, with no damage done. Like most of the pioneers, Mr. Sullivan lived for a time in a log house which was later replaced with a frame structure. He made farming a suc cess, accumulated a competency, and is now en joying the fruits of a well-spent life. Reared a Catholic, he has with his family ever remained faithful to the church. In politics he was a dem ocrat, and gives his support to all worthy can didates which his party honors as its leaders. He is a good citizen, a good parent, neighbor, friend ; such men are a loss to the mother country in their emigration and a distinct gain to the newer country of their adoption. OLIVER S. WOLCOTT. Oliver S. Wolcott, who fpr many years has been a resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, is well known all over the county as a prominent and worthy citizen. Mr. Wolcott is a Canadian by birth, born April 14, 1830, and was the young est of three children in the family of Asa and Elizabeth Wolcott who were natives of Canada. The Wolcott family — father, mother, daughter Mary, and sons, Rodger and Oliver, moved from Canada to Kane county, Illinois, in the fall of 1840 ; the father died January 9, 1852. The fam ily remained in Illinois for some years and finally became separated; Roger married and moved to Wisconsin'. Oliver Wolcott, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Calista Harris February 4, 1852. in Kane county, Illinois, and about the fall of 1857, he, with his wife and one young son, Walter, moved to Lafayette . county, Wisconsin, where Roger Wolcott lived. Mother Wolcott remained in Illinois with her daughter Mary, but in a few months' time she also moved to Wisconsin, where she joined the boys. Mary married and moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where in later years she died. In the fall of 1861 Oliver Wolcott with his wife and four sons moved to Harrison county, Iowa; Mother Wolcott coming to make her home with them later on. Mr. Wolcott followed farming and stock raising and was a pioneer of Harrison county, Iowa. In March, 1878, Mr. Wolcott and his son Wal ter made a trip overland by team from Harrison county, Iowa, to Merrick county, Nebraska, with a view of obtaining land there, and returned to Iowa in the same way they had come. Later, Walter and his family moved to Central City. In June, 1880, Mr. Wolcott and family moved to Merrick county, Nebraska, going to their home stead farm fifteen miles northwest of Central City on the Loup river. Mr. Wolcott became an active factor in the building up of his home county, and is known for his integrity and straight forward dealings. He is a quiet, forceful man who has made a success of life, and added to his land hold ings until at one time he owned about one thous and four hundred acres of choice land. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 171 In April, 1907, Mr. Wolcott retired from the farm to make his home in Central City where he has a pleasant home where he and his wife resided until Mrs. Wolcott 's death which occurred August 31, 1911. Since that time Mr. Wolcott has made his home with his son-in-law, 0. D. Burke. Mr. Wolcott is still an active man and takes a keen interest in his home town where he also has con siderable valuable business property. His son, Reuben, has the home farm of nine hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Wolcott is a pioneer of three states, and in the early days of this portion of Nebraska, with their hardships and discourage ments, are well known to him. Mrs. Elizabeth Wolcott lived with him until her death in April, 1889, in her eighty-fifth year. She also had seen much of the early settler's life. Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott have had seven children, five of whom are living: Walter W., born in Ill inois, married and living in Central City ; George J., born in Wisconsin, married, and living in Central City; Reuben, born in Wisconsin, mar ried, and living on the old farm; Oliver, born in Wisconsin, deceased; Henry, born in Iowa, de ceased; Lily, now Mrs. Benjamin Colburn, was born in Iowa, and now resides near Palmer, and Donzella, wife of 0. D. Burke, born in Iowa, who lives in Central City. The Wolcott family are well known and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Oliver Wolcott is a descendant of the English family of Wolcott that came to America and settled in the New England states about 1621. Oliver Wolcott of this family being a signer of the Declaration of Independ ence, and Secretary of the Treasury in Washing ton's cabinet. One branch of the family went into Canada in after years and the subject of this sketch was of this family. The Wolcott descendants bold an annual re union. The 1910 reunion is to be held in Con necticut; at the 1908 reunion held at Warren. Ohio, about three hundred descendants were pres ent, among them being the Oliver Wolcott of our sketch. WILLIAM P. JEWELL. A typical pioneer of western life is repre sented by the above gentleman. He is an agricul turalist of prominence in Knox county, Nebraska. and one of those substantial citizens whose in tegrity, industry, thrift and economy have ad ded so much to the material wealth and growth of that state. Mr. Jewell was born in England, August 20, 1848. his birthplace being Liverpool. He grew to the age of seven years in that city, and then with his parents took passage in a sailing boat for America. The trip was made in six weeks. the small ship being buffeted by the storms which swept the sea, and by the time it reached its des tination the passengers were exceedingly glad to once more behold land. The family remained in New York for bout a year and then went to New Jersey, where the father spent eleven months working as a carpenter, which trade he had learned as a boy in England. The next location was in Ford county, Illinois, where the father followed his trade, and later purchased two hun dred and forty acres of land, which he worked. He bought this land at $17.00 per acre and sold it for $37.00 per acre. In 1866, they left that country and started west in a wagon, arriving in Otoe county, Nebraska, after a long and tire some journey. Mr. Jewell's father had made money on the increase in value of his Illinois land, and on reaching his destination looked around for a suitable location, purchasing two hundred acres of land in Nemaha county, and paying seven dollars per acre for the entire tract. Their first dwelling was a dugout, which they occupied during the winter. For a couple of years things went fairly well, then they were struck by the grasshopper raids, which destroyed about all their crops and put them back considerably in the work of building up the farm. During 1870, 1871 and 1872 they escaped the pests, but the fol lowing three years were visited with them con tinuously, and suffered a great amount of dam age. The nearest trading point from the Jewell farm was Nebraska City, which was also their postoffice. They went through the usual hardships familiar to the pioneers of those days, but kept up a brave spirit, and as years went on and the country became more thickly settled, their trials grew less and they prospered in a large degree. William P. Jewell worked on his father's place until he was twenty-two years old, and then started for himself. He had learned the carpen ters' trade from his father, and worked at that around Nebraska City principally. In 1892 he bought ninety-seven and one-half acres in Nemaha county, Nebraska, and lived there until coming to Knox county. In 1900 Mr. Jewell came into Knox county for settlement, purchasing one hun dred and sixty acres of land from George Utley, an old settler in the locality. This was improved in good shape, and since Mr. Jewell has owned it he has added much to it in the way of build ings, groves, etc., making it one of the finest places in that part of the county. Since coming to Knox county, Mr. Jewell has purchased another quarter section, the northwest quarter of section ten, situated one and one-half miles from his home. place. Mr. Jewell was united in marriage to Miss Anna Huptman in November, 1885, and to them have been born six children: Lyde, Arly, Nettie, Bessie, Maggie and Lawrence. DELANE A. WILLARD. DeLane A. Willard, a substantial business. man of Genoa, Nebraska, is also one of the prominent pioneers of that section, having settled here about 172 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1866, and has made it his permanent home since that time. He is now engaged in the real estate business, enjoying a large patronage, and build ing up a nice fortune. He is also owner of large tracts of land in different locations in Nance and adjoining counties. Mr. Willard has the distinc tion of being the oldest settler in his locality, and is known throughout the country as "the father of Nance county. ' ' Mr. Willard was born in Winchester, New Hampshire, on August 10, 1840, and is a son of Paul and Nancy Willard, the former dying in 1850, and the later in 1895. Our subject has one broth er in Oklahoma, and three sisters living in the east, the family consisting in all of eight children. He grew to manhood in his native state, and when about nineteen went to Twin Rivers, Wisconsin, where he became overseer in a wood and wire fac tory, spending one year in that work. His next move was to Michigan, there also taking charge of a wood and wire business for his brothers, George and William Willard, remaining for about eighteen months, and going to Detroit, where he was a factory overseer for three years. In 1861, he returned to his old home in the east, and spent two years, employed in the government gun fac tory at Middletown, then went back to Michigan, afterwards to the south, visiting Vicksburg and various other places of note, finally landing in Chicago. There he attended business college, and after completing a course of study went to Oma ha, where, with two others, they started a queens- ware establishment in 1866. Mr. Willard later sold his interest, and, in partnership with Wm. B. Dale, opened a general merchandise store at Columbus, Nebraska, carrying a fifty thousand dollars stock of goods. In 1867, he established a trading post just east of the Pawnee Indian reservation, in Nance coun ty, continuing the same for two years, at which time the reservation was put on the market, and he purchased three sections of this land, on part of which he laid out the town of Genoa. He had previously owned twelve hundred acres in Platte county, and had considerable in real estate during all of the time he had been here. During the set tlement of Genoa, Mr. Willard was the prime mov er in all matters relating to its formation. He has held various offices in his township, and dif ferent positions of trust, at one time serving as president of the Genoa National Bank, and still carries stock in the same, and being one of the board of directors. For two years he acted as supervisor in Nance county, and was chairman of the town board for a number of years. Tn ed ucational matters he has taken an active interest, being a member of, also director of the school board for several years. Mr. Willard was married in Genoa, December 25th, Christmas Day, 1880, to Miss Lottie Ander son, who is a native of Sweden and came to America with her parents when a young girl. They have had eight children, seven of whom are still living, named as follows: Grace, Blanche, Hazel, Earl, Paul, Karl and Ellen, all living at home with the exception of Grace and Blanche, who are married. The family have a beautiful home and are popular members of the social life of their city. C. A. YOULL. C. Arthur Youll, of Butte, has been a resident of Nebraska since early in the year 1889, when he sojourned for some nine months at Coleridge, in Cedar county, prior to making permanent set tlement in Boyd county, awaiting the opening of the reservation to settlement. Mr. Youll is a native of Illinois, born in DeKalb county on October 10, 1861, and is a son of James and Sarah Youll. The former was one of the first men employed in the original factory of the Marsh Harvester Company, when the first of those ma chines were made. In 1865, the family migrated to Delaware county, Iowa, settling along the Maquoketa river. After they had been there five years, the mother's death occurred, and our sub ject was sent to Steuben county, New York, to make his home with his grandfather, remaining for four years. He started out for himself when but twelve years of age, coming alone to Indiana and securing work in Steuben county, remaining in the vicinity four years. He then pushed on to Iowa, and was employed by the Sioux City and Pacific Railway Company, working between Mis souri Valley and Sioux City, and later in the yards at Blair, Nebraska. He spent some time in Ida county working around a livery barn at Bat tle Creek, and about January of 1889, came into Nebraska. From the date of his filing on a homestead some four miles east of Butte, Mr. Youll resided on his farm for nineteen years, ad ding a half section to the original tract of 160 acres which he developed into a well tilled stock and grain farm. This he sold on 1908, and the following summer he spent in Wyoming visiting a brother-in-law, returning to Butte in the fall, and since that time has been running a feed barn located near the center of the business district. In June, 1910, he purchased the livery stable and hack business of a competing establishment, se curing at the same time the mail carrying contract between Butte and its railway connection at Anoka. Mr. Youll is a man of untiring energy, industrious and diligent, and by fair and honest methods in conducting his business, secures his full share of the trade for his house. At the time of coming west, Mr. Youll drove through from Iowa to Cedar county in a covered wagon containing his goods, camping along the road way. He followed this same mode of trans portation coming to Boyd county, and while on the way the party was overtaken by a severe rain storm which caused them considerable incon venience and several days delay. Mr. Youll was married in Battle Creek, Iowa, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 173 on January 1, 1886, to Miss Anna Belle, and to them have been born six children, four of whom survive, as follows : Bernice Isa, Thelma and Al bert. They have a very pleasant home, and have a large circle of warm friends and acquaintances. In politics Mr. Youll is a republican, and has always taken an active interest in local affairs, although he has never sought office. CHARLES H. NICHOLS. Charles H. Nichols, retired farmer, son of Nath an and Martha (Hall) Nichols, was born in Lewis county, New York, May 17, 1846, the sixth in a family of eight children, four of whom are still living. He has a brother and a sister in the state of Wisconsin, and a sister residing in New York state. The parents are deceased, the father dying about 1888, and the mother in 1892. About 1854, Mr. Nichols, with his parents, went to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they followed farming, and lived until 1876, when our subject came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-four, township twenty, range six, which remained the home farm until 1906, when Mr. Nichols retired from active farming, and moved to Albion, where he built one of the finest homes in the place. On April 25, 1863, Mr. Nichols was married to Miss Elizabeth Melum, a native of Norway, who came to America in 1862, and she is a daugh ter of Alec and Elizabeth Melum, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Nichols has one brother resid ing in the state of Wisconsin, one sister in Madi son, Wisconsin, and another sister in the state of Minnesota. Mr. Nichols, in the early days, served on the school board of district number twenty-three for several years. He has been prosperous and suc cessful, and owns a section of land in Boone coun ty, which is mostly under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had two children: Morgan H., who is married, and has two sons, and lives in Chadron, Nebraska ; and Charles A., who is married, and has six children, and lives on the original homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have passed through much of Nebraska history, and have been factors in the forwarding of all interests in the direction of progression, and hold the esteem and friend ship of all who know them-. February 1, 1865, Mr. Nichols enlisted in Com pany E, Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and went from Madison, Wisconsin, to St. Louis, Missouri. Later he did patrol duty in Missouri, and was then sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where they did guard duty. In September, 1865, Company E was sent by steamboat to Fort Sully, Dakota, for the purpose of guarding Indians, which duty they performed until March, 1866, when they began a march of six hundred and eighty miles to Boone, Iowa, by way of Sioux City, from Boone, Iowa, going by rail to Madison, Wis consin, where the company was mustered out and discharged, April 20, 1866, the balance of the regiment being discharged some time later. OLE GRANQUIST. (Deceased). The prosperity enjoyed within the borders of Wayne county is due in large measure to the en terprise and thrift of the farmers in that region. Their well-improved and well-tilled farms are evidence of good management and painstaking care, and speak eloquently of the industry and thrift of their owners. Among the most sucessful of this region was the gentleman above named. He was a substantial farmer, who acquired a good home by persistent industry and honest dealings, and was highly esteemed as a citizen. Mr. Granquist was a native of Sweden, where he was born December 7, 1857. He remained at home, going to school, and helping his parents, Nels and Martha (Anderson) Granquist, who were farmers, until 1881. The parents were born, lived and died in Sweden. In 1881, Mr. Granquist determined to come to the land of opportunity, as America was regarded. He accordingly sailed from Christiana to New York City by steamship, and at once started for the west. He first came to Sioux City, Iowa, but remained here only a short time, going next to Omaha, where he spent the winter. In the spring of the following year, he went on to Washington county, Nebraska, where he worked for the rail road. From there he proceeded to Bancroft, where he remained for about three years. Final ly, in 1890 he came to Wayne county, and bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which was his home until his death. He made many im provements on the place, and it is now among the best in the county. He added eighty acres to the first purchase, and at the time of his death owned two hundred and forty acres. In 1888, Mr. Granquist was united in marriage to Miss Enger Paulson, of Wayne county. They were the parents of ten children, named as fol lows : Carl, Anton, Nelse, Julia, Anna (deceased), Anna (two Annas), Edward, Edith, Minnie (de ceased), and Harry. Mr. Granquist died December 15, 1910, after an illness of only six days. He was a member of the English Lutheran church, and a republi can. THE LYNCH FAMILY. Thomas Lynch, senior, was born in Kerry county, Ireland, in 1828, and grew up to young manhood in his native land, and in about 1846, came to America to seek his fortune, first locating in Dayton, Ohio, and some few years later, or about 1851, was married to Johanah Foley. In about 1856, Mr. Lynch, with his wife and young son, came to Omaha, Nebraska, and to Platte county, Nebraska, in 1858, where they 174 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. squatted on land near what is now Platte Cen ter, and as soon as surveys were made, Mr. Lynch took up his homestead, and this original home stead farm is still in the Lynch family, and is located four miles southeast of Platte Center. Mr. Lynch was a pioneer frontier settler, com ing to Platte county in the Indian days, when it took courage and endurance to make a home, and secure the needed supplies for the home and farm. He was a quiet, industrious man, always working for the betterment of conditions for his family, and ready at all times to give assistance to his fellow men. Mr. Lynch made a success of life, and at the time of his death had a fine farm of five hundred and twenty acres of choice land. He was a man of known integrity, having the esteem and con fidence of his neighbors and many friends in Platte county. Mr. Lynch died on the homestead farm October 14, 1901, and on May 24, 1907, Mrs. Lynch passed away. Mrs. Thomas Lynch also was 'born in Kerry county, Ireland, her birth occurring in the year of 1832, coming to America when about fifteen years of age. She was a woman greatly beloved, and was prominent in church and social life, and a christian woman known for her many good and charitable deeds. She came of a pioneer family of Platte county. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch are survived by three sons and four daughters, named as follows: James Lynch, who is married, and lives in the state of Idaho ; Katherine, who is now Mrs. Michael Mor ris; Daniel, married, and living in the state of Wyoming; Nellie, who was Mrs. Clarence Ger- rard, of Columbus, Nebraska, died February 27, 1911 ; and Margaret, Thomas and Mary. James and Daniel Lynch are successful men, that have made other states their homes. Thomas Lynch and sisters, Margaret and Mary, live in their fine, modern, new home, one-half mile northwest of Platte Center. The children were all born on the old farm, Thomas and his sisters, Margaret and Mary, being the last to leave the old home, in March, 1909. The Lynch family is one of the old families that experienced all the hardships of the first set tlers' life, from the sod-shanty-log-cabin days to the days of a finely-equipped farm, elegant new home, and easy financial standing. The children are worthy representatives of Platte county, en joying the friendship of the many, and giving of their hospitality along social and church lines. In the new home place, joining the corporation limits of Platte Center, Thomas Lynch engages in the breeding of registered stock, making a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs and fine cattle, having forty acres of land in the tract. ANTHONY SHRADER. A history of the norteastern part of Nebraska would not be complete without including a sketch of the life of Anthony Shrader, who is one of the most prominent old settlers of this region. He has been a resident of this section of Nebraska for the past twenty-eight years, and at present is residing in section twenty-nine, township twenty-seven, range eight, where he has developed a good farm, and enjoys a comfortable home, and the confidence and esteem of all. Mr. Shrader was born August 29, 1823, in Amherst county, Virginia, and his father, John Shrader, was also born in Virginia, but of Ger man descent, and our subject's mother, Phoebe (Walton) Shrader, was also born in Virginia. Prom Virginia our subject moved to Livingston county, Illinois, where he resided for thirty years, and while living there, in December, 1863, enlisted in the civil war in Company I, Second Illinois Ar tillery, under Captain Barnett, and also was under General Sherman through the south from 1863 to 1865. He participated in some of the most memorable battles of the war, including the bat tles of Jonesboro, Chicamauga and Kenesaw Mountain. After an active and creditable war service, he was mustered out in June, 1865. Mr. Shrader came to Nebraska in 1883, and homesteaded land in section twenty-two, township twenty-seven, range eight, Antelope county, and on this land built a good frame house. Later Mr. Shrader bought one hundred and sixty acres more land, with ten acres of fine grove, in section twen ty-nine, and this is the home place at the present time. On June 13, 1878, Mr. Shrader was married to Miss Mary Lake, and Mr. and Mrs. Shrader have had the following named children born to them: William, who is at home; George, de ceased ; Albert, who is married to Miss Mary Cush- man, they having three children;. and Charles, who is married to Miss Susan Harvey, who have two children. Mr. Shrader, during his residence on his home place, improved the property with a good set of farm buildings, fences, etc. He often had hard times in the early days, and, among other draw backs, he lost his entire crops during the drouth and hot winds of 1894. Mr. Shrader has now sold all his land to his son William, having retired, and now lives with his son. FREDERICK WEBER. The above named gentleman was one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, until his removal to Randolph, Cedar county. He is an old soldier, having been a private in Company K, Thirty-eighth New Jer sey. He enlisted in 1864, and served for ten months. He is a man of patriotic spirit, untiring energy and active mind, and has done his full share towards developing the matchless resources of this section, where he has made his home for so many years. He has a wide acquaintance and an enviable reputation. A portrait of Mr. Weber will be found on another page. FREDERICK WEBER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 175 Mr. Weber is a native of New Jersey, born in 1847. He spent his early life, in that state, and, after attaining his manhood years, enlisted in the army. After he was mustered out of service, he returned to New Jersey, where he remained until 1877. At this time he decided to go west, where the country was newer and land cheaper, and where greater opportunities awaited the young man. He came first to Mills county, Nebraska, and lived in this locality for seven year§. He then came to Wayne county, and took up a home stead. Conditions of living were then entirely dif ferent from now in the same locality. Deer and antelope were, plentiful at that time, with an occasional elk during the first few years of his residence. Prairie fires, however, were a con stant peril to the settler, and the subscriber had several times been compelled to fight fires in order to save his own farm buildings. But, although he has met with the reverses common to the life of the pioneer, yet he has every reason to be proud of the results which are the outcome of his labors. He has an exceptionally fine farm, and comfortable ^home, with a thrifty orchard comprising six acres, as well as a valuable grove all of his own planting. In 1867, Mr. Weber was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Taylor, and nine children have been born to them: Delia, now Mrs. Burlington Cunningham, of Bloomfield; Tilton, formerly a farmer and business man of Randolph, met with an automobile accident, April 26, 1910, which caused his death; John; Mary, now Mrs. J. H. Young, also of Bloomfield; Lillie, married to J. D. Eumdson, of Peters, Nebraska; Elizabeth, the wife of Walter H. Weber, she dying in 1907; Anna, now Mrs. Harry Hunt; Euphenia, now Mrs. H. L. Sherwood, of South Dakota; Caroline, now Mrs. H. F. Taylor, of Randolph. EDWARD GAST. The man whose name heads this personal his tory is one of the pioneers of this region, and is classed among the leading old settlers of his locality. He has watched the growth and pro gress of Pierce county, Nebraska, from its early settlement. Mr. Gast resides in the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven, township twen ty-seven, range four. Mr. Gast is a native of the village of Briesen, West Prussia, his birth occurring August 14, ' 1850. He grew to manhood there, and, followed the occupation of farming, his father owning a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, an unus ual holding in that country. He spent three years of his life in the German army, 1871 to 1874, inclusive, being called into service - after the Franco-Prussian war. John Gast, the father, was born in 1813, and died in 1874. The mother, Caroline (Formazien) Gast, was born in 1822, and attained the age of eighty-five years and six months. When Mr. Gast left Germany for America, he sailed from Hamburg, March 13, 1884, and spent sixteen days on the sea, going through the terrible storm of March 22, 1884, landing in New York. Mr. Gast lived in Cass county, Nebraska, two months, coming thence to Pierce- county, when he bought the farm on which he now re sides. He lost crops twice by hail, and in 1894 lost everything by drought. Our subject has been twice married, the first time. in 1885 to Miss Hannah Fisher, the result of this union being five children, who are named as follows: Ernest, Richard, Elsie, Gustave and Lena. The two older sons are married, and op erate farms of their own. His second marriage occurred in 1895 to Miss A. Guse, one son, Walter, being born to them. Mr. Gast is a member of the German Luther an church, and is independent in politics, cast ing his vote for the best man. WALTER F. HILL. The gentleman aboVe mentioned is one of the popular pioneers of Howard county, bears an excellent reputation as a patriotic citizen and successful business man, and is one of the lead ers in local affairs in that city. Although at present retired from active labor, and residing in one of the handsome homes in St. Paul, he was for many years intimately identified with the agricultural interests of the county, and has been a potent factor in its development. Walter P. Hill was born in Medina county, Ohio, on January 8, 1843, and at about the age of fourteen, engaged in the saw-mill business with his father and two brothers, continuing in the work for a number of years. At the begin ning of the civil war, he enlisted for six months, but on account of an accident, was unable to serve until 1864, when he entered the army in August, serving in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Ohio Regiment of Infantry, and took part in some of tbe principal engage ments toward the close of the war, among them being the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, be sides different skirmishes. He received an honor able discharge on May 18, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, having several months previous re ceived injuries which resulted in his confinement in a hospital for three months. After leaving the army, Mr. Hill returned to his home in Ohio, and worked at railroading for about one year and a half, then began farm ing, and was successful in the work, continuing at it all the time he remained in Ohio, which was up to 1873. On March 20, 1870, he was married to Weltha A. Boham, a native of Portage county, Ohio, who was a teacher in the public schools in that vicin- 176 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ity for a number of years. They came to Ne braska in the spring of 1873, locating in Howard county, where Mr. Hill homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres on section twenty-two, township fourteen, range ten, and proved up on the land. He later purchased another quarter in the same section, and succeeded in develop ing a fine stock and grain farm. He afterwards added to his acreage until he owned in all about four hundred acres, all of which he has now dis posed of. A short time ago, Mr. Hill retired from active farming, and bought a fine residence in St. Paul, where himself and wife are popular members of their social circle. Mr. Hill was one of the prin cipal organizers of school district number eleven, and for about twenty years served as its director and treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were among the earliest families to settle in this part of Howard county, and have passed through all the various stages of its development, becoming widely known through their aid in furthering in every way possible the best interests of their locality. Mr. Hill has a brother living in St. Paul, also one brother who lives in Ohio, and Mrs. Hill has a brother living in Kansas, another in Iowa, and a sister, who still makes Ohio her permanent home. PRANK S. KULL. Frank S. Kull, who takes a leading part as an agriculturist and stock raiser in the affairs of Valley county, Nebraska, where he possesses many broad acres of land, resides on section thirteen, township nineteen, range fourteen. Mr. Kull was born in Walworth county, Wis consin, February 3, 1868, and was ninth of ten children in the family of John and Margaret (Runkle) Kull, who had five sons and five daugh ters. The parents are both deceased. Four brothers and three sisters are still living, but our subject is the only one residing in Nebraska. Frank grew up in Wisconsin on the farm, and in his tweny-first year, the fall of 1889, he came to Valley county to look over the land, and in February of 1890, closed the purchase of the northwest quarter of section thirteen, town ship nineteen, range fourteen, and moved to his new home in the same month. He now has a fine grain and stock farm, which is well improved with good buildings, etc., and has a five-acre orchard set out, which is in a promising condition. Mr. Kull has had some state troop exper ience, having enlisted in the Nebraska National Guards, which was called into active service during the Sioux Indian uprising; and he was also a member of the state militia for six years. On March 4, 1891, Mr. Kull was married to Miss Alice Lewis at the parents' home, Miss Lewis being born near Kankakee, Illinois. The Lewis family came to Valley county from Illinois in 1888, and were of the older Valley county families. The father, Henry P. Lewis, was born in Ohio, and died on his way home from Cali fornia in 1905, and Mrs. Henry Lewis now resides in Ord. Mr. and Mrs. Kull have one child, Edwin, who was born in 1893. They are widely known, and have the respect and esteem of many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Kull have enjoyed several seasons of extensive travel down the coast and through the south. Mr. Kull is a wide-awake young man, and passed through the hard Nebraska years of 1893 and 1894, but stuck to it, and added to his land holdings until now he owns thirteen hun dred and seventy-five acres of Valley county land. He has made a success of farming 'and stock raising, and is considered one of the prominent young men of Valley county. He has had much to do toward the upbuilding of the country's prosperity for the past twenty years. The discouragements of the early days were many. Hail ruined his crop in 1893, the follow ing season drought burned everything, and 1895 was little better, he having raised no corn, and the small crop of oats he harvested could be sold for only nine cents when hauled to market. In polities, Mr. Kull is independent. 0. H. TEXLEY. 0. H. Texley, one of the old settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-eight, township twenty-one, range four, of Madison county, Nebraska. He has done his full share in the upbuilding of the locality, and is well and favorably known throughout that part of the state. Mr. Texley is a native of Norway, born Janu ary 10, 1833. He is a son of Hellick and Emma Texley, who were farmers in that country, and his boyhood was spent on the home place. In 1868, Mr. Texley left his mother country and emigrated to America, embarking at Chris tiana on a steamship, which landed at Quebec in July of that year, and he went directly to Dane county, Wisconsin. He remained in that place for two years, then came to Omaha, where he bargained for a team to bring him to Wisner, paying thirty dollars for the trip. From there he pushed on to Madison county, where he filed on a quarter-section in Shell. Creek township, built a sod shanty, and begun as a pioneer. For the first four years, everything he raised was destroyed by grasshoppers before the time for gathering, and this, together with other un favorable conditions, made times very hard for the early settlers. Columbus was their market place in those days, and it was a distance of many miles from their home, often a dangerous trip on account of the severe storms, dangers from the Indians — who were sometimes hostile — and wild beasts, which were plentiful all over the plains COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 177 at that time. Another menace was from the prairie fires, which swept the region from time to time, and on many occasions he, together with his family and neighbors, was obliged to fight fires for days in order to save his possessions from destruction. • Mr. Texley was married in June, 1863, in Nor way, to Miss Mary Thompson, a native of Nor way, who was born March 1, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Texley have a family of seven children, namely: Hellick, Ole, Gilbert, Georgina, Emma, Anna and Mary. GEORGE LEIBERT. George Leibert, a progressive and successful young farmer and stockman of Custer county, has lived in the county since 1887, and has been identified with the best interests of his region. He was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, August 30, 1875, youngest of the nine children of An drew and Lena (Hoop) Leibert. The father was born in Germany in 1820, and came to the United States in 1848, settling in Guilford township, Jo Daviess county. He was married in Illinois about 1855, to Lena Hoop, who came from Germany to the United States about 1851. In 1886, they moved from Illinois to Missouri, and the follow ing year went on to Custer county, Nebraska. They lived on a rented farm until 1892, when he purchased the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, township twenty, range eighteen, and both he and his wife died on that farm, he Sep tember 22, 1903, and she October 15, 1901. Of their nine children, six now survive : Henry, Fred and George, of Custer county; Charles, of Clinton, Iowa; Mrs. John Hess and Mrs. Henry Hess, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. The father of these children was a veteran of the civil war, and was highly honored as an upright and sub stantial citizen. George Leibert accompanied his parents to Custer county in 1887, and remained with his father on the home farm until the latter 's death. He was married in Adams county, Iowa, Decem ber 25, 1901, to Elizabeth Cora Roach, daughter of John and Sarah Roach, who was born on a farm near Corning, Iowa. Her father died in Iowa in 1908, and her mother still resides in Corning. Her brothers, Clyde and James, reside in Custer county, Nebraska; John, another brother, lives in Grand Island; Homer and Fred live in Corn ing, Iowa, and her sister, Belle, is the wife of Fred Leibert, brother of George. John Roach was a veteran of the civil war. Mr. Leibert lives on and owns the original Custer county home farm of two hundred acres, a well equipped and stocked farm, one mile north of Sargent. It contains a comfortable residence, with pleasant surroundings, and has been occu pied by the family continuously since 1892. Mr. Leibert is one of the well-known young farmers of Custer county, and he and his wife are well known in social circles, having many friends. 7 They have three children: Ralph G., Ernest E. and Howard H., all at home. They also have in their home Lena A. Leibert, daughter of Mr. Leibert 's brother, Nicholas, who is an orphan. FRANK KEITER. It is a noticeable fact that among the western states, a remarkably large percentage of the pros perous farmers in almost every community are foreign born, but the greater part of these are men who came out here when the country was new, and by means of whose struggles and efforts the country has been built up and advanced to its present state. One of the leading farmers of Cedar county is Frank Keiter, who was born in West Farland, Germany, in 1847, the son of Frank and Louise Keiter. Mr. Keiter remained in his native country until 1888, when he embarked on the steamship "Ider" at Bremen, bound for New York City. He had a well-defined plan in mind, and at once boarded a train for the west, where he had heard that land was cheap and plentiful. With the savings of a life-time, he purchased a quarter- section in section nineteen, township thirty-one, range one, Cedar county, Nebraska. Many times Mr. Keiter and his wife have met with grievous discouragements in their western home. In 1894, the crops were an entire failure, owing to the hot winds, which fairly burned up everything in the ground, and in 1900, another heavy blow came, when a severe hailstorm de stroyed all crops. However, they remained, and after each failure, began again the process of re pairing the loss. They still reside on the old home farm, which has been improved in every way, so that it is one of the valuable farms in the county, now comprising four hundred acres. In 1881, a few years before leaving Germany, Mr. Keiter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kieser, and of this union ten children have been born: Prank; Joseph; Mary, now Mrs. Frank Oberiter, of Danber, Iowa ; Henry, Katie, Charles, Clara, Annie, Emma and Vera. Mr. and Mrs. Keiter and family are prominent factors in the social life of the community, and possess the respect of all who know them. Mr. Keiter served the emperor of Germany four years as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war, a member of the Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry, and saw active service in several hard- fought battles. The division in which he served, in one hour's time, was reduced from three thousand men to seven hundred, who were able to respond to roll call. RUSSELL S. POWELL. Among the prominent and successful farmers and ranchmen of Merrick county, Nebraska, and now citizen of Central City, we wish to mention the name of Russell S. Powell, who is well known 178 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. all over the surrounding country as a man of ability, industrious, and a citizen of true worth. Mr. Powell is a son of James E. and Mary (Carter) Powell, and is a native of New York state, born in Madison county, April 14, 1864. He was the fourth of seven children, and has five brothers and one sister in Nebraska. The mother lives in Riverdale, Nebraska, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. The father died, November 13, 1880, in Merrick county, Nebraska. When three years of age, our subject went to Clinton county, Iowa, with his parents, where they lived two years, farming, and in September, 1870, the family came overland, in company with George D. Moore and family, to Merrick county, Nebraska, and the Powells homsteaded eighty acres, three and a half miles west of where Cen tral City now stands. Russell Powell engaged in farming. On October 22, 1884, he was married to Miss Francis L. Prouty, who was born in Wis consin, and who came with her parents to Ne braska in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have had five children : Florence M., J. Edwin, Ray, Harold and Roy Elmer, all of whom reside under the par ental roof, and an infant, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Elmer, all of whom reside under the paren tal roof, and an infant, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have passed through the early history of Merrick county, and are widely and favorably known. Mrs. Powell's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Prouty, live in Rogers, Arkansas, as do also one brother and two sisters. Two sisters reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and one is deceased. In 1889, Mr. Powell assumed the management of the J. M. Chadwick feed and sale ranch, where he lived five years. He later, at various times, purchased three hundred acres of land in Merrick county. In March, 1910, he retired from the farm, moved to Central City, and purchased a good home, where he now lives. Mr. Powell served in the school board of district number eight for six years. Mr. Powell is Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch in the local Odd Fellows lodge, and is also a member of Masonic lodge and Modern Woodmen of America. JOHN J. LENGER. (Deceased). It was not always the poor of Europe that sought the shores of America — men who were impoverished in the crowded east, and came to the new world to improve their conditions — for the wealthy and cultured often found the name of liberty a guiding star, lighting their path to the west. Of such was the family of John J. Lenger. He was born in Bohemia, and came of a family of wealth and influence, receiving a superior education, and attained to the dignity of judge in the courts of his native country. A remote ancestor was a German who settled in Bohemia, fell in love with a Cech maiden, and for generations a German name has been handed down to their descendants. Religious persecutions made life nearly in tolerable in the old country when a new dynasty came into power, and the Lenger family, of the John Huss Lutheran faith, felt the onus of this persecution, and so strong became the desire for religious liberty that, foregoing all the prestige of wealth and position, our subject turned his back on his native land, and, accompanied by his family, set out for the new world in 1865. His wife, Katherine Dulesh, although of Bohemian birth, was of French and English ancestry. Her great grandfather, who was a wealthy member of the English gentry, had frowned upon his daughter's love for a young Frenchman who had visited England on matters of business, and, while seemingly acquiescing, the young couple made their plans, he going to Bohemia, where he had a comfortable estate, and the girl follow ing soon after, their marriage taking place then. After some years, her father visited them, and, finding them so happy and comfortably situated, opened his heart and purse strings by buying them lands, etc., and departed, happy in the knowledge that his child was so contented and well settled in life. Mr. Dulesh afterward became governor of the province in which he lived in Bohemia, and lived to be one hundred and ten years old, dying on his own estate in that country. Our subject was versed in all the arts and sciences, and included in his education was a thorough knowledge of forestry and surveying, the latter vocation standing him in good stead, as it furnished him a means of livelihood in Da kota at a time when money was hard to get, and the farm failed to yield enough to pay for the seed needed the following year. On coming to America, his wife stipulated that they make the voyage in a steampship and Mr. Lenger accord ingly engaged passage, but before time came to ;sail, the ship was disabled, and they had their passage money refunded, and were obliged to em bark in a sailing vessel. On the voyage, terrific storms swept the sea, and all the masts of their vessel were carried overboard. Although .dis abled severely, they finally made port, after a rough trip, lasting sixteen weeks. On landing, they learned that the ship on which they had intended sailing had been lost at sea, with all on board perishing. Their own vessel had been given up as lost, and was so reported in the mar- itine journals. Mr. Lenger first settled in Wisconsin, whither some friends had preceded him. Here, with the dust of monarchy scarcely brushed off his shoes, he was chosen spokesman of his race, and in the campaign of 1868, carried four or five townships in Manitowoc county, in which he made his home for a number of years. Some time was spent in Chicago, but he had not established himself in any business up to 1869, living on the money COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 179 brought from his home country, but finally, real izing the necessity of choosing some occupation, came with his family to Yankton county, South Dakota, where he filed on a homestead, which he later relinquished, and acquired a tract of land situated on Beaver creek. Here he was soon appointed deputy county surveyor under Carl P. Meyer, and was later elected to fill the office as principal. While on a survey, near the James and Dakota rivers, several years later, his son- in-law, Donald Higbee, was drowned. The latter was an expert swimmer and athlete, having the distinction of saving fourteen lives in the memora ble flood of 1881, but in swimming across the James river, in company with other members of the survey party, he struck a deep, cold eddy of the stream, and without a moment of warning, sank to the bottom. After coming to Nebraska, Mr. Lenger and his family endured all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, but persevered through all, and won a large measure of success, where so many others had failed. His earthly career was ended, February 12, 1907, while Mrs. Lenger 's demise occurred January 20, 1904. They left eight children, who are named as follows: John, landlord of the leading hotel of Winnetoon, who is an expert musician, and leader of many bands in this part of Nebraska, and now the leader of the Niobrara Northwestern Band, and who organized one of the first Indian bands in the United States from the Santee Sioux; Lucy, Mary, Anna, Frank H., Flora, Rosa and Harriet, all held in the highest esteem as prominent members of society in their respective communities, the last mentioned hav ing been assistant superintendent of the Cook County Hospital at Chicago, and now lives in Omaha. Mr. Lenger was a man of great mental acu men, and his native refinement and love for the higher things of life, also his musical ability, have been transmitted to his children, all dis playing the talent to a remarkable degree. HON. JACOB N. CAMPBELL. Jacob N. Campbell, one of the leading busi ness men of Fullerton, Nebraska, is at the pres ent time filling the position of manager of the Fullerton Milling Company in that thriving little city. He has been prominent in business circles for many years in different parts of the state of Nebraska. Mr. Campbell was born in the northwestern part of Missouri, near the village of Watson, on March 31, 1865, and was the fourth child in the family of Archibald nd Nancy Campbell, who were the parents of nine. Jacob was reared on the home farm, and received his early education in the country schools, later attending the high school, and also the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru. He returned to his father's homestead, taking active management of the farm for four years, at which time, 1887, he was united in marriage to Carrie L. Horn, of his home vicinity. They continued on the home farm for one year, then the place was sold, and Mr. Campbell came to Nance county, and began farming in the Loup valley, near Fullerton. He gathered together quite a bunch of stock, and remained on that farm for nine years.' In March, 1898, he re moved to Omaha, having been appointed secre tary of the Nebraska State Commission of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, and held the po sition for one year. In April, 1899, he received- the appointment of assistant superintendent of the State Industrial school at Kearney, filling that position for one year, then became superinten dent of the school, remaining as such for one year. He then returned to Fullerton and estab lished himself in the harness business, which he carried on for about five years. In August, 1905, he was placed in charge of the Farmer's Elevator company in Fullerton, and continued as its man ager for two years, and put the organization on a sound and successful basis. He became manag er of the Fullerton Milling company in August, 1907. He has also been active in public life, hold ing different offices within the gift of the county. During 1891 and 1892 he was county supervisor, and in the fall of the latter year was elected to represent the 18th senatorial district, serving for •one term, then was re-elected and during both terms won much approbation for the work he did in the interest of his section of the state. During the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr. Campbell was prominent in the democratic party, being chosen to east an electoral vote for Bryan and Sewall. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have a family of six' children, all living and they enjoy one of the beautiful homes of their city. The children are named as follows: Valore P., Harry L., Archie W., Joel W., June Bryan, and Marjorie B., and together they form a very interesting and happy group. CHARLES MOULTON. The venerable gentleman whose name is the' title of this article is one of the early builders of Holt county and now lives retired at Atkinson. He is a native of Rutland county, Vermont, born November 12, 1832, son of Selah and Lydia (Fennel) Moulton, the parents both also natives of Rutland county. The father was of Irish des cent, his ancestors having come from northern Ireland a generation or two before. He died at the age of fifty-eight years and his wife at seven ty-four. In 1834 the family removed to Licking county, Ohio, and there Charles was reared and received his education. About 1848 our subject began learning the carpenter's trade and followed it in Ohio until his removal to the vicinity of Hamilton, Marion 180 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. county, Iowa. He rented land about a year, then purchased eighty acres of good land, and when not working on his farm worked at his trade in Hamilton. He lived there until 1876, when he moved three miles north to Bussey, through which town the railroad had passed and where there was a station. At that time there was no station at Hamilton. In the. fall of 1877 Mr. Moul- ton moved to Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, and six months later removed to Palmyra, in the same county, and thence in 1883 to Atkinson, reaching the last-named town in March. His first night's experience there was not very pleasant — he and a friend were given beds on the floor, as the hotel was very crowded, and when they awoke in the morning they beheld the entire floor covered with lodgers and one man occupy ing a barber chair as his couch. Upon locating in Nebraska Mr. Moulton filed on a homestead eight miles north of Atkinson and later purchased a timber claim south of the town. In June, 1910, he filed on an additional two hun dred acres of land twelve miles south of Atkinson, which he was able to do under the Kincaid law. After living seven years on his first homestead he moved to the timber claim, where he had erect ed a comfortable residence. During much of this time he followed his trade, while his sons cared for the farm work. In 1906 he was able to retire with a competence and has bought property in the town. The first place he purchased in Atkin son he sold in March, 1910, and purchased his present home in the southern part of the town, where he and his good wife enjoy the fruits of their former toil and take pleasure in meeting their friends. Mr. Moulton 's marriage occurred in Newark, Ohio, September 23, 1853, when he was united with Charlotte Cordelia Phillips, a native of Livingston county, New York, born May 23, 1831, daughter of David and Charlotte (Gilbert) Phillips, na tives respectively of Massachusetts and New York states. The father was born in Bristol county, Massachusetts, and lived to be seventy-five years of age. The mother, who was born at Bristol, New York, attained the age of ninety-six years. The family moved to Ohio in 1855, Mrs. Moulton having preceded the others in 1851. Mr. Moulton and wife became the parents of four children, of whom but two survive, namely : Orrie, living on a farm four miles south of At kinson, and Roy, who lives with his parents when not working at his trade. Both learned carpen try from their father, and in him they had a teacher who held them up to a high standard of work and efficiency. When the father had learn ed the trade it was necessary for a workman to understand many branches of it which are not generally needed in this day and generation, as, for instance, it was necessary for him to make from rough timber, sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, and other fittings and accessories now manufac tured in factories and mills and for sale in lum ber yards. These parts, which were formerly made by hand, were well and substantially form ed and fitted in place, with the expectation that they were built for long use. Many doors which Mr. Moulton made in the early eighties are now in use in Atkinson and as good as the day they were hung. Mr. Moulton is a republican in politics and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fre mont, having voted for the head of the republican ticket in each presidential election held since that time, and with the exception of a single one, has not since missed a state election, that occasion be ing when he was away from home and working in Cheyenne, being engaged in bridge and building construction work at the time the railroad was pushing through to the west, in 1868. Mr. Moulton had crossed the plains to Denver in May, 1868, returning by way of Cheyenne in December, and at that time the Indians were still hostile, so that he had many interesting and ex citing experiences. At the time of the blizzard of January 15, 1888, Mr. Moulton was sick with rheu matism, leaving the feeding of the stock to be at tended to by his wife, and though this was a most difficult task she accomplished it. The snow had drifted so deeply around the well that she had to dig out around the windlass before the bucket could be lowered and raised, and it had drifted so deep around the barn that it was necessary to cut steps down to the door and clear a space away so that the door could be opened. When his claim was first occupied by him, Mr. Moulton often saw deer and antelope, and at the time he crossed the plains in 1868 buffalo were still plentiful. He proceeded as far west as the "one-thousand mile tree," and saw the first of the seven engines that pulled into Cheyenne when the road was completed. He shared the common lot of the pioneer settler of Nebraska in fighting the prairie fires, being engaged in this strenuous work at one time from a Saturday morning until Monday noon, when he was safe from its menace, after sixty hours of danger. The hail storm of 1910 did not damage his crops, although his son lost seventy acres of corn through it. Although Mr. Moulton has never occupied a log or sod house in Nebraska, the house in which he was reared was most primitive, being built of logs and so open that it was possible for squirrels to get in and steal his horde of hickory nuts. At that time in his Ohio home the deer were so tame they often came up with the cows at night, and the black timber wolves were very often found prowling about a farmyard and preyed on the settlers' young pigs. He has been a pioneer in three states. He is highly respected as a useful, upright citizen and has always shown great in terest in every movement tending to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the communi ty. Mrs. Moulton 's paternal grandfather was David Phillips, a sea-captain, who was buried at sea. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 181 DAVID PRIMROSE. David Primrose needs no introduction to the people of Nebraska. He is one of the leading men of affairs in the town of Primrose, which town was named after himself, he being one of its chief founders, and known throughout Boone and the surrounding counties as a man of broad mind, culture and ability. He is also one of the largest landowners in that section of Nebraska, and by virtue of his sterling character and honest efforts to better conditions in his locality has gained high esteem in the hearts of his fellowmen. Mr. Primrose was born in Ireland on June 16, 1844. He was the third child in the family of William and Margaret Primrose, who had six chil dren and grew up in his native land. When he was twenty years of age he came to America, landing in New York City, where he spent a little time, and later lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Primrose came to Boone county, Nebraska, in March, 1874, and immediately filed on a home stead in section ten, township nineteen, range eight. He also took a timber claim in the same section, and developed both in good shape. He later settled on section sixteen, which is now his home farm, consisting of half a section, and four hundred and eighty acres on section ten, all being very choice land admirably located in the Cedar river valley. Mr. Primrose is the owner of over three thou sand acres of land in Nebraska, situated in Boone, Perkins, Greely and Wheeler counties. The town of Primrose was laid out in 1902, and occupies part of section sixteen, belonging to our subject, and the town was named in his honor. This is now a growing little town, and is beauti fully situated on the Columbus branch of the Un ion Pacific railroad. Mr. Primrose was united in marriage to Belle Jane Patterson, in Dublin Precinct, in July, 1876. Mrs. Primrose was born in Ireland and came to America with her parents when a small child. She was a woman of fine character, had many friends, and was deeply mourned at her death, which oc curred on the home farm, July 6, 1899- Mr. and Mrs. Primrose were the parents of eleven chil dren, all born in Boone county, and named as fol lows: Belle G., Martha, John, William, Mary, Da vid, Lucy, George and Sarah. Samuel and Sar ah (No. 1) are deceased. The family are among the prominent pioneers of Boone county, and Mr. Primrose has always taken an active part in the affairs of his county and state, in 1908 being ap pointed to fill the unexpired term of county com missioner. He was urged to accept the nomina tion the following term, but refused on account of his extensive business interests. He is vice presi dent of the Primrose State bank. CLAUS LOGE. Mr. Claus Loge, who has for the last quar ter of a century resided in Wayne county, Ne braska, and during this time has acquired a fine property as a result of his industry and good management, is widely known in this locality and is held in the highest esteem as a farmer and a citizen. He has a comfortable home, pleasantly located on section eleven, township twenty-five, range three, and is regarded as one of the promi nent men of the community. Mr. Loge is a German by birth, as he first saw the light of day in the province of Holstein, July 25, 1832. He received his education in his native land, and remained there during the years of his young manhood, helping his parents on their farm. He was also called upon for military ser vice during the war between Germany and Den mark in 1857 and 1858, and served for sixteen months. In 1878, he decided to come to America, as it offered much greater opportunities for his chil dren than could be found in the old country. He accordingly embarked on the steamer "Preesia." with his family, and made the trip from Hamburg to New York. He came first to Potawattomie and Shelby counties, state of Iowa, where he remained for about six years. In 1885, the family removed to Wayne county, Nebraska, where Mr. Loge bought a quarter section of fine land, upon which he made considerable improvements. This farm was the home of the family for some time, but it has since been given to the son, John, who now re sides there. Mr. Loge himself then bought the farm where he lives, of one hundred nd sixty acres, which his son Henry now owns. In 1863, Mr. Loge was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rath, and they are the parents of four children: John, Henry, Lena and Bertha, the two latter being deceased, Bertha dying in Ger many. Mrs. Loge died in 1902. CHARLES E. HEMENWAY". Among the early settlers in Antelope county, Nebraska, who has been instrumental in the de velopment and growth of the agricultural and commercial resources of this section of the coun try, Charles E. Hemenway takes a leading place. Mr. Hemenway resides on a fine farm in section twenty-three, township twenty-six, range eight, Antelope county, where he enjoys the fruits of his labor of years gone by, surrounded by comfort and plenty. Mr. Hemenway is a veteran of the civil war, a worthy citizen, and a good neighbor, and richly deserves all the success which has come to him. We call attention to a view of his residence which is presented on another page. Mr. Hemenway was born in Dupage county, four miles east of Wayne, Illinois, May 10. 1847. His father, Charles, was born May 12, 1815, in North Hampton, Massachusetts, and his mother Lucy W. (Fay) Hemenway, was born July 20, 182 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1820, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Our subject's grandfather was in the war of the revolution, and served at the battle of Saratoga. Mr. Hemen way 's ancestors came from Boston, England, three brothers of the family coming to America from England in the early part of the eighteenth century. After landing they separated, one go ing to Massachusetts, one to Connecticut and one to New York. Our subject lived in his native state until he enlisted in the army during the civil war, in Company C, One Hundred Fifty-Third Illi nois Volunteers under Generals Thomas, A. J. Smith, and Milroy. Mr. Hemenway enlisted on Christmas day, 1864, and during his enlistment served on detatched service, hunting guerrillas throughout Tennessee and in July and August, 1865, as provost guard at Memphis. He received an honorable discharge September 24, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Hemenway came to Omaha, then returned to Illinois, and finally, in 1870, came to Nebraska, and here took up a homestead in An telope county, in section twenty-three, township twenty-six, range eight. He built a dug-out and "batched it" for three years. Norfolk, the post- office was forty-eight miles away. Columbus, Wisner and Yankton, the nearest market places were seventy-five miles away. Like many of those pioneer settlers of this western country, Mr. Hem enway experienced many great hardships. Dur ing the years of 1874, 1875 and 1876, the grass hoppers destroyed all his crops, and many times they fought the prairie fires to save their home. During the blizzard of October 15, 1880, Mr. Hemenway acted as guide to a hunting party of twelve, from the coast; among them being: Col. Marble, and C. C. Holton, then collector of cus tom at Boston, Massachusetts. The party was caught in a storm seventy-five miles west of Mr. Hemenway 's place, and several were in favor of starting to back tract, but Mr. Hemenway threat ened to shoot any man who would touch the horses. The next morning they started to find the nearest sod-house which was about forty-five miles away. By the aid of Mr. Hemenway 's com pass they were able to get within a half a mile of the sod house. On reaching this point Mr. Hem enway found land marks which directed him to the house where they remained until the next day when the storm abated. March 4, 1873, Mr. Hemenway married Miss Elizabeth Graham, who was born sixteen miles south of Lincoln, England, May 25, 1846. Mrs. Hemenway, with her parents, came to America in 1856; coming from Liverpool to Que bec, Canada, on a sail boat. They were on the ocean five weeks. From Quebec they moved to Wisconsin, and in 1871 moved to Douglas county, Nebraska, where Mrs. Hemenway taught school until she married Mr. Hemenway. After the grasshopper raids in Antelope county, Mrs. Hem enway went back to Douglas county to teach again and help earn money to put in new crops She being the mother of a child at that time, Mrs! Hemenway 's parents cared for the infant while she taught school. Mrs. Hemenway taught the first school in district number seven. Mr. and Mrs. Hemenway have had the follow ing children born to them : Jessie, wife of Elmer Cary, the parents of eight children; Merrit C, who is married to Josie Patros, and has four chil dren ; Archie, who is married to Anna Patros ; Ag nes, Stanley, who lives in Wyoming, is married to Opal Okee, and has one child; Loretta, wife of James Brown, has three children; Oliver, married to Cora Mintun, and Oscar. Another child, Dewight, was killed on Thanksgiving day in 1900, by a fall from a horse. Mr. Hemenway was a broom-maker by trade, having learned from his father in 1867-8, while in Illinois. From broom corn raised on his own farm Mr. Hemenway made the first two thousand brooms which were sold in Omaha, then a town of about four thousand population. At the time the Indians stole a number of horses from the neighborhood in 1870, the settlers. thought it would be impossible to cross Cache creek owing to the quicksand, but they trailed the Indians to the spot where they had crossed. When the pursuers' horses became jaded, two of the freshest horses were sent on to Wm. Inman's place where it was known they must pass owing to a widely burnt tract to the north. Sure enough they came that way, but Mr. Inman being absent, they were afraid to attack the Indians, so set the dogs on them. It was months before the horses were finally recovered. When the Indians passed Fort Randle, the soldiers knew that the horses belonged to white men and knew that they had not been bought, so they took possession and ad vertised in the Omaha papers. The owners recov ered most of them at the Whetstone agency, but they were so thin it was hardly worth bringing them home. The Indians had ridden them nearly to death. Mr. Hemenway is a popular citizen and served his county as commissioner in 1882; he served as assessor six years, and also as supervisor three years, and was re-elected assessor in 1909 for a term of two years. JAMES W. GOULD. James W. Gould, one of the many English- born residents of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have added much to the stability and progress of the region, was born in Sheffield, England, where his father was employed in the iron mills, January 2, 1868. He was little more than an infant when the family emigrated to the United States, remem bering but two' or three incidents in his native city, one being the solid blocks of buildings which he was surprised to learn was not the rule in western towns. Sailing from Liverpool in Aug ust, 1871, on the "Nevada," after a voyage of eight days the family landed in New York and RESIDENCE OF JAMES W. GOULD. RESIDENCE OF CHARLES E. HEMENWAY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 183 came direct to Chicago, where the father stopped to work in the rolling mills, while his wife and son proceeded to Belvidere where they had kin. The father was in Chicago during the memorable fire and remained to work for a time clearing away the ruins. In the spring of 1872 they came to Nebraska, reaching Plainview April 22, located on a home stead now a part of the town, and here the father spent the remainder of his life. Our subject's parents are both deceased. The father, James Gould, was born August 13, 1827, in Staffordshire, near Litchfield, England. He died at Plainview, Nebraska, February 28, 1904, at the age of seventy-six years. He was married to Ellen Rickett at Rotherham Old Church, York shire, May 28, 1855. Two children, a son and a daughter, were born to them. Their daughter died in England, and the son is the subject of this sketch, at whose residence the father died. The story of the elder Gould's life would be a re cital of the pioneer days that every old settler re members. Grasshoppers came and ate his crops. Droughts and floods also performed their part in the desperate struggle for existence. But through it all he remained. Despondency and often de spair settled down like a dark pall over the scat tered settlements in Nebraska. Many became dis couraged and moved away, but this sturdy old pioneer clung to his home and weathered all the storms of adversity. His faith in this country was justified. He lived to see eastern Nebraska become one of the richest and most productive portions of this great commonwealth. His wife, our subject's mother, who was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, died about 1905, and now they lie side by side in the Plainview cemetery, a few blocks from where they settled thirty-two years ago. James W. Gould, our subject, grew to manhood in Plainview, living the wild life of the frontier, becoming fond of hunting and fishing and at times played at cowboy, herding cattle on the open range. Mr. Gould's fondness for play when a boy came near costing him his life. He had an Indian pony and frequently carried a broomstick for a gun; his mother had sent him to a family some seven miles away to exchange squashes for some citrons to make preserves, and on the way back a settler from Hungaria, supposing from his dark complexion and aquiline features that some Indian boy was out alone, coveted his pony and gun, and took lawless means to get them. He fol lowed after the boy with a large horse pistol, and, kneeling, took aim and fired. Mr. Gould was watching him, taking no alarm until the shot was fired. Putting spurs to his horse, as soon as he rounded a sand hill, he doubled back and saw the would-be murderer following his trail on horse back. Sometime after reaching home, the Hun garian, returning from a long, fruitless chase, stopped at the elder Gould's and told a wild tale of having been attacked by Indians and having chased them beyond Creighton. Another incident that nearly cost him his life was an unexpected attack by a bull dog in which his face was so lacerated that hope of recovery was abandoned; his teeth were ruined and his growth was stunted for at least ten years. He enjoyed the advantage of the village school and adopted farming as his profession in life and has made a comfortable success. He be gan doing carpenter work in 1890, and although never regularly apprenticed, can turn out as fine work as any regular tradesman in the region. Mr. Gould was married in Madison, Nebraska, at the house of Stephen Stork, an old friend from England, November 11, 1895. The bride, Miss Wiego L. Hanson, was born in the village of Clip- pinge, near Copenhagen, Denmark, January 31, 1866, a daughter of Peter and Ann Elizabeth (Robertson) Hanson, who embarked at Copenha gen for the western hemisphere on the "America" and after three weeks landed in New York, May, 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Gould seven children were born, five of whom are living : George Burnham ; Harold R., Helen E., James, Jr., and Eugene Her bert, all attending Plainview schools. Mr. Gould is a republican, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Mod ern Woodmen of America lodges. Mr. Gould was the first white child to find habitation in Plainview, and has witnessed the wonderful development of the prairie, and has had a hand in that development. Their worst experience with prairie fires was in the fall of 1879 when it burned barns, sheds, wheat stacks and everything but the dwelling, which was with great difficulty saved. Our subject has seen the Sioux Indians in their war paint ; a party escaped from the reservation, and on their way to the Ponca country were overtaken and rounded up on Willow creek and brought to Plainview, that George Burnham, who spoke French, might give the orders to them through an Indian who under stood the same language and thereby get them back to Dakota. The most ludicrous Indian scare some years later filled the town with refugees some of whom took no time to dress, but came wrapped in the blankets under which they had been sleeping. After waiting long with no Indians heaving in sight, some braver than the rest rode north to investigate, and learned that the shoot ing was done by a party of whites returning somewhat hilariously from a charivari. Mr. Gould often passed over an old Indian battle-ground near a ranch he owns not far from Verdel, Knox county, where for years skulls and other bones thickly strewed the ground. Mr. Gould is fond of hunting and fishing, and with N. M. Nelson and others frequently spends a few weeks in camp in the lake region of Cherry county. During the span of his life the open country has become a thickly populated region, and where 184 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. only the prairie grasses waved, each year grain fields are undulating in the summer winds, and the cornfields fill the bins with a golden harvest. This is surely the land of opportunity. We are pleased to call attention to a view of the Gould's large residence on another page to gether with illustrations of the primitive dwell ing of 1870 and another of later additions to the first small house. JULIUS ZELLMER. Julius Zellmer, a prominent and well-known stockman and farmer of section twenty-two, town ship twenty-four, range one, of Stanton county, is a native of West Prussia, Germany, born in 1860, a son of John and Wilhemina Zellmer, who spent their lives in that country. Mr. Zellmer reached maturity in Germany, and there received a common school education, leaving home in 1880 for America. He sailed from Hamburg and landed in New York City, whence he came to Nebraska. He had decided there were better opportunities in the west for a young man to make his fortune, and having little money to make a start, he secured a claim from the government. He is a most industrious and persevering farmer, and has developed a good farm. He has made all possible improvements on his place, and now makes a specialty of stock raising, being successful in all lines of his work. He is well known throughout the county as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, who is much interested in the welfare nd upbuilding of his community, and has the respect of all. He at first erected a small frame house, which was his home for several years, and he has since erected a more commodious and comfortable residence and various buildings for housing his stock and grain. He has a fine five-acre grove of fruit and shade trees, which add much to the value and beauty of his estate. Mr. Zellmer was married in 1888 to Miss So phia Stangal, and they are parents of six chil dren, namely: Emma, Anna, Adelia, Otto, Al- dora and Mina. Mrs. Zellmer was born in West Prussia and is a daughter of Carl and Marie Stangal. Both she and her husband have many friends in Stan ton county, and are interested in securing good educational advantages for their community. They were forced to undergo many privations in their early life on the farm, and have had the pleasure of watching the wonderful develop ment of the region they have lived in so many years. J. WIEGAND. Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality is the subject of this review, Jacob Wiegand, owner of a valuable estate in Crawford precinct. Mr. Wiegand was born in Villa of Berteroda, Saxony, Germany, March 28, 1849. When he was five years old, with his parents he came to Ameri ca. His father was William Wiegand, born July 21, 1809; married in 1844; died September, 1882. His mother, Katherina Wiegand, was born June 17, 1817, and died July 18, 1900. Our subject's father was a farmer in Germany, and in 1854 with his family left their native land and came to America to find cheap land and make a home. They left Bremen on a sailboat, the Nebraska, and experienced a severe storm at sea, the mast of the boat was broken and they thought they would all be lost. They landed in New Y^ork where they stayed a few days, then started out to see a brother of the fath er who lived in Rock Island, Illinois, and got as far as Chicago and were delayed there six weeks until the railroad was built as far as Rock Island ; remained there for fifteen years, then started for the far west, as they thought in those days. They drove from Rock Island to Dodge county, Ne braska, and took up a homestead in 1869 and liv ed there eighteen years. Fremont, Nebraska, was the market place, which was twenty-six miles from the claim. He built a small frame house at first, but added to it as he prospered. The grass hoppers took all the crops the first six years, and they suffered greatly during the blizzards of 1873- and 1888 ; they also suffered from hailstorms and hot winds. Our subject's father and family, like a great many other early settlers experienced many hardships, but through all of this they pros pered and came to the front. In early days they had to burn hay, sunflowers, and cornstalks, and it took one to feed the fire all the time, the rest to bring in the fuel. Antelope, deer and wild turk eys were very plentiful in those early days. On April 28, 1874, our subject was married in Pebble precinct, Dodge county, to Miss Henriet ta Wilhelmina Schmudo, who was born Septem ber 2, 1855, in West Prussia, Germany. She came to America when she was a little girl five years old with her parents Gottlieb and Anna (Walter) Schmudo, from West Prussia, fifty miles from Berlin. They came to America in a sailboat. Mr. and Mrs. Wiegand are the parents of three children who are named as follows: Julietta, M. E., born 1875, married in 1894 to J. H. Mumm and they have five children; Hilda Rosina, born 1883, married in 1909 to E. J. Harris; Walter Ray mond, born 1891 ; William Julius, born 1877, died 1878; Arthur Frederick, born 1879, died 1899; Clara Doretha, born 1881, and died 1899 ; she was married to L. R. Riley, and lived only six weeks after marriage. In 1887 our subject wih his family moved to Antelope county, where he bought land from Mr. Roberts and improved the farm until now he has one of the most beautiful places in Crawford precinct. He has two hundred acres of land, six COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 185 acres of which are covered with beautiful trees. Mr. Wiegand belongs to the German Lutheran church, and is a republican in politics. Mrs. Wiegand 's father died in April, 1857, in Germany and her mother, who was born in 1822, died in 1882 in Nebraska. WILLIAM B. CHILVERS. William B. Chilvers, a highly respected, retir ed business man of Pierce, Nebraska, is an ex-sol dier of the civil war. He has spent a useful ca reer, accumulating a valuable estate through many years of hard labor, and is classed among the successful citizens of his county, using his ut most endeavors to assist in developing the com mercial and educational interests of that part of Nebraska. Mr. Chilvers is a native of the village of Ter- rington, county of Norfolk, England, and was born October 19, 1835. He was left an orphan at the age of six years, and was reared by his grand father. With an uncle, George Burnham, he emi grated to the United States, landing in New York on October 1, 1851. They lived in Chicago for four years, during which time our subject served a three, years' apprenticeship to a carpenter; in those days everything had to be hand-made, which required considerable skill; he was kept nine months making mouldings, finding the de signs and quantites daily on a trestle board. In 1855 the family moved to Boone county, Illinois, near Belvidere, where Mr. Chilvers work ed at his trade, and for four years, with an uncle, was interested in the lime and stone business. In the spring of 1861, he rented land and" started a crop, but after the outbreak of hostilities, he disposed of his growing crops and enlisted in Company B, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war; with his regi ment 'he took part in seventy-five engagements. He was color bearer at the siege of Spanish Fort, carrying the colors into the fort at the time of a successful assault at one o 'clock in the morning In this engagement, the colors were pierced by bullets in nine places, and at the Siege of Vicks burg, a ball passed through Mr. Chilvers' cap, grazing his scalp, and during his career as a sol dier, this was the only wound he received. He was among the troops on the disastrous Red River expedition, but escaped capture and imprison ment. After the close of the war, he returned to Bel videre, following his trade up to 1871, at which time he came to Pierce county, Nebraska. Since coming here he has done as much as any other one man in building up the locality. He secured the contract to erect the first building in Pierce, which was the hotel of George D. Hetzel; the lumber was hauled in wagons from Sioux City. This was followed by the school house in 1872. He had the honor of building the first store in the town, that of Herman Mewis, erected in the fall 7% of 1874, the lumber for this building being hauled from Wisner, then the terminus of the nearest railroad. Mr. Chilvers homesteaded on a tract at Plain- view, also filed on a timber claim, on which ground a part of Plainview now stands. He put up a frame house, which was the first one of its kind in that part of the state. He worked on his farm during the good seasons, and when failures and hard times came on, followed his trade at Bazile Mills, Creighton, and other points. He was appointed postmaster at Plainview, first known as Roseville, and held the office for six years, Mrs. Chilvers attending to official duties while Mr.Chil- vers was away working at his trade. He served eight years as county clerk and recorder. In 1880 he begun the business of abstracting, and has been engaged in the work ever since. In 1900 he was elected clerk of the district court, and is still serving, this being his third term. Mr. Chilvers was married at Sharon, Wiscon sin, on October 6, 1872, to Irene EUen Pilcher, a native of Lancaster, Ohio; their daughter, Eliza May, was the first white child born in Plainview settlement. She died August 13, 1900, aged twen ty-six years, after graduating in the Plainview normal college. There are seven children still liv ing: John P., Alfred W., George W., Frances, Nellie, Charles H., and Oma. Our subject has been a staunch republican al ways, casting his first vote for Freemont. He is a charter member of the Grand Army at Pierce, and is a prominent -member of the Masonic lodge, be ing one of the charter members and organizers of the Norfolk lodge, and later of the lodge at Pierce, of which he has been secretary since its organization. LARKE SORENSEN. (Deceased.) Larke Sorensen, deceased, one of the prosper ous farmers of Howard county, Nebraska, was born in Lolland, Denmark, in 1845. Hegrew up there, and in 1869 married Johannah Jorgensen, soon afterwards coming to America, crossing in the steerage. After landing in New York, he went to Cook county, Illinois, where the young man worked in the quarries, remaining there up to 1871, then with his family, consisting of himself, wife, child and his father, came to Nebraska, settling in Grand Island. Shortly after arriving in Nebras ka, father, son and several other men from Grand Island left the town and traveled through the country in a northwesterly direction, traversing wide prairies and rough regions until they reach ed the Loup river. There they built a float of large trees, crossed the river, and on coming to the tract of land that lay between Oak and Turk ey creeks, decided that would be a good place in which to establish the Danish colony, which was the object of their search, the region at that time 186 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. being inhabited only by Indians and wild ani mals. Mr. Sorensen and other members of this company of men were self-reliant, independent, and unafraid of the trials and discouragements to be met with in settling a new country, and were ambitious of building up a permanent home for themselves in the great west, and prepared to endure any amount of hardship and privation in so doing. Mr. Sorensen took up a homestead of Oak creek bottom land, and after spending a few weeks there returned to Grand Island, leaving his father on the claim, he being the only white man for miles around. Our subject brought his fami- ily to their new home, and they began a struggle to improve the land, going through every form of frontier existence, often suffering from the se vere winters, etc., but ever striving and hoping for better times, until at last their labor was re warded, being able to raise good crops and hav ing a well equipped farm. They lived on the homestead during the lifetime of the father and husband, which occurred on February 5, 1887, and his loss was greatly deplored by the entire community. He left behind him a wife and six children, the latter named as follows : Mary, now widow of Peter Peterson, who with her four children, lives in Dannebrog precinct; Anna, now Mrs. Krogh, mother of one child, living at Ny- sted ;William, father of five children, living in the village of Dannebrog, where he is engaged in the creamery business ; Emil, who has two children, the family living west of Nysted; Sophus, mar ried, and has one son, living on the original home stead at Nysted; and Fred S., who resides on a farm near Alba, father of two children. Mr. Sorensen was prominently known through out this part of Nebraska as the founder, in part nership with Fred Olsen and Jacob Winn, of the early settlement of Nysted. He was always an active worker in aiding the development of his community, and in all public affairs, besides be ing an earnest worker in the Lutheran church. Mrs. Sorensen is still living on their homestead. JOHN OTTO FREDERICK SCHONING. Among the early settlers in Nebraska, we find the names of many adopted sons who were born under other skies but whose industry and thrift have enabled them to rise to positions of trust and affluence. One of the best-known and most re spected farmers of this community is Otto Schon- ing, who assisted in the organization of Valley county and was the first homestead settler in this portion of the North Loup valley, being at that time the furthest settler up the valley. He now has a fine grain and stock farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres. Otto Schoning, the subject of this sketch, was the fifth of nine children born to Carl and Char lotte (Koenigsberg) Schoning, and was born in the city of Platha province of Pommerania, Prus sia, September 23, 1841. Two of the family are living in Germany, and a third died since Mr. Schoning visited his native land in 1900. He grew to manhood there, and served the usual military term of three years in the Prussian army, participating in the hostilities on the Russian line in 1863, with Denmark in 1864, and the Aus trian war of 1866, in the battle of Koenigsberg. Like many another young fellow, he concluded in 1868, to come to America, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore, the voyage lasting sixteen days. For the first few years he remained in Wisconsin, working on a farm .near Milwaukee. In the spring of 1872, he purchased a team and wagon and began to make arrangements to go to Nebraska; in the fall he came overland to Val ley county, taking a homestead on section twelve, township eighteen, range thirteen, and he has lived there continuously up to this date. In May, 1878, he was married to Miss Amelia Braun, the daughter of Christian Braun, a Ger man who had come directly from the old country to Valley county, taking up the homestead adjoin ing that of Mr. Schoning on the north. Mr. and Mrs. Schoning have nine children liv ing, named as follows: Martha, Mrs. Fred Sim on of Grand Island; Otto and Julius, both farm ing in Tripp county, South Dakota; Hattie, em ployed in Omaha; Emma, Mrs. Hugh Watson, living near Hall, Cairo county, Nebraska; Herm an, Paul, Emil and Frieda. Mr. and Mrs. Schoning and family have many friends and a wide circle of acquaintances. Mr. Schoning for many years has been a member of the school board of district number fifty, and at one time was school treasurer. In 1875, Fred Bartz, a brother-in-law of Mr. Schoning, together with the parents of the lat ter, came to this country, and the year previous another brother-in-law, John Kriewald, came to America. Mr. Bartz took up homestead land in Valley county and Mr. Kriewald bought railroad land adjoining in the same neighborhood as Mr. Schoning. The father and mother made their home with Mr. Kriewald and family, the former living until 1885 and the latter until the spring of 1889. All of the people mentioned in this sketch were pioneers of Valley county and in common with other early settlers, suffered many hardships during the first years of their settlement. How ever, by reason of their early struggles the coun try has steadily developed, and many of those old settlers are still living today, enjoying the fruits of their early toil. Mr. Schoning first resided in a small log dug out for seven years, when he built a small log house above ground, and in 1894 the present dwelling in spite of the drought of that year when he raised no corn. There were deer in those days — sometimes the fleet-footed animals ran through the door-yard. Mr. Schoning shot twenty-three during the early years of his pioneering in Ne- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 187 braska. Twice hail destroyed his crops and twice the grasshopper left his fields bare; in 1874 they took everything. HENRY WACHTER. Henry Watcher, who resides in section five, township twenty-four, range one, in Madison county, Nebraska, is one of the leading citizens and old timers of this section of the country. He has always done his full share to aiding in the betterment of conditions throughout the com munity in which he lives. Mr. Wachter is a native of Wisconsin state, where he was born in July, 1860, and is a son of August and Gusta Wachter, both natives of Germany, who came to America on a sailboat. In 1866, our subject's father, with his parents, started for the west, traveling by ox team, as that was the usual way of traveling at that time. They were on the road about seven weeks, and made settlement in Madison county, homestead- ing land in section two, township twenty-four, range one. On this land a good log house was put up. When the family first came to this region, the country was a rolling prairie, with nothing to be seen for miles but the waving grasses of the plains. The virgin soils had scarcely known the touch of cultivation, or the stamp of a white man's foot, the only signs of life being the herds of deer and antelope that were frequently seen grazing about, and the bands of Indians who roamed the plains. In the first few years of cultivation, the grasshoppers destroyed every vistage of crops and vegetation to be found any where in this region, which caused great suffer ing and hardship to this family. Many times they had to fight prairie fires to save their lives and possessions, and in 1894 our subject lost all his crops by the hot winds that prevailed during that year, owing to the long drouth. In the very earliest times, Columbus and West Point were the nearest market places, they being fifty-five miles distant. Mr. Wachter was united in marriage in 1884 to Miss Wilhelmina Hideman, a native of Ger many, and a daughter of Prank and Albertina Hideman. Mr. and Mrs. Wachter are the par ents of eleven children, whose names are as fol lows: Julius, Ernest, Arthur, George, Carl, Ella, Anna, Martha, Minnie, Erna and Emma. THEODORE J. STOETZEL. Theodore J. Stoetzel, who is now one of the leading real estate men in this section of Ne braska, was for years closely connected with the educational development of Greeley county. He served four terms as county superintendent of schools, being the one republican candidate to win in a democratic county, and for six years was principal of the Scotia schools. Mr. Stoetzel was born in Lake county, Indi ana, November 27, 1856, and was the third of four children in the family of John C. and Emilia Rieke Stoetzel. The mother died in 1863, leav ing her husband and the children, Matilda, Wil liam F., Theodore J. and Mary. The father re married, and in April, 1869, John C. Stoetzel and family, now numbering seven children, moved to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Here the father spent the remainder of his life, dying in March, 1905. His widow still lives in Scribner, Nebraska, and in his large family of nine children (for two children, Lydia and Ida, were born in Nebraska), all, except Lydia, still reside in Nebraska. The subject of this sketch, Theodore Stoetzel, was only twelve years old when the family moved to Nebraska, so that most of his boyhood and youth was spent in this state. He lived on the farm, helping in the manifold labors connected therewith, and receiving the usual school ad vantages until he was nineteen. He then at tended the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, taking the full course of five years. On October 11, 1883, just a few months after he was graduated, he married Miss Emesce Strawn at the home of her parents in Dwight, Illinois. Mr. Stoetzel taught school in Livings ton county, Illinois, for one term. On April of the following year, Mr. Stoetzel and wife came to Scotia, Greeley county, Nebraska, where, after an interval of one year spent on the farm, he took up school and educational work in earnest. In the fall of 1885, Mr. Stoetzel was first se lected county superintendent, serving the public four years in that capacity, and then, for three years, was principal of the Scotia schools. He was also for some time connected with the Nor mal school at the same city. It was at this period that Mr. Stoetzel became so widely known in educational circles, and was frequently called upon for institute work in adjoining counties. In 1893, he was again elected county superinten dent, and, as before, when leaving that office, again became principal of the Scotia schools. In 1901, Mr. Stoetzel decided to give up school work in order to engage in real estate and insurance lines. Since that time he has devoted his energy to this line of business, and has met with more than ordinary success. It is quite probable that the many friends and acquaint ances made during his years of school work, and the respect and esteem which he won during these years, have contributed not a little to his present prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Stoetzel and their family, as may be supposed, take a prominent part in the social and educational life of this community. There are six children, named as follows: Bes sie M., Mayme (now Mrs. Guy C. Cook), Susie, Georgia, Henry W. and Charlotte. 188 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Stoetzel is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is republican, and a mem ber of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Past Master's degree, after filling the Mas ter's chair for a term or two. LUDWIG UHING. That thrift and energy may win success un der the most adverse conditions is illustrated in the life of Ludwig Uhing, now residing in Con ception, Missouri. He was born in the city of Cleve, Rhine province, Germany, November 1, 1841, and lived for twenty-seven years in his native land. His parents, Bernard and Mary (Benz) Uhing, died in Germany, their native land. Mr. Uhing, our subject, entered the pos tal service, and was a clerk in the offices at Cleve, Stergrade, Mettmann, Munich, Gladbach, Neviges and Remscheid. At the latter place he was employed when he emigrated to America. Sailing from Antwerp in the early spring of 1868 in the steamer "City of Antwerp," he landed in New York, after a voyage of twelve days. He came immediately to the west, and sojourned for a short time in Richardson county before settling in Cuming county, fifty miles north of West Point, Nebraska. Here he purchas ed school land, which he farmed for ten years be fore his removal to Cedar county. Purchasing two hundred and eighty acres of land in Bow Valley, he began investing his sav ings in more land until he had purchased up wards of one thousand acres, some of which he had deeded directly to his sons, and some of it he deeded to them himself, retaining enough to keep himself and wife in comfort the remainder of their days. In March of 1905, Mr. Uhing moved to Hartington, purchasing a neat cottage on South Broadway, where he resided until his removal to Missouri in 1911. Mr. Uhing was married in West Point, Cum ing county, May 22, 1869, to Miss Agatha Mettes, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, born in 1849. Her parents, John and Mary Mettes, emigrated to America in 1854, and a year later were the first settlers of Washington county, at a time when Indians, buffalo, deer, antelope and wild turkeys were plentiful. Their voyage in an old sailship extended over six weeks. They came out to Clinton, Iowa, where they lived one year prior to their settlement in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Uhing are the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living. They are : Margareta, entered a convent of the Benedictine order, and is now known as Sister Petronella in the mission school at the Standing Rock agency, South Dakota; Fred, who has a part of the home farm in Bow Valley; Louis is also located on the old home place near Fred; Henry has a farm four miles west of Hartington ; Mary, wife of Clement Suing, lives nine miles north of the county seat ; Theresa is the wife of Fred Wie- belhaus, who is farming four miles north of town; Herman is farming in Bow Valley near his brothers, and Ida is still under the parental roof, caring for her aged parents. Mr. Uhing is a democrat, and the entire family worship in the Catholic church. Mr. Uhing has endured his share of hardships on the frontier. Grasshoppers devastated his crops from 1873 until 1879, the last year in his new location in Cedar county. His early market places after settling in Cedar county were at Yankton and Ponca, a long, weary drive. When he first became a resident of Cuming county, Fremont and Omaha were his market places, the trip to the latter place consuming three and four days. So deep were the snows in some of those early winters that on one occasion they had to tear out the chimney, crawl out on the roof, and dig down to the door before egress could be had from the house. The drifts covered all the win dows, and were on a level with the low roof of their low log house. Mr. Uhing well remembers gathering, when a child, quantities of the horns of antelope and deer on the prairies, so thickly were they strewn. The many blizzards that swept the plains brought no injury to Mr. Uhing or his family. On the occasion of the disastrous storm of January 12, 1888, the children had fortunately remained at home, thus escaping the danger and discomfort of many who were compelled to spend the night in school houses. After toil comes rest, and no one better de serves a quiet eventide of life than he of whom we write. He has lived an honest, industrious life, and, true to the industry which he possesses, he cannot, with his rest, remain idle. In 1911, he moved to Conception, Missouri, where he has some landed interests that are now claiming his attention. DANIEL W. BRINKERHOFF. In the person of the above-mentioned gentle man we find one of the oldest settlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, recognized by all as a repre sentative citizen of that locality, who has seen the growth and progress of this region from its early settlement. Mr. Brinkerhoff came to the county in 1871, and has been one of the fore most in aiding in its development. Daniel W. Brinkerhoff was born in Lewis county, New York state, November 17, 1832, a son of Isaac and Harriet Brinkerhoff, who had three children. Mr. Brinkerhoff lived in New York state, where he grew up on a farm, until 1857, moving in that year to Wisconsin,, where he remained about two years, then going to Gen- eseo, Henry county, Illinois, which state was his home until coming to Merrick county, Nebraska, in 1871. On coming here, he took up a home stead about six miles northwest of Central City. Mr. Brinkerhoff was married in New York COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 189 state in January, 1856, and his wife died in Illi nois in 1860, leaving a little daughter. The daughter came to Merrick county with her fath er, and in later years married, and went to Chey enne, Wyoming, to reside, where she died in 1881. In 1884, Mr. Brinkerhoff was married to Mrs. Belinda Roberts in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Brinkerhoff followed farming and stock raising until 1885, at which time he came to Cen tral City to reside. Here he built the first livery barn, and has remained continuously in the livery business until the present time. He is the veteran livery man of Merrick county, and is also a pio neer farmer and stockman, and an honored citi zen, and, by reason of his business, is a man who is widely known. Mr. Brinkerhoff has passed through all the ups and downs of a pioneer settler's life. He has always been active along progressive lines, and, although never seeking political preferment, has in past years kept in close touch with politics and the advancing age. He is a good citizen, and everybody in the community knows "Dan" Brinkerhoff. ERNEST SCHEER. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. Scheer resides in section eighteen, township thirty, range five, where he is highly esteemed and respected by his fellow men. Mr. Scheer is a native of Germany, being born in the year 1839 in the village of New Bliesdorf, and is the son of Ferdinand and Eliza beth (Schmidt) Scheer. Our subject grew to manhood and received his education in his na tive land, where he spent the earlier portion of his lifetime, and where, also, he was married. In 1882, Mr. Scheer, with his family, left his na tive land for the great western country, of which many glowing reports had been sent to the fath erland by his countrymen who had preceded him. He started to the United States to make a for tune for himself and his family, they sailing on the steamship "India" from Hamburg to New York, and, after landing here, proceeded to the west, settling in Knox county, Nebraska, where Mr. Scheer took up a homestead and timber claim on sections eighteen and nineteen, township thir ty, range five, which has remained the family res idence for some twenty-nine years, since first coming to this country. On this homestead, Mr. Scheer built a good frame house, and started to farming. He has had many disappointments and hardships, among which the memorable blizzard of 1888 played its destructive part. Mr. Scheer lost most of his stock during the storm, and also was out in the driving wind and sleet for several hours, becoming lost,, and wandered around al most despairing of ever reaching his home. In 1859, Mr. Scheer was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Ayeword, and they are the par ents of thirteen children, eight of whom are liv ing, namely: Joseph, Ernest, Hattie, Gottlieb, Paul, George, Willie and Margerette. Mr. Scheer has always been an active, ener getic man, and before his emigration to America, was engaged in the mercantile line, and also kept a saloon, and was engaged in the hotel business in Ihlov village, Germany. He is still hale in his declining years, having reached the good ripe age of some seventy-two years. He has worked hard and unceasingly that his children may en joy the fruits of his labor, and has given all his land to his children that they may have a good start in life. Mr. Scheer enjoys the love and affection of his children, and the respect and esteem of all in the community where he lives. JOHN S. AGNEW. John S. Agnew, numbered among Nance coun ty's earliest settlers, resides in the thriving city df Fullerton, retired from active labor, enjoy ing a home of comfort and even luxury. The greater part of his life has been devoted to the pursuit of farming, and after developing and improving a fine estate in East Newman precinct, he retired to spend his declining years in peace and plenty, resulting from his earlier efforts. Our subject is a son of Gibson and Eleanor Agnew, brother of William S., whose sketch ap pears in this volume. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, in 1843, and made that his home up to his ninth year, then with his parents went to Iowa, where his father settled on a farm in Cedar county, receiving his education in that vicinity. He was married there in 1869 to Emma Bowers, who came to Iowa from Pennsylvania, and the pair made their home there up to 1889, then emigrated to Nance county, Nebraska. Mr. Agnew purchased three hundred and twenty acres on sections seventeen and twenty, town ship sixteen, range five, and here he has pros pered, from time to time adding to his original homestead until he has become owner of four hundred and eighty acres in the county, nearly all of which is under cultivation. The family has passed through all the pioneer experiences in accumulating this property, meeting failure at times, but always with the determination to over come all obstacles, and this persistence has won for them a fine reward in the valuable holdings they now enjoy. Besides his interests in Nance county, he is proprietor of a fine farm in Big Horn, Wyoming. To Mr. and Mrs. Agnew three children have been born : Edwin E., married, and residing with his wife and child in Fullerton; Frederick G., who is bookkeeper in the Stock Growers' Nation al Bank, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Delbert, pro prietor of a grocery store in Fullerton, all well liked by all who knew them. Mr. Agnew 's par ents are both dead, but it is a matter of history 190 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. that the battle of Gettysburg was fought on ground owned by our subject's grandfather. Mr. Agnew has . held local office at various times, and was especially active in the building up of the schools of his section, serving as direc tor of his district for a number of years. FRANZ SCHERER. Franz Scherer, manager for the Nye-Schneid- er-Fowler Company at Spencer, has been a resi dent of Nebraska since boyhood. He was born in the village of Abenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, May 19, 1872. His parents, Andrew and Ger trude (Bossel) Scherer, both natives of Aben heim, emigrated to America in the spring of 1873, sailing from Antwerp to Hull the last of May. Crossing England to Liverpool, they em barked in one of the large ocean steamers, and, after ten days at sea, landed in New York the 29th of May. This date impressed itself on the newly arrived travelers, as the Decoration Day celebration the next morning was something to make them wonder. Andrew Scherer brought his family directly to the west, joining a brother who had a ranch twenty miles west of Yankton and two miles north of where Bon Homme is now situated. Here they remained for a year, and then re moved to Fort Randall, where Mr. Scherer had secured the position of post tailor, which he filled eleven years. He came to Boyd county in 1895, filed on a homestead claim five miles from Spen cer, and lived here until his retirement in 1902, since which time he has been making his home with his son, Franz, in Spencer. Franz Scherer began for himself in 1887, when only fifteen years of age. He was employed herding cattle on the ranges along the border of the two states, doing a man's work while only a boy. He played with the Indian children, and relates that he might have bought a young and pretty squaw for a pony, the price asked for her by her sire. For three years he herded cattle on the ranges around Fort Randall, having some times as many as seven hundred head under his charge at one time. In 1887, he joined the Lemory outfit, ranging all over the country between the Niobrara and White rivers, continuing in this employment un til 1891. On the opening of the reservation in l Boyd county in 1891, Mr. Scherer filed on a home stead five miles dast of Spencer, adjoining that of his brother John, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. These were the first two filings in the newly-opened reservation. The treaty was signed February 12, and the boys were on their claims at daylight the next morn ing. The weather was cold, and they had for shelter only a tent. They each took turns sleep ing while the other kept a fire burning at the opening of the tent. The fuel they dragged three miles, attached to a rope on the saddle horn — a trick they had learned while on the ranges. Later they built two sod houses, each one as near as they could press to the center of each claim. The land not as yet having been surveyed, no one knew just where the lines would run, and they were careful not to build so the lines when run would place their dwelling on another's claim. Mr. Scherer remained on his farm until 1904, and, with the exception of the last two years, his family lived in the sod house, refusing to move into the new frame dwelling until the old "soddy" fell into decay. The new house, while better to see, was harder to heat in winter, and hot in the summer's heat. Lumber, at the time Mr. Scherer built his frame house, had to be hauled from either O'Neill or Niobrara, Nebras ka, or Tyndall, South Dakota, a distance of forty- five miles either way. Always ten or fifteen neighbors made the trip together, and sometimes even thirty teams would be in line. In this way, if one should be in trouble, there would be help at hand. An instance of the delay caused by one's traveling alone is illustrated by an incident of the days before the railroads came through. Mr. Scherer was employed by the departing agent from Fort Randall to haul his wagon scales to Niobrara. Some twenty miles east of Spencer, he broke the axle to his wagon, and had to come all the way back home to get repairs, as no one knew him, and so would not lend until he could return from Niobrara after delivering his load. The break caused him a day's delay, and cost him the profits of the trip. Sometimes the rivers had to be forded, and always the small streams. Whiting bridge, south of Spencer, gave access to Holt county, and at some places there were pontoon bridges. After leaving the farm in 1904, Mr. Scherer first worked on the railroad section for a time, and then found a place in the office of the Nye- Schneider-Fowler Company at Spencer, and eighteen months later was sent to Humphrey, Platte county, to take charge of their plant at that point. In December, 1908, they sent him back to Spencer, where he has been in full charge of their business since. After' coming here, Mr. Scherer bought a forty-six acre tract of very choice land a short distance west of Spencer, which produces boun tiful crops every year. Mr. Scherer was married in Boyd county, May 2, 1892, to Miss Annie Rutter, a native of Prussia. Her parents, Frank and Annie Rutter, came to America in 1871, and lived in Platte county until settling on a homestead in Boyd county in 1891. His native village in Prussia was near the eastern borders of the kingdom, and Mr. Rutter was as familiar with the Bohemian language as with his own. Of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Scherer, nine survive. They are: William, Herman, Rosa, Leo, Susie, Vincil, Alvice, Mary and Frank. C. S. SMITH. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 191 During the early days of the settlement of the Niobrara valley, Mr. Scherer was well ac quainted with the well-known characters of the country, among them "Doc" Middleton and "Kid" Wade, besides many of the well-known Indian chiefs. As a boy of only sixteen, he accomplished a feat few could have equalled. When the fearful blizzard of January 12, 1888, came on, he was three miles from his home, at Fort Randall, and for this distance he faced the storm, and safely reached home, while some were lost in going the short distance that lay between their residence and the barn. During the years he rode the range, steam- boating on the Missouri river was at its prime. Seldom was one out of sight of the smoke of a steamboat, or out of hearing of a whistle's deep- toned sound. He saw the unusual sight of a sunken steamer one season not a great distance from the fort. Prairie fires were common in those days, and Mr. Scherer has been in peril of them from time to time. A pocket full of matches was all that saved him on one occasion, when he was able to start a back fire. Mr. Scherer is a republican in politics, a mem ber of the Catholic church, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. CLINTON S. SMITH. Clinton S. Smith, one of the best known citi- izens of Madison county, Nebraska, though having taken an important part in political af fairs for the past many years, is at present occu pying the office of sheriff of the county, filling the trying position to the complete satisfaction of the people of that locality, being elected to the office in the fall of 1909. He served as mayor of the city of Madison for five successive years, and it was during his administration that the new city hall was erected at a cost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars. A portrait of Mr. Smith appears on another page of this vol ume. Mr. Smith was born in Lehigh county, Penn sylvania, August 26, 1862, and was the fourth in a family of eight children born to J. H. and Cath erine Smith. He has four brothers living in Madison county, the others being dead. His mother resides in Madison county, his father having died January 5, 1911. When Clinton was a boy about fourteen years of age, his parents came to Nebraska, locating in Madison county, and he received his educa tion in the local schools, and in 1886 embarked in the general merchandise business in his home town. He carried this work on up to 1892, then disposed of his mercantile interests and opened a real estate office, which he still carries on suc cessfully, and is known as one of the pioneer business men of Madison county, and a prominent citizen, alive to all the best interests of his coun- tv and state. He is a strong republican, and during all the years of his residence here, has taken an active part in politics, serving as coun cilman for eight successive years, from 1895. In November, 1909, he was elected sheriff, and is winning golden opinions from the people of his section for the good judgment he exhibits in the execution of this duty. Mr. Smith was married on January 13, 1891, to Miss Esther Axmann, who was born and reared in Austria. Her parents, two brothers and two sisters live in Texas at the present time, one sister in Oklahoma, and another in Kearney, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six chil dren: Howard S., Reno S., Deldee V., Myra E.; Clinton S., junior, and Irene, all fine young peo ple, and the family are popular members of so ciety in their community. ALFRED PONT. One of the most enterprising and progressive business men of Stanton is Alfred Pont, editor of the Stanton Register. Although a compara tively young man, Mr. Pont has been a resident of the state for nearly four decades, and has watched it develop from an open prairie, where deer and antelope were occasionally to be found, into a thickly-settled country, with every quar ter-section fenced, with groves, orchards and dwellings thickly dotting the landscape to tell of man's victory over the wilderness; a country that is still in its infancy, notwitstanding the wonderful development of the last thirty years. Mr. Pont's parents, Samuel and Mary (Tred- gett) Pont, were natives of England, the father coming to America in 1853 on a sailing vessel, the voyage extending over six weeks. He found work at Lockport, New York, and his wife joined him in the following year. The family then moved to Henry county, Illinois, and in 1872, went to Dodge county, Nebraska. Here Mr. Pont leased a quarter-section of school land near Scrib- ner, and then filed on a homestead in the north east corner of Colfax county, on which he lived until his death in 1897, when he had attained the ripe age of seventy-three. The mother still lives at Howells, and the heirs own the old home stead. Alfred Pont was the youngest of five children, and was only about six years old when the fam ily came to Nebraska, and he has, therefore, grown up with the state, being a true son of the west. Although Alfred Pont was but a child at the time, he remembers the scourge of grass hoppers in the seventies, the prairie fires and the blizzards, as well as the severe hail storm which visited a near-by town, all of which events conspired to keep the lives of the early settlers from becoming monotonous. He was elected mayor of the city of Stanton in 1911. Schools were far apart, the terms short, and teachers untrained, but at the age of twenty- 192 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. three, Mr. Pont had only attended school about fifteen months, and still was able to take the teachers' course in the Fremont Normal School. He then started teaching, and for four years con tinued in that work, closing his last school on June 14, 1894. On the next day, he purchased the Howell Journal, and since that time has given all of his time to his editorial labors. In February, 1897, he leased his own paper and took charge of the Stanton Register, which he purchased the next year. He issues a clean, wholesome weekly paper, and, under his man agement, the circulation has much increased, and the paper has become one of the powers to be reckoned with in political circles. Mr. Pont has always been faithful to dem ocratic principles, but has independence enough to refuse to support unworthy candidates whom political trickery has forced upon the party. On October 20, 1895, Mr. Pont was married to Miss Kittie J. Mitchell, a native of Cass coun ty, Iowa. Her parents, however, were both Eng lish, her father having come to America in 1851, a boy of twelve. Her mother did not come to the new world until 1870. Three children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Pont, two of whom, Frank lin Dewey and Edith Myrtle, are still living. Mr. Pont is a member of the Modern Wood men of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also prominent in Independent Order of Odd Fellows circles. M. RUNDQUIST. Among the pioneer settlers in the eastern part of Nebraska, who has always done his share to wards the upbuilding of that region, no one has a better claim to that distinction than the gen tleman whose name heads this personal history. Mr. Rundquist resides in section thirteen, town ship twenty-seven, range seven, Antelope coun ty, and is known as an upright and progressive citizen. Mr. Rundquist is a native of Sweden, being born in that country in 1852, and is the son of John and Mary Johnson. In 1884, our subject left his mother country to come to America, sail ing over the White Star line from Guttenburg to Liverpool, then to New York. After landing in the United States, Mr. Rundquist came to the west, settling in Antelope county, Nebraska, where he bought a homestead right from Mr. Gus Swanson in northwest quarter section thirteen, township twenty-seven, range seven, which is his present location, and he now owns three hun dred and twenty acres of land. After buying this land, our subject built good buildings, and made many other improvements, and also put ting out sixteen acres of trees. Mr. Rundquist has experienced many discouragements and drawbacks since settling here, but they have been met and passed over, and are incidents that remain only as a memory of the early days. In 1895, our subject was hailed out, and during some portion of the time in those pioneer days, hay and cornstalks were burned for fuel. Mr. Rundquist was married in 1882 to Miss Minnie Holm, also a native of Sweden, and an old sweetheart of Mr. Rundquist 's, whom he had left in the old country until he could make a home for her in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Rundquist have had nine children born to them, whose names are as follows: Albert, Archie, Axel, Clifford, Anna Alberta Whilmena, Gus tave, Delbert, Rubin and Clarence. Mr. and Mrs. Rundquist and family are en joying the high esteem and respect of all who know them, and their friends are many. CHRISTIAN MOHR. Constant industry, careful management and unswerving honesty are the secrets of the nob lest success possible on American soil. He who can work hard, plan and manage well, and "stand four-square to all the winds that blow," may be rich or poor, but he will be honored and respected by all who know him. Such a man is Christian Mohr, who has borne his full share in the making of eastern Nebraska, and well merits a place among its pioneer settlers. Mr. Mohr was born in the village of Wacken- dorf, district of Rendsburg, then a province of Denmark, August 3, 1854. He is the son of Fred and Margarita (Barnholt) Mohr, and was the second in a family of four children born to them. Our subject received his education in the parish schools of the old country, receiving his confirm ation at the age of fifteen. In 1871, the family came to America, ' setting sail from Hamburg, and landing in New York, after a voyage of fourteen days. They settled in Scott county, Iowa, renting near Davenport for five years, and then moved to Sac county, where the father bought a farm. He died in Cherokee county at a good old age. Christian Mohr first settled on a quarter-sec tion near Rushville, Sheridan county, Nebraska, driving from Valentine. The family lived in a dug-out two or three years, and then built a "soddy," and planted ten acres in trees on a timber claim. During the thirteen years he lived on the land, he harvested but two crops. Times were so hard he found it necessary to seek work in the mines in Wyoming, finding employment at Inez, Flintrock and Sheridan, at times being away from home an entire year at a time. He and his son walked from Inez to Sheridan, tak ing off their clothes to wade icy rivers on the trip, and finding shelter at night in the aban doned dug-outs of a camp of Custer's men. He was in the west at the time of the hostilities on the Pine Ridge agency, and drove a team during the maneuvers of the Ninth Cavalry. The women and children sought safety in Rushville. He and his son drove the first wagon that ever entered the Jackson Hole country. COMPENDIUM. OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 193 During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Mohr became lost returning from Gordon, with a sack of flour. He found his way to an aban doned sod house, and, finding a few matches, he built a fire, and cooked a few beans he found there in an old, rusty tin can, thus weathering the storm. January 13, 1877, Mr. Mohr was married to Miss Katie Dibben, a native of Holstein, born near Edlock, a daughter of Hans and Dora (Stelling) Dibben. From this union eight chil dren were born, whose names are as follows: Annis, Alvena, Edmond, Christian, Louis, Lillie, Walter and George. In 1904, our subject bought ten acres of land in section six, township twenty-seven, range two, near Osmond, where he now lives. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Mohr votes the democratic ticket, and affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has served his county in the office of road overseer, which he filled to the entire satisfaction of his people. HON. CHARLES W. HUNTER. Charles W. Hunter, one of the well-known residents of Howard county, Nebraska, for his extensive business interests, and the fact of hav ing been one of the most potent factors in the development of that region, has a valuable estate in Fairdale precinct. He was elected a member of the state legislature in the fall of 1900 on the fusion ticket, and served his district in a credit able manner during two terms. Mr. Hunter was born in Washington county, Ohio, September 3, 1851. When he was about eight months old, the family, consisting of father, mother, two sisters and himself, moved into Clark county, Missouri, where two more sons were born to his parents. The father died there in the fall of 1860, and the mother in February, 1882. Of the family are now living Charles, two sisters and one brother. Mr. Hunter remained in Clark county until he was thirty-three years of age, then came to Howard county, landing in the region on March 21, 1884, accompanied by his wife and two children. He at once purchased a tract of land on section seventeen, township six teen, range ten, from the B. & M. R'y Co., and this has been his home constantly up to the pres ent time. He has built up a fine farm, supplied with substantial buildings of all kinds, good or chard and considerable small fruit, including quite a number of cherry trees in good bearing condition. He owns, in all, four hundred and eighty acres, all of choice tableland, and engages in grain and stock raising. Mr. Hunter was united in marriage, October 28,' 1880, to Ellen M. Jenkins, who was a native of Jackson county, Ohio, and lived with her par ents in Clarke county, Missouri, at the time of her marriage. They have had three children: Harry H., who died September 8, 1899; Rose M., living at home, and Minta, wife of Fred Layher, mother of two children, the family living on a farm in this county. In years gone by, Mr. Hunter has been prom inently connected with educational matters in his locality, and has devoted much of his time and influence to the upbuilding of his county and state. Although he has never been an office- seeker, he finally gave in to the urging of his many friends in political life, and with the result of receiving the election to the legislature by a very large majority. For the past ten years Mr. Hunter has been shipper for the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Associa tion, a local organization which handles live stock only, and ships direct to the commission firms. This association has been a great benefit to the farmers of the county, and made them thousands of dollars. WILLIAM H. CARSON. One of the most active citizens of Valley coun ty, Nebraska, in educational, business and polit ical circles, is William H. Carson, a real estate dealer, living at Ord. Mr. Carson was born at Ma rion, Linn county, Iowa, January 4, 1863, the youngest of four children born to Joseph and Phoebe (Vaughn) Carson, who were parents of three sons and one daughter. The father died in Bedford, Iowa, in April, 1894, at the age of eighty-six years, and the mother now lives at Bedford with her daughter, Mrs. A. J. Sowers, being in her ninetieth year. One son, Lee I. Carson, lives at Tama, Iowa, and another, Orville S. Carson, died at Bedford in March, 1904. Mr. Carson lived in his native county until his nineteenth year, and graduated from the high school at Marion in his seventeenth year, after which he attended Coe College at Cedar Rapids, completing a three-year course in two years. Upon leaving college, he went to Tama, Iowa, and engaged in the lumber business in company with his father and brother. In 1885, the lumber business was disposed of, and William H. Carson removed to Valley county, and Octo ber 15, 1885, to North Loup, being accompanied by his mother and father. They purchased a farm ten miles south of Ord, and carried on ag ricultural operations there until 1893, in the spring of which year the parents returned to Iowa, and William H. Carson, with his family, came to Ord. Mr. Carson was married, January 29, 1890, at the home of her parents in Mira Valley, to Miss Elizabeth Bell, a native of Illinois. The Bell family came to Valley county in the spring of 1885. Three children have blessed this union : Glenn, Ralph and Leigh, all born in Valley coun ty, and all at home. Mr. Carson and the others of the family are popular in social circles. Upon coming to Ord, Mr. Carson engaged in 194 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the fire insurance business, although at first he also worked at his trade of carpenter and builder, and in 1894 became, connected with T. L. Hall in the general real estate and insurance business, in which he held an interest until 1898. Since that time Mr. Carson has carried on business on his own account, and is now one of the oldest real estate dealers in Ord in the number of years he has been engaged in the business. He has been largely instrumental in the development and settlement of Ord and Valley county, having handled extensive property interests, for non residents as well as local customers. He is an active republican, and has served in various public offices. He has been constable of Ord township and Ord for seven years, served four years as city clerk, has been a member of the city council and of the school board. He is now sec retary of the school board and secretary of the republican county committee, and during 1909, was secretary of the agricultural society. He is also township clerk of Ord township, and has given valuable service to his township and coun ty in many ways, and is a progressive and enter prising citizen, promoting every good measure, and mindful of the best interests of the public. He has been often solicited to make the race for higher offices, but, on account of his extensive business interests demanding attention, has re fused to do so. He is a member of the Odd Fel lows and the Woodmen of the World, and has served both orders as secretary. GILBERT GUTRU. Gilbert Gutru, a respected citizen of Newman Grove, Nebraska, is a gentleman of' exceptional business ability, who has successfully operated various enterprises with which he has been as sociated. For the past several years he has been engaged in the general hardware business, and is senior partner and general manager of the firm of Gutru & Juelson. Gilbert Gutru was born in Numedahl, Nor way, on January 15, 1865, and was the sixth child born to Gulbrand and Ingeburg Gutru, who had a family of eight. Levi Gutru, whose sketch appears in this volume, is an older brother of our subject's, and the history of his younger years are practically the same, Levi coming to America in advance of the rest of the family, who settled in Wisconsin in 1873. Gilbert helped work the home farm in Dane county until he was twenty years of age, then followed his brother Levi to Madison county, Nebraska; later went to Box Butte county, and homesteaded, remaining there for six years, fol lowing farming and stock raising. He acquired a good farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and was one of the well-known pioneers of that section. About 1891, he came to Newman Grove, and started a flour mill, which business he car ried on successfully for six years, then entered the employ of A. E. Linn & Son, hardware mer chants, remaining with that concern up to 1907, at which time he engaged in business for him self, establishing a general hardware store under the firm name of Gutru & Juelson. They have a fine trade, and are fast becoming one of the leading houses in the town. Mr. Gutru was married in Boone county, Nebraska, to Miss Mary Helena Evans, on Febru ary 11, 1897. Mrs. Gutru comes of a fine old Boone county family, and is a very charming and accomplished woman. They have four liv ing children: Ronald Ingemar, Margaret Hel ena, Anna Lenora and Gilbert Ernest, all bright and interesting children, and all attending the local schools. Mr. Gutru is a member of the town board, and, during his residence in Madison county, has always been active along all lines for the ad vancement of his home county and state. ROBERT JOHNSON. Robert Johnson, one of the earlier pioneers of Valley county, Nebraska, has always sup ported the cause of social and educational im provement, and is considered one of the most progressive men in the county. He is very suc cessful as a farmer and stockman, and he and his wife have reared a large family to honorable man and womanhood. Mr. Johnson was born in Oneida county, New York, June 24, 1837, the only child of Robert and Margaret (McKicvet) Johnson, the father a native of Connecticut, and the mother of Cana da. The parents were married at Utica, New York, and both died in that state, the father in 1842 and the mother in 1839. Mr. Johnson, left an orphan in early life, was reared by his grandfather in Herkimer county, New York, remaining there until his seventeenth year, when he removed to Yates county, in the same state, and five years later went to Lee county, Iowa. He engaged in farm work there and in Jasper county, Iowa, remain ing in the latter county until his removal to Ne braska. March 3, 1861, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. Mary E. Turck, formerly Mary Elizabeth Wat son, also a native of New York, and they lived on a farm in Jasper county about seventeen years, having seven children born there. During the year prior to his marriage, Mr. Johnson crossed the plains to Colorado, going through the Great American Desert, and passing the place where the capital of Nebraska is now located. Soon after his return, he engaged in farming for himself. In the spring of 1878, he moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he was engaged in buying and selling horses, and in the fall of the same year, he traded a team for a farm in Hall county, where he removed with his family. Mr. Johnson has lived on his present place, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 195 on section twenty-four, township seventeen, range fourteen, since 1882, and has since then made many improvements, and brought his land to a high state of cultivation. He has devoted much time and attention to the upbuilding and welfare of the county, and has won the esteem and regard of a large circle of friends. His children are married, and located in homes of their own, within the limits of the state of Ne braska, and he and his wife now have a home without children, as when they began their mar ried life. He is still actively engaged in farming, and is constantly increasing the value of his farm by improvement and cultivation. Mr. Johnson's nine children are: George E., married and living in North Loup, has five chil dren; Maggie, wife of Perry VanScoy, of Sher man county, has three children; James W., of Sherman county, is married, and has three chil dren; Fannie, wife of George Sample, lives in Valley county, and they have six children; Wal ter is married, and lives in Ord ; Frank, a mer chant of North Loup, is married, and has one child; Charles E., is married, and has three chil dren, and lives on land adjoining the home farm ; Ernest is married, and lives across the road from his old home; Kate, wife of John Palser, of Val ley county, has three children. BARNEY STEVENS. Although still in the prime of life, Barney Stevens is regarded as one of the old settlers of Cedar county, Nebraska, having been a continu ous resident of that county since 1875, when his parents first moved there. Mr. Stevens is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in the year 1860. While he was still nothing but a baby, his parents decided to come to this country. Of course, they were compelled to take the usual long, monotonous trip in a sailing vessel, and after reaching New York City, came on at once to Iowa. They re sided there only a short time, comparatively and in 1875, drove from Sioux City, Iowa, to Cedar county, Nebraska, where they bought a quarter- section of fine land, which was to be their home for the remainder of their days. This was early in the history of the state, and tbe settlers were few and far between. Deer and antelope were still to be seen occasionally, as well as a few other wild animals not so harmless. They suffered the usual privations and hardships of the pioneer and had their battles with prairie fires and grasshoppers. They persevered in their efforts to make a comfortable home in the wilder ness and succeeded. Mr. Stevens was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Wubben in 1885, and four children have been born to them, all of whom are living : Mary T., Annie M., Stephan B., and Helen E. For a number of years Mr. Stevens has owned the old home, and the farm has been well-improv ed and is one of the best in the locality. Both Mr. Stevens and his parents belonged to that great class of foreign-born citizens, whose char acteristics of integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. ENOCH AURAND. Enoch Aurand, one of the leading farmers and old settlers of Merrick county Nebraska, has aided materially in the development of his region, and well merits the high standing he has gained as a citizen and progressive agricultur ist. Enoch Aurand, son of Jonathan and Rachel (Whitemure) Aurand, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, November 9, 1842, and was twelfth in a family of seventeen children, two brothers of whom reside in Ohio, one in Laport, Indiana, and one sister in Ohio. The parents are deceased, the father died in 1875, in Ohio, and the mother some years later in the same state. Our subject received his education in the home schools and later learned carpentering. On February 26, 1864, Mr. Aurand enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infan try, which regiment was consolidated on January 30, 1865, with the Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry. He received his discharge in Wheeling, West Vir ginia, July 27, 1865. During his service, Mr. Aurand participated in battles at Stevenson De pot, near Winchester. He was a victim of ty phoid fever and spent some time in the hospital. He was also held prisoner thirty-five days in Libby prison, being taken January 11, 1865, at Beverly, West Virginia. After the war Mr. Aurand returned to Ohio, and on September 20, 1866, was married to Miss Ellen E. Walker, who was born in Ohio but had moved to Iowa. One child was born of this un ion, Charles F., who died in infancy. Mrs. Aurand died March 15, 1868. On December 8, 1870, Mr. Aurand was mar ried to Hannah L. Hulit of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Aurand have had five children born to them: Lessie, who died at the age of five years; Stella, wife of Albert Schmutz, has four children and lives in Chapman; Lora, married and lives in Merrick county, has one pair of twins ; Orva, who resides at home; and Effie, who also resides un der the parental roof. Mrs. Aurand taught the first school in district -number nine. Her father, Timothy Hulit, died in 1864, in Ohio, and the mother in 1881, in Fairbury, Nebraska. One brother resides in Oregon, a sister in Anthony, Kansas, and another in Fairbury, Nebraska. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Aurand moved to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homestead ed one hundred and sixty acres in section twelve, township twelve, range eight, west, which has re mained his home place since. It is a highly im proved and well equipped farm. He has been 196 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. prosperous and successful and owns three hun dred and sixty acres of land, most of which is under cultivation. He has served on the board of his school district number nine for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Aurand are among the earliest settlers of the county and have passed through all the trying experiences and discouragements of the frontier life and are widely and favorably known. CARL F. W. PAUL. Carl F. W. Paul, a retired farmer of Creigh ton, has been a resident of Nebraska since 1880, on November thirteenth of that year settling on a farm in Dodge county, two miles from Fre mont. He secured work with the firm of Morse & Hayman, and for nearly sixteen years was in charge of their house-moving business, a term of service that bespeaks his skill and integrity. In 1897, he bought a farm on the southeast quar ter of section one, in the northeast corner of Antelope county, and moved to the tract on Feb ruary 22. The farm lies adjoining Pierce county on the east, and is but half a mile south of the line of Knox county ; and is about six miles from Creighton and seven from Plainview, making it a most desirable location with good market towns quite near. Here Mr. Paul improved the farm with good buildings, planted forest trees and an orchard. In farming he was so successful in his management and methods that in 1906 he was able to retire on a competency. Removing to Creighton, he purchased a comfortable cottage in the west part of town, and is now taking life easy while still in his prime. Mr. Paul is a native of Prussia, his birth hav ing taken place August 19, 1852, in the town of Baerwalde, province of Brandenburg. His pa rents, Karl and Henrietta (Schweckel) Paul, died in their native province. Mr. Paul served the German army from March, 1870, to Septem ber 24, 1874, and during this time participated in the Franco-Prussian war. He was a courier, and, of course, a target for the enemy. One of his most daring escapes was when he was chased one day by three French cavalrymen of the Chasseurs d' Afrique; their object was to cap ture him and in slashing with their sabres, they laid bare his skull. Putting spurs to his horse, a fine black charger, he cleared a six foot fence and floundered into a ditch on the other side, from which his comrades rescued him. The Chasseurs, thinking to easily capture him, tore off the boards of the fence and as they thrust their heads through to find him, were dispatched by the German troops on the ditch side. He was chosen by General Von Bredom for a hazardous undertaking known as "the death ride," from which he emerged in safety. He participated in the battles of Gravelotte, Orleans, and Sedan, He was a member of the guard present at the surrender of Napoleon, and remembers well the very words of the Emperor of the French. For meritorious service, Mr. Paul was promoted to a Second Lieutenancy in the Sixth Regiment, Sec ond Squadron. Mr. Paul was married in Baerwalde, August 8, 1874, to Miss Louisa Stieleke, who was born in the village of Fuerstenfelde, a daughter of Johan Carl and Wilhelmina (Liebeke) Stieleke, both of whom died in Germany, the latter in 1908 at the age of ninety-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Paul have one son, of whom a more extended sketch is to be found on another page of this work. In immigrating to America, Mr. Paul sailed from Hamburg, in November, 1880, on the steamer "Australia," and after a voyage of twenty-one days landed in New York, and immediately join ed an old schoolmate in Fremont, as stated above. Mrs. Paul remained in the old country until spring, sailing from Hamburg on the "Polaria, " May 24, and was at sea twenty days, landed in New York June 12, and reached Fremont on- the eighteenth, a day of joyful reunion. Mr. Paul is a member of the Masonic frater nity, at Creighton, of the Odd Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World; with Mrs. Paul he is a member, also, of the local chapter, Order of the Eastern Star and of the Rebekah Degree. They are communicants of the Episcopal church, though in the old country were reared in the German Evangelical denomination. CHARLES H. SMITH. Among the successful and leading business men of Belgrade, Nebraska, we mention the name of Charles H. Smith, who, in partnership with his brother, George W. Smith, owns and operates the largest general merchandise store in Nance county. Mr. Smith is recognized as a pioneer merchant of his section, and has for many years been intimately identified with the development of the commercial interests of his county and state. Charles H. Smith was born in Linn county, Iowa, March 5, 1867, and was the fifth child in a family of eight. He was reared in Linn county, Kansas, where the father died in 1877. Then the mother and her children moved to Boone county, Nebraska, where she took up homestead privi leges. She died there in 1883. The farm was carried on by the children up to '95, when our subject in company with his brother, George W., came to Belgrade. They first engaged in the gro cery business under the firm name of Smith Bros., and were successful in building up a good trade, carrying on the store until 1902, then enlarged their business and added a complete line of gen eral goods, having erected a large modern store. They now enjoy a fine patronage and are among the leading merchants of eastern Nebraska. Mr. Smith was married in Belgrade, July 26, 1899, to Miss Alice M. Kliese, daughter of Au- 3 ' JfcL;^. |p^ * -. *'*> £ -flw 1 H 3PL.m* — ^ JB jH ™i .JFS' ^B Hfi%£ *., «¦¦ KB 1 !-* ^ - : 1 j^.::-.'j| ' i9 11 gf ^1 ""^jjiB Ina |^BJ^5^* ' Hl^ .'¦ v a ¦V- |^h|L J -tfltt flHBlV ' '¦» '-'¦¦ W. H. STEPHENSON AND HIS SON WILLIAM. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 197 gustus and Charlotte Kliese, who are well known in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the pa rents of four children, Harold V., Margaret, Hal- lie and Earl J. The family have a pleasant home and are held in high esteem by their asso ciates. Mr. Smith is a member of the school board of Belgrade, and takes an active interest in local affairs. E. H. THOMPSON. E. H. Thompson, a retired farmer living at O'Neill, Nebraska, has been a resident of that state since July 13, 1873, when he filed a pre emption claim one mile east of O'Neill, which he later converted into a timber claim. He lived there four or five years, then filed a claim on a homestead four miles southeast of O'Neill, which he improved and cultivated, erected a good house and barn, and set out a grove of trees. After living on this tract of land five years he received a patent from the government. He took intelli gent notice of conditions and prospects at that time, and being of the opinion that the price of land would rise considerably in the next few years, invested in one hundred sixty acres of land two miles east of O'Neill, where he resided until 1890, then retired from active life, rented his land, and purchased a home in 0 'Neill. He has a comfortable home in the southeastern part of the city, where he and his wife enjoy the fruits of their early activity and thrift. Mr. Thompson was born in Penfield, Monroe county, N. Y, February 21, 1834, and in 1838 accompanied his parents to a farm about fifteen miles north of Milwaukee, in Ozaukee county, Wisconsin. His parents, Elijah and Waity Ann (Smith) Thompson, reared their family on this farm and the boy became familiar with life in the forest, helping his father in clearing part of the farm for cultivation. As a young man he learned the trade of carpenter and for a number of years worked at this vocation at San dusky, Wisconsin, prior to moving west. He owned a farm of fifty acres containing a cottage, which he sold on going to Nebraska. His sons carried on the work of the farm while he worked at his trade and in this way the family prospered well. Mr. Thompson was married in» Ozaukee coun ty, July 9, 1855, to Miss Helen Bitney, a native of Canada, daughter of Charles and Kate Bitney, and of the six children born to them three now survive, namely : Sarah J., wife of Samuel Wolf, lives four miles east of O'Neill; Elliott is ship ping clerk in a large wholesale house of Omaha, Nebraska; Samuel conducts a restaurant at O'Neill. Mr. Thompson's first dwelling on his tim ber claim was a log house with a sod roof — "Nebraska shingles," as aptly described, and during very heavy rain storms the bedding was stacked in the middle of the room, where there was less danger of leakage than in the sides and corners, under the eaves. Many of the pioneers who dwelt in such a home related that after one day of rain outside there were three days of dripping ceiling inside. On Mr. Thompson's second property he erected a small frame house, and on his last farm he erected a much better one. He well remembers the incidents of his journey to Nebraska. They came with teams, leaving Sandusky May 22, and arriving at their destination July 13. Their household goods were shipped by rail as far as Sioux City, then the terminus of the railroad, and they were obliged to wait a week in that city for them to arrive. At the close of the war Mr. Thompson serv ed six months in the first Wisconsin cavalry, enlisting March 3, 1865. The regiment was sta tioned at Edgefield, Tenn., and saw little active service, as the backbone of the rebellion was broken soon after its date of enlistment. Mr. Thompson was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic until the local post was abandoned. In politics Mr. Thompson is a republican, and he belongs to the Independent Order Odd Fellows. He is a devout member of the Meth odist Episcopal church and interested in ev ery worthy cause which comes to his notice. He is one of the oldest settlers of Holt county and well remembers his early struggles to ob tain a good crop. Deer, antelope and elk were often seen after he came to the state, and soon after his arrival a lone buffalo was seen to cross his farm. He suffered much loss from grasshoppers for several years, and until about 1876. he was unable to save his corn from these pests, that devastated a field of corn in a very short time, leaving nothing but the black, naked stalks. It is hard for one to real ize what a menace these pests were to the early settler, who depended upon his grain for his profits. Mr. Thompson was an intelligent1 and industrious farmer, and his fields soon began to produce bountiful crops, and even in the first years he was able to save his small grain. He is one of the best known men in the coun ty and has a reputation for integrity and re liability which attests his high character and standing. W. H. STEPHENSON. W. H. Stephenson, abstracter and dealer in real estate, of Hartington, made his first jour ney into Nebraska in the summer of 1871. He found work near Fremont on the farm of the father of George W. E. Dorsey, for many years the member of congress from the third district. He returned to his native city in Canada, and did not re-visit Nebraska until he came to make it his permanent home in February of 198 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1885. He saw the need of an expert abstracter in the settlement of a new country and opened an office in Hartington, winning an extensive clientelle from the start. He writes insurance for a number of the substantial old line insur ance companies and deals extensively in real estate, in which his judgment is unerring. Mr. Stephenson was born in the city of St. Thomas, Ontario, January 19, 1848. His father was born in Cayuga, New York, in 1795; he attended college with Thaddeus Stevens, Ther- low Weed and that group of illustrious men who were a power in the nation over half a century ago. He was a prominent Mason, and was indicted, along with others, at the time of the Morgan excitement in western New York in the first half of the last century. He went to Canada, settled in St. Thomas, and at the age of fifty-four was married; he died in St. Thomas in the year 1854. In early manhood he had served in the war of 1812. The mother of Mr. Stephenson was Miss Huldah Warner, a native of Canada. After the death of the father she removed, in 1856, with her family to Mich igan state, where both of her boys enlisted in the Union army ; the younger, Samuel A. Stephenson was killed in an engagement at Murphysboro, at the tender age of fifteen years, a member of Company G, Twenty-ninth Michigan Volunteers. Mr. Stephenson enlisted July 30, 1864, at the age of sixteen, at Port Huron, .Michigan, in Company A, Nineteenth United States Reg ulars, and was stationed first at Fort Wayne, where he was broken into army tactics under the drill master there. The regiment was sent to the front at Atlanta and engaged in the siege and several of the battles around the city, and at Acken and Jonesboro, Georgia. When Sherman cut loose from his base of supplies and swung his army through Georgia on his famous march to the sea, the Nineteenth regi ment was sent back into Tennessee to inter cept Hood, who was threatening an invasion of the North. There were skirmishes around Chattanooga, after which the regiment went into winter quarters on Lookout Mountain. Here in November Mr. Stephenson, though not yet seventeen, cast his first vote for presi dent ; he voted for Lincoln at that time and has voted with the republican party ever since. After the war Mr. Stephenson returned to his native city, where he married and for ten years was engaged in the grain and produce business. This being a fine dairy country, he engaged in cheese-making, having three to four factories running at one time until 1878, when he disposed of all his interests here. Re moving again to the states, he settled in Har lan, Iowa, where he engaged in the live stock and grain business until his removal to Ne braska, as stated, in 1885. Mr. Stephenson was married near St. Thomas, September 10, 1874, to Miss Agnes Lynn, daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Milligan) Lynn, the former a native of county Antrim, Ireland, the latter of Glasgow, Scotland. The grandfather, William Lynn, came to Canada with his family in 1834, and died there at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Stephenson's parents moved to Redlands, California, in 1890, where the father died at the age of eighty- three years; the mother still lives there at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Six chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson, namely: William, is in business at Glenn Ullin, North Dakota; Hugh L., resides in Sioux City, engaged in the mail service between that city and Omaha, having been promoted to the position of chief clerk; Helen Hope, after com pleting the high school course graduated with the degree of B. A. in the college of Tarkio, Missouri; she has taught successfully, her last engagement being as principal of the schools of Clearfield, Iowa; Blanche A., graduated in music at the conservatory at Macomb, Illinois, under Professor Jackson, with whom she be gan her higher musical studies at Tarkio; Samuel G., began the course in Tarkio college, but feeling the call to adventure in the big world outside enlisted in the American navy, and has sailed many seas abroad the United States Steamship Montana; and Walter I., the youngest, is a pupil in the Hartington school. Mr. Stephenson has been commander or ad jutant of the Osawatomie post number one hundred seventy-nine, Grand Army of the Re public at Hartington since removing to the town. The veterans hold their meetings in his office and their charter hangs on his office wall. He is a member of the Knights, of Pythias and their higher branch, the Dramatic Order of Khorassan. When he first came to Nebraska the rail roads had but recently been opened to the coast; the Northwestern had extended only to Missouri Valley, Iowa, and the Burlington and Rock Island to Council Bluffs. The only hos- telery of note at Omaha, the United States hotel, was about a mile from the ferry; and the Union Pacific bridge was under construction, and for a time Mr. Stephenson was employed on the structure. He was here at the time of the Chicago fire and hastened his return home that he might see the ruins of the stricken city of which he had read so much in the daily press ; so recently had the flames been subdued that the sidewalks were, too hot for use when he was there, all on foot being compelled to take their chances with vehicles in the middle of the streets. Mr. Stephenson had an uncomfortable ex perience in the blizzard of January 12, 1888; after taking his own children home he re turned with a neighbor to accompany the two little daughters of Dr. J. W. Hitchcock; they became bewildered in the icy blast and COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 199 failed to reach their destination; they did finally run into a house and warmed their almost frozen charges. Making a fresh start, they reached the doctor's residence, where they found he and his wife almost frantic. Deer and antelope were to be seen on the prairies of Cedar county 'when Mr. Stephenson first came, and the best of land sold for four to five dollars per acre. A tract Mr. Stephen son bought at two dollars and fifty cents he sold at six dollars and twenty-five cents per acre ; this purchaser held until it brought him fifty dollars, and it is worth from eighty dol lars to one hundred dollars an acre now after the short lapse of twenty-five years. Mr. Stephenson comes of a long-lived race, His mother died in 1908 at the age of eighty- three ; her father, a pensioner of the American army, attained the great age of eighty-eight; she was descended on her mother's side from Reverend John Robinson, who became enamor ed of Abagial Olmstead, a fellow passenger on the Mayflower and married her soon after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. Others of his ancestors attained great age, be ing of the hardy race that springs from north ern Ireland and the Scottish counties around Glasgow. On another page we are pleased to present portraits of Mr. Stephenson and his son Will iam. FRANK J. PIERCE. Frank J. Pierce, retired farmer and son of Samuel and Cemantha Pierce, was born in Juno county, Wisconsin, September 23, 1855. He was the second child in a family of six chil dren, of whom one sister is deceased, three brothers reside in Louisiana, and one brother in Albion. The mother died in 1908, and the father is living, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years, in Boone county. In 1862 the family moved to Minnesota, where they engaged principally in farming, and in 1878 they came to Boone county, Ne braska, where our subject homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles southwest of Albion. On December 26, 1882, Mr. Pierce was joined in matrimony to Miss Eva T. Mansfield, and they continued to live on the homestead until 1883, when Mr. Pierce purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the north east quarter of section seventeen, township twenty, range six, which is located two miles northwest of Albion, and which remained the home for twenty-six years. Mrs. Pierce's father, Augustus G. Mans field, died December 2, 1906, and her mother, Mary Mansfield, on December 19, 1893. Mrs. Pierce was the eldest of ten children, five brothers and one sister of whom reside in Ne braska, one brother in Illinois, one sister is de ceased, and another sister lives in Texas. In 1907 Mr. Pierce retired from active farm life and with Mrs. Pierce went to California, where they enjoyed a year and a half tour, re turning to Albion, where he is building a fine home. Mr. Pierce formerly owned a good fruit farm of twenty-four acres of trees, three hun dred cherry trees, two hundred plum, and two thousand apple trees, all of which he set out in 1895 and sold in 1910. This is the largest or chard in Boone county. Mr. Pierce has done his full share as an old settler, and is recognized as one of the leading residents of the county in which he makes his home. He has the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, and his name will figure prom inently in the history of Nebraska. MENKE VON SEGGERN. For over forty-three years Nebraska has claimed the allegiance of Mr. Menke Von Seg gern. With a colony of thirty of his fellow countrymen, he crossed the Missouri river at Omaha in the spring of 1868, at which time the town was not as- large as Wayne. He came on to Dodge county, and filed on an eighty acre homestead six miles north of Hooper, and later purchased three hundred and twenty acres of railroad land and eighty acres out of a school section. He cultivated and improved this large farm until 1884, when he sold and moved to Wayne county, seven miles north of Wisner, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in the southeast corner at eight dollars per acre, and four hundred and eighty acres across the line in Cuming county at eleven dollars, making a fine estate of eight hundred acres. Mr. Von Seggern resided on this farm until 1899, when he rented it and resided in Omaha for three years for the benefit of Mrs. Von Seg gern 's health, and to give the children the ad vantages of the city schools. In March, 1903, they moved back to Wayne county, to eighty acres a short distance north of Wayne, which he had owned for some time, and in 1907 pur chased his present place of twenty acres ad joining the northeast corner of town. Here on a well graded terrace, encircled by an orna mental hedge, he erected a nine-room, two- story dwelling which commands a grand view of the town, the valley and the hills to the south. The house is equipped with all improvements — furnace, lights, bath and water connections — making it a comfortable and complete modern home. Mr. Von Seggern was born in the village of Sandhatten, province of Aldenburg, Germany, December 5, 1840. He lived in his native coun try until 1868, following farming for a livli- hood, although he had learned the blacksmith 200 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. trade. Sailing from Bremen, one of a party of thirty, he landed in New Yrork after a voyage of fourteen days. Thence they proceeded to Ne braska, since which time Mr. Von Seggern has be come a prominent citizen of the state; and weU has he done his part, leading an honest, upright life, and winning the respect of his fellow men. Mr. Von Seggern is a son of Menke Von Seggern, senior, who married Mary Sanders. The parents joined their son in 1872 and passed their declin ing years in Nebraska. The marriage of Mr. Von Seggern was cele brated in Dodge county, June 16, 1870. His bride, Mary Monnich, a daughter of Gerhart and Anna (Osterloh) Monnich, was also a native of Oldenburg, born in the village of Hoile. The Monnich family emigrated to America in 1854, sailing in the "Hansa, " a fast passenger steamer for those times which made the passage in fourteen days. They came to Iowa and lived two years in Iowa county, renting land and en gaging in farming. They moved to Nebraska in the fall of 1856 with ox teams, camping in their covered wagons along the way; crossed the Mis souri river at Omaha, and found that town 's busi ness buildings to consist of one store. In ascend ing a steep hill on the way up from the river, they found part of it too slippery from recent rains, so essayed to make a way of their own up a steeper bank on the grass. Hitching both yokes of oxen to the uncle's wagon, the steep ascent was attempted. Near the top the chain of the front team broke, the pole team could not hold the load, and wagon, oxen and all made a hasty back trip to the bottom, upsetting and spill ing everything in the wagon; half a day was re quired to set things right again and make a sec ond start. They settled in Dodge county where their remaining years were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Von Seggern have eight of their ten children living. They are : George who lives on part of the old home farm in the south part of the county; Bernhard, who occupies the other part of the land; Fred has an elevator and lum ber yard in Gregory, South Dakota ; Anna, is the wife of Herman Mullenhoff of Gresham, Oregon; Carl is in Gregory with Fred ; Emil is with Bern- hard on the old farm ; William is in the grain and lumber business in Wayne; and Dorothy grad uated in the high schools, class of 1911. When the Monnich family settled in Nebraska in 1856 it was all open prairie. Deer and ante lope were numerous; an uncle of Mrs. Von Seg gern killed two deer one winter in the Elk Horn valley. Their first dwelling was a log house. When times were the hardest and store provisions hard to procure, parched wheat and barley served them as a substitute for coffee. Omaha was their market place — fifty miles away, it re quired three or four days to make the round trip. Their nearest mill was at Fort Calhoun. At the time of the Indian troubles, the family left the farm for a week and sought refuge in Fontenelle. At the time Mr. Von Seggern came, deer and antelope had disappeared, but wild turkeys were plentiful and he kept his family board supplied with that fine game in season. Grasshoppers wrought havoc in their corn several seasons, but their small grain was usually harvested, and there was no year in which their crops totally failed; the worst season was in 1872. The near est market at the time Mr. Von Seggern first came to the state was twenty-one miles from his home, and it usually required a day to make the trip. They lived through the severe blizzards of 1869, 1870, 1873, and 1880, but the worst experi ence Mr. Von Seggern had was in that of Janu ary 12, 1888. His children were at school and he went for them, facing the blinding, smothering storm for three-quarters of a mile, and brought them safely home. Those times were hard in those days, and trials and privations were many, they were happy days — life was before them, they had youth and strength and resolute hearts. They endured, they toiled, they preserved, and now in the even ing of life they enjoy all the good things the Lord has provided for those who serve Him. Mr. Von Seggern is a democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. H. WHITTENBURQ. H. Whittenburg, one of the oldest residents of Stanton county, is one of the first white children born within its limits. His entire life has been spent there, and he is closely identified with the best interests of his community. Mr. Whittenburg was born in 1870, a son of Julius and Ernslena Whittenburg, both natives of Germany, who left there for the United States in 1868, landing at New York. The father believ ed the west offered larger opportunities for the man with small capital, and located in Nebraska, securing a homestead on section eighteen, town ship twenty-four, range one, of Stanton county, which has since been in the possession of the family. He began at once to make improvements, and at first they occupied a primitive dwelling, which was replaced with a better one when it was possible. He and his wife had eight chil dren, six of whom are still living. For some years after coming to their new home, the Whittenburg family were greatly troubled by grasshoppers that destroyed a large part of their crops, but they were triumphant over all difficulties and developed a fine 'grain and stock farm, and now have a comfortable dwelling. Upon their arrival deer and antelope were fairly plentiful and helped a great deal in furnishing their food. Many times they were obliged to fight prairie fires to save their home. During the early years of their residence in the state, the father planted fourteen acres of land with shade and fruit trees, and in many other ways added to the beauty and value of his estate. The family COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 201 stand well with their neighbors and have many warm friends. They are among the compara tively few who have retained in the family the land originally secured from the government, and are well known in their part of the county. E. L. HEMENWAY. E. L. Hemenway, owner of a fine estate in section fifteen, township twenty-seven, range eight, Antelope county, Nebraska, has resided in his present location for the past twenty-seven years and during that time has become one of the successful agriculturists and citizens of that re gion. Mr. Hemenway owns a good home and valuable property, and has always done his share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Hemenway is a native of Du Page county, Illinois, born on a farm January 3, 1860. His father Charles was born in North Hampden, Massachusetts, in 1815, and our subject's mother, Lucy (Pay) Hemenway, is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, but of English descent, her par ents having come from England, and being early settlers in the state of Massachusetts. Our sub ject was raised in his birthplace, receiving his education in the country schools, and helping his father work the home farm. In 1883 our subject came to Nebraska settling in Antelope county. Mr. Hemenway had a pretty good practical training in a business way, and a fair education, and taught school, laying by enough money to get a start in life. In 1886 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from Mr. Dell Zell, this land originally being a pre emption claim. After buying this land he began at once to make improvements, putting out five acres of trees, and making other changes and went into general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Hemenway now owns six hundred acres of good land with all improvements. He carries on gen eral farming and stock-raising, has several head of high grade cattle and feeds about a carload a year for market. On December 3, 1891, Mr. Hemenway was married to Miss Lucina Chase, and to this union three children were born, whose names are as follows: Clara, Walter, and Lucile. Mrs. Hem enway died in the year 1902 deeply mourned by her husband and family and many kind neighbors and friends. Mr. Hemenway again married, March 29, 1905, his bride being Eva George, and Mr. and Mrs. Hemenway are the parents of two children, named Dalas and Irma. Mr. and Mrs. Hemenway and family enjoy the respect and well-wishes of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Hemenway is a member of several fraternal societies, having been financial secretary of the A. 0. U. W. for sixteen years, from 1893 to 1909; also is a member of the Degree of Honor. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and a republican in politics. He takes an interest in educational matters and served as school di rector of his district from 1896 to 1906. On the 12th of January, 1888, the day of the great blizzard, Mr. Hemenway was at the school where he was teaching, but on ac count of the shortage of fuel only two chil dren were in attendance and these were sent home before the blizzard began, a fortunate thing as many school children in other districts were caught in it, or confined at the school houses during the continuance of the storm. Mr. Hemenway suffered severe losses by the great drought in 1894 but managed to save about three hundred bushels of small grain so he was able to supply his brothers with seed for the next year. In 1895 his losses were greater as he lost his entire crop by hail storms. SANFORD PACKARD. Few living at the present time can relate, as can the above gentleman, incidents of the over land trail, early ranching in the open country when the outposts of civilization were hundreds of miles apart and of navigation on the Missouri river at a time when it was not the "Great De serted Stream." Mr. Packard was born near Burlington, on August 11, 1846, and is a son of Solomon and Susan (Hunt) Packard. The maternal grand father of our subject was a soldier in the British army stationed in Canada, near the Vermont line. He met and married his wife in England and later came to Canada, moved with her across the line into the states. After arriving in the United States, he located in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where Sanford grew to manhood, and from there he went to Montana, traveling in a covered wagon, camping out along the road, and crossing the Missouri river at Omaha. He followed the California trail along the Platte river. Fremont at that time was but a shanty town. All went well until North Platte was reached, where warn ings of the Indians were given by the soldiers stationed there, who directed them to take the south side of the river instead of the opposite bank, as was usual. One man, by the name of Barnett, from Missouri, failed to heed this warn ing, went his own obstinate way, and was never heard from afterwards. Mr. Packard carried all his goods across the railroad bridge, afterwards fording the river with the empty wagon, reloading on the other side, and proceeded safely on his way to Gallatin, Mon tana, where he was employed for a year in look ing after horses and cattle on a large ranch. In the summer of 1869 he started home by boat down the Missouri river, passing through Helena and Port Benton, and after a trip lasting seven days, landed in Sioux City, from there go ing to Chicago, thence back to Columbia county, 202 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Wisconsin. He worked in a drug store there and in Poynette for several months, and in the fall of 1870 went into a lumber camp in the pine woods of northern Wisconsin, where he was soon made cook for the outfit. The illness and death of his father in the following spring called him home to take charge of the farm, which he later sold, and removed with his mother and family to Ma- nasha, Wisconsin. Here he worked in a feed store, his earnings affording a scant living for them all, so he accompanied a friend to Iowa and spent the summer in the harvest fields at good wages, and during the fall worked with a thresh ing outfit near Iowa Falls. In 1874, he joined his brother near Schuyler, Nebraska, where he rented a small warehouse and bought and shipped grain. He succeeded well in this venture until the grasshopper pests ruined the crops and left no grain to buy, so he returned to Iowa Falls, there purchasing grain for a dealer for two years. He went back to Schuyler in 1876, later be ing joined by his mother and sisters, he having secured employment with the firm of which his brother was the leading member, and for two years had charge of their business at Creighton. He then assumed the management of the Pack ard Lumber & Grain company's business at Plainview, carrying on the same until the busi ness was sold out. Since that time he has been a clerk in the Leader Store in Plainview, where he has a large personal following and the friendship and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Packard was married here in Plainview in 1890, to Ada Chamberlain, a native of North Newbury, Maine. Her parents, Isaac and Mary (Colson) Chamberlain, were also natives of that state, coming to Nebraska in 1871, and an ex tended account of the life history of Mr. Cham berlain and his family will be found in this volume. Seven children have been born to our sub ject and his esteemed wife, five of whom are now living, as follows : Leon S., in the employ of the Burlington railroad, stationed at Sioux City; Bertha, Luella, Nancy and Margaret. Mr. Packard is a prohibitionist. Both him self and wife are members of the Friend's church, and take a prominent part in the social life of Plainview. JOHN IRVINE. John Irvine, a capable and prosperous farmer of Posen precinct is a worthy representative of a family which has been prominent in the agri cultural affairs of Howard county the past forty years. Mr. Irvine is a native of Roxburyshire, Scot land, born August 15, 1853. He grew up there to the age of twenty years, then came to America with his father and mother and brother Archie, landing in this country in June, 1873, and coming directly west to Howard county, Nebraska, where two brothers, James and George, (whose sketches appear in another part of this volume) were al ready located. Henry, another brother of our subject, was also in Howard county, and still another brother and sister — William and Chris tine, respectively — came here in June, 1874, so that the entire family were finally all living near together. John Irvine homesteaded on section eighteen, township fourteen, range eleven, proved up and sold his claim. He then located on section seven, and still occupies this tract, having a fine home and well equipped farm. During the early years he passed through, every sort of fron tier life, and while having a hard time at first to get along, gradually became prosperous, con stantly adding to his original farm until he is classed among the well-to-do citizens, successful agriculturists and prominent old-timers of his section. Mr. Irvine was married on July 9, 1883, to Miss Isabelle Gordon, who is a native of the north of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1878, and locating in Howard county in 1882, with a sister. They were married on the Irvine homestead, the ceremony being performed by Mr. James Baxter, justice of the peace in Kelso precinct, he being a brother-in-law of our subject. Mrs. Irvine still has one sister living in Ireland, and one brother in California, all the other members of her family now being dead. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ir vine, two of whom are living: Isabelle, who is married to Albert Obermiller, they being the parents of four fine children, and living on a farm adjoining Mr. Obermiller 's father's place; Mary Alice, the other daughter of our subject, is the wife of Peter Larson. They reside on their farm near Farwell, which is situated on the south west quarter of section six. Three children died in infancy; Alice, when but four months old, Ja net at the age of four years, and John, a babe of six weeks. Mr. Irvine and his brothers are widely known through the entire country in which they reside as being about the first actual settlers in that sec tion of the state, and it can truly be said that they have helped in a large measure to build up How ard county in every way — commercially, educa tionally and socially. ROBERT NAY. Robert Nay, one of the earliest settlers in Val ley county, Nebraska, resides on his fine farm which is located in section twenty-one, township twenty, range thirteen, and is classed among the prominent citizens of his region. Mr. Nay was born in Dundee, Scotland, June 16, 1858, and was third of five children in the family of Robert and Jane (Belle) Nay, who had three sons and two daughters. The Nay family moved from Scotland to Ontario, Canada, in June COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 203 of 1871, and Robert and William Nay came from Canada to Valley county, Nebraska, in March of 1879, where Robert took up a timber claim in the northwest quarter of section eighteen, township twenty, range thirteen and William took up a homestead, on which he remained. Robert, however, went to the western part of Nebraska where he was employed on the Union Pacific railroad for two years; then returned to Valley county, but soon went to Canada. Mr. Nay was united in marriage on December 23, 1882, to Miss Maggie Fraser in Ontario, Canada. Miss Fraser was a native of Canada, but her people were of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Nay have five children, namely: Minnie, wife of Clayton Timmerman, who has three chil dren and resides near Ord; Emma Bell, who is married to Arthur Mensing, they having two children, and residing in Valley county; and George A., Wilbert R., and Lee E., who reside at home. In March, 1883, Mr. and Mrs. Nay came to their farm home in Valley county, this farm being the original timber claim ; but now live in section twenty-one, township twenty, range thirteen; this is a farm of six hundred and forty acres which Mr. Nay operates as a fine stock and grain farm, improved with good buildings, etc., and where he also has a comfortable home. They set tled on this farm in 1902. Mr. Nay has done his part toward building up Valley county, and has been connected with the different township offices, serving as township clerk and in other capacities for a number of years. He is a prominent and successful man of affairs, self-made, coming up from the sod- shanty days to the present days of prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Nay and family have the re spect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Nay's parents, Robert, senior, and Jane Nay, came from Canada several years later than Robert and William, and with them also came another son, James. Mr. and Mrs. Nay, senior, are both deceased, and lie buried in Ord cemetery. Mr. Nay, subject of this sketch, has one brother in Ord, another in Columbus; a sister in Stockton, California, and another in northwestern Canada. Mr. Nay is independent in politics ; was reared a Presbyterian ; attends the M. E. church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Order of Ben Hur. Deer and antelope in country when he came. Lived in sod house until 1893. Was out in blizzard of January 12, 1888, and got back to the house,by turning his back to the storm which was suffocating to one facing it. JACKSON W MCKIBBON. Jackson W. McKibbon, who is known through out Madison county, Nebraska, as a prosperous agriculturist and substantial citizen, resides on section twenty- two, township twenty-four, range two. He is a man of untiring energy, honest principle and good business management, and commands the respect of a large circle of ac quaintances. Mr. McKibbon is a native of Harrison county, Missouri, in which state he was born March 21, 1873; is a son of Robert and Mary (Fitch) McKibbon, who were natives of Ohio, but of Irish descent. Our subject's father served in the Civil war, enlisting in Company K, Ninety-first Ohio Infantry, in 1861, and served all through the war, receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. In 1883 Mr. McKibbon, our subject, came with his parents to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father bought the Albert Biglow homestead, also purchasing a shanty, which was used for a dwelling. During their residence here in the early years, the family endured many hardships and discouragements due to crop failures, prairie fires, the elements of the weather, etc. ; and as late as 1894 suffered entire loss of crops through the hot winds of that season, which burned every form of vegetation to a crisp ; the ground during that year was but a blackened stretch of earth for miles in all directions, and the drought made great havoc. Despite the many drawbacks and discouraging conditions in the early days, our subject and family persevered and stuck to the farm, which is now proving its worth and is re paying double every failure of former years. Robert McKibbon died January 15, 1909. Mr. McKibbon now has the place well improved, and engages in mixed farming, in which he is very successful. Mr. McKibbon is one of the younger old set tlers of his locality, but since his maturity has proven himself a progressive, substantial citi zen, as was his father before him. As before stated, he has the respect and high esteem of all who know him, and his friends are many. He is an independent voter. ORLANDO S. PULLIAM. Orlando S. Pulliam, one of the very early set- lers of Custer county, Nebraska, has passed through much of Nebraska's history and has been successful as a farmer and stockman, spe cializing in fine horses. He is one of the well- known men of the region and has always been identified with the best interests of the county and state. In 1900 he retired from the farm and moved to Sargent, where he erected his present comfortable home. For several years he has dealt in real estate more or less, being well informed on land values in central Nebraska. Mr. Pulliam was born in Lee county, Iowa, March 17, 1852, third in order of birth of the seven children of James and Charity (Hinch) Pulliam, natives of Illinois. He was the only member of the family to settle in Nebraska. His father, who was of Ger man descent, died in Appanoose county, Iowa, and his mother died in the same state. Mr. Pulliam grew to manhood on an Iowa 204 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORYr, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. farm and there received a common school educa tion, engaging in farming on his own account in early manhood. He was married in Iowa in 1870 to Miss Tirza McFadden, a native of the state, and three children were born of the union : Ed L., married and living in Custer county, has four children; Arthur L., of Garfield county, is mar ried and has six children; Ora, wife of Joseph Kiker, of Cushing, Nebraska, has one child. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Pulliam came west looking for a location and took up a homestead on one hundred sixty acres on section thirty-four, town ship twenty, range nineteen, Custer county, which was the family home for many years. On October 17, 1880, at Moulton, Iowa, Mr. Pulliam was united in marriage with Miss Alice Ransom, a native of Iowa, their marriage taking place at the home of her parents, Elisha and Mary (Hayes) Ransom, who were born in Indi ana. Mr. Ransom died in Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1907, and his widow now resides in the old home 'there where she has lived the past fifty- six years. The Ransoms were among the early settlers in their part of Iowa, where they took a prominent part in local affairs and became well known. Mr. and Mrs. Pulliam began house keeping on the Custer county homestead and he improved and developed the land from its wild state. He served for many years as moderator of school district number four and was active in promoting the best interests of the community. He is now vice president of the First National bank of Sargent, and until recently was vice president of the State Bank of that town. He and his wife had three children: George and Claude, deceased, and Olive, wife of Guy Brown, of Sar gent. ZUINGLEY M. BAIRD. Among the self-made men of the west, those who have, unaided, made a place and a name for themselves in the world of business, may be men tioned Zuingley M. Baird, the veteran auctioneer of Hartington. Left an orphan by the death of his mother at the age of eighteen months, and reared in the home of strangers, he has made his own way in the world since the age of fourteen, and done so in a measure that would be a credit to one who had enjoyed a parent's loving help and care. Z. M. Baird was born in Lisbon, Iowa, Novem ber 23, 1860, and was taken into the home of a woman in Fairview township, Jones county, where he was reared until the age of fourteen ; at that age he went to Lena, Illinois, and became apprentice in the office of the "Lena Star," a weekly paper. After four years in a print shop, the boy felt the need of a higher education than he had enjoyed, and returned to Iowa to attend the Blairstown academy, which he attended three years. After his school days he secured a clerk ship in a store in Nevada, Iowa, where he remain ed for a year. He married while here and soon after came west to enter the profession of journ alism. Mr. Baird came to Nebraska in 1884, reaching Dakota City on August 11, where he visited his father one day and then came on to Hartington, which place he reached on the twelfth. He se cured a place in the composing room of the "Herald," which he bought the last day of the year, and began the year 1885 as proprietor of the paper. This he successfully published for- five years, sold, and, moving to South Sioux City, started the "South Sioux City Times." This he sold after a period of years, and moving to Em erson established the "Emerson Times," and while publishing this paper formed a partnership with E. Bordwell, his brother-in-law, to start a new paper in Hartington known as the "Cedar County Leader. ' ' After getting the paper well on its way to suc cess, he sold his Emerson paper and later dis posed of his interest in the "Leader" to his brother-in-law. His love for journalism was not abated, so about 1895 he established the "Cedar County News, ' ' which he ably edited some five or six years until the demand on his time as an auc tioneer necessitated his disposing of his paper. Mr. Baird has been popular as an auctioneer ever since his advent to Nebraska. His powerful yet pleasing voice is well adapted to incessant speaking in the open air, and his merry jokes and quips keep his auditors in the proper mood when the vendue is long drawn out and they might otherwise grow weary and depart. He gets results, which is the main thing in business of any kind, but especially in public sales. Mr. Baird is a son of Cephus and Elizabeth (Hall) Baird, both natives of Ohio. As stated, the mother died in Iowa early in 1862 ; the father remarried and moved to Dakota county, Nebras ka, he afterward going to San Francisco, where he died. Mr. Baird was married at Nevada, Iowa, March 28, 1883, to Miss Alwilda Mur- phey, daughter of Henry F. and Margaret (Pal mer) Murphey, natives of Indiana, who came to the frontier in Iowa in an early day. Four chil dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baird, namely: Claude M., a successful merchant of Har tington; Margaret, teaching in the schools in Nevada; Donald V., deceased; and Bruce Z. Mr. Baird is a democrat in politics, and made his papers powers in the cause of his party can didates and principles. He is a prominent Ma son and has advanced far in the mysteries of the ancient order. He belongs to the blue lodge and chapter in Hartington, the commandery at Bloomfield, the consistory and shrine at Omaha. He has filled all the chairs in the local lodge and of the grand lodge, as well having served as grand master of the state in 1906. Mr. Baird was in Iowa at the time of the fear ful blizzard of October, 1880, and of the flood of COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 205 the following spring. He was in Hartington, how ever, January 12, 1888, when so many lost their lives in the tempest. He had difficulty in mak ing his way home, and was thoroughly exhausted on reaching his door. As with others, it is an ex perience he can never forget. Mr. Baird is a man who makes his force felt in the community where he dwells; big of body and of brain, big of heart and spirit, he is a good citizen, a good neighbor, and a good friend. ONON SIMONSON. (Deceased.) For over twenty-nine years the gentleman whose name heads this personal history was asso ciated with the agricultural interests of Merrick county, Nebraska, and as an old settler and one of her worthy citizens he was prominently known. Mr. Simonson was proprietor of one of the fine farms of that locality and accumulated his prop erty and gained his good name by his persistent and honest labors. He resided in section twenty up to the time of his death, which occurred on April 29, 1902. Mr. Simonson was born in Nor way, in 1848, coming to America in his eighteenth year and settling in Menard county, Illinois, close to Springfield, that state. He was married in 1870, in the state of Illinois to Miss Berte Ege- land. Mr. Simonson came to Merrick county, Ne braska, in March, 1873, taking up a homestead in section twenty, township thirteen, range eight, and was joined by his wife and son Simon, in May of the same year. As before stated this was the home farm at the time of Mr. Simonson 's death. Mr. and Mrs. Simonson had two children born to them : Simon, who with his family lives on the old homestead; and Anna, who is married to Chris. Thorson and lives in Chicago. Mr. Simon- son's wife died August 5, 1884, on the home farm. SIMON SIMONSON. Son of Onon and Berte (Egeland) Simonson, was born in Illinois, June 13, 1871. He came to Merrick county, Nebraska, with his parents in the spring of 1873, where the father homesteaded land in March of that year, and where the son grew up under the usual advantages to be had in those early days. He was a sturdy lad and as sisted his father with the farm work, and well remembers the years of struggle and inconven iences common at that time. Mr. Simonson started out for himself in his twenty-second year, and on the twenty-sixth of September, 1895, he was married to Miss Selma Wagner in Merrick county, Nebraska, whose parents, Traugott and Pauline (Schuessler) Wagner came to Merrick county about 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Simonson have had five children born to them ; Berte, Ella, Oscar, Onon, and Norman, all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. Simonson is supervisor in district seven, and is a member of the school board of district forty-two. Our subject is living on the old home farm which has been added to until it now con tains four hundred acres of good land, well equipped and a substantial house built thereon. He also owns another one hundred twenty-acre farm in Merrick county. Mr. Simonson is one of the progressive young men of Merrick county, successfully taking his part in the educational and social life of his coun ty and state. He is a man of advanced ideas and believes in keeping up-to-date along all lines. MIKE LOFTUS. Mike Loftus, one of the early settlers in the state of Nebraska, now resides in Knox county, where he chose his home in 1902. Here he has a valuable estate in section twenty, township twenty-nine, range five, and is known as one of the prosperous and successful agriculturalists and stockmen of his locality. Mr. Loftus was born in Connaught Province, Knockanello village, Ireland, June 7, 1858. When but a small boy he left home and struck out for himself, taking passage for America, where he was sure a fortune awaited him only for the tak ing. He landed in New York City after an event ful voyage, and immediately started for the west, going first to Illinois, where he remained for two years. There he followed farming. In the fall of 1879, he came to Nebraska, locating in Platte county, but only spent a short time in that vicin ity, removing to Holt county, where he took a homestead and started to improve his claim. He at once put up a sod shanty and lived alone, 'cook ing his own meals, and working hard to build up his farm. Later on he filed on a tree claim in the vicinity, and proved up on both tracts. He now has a fine farm of two hundred acres, situated about one mile from Creighton. The place is well sup plied with every convenience, including substan tial buildings, plenty of trees, planted by Mr. Loftus himself, all kinds of stock, etc. He raises fine crops of grain, and is fast becoming one of the leading men of wealth in his vicinity. Mr. Loftus was married in 0 'Neill on January 22, 1889, to Miss Mary Carney, and to them have been born two children, Thomas and James, both of whom are at home. SAMUEL EWING. Samuel Ewing, one of the more prominent business men and worthy citizens of Genoa, where he has spent the past thirty years, more or less, has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow- men by his sterling character, thrift and good spirit. By unremitting labor and good business ability he has accumulated a comfortable prop- 206 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. erty, and also has been one of the leaders in pub lic affairs of his vicinity since the first years of his residence here. Mr. Ewing is a native of Perry county, Indi ana, born November 17, 1831, and a son of Will iam G. and Mary Ewing. , His childhood was spent in that vicinity, and when about twenty-one he went to Henderson county, Illinois, and. en gaged in farming. During the month of Aug ust, 1862, Mr. Ewing enlisted in Company K, eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served with his regiment up to the close of the war, taking part in many of the principal battles, among them that of Perryville and Wild Cat Mountain, Kentucky, Chickamaugua, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Pine Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia, also many minor skirmishes and en counters. He received his honorable discharge on June 7, 1865, returning at that time to his home in Illinois. In the spring of 1867 he went to Iowa, locat ing near Red Oak, where he engaged in farming for several years and then moved to Red Oak. He then went into the grain business at Coburg, but continued to reside at Red Oak. He had a large trade in the grain business for a number of years. Mr. Ewing came to Genoa, Nebraska, in 1882, establishing a banking and real estate business in which he was engaged for about one year, then purchased four hundred acres of land a short distance from the town and started a grain and stock farm. In 1883 he was elected assessor for Nance county, and served in that capacity for seventeen years, also was justice of the peace for a time. While in Iowa he held the office of coun ty commissioner for two terms, or six years. In 1904 Mr. Ewing sold his various business interests and retired from active work. Both himself and wife have been through all the early history of Nebraska, and are widely and favor ably known in every movement started for the benefit of their locality. Both have taken a prom inent part in church work for over thirty years, and Mr. Ewing has been for a great number of years an official in the Presbyterian church in Genoa. In March, 1857, Mr. Ewing married Eliza A. Short, a native of Illinois. Miss Short was the eldest in a family of eight children, five of whom are still living, although the parents are both deceased. Mr. Ewing 's parents are also dead, and of nine children in the family five are still living, scattered in different parts of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have had two children, Emma A., now deceased, and Lizzie A., wife of W. E. Kennedy, living in Genoa, parents of two daughters. Our subject and his good wife have a pleas ant home in Genoa, and are passing the evening of their lives in a peaceful and happy manner, surrounded by many friends who enjoy their hos pitality on various occasions. HORACE L. BROOKS. Horace L. Brooks, a true and tried citizen of Boone county and a man of large business in terests, died February 8, 1911, at his home in Albion. Mr. Brooks was widely known as a man whom one could trust — upright in his dealings; he was a ready, willing neighbor — pleasant and congenial; as a citizen, his character is an ex ample for the rising generation of Boone county. His portrait appears on another page. Mr. Brooks was born in Springville, New York state, September 13, 1852, and was the eld est child of Alonzo and Mary Jane Brooks who were the parents of three. When but an infant he went to Washington, D. C. with his parents, and remained until he was two years of age, then the family came to Boone county, Illinois, and there he spent his early boyhood, receiving his education in the local schools and later attend ing the Illinois State Normal. He taught school when a very young man, both in Illinois and later in Mills county, Iowa, coming to Nebraska in 1873, joining his father who had settled in Boone county about a year previously. He homesteaded soon after striking the locality, then returned to Iowa and resumed teaching for a year. He was married in Iowa in February, 1874, to Agnes J. Van Orsdel, at the home of her pa rents, in Mills county. In the latter part of March, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks removed to their homestead in Boone county, Nebraska, built a sod shanty, and begun a pioneer existence at farming and stock raising. They passed through all the early experiences here, remaining on the farm up to 1891, then settled in a pleasant resi dence in Albion. He worked for the News as local editor with part of the time in the postoffice for two years. He afterwards associated himself with Needham & Doten in the real estate business. In 1902 he took the management of the Albion Gas Company for One year. In 1898 he was elected secretary of the County Fair association and he was re-elected every year since that time, until his death. It was through his wise and careful manage ment that the fair has prospered beyond any other in the state and has grown to be almost an exposition. Mr. Brooks was a sincere believer in the teach ings of the lowly Nazarene and was connected with religious work for many years. When at St. Edward he was identified with the Baptist church, and after moving to Albion he went in with the Congregationalists. For several years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. His aged mother lives in the south at Home land, Florida. For the last ten years of his life he spent the winters with her, coming back here to look after his business in the summer. But the winter of 1910-1911, he was unable to make the trip. He reconciled himself to his fate cheerfully. As his days were drawing to a close, he turned HORACE L. BROOKS. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 207 his mind away from the things of this world to those things that endure. He talked cheerfully and hopefully of the home just across the river. He never complained, but waited patiently for the Father's release from the flesh. If there was nothing more to religion than to die as he died, it would be worth all the self-denial through life that it demands. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, three of whom are living, as follows: Lulu E., wife of Fred E. Mansfield, mother of one child, they living in Albion ; Osborn Alonzo Brooks, married, and father of four children, re siding in Sioux City, Iowa, and Daphne May, wife of Archibald Campbell, having one child, their home being in South Carolina. R. H. HARRIS, Chance plays queer pranks in the lives of some of us ! Opportunity comes knocking at our doors, and sometimes finds the inmate fully equipped and ready to seize what she holds in her open hands. Such is the career of R. H. Harris, cashier of the Bank of Lynch. A chance word of a friendly bank president, who had for years known of the ability and integrity of the young er man, diverted from the ranks of trade to that of finance a worthy candidate for a successful career in most any walk in life he might have chosen. "Bert" Harris, as he is familiarly known, is a native of the Knickerbocker state, born at Rochester, on March 26, 1874, and is a son of Frank H. and Mary (Malcolm) Harris, the former having engaged in the grain and lumber business at Onarga, Iroquois county, Illinois, in 1878 ; four years later removing to Sterling, Johnson county, Nebraska. Here the mother died in July, 1888, and the family soon became somewhat scattered, Bert finding a home with an uncle, J. E. Helm, a druggist at Burchard, Nebraska. In 1890 the uncle was appointed agent to the Indians on the Santee reservation east of Niobrara. While liv ing here our subject was appointed industrial teacher, filling the position some fifteen months. He then attended the Yankton college for two winters, and on leaving school secured a situa tion in the store of Mr. Henry E. Bonesteel, re maining there until the fall of 1895, when he was elected clerk of the district court of Knox county, Nebraska, holding that position up to January, 1900. Through commercial friends gained while in the Bonesteel store, he was offered a position with a new shoe firm operating from Sioux City, and although he had no experience in that line and could give no assurance of how much trade he could command, he made a good impression and was started out on the road. He "made good" from the beginning, having a genial dis position and hustling qualities which made him many friends and stood him in good stead. His long acquaintance with Mr. Frank Nelson, of the Niobrara Bank, changed the whole current of his life. That gentleman was desirous of widening his financial interests and was casting about for a trustworthy man of sufficient ability to run a branch bank. He approached Mr. Harris with the question, "How would you like banking?" The latter replied that "he might like it but didn't know a thing about it." He immediately forgot the incident, but Mr. Nelson evidently did not, for after a few days a telegram was handed Mr. Harris at O'Neill, which contained the mes sage, "Have bought bank at Lynch. Come at once." An unjustly complaining letter from his firm had reached Mr. Harris just about this time, so he quickly decided to accept the new offer, checked his trunks to Sioux City, walked in the office and handed over his keys. This was en tirely unexpected to his employers, as it later de veloped that his sales were the highest of any man on the road, and a request that he remain until after carnival week and meet their country trade was complied with. For this favor his firm presented him with a check for $150 and cash to a third of that amount, and the good wishes of all in his new undertaking. On October 10, 1900, Mr. Harris took charge of the bank at Lynch as cashier, and its presi dent has had no cause to regret his judgment in the selection of a young man to manage this branch of his extensive financial interests. Mr. Harris was married on June 12, 1904, at Fairfax, South Dakota, to Miss Lois Allen, who was born at Spirit Lake, Iowa, her parents now residing in Randolph, Nebraska, where the father is in business. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have one son, Robert Allen Harris, who is the pride and com fort of his parents' hearts. Mr. Harris is a republican in political faith. He has a very pleasant memory of an incident oc curring while he was a member of his uncle's household. Theodore Roosevelt, then a special commissioner of the interior department, came to Santee to inspect the post, and as hotel accom modations were not very desirable, he was in vited to make himself comfortable at the agent's house, sharing our subject's room with him. The two young men took a three days' hunting trip together, and neither has forgotten the pleasures of the trip. Mr. Harris is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Niobrara, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the consis tory at Omaha, crossing the hot desert sands in Tangier Temple of the Mystic Shrine. The Odd Fellows and Royal Highlanders of Niobrara claim him as a comrade, also the Pythian Knights of Creighton, and the Norfolk Herd of Elks. SAMUEL W. PIERCE. Samuel W. Pierce, a venerable resident of Albion, is justly proud of the fact that he is one of the earliest settlers in Boone county. 208 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Our subject is a native of Plattsburg, New York, born December 16, 1822, and made that state his home for many years. He followed farming during his young manhood, and became prosperous and successful in his home vicinity. He was married on October 30, 1851, to Miss Cemantha Pierce, of Calumet, Illinois, and the following year they located in Wisconsin, remain ing there for about fifteen years, then went into Minnesota. Mr. Pierce came to Nebraska in 1878. He pur chased one hundred and sixty acres on section seventeen, township twenty, range six, of Boone county, although he never lived on the place. Upon coming to Nebraska, Mr. Pierce lo cated at Albion, where he built a store building, renting the lower part and ran a boarding house above. He continued to reside here until March 4, 1881, when the building burned, after which he purchased eighty acres one mile west of Albion and moved to that place, where he farmed until 1892. In 1892 he disposed of his Boone county property and with his wife moved to Louisiana, where he ran a rooming and boarding house at Lake Charles until 1902, when they returned to Boone county and- made their home with their son, Prank J. Mrs. Pierce died in Albion, on December 6, 1908, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was survived by her husband and five children, named as follows: Judson, married, the father of four children, resides in Albion, as also does Frank Pierce, with his wife ; Almond, with his wife and two children, lives in Louisiana, as do Elmer and Ira and their families. The family is one of the best known in Boone county, and enjoys the esteem of all who know them. W. H. FISHER. W. H. Fisher is one of those agriculturists of Wayne county who have made all the im provements on their farms themselves, and to whom the present commercial and agricultural prosperity of the region is due. Their work has made possible the change from an undeveloped, sparsely settled condition to a land of well tilled fields and pleasant and comfortable farm houses. Mr. Fisher was born in Pennsylvania, March 12, 1854, a son of John and Margaret Fisher, both natives of the Keystone state, and the parents of nine children. The Fisher family moved to Bu reau county, Illinois, when W. H. Fisher was a year old. He was educated in Bureau county, and reared to farm life, which has been his choice in later years. He left Illinois in 1884 and spent three years in Iowa, whence he drove through to Wayne county in 1887. He then purchased his present home on section twenty, township twenty-six, range two, east, of H. J. Carpenter, and immediately set to work to make improve ments on the place. This was raw land when he bought it, and he has built all the buildings and broken all the land. Mr. Fisher is a farmer of intelligence and has enthusiasm for his work, and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and productiveness. He is engaged in mixed farming and raises con siderable stock. He has a beautiful grove and orchard, which add to the beauty and value of his farm, and has done his best to make his home a place of comfort and attractiveness. He has been able to add improved machinery, which great ly lessens the work of operating the farm, and is interested in modern methods and ideas of scien tific farming. He is one of the substantial and influential citizens who further the plans for public improvement and advancement and has many warm friends in his community. Mr. Fisher was united in marriage in 1884, to Miss Anna Wookey, of English descent, and they are parents of five children. Mrs. Fisher was born in England and is a daughter of Adrian and Jane Wookey, natives of England. She came to America with her parents when a girl. The Wookey family located in Iowa, where the father and mother now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher's children are Purl, El mer, Lettie, Artie nd Vallie. HON. MOSES KENNEDYr TURNER. (Deceased.) The gentleman above named was for many years one of the leading citizens of Columbus, Nebraska, and to his efforts are due much of the prosperity of that locality. He was a man of strong character, and during his lifetime enjoyed the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact, and his memory is cherished by a host of warm friends throughout the country. Moses Kennedy Turner was born in Cadiz, Ohio, June 23, 1838. His parents, Allen C. and Margaret (Kennedy) Turner, are both deceased, his father's death occurring in the year 1891, and that of his mother in 1871. Our subject was the eldest of eleven children, and received his education at Athens, and Yellow Springs college, at Xenia, Ohio. Yellow Springs college was presided over by Horace Mann, a prominent educator and author of his time. Af terward our subject became principal of the Ca diz school and held that position for a number of years, and subsequently served as superintend ent of schools at West Liberty, Ohio, for a term of two years. May 13, 1864, he enlisted at Bel- laire, Ohio, in Company K, one hundred and sev entieth regiment, Ohio National Guards, and was discharged on September 10, 1864, at Camp Chase, Ohio. Mr. Turner participated in one battle in Virginia. After the war he returned to Cadiz, Ohio, and resumed his profession of teaching. On March 29, 1865, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Eliza Jane Craig, also of Cadiz, Ohio, who COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 209 received a part of her education in Doctor Beat- tie's female seminary, in Stubenville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Turner were blessed with a family of ten children, whose names are as follows : Anna Craig, married to Howard Rowe, has one daugh ter and lives in Omaha, Nebraska; Martha M., on the staff of the "Lincoln State Journal," in Lin coln, Nebraska; Catherine, who died in infancy, in 1871; Alice, who died in 1898, at the age of twenty-four years ; Frances, who lives at home ; Johnson Craig, who is married and lives in Platte county, Nebraska ; Ralph Emerson, who is asso ciate editor of the "Practical Engineer," in Chicago, Illinois; Eliza Kennedy, a teacher in the Lincoln city schools, Lincoln, Nebraska; Irena, a teacher in the Columbus city schools; and Gladys, who has completed a course in the State Orthopedic hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. In March, 1870, Mr. Turner came to Nebraska, locating in Columbus, where he started the "Platte County Journal," later its name being changed to the "Columbus Journal." The "Platte County Journal" was one of the first pa pers to be established in Nebraska west of Oma ha. Mr. Turner continued to edit the "Journal" until the time of his death, which occurred on May 22, 1902, at his home in Columbus. Mr. Turner was a man of sterling worth, exerting his efforts along the line of advancement. While he lived in Ohio, in the earlier days, he studied law in his father's law office and was admitted to the state bar in 1869. He served Nebraska in its state senate in the years 1880 and 1881, and he also was a member of his city school board for some years. Our subject was prosperous and suc cessful, and owned three hundred and sixty acres of land in Platte county, Nebraska, at his death. He was a man who was alive to all the best interests of his county and state, and a pro gressive man of affairs. In politics he was a re publican, but in 1884 he became an independent candidate for congress, his opponent being W. K. Valentine, and received a very flattering vote. Mrs. Moses Kennedy Turner, wife of the de ceased, still lives in the old home in Columbus, surrounded by a large circle of friends, whose esteem and friendship she holds. J. H. HUTTO. J. A. Hutto, who has spent many years of his career in the eastern part of Nebraska, is one of the leading citizens of that section of the coun try. He came here some twenty-six years ago, has watched its growth and development, inci dentally assisted in a large measure to build up the region, and he has really improved two dif ferent places since coming here. He now resides in section eight, township twenty-six, range five, where he owns a splendid farm of four hundred and eighty acres, and has ten acres of fine trees. Mr. Hutto was born in the state of Indiana, that event taking place in 1860, in a farm house, 8 and his associations from the first being with agricultural interests, it is natural, therefore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find success in life endeavors in tilling of the soil. Mr. Hutto 's father, John Wesley Hutto, was born in 1830, and was of German de scent, and died in 1864, in the hospital at Fort Monroe, of a fever, and was buried there. He served in the army during the civil war. The mother, who before her marriage was Miss Cla rissa Fish, was also a native of Indiana, born in 1833 and died in 1907. Mr. Hutto remained in his native state until reaching his manhood, then went to the state of Iowa, where he lived three years; in 1884 he started for the west, traveling in the usual pio neer fashion of a covered wagon, and landed in York county, Nebraska, where he remained four months; later, came to Antelope county, where he took up a homestead in section eighteen, town ship twenty-seven, range five, Crawford town ship, building a sod house and residing there two years, then built a frame house which burned after he had lived about three years in it. He then built another frame house and he lived there about thirteen years, then sold, and bought his present home. Mr. Hutto was united in marriage in 1884, to Miss Elizabeth Durand, and Mr. and Mrs. Hutto are the parents of six children : Loron, who is married to Gladys Benedict, they having two children; May, who is married to Franklin La Borde; Lily, Walter, Lois and Marcia. Mr. Hutto now owns four hundred and eighty acres of good land, ten acres of which is set to trees, and he and Mrs. Hutto and family live in their comfortable home surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. RICHARD REHFELD. Richard Rehfeld, residing on section thirty- four, township twenty-seven, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska, was born in the Province of Pommerania, Germany, July 25, 1871, eldest in a family of five. When but a child of some two years he was brought to America by his parents, Herman and Johanna (Erdmann) Rehfeld, who after landing, settled in Iowa in 1873, where they lived one summer, thence moving to Nebraska, driving, with six other families, by team, the en tire distance, where they rented a farm near Scribner. In 1879 our subject's parents took up a homestead in Pierce county, Nebraska, where the family suffered the bereavement of the father in November, 1880. Mr. Rehfeld 's father was born in Germany in 1847, and the mother in 1846, their marriage be ing solemnized in Germany. She was married a second time to Frank Rehfeld, her first hus band's brother, and two children were born to them. She died in February, 1900. Our subject's parents also took up a tree 210 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. claim, the land where Richard Rehfeld now re sides, in the southwest quarter of section thirty- four, township twenty-seven, range four, and in the early days experienced many hardships. During the blizzard of 1888, our subject, a younger brother and others, were kept prisoners by the storm in the school house all night, being saved from freezing by the teacher who had the foresight to get in enough coal to last all night. Our subject's father lost some, of his early crops by hail. The father burned hay for sev eral years, and the father hauled wood from Ver- degris creek, twenty miles away, occasionally. On one occasion our subject fought prairie fire from nine o'clock in the morning until four in the afternoon, without breakfast or dinner. Mr. Rehfeld was married in 1895 to Miss Martha Zeigfeld, daughter of Herman Zeigfeld, who was born in 1850, in the Province of Pommer ania, Germany, and Mary (Vosberg) Zeigfeld, born in 1850, also a native of Germany. Our subject and wife have one child, whose name is Herman. Mr. Rehfeld is a member of the German Luth eran church, and in politics he votes the demo cratic ticket in the state elections, but in local politics votes for the best man. LARS P. CHRISTENSEN. Lars P. Christensen and his family are among the well known and highly esteemed citizens of St. Paul, Nebraska, where they occupy a handsome residence. Mr. Christensen has large farming in terests besides considerable town property to look after, and at the present time he represents the Marshall Brothers Nursery, located at Ar lington, Nebraska. Both himself and his esti mable wife have passed through all the varied experiences of pioneer life in the state, and after years of toil have acquired a competence. Our subject has taken an active part in the develop ment of Howard county, always standing for the best interests of the county and state. Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark in Feb ruary, 1842, and made that country his home up to his twenty-ninth year, then came to America. He located at first near Madison, Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for about seven months, going from there to Chicago. There he was married in November, 1873, to Anna K. Christensen, also a native of Denmark, who came to America to marry her sweetheart. The young couple decided to make a home for themselves in the new west, but as they had little money, both obtained employment on a farm in Illinois, remaining about one year, then came to Ne braska, where Mr. Christensen had a brother liv ing. Instead of the comfortable mode of travel ing of the present day, our subject and his young wife started out in a wagon, driving through the country over unbroken roads. They had a tedious trip of five weeks before reaching their destina tion, encountering many obstacles and suffering much discomfort from storms, sickness, Indian scares, etc. They crossed the Missouri river on the ice which was not frozen hard and at times their horses broke through, also the wagon wheels cut through and they had considerable trouble in landing safely. They arrived in Oma ha on the 29th of December, 1874, and unable to secure hotel accommodations, being compelled, to sleep all night in a straw stack, they pushed right on to their destination, remaining with Niels Christensen for two and a half years. The latter had homesteaded for himself and also taken a timber claim for our subject, situated on section twenty-two, township thirteen, range twelve. In 1877 Lars purchased eighty acres on section fourteen, built an adobe house, and they made that place their home for five years, at which time their house was destroyed by fire, they losing all of their clothing, books, furniture, etc. Soon afterwards Mr. Christensen rented his farm and moved to St. Paul. He put up a build ing and started a hotel, but only ran it for sev eral months, when on account of failing health he was obliged to dispose of it, and purchased a home. He next went into the implement busi ness and after running it a few months, again sold out and built a large livery barn, which he ran successfully for over twenty years. During the same time he was connected with a general merchandise establishment, but on account of poor health was obliged to give up active work, and with his wife went to California and spent seven months, returning to St. Paul fully re covered. Mr. Christensen is a staunch republican, and during the years 1897-98-99 served his county as deputy sheriff, the following year was elected constable and held the office for two years. He also was active in the establishment of the school near his farm, being director of that district for a number of years. Our subject has no children, but he and his good wife have reared and educated two boys, brothers, James P. Petersen,, who assists Mr. Christensen in business, and Chris Christensen, (the latter taking his adopted parents' name,) who is now serving in the United States navy, at present in Japan. On May 19, 1910, Mr. Christensen suffered the loss of his wife, whose death occurred after only a few days illness. JOHN C. MEESE. John C. Meese, residing in section twelve, township nineteen, range fourteen, who came to Nebraska in 1886, is well known all over Valley county as a progressive and successful agricul turist. Mr. Meese was born near Fort Wayne, In diana, October 18, 1867, and was second of six children in the family of Thaddieus and Laura COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 211 (Bailey) Meese, who had six sons. Mr. Meese grew up on the farm, receiving the usual school advantages, and in the fall of 1886, the Meese family of father, mother and six sons came to Wheeling county, Nebraska. The father and sons homesteaded land in Wheeling county, where the parents and sons, William, Thaddieus, Harley, and Roy, still reside; Charles Meese lives in Topeka, Kansas. John C. Meese-, the principal subject of this sketch, came to Valley county from Wheeler county in the spring of 1891, locating in Ord, and engaged in the horse breeding business. In 1893 he purchased a farm in the western part of the county and moved from Ord to the farm in the fall of 1894; and lived on this farm in section seven, Geranium township, until spring of 1908, when he moved to a farm in section twelve, town ship nineteen, range fourteen, where he now has a fine stock farm, and is engaged in the breed ing of fine hogs, principally the Poland China breed. Mr. Meese is widely known as a successful breeder, taking many prizes at Nebraska state fairs. In 1909 he won thirteen big prizes at the state fair and two out of four sweepstakes, and again in 1910 secured fifteen prizes and again two out of four sweepstakes. At the Topeka fair he secured fifteen prizes and two sweepstakes — all that were offered. Mr. Meese has received in past years big prizes for his swine, a half interest in single hogs selling as high as $500. He also has high grade horses and good cattle. He lately purchased a fine stock farm six miles south of Topeka, and contemplates moving to that state. Mr. Meese is a successful man, and has done his part toward bringing Valley county into prominence as a prosperous and successful county. Mr. Meese was married to Miss Minnie Wald- mann in Ord, February 13, 1893. Miss Wald- mann was born in Minnesota, and the family came to Valley county in the early years. Mr. and Mrs. Meese have six children : Bertha, John, Frank, Adrian, Hilda and Rosa Lee, all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Meese and family " are well known, have a modern, confortable home, and are an enjoyable family. Mr. Meese has in past years served on the Valley county board of supervisors. He is a member of the Catholic church in Ord, of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is republican . in politics. J. A. JOHNSON. Located very pleasantly in section nineteen, township twenty-one, range four, is to be found one of the leading citizens and prosperous agri culturists of Madison county. This gentleman has made Nebraska his home for many years, and during that time has been intimately identified with its development along commercial and social lines. J. A. Johnson was born in Smoland, Sweden, October, 1864, and was one of six children born to John and Christina Johnson, the former de parting this life when our subject was a small boy. When our subject was six years of age, the little family left their native land and took pas sage on an emigrant ship bound for America which the mother had heard was a mecca for poor people, and where she confidently believed she could find a home and plenty for herself and children. They sailed from Gottenberg, touched Liverpool, and after a tedious voyage landed in New York safely, from which place they started immediately for the west, stopping off in Stark, Illinois, where they remained for nine years. In the spring of 1879 they started out to look for a new location, and hearing of the golden op portunities awaiting those who had the spirit and determination to succeed, came to Nebraska and begun the life of pioneers. Each member of the family secured employment in Madison coun ty, and in 1886 our subject filed on a homestead in township Box Butte county, leaving the others in their old places. He built a sod house and re mained in that locality for a number of years, finally purchasing a tract in Madison county which he has improved in the best possible shape and it is now one of the most productive farms in the county. . He has seen his share of hard times, going through all the experiences of the early settlers in the way of losses of property, suffering from the dreadful storms, etc., but has kept steadily forging ahead, and has been well repaid for his efforts in the valuable property he now owns in this and other parts of Nebraska. Mr. Johnson was married June 24, 1901, to Mrs. Minnie Youngston, of Madison county, and they have a family of four children, Myrtle, Flor ence, Walter and Ralph. ANSON B. HARTLEY. Anson B. Hartley, one of the prominent real estate and loan men of central Nebraska, is closely identified with the business interests of Sargent and Custer county. He has made his own way in life and has attained success through hard work and business ability, managing his affairs according to the needs of the times and with strict attention to details. He has the repu tation of being upright and honorable in his deal ings and has many friends in his community. Mr. Hartley was born in Westchester county, New York, March 26, 1860, fifth child of Joseph and Mary E. (Atwood) Hartley, who have six sons and two daughters. The father was a native of Belle- fontaine, Ohio, and the mother of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and they were married in Ohio. They re moved to New York City about 1842, and there 212 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the father engaged in the wholesale and retail dry goods business, being a member of the firm of Wentz, Hartley and Company, later be coming a member of the firm of Taft, Griswold & Kellogg, dealers in wholesale dry goods. In 1872 he sold his interests in the city and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, at that time a little city of about five thousand popula tion. He organized and became president of the Lancaster county bank, and in 1879 disposed of his banking interests and moved to York county, buying a farm near Bradshaw. He lived there until March, 1882, then moved with his family to Custer county and took a homestead on sec tion nine, township nineteen, range nineteen, his home until 1892. Then, returning to Lincoln, he. engaged in general mercantile business and continued to conduct it until his death, March 31, 1900. He was survived by his wife and seven children. Mrs. Hartley died in 1901, and those of the children now living are: William D., married and living in New Mexico; Carrie E., wife of C. W. Green, of Marquette, Michigan; Anson B., whose name stands at the head of this sketch; Joseph A., of Columbus, Ohio; Ellis T., of Columbus; Edward C, of Spokane, Washing ton; Flora B., wife of Charles Martin of Duluth, Minnesota. In the spring of 1882, Mr. Hartley secured a homestead on the southeast quarter of section nine, in the town where his father had located, and this remained his home until the spring of 1902, when he came to Sargent and engaged in the real estate business, also dealing in insurance and loans. He began business in a primitive cracker box. He has forty acres in the tract of way, and according to his own report his first office desk was a dry goods box and his chair a land where he has erected his pleasant home, land where he has erected his pleasant home, which adjoins Sargent on the west. His is one of highly respected and having many friends. They are ready to give of their time and money to aid every cause for the general welfare and prosper ity and the friends of progress along all lines. On March 6, 1884, in Lillian township, Custer county, Mr. Hartley was united in marriage with Margie F. Dupray, and they have seven daugh ters and one son living: Carrie, wife of W. L. Probert, of Custer county, has two children; Fred A., in business with his father in Sargent; Mabel and May, twins ; Bessie, Eveline, Grace and Elma, at home. JULIUS HIRSCHMAN. It is mete that considerable praise should be given those early pioneers who came here when wilderness was King, for it is by reason of the hardships they suffered and the battle they fought that we in our generation enjoy the peace and comfort and plenty which we accept as our due. Among the early settlers of Cedar county, the name of Julius Hirschman is well known. Mr. Hirschman was born on a farm in Wis consin in 1859, and is the son of Frank C. and Tecla Hirschman, both parents being foreign- born. They came to America in one of the slow sailing vessels in 1852, and came at once to Wis consin, where they bought forty acres of land, a holding which would have made them people of distinction in their native country. The family remained in Wisconsin and the boy Julius secured his education in the schools of that state. Finally, they decided to join the migration to the new lands of the west. So in 1872, they started for Cedar county, Nebraska, with a team of horses and a prairie schooner, coming by the overland route. It took three weeks to make the trip, and they made good time even then. Upon their arrival, the father took up a homestead in section eight, township thirty, range three. For a short time, the whole family lived here in a small dugout. For a long time the family struggled against the misfortunes which afflicted all settlers equally. For the first four years, their crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, and they were also compelled many times to fight for hours against the fierce prairie fires in order to save their home. Even when crops were good and were finally harvested, the surplus had to be hauled either to Ponca or Yankton, the two near est market points. In 1887, Mr. Hirschman was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lorang, and to this couple have come five children: Clarence, Chancy, Julius, Susie and Earl. Mr. Hirschman has certainly done his full share toward the development of the agricultural interests of the community where he has lived for so long. He has a well-improved farm and is a representative farmer and citizen. ELIJAH McKENDRY. Elijah McKendry, retired farmer, son of Elijah and Susan (Kiggen) McKendry, was born in Beverly,- Ohio, October 31, 1844, and was the ninth in a family of ten children. He has two brothers and one sister residing in Ohio, one sis ter in Iowa, and the others are deceased. The father died in the year 1883, and the mother in 1872 ; both passed away in the home state. Mr. McKendry received his education in his native s'a'e, and in July, 1861, enlktod in Com pany A, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, receiving his discharge in July, 1864, at Chatta nooga, Tennessee. Decisive engagements partici pated in were at Chicamauga, Mission Ridge, An- tietam, South Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, Cloyd Mountain, Lewisburg, West Virginia, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. In August of 1864 he enlisted in the United States navy, in which he served one year; he then re turned to Ohio, where he followed the occupation COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 213 of shoemaking, he having learned and worked at that trade before entering the army. On August 8, 1867, Mr. McKendry was mar ried to Miss Margaret J. Davis of Ohio, and in the spring of 1871 came with his wife and two children to Merrick county, Nekraska, and home steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section two, township fourteen, range seven, west, which remained the home place until 1874, when having been eaten out by grasshoppers Mr. McKendry went to Rock Springs, Wyoming. where he worked to support his family, who re mained in Nebraska. In the meantime Mr. McKen dry had sold his homes' ead and purchased in 1876, a one-hundred and sixty-acre timber claim three miles, north of Archer, where he lived until 1899 when they moved to Archer. Here he built a good home, which is now his present residence. Mr. McKendry has served on the school board of his district number forty-three for some years. Mr. and Mrs. McKendry have had ten chil dren born to them, six of whom are living : Charles, deceased in 1901, is survived by his wife and four children who reside in California ; John, who is married, has five children and lives in Central City, Nebraska; William A., deceased in infancy; Clara, deceased at the age of five years ; Jessie, married Harry Morse, has five chil dren and resides in Grand Island, Nebraska; Al bert, deceased at the age of seventeen years; Winifred, married to Ward Morse, lives in Colo rado Springs, and has one child; Lenna, married to Roy Frederick, has one child and lives in Chap- pel, Nebraska; James A., resides in Lincoln, Ne braska; and Leon, who lives under the parental roof. Mrs. McKendry 's father, William P. Davis, died in the year 1874, in Nebraska and her mother in 1900, in Missouri. She has one brother resid ing in North Dakota, two in Merrick county, Ne braska, one in Nance county, Nebraska; one sis ter in Taylor, Nebraska, and one in Tipton, Mis souri. Mr. and Mrs. McKendry are among the earliest settlers of the county, and have passed through all the hardships and trying experiences of fron tier life. They were the first homesteaders in Midland township. FLORIAN FUCHS. Florian. Fuchs, a well-to-do farmer, energetic and industrious, who came to this county to estab lish a home and accumulate a competence for his old age, resides on his fine farm in section four, township twenty-five, range two, where he owns six hundred and forty acres. He also has three hundred and twenty acres in Sheridan county, western Nebraska, a quarter-section near Rush ville and another near Hay Springs. Mr. Fuchs was born April 26, 1870, in the vil lage of Ullerichs, near the city of Kirchberg- Walde, Lower Austria, and is the son of John Fuchs, senior, who was born in 1844, and who served in the army from 1864 to 1866, participat ing in the war between Denmark and Prussia. His mother, Anna Pommasl, was born in 1846 and died in 1876. The elder Fuchs kept the village inn for a number of years, and was formerly en gaged in the merchandise, and later the butter- making industry in Austria. Florian Fuchs learned blacksmithing in the old country and worked at the trade two and a half years before emigrating to America. Sailing from Hamburg to New York in the steamship "Harmonia, " Mr. Fuchs came to Pierce county from Lower Austria in 1887. On reaching Nebraska he visited for a few days near Hum phrey with the brother of a fellow voyager, and incidentally met his future wife during this visit. He found work on the farm of his uncle, Charles Hoffman, senior, near Pierce, and then for a year was engaged in construction work on the rail road. After this he was engaged in farm labor for various settlers in Pierce county, including Owen Brothers, ranchmen and railroad contrac tors, serving two years as foreman on their large feeding ranch near Stanton. Mr. Fuchs began for himself on the old Schei- ber place near Pilger, which he rented for one year, and for a like period cultivated the Barn- hardt farm near Hoskins. Coming to Pierce county, he cultivated land rented from his uncle, Charles Hoffman, some nine or ten years, when he moved to his present location, which he had be gun purchasing some years before. He had also bought a farm nine miles northeast of Pierce, and for a time cultivated both, working constantly, day and night at times. Mr. Fuchs was married February 29, 1892, to Miss Johanna Withalm, a native of the village of Schwaetza, Lower Austria, daughter of Leon ard and Anna (Pfeifer) Withalm. To Mr. and Mrs. Fuchs nine children were born: Mary, John, Julia, Lizzie, Johanna, Amanda, Anna, Mag gie and Francis. They are of the Catholic re ligion, and Mr. Fuchs is a democrat. Our subject gives all his time to the building up of his home and the management of his farm, and everything he now has is due to his own un aided efforts, as he had absolutely nothing to start with, and he deserves much praise for his success. As before stated, Mr. Fuchs began buy ing his present farm while a renter, and added a good tenant house and other buildings on the northeast quarter. He began breaking ground in 1898, and three years later moved onto the place which he has continued to improve. He has three hundred acres under cultivation, an orchard of two acres, and over ten acres of trees, including some two thousand evergreens which are planted in groves and around the outer lines of the farm. He raises annually from ten to fifteen hundred bush els of wheat, four to seven thousand bushels of oats, and six to eight thousand bushels of corn. This he feeds mostly on the place, shipping two 214 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. to three car loads of cattle and over a hundred hogs per year. An elegant ten room house has been built on the place, with running water throughout, as well as in all the larger barns and in the various feed lots. The granary, holding from eight to ten thousand bushels, is one of the best equipped in the state, with elevator and spouts to the various bins. All kinds of implements for ad vanced farming are to be found on the place, and every labor-saving device is installed as soon as it is on the market. A view of this fine residence, barns and groves, is published on another page. Mr. Fuchs has aided materially in the de velopment of the region where he has spent many years, and is one of the leading old-timers. He was instrumental in organizing the Farmers' Elevator Company in Pierce, of which he sold most of the shares and serves as director. PRANK H. LENGER. Among the worthy citizens of Nebraska, who by thrift and energy acquired a competency in the early days of the settlement of this part of the state, no name stands higher among his fel- lowmen than that of Frank H. Lenger, now serv ing as county commissioner of Knox county. Mr. Lenger was born in the city of Tabor, Bo hemia, on February 22, 1860, and was but a small boy when his father, John J. Lenger, (of whom an extended account may be found in this book), broke away from the old order of things in the fatherland by coming to the Great Republic to establish for himself and family a new life amid new surroundings and conditions. He was a man of high position and affluence in his native land, and might have retained these advantages to the end and provided places of influence and consid erable fortune for his children had he chosen to remain. They settled in Manitowoc county, Wis consin, where Frank grew up, receiving his edu cation in the common schools, and he gained quite a knowledge of city life in Chicago, where the family spent two years. Also, some time was spent in Yrankton, South Dakota, where he at tended the public schools. He was the younger son, and remained with the old folks until about the time of his marriage, in 1884. Although most of his time was occupied in farming, he had at different times clerked in a drug store and shoe store, and also was for a time with a leading implement house in Yankton. He located in Niobrara in the spring of 1884, and in partnership with his elder brother, John, es tablished an implement house in the town, under the firm name of Lenger Brothers, continuing the business together for ten years. In addition to this, they were heavy stockholders in a pack ing house north of the town, our subject having charge of the steam and motive power, also the rendering department, besides doing the buying of all stock, and so efficient was his work that he was made the recipient of a gift of seventy-five dollars one Christmas, which showed the appreci ation of the company for his efforts. During this time they developed further the business of sup plying the government with cattle for the In dians, and continued in this branch of the trade long after disposing of their implement business. These contracts provided for supplying the var ious agencies of the Y"ankton, Santee, Ponca and Flandreauz tribes, sometimes delivering as many as sixteen hundred head of cattle at a time. Finding his health failing about this time, Mr. Lenger took an extensive trip through the west, and afterward feeling much improved, he re turned to Niobrara and moved to his homestead on which he had previously filed. In 1894 Mr. Lenger filed on a homestead near Niobrara, to which he has added from time to time until he now owns five hundred and sixty acres of the finest farming land to be found in the state. Pie owns other land south of the city, besides a number of residences and town lots, and also has a half section in Rock county, twen ty-five miles from Bassett, Nebraska, (the above is sold). Mr. Lenger was married in Yankton county, South Dakota, on November 11, 1884, to Miss Carrie Ferdinand, a native of Chicago, Illinois. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lenger, as follows: Edward, who is a graduate of the Niobrara high school and of Grand Island business college, now occupying a lucrative po sition as stenographer in the Northwestern of fices in Norfolk; Carrie, also a graduate of the high school and ambitious for a college career, which has been temporarily checked by her moth er's illness and death; Ralph, in the employ of Geo. L. Adams, druggist, is also a graduate from Niobrara high school, and is ready to go to Creighton Medical College; Claude, Mildred and Irene. The three last mentioned are still going to school and are doing well. Mrs. Lenger passed away April 11, 1910, and her loss is a severe blow to her devoted family, as well as to the community in which she lived, as she was a good christian woman, and was active in the Presby terian church. Politically Mr. Lenger is a republican, and was nominated for a school office before his twen ty-first birthday, which intervened between the primary and election day. Prior to coming to Nebraska he served as assessor in Yankton, and he was the first assessor of Raymond township, serving for three terms. He has since filled a like position in Niobrara. While living in Ray mond township he several times refused the nom ination for commissioner on account of taking his time from business, but on retiring from the strenuous life, he viewed the matter in a different light and decided to accept the honor conferred upon him by his friends, which resulted in his election to the office in 1906. He was re-elected in 1908 and 1910. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 215 Mr. Lenger is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was with his wife dur ing her lifetime, a member of the Rebekah lodge. He also belongs to the Benevolent Order of Z. C. B. J., and is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged. HON. J. H. UMSTEAD. Hon J. H. Umstead, a prominent early settler of Nance county, is proprietor of an extensive farm, and has large business interests in that re gion. He is a genuine pioneer of that section and has for many years past figured prominently in the political career of that section of Nebraska, filling various offices in his county, and is a lead ing member of the republican party. Mr. Um stead and his wife occupy a fine residence in Full erton, where they are popular members of a large social circle. J. H. Umstead was born near Salem, Colum bian county, Ohio, May 29, 1851. He is a son of Jonas and Sarah Umstead, who were the parents of six children, and our subject is the only surviv ing member of his family. His early education was, obtained in the common schools of his home vi cinity. Later he learned the printer's trade. which he followed for eight years, remaining in Ohio until 1879, when he came west, locating in Nance county, Nebraska, where he purchased a farm on Cedar Creek, and established a stock and grain farm. He still owns this property which consists of four hundred and eighty acres of fine land. During the first years of his residence in Nance county, Mr. Umstead experienced many difficulties in getting his farm in good shape, but has made a decided success. He has devoted much attention and time to stock feeding and has ship ped extensively to the markets nearby. In the spring of 1905 he retired from active management of his farm and moved to -Fullerton, where he owns a pleasant residence and enjoys many friends. He is one of the best known pioneers of Nance county, and takes a prominent place among its leading citiezns, at the present time serving as a member of the county board of su pervisors, being chairman of the board. Previous to his present term he had served for seven years on the same board. In the fall of 1902 Mr. Um stead was elected state senator from the eight eenth district, on the republican ticket. He has always been active in politics, in 1903 being ap pointed as a delegate to the National Road Com mission which met at St. Louis, Missouri. On March 27, 1883, Mr. Umstead was married to Mary E. Lamb, at the home of her parents who are well known old settlers of the county and reside near Fullerton. Mr. Umstead is a mem ber of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Woodmen of the World. BARTHOLOMEW LAMB. On May 22, 1909, Bartholomew Lamb, one of the first settlers of Nance county, died at his home after a brief illness. He was born in Ire land in 1824 and came to the United States when a boy. He was of sturdy stock and passed through all the trials of pioneer life in the west. During the early days here he worked as a freighter, driving ox teams from Nebraska City to Denver, and met with many exciting incidents during his career as a frontiersman. After passing through many hardships he gradually became successful in his different enterprises and built up a comfort able fortune, acquiring large land interests in both Nance and Greeley counties, and at the time of his death was counted one of the wealthy and successful men of his region. Mr. Lamb is survived by his wife and six chil dren ; Mrs. Lamb still residing on the home farm which is located six miles northwest of Fullerton. Three sons live near Spaulding, Nebraska, while the three married daughters, live on farms near Fullerton. JOHN RUFF. John Ruff, proprietor of one of the valuable' estates in Boyd county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for years. He now re sides on section two, township thirty-four, range twelve, and is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost farmers in Ne braska. After many years' hard labor in build ing up his business, he is now prepared to enjoy life in peace and comfort. Mr. Ruff is a native of Germany, his birth oc- curing in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, in the year 1861, and he is the son of John and Cath erine (Roekendorf) Ruff. When about eight years of age he, with his parents, left his native land for America, on a steamship, and on Octo ber of 1869, landed in New York from Hamburg, Germany. The family came to Dodge county, Ne braska, where the father bought land and built a good frame house, and here the parents remained during the balance of their lives, the father dying in 1894 and the mother in 1902. In 1883, Mr. Ruff, subject of this biographical writing, moved to Douglas county, South Dakota, where he took up a homestead and steadily im proved his land. He first put up a sod house and lived in this five years, later building a good frame house. In 1901, Mr. Ruff came to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he bought his present home of Raymond Hampe. In 1891, Mr. Ruff was united in marriage to Miss Frederike Thietjie, a native of Chicago, and daughter of John and Frederike Thietjie. It is sad to relate that Mr. Ruff's bride of less than a year passed away to the great beyond. After mourning the loss of his wife for sev eral years, Mr. Ruff was again married, his bride being Bertha Kiok, to which union five children 216 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. were born, whose names are as follows: Ernest, Martha, John, Ella, and William, and they enjoy the respect and esteem of many friends and ac quaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Ruff and family are attendants of the German Lutheran church. In politics, Mr. Ruff is independent. JOHN P. LAUDEMAN. John P. Laudeman, one of the pioneer busi ness men of St. Edward, has been engaged in the general mercantile business at that point for many years past, having himself erected and continuously occupied one of the first stores put up in that now thriving city. He has been very successful in his chosen career, and through hon esty and good business principles has come to be known as one of the prominent men of affairs in his part of the state. John P. Laudeman was born in Marshall coun ty, Indiana, on the 7th day of October, 1849, and is the eldest in Frederick and Salome Laudeman 's family of seven children, the parents being na tives of Germany. Our subject was raised on the home farm, receiving his education in the local schools, and when about fifteen years of age went to work for an uncle who was engaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business. He was married to Miss Agnes Rittel, in South Bend, Indiana, on October 12, 1873, and the fol lowing year the young couple came to Boone county, Nebraska, traveling by train to Colum bus, and from there by team to St. Edwards. They were accompanied by Joseph Rittel and his wife, the parents of Mrs. Laudeman, and Mr. Rittel and our subject erected the first building in St. Edwards, engaging in the general mercan tile business. They were associated in business up to the time of Mr. Rittel's death, in October, 1906. Mrs. Rittel died also in December of the same year. Mr. Laudeman still carries on the business, and also operates a confectionery store and bakery under the name of the City Bakery and Lunch Room, and has become successful and one of the leading men of his city. He has in past years been connected with the school and town board, and was first moderator of district number seventeen. Mr. and Mrs. Laudeman have one child, Lily M., now the wife of Reverend Henry Zimnecker, who is pastor of the M. E. church in Sidney, Nebraska, and they have two children. The father of our subject died in Marshall county, Indiana, on June 28, 1908, and his widow survived him less than a year. TIMOTHYr COLLINS. Timothy Collins, who came to Wayne county twenty-three years ago, has been actively associ ated with the progress and development of his locality and is regarded as a useful, public-spir ited citizen. He was born in Canada, July 4, 1859, and is of Irish descent. His parents, William and Ellen Collins, left Ireland for Canada in a sailing ves sel, and spent the latter part of their lives in the latter country. Mr. Collins was reared in Canada and there attended the public schools. In 1888, he came to Cumings county, Nebraska, where he lived one year, and then came to Wayne county, where he rented land four years. He then pur chased his present home, which is very pleasantly situated on section six, township twenty-six, range two, and at once set to work to cultivate and improve his land. He has since continued to add to the value and beauty of his estate and has a small grove. He carries on a general line of farming and devotes considerable attention to stock raising. Mr. Collins was married in 1892 to Miss Mary Coleman, and eight children have been born of this union, namely: William Francis, Mary El len, Irene Clare, Winnifred, Leo Joseph, Charles Vincent, Timothy Lawrence and Agnes Blanche. Mrs. Collins is a native of Illinois, and a daugh ter of Patrick and Mary Coleman. Mr. Collins is well known throughout the county, and has many friends. He has always given his support to any measure calculated to advance the general wel fare of his community. He owns a comfortable home, and his present prosperity is the result of his industry and enterprise in managing and op erating his farm. He and his wife have reared a large family, and their children all reside at home. JOSEPH SMATLAN. Joseph Smatlan was born in Bohemia, August 11, 1844, and was youngest of three children in the family of Joseph and Anna Smatlan, who had two daughters and one son. He grew up to his young manhood years in his native country, and on October 28, 1866, was married to Miss Anna Telecky, and the same fall Mr. Smatlan and wife and his mother, Mrs. Joseph Smatlan, Sr., and his sister, Mrs. Antone Kunhardt, came to America, settling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mr. Smatlan 's father had died in Bohemia in 1864. The family remained in Iowa until coming to Colfax county, Nebraska, in October, 1870. Mr. Smatlan 's wife and little daughter Anna and his mother, in com pany with others, came overland from Iowa to Nebraska, the mode of transportation being ox teams, the usual way of traveling in those days. Mr. Smatlan took up a homestead fifteen miles north of Schuyler and farmed for eight years. In March, 1878, Mr. Smatlan left the home stead farm and moved into Schuyler, engaging in the lumber business, going into partnership with Mr. John Novotny. Mr. Novotny emigrated to America at the same time as Mr. Smatlan. In 1891 Mr. Smatlan purchased his partner's inter- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 217 est in the lumber yard and continued in the lum ber and coal business until 1905, at which time he retired from active management of the lumber yard and turned the business over to his sons, J. E. and E. B. Smatlan, who have continued the business. The Smatlan Lumber & Coal yard en joy an extensive business and have one of the best equipped yards in central Nebraska, they having large and commodious lumber sheds and build ings. The firm is well known and have a wide reputation for square dealing. In 1888 Mr. Smatlan, with several others, or ganized the Colfax County Bank in Howell, Ne braska, Mr. Smatlan becoming its vice president, and has continued to hold this position up to the present time. Mr. Smatlan has always ,been fore most amongst the live men of the county, doing his share towards .the development of Colfax county. In 1894 he acted as city treasurer of Schuyler, which office he filled to the satisfaction of all. He has large land interests in Colfax county, and now owns eight hundred acres of fine farm land. Mr. and Mrs. Smatlan have six children, name ly: Anne, wife of Thomas E. Molacek, cashier of a bank at Sulphur, Oklahoma, they have two children; Josie is the wife of Doctor Frank J. Wolishek, they having two children, and reside in Sidney, Nebraska; Mary, now Mrs. Adolph Kadletz, lives in North Dakota; Joseph E., is married to Emma Bartunek, has four children, he is a member of the Smatlan Brothers Lumber Co., at Schuyler ; Edward B., is also a member of the same firm; Victor H., married, is living in Primrose, Nebraska, where he is engaged in the lumber and grain business. Mr. Smatlan 's mother died in Colfax county, March 16, 1883, deeply mourned by many old friends and acquaintances and her family. The Smatlan family are pioneers of this section of Nebraska. They have been successful, and are of high standing in the country. ALFRED E. JONES. Alfred E. Jones, one of the successful and prosperous farmers of Antelope county, Nebras ka, has acquired a fine estate and enjoys all the comforts of rural life. He is a gentleman of good business judgment and has an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen and good neighbor. His home is in section twenty-five, township twenty-seven, range eight, where he resides and enjoys the good cheer and well wishes of all who know him. Mr. Jones was born in Drake county, Ohio, September 17, 1855. In 1857 the family moved to Marshall county, Iowa, where they remained for sixteen years and in 1873 moved to Lincoln county, South Dakota. Our subject's father, Elijah Jones, was a native of Miami county, Ohio, being born in 1828, and his mother, Ella (Sharp) 8% was a native of Baltimore, Maryland. Our sub ject's father with his family moved to South Da kota, settling near Sioux Falls, residing there about thirty years. Mr. Jones left his native state, Ohio., with his parents, going to South Dakota, then went out for himself, moving to Iowa in 1874, remaining there eight years. In 1882 Mr. Jones came to Nebraska, driving through in a covered wagon, taking up a homestead in sec tion thirteen, township twenty-seven, range eight, on which he built a frame house fourteen by eighteen feet in size. On September 2, 1877, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Ella Voorhies, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of the following named- children: Cora, wife of John Nutt, has three children, live at Perin, Neb.; Charles, Edith, George, who is married to Miss Ella Sheats, has one child, lives in Cook county Wyoming; Elea nor, wife of Earl Davidson, they having three children, live in Cook county, Wyoming; Edna, deceased in 1886 ; Emma, wife of A. H. Ludwick, has two children, lives in Antelope county; Ger- dren, and live in Cook county, Wyoming. Mr. Jones went through all the hardships inci dent to those early pioneer days when hay and cornstalks were used for 'fuel in the winter to keep from freezing to death. They also fought prairie fires a great many times to save their home. In the year 1882 the Indians started a fire which did much damage to the early settlers. In 1900 our subject sold his homestead and bought land in section twenty-five, township twenty-seven, range eight, where he now resides and has a beautiful home. Mr. Jones was county commissioner for four years, from 1906-1910, also filled the unexpired term of John Curtis, giving entire satisfaction to his constituents. In the early days he was in strumental in organizing his school district, num ber sixty-five, of which he was the first moder ator. He was assessor for three terms, 1903-4-5, and was re-elected in 1909. GEORGE W. LITTELL. George W. Littell, the subject of this personal sketch, first came to Pierce county, Nebraska, on March 19, 1880, when there were but a few houses in Pierce, the county seat. Mr. Littell bought one hundred and sixty acres of land eight miles southwest of Pierce, from his mother-in-law and began farming in the new country; so well did he succeed that he later added one hundred and twenty acres to the original land, now a highly improved and productive farm. In 1889 Mr. Littell was elected sheriff, serving something over six years, having filled one month of an unexpired term preceding his own. On com pleting his third term in office, Mr. Littell re- 218 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. turned to the farm, which he operated until 1904, when he moved to Pierce and has since resided here engaging in the real estate and insurance business. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for many years with an impartiality satis factory to the general public, and has served as police judge once in 1905, when Pierce was or ganized under city government. George W. Littell, son of John and Deborah (Teeple) Littell, is a native of Canada, where his parents stopped to visit relatives on their migra tion from New York to Ohio. Liking the coun try, the elder Littell remained for a number of years and here several of his children were born. Our subject was born June 12, 1840, and re sided in Canada, West, until 1849, when his par ents removed to Jackson county, Iowa. On the outbreak of the civil war, our 'subject, enlisted in Company A, Ninth Iowa Infantry, serving three years. Among the noted engage ments in which he participated are Pea Ridge, Siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, under Hooker, and the campaign around Atlanta. Af ter the march to the sea his company proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were dis charged. After the war, Mr. Littell removed to LaBette county, Kansas, where he farmed for five years and returned to Iowa, where he lived until 1880, the year of his coming to Pierce county. Mr. Littell was married in Nashville, Jackson county, Iowa, March 29, 1863, to Miss Julia A. Harvey, to whom three children were born : Car rie ; Prank, in charge of an elevator in Pierce ; and Nettie, for a number of years a teacher in Nebraska schools, now the wife of William Fran ces, a farmer of Pierce county. Mr. Littell is a republican, returning hearty support to the organization for the preferment that has been shown him by the party. He has been initiated into the mysteries of Ancient Freemasonry, and is a prominent mem ber of the Grand Army of the Republic post of Pierce. RASMUS MADSEN. The subject of this personal history is one of the most successful pioneers of Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. Madsen and his family have passed through all the experiences familiar to those who have watched the growth of the- great west from its early settlement, going through hardships in establishing a home, and tasting the discomfort and inconvenience as well as the some time joys of sod shanty life. Mr. Madsen has always done his full share in building up the region, ever standing for its progress and best in terests. Rasmus Madsen was born in Denmark, on No vember 22, 1846, and was the fifth in his father's family of nine children. He followed farming in that country until his twenty-third year, then came to America, his first location being in Wis consin, where he farmed up to 1877, at which time he came to Howard county, landing in the region in June of that year. He filed on a homestead of eighty acres situated on section fourteen, town ship thirteen, range twelve, and immediately set to work to develop a farm and home. In this he has succeeded far beyond his expectations, hav ing at the present time a thoroughly improved one hundred and twenty acre farm, supplied with substantial buildings of all kinds, and every con venience in the way of modern machinery, etc. Mr. Madsen was married in Howard county on June 12, 1877, to Carrie Anderson, and of this union five children have resulted, two of whom are now living, Chris and Mary, both at home. The family occupy a prominent place in the so cial life of their section, and all are deeply inter ested in things pertaining to its advancement along educational lines. Mr. Madsen has one brother, Peter, who came to America in 1869, who also was owner of a fine estate in Howard county, he having departed this life in 1889, although his family still occupy the homestead. HENRY" W. BARR. Henry W. Barr, who was one of the earlier settlers of Valley county, Ne braska, is well and favorably known in his part of the county, where he has been prominent in all movements for progress and advancement. Mr. Barr is an intelligent and progressive farmer and is successful in his oper ations. He was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, February 21, 1853, and is a son of Alexander and Mary (Soash) Barr, being third in a family of seven children. Of his brothers and sisters some are deceased; one brother and two sisters live in Iowa, and one brother resides in Minnesota. The Barr family is of Irish extraction and the fath°r was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and died in Jackson county, Iowa, in 1863. The mother of Mr. Barr was of French and German descent, born in the state of Pennsylvania, and she died in Butler county, Iowa, in April, 1875. Tn April, 1853, Mr. Barr's parents moved to Dubuque county, Iowa, and ten years later to But ler county, that state, and there the boy, Henry, received a common school education. As a young man he engaged in farming, and was married at Shell Rock, Iowa, July 16, 1876, to Miss Ella Jones, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Edward M. and Louisa (Sement) Jones. In 1885 Mr. Barr, with his wife and five daughters removed to Valley county, where he secured a homestead_ of one hundred and sixty acres of land nine miles northeast of Arcadia which was the home place COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 219 many years, and where he began developing a farm. In 1904 he purchased a half section of land, the northeast quarter of section four, township seventeen, range fifteen, and the southwest quar ter of section thirty-four, township eighteen, range fifteen, to which he moved in March, 1909, having erected a comfortable dwelling and other buildings and otherwise improved the place. Mrs. Barr died on the home farm December 21, 1894, survived by her husband and ten chil dren, namely: Ethel L., died January 1, 1903, leaving her husband, Alfred Royal, and one daughter ; Maud, died in December, 1899 ; Jennie married A. L. Lybarger, of Valley county, and they have two children; Mary married Prank Jenks, of Iowa, and they have three children; Jessie married P. H. Lybarger, of Valley county, and they have three children ; Bessie, wife of Charles Fox, lives in Iowa, and has two children ; Guy H., at home; Stephen O, of Iowa; Harvey R. at home, and Mona. Mona was but seven hours old when her mother died, and was adopted by J. B. Mowery and wife, who later moved to Kear ney, and here she is attending the city schools. Mr. Barr has shown helpful interest in the cause of education, and was one of the organizers of school district number fifty-nine, having been the first director of the board. He has since been a member of the board most of the time, and at the present time is serving as moderator. On February 25, 1898, Mr. Barr married (sec ond) at Edison, Nebraska, Mrs. Delila Hosier, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Jesse and Melissa (Searle) Hoskins. Mr. Barr has developed his land into an excel lent stock and grain farm and is provided with modern machinery and equipment for carrying on his work. He is actively engaged in farming, ; and is considered one of the substantial, desirable ; citizens of Valley county. j From 1892 to 1898, Mr. Barr lived in a dug out with a frame front. In the year of drought, 1894, he harvested a third of a crop of twenty- nine acres of wheat and one hundred and twenty- five acres of corn. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, caught him just as he had hitched the team to a wagon to get a load of hay ; he had difficulty in getting them to the barn and in finding his way to the house. Mr. Barr is a member of the Church of the Brethren (formerly known as the Dunkards,) and is independent in politics. FRANK WINTER. Prank Winter, an agriculturist of prominence in Madison county, resides in Norfolk precinct on section ten, township twenty-four, range one, and is one of those substantial citizens whose in tegrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Winter is a native Nebraskan, his birth occurring November 18, 1874, in Madison county. He is a son of William and Minnie (Stark) Win ter, both natives of Germany, the province of Prussia being their birthplace. Our subject's father served both his native land and the land of his adoption in the strife both countries ex perienced at different periods; he served in the German army during the war of 1848 ; and served in the United States army during tbe civil war, enlisting in the twenty-seventh Wisconsin In fantry. In 1856, our subject's father left his native land for America, embarking at Hamburg in a sailboat, and after eleven weeks on the sea, landed in New York and they immediately started for the west, locating in Wisconsin, where they remained nine years. In 1866 the father and family started for the far west, as Nebraska and vicinity was considered at that time. They came by the usual route in those pioneer days — ox team and covered wagon — and took up a homestead in section ten, township twenty-four, range one, in Madison county, which has remained the home place to this day. On this land was built a log house, which has later been replaced by a good, substantial frame one. In the first days of residence on the prairies, Columbus and West Point were the nearest mar ket places, and when the family were in need of flour, a trip to Sioux City had to be made, a dis tance of seventy-five miles. Here in their pioneer home the family experienced many hardships and bitter experiences; during the first few years' residence here, the grasshoppers devastated the region, destroying every vestige of crops and veg etation for miles around, which was very dis couraging to the new settler just beginning life in a new unsettled country; many times prairie fires were fought to save lives and possessions; and as late as 1894 our subject lost the entire year's crops by the hot winds that prevailed dur ing the severe drouth. Mr. Winter was united in marriage Decem ber 6, 1900, to Miss Anna Weich, a native of Pierce county, and a daughter of Herman and Henrietta Weich. Mr. and Mrs. Winter are the parents of five children, whose names are as fol lows : Reuben, Walter, Lydia, Anna, and Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Winter and family enjoy the esteem and friendship of a host of friends and acquaintances, and Mr. Winter is well and favor ably known in a business and social way in his community. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, on which he has good buildings and a comfortable home ; he has four acres of fine orchard on his land, and is a prosperous and sub stantial citizen. With his family, he is 'a member of the German Lutheran church, and affiliates with the democratic party. RANDOLPH FREDERICK WICHMAN. The gentleman above named is prominently known as one of the leading business men and 220 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. worthy citizens of Scotia, Nebraska, having been connected with mercantile and banking bus iness ; and he is one of the public spirited men of this section of the country. Frederick Wichman, as the subject of this re view is known, was born in Ashton, Sherman county, Nebraska, September 1, 1882, and was the only child of Fred and Isabelle Wichman. Mr. Wichman is a Nebraska boy born and bred, growing up on the home farm until his sixteenth year, receiving a good common school education. In his eighteenth year he attended business col lege in St. Paul, Nebraska, and after completing his education he worked for the Keystone Lum ber company at Ashton, later was in the employ of the general mercantile firm of Taylor at Ash ton, and Hayden at Omaha ; and until 1904 was an employee of Hayden Brothers of Omaha. In 1905 Mr. Wichman went to Parwell, How ard county, and became connected with his uncle, Joseph Wichman, in the mercantile business, and remained there for two years. On May 15, 1908, the First State Bank of Scotia, Greeley county, was organized with the following officials: N. J. Paul, president; W. L. Little, vice president; R. F. Wichman, cashier and resident manager. The bank was sold in February, 1911, since which time Mr. Wichman has been the local represen tative of the International Land Company of Omaha. Mr. Wichman is a young man of splendid business ability and is a progressive man along all lines. The Wichman family is well known in central Nebraska. Grandfather and Grandmother Wichman reside in Farwell, Nebraska, the oldest couple in point of years in this section of the state; Grandfather Wichman is in his ninety -' fifth year, and his wife in about her ninetieth year. They are still active and enjoying life to its fullness. Our subject's father died in 1905, in Nebraska, and the mother is now a resident of California. Randolph Frederick Wichman, the principal subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Jen nie Armstrong, daughter of Irvine and Annie (Welsh) Armstrong, at the Armstrong home, September 1, 1908. A son, Frederick Irvin Wich man, was born May 18, 1911. Mrs. Wichman was born in Howard county, and her parents are old settlers of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Wichman en joy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends by whom they are surrounded in their pleasant home. They are members of the Metho dist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Wichman is a republican ; he is a member of the Masonic fra ternity and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. RASMUS MORTENSEN. (Deceased.) Among the prominent pioneers of Howard county, who are now deceased, we mention Ras mus Mortensen, whose name heads this review. He was a man of untiring energy, upright char acter, and for many years was known as a pro gressive business man of his vicinity. Mr. Mor tensen died on November 20, 1899. Rasmus Mortensen was born in Denmark on November 27, 1846, and his boyhood was spent on his father's farm. In his boyhood he was ap prenticed to a miller, and learned that business thoroughly. He was married at the age of twen ty-four years, to Josephine Neilsen, also born and reared in Denmark, and one son was born to them. In 1872 he brought his little family to America, joining the Danish colony which had been established in Howard county, and in part nership with Peter Hansen, purchased homestead rights of Paul Anderson, this land situated six miles northwest of Dannebrog, the consideration being $1,000. After acquiring this property the joint owners "drew straws" to decide which one should live on the place, our subject being the fortunate man, and his partner immediately fil ing on another homestead near by, together car rying on both farms, each furnishing part of the equipment necessary and dividing the work be tween them. Mr. Mortensen was successful in developing his farm in good shape, and accumu lated considerable property, although he met with the usual obstacles during the early days. He became interested in the milling business at Dannebrog for a short time, and at the time of his death was owner of six hundred and eighty acres of fine farming and grazing land. Mr. Mortensen was a staunch democrat, and took a deep interest in the politics of his county and state, although never sought public prefer ment. Mrs. Josephine Mortensen, widow of our sub-. ject, has given up active farming since the death of her husband, having rented the place and moved to Dannebrog, where she purchased a fine home and has with her two of her children. She is a capable business woman, managing the -large estate left her in a most successful manner, and since Mr. Mortensen 's death has added consid erable to her income by the purchase of large holdings in South Dakota. She is the mother of nine children, who are named as follows: Chris tian, who married Anna Obermiller, parents of four children, they carrying on farming on the old homestead, of which Christian has purchased two hundred and forty acres ; N. Peter, who with his wife and two children, lives in Cushing; J. Christina, who, with her husband, Thomas Thompson, are both practicing dentists in Dan nebrog, and meeting with much success in their chosen profession; Sophia O, wife of James Irvine, Jr., they living in Howard coun ty on a farm, with their four children; Emma, wife of Fred Sorensen; they have three children and reside on a fine farm near Nysted ; A. Louise, living with her mother ; Mary, wife of W. Welch, mother of two children, they residing on a farm RASMUS MORTENSEN, DECEASED. •* *! had made arrangements to open a store in Atkinson, but on account of his wife's illness at O'Neill, was unable to attend to it, so Mr. Dickerson took charge, and in this way sold the first goods to pass across a counter in the new town, and opened uo and distributed the first sack of mail received there. Later he and Mr. Bittney bought the store, and for three years were the pioneer merchants of the place, Mr. Dickerson at the same time serving as postmas ter. In 1879, Mr. Dickerson went to California, and found employment in a livery barn in San Francisco, thus earning enough money to tide him over until he procured an outfit for pros pecting. Forming a partnership with a friend, he started out, and they purchased a half inter est in a shaft that had already been sunk to a depth of ninety-two feet, and this enterprise was fairly successful, as they obtained a good show ing of mineral. About this time the original owners sold their half interest for three thous and five hundred dollars, and Mr. Dickerson and 248 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his partner could have done likewise had they so desired. Later, while blasting in the shaft, the partner lost his eyes, and had both arms and both legs, as well as five ribs, broken. After this sad event, Mr. Dickerson, who had mean time returned to Nebraska, ordered his quarter interest to be sold, and the proceeds devoted to the needs of his unfortunate friend and partner. For about three years after his return to (Ne braska in 1881, Mr. Dickerson was engaged in a mercantile business, which he rthen sold, and opened a furniture store. He disposed of this in turn, and established a dray business, which has prospered well, and in which he is a pioneer, as mentioned in the first paragraph of this (article. Mr. Dickerson was married in Atkinson, June 21, 1882, to Miss Eva Davis, bora near Mazeppa, Minnesota, daughter of James and Arina (Ly man) Davis, who were early settlers of Nebraska, reaching Holt county November 12, 1878, and settling on a ranch three miles south of Atkin son. Nine children have been born of this union, all of whom survive, and they are a family of whom any parents might feel justifiably proud. Winnie, the eldest child, is employed as clerk in a store at Atkinson; Ivan is an employe of the First National Bank of O'Neill; Pay is employed in a hardware store; Harold, Jane, Clara, Eva, Bernice and Hazel are all in school. The chil dren are unusually rugged and strong, and up to the present time their parents have spent less than one hundred dollars for medicines and doe- tors for all of them. Politically, Mr. Dickerson is a staunch republi can. He became a member of the Masonic order at Atkinson, and joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at O'Neill. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. Few can recount a more striking personal ex perience than he underwent during the three days' blizzard of October, 1880, in wMch his friend, Mr. Wolf, bore him company. They had been trapping on the Big Sandy av* 1"*+. their cabin to go to the camp of a Mr. McElvaney, intending to join him in bringing a yoke of oxen to O'Neill. As the dav had been comparatively warm, traveling was fairlv comfortable, but while on their way over the hills, the storm broke over their heads almost with the unexpected sudden ness of a thunder clap, and within a few minutes the air became full of blinding snow. Panic overtook the cattle, and Mr. McElvaney saw the futility of trying to make further progress under such conditions, so he turned back with the ani mals, and reached his camp safely. The others, however, pushed on toward the north, while the storm was increasing in fury with each moment, and the road was soon obliterated, so they de cided to turn back, as Mr. McElvanev had done, and followed their own trail toward their start ing point as best they might, but as they had been on the road for several hours, it took a long time to grope their way along in the teeth of the storm, and it seemed as if they were trying to find their way in pitchy darkness. After floun dering for several hours through drifts and gul lies, they found themselves at the foot of the bluffs, where a log lay across a small stream, a familiar landmark to them, and they knew it was but a short distance from their cabin, to which they made their way. As they had left some pro visions there, they anticipated a warm supper, but were dismayed at finding their food gone. They found out subsequently that a party of hungry hunters had found shelter in the cabin. and, following the custom of the country, had helped themselves to all they found, supposing the owners were safe in town. It is hard to real ize the pangs of hunger and cold suffered by the two men who were shut up by the blinding storm for the following three days, as they were with out either food or fire for that length of time, and ice dust constantly sifted through the crev ices in the 'loosely-built log shack. On the morn ing of the third day, the storm showed signs of abating, and, weak from hunger and cold, the two lonely men started again on their long and weary journey across twenty miles of drifted snow piled on the prairie between them and the town of O'Neill. They grew so exhausted before they had completed their long walk that they took turns resting and walking, one going until he felt worn out, then sitting down to rest until joined by his companion, when they would again plod on until forced to rest again, letting his com panion take his turn at resting, after which the latter would eventually pass him in turn. Thus, staggering on and resting by turn, they were met by Mr. McElvaney, who had reached the town with the oxen on the second day, and not finding his friends, had started back to look for them, keeping his fears for their safety to himself, how ever. He was tortured with conjectures as to their probable fate, and kept his watch to the north, so that as soon as the snow had ceased falling he started to seek them, and was over joyed at seeing the two struggling forms, and to recognize them. Upon reaching the little town, Mr. Dickerson and his companion found that nothing was considered too good for them, as soon as their sufferings and the hardships through which they had just passed became known. It was an experience which would have worn out most men beyond their powers of en durance. Mr. .Dickerson was also out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, for a time. He and a cousin ha'1 gone south of the town for a load of hay, and were returning with it when the storm struck them, three and a half miles from home. The cousin, a tenderfoot in the country, wanted to go under the wagon and wait until the flurry was over, but Mr. Dickerson knew better what to expect. The first blast overturned their load, and left them floundering under part of the hay. Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. 249 Mr. Dickerson unhitched the team, and led the horses home, keeping his eyes on the ground at every step in order to be able to see something of the road if possible. Although severely frosted, they reached home in safety. In early days, Mr. Dickerson often had to fight prairie fires, an experience which he had also met in boyhood while living in Wisconsin. The worst hailstorm he has known in the west killed thousands of birds in the trees near O'Neill, at the same time taking the bark off the north sides of many of the trees, a great number of which were thus killed. He lived in a log house for a time after occupying his claim, and his wife's family also lived in a log shack until they had time to erect a larger and more com fortable dwelling, which was also of logs. They burned hay for a time, as coal was too expensive and ,hard to procure, and wood too scarce, even along the streams. In early days, Mr. Dickerson shot antelope on the present site of O'Neill, but the bigger game had already been driven west ward to the mountains. There were a few deer, which, however, were not so plentiful as antelope, and one lone buffalo was seen by the early set tlers in that region, though not by Mr. Dicker- son. Mr. Dickerson knew most of the notable characters of his part of the state in the early days, among them being "Kid" Wade, "Jack" Nolan, "Limber Dick," "Black Bill" and "Doc" Middleton, and he was one of the posse that fin ally captured the last named. He relates some very interesting incidents in connection with this event. After his release, Doc Middleton returned to Atkinson, and Mr. Dickerson, who had mar ried during the interim and was engaged in the furniture business, took him home to dine with his family, afterwards introducing him to many of the townspeople, most of them newcomers, who had great curiosity as to the identity of the stranger. In concluding this article, we may say that no man in Atkinson is held in higher estimation by his fellows than Mr. Dickerson, and a man who has reared so large and creditable a family as he (with the assistance of his excellent and able wife and helpmeet) is a blessing to his state and nation. Honest, industrious and energetic, he has been an inspiring example to all young men who have entered the business field in his lo cality. JAMES WORDEN. James Worden, one of the old-time farmers and stockmen of Boone county, Nebraska, has, since settling here in the early days, been en gaged in various business enterprises, and is to day recognized as a leading citizen and prosper ous resident of Petersburg. Mr. Worden was born in Grant county, Wis consin, on August 20, 1864, and was the youngest of two boys and three girls in the family of B. A. 9V2 and Esther P. Worden. The father was born in New York state, and came to Boone county in company with Ira Whipple in the spring of 1872, traveling by team and wagon overland to look the country over. In the fall of the same year, he returned to Wisconsin and the following spring brought his entire family to Boone county, they also coming by wagon through the coun try. The father homesteaded immediately, and later two sons and one daughter also filed on homesteads. The parents are now living in Ore gon, where they went for residence in 1894, and one son, Charles, and a daughter, also made that state their permanent home. At the time of coming to Boone county, James Worden was nine years of age, and his early education was received in the country schools here. At the age of twenty, he began for himself, purchasing a farm in 1885, situated about a mile and a half northwest of Petersburg, and resided there up to 1893. He followed mixed farming and stock raising, and achieved considerable suc cess in both enterprises during his residence there. In 1894, Mr. Worden went to Illinois, purchas ing a farm near .Ashley, which he carried, on for about one year, then returned to Boone county and was connected with different business enter prises. For six years he was with T. H. Sturde- vant in the lumber and grain business, and aft erwards started a livery and sales stable, which he carried on to October, 1910, when 'he sold. On his well improved farm he has one of the finest orchards in the county, raising annually over one thousand bushels of fruit. Mr. Worden was married on February 16, 1884, to Miss Edith Ganiard, who comes of a prominent pioneer Boone county family. They have two children, Grace, who is a popular teacher in the public schools of Petersburg, and Fay, also living at home. Mr. Worden is a truly self-made man, and is held in the highest esteem in his locality. He has always been prominent in political affairs in his county and state, and has held different public offices, serving as assessor of Oakland pre cinct, and has been president of the school board of Petersburg for a number of years. In the year 1910, he served as census enumerator for the United States census taken that year. DOCTOR A. JONES. Mr. Doctor A. Jones, a prosperous retired farmer now residing in Wayne, is the seventh son in a family of eight sons and two daughters born to his parents ; and in view of the supposed healing qualities of the seventh son he was bap tized Doctor Albert Jones. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Hicks) Jones, were natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively ; the former died in 1906, the latter about 1868. Mr. Jones was born in Clermont county, Ohio, 250 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. January 25, 1858, and there reared. At the age of twenty, he went to Texas and for two years was employed on the ranch of Atterburg Broth ers, riding the range as a cpwboy in Texas and Oklahoma for two years. Coming to Mills county, Iowa, for a time he was employed at farm labor and then rented land and farmed for a year or two prior to his moving to Nebraska in 1889. He purchased a half-section three miles west of Wayne, and lived here nearly twenty years, mak ing farming a very successful vocation. In 1908, he purchased a fine dwelling adjoin ing Court Square in the city of Wayne, and gives his personal attention to his farming interests near the city. , Mr. Jones was married in Mills county, Iowa, June, 16, 1880, to Miss Lucy E. Strahan, who was born in Henderson county, Illinois. Her parents, J. M. and Prances (Davis) Strahan moved to eastern Iowa in 1865, and later on out to Mills county, where she and Mr. Jones met. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, all are liv ing ; they are : Marcellus P., who is running the home farm ; Gale, who is the wife of George Sher- bohrn, resides in Wayne; Jay M., is farming four miles west- of Wayne; Roscoe returned to the former residence of the family in Mills county, Iowa, and engages in farming there ; Albert, who. is an expert motorist, acts as his father's chauffeur in his business trips through the country; and Dorothy, the youngest, is still in school. Deer and antelope were extinct in the region when Mr. Jones came to Wayne county, but they were plentiful in Texas when he was employed there on the ranch. Much of the country throughout northeastern Nebraska was open pra irie at the time Mr. Jones settled here. In the period he has been a resident of the corn-husk- er 's state, he has seen all this change — where was once open country covered with waving prairie grasses, are now to be seen highly tilled farms, miles of trees, substantial and elegant farm dwellings; big red barns, sheds, stacks of grain, and herds of cattle and horses; a country teem ing with wealth and enjoying a prosperity that few sections can equal anywhere within the na tional domain. Mr. Jones is a democrat, and represented his county in the legislature during the years 1896, 1897 and 1898. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Eagle lodges. CARL LUEDEKE. One of the earliest settlers of Staunton county, as well as one of the most successful re tired farmers of that locality, is Carl Luedeke, who is now enjoying a well-earned life of com fort and ease in his quiet home in Staunton. His portrait will be found on another page of this volume. Mr. Luedeke was born in the village of Schwedt am Oder, province of Brandenburg, Prussia, on April 24, 1844, and lived in this little village for twenty-five years. His parents, Chris tian and Louisa (Biljet) Luedeke, lived out their days in their native land. Mr. Luedeke served in the military of the Emperor of Germany from June 12, 1866 to 1868. Mr. Luedeke came to America in 1869, sail ing from Hamburg on the 24th of May m the ' ' Westphalia. ' ' The vessel ran into hidden rocks near the coast, necessitating a return to Havre, where the vessel was placed in dry-dock for re pairs. Mr. Luedeke finally reached New York City on June 4, proceeding further west by rail to Fremont, via Omaha. From here he went with a farmer to Rock Creek, Cuming county, which at that time was considered quite a city. After working by the month for Mr. Newman for a year, he filed on a homestead about sixteen miles west of West Point, and for thirteen years this was his home. After making many improve ments on the place, he sold the farm in 1883, and purchased a quarter-section about nine miles south and west .of Pilger, in Staunton county, to which he later added an adjoining tract of one hundred and twenty acres. By the exercise of thrift and industry, Mr. Luedeke accumulated farm after farm, until at the time of his retire ment from active life, in December, 1903, he owned five hundred acres in Staunton county. He has since sold a quarter section and purchased two hundred and forty acres near Orchard, An telope county, on which his son Emil resides. Mr. Luedeke was married in Schwedt am Oder on the 14th of April, 1869, to Miss Henrietta Fuener, a native of the same province. They were married just ten days before they sailed for America, the voyage making a most eventful wedding journey. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Luedeke, six of whom are liv ing: Carl, Herman, Flora (now Mrs. Fred Kas- sebaum;) Otto, Emil, and Hattie, now Mrs. Wil liam Wagner. Mr. Luedeke 'is a staunch democrat, and he is also a member of the Sons of Herman, as well as the German Singing Society of Staunton. Mr. Luedeke has his full share of poineer ex periences. He occupied in succession all the dif ferent kinds of dwellings used by the settlers in this region. His first home was a dug-out in which his family lived during the first summer, until a log house could be built. Al though this had a dirt floor, they lived there for several years until the third dwelling, (also a log house) was erected. This had a floor of rough cottonwood boards, hauled from the mill at Rock Creek. Later, a fine frame house was built, which is Mr. Luedeke 's home at the present time. Like other pioneers, he suffered many dis couragements. From 1873 to 1877, the grasshop pers did more or less damage to all his crops, and in 1874, they took everything. Prairie fires CARL LUEDEKE. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 251 often threatened destruction, and during his first season on the farm, his granary was struck by lightning and burned. It was only a small structure, but its destruction was at that time a great loss to Mr. Luedeke. The great blizzards, which sometimes raged for days, were also perils to be taken into con sideration. For 'the most part, the settlers relied upon the Cottonwood trees growing in the river bottoms for their fuel, but if the supply ran low, it was not uncommon for them to burn corn in stead. Many of them lacked money to buy cof fee, and were forced to use instead parched wheat, rye, and barley. Mr. Luedeke is recognized as one of the promi nent citizens of the county, and during his long residence here has gained the confidence and es teem of a large circle of acquaintances. lier settlers of Platte county and was widely and favorably , known. PAUL HOPPEN. (Deceased.) The gentleman named here was an old settler in the eastern part of Nebraska, and was well and favorably known. Paul Hoppen was born in Colnam-on-Rhine, Germany, December 4, 1846, and was the eldest of four children, having two sisters and one brother. One sister is living in Milwaukee, Wis consin, the other in New York, and the brother in Sidney, Nebraska. Mr. Hoppen came to America in the latter six ties, settled in the state of Wisconsin, and en gaged in the manufacturing of wagons. In 1870 our subject came to Columbus, Nebraska, and went into the hotel business. On February 28, 1874, Mr. Hoppen was joined in holy wedlock to Mrs. Catherine Wellman, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Hoppen were blessed with seven children, whose names are as follows: Ed ward, deceased February 21, 1908, survived by a wife and one child living in Columbus, Nebraska ; William H., deceased in 1878; Anna P., married to Jasper Nichols, who have two children and live in Columbus, Nebraska; William L., de ceased in 1888 ; Emma H., who resides at home ; Marie, deceased in 1887 ;¦ and Paul H., who lives at home. Mr. Hoppen homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Shell creek and purchased forty acres adjoining. He died November 1, 1900, at his home in Columbus, Nebraska, sur vived by his wife and four children. Mrs. Hoppen 's father died in 1867, in Ger many, and her mother died in 1895, in the state of Nebraska. She has one sister, Mrs. L. Schwarz, who lives in Columbus, Nebraska; one brother, who resides in Platte county, and another sister, Mrs. Hoppen is still living in the old home in Columbus, Nebraska, surrounded by a large cir cle of friends. Her husband was one of the ear- PRESCOTT HEMENWAY. Prescott Hemenway, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality for over forty-one years. Fie is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stock men of Nebraska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Not being content to sit idly by, Mr. Hemenway still looks after his farm and business. Mr. Hemenway is a native of Wayne township, Dupage county, Illinois, born April 4, 1 1849. His father, Charles E. Hemenway died in 1893 at the age of seventy-six years. His grandfather and uncle fought in the revolutionary war. Our subject's mother, Lucy (Fay) Hemenway, was born in the state of Massachusetts in July, 1820, and died in 1864. In 1870 Mr. Hemenway started for the west, went to Fremont, Nebraska, in March, 1870 and from there drove to the place which he home steaded September 13, 1870, in section twenty- three, township twenty-six, range eight, Norfolk being the nearest postoffice, fifty miles away. Mr. Hemenway built a i dug-out on this land in which he lived for one year, then built a log house in which he lived and "batched it." Later he took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Blaine township, December 21, 1872. In those early days many hardships were experienced, and in 1873 the grasshopper raid did great damage, destroying all the crops, and also again in 1876, which proved a hard blow for a young man starting in life. But he held on, stuck to his land and persevered, and has since prospered to an extent which has amassed a competency for him, placed him among the most solid and substantial of Nebraska's citizens. Mr. Hemenway was united in marriage in El gin, Illinois, March 6, 1875, to Miss Maria Switzer, and Mr. and Mrs. Hemenway are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Herbert; Ray; Viola, wife of Mr. C. Rogers, she has one child and lives in Blain township; Byron; Het- tie ; and Mark. Mr. Hemenway, as before stated, is one of the foremost farmers and stock men of the state of Nebraska, and owns a fine estate of seventeen hundred acres of land. He has ten acres of beautiful grove, also a fine orchard. Mr. Hemen way is a republican, and is a member of the Odd Fellows and A. O. U. W. Mrs. Hemenway and daughter Hettie are mem bers of the. Degree of Honor. 252 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. k. w. Mcdonald. The McDonalds, descendants of the hardy highlanders of Scotland, are a long-lived^ race. The three brothers, Captain C. F., Captain Wil liam and Lieutenant James V, were early set tlers in Nebraska, coming betimes in the years 1876 and 1884. They are natives of Smyth county, Virginia, where the family had resided for three or four generations, their plantations aggregating some fifteen hundred acres which were cultivated by their slaves prior to the war. The eldest, Captain C. F. McDonald, a vet eran of the confederate army, was born Decem ber 27, 1824. He lived continuously in his native state until he came west, and was occupied as a farmer, drover, and hotel keeper. He had seen the coming conflict and had raised a company that was mustered into the confederate service the day of the firing on Fort Sumpter, and served until the surrender of Lee. In 1883, Captain C. F. came to Staunton county, Nebraska, and April 5, 1884, arrived in Pierce county. He has lived in Pierce City since November 5, 1884, and has served his adopted home well in the capacity of constable, deputy sheriff, and town marshal, and has held the office of justice of the peace for eighteen years. The second, Captain William McDonald, was with the argonauts crossing the plains in 1849, remaining on the Pacific coast three years, and then returned by way of Panama and New York. Raising a company on the outbreak of the civil war, he served until the last day in a Virginia regiment. In 1876 he came to Staunton county, Nebraska, and later to Pierce county, which he served some fifteen years as county judge. His death occurred in March, 1907, at the age of seventy-eight years. The third, James V. McDonald, resident of Pierce county, Nebraska, was born November 30, 1833, and from a slave on his father's planta tion learned blacksmithing and grew to be one of the most expert horse-shoers in that region. He could turn twenty-four i shoes, make the one hun dred and ninety-two nails needed, and set them on the hoofs in a day, and could make by hand two nails at one heat. In August, 1862, he en listed in Company E, Derrick's Infantry, Floyd's brigade, serving as lieutenant, and the year fol lowing was transferred to Company E, Johnson's Cavalry Brigade, in which he served until the close of the war, being at Lynchburg when he heard of Lee's surrender. He served as second lieutenant in the quartermaster's department most of the time. Of the fourteen children born to the parents of the above three subjects three sons and seven daughters lived to maturity and raised families. The father, Solomon McDonald, who died De cember 14, 1811, at the age of fifty-eight years, was a son of Columbus McDonald. The mother, Nancy A. (Cox) McDonald, was a daughter of William and Hannah (Lamma) Cox, both natives of Virginia. James , V. McDonald was married August 27, 1857, in Bristol, Tennessee, to Miss Emeline A. Gannaway, a native of Smyth county, Virginia. Of twelve children bom to them, eight reaehed maturity: J. Beauregard McDonald, county clerk of Pierce county; Robert F., drowned at Pierce; Charles T., contractor and builder, of Pierce ; George E., who died in 1892 ; Stella, wife of E. S. Glaze, of Pierce; Kenneth Wilton, at- torney-at-law, of Plainview; Grundy E., promi nent physician of Wyoming; Solomon R., em ployed in the office of the superintendent of the Rock Island railroad, at Farbury, Nebraska. Kenneth W. McDonald, our subject, was born in Smyth county, Virginia, January 18, 1874, of a third generation born in the same house. He is a son of James V. and Emeline A. (Gannaway) McDonald. The mother is a daugh ter of John and Kizziah (Barringer) Gannaway, the latter a daughter of Adam and Eliza beth (Strafer) Gannaway. The paternal grand parents were William and Elizabeth (Wright) Gannaway, all of whom were natives of Vir ginia. Mrs. McDonald is a cousin of William Gannaway Brownlee, famous during the civil war under the name of "Parson Brownlee," as the "fighting parson," and later Governor of Tennessee, and for years was editor of the "Knoxville Whig." Orphaned at an early age, he was reared in the family with Mrs. McDon ald. Kenneth W. McDonald attended school three years in his native state and graduated in the Pierce schools in 1892 ; read law in the office of his present partner, Fred H. Free, and was ad mitted to the bar of the state of Nebraska in No vember, 1906. The McDonalds are all staunch . democrats, and several members of the family have held of fice in the county by the favor of that oldest political organization. JOHN S. SCHOW. John S. Schow, a farmer of ability and pro- gressiveness, resides in Pairdale precinct, and is one of the respected citizens of Howard county. He has succeeded through many difficulties in building up a good farm and home, and may be classed among the selfmade men of that locality, being now well-to-do and enjoying a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Schow was born in Denmark, June 11, 1848, and was the fifth in a family of six children born to his parents, Seren and Catherine Schow. When he was nine years old the family came to America, their first location being Iowa City, Iowa. After a short stay in that vicinity they packed their belongings in wagons and started to make the trip overland to Salt Lake City, Utah, leaving Iowa City about June 1st, and landing COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 253 in Utah August 15, 1857. In the party going to Utah were about six hundred people, the wagon train being composed of sixty-six wagons and sixty-three vehicles which were called "hand cars," and were propelled by hand power. After an eventful journey, tedious and discouraging experiences, they arrived at their destination, the Schow family locating at Spanish Forks, Utah, where they spent four years, engaged in farm ing. From there they went to Camp Floyd, which was the first soldiers' fort in Utah, and they made that their home for two years, (following both farming and freighting, also herding stock on the plains, etc. These were really the pio neer days in Utah, and it is an interesting tale to listen to Mr. Schow 's recital of the adventures they met with in those times. While living there, they were practically forced to remain cut off from all outside communication, as there were no regular trains or mode of travel excepting by wagon, etc. In 1864 Seren Schow and his family, consist ing of himself, wife, our subject, and another son, started for Nebraska, making this trip also by wagon drawn by one horse, and an ox team. They were accompanied by three other families and their wagon -teams, and during this trip they came upon i a number of wagon parties who had been left stranded on the plains by Indians who had taken their horses and other stock which they were driving to new locations. Our subject and his family arrived in Fremont on July 4th, and settled on a farm five miles north of that place which they occupied for nineteen years. The mother died there in 1873, and the father six years later, the sons remaining on the original homestead for several years. Our subject was married there to Mary Han sen, February 22, 1879, and she died in Novem ber of the same year. Mr. Schow soon afterwards moved into Nance county, remaining there for nineteen years, then came into Howard county, arriving here on March 13, 1902. He at once purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections seventeen and eighteen, township six teen and range eleven, and here he has suc ceeded in building up a good home and farm, be ing classed among the well-to-do and progres sive farmers of his locality. He now owns six hundred and forty acres, all in the sections men tioned above except one quarter section in sec tion nine, township fifteen, range ten. Mr. Schow was married the second time, in Nance county, to Mary Nielsen, the event occur- ing on April 6, 1883. Mrs. Schow was born in Denmark, and came to America in 1881, settling in Nance county, Nebraska, with her brother. where she met the man whom she later married. Mr. and Mrs. Schow have had ten children, nine of whom were born in Nance county, and the other in Howard county. They are named as fol lows: Mary, now deceased, Anna T., wife of Leonard I arson, John J., Andrew, Carrie L., Marie, Dora B., Laura, Ernest M., and a son who died in infancy. They are a fine family and have many friends in the community in which they live. Mr. Schow has served in different capacities in his precinct, now being on the school board of district number forty-three. Also, while lving in Nance county, he held the office of school treasurer for thirteen years. MINGERSON COOMBS. Mingerson Coombs is one of the leading busi ness men of Ord an dis also one of the best known pioneers of Valley county. He was born in Knox county, Maine, on the 26th of March, 1845, and was the third of eight children born to Archibald and Harriet Newell Coombs. When he was only fourteen years of age, the family moved to LaPorte county, Indiana, where he worked on his father's farm until he had at tained his majority. When Mr. Coombs became of age, he opened a store in New Carlisle, Indiana, and enjoyed a fair success there. In 1869, he moved to Berrien county, Michigan, where he bought a fruit farm. However, in 1873, he had an opportunity to dis pose of the fruit farm at considerable advan tage, so he sold it and came directly to Valley county, Nebraska, where he located a home stead and timber claim. It is a matter of grati fication to Mr. Coombs that he succeeded in ac complishing here what few others did — taking a claim under the original timber act, which re- auired the actual planting and cultivation of forty acres of timber. Mr. Coombs met with success with his efforts, many of the trees now standing being three feet in diameter and one on the place is over twelve feet in circumference. Mr. Coombs was engaged in farming for years, and of course, met with all the discourage ments which caused so many to become "quit ters. ' ' However, he stayed with the county until Nebraska has lived down the bad reputation giv en it in the early years. He has always had much to do with public affairs and at different times filled the office of county commissioner, county surveyor, county superintendent of schools, and mayor of Ord. This alone shows in what light he is regarded by the people. He is now engaged in mercantile business in Ord, and is one of the most prosperous men of the community. For nine years after coming to Valley county, Mr. Coombs was known as the "bachelor home steader." His father and mother, however, came eventually to Valley county, and lived there for the rest of their lives, both living to a ripe old ae-e. In 1882, Mr. Coomb« was married to Miss Nellie Rowell in Creston, Iowa. Two children have been born to them, only one, Archibald K, now living. Mr. and Mrs. Coombs have always been closely 254 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. identified with the social life of Valley county, and have rendered great aid in the development of education in the community. T. G. OSTREM. In this volume is given the life history of many of the foremost citizens of the state of Ne braska, and none holds a higher place in the an nals of the region than the gentleman whose name heads this review. Mr. Ostrem is one of the prominent early settlers of Madison county, has spent in all about twenty-five years in this region, and during that time has accumulated a fine property by dint of thrift, economy and per severance, and also has done a great deal towards advancing the best interests of that part of the state. T. G. Ostrem comes from the country that has given to us so many of the brave and sturdy set tlers, and possesses all the best traits of his Nor wegian ancestors. He first saw the light on July 2, 1870, and was the ninth in a family of nine children born to Goodman and Caroline Ostrem. When only seventeen years of age, our sub ject left his native land and came alone to America, 'where he was told that plenty of cheap land was to be had for those who were willing to work for it. He crossed the sea as an emi grant, and on landing in New York made ar rangements to proceed at once to Nebraska, ar riving in Madison county in the month of April, 1887, working out on different ranches for sev eral years. In 1892 he purchased some land in Boone county, and spent two years in farming it, then traded the property for the farm which he now occupies, situated on section seventeen, township twenty-one, range four. This he has transformed into a fine place, having a complete set of substantial buildings, including a hand some residence, and is classed as one of tbe wealthy men of his locality, his farm comprising three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Ostrem was united in marriage to Miss Lettie Simonson, who was born and reared in six children, named as follows : Casper, Amanda, Norway. She died in 1905, leaving a family of Gustave, Berntena, Gerhart and Benjamin. In 1907 Mr. Ostrem was married to Miss Ingeborg Bargo, to whom one child has been born, but died in infancy. JOHN G. KELLOGG. John G. Kellogg, born in Lake county, Illi nois, January 15, 1846, was the third of six 'chil dren born to Asahel and Eunice (Heald) Kellogg. John G., the subject of this sketch, lived here on the Illinois farm until he was then about twenty years of age. He then went east, living in the state of New Jersey for about eighteen months during 1866 and 1867, afterwards returning again to the Illinois home. About April, 1869, John Kellogg, with Cor nelius Benson, and Alza and Edwin Stewart, left Lake county for Columbus, Nebraska. They purchased horses, wagons, household goods, etc., and loaded one car, coming by rail to Council Bluffs. Here they unloaded and were ferried across the river and from Omaha to Columbus, going by the overland route with their teams. Upon reaching the river at Columbus, they dis covered that, there was no wagon bridge at this point. However, they succeeded in running the wagons across the railroad bridge by hand and swam the horses across. This expedient saved them the railroad charge of $20.00 from Colum bus to Duncan, which meant a great deal to them at this particular time. , Daniel Benson and family, who were from the same locality in Illinois, joined them at Co lumbus. Mr. Kellogg took a pre-emption claim in Platte county, but in the latter part of August, 1871, he, in company with Alonzo Shepherd, Alza Stewart and S. C. Scott, came to the North Loup river valley, taking homesteads near what are now the towns of North Loup and Scotia. They all located their claims on the east side of the river, in Greeley county, which at that time was not yet organized, Mr. Kellogg taking his land in sections twenty-nine and thirty-two, township eighteen, range twelve, most of it lying along the river. Mr. Kellogg 'returned to Platte county, but in the spring of the following year he took up his permanent residence on the North Loup home stead. This original homestead remained his bachelor home until September, 1878, when his father and sister came to Greeley county, taking up their homestead on section thirty-two, town ship twelve, range eighteen. His mother had died in Illinois in 1869 but his father lived until 1896 on the Nebraska farm. After the arrival of Mr. Kellogg 's father and sister, he made his home with them until his own marriage on January 30, 1879, to Miss Belle Scott, daughter of Samuel C. and Caroline (Ray- dure) Scott. It will be recalled that Mr. Scott came to Greeley county in 1871 while Mr. Ben son came in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg took up their residence on the Asahel Kellogg farm, and they still re side there. This farm is now owned by Mr. Kel logg and his own homestead adjoins it. Mr. Kellogg passed successfully through the hardships of the early pioneer history of Ne braska. The struggle for many years was a se vere one, requiring a strong determination and much hard work to overcome the adverse cir cumstances. Mr. Kellogg was one of the very few who stayed on the old homestead through the years of adversity. He now has over seven hundred acres of land, a fine, comfortable home, an usually well-equipped grain and stock farm, and is reckoned one of the most successful and COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 255 prosperous farmers and stockmen in the com munity. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, one of them — Gertrude — dying in in fancy. The five Still living are Grace, Asahel, Mary, Florence and Portia. Mr. Kellogg was the first county superin tendent of schools in Greeley county, and Mrs. Kellogg was the first teacher. Her pupils were only five little girls, and she herself was then only fourteen years old, but she had passed the examination for teacher. Mr. Kellogg in past years has served Greeley county as county commissioner and also as su pervisor for his township on the county board. He and his family have been for years closely identified with the business, social and educa tional life of this portion of Nebraska. Elk, deer and antelope were plentiful when Mr. Kellogg first came and he has enjoyed the pioneer privilege of living in a sod house, hav ing boarded in "soddy" houses during his first years on the plains. He was in Scotia when the blizzard of January 12, 1888, broke on the coun try. He felt it necessary to be home and made his way through the icy blast. In politics he is independent and fraternally a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. LORENZ CLEMMENSEN. Schleswig-Holstein has given its share of good citizens to the American states, both before and after its transfer from the Danish Kingdom to the German Empire. Lorenz Clemmensen was born in the village of Rabsted, in that prov ince, June 20, 1856. He is a son of Nicholas and Christina Clemmensen. The former died when Lorenz was but .two and a half years old, and the mother about 1881, both in their native land. When a youth of seventeen, Mr. Clemmensen emigrated to America, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to Hull, England, crossing by rail to Liverpool, and embarked in May, 1873, on a New York liner, reaching his destination, Clinton, Iowa, on the 7th of June. He found work on farms near Maquoketa for three months, and then came out to Nebraska in the fall of the year, coming to the state by way of Yankton. He worked around St. Helena for a number of years, engaged in various employments; during the last few years there he was engaged in the hotel business two years, and for nine years ran a brick yard. He removed to Hartington in 1889 and for seven years ran the Hartington House in a creditable manner. In 1903 he opened a store for the sale of flour and feed, and the year following he added the shipping of cream to his business; he learned the scientific methods of testing cream, and can in a few minutes estimate the true value of any specimen submitted to him. His equipment is modern and complete and there is no delay after the delivery of the product be fore the producer is paid the full value of his cream. It is by fair dealing and promptness that he has built up a lucrative trade. Mr. Clemmensen was married at St. Helena, December 18, 1881, to Miss Annie Christisen, also a native of Schleswig-Holstein, and daughter of Hans N. and Rika Christisen. Mrs. Chris tisen came to America in 1879, her parents following some twelve years later. Mr. and Mrs. Christisen have one daughter, Stina, now the wife of John Sullivan, a resident of Hartington; they have two children: James Floyd and Viola. Mr. Sullivan is a son of James Sullivan, a retired resident of Hartington, of whom an extended mention is made elsewhere. Mr. Clemmensen was living in St. Helena at the time of the flood and witnessed all its devas tations, some of the refugees from the lowlands occupied his house through the summer until a new home could be provided for them. Mr. Clemmensen well remembers the three days' blizzard of October, 1880, that began the winter of the deep snow. The blizzard of January 12, 1880, Mr. Clemmensen was near the house when the storm broke, so was not out in it for any length of time. He has fought prairie fires, as all western men have done, at a time when there had been few furrows turned in Cedar county, and a fire once started, swept for miles before burning itself out. Mr. Clemmensen has tasted life in a dugout, having occupied a log dugout when felling timber during the first few winters in the west. Mr. Clemmensen is held in high esteem by his neighbors and business colleagues ; he has won the confidence of his patrons by his courteous manner and sterling honesty in all his dealings with them. He is a republican in politics, a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and of the Odd Fellows. WILLIAM B. SHOEMAKER. The gentleman above named is a representa tive Nebraskan and one of the progressive farm ers and stockmen of Merrick county. He is the owner of a fine estate of seven hundred fifty-six acres, four hundred seventy-six acres of which is the homestead place in section twenty-six, town ship twelve, range eight. He well merits the success he has attained as an agriculturalist and stockman and worthy citizen. William B. Shoemaker, son of Jacob and Sarah (Brunt) Shoemaker, was born in Keokuk county, Iowa. August 11, 1850, and was eldest of twelve children. He received his education in the schools of his home state, and in the fall of 1871 came overland to Merrick county, Nebraska. where he homesteaded eighty acres and timber 256 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. claimed one hundred twenty acres of land. He has been prosperous and successful and now owns, as before stated, seven hundred and fifty- six acres of land. His homestead consists of four hundred seventy^six acres, well improved, and a finely equipped stock farm. He has served fif teen years as director of his school district num ber two. , In 1872, Mr. Shoemaker prospected for six months in the Black Hills and then returned to Nebraska. In 1880 he did government survey work in California one year, then again returning to his Nebraska homestead which has since re mained his home place. On September 2, 1884, Mr. Shoemaker was married to Miss Mary Neth of Ohio, and later of Illinois. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker: Evelyn, teacher in Chapman city school; Beatrice, wife of Frank Ritter, lives in Chapman, Nebraska; Inez, a teacher in Nebraska schools; William N., who resides at home ; an infant, deceased ; and George and Sarah, who reside under the parental roof. Mrs. Shoemaker's parents, George and Saloma (Stonebarger) Neth, live in Oklahoma; she has one sister residing in Chapman, Nebras ka, and a brother in Oklahoma. Mr. Shoemaker is one of the earliest settlers of his locality, and has passed through all the ups and downs of frontier life. He is well and favorably known. FRED KYRISS. Fred Kyriss, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for some thirty- pine years, residing in section 'fourteen, town ship thirty, range five. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Ne braska; and after many years of hard labor in building up his farm, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and com fort surrounded by a host of good friends. Mr. Kyriss is a native of Germany, being born in the province of Wurtemburg on the Rhine, in the year 1840, and he is the son of Con rad and Susanna Kyriss, the mother having died when our subject was thirteen years old. Our subject grew to his young manhood in his native country and came to America in 1864 to make a fortune. He 'first landed in Philadelphia, where he remained four and one-half years, and then worked on a farm in Pennsylvania for two years. In 1872 Mr. Kyriss came to Knox county, Ne braska, having 'heard of the golden opportunities offered to the venturesome tiller of the soil who for almost the asking could secure good land in the .west ; here he took up a homestead, pre-emp tion, and tree claim of forty acres, and on this land first built a log house in which be lived for three years, then building a good log house. In the first years of his residence here, Mr. Kyriss experienced many hardships and losses, through various causes, among which was that of the grasshopper raids which destroyed all his crops for three consecutive years. Mr. Kyriss was united in marriage to Miss Christina Plieninger in 1864, and Mr. and Mrs. Kyriss are the parents of twelve children, named as" follows: Katie, Annie, Emma, Caroline, Min nie, Charles, Henry, Fred, William, Louis, George and Harry — all living. Mr. Kyriss, as before stated, is a well known man in his community, and owns a fine estate of five hundred and eighty acres of land; he is a man of sterling qualities, and is one o'f those sturdy sons of the fatherland who have helped so much to make Nebraska the prosperous state it is today. erwin m. Lagrange. Erwin M. LaGrange, who carries on a lumber and coal business in Fullerton, is one of Nance county's substantial citizens. He has been in the above business for the past twenty-six years and enjoys the distinction of being the pioneer mer chant of his town. He owns and occupies a handsome residence, surrounded by beautiful lawns, plentifully supplied with shade trees, which makes it one of the show places of the pretty little city. Mr. LaGrange and his family are among the best known and most popular in the locality. ' Mr. LaGrange is a son of Moses and Nancy LaGrange. He was born in Vestal, New York state, September 4, 1848, and received his edu cation in his home state, completing his studies at Eastman's Business College, in 1870. After leaving school he accepted a traveling position with a prominent steel firm, being in their employ for about seven years. He left New York state in 1883, coming to Nance county, Nebraska, ac companied by his family, and immediately pur chased tbe business he now owns, which he has built up in fine shape, his patronage having more than trebled during this time. He has the largest lumber yard in the county, and it is the only one that is entirely protected by a roof. He is a thorough judge of his business, and his hon esty and integrity in dealing with his customers have won for him a high reputation. Mr. La Grange has owned considerable land in this sec tion, but at the present time has no farm inter ests. Our subject was united in marriage while still living in New York, in 1878, to Jeanette Newell, also a native of that state. Mrs. La Grange has been a faithful helpmeet in every seise of the word, and they have raised a family of three children, Hattie, who is the wife of Wood Smith, they living in Fullerton, parents P. F, O'GVRA. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 257 of one daughter; Nettie and Prank living at home. Mr. LaGrange was the third member in a family of five children. He has one brother in Redlands, Cal., who owns large land interests in Nance county, a sister, Mrs. Mary Griffis, also of Redlands, Cal., another sister, Mrs. Ella Davis, who lives in Pennsylvania, and one, Miss Har riet LaGrange, who for the past thirty-five years has been a missionary in Syria. Their father died in New York state in 1873, while the moth er's death occurred there in 1905. In the early days Mr. LaGrange was chairman of the Fullerton city council, and for two years he served as alderman. F. E. McKENZIE. From early childhood, Mr. Frank E. McKen- zie has been a citizen of Nebraska and has been a witness of the growth of the state from the open, boundless prairies to the thickly settled, highly cultivated commonwealth that it is today. His father, Dr. H. E. McKenzie, was a native of Ohio, while the grandfather was a " hill man," as the Highlanders of Scotland were familiarly known among themselves. The mother, who be fore her marriage was Olive Jane Leech, was born in the state of Michigan, of Scotch and Irish descent. F. E. McKenzie was born in Clayton county, Iowa, twenty miles north of Dubuque, December 26, 1865. In migrating to Nebraska with his family, Doctor McKenzie came -by rail from Du buque to Vermillion, South Dakota, and cross ing the big muddy Missouri near that point settled at the old town of St. James, in Cedar county, in 1872. Here he began the practice of his pro fession, which he has continued upwards of forty years, and for nearly that length of time has 'oc cupied the same house. F. ,E. McKenzie started out for himself at the age of fifteen, as most western youths do, filling a man 's place, riding the range after cattle in the open country, both in Nebraska and on the Da kota side. After marriage he engaged in farm ing in Cedar county on a fine eighty acre tract which he still owns, three and one-half miles from St. James. Here he lived until the close of the year 1904. Coming to Spencer, January 1, 1905, Mr. McKenzie opened a restaurant which he conducted until joining a large colony of Boyd county people in a settlement east of Rapid City, in Pennington county, South Dakota. There were over thirty families o'f them, some driving over land in their wagons, while the others occupied a train of fifteen cars that pulled out of Speneer for the new Eldorado ,in April, 1907. When Mr. McKenzie settled on his homestead, there was a school house within sight of his dwelling about a mileiaway. He came out one morning, looked at the vacant place and learned that it had been placed on trucks one night and hauled four miles further away. The district was about ten by twenty miles, and having but one building it was carted around at the whim or desire of first one and then another faction. Not wishing his minor children to suffer such meager educational ad vantages, Mr. McKenzie commuted his homestead at the earliest possible moment and returned to Spencer. Here he has since been engaged in buy ing and shipping stock. Mr. McKenzie was married at St. James, Sep tember 25, 1889, to Miss Lucy Dickinson, of St. James, who was born at Elk Point, South Da kota. Her parents, W. L. and Angeline (Zigler) Dickinson, came from Virginia and settled in Cedar county, South Dakota, in 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie four children were born: Olive, Angeline, Homer Edward, who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land southwest of town ; Julia, and William Louis. Mr. McKenzie is politically a republican and fraternally an Odd Fellow, and Mrs. McKenzie is i a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. McKenzie was on his father's farm in Cedar county at the time of the disastrous bliz zard of January 12, 1888 ; he remembers well the electrical manifestation of the storm, something unusual in mid-winter. He was getting in his cattle at the time the storm struck, and in going to the farm gate, stumbled over something he discovered to be a man, who insisted that he must go on home and that he was on the right way — as a matter of fact, he was attempting to go in the opposite direction. The timely dis covery of the prostrate form is all that saved the neighbor's life. Mr. McKenzie lived in a "soddy" while on his homestead near Rapid City. He well re members the years when grasshoppers devas tated the country, although he was only a small boy at the time. PETER FRANCIS O'GARA. Frank 0 'Gara, as he is popularly called, is one of the rising young attorneys of Cedar county. A portrait of him appears on another page. He is the second son of Roger T. O'Gara, who was for years the efficient county superintendent of schools, and was born in Cedar county, Septem ber 23, 1874. He attended the country schools and then took a business course in the Grand Is land Commercial college ; this was followed by a course in the Normal school at Wayne, and a year in the University of New Mexico, at Albu querque, before he entered the law and literary department of the new state university at Lin coln. He graduated from the law department in 1906, lacking but one year in completing the lit erary course as well. After admission to the bar he went to Seattle, Washington, opened an office and for three years practiced his profes sion there. He returned to Hartington in Oc tober, 1909, and at once received a goodly amount of legal work in his old home county. In the fall 258 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of 1910 he was elected county attorney without any opposition by the other party, so great is the good feeling toward him and his family. Mr. O'Gara has been a student all his life. From his ancestors he inherits a receptive mind and love for learning. As a child he was not allowed to waste his time in idle games; his father kept the children amused and occupied with good books, magazines, and papers when they had time to spare from their work. It seemed hard to them then to miss much of the sport other children enjoyed, but the benefits they have since derived from constant study is a great recompense for the loss of idle games in their earlier years. Mr. O'Gara is a member of the Catholic church, the Paladian literary society of the university; and of the "Barbarians," an anti-fraternal association of his college days. Mr. O'Gara was partly reared in a German com munity, that of Lawn Ridge, and acquired a flu ent use of the Teutonic tongue with an accent hardly to be distinguished from the native Ger man. The blizzard of October 15 to 17, inclusive, of 1880, is well remembered by an incident of the storm. A neighbor fearing for the safety of his children, came for them at school, and took Frank O'Gara home as he passed that way; this was the winter of the deep snow ,and the elder O'Gara found it difficult to make his rounds vis iting the schools of the county that winter. In the fearful blizzard of January 12, 1888, the boy remained all night in the school house, hungry, but safe. Mr. O'Gara has seen antelope running wild on the plains, though they disappeared be fore he was a half-grown lad; and grey wolves, the big ones from the timber, occasionally strayed this far from the river and its big trees. His first recollections of home are of a sod house which was later replaced with a log dwelling before lumber was plentiful enough to make their later residence, a fine frame struc ture. Mr. O'Gara has a pleasing personality, is a "good mixer," and a most excellent conversa tionalist; to sum him all up, one can do no bet ter than quote the remark of one of his colleagues in court: "Mr. O'Gara is thoroughly a gentle man in all that the word implies." ROBERT E. CASE. Robert E. Case, dealer in pumps and wind mills, is a son of Samuel S. and Nancy (Poe Kepler) Case, was born in Defiance county, Ohio, March 7, 1863, and was sixth in a fam ily of seven children. In infancy our subject moved i with his parents to the state of Michigan, where they lived some years and then went to Indiana. In the fall of 1875 the family came to Boone county, Nebraska, and engaged in farming. The father died in 1903, and the mother in 1905. About 1880 Mr. Case purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in section one, township eighteen, range five, and later purchased a half interest in one hundred and seventy acres. While he has owned splendid farm interests, he has always lived in St. Edwards, engaged in the implement business until 1907, when he es tablished himself in the pump and wind-mill business he is still conducting. He feeds a goodly number of cattle, and also buys and ships them. On November 25, 1885, Mr. Case married Elizabeth Schucker, who was born in Pennsyl vania. They have had five children, whose names are as follows: Nannie E., Maggie M., Vera D., and Anna H., who reside under the parental roof; and one son who died in infancy. Mr. Case has served several years on the St. Ed wards city school board, and also three years on the city council, which record speaks for it self to the effect that Mr. Case has been an efficient and worthy citizen of his community. Mr. Case's parents have been dead a num ber of years. He has one brother who resides in New Jersey, one sister in Michigan, one in Nevada, one in California, and two sisters de ceased. Mr. Case is one of the substantial men of his county, and is widely and favorably known. He is one of the foremost men in all matters which tend to advance the agricultural and public interests of his community, as stated be fore, having held public office, and lends his influence for the betterment of conditions wher ever needed. Mr. Case and his family are pleasantly situated in their comfortable home in St. Edwards, surrounded by friends and ac quaintances. OTTO MILLER. Otto Miller, residing on section thirty-two, township twenty-five, range two, of Wayne county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his locality and has always taken a leading part in promoting its growth and welfare, since attaining his majority. He is a native of the county, born in 1876, and a son of Gustave and Minnie Miller. The parents were natives of Prussia, Germany, and came to the United States in 1872, on a sailing vessel, spend ing over ten weeks on the voyage from Ham burg to Baltimore. After remaining in St. Louis, Missouri, for about nine months, they came to Wayne county and took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section thirty-two. Their son, Otto, now lives in the northwest quarter. They built a dugout, and this was their residence for several years. They then erected a mud house, and some time later the father made brick and erected a substantial house with them. In the early days of their residence in the new home, their nearest markets were Columbus COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 259 and Sioux City, and they were obliged to under go many hardships and privations. In sharp contrast to their early struggles may be consid ered the conditions that surround the farmer of the present day. They needed much faith to look forward and believe in the good things which the future has brought. For the first several years, the ravages of the grasshopper greatly inter fered with raising crops, and they were many times obliged to fight prairie fires which threat ened to devastate their homes and produce, as well as their stock. In the early days deer and antelope were fairly plentiful and helped supply meat for their larder, but gradually early con ditions have given way to advancement of the state and the agricultural and commercial pros perity of today. Otto Miller received his education in the early schools of the county, and was reared to farm work. He has had ample opportunity to study agricultural conditions in Wayne county and to appreciate the possibilities of the soil and cli mate. He is engaged in a general line of farm ing and pays considerable attention to dairying. Mr. Miller was married in 1900 to Miss Anna Schultz, a native of Stanton county, Nebraska, and a daughter of John Schultz. She was reared in Stanton county. Four children have been born of this union, namely: Winfred, Pearl, Adelina and Lloyd. DAVID JENKINS. David Jenkins, retired, and a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Schuyler, Nebraska, is a son of John and Hannah Jenkins, and is a native of Wales, his birth occurring in Mont gomeryshire, February 4, 1828. He received his education in the local schools of his home place, and later learned painting, plumbing, and glaz ing. On May 22, 1852, Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Margaret L. Owen, also of Welcli birth. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins came to America in Au gust of 1852, locating in Utica, New York; and seventeen years later moved to Chicago and after two years' residence there went to Water- town, Wisconsin, always working at his trade of painting. In 1861 Mr. Jenkins enlisted in Company K, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, serving until the close of the war. He participated, among other en gagements, in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ar kansas. He received his honorable discharge at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then returned to Wisconsin for six years, coming on into Butler county, Nebraska, in 1870, where he homestead ed one hundred and sixty acres of land near Lin- wood, residing here until 1884, when he moved to Schuyler and built a good home where he now lives. Mr. Jenkins, though much advanced in years, is remarkably active, and until the last few years has been engaged in painting. Mrs. Jenkins died September 1, 1903, at her home in Schuyler, survived by her husband and four children: David A., is married, has two chil dren, and resides in Chicago ; John E., also mar ried, has four children and lives in 'Central City, Nebraska; Walter S., is married, lives in But ler county, and has eight children; Isabella, de ceased February 27, 1868 ; and Charles R., also married, and living in Schuyler. Mr. Jenkins' sons, all like himself, are paint ers by trade. Mr. Jenkins is one of the earliest settlers of this part of Nebraska. He is a pro gressive man of affairs and prosperous, is a self- made, and one who is widely and favorably known. He has traveled extensively, and when a young man in Wales was a member of Mont gomeryshire Yoeman Cavalry. Mr. Jenkins was born within twenty miles of Shakespeare's birth place. PETER JENSEN. Peter Jensen, who resides on section twenty- two, township twenty-seven, range five, in Ante lope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading' old- timers in this section who has always done his full 'share in the bettering of conditions through out the region in which he lives. Mr. Jensen was born on Loland Island, Den mark, September 28, 1840. His father, Jens Jen sen, a farmer by occupation, was born in 1796, and died in 1880, having reared a family of eight children. Mr. Jensen's early life was spent at farm labor in his native country, and in 1877 he emigrated to America, crossing the North Sea from Copenhagen to Hull, whence he proceeded by rail to Liverpool, and from that port took passage to Portland, Maine. He at once came west to Detroit, Michigan, where he found farm work near the city for about six months, then migrated to Marshall county, Iowa, where he remained for three years and a half, engaged as before in farm labor. Mr. Jensen moved to Antelope county, Ne braska, in 1881, taking up a homestead on the section mentioned above, and early begun to .im prove the tract. For some time he boarded with a neighbor who lived in a sod house, and went through the usual hard experiences inci dent to the life of the pioneer, though at the time these discouragements did not daunt them. Although during the first years he suffered loss of crops from hail, droughts, etc., he stuck to farming, at which he has made a very satisfac tory success, at the present time being proprie tor of a good home and estate consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of land, ornamented with fine groves of trees, also several small orchards containing nearly all varieties of fruit 260 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. which supply a large part of their living, and fur nishes no small part of the income from the farm. Mr. Jensen was united in marriage April 6, 1891, to Miss Anna Jensen, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1888. Her father was a blacksmith by trade. He died in the "old country" in 1890. Mr. Jensen is a democrat in politics, active in local affairs, and with his good wife enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know them. G. HENRY KRUEGER. Among the successful self-made men of Pierce county may be truly noted G. Henry Krueger. He came to the new world from his mother country in the year 1883, and since his residence here has displayed an enterprising spirit and the exercise of good judgment in a manner that commends him to all as a worthy citizen. He now resides in section twenty-six, township twenty-seven, range two, and is one of the prosperous farmers of his locality. He came to the region as a pioneer, has accumu lated good property and applied himself closely to his calling. Mr. Krueger was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, September 22, 1860, and is the son of John Krueger, who died in 1890 at the age of sixty-four years, and Mary Warnek, who died in 1907, at the age of seventy-five years. Our subject received his schooling in Germany, and later followed the occupation of farming. In coming to America, Mr. Krueger crossed the Haven of Bremen, to England, and from there sailed to New York, whence he came to the west and settled in Pierce county in 1883. Here he bought land in section twenty-six, town ship twenty-seven, range two, which is his present location, as before stated. In the year 1890, Mr. Krueger was married to Miss Amelia Siedshlack, a native of the province of Pommerania, Germany, whose parents came to America in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger have had five children born to them, whose names are as follows : Ella, Arthur, Ida, Otto, and Lena. Mr. Krueger is a member of the German Lutheran church, and votes the republican ticket. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land. He is prominent among the old settlers, and is respected as a man who has done his part in adding to the material development of the community in which he lives. LARS PETERSON. Among the members of the farming commu nity in Howard county, who own well improved estates, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review. For 'many years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, is thor oughly versed in this line of work, and has met with pronounced success in his chosen career. He has a pleasant home in Posen precinct, and is one of the well known and highly respected men of his locality. Lars Peterson was bora in Denmark on Sep tember 10, 1848, grew to manhood there, and came to the United States at the age o'f twenty -two. The entire Peterson family, with the exception of one sister, who died in Denmark, settled in Amer ica, Mr. Peterson being the fifth child in a fam ily of seven. Our subject first located in Oshkosh, Wiscon sin, spent about three years in that vicinity, then came to Howard county, where he took a pre emption on section six, township fourteen, range eleven. This tract is now a part of Farwell's townsite, our subject selling it out when the city was first laid out. He later bought land ad joining, and owns, altogether, about four hun dred and twenty-two acres of fine land right near Farwell, his homestead being in the suburbs, and making one of the pleasantest homes imaginable. He has erected a modern residence, and the place is supplied with every improvement necessary for running a model farm. Mr. Peterson was married on August 4, 1874, to Miss Lena Akren, the ceremony taking place in Grand Island, Nebraska. Mrs. Peterson is a native of Norway, coming to America in the fall of 1870, ^ 'in company with two sisters. Her mother lived in the old country until January, 1911, when her death occurred. Mrs. Peterson's father died some years ago. Mr. Peterson's pa rents are both dead. Seven children have blessed the union of our subject and his esteem ed wife, named as follows : Olaffina P., Ralph L., Otto A., Giftha M., Stephanus, Martha Octavia, and Clarence Leo. Martha Octavia and Otto A. are now deceased, while all the rest are married, and settled in comfortable homes of their own. with the exception of Clarence Leo, who re mains with his parents. NELS NYGREN. Nels Nygren, a prominent Swedish-American citizen of Arcadia, Nebraska, now retired from active life, is well known for his integrity and reliability in all his dealings and for his gener osity in furthering the cause of any movement for the development and upbuilding of his com munity. He was born near Lund, Sweden, Feb ruary 27, 1850, received his education in his na tive country and there reached his majority, at which time he had served one summer in the Swedish army. In 1871 he came to America, sailing from Copenhagen to London, going by rail to Liverpool and sailing thence to New York in the "Minnesota," the entire trip occupying COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 261 twenty-two days. Locating at Omaha, he work ed for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, be ing a painter by profession. April 5, 1876, Mr. Nygren married Caroline Nelson, also a native of Sweden, who was brought to America in early childhood. The first home of this young couple was in Saunders county, Nebraska, where they purchased eighty acres of railroad land, and in 1880 they removed to Valley county, where they secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and a tim ber claim of the same size adjoining, on section thirty, township eighteen, range fifteen, which was their home for twenty-three or four years. They subsequently lived on various farms for short periods, and eventually purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land a mile and a half north of Arcadia, which was their home for some time. He has owned and sold several other tracts of good Nebraska land. In March, 1909, Mr. Nygren re tired from more active work and purchased four and one-half acres of land within the city limits of Arcadia, where he has a comfortable dwelling and enjoys the fruits of his former hard work and industry. While living on a farm, Mr. Nygren was in strumental in organizing the Yale school dis trict, of which he served many years as treas ured and director. He was also the first post master in Yale township and prominent in all local affairs. He also helped organize the first church in the township and for years was su perintendent of its Sunday school, giving one and one-half acres of his farm land for the build ing site of the Brethern church. He is regarded as a public-spirited and useful citizen and has a large number of warm friends. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land which he has developed into a fine stock farm, besides good city property. He has passed through all the trying experiences and privations of pioneer life and is better able to enjoy his present comforts and freedom from care for having lived through those strenuous years. He is one of the early set ters of the state and one of the best known men of his part of it. Nine children were born to Mr. Nygren and wife: Lily E., wife of F. C. Williams, of Val ley county, has two children; Minnie O, wife of Victor Rosenquist, of Valley county, has two children; Rose Nellie, wife of Henry Cremeen, of Valley county, has two children; Annie N., wife of Oliver Terhune, of Valley county, has two children; Daisy M., died at the age of two years, March 5, 1887; Hattie E., married Leo Lindley, and they live in Ord; Charlie Will iam, Mabel Ruth, and Monna Z., at home. In politics he is a republican and is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Nygren 's first residence was a dugout with a sod front, against which he later built a frame addition which was the family residence until he was able to build a more pretentious residence some ten years later. CHARLES F. WINTER. A typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named, Charles F. Winter. He has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part of the growth and development of this region, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, becoming one of the foremost citizens of Madison county. Mr. Winter is a native of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, in which state he was born April 24, 1865, a son of William and Minnie (Stark) Win ter, both natives of Prussia, Germany. The father served his native land in the war of 1848, and in 1856 left Germany and came to America, setting sail on a sailboat and spending eleven weeks on the water. Upon arriving in New- York, they immediately proceeded westward, set tling in Wisconsin, where they lived nine years. It was while residing here that the father served in the civil war, enlisting in the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry. In 1866 our subject's father and family came to Madison county, Nebraska, making the jour ney in the usual manner of those days — by ox team and covered wagon — the trip consuming about six weeks. The object in coming to this far western country, as it was then known, was to ob tain the cheap lands that were then offered to the public. Upon arriving at their destination, the father took up a homestead claim on section ten, township twenty-four, range one, which is the present home of our subject's brother, Frank Winter, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The first house erected on this land was built of logs, and was later replaced by a substantial frame residence. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those early days on the western frontier; many hard ships and privations were suffered at that time, and among other dangers that of the prairie fires that, swept the open prairies were not the least, as many times they had to be fought to save their lives and property. In 1874, our subject then but a lad of about nine years, and his cousin, who was near the same age, wanted to cook some eggs, and fuel not being convenient, they took down the barn door which they used for wood to feed the fire, and the barn became ignited and burned down. Among other losses our subject's father endured was that of some stock in the memorable blizzard of January 12. 1888. But those times have passed to history, and remain but a faint recollection, and happier and more prosperous times are now here. In 1890 Mr. Winter was united in marriage to 262 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Miss Emma Oestreich, and Mr. and Mrs. Winter are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Henry, Edwin, Venus, Agnes, Linda, and Lenora. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Winter is a democrat. LOUIS PIERSON. Louis Pierson, deceased, formerly lived in Sherman county, Nebraska, where he was held in the highest esteem and was accorded a high sta tion as a public-spirited and worthy citizen. Mr. Pierson was born in Sweden on March 11, 1846. When a young man he engaged in farming, and in 1872 came to America. Like his brother Andrew, he worked for a time in the mines in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1876, he came to Burt county, Nebraska, where he farmed until 1882, then came to Sher man county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres in section thirteen, township sixteen, range sixteen, and a few years later filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres; after securing title to this, he sold and returned to his first purchase, which remains the family home to this time. On September 23, 1896, he was married to Miss Johannah Vinburg, also a native of Swe den, who came to America in 1894. Mr. Pierson died on May 17, 1910, on his home farm survived by his wife and one son, Oscar, who is still at home. Mrs. Pierson lives on the old home tract, surrounded by a large circle of friends and ac quaintances. Mr. Pierson was well-known and highly re spected by all with whom he came in contact. JOHN McMANUS. One of the finely developed farms in Cedar county is owned and operated by Mr. John McManus, and lies in section thirty-five, town ship thirty, range three, east. Mr. McManus is one of the worthy citizens and prominent old settlers of the locality, and is intimately identi fied with the growth and progress of the agricul tural and commercial interests of the region. Mr. McManus was born in county Fermanha, Ireland, in 1841, to John and Elizabeth McMan us, typical old countrymen, who came with their family to America about 1848. They crossed the sea in a sailboat, and were on the water for elev en long weeks and three days, embarking at Liv erpool, and landing at New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi river to Galena, Illinois. They settled in LaFayette, Wisconsin, re maining in that state up to 1894. In 1871 our subject went to Sioux City, Iowa, and after but a short time in that place, secured a team and drove through the country to Dixon county, Nebraska, and there filed on a home stead, built a shanty, and lived for many years. Mr. McManus came to Cedar county in 1894, and has developed a good farm, which he still occupies, and where he has passed through all the various phases of pioneer life. He has ex perienced the usual hardships that fell to the lot of every early settler, including suffering priva tion occasioned by loss of crops by storms, grass hopper raid's, etc., but through it all has come out victorious, and has nothing but praise for the state of his adoption, believing, like every other loyal Nebraskan, that it is the golden state of the union, and well worth effort in the way of hard work and the discouragements attendant thereto in the realization of possessing a good home and competence for old age. Mr. McManus was united in marriage to Miss Ellen McCabe in 1863, the ceremony taking place at Benton, Wisconsin. Nine children have been born to them. They are named as follows: Mary Ellen, William Henry, deceased ; William, Emmet, Elizabeth, Ann, George C, John Henry, Celia, Clara and Joseph Albert. JOHN SEIM. As an old settler of Merrick county, Ne braska, an agriculturist of untiring energy and perserveranee and a worthy citizen, the gentle man above named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent nearly forty years of his life in their midst, has gained a host »f staunch friends, and incidentally acquired a good home and placed himself in position to en joy his declining years in peace and quiet. John Seim was born in Germany October 7, 1 846, and was third of seven children in the fam ily of Casper and Annie Seim, who had four sons and three daughters. Mr. Seim, his broth er Casper who lives in Missouri, and a sister, Mrs. Fred Stratmann who lives in Merrick county, are the surviving children. Mr. Seim, with his sister, came to America in 1867, and first located in the state of Michigan where he remained five years, and while there was joined by his father and mother from Ger many. He came to Merrick county, Nebraska, in May, 1872, taking up a homestead on section thirty-two, township thirteen, range eight, which is his present location. Mr. Seim was one of the original homesteaders in this neighborhood. His father and mother came here from Michigan in about 1874 and homesteaded on section twenty- eight, township thirteen, range eight, near his son's land, and the homestead was his place of residence until th-e time of his death in 1878. The mother died in 1886. John Seim was married on his homestead farm October 12, 1878, to Miss Selma Wagner, CLARK NEWCOMER, DECEASED. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 263 and to them ten children have been born : Anna, who is married to Mr. Will Bruns, has four chil dren and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska; Mary, married to William Jess, has two children and resides in Merrick county; Elsie, is married to Charles Rovert, has two children and lives in Hall county; and John, Edward, 'Frank, Clara, Amanda, Carl, and Hilda, the latter seven being unmarried. All of the above named were born in Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Seim and chil dren are a pioneer family of the county, well known, and have the respect and esteem of their many friends. Mr. Seim has four hundred and eighty acres of good land in his farm, on which he has erected substantial buildings and a fine residence, and is known as a successful man. DR. WM. HAZEN. Dr. Wm. Hazen has been a resident of Creighton for the past twenty- seven years, and a well-known Nebraskan since 1876, at which time he settled on a homestead at Walnut Grove, Knox county. His first dwelling there was a dug-out, built in the side of a bank, with a front of logs, fitted with a window and door, furnished with an elevated oven stove, bed, table, and practically nothing else, all of the ru dest fashion imaginable. He at once began the practice of medicine through the country, and soon became famed far and near as a practition er, particularly in diphtheria cases, before the discovery of serum had robbed that disease of its terrors. At different times he was called into Iowa when this malady became prevalent, and by preventive measures he usually cheeked the spread of the disease in a family. He came in the fall of 1884, to Creighton, from where he has a wider field of practice, no condition of weather or roads keeping him from answering a sick call. He comes of a sturdy race and is al most beyond physical fatigue. He has walked from Walnut Grove to Yrankton, a distance of sixty-five miles, in a day, and often to Niobrara and return, a little "hike" of fifty miles. Fre quently in these journeys he would out-distance a horse and rider, seldom accepting a ride .on a loaded wagon, giving as a reason that "he was in a hurry," and he has had many amusing ex periences of this kind. Dr. Hazen was born near Deerfield, Dane county, Wisconsin, on April 13, 1850. He began the study of medicine at the age of fifteen, under the tutelage of an uncle, removing with the lat ter to Iowa and locating near Early, in Sac county. Later he practiced for short periods at Odebolt. Since coming to Nebraska, Dr. Hazen has ac quired considerable property, proving up on a homestead, and is now one of the prosperous and successful men of his state. He has been through every change that has come to Nebraska, experi encing blizzards, droughts, etc. Wild game was abundant in those days, and at one time with a friend, he counted a herd of over three hundred deer and antelope on the prairie between O'Neill and Walnut Grove. Prairie fires were then a common occurrence. At one time when on a hunting trip with some freinds, Dr. Hazen and party were obliged to dodge around the end of a prairie fire and several times to dash through the names to get to a clear spot. His original homestead contained considerable good timber, and an abundance of fine water from the East Branch stream. He had two acres laid out in garden, which were at different times almost ruined by deer running through it. The doctor has always been particularly fond of floriculture and tree culture. He has planted seeds of all the different fruits, also various kinds of nuts, all along the streams of Knox county, covering some thirty square miles, which some day will be appreciated by the com ing generations. On the lot adjoining the one on which his house stands, he has planted over four hundred rose bushes, comprising forty or more varieties, also many other flowering shrubs and plants, making of it one of the most beautiful spots imaginable during the season. Dr. Hazen was married in Niobrara, in 1887, to Emma Walsh, who is a native of Tennessee. Five children were born to them, namely: Floyd Orris, who runs his father's farm ten miles north and east of Creighton; Elsa May, graduating from the high school with the class of 1910 ; Elmer, Waymond and Edith, all attending school at present. Dr. Hazen is a republican. He is a leading member of the Independent Order Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and with Mrs. Hazen is prominent with the Degree of Honor. CLARK NEWCOMER. For over thirty-eight years the gentleman here named was closely identified with the ag ricultural interests of Merrick county, Nebraska, and during this time he acquired a valuable estate by' dint of his industry and honesty. His death occurred October 25, 1910, and was mourned by a host of friends and neighbors. A portrait of Mr. Newcomer will be found on another page. Clark Newcomer, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hershey) 'Newcomer, was born in Pennsylvania, October 27, 1835, and was fourth in a family of ten children; one of the brothers resides in Cal ifornia; three in Pennsylvania; one in Spokane, Washington ; a sister in Pennsylvania ; and the others being deceased, as are also the parents, both having passed away in Pennsylvania, the father in 1868, and the mother in 1898. Our subject received his education in the home state, , and later went to Illinois, where he 264 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. followed farming for almost a year and a half, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in Au gust, 1861, enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sec ond Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving something over three years. Much time was spent in skirm ishing, but the most important battles engaged in were at Greenbriar, Rumney, and Winchester, all in West Virginia; and Cedar Creek, and Falling Water, Maryland. At the latter place Mr. Newcomer was wounded, being shot through the shoulder, after which being unfitted for regular service he was employed at headquarters. Our subject returned to Pennsylvania after the war, receiving his honorable discharge in the fall of 1864, at .Pittsburg; and on February 22, 1865, was married to Caroline Boyd, also of Pennsyl vania. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer went to Tennessee where they engaged in farming, and in August of 1871, came with family to Mer rick county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range six. Mrs. Newcomer died December 5, 1879, on the homestead farm, survived by her husband and one child, Cora, who is married to George Baker and resides in Central City, and has eleven children. Mr. Newcomer sold his homestead in 1884 and pur chased at various times and in various tracts something over five hundred acres. On October 14, 1886, Mr. Newcomer was united in marriage to Mrs. Elvira J. Porter Nash, who was born in Illinois, but who later came to Nebraska. Mrs. Newcomer's father, S. W. Porter, died in 1881, and her mother, Mrs. Mary Porter lives in Central City at the ad vanced age of ninety-six years; two brothers re side in Nebraska. Mrs. Newcomer's father enlisted at the be ginning of the civil war in Company A, Nine teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served un til the close of the war and then went to the Black Hills to fight Indians; serving over five years. Mrs. Newcomer had three brothers in the service, Richard, Charles Henry and Lewis. The last named died in the army. Mrs. Newcomer's first husband, Benjamin Franklin Nash, came with his family to Nebraska in 1873. He died in 1884. Mr. Nash had two brothers who served in the civil war, Lemuel and John. Lemuel. was killed at Perryville. Mrs. Newcomer had ten children by her former marriage, two of whom are living: Arch M., who lives in Montana and Prank R., who is married, has two children and resides in Central City. Mr. Newcomer served as director of his school district number nineteen, for some years, also as treasurer of same. Indeed Mr. Newcomer was instrumental in organizing the district, and the school building was erected when Mr. Newcomer's daughter was the only pupil in the district. In 1909, our subject returned from the farm and moved to Central City, where he purchased a good home. His death occurred October 25, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer were among the earlier settlers of the county, and passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of fron tier life. Mr. Newcomer was a member of the Odd Fellows, Masonic and Grand Army of the Republic fraternities and was 'a man of promi nence and influence in the community in which he lived. DAVID M. DOLBEAR. Another one of the successful and prosperous agriculturalists and stockmen of Nance county, Ne braska, who has passed through all the good, bad, and indifferent times of that state, is found in the person of David M. Dolbear, the subject of this personal review. Mr. Dolbear was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on January 30, 1865, and was the youngest of four children in the family of David and Sarah Jane Dolbear. When our subject was five years of age his parents moved to Bureau county, Illi nois, where he received his education and grew to manhood, following farming and stock raising with his father during those years. In 1887 the family came to Nebraska, the father purchasing a tract of land on section eleven, township fif teen, range seven, which has been in the Dolbear family since that time, now being the home of David and Emerson Dolbear. David Dolbear, Sr., died on the home farm in 1897, and the mother followed him seven years later. Their two sons now occupying the homestead have worked faith fully and succeeded in building up a splendid farm, having erected fine farm buildings, planted groves, fruit trees, etc., making it one of the best improved farms in the region. They have passed through all the various phases of pioneer life in Nebraska, and in the possession of this fine farm and home, are classed among the well-to-do resi dents of their locality. Neither David or Emerson are married, and while they are deeply interested in the welfare of their county and state, have never sought pub lic preferment, preferring to devote their entire time and attention to the work of developing their farm. David M. Dolbear attended Omaha Medical College two years. He has held num erous township offices. C. GUY CROSBY. Of the younger citizens of the state who have been witnesses of the growth of the north west from the primeval prairies, may be men tioned , C. Guy Crosby, cashier of the First Na tional Bank of Naper. All of his conscious years have been spent in the state, and he lacks but a few months of having been born there. His birth occurred in Sac county, Iowa, November 26, 1883. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 265 His father, R. L. Crosby, a native of Illinois, moved to the Hawkeye state in the seventies, settling in Sac county, where he was married, and resided until the spring of 1884. He made a tour of inspection to the northeast part of Ne braska in the fall of 1883, and found in Keya Paha county, a location that suited him. In the spring of the year following, he drove through from Sac county to his homestead claim three miles west of Springview, and eight years later came to Boyd county as the west end of the new state division was coming in for its share of settlers. He had abandoned his rights to homestead in Keya Paha county, but had them restored by act of congress, and filed on a quar ter section two miles east, of Naper, where he lived five or six years before moving to town. He organized" the Bank of Naper and resided in the town until 1906, when he retired from active business and took up his residence in Bonesteel, South Dakota, where he has financial interests. Guy Crosby was reared in Keya Paha and Boyd counties, and is a typical son of the west. He began business life for himself in 1900 as cashier of his father's bank, in which he had an interest. Their shares were sold in July, 1909, and, in September, a consolidation with the other bank was effected in which the Crosbys took a large share. Guy became cashier of the newly organized First 'National, the result of the consolidation, which post he has since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the stock holders. Mr. Crosby was married in Butte, January 21, 1903, to Miss Clara E. Currey, a native of Nebraska. Her father, Milo Currey, married Miss Christena Engstrohm, and after living in Nebraska six years, moved to Gregory county, and later to Trip county, South Dakota, in '1909. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby are the parents of two sons, Gains, born August 25, 1906, an unusually bright child, the pet of Naper and the mascot of its base ball team, and Justin, born March 10, 1911. Mr. Crosby is a democrat in politics, a member of the Odd Fellows, and of the Modern Wood men of America. Mr. Crosby well remembers the notable bliz zard of January 12, 1888, but, being a child under school age, he was at home and was in no dan ger, as were others of a greater age. He has had a taste of pioneer life on the frontier, in fact until well along toward manhood knew nothing else; they lived in a log house in Keya Paha county, and in a "soddy" in Boyd, which makes him eligible to any society of early settlers. NICKOLAS OTTELE. In reviewing the history of Boone county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this number is given the gentleman above named. Mr. Ottele is a pio neer settler, and is perhaps one of the best known men of his locality. He is a prosperous farmer and business man, and has gained his suc cess by the exercise of business tact, supplement ed by the strictest integrity of word and deed. Nickolas Ottele was born in Luxemburg, Ger many, April 7, 1856, the youngest of nine chil dren in the family of Nickolas and Barbara Ot tele. In the month of May, 1874, Mr. Ottele, with his father, mother, and sister Annie, came to America, going to Dubuque, Iowa, where they joined our subject's brother Mike, and a married sister, who had come to America about one year previous. Mike Ottele and wife, Nick Henn and daughter, in company with the subject of this sketch, came overland by team and wagons, to Boone county, April 21, 1878. The three men took up adjoining homesteads in section twelve, township twenty-two, range seven, Nick Ottele locating on the southwest quarter, and his broth er Mike on the northwest quarter, where they both reside on their original homesteads. Mike Ottele has a family of thirteen children, and has retired from the farm, now making his home in Elgin, Antelope county. Mr. Nickolas Ottele was married to Miss An nie Heinz in Ray Valley church, April 10, 1883. Mrs. Ottele is a native of Germany, and came to America in December, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Ottele have had eight children, seven of whom are liv ing: Alvis N., and Emil J., who reside at home; Jennie, wife of Herman Kueter, has one child and lives in Antelope county; and Mary, Ma tilda, Charles John, Emma Mary, and William F., all living under the parental roof. They are an interesting family, energetic along all lines, the older boys being good business men and capable managers. Mr. Ottele is a successful farmer and business man, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Boone county, one hundred and sixty acres in Antelope county, and six hundred and forty- acres in Texas. For a number of years Mr. Ottele was in business in Petersburg, but has always retained his 'farm interests and given his farm and stock a goodly portion of his time, assisted by his sons. Mr. Ottele 's father died September 21, 1891, and the mother died January 31, 1892, at the home of their son Nickolas. Mr. Ottele passed through the usual experi ences of a pioneer farmer and business man of early Nebraska years from the sod shanty time to the modern farm home, automobile, and other modern improvements. ERNEST A. MILLER. Ernest A- Miller is one of the leading German- American citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, where he has lived since he was a few weeks old- 266 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. He is a native of western Prussia, Germany, born in 1872, and a son of Gustave and Minnie Miller, who came to America in 1872, sailing from Ham burg to Baltimore. The father had served in the Franco-Prussian war, and also in the war with Austria. They spent ten weeks and three days on the ocean, and after nine months in St. Louis, Missouri, came west to Nebraska, where the fath er took up a homestead and tree claim. He first built a dug-out, which served as their home a few years, being replaced by a mud house, which in turn gave place to a substantial brick house which the father erected from brick that he manufac tured on his farm. They were greatly troubled by the destruction of a large part of their crops by the grasshop pers during several of the early years of their residence there and also had hard work to pro tect their possessions from prairie fires, but though these things made it hard to furnish a living for the family and make the necessary im provements, they were able to overcome all ob stacles and steadily progressed towards develop ing a fine farm and establishing a most comfor table and pleasant home. Their nearest market for some time was at Columbus, Sioux City or Wisner. During the first few years of his residence in Nebraska, Mr. Miller found it necessary to leave home and work for others, and for some time worked in Omaha, and sent his earnings home to provide for his family. He was one of the eighteen earliest settlers of the county and one of the best known men in, his part of the state, where he was universally esteemed. Gustave Miller died October 1, 1905, and his widow is still living, and makes her home at Hoskins, Nebraska. When Ernest Miller was old enough to help with the work on his father's farm, he began to perform his share of it, and has always followed agricultural .pursuits. He was educated in the county and has always been much interested in everything pertaining to its advancement and welfare. He inherited and bought a part of his present home from his father and has since made many additional improvements, now having a nice, comfortable residence and a good grove of shade and fruit trees. ' He is a progressive farmer, and has been very successful in his operations. In 1896, he was united in marriage with Miss Hulda Eckert, and they are the parents of seven children, namely: Martha, Clara, Ewald, Theo dore, Richard, Lillie and Robert. Mrs. Miller was born in Stanton county, Nebraska, and is a daughter of Julius and Augusta Eckert. Mr. Miller owns one hundred and sixty acres of land of his father's old place and in March, 1911, pur chased nine hundred and sixty acres in the west ern part of Knox county. DR. WILLIAM L. BOWMAN. (Deceased.) One of the earliest and best-known of Staun ton county pioneers was Doctor William L. Bow man, who was for over forty years a resident of this section. Dr. W. L. Bowman was born in Ross county, Ohio, on September 11, 1825. His father, Benja min Bowman, was born in Pennsylvania about 1787 and died in 1832 ; he was a farmer and moved into the Scioto valley in the days when that country was on the frontier. The mother, who was Sarah Loney in her girlhood days in North Carolina, moved with her family to Tippe canoe county, Indiana, a few years after her hus band's death, and it was here that Doetor Bow man grew to manhood. At the age of twenty -four he began the study of medicine under the tute lage of Doctor J. M. Boyd of Thornetown, Indi ana, and remained a student in his office for three years. At the end of this time, he began the practice of his profession in Clinton county, Indi ana, and remained here until coming west, with the exception of one year spent in Clinton coun ty, Wisconsin, in partnership with Doctor Mc Carthy. In the fall of 1868, Doctor Bowman came to Staunton county, Nebraska, and settled in Hoos- ier Hollow, three miles from Staunton, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres. The Doctor's first residence was a dug-out in which he and his family lived for three vears, when a good frame house was built. This was their dwelling until they removed to town. The doc tor set out an orchard and groves around his place, but the grasshoppers destroyed the or chard, as well as the crops, during the three years they infested the region. In 1878, Doctor Bowman came to Staunton and opened a town office. Some time before his death he retired from general practice, but met with signal success in his treatment of special cases. Doctor Bowman was married in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, to Miss Mary A. Wiley on the 17th. of April, 1856. Twelve children were born to them, of whom the following nine are living: Luther W., now a Doctor of Medicine; Frank, Andrew, William, Myrtle, Matilda A., Murray Cheever, Arizona, and Fannie. In politics. Doctor Bowman was a staunch re publican. He was a member of the Congrega tional church, and also a member of the Masonic order at Staunton. During his many years of professional prac tice in this new country, Doctor Bowman, of course, met with many experiences, both uncom mon, interesting, and sometimes disagreeable. One of his worst experiences was in the blizzard of April, 1870. He had made a professional call and was just starting home when it began to snow: COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 267 he was urged to remain until the storm abated, but he refused, thinking to reach home before noon. Before he had gone a quarter of a mile, the storm turned into a blinding blizzard through which it was difficult, almost impossible, to make any headway. Knowing of an old house near, he managed to find the straw shed and got his horse under cover. At first he tried to protect himself in the same place, but finding the wind getting colder, started to make his way to the house. It was deserted, and the door was locked with a padlock, which he succeeded in breaking off. Upon entering, he found to his dismay, that his matchbox was empty. However, he found two matches on the chimney piece, and succeeded in starting a fire with some hay, but the chim ney smoked. In dislodging a board from the top of it, he spilled snow on the fire and extinguished it. The one last match did not fail him, however, and he soon had a fire built by which he warmed his stiffened limbs. Later in the day, he managed to reach a neighbor's home a short distance away, and remained there for the night. His horse was covered with snow the next morning and had to be dug out with a shovel. It was un injured, though cold and hungry. In the January blizzard of 1888, several of the children were at school, and Murray Cheever suc ceeded in getting his sister safely home, which was .quite a feat for a boy. Deer, elk and antelope were abundant when Doctor Bowman came to Nebraska, and three years before a herd of buffalo had passed through the county. On one occasion, Doctor Bowman killed a deer, and while he came to town for a wagon to haul it in, the Indians found the carcass and carried it away before his return. Doctor Bowman's experience well-fitted him for the work of preparing a volume treating on the early history of the Elkhorn valley, which will be of inestimable value to the future his torian of the state of Nebraska. Doctor Bowman occupied a place in the fore most rank of his profession, and numbered his friends in the surrounding country by the hun dreds. His death occurred February 4, 1911. MAYHEW M. HEMENWAY. Among the leading old settlers and public spirited citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a fore most place. Mr. Hemenway has aided in no slight degree in the development of the commercial resources of this region, and has xlone his full share along educational lines, and has been a prominent factor in building up the schools of this region ; and has always done all in his power for the betterment of conditions socially and po litically, he having always been a good republi can. Mr. Hemenway is a member of the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having held all chairs and also been in the Grand Lodge, i He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Hemenway is a native of Wayne town ship, Dupage county, Illinois, born January 25, 1856, his father, Charles Hemenway, was born May 12, 1815, and is of English descent. Three brothers of his ancestors came to America early in the eighteenth century. Our subject's mother, Lucy (Fay) Hemenway was born in July, 1820. Mr. Hemenway came to Nebraska in 1877 from Illinois, arriving in Wisner, December 1st, and from there going by stage to his brother's home stead claim which he had taken up five years previous. He first filed on a timber claim in sec tion twenty-four, township twenty-six, range eight, and later he took a claim in section thirty- three, township twenty-six, range eight. Mr. Hemenway "batched it" until December 4, 1889, when he was married at Neligh, Nebras ka, to Miss Myrtle McKimm, who was born at River Falls, Wisconsin, June 15, 1870, and to this union were born three children: George, Carl, and May, who reside with their father. Mrs' Hemenway died February 28, 1907, deeply mourned by her husband and family and many kind neighbors and friends. It is hard for the present generation to under stand the hardships that the first settlers were compelled to undergo, all because of the changes brought about in a fertile country in a few short years. At the time of the great blizzard in Janu ary, 1888, Mr. Hemenway was assisting in mak ing the grade for the Fremont & Elkhorn rail road which was then being built near his home. However, he escaped without severe loss from the effects of the, storm. At that time, severe hailstorms were common and on several occasions his crops were injured or destroyed from this source. Another source of trouble and danger was the prairie fires that were common in the early days. In October, 1878, a particularly se vere prairie fire swept the country, but by hard work, Mr. Hemenway saved his property from destruction. Mr. Hemenway is one of the most successful and well-to-do agriculturists of Antelope county, and has gained prominence by his progressive methods, and has made a mark in his communi ty as a man of strong convictions and fearless adherence to the right as he sees it. Mr. Hemen way now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, fifteen acres of which are set to trees, in cluding five acres of orchard. CURTIS BISHOP, (Deceased.) SR. Curtis Bishop, senior, deceased, first came to Nebraska soon after the civil war, and for a seas on or two lived along the North Platte river 268 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. hunting and trapping, at that time game being more plentiful than now. Mr. Bishop in the spring of 1869, came to Madison county and took up a claim two miles south of Norfolk, securing work in the construction of the mill-race, one of the first enterprises of the new town. He resided there some seven years, during which time he was married, and then moved to Staunton county in an effort to escape the grass hopper pest which destroyed their crops for five seasons; but they were followed by disaster and when, after two years more of loss, they suc ceeded in harvesting a crop, they used the pro ceeds from it to move to Putnam county, Mis souri. Two successful crops here put them in .more comfortable circumstances, and, as the pests had subsided in Nebraska, they returned to Staunton county, where Mr. Bishop died in 1881. The family moved to Pierce county, where they farmed for two years, four miles northeast of Plainview, and then moved to a farm six miles northwest of Royal, Antelope county, where they resided until 1902, removing to Plain- view at that time. Mr. Bishop was the son of Daniel and Esther (Smith) Bishop, natives of New York and Ver mont, respectively, and was born at Marietta, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and lived until the lure of the west drew him to the plains to hunt and trap along the streams of this wild country, when hostile Indians were still to be feared. Mr. Bishop was married in Staunton county, Julv 18, 1870, to Miss Eliza McFarland, daugh ter 'of Thomas and Elizabeth (Wykoff) McFar land, who were living near Indianapolis when her father died. The mother joined a colony of six other families who were coming into the west, and settled with them in a valley north west of Staunton, to which was given the name of Hoosier Hollow. This colony had a remark able trip. Starting at Frankfort, Indiana, the emigrants camped for six weeks along the way through Illinois and Iowa, crossed the Missouri river at Omaha, and finally reached their desti nation in Staunton county, in September, 1868, and entered land under the homestead act. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop four children were born : Asa B., living in Plainview ; Thomas, mail carrier out of Gross, Boyd county, where he owns a farm and town property; Frank, a resi dent of Plainview, a mason and plasterer, and Curtis, junior, who owns a section of land in Garfield county, under the Kincaid Homestead Act. * | GEORGE C. LOTHROP. The" gentleman whose name heads this review is a prominent pioneer of Howard county. He has passed through 'all the early Nebraska times, and during his residence here has accumulated considerable property, including some fine farm ing lands and good town property in St. Paul, in which he makes his home. Mr. Lothrop was born in Jamestown, Wis consin, on February 13, 1840, and received his early education in the country schools there. As a boy he worked in the lead mines, also fol lowed farming up to 1862, then enlisted in the army, joining Company I, Twenty-fifth Wiscon. sin Infantry, and served until the close of the war. The principal battles in which he took part were the Siege .of Vicksburg, which lasted over one hundred days, terminating on July 4, 1863, the Meridian Expedition in Mississippi, Re- secca, Georgia, in 1864, and at Dallas, Georgia, in the same year. Also at Big Shanty, Georgia, Kenesaw Mountain, June 15, 1864, Atlanta, July 22, 1864, Ravis Bridge, South Carolina, Febru ary 3, 1865, and at Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 20 and 21, 1865, this being the last battle fought before marching in to Washington at the close of the war. He received his discharge on June 7th, and immediately returned to Wisconsin where he worked on his father's farm for one year. On March 25, 1866, Mr. Lothrop was married to Caroline Richards, of Plattville, Wisconsin, then in company with his father, they went to Lancaster, Wisconsin, purchased a farm in part nership, and operated it for six years. In April, 1873, our subject, wife and two children emi grated to Nebraska, settling in Howard county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, situ ated one and a half miles north of St. Paul, and later purchased additional land in the vicinity. Here the family experienced all the pioneer hardships in building up their home, but after many discouragements managed to come out vic torious, owning at the present time a fine three hundred and twenty acre tract of farming land. This is well improved, and Mr. Lothrop is counted among the foremost men of his locality. For a number of years after retiring from the army Mr. Lothrop was in very poor health and was obliged to give up active farm work, although he superin tended all operations, and in 1886 took up his resi dence in St. Paul, where he has since lived. Mr. Lothrop was the second in a family of seven children. Both parents are deceased, the father dying on February 22, 1909, at the age of ninety-five years. His mother died in 1875, both passing away at Lancaster, Wisconsin. Mrs. Lothrop was one of a pair of twins; is a native of Plattville Wisconsin, and her parents are also dead. Our subject has two children, Ollie, mar ried to J. W. Gilman, they living in South Omaha, and Walter, who is also married and resides in St. Paul, both of whom are the parents of two children. While Mr. Lothrop is a staunch supporter of the republican party, he does not take an active part in public affairs. EDWIN J. BABCOCK. Edwin J. Babcock was born in Dakota, Wis- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 269 consin, on May 14, 1860. He came to Valley county, Nebraska, with his father in 1872 and has made his home here since that date. Mr. Babcock obtained his public school edu cation in North Loup, later attending the high school at Hastings. In the fall of 1882, he en tered the Alfred University of Alfred, New York, graduating in June, 1884. The following year he took a post-graduate course in the same in stitution. He later completed his law studies, which he had begun prior to his college years, and was admitted to practice in the general courts of Nebraska in 1886. He is now regarded as one of the leading attorneys in this section of the state. On the first of June, 1889, Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Jessie True, a daughter of Pro fessor True, one of the early settlers of Nebras ka. They have five children, all living, named as follows: Kate Myra, Oscar True, Edwin Jesse, Archie B., and Arthur S. Mr. Babcock is one of the younger men who has in many ways contributed to the develop ment of the North Loup Valley country. He had a varied experience in his younger days, hav ing been at one time a "freighter" in and around the Loup Valley. HEMAN A. BABCOCK. (Deceased.) Heman A. Babcock was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on May 19, 1842. He was married to Miss Retta 0. Bristol, of Waushara county, Wisconsin, on August 28, 1861, at the town of "Dakota, in that county. In March, 1864, Mr. Babcock enlisted in Com pany G, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer In fantry, and was mustered out in 1865. He re turned to his home in Wisconsin, but in the fol lowing fall went to Minnesota, and in May, 1872, he came to the North Loup Valley, where he lo cated on a homestead in section two, township eighteen, range thirteen. He was the first sher iff of Valley county, and later on, 1876-1882, he was county clerk. Mr. Babcock, in company with J. E. Hale, Peter Mortensen, John H. Hale and several oth ers, purchased the Ord City Bank in January, 1884, Mr. Babcock becoming the vice president. Later on he became auditor of the state of _ Ne braska, and since that time held many positions of trust and responsibility. He died at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 29, 1904, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. He left surviving him, his 'wife and two sons ; E. C. Bab cock, who resides in Lincoln with his mother, and R. 0. Babcock, now living in Omaha. WILLIAM AND FRANK KAMRATH. (Father and Son.) William Kamrath, a venerable and highly es teemed resident of Newman Grove, Nebraska, was born in Germany, September 23, 1834, and grew to manhood in that country. Mr. Kamrath was married in his native land after attaining his majority, to Miss Minnie Wolfgram, and three children were born to them there, after which they all came to America, making their first settlement in Madison county, Wisconsin, where they remained up to 1872. In the fall of that year the entire family removed to Madison county, Nebraska, and filed on one of the original homesteads lying eight miles noitheast of Newman Grove, and were among the original pioneer families of that portion of Nebraska. They succeeded in developing a good farm, and parents and children worked in unison up to 1892, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Kamrath and two younger children moved into Newman Grove, which has been their residence since that time. On October 13, 1904, Mrs Kamrath died, be ing in her sixty-fifth year. She was a woman of gentle disposition, a good mother and beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Kamrath continues to live in their town residence, and keeps in close touch with his children, several of whom reside in the old homestead neighborhood. Frank Kamrath, who is the fourth child in the family of William and Minnie Kamrath,- was born in Madison county, Wisconsin, on August 26, 1870, where the family lived for a number of years. There were twelve children in the Kamrath family, seven boys and five girls, all growing to be young men and women, and held in the high est esteem in their home places. Frank grew up on the homestead in 'Madison county, receiving a common school education, and at the age of twen ty-one started for himself. He was married on December 9, 1892, to Miss Christina Christianson, at the home of her parents in Piatt county, and the young couple settled on a farm on section three, township twenty, range four, Platte county, in the same year. They worked faith fully together, meeting discouragement and oc casional failures, but never lost courage, and now have a fine farm of three hundred and twen ty acres, lying one mile southeast of the city of Newman Grove. The entire place is in excellent condition, having a fine, large, modern residence, good farm buildings of all kinds, and is one of the valuable properties in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Kamrath have a fine family of four children, namely: Annie, Minnie, Amelia and Helen, all of whom are living at home and are attending the local schools. One child died in infancy. Mrs. Kamrath 's parents now reside in Madison, and are well known throughout the region as prominent pioneers of Madison county. Our subject is a young man of excellent rep utation, a thorough farmer, and has many friends. He has made a success of life and is closely identified with the growth and progress 270 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of the agricultural and commercial interests of both Madison and Platte counties. JAMES BRANDRUP. Hartington holds many of Cedar county 's suc cessful farmers, and among them is the vener able James Brandrup, who has won a competency from Nebraska 'soil, and is now living in comfort retired from further active labor in life's wide fields. Mr. Brandrup was born in the village of Ries, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, August 17, 1840. He is a son of Claus and Christina '(Jessen) Brandrup, who spent their entire lives in the Danish Kingdom. For two years he was a soldier in the war between Denmark and the German Empire, terminating in the cession of his native province to the conquerors. Immediately after his discharge he started in May, 1866, for America ; crossing the North sea from Hamburg to Hull, he traveled by rail to Liverpool and there em barked in the "Bavaria" for New York, landing the first of June, his destination being Califor nia. He was delayed fourteen days in New York, waiting for a steamer for the Isthmus, which he crossed from Colon to Panama; there he again embarked in a steamer bound for San Francisco. He straightway joined his brother in Lincoln, a mining town in which was a large colony of Danes. Here he spent the summer threshing, then went into the mines, and for seventeen years was a pros pector and miner with the usual ups and downs of the mining regions; sometimes fortune favored him and sometimes hard luck pursued him to the bitter end. He spent several months ' time in Port land, Gray's river, and Astoria, but returned to the mines of California, where he decided to cast his fortunes in the valley of the great Missouri river. In the fall of 1882 he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, and filed on a homestead near St. James, where he lived for eighteen years; dur ing this time he added eighty acres to his hold ings, making a comfortable sized farm of two hundred and forty acres. In 1900 he passed the burden of the active management and operation of the farm to younger shoulders, bought a resi dence with several adjoining lots in Hartington, and is taking life easy, as a man should when he has for so many years worked with the energy and industry Mr. Brandrup has displayed. Mr. Brandrup was married in Nevada City, California, to Miss Christina Lotsch, a native of Loit-Kirkeby villages, Schleswig-Holstein; her parents, Henry and Anna (Albrechts) Lotsch, never emigrated from their native land. Mrs. Brandrup came to America in her young woman hood, found a home on the Pacific coast, and was there married; she died in 1905, in Hartington, survived by her husband and four children, deep ly mourned by all who knew her. Three sons and one daughter were born to this worthy couple: Jesse, the eldest, is married and culti vating the home farm; Henry is a plasterer in Hartington ; ; Mathias is clerking in Lincoln, while Christina is now Mrs. Charles Livermore, of Obert, Nebraska. Mr. Brandrup was in California during the winter of the deep snow and the flood of the fal lowing spring, but tales of suffering were still new when he settled in Cedar county. At the time the blizzard of January 12, 1888, broke, Mr. Brandrup was drawing water not a hundred yards from the house, and so thick was the frozen ice mist that he had difficulty in reaching his own door; two or three efforts were necessary before he found the way and got in from the rag ing, freezing storm. Mr. Brandrup has been a life-long member of the Lutheran church; and in politics he is a staunch republican. HENRY LEIBERT. The family of which Henry Leibert is a mem ber is described at some length in connection with the sketch of George Leibert,_ youngest brother of Henry, which appears in this volume. Henry Leibert was born in Jo Daviess county, Illi nois, March 5, 1856, eldest of the nine children of Andrew and Lena (Hoop) Leibert, natives of Germany. The father came ,to the United States in 1848 and the mother about 1851 and they were married in Illinois, where they lived until 1886, and in 1887 they located in Custer county. Both died on the home farm in Custer county, the father in 1903 and the mother in 1901. In 1886 Mr. Leibert and his brother Nicholas came to Custer county from Missouri, antedating the coming of their parents about one year. In 1896 the former secured a homestead on the southwest quarter of section nineteen, township twenty, range seventeen, which is still the home place. He was married in Jo Daviess county Il linois, January 29, 1871, to Mary Steinberger, a native of Germany, and daughter of John and Barbara Steinberger. Eight children have been born of this union: Barbara, Andrew and Hen ry, born in Illinois; Jesse, born in Nebraska; Sadie, wife of H. H. Pilcher, of Custer county, has one child; Lena, George and Hannah. Mr. Leibert is recognized as an industrious and pub lic-spirited citizen and the family have a large circle of friends. MILTON H. RAWLINGS. Milton H. Rawlings is one of the well-to-do men and ialso one of the best known farmers of Merrick county. He has devoted almost his entire career to the pursuit of farming, and has met with deserved success in his line of work. He has developed a fine farm and is a gentle man of enviable reputation, enjoying a pleasant home. ' Milton H. Rawlings, son of James and Re becca (Russell) Rawlings, was born in Bloom- J. P. HIRSCHMAN— RESIDENCE AND FAMILY GROUP. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 271 field, Iowa, November 6, 1853, and was seventh in a family of nine children. He has one brother residing in Saunders county, Nebraska, one in the state of Wyoming, another in Missouri, and still another in California, two sisters who reside in Iowa; the other children being deceased. The parents are also deceased, the father having died in the state of Nebraska, and the mother in Iowa. Mr. Rawlings received his education in schools of his home state, and later engaged in farming. In 1878 he went into Mount Vernon, Missouri, where he engaged in the drug and grocery business for two years, then after spend ing the following winter in Iowa came to Saun ders county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1880, coming into Merrick county in 1887, locating in Archer, and engaging in the hardware business for a couple of years. In' 1889 he purchased eighty acres of land in section seventeen, town ship fourteen, range seven, west, which remained the home place three years, and then bought eighty acres of the road in section eighteen, to which he moved and where he lived until the fall of 1899, when he moved to Central City, where he lived two years and then moved to his present farm on section fifteen, where he has since continued to reside. On January 6, '1880, Mr. Rawlings was joined in wedlock to Miss Eliza Dooley of Iowa. Mrs Rawlings died in August, 1898, survived by her husband and three children, whose names fol low : Mamie, is married to Elwin Secoy, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; J. Oren, has four children and lives near Archer; and Samuel, who is married and lives in Merrick county. Mr. Rawlings has been prosperous and suc cessful, and owns five hundred and forty-one acres of good land under cultivation, all of which is located in Merrick county. He has served his county four years as supervisor, and also as di rector of his school district number forty-three, for some years very creditably. Mr. Rawlings is a prosperous man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county, and is widely and favorably known. JOHN P. HIRSCHMAN. John P. Hirschman, owner and operator of one of the finest farms in Cedar county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality for a period of forty years. He is well known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of the region, and after many years of hard work in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy his remaining years .in the peace and com fort he has so well earned, surrounded by a host of friends. Mr. Hirschman was born in Wiscon sin in 1862, a son of Fernando and Anna (Marks) Hirschman, both natives of Germany. The par ents came from their native country to America in a sailing vessel, spending three months on the way. The father was a native of Austria and the mother of Prussia. Mr. Hirschman began his education in his na tive state and completed it in Nebraska, to which state he accompanied his parents in 1870. They drove through and took up a homestead on what is known as Long Ridge, and there built a sod house, or dugout, which he occupied a few years, then erected a cotton-wood frame house. In the early days of their residence there, St. James St. Helena and Sioux City were their nearest trading points, and they suffered serious loss from the depredations of grasshoppers, which made it very hard for them to get a start in the new home. The entire family often had to fight prairie fires to protect the home and other pos sessions. Deer and antelope were frequently seen in those early days and. all the surroundings and conditions were very different from those of more recent years. Mr. Hirschman was married in 1895 to Miss Ethel Dawson, a native of Iowa, and they are the parents of five . children : Fernando L., Olive M., Ada M., Maggie J., and Kermit. Mr. Hirschman 's home is pleasantly located on section eight, township twenty-eight, range two, east, of Cedar county, and he is recog nized as one of the most public-spirited and en terprising of the county's citizens, always ready to lend his influence in the promotion of any worthy object and interested in the general wel fare and progress. A picture of the residence and family group apears on another page. W. W. STROPE. One of the old settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a well improved farm and valuable estate on sec tion twenty-three, township twenty-nine, range eight, Knox county, Nebraska. W. W. Strope is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Bradford county, in 1851. His father was born and reared in the same township as his son, he being of German descent. W. W. Strope 's mother was Scottish. Our subject grew up in his birthplace, living with his parents and assisting in carrying on the home place as a boy, starting out to make his own way in the world when about fifteen years old. He had heard of the fortunes to be made in the west, so started west, where land was cheap and opportunities greater than in the east. His first settlement was made in Wisconsin, where he spent about fourteen years engaged in farming. In 1879 he loaded up his goods in a covered wagon and with a stout team, began his journey to Nebraska, camping out along the way at night, and finally reaching his destination in Knox county. Here he filed on a timber claim in 1879 and on a homestead in 1881. His first dwelling 272 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. was a sod house, and with his family he went through every phase of pioneer life here. As times grew better in their vicinity, Mr. Strope was able to get together considerable stock, make improvements in his buildings, etc., and at the present time he has one of the best equipped and most productive farms in the lo cality. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres, two hundred acres of this being under cultivation. Mr. Strope was married in 1874, to Miss Ella Gerry, who is a native of Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Strope seven children have been born, namely: Ervy May, Franklin Dorence, Maude Luella, Bert J., who died in infancy, Wallace W., Merwin G. and Floyd Ray. The first three are married and occupying comfortable homes of their own, while the last three are living at home. Wallace W. and Merwin G. graduated from the Nebraska State Agricultural College in April, 1911, and have rented and will operate their father's farm. Mrs. Strope 's father, Benjamin F. Gerry, was frozen to death while breasting the blizzard of 1888, having started to the post office at Walnut, a distance of four and one-half miles from his home, and being unable to reach shelter before being overcome by the awful storm. NELS J. SKOOG. Nels J. Skoog, a hardy and typical represent ative of the hosts from Sweden who have done so much to make the Nebraska wilderness blos som as a rose through their earnest efforts to develop the country which they have adopted as a permanent home, is a prosperous merchant of Genoa, Nebraska. Mr. Skoog was born in Sweden, on October 18, 1852, and is a son of Nels and Hannah John son, his early years being spent in his native vi cinity. He "was married in the spring of 1874, to Kjersti Jensen, also born and reared in Swe den, and they came to America about 1882, accom panied by a little son. Their first location was in Minnesota, and after a few months in that state, came on to Nebraska, settling in Nance county. Their house was one of the first built in Genoa, and our subject secured employment on the section of the Union Pacific railroad company, and also worked as a day laborer at the Genoa Indian school. He worked in a meat market for a considerable length of time, finally purchasing the business and carried it on for several years. In 1889 he bought a quarter section of land in Genoa township, and farmed for about a year, but on account of Mrs. Skoog 's poor health was obliged to give it up and again moved to Genoa and purchased his old meat market. He also kept his farm and personally superintended its man agement, and besides these interests was engaged in the stock business buying and shipping to market. In 1894 he sold his market and bought one hundred and thirty-five acres of partly im proved land on section twenty-three, township sev enteen, range four, and went into the stock busi ness on a larger scale, feeding from four to five hundred head of cattle annually. In 1901 Mr. Skoog organized and financed what was known as the McFadden- Wilson & Skoog General Merchandise Company, and the following year bought his partners' interests and reorganized the concern under the firm name of N. J. Skoog & Son, and they still con tinue the business. The first year their gross trade amounted to $36,000, and in 1908 were (do ing an $85,000 business. Their store is the largest in Genoa, having a frontage of forty-four feet by eighty in depth, and at the present time our subject is making extensive improvements in the building, adding to it a very fine ladies' rest room patterned after those of other large estab lishments in different cities, and which will in clude every convenience and comfort that can be conceived. Mrs. Skoog died in 1898, survived by her hus band and two sons, -Nels, who is married and with his wife and child lives in Genoa, and August, living with our subject. In January, 1900, Mr. Skoog was married to Anna Pearson, and to them two daughters were born, Esther and Wilma, both at home, and charming little misses. On July 7, 1906, Mrs. Skoog died, her demise being deeply lamented by her sorrowing family and many friends. Mr. Skoog was married again on July 8, 1909, to Esther Smith, of Platte county, Nebraska, a lady of very pleasing personality. The family occupy one of the handsome homes in Genoa, and all are popular members of the social life of the little city. DR. G. W. IRA. One of the oldest and best established prac titioners of northeastern Nebraska is Dr. George W. Ira, of Lynch. He has been prominently identified with the upper Missouri river country since 1866, when he settled at Decatur, Nebras ka, to practice his profession after a two years' course at a medical college in Columbus, Ohio. After seven years practice here he was appointed to the Yankton Agency at Greenwood, South Da kota, and was afterwards engaged in private practice at Springfield, South Dakota, for some time, which place was across the river from the Santee Reservation. In 1875 he was appointed physician at the Santee Agency, remaining at the post for ten years, and the following five years were spent in private practice in Niobrara, during which time he took an advanced course at the College of Phy sicians and Surgeons at St. ' Louis, receiving his diploma in the spring of 1888. Two years later he was reappointed to his old position at Santee, which he held uninterruptedly for fourteen years. In September, ,1904, he opened an office at COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 273 Lynch, where, in partnership with his son, Guy B. Ira, he is enjoying a lucrative practice, as keenly interested in a complicated case and as efficient in prescribing as he was when he first began his practice, nearly half a century ago. Dr. Ira was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1842, and was reared in his native county, where his parents Iremained during their lifetime. Our subject was first mar ried at Decatur, Nebraska, in 1868, to Miss Ger trude Fuller, to whom a daughter was born, Mary Gertrude, now the wife of Erving Rodgers, of De catur, Nebraska. Mrs. Ira died about a year after her marriage. In 1872 Dr. Ira married again, taking as his wife Mary B. Hobbs, a native of the eastern states. Of their seven children, six survive, as follows: Guy B., above mentioned; Julia, wife of D. A. Martindale, they living in Omaha ; Henry, living with his father here ; Edith, who has se cured a claim in Mead county, South Dakota, and on which she has established a residence ; Clayton, living in Omaha, employed by the Baum Iron Company ; and Florence, wife of Cyrus Marks, of Rapid City, South Dakota. Dr. Ira is a republican in political faith, and he and his family are miembers of the Episcopal church. He served as United States pension ex aminer for about twenty years. He affiliates with the Masonic lodge at Niobrara, and is popular both in commercial 'and social circles in his community. HENRY V. NET,ZER. The gentleman whose name heads this personal history for thirty-five years past has been closely identified with the development and advancement of Boone county, Nebraska. He resides in the village of Petersburg, and is classed among the well-to-do and successful farmers of that region. He has the distinction of being one of the oldest settlers in the locality, and is a familiar person age to all who have made their home there since the early days ; therefore, a history of Boone coun ty is not complete without a sketch of the life and work of Henry V. Netzer. Mr. Netzer is a native of Aberdeen, Ohio, bora November 11, 1837. He, was the second in a fam ily of eight children born to Sanford and Esther Netzer, the former dying about 1890, and the mother when our subject was fourteen years old, at which time he went with his father to Illinois, where they engaged in farming. In 1861 he enlisted in Company 'C, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served with his regiment for three years, receiving hon orable discharge in September, 1864. The prin cipal battles in which he engaged were the ac tions at Gundell, Memphis and Moscow, besides many other minor encounters with the confederate troops, and during his service with the army he saw the various dark phases of a soldier's career. Mr. Netzer returned to Illinois after the war was closed, and was married there !in 1866, to Elizabeth Bierley, and in the fall of 1876 they left Illinois and came to Nebraska, locating in 10 Boone county on homestead rights in section thirty, township twenty-two, range six, one mile east of where Petersburg now stands, this farm remaining their home place for about sixteen years. They then sold the homestead and pur chased several acres in the viUage of Petersburg, and built a good home, which they have made their permanent residence. Mr. Netzer and wife are among the earliest settlers of that part of Boone county, and have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of pioneer life. Mr. and Mrs. Netzer have had four children, George G., Anna M., Sadie and Dolly, all mar ried and living in different parts of the country. JOHN H. LARISON. Four states from time to time claimed the citizenship of John H. Larison, now retired and living in one of the finest and best appor tioned modern dwellings in the city of Wayne. Mr. Larison was born in Columbus, Ohio, November 18, 1854, whence the family moved west in the spring of 1854. The grandparents, by whom the boy was reared, settled in Nauvoo, Illi nois, while his parents a short time later moved on to Moravia, Iowa. He remained with his grandparents until he was eighteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. After fin ishing school he joined his parents at Moravia, where they were keeping hotel, and there secured a clerkship in a store, at which he was engaged several years. His next venture was at railroad ing at Ottumwa, where he lost a thumb in the service; this awakened him to the danger of rail road life, which he abandoned before anything more serious should happen him. At Malvern, Iowa, he entered the service of Mr. J. M. Strahan, who was destined later to be come his father-in-law, and in company with that gentleman, went to Minnesota to .trail a herd of his cattle to the prairies of Nebraska. On this, his first advent to Wayne county, the herd was herded in the valley of Dog Town creek through the summer. Returning, he entered the employ of the Benner stores, and for nine or ten years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In the meantime/ he had married, and desiring to do better for himself he came west and in vested in farm lands. He had purchased land in Sherman county, Kansas, where he still owns a half section, but in deciding to locate west ,of the Missouri river, he had in mind the fertile prair ies of Wayne county; here in the spring of 1889 he purchased the Peter Oman farm of three hun dred and twenty acres five miles north and three miles west of the city of Wayne. Pour years later, he bought a town residence and moved in off the farm, which he has cultivated through tenants since. In 1909, he began building what is prob ably the most imposing private residence in the city, a ten-room Colonial dwelling, equipped with all the most modern improvements, hot and cold water, gas and electric light and steam heat. It 274 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. is as elegantly and tastefully furnished as any residence of cities ten times the size of Wayne> of which not the least elegant is the hall clock with its mellow cathedral chime. Mr. Larison is a son of Simeon and Ethelinda (Hobbs) Larison, both natives of Ohio; they at tained the ages of seventy-six and seventy-two years, respectively, passing away in Nebraska at the home of their son. Of their two daughters and four sons, Mr. Larison was second in order of birth. He was married in Malvern, May 27, 1887, to Miss Rosetta Strahan, a native of Iowa, and daughter of J. M. and Fannie (Davis) Strahan. They migrated originally from Henderson county, Illinois, and after the birth of their daughter, Fan nie, returned thither, remaining a few years, and then came again to Iowa, settling in Malvern, Mills county. Mr. and Mrs. Larison have an adopted daughter, Charlotte Bernard Larison, who is a student at the state normal at Wayne. She has an unusual talent in art, delighting in spend ing her spare moments with her pencil or brush. A career is open to her in this calling should she devote her time for a few years to its serious study. Mr. Larison. had not settled 'in Nebraska at the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, but encountered it in nearly all of its severity in Malvern, where he had great difficulty in getting from the store to his home. Has father-in-law lost nearly a hundred cattle in the storm. Their car casses were burned on the prairies west of Wayne, where the stock had been herding. Mr. Larison has never lived- in a sod house, but has visited in that most comfortable kind of dwelling. At the time they came to the state deer and antelope were driven to the far west, but the plains were cov ered with their horns, showing the extent to which their herds prospered at an earlier day. The large grey wolf was to be seen occasionally, and on several occasions, when first on the ranges here, Mr. Larison has chased them on horseback eight or ten miles with the usual success — when the wolf got tired of the game he leveled out across the prairie, and disappeared. But these old days of the frontier have gone. Where once was waving grasses on the open plains, crops of grain sway in the wind, comfortable farm hou?es nestle in their sheltering groves, and cat tle peacefully graze in pastures, where before only wild creatures lived and fed. Mr. Larison is independent in politics, voting for whom he believes to be best fitted for the office, regardless of party affiliations. FRED WICHMAN. Fred Wichman is one of the earlier settlers of Stanton county, Nebraska, and has always been intimately connected with all measures for the welfare and development of his community. It is to such men that the undeveloped region, in which they settled, has been transformed to a land of well-cultivated farms and pleasant homes, and citizens who enjoy all the advantages of modern civilization. In the first years they spent in the county, they were obliged to journey to Fremont or Columbus to market their produce, or procure needed supplies. They made use of an ox team in cultivating their farms, and endured many priva tions and hardships. All the members of the fam ily were compelled to do their share in making the home and carrying on the farm. Mr. Wichman is a native of Germany, born in 1849, a son of Charles and Pauline Wichman, and spent his early years in that country, where he received his education. The family left Prussia the latter part of the sixties, and sailed for New York City. They proceeded to Wisconsin, and carried on farming there about five years, then came to Nebraska. Upon coming to Nebraska, Fred Wichman took up a homestead tree claim on section seventeen, township twenty-four, range one, and immediately started in to improve, building a frame house, fourteen by sixteen feet, and otherwise preparing for the comfort of the family. During the first few years, their crops were almost wholly de stroyed by grasshoppers, and they had to work hard many times to protect their stock and build ings from prairie fires. Mr. Wichman drove a drove of cattle through from Wisconsin, making the entire trip on foot. His father took up a claim on the present site of Norfolk Junction, and erec ted a log house. When the family first came, there were a good many deer and antelope, and even a few elk. Mr. Wichman is a man of influ ence and stability in his community, and has a large number of friends. He is one of the best known men of his locality. In 1872, Mr. Wichman married Miss Minnie Neno, and six children have blessed this union. CHRISTOPHER N. ROSE. Located very pleasantly in section thirty-four, township twenty-seven, range five, Antelope coun ty, Nebraska, is to be found the esteemed gentle man whose name introduces this article. Mr. Rose was born in Menard county, Illinois, November 13, 1865, the son of Christopher and Isabella (Parks) Rose. The mother died when he was a small boy, and he was reared by his maternal grandmother. His Grandfather Parks was a Scotchman, who came to America with his wife and daughter Isabelle, while the latter 's hus band was stationed in India, and here the boy was born. The voyage across was a long and hard one, made in an old sailboat from Liverpool to New York. Immediately after landing, they went to Sangamon county, Illinois, where Mr. Parks bought a farm near Springfield, and 'resided there for several years. Christopher Rose, senior, served as a British soldier for fifteen years, dur ing which time he saw service in India, was in Gibraltar and the British Isles. While on duty in the Indies, he became so ill that he was ordered COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY,' REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 275" sent back to the mother country, where he soon passed away among his own people. Christopher N. Rose came to Antelope county, Nebraska, in ,1895, from the state of Illinois, where he was reared on a farm, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of good land, which he has improved with a good set of farm buildings, fences and all modern improvements. Mr. Rose engages in mixed farming and stock raising, and the recent addition of a gasoline motor to his equipment, to be used for pumping and other farm work, has proved to be a profitable labor-saving piece of machinery, and the excellent condition and appearance of the entire farm be speaks his prosperity. Mr. Rose was married, September 27, 1901, at the residence of a neighbor, Mr. Charles W. Smith, to Miss Elizabeth Anboghast, who was born in Illinois. Mrs. Rose's parents were natives of Germany, who came to America, settled in Illinois, later went to South Dakota in its pioneer days, and there their children were reared. Two chil dren have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rose, Christopher III, and Isabella, both of whom are typical bright and sturdy westerners, and the pride of their parents' hearts. In political views, Mr. Rose is a republican. He takes a keen interest in local affairs, and since coming to the state has aided materially in its development, and the promotion of the general welfare of his section. Mr. Rose's home and fam ily deservedly merit the respect of the community in which they dwell. SAMUEL G. FULTON. It would be impossible to give a true history of the i state of Nebraska without including a sketch of the life of Samuel G. Fulton, who is one of the most prominent old settlers. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, April 14,, 1853, fifth in a family of six or seven. His father, Andrew Ful ton, was born in Scotland in 1810, and was a farmer. His mother, Margarett (Myers) Fulton, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, but her father was a native of Germany and her mother was of Scotch descent. Our subject's parents were mar ried in 1844, settling in Belmont county, Ohio, and from there going to Monroe county, Ohio, where they were pioneers, having to cut their own roads through the timber when they moved. Our subject's oldest brother, William M. Ful ton, served the north in the civil war ; he was al most taken prisoner at Winchester, and partici pated in the Siege of Richmond, when' Lee sur rendered. Our subject, Samuel 'G. Fulton, experienced all the hardships incidental to the pioneer days, and remembers the hailstorms of , June 22, 1888, which destroyed all their crops; they got seventy bush els of corn from seventy acres. In the blizzard of that same year, their only cow nearly froze to death. They had to burn hay in those days, and in the blizzard, the snow drifted in around their hay so much they could not find it, and our subject had to carry buckwheat straw tied with a rope, getting lost in the blizzard trying to get to the house. Some deer and antelope were to be seen when our subject came, and one deer was seen to pass the house; Indians passing in wagons frightened Mrs. Fulton, but did no damage. Samuel ,G. Fulton was married September 2, 1875, to Miss Isabel Carter, of English descent, and they are the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows: William Forest, James El- wood, Charles Malvern, Samuel Clark, Margaret, Alva, Wallace, and Florence. Mr. Fulton now owns four hundred acres of land, and is a highly respected resident, holding the esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, , and is independent in politics, voting for the best man. JENS FREDERICKSEN. That diversified farming may be carried on suc cessfully in Howard county, Nebraska, has been demonstrated beyond doubt by the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review. Al though he has retired from active labors, Mr. Fredericksen has followed farming in Loup Fork precinct for many years, and is now classed among the wealthy men of his section, enjoying the respect and esteem of his f ellowmen. Jens Fredericksen was bom in Denmark in July, 1844, and grew up there. In 1872 he left home and started to make his own way in the world, coming to America in that year, and after about two years spent in different parts of the eastern states, returned to Denmark, where he was married in 1875 to Katherine Mortensen. The fol lowing year Mr. Fredericksen came to America, his first location being in Illinois. He remained there for about one year, then came on to Howard county, arriving here in the spring of 1877, being joined the following year by his wife and son Peter. He immediately took a homestead on section two, township thirteen, range twelve, and after putting up a rough dwelling, started to breaking land and begun farming. The family went through every phase of pioneer life, encountering many hardships and difficulties, but gradually added improvements to their place and as he became able, Mr. Freder icksen added to his acreage until he was proprie tor of six hundred acres of fine land, all in first- class shape, supplied with good buildings, etc. He carried on mixed farming and stock raising, and as he was a good manager, everything he under took seemed to make money, and he accumulated sufficient property to enable him to retire from actual work himself, now having his two sons, Peter and Carl, in charge of his interests and oc cupying the farms, while himself and wife reside in Florida. Peter Fredericksen is unmarried and lives on the original homestead of , his father's, operating II f Ti 276 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. about two hundred and forty acres of land. He is a young man of sterling qualities, ambitious and is becoming one of the prosperous and successful men in his locality. Carl, the other son, also has a fine home and farm, and with his wife, (who was Marie Westergard, they being married September 1, 1908,) occupies a prominent place in the social life of their community, both being agreeable and pleasant young people. The Fredericksen family have always been known as among the leading settlers here and well deserve their present prosperity. SAMUEL McCLELLAN. Samuel McClellan, who resides in section twen ty-six, township eighteen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, is an old settler of eastern Ne braska, having come here some thirty years ago. and is well known throughout his community, where he is highly esteemed and venerated. Mr, McClellan has done much toward the making of Nebraska history, and has always stood for the best interests of his home state and county. Samuel McClellan was born in St. Joe county, Michigan, April 5, 1838, and was sixth in the fam ily of Thomas and Mary (Wilson) McClellan, who had seven sons and four daughters. The Mc Clellan family left Michigan, going to Noble coun ty, Indiana, in 1840, then going to what is now Greenlake county, Wisconsin, in June of 1847. Mr. McCleUan was a farm boy, and received the usual schooling, and went out in life for himself in 1861. Mr. McClellan was married to Miss Mlary A. Dewey at Berlin, Wisconsin, February 14, 1861. Mrs. McClellan a daughter of Daniel L. and Orange (Wadsworth) Dewey, is a native of New York, in which state, and in Massachusetts, her early years were spent. The family came to Wis consin in March, 1856. The Deweys are descen dants of Thomas Dewey, one of the first settlers of the New England states; Commodore Dewey is a descendant of the same family. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan have had five children, four of whom are now living, namely : Merrill E., who resides on the home farm; Henry T., also re sides on the home farm; Fannie M., and Clifton W., is married and living in Valley county, two miles north of the home place ; Avvo 0., the eld est child of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan, who is now deceased, was united in marriage to Mr. Frank M. Larkin. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan now have three grand children, namely: Fred S. Larkin, who married Belva Barr and has one son, Fred S., junior ; Fan nie V. Larkin, now the wife of 0. M. Campbell they having one daughter, Mildred Marie; and Homer F. Larkin, all residents of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan started out in life for themselves in Greenlake county, Wisconsin, where Mr. McClellan engaged in farming, and stock raising and here they lived on a two hundred and forty-acre farm of their own until February of 1880, coming at that time to Clay county, Nebras ka where Mr. and Mrs. McClellan purchased a quarter section and leased two hundred and forty acres of school land. Here they lived until Au gust of 1885, when they came to Valley county, Nebraska, purchasing four hundred and eighty acres of land in the south half of section twenty- seven and the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, township eighteen, range thirteen, and this has remained the home farm un til this date. There are eight hundred and forty acres of land now owned by the McClellan family. Mr. McClellan is engaged in farming, and since 1865, he and his sons have given considerable at tention to Shorthorn cattle and Poland China swine. A fine five-acre orchard is one of the best features of the home place, and irrigation is suc cessfully practiced here through a superior water system. Mr. McClellan and his sons are closely identi fied with the political and business life of central Nebraska ; Merrill E. McCellan being the nominee of the republican party for the state legislature in the fall of 1910, and he was elected by a large majority. Mr. McCellan and his sons are closely identi- more prominent families along educational and social lines; they have a commodious and substan tial home just outside the limits of North Loup vil lage to the west, built in 1886 ; it is supplied with running water, and lighted by gas. While living in Clay county they occupied for a time a sod house, and suffered, as did other pioneers, from a pest of sand fleas ; these were dispersed by the use of salt, and until rid of them, the children suffered intensely, being unable to sleep or rest. Mr. McClellan was about eighty rods from the house on his way home from town when the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, struck him, and it was necessary to hold his hands over his face in order to breathe. In 1894, the dry year, little was raised ; on one hundred and forty acres planted to corn, there was but about two-thirds of a bushel of nubbins gathered, but a fifteen-acre field of wheat produced fifteen bushels to the acre. LEANDER M. BEST. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers of Madison county, Ne braska, and since locating here in the early seven ties, has taken a foremost part in the development of his region, and incidentally has built up a good home and farm in section twenty-one, township twenty-four, range two, where he resides, and is surrounded by a host of good friends and many acquaintances, highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Best is a native of Madison county, Indi ana, where his birth occurred October 1, 1848. He is a son of John and Mary (Richer) Best, who were natives ,of Ohio. Mr. Best, with his parents, came to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1850, where they re mained sevnteen years. In 1867 they came to Mad- "LOCUST VILLA," RESIDENCE OF AUGUST F. HUWALDT. "LOCUST VILLA, RESIDENCE OF AUGUST F. HUWALDT. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 277 ison county, Nebraska, coining overland from Iowa by ox team. After arriving at their destination, the father took up a homestead claim in section twenty-four, township twenty-four, range two. In 1869 Mr. Best, our subject, took up the homestead where he now lives, on which he first built a frame house ; Wisner, forty miles away, was then the nearest market place, the journey there and back consuming two days. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those first days on the western frontier, and frequently could be seen in herds'grazing on the open prairies, and there were many dangers and hardships to be en countered. During the first few years of settle ment, the grasshopper pests were the greatest source of anxiety to the farmer, and for four years after our subject came here they destroyed every spear of green to be found anywhere around, leaving nothing but the short stubble of what had been thriving and promising crops; prairie fires also played their part as a menace to progress in early history, and many times our subject and his family were compelled to fight the rolling walls of flames to save their lives, homes, and grain. The last year of fatalities to crops in this portion of the country was 1894, and in that year our sub ject lost his entire harvest by the hot winds that were a result of the terrible drought that de stroyed all vegetation for that season. But those experiences have passed to history, and prosperity and plenty reign in the land. Mr. Best was united in marriage March 18, 1876, to Miss Belle Wolf, a native of Iowa, and daughter of Louis and Rebecca (Walker) Wolf. Mr. and Mrs. Best are the parents of five children, namely: Clyde, Roy, Mabel, Harry and Reno. Mr. Best now owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine improved land on which he has a beautiful home, an orchard and a large tract of forest trees. He is a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and an independent voter. AUGUST F. HUWALDT. August F. Huwaldt, a prominent farmer and stockman residing on section thirty-six, township twenty-eight, range one, Pierce county, is known throughout that section of Nebraska as a progres sive and successful agriculturist, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Huwaldt is a native of the village of Pas- sade, Holstein province, Germany, then a depen dency of Denmark, August 2, 1853. He is a son of John Huwaldt, who was born in 1813, and came to the United States in the fall of 1870 ; he died at the age of seventy-six years. The mother, Lena (Gropper) Huwaldt, who was born in 1821, lived to the advanced age of eighty-five years. Our sub ject grew up in his native land, and in the spring of 1870, left home for the new world, setting sail from Hamburg, Germany. After landing in New York, he came west to Davenport and lived there and in Scott county, Iowa, until 1877. In that year he bought eighty acres in Stanton county, Nebraska, where he re mained two years, and then located in Pierce county, where he took up a homestead of one hun dred and sixty acres in the northeast quarter of section two, township twenty-seven, range one. Here he succeeded in developing a good farm, known as the Hereford Stock Farm, engaging in mixed farming and stock raising. He increased his holdings from time to time, until he accumu lated nine hundred and sixty acres of land in the vicinity of the old home farm. This he sold to August Huwaldt, junior, who is emulating his father's successful career. There is a grove of fifteen acres on this, place, which furnished lumber for the new dwelling and barns, besides other buildings on the farms. Half of his land is under cultivation, and splendid crops of < corn, oats and wheat are raised. On the old place there is a fine lake, well stocked with fish, and all the farms are equipped with a plentiful supply of good water for stock and family. Good buildings are to be found on all the tenant farms, and all are under most excellent cultivation. His new residence, "Locust Villa," on section thirty-six, just north of the old home place, is one of the most elegant and best equipped in northeastern Nebraska. Erected in 1908, on a hill commanding a broad view in nearly every di rection, it is as elegantly furnished as most city homes, heated by steam, lighted by acetylene gas. The bath room is supplied with hot and cold wat er, and running water is installed in all the out buildings and barns. A large carriage house and garage, house their vehicles and motor car, which they enjoy to the fullest extent. Groves, princi pally of locust, have been planted around the place, and an orchard of about an acre in extent will soon supply them an abundance of fruit. A fine engraving of "Locust Villa," the old home farm, and all the tenant places will be found on another page of this work. Since locating here, Mr. Huwaldt has been suc cessful every year, suffering small losses where others at times have lost all. While in Stanton county, however, the grasshoppers took his crops two. seasons, those being the years every one suf fered hard times. , Mr. Huwaldt was first married to Miss Chris tina Peterson, a native of Davenport, and daughter of Hans. J. Peterson. Six children were born to them : John, who is married to Miss Anna Drew, they having one child; Minnie; Hattie. wife of John Volk; Augustus, junior, married Sophia Volk; George Edward, graduate of University of Nebraska, class of 1913, and Charles. Mr. Huwaldt was married a second time, January 16, 1896, to Miss Minnie Gopper, a native of Holstein, daughter of John and Henrietta Gop per, and to this union four children have been born: Walter, Lena, Fern and Arthur. All the children that are of age are farming, and doing well. Mr. Huwaldt is a member of the Masonic lodge 278 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of Randolph, 'and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America, , as well. LEWIS J. PFREHM. The Pfrehms are one of the early families of Custer county and have taken an active part in the development of the region, being prominent in many circles. Lewis J. Pfrehm, of this well-known family, was born in Petersburg, Illinois, March 11, 1858, third in order of birth of the twelve children of John A. and Mary Catherine (Swiegart) Pfrehm. He was reared on a farm in his native state, receiving a common school education, and later engaged in farming. In 1883 he joined his parents, who had located in Custer county in 1879, and himself took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section six, township twen ty, range nineteen, where he lived a number of years. On February 12, 1885, Mr. Pfrehm was united in marriage with Miss Anna J. Wilke, a native of Indiana, who came to Lancaster county with her sister in 1872. She is a daughter of August and Louisa (Goedeker) Wilke, the former born in Germany and the latter of German descent. Mr. Wilke came to America as a young man and died in Saline county, Nebraska, his wife dying in Crete. Mrs. Pfrehm has a brother, Henry, living in Custer county, two sisters in Crete and two in California. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pfrehm: Roley H., at home; Viola M., died at the age of eight years; Ralph, died at the age of seven years; Velma, at home; Ramah, died at the age of seven years. Mr. Pfrehm helped to or ganize school district number one hundred and ninety-eight, and served several years as director of same. In 1905 Mr. Pfrehm retired from farm life and moved to Sargent, where he erected a fine modern residence. He now conducts a feed, flour and seed store, being a successful and enterprising mer chant. The family is well known in social cir cles and is representative of the best interests of the county and state. Mr. Pfrehm is highly re garded as a citizen and stands well in business cir cles. P. A. MARKS. Prominent among Cedar county's old settlers and shrewd business men we mention F. A. Marks, who since the fall of 1871 has made this region his home. Mr. Marks was born in the city of Berlin, Ger many, on October 13, 1859. He is a son of Charles and Catherine Marks, who were farmers in the old country up to 1867, when the entire family dis posed of 'their property there and embarked on an emigrant ship for America, landing in New York City in the fall of that year. , The Marks family settled in Iowa, where the father farmed i for a number of years, and in 1871 our subject came into Cedar county, Nebraska, where he filed on a homestead, and after erecting, a small frame house built of cotton-wood lumber, started to improve his claim. He put up a few necessary sheds, and with a very small start in the way of money or goods, went to work with a will, working on his own land part of the time, and whenever possible, doing other work to be found in the vicinity in order to eke out a living and save something. During the first six or seven years, Mr. Marks was obliged to travel a distance of sixty miles to Yankton and Vermillion, South Dakota, to obtain the necessary articles of food, clothing, etc., making the trip by wagon team, and meeting with con siderable hardship in the way of rough weather and dangers from Indians, which made it a haz ardous journey for the lonely traveler at any time. The first few years that Mr. Marks spent on his homestead were hard ones for him, as nearly ev erything he planted was destroyed by the swarms of grasshoppers which came in clouds through the region, taking all the green things which grew. Another menace to life and property were the pra irie fires which swept the plains frequently, and often the settlers were obliged to fight the flames for days together in order to save their homes from destruction. Mr. Marks now occupies a finely-developed farm in section four, township thirty, range three, east, and engages in mixed farming and stock raising. He has a handsome dwelling, also other good farm buildings, and is known as one of the orosperous and successful men of his locality. In 1888 Mr. Marks married Miss Anna Fogel, who is a daughter of Fred Fogel, and to them have been born the following children : Charles, Hairy, Mary, and Arthur. ABRAM COLBORN. (Deceased.) To the early settlers of eastern Nebraska, and! especially Merrick county, the name of Abram Col born is well known. He was for many years prior to his death a leading farmer and, prosperous citi zen, and his sons and their families still reside in this locality and are well and favorably known throughout the community. Mr. Colborn was a native of New York state, born December 18, 1825, and became 'a resident of Canada in his early years. He was married to Miss Mary Comfort in Canada, December 27, 1849. Miss Comfort was a native of Canada. Eleven children were born to this union, seven sons and four daughters, three being born in Canada, the eldest dying in infancy. In 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Colborn and two sons, moved from Canada to Sauk coun ty, Wisconsin. i Mr. Colborn, as early as 1873, came to Howard county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead and tim ber claim, which he relinquished and returned to COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 279 Wisconsin. In 1883 he again came to Nebraska and purchased eighty acres of land on section eighteen, township fourteen, range eight, and this remained his home farm until 1892, at which time he moved to Palmer, Merrick county, for town residence of self, wife, and daughter, Nettie. Mr. Colborn lost his wife, who died April 11, 1899, and his own death occurred March 9, 1903. Mr. Colborn was a forceful man and a good citizen, and his three sons still reside in Merrick county, and for a number of years the Colborn family has been one of the prominent families of central Nebraska. At one time Mr. Colborn and five sons resided in Merrick county. Mr. Colborn is still revered in the memory of all who knew him. Abram Colborn and wife were the parents of the following children: Alonzo, died in Canada; George of Upland, Calif."; John M., of Palmer ; Hiram E., of Palmer ; Marcus W., of Yuma, Idaho; Benjamin F., of Palmer; Abra ham L., of Otis, Idaho; Mary Catherine, died in infancy in Sauk county, Wisconsin ; Katie, wife of Ernest Atwell, of Independence, Missouri; Mabel, wife of William Ross, of Chetek, Wisconsin; and Mrs. Nettie McCartney, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. CHARLES A. NIPPELL. Romance is not a thing of the past, a long-for gotten attribute of the middle age or the pages of fiction, but is still to be found in real life and the quiet corners of the earth, and Niobrara is not without its share. In a review of the life of this gentleman, we will show that nobility of a high or der renounced its birthright and left a rich patri mony to become a plain American citizen as a re sult of an affair of the heart. Charles A. Nippell, the well-known surveyor of Niobrara, is a descendant of the ancient nobility of the European continent. Through his mother's family he bears the title of Count von Selbach, and from his father that of Baron van Neppellen, but when he left his native land and elected to become an American citizen, he foreswore his title and had the court change his name to its present spelling, preferring to forget that he has ever been any thing but a plain private citizen. He was born in Vevey, Switzerland, on Octo ber 13, 1858, of an old Holland family. His father, Pierre Daniel van Neppellen left his na tive country and settled in Switzerland where he remained during ihis lifetime. Charles was educated in the universities of Stuttgart, Zurich and Paris, fitting himself for civil engineering, at the same time acquiring a master's knowledge of music. During his career, he has held the position of organist in many of the leading churches of the continent, including that of Notre Dame, Paris, the leading church of the world, holding the position of assistant organ ist for three years. He also devoted considerable attention to the languages, mastering seven ton gues, and represented several foreign firms, ex hibiting engineering and architectural works at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876. He spent his time when a youth as became a young gentleman of position, but at the time of the Centennial Exposition first came to the United States. A short while before the close of the exposition, he returned to his native country and remained until 1879, when he again came to America, spending two months in California look ing for a location, and returning home by way of the far north. In 1882, Mr. Nippell again came to the United States. He spent the following year in various parts of this country, principally in the northwest, landing again in Nebraska in 1883. He sojourned in Creighton and Bazile Mills for about a year, then settled permanently in Niobra ra. Here he turned his knowledge of engineering to advantage, pursuing the work at Knox, Boyd, Tripp, and Gregory counties, in Nebraska and Da kota. He has been in the employ of the federal government since 1890, and has the honor of hav ing laid out Boyd county in the original survey. Experts who have observed his work, both in the field and on the draughting board, declare that 'he is wasting his talents in the wilderness and should be in the national capitol in charge of a bureau in the departments of land and surveys. However, he likes the life of the west, and is contented to re main. He has traveled much and set foot on ev- ry continent except South America, which he may yet do if the "wander lust" strikes him at the right time. Mr. Nippell was married in Niobrara August 30, 1887, to Mary Hindman, and they have a fami ly of seA'en children, namely: Charles A., a grad uate in pharmacy from the Creighton university, in 1911 ; Daniel A., a surveyor in the government employ, being first assistant to N. B. Sweitzer, Uni ted States Examiner of surveys, Pierre B., Sophia J., Maxine and George Dewey, the last mentioned being so named on account of his birth occurring on the day General Dewey took Manila ; and Rita C. All the children have received splendid educa tions to fit them for the battle of life, and are a most interesting group of young people. Their home is one of the pleasantest places imaginable, its members dispensing the delightful hospitality usual to those of their race, and it is a treat to the weary traveler to enjoy a visit there. Mr. Nippell has crossed the Atlantic seven times to visit his aged parents, and thoroughly en joyed his stay and the intercourse with them. Politically Mr. Nippell is a strong republican, and has been active in advancing the interests of his party at all times. He served his country as surveyor from 1886 to 1908. He was brought up in the Lutheran faith, to which he still clings. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, serving sev eral terms as Master, and has many times been a delegate to the Grand lodge. 280 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. HON. JOHN A. WEEMS. John A. Weems, one of the best known pion- . eers of Nance county, has a pleasant home in Ful- erton, and is held in high esteem by all. He is a business man of more than ordinary ability, suc cessfully carrying on various enterprises. He has extensive land interests throughout the region which he personally conducts, farming and stock raising on a large scale. Mr. Weems was born near Greenville, Green county, Tennessee, on December 29, 1858. He was the youngest of two sons born to Thomas and Bet sy Weems, both of whom were natives of that state, and both dying there, when our subject was but one year old. Mr. Weems remained on the home farm during his younger years, receiving his education in the common schools, and at an early age asserted his manhood in an effort for self-sup port. He was married in Green county, Tennessee, on March 7, 1879, to Mattie Ball, who was a na tive of that county. They lived in Green county up to 1883, then with their son, Horace, came to Nance county, Nebraska, where Mr. Weems pur chased some land on the Loup river, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He built up a fine farm, and now owns large tracts of good valley and table land, on which he feeds many head of stock annually, giving his personal attention to all matters. Mr. and Mrs. Weems have three children, two of whom are living: Horace W., and a daugh ter, Edna. The entire family are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community in which they reside. With his family, Mr. Weems settled in Fulerton in 1899, purchasing one of the finest residence in the city, which is one of the beauty spots of the place. In the fall of 1906 Mr. Weems was elected a member of the Nebraska legislature, and was re elected the following term, still serving in the lower house. He has held numerous township and county offices, being a member of the board of supervisors in Nance county in 1900. He is a Woodman, Odd Fellow, and belongs to the Masonic order. GEORGE KIRKLAND. Among the most energetic and prosperous .stockmen of northeastern Nebraska may be men tioned George Kirk! and, of Atkinson. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1861, a son of Charles and Margaret (Fox) Kirkland, the father a native of England but reared in Ire land, whence he emigrated to America. For thirty years he was manager of the Caledonia woolen and cotton mills, of Philadelphia. Margaret Fox was a native of County Armagh, Ireland. In 1871 the family moved to Linn county, Iowa, lived two years in the western part of that county 'and then located near Urbana, Benton county, in the same state. There George Kirkland grew to manhood on his father's farm, and harvested one crop of his own before coming to Nebraska in 1882. He filed on a homestead in'the northern part of Holt county, at the head of Spring Branch and six miles south of Nebraska river. To this he added, by purchase, from time to time, and finally became possessed of eleven hundred acres of land. Later he purchased his father-in-law's place of one hundred and sixty acres in one body, 'and an outlying tract of eighty acres. He also added five hundred and sixty acres by purchase. He lived on the homestead place eight years, then moved to the place his father-in- law had improved, and 'resided on that place until March, 1905, when he moved. to Atkinson, where he had purchased a small place from Mr. Hall, who was a stockman. This place was well suited to the purpose of -Mr. Kirkland, who has since continued dealing in stock. He raises stock on his various ranches and buys and ships many carloads each year. He deals in hogs and cattle, chiefly, and his shipping point is Atkinson. He has arranged his place to suit his needs, having divided it into yards of various sizes, equipped with scales and other conveniences for operating his large busi ness. Mr. Kirkland was married at O'Neill, May 8, 1886, to Miss Kate Stockwell, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Rowland) Stockwell, of Butte, Nebraska, of whom extensive mention is made elsewhere in this work. The Stockwell family came to Nebraska in 1870, and eight years later moved to Lincoln county, Kansas, where they resided six years. On his return to Nebraska Mr. Stockwell resided for a time in Holt county, and later retired to Butte, Boyd county, which place has since been his home. Mr. Kirk land and wife became the parents of two sons, Wilbur S., who is raising stock on the Turkey creek ranch, and Harold V., a pupil in the Atkin son high school. Mr. Kirkland is a republican in politics and has given his firm support to the candidates on the state and national tickets, although he sometimes votes for local candidates who do not have the endorsement of the party. He and his wife had a unique experience in connection with the blizzard of January 12, 1888. After he had been out in the storm getting his stock into sheds, he returned to the house, and soon afterward the soot in the chimney caught fire, and the pipe, becoming red hot, set fire to the roof. There was but little water in the house, and getting more meant great delay on account of the fury of the storm, so he brought a bucket of milk, and used this, a cupful at a time, until the fire was extin guished—probably the first time in the history of the west that lacteal fluid was used as a fire ex tinguisher. The next day's experiences were any thing but pleasant, with the mercury forty de grees below zero. Mr. Kirkland and his neighbors were trying to save a herd of cattle that had drifted into a marsh near his house, many of which died COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 281 on the sleigh on the way back to the sheds. Some had strength left to recover, but many died before they could be dragged out from the mud and slushy snow. In the earlier days, prairie fires were often a source of menace to homes and crops. On one occasion he had but once chance to drive through a fire which was burning fourteen miles northeast of Atkinson, and that was to find a place where the grass was short. His way to safety lay in passing through and after selecting what he con sidered the best place to make the attempt, he rushed his horses through, although in this rush, to the other side the poor creatures were much singed. Upon reaching his own home, however, he found it in no danger. He lived in a "dug-out" during the first year of his residence in the state, but growing tired of living alone, sent for his sis ter, who threatened to return east unless he built a frame house, which he did rather than again look after his own house. When 'times were hard est the earliest settlers went to distant parts of the state to find work, and in the fall of 1885 Mr. Kirkland went as far as Dakota threshing. He worked on a railroad in the spring of 1887 and in the fall of 1888 husked corn in Wayne county. Al though the wages earned in this work were not very large, the early settlers were glad to earn enough to help keep flour in the barrel. In the early times there were deer and antelope, and oc casionally a big grey wolf forgot his shyness and came into view. Some of the severe hail storms that have sev eral times swept the state have passed by way of Mr. Kirkland 's home, and in his neighborhood hail stones as large as a man's fist have fallen, at times even breaking through a roof. Two in one year, in the months of August and September, broke not only the glass in the windows, but the screens and sashes as well, and left marks on the sides of the house. Great welts were to be noticed on the horses and cattle where the hail had struck them, ami during the year when this happened Mr. Kirkland lost all the corn on his home farm, and would have been obliged to buy corn for 'his own use that year if he had not had some planted on another farm. During the first winter he chopped his fuel along the Niobrara river and hauled it seven miles to his home. Like many other pioneers he often used parched rye instead of coffee, and for a whole year ate only rye bread, wheat flour be ing too scarce and expensive. Mr. Kirkland be came, so expert in making good rye bread that the wheat bread was not missed, and during the en tire year but one hundred pounds of the white flour was used in baking, and that when company was entertained. During tiie hard times the milk and butter from their cows formed a good share of their living, although butter then brought but eight or ten cents per pound at the. small store in their neighborhood. The Indian scare of 1881 gave the family some uneasiness, although it did not cause them to 10% leave their homes, and for a long time a coyote's cry would cause Mrs. Kirkland to listen intently to make sure it was not a yell of the Indians. In spite of the hard time he was then having to get along, Mr. Kirkland purchased ten heifers in the spring of 1887, the beginning of his large herd of cattle, and from that time on success at tended his way, notwithstanding the drought of the early nineties and various other setbacks. He is a man of great force i of character and bound to make his way in any walk of life he selected to follow. He is a keen judge of cattle and other stock, and in his shipping has deals that amount to many thousands of dollars each year. He is one of the substantial citizens of his part of the state and one who bore with great fortitude the hardships and privations of pioneer days in order that his children might be able to meet easier con ditions and enjoy the comforts and luxuries of civ ilization and progress in a greater degree than he was able to do. Not only did the men have to bear heavy burdens, but the women often had more se vere trials and taxes on their endurance, and in his wife Mr. .Kirkland has a helpmeet who has been a constant inspiration to cheer him on his way, and to hope with him for better things to come. ANDREW J. McKELVEY. Among the representative pioneer farmers and business men of Boone county who have aided ma terially in its development and advancement, a prominent place is accorded "the above mentioned gentleman, who resides in St. Edwards, where he is engaged in the harness business and is making a success of that work. Andrew J. McKelvey was born in Brockville, Canada, December 16, 1845. He was the eldest of | four children in the family of David and Eliza McKelvey, who settled in Berlin, Wisconsin, in the latter part of 1848. After living there for ten years, they removed ,to Ripon and remained up to 1863. Andrew received his education in Wisconsin, and in 1863 enlisted in the First Wisconsin Caval ry, Company M, serving until the close of the war, and being mustered out at Edgefield, Tennessee, in August, 1865. He was with McCook's company of cavalry at the battle of Atlanta, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He was also en gaged in many other battles and skirmishes, in cluding the battle of Selma and took part in ev ery principal action of his regiment, i At the close of the war, Mr. McKelvey returned to Ripon, and in the fall of 1869, started to work at his trade, that of harnessmaker and saddler, and has remained in this business up to the present time. He came to Nebraska in the winter of 1871, the following year homesteading on section ten, township eighteen, range five, in Boone county, and this tract of land is still in his possession. He fol lowed farming for a number of years, also work- 282 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ing his trade in Columbus, and in 1892 opened a harness store at St. Edward, carrying the busi ness on successfully since then. He has made St. Edward his residence for the past eighteen years, and has been a member of the town board, holding different local offices, and also being connected with the school board for a number of years. He is an active member of several lodges, among them the Knights of Pythias, etc. In September, 1869, Mr. McKelvey was mar ried to Anconetta Dana at Eureka, Wisconsin, she being a native of New York state. They have four living children: Edward, Nettie, Jay D., and Harley, all married and residing in Boone coun ty. The entire family is well known and amgng the popular citizens of their respective communi ties. ED. MILLER. A history of the settlement and development of northeastern Nebraska would be incomplete without mention of the life and agricultural suc cess of Ed. Miller, prominent among the earlier settlers of Wayne county. Mr. Miller is a native of western Prussia, Ger many, born in 1851, and a son of Christ and Min nie Miller, who spent their entire lives in Ger many. He was educated in his native country and as a young man served three years in the army, participating in the Franco-Prussian and Austrian wars. Afterward the desire grew upon him to own a home of his own, and he decided to come to the United States, where there was a good oppor tunity for a young man with small capital to make a start in life. He sailed from Hamburg to New Yrork in 1876, and came direct to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead of eighty acresand a forty acre tree claim. He at once set out to improve and cultivate his land, and now has a very comfortable and well situate dhome, surrounded by every possible improvement. Upon his arrival in Nebraska, Mr. Miller found himself with very few neighbors, his market was distant, and there were still a few deer and ante lope to be found in the neighborhood of his claim. He had the usual difficulties to encounter with grasshoppers and prairie fires that other early set tlers had, and found it necessary to work very hard to get his first start and begin to reap a pro fit from his place. However, he persevered in his undertaking, and has been well rewarded for his pains. He is no wsurrounded with agricultural and commercial prosperity, and has many friends throughout the county. He was united in mar riage with Miss Bertha Benstrouf, in 1883, and they are parents of eight children: Margaret, Hugh, Minnie, Allen, Emma, Knox, Otto and Adolph. MARTIN KRUEGER. The economy and thrift that are dominant traits of the German race are well exemplified in the career of Martin Krueger, formerly of Staun ton, Staunton county, Nebraska. He was born in the little village of Vrechow, Brandenburg, Germany, on May 21, 1835, and was the son of Christian and Louisa (Engel) Krueger. When he had attained manhood years, he became overseer of a large estate, but for the last five years before emigrating, had rented land and farmed for himself. Mr. Krueger 's voyage to America was not en tirely without excitement. He left Bremen on April 13, 1870, but before the vessel reached Havre', it ran on the rocks and was so badly dam aged that it was forced to put into Havre and dock for repairs. On coming to Nebraska, Mr. Krueger filed on a homestead sixteen miles northeast of Staunton. Here he put up a log house. At this time deer and antelope were quite common, in that section of the country, and at one time he was so fortunate as to shoot an elk, which supplied fresh meat to his- household. Like other early settlers, Mr. Krueger endured many hardships. Several years, grasshoppers took his crops, leaving devastation in their wake. In time his prospects brightened, and as his circum stances permitted, he improved the place by plant ing groves and orchards, and erecting barns and outbuildings. By thrift and industry, he added to his possessions another quarter section. Mr. Krueger and family lived on the farm until 1892, when he bought a small house in Staunton, and moved to that town. He moved this house away in 1897, and built a comfortable, roomy, two- story frame house, with granitoid walks surround ing it, and an abundance of fruit and trees on the place. He enjoyed a comfortable income from the rent of his lands. Mr. Krueger was first married to Wilhelmina Shienke in Nebraska, no children being born of this union. Later he was married to Emma Fechner, a native of the village of Bueten, province of Silesia, Germany. Her parents, Carl and Juliana Seidel Fechner came to America in 1870, sailing in the "Rising Star" from Stettin, the voyage to Amer ica consuming four weeks. They were also among the early settlers of Nebraska. Indians often came to their house, begging flour or bread, and fre quently acted ugly when none of the scant supply could be given them. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger had but one daughter, Martha, who is at present a student in the Staunton schools. Mr. Krueger was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church. He was much esteemed by the wide circle of friends whom he made during his long residence in this part of the country. He saw Nebraska develop from a wil derness to its present civilization. His death oc curred November 22, 1910, mourned by many friends. Mr. Krueger was the eldest son of his family, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 283 and thereby exempt from military duty in Ger many. M. M. WHITMORE. A typical early settler of Nebraska is repre sented by the gentleman above mentioned. He has lived many years in this section of the coun try, and has been a part of the growth and devel opment of the region, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Antelope county. Mr. Whitmore is a native of the state of Mich igan, born in 1849. His father, Horace Whit more, lived to the good old age of eighty-two years, passing to the great beyond in 1899. He was of English descent. Our subject's mother, Desire (Hill) Whitmore, was a native of New York state, and was of English descent also. In 1882, Mr. Whitmore came to the state of Nebraska, locating in section three, township twenty-three, range six, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land from Mr. Morona Derrz, on which land he put up one of the finest frame houses in that section of the country at that time. As Mrs. Whitmore says: "Our house was fairly good for that time, for nearly all the houses were very small — but this looks very small now." Mr. Whitmore was united in holy matrimony in 1873 to Miss Elmira Brown, a native of Penn sylvania, and five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore, their names being as follows: D. O, who married Miss Mary Andrews; Floyd, Ralph, Roland, and Nettie M. Whitmore, who married John Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore and family are very highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and during their twenty-nine years' resi dence here, have gained the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances, and their rhome is hospita bly open to hosts of good, substantial friends. HERMAN J. HECHT. Herman J. Hecht, treasurer of Pierce county, Nebraska, came to this state in the spring of 1884, with his parents, who bought a relinquishment on homestead and timber claims, six miles northeast of Plainview. Our subject attended the country schools, and graduated in 1888 from the Plainview high school. Mr. Hecht began life for himself about the time of his marriage in 1894, farming on the home place , for a year or two, and later on rented land. He then bought the southwest quarter of sectidn eleven, township twenty-eight, range four, at twenty-five dollars per acre, and later eighty acres adjoining. He owned a tract in South Da kota, which he traded for a residence in Pierce. He owned four hundred and eighty acres in Colo rado, which he sold, and purchased half of section one, township twenty-six, range four, in Pierce county. Since his election as county treasurer in 1907, Mr. Hecht leases his farms, having a good tenant on each place. Mr. Hecht is a son of Christian and Ida (Deerson) Hecht, natives of Holstein, Germany, who came to America in 1851 or 1852, and settled first at Joliet, Illinois, and later moved to Mo- mence, and then bought a farm in Yellow Head township, Kankakee county. They engaged three years in the hardware business at Grant Park, whence they came to Nebraska. Mr. Hecht was married at Plainview in Sep tember, 1894, to Miss Elsena Rasmussen, a native of Chicago, Illinois, whose father, Hans Rasmus- sen, emigrated with his family from Denmark. Mr, and Mrs. Hecht have one child, LeRoy. Mr. Hecht is a republican, and has filled the office of county treasurer so satisfactorily that he had no opposition for re-election in 1909. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Pierce. Mr. Hecht has known what is meant by pioneer life, and has witnessed some of the severest west ern blizzards, and fought prairie fires. He was attending school at Plainview during the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and he and Mr. Nelson stretched a rope from the school house to a church in the heart of the town, which the children fol lowed, and were taken to their homes. Herman J. Hecht is a model citizen, and has proven himself an estimable and useful member of society, and an official whose efficiency and in tegrity cannot be questioned. JAMES H. GOURLEY- James H. Gourley, who formerly resided on section thirteen, township fifteen, range eleven, is one of the best known old settlers of that locality. He is a business man of more than ordinary abil ity, and in the building up of his fine farm his good judgment is evidence and this en terprising spirit displayed, he now being classed among the prosperous and successful agricultur ists and stockmen of Howard county. Mr. Gourley is a native of Ohio, born in No bles county on February 19, 1851, and spent the first three years of his life there. He then went with his parents to Illinois, 'remaining up to 1861, when they returned to Ohio and lived for several years. They next moved to Greenfield, Indiana, and, after a short stay, again went back to Ohio. The mother died in Indiana in the spring of 1864, and about 1870 our subject went into Iowa, and, after two years in different parts of that state, came to St. Paul, Nebraska, in the early part of 1872, his father, Samuel Gourley, and a brother, Thomas McCoy, joining him here in May of that year. James was the eldest of a family of six. The brother, who came to St. Paul at the same time his father did, was drowned in Moffat creek, 384 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. •Howard county, the year following, and the father died here on September 16, 1893, both buried in Cedar Creek cemetery. Mr. Gourley, senior, was an early homesteader on Davis creek, and up to his death, took an active interest in local affairs, succeeding in building up a good farm and home. James H. Gourley filed on a homestead on his own account about June 1, 1872, taking a claim on section thirteen, township fifteen, range eleven, which he made his home farm for many years, and later had his residence on section twelve. He owned two hundred acres of finely improved land, lying along the North Loup river, and was accounted one of the pros perous and progressive agriculturists of the sec tion. In October, 1910, Mr. Gourley traded his farm for one hundred and twenty acres in Sher man county, on Davis creek, and the same month moved to Elba, where he intends making his home. Mr. Gourley was married in December, 1879, to Sarah Waggoner, and, after one short year of married life, Mrs. Gourley passed aWay. She was a woman of lovely character, and left a sorrowing family and many devoted friends. October 29, 1884, Mr. Gourley was married to Mary Clark, of Noble county, Ohio, and she died February 5, 1900, leaving two children, Raymond S. and Guy Henderson, the former now living with his family at Overton, and the latter in Greeley county, Nebraska. February 12, 1903, Mr. Gourley married Mrs. Harriet (Houseman) Gaast, and they have had three children, Clara May, William Earl (who died when three years old), and Lloyd Allen. Mr. Gourley is a well-known pioneer of his re gion, and has passed through all the different times for the past forty years, gaining the respect and esteem of all by his energetic efforts to aid in the upbuilding of his locality. He is now, and has been for the past twenty years, treasurer of school district number twenty. HARRY A. SHERMAN. Harry A. Sherman, president of the First Na tional Bank of Sargent, Nebraska, and connected with various other local enterprises, is recognized as one of the leading financiers and business men of the region. He was born in Streator, Illinois, November 3, 1870, son of George W. and Ruth (Courtney) Sherman, and came to Custer county with his parents in March, 1879, receiving his ed ucation in local schools. George W. Sherman was born in Byron, New York, September 7, 1835, next to the eldest of the five children of Reuben and Almeda (Shedd) Sherman, natives respectively, of Vermont and New York. His parents both died in Illinois. George W. Sherman went with his par ents to Indiana when but a small child, and, later on, accompanied them to Ottawa, Illinois, where he reached manhood, receiving his education in the home schools. After leaving school, he learned the trade of carriage painter. On January 14, 1866, at Sunbury, Illinois, he married Ruth A. Courtney, a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, and in the spring of 1879, they came to Custer county, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land a mile and a half northeast of Sargent. They also took up a timber claim. In the early years there was a postoffice named Sar gent some time before there was a town of the name, and Mrs. Sherman was postmistress for a number of years. When the town of Sar gent was laid out, the postoffice was moved to it, and Mrs. Sherman resigned her position, with the understanding that no change be made in the name of the postoffice. Mr. Sherman was helpful in organizing his school district, and served on the board for a number of years. He was active in public affairs, and served as a member of the county board. In the fall of 1900, he retired from farm life, and moved to Sargent, where he erected a comfortable home, and occupied it until his death, November 11, 1904. He was survived by his wife and two children, Nellie S., Mrs. A. F. Phillips, of Sargent, and Harry A. Mrs. Sherman still lives in Sargent, surrounded by a large circle of friends, and being near both her children. Her father, William Courtney, was also born in Mor gantown, and came to Custer county in the fall of 1879, taking up a homestead near Sargent. He married Amy Gapen, a native of Greenburr, Penn sylvania. He died in Lincoln in 1892, and his widow in 1893. Mrs. Sherman has two sisters living in Sargent, Mrs. Hannah Sherman and Mrs. David M. Shaw. She also has a sister in Wiscon sin, a brother, James D., in South Omaha, three brothers in Illinois, one in Missouri, and one in Iowa. William Sherman, brother of George W., came with his family to Custer county in 1879, and now resides in Sargent. Harry A. Sherman, as before mentioned, was brought to Custer county when about eight years of age. When in his twenty-first year he entered the state university, studied there a year, and then spent, a year in Lincoln Business College. Return ing home, he carried on farming until the fall of 1896, when he went to Rochester, New York, and until the spring of 1898, worked in the office of the Rochester Street Railway Company. Returning to Nebraska, he taught in the public schools of Sar gent until the close of the spring term of 1901, 'at which time he became assistant cashier and book keeper of the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank at Sargent, retaining the position until June, 1903, when the bank consolidated with the Custer Coun ty Bank under the name of the latter concern. Air. Sherman became cashier of the institution. The Custer County Bank was the first one organ ized in the county. On October 14, 1904, the Custer County Bank became the First National Bank of Sargent, of which Mr. Sherman was cash ier until March, 1909, then was elected president. HARRY A. SHERMAN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 285 This is recognized as one of the soundest financial institutions of central Nebraska, with a capital of forty thousand dollars, surplus of ten thousand dollars, and deposits of over two hundred thous and dollars. The other officers of the concern are : vice president, 0. S. Pulliam; cashier,, A. F. Phil lips, and assistant cashier, R. 0. Griffith. Mr. Sherman is also a member of the real estate firm of Miller & Sherman, and has helped build up the enterprise. He is a keen business man, and a public-spirited, useful citizen. On _ September 10, 1903, Mr. Sherman was united in marriage with Ora S. Spooner, and they have two children, Paul George and Dean Forbes. Mr. Sherman is a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a republican, and stands for prog ress and development along all lines. A portrait of Mr. Sherman is presented on another page of this volume. ORRIN MANCHESTER Orrin Manchester, son of Hiram and Angeline (Lawton) Manchester, was born in the town of Pittstown, Renselaer county, New York, February 22, 1844. He was ninth in a family of ten chil dren, one brother residing in Pennsylvania, one in New York on the old home place, a sister in New York, one brother and one sister in Kansas, and another sister, Mrs. Eliza Paddock, living in North Loup, the others being deceased. The fath er was of English-German extraction, and died in 1871 in New York state. The mother was of New England stock, and she died in New York in the eighties. Mr. Manchester received his education in the home schools, and grew to manhood on the farm. As a young lad, he went to Aurora, Illinois, and from there, in January of 1864, enlisted in Com pany I, Second Illinois Light Artillery, serving until close of war. He received his honorable dis charge at Springfield, Illinois, in June of 1865. After the hundred days' fighting from Chatta nooga to Atlanta, Mr. Manchester was with Sher man on his famous march to the sea, then on through the Carolinas, and participated in the battles in that region. He was at Goldsboro when the announcement of Lee 's surrender was received, and followed shortly after by the sad news of Lincoln's death. He participated in the grand review at Washington, and proceeded thence to Aurora, where he took up civil life again. Soon after his return, Mr. Manchester was married, January 12, 1866, to Miss Letitia Fikes, at the home of her parents, George and Margaret (Keck) Fikes, near Aurora, Illinois. Miss Fikes was a native of Illinois. Her parents were of German extraction, but born in New York state, and both are now deceased. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Manchester, namely: George, died October 26, 1903, survived by his wife and two children, who live in Valley county; Lizzie, deceased, at eighteen years of age; Jesse, married, has two children, and lives in Sherman county; Ed, also married, and living in Sherman county, has two children; Frank; John A., at home; Ira, married, and liv ing on the old home place in Sherman county, has one child; Mary, wife of Herman Sperling, has nine children, and resides in Sherman county ; and an unnamed infant, deceased. In the fall of 1868. Mr. Manchester moved to Grundy county, Illinois, where he resided until March of 1880, when he came, with his wife and six children, to Nebraska, locating in Sherman county. Here he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of B. & M. railroad land, on which he lived until 1903, when he retired from the farm, and moved to North Loup, purchasing a good home, where he now lives. Mr. Manchester is a successful man of affairs, owns a fine stock and grain farm of six hundred and forty acres in sections eight and nine, town ship sixteen, range thirteen, in Sherman county, as well as a fine tract of forty acres adjoining 'North Loup, in Valley county. The Manchesters are among the well-known families, enjoying the high- esteem of a large acquaintance. Mr. Manchester served as director of his school districts for some years, as well as in other minor offices of this county. Mir. Manchester is republican in politics, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. When first settling in Sherman county, Mr. Manchester lived for a number of years in a sod bouse, and at that time deer and antelope were to be seen in large numbers on the hills. Those years were full of discouragements and hardships. The loss of all crops in 1894 by drought, and by hail in 1896, were but few of the many that beset the early settler. EBERT OLSON. Nothing in this world, that is worth while, is gained without a struggle, and to those early pioneers who braved the dangers of the western plains several decades ago, is due much praise and credit for the changes that have been brought about. Among the early settlers of Madison county, Nebraska, who have been closely identi fied with its progress, and gained for themselves high reputations as good citizens, may be men tioned the gentleman above. Ebert Olson is a native of Norway, born in Solar on January 12, 1850. His father, Ole Olson, was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation until his death, which occurred when our subject was a small boy, leaving his widow to care for a family of four children. When Mr. Olson was twenty-one years of age, he left his native land, and sailed to the new world in search for a home and fortune, which 286 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. he was confident waited for every man who had the determination to seek the same. He took passage at Christiana on the steam ship Nebraska, landing in the United States after an eventful voyage, and going to. Wisconsin, where he worked in the pine woods for about six years. In the month of May, 1877, he came to Ne braska, and filed on a homestead on section four, township twenty-one, range four, built a sod house, and started as a frontiersman to develop his land. He met with the usual discouragements, suffering losses at various times from storms, also wild animals, which abounded in the region at that time, and at times was almost tempted to give up his claim. However, as time went on, he was able to add improvements little by little, and raise fair crops of grain, also engaged in the stock business to quite an extent, and begun to accum ulate a little property. About the hardest time he experienced was in 1888, when he lost consid erable stock in the famous blizzard, which is fa miliar to all in that territory. In 1894 his entire crops were destroyed by the hot winds, and the following year hailstorms again took his fields of grain. Mr. Olson was married, November 26, 1885, at his home in a sod house, to Miss Martha Vol- brecht, who is a native of Pommerania, Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have a family of six inter esting children, namely: Carl, William, Emma, Edward, Clara and Anna. The Olsons have one of the valuable estates and comfortable homes in their locality. The farm contains two hundred and eighty acres, all in the best possible shape, and Mr. Olson is classed among the wealthy farmers of the community. ALVAH P. SPOONER. Alvah P. Spooner has been a resident of Cus ter county since 1884, and of Sargent since 1890, and is held in high esteem by his large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a representa tive citizen, and has always shown himself ready to advance the best interests of his community. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, August 6, 1834, elder of the two children of Edwin and Emeline (Rider) Spooner. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, where they were mar ried November 8, 1831. The mother died June 3, 1840, and the father in Clinton, Illinois, Novem ber 11, 1870. In June, 1.853, the father moved 'with the fam ily to Wisconsin, and during the year of his death, came to Illinois. Alvah finished his education in the high school at Northampton, and was nine teen years of age when the family came to Wis consin. He was married at Madison, that state, April 13, 1858, to Emily Ruth Seedey, and they made_ their first home on a farm six miles from the city. He taught school in Wisconsin for five winter terms, carrying on farming during the Summer season. In April, 1863, Mr. Spooner enlisted as car penter and employe of the government, receiving his discharge in the fall of the same year. He returned to his home in Madison, and his wife died in that city, October 2, 1865. They had two children, Justus S. and Edwin C. In 1866, Mr. Spooner removed to Galesburg, Illinois, and there worked at the trade of pattern maker. In 1867, he moved to Sterling, Illinois, and was there mar ried, May 13, 1868, to Emma S. Wilber. They remained in Sterling until 1884, and there their five children were born, nemely : Charlotte S., Fannie M., Fay W., Ora Ives and Jennie Alice. In November, 1884, Mr. Spooner and his eldest son, Justus, came to Custer county, and secured a homestead, south of Sargent, being joined by the remainder of the family in April, 1885. The two eldest sons, Justus and Edwin, are living, respec tively, in Texas and in Custer county. Charlotte, Mrs. Jones, lives in Seattle, Washington; Ora Ives married Harry A. Sherman, and they live in Sargent; Fay W. is a merchant in Sargent. Mrs. Spooner died in Sargent, November 18, 1906, sincerely mourned by her many friends. She and her husband made many friends among the earlier settlers, and were active in many circles. ROGER T. O'GARA. (Deceased.) Roger T. 0 'Gara, who at the time of his demise was one of the most respected and highly esteemed citizens of his community, was born near Lake Gara, county Sligo, Ireland, in 1838. His father, Bartholomew 0 'Gara, was a gentleman born in the old country, and was kept in college by his father until the age of twenty- two. His grandfather, who was one of the landed gentry, took part in the ill-fated rebellion of 1798, and on the collapse of that uprising was stripped of his possessions, and for a time had a price set on his head. Bar tholomew O'Gara emigrated in 1850 to the United States, and settled in Providence, Rhode Island. where his sons found work in the print mills of Governor Spriggs, while he secured a clerical po sition in the office. In 1854 he pressed on to the west, where there were greater opportunities, and settled in Juneau county, Wisconsin. He came on to Nebraska in 1872, several years after his son had settled in Cedar county. In Wisconsin, Roger passed from youth to manhood, working on the farm in summer and in the pineries during the winter season. In 1868, he turned his footsteps westward, and became a resi dent of Cedar county, Nebraska, September 23, settling on a tract of land three miles north of where Coleridge now stands, filing on a homestead there. He later purchased other lands on Lawn Ridge, and his wife was the first white woman to inhabit that part of the county. His first act was to plant trees, and the groves he set out COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 287 are the largest and finest on that notably beauti ful ridge, in a fine farming country. Mr. O'Gara was a highly educated man, and most of his learning was self taught. When a youth in the mills he kept a book at hand, and while others were idling or doing worse, he was storing his mind with useful knowledge. In the pineries of Wisconsin, while others were drinking and carousing, he was adding to his mental store. The superintendent over the lumber gangs helped him over many mathematical difficulties, and en abled him to acquire a much higher education than young men on the frontier usually enjoy. Refinement and the thirst for knowledge were in his blood. He realized he had a long line of high- minded ancestors for an example, and a character to sustain. On coming to Nebraska, he taught school for several years, and was then appointed to fill out the term of the first county superinten dent of schools, and for fifteen years efficiently filled that position to the satisfaction of his con stituents, and the delight of W. W. Jones, the state superintendent, who paid him the tribute of saying that at the end of his incumbency, De cember 31, 1887, the schools of Cedar county were the best organized of any in the state. Mr. O'Gara sustained a severe injury a short time after settling in the county. He was descend ing into a well, one hundred and 'thirty feet deep, when the rope, which was spliced near the middle, parted and let him drop sixty-five feet, injuring his spine and fracturing several bones. That he recovered is almost a miracle, and that he could endure the long drives necessary in visiting every district in the county, evidence a fortitude be yond that vouchsafed the average man. A run away during his years of office added further to his injuries and suffering, which he bore with christian fortitude and patience. After filing on his homestead in 1868, Mr. 0 'Gara broke part of the raw prairie and returned to Wisconsin for a helpmeet in his frontier home. He was married in Wisconsin in 1870, to Miss Bridget Hayes, a native of Ireland. Her father, Michael Hayes, came with his family to America in 1843, and settled first in New York, .coming later to Juneau county, Wisconsin. His ances tors were also implicated in the Irish rebellion in 1798, and lost all their possesions by confisca tion ; he died at the age of eighty in Wisconsin. Mr. O'Gara died on his farm west of Laurel, July 19, 1906 ; the wife and mother passed away August 11, 1900, after suffering as an invalid for twenty years. Seven of their children grew to maturity : Patrick, who is in the government ser vice as plant physiologist and pathologist, is sta tioned now on the Pacific coast after a number of years in the department at the national capitol ; he is also a civil, mechanical and electrical engi neer, in fact a mathematical and scientific genius. He is a linguist of note, speaking fluently German, French, Spanish, and Italian, as well as his own mother tongue. He has spent much time abroad studying his specialty in foreign countries, and was especially benefited by studies in the Royal Italian departments. Anne, is the wife of Her man Rolfes of Neola, Iowa; Peter Francis, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; Margaret Frances is a trained nurse of Sioux City ; in 1908 she filed on a homestead near her brothers claims in Fall River county, South Dakota, and resides there for the time being; William H., has a homestead ranch near Smithwick, in Fall River county, South Dakota, and Gilbert also has a homestead ranch in South Dakota, in Custer county, not far from Buffalo Gap. DAVID Y. CLARK. The gentleman whose name heads this per sonal history is one of the solid and influential citi zens of Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Clark is a prominent business man here, being engaged in the manufacturing of cement blocks and build ings of cement, sidewalks, etc. David Y. Clark was born in Schoharie county, New Ytork, June 13, 1841, and was the third of four children in the family of John and Electa (Decker) Clark, both of whom were born in Scho harie county, New York. John Clark was born October 19, 1805, and Electa Decker, March 22, 1806; both are deceased, the former died in New York state in 1868, and the mother in 1879, in the same state. The Clark family settled in Schoharie county, New York, in the early years, and were of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1851 they moved into Broome county, New Yrork, and engaged in farm ing. The father of John Clark married a Spauld- ing, whose family dates back to the Mayflower, and the Decker family dates back to Mr. Clark's great-great-grandfather, and was of German descent. David Y. Clark grew up on the farm, and in his nineteenth year went into Michigan where he remained one year, returning to Broome county, New York, in the spring of 1861, and remained on the old home place for a year. On April 10, 1862, Mr. Clark married Miss Lu cy A. Perkins, a native of New York state, at the home of the bride 's uncle, Elijah Smith, in Broome county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Clark moved to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1863, Mr. Clark engaging in the wagon and blacksmith 's trade. They moved from there to Story county same state, in the fall of 1866, and the next fall of 1867 returned to the old home place in New Yrork state, where they re mained until the spring of 1872. At this time Mr. and Mrs. Clark had three children. On March 16, 1872, Mr. Clark, wife and three children moved to Merrick county, Nebraska, were our subject took up a homestead five miles southwest of Lone Tree station, which is at the present time still in the possession of Mr. Clark, and has been added to until there are now two hundred acres, which are being farmed by his son Frank J. Clark. 288 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Clark and family moved from the old homestead farm to Central City, where they now reside in their pleasant town home, and where, as before stated, he is in busi ness. Mr. Clark in past years has served on the county board. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had six children born to them: Charles O, a railroad engineer, is mar ried and living in Port Worth, Texas, and has two children; Grace M., born in the state of Iowa, resides at home; Kate, born in New York state is married to John Desch and lives in Central City, Nebraska; Guy W., physician and surgeon, born in Nebraska, is married, has three children, and lives in Ellwood, Nebraska; Frank J., born in Nebraska, is married, has four children, and lives on the home farm in Merrick county ; and George A., physician and surgeon, was born in Nebraska, and resides in Ellwood, Nebraska, where he en joys a good practice. Mr. and Mrs. Clark and children are of the pioneer families of Merrick county, Nebraska, and have a wide acquaintance and hosts of sub stantial friends. Mr. Clark is a successful man and is known for his integrity and general worth. He has in past years been active along political lines, and always up and doing for the better ment of his home town and state. AUGUST HANEFELDT. August Hanefeldt, a prominent farmer of sec tion twenty-four, township thirty, range five, Knox county, Nebraska, where his genial coun tenance and friendly spirit have made him hosts of well-wishers, which his manly character and genuine worth have long retained, was born in the province of Prussia, Germany, in 1858. He was a son of Gottlieb and Henrietta (Schulz) Hanefeldt. The boyhood days of our subject were spent in his native land, and he received his education there. When he grew to manhood's estate he served his country in the army two and a half years. When he had reached the age of thirty- years he decided to seek his fortune in the new world, and sailed from Hamburg to New York on the steamship "Veland, " and landed in New York City in 1888. He then started for the west and reached Knox county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1888, and bought the homestead of William Kyriss, in 1889, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. In 1883, Mr. Hanefeldt was united in marriage to Miss Adelia Witt, and Mr. and Mrs. Hanefeldt are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Annie, Emil, Willy, Emma, Alfred, deceased, and Max. Mr. Hanefeldt is regarded as one of the lead ing citizens of his locality, and has always been interested in the growth and upbuilding of his county and state. Mr. Hanefeldt and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and are surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. GEORGE L. YOUNG. George L. Young, who occupies a handsome residence in the city of Fullerton, is one of the prominent citizens of that community. He is an old-time farmer and has been prosperous and successful in all his various undertakings, and himself and family are widely and favorably known throughout Nance county, where they have been active workers socially for a great. many years, our subject serving as superintend ent of the Sabbath school for over fifteen years, while Mrs. Young has done her full share in the affairs of her neighborhood. Mr. Young is a son of Lyman H. and Emeline Young, and was born in Warren county, Illinois, on October 6, 1855. He received his education in his native state, together with his six brothers, all growing to manhood on the home farm. He followed farming there until he reached the age of twenty-six years, when together with his -brother, Levi E. Yroung, and a cousin, G. F. Cole, came to Nebraska, locating in Nance county. Here he purchased a quarter section of land on section ten, township seventeen, range six. This tract of land was unimproved, and he went to work to build it up, which he did in a short time, making it a valuable property, and also was instrumental in a large measure in developing that part of the country. He has been very active in all affairs pertaining to the advancement of the section from the time of settling here, assisting in build ing up the schools, etc. For a number of years he held the office of director of district number thirty-one, and has served as clerk of Cedar pre cinct for several years. Mr. Young was married on January 21, 1885, to Maggie A. Moore, of Boone county, Nebraska. Mrs. Moore is a lady of charming personality, and had been a popular teacher in the Nebraska pub lic schools for some time prior to her marriage. To them have been born ten children, eight of whom are living, as follows: John M., living in Nance county; Emeline H., who married E. 0. Stark, residing in Montana and the parents of one son and one daughter; Harry E., Alta B., Iva G., Lawrence and Lyman, (twins), and Mabel A., all living at home, except Emeline H. and Harry E., who reside in Montana. One son, Charles E., and a daughter, Sadie A., are deceased. Mr. Young has four brothers liv ing, Stephen N., of Missouri; Clark M., Levi E., and Doctor A. Young, making their home in Illinois. Their father died on July 12, 1894, while the mother is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. In March, 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Young gave up farming and moved to their present home, which is a beautifully kept place, and here they plan to spend the declining years in the enjoyment of every comfort after their many years of toil. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 289 ROBERT SHUNN. While Mr. Robert Shunn is not a native born citizen of the United States, there is no more loyal supporter of its government and traditions within its borders today than he. He was born in Toronto, Canada, November 22, 1862, which re mained his home for about eight years, when his parents immigrated to Iowa. After a short time in that state they came on to Nebraska, locating near Sutton, in Clay county, on an eighty-acre farm. There he grew up, and in 1881 the family went to Kansas, returning to Nebraska in 1891. The parents settled in Spencer and made that their home for about six years, then going to Minnesota and remaining for seven or eight years. When Gregory county, South Dakota, was opened for settlement, our subject's father moved there and has farmed in the locality since that time. Robert Shunn started out for himself when but sixteen years of age, obtaining farm work to do near his parents ' home. After a time, he drift ed to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and there was employed in various lines during some months. In 1882 he was employed by Nick Elmore, a con tractor on the construction work of the Burling ton railroad through Colorado and Wyoming, re maining with the outfit for two years. He came to Boyd county in 1890 and squatted on a quarter section situated three miles east of Spencer, and filed on the tract as soon as the land was thrown open for settlement, He at once started farming and stock raising, and was very successful in both lines of work up to the time of his removal to Spencer, in 1903. Mr. Shunn developed a fine farm, having it well stocked with good horses, cattle and other stock, and retired with a compe tence, now occupying a comfortable residence in the thriving little city of Spencer. Mr. Shunn was married in Holt county, No vember 8, 1891, to Miss Delia Verley, a native of LaFayette county, Wisconsin, who came to Nebraska in 1881. Three children have been born to this worthy couple : Cecelia, William and Victor, all of whom are still under the parental roof. Politically Mr. Shunn is a republican, but has never seen the advisability of becoming a member of any secret organization, preferring to spend his entire time in the pursuit of his business in terests and with his family ; although Mrs. Shunn is a member of the Royal Neighbors and a thor ough christian woman, aiding all with whom she comes in contact by her kindness and helpful ness. HENRY CLARK. known among the farming community of Boone county, but is now retired from active labor, occupying a handsome home in Albion, where himself and family are surrounded by a large circle of acquaintances who make his latter years a pleasant holiday. Henry Clark was a son of W. C. and Sarah K. Clark, of County Kent, England. He was born on June 7, 1852, and came to America with his parents in 1865, locating in Delaware county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming, and there he grew up, assisting his father in carrying on the home farm. When he was twenty-five, he came to Boone county, Nebraska, purchasing a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres and the same amount of railroad land, after which he returned to Iowa and spent two years, coming back to Nebraska in 1879 for permanent resi dence. He filed on homestead rights on the land which he had before taken as a timber claim, the trees having failed to grow properly, and made the place his home for about fifteen years. In the meantime he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty, township twenty, range six, near Albion, and farmed this land up to 1906, then settled on a farm situated one mile north west of Albion! Here he remained for one year, then retired from active farm life, since then making his home in Albion. He has been pros perous and successful, owning about four hun dred and eighty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres of "which is well improved, also con siderable city property in Albion, including his present home which he built in 1909 and now occupies with his wife. During the eighties Mr. Clark served as mod erator of school district number two. Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Ella E. Fleming, of Iowa, on May 9, 1882, and to them was born one daughter, who died in infancy. They have also raised and educated two boys, one of whom, Charles Wallick, died leaving a wife and two children ; and E. B. Smith, now liv ing with our subject and his wife. Both the father and mother of Mr. Clark are dead. He has four brothers living, one of whom still resides in England, one in the state of Wash ington, one in California, and another is a well- known resident of Albion. Mrs. Clark's father, Philip P. Fleming, is dead. Her mother and one brother live in Albion, and a sister makes Garden county her home. This gentleman is another of the many who, through industry and perseverance, have ac quired a competence and are now enabled to live in comfort and enjoy the fruits of their early years of labor. He was for many years Avell JAY E. WILSON. Jay E. Wilson owns a fine farm on section two, township twenty-five, range one, of Wayne county, Nebraska, and has been identified with the history and development of that county since 1885, during which time he was engaged in improving and cultivating this land. In' 1910 he removed to Early, Iowa, where he now resides. He is a native of Wisconsin and was born in 1860, 290 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. being a son of Hiram and Mary Wilson, both na tives of the Keystone state. The parents of Hi ram Wilson emigrated from Ireland in an early day and settled in Pennsylvania. When Jay E. Wilson was seven years old his parents moved to Iowa and it was in the public schools of that state he received his education and there reached manhood. In 1885 he came to Wayne county and purchased a farm. He always carried on a general line of farming, with special attention to the raising of stock. He had the reputation of honesty and uprightness in all his dealings and was regarded as a desirable and public-spirited citizen. He took an active interest in the welfare of the community and he and his wife had many warm friends in the county, where both were well known. In 1888 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Nettie LaPort. GOTLIEB SPRIECK. Among the adopted sons of Nebraska, there are none who have done more towards the de velopment of the state than the Germans, with their thrifty, sturdy characteristics. Of these, Gotlieb Sprieck has made his influence felt in three counties. He was born April 26, 1844, in the village of Masbruch, Province of Lippe Ditwold, west Prus sia, and is the son of William and Sophia (Brack- meyer) Sprieck. He was reared on a farm there, as his father owned forty acres — a large holding in that country. In 1867, with his brothers, Fred and Andrew, Gotlieb Sprieck sailed from Bremen Haven on the "Baltimore," landing in New York on October 1, after a voyage of thirteen days. He came on to Tazewell county, Illinois, and worked three years on a farm near Hopedale, receiving two hunderd and fifty dollars per year, which was regarded as extra good wages in those days. In March, 1870, Mr. Sprieck was married to Miss Matilda Ragoors, a native of the village of Sopil, west Prussia. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Sprieck came to Saunders county, Nebraska, and filed on a homestead six miles north of Mead. He put up a sod house and "batched it" for a time, putting up a good house in preparation for his marriage. Later on, he traded this farm and went to Cass county, where he first bought two hundred and forty acres, three miles east of Louisville, and a year or two later, bought one hundred and sixty acres more. He remained in Cass county until the spring of 1900, when he removed to Stanton, hav ing bought a farm in this county for a son the year before. He bought a large two-story house in the east part of town, with enough ground surrounding for a large garden and fruit trees. He owns two farms in Stanton county, on each of which a son is located. He also owns four hun dred and forty acres of timber land in the state of Louisiana. In 1900, Mr. Sprieck was again married, this time to Mrs. Augusta Miller Sprieck, the widow of his brother, Fred Sprieck. Mr. Sprieck is a staunch adherent of the dem ocratic party, a member of the Lutheran church, and is also a prominent member of the Germanias Singing society. Mr. Sprieck is one of the old settlers of this part of Nebraska, and can tell many interesting tales of pioneer life. At that time, the nearest trading point was Wahoo, but a little earlier, there was no nearer market than Fremont. Soon after coming to the state, he had a hard fight with that scourge of the western states — prairie fire — and only a hastily constructed fireguard saved his buildings. He and his family also had some experience with blizzards. In the blizzard of February, 1869, one of his sons made his way from school. a distance of three miles, part of it through the timber, a feat that would have been difficult for a grown man. Mr. Sprieck also remembers very well the historic year when corn was used as a fuel, being worth only eight and ten cents a bushel. By thrift, economy and good judgment, Mr. Sprieck has acquired a competency and is now en joying in ease the fruits of a well spent life. He is one of the well-known and respected citizens of this section of the state. Of the six children born to Mr. Sprieck, five are living: Julius, Pauline (deceased), Lena, now Mrs. C. M. Seybert, of Louisville, Nebraska ; Otto, Eddie and Alma, now Mrs. Henry Keil, of county. JOHN AUMAN. Prominent among Antelope - county old set tlers is John Auman, who, since the fall of 1887, has made this region his home, and done his share in developing the agricultural resources of this section of Nebraska. Mr. Auman lives in section twenty, township twenty-eight, range eight, where he has built up a valuable property through his industry and good management. Mr. Auman was born September 27, 1853, and is a native of Somersett county, Pennsylvania, as is also his father, Emanuel Auman, who was born in 1829, and who is a descendant from Ger many. Our subject's father served in the civil war, enlisting in Company K, Two Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and during his service went all through the south. In 1888 Mr. Auman took up a homestead in his present location, which as before stated is in section twenty, township twenty-eight, range eight, and on this land he built a house fourteen by twenty-two feet, and he now owns a fine home and five hundred and sixty acres of good land well improved, ten acres of which is set to trees, FRANK HODGES (DECEASED). COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 291 making a fine grove. Mr. Auman has had his dis appointments and drawbacks along with his suc cess, and during the hail storms of 1893 and 1895 he lost all his crops, and the drouth of 1894 again ruined his entire crops. Mr. Auman was united in marriage in Octo ber, 1883, to Miss Maggie Shawlis. Mr. and Mrs. Auman are the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows: Lulu, wife of Charles Cline, they having two children; Etta, wife of Fred Maddox; Elsie, John, Agnes, Jennings, Ro land, and Orval. Mr. and Mrs. Auman and fam ily enjoy the respect and good will of a host of friends and acquaintances, and are highly es teemed by the entire community. Mr. Auman is actively awake to the interests of his locality, and aids materially in its advance ment along commercial and agricultural lines. Mr. Auman served as postmaster of Barbour, on the old Star Route,, from 1888 to 1892. He has been a member of the board of directors of school district number sixty-eight since 1889. He is a member of the United Brethren church and also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he is a democrat. He follows diversified farming, including stock raising, and at present he has a splendid herd of fifty-three head of high grade Durham cattle and a fine herd of Durqc Jersey hogs. His farm is well improved and he is one of the success ful farmers and substantial citizens of Nebraska. PRANK HODGES. (Deceased.) The gentleman above named, who resided in Belgrade, at the time of his death, was widely known for the active interest he displayed in the development of the commercial and educational advancement of Nance county, where he spent many years, and enjoyed the reputation of doing more in the way of building up and improving his town than any other one man in the community. He also had the distinction of being among the very earliest pioneers of the county, and watched its growth and progress from the early days of its settlement by white men. Frank, Hodges, son of John and Eliza Hodges, was born in New York state, on June 24, 1839, and lived in that state until he was sixteen years of age, receiving a common school education, and growing up on his father 's farm. The family set tled in Indiana about 1855. He enlisted in the First Indiana Battery of Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. Receiving his discharge in September, 1865, he returned to his home in Indiana. During a fur lough, in June, 1865, he was married to Mrs. Jane Caswell Taylor, a widow, who was a native of Ohio, and to them were born three children : Her bert H., and Hattie J., both married and living in Nance county at the present time ; the third child, Francis E., who was the wife of Edward Oleson, and mother of one child, died in 1900. Mr. Hodges came with his family to Nebraska, in the fall of 1874, their first location being in Merrick county, where he filed on a homestead and after farming it for six years, pioneering, and having the usual experiences of the early settler in that region, left the place and came into Nance county. Here he purchased a tract of land after the reservation was opened for settlement, and built up a fine farm and home. He became one of the foremost agriculturists and stockmen of the county, accumulating a valuable property by his industry and good business judgment; at the time of his death being owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine farm land, which is fitted up with every improvement in the way of buildings, and machinery, etc. Besides his farm he owns what is known as Hodges ' Addition in the city of Belgrade, and had the reputation of having done more in the way of improving the town than 'any other one man in the community. In 1888, Mr. Hodges left the old farm and moved to another, which he owned, one mile west of Belgrade. He continued to reside on the latter place until July, 1893, and then moved to the village of Belgrade, which continued to be his home until his death, January 1, 1910. Mr. Hodges' first wife died in April, 1893, and about one year later he was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna J. Hoyt, who was a widow with one daughter, now Mrs. Clara G. Hutchison, of Nance county, Nebraska, they came from Michigan to Nebraska in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges had one daughter, Helen May. The family is popular and well known. The Hodges ' home is a beautiful one, situated on a hill which overlooks the entire surrounding country, and is one of the prettiest spots to be found. Mrs. Hodges, since her husband's death, continues to reside in Belgrade. A portrait of Mr. Hodges will be found on another page of this volume. ROBERT KORTH. In reviewing the history of Pierce county, Ne braska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among the number is given the gentleman above named. Mr. Korth is a native-born Nebraskan, having first seen the light of day in Pierce county, June 21, 1872, and is the son of William and Wilhel- mina (Paul) Korth. Our subject's father was born in Germany, in the year 1837, and came to America in 1870, followed one year later by his wife. He settled in Pierce county, Nebraska, east of Pierce City, where he and a brother took up claims adjoining, and together built a log house. Here the father endured many hardships and dis couragements ; the nearest market place was Wis ner, and during the grasshopper raids of 1873 and 1874, they lost their entire crops ; in the blizzard 292 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of 1873 they lost considerable stock. In the hail storm of 1906, Robert Korth, our subject, lost his crops. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he was at school when the storm came up, and had great difficulty in getting to a 'place of safety. He dragged his sister by the hand the half-mile that lay between the school and home, their father meeting them half way. Mr. Korth was married February 25, 1897, to Miss Katherina Herboldssheimer, who was born in Iowa. To this union four children have been born, whose names are as follows : Herman, Lena, Willie, and Zelda. Mr. and Mrs. Korth are members of the Ger man Lutheran church, and are bringing up a fine family. Mr. Korth votes the democratic ticket. Mr. Korth gives his entire time to the work on his farm, and takes a keen interest in all affairs of the county and section in which he lives. He is one of the leading citizens of his locality, and has added materially in the upbuilding of his com munity, where he owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty- twro and eighty acres in section twenty-nine, township twenty-eight, range one. This he bought in the fall of 1890 and moved on March 7, 1901. Most of the buildings he has erected, and otherwise very much improved his farm. Not a fence post had been set, nor a tree planted when he took possession. ELIAS L. HEDGLIN. Among the successful self-made men of How ard county, may be truly noted the gentleman above mentioned. Mr. Hedglin and his wife are among the earliest pioneer settlers of that section and have passed through every phase of Nebraska history. They are widely and favorbaly known, and have an enviable reputation as worthy citi zens and good neighbors. Elias L. Hedglin was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, on April 5, 1848, and is a son of George and Mary Hedglin, who were the parents of fourteen children, of whom our subject was the twelfth in order of birth. When he was three years of age the family emigrated west, settling in Boone county, Illinois, where Elias grew to manhood, following farming during most of that time. He is a veteran of the war of 1861, having enlisted May 27, 1864, in Company C, One Hun dred and Forty-second Illinois Infantry, and serv ing for about six months with that regiment, then received his honorable discharge on account of sickness. He returned to Illinois after leaving the service, and in the spring of 1872, went to Iowa, locating on a farm near LaPorte City. On March 10th of the following year he was marired to Miss Cecelia Cleveland, and they made that place their home for a little over one year, then came to Nebraska, and settled in Howard county, where Mr. Hedglin filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-one, township thirteen, range twelve. Mr. and Mrs. Hedglin occupied this place up to 1901, then retired from farming, removed to Boelus, where they have since resided in a very comfortable home. During his career as a farmer, Mr. Hedglin was very successful financially, increasing his land holdings from time to time until he was owner of two hundred and seventy-five acres, all well improved, with about one hundred and forty acres under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Hedglin have an interesting fam ily of nine children, eight of whom are living, named as follows: Henry, married Norma De Conner, and is the father of three children. He is in the ministry, at present serving as pastor of a Congregational church in Jameson, Oregon. Bert R., cashier of the Eddyville State Bank, at Eddyville, Nebraska; he married Miss Minnie Ayers, and they have a family of two children. Eulalie, lives at Oconto, Nebraska; Levie L., married Gertrude Ryan, of this county and they have four children, and now own and live on the original Hedglin homestead. Francis E., a barber, resides in Grand Island with his wife and three children. She was formerly Emma O'Neil, of Howard county. Willis, married Martha Von Krosigk, they living in Boelus, where he is clerk in a stroe; they are the parents of three chil dren ; George L., a railroad man, living in Lincoln, traveling through Nebraska, who married Eva Aulstrom, and Clarice G., formerly a teacher in the public schools and now the wife of H. D. Mor ris, a railroad man also, and they live at Grand Island. All are bright and industrious young peo ple, comfortably settled in life, and esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Hedglin is a prohibitionist politically. In the years 1875-76, he held the office of postmaster at Loup Fork, and during his early residence in this locality, served for a number of years as road overseer. He has also taken an active interest in the establishing of schools, and during the late seventies, held the position of director of district number twenty-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Hedglin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. GEORGE THORNGATE. ' (Deceased.) For about fourteen years the above named gentleman, now deceased, was one of the most in fluential and prosperous farmers in Valley county. He was a man of sterling character, with a heart filled with sympathy and kindness, and his gener osity and good deeds are still remembered by those among whom he worked and lived. He was a prominent member of the Seventh Day Baptist church, and his loss was sorely felt by that or ganization. Mr. Thorngate was born in Cattaraugus coun ty, New York, on August 6, 1834, and was the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 293 youngest of the six children born to George and Matilda (Blanehard) Thorngate. Only one broth er, Henry, and a sister, Mrs. Marianne Rood, both of whom live in North Loup, remain of all that large family. In the childhood of our subject, the family went to Wisconsin, and here he grew up on a farm in Waushara county, securing the foundation of his education in the local schools. Later on he attended Milton College, at Milton, Wisconsin. While he was a student here, the civil war started, and on the 9th of May, 1861, Mr. Thorngate, like many another enthusiastic, patriotic student, threw down his books and shouldered a musket in the ranks, a private in Company E, Fifth Wis consin Infantry. After about two years' service, he was discharged owing to a disability, but he could not remain out of the struggle very long and soon re-enlisted in the Light Artillery of Wisconsin, and served until the close of the war. During his service, Mr. Thorngate took part in the bloody battle of Antietam, was wounded in the battle of Williamsburg, and participated in many minor engagements. After his final discharge at the close of the war, he returned to Wisconsin and at once began teaching. On November 15, 1865, he was married to Miss Arlorena Crandall of Dakota, Waushara county, Wisconsin, a native of Cattaraugus coun ty, New York. In the following March, Mr. Thorngate and his bride went to Missouri, where he became princi pal of the schools in St. Catherine. They remained here for about thirteen years. In 1877, Mr. Thorngate and his family came to Valley county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near North Loup. Ten years later, the family moved into the city of North Loup, where he lived at the time of his death, which occurred on December 13, 1891. He was survived by his wife and two sons, Ray G., and Charles W., both of whom are engaged in farming near North Loup. Mrs. Thorngate is still living in North Loup, surrounded by a large circle of friends and rela tives. One brother, William P. Crandall living near is given more extended notice elsewhere in this work. One sister lives in North Loup with Mrs. Thorngate, and another in Denver. Another brother lives in Kansas. W. F. F. WINTER. W. F. F. Winter, residing on section three, township twenty-four, range one, Madison county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development and growth from its early settlement. Mr. Winter is a native of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, his birth occurring October 31, 1864; he is a son of Carl and Caroline Winter, both of whom claim Germany for their native home. Our subject's father came to Wisconsin in 1864, from Germany; they embarked in a sail boat at Ham burg and were nine weeks on the sea, and after landing in America came' direct to Wisconsin state, as before stated. In 1866, with a colony, they left Wisconsin for Nebraska to take advantage of' the homestead law that had been passed in 1865. Upon their arrival in the far west, as it was then known, the father took up a homestead claim in section three, town ship twenty-four, range one, which is the present abiding place of our subject; on this land a good log house was built which served as the family residence for ten years, when it was replaced by a substantial frame dwelling. To turn back in memory for the space of forty- four years and picture Nebraska as it was at that time, would seem quite a task to some, but our subject has heard his father relate many inci dents and experiences, as well as conditions of that date and period. When Carl Winter, father of the subject of this sketch, first came to this lo cality, forty-four years ago, the country was nothing but a raw, unbroken prairie, with a vista of waving prairie grass for miles in any direction ; the virgin soil had scarcely felt the cut of a farm implement, nor rarely felt the pressure of a white man 's foot. When vegetation and crops had been planted and cared for and gave such splendid promise of a bountiful harvest, the grasshopper pest swooped down upon them and destroyed ev ery blade of green to be seen in the country round; this was repeated three or four seasons, and our little family suffered many hardships and privations for the lack of harvest. But those early days of the western frontier have passed into history, and the great prosperous country with its wide fields of plentiful crops would scarcely be recognized as the wild, unsettled, un cultivated country of forty years ago. Mr. Winter, our subject, now owns two hun dred and twelve acres of choice land, ten acres of which are given to a fine orchard and grove. This land is finely improved, and will compare fa vorably with any in that locality. Mr. Winter was united in marriage June 11, 1895, to Miss Ida Tiegs, a native of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Winter had one child, a fine boy, Ernest by name. Mrs. Winter died in the year of 1900, deeply mourned by her husband and family and a host of loving friends and acquaintances. Mr. Winter was again married June 18, 1911. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is a democrat. GEORGE W. BROWN. George W. Brown, retired from active life and occupying his present home in Sargent, Nebraska, is an early settler of Custer county, and well re members the trying conditions to be met in his first years there. He is now a prosperous and sue- 294 compendium oP History, reminiscence and biography. cessful man and the owner of twelve hundred acres of fine farm and stock land, which is well improved and equipped. He has been an exten sive stock dealer and made a specialty of Here ford cattle. He was "born in Clark county, Illi nois, August 8, 1842, third of the eight children born to Samuel and Mary (Howell) Brown. Of the other children in the family, two sons, F. Marion and R. G., live in Clay county, Nebraska ; one son in California, one daughter in Denver and one daughter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The father, a native of Virginia and of Scotch de scent, died in Illinois about 1855, and the mother, a native of Kentucky, died in South Dakota, May 14, 1897. Mr. Brown grew to manhood on the Illinois farm, and received his education in local schools. In the spring of 1871 he sought the larger oppor tunities offered in the west, and took up a home stead of eighty acres near Sutton, remaining there nine years. He came to Custer county in 1880 and secured a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land and pre-empted a like amount of land adjoining. He was married at Broken Bow, October 20, 1884, to Miss Amy Lovejoy, a native of Orford, New Hampshire, who had been a teacher in the schools of her native state and of Nebraska, a daughter of John H. and Mary (Lam prey) Lovejoy. Her parents were also natives of New Hampshire, and they took up a homestead in Custer county, in 1870. The father survives and lives in Sargent, but Mrs. Lovejoy died in Custer county in 1886. Mrs. Brown has a sister, Mrs. Hattie Wittemeyer, living in Sargent; a brother, Frank Lovejoy, in Custer county, a sister in New Hampshire and another in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Brown made their first home on the claim in Custer county, where they continued to reside until the fall of 1910. He then retired from the farm and purchased their present nice residence in Sargent. In early days Mr. Brown helped organize the school district in his neigh borhood (number seventy), and for many years served as treasurer of the board. Five children were born to him and his wife : Mary E. and Inez H., teachers in Nebraska schools; Nellie B., Edith M. and Robert G., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have given their children excellent educa tional advantages and some of them have at tended college. The family are prominent in re ligious, social and educational circles and have a large number of friends. GEORGE CARMACK. Very nicely situated in section thirty-six, township thirty-one, range one, is to be found the estimable gentleman . whose name heads this re view. He has been a resident of this part of Ne braska since 1890, coming into Cedar county in the month of October, and has remained through the good, bad, and indifferent times which have at tended the settlers of the region from an early date. Mr. Carmack was born in McHenry county, Illinois, in 1847, and is a son of Christ and Louise Ann Carmack, natives of Scotland. Our subjeetfirst came to Nebraska about 1885, settling in Clay county, where he remained for six years. He then returned to Iowa, where he formerly lived a number of years, and after seven years spent in farming near Mapleton, again- landed in Nebraska, this time taking some land in Cedar county which he started to farm, later purchasing his present homestead in the twelfth precinct. While Mr. Carmack lived in Clay coun ty, he bought railroad lands and made some im provements on it, but through failure of several crops, and loss occasioned by bad storms, etc., he finally gave up the idea of remaining on the land, and this was the main reason for his changing his location to Cedar county. Mr. Carmack has been exceedingly fortunate during his residence here, and especially the past number of years, as he has been quite heavily in terested in stock raising and has also raised fine crops of grain each year. His farm is considered one of the valuable properties in his locality, and this is improved with substantial buildings of all kinds, including a handsome residence, sur rounded by beautiful trees and having good grow ing groves, plenty of water, etc. In 1869, Mr. Carmack was united in marriage at Harvard Junction, Illinois, to Miss Savilla L. Wilson, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cady) Wilson. Her parents were natives of Cattarau gus county, New York. They came to Illinois in 1833, where Mrs. Carmack was born. JAMES ROSS. For over thirty-five years the gentleman whose name heads this review, has been identified with the development of different parts of the state of Nebraska, and the past eight years has been passed in Central City, Merrick county, where he has gained a high station as a citizen and become one of the substantial men of his com munity, taking an active part in every movement for its betterment. James Ross, son of Benjamin and Ruth (Cor- win) Ross, was born near Chili, Ohio, July 8, 1837, and was fifth of eleven children, one sister resides in Ohio, one in Portland, Oregon, one in Missouri, and another in Iowa, the others being deceased, as are also the parents; the father having died December 25, 1850, in Ohio, and the mother, October 26, 1873, near Fairfield, Iowa. In 1854, our subject went to Fairfield, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In May, 1861, Mr. Ross enlisted in Company E, Second Iowa Volunteer. Infantry, for three months, and then re-enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years, in Fair field, Iowa; the second regiment being the first in the United States to be recorded for the three year service. Decisive battles engaged in were at COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 295 Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, besides numerous skir mishes. Mr. Ross received his discharge in May, 1864, at Louisville, Kentucky, and after the war paid a visit to his mother in. Ohio, then returned to Fairfield, Iowa, and again engaged in farming. On December 29, 1864, Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Gro, who was born in France and came to America in 1846 with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have had four chil dren : Alonzo, married, has four children, and re sides in Central City; Elmer, married, has four children, resides in Central City, and has just completed a term as county attorney ; Mary, wife of Claude Combs, has two children, and lives in South Omaha, and Laura, wife of P. H. Cowgill, has two children and resides in Colorado. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Ross came with his wife and three children to Hastings, Nebraska, taking eighty acres as a tree claim, making their home on this place for several years. Then Mr. Ross purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Clarks, Merrick county, Nebraska, moving on to the same, which remained the home place until 1900, when Mr. Ross retired from the farm, moved to Central City and purchased a good home where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are among the early settlers of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. E. PERRINE. Few men living have seen the west in so many phases as has Mr. E. Perrine, now of Creigh ton. Born in Jefferson county, New York, on November 21, 1847, he came into Wisconsin with his parents when an infant two years of age, and was reared there. He started for himself at sixteen by enlisting in the army against the will of his parents, his father having him released three times because he was under age. However, he succeeded in getting safely away, and was mustered in at Chicago early in 1865, entering Company B, Fifty-third Illinois regiment, and served the remaining two months of the war, then enlisted in the thirteenth regiment of the regular army, from which his father had him released and took him home. As soon as he earned enough money to get away, he went to Freeport, Illinois, and again joined the army, this time the Twenty- second regulars, his enlistment dating from Feb ruary 7, 1867, and was stationed at Newport, Kentucky. He was then sent to Port Snelling, Minnesota, going by boat from St. Louis to St. Paul, and after a short stay there, the company embarked on a river steamboat for Clinton, Iowa, whence they were shipped by rail to Denison, Iowa, marching across the country to Omaha, which was then a small and rough frontier town. The Fourth of July was celebrated at this point, and the camp' being near a brewery, many of the celebrants spent the night scattered along the road between the two points, paying the penalty for this "sport" by doing extra duty and cur tailed privileges for some weeks after. Expecting to be stationed at Fort Leavenworth, the regi ment was sent up the Missouri river instead, and reached Fort Rice in October. This fort was in complete, and the troops were set to work finish ing it, getting timber along the river bank, which they ran through a sawmill and erected a stock ade and barracks for the men and officers. The barracks were built of adobe, covered with a good shingle roof, making very comfortable winter quarters. Their commander was Colonel Otis, who was later Major General in the Philippines. The regiment was afterwards stationed from time to time at Forts Randall, Sully and Stephenson, on the Upper Missouri. After three full years' service in the west, Mr. Perrine was discharged. During those times the Indians were thick around the posts and were eager traders, exchanging a well tanned buffalo skin for a loaf of bread or a pound or two of sugar, and Mr. Perrine has a fine buffalo coat made from a skin bought with a loaf of stale bread. He was present at the time of signing the treaty of 1868, between General Hancock and Sitting Bull, and frequently saw that famous chief. After leaving the army Mr. Perrine visited his parents, but the lure of the west was strong and drew him back to the prairies, so he spent some time on a Sioux City boat, running between that point and various posts up the "Big Muddy" stream, occasionally making its way to Port Ben ton, but owing to low water the boat usually un loaded at Musel Shoals, from where the supplies were freighted by ox teams to their destination. Old Niobrara, in Knox county, Nebraska, was the last settlement along the river at that time. Prom there on, all was wilderness in the possession of red men. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and vast herds of buffalo still roamed the grassy plains. While grey wolves were plentiful, none ever crossed his path, but he saw them in small numbers when a boy, in Wisconsin. Mr. Perrine returned to Wisconsin in 1872, and was married there in September, to his boy hood sweetheart, Retta Smith, and two children were born to them, Bruce S., and Hale, the for mer of Creighton, while the latter is traveling in different parts of the country. A few weeks after his marriage, Mr. Perrine migrated to Nebraska and took possession of a farm he had previously purchased, located five miles east of Wisner, with eleven hills between his place and town. Mr. Perrine reached Wisner February 22, 1872, in time to attend a stag dance at the hotel. There were but two women present, daughters of the landlord, while the male attendants was forty. Mr. Perrine immediately began to build his house, bringing the lumber from Clinton, Iowa, and soon w^as in shape to go ahead with his farming opera tions. During the first seven years, the family passed through all the losses and discouragements usual to the pioneer in that section, and had our subject not had a father back east to supply the 296 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. cash when hard times came on, they might have suffered considerably, but after better times pre vailed they were able to save money and came to be numbered with the prosperous settlers in their locality. In 1880 they moved to Knox county, where Mr. Perrine purchased a relinquishment of one hundred and sixty acres near Creighton, to which he acquired title under the homestead law. He planted a grove in the open prairie which may now be seen from the town and is a veritable beauty spot in the prairie landscape. He sold this place during 1892, and from then on spent most of his time up to 1894, in Montana, engaged in mining, moving his family there, but the panic of '93 played havoc with his business and he lost considerable money. Mr. Perrine returned to Creighton for perma nent residence about 1894. He still owned a quar ter section of land here, purchased in 1886, and put his capital into the real estate and land busi ness, being representative of the Perkins Syndi cate Land Company, of which George B. Perkins, president of the Burlington & Missouri railroad, was then the head. He has always been interest ed in the stock business, raising and shipping cat tle, etc. Mr. Perrine has a very pleasant and comfort able home. Mrs. Perrine died September 8, 1910. She was particularly gifted as an artist, this tal ent having been developed by such teachers as the locality afforded, and some very creditable specimens of her work in oil as well as china paintings, adorn the home. Since the death of Mrs. Perrine, the son Bruce S. and his wife have lived with him. JOHN N. DEAN. Among the prosperous and successful farmers and stockmen of Nance county, none deserve more credit for their energy and perseverance, than the gentleman whose name heads this review, since he has spent the greater part of his career in that region and has been instrumental in a large measure in promoting the general prosper ity now enjoyed by the residents of the section. John N. Dean was born in New Jersey, June 2, 1858. He is a son of Isaac N. and Elizabeth Dean, and the second youngest of their four children. He grew up in New Jersey, until his thirteenth year, when the family settled in Rock Island, Illinois, and his time was spent in helping carry on the farm until his twentieth year, at which time he ' began for himself. In the spring of 1883 himself, wife, his father and mother settled in Whiteside county, Illinois, and followed farming there for about three years, then came to Nance county, Nebraska. Here our subject settled on a farm and began raising stock and grain. He at first purchased eighty acres situated on section six, township sixteen, range five, which remained his home farm up to the year 1910, when he sold and bought one hundred and forty acres on the north east quarter of section twenty-two, Cedar town ship, where he now resides. The father and mother of our subject made Nance county their home for a number of years, the former dying here on January 8, 1892, at the home of another son, W. D. Dean, while the latter died March 10, 1887, both sincerely mourned by the family and many warm friends. Mr. Dean was married in Rock Island county, Illinois, on December 29, 1880, to Elsie A. Ryder, at the home of her parents. They have one son, Ralph William Dean, who was born on the anni versary of his parents' marriage, in the year 1893. He lives at home. The Dean family are prominent in their community, have a very pleas ant home, and active in all social affairs. Mr. Dean was for eleven years a member of the board in school district number thirty-seven. JOHN P. WOOD. Among those who have lived since childhood along Nebraska's northern border line and have seen it develop from a wild open prairie into a highly developed farming community, may be mentioned Mr. John P. Wood, the progressive hardware and implement dealer of Butte. He was a lad of but a few years of age when his father settled in the then unoccupied portions of Ne braska included in Keya Paha county. John P. Wood was born in Poxburg, McKean county, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1875. His parents, Prank B., and Elizabeth (Allen) Wood, were resi dents of Bradford at the time of their migration to the west. A colony of sixteen or eighteen fam ilies was formed in the spring of 1882 and came in a body to Stuart, Nebraska, which was at the time but a small station on the new line of railroad pushing to the west, and was not equipped to en tertain so large a body of settlers. John Skervin, a merchant of the place, gave the colonists the use of the upper floor of his store building, and here they lived in a tribal way until other provisions • could be made. A long table was laid of rough boards through the middle of the room, and for sleeping quarters they crowded down in blankets on the floors or got what rest they could sitting in chairs. After the comforts of a Pennsylvania home, where everything had for a century or more been established, the crudeness and discom fort and the monotony of the wide, dreary, tree less prairie was too much for some of them. Part of the colony returned at once to their native re gion to begin again where they left off, with their resources reduced by the amount of their expen sive trip to the plains. About twelve families had the courage to persevere and, while they suf fered many privations during the early years, have prospered to a greater degree than the aver age family who remained in the crowded east. The remaining colonists found a tract of land to suit their purpose in Keya Paha county, near the north line of the state, and here the elder COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 297 Wood filed on a hpmestead about thirteen miles north and a little east of Springview, and began to improve his place. Leaving hig wife and younger children in Stuart, the father, with John P., went to his claim, erected a lean-to shanty and proceeded to break ground and plant a crop of corn. It was during the early days on the new ranch that the boy had, for him, a hair-raising experience with Indians. Usually he accompan ied his father to the field, but this day he hap pened to remain at the shack. Along in the day he happened to look out and was terrified to see some twenty wagon loads of Indians coming that way, the old spotted Tail trail, as it was called. crossing his father's claim but twenty yards from the shack. Slipping out at the door, he ran around the shack, and keeping it between him and the caravan, ran down into the draw and on into a slough where he hid the rest of the day, until he felt certain his father had returned. In the fall a good sod house was built, the family was brought from Stuart, and home life again established. But a few good crop years followed before the drouth caused hard times. In 1885 and 1886 nothing was raised in the fields, not even so much as the seed was recovered in some sections; but later the fertile land yielded to the plow and no more pros perous section of the west is to be found. After living eight years in the sod house, a more com modious frame dwelling was erected with its ac companying barns and outhouses, since which time the emigrants from the old Keystone state have lived in as much comfort as they did in their old community. John P. Wood remained under the parental roof until completing his eighteenth year, when he started out to procure a better education than the local schools afforded. He had attended a year or two in the east, but for the first three years in the west there were no schools of any kind on the frontier. In the fall of 1893, he went to Fremont and sold papers and did chores for Dr. E. L. Colburn, to pay his board and tuition in a business college, which he attended two and a half years. His first position was with the Bell Insurance company of Omaha, for six months. He then returned to his father's house, where, during the summer of 1896, he was employed on the farm. The following winter he was employed freighting from Stuart to Brocksburg for his brother-in-law, H. S. Jarvis, who had a store at the latter place; and then in the spring of 1897, Mr. Wood filed on a homestead a mile south of Jamison, a village on the state line in the north east corner of Keya Paha county, living here the five years necessary to perfecting title. In 1902, Mr. Wood purchased the McKuen ranch, five miles west of Mills and near his father's home place, and lived here until the first of June, 1908, when he bought the hardware and implement business he now owns in Butte. Here he carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, imple ments, engines, threshers, vehicles, furniture, and musical instruments ; as complete a stock as is to be found in any inland town in the west. Mr. Wood was married near Jamison, June 15, 1898, to Miss Ora G. McCumber, who was born near Elsworth, Kansas. Her parents, James M-. and Lucinda (Jennings) McCumber, moved to Kansas in an early day, and in 1894, came to Keya Paha county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood three children have been born: Prank, Ray and Mary Gayl. Mr. Wood is a republican in politics, and is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Royal Highlanders. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Wood with a sister, a younger brother, and the school teacher, was on the ranch, his par ents having yoked the oxen to the wagon and gone to a neighbor's to attend a party the night before. The children fed the stock and afterward kept safely in the house until the storm had spent its force. There were still some deer and antelope in the country when the Wood family settled in Keya Paha county, but none were killed by them. During the Indian scare in 1893, Mr. Wood was at school at Fremont, but his home folks felt the un easiness. The mother was safely lodged in Springview, but the father remained on the ranch to look after his stock until the fear of attack sub sided. Oxen were their first work animals, and it took the father two days each way to make the trip to Stuart for their supplies. Most of the streams had to be forded, there being no bridges in the early days of settlement. But these primitive hardships have all passed away; the country has developed in education, culture and refinement to the extent that older communities enjoy, and men of the age of Mr. Wood have witnessed these astounding changes and have been potent factors in the making of the west. THOMAS J. MATHEWS. Thomas J. Mathews, one of the pioneer farm ers of Nebraska, and a business man of influence in Boone county, has won prosperity by industry, enterprise and energy. He is now a resident of Albion, carrying on a successful feed store. Our subject is a native of Wisconsin, born in Juneau county, September 16, 1854. His parents were Michael and Mary Mathews, who were old settlers in that part of the country, and Thomas was the fourth child in their family of six boys and one girl. He grew up in his native county, receiving his education in the local schools. The daughter of the family married John O'Neill, and the young couple came to Nebraska about 1874. The following year our subject and one brother joined them in Boone county, the two en gaging in farming, and for thirty years continued in the work, becoming known as among the lead ing agriculturists and stockmen of the county. On coming here, he at first purchased a small 298 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tract of land in section seventeen, township twen ty, range five, and since that time has added to his original farm until he is now owner of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, and has erected on the place good buildings of all kinds. In 1905 Mr. Mathews came into Albion, where he owned residence property, and engaged in the feed business, carrying this on in connection with his farming operations, and is meeting with splen did success in both lines of work. During his early residence in this section of the state, our subject did not think much of the country as a money-making proposition, but rap idly changed his opinion, and is now one of the foremost boosters of his county. He is always found standing for the best interests of his local ity, and has done a great deal towards promoting the prosperity now enjoyed in the section. On November 26, 1880, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Roach, the event occurring in Albion, where both were well known. Mrs. Mathews comes of a prominent Boone county family. They have two children, Celia E. and Harold T., both living at home. Mr. Mathews' father and mother and three brothers settled in Boone county shortly after he came here himself, both parents now being dead, and himself and sister are the only members of the family now living here, the others having re moved to other states some time ago. SAMUEL BARNES. The thrifty blood of old English peasantry flows in the veins of Samuel Barnes, now living in comfortable retirement in the college addition of Wayne, where he owns thirty-four lots, enough for pasture, a garden, and room to turn around; when one has been accustomed to the wide space of the country, a small, restricted city lot gives him a sense of smothering ; he must have room to stretch his limbs and draw a deep breath. Mr. Barnes was born in the village of Manea, Cambridgeshire, England, November 25, 1841. His father, Samuel Barnes, senior, with his wife (who was Mary Ann Good) and two of their children, Samuel, junior, being one of them, em igrated to America in 1854, sailing on the ship "Albert Gelleton" from Liverpool, October 22, and arriving at New York the day before Christ mas. He settled on a small tract of land near Cleve land, where he had a market garden for six or seven years. Four years later he came to Rockford Illinois, where his wife died, after which he made his home with his daughter in Rock Island county, Illinois, until his death, which occurred when he was nearly eighty-seven years old. Samuel Barnes, junior, married in Cleveland, and in 1859, came to Illinois. He traveled by lake on the "May Queen" to Detroit, took a train to Chicago and traveled thence to Rock Island, Illi nois. Shortly after, he crossed the river to Dav enport and was employed there until January, 1861, when he returned to Cleveland. At this time they bought land in the "Black Swamp," near Millbury, a part of which they cultivated from 1861 to 1865. Returning to Davenport, he bought a team of horses and engaged in teaming, working fourteen years for the firm of Van Patten & Marks, wholesale grocers, and although not a large man, he could handle heavier freight than many men twice his size. Mr. Barnes was first married in Cleveland, Ohio, April 7, 1859, to Miss Mary McCabe, a na tive of Ireland, who died in 1883. She was a daughter of Charles McCabe, and at her death was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and sorrowing relatives. Mr. Barnes lived in Davenport until 1885, when he came to Nebraska, reaching Wayne coun ty on the 27th of September. He bought a quar ter section of land four and one-half miles north and one mile west of Wayne, where he lived for twenty years. In 1905, he rented his farm, and the same year moved to town, where he purchased thirty-four lots in College addition, and built a neat cottage home. He followed teaming for a year or two, but receiving an extra good offer for his fine team, he sold and gave over hard work for the rest of his life. On several of his lots he has a fine garden which brings him a good reve nue ; he has his cow and a horse to keep, enough to give him some employment, at the same time adding to his pleasure in life and reducing the cost of living. Mr. Barnes was again married September 16, 1885, at Cambridge, Illinois, to Mary Ann Ragen, who was born in Cleveland; she is a daughter of Hughie Ragen, who came from Ireland. One daughter was born to them, Edyth Rose, who is now a successful teacher in the Wayne county schools. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes just escaped being out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888 ; he was hitching his team to drive over to his sister's, south of town, for a visit, when the storm enveloped them ; had they started a quarter of an hour earlier, they might have been forever lost. Deer were not all gone from the country when Mr. Barnes came ; he saw two or three of them on the prairie after locating in Wayne county; and of wolves he has seen none here except the com mon coyote ; but the large grey wolves he has seen in Illinois, when he occasionally worked across on that side of the river. Much of Mr. Barnes' prosperity is due to his care for his tools ; he has an axe, the helve of which he made in 1862 ; a hay rake and cultivator he purchased in 1865 are still in a perfect state of preservation ; plows, harrows and other imple ments have been preserved with equal care. Tt is the care and saving in little things that make fortunes where otherwise failure and loss accrue. Mr. Barnes is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows. MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. MISCHKE. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 299 JOHN M. MISCHKE. The gentleman above mentioned is counted the oldest settler in Knox county, Nebraska, of which county and state he is a native-born son, his birth occurring in 1860. His brother, C. E. Mischke, was the first white child born in Knox county. He is a son of Charles F. and Amelia (Sucker) Mis chke, who were marired in 1856, at LaPorte, In diana. The father was born in 1823, in Germany and when quite a young man came to the United States of America on a sailboat which made slow progress, he being fifty days on the water. After landing in New York, he remained there some few months and worked at whatever his hands found to do, then came westward as far as Chicago, Il linois, and from there on to LaPorte, Indiana, where he remained two years, during which time he was married. Our subject's mother was also a native of Germany, born in the southern part, close to Italy, and coming to America in the early fifties. Prom LaPorte, our subject's parents went to Iowa City, Iowa, that being as far as the railroad was built at that time; there they bought an ox team and started for the west to make a fortune for themselves and bring up the family where they could get land cheap. Our subject's father's brother-in-law, Carl Nevenfeld, persuaded them to come to Knox county, Nebraska, where a town had been started, the only one at that time west of Sioux City, and which had been christened Frankfort, which consisted of four stores, one saloon, and twenty houses near completion. When the family arrived here, our subject's father did not like the appearance of the town, so settled on some land about three-quarters of a mile east of the town. He built a log house, and having no furniture, he drove stakes in the ground and made a bed by placing poles across the stakes and covering them with straw. The nearest market place was at Sioux City, and it took a whole week to go to market with an ox team. Our subject's uncle, August Mischke, also came to Knox county at the same time Charles F. did ; he built the first mill in St. James, and that is where they went to mill. August took a timber claim on the river, but left and went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, during the gold rush about 1860, driving through with an ox team. There was no town on the present site of Denver at that time, there being only a few tents on the ground, which was in later years to be one of the great hustling western cities. Mr. August Mischke waited one day while on his journey to Pike's Peak to let the great herds of buffalo pass so they could pro ceed on their way. After his western trip, he re turned to Knox county, Nebraska, where he still remains and lives with our subject. Our subject's father bought three hundred and eighty acres of land by raising potatoes, which he sold to the men on the boats up the riv er. They paid as high as one dollar per bushel, and as soon as our subject's father had saved fifty dollars, he would buy forty acres of land. By the time the homestead law was enacted he al ready had the land he had accumulated and did not take advantage of the homestead act. Game of all kinds was very plentiful at that time; and the government soldiers gave our sub ject's father a gun, but he never made use of same for the destruction of game. The grass hoppers first troubled the people in this section of the country in the sixties, 1865 or 1866 to 1874; during this time all of the people in the town of Frankfort left, with the exception of our subject's father, who was left alone with his fam ily. In those early days, the family fought pra irie fires many times to save their lives and homes. On March 17, 1881, our subject and his family suffered a severe loss through the death of his mother, who was laid to rest in the almost un broken western prairie, deeply mourned by her husband- and family. On March 30, of the same year, the memorable flood came, carrying the greatest havoc in its wake, the Mischke family losing all their stock. The flood came about two o 'clock in the morning ; a cake of ice about one acre in diameter struck the house with such terrific force as to strike ter ror to the hearts of those within, who immediately jumped out onto the ice. Some men got logs and made a raft from slabs and came to the rescue of the imperiled family, who were taken off the ice one at a time, it being about ten o 'clock next day when the last one was rescued. Our subject's father had bought a lot in Yankton, South Da kota, and was building a large brick building when the flood came and carried away all the ma terial, which made it very difficult to continue the erection of the building. Our subject in those early days helped his father on the farm, and got what education he could. He now owns a part of his father's home place, which is well improved; he also owns twelve hundred acres of good land and is en gaged in mixed farming. Mr. Mischke has one of the finest farms in this section of the country, on which is a fine artesian well which keeps the fam ily in a good supply of water; and he has a beau tiful orchard. He also owns five hundred and sixty acres of land in Gregory county, South Dakota. Mr. Mischke was united in marriage in 1890 to Miss Sophia Doering, and Mr. and Mrs. Mischke are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Esther, Lydia, Elsie, Hilda, Silas, Harold, John and Melvin. Mr. Mischke is a highly respected citizen in his community and has served his constituents as county commissioner for four years. In politics he is a republican, and he and his wife are mem bers of the Evangelical association to which he has belonged since 1881, and he has been super intendent of the Sunday school for a number of 300 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. years. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mischke will be found on another page of this volume. WILLIAM PUHRMANN. To its earlier settlers, almost without excep tion, men of sturdy determination and enterpris ing perseverance, Nebraska offered a field of wide opportunities. It is hard for the present genera tion to realize the change that has taken place through the efforts of the pioneers, who have made possible the present prosperity and commer cial activity in a region which forty or fifty years ago was so sparsely settled. Among the men who have helped in the development of Stan ton county, is William Fuhrmann, who is one of the very early comers, and who has gained an en viable reputation as a citizen and a successful farmer. He is a native of Pommeron, Germany, born in 1845, and grew to young manhood in his native country. He is a son of Charles and Pred- ericka Fuhrmann, who were of the same region in Germany. In 1867, Mr. Fuhrmann left his home and set sail for America, spending six weeks on the ocean voyage and landing in New York. After spending about three years in the state of Wisconsin, Mr. Fuhrmann, in 1870, drove with a team of oxen through to Stanton county, where he secured a homestead and erected a sod house, which was his home for several years, during which he had very primitive furniture and housekeeping uten sils. For some time he was greatly handicapped by the damage caused by the grasshoppers, but he triumphed over all difficulties, and has prospered well, so that he now owns a very comfortable home and is surrounded by his relatives and friends. He has won this success through indus try and good management, and has been constant ly improving his estate, which is located on sec tion five, township twenty-four, range one. In 1873, Mr. Fuhrmann married Miss Bertha Clue, and they are the parents of eight children: Alvena, Gusta, William, Martha, John, Minnie, Herman, and Otto. FRANK KELLER. To the men of perseverance and stalwart de termination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and commer cial region, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due, and among the most prominent of these early settlers in Antelope county, who has been intimately identified with its every movement for betterment and gained an enviable reputation as a citizen, may be mentioned Frank Keller, a pros perous and successful farmer of Frenchtown town ship. Mr. Keller was born in Green county, Wiscon sin, November 27, 1868. When a small boy the family moved to near Preeport, Illinois, where the father died in 1873. The mother remarried, and made that state her home with her husband, Peter Womeldorf, for some years, our subject remain ing with them and attending the local schools. In 1882 they all came to Nebraska. His stepfath er took a homestead near Royal, Antelope county, and Prank helped carry on the farm, during the first few years finding it a hard task to even make a living on account of the obstacles which con fronted them in the shape of drouths, etc. They were oftentimes without even the necessaries of life, making use of every sort of substitute for food, and suffering hardship in every form. Prairie fires swept the country and they fought to save their home and property from destruction. Their fuel often consisted for weeks of cornstalks and hay, as there was no wood of any kind available. About 1898, Mr. Keller purchased his present farm, one hundred and sixty acres, and this is now a valuable piece of property, improved with good buildings of all kinds, and considerable cul tivated land on which he raises good crops of grain and hay. He has planted many trees, and has a fine orchard, besides one of the most beau tiful groves of shade trees in this section. Mr. Keller was married October 16, 1891, to Miss Bertha Ingerham, and to them have been born nine children, named as follows: Clyde, Helen, Hazel, Alda, Ada and Leta, living; and Neta and Greta, twins, and Arlia, deceased. GEORGE NELSON. George Nelson, a retired farmer, residing in Plainview, Nebraska, is one of the many sons of Denmark that have made a worthy name for themselves in the new world. He is a son of Nels and Marie Peterson, and by the custom of the Scandinavian countries at that time, takes his surname from the father's first name. Mr. Nelson's birth occurred in the rural vil lage of Kundby, province of Sjeland, Denmark, January 11, 1846, and here he lived until his emi gration to America in 1868. Embarking at Co penhagen, Denmark, March 28, in a small vessel, he sailed around Jutland and down the North Sea to Hamburg where a transfer was made to a steamer which landed its passengers at Hull, Eng land. Going thence by rail to Liverpool, Mr. Nel son embarked in the "Minnesota" and stepped on shore of the new world at New York, nineteen days from the date of leaving his native land. One of a party of young compatriots had been in the states and had worked near Winona, Minne sota, and here our young traveler worked some eight months. He had left a sweetheart in the old country, for whom he intended to send as soon as his savings amounted to enough for that pur pose; but not waiting for this she had followed some six weeks later. An emigration agent, who chanced to have Mr. Nelson's address, would not give it to her unless she paid him twenty dollars, which she had not agreed to pay and for which no service had been rendered; furthermore he COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 301 took mail for her from the office, which he kept. Because of this she failed to learn Mr. Nelson's address and it took eight months' correspondence for the two young folks to learn each other's whereabouts. As soon as learned, Mr. Nelson came on to Cedar Falls, Iowa, married, and the next spring moved to Marshalltown, where he learned to run a stationary engine, and for twelve years held a position with a large elevator com pany there. In 1881 he moved to Antelope county, Ne braska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres three and one-half miles west of Plainview, and here he worked and thrived until 1901, when he retired from active .farming and moved to Plainview. Mr. Nelson was married in Cedar Palls, Iowa, June 28, 1869, to Miss Anna Kathrina Jepsen, daughter of Jeppa and Johanna (Jurgenhausen) Hansen, who remained in the old country. She came to America by the same route Mr. Nelson had taken, coming with a party of friends to Cedar Palls, Iowa, as before stated. Immediately after the wedding, Mr. Nelson paid the emigra tion agents his demands, not wishing any shadow of debt to rest on his bride, and refraining from prosecuting him for withholding letters addressed to the girl who there became his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson seven children were born: The two eldest, both named Ebba, were deceased in infancy; George Andy is a railway mail clerk, with headquarters at Norfolk; Louis is a traveling salesman for an Omaha firm ; Harry died in 1901 in a hospital in Sioux City, Iowa; Alice married L. E. Fisher, a farmer, residing two miles north of Plainview; and Mary is the wife of LeRoy Amm, a merchant of Plainview. In faith Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are Seventh Day Adventists, and in politics he is a democrat. Living in Iowa during the grasshopper raids, they escaped that discouragement of the earliest settlers, but during the blizzard of 1888, Mr. Nelson came near having a serious time. He had proceeded but a half mile from home, when the storm overtook him. Turning about, he faced the pelting, icy mist, and finally reached his habi tation. His wife did not know him. The fur coat he wore was so filled with the ice dust that it was like a robe of ermine, it was so white, and the fine snow was driven through his clothing almost to his body. He had a fortunate escape. Mr. Nelson owns a comfortable home, and to keep in touch with the business world, deals in platform scales and gasoline engines for farm use. He is a typical business man, and is highly respected by all. His farm he disposed of in 1910. HON. J. FRANK FREDERICK. One of the oldest settlers of Howard county, Nebraska, and for many years classed among the leading citizens of St. Paul, is the gentleman named above, now a resident of Chappell, Ne braska. He is possessed of unusual perseverance and thrift, and he has been a potent factor in the development of the agricultural and commer cial interests of that region. He is considered one of the wealthy residents of his locality, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow- men. J. Prank Frederick was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 26, 1850. He was the third mem ber in a family of five children. His early educa tion was received in the common schools, and as a young man taught school in his home vicinity, later spending two years on the plains driving cattle from Texas into Kansas, and followed a frontierman 's life during that time. On December 24, 1872, he married Elizabeth Stuart, at the home of her parents, near Des Moines, and the following March the young couple came to Howard county, where our subject homesteaded on section twenty-two, township fourteen, range eleven, also took a timber claim, and proved up on the land. He later purchased eighty acres of school land, and developed a good farm, consisting in all of four hundred acres, having two hundred of this under cultivation. During the earlier years Mr. Frederick passed through all the pioneer experiences, meeting failures and discouragements bravely, and in spite of hardships persevered in his determination to win for himself a competence and comfortable home, in all of which he has succeeded beyond his expectations. For a number of years he lived in St. Paul, where he had one of the most beauti ful residences in the city, and was prominently known as a worthy and successful business man. On March 1, 1910, he removed to Chappell, Ne braska, where he now resides. He is a republican and has served for two terms as a member of the Nebraska state legislature, his term of service extending from 1879 to 1882 inclusive. During his first term the famous Slocumb High License Bill was passed, which measure proved both pop ular and effective. Also, the first appropriation was allowed for the new capitol building at Lin coln, and to his efforts is due not a little of the credit of securing the appropriation. He has always been active in county and state politics, in the early days serving as precinct assessor, and for ten years has been a member of the St. Paul school board. Mrs. Frederick was born and reared in Polk county, Iowa, and was the seventh in a family of ten children. She was a teacher in the county schools there for a number of years prior to her marriage to our subject, and was popular with all. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have had four chil dren. One daughter, Allie Maud, died in infancy, and the others are named as follows: Corwin, who with his family lives in St. Paul ; Roy, pro prietor of a fine farm about a mile and a half east of St. Paul, and Wanita, who is a graduate of the 302 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Nebraska state normal and is now teaching in the public schools of Elba, Nebraska. They form a very interesting family, and are held in the highest esteem by all as worthy and popular mem bers of society. WILLIAM D. NEGLEY. William D. Negley, who resides in section thirty-five, township eighteen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, was born in Tama coun ty, Iowa, June 14, 1859, and was the only son of Daniel and Elizabeth Negley; one daughter, Molissie, was born in September, 1861. She died at the age of nineteen, two years after her mar riage, and her infant lived but a short time after the mother's death. Mr. Negley, senior, died in Iowa in 1861. About 1866 the mother was mar ried to James Lamb, and the family moved to Nebraska in July of 1872, coming overland by team and wagon, bringing one cow and their household goods. They crossed the Missouri river at Omaha by ferry July 4, 1872, remaining in Omaha about four months. In the spring of 1878 William Negley, then in his nineteenth year, went to Schuyler, Colfax county, Nebraska, remaining there until the fall of the same year, at which time he came to Scotia, Greeley county, with his brother-in-law, Isaac Moody, and about six weeks later was joined by his stepfather, James Moody, and his mother, Mrs. James Moody. Mr. Moody took up a tree claim in 1880; and as soon as becoming of age William Negley took up a homestead six miles northeast of Scotia. At the time Mr. Negley first came to Scotia it was a village of but three houses. Mr. Negley, since ten years of age, has been connected with farm work and is a self-made man. He is acquainted with the pioneer days of Nebraska, and has by economy and successful farming accumulated fine farm and stock inter ests ; he now owns forty acres of choice land just joining the town of North Loup to the south, on which he has a fine new modern home ; he also owned a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on Davis creek, in Sherman county, which he sold in the fall of 1910. Mr. Negley is a man well known for his sterling qualities. Mr. Negley was united in marriage April 29, 1883, at Scotia, Nebraska, to Miss Martha E. Williams. Miss Williams came to Nebraska from Iowa, her native state, in 1882 ; her parents, A. J. and Ellen (Barnes) Williams, were both natives of Connecticut. The father died in Iowa, October 11, 1866, and the mother November 11, 1879, they having lived in the state since 1855. One brother, Erastus Williams, lives near Cedar Rap ids, Boone county, Nebraska, and another brother, J. B. Williams, lives in Greeley county; other members of the Williams family reside in different states. Mr. and Mrs. Negley have nine children living, namely : William E., lives in Utah ; Charles A., is married and living in Greeley county; Venus, who is married to Nelson Thrasher, has two chil dren, and resides in Utah; Archie, resides under the parental roof ; Dolly, wife of Burrel Rich, has one child, and lives in Greeley county; Herman, Laura, Loyal, Merlin, all of whom reside at home ; and Paul, deceased. They are a charming family, and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. JAMES H. SMITH. James H. Smith, who was among the earliest settlers in Madison county, Nebraska, success fully carried on an extensive farm for many years in Madison township, and became known as one of the most progressive and wealthy residents of that vicinity. Several years ago he retired from active work, and until his death, occupied a pleasant home in the thriving city of Madison, surrounded by a large circle of warm friends, esteemed by all who knew him. Our subject was a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, born March 1, 1832. He was the second in a family of nine children, and his early life was spent in his native state. A brother, Thomas, is a well known resident of Madison, Nebraska, and one sister lives in Allen- town, Pennsylvania, all the other members of his family being deceased. Mr. Smith learned the carpenters' trade as a boy. He was married in August, 1855, to Cather ine Kistler, also a native of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1876, he came with his family to Mad ison county for permanent settlement, locating about four miles north of where the city of Mad ison now is. He at once filed on homestead rights and also took up a timber claim, and while prov ing up on the land, worked at his trade in the vil lage of Madison. About 1887 he returned to Pennsylvania, but after a year there, came back to Nebraska and es tablished a dry goods house, being one of the pio neer merchants here. He also put in a stock of general merchandise at Murdock, and carried on both stores for many years, retiring from active work in 1906, at which time he purchased a hand some residence property and spent the remain ing years of life here. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had seven children, five living, named as follows: Monroe, Albert, Clinton, Charles and Elmer, all of whom are mar ried, and all living in Nebraska. Mr. Smith was an old soldier, having served for a short time in the civil war, and his grand father was in the war of 1812. Both our subject and his wife have been active members of the Evangelical church of Madison. Mr. Smith passed to the great beyond on Jan uary 5, 1911, deeply mourned by his family and many friends. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 303 HENRY GEORGE STOKES. Henry George Stokes came to Custer county in an early day and was one of the first home steaders in his locality. He and his family are well known in social and educational circles and he is successful as a farmer and business man. Mr. Stokes was born in Jefferson county, New York, September 24, 1856, next to the youngest of the fifteen children of Robert and Sarah (Bow- ering) Stokes, natives of England. The parents were married in England, where all except the two youngest of their children were born, and came to the United States in 1855, settling in Jefferson county, New York. The father died in New York state in 1863 and the mother in 1860. Henry G. Stokes has five brothers and a sister who reside in New York state. On December 24, 1879, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage with Nellie, daughter of Joseph and Minerva (McWayne) Hovey. She was the sec ond in order of birth of their five children and has two brothers and one sister living in New York. Mr. Hovey died about 1869 and his wid ow still resides in New York. In July, 1883, Mr. Stokes left his native state and came to- Custer county, taking up a home stead on the southeast quarter of section twenty- two, township nineteen, range eighteen, which is still his home. He was joined by his wife and one child in October of the same year. He has con tinued to improve and develop his land and add to its acreage until he is now the owner of a well equipped small grain and stock farm. He has twelve hundred acres of desirable land and is suc cessful in his operations. He makes a specialty of feeding and shipping cattle and hogs and is progressive along1 all lines. He has aided much in the growth and development of his portion of the county and has been active in township affairs. He served for a number of years on the local school board. He is a stockholder and di rector of the Farmers' State bank, of Sargent. He has a fine modern residence building on his farm, which is surrounded by trees, lawn and orchard, one of the most beautiful farm homes in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes have five children, all but one born on the home farm ; Sarah, Ethel Mi nerva, wife of Adolph Voss, of Lincoln, Nebras ka, has two children; Georgia, Marie Nellie, and Anno Marguerita, at home. LOUIS SCHAGER. Persistent industry has placed this gentleman among the prosperous and prominent farmers of Cedar county. He is one of the older settlers, having been a resident of this county alone for about thirty years, and his present comfortable home in section twenty-eight has been gained only by the strictest economy and excellent man agement. The hardships and discouragements which have fallen to the lot of Mr. Schager would have heartily discouraged one of less persistent nature, but have only tended to make him more de termined and spurred him to stronger action. With undaunted courage he has faced misfor tunes and hardships innumerable, and he has re mained to enjoy a fitting reward for his labors. Mr. Schager is a native of Norway, having been born in the northern part of that country in 1854. His mother died when he was only a small boy, but he remained in his native village and secured a good common school education in the local schools. In 1869, he left the old country, embarking in the steamship ' ' Otter ' ' for the new world. After putting into New York, he came by rail direct to Baxter, South Dakota, which place was his home for a number of years. Ten years later at this place, he was married to Miss Hannah Olson, one of his country-women, who had come to Nebraska in 1868. In 1881, Mr. Schager and family came to Ce dar county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of state land and began the task of taming the wilderness — for even at that date, it was not very thickly settled. For a long time, misfortunes came thick and fast, even more than usually fell to the lot of the pioneer in those days. In that same year, they lost everything they possessed in the flood, including their house and barns and stock, barely escaping with their lives. Several crops were lost because of the voracious grasshoppers, the bane of the early settler. Many times they were compelled to fight prairie fires, and one time, memorable because of the loss it oc casioned them, a prairie fire gained such a head way that the grain which was being threshed, to gether with the machinery, and the grain stand ing shocked in the fields, were all burnt. How ever, he persevered in his determination to make a home for himself and family, and today he is the owner of a fine property, and has the highest esteem of all with whom he has to do. Mr. and Mrs. Schager are the parents of nine children: Barnard, Harold, Gusta, Arthur, Edna, Helen, Carl, Alice, and Clara. During their long residence in the county, they have made many friends, and the family is one of the most prom inent in the community. Mr. Schager has always taken a deep interest in all pertaining to the pro gress of his adopted land, and has in many ways materially assisted in the development of this section. ISAAC S. TYNDALE. This gentleman is prominently known as a cit izen of integrity and worth who has given much of his time and financial aid in the upbuilding of his community, and who has always been found standing on the side of right and doing his full share toward meeting and providing for the pub lic welfare. 304 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Isaac S. Tyndale was born in Newpaisley, province of Quebec, Canada, January 18, 1855, and was sixth of eleven children in the family of Mathew and Eleanor Tyndale, who had five sons and six daughters. The Tyndale family date back to the Tyndales of England to the time of William Tyndale of the year 1500, and they have been especially known in church and educational work. Our subject was raised on a farm in Canada where his family were known as pioneers, and where his parents died at an advanced age in the city of Montreal. This immediate family were pioneers in church extension and local work. Isaac Tyndale grew up to his younger man hood days on the home farm and received a com mon school education, and in his twentieth year left the home in Canada and came to Central City, Nebraska, engaging in the dry goods trade in the fall of 1879. He is one of the first of Central City's merchants, and at this time Mr. Tyndale is the oldest merchant in point of trade service in Central City, having been continuously in the mercantile business until this date. Mr. Tyndale is a representative citizen, and has served the people of his community and county in different capacities. In 1886 he was elected commissioner of Merrick county, and in 1894 he was elected by his constituents to the office of mayor of Central City, Nebraska. In fact, he has been active along all political lines, being a staunch republican, and has always stood for purity in politics and for the upbuilding of his home town, county, and state. He was appointed postmaster at Central City in 1907, an unsought honor, and made an acceptable official. Mr. Tyn dale is active in church and social circles, and is connected with numerous fraternal orders. On May 11, 1889, in Central City, Mr. Tyndale was married to Miss Ada Simpson, a native of Wisconsin, who became a resident of Central City in 1882. Mr. Tyndale has been connected with farm and stock interests, and is also a land owner. He is still conducting a large mer cantile business, and is prominent along all lines. SYLVANUS L. WHITMORE. It would be impossible to give a sketch of the history of northeastern Nebraska without includ ing in the same a review of the career of Mr. S. L. Whitmore, who is numbered among the most prominent of the early settlers. Mr. Whitmore is a native of Vermont, born at Ira, October 28, 1840, a son of Edmund and Hen rietta (Welmarth) Whitmore. He grew up there, and when twenty-one years of age - enlisted for three years in Berdan's First Regiment, United States sharpshooters. This was September 11, 1861. He was with his regiment all through the east and southeastern part of Virginia during his term of service. July 1, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Virginia, he was wounded during the seven day fight, and was discharged September 11, 1862, at Philadelphia, because of disability. Other en gagements in which he participated were : Big Bethel, Yrorktown, Williamburg, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill, and Cold Harbor. After returning from the war Mr. Whitmore made his native county his home for about sev enteen years, then struck out for the west to make a home for himself and become a land owner. His first stopping place was Columbus, Nebraska, where he only spent a short time, driving from there to a homestead which he selected in Knox county. There he erected a sod house and occu pied that for some time before replacing it with a frame dwelling. He went through every form of frontier life, suffering at times loss of crops, destruction of his property by prairie fires, and from storms, etc., but stuck to his determination to win for himself a competence, and his present finally equipped farm is good evidence of his wisdom in remaining. At the present time he is the owner of a tract comprising six hundred and forty acres, well stocked, and much of it under cultivation. He has fifteen acres of fine trees, besides orchards and many beautiful shade trees on every part of the farm. Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage to Miss Octavia Parks, January 1, 1863, and they became the parents of tfyree children : Helen A., now the wife of Henry W. Wellman, of Knox county; Henrietta, who was the wife of C. T. Anson, but is now deceased; and S. Bertrand, who owns one hundred and • sixty acres formerly owned and operated by his father. He married Nauna Car son, of Pilger, Nebraska, and they have two chil dren. January 25, 1911, Mr. Whitmore suffered the loss of his wife. They had been married forty-eight years. Mr. Whitmore has always evinced an active interest in local affairs pertaining to the better ment of conditions, aiding in every movement for promoting the growth and development of the natural resources, etc. During the years 1892 to 1895, he served as county commissioner, and for two years as chairman of the board. He has also held other offices in his township. He was the first postmaster at Venus, and served for thirteen years. CHRISTOPHER C. RIDELL. Christopher C. Ridell, deceased, was born in Saxony, Germany, August 8, 1835, and at the age of two years came to America with his parents. He was the eldest of five brothers and one sister, and the only child born in the old country. The family settled in Ohio, and on reaching young manhood, Christopher engaged in gardening and farming near Columbus, where he was married in February, 1856, to Lucretia Johnson, of that city. Four children were born to them : Mariette, Charles, Margie, and Charlotte F., all married and settled in different parts of the country. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 305 Mr. Ridell came to Hall county, Nebraska, in 1858, and started a saw mill which he ran for a number of years, furnishing lumber for the first houses erected in Grand Island, also in the sur rounding towns in that region. He later home steaded eighty acres near Dannebrog, Howard county, and after passing through the various phases of pioneer life succeeded in building up a fine farm and home. Mr. Ridell was a soldier in the civil war, enlist ing in the Second Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry, Company B, in 1863, and serving until the end of the war, being in Nebraska all of the time. He took part in many skirmishes and has a good rec ord as a faithful soldier of his country. In 1881 Mr. Ridell came to Nance county and resided there up to the time of his death, which occurred on November 30, 1898. He had married Miss Candace Cole, at Loup City, Nebraska, in December, 1876, and to them were born three children: Winnifred M., who married Herbert Huff, parents of three children, residing in Mon tana; Edith I., wife of W. L. Rose, an attorney, they having two children, and living in Puller- ton; and Artemus P., of Fullerton. The Ridells also raised and educated a niece, Lenora Ridell. Since the death of our subject his widow has resided in the town residence in Fullerton, where she and the entire family have a large circle of friends. Mr. Ridell was a man of sterling character, an earnest christian, and in his demise the entire community sympathized with the family. DAVIS H. BRIGGS. One of the earliest settlers of the present county of Boyd, and one who has lived within the boundaries of the county since coming into the state, is Davis H. Briggs, who is running the largest and best equipped livery establishment in Naper. He first came to Boyd county in June of 1883, when he filed on a pre-emption claim be tween the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers in the part of Boyd county that was at that time at tached to Holt for administrative purposes, and on which he settled in March, 1884. In 1885, he bought a quarter section, and in 1886 filed on a timber claim. He lived on his farm until 1896. That year the late Indian lands in the west end of the county were being settled up more rap idly, and Mr. Briggs came to where Naper now stands and filed under his homestead rights on a quarter section which now lies along the north border of the town. Here he has resided ever since, building a large comfortable frame dwell ing. He early began the livery business in a small way in the barn on his homestead, and, as busi ness grew, he was compelled to build the large barn in which his business is now housed. He keeps a good grade of horses on hand at all times, 11 and a variety of vehicles suitable for any and all occasions. Mr. Briggs is of down east Yankee stock, his birth having occurred in Brandon, Vermont, Feb ruary 29, 1840, which gives him a birthday but once in four years. His parents, David and Ame lia (Dinsmore) Briggs, migrated to Van Buren county, Michigan, in 1847, and settled on a farm seven miles from Decatur and nine miles from Hartford. Here Davis H. Briggs lived until com ing to Nebraska, except the three years he served as a soldier in the civil war. Enlisting at Paw Paw, Michigan, in May, 1861, his company was united with others from several states into the Seventieth New Ytork, known as Sickles ' Brigade. After fighting through the seven days' desperate engagements in the wilderness, he was assigned to detached service most of the time in the wagon train. He was mustered out in June, 1864, at New York city, and returned to Van Buren county, Michigan. Since he was a lad of only ten or eleven, he has made his own way, working for his board and clothing at first, and later, as he became lar ger and stronger, securing places where fairly good wages were paid. On his return from the army, Mr. Briggs farmed on rented land in Michigan until coming west, on the. date stated heretofore. In migrating west, Mr. Briggs came by rail to Stuart and overland from there to his destination. Here for a few years he lived in a sod house with a frame addition annexed, but, like all early-timers, found the sod house the most comfortable in winter. During their first winter they were better protected from the cold than that, having set up their bed in the cave cel lar that had an entrance directly into the house. When the time came to build a frame house the lumber had to be hauled across country from Stuart, thirty-five miles distant, a long and weary journey, with but few houses of settlers along the way. Mr. Briggs was first married in Keeler Cen ter, Michigan, to Miss Laura Osborn, to whom three children were born : Millie, now the wife of Fred Dryer of Dakota county, Nebraska; Frank, who is farming one mile east of Naper, where he owns a quarter section of fine land ; and Clara, who is now deceased. She was the wife of William Tomlinson. The first Mrs. Briggs died. Mr. Briggs was married a second time, the bride being Rachel Blinkley, of Keeler Center, Michigan, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Briggs is a republican in politics, a mem ber of the Ancient Order United Workmen, and of the Butte post Grand Army of the Republic. He is well known to all the old timers, and all have a good word for him ; he is a general favor ite with old and young. He has experienced all the various trials of the early settler — storms, prairie fires, wind and hail; so severe have some of the latter storms proved to be that at one time 306 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. a hole was battered through the roof of his new barn. After enduring the privations of these early days, Mr. Briggs can take life easy, assured that neither he nor any member of his family need ever come to want. BENJAMIN PONT. Old England, the birthplace of most of the first settlers of the United States, has been giving her sturdy sons year after year since the earliest Colonial settlers began peopling the eastern coast. Nebraska has received a goodly share of English and Canadian settlers, and among the colony of the former who settled in Stanton and Cuming counties, the Pont families were prominent mem bers. Benjamin Pont was born April 2, 1850, in Haddanham, Cambridgeshire, England, about seven miles from Cambridge, the seat of one of the oldest universities in existence. He lived here until he attained his sixteenth year, and then, with a brother, Martin, started for the states to join an uncle, Robert Pont, who had been living for a number of years at Anawan, Henry county, Illinois, and had accumulated quite a snug little fortune. The boys sailed from Liverpool on October 20, 1866, on the "St. Marks" an American sail ing ship, which, being a freighter, carried a cargo of chinaware. Its fifty passengers were carried at the rate^of three pounds, ten shillings, or about $17.00 each. Rations were issued to them each week, which they were obliged to cook for them selves. The voyage lasted until December 7, when they reached New York. Here the two boys were compelled to wait at Castle Garden eleven days, until their uncle could communicate with them and send their railroad fare. Their sole capital was eleven English shillings. They soon learned .that their silver could be exchanged for " shinplasters " (paper money), at an advance of thirty-three and one-third per cent. They reached their uncle's home at Anawan about Christmas day, and remained there about five years. In the spring of 1872, with Samuel Pont, an uncle who had come to America a few years be fore, they chartered a car to Fremont, by way of Omaha, bringing their horses, cattle and farm ing implements. From Fremont, they drove to Dodge county, where they spent a year "squat ting" on school land, renting some farming land near. In the spring of the following year, they sold their improvements on the school land and moved to Colfax county, settling on a homestead about twenty miles north of Schuyler. Mr. Pont filed on an eighty-acre homestead, and also took a claim on the adjoining eighty, under the Timber Act. After the death of his stepfather, who had filed on a homestead near, he added that to his timber claim and took his aged mother to make a home for him, he being still a bachelor. The tim ber claims were not proved up until some years after his homestead patent was issued. Presi dent Cleveland signed the papers for the first eighty, and President Harrison for the second. Mr. Pont was married at Anawan, Illinois, on January 11, 1877, to Miss Emma Bristol, a daugh ter of David and Julia (Mumford) Bristol, and a native of Oneida county, New York. They have had seven children, as follows : Grace, (Mrs. E. C. Mechling, Chicago, Illinois) ; Homer, Myr tle, (Mrs. E. A. Anderson) ; Carrie May, (de ceased) ; Ervine, Mable, and Nathan B. Mr. Pont is giving his children the advantages of the best schools, knowing how he longed for such opportunities when he was a boy. At the time when he came to Nebraska, the prairies were open, and one might ride in any direction without meeting an obstructing fence. His first house was of upright boards and cost but one hundred and fifty dollars, but at one time he would have taken that amount for house, lands and all, just to get away. In common with other settlers, he suffered many hardships and misfortunes at first. Prairie fires and blizzards became mere incidents. For a long time, the only coffee they used was parched wheat and toasted bread grounds. "Indian flour," the whole un bolted wheat, was in general use in those days, being cheaper and more nourishing than the white flour. One of the first tasks Mr. Pont undertook on his land was to plant trees and orchards. He sometimes gathers now in a single season, three hundred and fifty bushels of apples, besides • a great amount of plums, apricots, pears and small fruit. Mr. Pont is an independent democrat in poli tics, and was formerly a Knight of Pythias. For seven years he was postmaster of a station estab lished at his house, known as Midland. He is one of the most respected citizens in Stanton county, and now, after the years of hardship and priva tion incident to a pioneer's life he is enjoying his well-earned ease with the satisfaction of seeing his children all well established or preparing themselves for the higher walks of life. On an other page will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Pont together with a view of their home. HON. JAMES T. BRADY. For over the past quarter of a century, the gentleman whose name heads this personal his tory has been a resident of Boone county, Ne braska, has aided materially in the development and growth of the agricultural section of the county, and is prominent in business, politics-, and in a social way. James T. Brady was born in Heyworth, Mc Lean county, Illinois, August 21, 1864, the third RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN PONT, BUILT IN 1892 TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HO.VIESTEAD. MR. AND MRS. BENJAMIN PONT. ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD OF BENJAMIN PONT, 1873. Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. 307 child of James and Catherine Brady, who had three sons and four daughters. Mr. Brady came to Boone county, Nebraska, with his parents, on March 4^ 1884, settling on the farm they had purchased northeast of Albion, and was actively connected with farm and stock interests in Boone county until 1899, when he came into Albion from the farm and embarked in his various business enterprises, being engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business in Albion, and having large and extensive business interests in Boone and adjoining counties in Ne braska. He is the owner of several fine farms in Boone county, and has other land interests in Nebraska. He is a successful man, enjoying the confidence of his business associates, as well as his many friends 'throughout the state. Mr. Brady is prominent in politics, being chairman of the democratic county committee. In the fall .of 1902, he was the nominee of the democratic party for the state senate, and was elected by a handsome vote, serving one term, be ing the leader of the minority in the upper house. He is a progressive man along all lines that look to the upbuilding of his home town, county, or state. On June 20, 1902, Mr. Brady was married to Miss Teressa Brown of Albion, Nebraska, who was one of the old settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Brady have a family of six children: Catherine, Thomas F. ; Alice ; Agnes and Albert, who are twins; and James T., junior. They are an excellent family and enjoy the respect and esteem of many friends, and reside in their modern residence in town. WILLIAM JACOBSEN. William Jacobsen is entitled to a foremost place among the farmers of Wayne county whose biographies are given in this work. He is a man of stability and integrity and has always taken an active part in promoting the general welfare of his community. He is a native of Holstein, Germany, born in 1878, and a son of August and Anna, Jacobsen. Mr. Jacobsen received a some what meager education in the public schools of his native land and left home when about twelve years of age, sailing from Hamburg to New York on the steamship "Columbus." The Jacobsen family started west and located in Omaha, where they spent several years, coming to Wayne county in 1892 and purchasing the farm now occupied by William on section twelve, township twenty-seven, range three. This place was formerly owned by F. Bishop and was partially improved. Mr. Jacobsen has made many more improve ments on the place and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. William Jacobsen is one of the younger farmers in the county and is progressive in his ideas and enterprising in his methods of carrying on his work. The place shows the result of hard work and thrifty management and is one of the pleasant homes of Wayne county. F. W. LEHMANN. P. W. Lehmann, a representative agricultural ist of Stanton county, is a substantial and re liable citizen and has won success through untir ing energy and industry in following his chosen work. He is one of the class of men whose econ omy and thrift have made possible the present prosperity of his state, as the basis of wealth there has been the farming population. It is important that the men who control farming interests should be men of sterling integrity and worth, and should work for their own advancement in a way that in sures the welfare of their locality, and such men were the early settlers of Nebraska. Mr. Lehmann was born in Wisconsin in 1850, and is a son of D. P. and Henrietta Lehmann, both natives of Brandenburg, Germany, who came to America in a sailing vessel and became early set tlers of Wisconsin. In 1869, they left that state and came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead and the father pur chased realty holdings from a fur trader. They made the journey to their new home with a team of oxen, the journey consuming seven weeks and four days. They spent several years in a log house which the father erected, and then built a com fortable frame house. During the early seventies, they were greatly troubled by the depredations of the grasshoppers, and often had to fight prairie fires, enduring the trials and privations incident to pioneer life. They were obliged to go as far as Columbus or Omaha to market. In 1880, F. W. Lehmann came to Stanton coun ty and purchased his present home. He had been reared on a farm, and received the educational advantages that could be given him at that time in Madison county. He was married in 1887 to Miss Martha Biehle, and they are the parents of eight children : Eles, Alma, Mary, Adolph, Hilda, Otto, Henry and Martin. Mrs. Lehmann 's father was one of the very early settlers of Stanton county, coming there from Wisconsin in 1867. He was a native of Ger many, and came to America at the age of twelve years, making the journey in a sailboat and land ing at New Orleans, whence he journeyed up the Mississippi to St. Louis. He was a shoemaker by trade and served some time in the civil war, being discharged from service in 1863 and returning to Wisconsin. Mrs. Lehmann was born in 1860, and was three years of age when her father came home from the war. In 1867, Mr. Biehle was in spired with enthusiasm for the opportunities of fered in the "golden west," and started there with his family from Watertown, Wisconsin, -making the journey with an ox team. They built a sod, house and later a log house with a sod roof. At first they had but one cow, and soon after they 308 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. were settled on their new home one ox died, leav ing but one and Mr. Biehle went to a place north of Norfolk and purchased a mate for it, so that he could cultivate his land, paying one hundred dollars for the animal. His children picked plums and he hauled them to Omaha to sell, thus secur ing the price of a plow. In the early days he had to go to Fort Calhoun to mill, and one time the trip consumed three weeks, when he went to mar ket. While the father was away, their provisions gave out and Mrs. Biehle made cakes of bran and milk, which she baked for her family. While they were living on this sort of fare an Indian went by and asked for something to eat, and Mrs. Biehle gave him some of her bran cakes, crying because she had nothing better to offer. The good-na tured Indian said the children could not live on such fare, and tried to help the family by bring ing them some wild duck eggs. By the time the father arrived home, three days later, his family had about given him up for lost. The trials of the early days were finally over and the family began to prosper and enjoy more of the comforts and conveniences of modern life. Mr. Lehmann as a boy participated in the work and hardship usual to a farmer 's boy of the times, and grew to robust manhood, a sturdy pioneer youth. His first purchase on his own account was of a right south of Norfolk Junction, and later he procured his present home, which is located on section eight, township twenty-three, range one, where he has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and made all possible improvements. FRANK J. MICHAEL. F. J. Michael, one of the old settlers of the re gion where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-two, township twenty-six, range eight, Antelope county, Nebraska. He has done his full share in improving his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Michael is a native of New York state, where he was born on May 16, 1867. His parents were German. His father, Ernest Michael, mar ried in Germany, Miss Dora Broker. Mr. Michael came with his parents to Antelope county, Nebraska, and located southeast of Oak dale, for one year. Then they took up a home stead southwest of Clearwater, built a dug out in which they lived for a few years, and then built a log house. Here the family experienced many vicissitudes and dangers, coming at a time when the country was in its wildest state. Many dan gers and hardships beset this handful of sturdy people who braved the unknown wilderness to seek their fortunes. Our subject's father went to Sioux City, and procured work to earn enough money to support his family, as at first it was hard to get a start when one had no money. At that time Columbus, Wisner and Yankton were the nearest market places, being seventy-five miles away. Mr. Michael was united in marriage in 1898 to Miss Minnie Shores. Mr. and Mrs. Michael have one child, John, a lad of thirteen years. Mr. Michael has spent nearly all his lifetime in the county in which he now resides, having lived here some forty years, since 1870, and has seen every phase and change of Nebraska life. His present place, which comprises two hundred acres, he has lived on since 1902. His childhood days were passed on the rolling prairies of un filled ground, when dangers of which he scarcely realized, beset the family; when hardships and many privations stared them in the face. But those days have passed into history, and our sub ject now enjoys a comfortable home and the per iod of modern civilization, and is happy in the possession of his home and family, and a wide circle of warm friends and acquaintances. HERMAN REHFELD. Herman Rehfeld, a successful and well known farmer of Pierce county, Nebraska, lives on sec tion twenty-three, township twenty-seven, range four, where he has spent nearly all his life, hav ing lived there thirty-one years. He has done his full share in the development of the agricultural interests of the community where he lives. Mr. Rehfeld was born August 14, 1876, in Stanton county, Nebraska, and in 1879, with his parents, came to Pierce county, Nebraska. His parents first built a sod house and planted twelve acres of trees, and later took up a timber claim. Our subject's father, a native of the province of Pommerania, Germany, was born in 1847, and died in 1880 ; the mother was born in 1846. They were married in 1870. Our subject, Herman Rehfeld, was married September 1, 1901, to Miss Anna Zeigfeld, born August 6, 1882. They have had two children born to them, whose names are Johanna and Al bert. Mrs. Rehfeld 's father, also a native of the province of Pommerania, Germany, served in the Prussian army from 1871 to 1873. He learned har ness-making in Germany and owned a shop of his own in Plainview. He sailed from Bremen, on the steamship "Wesar," and landed in Baltimore. He was married to Miss Mary Vosbeck, who was born in 1850. Our subject, Herman Rehfeld, is a member of the German Lutheran church, and votes the demo cratic ticket for the state, but in the county elec tions he votes for the man. JOHN I. HAGGERSTROM. John I. Haggerstrom, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Fairdale precinct, Howard county, comes of Swedish nativity, and is a wor thy representative of the best traits of his race COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 309 and blood. He is about the first settler in that portion of the county, and through strict attention to business, thrift and good management, has ac cumulated a large property and is widely and favorably known throughout the entire region. Mr. Haggerstrom is a native of Sweden, born August 25, 1855, and spent his boyhood in that country. He was married there in 1877, to Jo hanna Fredericka Vickstrom, and with their child, Hulda, came to America, arriving in Howard county, Nebraska, in August, 1879. Mrs. Hagger strom died while the family lived in Dannebrog, her death occurring April 13, 1880. Shortly after wards Mr. Haggerstrom went to Wyoming, where he remained for eight months, then return ed to Howard county, and in October, 1881, home steaded on section six, township sixteen, range ten. May 20th of the following year he was married to Annie Marie Lindberg, at St. Paul, the ceremony being performed by Judge Anderson, who also gave a fine wedding dinner in their honor, the oc casion being one of the well remembered social events of those days. Our subject has been most successful in his dif ferent enterprises, principally carrying on a stock and grain business, and he has added to his orig inal homestead until he now owns eight hundred acres of fine land in this county, as well as a quar ter section in Greeley county. The father and mother of our subject both died in Sweden, and John I. was the second child in their family of four. He was early taught to do all sorts of hard work, and never had the advan tages of education, as he was- early obliged to go out to work, in order to help support the family, but by experience and observation he has become possessed of a good business education, is well- read and keeps abreast of the times in all current matters in the state and national affairs. Mrs. Haggerstrom 's father, Matthew Lindberg, was born in Sweden, and came to America in 1884, after which time he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Haggerstrom until his death, December 13, 1909, aged eighty-three years and six months. Mrs. Lindberg died in Sweden in 1858. Mr. Haggerstrom 's family consists of the fol lowing children: Hulda, the only child of Mr. Haggerstrom 's first marriage, wife of Gus Dahl- berg, living on a farm adjoining our subject; Dag- ny, who is the wife of Arthur Larson, also living in Howard county; Albin, married and living on a farm near his father, as does Oscar and his fam ily, while Ellen and Gust, the youngest children, live at home. All are bright and intelligent young people, filling honorable places in the com munity. Lillie, the last child born, died June 1, 1892, aged two months. HANS L. CLEMENT, JUNIOR. Hans L. Clement, one of the successful young farmers of Valley county, Nebraska, is a son of an early pioneer in eastern Nebraska. Mr. Cle ment resides on the old homestead in section twelve, township twenty, range fourteen, with whom the venerable father, Hans Clement, senior, makes his home. Hans Clement, senior, was born in Denmark, August 24, 1826, where he received his education and grew to manhood. On October 10, 1853, he was married to Serena Maria Christensen, to whom six children were born; Ludwig, Anna, wife of William Mellerup ; Frederick, deceased ; Mary, now Mrs. Merzel Goodrick, of Ord; Laura, who married F. E. Thorn, and Hans. In 1879 Mr. Clement, the elder, came with his family to the United States. They first settled in Iowa, remaining until the spring of 1883, when they came to Valley county, Nebraska, by "prairie schooner," Anna alone of the family remaining at Iowa. The father homesteaded the northeast nuarter of section twelve, township twenty, range fourteen, where he still resides with his son Hans. Mother Clement died on the home farm in 1898. All the children live in Nebraska, except Louis and Anna, who live in California. Mr. Clement and family are to be classed with the old settlers . of Nebraska, and are one of the pioneer families that still hold the old homestead farm. Hans L. Clement, junior, was born in the vil lage of Lundsgord, province of Schleswig, Ger many, May 11, 1868, and is the youngest of six children in the family of Hans and Serena (Chris tensen) Clement. Mr. Clement came with his father and family to the United States in 1879. Coming to Valley county in the spring of 1883, the elder Clement rented two years and then filed on a homestead about 1885, on which the son now resides. Mr. Clement was married in Ord, December 17, 1898, to Miss Elvene Fogt, a native of Wis consin, a daughter of John Fogt, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Valley county. Mr. and Mrs. Clement are tbe parents of three children, namely: 01gav, Othellie, and Lee. Mr. Clement has always been active along all lines for the advancement of his home county and state, and has served as township clerk of Noble township for a number of years. He is a young man who has made a success of farming and stock-raising, having about eight hundred acres of Valley county land. He is an independ ent in politics and a memeber of the Order of Ben Hur. The Clement family, like most pioneers of Ne braska, lived for a time in a sod house, their first frame dwelling being constructed about 1888. Deer were still to be seen on the open prairies, three of which Fred Clement brought down with his rifle to supply the family with fresh meat. ANTON HUEBNER. Anton Huebner, formerly a citizen of Madison county, Nebraska, and one pf the best and most 310 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. substantial residents of the locality, is the owner of "a valuable estate in section one, township twenty-four, range two, and until his removal to Hadar, Pierce county, was surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances, who greatly regret his removal from the country. Mr. Huebner is a native Nebraskan, his birth occurring August 20, 1869, and he is a son of August J. and Louisa (Conrad) Huebner, both natives of Germany. The father came with his parents to America when he was but four years old, they embarking on a sailboat and were on the water seven weeks. After landing in the United States, the family went to Wisconsin, where they lived for three years. In 1866 our subject's father, with a colony who had forty-seven wagons and ox teams to haul them, came to Nebraska and settled north of Hadar, Pierce county; they were the first white men to settle in that part of Nebraska. The col ony was eight weeks on the road, having to stop on their journey and build bridges before they could cross the rivers. Our subject's father lived in Pierce county three years before its organization, when it was in its wildest and most unsettled state. When he took up his homestead, he first built a log house, which remained the family residence for thirty- nine years. The first winter he lived in this coun try, thirty-one head of buffalo wintered north of his homestead, and deer and antelope were also plentiful in those days.' Our subject, with his father, helped many times to fight prairie fires on the western frontier, and on many occasions they barely escaped with their lives. The grass hoppers were a great source of anxiety in the early seventies, destroying the entire crops of their locality for several seasons, leaving nothing but bare ground where a short time before were growing fine and promising crops. In the mem orable blizzard of 1888, our subject's father lost considerable stock. All these losses and dangers made it very hard for the new settler on the west ern frontier,, but were braved by those sturdy sons, who were later enabled to enjoy in peace and comfort the success they so richly deserved.. In 1893, Mr. Huebner, our subject, came to Madison county, Nebraska, taking up a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section one, township twenty-four, range two : on this land Mr. Huebner has a fine residence and five thousand trees. He is well liked in this community, as a man always ready to do all in his power to further the best interests of his county and state. Mr. Huebner was united in marriage Decem ber 11, 1893, to Miss Annie Sanne, a native of Germany, and Mr. and Mrs. Huebner are the pa rents of nine children, a fine family: Hattie, Etta. Tillie. Emma, Mabel, Rosa, Henry, Reuben, and Royal. Mr. and Mrs. Huebner and family enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. They are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Huebner is a democrat. HENRY SCHILLING. Henry Schilling is one of the leading citizens of Greeley county, and there he is respected alike for his industry, ability and native force of char acter. Never afraid of hard work, he has en dured the toil of the early days, and now in his old age has retired from active management of his large estate and is enjoying life in his beauti ful and comfortable home just outside the limits of the city of Scotia. Mr. Schilling was born near Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, on the 17th of March, 1848. He was the third of seven children born to John and Hannah (Heiser) Schilling. The parents were of German birth, but both had come to this country in their early years and lived to enjoy the fruits of their early toil. The father died in 1895, having nearly attained the allotted span of life, seventy years, but the mother remained hale and vigorous until February 23, 1904, when she passed away at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Out of their large family, only three re main, the subject of our sketch, and two brothers who reside in Indiana. Mr. Schilling grew to manhood in Illinois, and received his education in the common schools of that state. After attaining his majority he engaged in farming. On May 5, 1870, Mr. Schilling was united in marriage to Miss Sophia J. D. Meyer, a native of Hanover, Germany. Ten years later, Mr. Schil ling and his little family went to Lake county, Indiana, and he farmed there for two years. At the expiration • of this time, he decided that the chances of ultimate success were better in a newer country, where his children might have the op portunity of growing up with the country. Ac cordingly, in the spring of 1882, he, with his wife and three children, came to Greeley county, Ne braska, where he purchased a quarter-section of land in section thirty-one, township eighteen, range eleven, from the B. & M. railroad. This place was the home of the family for a number of years, during which they all labored for the good of all. One improvement after an other was put on the farm or its buildings, until everything was made as comfortable as possible. Then in 1900 Mr. Schilling purchased seventy- two acres joining the city limits of Scotia and built a fine house, where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Schilling have had five children born to them, four of whom are still living. They are named as follows: Edward F., who died in infancy ; Sarah A. L., now the wife of Luther COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 311 Pope, of Scotia; John H., now married and liv ing on the old homestead; Louie F., married and living in Greeley county, across the road from the old home place; and Matilda G., still at home. Mr. Schilling takes his place with the repub lican party in politics, and can be depended upon to take an intelligent part in the affairs of the community, in the development of, which he has taken so prominent a part. At the present time he owns four hundred acres of land or more, all of the land being well improved. It is in every way an up-to-date stock and grain farm. During the dry year, 1894, nothing matured on the place and two or three times hail destroyed all his crops. He barely escaped the furious bliz zard of January 12, 1888, having just returned home and was unharnessing his horses in the barn when the storm struck. By means of trees along the way to the school house he made his way there and brought his children safely home. This was the worst storm he ever en countered. EDWARD B. HIRSCHMAN. Edward B. Hirschman, the genial treasurer of Cedar county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that political division since October 22, 1872. He is a son of Franz and Thekla (Dawat) Hirschman, natives of Austria, of whom we speak more at length elsewhere in this work. Edward B. Hirschman was born in Juneau county, Wisconsin, August 5, 1866. He was a lad of six years when the family moved from the Badger state to the trans-Missouri country, and fully enjoyed with a boy's eagerness the novel ex periences incident to camp life on a long trail. He grew up on the Nebraska farm in the beau tiful valley of East Bow, attending the early pub lic schools, which at that time were conceded to be the best organized in the state. After attain ing his majority he attended, in 1888, the Omaha Commercial college and graduated in the business course. In 1892 Mr. Hirschman, with his brother as a partner, opened his first store in Hartington and in 1896 sold his interests to his brother. In the same year he opened a general merchandise store in Osmond which he disposed of four years later ; he continued in business with a hardware line in Hartington until January 1, 1909, when he retired. In the spring of that year his party nominated him for treasurer of Cedar county, to which office he was elected in November, taking charge of the office January 6, 1910. Mr. Hirschman is a capable, efficient business man and conducts his office with the same economy and attention that he gave to his private enterprise. Sterling hon esty, that is his by birth and training, is the safe-guard between the people's money and the public, preventing its unwarranted dissipation. Mr. Hirschman was married in Hartington, February 17, 1903, to Miss Catharine Lorang, a native of Cedar county; her parents, John and Margaret Lorang, are natives of Luxemburg, who came to America with the early settlers of Nebraska, and to Cedar county about 1872. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hirsch man, namely: Franz E., Clara L., Leone O, and Laura. Mr. Hirschman has lived in Nebraska through three of its most notable blizzards : those of April, 1873, October of 1880, and January of 1888 ; dur ing the latter of which he was in Omaha attend ing business college. Prairie fires wrought dis asters to the early settlers before much of the land had been plowed, and swept down across the prairies at greater speed than the fleetest horse; to divert disasters by these fires, Mr. Hirschman with his brothers often fought the progress of the flames sometimes for days at a time. Deer were still to be seen on the prairies when the Hirschman family settled in East Bow, and Edward Hirschman when a boy has chased them on horseback. Mr. Hirschman has witnessed the development of the country from open, rqlling prairies covered with waving grasses, to a highly cultivated, thick ly settled, prosperous community covered with groves and thickly studded with finely built and elegantly furnished farm houses, granaries and barns. Mr. Hirschman is a democrat from boyhood; he is a member of the Catholic church, and of the two church societies, the Catholic Knights of America and the Knights of Columbus. ABRAM P. BEMAN. In compiling a list of the pioneers of eastern Nebraska who have aided materially in making of that region a thriving agricultural district, a prominent place must be accorded the vener able gentleman whose name heads this personal history. For fifty-four years Mr. Beman has been closely identified with the history and de velopment of eastern Nebraska, and for the past forty-two years with that of Merrick county, and his labors to this end are well known to all who reside in that community. Abram P. Beman, son of George W. and Jane (Greer) Beman, was born in Franklin county, New York, May 7, 1834, and was third of six children ; one brother of whom resides in New York state, one in Cripple Creek. Colorado, one sister in Maywood, Illinois, one in Leadville, Colo rado, and another in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. His parents are deceased, having died in New York state. Our sub.iect received his education in his home schools, and later clerked two years in" 312 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Chateaugay, New York, and in 1852 went into Wisconsin where he followed railroading. On September 30, 1855, Mr. Beman was joined in matrimony to Miss Esther A. Lamb, a native of New York state and later of Wisconsin. Mrs. Beman 's parents, Squire S. and Caroline (Starks) Lamb, were pioneers in Hall county, Nebraska, living there until the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Beman have had ten children born to them, eight of whom are living: Carrie E., de ceased in infancy; Florence, wife of John 0. Jackson, has three children and lives in Mason City, Nebraska ; Nathan, married, has four chil dren and lives in Merrick county; Cora, wife of Oscar Smith, has four children and lives in Ord, Nebraska; John, married, has seven children and lives in Merrick county; Carrie, wife of William Kuhlmann, has four children, lives in Merrick county; Lily, wife of Frank Buell, has five chil dren and resides in Chapman; Albert, deceased; Mary, wife of Fred Miller, lives in Aurora, Illi nois ; and Maud, wife of Hugh McAlister, has two children and resides near Mason City, Nebraska. In March of 1857, Mr. Beman moved to Platte county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hun dred and sixty acres, living on same five years, when he sold and moved into Hall county, Ne braska, where he farmed several years; and then came into Merrick county in the spring of 1869, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in sections thirty-five, twenty-six, twenty- seven and thirty-four, township twelve, range eight, west, which has remained the home place since that time. Mr. Beman has been prosperous and success ful and owns five hundred and sixteen acres of fine stock farm. He has served as director of his school district, number two, twenty-one years. He is one of Nebraska's earliest settlers and is widely and favorably known. AMENZO T. REID. In making mention of the sturdy men who came to the west in the early days of its settle ment when the open prairie extended untold miles toward the Pacific ocean, the name of Amenzo T. Reid must not be left off the list. He arrived in Nebraska during the last days of 1878, remain ing through droughts, blizzards, floods, etc., until he has seen the country grow to its present pros perity, and knows that he has, in a large measure, been responsible for this development. Mr. Reid was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on December 17. 1848, and is a son of Andrew and Julia Reid, both natives of the state of New York, they coming west in the forties, making Wisconsin their home up to 1855, at which time they returned to their native state, where they passed away several years since, Tn the fall of 1857, Amenzo went to Adrian, Michigan, to at tend college, but having a stronger liking for ac tive labor than for books, he ran away from school and made his way to the big woods near Saginaw, Michigan, where he spent the winter in the lumber camps. In the spring of 1868, he felt the lure of the west and migrated to Black Hawk county, Iowa, making that his home for eight years, engaging in farming part of the time, and for two summers working at bridge building on the railroad. Late in 1875 he married Miss Achsa Bowen, a native of Schoharrie county, New York, born September 30, 1852, and then returned to New York, spending one year at his old home near Corfu, coming back to Black Hawk county, and farming for three years on rented land belonging to Mrs. Reid's grandfather. In December, 1878, they came to Niobrara, where Mr. Reid establish ed and operated a dray line up to 1908, at that time selling the business and retiring from active labor. Since that time, with the assistance of his son, Leroy, he has farmed the "Island" in the Niobrara river west of the town. During the early years, Mr. Reid freighted across the plains, going to Fort Randall and other points, and he has experienced all the discomforts and dis couragements of pioneer life. Foremost among the pioneer experiences that have impressed them selves on the mind of his family, is the great flood of 1881. The house they occupied at that time was built on low ground, and the water soon covered the floors. Mr. Reid took his children to a two-story house, and his wife, in going from their house to a place of safety, stepped off a board and slipped in the icy water, which was nearly to her waist, but a friendly neighbor helped them into his house and supplied her with dry clothes. The following day they were ferried to the hills and remained for several days in the home of a friend, Mr. Draper, who gave shelter to sixty-four people, one night twenty-one women and children occupying one small room. The farmers in the surrounding country came and offered the homeless people shelter until they could return to the town, and for three weeks Mrs. Reid and the children availed themselves of their hospitality. Their return to their home was just twenty-three days from the time they were driven out by the waters. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reid, five of whom survive, as follows: William E., Leroy H., Florence Bell, Gertrude E., and Karla May. They are a charming family, and their home is one of the pleasant spots in their community. Mr. Reid is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Politically he affiliates with the demo cratic party. ^mf; :/f. ¦< -^ '¦'.'. \. \ \ I -mlm I MBSk «B ¦¦ \ \ \ \ Jffraj^^B Bi f M%M '¦ --¦ ¦-1-' : ¦ 1 \ \ X. % \ ' 5 ^l| . • ¦' '¦ ¦ ¦ ||P i'."w;i,v. ' „ HENRY STUCKENHOFF. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 313 HENRY STUCKENHOFF. The builder has always played a prominent part in the upbuilding of a thickly settled com munity, and Mr. Stuckenhoff has been identified with most of the prominent buildings erected within a radius of forty miles of his established home. He is a native of the village of Halingen, county of Iserlohn, Westphalia, Prussia, his birth occurring January 27, 1862. He is a son of Henry and Theresa (Kissing) Stuckenhoff. The father died in 1875, and the mother in 1882, be fore Mr. Stuckenhoff came to America. At the age of fourteen our subject was appren ticed to a carpenter in Dortmund, and when sev enteen became a journeyman in his trade; from that time until the age of twenty-one he attended the trade and building school at Holzmunden. In his emigration to the states he sailed from Antwerp June 23, 1883, on the "Penland," a steamer carrying six hundred passengers. Land ing in New York the seventh of July, he came im mediately to Yankton by rail, joining Father Sehoof, a native of the same village, in St. Helena. Three others later came from Halingen, and none have since deserted their native village for the new world. Mr. Stuckenhoff was first married in St. Helena, January 26, 1886, to Miss Annie Strat- man, who was born in St. Helena; she died June 21, 1889, survived by her husband and two chil dren : Theresa, and Alphonso. A portrait of Mr. Stuckenhoff appears on another page of this volume. Upon coming to America, Mr. Stuckenhoff found work at his trade for a few months, then on October 5, came to Hartington, and has made this town his dwelling place since. For a time he worked on the contracts awarded to Robert Stir ling, . and then in 1884 began contracting and building on his own account. Among the many contracts he has successfully handled are the first store builidng in Hartington, the twenty thousand dollar Catholic church at St. Helena in 1895, the sub-contract for the woodwork of the court house in Hartington, in 1892, the thirty- five thousand dollar church at Bow. Valley, in 1902, the large Catholic church at Hartington in 1903, in 1907 the eight thousand dollar church at Fordyce, and two years later their four thous and dollar school house; in 1910 he erected sev eral fine residences in Hartington. Except seven years on a farm, and one year operating the Par agon mill, Mr. Stuckenhoff has made his residence in Hartington since first coming in 1883. Mr. Stuckenhoff was married a second time, his bride being Miss Paula Kaltenbach who em igrated from Westphalia, Germany; she was a daughter of Frederick and Caroline (Ernst) Kal tenbach. She sailed from the old country in the "Umbria," and reached Hartington six days be- 11% fore her wedding to Mr. Stuckenhoff. Mrs. Stuckenhoff died April 26, 1903, survived and deeply mourned by her husband and children. Of their seven children, three survive: Annie, Elizabeth, and Harry. Mr. Stuckenhoff and family are members of the Catholic church, and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America; in politics he is a democrat. As a builder Mr. Stuckenhoff ranks high, and no one in the community is better able to handle a large contract than he, nor can any finish the fine inside work of the larger first-class buildings in any better manner than he. His field of activ ity extends over Dixon, Cedar, and Knox coun ties. His work speaks for him, and speaks fa vorably and well. BENJAMIN F. SMITH. Benjamin F. Smith is one of the successful self-made business men of Belgrade. He is prob ably as well known as any resident of Nance county, having made Belgrade his home for the past eighteen years, and prior to that time was a homesteader and early settler in Boone county, where he developed a fine farm and passed through pioneer experiences. Our subject was born on May 10, 1855, in Delaware county, Iowa, and was the youngest in a family of four children born to Manasah and Mary Ann Smith, the "mother's death occurring when Benjamin was but two years of age. Some time afterwards the father remarried, and of his second union eight children were born, he dying in Kansas where the family had settled, about 1877. Our subject is the only living member of the original Smith family, while three half brothers and the same number of half sisters are now living. Mr. Smith left Delaware county with his father and family in 1867, going to Linn county, Kan sas, where they resided for ten years. His educa tion was obtained in the common schools of that section, and at the age of twenty-two years he re moved to Linn county, Iowa, remaining there for one year, then came to Boone county, Ne braska. He landed in that region in the spring of 1878, took up a homestead and farmed there for about fifteen years, also engaged in stock raising, and succeeded in accumulating consid erable property. In the fall of 1893 Mr. Smith came into Nance county, locating in Belgrade. He established a general merchandise business and built up a fine trade throughout the surrounding country. He erected a fine two-story building of modern style, and carried a complete stock of goods, having the largest store of the kind in that section of Ne braska. In 1910 he sold his business, since which time he has been looking after his farming in- 314 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. terests. He is also vice president of the Bank of Belgrade. He has been prosperous and is pro gressive in his method of operating his business, gaining the highest esteem of all by his fair dealings and straightforward business principles. On December 25, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Rebecca E. Delancey, in Boone coun ty, at the home of her parents, James S. and Elizabeth Delancey, who were among the early settlers in that region. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. THOMAS J. WILBURN. One of the natives of the great "prairie state" to come to the trans-Missouri region and win a competency by his own efforts and far-sighted enterprise may be mentioned Thomas J. Wilburn, a well known ranchman, whose home is at At kinson, Nebraska. His birth occurred twelve miles west of Springfield, Sangamon county, Illinois, January 29, 1847. His father, Robert Wilburn, was a native of Kentucky, and came to Sangamon county as a young man. After living there many years he moved to Cass county, Ne braska, where he died at the age of sixty-three years. Robert Wilburn 's wife, whose maiden name was Sinia Henderson, is a native of Vir ginia, and is now a resident of Omaha, having reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Mr. Wilburn was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln and also well acquainted with other prominent public men of the day. As a boy, T. J. Wilburn attended the public schools of Sangamon county and he lived there until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1870 he came to Nebraska and bought a five hundred acre farm between Greenwood and Ashland, where he lived until 1902, and in that year took a house in Lincoln. The capital city was his home for five years, while his sons took a course in the state university, and in 1907 he purchased a ranch of eleven hundred and twenty acres of land five miles north and two miles east of Atkinson. He resides in his town house, and from this point looks after his ranch interests. Part of this land is devoted to farming, and in 1910 he raised one hundred acres of wheat. Mr. Wilburn was married in Cass county, Nebraska, January 29, 1880, to Miss Lona Chapin, a native of Rock Bluff, Nebraska, and so far as is known the first white child born there. Her father, William F. Chapin, was one of the earliest pioneers of the state and became one of its most prominent men. He was born in Oneida county, New York, and came to Nebraska in 1854, settling in Cass county, where he soon became a leader in political affairs. He had been admitted to the bar in New York state and opened an office in his new home, but for lack of practice during the first year taught school at Plattsmouth and Rock Bluff. He represented his district in the legisla ture for many years and was speaker of that body when the capital was moved to Lincoln, from Omaha. He served five or six years as receiver of the United States land office at Lincoln, and during one campaign lacked but one vote of the nomination for the office of governor. Before the land was all taken up in Saunders county, he secured a homestead there, and upon retiring from the office mentioned above located at Grand Island, where he died in the prime of life, being but fifty-three years old. His widow, whose maid en name was Margaret J. Young, was of an old Missouri family that came to Nebraska in 1852, and she attained the age of sixty years, passing away at Marquette, Nebraska. Three children were born to Mr. Wilburn and wife, namely : Carlton, Vernon and Lona. Carl ton Wilburn, a graduate of Nebraska state uni versity, is a successful business man of Twin Falls, Idaho, where he is a prominent citizen and a leading factor in the North Side Land Company there. Vernon Wilburn is a graduate of the Ashland high school, took a two-year course in the state university and then took charge of the ranch of Atkinson, delighting in the out-door life, in the general work on the ranch, in the stock and the business management of the large estate, and is making a success of his work. Lona, who took a course in the Lincoln Conservatory of Music, is one of the best teachers of the art in her part of Nebraska. In early days Mr. Wilburn and his father had several very unpleasant experiences with floods, blizzards, hail storms and other storms. In the severe blizzard of April, 1873, a hundred head of cattle that were feeding on a point of land in the bend of a stream broke away and scattered so widely over the country roundabout that it took three weeks to gather them all in, some of them being twenty miles distant. The winter of 1880-81 was most disastrous to them. From the time of the three days' blizzard in October, before the corn had all been gathered in, the weather was such that it could not be brought in before the flood of the following March, and they were com pelled to stand by helplessly and watch three thousand bushels of corn float away on the turbid waters of the Platte river. Hundreds of settlers along the stream suffered a similar loss in that season. Mr. Wilburn was in Omaha at the time of the three days' blizzard and was unable to re turn home until it had abated. Owing to the heavy timber on the Wilburn farm the blizzard of January 12, 1888, was not so severe there as on the prairie farther west. Mr. Wilburn went into the timber a mile from home to see that the cattle there were supplied COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 315 with hay, and experienced no more discomfort than in many storms both before and since. In the early seventies, deer and antelope were plentiful and at times ran through the door yard or ate corn out of the fields, being seen in that part of the country for some time after the fam ily settled there, though not so often. During Mrs. Wilburn 's girlhood the Indians were restless and occasionally gave the settlers much uneasiness, but were never hostile in southeastern Nebraska. To some extent grasshoppers devastated the crops for several years, during the two years of their worst depredations leaving no grain what ever in the settlers' fields. During one of these years Mr. Wilburn had just finished heading his wheat and during the same day they appeared, destroying everything else. They were some times six feet deep in the railroad cuts and even stopped and delayed the trains. It took a large amount of courage and fortitude, coupled with a faith in the future, to remain in the west during these hard times, but those who persevered in see ing the thing through have prospered to an al most unbelievable degree. The west has been kind indeed to those who learned to understand her needs and moods, and found the strength (both moral and physical) to remain, and the en terprise and ambition to do what was necessary to do what their hands have found to do on the broad and generous prairies. However, it has been necessary to study the conditions prevailing and devote the land to the kind of agriculture or stock growing best adapted to soil and surround ings. BENTON COTTERMAN. Benton Cotterman, one of the leading men in public affairs of Boone county, is at the present time acceptably filling the position of postmaster of Petersburg, which he has held for nearly fifteen years. He is a man of wide experience in various lines of business, and has been highly suc cessful in the different enterprises with which he has been connected. He and his family have a very pleasant home, and enjoy a large circle of friends in and about Petersburg. Mr. Cotterman was born August 18, 1839, in Montgomery county, Ohio, the second of six chil dren resulting from the union of Elias and Mary A. Cotterman, three of this family now residing in Nebraska. The father died at the age of eighty-eight years, in August, 1896, the mother having passed away in 1875. Benton was edu cated in his home state, and learned the painters ' trade as a boy. He enlisted in Company B, Sec ond Ohio Regiment of Infantry, in August, 1861, serving for over three years, receiving honorable discharge in October, 1864. During his service he took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Mis sionary Ridge, Stone River, and many minor en gagements. After the war Mr. Cotterman returned to Ohio and engaged in farming. He was married there on October 12, 1866, to Miss Lena Mayer, of Ohio making that state their home for the following eleven years, at which time he came to Nebraska with his wife and two sons, locating in Boone county, and homesteading on section eighteen, township twenty-two, range six. This was their home place up to 1895, when Mr. Cotterman re tired from active farm work and moved to Petersburg, purchasing a good home, and ran a hotel there for about six years. In 1897 he had been appointed postmaster, and has held the po sition continuously until the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Cotterman have had two chil dren : Charles M., married and living in the Phil ippines, holding the position of director of posts under the United States government, has two children; and one son, Howard, died in Boone county, in March, 1891. The Cotterman family is one of the foremost of the pioneers in Boone county, and have done much to advance the gen eral welfare of that region in a social, educational and commercial way. GUSTAV REHMUS. Gustav Rehmus, a prominent farmer and stockman living on section twenty-six, township twenty-five, range two, of Wayne county, Ne braska, is \ well known throughout his region as a progressive farmer, and has a wide circle of friends. Mr. Rehmus was born in western Prussia, December 30, 1849, and is a son of John and Anna Rehmus, who spent their whole lives in Germany. In youth, Mr. Rehmus served in the German army, and in 1869 took part in the Franco-Prus sian war. He received the benefit of a common school education. Being a young man of ambi tion and energy, he desired to become the owner of land where he could establish a home, and in 1880 he left his native land for the new world. He came from Hamburg to New York on the steamship "Kimbery, " and shortly afterward removed to Chicago, where he worked one year. In 1881, Mr. Rehmus came to Nebraska, where he knew he could purchase a farm for little money, and then purchased the Smith homestead, where he now lives. This land had no improve ments and he has added to the value and appear ance of the place as he was able to do so, until he now owns a very comfortable home and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. He carries on his work in a manner to insure the best results from the soil with which he has to deal, and engages in mixed farming, paying con siderable attention to stock raising. He has 316 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. planted and cared for a grove of six acres of shade and fruit trees, which are a source of much pleasure to his family. In 1891, Mr. Rehmus was united in marriage with Mrs. Tillie Kent, and two children have blessed this union, namely, Tillie and Helen. Til lie died when about fourteen years old. Mrs. Rehmus was born in Prussia, a daughter of Wil liam Huffman. Mrs. Rehmus came to the United States in 1891. Both Mr. Rehmus and his wife are well known throughout the county. W. KLENTZ. W. Klentz is one of the older settlers of Stan ton county and has taken a foremost place in the development and advancement of the region in which he resided so long. He has a most com fortable home on section twelve, township twenty- three, range one, and has made all possible im provements on his land, having modern machin ery and appliances, and carried on his work ac cording to modern methods and ideas, until his removal to Norfolk, Nebraska. He is a native of Germany, born in 1856, and a son of Carl and Christina Klentz, who brought him to America when about three years of age. The family spent nine weeks on the ocean, and soon after landing, located in Wisconsin, where they remained for three years, and in 1870 came to Madison county, Nebraska, bringing their be longings with an ox team and wagon. The father took up a homestead and erected a log house, upon which he placed a sod roof. For a long time they were obliged to go to West Point or Columbus for a market to sell their produce and buy supplies, and they suffered the havoc wrought by hordes of grasshoppers, which literally ate up their crops. However, after the lapse of a few years, things were easier and the outlook brighter, so that they were able to look ahead with the assurance that they would win prosperity and the enjoyment of the fruits of their hard labor. W. Klentz came to Stanton county in 1885, and purchased his present estate on section eight een, township twenty-three, range one, where he now has every improvement that is possible. He has a fine orchard and grove, the result of great care and much hard work, and engages in general farming and raises considerable stock. His land is well located and is well adapted for raising grain, and he is an able and ambitious farmer, knowing well the possibilities of the Nebraska soil and fully understanding conditions in his region,, as most of his life has been spent there and he was reared to agricultural occupations. He has won good standing in the community, where he is counted a man of stability and integrity, and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Klentz was married in 1886 to Miss Emma Sinchler, and they are parents of two children, Ernest and Emma, now Mrs. Albert Mechmiller. Mrs. Klentz was born on shipboard, while crossing the Atlantic ocean, of German parents. NELS NELSON. Nels Nelson, a successful and prominent farm er of Antelope county, Nebraska, resides in Craw ford precinct, and is one of those substantial citi zens whose integrity, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska as a state. Mr. Nelson was born January 15, 1870, in the village of Saxkjobing, Loland, Denmark, where he was reared on a farm. His father, Christ Nel son, was born in 1842 and died in Denmark in 1909. He was a laborer in his native region, serving his country as a soldier for three years, and was married to Marie Hanson, who like her husband, lived and died in her native country. In 1889 the brothers, Nels and Peter, left Den mark, embarking in a sailing vessel from Copen hagen for Hull, and after crossing England by rail, took passage at Liverpool for America. Their landing place was at Quebec, and from there came by way of Chicago, to Plainview, Ne braska. For three years after landing here they worked out by the month, then located on rented farms in Antelope county, saving every dollar they possibly could from their earnings. In 1 900, Nels bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land from F. E. Green comprising the northeast quarter of section twenty-seven, township tweny-seven, north, range five, west, and began to improve it in a most substantial way. This land had no improvements whatever at the time of purchase, but Mr. Nelson soon erected a large house, and in 1902, built a commodious barn, to which he has added from time to time other necessary buildings as his prosperity permitted, so that at the present time his farm is well equip ped With everything needed in the way of sheds, fences, etc. Mr. Nelson was joined in holy matrimony Sep tember 7, 1898, to Miss Minnis Rasmussen, a na tive of Chicago, her parents, Rasmus and Stina (Peterson) Rasmussen, natives of Denmark, hav ing come from the village of Moen to America, settling in .South Chicago, Illinois, where the father was engaged as track foreman in a rail mill. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of six children, all of whom are living, named as fol lows: Agnes, Edward, Ida, Harold, Walter and Albert. Mr. Nelson is a democrat in political views, and a Lutheran in religious belief, and, with his family, is highly respected in his community by all who know them. WILSON HALL. As a citizen of integrity and worth, and a man of industrious and energetic character, Wilson Hall is well known to the people of Pierce COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 317 county, Nebraska. Mr. Hall is counted among the oldest settlers, coming to Pierce county in March, 1871, before there was a house standing in the town, the town site having been established the fall before. He rented land on which he farmed for a year, and then filed on a homestead south of town. Later he proved up on a timber claim, of which he owns eighty acres, having sold half of this and the homestead. In 1879 or 1880 he moved to Pierce, where he has resided since. Mr. Hall is a native of Lycoming county, Penn sylvania, born May 26, 1846, and when a boy of seventeen, enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Pennslyvania Infantry, serving until the close of the war. -He saw active service around Peters burg, was in pursuit of Lee, and was present at the surrender. He was detailed for duty at Ar lington Heights the day of the Grand Review, was mustered out there in July, and received his dis charge at Philadelphia. On returning home, he farmed in Pennsylvania until coming west in the spring of 1871, when he came by rail to Sioux City, Iowa, and thence across country by wagon to Pierce. The wild, open country of the plains was in strong contrast with the old and well established portions of Pennsylvania, whence he came. There were but few settlers between Sioux City and Pierce, and fewer beyond, all being open country, where fences were almost unknown. Mr. Hall was born on May 26, 1846, and is the son of James and Martha (Reeder) Hall, the for mer's ancestors coming from Scotland long prior to the revolutionary war. The Reeders were Quakers, whose forefathers came with William Penn, founder of the colony. Our subject was married August 20, 1866, in Muncie, Pennsylvania, to Mary E. Wilson, daugh ter of Seth and Susan (Gortner) Wilson, of Eng lish and German descent," and both of old colonial families. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall, whose names follow: Ida, wife of Prank Sherman, of Gordon, Nebraska; Robert, the first of the family born in Nebraska, lives at Glenn Ne braska; Carrie, a teacher of Pierce; Marion, of Pierce ; Bud E., resident of Pierce ; Eva, wife of Schuyler Durfy, a merchant of Pierce ; Harry, de ceased; Burtis W, now in western Nebraska, and Louis, of Pierce City. Mr. Hall is a democrat, and has been honored by his party with one term as county judge. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Like so many of the early settlers, Mr. Hall well remembers the discouraging incidents con nected with those early times. They endured three raids of grasshoppers, losing every spear of crops each year, even tobacco plants, which were consumed to the ground. He also passed through the blizzards, as well as prairie fires, in which he lost no stock. Mr. Hall has always taken an active interest in his locality, and aided every movement for the betterment of conditions in his community. OLE NIELSEN. Another well known member of the farming community of Howard county, Nebraska, is found in the person of Ole Nielsen, who landed in this region in the summer of 1872, accompanying a party of Danish homeseekers from the east, in cluding his brother, Niels Nielsen, whose sketch also appears in this book. During his residence here, Mr. Nielsen has met with some financial dis couragements, but in the main has prospered, and is now classed among the wealthy and suc cessful men of his locality. This gentleman is a native of Denmark, born on February 17, 1847. Both parents, Niels and Stine Nielsen are now dead, they having resided in Howard county during the pioneer years here, Ole making a trip back to the old country in 1873 for the purpose of bringing his parents and brother, Martin, over, their sister Annie, following two years later. Our subject himself came to the United States in 1868, locating at first in Waukes ha county, Wisconsin, where he was with a cousin, remaining for about one year. He drifted around in different parts of the country for three years, working through Iowa in 1869, while in the em ploy of the Burlington & Missouri railway. Dur ing the winter of 1869, and from then up to the time he came to Nebraska, he was employed in the southern states along the Mississippi river. He finally settled on a homestead on section thirty, township fourteen, range eleven, Howard county, and proved up on the land. He was a member of the Danish colony which was organized in Wiscon sin, and was originally founded by special ar rangement with the Union Pacific railway. He came into the country from Burlington, Iowa, with his brother Niels Nielsen, and two others, making the trip by wagon, and they were about the very first settlers in the vicinity of Danne brog, starting as all pioneers did, their dwelling being a rough dugout, in which they lived for a number of years, going through all sorts of hard ships and discouragements while the region was being settled by white men, but gradually becom ing more prosperous and adding to their original homesteads, until Mr. Nielsen is now the owner of seven hundred acres of choice farm land. He has this provided with a complete set of substan tial farm buildings, good improvements of all kinds for working the land, also has quite a large herd of stock, raising some fine horses and cattle every year. He makes a specialty of Hereford cattle, Belgian horses, and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage to Miss Else Berthelsen, at Grand Island, Nebraska, on November 19, 1878. Mrs. Nielsen is also a native of Denmark, coming to the United States with her parents in 1869, they being early settlers in Grand Island and well and favorably known throughout 318 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. that country. Eleven children have been born to our subject, ten of whom are living, namely: Flora, who is the wife of Lauritz Feddersen, and living in Howard county; Arthur B., Charlie N., who is married; Elvira, Valdemar A., Albert F., George W., Evelyn, Eiler and Halvor, all living at home, except the two married ones. Marie died in infancy. The family is esteemed by all who know them, and are popular in the affairs of their neighborhood. Their home is one of the pleasant- est in the vicinity, located on Oak Creek, and with the beautiful view and fine trees which dot the landscape, makes it a truly lovely place. Politically Mr. Nielsen is a populist, active in all affairs of his township and county, and does all in his power to. advance the best interests of his community. CHARLES J. NELSON. Charles J. Nelson, surveyor, son of Lars and Kama (Anderson) Nelson, was born in Sweden, January 28, 1850, and was the eldest in a family of nine children ; he has one brother living in Bil lings, Montana; one sister in Arcadia, Nebraska, one in Ord, one in Wisconsin state, and one broth er in the state of Michigan, the other children be ing deceased. Mr. Nelson's parents are both de ceased, the father's death occurring in January, 1884, and the mother's in 1898, both in Valley county, Nebraska. At the age of eleven years, Mr. Nelson was bound out for five years to learn the tailor's trade, but was released after one year's service to come with his parents to America in 1862. The family located in Omaha, where Charles worked as an apprentice in a tailoring establishment for near ly four years; he was also a news carrier for the "Omaha Herald" for a couple of years; later he worked in the press room of that publication. In the spring of 1875 he came to Valley county, Ne braska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section four, township eighteen, range fifteen, and also timber-claimed one hun dred and sixty acres, cornering with the home stead; in the years of 1889 and 1890 he followed railroading through the Black Hills country, be ing an employee in driving the tunnel through north of Hill City. On May 22, 1895, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Flora A. Ward, of Nebraska birth, and four children have been born to this union : Zelma P., is president of the local chapter of the Loyal Temperance Legion, Jonathan died in infancy, in 1897, and Vera Victoria and John L. Mr. Nelson served as justice of peace during the seventies, was treasurer of the Manderson school district for several years; United States mail carrier on the star route four years, carry ing mail over the east end of the route between Ord and Sargent. For three summers, when Mr. Nelson was busy with his farm work, Mrs. Nelson served in his stead, making the long trip each day without delay or failure. She served as as sistant postmaster many years at Miracreek dur ing her father's incumbency as postmaster there. He has served as Valley county surveyor at dif ferent times, in all nearly thirty years, and is still filling this office. In 1904, Mr. Nelson retired from his farm and moved to Ord, where they built a good home, where they now live. Mr. Nelson is one of the earliest settlers, is prosperous and successful, and for thirty years has been closely identified with the interests of Valley county, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. Mrs. Nelson's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asahel Ward, live in Ord, and are one of the oldest fam ilies in the county. Mrs. Nelson is prominent in lodge circles. She is state treasurer of the Wo men's Relief Corps secretary of the Women's Christian Temperance Union; and a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Royal Neighbors of America. All members of the family are com municants of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Nelson was a city fireman for five years in Omaha, and also a member of the Valley coun ty militia. He is a member of the Modern Wood men of America and the Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Nelson's father was a homesteader in Valley county, and built the first frame house in Mira Valley. MONS. 0. M. JOHNSON. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in Madison county, Ne braska, and since locating here in 1875, has taken a foremost part in the development of the region, during which time he has also built up a good home and productive farm in section ten, town ship twenty-one, range four. Mons 0. M. Johnson was born June 28, 1861, in Norway, one of a family of eight children result ing from the union of Mons and Martha Johnson. (Sketches of several other members of this family appear in this volume). When Mons was fourteen years of age, he left his native land and sailed for America. Immedi ately after landing, he started for the west, and after a hard trip, finally arrived in Madison coun ty in 1875 or 1876. He at once filed on a home stead, put up a sod shanty and began to improve his farm. The first few years the grasshoppers took all his crops, and in order to make a living he was compelled to work out by the day or month, obtaining employment in Wisner as a farm hand. Deer and antelope abounded in the region dur ing those years, and from this source considerable of his food was derived. He met with many dis couragements, but stuck bravely to his homestead and did his best to get ahead, but the most he could do was to barely make a living. In 1894 all his crops were again destroyed by the hot winds ¦ and the following two years he raised some crops! COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 319 Things went along pretty well up to 1904 and 1905, when hail storms beat down and ruined his grain and every growing thing on the place. After that, success came to him rapidly, and he contin ued to add to his buildings, so that at the present time he has a finely improved farm and every con venience for its operation in the way of machin ery, etc., including a comfortable dwelling, and barns. He also has fine groves and orchards which he has planted and tended until they are in splendid condition, and make his estate one of the show places of his locality. Mr. Johnson was married January 15, 1885, at Newman Grove, to Miss Julia Hulberson. Ten children have been born to them, as follows : Han nah, Martha, Mary, deceased; John, Harvey, Mariana, Allen, Gertrude, Harry and Lawrence, died March 3, 1911. WILLIAM PFREHM. William Pfrehm ' belongs to a pioneer family of Custer county, his father and four of his broth ers, as well as himself, having been among the or iginal homesteaders there. He was born in Peters burg, Illinois, June 23, 1856, next to the oldest of the twelve children of John A. and Mary Cather ine (Swiegart) Pfrehm, natives of Germany. John Pfrehm served two terms in the German army and while still a young man, he came to America, where he was married. In 1879 he took up a homestead in Custer county and died there in 1887. His wife died in Custer county in 1898. Of their children, eight now survive, namely: William, of Sargent ; Henry J., of Custer county ; August W. and Lewis J., of Sargent; John G., of Arkansas; Mrs. Lewis Ohmberger, Mrs. W. G. Williams and Miss Emma Pfrehm, all of Custer county. A sketch of Lewis J. Pfrehm appears in this work. Mr. Pfrehm grew to manhood on the Illinois farm and was educated in local schools, later en gaging in farming on his own account. He was married at the home of the bride's parents in Sangamon county, Illinois, October 2, 1879, to Miss Maggie B. Pointer, a native of Kentucky. They lived on a farm in Illinois until January, 19, 1881, when they came to Custer county, whith er Mr. Pfrehm 's parents had preceded them, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on the southeast quarter of section thirty-one, township twenty, range nine teen, which was the home place for many years. During this time Mr. Pfrehm purchased the gen eral merchandise stock of Butcher & Wabel, tak ing possession in April, 1891, and conducting the business twelve years. His wife carried on a mil linery business at this time and both met with suc cess in their respective lines. Since March, 1909, they have lived in Sargent, where they purchased a good home, and they have the- largest millinery stock in the town. Mr. Pfrehm served for a num ber of years as a member of the school board of his district, and for several years was constable of West Union. He is a prosperous and successful business, man, owning large farming interests, in cluding his original homestead. He is one of the best known men of the region and has always been interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare and progress. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pfrehm, five of whom now survive : William J., married and living in Oklahoma, has three chil dren ; Henry L., married and living in Loup City, has one child; Lawrence L., married and living on the old homestead, has one child; Harry J. and Aaron V., at home; Tina 0. B., died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Pfrehm is a daughter of John and Hester (Sharp) Pointer, natives of Kentucky. Her father made his home with her in Custer county for a number of years and died there July 16, 1907, at the age of ninety-three years. The mother died in Illinois about 1883. Mrs. Pfrehm has a brother Henry, living in West Union, Ne braska; a brother James W., living in Malvern, Iowa, and one brother and two sisters living in Illinois. ALBERT ERDENBERGER. One of the most prominent farmers in this part of the state is Albert Erdenberger, who is also one of the earlier settlers of Cedar county. His farm, located in section fifteen, township thirty- one, is well improved and he is one of the highly respected and esteemed citizens of his community. Mr. Erdenberger is a native of Saxony, Ger many, where he was born in 1839. In 1854, with his parents, he came to America in one of the sailing vessels of that time, the voyage taking fully six weeks to accomplish. They came at once to Wisconsin and this state remained their home for a number of years. During the civil war, our subject served for ten months in Company C, Forty-third Regiment, under Captain Campbell, in General Milroy's di vision. In 1860, Mr. Erdenberger was married to Miss Thorin Johonsen. A few years after the close of the war, in 1867, he and his family started on the long overland trip to Nebraska, driving a yoke of oxen. The trip itself occupied about six weeks, with these slow plodding animals. Upon their arrival in Nebraska, Mr. Erdenberger took up the homestead which he at present occupies, and be gan the work of subduing the wilderness, for the region was practically a wilderness at that time. For a long time things were very discouraging indeed, with grasshoppers devouring the crops several years in succession, and with fighting prairie fires as the common diversion of the warm er months, while trying to survive the blizzards of the winter. Prospects brightened somewhat after awhile. Unlike many of the settlers, Mr. Erdenberger was fully aware of the great value of a growth of timber on a homestead, so that he 320 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. took great care to plant many trees on his land. He has since built his large barn, also houses for his sons, the lumber of which came from the trees he planted. He has now a five acre timber tract which is one of the finest grown groves in the county. By the exercise of great thrift and economy, Mr. Erdenberger has not only given his children good educations and provided for his family, but has laid aside sufficient to insure a peaceful old age in the beautiful home for which he has worked for so many years. Mr. and Mrs. Erdenberger became the parents of six children, four of whom are living. They are named as follows : Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Weiger ; John, Louis and Edward. WILBERPORCE W. RILEY. Wilberforce W. Riley, a member of one of the earliest families of the north end of Pierce county, Nebraska, has prospered as an agriculturist and stockman, and is now owner of a well improved estate in Pierce precinct adjoining the county seat. He has become widely known as an ener getic and progressive farmer and stock breeder, and his success and good name are well merited. Our subject is almost a native Nebraskan, com ing with his parents in the fall of 1870, from Iowa, where he was born January 4, 1866. His father, Barnard Riley, was born in Ireland, and came to this country with a sister at the age of fourteen years, but on landing in New York, they became separated and never again found each other, neither did he hear from any of his kinsmen in the old country. He migrated west, locating for a time in Johnson county, Iowa, and there met and married Margaret Dwellinger in August, 1855. They had a family of six children, four at taining their majority, our subject and his twin sister being second in order of birth. Mr. Riley was married at Stanton on May 17, 1899, to Miss Jennie Whalen, who was born and reared at that point. She is a daughter of William and Ellen (Botroff) Whalen, both natives of Indiana. They came to Nebraska in 1869 and filed on a homestead in Stanton county, one mile west of the present location of the county seat, which at that time was merely a little open space in the open prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Riley are the parents of two children, Hubert and Margaret, both pupils in the Pierce public schools. During Mr. Riley's boyhood, that part of Ne braska was open to the Rocky Mountain deer and antelope, which roamed the prairie in great num bers. There was little grass on the prairies, weeds predominating, and the herds kept the ground bare. There was not a house in Pierce at the time Mr. Riley's parents located there, and he was the first white child to live in the town ; for a number of years they occupied the hotel in Pierce, the first house built in the town. He attended school in the second building erected in the village, on the spot now occupied by the Catholic church. They went through the grasshopper raids, saving their vegetables by sweeping the pests off the plants with brooms, about the only thing that es caped being the cabbages. For years there was no cemetery in the locality, and the settlers would tell newcomers that there was no need of one as nobody died in Nebraska. Mr. Riley helped set out the trees which have, grown into the magnificent grove now surround ing the old homestead, and the fertility of Nebras ka soil is well evidenced by the crops grown on the farm, one field of which has been cultivated continuously for forty years and produces better crops now than at first. The present Riley home is a part of the original Lucas homestead, and here he engages extensively in breeding mules, Percheron horses and Shetland ponies, prospering in a marked degree. He began with Shetland stock in 1902 and with the breeding of mules, the following year. Mr. Riley's comfortable residence is beauti fully situated in a fine grove on the banks of Wil low creek. The heavy timbers of the large barn on the place were cut from trees planted on the open prairie within the memory of its present owner. A view of the home, with pictures of some of the blooded stock of the place, is to be found on a nearby page of this work. Mr. Riley is a staunch republican and has al ways taken a deep interest in county and state politics, serving in his community in different of fices. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of Pierce. LUTHER L. OLIVER. Luther L. Oliver, the subject of this personal history, resides on the homestead secured by his mother, located in section four, township nineteen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska. He is an early settler of this county and has watched the development and growth of this region from his first coming here, lending his aid in the up building of the community, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Oliver was born in Dodge county, Wiscon sin, October 8, 1866, and was the only child of Orville and Emma (Young) Oliver, the latter a native of Illinois. The father was an old Wiscon sin settler, and is now deceased, his death occurr ing in South Dakota; the mother is living in North Loup. Mr. Oliver was in his eighth year when the family left Wisconsin, going to Duell county, Da kota, remaining there about three years; in 1874 the mother, and son moved to Tama county, Iowa. On March 10, 1882, Mr. Oliver came to Valley county, Nebraska, with his step-father, William Burris, and family. Mrs. Emma Burris, the moth er of Mr. Oliver, made homestead entry on the southeast quarter of section four, township eight- RESIDENCE OF W. W. RILEY. 5mptf^^ 'HILLSIDE FARM," RESIDENCE OF LUTHER L. OLIVER. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 321 een, range thirteen, which is still the home of Mr. Oliver, having been the continuous home of Mr. Oliver through the years. We are pleased to call attention to a view of the residence on another page. Mr. Oliver coming into Valley county when yet a, boy, in early life went out for him self. He has been identified with the growth and development of Valley county since 1882, and is a successful farmer and stock man. In political views he sides with the republican party. Mr. Oliver was united in marriage, May 24, 1888, to Miss Ada Blair, a native of Winnebago county, Illinois, their marriage taking place on the homestead farm. Mrs. Oliver is a daughter of Alfred and Dorothea (Holcomb) Blair, who came to Nebraska in 1887 and settled in Loup county, west of Burwell. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have been blessed with six children, namely : Nina, Mabel, Neal, Carl and Cecil, who are twins; and Dean. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver and family are of the older Valley county families, and have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Oliver has passed through the adverse years of drouth and other hardships of Valley county, and is one of the few men who stuck by the old homestead farm until the coming of the more prosperous years. On settling on the home stead the family lived in a dugout found on the place, from March until summer, when the new house was completed, but one time there were seventeen of them, family and builders, occupy ing the place. The lumber for the new house had to be hauled from Grand Island, * sixty miles dis tant. Mr. Oliver's mother and step-father were caught out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and with great difficulty found their way home. FRED A. STRATMANN. Fred A. Stratmann, an old time resident of eastern Nebraska, owns a well improved farm, and is recognized as one of the substantial farm ers of that region. Mr. Stratmann was born in Germany, July 21, 1847, and was third in a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters of Henry and Dor othy (Siling) Stratmann. He came to America in the fall of 1868, settling in Dwight, Illinois, where he worked at his occupation of carriage and wagon worker; and later coming to Grand Island, Hall county, Nebraska, in 1871, where he still followed his trade. In September, 1873, Mr. Stratmann was mar ried to Miss Elizabeth Seim, in Hall county, Ne braska, and they resided in Grand Island until 1884, when they moved to Merrick county, pur chasing two hundred and forty acres of land on section thirty-three, township thirteen, range eight, their present home. Mr. Stratmann preceded his father, three brothers, and one sister to America, his father coming to Hall county, Nebraska, in 1872, where he remained for a short period, moving into Mer rick county in 1873, where he took up a home stead near Lockwood station. He passed away in 1899. His wife died in Germany. Our subject has two brothers residing in Nebraska; his brother Henry lives in Grand Island, and brother Wil liam is located on the father's old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Stratmann have had twelve chil dren born to them, all of whom are living, a fine family of eight daughters and four sons: Alma, who is married to John Garbers, lives in Chap man, Nebraska ; Anna, married to Henry Giese, has three children and lives in Merrick county; Alfred, is married and has two children, and lives in Merrick county ; Bertha, married to Henry Harre, has one child and lives in Hamilton coun ty; 01ga,who is now Mrs. E. Breininger, lives in Hamilton county and has one child ; and Marie, Louis, Louise, Henry, Dorothy, Amelia, and Fred erick, all of whom are living under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Stratmann and family have a fine home, and are well and favorably known, and enjoy the esteem and respectof a large circle of friends. Mr. Stratmann is a quiet, forceful man, al ways using his energies in the direction of bene ficial efforts to the welfare of his family, county and state. LOUIS EGGERT. To the men of perseverance and strong deter mination who went to Nebraska when it was un developed as an agricultural and commercial re gion, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Knox county who have been intimately identified with its develop ment, and have gained enviable reputations as citizens, may be mentioned Louis Eggert, a pros perous farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Eggert is a native of Wisconsin, his birth occurring in the year 1854, and he is the son of Joseph and Henrietta Eggert, both natives of Germany. They came to America in 1852, em barking on a sailboat and spending eight weeks on the sea before reaching the end of their voyage. Mr. Eggert was raised on a farm, and received his education in his native state. When he reached the age of twenty-four years, in 1878, he came to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he worked out for two years. In 1880, Mr. Eggert, with his family, came to Knox county, where he took up a homestead in the northwest quarter of section eight, township thirty, range four and on this land built a sod house, in which he lived for seven years. He later took up a tree claim in section five, township thirty, range four. Mr. Eggert has experienced all the hardships and failures incident to a farmer's life, but has which crowns the faithful, no matter what line never lost his faith in the natural resources of the state of Nebraska, and the ultimate success 322 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. they may pursue. Among the losses suffered by our subject may be mentioned the memorable blizzard of 1888, when he lost about all his stock in that destructive storm of ice and sleet ; in 1894 the drouth and hot winds burned all the crops so, that they were an utter failure. These are only instances of the discouragements and hardships the western farmer has had to endure before suc cess came his way. Mr. Eggert was united in marriage in 1880 to Miss Lizzie Ihk, and they are the parents of five children, namely : Holdina, Paul, Minnie, Aman da and Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Eggert and family are very highly respected and esteemed in their community, and live in their pleasant home, sur rounded by a host of loving friends and acquaint ances. JAMES P. DOWNING. James F. Downing, who for the past twenty- eight years has been successfully pursuing agri culture in Nance county, Nebraska, is a gentle man of energetic spirit and of capable mind. He has a pleasant home in section two, in Fullerton township, and there with his family, enjoys the comforts of a good home and the satisfaction that comes from a well spent career. Mr. Downing was born November 12, 1845, near Winchester, Virginia, and is a splendid rep resentative of that grand old state. He was the third member in a family of seven children born to James and Eliza Ann Downing, and when but one year old, moved with his parents to Guernsey county, Ohio, and there was reared and educated. The family went to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1866, spent ten years there, then settled in Whiteside county, Illinois, remaining for seven years. James was married in Rock Island county, on April 7, 1875, to Martha A. Dean, who was born in New Jersey, September 11, 1853, a daugh ter of Isaac and Elizabeth Dean. The young peo ple followed farming and stock raising in Illinois for about eight years, after their marriage. Our subject came west in 1879, to Nance county, Ne braska, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section two, township sixteen, range six. He then returned to Illinois, where he re mained until March, 1883, and then came to Nance county with his family, which has been their home since that time. They started to build up a good home on the frontier, where by dint of industry and economy, supplemented by perseverance and strict atten tion to duty, they have been richly rewarded in the possession of a competence. They are known as leading pioneers in their section, and enjoy the friendship of all with whom they have come in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Downing have had five children, but three now living, Howard N., married, father of three children, and living in Fullerton, where he is engaged in the coal and implement business ; William P., who remains on the home farm, as al so does James E., the youngest son; George W., died in Illinois when about five months old, and Lloyd L., died in Nance county, when seventeen years old. The parents of both our subject and his wife are deceased. Mr. Downing 's mother died in Whiteside county, Illinois, about 1881, and his father died at his son James P. 's home in Nance county, Nebraska, about 1890. Mrs. Down ing 's parents both died in Nance county, Nebras ka. JOHN A. ERSKINE. Many years before the United States gave up so many of her citizens in the exodus to Canada, the Old Dominion gave to the United States many of her sturdy sons, who now fill honorably many walks in life in our cities, towns and country. Of these, none is more worthy of mention than Mr. John A. Erskine, now retired from active farming and occupying a comfortable home in Lynch. Mr. Erskine was born on March 27, 1843, in the province of Ontario, near Montreal. His birth place was not far distant from the point where an engagement took place at the time of a mis guided invasion of the Dominion by irresponsible Americans, in 1838. His father, Robert Erskine, a native of Ireland, was reared at Glasgow, by an uncle after the death of his parents, which oc curred when he was a very small lad. He was early apprenticed to a rope-maker, thoroughly learning the trade, which he followed during his residence in the old country. He attained the good old age of eighty-three years, passing away in Ontario, as did his good wife, who lived to be sixty-five years of age. Our subject farmed in Canada until his migra tion to the States in 1868, at which time he went to California, remaining there two and one-half years. In 1871, he came to Nebraska. Here he pre-empted a claim near Neligh, Antelope county, remaining through several years of the grasshop per raids, etc. He returned to Canada in 1876, for a short stay ; then came back to Nebraska, and went to wTork as a teamster in Omaha, hauling logs from the river up a chute to a saw mill. The following several years were spent in different sections of the country, finally making his way back to Nebraska in 1885, at which time he bought an eighty-acre tract of railroad land in Madison county, near the town of Tilden, later adding one hundred and sixty acres to his orig inal farm. There he lived for nine years, seeing hard times, as there were some seasons when the oat crop realized but ten cents per bushel, and corn thirteen cents. Having an opportunity to dispose of his land he did not hesitate to do so, and moved to Boyd county, purchasing the relin quishment to the first claim filed in the county, six miles south of Lynch. He later added one hundred and fifty acres to the same, which made it one of the finest ranches in this part of the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 323 Niobrara valley. After the death of his son, who just reached his majority, the burden of such a large farm was too great for Mr. Erskine, so he rented the land and moved to town. The tenant not proving satisfactory, he sold the place in the spring of 1910 and invested the proceeds in other holdings. Mr. Erskine was married in 1874 to Susan Gallinger, and she died July 8, 1876, at Omaha, leaving a child, John Wesley, one day old, which died at nine months of age. In 1877 Mr. Erskine married Kate Cameron, a cousin of his first wife, and she died in April, 1881, leaving one son, Allen Cameron, and he died in 1889, aged ten years. Mr. Erskine was united in marriage in Canada, July 24, 1882, to Miss Mary Jane Stitt, a native of Spencerville, Edwardsburg town ship, and the united counties of Leeds and Gran ville, whose father was an old resident of that vicinity and was in the government service for many years. He fought at the battle of the Windmill during the raid of 1838, which was mentioned above. Mr. and Mrs. Erskine had three children: William Stitt, who died in Mad ison county, Nebraska, June 28, 1889 ; John Will iam, born May 17, 1887, and died November 22, 1907. The daughter, Pansy Blanche, married A. W. Wiley, they now living on a Kinkaid home stead sixteen miles south of Ainsworth, in Brown county. Mr. Erskine has had his share of hardships on the frontier, going through the blizzards of 1873, 1880, and 1888, and suffering much from those storms. There is a chapter in a little booklet of the early history of Iowa, entitled "A Sixty-mile Race for a Farm." Mr. Erskine can relate a personal experience which exceeds this incident by twenty miles. During his residence in Ante lope county, he engaged in well digging for a livelihood, and on one occasion when eighty miles away from home, having been off his claim longer than the regulation time, wjord came to him through the land office at West Point that some one intended to jump his claim and contest it. The officials of the land office asked him if he could be on the land by nine o'clock the next morn ing with a man at work — which procedure would save his rights. He replied that he could, and taking a young man with him, drove a young team sixteen miles to where an old team was at work. These he took, and drove all night, arriving at his destination by seven o'clock, and in this man ner preserved his title to the land. Mr. and Mrs. Erskine are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Erskine was the first superintendent of a Sunday school held in Antelope county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Erskine have always been actively engaged in church work. Mr. Erskine was formerly a republican, but since Harrison's administration has voted the populist ticket principally. R. CLAUDE MARICLE. R. Claude Maricle, a well-to-do farmer and stockman of Boone county, Nebraska, has for the past many years been closely identified with the upbuilding of that locality, and is widely known for his many good qualities as a worthy, public-spirited citizen. Mr. Miracle was born in Grayville, White county, Illinois, on February 4, 1860, and was the second child in the family of Harvey and Sarah Maricle, who were the parents of four children. In his eleventh year, our subject came west in company with his parents and two brothers, making settlement in Boone county, Nebraska. The father pre-empted on the southwest quarter of section seven, township nineteen, range five, and our subject now has a fine residence on the north part of this pre-emption. This dwelling was built recently, and is one of the handsomest modern structures in the locality. He is engaged in mixed farming and stock raising quite ex tensively, and has every facility in the way of modern machinery, buildings, etc., for the prop er carrying on of both lines. Mr. Maricle was married on December 12, 1889, to Mona B. Dyar, who is a native of Iowa, but came to Boone county with her parents when a small child. The marriage occurred at the home of the bride's parents in Boone precinct, and the young couple started out with the heart iest good wishes of a large number of friends for their success and happiness. To them have been born three children, Marshall Earl, Clifford Clyde, and Olive Merel, all living at home and forming a most happy family circle. The Maricle family are the third original family coming to Boone county, and Mr. R. C. Maricle has naturally been closely identified with the different phases of pioneer life in Nebraska. He is known throughout the region as a foremost public-spirited citizen and has always taken a deep interest in the welfare of his county and state, although he has never held official po sition. J. P. LARSEN. The Danes have always proved to be a thrifty, prosperous, law-abiding class of immigrants in the United States, and Mr. J. P. Larsen is one who has kept up the good reputation of his race. He was bom in the village of Karsar, Den mark, on August 22, 1844. His parents, Nels and Dorothea (Jensen) Larsen, spent their whole life in their native land, the father dying at the age pf eighty-four, while the mother was nearly ninety when she died. 324 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. When only thirteen, being the eldest of eight sons, Mr. Larsen began to earn his own living, and contribute towards the support of the younger children. His first work was on a farm, and he next assisted the owner of a boarding house, caring for and driving his horses and helping generally around the house for three years. He then secured a place with a merchant, where he worked so faithfully and well that his tips were often greater than his salary. As he approached his majority, his three years of army service rose up like a specter before him. The pay was so small that one was compelled to live up all savings in order to keep up appear ances in the army, and he decided to emigrate in order to escape military service. Mr. Larsen came to America in the spring of 1865, arriving in Chicago about the last of March. With two friends he secured work in a market garden near the city, and by his faithful atten tion to duty, soon was earning wages equal to the foreman. His friends, however, were dissat isfied, and finally all three went to Ludington, Michigan, and found work in a saw mill. After a short time in the mill, Mr. Larsen worked in the woods, making shingle bolts until the following spring, and then went to Pentwater, Michigan, and worked in a shingle mill, where he was soon placed in charge of one of the machines, a posi tion which had previously been given to two men, and he was paid almost the wages of the two. In 1870, while in Pentwater, Michigan, Mr. Larsen was married to Miss Hancena Thorina Olsen, a native of Fredericksdal, Norway, a small town near Christiana, who had come to this country in 1867. About this time, a number of his countrymen decided to come to the west, and Mr. Larsen was appointed by them to locate the land. Through this year, he visited various parts of Kansas, and the next year came to Nebraska. After a long search, he decided that he had found the Eden for which he had been looking, and bought a quarter section for himself, for his brothers, and for some of his friends. He then returned to Ludington, where he, with his two brothers, continued to labor for four years. The first year after coming to Nebraska, Mr. Larsen lived in the house of a neighbor, and then built a dwelling on his own land. From time to time, he added various improvements, barns, groves, orchards, etc., until he had developed one of the best farms in the county. In 1904, six teen thousand feet of lumber was cut on his place, from trees which he had planted, to build a, large barn. There were many discouragements to contend with, of course, as the grasshoppers did not neg lect visiting him. At first, most of his produce had to be taken to Sioux City, the round trip taking between three and four days. The time for traveling depended much upon the roads. Sometimes, his load would get stuck in a sand slough and he would have to get help to pull out. If no help was near, he avoided trouble by divid ing bis load and carrying it through the muck in two or three trips. Fuel was scarce at times, and they burned cornstalks, hay, corn, and sun flowers. It is hardly possible, in these days, to realize what such privations meant, but in the winning of the wilderness to civilization, it took men and women of courage and fortitude to en dure the hardships which were necessary before the present comfortable homes could be a pos sibility. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Larsen, six of whom are still living. Their names are as follows: Nils F., deceased; Jennie, Amelia, Nora, Cena, Prank N. and Ida. Mr. Larsen is a populist as regards political affiliations, and he and his wife and family are members of the Lutheran church and he is also a member of the Loyal Mystic Legion. CHRISTIAN KOHLHOF. Among the men who have been prominently identified with the agricultural progress and ad vancement of Stanton county, is Christian Kohl- hof, whose pleasant home is located on section seventeen, township twenty-three, range one. His birth occurred in 1866, at Detmold, Ger many, and he is a son of Fred and Katie Kohlhof , who spent their entire lives in Germany. He was educated in the public schools of his native country, and there reached the age of eighteen years, at which time he left home to seek his fortune in the new world. In 1884, he landed in New York, having sailed from Bremen, and im mediately set out for the west, where he had rea son to believe he would find large opportunities awaiting a young man of energy and ambition, with little capital to start with. He located first in Madison county, and later, about the time of his marriage, came to Stanton county, Nebraska, where he has since lived. Mr. Kohlhof was married (first)in 1891, to Miss Wilhelmina Low. He was again married in 1893 to Miss Lena Breidenpela, and they are parents of four chil dren, as follows: Paul, Annie, William, and Clara. Mrs. Kohlhof was born in Lieme, and is a daughter of Frederick and Henrietta Breiden pela who resided and died in Germany. Mr. Kohlhof is a representative German-Amer ican citizen, interested in the betterment of his community and supporting all public measures that he considers for the benefit of all. He is a self-made man, and his present prosperity is the result of hard work and good judgment in the management of his affairs. He has the respect and esteem of all who know him, as being a man of sterling worth and upright honesty, and has a wide circle of friends. His farm is devoted largely to grain raising and he also has consider able stock of various kinds. His land is well COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 325 tilled and the buildings he has erected are sub stantial and well cared for. He is the treasurer of the school district in which he resides, and always responds when call ed to the public service. W. H. RUGGLESS. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a fore most place. Mr. Ruggless has aided in no slight degree in the development of the commercial re sources of this region, and has done his full share in building up the schools, doing all in his power for the betterment of conditions. Mr. Ruggless is a native of Daviess county, Indiana, born September 15, 1853, on his father's farm. His father, James Ruggless, was also born in the state of Indiana on the same farm. Our subject was reared in Iowa, and when he reached maturity left home and started out to make his own way in the world. He lived in Iowa for twenty-five years intermittently. Prom there he moved to Butler county, Nebraska, in 1882, re maining there nine years. In 1891, he came to Antelope county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twelve, township twenty-six, range eight, remaining here but a short time, trading his farm for a livery barn in Clearwater, and here he remained in business for three years. A farmer's life had a strong attraction for Mr. Ruggless, and having a longing for the tilling of the fertile and pro ductive soil, he sold his livery business and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-one, township twenty-six, range eight, which as before stated is his -present home. Mr. Ruggless was united in marriage Decem ber 17, 1875, at Knoxville, Iowa, to Miss E. J. Mark, and Mr. and Mrs. Ruggless are the parents of six children, named as follows : Lena, George, Rex, Arthur, Kittie, and Wilda. Mrs. Ruggless died January 21, 1910, survived by her husband and children, who as well as relatives and a host of kind friends and neighbors deeply mourned her death. Mr. Ruggless and family are very highly es teemed and respected by all in their community, and Mr. Ruggless is known as an upright and honorable citizen. JAMES W. TUCKER. Among the representative citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, is James W. Tucker, who re sides in the village of McLean, Pierce county. He is a gentleman of energetic character and well merits his high standing. Mr. Tucker was born in Green county, Iowa, December 25, 1864, the son of Jacob Tucker, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in 1834, and died in 1909; he was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Tucker's mother was Miss Pauline Mayr, a native of Kentucky, who was born in 1848 and died in 1908. The grandfather, Isaac Tucker, was a native of Pennsylvania, and served his country in the civil war from 1860 to 1864, in clusive. In 1892 Mr. Tucker was joined in wedlock to Miss Minnie Tipery, whose father was an early settler of Nebraska. To this union one child has been born, a son, Willis. Mr. Tucker came to Burt county, Nebraska, in 1884, where he resided until 1905, when he came to Pierce county, and is still a resident here. He is an efficient commissioner of highways in the district around McLean and keeps the roads in his district in good condition at all times. Mr. Tucker is affiliated with Royal Highlander lodge, and in politics casts his vote for the re publican party. He always lends his influence for the upbuilding of the better interests of his community, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. CHRIS APPEL. Chris Appel, one of the substantial business men of Dannebrog, Nebraska, is widely known as a successful and progressive citizen of Howard county. He is engaged in the banking business and has a wide patronage throughout the sec tion. Mr. Appel was born in Denmark on May 24, 1858, and came to America in the spring of 1878. For two years after coming to this country he made his home at Galesburg, Illinois, following farm work, then emigrated west, locating at Fre mont, Nebraska. There he was united in mar riage to Margarethe Petersen, also a native of Denmark, who came to America with her parents in the fall of 1882, one year previous to her mar riage. They lived in Fremont for about four years, then removed to Dunbar, there engaging in farming and stock raising, occupying their farm for two years. They next located in Howard county, where Mr. Appel purchased one hun dred and sixty acres on section thirty-four, town ship thirteen, range eleven, situated two and one- half miles west of the then small town of Danne brog. Since that time he has gradually added to his acreage until he now owns four hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, besides one of the finest residence properties in Dannebrog, and all of his success is due to his energy and in dustry. Mr. Appel is a staunch supporter of the peo ples independent party, and in the fall of 1897 was elected county treasurer, taking charge of the office the following year and serving for four years. He also served as precinct assessor for two terms during the early days of his residence here, and for many years has been a member of the Dannebrog school board. In 1907 in company 326 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. with several other gentlemen, he incorporated what is known as the First State Bank of Danne brog, being appointed acting cashier of the bank, and still holds that position. Mr. Appel was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Nysted academy, which is a well-known Danish school, also is a member of the present Danne brog school board. He is secretary and treasurer of the Loup Valley Co-operative Creamery Asso ciation, which concern is doing a flourishing bus iness through that section of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Appel have had a large family. Six children are now living, named as follows: Christine, wife of A. C. Peterson, of Howard county, parents of two children; Minnie B., assist ant cashier and bookkeeper in her father 's bank ; Jens, a farmer, and Mamie, Roy, and Anna, who live at home. OSCAR BABCOCK. Oscar Babcock was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, March* 15, 1835, the eldest of three children in the family of George C. and Elmira Babcock. The surviving members of this family are Oscar (the subject of this sketch) and Delia, (Mrs. Henry Chase), both residing in North Loup, Nebraska. The other son, Herman A., died in 1904. The Babcock family left New York state in 1842, going to Rock county, Wiscon sin, where they remained about five years, then moving to Waushara county, in 1847. Oscar grew up in this county, practically, as he was only twelve years old when the family came there. He received the usual school advantages and also one year of an academy course. He taught for some time in the public schools of Waushara county, and was for many years post master of Dakota, Wisconsin. He was also ac tively engaged in the mercantile business. His father was an ordained minister in the Seventh Day Baptist church and naturally Oscar took an active interest in this faith. In 1858 he was licensed to preach and in 1872 became an or dained minister of the Seventh Day Baptist church. Mr. Babcock was married to Marietta A. Bris tol in Dakota, Wisconsin, on June 1, 1858, and four children were born to them. In 1863, 1864, 1865 and 1866, Mr. Babcock was a member of the Wisconsin state legislature. He was then one of the most prominent men of that section of Wisconsin. In the spring of 1871, an association was formed (principally of the Seventh Day Baptist church people) to organize a colony to emigrate to Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas, securing govern ment or railroad land suitable for farming or stock-raising. Oscar Babcock was chosen presi dent of the colony association, George B. Rood, vice president, and Nathan B. Prentice, secretary. A locating committee of four men was chosen — Charles P. Rood, N. B. Prentice, Amos Travis and Charles Wellman — to make a trip into the western country to select a suitable spot for the colony. A detailed account of the work of this committee is found in the personal sketch of Charles P. Rood. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Babcock came by railroad to Grand Island, Nebraska, and there joined George and Charles Rood, who were on their way overland from Dakota, Wisconsin, to the North Loup Valley, Nebraska. The party reached their destination on May 13, and on May 18, Mr. Babcock preached to about fifty people, this being the first religious service held by an ordained minister in this neighborhood. Mr. Babcock took up a homestead claim and in the summer returned to Wisconsin for his family, but owing to the illness of his wife and her death, which occurred on October 11, 1872, his return was delayed until the latter part of November, that same year, when Mr. Babcock and his four children, with Herman Rood, went to their Loup Valley home. This homestead had been secured by Mr. Bab cock paying a young Dane fifteen dollars to re linquish his squatter right and move off. He still resides on the original homestead, although a portion of the town of North Loup Valley county, is now located on a part of it. In 1878, Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Hattie Payne, who died in North Loup, Decem ber 24, 1881, leaving one child, who died when two years of age. On September 9, 1889, Mr. Babcock was married to Adaline Johnson Pres ton in North Loup. Mrs. Babcock is a native of the state of Rhode Island, coming to Nebraska in 1882 to join her brother, Byron Johnson, an early pioneer settler of Valley county. Mr. Babcock has been closely connected with the history of Valley county and the entire North Loup Valley, in fact. He bears the reputation of being a plain, consistent citizen, al ways doing his part toward the upbuilding of the community in which he lives, especially along church and educational lines. He was county su perintendent of schools in 1874, and probate judge of Valley county in 187<6. He was the first postmaster appointed in this county, and has held that position in North Loup for many years. In 1879, he became a member of he Nebraska state legislature. Mr. Babcock was the first pastor of the Sev enth Day Baptist church of North Loup, which was organized in March, 1873, by a meeting held in a dugout cabin. He was pastor at this church for six years and since that time has officiated in case of a pulpit vacancy. He is known and loved by every family in this community, having had occasion to serve most of them personally, either by christening their children, performing mar riages among their relatives, or helping them lay away their dead. Three of his children, Ed win J., Arthur H., and Myra, (Mrs. William E. Gowan), live in North Loup. One son, George I., MR. AND MRS. HENRY C. WELLS. Compendium op History, reminiscence and biography. 327 lives in Mexico, as he is general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of the Mexi can Republic. The people of the Seventh Day Baptist church were largely represented in the early settlement of the North Loup Valley. They now have a fine commodious church in North Loup and a mem bership of about three hundred. This community shows amongst the people and their homes, the refining influence that the church and christian teaching had much to do with the development of this country. PRANK BUNTROCK. Of the prominent and leading old settlers of Valley county, Nebraska, none are held in higher esteem by their fellow citizens than Prank Bunt- rock. He has been a potent factor in the develop ment and growth of his locality, and is a man of untiring energy, possessed of sterling characteris tics, and has prospered in his chosen calling. Mr. Buntrock resides on section twelve, town ship twenty-four, range one, which has been the homestead farm of his grandfather for many years. Mr. Buntrock is a native of Nebraska, his birth occurring November 10, 1878, and he is a son of August B. and Caroline (Kaun) Buntrock, both of whom were natives of Germany. Our subject's father and grandfather came from Germany to America in 1865, sailing from Hamburg in a sailboat, and were nine weeks on the sea. After arriving in the new world, they proceeded westward as far as Janesville, Wiscon sin, where they lived nine years. In 1872, they drove from Wisconsin to the state of Nebraska, locating in Madison county, where the grandfather took up a homestead in section twelve, township twenty-four, range one, the one on which our sub ject now resides, as before stated, and the father took up a claim on the southeast quarter of the same section, township and range. They each built good log houses, in which the two families resided about fifteen years, respectively, then re placing the log structures by good, substantial frame dwellings. The families suffered many hardships and pri vations in the pioneer days, and, like so many other first settlers lost their entire crops for the first few years of residence here, which made it very hard for them to exist. Crops were also destroyed in 1894 through the hot winds that burned all vegetation to almost a crisp, owing to the terrible drouth of that season. These are only a few of the many discouragements and failures which beset the early settler on the western fron tier. Mr. Buntrock was united in marriage in 1905 to Miss Kate Miller, a native of Wyoming, and a daughter of Fritz Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Bunt rock are the parents of one child, a daughter, named Paula. They are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Buntrock is a democrat. HENRY C. WELLS. For over forty years, the .venerable gentleman, whose name heads this review, has been identified with the development of Merrick county, Nebras ka, where he has gained a high station as a citizen, and incidentally became one of the substantial men of his community. Henry C. Wells was born in New York state, September 9, 1836, and was third of five children in the family of Varnum and Mary Ann (Maxion) Wells), who had three sons and two daughters, Mr. Wells being the second son. They were a New fork state family, and our subject was a farm boy, receiving the advantages of the district schools. When in his twenty-first year, he went out in life for himself, going to, work in a lumber camp, hauling lumber for some years. In July, 1858, in Oswego county, New York state, Mr. Wells was married to Miss Cynthia Green, who was also a native of New York state. Mr. Wells engaged in tannery work about three years. In October, 1861, Mr. Wells enlisted in Com pany K, Eighty-first New York Volunteer Infan try, for three years. A number of the younger men of the community also followed his example, and enlisted with him. In June, 1862, at the battle of Fairoaks, he was severely wounded. His com pany was on the extreme left, and, at the time, were in the thick of the fight. A bullet struck Mr. Wells just at the base of the neck, in the right shoulder, and passed quartering through the body, coming out below the shoulder blades. Notwith standing this terrible wound, Mr. Wells continued to fight until ordered to the rear by his captain. It seems almost incredible that one so severely wounded could remain on his feet, yet Mr. Wells walked to the rear, seeking surgical care,, which he did not receive properly until he arrived at his home some seven days later, he being sent home on account of his wound. These few days were days of suffering, and almost an unbelievable amount of endurance was required, as proper care was not given him until his home doctor attended him, who found pieces of clothing carried into the wound by the bullet, which had not been re moved. Mr. Wells not only was laid low with the wound, but also had an attack of typhoid fever. He was home about three months, and then re joined his regiment, and at the battle of Cold Harbor received another severe wound in the same shoulder, the bullet passing down, and becoming imbedded in the muscles under the right shoulder blade, where it still remains. After two years' service, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years, or during the war. Mr. Wells received his honorable discharge, February 19, 1865. He returned to his home in New York state, and, after several years, moved to Iowa 328 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in 1868, and to Merrick county, Nebraska, in May, 1871, taking up a homestead about six miles north east of Central City, which he proved up, and then moved to the northern part of Merrick coun ty, taking up a timber claim in the Loup valley, and this was his home farm until the family moved to Palmer, about 1904. Mr. Wells did his 'part as a pioneer settler of Merrick county, and himself and family passed through the early Nebraska days, taking an active part in the building up of Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Wells had five children born to them, four of whom are living — their only daugh ter is deceased: Henry A., married, has three children, is a leading business man of Palmer; George, married, and living in Lead City, South Dakota, has five children; Fred, married, has three children, and lives in Gage Valley, Merrick county; and Charles, who is married, has two children, and resides in Palmer, Nebraska. Before Palmer came into existence as a town, Mr. Wells was postmaster of the Burlinggame postoffice for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Wells, after a married life of over fifty-three years, are still active, enjoying their pleasant home, surrounded by their sons and grandchildren, and have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Meth odist church, and Mr. Wells is a republican, and a member of the General Wilieh post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 289, of Palmer, and Mrs. Wells belongs to the Womans' Relief Corps. We are pleased to present portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Wells on another page, of this volume. SAMUEL C. VANSKIKE. Among the well-known men of Greeley county, Nebraska, who have at heart the best interests of the region, may be counted Samuel C. Vanskike, a native of Greeley county, where he has spent his entire life, with the exception of a short time, when he was away at school. His birth occurred March 2, 1889, and he is eldest in a family of seven children, born to Charles and Caroline (Scott) Vanskike. A sketch of the father also appears in these pages. Mr. Vanskike received his early education in local schools, reaching young manhood on his father's farm, and in 1905-06 at tended Wesleyan College at University Place, Lincoln, Nebraska, graduating with the class of 1906. Upon completing his education, Mr. Vanskike returned to the home farm, and remained with his father two years. In the spring of 1909, he se cured a position with the Weeks Elevator Com pany at Scotia, and worked for the Beatrice Cream ery Company there from August 15, 1909, until June 1, 1910. On the latter date, he became con nected with the First State Bank of Scotia as book-keeper, until February, 1911. Since then he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Vanskike is a young man of good character, and well known for his business ability and good character. He has the good will and regard of a large number of friends. He was married, March 22, 1910, at the Sautter home in Scotia, to Miss Ella, daughter of Jacob Sautter. Both Mr- Vanskike and his wife were born and reared in Greeley county, and are keenly interested in its development and wel fare. WILLIAM SULLIVAN. One of the most prominent and progressive farmers and stockmen in Cedar county is William Sullivan, who occupies a well-improved farm in section nine. Like many other settlers in the west, Mr. Sullivan is not a native of this country, but, like most of the other "adopted sons," he has nobly done his part in converting the wilderness into the present thickly-settled, progressive com munity. Mr. Sullivan was born in Ireland in 1837, be ing the son of Daniel and Ellen Sullivan. The elder Sullivan was a prosperous small farmer, and young William remained at home, assisting his parents, until he had attained the age of nineteen. At this time, in 1856, he made up his mind to seek his fortunes in the west, in the new world. He left Liverpool, bound for New York, on a little sailing vessel, and, after a long, monotonous journey of forty-one days, reached his harbor. Mr. Sullivan came at once to Wisconsin, where he remained for a number of years. In 1866, he was here united in marriage to Miss Katie Lona- gan. Two years later, in 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan decided to go farther west before permanently settling down. So, in that year, they took the long overland trip with a yoke of oxen, coming to Cedar county, the journey taking three weeks. Mr. Sullivan here took a homestead on section nine, township thirty-one, range two, and since that time it has been his home. He has improved the farm in every possible way, and it is now con sidered one of the finest in that locality. While not losing interest in purely agricultural labors, he has lately turned his attention to stock raising, and has been very successful in that line also. Mr. Sullivan has always taken a great interest in all that pertains to the welfare of their adopted country, and is in every way a progressive, public- spirited citizen. Two children, William P. and James Daniel, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. The family are well known socially, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. FREDERICK G. BOELTS. Some of America's best citizens claim their nativity in far-off lands across the sea, and their COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 329 immigration to the home of the stars and stripes has added many strong, sturdy characters to our population — characters that have been so instruc- mental in the upbuilding of the communities in which they chose to live — and such an one is the subject of this biographical writing. Frederick G. Boelts, farmer, son of Gerd and Anna (Oeltjen) Boelts, was born in Grand Dutchey of Oldenburg, Germany, October 28, 1871. In 1878, he came with his parents to Amer ica, locating in Merrick county, Nebraska, in which county Mr. Boelts received his education in the home schools, and in the years 1893, 1894 and 1895 attended Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, after which he taught in Ne braska schools for four years. On March 29, 1899, Mr. Boelts was joined in wedlock to Miss Kate Bruno, of Nebraska, who had also been a teacher, and whose father, Henry A. Bruno, settled in Nebraska in 1873, and who served one term in the Nebraska state legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Boelts have had five children born to them, whose names are as follows : Henry, deceased, August 24, 1906, at the age of six years ; Margaret M., Ethel Irene, Edith A. and Helen G., all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. Boelts has been prosperous and successful, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of finely cultivated land. His father died May 9, 1898, in Nebraska, and his mother is still Jiving on the old home place in Merrick county. Mr. Boelts has served as precinct assessor, and, while yet a young man, is one of the early settlers of his county, and is well and favorably known. DR. W. H. BRITT. Dr. W. H. Britt first came to Nebraska in Sep tember, 1884, beginning practice of medicine in Knox county, at Bazile Mills. He had graduated from the medical department of Iowa University at Iowa City, March 4, 1884. He was a native of Mills county, Iowa, born near Glenwood, January 12, 1863, where he attended the country schools until he went to college in the fall of 1880. Our subject's father, Thomas M. Britt, was a native of Hardin county, Tennessee, born in 1837. His parents, Leroy and Rhoda Britt, born 1811 and 1812 respectively, came to Iowa with their small family, about 1845, and were in western Iowa at the time of the expulison of the Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois. Many of these sojourned for several years in western Iowa, preparing for the trip across the plains, and the elder Britt became well acquainted with them. Glenwood was in those days known as "Coonville," there being many of those arboreal animals in the region at that -time, and coon skins were used as a medium of exchange. Thomas M. Britt lived in Mills county, Iowa, until, a few years before his death, he went to California, where he resided two years, after which he returned to the Missouri valley, and became a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died in 1905. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving four years, until the close of the war. Like many Tennesseeans, he had remarkable skill with the rifle, and was assigned to the service as a sharp shooter. He was in the battle of Shiloh, Siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga campaign, and many minor engagements. On his return to Iowa, after the war, he served his people in minor official positions, and was for one term a member of the Iowa legislature. In poli tics he was always a staunch republican. Thomas Britt was married in Mills county, Iowa, to Miss Martha Dunnegan, a native of Ire land, in which country her father died. The mother brought her family to America, and set tled in Iowa, where she died. On coming to Knox county, Nebraska, Doctor Britt resided at Bazile Mills four years, anticipat ing the railroad's passing through the village, and its development into a thriving town. When the road was pushed on toward the Niobrara, and it was certain Bazile Mills was to be left to one side, Doctor Britt moved to Creighton, in 1884, and has resided here since, building up a large practice throughout the three adjoining counties. Doctor Britt was married at Bazile Mills, November 22, 1888, to Miss Martha A. Warner, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, and daughter of Karl and Otillie (Klingbeil) Warner, the form er a native of Pottsdam, Austria, the latter of the village of Treptow, near Berlin, Germany. They were married in Wisconsin, and came to Nebraska. in 1880. The father died in' 1907, and the mother has attained the age of seventy-one, and has lived in America since her eighteenth year. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Britt: Percy, a graduate from high school, with two years' training in the state university, is in real estate business with his father ; and Cladwell and Marcilene. The doctor has endured many hardships of the pioneer days in Nebraska. He has swimmed streams, been lost at night on the prairies in storms, traveling in a circle as the lost often do, and has also breasted blizzards in his professional calls to minister to his patients. Like his race, he is quick Avith the rifle, and can kill game or wolves on the run as readily as when they are standing still. Dr. Britt is republican in politics; a member of the Knights of Pythias, Royal Highlanders, Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World. He holds membership in state and county medical societies. Mrs. Britt is a member of the Congregational church. Doctor Britt served the county as coroner one term, and as a member of the board of education seven years. 330 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. CHARLES E. CARTER. The gentleman above named is today a worthy representative of the best agricultural interests of Nance county, and has done much to rescue and redeem Nebraska from a wild prairie to its state of present prosperity. He is now retired from active labor, and enjoys the comforts of a pleasant home and companionship of many friends in the pretty little city of Fullerton. Charles E. Carter was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on September 13, 1861, and is a son of George F. and Emily P. Carter. George F. Carter died in Bureau county, Illinois, March 7, 1911. He had been a resident of the county sixty years, and his was the first death in the immediate fam ily. Charles E., received his education in his na tive state, and he early became interested in agri cultural pursuits. He was married on March 3, 1886, to Olive Hazard, also reared in Illinois, who had been a teacher in the public schools there for a number of years. In the spring of 1887, Mr. and Mrs. Carter came to Nance county, where the former purchased a quarter section in the south east quarter of section twenty-two, township sev enteen, range four, and this was their home farm for fifteen years. Mrs. Carter died there in 1891, leaving one son, George N., who is an electrical engineer in Boise City, Idaho, at the present time. While living on the original homestead, Mr. Carter and his wife passed through all the pioneer experiences, but were very successful, notwith standing the various discouragements that came to them in getting started. He has added to his acre age . from time to time, until he was owner of twelve hundred and twenty acres, all in one body, lying four miles northeast of the town of Fuller- ton, and of this tract, seven hundred acres was under cultivation. Mr. Carter, in 1909 and 1910, sold a part of his land, and now owns seven hun dred and fifty acres, most of which is farm land. In 1903, Mr. Carter removed to Fullerton, and retired from active farm work, although he still superintends the farming operations, carrying on a grain and stock business, principally feeding and shipping cattle. Mr. Carter is vice president of the Fullerton National Bank, also a stockholder and director in the same. During the years 1907 and 1908, he served as president of the city sehool board, and during the same time was a member of the city council. He is recognized as one of Nance county's most substantial citizens and men of affairs, and has done as much as any other man in helping to build up the best interests of his vicin ity. Mr. Carter was married the second time on August 16, 1893, to Cynthia A. Porterfield, who was well known throughout Nance county, at the home of her uncle, Hiram Lewis, in Genoa, with whom she had lived for sixteen years. Mrs. Carter was for several years a popular teacher in the public schools here. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have had six children: J. Lewis, Alice R., Mildred R., Marian, Kathleen, all at home, while the sixth, Edwin O, died in 1908. The family are popular in educational and social circles in their city, and have one of the pleasantest homes to be found anywhere, and have hundreds of friends in Fullerton and the sur rounding country. Mr. Carter is a grandson of Rhoda Milliken Carter, whose father, Joshua Milliken, was a sol dier in the revolutionary war, and his name has been famous in history as one of the distinguished men of his time. FRANK W. WOODS. Frank W. Woods, president of the First Nation al Bank of Spencer, and of its subsidiary institu tions, has had a truly meteoric career in the world of finance. To and unbiased observer, the apparent cause is undoubted talent in financial affairs, and his own explanation is summed up in the word "work." Mr. Woods is possessed of a strong personal magnetism, combined with a genial and cordial manner, that on a first meeting makes men his friends, inspiring them with a confidence and esteem that grows on closer acquaintanceship. Frank Woods was born in Watonwan county, Minnesota, September 18, 1875, and is a son of J. T. Woods, of Spencer, a sketeh of whom appears in this work. The family lived in various towns during his boyhood, and his education was de rived through attendance at the public schools in those places, finishing with a four years' course in the Stuart high school. At an early age he evinced a liking for a business career, and took an active part in his father's business, when the latter was engaged in the hotel and livery business in different towns. In 1896, he secured a clerk ship in the little bank which occupied the corner where the fine large building of the First National now stands. After three years, he had so far mastered the details of the banking trade that he was appointed cashier under F. M. Weidner, of Corning, Iowa, who then held the controlling interest in the institution. As his experience grew, so did his financial interest expand, until, in 1910, he held a very large interest in the parent bank and its branches, and on January first of that year, was elected president of the entire allied group of banks, including the State Bank of Gross, which was acquired in 1905; the Bristow First National Bank, in 1906, and the Gregory County State Bank, at Fairfax, South Dakota in 1908. The First National Bank of Nolan, South Dakota, was established in 1909. The home bank in Spencer, one of the finest buildings in the county, was erected in 1906, and is far in advance of anything of its kind usually seen in a small town. All the furnishings are of mahogany, and Compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. 331 equal, if not exceeding, the equipment of any bank between Omaha and the Dakota line. Its resources exceed half a million dollars, while that of the allied banks more than doubles that sum, making them one of the strongest financial institutions along the borders of the two states. Mr. Woods was married in Spencer, July 26, 1899, to Miss Kate Kloke, she being a daughter of John Kloke, one of the leading business men of the town. Two children have come to bless their union, Clayton and LeVerne, both sturdy youngsters, and the Woods home is one of the pleasantest and most hospitable to be found in the community. Mr. Woods has been a life-long republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, an i Odd Fellow and Royal Highlander, also belonging to both or ders of the Woodmen. With his family, he is a regular attendant at the Congregational church. ELWIN E. BROWDER. Elwin E. Browder, son of George R. and Mary A. (Wheless) Browder, was born in Hopkinton, Iowa, December 9, 1859, and was seventh in a fam ily of eight children. In March, 1883, he came with his father and family to Boone county, Nebraska. In 1892 Mr. Browder purchased one hundred and twenty acres in section one, township nineteen, range six, which remained the home place until 1894, when he retired from active farm life and moved to Albion, where he purchased and later improved a good home; the same year, in partner ship with his brother, J. A., going into the hard ware and implement business, which they con tinued for two years and then sold, after which Elwin E. engaged in the implement business for three years, and then retired until 1901. In that year he took his nephew. A. E. Browder, into partnership, in which interest they continued until the spring of 1910, when Elwin E. sold and pur chased an implement business which he still con ducts. Mr. Browder also engages in real estate, mostly in his own interests, buying and selling in his own name. Mr. Browder served for nine years on the Al bion city school board, and has also served as chair man of the Albion city board. He has been pros perous and successful, and owns one-half section of grain and alfalfa land, besides good property and business interests in Albion. On October 6, 1881, Mr. Browder was married to Miss Fanny Garrett, of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Browder have had three children, named as fol lows: George G., who is married and living in Albion, has one daughter; Audra B., and Delia M., who resides at home. Mrs. Browder 's father died in 1883, at Albion, and her mother died in the year 1895. She has one sister residing in Denver, Colorado, one in the state of Oregon, one in Albion, and another in Council Bluffs, and a brother who resides in the state of Washington. Our subject, Mr. Browder, is one of the sub stantial business men of his country, and is widely and favorably known. He has been in active church work for twenty-five years and is president of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Epis copal church in Albion. He is also district stew ard. The father of our subject, George R. Browder, was born in Virginia, June 10, 1821. After liv ing some years in Kentucky, Illinois, and Iowa, where he engaged in stock raising and farming, he retired from active life and came to Boone county, Nebraska, in 1883. He had for some years been shipping horses to Boone county. On February 14, 1844, he married Miss Mary A. Wheless of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. George R. Browder had eight children born to them, seven of whom are living : two daughters and one son who reside in Council Bluffs, Iowa; one son in Lin coln, Nebraska; one daugter in Albion; one in Missouri ; one daughter deceased ; and one son, El win E., the subject of this biographical writing. Mr. Browder, the father of our subject, died in 1901 at Albion, and the mother died in 1906 at Al bion, where they were well and favorably known. FRED ULRICH. Fred Ulrich is one of the younger farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have met with suc cess as farmers and stockmen in that region. Mr. Ulrich was born in the state of Wisconsin, in 1874, and is the son of Peter and Mary Ulrich. Peter Ulrich was born in western Prussia, Ger many, in 1830, reached his majority in his native country, and came to Wisconsin as a young man. He was a farmer by occupation and served dur ing the latter part of the civil war, being drafted into service in 1865. After the war, he returned to Wisconsin and resumed his farming operations. In 1886, the Miller family came to Wayne county and bought the Arnold homestead, where they now reside, pleasantly situated on section six, township twenty-five, range two, which had a few improvements. Fred Ulrich had received a fair education in his native state and after coming to Nebraska was chiefly occupied in helping his father to cultivate and improve his land. He has followed farming all his life, and is counted one of the progressive, intelligent operators of his locality. He now op erates the home place On his own account. He is interested in every movement that is cal culated to advance the general welfare and pros perity and has many friends throughout the county, where he is well known. G. E. FREIBERG. Among the younger "old settlers," if one may use the apparently contradictory term, iof Stanton county, may be mentioned the name of the above gentleman, who is a prominent farmer and stock- raiser of the community. 332 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Freiberg is a native of this country, having been born in Wisconsin, November 12, 1868, to Fred and Henrietta Freiberg, who had 'come from Germany only a few years before, in 1866. They had lived in Wisconsin for three years following their arrival in America. They had then come to Stanton county and filed on a homestead there. The subscriber was born in the loo1 house which they erected on their homestead, and his early years were spent there. At this time, the country presented a very dif ferent aspect from the present time. Deer and an telope were plentiful enough in those days for the early settler to depend on them for a good share of the fresh meat for his family. There were many drawbacks, however, owing to the distance from any market, and various mis fortunes which afflicted them. The 'first few years in the new country saw the crops fail because of the plagues of grasshoppers which descended upon the land and literally devoured every green thing. Prairie fires, while not exactly of common occur rence, were yet possibilities which had to be taken into consideration, while in the cold weather, there was the dreaded blizzard to be feared. In 1891, Mr Freiberg married Miss Ida Mass, of this county, and five years later, he brought his little family to the farm he had just purchased, in section twenty-four, township twenty-three, range one, east, which is still their home. At first, like many other farmers, Mr. Freiberg gave his whole attention merely to grain-raising, but later decided to go into stock raising, and the results have justified his decision, as he has met with great success. He is well-known throughout this section of the country as a most progressive farmer, and an upright citizen. His integrity and strong character have gained him friends among all with whom he has come into contact. Mr. and Mrs. Freiberg have three children, Walter, Ervin and Agnes. The family hold a very prominent place in the social life of the com munity and are highly esteemed by all. JOSEPH PATROS. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is entitled to a foremost place. Mr. Patros is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his community, and has served his district in the capacity as a school director for many years. Mr. Patros re sides in section fifteen, township twenty-six, range eight, where he has a pleasant home and valuable estate. Mr. Patros is a native of the state of Illinois, born near Chebanse in 1855. His father, F. X. Patros was a French Canadian, born in Canada, in 1820, and died in the year of 1908 ; his mother, Louis (Cote) Patros. was also born in Canada, and died in Illinois. In the year of 1869 the Pa tros family with six other families and seven teams started from Illinois and came to Nebraska by the way of Omaha, and after four weeks on the road, located in section twenty-one, township twenty-six, range eight. Joseph Patros in 1880, took a homestead in section fifteen, township twen ty-six, range eight, where he began operations for himself at the age of twenty-five. When the Pa tros family first arrived Antelope county was al- , most a wilderness. Deer and antelope were plen tiful. There were but a very few settlers here, and the Indians camped along the Elk Horn river, and the pioneers experienced many dangers and frights from the redskins. On two occasions horses were stolen by the Indians, the first time on March 4, 1870, the horses being found at Fort Randall; and again on March 4, 1874, when 'the animals were located at Fort Thompson. The nearest post-office was at Norfolk, fifty miles distant, and they hauled their grain by wagon to Wisner or Columbus. Another danger they had to encounter on the old frontier was that of prairie fire, which the family had, to fight many times to save their lives and home. In 1878 at the time of the big prairie fire Mr. Patros was returning home from Beaver Creek, forty-five miles away where he had gone to summons a doctor and on his way home was overtaken by the fire and had to ride for his life, being fortunate to find a place that had been previously burned; he stopped, the fire jumped over him and swept on leaving Mr. Patros to con tinue his journey in safety. Mr. Patros relates that in the blizzard of 1873 the snow fell so thick that it stopped the cur rent in i the Elk Horn river and that the strong wind whipped the snow that had mixed with the water in the river up onto the banks in drifts about forty feet high and left the bed of the river comparatively dry. The drifts throughout the country were packed so solidly by the wind that teams of horses could be driven over them higher than the tree tops. One old neighbor, Joseph Duncan, and his wife, were "snowed in" in their house until next day the snow having drifted until it completely covered the house. The lamp that was burning in the house went out for lack of good air, and Mr. Dun can and wife were all but suffocated when rescued by Mr. Patros and Mr. Andy Duggan who hap pened to think of the possible danger of the two old people. Mr. Patros and Mr. Duggan brought shovels, dug through a snow bank thirty feet deep to Mr. Duncan's door where they rescued the old people. Joseph Patros was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Georgia Eastman, and Mr. and Mrs. Pa tros are the parents of five children, named as fol lows: Violet, who is now Mrs. John Bowers, she having one child; Virginia, wife of Mr. Robert Brwning, and has two children; Hazel, who is the wife of Mr. Dewitt Gunter, and has one child; COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 333 Leo, who attends business college at York; and Ida, deceased in 1886. Mr. Patros is a populist po litically and was brought up in the Roman Catho lie faith. AUGUST HAPPEL. August Happel, a retired farmer, resides in Plainview, Nebraska. He is a native son of Ne braska, and has spent his entire life in the ' ' Corn- husker" state. His father, Jacob Happel, was born in the Province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger many,, coming to America when a young man and residing for the first few years after landing in the new world at Quincy, Illinois. He came tb Nebraska in 1870, settled in Washington county, and married there. He took up land eighteen miles south of Blair, where he prospered to an ex tent that enabled him to retire in 1907 from active farming and live in comfort at Fremont. The mother, Miss Anna Finkhaus, was also a native of Germany, emigrating with her parents, who settled in Washington county when that part of the state was on the frontier. August is the eldest 'of their four children; Jacob owns a fine farm in Dodge county; Emma, the wife of Carl Bopp, lives in Wyoming; and John, the youngest, cultivates the old home farm eighteen miles south of Blair. August Happel was born in Washington coun ty, May 19, 1875, and remained under the paren tal roof until January, 1895, when he came to Knox county and for several years rented farm ing land. At this time he married and moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which his father bought and , sold to the son, the purchase price be ing earned from the land in five years, two thou sand two hundred dollars of which was paid in one season although prices were low. This required energy and economy when" eggs brought but four cents a dozen, butter from five to eight cents a pound, and corn only eight and ten cents a bushel — a drug on the market at that. On one occasion when a few pairs of children 's shoes and a few ne cessary groceries were needed, it took two big loads of corn to settle the account. Great courage was needed to remain on the land at that time, but the results accomplished by those who fought the battle have been a rich reward. Mr. Happel owns the home farm of one hun dred and sixty acres near Creighton, and four hundred and eighty acres of fine grazing land in Cherry county. Mr. Happel was married in Knox county, March 5, 1897, to Miss Minnie Hilkemeier whom he had known slightly in Washington county when they were children. She is a native of I/eippe-Detwold, whence her parents, Chris and Sophia (Sehauf) Hilkemeier, emigrated in 1882 by way of Bremen to New York. Here they were de tained for two weeks on Ellis Island, owing to the illness iof a son, and then came on to Nebraska. Her father farmed near Arlington two years, near Fontanelle the same length of time, and a like pe riod near Blair, before making permanent resi dence in Knox county, near Creighton. Here on the frontier they suffered from privations, some times barely escaping prairie fires. Mrs. Hilke meier died May 21, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Happel are the parents of four children : Annie, who died at the age of four years and four months ; John, Henry, and Emma. They moved to Plainview in February, 1906, making that their home for a year or two, and then purchased a farm near town. During the first year of his residence in Plainview, Mr. Hap pel engaged in the dray business, and later oper ated a corn sheller in the territory tributary to Plainview. Mr. Happel was too young to remember much of the grasshopper plague in the early years of settlement, but recalls that the pests foraged on his father's crops at one time, for ten and one- half days. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he went three-quarters of a mile from home to bring the children together with two neighbor girls, from school. His father was out in this storm gathering in his stock and was probably kept from being lost by the barking of a small dog who led the way home. The recital of early hardships is little understood by the young folks now grow ing up in comfort and ease. Mr. Happel is a democrat, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. LUDWIG KNOEPFEL. Ludwig Knoepfel was born in Germany in 1851. He came to America in 1881, arriving in Howard county, Nebraska, August 1, of that year, and the following month settled on a homestead on section six, township fourteen, range twelve, occupying the place ever since that time. Here he has gone through all the pioneer experiences, con tinuously engage in stock and grain raising, and now owns a fineiy improved farm, and enjoys the esteem of his fellowmen. Mr. Knoepfel was married in Germany in 1877, to Elizabeth Kammer, and they have a fine fami ly of six children : Christian, William, Sophia, Albertina, Henry and Susan, all married and set tled in nice homes in and about Howard county, with the exception of Henry, who is still single. Mrs. Knoepfel died on the homestead on Decem ber 26, 1904, and her loss was sincerely mourned by her devoted family and many friends. In 1908, Mr. Knoepfel married Mrs. Cather ine Nehls, who is from a prominent pioneer fami ly of Hall county, coming to America with her parents when she was a child of. eight years of age, from Russia, but being of German descent. 334 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. JOHN KNOEPFEL. John Knoepfel, who for the past thirty-six years has resided in Howard county, and during this time has acquired a fine property as a result of his industry and good management, is widely known in that locality and held in the highest esteem as a farmer and citizen. He has a pleas ant and comfortable home in Kelso precinct, and is, one of the prominent men of affairs in his com munity. Mr. Knoepfel is a native of Germany, born on September 28, 1847, and is a son of Henry and Eva Knoepfel, the eighth in a family of nine chil dren. His boyhood was spent in that country, and he was married there in 1873, to Amelia Meyer, they coming to America the following year. Their first location here was in Howard county, where they took a homestead on section fourteen, township fourteen, range twelve, and proved up on a quarter section of land, which they have made their home farm up to the present time. Mr. Knoepfel has his land under cultivation and raises fine crops of grain, as well as being quite exten sively engaged in the stock business. He has erected fine modern buildings on his farm, having a handsome residence, and is enjoying to the full his present prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Knoepfel have an interesting family of six children : Emma, Annie, Lizzie, Chris, Martha and Dora, the last mentioned three living at home, while the others are married, and with their families are settled in comfortable homes in Howard county. WILLIAM E. BALIMAN. William E. Baliman, operator of a farm in section thirty-two, township thirteen, range nine, situated in St. Libory precinct, known as the Voor- hes homestead farm, is also one of the prominent old settlers of Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. Baliman was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 24, 1870. When he was but one year of age, his parents, William H. and Mary (LaClair) Baliman, came into Howard county, settling on a farm, where he grew up, receiving his early edu cation in the precinct schools, and later attending the high school at Atkinson, Nebraska, for one year. After leaving school he returned to his father's farm and assisted in carrying on the work on the homestead until he was twenty-one years of age, when he struck out for himself, following dif ferent vocations for a number of years, spending some years as a teacher in the public schools of his county. He then attended the Grand Island Busi ness college, taking up a commercial course, and after completing this, returned to Howard coun ty and located on a farm of his wife's which he has succeeded in building up in fine shape. For a number of years past he has been engaged in the poultry raising business, principally, making a specialty of this branch, and has met with de cided success. He is constantly extending his op erations, having a fine flock, and continually building it up with the best blood obtainable, and is recognized as an authority on all subjects per taining to the poultry business. On October 30, i895, Mr. Baliman was married to Ada Voorhes, and to them have been born two children, Vorha May and Zdith Jane. The family have a pleasant and hospitable home, and are among the popular members of society in their community, enjoying a wide circle of friends. Mr. Baliman is now serving as moderator of school district number forty-one. JOHN P. McNICHOLS. Among the prominent business men of Atkin son, Nebraska, may be mentioned John P. Me- Nichols, who came to the state in 1883, and first settled on a homestead three miles west of 0 'Neill, in November of that year. Later he changed his claim to a pre-emption claim, under which he ac quired title to the land. Later he moved into 0 'Neill and served five years as marshal, and after spending three years in the livery business went to Omaha and worked two years at the stock yards. In 1892 he located in Atkinson, and has since been a merchant of that town. He also owns a bakery and restaurant, as well as a meat market, and is successful in all these enterprises. He is in terested in various other lines and conducts an ex tensive ice business, having three ice houses, which he fills annually from ponds west of the city. Mr. MeNiehols was born at Syracuse, New York, June 7, 1857, a son of John and Mary Me Niehols, who moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in the fall of the year in which he was born. In 1868 the family moved to Butler county, Iowa, and in 1875 to Story county in the same state, where the father lived until 1884, when he se cured a homestead four miles east of O'Neill, Nebraska. November 14, 1886, J. P. MeNiehols married Miss Mary Wynn, a native of Scranton, Penn sylvania, and a daughter of James and Bridget Wynn, who came to Nebraska in 1878 and settled near the county seat of Holt county. Seven chil dren were born of this union : Genevieve has been a teacher in the Atkinson schools since 1907 ; Fran cis, his father's business assistant, is ,an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the Mod ern Woodmen of America; Morris is also asso ciated with his father in business ; Lucile, Lorinea, Helen and Moretta, are all in school. Mr. Me Niehols is a democrat in politics and is a member of the Catholic church. On another page of this volume will be found a picture of Mr. MeNiehols and family. At the time of the blizzard of January 12. 1888, Mr. MeNiehols was at home and had hard work to grope his way through the storm to bring J. P. McNICHOLS AND FAMILY. . COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 335 his children home from school. For 'three years prior to coming to Holt county he was employed in the mountains around Leadville, Colorado, and while in that region often enjoyed the sport of hunting for big game, as deer, elk and antelope were plentiful within a day's ride from camp. He spent his time prospecting until his resources were exhausted, then would work for a time in the mines until he had a ' ' grub stake ' ' to enable him to continue with his prospecting. When he first located in Nebraska he lived in a dugout and later erected a log house, with "Nebraska shingles," sod. He was acquainted with "Doc" Middleton, "Kid" Wade, and other noted rustlers of early days, and is able to relate many kind deeds which were performed by these men, who were at that time social outcasts. Mr. MeNiehols is one of the earlier settlers of the county and is well known within its limits, ALONZO 0. JENKINS. Alonzo 0. Jenkins and wife have spent most of their lives in Valley county, where they were reared and married, and where they now have a fine dairy farm. They are surrounded by friends and successful' financially, and now look back with wonder at their early years there amid pioneer surroundings. Both came there with their parents and in childhood passed through the usual adver sities of life in a new country. Mr. Jenkins was born in Montcalm county, Michigan, May 23, 1869, son of William F. and Angeline (Camp bell) Jenkins. The father came overland to Valley county from Michigan in the winter of 1879 and was one of the early homesteaders of central Ne braska. He bought a stock of Yankee notions to sell along the way and did not know his destina tion when he left his old home in Michigan. Un til the time of his death, April 22, 1910, he was one of the' progressive and useful citizens of his portion of the state. The old home farm has an orchard of forty acres and from this fact is known as the Jenkins fruit farm, on whieh the mother still resides. She and her son Alonzo came to Ne braska by rail to join the husband and father in 1880, the year after he came to prepare a home. Their early days were times of hardship and pri vation, and Alonzo still well remembers when the old coffee mill owned by a neighbor was used to grind grain into meal for the family, and for the use of it the early settlers paid a toll of one cup in every ten of ground meal. His first shelter was two sheets fastened to a pole in the form of a tent. A neighbor whom he did not know excited his suspicion by praising his best horse. He feared the neighbor might be the notorious Doc Middle- ton, and he called attention to the excellence of his Winchester. The visitor proved to be the Rev. Phillip Meeker, his son's future father-in-law. He built a large sod house and in it kept a hotel, sometimes having even the entire floor covered with sleepers, and one time stored the last one on a table, there being no more 'room on the floor. March 4, 1888, Mr. Jenkins was married to Helen Meeker, daughter of Rev. Phillip and Alma (Wing) Meeker, one of their six children, all of whom now survive save one, although Mrs. Jen kins is the only one of the family residing in Ne braska. Her parents were pioneers of Nebraska, and both are now deceased. The mother died on the Meeker homestead in Valley county in 1885, and the father removed in 1893 to Oregon, where his death occurred in 1901. Mr. Jenkins has looked out for himself since he reached the age of eighteen years. In 1894 he attended college in Lincoln, and in 1895 became manager of College View Lumber yard. He worked for a year as wholesale agent for the M. L. Tres- tor Coal yard at Lincoln, after which for five years he was engaged in the same business, on his own account in Lincoln. He and his wife then re turned to their former home and located on a farm on section twenty-eight, township seventeen, range sixteen, two miles southwest of Arcadia, where he is engaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying. They have three children: Mildred, wife of Al bert Dyrea, of Arcadia, has one child; Angeline and Ruth at home. Mr. Jenkins has a vivid recollection of the blizzard of January 12, 1888; seeing it coming he ran from school home, reaching it in safety. The rest of the scholars, remained with the teacher at a near neighbor's through the night. He re members the three days' storm in October, 1888, that began the winter of the deep snow, and the flood of the following spring, when the heavy snow blanket began to melt. In polities Mr. Jenkins is a republican. MELVIN C. GARRETT. Perseverance and diligence are the stepping stones to success, and these characteristics, supple mented by honesty and good citizenship, are the leading attributes possessed by the gentleman herein named. Mr. Garrett has been a resident of Madison county, Nebraska, some twenty-three years, and his name is closely identified with the upbuilding of his locality, where he is a well- known banker and business man, and is highly respected. Melvin C. Garrett was born in Morgan county, Tennessee, June 15, 1859, and was fourth of five sons in the family of Squire and Melinda Garrett, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Garrett resided in Morgan county, until ten years of age, when he went to Nodaway, Missouri, to live; his par ents both being deceased at that time. He lived in Missouri until twenty years of age, and then went to Montana on a surveying expedition for the Northern Pacific railroad for three years. He then went to Burlington, Iowa, taking a two-year 336 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. commercial course in college; and then spent one and a half years in South Dakota, coming to Madison, Madison county, Nebraska, in October of 1887, and since his residence here has become one of the most prominent and active business men of his locality. He has served his county well in the office of deputy county clerk, which he held one and a half years, 1888-1889 and Janu ary, 1890, after which he held the position of book keeper in the First National bank of Madison one year; and then became cashier of the same bank, occupying this position until January 1, 1909, on which date he became president of the above named bank. Mr. Garrett was married to Miss Lizzie C. Miller, at West Point, Nebraska, September 18, 1890, who is the daughter of Samuel and Cather ine Miller, an old Nebraska family of thirty years back. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have five children: Ralph W., Melvin M., Emma, Martha, and Cativ erine, all of whom reside at home, the eldest son, Ralph W., attending the state university. Mr. Garrett is practically a self-made man who has 'made a success of life along financial and oth er lines, and is widely known. He is identified with the best interests of his town and county along educational and social lines. The First Na tional bank which came into existence in August, 1887, taking over the Madison County Savings bank, is one of the solid financial institutions of Nebraska, with the following officials: Melvin C. Garrett, president; James L. Grant, vice presi dent; Ed Fricke, cashier. ISAAC W. SANDBERG. Isaac W. Sandberg, a leading merchant and en terprising citizen of Ashton, Nebraska, is an ex ample of the success that has been attained by many self-made men of his county and state with in the past half century. He was one of the earlier settlers of Sherman county, being brought there by his parents at the age of fifteen years. He was born in Sweden, April 8, 1866, a son of Samuel and Anna C. (Anderson) Sandberg, whose eight children were all born in that country. The father was born in 1824, and was married in 1852, bringing his wife and six children to America in 1881. They landed in New York, August 20th, and six days later arrived at Grand Island, Ne braska. In September of the same year they se cured a homestead on the northeast quarter of section eight, township fifteen, range thirteen, and the father's death occurred on this home stead August 6, 1891. Mrs. Sandberg now lives in Ashton with her son Isaac W. Two of their children joined them in Sherman county in 1889. Of the eight children born to Samuel Sand berg, all are now living, namely: Alexander, of Howard county; Mary, Mrs. August A. Johnson, lives in Burt county, Nebraska ; Anna, lives with her mother and brother in Ashton : John S., lives in Minnesota; Amelia, Mrs. Fred Hanson, and Andretta, Mrs. Fred Anderson, live at Dietz, Wyo ming; Hannah, Mrs. John Johnson, lives at Bell- ingham, Washington. Isaac W. Sandberg lived on the homestead un til 1905, being engaged in farming and stock raising until August of that year, when he came to Ashton and engaged in the lumber and hard ware business, the firm name now being the Ash ton Lumber Company, one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in central Nebraska, and its members being well known as business men of unquestioned integrity and reliability. Mr. Sandberg is one of the hustling, wide-awake merchants of Ashton and is closely identified with the progress and upbuilding of his community. He still owns the old homestead, being one of the few men of the present generation who own the orig inal land secured by them or their families from the government. He has added two hundred acres of land to this tract by purchase, and thus has a large and well equipped grain and stock farm. He also owns eighty acres of land within the vil lage limits of Ashton. He has taken an active interest in local affairs and is now serving as treasurer of the township and village of Ashton and is a member of the town board. Mr. Sandberg was married, September 22, 1904, to Miss Emelen Bostrom, in Laramie, Wyo ming, and they have one child living, Darr Gor don. FRANZ HIRSCHMAN. (Deceased.) Among Cedar county's most honored and sub stantial citizens we must not forget to mention the venerable Franz Hirschman, now deceased. For years he was recognized as one of the high est types of sturdy pioneers who gave up the com forts and conveniences of the more thickly set tled communities of -the east to help populate and develop the virgin prairies of the boundless west. Mr. Hirschman was bora at Reichenberg, Aus tria, February 25, 1818 ; he grew to manhood in his native state, receiving the usual education, and in 1838 was united in marriage to Miss Thek- la Dawat, whose birth occurred May 19, 1829. In 1853, Mr. and Mrs. Hirschman emigrated to America, embarking at Bremen in a sailing vessel. After six weeks on the water they landed at Cas tle Garden, New York, where their older son, three years of age, died from the effects of sea sickness ; it had been the mother's prayer that the little one might be spared until they reached the shore, that its little body might not be consigned to the sea, as others had been done. The younger one died from the same cause soon after reaching Milwaukee, their destination, leaving them child less. For nine years they lived in Milwaukee, where the father was employed at his trade, a carpenter, and then in 1862, moved to Juneau county, Wis- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 337 consin. Here Mr. Hirschman became a farmer and lived on his land near Mauston, until 1872, when he followed the exodus of thrifty German citizens who left that state and populated the eastern end of Nebraska. They drove across the prairies of Iowa, some with oxen, some with horse teams, camping in the open country for five weeks before reaching Cedar county, their destination, 'October 22, 1872. Mr. Hirschman had been in the county in 1871 and filed on a homestead and later a timber claim in the valley of the East Bow creek ; this he pro ceeded to subdue and put into cultivation; later he added by purchase, owning in all some four hundred acres of land. Discouragements followed him, and for several years the myriad swarms of grasshoppers devoured his crops, leaving him lit tle or nothing on which to support his family. Provisions were scarce and hard to procure. St. James, St. Helena, and Yankton were their near est market towns where little was paid for the small amount of produce they had to sell, and high prices charged for what they, of necessity, must buy. In 1893 Mr. Hirschman relinquished active farm management and retired to Hartington, where the remainder of his life was spent, he died December 11, 1896, at the age of seventy-eight years; the wife survived until January 6, 1900, attaining the age of seventy years. Mr. Hirschman was a life-long democrat, and with his wife and family, was a worthy member of the Catholic church. Eleven sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hirschman, of whom three died in in fancy. The others are: Henry, farming in East Bow valley; August J., who died in 1896 at the age of thirty-eight; Julius, also a farmer in the valley of the East Bow ; the remaining sons reside in Hartington, and are employed as follows : John, engaged in the sand and . gravel business ; An thony, a leading merchant; Edward B., county treasurer; Albert, retired farmer; and Hugo H., retired merchant. Few sires have had the satisfaction of rearing so many worthy and substantial sons. All are a credit to him, to the state and the nation. JOHN M. COLBORN. In presenting to the public a history of Ne braska, the list would not be complete without having mentioned the name of this gentleman. Mr. Colborn is one of the leading old settlers and prominent ranchmen of Merrick county, Ne braska, having spent the past thirty-seven years and more on his present homestead. John M. Colborn was born in Canada, Octo ber 28, 1853, and was third of eleven children in the family of Abram and Mary (Comfort) Col born. In 1854, the Colborn family of father, mother, and sons, George and John, moved to Sauk county, Wisconsin. John grew up on the 12 farm in Sauk county, and in the spring of 1874 came to Merrick county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead on section eighteen, township fourteen, range eight, and this has remained his home farm until this date, which makes Mr. Colborn one of the few original pioneer homesteaders that still reside on the old homestead. Mr. Colborn is one of three brothers 'that live in this immediate neighborhood. He has a fine farm of two hun dred acres, and is a successful farmer and stock man. Mr. Colborn was married February 19, 1880, to Miss Belle Jolls, on the Jolls farm in Merrick county. The Jolls family is one of the pioneer families of this section of Nebraska, having come to Merrick county in August, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Colborn have six children: Jessie, wife of William Green, lives in Nance county, Nebraska ; Lena, a teacher in public schools; Edith, wife of H. E. Trout, lives in McPherson county; Lee Jolls, Mark S., and Susie. They are a family who are prominent in social and educational circles. Mr. Colborn takes a deep interest in local affairs, and was a member of the county board in 1908 and 1909. J. H. MENKENS. Mr. J. H. Menkins, a prominent farmer and stockman, living on section five, township twenty- eight, range eight, is well known throughout Knox county. He has made this vicinity his home for the past eleven years, and during that time has done much to aid in the development of the re gion. Mr. Menkens is a native of Oldenburg Village province of Oldenburg, Germany, and was born in 1857. He grew up in his native land, procuring a limited education, and worked at farming until leaving home in 1875, bound for the new world. He embarked at Bremen on the steamship "Ohio," and landed in Baltimore after a rather tedious voyage, coming directly across the states to Nebraska, and locating in Cumings county, where he remained up to 1892. He farmed during that time, and passed through the usual discour agements that came to the early settlers in the section, but made it his home for about fifteen years. He then removed to Madison county and was engaged in farming for eight years. In March, 1900, he came to Knox county, and purchased the place which he now occupies, known as the John Hamm claim. This he has put in the finest possible shape, and it is proving one of the best producing farms in the county. Mr. Menkens is devoting his entire time to its manage ment, and is raising considerable livestock, as well as grain, etc. He had been here in 1882, and filed on a tree claim, but later gave it up. Mr. Menkens was married in Cumings coun ty to Miss Dora Wenck, July 8, 1891. Mrs. Menkens is a native of Germany. They have one child, Anna, now living at home. 338 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. CHARLES E. CLEAVLAND. The gentleman above mentioned, who was an old-time resident of Nance county, Nebraska, owned and occupied a comfortable home in Bel grade, and was a substantial and worthy citizen of his community. Charles E. Cleavland is a native of Michigan, born in Branch county, September 16, 1845, and was the youngest of three children born to Solo mon and Mary Cleavland, the former dying when Charles was a babe two weeks old. The mother moved to Ionia county with her little family, and then to Cass county, Michigan, in 1851, where our subject grew up and was educated. He was mar ried in Jackson county, on April 11, 1866, to Vic toria J. Smith, and the young couple followed farming in Michigan for a number of years. Three children were born of the marriage: Anna Jane, now the widow of Frank Hodges; Milton, of Liverpool, Texas, and Ellen M., who died in California when seven months old. On May 14, 1883, Mr. Cleavland landed in Nance county, Nebraska, settled on a pre-emption claim, and started in the farming and stock rais ing business, being joined by his children several years later. He later engaged in the poultry busi ness, making a success of it. Mr. Cleavland is a veteran of the civil war, enlisting in Company A, Twelfth Michigan In fantry, on January 25, 1862, and was discharged from service three years later to the exact date, at Duval's Bluff, Arkansas. During his career as a soldier he took active part in the battle of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, was at the Siege of Vicks burg and fall of that city, also in numerous minor battles and skirmishes. On September 7, 1885, Mr. Cleavland was mar ried the second time, to Miss Rachel Gibson, the ceremony taking place in Nance county. Dur ing the early years Mr. Cleavland served as jus tice of the peace in Nance county, and had the dis tinction of being the first to hold that office in Branch township. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Cleav land sold his property in Belgrade and moved to Liverpool, Texas, where he remained until Febru ary, 1911, then going to Stephens, Arkansas, where he had previously purchased a farm, and on which he now lives. ARCHIBALD WALRATH. Among the prominent old settlers who early settled in Nebraska may be mentioned Archibald Walrath, now of Atkinson, who first located in Holt county. He has been a continuous resident of Atkinson since 1885, first coming there in search of a climate that would benefit his wife, who was an invalid. He rented a house the first year and both he and his wife spent much of their time in the open, hunting or fishing, and it was found that the climate and outdoor life was work ing wonders for Mrs. Walrath, who recuperated her strength rapidly, gaining twenty-five pounds in three months. He then purchased four and two-thirds acres of land in the eastern part of he town. He sold an acre and a third, and on the remainder began gardening on a large scale and planted berries and fruits. One year he and his son, who was a partner in the business, shipped sixteen thousand eight hundred and fifty quarts of strawberries from a two-acre patch, fifty pickers helping them to prepare the fruits for market. They at one time picked four bushels of cherries from a single tree, and have had black raspberries, currants, Siberian crab-apples and other good things in like proportion. Mr. Wal rath erected an elaborate irrigating plant, there by assuring himself a supply of water, while oth ers lost their crop or a large part of it through depending on the natural moisture of the season, which is smetimes deficient. During the winter months Mr. Walrath was always in demand to help in the various meat markets of the town, securing larger wages than ordinarily given for this kind of service, and one prospective buyer of a market made the deal on condition that Mr. Walrath would take charge. August 1, 1906, he opened a market with his own capital, and with his son has conducted a very successful business enterprise since that time. Be sides keeping a supply of all kinds of meats, they have the largest variety of excellent fruits of any store in Atkinson, together with celery and other relishes. It is regarded as one of the best stocked and equipped markets in that part of the state. Mr. Walrath was born at Ingham's Mills, Herkimer county, New York, December 4, 1840. His father, Archibald Walrath, senior, attained the age of ninety-two years. The house in which he was born is still in the possession of the family, being owned by one of the sons, who also owns the farm of one hundred acres of land, and has lived there upwards of eighty years. The moth er, who was Lucinda Hose, born May 22, 1803, lived over a century and read without glasses. At the age of one hundred years she wrote a letter to her son at Atkinson, a truly remarkable achievement. Her death occurred February 22, 1911. Her father, Henry Hose, attained the age of seventy-five years, and her mother ninety-eight years. Mr. Walrath 's paternal grandfather also reached the age of ninety-eight years and the grandmother eighty-eight years. Considering the present rugged health of Mr. Walrath he may well be expected to rival his ancestors in the age he reaches. Upon nearing his majority Mr. Walrath learn ed the trade of blacksmith at Little Falls, near his home, and was at work there when war broke out. He enlisted August 23, 1860, in Company A, one Hundred and Twenty-first New York Volun teers under Colonel Upton, who later became fa mous as the formulator of the military tactics that bear his name. Mr. Walrath received his bap tism of fire at the second battle of Bull Run and COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 339 in the following December returned home, having been discharged from a hospital. August 21, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company I, Sixty-eighth New York, participating in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Buzzards Roost, Dalton, Kenesaw Moun tain, Duck River, Franklin and Nashville. He participated in seventeen engagements and was wounded seven times. He lost an eye in a hand- to-hand encounter with a "Johnnie" at Deerhead Cove, Georgia, February 15, 1865, and although he was unconscious most of the time from Feb ruary 15 until June 22, until an operation could be performed to remove the shattered bone, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had got his man — a guerilla who had been bushwhacking to the annoyance of the neighborhood. His regi ment was sent to Fort Pulaski, on Tybee Island, Georgia, and remained there until November 30, 1865, then was sent to New York by water, and discharged in that city the eighteenth of De cember: On the evening of Mr. Walrath 's return home he attended a- party in the neighborhood, where none of his old companions knew him, and the young lady to whom he was engaged refused to dance or take any part in the merrymaking, as he had been reported killed and a funeral service had even been held for him. She had gone upstairs, where he found her, and asking her to honor him with her hand for a dance, was recognized, and she descended with him to the dancing floor, where she made merry as she had never done be fore. In time she became his wife, as she had promised before he went to war. After marriage Mr. Walrath again took up his trade at Ingham 's Mills and later built a shop of his own, but owing to the severe strain on his remaining eye, in 1868 had to give up his trade. Procuring a light wagon, for several years he retailed meat around the countrj^, and in 1874 opened a meat market at Little Palls, remaining there until he sold out and went west, as mention ed above. Mr. Walrath 's marriage occurred January 6, 1866, to Miss Lena Kretser, who had waited three long years for his return from the army. She was born at Fulton, New York, a daughter of John Kretser, of French-Canadian parentage. Mrs. Walrath died at Atkinson, July 19, 1900, sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. Four children were born of this union, of whom but one survives, Martin H. Martin H. Walrath was born at Ingham's Mills, January 15, 1873, and has been associated in business with his father since attaining his majority. May 20, 1900, he married Miss Coila Uttley, of O'Neill, who has borne him four daugh ters: Lola, Helen, Maude and Thelma. Archibald Walrath is a republican in politics, since 1889 a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen, and a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic since its organization, hav ing filled all the offices in the local post. Hav ing a fine gift of oratory, he has often delivered an oration on Decoration Day in local celebra tions, including the years 1888, 1892 and 1910. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he was getting ready to go to school for his boy, when the latter walked in, white as a marble statute, his clothing pastered with the icy dust. He had walked south from the school house to the railroad track, followed that to the fence which led to his father's gate, and thence felt his way along a row of trees until he reached the house. In early days when times were hard and fuel scarce, the family burned corn stalks and corn, the latter commodity being cheaper than coal. Deer and antelope were to be seen on the prairie when they first came and for several years after ward, and until the land had been broken prairie fires were frequent and they had to fight them, as did the other settlers. He has had a long and busy life, but notwithstanding his weight of years is as light of step and full of vim as most men one-fourth his age, and gives promise of attaining at least the long span of years which were granted to many of his ancestors. He is well known in his community as a public-spirited cit izen and an able and reliable business man. ARTHUR BROWDER. Arthur Browder, a native-born Nebraskan, being born in Boone county, is the only son of Albert B. and Albina E. Browder. A sketch of the former appears in this volume, while the lat ter departed this life October 6, 1905. The fam ily is among the prominent pioneers of Boone county. Mr. Browder was born on the homestead farm in Boone county, on April 27, 1874, and has the distinction of being one of the first white chil dren born in the county, his parents having set tled here in 1872, and his birthplace was one of the first frame houses erected on a farm in Boone county. He grew up on the home place, and in his fifteenth year came to Albion with his pa rents, receiving his education in the common schools, finishing with a business course in a com mercial college in Omaha in 1892. Upon returning home from school, he asso ciated himself with his father in the hardware business, continuing the work up to 1899, then disposed of his interests and moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he carried on the same line of work for two years. He returned to Albion about 1901 and again embarked in the hardware business, which he has operated successfully since that time. He has met with success, and is now classed among the prominent younger business men of his town, enjoying an extensive patron age, and having one of the best equipped stores in that part of the state, carrying a large and com plete up-to-date stock of goods, 340 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Browder was married to Miss Maude Mc- Daniel, at the home of her parents, in Albion, Ne braska, on December 31, 1896. Mrs. Browder is a native of Missouri, and the youngest of two children, her parents now residing at Boulder, Colo. Mr. and Mrs. Browder had one child, a son, which died at the age of four years. They have a pleasant and comfortable home in Albion, and enjoy the friendship of a large circle of peo ple. F. MEIERHENRY. F. Meierhenry, who came to Nebraska twenty- seven years ago, now owns a very comfortable home on section thirty-five, township twenty-five, range one, Wayne county, where he has develop ed a fine farm. He has always interested himself in whatever movements were on foot for the ad vancement and welfare of his community and the betterment of conditions in the county or state. Mr. Meierhenry was born at Lippe Detmold, Germany, in 1866, and is a son of Herman and Lizzie Meierhenry, natives of that country, who were parents of eight children. He received a common school education in his native place, and was reared to habits of industry and thrift. In 1884, he left home for America, sailing from Bremen to New York on the steamship "El bert." He came direct to Washington county, Nebraska, rented land six years, and then se cured a place of his own. He came to Wayne county in 1898 and secured his present home. This place was slightly improved,, and he has in many ways beautified it and added to its value. He has a fine orchard and grove of about four acres, and his land is well tilled and productive. In 1893, Mr. Meierhenry was united in mar riage with Miss Amelia Maas, and nine children have blessed this union, as follows: Oscar, Au gust, Elza, Donald, deceased, Erreg, Albert, Louis, Edwin, and Adelia. Mrs. Meierhenry, who was born in Wayne county, is a daughter of Carl Maas, was reared here. Mr. Meierhenry is a progressive and useful citizen, esteemed as a man of upright honesty and integrity, and has a wide circle of friends. LOUIS BELZ. A typical pioneer of Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named, Louis Belz, who has lived for many years in this section of the country, and the story of whose life and expe riences has become virtually a part of the history of the development and growth of this region. He has built up for himself a comfortable home, has amassed a fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be regarded as one of the foremost citizens of Stanton county. Mr. Belz was born in Pummon, Germany. April 6, 1832, and is the son of Fred and Kather- ine Belz, his father being a small farmer of the community. Mr. Belz spent his childhood years in Germany, and received his education in the German schools. He was also married there in 1857, to Miss Wilhelmina Zilmer. In 1857, the family left their native land for America, . sailing from Hamberg to Quebec, the little sailing vessel taking eleven weeks for the trip. They came at once to Wisconsin, where they remained until 1866. Wishing to enjoy fully the opportunities afforded the pioneer, they came to Stanton county, Nebraska, traveling by means of a yoke of oxen, the trip from Wiscon sin to Stanton county taking seven weeks, with these slow-going beasts. Mr. Belz here took up a homestead and built a sod house in which he lived a number of years. Later, a log house was erected, the lumber being hauled from Fremont to build it. Here our sub scriber and his family worked and toiled for years, meeting numerous discouragements at first. They lost their crops several times, owing to the rav ages of the grasshoppers, and were more than once compelled to fight prairie fires in order to keep their homes from being destroyed. Their fortunes gradually changed for the better, and now our subject enjoys the comforts of a beau tiful home, very pleasantly located in section twenty-four, and is the owner of a well-equipped farm. He is one of the leading citizens of the community and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Belz are the parents of four children: Lena, Mrs. Gustav Krenzien; Prank, Paul, and Ida, now Mrs. Herman Sidell. CHARLES W. SMITH. Charles W. Smith, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality since 1879. He is known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Nebraska, and after many years' hard labor in accumulating a fine estate, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. He still looks after his farm and business, not being content to settle down in idleness, though the burden of carrying on hard labor has been transferred to younger shoulders. Mr. Smith is a native of Stockholm, Sweden, born January 28, 1835. During his childhood up to the age of eight years, he lived with an aunt who was not overly kind to him; in fact, so bur densome did life become that at the tender age of eight he ran away with an old sea captain who felt pity for him in his forlorn life, and took him to Liverpool. The aunt wrote for the child to re turn to Sweden, but instead he embarked as MR. AND MRS. THOMAS KINGSTON. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 341 cabin boy in a sailboat bound for America. His early youth was spent as a sailor with all the hardships that life implies. When only twelve years of age the ship in which he was sailing was wrecked on a coral bank in the West Indies and they were swept overboard to drift helplessly, without food or water, from nine o'clock Tues day afternoon until midnight the following Sat urday, when a party of wreckers on an island suc ceeded in reaching the drifting boats and brought succor to the famishing castaways. Mr. Smith followed the sea for ten years, and at the age of eighteen became a landsman again, working until 1861 on the docks at New Orleans, loading cotton on vessels plying out of that port. At the outbreak of the war in order to avoid ser vice under the confederate colors, he made his way to Mobile whence he shipped to Cuba, sailing from Havana to New Yrork. Learning that his old friend, the sea captain, was in Maine he pro ceeded there for a short visit, then migrated west by way of Chicago, going on from there to Oma ha, which at that time was the end of the rail road. He worked his way to the mountains as a member of a freighting outfit, spending some time in the various mines throughout "the moun tains" as all the region embraced in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, was called, finding employ ment until the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, which made freighting less strenuous than formerly. A friend and companion in the work with him desired to return east to see his family, and he persuaded Mr. Smith to accom pany him, thus changing the whole course of his life. He settled in Harrison county, Iowa, en gaged in farming until the spring of 1879, at ' which time he started by wagon train for Ne braska, locating in Antelope county. He imme diately took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in southeast quarter, section thirty-two, township twenty-seven, range five, built a sod house and lived in that one year, then erected a good frame house, which was one of the best in that section of the country, hauling the lumber from Niobrara. He later built an addition on this dwelling, and still occupies it. On March 7, 1872, Mr. Smith was married in Iowa to Miss Ann John ston, whose ancestors came originally from the hills of Scotland. They are the parents of five children, whose names are as fol lows: Linzza W., who married Avah Armstrong, and has seven children; Dean B., who married Clara Sheets, they are the parents of five chil dren ; Ralph, whose wife is Miss Anna Hein, they having two children, while Clare holds the posi tion of freight and baggage agent for the South ern Pacific railway company at Cottage Grove, Oregon, and Ruth, the youngest child and only daughter, lives at home. Mrs. Smith passed away on November 13, 1901, deeply mourned by all her family and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Smith and his family enjoy the regard and esteem of a large number of friends and acquaint ances, and owns -a beautiful home, consisting of five hundred and sixty acres of land. This place is plentifully supplied with fine groves surround ing each tract, including a splendid four-acre wal nut grove, which is considered the finest in that part of the country and is one of the chief attrac tions of the estate. Mr. Smith is a democrat in politics. At the time of the memorable blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, three of our subjects children were at school and all of his stock out in the open fields. The eldest son managed to make his way through the fierce storm to the homestead, telling his parents that the two others were to remain at the schoolhouse for the night, but the father, knowing they would suffer from hunger, started after them, losing his way three times during the trip between his own gate leading to the road and the house, a distance of less than fifteen rods, but finally got the youngsters safely home. As for the cattle and other stock, they found their way to the sheds of their own accord, and none were lost. THOMAS KINGSTON. It is quite a change from a comfortable, lux urious home in an old-established country to one in the prairie wilderness of a new world, where re cently the Indian and the wild animals held fuU sway, and few coming from such a home can en dure the privations of the pioneer and remain long enough to reap the reward which can be won from the wilderness. Of such, however, are Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kingston, of Staunton. They are natives of Ireland, and from childhood enjoyed the comforts of a home of plenty, as the parents of both were prosperous, well-to-do people. Mr. Kingston was born November 24, 1851, about forty miles from Cork, near the little vil lage of Glandore, a summer resort by the sea. His father, James Kingston, was a prosperous stockman and dairy farmer, owning his own land, and at his death, Thomas' share of the estate was a small farm and eight hundred pounds, sterling — quite a fortune for a young man just starting out in life. On January 22, 1874, Mr. Kingston was mar ried to Miss Elizabeth Northover, whose father was an English officer in the Coast Guards. Her mother also was English. Shortly after marriage, they decided to try their fortunes in the New World, so the farm was sold, and with the pro ceeds, they embarked on March 26, 1874, on "The Greece. ' ' The voyage, while long, was a very ex citing one. They were only four days out from Queenstown when they heard a signal gun of dis tress and on coming to the rescue, found a French steamer with about seven hundred on board, in cluding crew and passengers, with fires out, nine 342 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. feet of water in the hold and the crew almost ex hausted at the pumps. Boats were lowered and the unfortunates were taken on board the "Greece," making a load of about thirteen hun dred for the old vessel. The French captain de clared the vessel abandoned, and the captain of ' ' The Greece ' ' put a small prize crew aboard it to try to get it into port for salvage. Through some blunder in getting away from the abandoned vessel, the two collided and "The Greece" had a large hole torn in her stern, and at* first it looked as if both rescuers and rescued were again in grave peril. However, the hole was patched up, and after eighteen days buffeting with the waves, the disabled vessel reached New York, after hav ing been reported lost. Mr. and Mrs. Kingston came to Omaha, and from there direct to Stanton county, where he purchased a half section of railroad land eighteen miles from Wisner. When Mr. Kingston settled on it, he paid down all his ready cash, expecting to make enough on his first crop to meet the pay ments as they fell due. Unfortunately, the grass hoppers invaded the country just at this particu lar time, and for four years Mr. Kingston had considerable difficulty in providing for the wants of his family. He was not able to meet his pay ments and so lost the land and all he paid on it. When his fortune turned, Mr. Kingston re-pur chased the entire half section. The land he orig inally bought at four dollars per acre cost eight dollars on re-purchase, and the last forty acres cost fourteen dollars per acre, which shows how quickly values rose. He began to give all his attention to stock- raising, and so added to his land, that when he re tired, in 1900, he was the owner of over a thous and acres of as fine land as there is in the west. Three hundred acres was under cultivation and even this failed to provide enough feed for his stock. On coming to Stanton, Mr. Kingston purchased a small house, added to it and thoroughly re modeled it, so that now it is a most comfortable home with all modern conveniences. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kingston, and all are living. Sarah, mar ried J. A. Brown of Stanton ; Mary E., is the wife of L. L. Way, an automobile dealer of Wayne ; and James Richard has for some time occupied the old home ranch. In every way, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston have proved themselves true pioneers. They suffered gallantly and uncomplainingly the hardships of the early settler's life, and are now enjoying their rewards. Their religous training has been in the faith as expounded by the church of England, the true Episcopalian. Mr. Kingston is a member of the board of county commissioners, and the influence of his progress is apparent in many public enterprises. We are pleased to present portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Kingston elsewhere in this work. EDWIN D. PULCIPER. Edwin D. Pulcifer, residing on the north half of the northeast quarter of section one, town ship twenty-seven, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding in its development and growth from the time of its earliest settlement. Edwin D. Pulcifer was born in Syracuse, New York, May 29, 1851, and lived there until 1862. His mother died in 1859, and about three years later the boy and a sister went to Wisconsin and made their home with relatives. In 1864 Mr. Pulcifer went to Jasper county, Iowa, reaching his destination the night before Lincoln's second election. In 1869 he went to Marion county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm, and in 1875 he went to Dallas county, Iowa, where he married and resided until 1882. In that year Mr. and Mrs. Pulcifer moved on the homestead where they now reside. For five years they lived in a primitive sod house, and then moved into the present frame house, situated in a fine grove of trees planted by Mr. Pulcifer. The grove and orchard cover seven 3/CI"GS In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Pul cifer was two and one-half miles northwest of home. The mare he was riding found the way home — on foot he could not have found the way. The higher grasses between tracks helped keep directions. Several wayfarers found shelter in his house over night. A notable storm he experi enced was known as the dark day. A yellow haze made it too dark to see anything, and hail and mud fell thickly, covering foliage and herbage. In the early days, hay and cornstalks were some times used for fuel. Mr. Pulcifer was married to Miss Allie Holly in 1875, and they have a fine family of ten chil dren, who are named as follows: Bertha, Dora, Lillie, Marian, Charles, Ellen, Fay, Orville, Elmer and Mary. Six of the above named children have claims of their own, and five of them are married and have families. Charles was educated in Aurora, Nebraska, and Lillie in Lincoln. Mr. Pulcifer is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is highly respected by all in his community. He served his county as precinct assessor for fourteen years, and although a prohibitionist and of the weaker political party of the county, he has been elected by a comfort able majority to the office of county assessor. NIELS C. NIELSEN. Among the prominent pioneers of Howard county is Niels C. Nielsen, who occupies a com fortable home in the thriving town of Boelus, where he enjoys the esteem and respect of his fellow men. He is a native of this region, and with a very small start in the world has endured COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 343 hardship and privation in order to secure a com petence for his old age, now being in an inde pendent position financially. To his friends he recounts many interesting experiences of the pioneers days in central Nebraska. Mr. Nielsen was born in Howard county on April 28, 1873. He is a son of Niels and Maria Nielsen, who settled in Nebraska in 1872, during their early married life. Our subject was reared in his native county, attended the district schools as a boy, and later spent two years at the Western Normal College in Lincoln, Nebraska. He left that institution in 1894, returning to his father's farm where he remained for two years then started farming on his own account on rented land. In December of 1898 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty, town ship fourteen, range twelve, which was a well improved tract, and operated this successfully for the following five years, when, owing to poor health he was obliged to give up active farm work, so secured the appointment as rural free delivery carrier on route number one, which he kept up for over two years. Mr. Nielsen moved his family to Boelus shortly after securing his appointment. In the meantime he had purchased some resi dence property in Boelus, upon which he erected a fine home. Since his retirement from the mail service he has been engaged in different lines of work here. He is owner of one hundred and sixty acres situated on section six, township twelve, range twelve, Hall county, Nebraska, which he purchased in the fall of 1906. This he farms himself — his Howard county farm being rented and derives a good income from the same. He is a thorough business man, and considered one of the substantial citizens of his locality. Mr. Nielsen is active in local affairs. He is a populist, and has held various township offices, serving as assessor during 1900, also as road supervisor for one year. For four years he was director of school district number sixty-six, and in 1906 was elected city clerk of Boelus, which of fice he filled up to 1909. He is a prominent mem ber of the Danish Brotherhood, and was secretary of Lodge 165, for a period of three years, in 1906 being elected as a delegate to the National Con vention of the D. B. S. which was held at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mr. Nielsen was married February 19, 1898, his wife's maiden name being Wilhelmina Soren sen, born in Michigan and reared in Howard county, where her parents were early settlers. Two children have blessed their union, Johannes and Valentina, both of whom are bright and sturdy young people. They have a pleasant and happy home, and enjoy the society of many friends. During 1908 Mr. Nielsen took his family for an extended trip through California, spending three months in travel, which was greatly enjoyed by all. JAMES A. OLLIS, Jr. James A. Ollis, one of the leading citizens and agriculturists of Valley county, Nebraska, is well known as a man of sterling qualities and true public spirit. He is an old settler of this locality, having come to Valley county some twenty-eight years ago, and through the years has given gen erously of his energies and unceasing work for the upbuilding of his home state and county. James A. Ollis, junior, son of James A. and Martha (Brown) Ollis, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, October 12, 1859. He is second in a family of five children, and has one sister residing in Texas, and another in Valley county, Nebraska; the other children are deceased. Mr. Ollis' parents reside in Ord, Nebraska, where they are well known and have a host of good friends. Mr. Ollis received good educational advanta ges, and after teaching in Illinois schools for several years engaged in farming. In 1882 he came to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in Mira val ley, living there for two years. In 1884 he pur chased what has since been his home place which is located in section sixteen, township eighteen, range fourteen. This is a finely improved and well-equipped stock farm, and Mr. Ollis makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred horses. On November 5, 1880, in Illinois state, Mr. Ollis was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Kerr, which union was blessed with eight children, namely: Sarah E., wife of E. C. Armstrong, has two chil dren, and resides in Valley county; Alice M., Elmer K, Nellie M., William M., Ethel M., Ruth E., and James B., all of whom reside at home. Mrs. Ollis died on the home farm in October of 1896, survived by her husband and children. In 1885 Mr. Ollis was elected county commis sioner, and has also served as director of school district number nine for twelve years. In 1900 Mr. Ollis was made a member of the Nebraska house of representatives ; and in 1908 was elected to the state senate, representing district number fifteen; and was again elected for the senate for the term of 1910. He served as member of the state board of agriculture for five years and on the board of managers during 1911. On August 4, 1905, Mr. Ollis was married to Mrs. Eliza E. Knott who was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ollis are surrounded in their home by many good friends and enjoy a wide acquaintance. Mr. Ollis is one of the younger pioneers of his county, and through the years has been closely identified with its interests. He is a progressive man of affairs, prosperous and successful, and owns twelve hundred eighty acres of land, all in Mira valley. In 1905 Mr. Ollis built one of the finest modern homes in Valley county. In 1898 he installed a telephone line from Ord exchange to his farm home at his own expense. It was the first rural 344 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. phone in Valley county. He is a Presbyterian, a democrat in politics and a member of the Ameri can Order of Protection, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with Mrs. Ollis of the Rebekahs, an auxiliary de gree of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. WILLIAM PREUSKER. William Preusker, residing in township twenty- four, range two, Madison county, Nebraska, is proprietor of a well developed and valuable farm in section twenty-eight, which he has operated successfully for the past eighteen years or more. He is one of the substantial citizens of his lo cality, and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. Mr. Preusker is a native of Germany, born February 4, 1857, his birth taking place in Bran denburg village ; he is a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Ziehe) Preusker, who were also natives of Germany. Mr. Preusker grew to manhood in his native country, receiving the usual schooling, and there he lived until he reached the age of thirty-five years. In 1892 he left his native land for America, embarking at Hamburg on the steam ship "Bismark, " and was seven days on the sea. After landing in New York, Mr. Preusker went direct to Nebraska, where he bought the farm known as the Fleming homestead, which he has steadily improved and now has a good home and valuable property; he has had pretty fair sailing since coming to Nebraska, but in the year 1894 he lost all the season's crops during the ter rible drouth that caused the scorching winds which swept over the land, burning everything to a crisp. Mr. Preusker was united in marriage January 4, 1880, to Miss Anna Middelstead, who is a native of Russia, and a daughter of Julius and Thorena Middlestead. Mr. and Mrs. Preusker are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Adolph, Amelia, Gust, Hulda, Fred, William and Lydia. They are a fine family and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host of good friends and neighbors. Although not of the very oldest settlers, Mr. Preusker has in his eighteen years' or more resi dence in Madison county proven himself to be of good worth and industrious, and he is highly esteemed by all in his community. He is a mem ber of the Lutheran church, and a democrat. JAMES PIERCE. (Deceased.) The late James Pierce was one of the best known men of Custer county, and the head of a large family. He was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, July 4, 1824, a direct descendant of Thomas Pierce, a native of England, who came to America in 1634 and settled in Charleston. Thomas Pierce was the father of seven children, one of whom founded a family in Charlestown, and the family continued to live there for many generations. The grandfather of the subject was a soldier of distinction in the revolutionary war. He captured the first British prisoner that was taken by the Americans. He was a lieutenant in the militia and was drilling his company on the green at the time the opposing army appeared for battle at Lexington, and was in the thickest of the fight. His wife stood in the doorway of their home and watched the proceedings. James Pierce was educated in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of four teen years went to Illinois with his father. The father died there after a short illness and the boy was left to make his way home alone, which he did by going down the Mississippi river by boat to New Orleans, then taking a sailing vessel up the coast to Boston. After his return he worked for a time as a clerk, then shipped on board a whaler for a cruise of four years on the Pacific ocean. He followed the sea fourteen years, beginning as a boy and eventually becoming first mate. He thus visited the principal seaport towns of South America. After leaving the whal ing service he shipped as first mate of the "Well- fleet," a large merchant vessel which sailed be tween New Orleans and Liverpool. In 1855, Mr. Pierce married Jane Hunt and they lived in Charlestown for a time, and moved to Mower county, Minnesota, in 1857. He secured a farm there and for several years hauled his crops to market on the Mississippi river, ninety miles distant. In 1864 he enlisted in the union army and served until the close of the war. He returned to Minnesota at the close of his term of service and carried on farming during the sum mer and taught school winters. In the summer of 1880, he went via the prairie schooner route, to Custer county, Nebraska, and in August of that year took up a homestead on section thirty-one, township nineteen, range eighteen, which was his home until his death, March 11, 1910. This farm is located in the beautiful little valley of Somer- ford, and for twenty-six years Mr. Pierce served as postmaster of the office at Somerford. In the fall of 1881 he taught in one of the first schools of Dry Valley, and in the following summer helped organize school district number thirty-five, which has since been divided into six districts. Mr. Pierce was survived by his widow and seven children, but the former did not survive him long and died March 22, 1910. She was re vered by her children and held in high regard by her many friends, being a woman of high charac ter and fine traits. Both she and her husband were well known among the early settlers and did all they could to aid in the development of the country along educational and all other pro gressive lines. They passed through the trials of COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. - 345 the dry years and the years of panic and came to enjoy the respect and esteem of all who knew them. Of their eight children, seven now survive : Frances W., Mrs'. Orvel Story, deceased, she was the mother of three children and resided during her life in Somerford Valley; George G, on the home farm; Thomas L., of Custer county; A. W., on section six, township eighteen, range eight een; William A., of Sargent; Elizabeth, wife of John Knight ; Henry 0., owner of the home farm ; Jesse, living north of the home farm. Several of these children are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Pierce was an honored member of Crittenden post, number two hundred and seven ty-four, Department of Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, and at the time of his death the or ganization passed resolutions of condolence to his sorrowing family. AARON HARRIS. Among the prosperous citizens of Cedar coun ty may be mentioned the above, who is also one of the older settlers, having come to this locality in 1880. Mr. Harris is now the owner of a valuable farm in section sixteen, township thirty-one, range two, which has been his continuous resi dence since coming to the county. Mr. Harris is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1848, the son of William and Lidia Harris. His boyhood years were spent in Iowa and when the civil war broke out, he enlisted at the beginning under Captain Kettridge, Company F, Seventh Iowa Infantry. He was in many engagements during the war and also took part in the cele brated march to the sea, under Sherman. His father was also in many battles, and died during the progress of the war. Mr. Harris was mus tered out in 1865, but later on joined the regu lar army again, this time going to Fort Sully, South Dakota. While in South Dakota, Mr. Harris took up a homestead in Baum county. Here he built a log house and lived until 1873, when he moved to But ler county, South Dakota. Mr. Harris and his little family lived at this place until 1880, when they came to Cedar county. Here Mr. Harris bought his farm, and it has been his home ever since. During the early years of the settlement, both of Nebraska and South Dakota, Mr. Harris nobly played his part in the development "of the country. The settler's life during those days was not all sunshine, either. For several years he lost almost everything because of the grasshoppers, the plague of that time, and many times was com pelled to fight for hours against prairie fires, in order to save his home from destruction. At one time he lost over forty head of cattle in a blizzard. almost all he had, in fact. However, in spite of adversity, he persevered and is now regarded as one of the most prosperous stockmen of the vi cinity. 12% In 1870, Mr. Harris was married tp Miss Mary Goodman, and to them have been born four chil dren, named as follows: Lydia, Luella, Minnie and Henry. EUGENE HILTON. Among the progressive and energetic pioneers of Merrick county, Nebraska, who have contrib uted largely to the prosperity enjoyed in that vi cinity, a high station is accorded this gentleman. Eugene Hilton was born in Augusta, Maine, February 8, 1844, and was the fourth of seven children in the family of John and Mary (Ing ham) Hilton, who had two sons and four daugh ters born to them. The parents, John and Mary Hilton, two sons, Charles and Eugene, and daugh ters Fannie and Annie, came to Nebraska in 1858, having left Maine in the spring of 1857, go ing to Iowa, and in April, 1858, came on to Ne braska. One daughter, Nellie, remained in Au gusta, Maine. The other two daughters, Mary Helena and Emily, died in Maine before the fam ily started west. The Hilton family came overland by team the entire distance to Nebraska, locating on the Elk horn river in the eastern part of the state, where the father, John Hilton, took up a pre-emption claim, proving up on same in 1859. Here the family lived until 1862. John Hilton, head of the family, died in the fall of 1859, and in December of the same year, Mrs. John Hilton, with her son Eugene and daugh ters Fannie and Annie, came to the Lone Tree station on the Northwestern stage and mail route, located on the Platte river, about three miles southwest of what is now Central City. This sta tion had been established a year or so prior to this time. The Hilton family came here to take charge of this station for the stage company. Lone Tree station, got its name from a large Cot tonwood tree which stood on the banks of the Platte river; a lone tree standing by itself with no timber closer than forty rods, notable, for its size and almost perfect proportions. The Hilton ranch was located one mile east of Lone tree station, and earlier had been taken up by Henry Rowell, who had married a half-sister of the Hiltons. The Hiltons took up their resi dence on this ranch in 1863. Mrs. Mary Hilton died June, 1886. Charles Hilton, the son, who came to Nebraska with the family, later went to New Mexico and became a cattle ranch owner. He died in New Mexico. Eugene Hilton, the principal subject of this sketch, grew up on the western ranch and in his sixteenth year was a mail carrier for the North western stage company between Wood river and Eagle Island, for about a year. Before his twen ty-first year Mr. Hilton purchased the Rowell ranch of his brother-in-law, and about 1868, he took up a homestead for himself on his present residing place. There are now about three hun- 346 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. dred acres in the Eugene Hilton farm, which is one of the choicest in Merrick county, finely lo cated and well equipped. Mr. Hilton from his boyhood days has seen the marvelous changes from a barren country, peo pled by Indians and venturesome pioneers, to the present highly civilized and cultivated country. Merrick county, which was no exception to the rule, is now a great farming and stock county, but Mr. Hilton knew it when it was in its sand hill days, and in the days of the Pawnee, Sioux, and Cheyenne Indians. Mr. Hilton was married to Miss Helen Groves, March 31, 1869, in Ashland, Nebraska. The Groves family came to Sarpy county, Nebras ka, in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have had six children born to them, five of whom are living: John, who resides at home; Minnie, married to Mr. Prank Moore, has three children and lives five miles northwest of Central City on the old farm; Guy, who lives under the parental roof; Raymond, deceased ; and Fay and Verne, who re side at home. The Hilton family are well and favorably known, enjoying the respect and esteem of a very large circle of friends. Mr. Hilton is a self-made man who has had responsibilities since his twelfth year, and is known for his sterling qualities. FRED OPOCENSKY. The west offers opportunity to the ambitious who have the desire to make fortune and place for themselves, and of these, none can be more fitly termed "self-made" than the genial gentleman above mentioned. Fred Opocensky was born in the village of Valteriee, Bohemia, on February 18, 1862, and was but a small lad when his parents, Joseph and Franciska Opocensky, emigrated to America, sailing from Bremen on the steamer Albio, and landing in New York after a voyage of twelve days. The father was a linen weaver in his native land, but on arriving at Chicago, their first stop ping place, he was unable to find work at his trade, so was employed in various lines there un til his death, which occurred in 1883, in that city. When Fred was only about nine years of age, he came to Nebraska in company with a brother-in- law, who settled on a homestead near where Ver- degris now stands. There they went through hard times, often being actually without the nec essaries of life and suffering from insufficient food. Our subject experienced the pangs of home sickness, knowing that with his parents he at least would have plenty to eat, and after holding out for two years, he finally got his courage up and ran away, intending to go back to Chicago, but after getting as far as Niobrara, his condi tion was such that it aroused the sympathy of kindhearted people. He had no shoes, and his flesh was visible through many rents in his scanty attire. He found work, which he gladly accepted, and remained for a year in the vicinity, herding cattle and saving up his money to buy proper clothing to wear on his journey home. He reached home in due time, and some time later went into business for himself, running a grocery store, which he disposed of in 1885. In 1885 he returned to Niobrara and engaged in the general merchan dise trade, being very successful in this venture. Later on he established an implement house, hand ling, in addition, wagons, buggies, etc., to which he has also added a good line of harness and fur niture. He has one of the most complete under taking establishments in this part of Nebraska. His entire business enterprises are established on a sound foundation, and conducted along strict business lines, he devoting his personal attention to the details of his business, and richly deserves the success which has come to him. Mr. Opocensky was married at Verdegris, on September 19, 1886, to Miss Anna Tonek, who was born and reared in that place, and is a daughter of Bohemian parents. Their marriage was one of the most notable celebrations ever held in the county, being unique in that all the children of the Tonek family, three in number, left their parents' roof on the same day, the only son being married, also the two daughters, making a triple wedding. All the old country customs were prac ticed at the happy event, the festivities extending through three days. Mr. and Mrs. Opocensky are the parents of four children : Martha, who assists her father in his stores; Othelia, graduate of the high school here, and later completing a course in Burrows Business College in Omaha, and is now also in the store ; Frederick, the eldest son, graduated from Niobrara high school in 1909, and from the Went- worth military academy at Lexington, Missouri, in May, 1910, and is now assisting has father in the store; and Edward, who is still a student in the city schools. Politically Mr. Opocensky affiliates with the republican party. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the Woodmen of the World, and Bohemian Benevolent Order Z. C. B. J. RANDALL FULLER. (Deceased.) Randall Fuller, who was one of the very ear liest settlers in" Fullerton, Nebraska, died' in that city on February 26, 1901. Mr. Puller was a na tive of Vermont, bora in Shaftsbury, in 1823, be ing at the time of his death seventy-eight years of age. Mr. Fuller comes of a prominent family, his ancestors having been among those to land in America in the famous Mayflower. His grand father Fuller was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and all the male members of his family have taken an important part in the • history of the United States. There is at the present time an COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 347 interesting family relic on exhibition in the mu seum at Plymouth Hall, in the shape of an old- fashioned cradle used for generations in the Ful ler family and finally bequeathed to that insti tution by them. Also, the names of different members of the family will be found engraved on the monument at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. When Randall was but three years of age, his parents moved to Ohio, and two years later set tled in Michigan, remaining there until he was about fourteen years of age, then they went to Wisconsin, that territory not having as yet reached its statehood. There our subject was ed ucated and followed farming during his time away from school. In 1849, at the time of the rush to California, during the gold excitement, Mr. Fuller in com pany with two men, drove the entire distance from Wisconsin across the plains to the Pacific coast; traveling by wagon train. They were joined along the way by others in the same mad hunt for wealth, and by the time they reached their destination, there were one hundred and fifty men in their party. After three years of hard work, hope and discouragement alternating, our subject gave up the struggle and returned home, full of exciting stories of adventure, but not very much richer for his experience. Still, he was not satisfied, and the following spring headed another wagon train bound for the same goal, and later was the chief moving spirit in starting other parties across the plains in their search for gold. In 1877, Mr. Fuller- came to Nebraska, having passed through the state several times in his travels, and made settlement in Fullerton, being practically the original founder of that city. He was prominent in every movement made for the advancement of the place, and has always been a leader in all affairs of his county and state. Per sonally he was a man of fine character, straight forward and honorable in all his dealings, and was greatly loved by all who knew him. At the time Mr. Puller first located in the vi cinity of Fullerton, he had stopped only tempor arily, being at the time on his way to Colorado with a herd of cattle, where he intended locating a ranch. At this time he was following the old Mormon trail, which was familiar to him, as he had frequently been over it in conducting parties to California. While here he heard that Nance county, which was then the Pawnee Indian reser vation, was to be put on the market and sold for the benefit of the Indians. So Mr. Fuller decided to remain in the locality, which he did, and when in 1880, the land was thrown on the market, Mr. Fuller purchased two thousand and two hundred acres, mostly water front, and thought to establish a ranch, not realizing the value of the land for agricultural purposes. The county began to settle so rapidly that Mr. Fuller realizing the necessity of a trading point and post office, and later a county seat, platted eighty acres of his farm in town lots ; at first gave away a business and residence lot to those who would build. When the location of the county seat was made at Fullerton on a vote, Mr. Puller gave sixty acres, which were sold and the money used to build the court house and he also furnished the site for the building. He also furnished all the sites for the churches. On the land which Mr. Fuller purchased at first was located a forty acre tract of oak under growth. He watched this tract very carefully, keeping out the prairie fires, which were numer ous in the early days, until the underbrush has grown into a forest of fine oak trees. The bluff, with a drop of two hundred and eighty-three feet, is located in this, grove, being in the early days known as Buffalo Leap and later as Loon's Leap, the latter name coming from an Indian legend concerning a Pawnee chief and his sweetheart, who jumped to death at that point. In 1897, Mr. Fuller gave the use of these grounds for the pur pose of holding chautauquas, and this has grown to be one of the most popular and largely attend ed of any in the state, lasting from ten days to two weeks and known as the Fullerton Chautau qua. The bluffs on the south keep out the pre vailing hot winds of August, and this is one of the coolest and most comfortable places to be found in the state during the hot months. Most of those from abroad who attend the chautau quas camp on the grounds. C. A. KIBBY Boyd county has been largely settled by citi zens from Holt county, who crossed over the Nio brara after the opening of the reservation in 1891, and of this exodus of sturdy citizens, C. A. Kibby, of Naper, is one. Mr. Kibby is an Illinoisan by birth, that event having taken place at Dundee, Kane county, January 14, 1847. His parents, Abraham and Olive (Tracy) Kibby, came from New Y^ork to Illinois in 1835 and settled in Kane county, where the mother died in January, 1878. After her de mise the father continued to live in Kane county, until 1883, after which he made his home with a daughter at Georgetown, Colorado, where he died in 1885, and whence his body was borne to rest beside that of his life's helpmate. Mr. Kibby commenced to learn the moulder's trade at the age of fourteen, and was employed in the founderies of Dundee until he came west in 1883. His advent to Nebraska was not propitious, as, owing to the high wind, the -car ferry on which they were crossing the river at Missouri Valley, had to return to the Iowa side and wait the abate ment of the storm. Arriving at Stuart, Mr. Kibby started out afoot, and to one from the thickly settled east, the long, lonely stretches of rolling prairie were enough to make him heart sick and homesick. Some time after noon, hun gry and footsore, he reached the ranch of Andy 348 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Robinson, where he was given a hearty welcome and a good meal, and never in his life did a dinner taste better than in this hospitable house in the wilderness. The friendship formed that day was never broken, and often afterward did he sit a welcome guest at the Robinson 's well-laden board. Mr. Kibby settled on the strip of land between the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers, about ten miles west of their confluence and moved onto the land the 29th day of June. Mrs. Kibby 's brother-in-law living here had oxen but no horses, so he employed his neighbors who were better equipped to go to Stuart to bring the family and their belongings to the new home. Mr. Kibby bought a mule team in the fall and broke seven or eight acres, from which he secured a good crop of spring wheat the following year, running nine teen bushels to the acre. Some of this he traded at Eagle Mills for rye flour, giving them an abun dance of bread for the coming year. But a series of dry seasons followed, in which little was raised, and many of the settlers abandoned their claims, and left their fields to return to the prairies or grow up in sunflowers. There were only scant crops from 1885 until 1891, since which time, bountiful seasons have prevailed, to the present day, excepting the excessively dry year of 1894. Mr. Kibby lived on his homestead for thirteen years, except a short time out of the state. In December, 1891, he migrated to Missouri, settling in the central part of the state, but finding it un congenial, he returned to Nebraska the following March. In 1896, Mr. Kibby raised three hundred and fifty dollars on his land and removed to Wayne county, four and one-half miles northwest of Wayne, and in the spring of 1907, returned to Boyd county again and became a resident of Naper, which has since been his home. He has engaged in freighting between Spencer and the railroad, at first to Anoka and since October, 1907, from St. Charles, making from four to six trips a week. Mr. Kibby was married August 15, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Wolf, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Bonnell) Wolf. Her mother died in Iowa, and her father in Kansas some years after the de mise of his good wife. Pour of the children born to our subject and his wife are living. They are : May, wife of William P. Green, a prosperous pho tographer in Naper; Rollen J., who has a ranch on the Keya Paha river, nine miles from town ; LeRoy, who is ranching south of his brother ; and Jennie, one of the successful teachers of the Naper schools. Mr. Kibby had been a democrat until the year free silver became an issue, then he voted for Mc- Kinley, and he has since supported the repub lican party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The daughters are members of the Rebekah degree. Mr. Kibby, for part of the time he was on the ranch, lived in the comfortable "soddy" of the west ; later he lived in a more modern frame house. Prairie fires often threatened devastation, but by vigorous fighting he warded off the fiery danger. He once started a prairie fire unintentionally, it getting away from him through the corner of the breaking which he was intending to burn. Con siderable damage was done by the accidental con flagration, but he escaped any serious conse quences. Mr. Kibby occupies a comfortable cottage in the southwest part of town, and finds the strength to carry on his strenuous occupation, fearing nei ther heat nor cold when business calls him to take the road. He has a good team and fine equipment for his work, and gives promise of many years' useful labor before the infirmities of old age cause him to retire. ALFRED CLARK. Among the many sons from England's soil who came to America in the early days of western pioneer pilgrimage, and who have given of their strength and fortitude, is Alfred Clark, the above named gentleman. Alfred Clark, son of William C. and Sarah (Wanstall) Clark, was born in England, county Kent, June 29, 1858, and was the youngest in a family of nine children. In 1867, he came, with his father, mother, three brothers, and the moth er's sister, to America, locating in eastern Iowa, where he received his education and later en gaged in farming. On December 1, 1880, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Josephine Galyean, a native of Delaware county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1884, came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in the southwest quarter of section four, township twenty, range seven, which remained the home farm until 1901, when he retired from active farm life and moved to Albion, where he bought a good home in which he now lives. Mr. Clark has been prosperous and successful, and in 1903 purchased another farm in Boone county. He served for several years on the school board of district number forty, in his home county. Mr. Clark's father died in March, 1903, and his mother on December 25, 1894. He has one brother in England, one in the state of Washing ton, one in California, and another in Albion, Ne braska, a sketch of the latter appears in another part of this biographical history. Mrs. Clark's father died in May, 1910, and her mother is making her home with her children. Two sisters and one brother reside in Albion, and another sister resides in Loretta, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had one son born to them, and he died in infancy. An adopted son, George A., married Maude Cook, and they live on the original homestead. Mr. and Mrs. George A. Clark have been the parents of three children. wI— 1 toen< ?4Owo « « K ft OwwQi— i wPi COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 349 Hazel and Cecil living, and Willis, who died in in fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Clark have been active in church circles for the past twenty-five years, and were among the organizers of the first Sun day school in their district about 1887 ; later Mr. Clark was superintendent of the same school for several years. They have passed through all the discouragements and hardships incident to pio neer life and are widely and favorably known. Our subject's father, William C. Clark, was born in England, July 21, 1819, and when he grew to manhood was engaged in milling, doing his grinding by the aid of windmills. On December 25, 1843, he was married to Miss Sarah Knott Wanstall, who was also a native of England. In 1867 he came to America with his wife, four sons, and his wife's sister, Mary Wanstall. They lo cated in Delaware county, Iowa, on a farm, where they lived a great many years, then retired and moved to Earlville, Iowa, and it was at this place that Mr. and Mrs. Clark died, December 25, 1899. Nine children had been born to them, four of whom are deceased. One son resides in England, one in the state of Washington, one in California, and two sons reside in Albion, Nebraska, one of whom is the subject of this sketch, and the per sonal history of the other son, Henry, appears in another portion of this book. On April 14, 1896, William C. Clark was mar ried a second time, the bride being Miss Mary Wanstall, who was born in England. Mr. Clark died in March, 1903, survived by his widow and five sons. His widow is living with the son, Al fred Clark, in Albion, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and this has been her home since the death of her husband. HENRY KELLOGG. York state has given its share of sturdy, pro- , gressive men to the settlement of the west, and [ among them, one of the most prominent is Henry Kellogg, a retired farmer, living in Wayne. He was born near Pen Yan, Yates county, New York, on June 21, 1851, and in September of that year, his parents, George W. and Mary L. (Owen) Kellogg moved to Huron county, Ohio. They lived there for only about a year or two, and then pushed on, settling in Hillsdale county, Michigan. The father died here in 1860, leaving the mother to rear her little family. She married again later and moved to Iowa, where she died. Young Henry grew up to manhood in Michi gan, and began farming on a rented farm there. Early in June, 1874, he reached Saunders county, Nebraska, and for the first year lived on a rented farm. He bought eighty acres near Wahoo, which he broke as soon as possible, and in the fall of 1875, built a house on his own land, Saunders county being his home for seven years. In May, 1881, he moved to Wayne county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres about four miles east of Wayne. From time to time, as cir cumstances warranted, he added to this purchase, until at the time of his retirement in the spring of 1902, he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of well improved land, most of it under cultivation. When he retired, Mr. Kellogg purchased a comfortable dwelling near the cen ter of Wayne, and here, with his good wife, he is enjoying a rest from the active labors of the past. Mr. Kellogg was married in Hillsdale county, Michigan, on October 12, 1871, to Miss Zella Koon, a native of that county. Her parents, like Mr. Kellogg 's, were from New York state, her father being born at Watkins Glen, where his father had been a well known blacksmith in those early times. Mr. Kellogg 's people had figured in early history of the country, his grandfather hav ing participated in the battle of Niagara, in the war of 1812. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, six of whom survive. Mary, the wife of Warren Bishop, lives near Medford, Oklahoma; Charles is farming near Verdel, Nebraska; George and Frederick are farming in Knox coun ty, Nebraska; and Martin and Walter are both farming in Stanley county, South Dakota. Ralph died when about two years old. Mr. Kellogg endured the privations and passed through all the vicissitudes of an early settler's life on the western prairies, and has done well his share in winning the wilderness for civ ilization. No better citizen can be found in the state, and he enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. HENRY N. SIEM. The gentleman whose name is at the head of this personal history, is the proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Pierce county, Ne braska, and has been a resident of that locality for twenty-five years. He is prominently known throughout Pierce county as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in his home county, and after many years of hard labor in building up his farm, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Siem is not content to sit idly by, however, and still looks after his farm. Mr. Siem was born in the village of Henstedt, Holstein, then a province of Denmark, February 6, 1835, being the son of Claus Siem, who died at the age of fifty-six. The mother was Miss Christina Mueller, who died in the old country at the age of seventy-four. Our subject served Denmark in the army from 1858 to 1859, and was called to the army to defend the country against Germany in 1864. Mr. Siem sailed from Hamburg in 1866, on the steamship "Borosia," and landed in New York City. From the spring of 1866 to Febru- 350 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ary, 1867, he was employed at farm work near Momence, Kankakee county, Illinois, then return ed to the old country, where he owned a farm of eighty acres, a very large estate in the old world. During this year in America, he became interest ed in the girl who has been a factor in his life ever since. In 1880 he returned to Illinois, mar ried and again crossed the water to his landed estates, expecting to pass his days in the father land. However, this was not to be ; Mrs. Siem, having lived since early childhood in America, was not contented in a foreign land, so in 1882, Mr. Siem sold his farm, and for a fifth time cross ed the Atlantic, sailing from Hamburg in the "Lessig, " the same vessel on which he had crossed two years before. On coming to Amer ica the third time, Mr. Siem settled in Douglas county, Nebraska, and rented for four years near Omaha. In 1886, he came to Pierce county, and purchased the northeast quarter of section eleven, township twenty-eight, range four, to which he has added one hundred and sixty acres in section ten, and an eighty-acre tract in sec tion three. On the first tract he built a frame house and set three acres of trees, which now surround the dwelling and orchard and garden. Our subject was out in the blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, most of the afternoon, seeking his cattle, of which he lost ten head. The storm was so blinding and suffocating that it was with great difficulty he finally made his way home. July 29, 1880, Mr. Siem was married in Kan kakee county, Illinois, to Miss Helen Deerson, who was born in Germany and came to America with her parents when she was five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Siem have three children: Helen, wife of Claude Stimson of Perkins county, South Dakota, and Peter and Hannah, still under the parental roof. In 1908, Mr. Siem remodeled his house, mak ing an imposing fourteen room dwelling, prob ably the finest country residence in northeastern Nebraska. The view down the front driveway from the road is most imposing, with a fine three acre grove on the left hand, and a thrifty, grow ing orchard of equal area on the right. Nor is appearance all, pleasing as this may be, for the appointments are superior to most city homes. Soft water, hot and cold, is supplied to the bath room and other parts of the house, the submerged tank system being used. A gas motor used for forcing the water into the tank also supplies motive power for the separator, the churn and the laundry machinery. A furnace keeps the entire house comfortable in winter, and in the well- furnished double parlors, with the fine piano, western hospitality is dispensed with generous hand. A full page view of the place, with its numerous barns and outbuildings, is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. Siem is highly respected by all who know him, and in religion is of the German Lutheran faith. Should you ask his political views, he will tell you he is a republican, good and strong, and has been ever since becoming a permanent resi dent and citizen of the United States. AUGUST RAABE. August Raabe, one of the most prominent and influential farmers in Stanton county, Nebraska, resides on section twenty-six, township twenty- three, range one, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity, industry, thrift, and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Agriculture forms the basis of wealth in that part of the country, as, indeed, in most sections of the United States. It is therefore of the greatest importance that the class of people who inhabit the great farming regions of the country should represent those elements of sterling worth which were prominently displayed by the majority of the early settlers and their descendants. Mr. Raabe was born in Wisconsin in 1857, and is the son of Robert and Minnie Raabe of Brandenburg, Germany, who had come to this country the year previous to his birth. When the subscriber was only seven years old, his parents decided to come to the real west, where they could get land cheaply and would find it easier to give their children the start they desired. So they drove their yoke of oxen from Wisconsin to Nebraska, where they took up a homestead and built a sod house. Later, this dwelling was replaced by a log house, to be suc ceeded in turn by one of more modern construc tion. At this time, the early settlers frequently se cured fresh meat by shooting a deer or an ante lope, for these animals were plentiful. Their postal facilities could not be called excellent, however, for their nearest postoffice as well as market, was Omaha, and it took three weeks to make that trip. However, they persevered, and at last reaped their reward. In 1884, Mr. Raabe was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Prawitz, of Stanton, who was also born in Wisconsin. They are the parents of eight children: Ida, Herman, Amil, Pauline, Walter, Martha, Arthur, and Lawrence. Mr. Raabe is one of the leading citizens of the county and has been so closely identified with agricultural interests in that locality, that a his tory of its development would be incomplete without mentioning his labors here and the pio neer experiences which he passed through. W. T. DICKERSON. W. T. Dickerson, well known all through An telope county, Nebraska, as one of the old timers in northeastern Nebraska, who came to that re gion when the whole country was practically a barren plain, has watched its development into COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 351 the present fertile state, and taken an active and leading part in this transformation. He now resides :on section four, township twenty-five, range eight, Antelope county, where he is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Dickerson is a native of the state of Ohio, born near West Bedford, Ohio, March 18, 1844. His father, Elijah Dickerson, was also born near West Bedford, Ohio ; his mother, who was Eliza beth Akers, was a native of Ohio, born in 1819 and died in 1874. Our subject moved to Iowa, where he lived for twenty-eight years, then came to Antelope coun ty, Nebraska, April 1, 1880. He drove from Iowa to his homestead in Antelope county, locating on section twenty, township twenty-three, range eight. There he built a sod house and "batched it ' ' until 1884, when he sold his farm and bought the Waverly hotel in Neligh, remaining there six years. He then bought eighty acres of school land, but retained this but a short time, when he sold and went to Elgin to reside, purchasing a livery business, and later sold this, going back to farm life, and is now located on section four, township twenty-five, range eight. Mr. Dickerson has divided his time between business life and farming to such an extent that he is now content to settle down in life as a farmer, and he is well known in his community as a popular, substantial citizen of his locality. WOODS CONES. Woods Cones, one of Nebraska's old settlers and substantial citizens, first came to this state in the fall of 1870, his father having bought land the year before. They remained in Pierce two months and returned to Iowa, making frequent trips to this region until 1882, when they made permanent location in Pierce. Our subject opened the first bank in Pierce county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1882, which was known as the Pierce County Bank, Cones & Spencer being the firm name. In 1890 the bank was chartered as the First National Bank of Pierce, and in 1897 surrendered its charter and reorganized as the Pierce County Bank under the state law. In 1870 Mr. Cones became inter ested in a large cattle ranch three miles north of Pierce, disposing of this in 1897. Besides bank ing Mr. Cones is largely interested in buying and selling farm lands and farm loans. Mr. Cones was born in Iowa City, Iowa, Octo ber 17, 1858. He attended college at Grinnell, and Mount Vernon, Iowa, and graduated at Illinois college at Jacksonville in the class suc ceeding W. J. Bryan, with whom he was well ac quainted at the time. After graduating, Mr. Cones entered his father's bank and helped him establish the first bank at West Point also the first at Wisner, Nebraska. Mr. Cones' father, William Cones, was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the first in the family to engage in banking. Our subject was first married in Indiana to Miss Mary Hayes. His second marriage occur red in Pierce to Miss Ida Ulrich. They have one daughter, Lorinda. Mr. Cones is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Pierce, is a charter mem ber of the Knights of Pythias at Pierce, and of the Elks of Norfolk. Mr. Cones well remembers the early days when deer and antelope were plentiful. He ex perienced and witnessed the grasshopper raids and the blizzards, and he helped fight the prairie fires. JAMES H. WELSH. James H. Welsh makes his residence on sec tion twenty, township fifteen, range ten, about one and a half miles northwest of the city of St. Paul. He is one of the well known and de servedly esteemed men of his community, an old settler in the county, and by his faithful efforts to improve his circumstances and advance the growth of his locality, he has placed himself among its prosperous and worthy citizens. Mr. Welsh was born on May 16, 1866, in Hu ron county, Canada, and was the eighth child in a family of nine. At the age of five years his pa rents moved into Michigan, settling in Sanilac county, and after two years in that vicinity the father came on to Nebraska, arriving in Howard county on April 23, and filed on homestead rights. After several months he sent for his wife and children, they coming on October 16, 1873. They followed farming on the original claim for five years, then purchased over four hundred acres of good land on the North Loup river bottom, which the father cultivated up to the time of his death, in May, 1880. He left a family of six children, they keeping on with the farm work after his demise, and succeeded in building up a very fine estate. James H. Welsh remained in Howard county until he was twenty-two years of age, at that time going to Manitoba, Canada, and spending two years in that vicinity. From there he went to Montana and lived for two years, and then to Colorado for one year, and his next location was in Arizona where he spent some time. In fact, he has spent considerable time in nearly every one of the western states, and is thoroughly -familiar with the entire country west of the Mississippi river, also living in the Black Hills country in South Dakota. In March, 1908, Mr. Welsh returned to How ard county for permanent residence, taking up a location one and a half miles northwest of the city of St. Paul, and here he is extensively en gaged in farming and stock raising, and is called one of the well-to-do and leading citizens of his 352 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. section. He is a good neighbor and a represen tative citizen, progressive and always alive to the best interests of his community. Mr. Welsh was married on September 7, 1886, to Rachel Herbertson, at the home of her parents near St. Paul, they being pioneers of this region, where he was reared. Three children were born to them, two are now living, being charming young women, and reside in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Welsh and his entire family are well known throughout this region, and all have done much toward the upbuilding of the locality. DENZIL A. STEWART. Among the prominent farmers in Valley coun ty may be numbered Denzil A. Stewart, who is the owner of a fine farm, comprising four hun dred and eighty acres of land. His farm is best adapted to raising grain, although he gives con siderable attention to the raising of fine stock. He is counted among the early settlers of this county, having resided here most of the time since 1873. Mr. Stewart was born at Milton Junction, Rock county, Wisconsin, on November 18, 1859, and was the younger of two children born to William and Mary (Barker) Stewart. The father died when Denzil was only two years old. The mother, later on, married Jahoil Taylor. In July, 1873, Mr. Taylor, with his wife and family, re moved to Valley county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead on the northeast quarter of section twelve, township seventeen, range fourteen. Here Mr. Taylor died in December of that year. The widow, with her two children, lived on the homestead until they proved up on same. She died September 30, 1890. The homestead farm is now owned by Denzil, and, with the exception of nine or ten years, when he was engaged in the mercantile business in Horace, Greeley county, it has been his residence continuously. Even dur ing this period, the farm was managed by Mr. Stewart or some member of his family. At the time that the step-father, Mr. Taylor, took up the homestead, he was the first settler in this portion of Valley county. Their home was the first frame house built in the valley, and the lumber for it was all hauled from Grand Island, sixty miles away. On January 31, 1886, Mr. Stewart was married to Flora Thompson at the home of her father, John Thompson, in Davis Creek township. Mr. Thompson is also one of the older settlers, having come alone to Valley county in the fall of 1878, driving from Breckenridge, Missouri. He was joined by his wife, who was Millie Wright, and family the next spring. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have three daughters! and one son, as follows: Sunshine A., now Mrs. Lawrence Bright, of Ord, Nebraska, who has one daughter, Mavis; Noble; Maud, married Floyd Whitney, of Sumpter, Nebraska; and Gladys. In common with other pioneers, Mr. Stewart passed through many discouraging years in the early times, losing crops by the grasshoppers and droughts. In 1894 nothing was raised, not even as much as the seed. But he has passed the or deal, and is now reckoned among the most suc cessful and prosperous farmers of the commun ity. He and his family are prominent in all social affairs of the neighborhood, and enjoy the respect of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He is independent in polities, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Stewart was seven miles from home, and was compelled to re main over night. B. K. MELLAND. On section nine, township twenty-one, range four, of Madison county, Nebraska, we find another of the prominent old-timers of that region in the person of B. K. Melland, who is a pros perous farmer and stockman, well known through out the county as a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and enjoying the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Melland is one of the sturdy sons of Nor way, born March 25, 1856, and is a son of Christ and Mary Olson, who were respected tillers of the soil of that country. Our subject left his mother country, and em barked at Stavanger for the United States in a steamer, arriving in New York City after a rath er hard voyage of two weeks on the sea. He came directly to Nebraska, and purchased ninety acres of railroad land in Madison county, which he rapidly turned into a productive farm. He has had the usual hard times experienced by all who came here to seek their fortune, but through it all has never lost sight of the fact that it takes patience and perseverance to win any thing worth while, and, through constant hard la bor and good management, has succeeded in sur mounting what at times seemed hopeless obsta cles. He has a finely improved farm, good build ings of all kinds, plenty of stock, and pasture land for the same, also raises fine crops of grain annually. Mr. Melland was united in marriage in No vember, 1877, at his home in Norway, to Miss Tena Larson, and to them have been born six children, named as follows : Christ, Lewis, Mary, Ole, Bertha and Johnnie. When Mr. Melland first landed in Madison county he had the large sum of twenty-five cents in actual cash, and it is nearly unbelievable to think of this and compare his present prosperity with that time. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 353 JOSEPH S. PEDLER. Joseph S. Pedler was born on a farm in Gray county, Ontario, May 30, 1857. He was the eld est of two sons in the family of Samuel and Sarah Sparks Pedler. His mother died in 1861, when he was only four years old. His father remarried, and of this marriage eleven children were born. Out of this large family, Joseph and a half- brother, H. W. Pedler, were the only ones who came to the United States. Mr. Pedler spent his earlier years^on a farm, receiving but little schooling, and in his seven teenth year, he started out in life for himself, learning the blacksmith trade. It is a curious fact that as far back as the family history could be traced, some member of the Pedler family has been a blacksmith or iron worker. Mr. Pedler first received forty dollars per year and board. In 1879, he emigrated to Newton, Iowa, and worked at his trade there for about a year, going to Loup City, Sherman county, Nebraska, in May, 1880. In the following July, he was married to Miss Mary A. Thompson, in Grand Island, Ne braska, coming to the Loup City home immediate ly after the marriage. Mr. Pedler was elected sheriff of Sherman county in the fall of 1885, and after serving in that capacity for two terms, was deputy sheriff for two years. While he was serving as sheriff, there was considerable excitement over the shoot ing of Editor B. L. Richardson of "The Loup City Northwestern" by Editor 0. B. Willard of the ' ' Sherman County Times. ' ' During these years, Mr. Pedler had began the study of law and in December, 1893, he was ad mitted to practice law in the Nebraska courts. Three years later he became a partner of ex-Coun ty Judge G. W. Hunter and since that time has given most of his time to the practice of his chosen profession. For four years he was county attorney of Sherman county, and was county judge in 1908-9. Notwithstanding his extensive law practice, Mr. Pedler has also had much to do with the financial and business life of Loup City and cen tral Nebraska, being president of the Loup City State Bank. He is an active, progressive man of affairs, especially prominent in' educational lines. For about fifteen years he has been continuously on the Loup City school board, and served on the board previous to that time. During the past year he has been a member of the city council. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Ma sonry^ and is a member of other lodges and orders. Mr. and Mrs. Pedler have had two children, Raymond and Saidee, neither of whom is living. They have a comfortable home in Loup City, and enjoy the respect and esteem of many friends. Mr. Pedler has been in Nebraska thirty years and is reckoned as one of the pioneers. He re members the time when plow shares were brought to him from a distance of fifty miles to be sharp ened and when he made some of his tools out of old horseshoes and files. AUGUST W. MULLER. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Cedar county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of August W. Muller, who has been for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been a resident of the county since 1880, and in that length of time has won a secure place in the community, being now regard ed as one of the most prosperous farmers of that locality. Mr. Muller is a native of Germany, having been born in 1841 in the province of Anhast Des sau, the son of Carl and Fredericka Muller. His childhood and the years of his early manhood were spent in the land across the sea, and in 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Prummer. The following year, 1865, he decided to cast in his fortune with the new world, and accord ingly started from Hamburg in a steamer bound for New York. From this city he came direct to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1880. At this time, he joined the throng who were moving westward, and came to Cedar county, this state, where he took up a homestead in section twenty-one, township thirty-one, range two, east. He has occupied this place continuously since that time, and has now a well-improved farm, with comfortable house, commodious barns, and con venient buildings. Since coming to Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. Mul ler, with their one daughter, Emma, have taken a prominent part in the social life of the commu nity and enjoy the respect of all who know them. THOMAS N. GOSNELL. A man's part has been played in the making of Merrick county, and conversion of the shining prairies of Nebraska into fertile and well kept farms by him whose name begins this article, and whose home is in Central City, where he owns a good home and is enjoying the fruits of his early efforts. Thomas N. Gosnell, son of Francis H. and Susan (Loudenslager) Gosnell, was born in Bal timore county, Maryland, January 18, 1836, and was the youngest of ten children; he has one sister, Mrs. Margaret Fauquier, in Nebraska, the others being deceased, as are also the parents. The father died in 1862, and the mother in 1855, at Troy, Ohio. In November of 1837, the family moved to Troy, Ohio, where Mr. Gosnell re ceived his education and later engaged in farm ing. March 16, 1857, Mr. Gosnell went to Keo kuk, Iowa, where he remained a short time and then began farming in Hancock county, Illinois, 354 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. where he resided until the civil war broke out. On October 20, 1861, Mr. Gosnell enlisted in Com pany H, Third Iowa Cavalry, and served all through the war, receiving an honorable dis charge August 20, 1865, in Davenport, Iowa. The principal battles engaged in were Moore's Mills, Missouri; Kirksville, Missouri; Hartville, Mis souri; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; Gun Town, Mississippi; Tupelo, Mis sissippi; battles of Big Blue, and of Little Blue, Missouri ; Plantersville, Alabama ; Selma, Ala bama ; Columbus, Georgia ; and many minor skirmishes, including the Wilson raid, which be gan at Gravelley Springs, Alabama, and ended at Macon, Georgia, where it was learned that Gen eral Lee had surrendered and the war was over. After the war, Mr. Gosnell went to Louisville, Kentucky, and engaged in the retail ice business for four years. In January, 1869, he went to Vermillion county, Illinois, farming for three years, and in March, 1872, came to Merrick county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-two, township thirteen, range eight, which remained the home place for thirty-eight years. During all the years Mr. Gosnell 's sister, Mrs. Margaret Fauquier, lived with him, until July 12, 1883, when he married Mrs. Augusta Bruno of Michigan and later of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell have had four children : Susanna A., Thomas N., junior, Frances S., and Annetta, all of whom are living under the parental roof. Mr. Gosnell in political faith is a democrat, and has served as supervisor of his county for ten years; also justice of the peace in Prairie Creek township eight years; and was instru mental in organizing his school district number twenty-eight, and served as director of same for a number of years. In 1908, Mr. Gosnell was elected to the office of county assessor, which he is now filling satisfactorily. In March, 1910, Mr. Gosnell retired from the farm and moved to Central City, and purchased a good home where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of frontier life and are widely and favorably known. JOHN C. LUCKERT. John C. Luckert is one of the pioneers of Knox county who has been an important factor in the development and growth of the region where he has spent the past thirty-three years. He has extensive ranching and farming interests, nearly all of which has been acquired by dint of his own energy and perseverance. He is well known throughout the county and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all. Mr. Luckert is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurring in the year of 1842. Later the family came to New York state, settling on a farm, where our subject was reared and educated, attending the country school when he was not assisting in the farm work on the home place. During the civil war, on April 7, 1861, Mr. Luckert joined the army, enlisting in Company K, Fifth New York Zouaves. He served under many distinguished generals — Grant, McClelland, Burnsides, and others — and fought until the close of the war, June 19, 1865. After two years, Mr. Luckert became a member of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, and remained with that regiment until the close of the war. After the memorable seven day fight, at the close of the war, he attended West Point academy for one hundred and ten days. He then enlisted in the regular army and went to Chey enne, Wyoming, where he remained a short time, then going to Arizona, where he served until 1868, being seven years and four months in the government service continuously. In 1872 he was re-instated in the regular army as quartermaster, Company K, Sixth United States Cavalry, and served five years more. He then drove from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Columbus, Nebraska, with a mail man, and there hired a man to bring him to Knox county, his advent to this county occur ring in the year 1878. Here he bought the 0 'Neil homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which was an improved farm, and thirty head, of cattle and horses, all for five hundred and fifty- six dollars. Later he took up a pre-emption tim ber claim. In his thirty- three years' residence in Knox county, Mr. Luckert has experienced many vicis situdes and discouragements, not the least of which were prairie fires, which our subject fought many times to save his home and possessions. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those early days of the first settlers in the county, and many dangers beset the sturdy pioneer of that time ; but success has crowned the faithfulness of those who would not become discouraged, and now Mr. Luckert owns six hundred and forty acres of fine land, and is a highly respected member of his community and county. In 1880 Mr. Luckert was married to Miss Julia Whitt, and Mr. and Mrs. Luckert are the pa rents of fifteen children, of whom eleven are living: Herman, Lillie, Julia, Rudolph, Bertha, Oscar, Elsie, Alma, Walter, Alton, and Loal. Those who are dead were, William, John, Hugo, and Herbert. SAMUEL B. TURNER. Samuel B. Turner, residing on section thirty- three, of Fullerton township, is one of the influ ential and widely known citizens of Nance coun ty. He was one of the very early settlers of that region, taking up his residence on his present farm when the land was wild. Here he has remained to accumulate a nice property and develop a well improved and valuable estate, which is the direct result of his own industry and good management COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 355 and he enjoys a splendid reputation as a worthy citizen and progressive agriculturalist. Mr. Turner was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 27, 1859. He was the third in a family of five children resulting from the mar riage of Robert and Mary Turner. His education was received in the Salem city schools, and he made that section his home until his nineteenth year, at which time in company with John, Charles and Frank Hinchilwoo and Jacob H. Umstead, came into Nance county, Nebraska, our subject and Mr. Umstead purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in partnership and each farming one-half of this tract. Mr. Turner after wards sold his eighty to his partner, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty- three, township seventeen, range six, which has remained his home place up to the present time. He has added to his acreage, now having two hundred and forty acres, all situated in Cedar Valley, and is choice farming land, which he has in a high state of cultivation, and he is also en gaged in the stock business to quite an extent. Mr. Turner was married in Fullerton, Nebras ka, March 3, 1885, to Mary D. Tredway, daughter of Abraham Tredway, one of Nance county's pioneer settlers, he coming here from Iowa with his family in 1882. The father, mother and two sisters of our subject joined him in Nance county in 1890, locating in Fullerton, where the father died the following year, and the mother in 1900. One sister is also dead, one other, Mrs. W. D. Dean, lives on a farm near our subject, and an other, Mrs. George McChesney, resides in Bel grade. Mrs. Turner died on the home farm, June 29, 1900, leaving four children; Robert A., Arthur C, Mildred and Miles, (twins). The first two and the last named live at home ; while Mildred is married to Ed L. Hunscote and re sides near Clarks, Merrick county. The entire Turner family is well known throughout Nance county, and enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. JOHN A. HENNING. John A. Henning, a retired ranchman and one of the wealthy land owners of Holt county, Ne braska, is a native of the village of Fosdorf, Prus sia, Germany, born April 27, 1851. His father died when he was a small child and his mother later married Fred Kohlman, who came to Amer ica in 1861. Her maiden name was Lena Schu macher. The family sailed from Hamburg, May 15, and landed at New York July 4, meeting a noisy reception in that city. Mr. Kohlman lo cated in Cook county, Illinois, renting a farm for a number of years, and there John A. Henning re ceived most of his education. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Henning be gan, life on his own account, and until reaching his majority worked on farms by the month. He then rented a farm near Hoopeston, Vermillion county, and continued living on leased land until leaving Illinois in 1881. January 20 of that year he started west and some time the following month reached Marion, South Dakota, where the deep snow of the preceding part of the winter had blockaded the roads, and travelers were held there three months waiting for traffic to be re sumed on the line. They finally reached Running Water about the first of June, crossed the river to Niobrara, and drove horses thence to Holt county. They were eight days making this journey, as the spring floods had been heavy and had washed away many bridges, and heavy rains had followed, so that their only way of crossing streams was to go to the headwaters. They were held three days at one ranch house, Mr. Henning camping in his wagon, while his wife and the children sought shelter in the house, with nearly a dozen more. On the tenth of the month they reached their destination on Eagle creek, twelve miles northeast of Atkinson. Mr. Henning filed on a homestead and timber claim, to which he completed his title, then began buying the sur rounding land until he owns two thousand acres of as valuable land as is to be found in the state. It is well adapted to farming and cattle raising, has an abundant supply of good water, and whether used for grazing purposes or cultivated, yields a bountiful profit. From the first he en gaged in stock raising, and dealing, bought and shipped stock and fed all the grain he raised to his stock, also buying more grain for feeding pur poses. He remained on his ranch until 1903, then purchased a comfortable town residence in At kinson, where he has since been enjoying a well- earned rest from strenuous work, although he finds much to occupy him in caring for his va rious interests. Mr. Henning 's marriage occurred in Cook county, Illinois; October 10, 1875, when he was united with Miss Sophia Jennings, who was born in the village of Machleen, province of Mecklen- burg-Schwerin, Germany. Her father, Christian Jennings, served in the Prussian war, and the mother before her marriage bore the name of Louisa Agrim. The Jennings family came to America in 1871, embarking at Hamburg on the old sailing vessel, "Prince Albert," which was seven weeks making the voyage to New York. Upon landing Mr. Jennings found his financial resources reduced to the small sum of ten cents, but his friend, Mr. Newman, who was a minister^ loaned him fifty dollars to take his family to Indiana, where he had a brother. Upon reaching the latter destination he found his brother had moved to Cook county, Illinois, where he fol lowed, and soon found work. He moved from Cook county to Vermillion county, and in 1876 came to Nebraska. In 1883 he secured a home stead and timber claim near Mr. Henning 's land and now (1911) he and his wife reside about a mile from Atkinson, he being seventy-five and she 356 'AHdvaooia cinv aoNaosiNinaa 'ahoxsih ^o MniaNadHoo seventy-seven years of age. Three sons were born to Mr. Henning and wife: Henry and Albert occupy parts of their father's land on Eagle creek, while John has a farm eight miles northeast of the city. At the time of the famous blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, Mr. Henning happened to be in the barn when the storm broke, and several times during the day made the trip from house to bam and back again, making sure that the cattle were weathering the blast comfortably, and attending to numerous other details. Although many peo ple lost their lives going a short distance from one dwelling to another a short distance away or from house to barn, or vice versa, he was for tunate enough to make these several trips in safety, although he well remembers the severity of the storm. When the family came to settle on Eagle creek, deer and antelope were still to be seen and along some of the streams wild turkey were plentiful. They were undisturbed by the Indian scare for the very simple reason that they knew nothing of it until it was over and every thing was quiet again. Mr. Henning and wife are among the most popular and well known residents of their com munity, where they are highly esteemed and have many warm friends. They have lived long in the county and are well known, their many good qualities being for this reason widely ap preciated. CHARLES C. COMBS. In compiling a biographical history it rarely occurs that we find an individual sketch so rich with incidents as the following. The writing of a story is simple enough, but when one has ac tually experienced the incidents related therein, it adds very much to the interest. Charles C. Combs was born' in the town of Verick, Seneca county, New York, October 23, 1832, the fourth child of Charles and Sarah (Waters) Combs, who had four boys and three girls. Our subject's mother was a native of Eng land, and the father a native of Scotland. They were married in New York state in 1815. The father came to America prior to 1812 and was a soldier in the war of 1812, his son, Charles, now having the original discharge papers of his father. Charles Combs, senior, died in Seneca county, New York, in 1838, and about 1842 the Combs family began to separate. Charles C. Combs left New York state in March, 1852, going to Adrian, Michigan, where he became an employee of the Michigan Southern railroad. He made his home in Michigan until the spring of 1859, when on April 1 of that year Mr. Combs landed in St. Joseph, Missouri, going to work on a farm seven miles distant, and in the spring of 1860 he went to Denver via the old Overland road assisting as driver of an ox team, a man who was transporting a number of men to Denver. While in Colorado Mr. Combs worked at placer mining, etc., until the month of August, 1860, when he became an employee of the Over land Stage Company in the capacity of stockman at a relay station of the company situated at Fremont Springs, and October 25, 1862, Mr. Combs became a regular driver on the line from Lone Tree station to Wood-river station; Lone Tree being the original name of Central City, Ne braska. In April, 1863, Mr. Combs and Wallace Burroughs, an old ex-stage driver took a squat ter's claim and built a log cabin on the banks of the Platte river alongside of the stage road, the house being eighteen by thirty-six and raised on April 6, 1863, and in the fall of that year a log barn was erected. This place became a wayside inn. Later on when the land was surveyed by the government, Mr. Combs filed on same, which has remained to this day the home farm. It is lo cated seven and one-half miles" southwest of Cen tral City, Nebraska. On the twenty-sixth day of December, 1864,Mr. Combs was married to Miss Fannie Hilton at Lone Tree ranch, which was the homestead ranch of her mother and brother who kept the Lone Tree stage station. Miss Hilton was a native of Maine, the family coming to Nebraska and set tling in Douglas county in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Combs have had three children born to them: Nellie, who is married to Ed Jones and lives in Central City, Nebraska ; Frank, married and lives on the old home farm; and Flora, who is mar ried to George Brooks, has five children and lives in Colfax, Washington. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Combs purchased the interests in the Combs & Burroughs ranch, as he had quit the employ of the Overland Stage Company prior to his marriage. Mr. Combs was the first sheriff elected in Merrick county after its organization, which occurred in 1865. He served in this office during 1866 and 1867. This portion of Nebraska in these early years was still the home of many Indians, the Chey- ennes, the Sioux, and Pawnees. The Pawnee In dian reservation was located in the region that is now Nance county, with a trading post at Genoa. Many of the Pawnee Indians were in the government service as scouts under command of Major Frank North and others. Mr. Combs re members many Indian fights, principally among the Indians of different tribes. He also recalls the first days of the Pony Express. He passed through the hardships of early pioneer days of crop failures, grasshopper raids, etc. In 1874, at the time of the grasshopper pest, Mr. Combs left his home and went to Nevada where he was em ployed for fourteen months in the silver mines to earn enough money to tide himself and family over until a crop could be raised on the farm While Mr. Combs was away Mrs. Combs, with the help of a young man, drew wood, with an ox team from across the river, and also used the team to MR. AND MRS. THOMAS KINGSTON. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 35? attend church. Mr. Combs has always been an active man of affairs, and himself and wife, after a married life of forty-six years, are now enjoying their home to its fullness. Merrick county has but few of those who came as early as 1862 and still live on their original ranch. The Combs' married and raised their family here, and in their advanc ing years are still young in spirit if not years. The family is one of the best known in this por tion of Nebraska, and have the respect and es teem of all who know them. On another page of this volume will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Combs. JAMES BRADY, SENIOR. (Deceased.) For over twenty years the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has been associa ted with the agricultural and other interests of Boone county, Nebraska, and as an old settler and one of her worthy citizens, he was prominently known. When he passed on to the better world, Mr. Brady left behind him the record of good and useful years. James Brady, senior, and family of wife and seven children came to Boone county, Nebraska, March 4, 1884, purchasing a one hundred and sixty acre farm northeast of Albion, and in 1893 he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in order to have better school advantages for his daughters; his sons remaining in Boone county. He returned to Albion for residence in 1905. Mr. Brady died in Albion, May 10, 1908, sur vived by his wife, two sons and four daughters, Mrs. Brady, son, James T., and daughters Mary and Rose, the latter of whom is now Mrs. M. W. McGann, are residents of Boone county; a son, Edward J., lives in South Dakota; a daughter, Catherine, now Mrs. John S. Spear, resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma; and a daughter, Agnes, wife of John H. Van Liew, lives in Beatrice, Ne braska. LOUIS LANGENBERG. Louis Langenberg is one of the older residents of Wayne county, Nebraska, and came to that lo cality when it was sparsely settled, and he had but very few neighbors. His market for disposing of the product of his farm was distant, and he experienced the same difficulties as most of the other early settlers. He is an ambitious and energetic man and has actively pursued the task of improving and developing his land, as well as lending his support to measures for ad vancing the general progress and welfare. Mr. Langenberg is a native of Lippe Det- mold, Germany, born in 1852, and is a son of Wil liam and Wilhelmina Langenberg, also natives of Germany. He is one of six children, and was reared and educated in his native country. In 1870, he sailed from Bremen to Baltimore on the steamship Balti more, whence he removed to Wisconsin and lived eight years in that state. He came to his present home in Wayne county in 1878 and purchased land, which he has cultivated and improved, and now has a valuable estate. He has added to his possessions from time to time as he was able to do so, and now owns eleven hundred acres of land. It was a frequent occurrence to see deer and antelope in the early days, but the old order of things has given place to new conditions and the wild prairie has been transformed into a region of pleasant homes and well tilled fields, the sign of agricultural prosperity and industry. Mr. Langenberg was married in 1880, to Miss Caroline Meyer, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Winand and Caroline Meyer. Mrs. Langenberg came to the United States a few years before her marriage. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Langenberg ; Rudolph, William, Minnie, Lena, Louise, Annie, Henry, George and Martha, the last named being nineteen years old at the time of her death. The family reside on section twenty-three, township twenty-five, range one, east, Wayne county, and are well regarded throughout the county, where they are well known and have many friends. THOMAS MORTIMER. One of the most prominent farmers of Stanton county, Nebraska, is the above named gentleman, who has been a resident of the county for thirty years, and has witnessed its development into a thriving agricultural district. Mr. Mortimer has always had the interests of his adopted home at heart, and has remained through discouragements, and dissapointments, and now enjoys a comfort able home located in section fifteen, township twenty-one, range one. Mr. Mortimer was born in England in 1859, his parents being Richard and Elizabeth Mortimer. He remained at home, and received his education in England. In 1879, Mr. Mortimer left his native land and came to America, going direct to Douglas county, Nebraska. He remained here for two years, and then proceeded on to Stanton county, where he bought his present ranch. He added to his orig inal holding as circumstances permitted, and at one time owned considerable real estate in town ship twenty-one, range one, east. He enjoyed the distinction of putting up the first bit of fence to be seen and the first house in the township. He has since sold a part of his estate, but still possesses enough to make a fine ranch, and one that is well equipped in every way. Mr. Mortimer met with the usual discourage ments incident to the pioneer's life, but each loss only served to increase his determination to 358 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. achieve his ambitions, and with true Anglo-Saxon perseverance, he remained and still worked — and conquered. He has always kept considerable stock, and one of his heavy losses came in 1888, when he lost quite a number of head of cattle in the memorable blizzard of that winter. Mr. Mortimer was married in 1886, to Miss Hattie Porter, of Stanton county, and they are the parents of three children : Richard Honer, Mary Elizabeth and George Arthur, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer form an important factor in the social life of the community and are much esteemed by all who know them. C. T. MILLER. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Antelope county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of C. T. Miller. For many years past he has been engaged in agricul tural pursuits in Crawford precinct and has done his full share as an old settler towards the devel opment of the better interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a comfortable home on section twen ty-nine, township twenty-seven, range five, and is the owner of a good farm, of two hundred and eighty acres. Mr. Miller was born November 12, 1855, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Thomas and Charlotte V. (Rose) Miller. Mr. Mil ler 's father was a native of Pennsylvania and was born in that state in 1821, and died in 1866. In his life time he followed the occupation of farm ing. In 1879, Mr. Miller came to Antelope county, Nebraska, from whence he drove to section twen ty-nine, township twenty-seven, range five, where he took up and proved a homestead claim, which is his present home. He built two sod houses in the early days, and has since erected a fine home. Mr. Miller has seen many phases of Nebraska life, coming here over thirty-two years ago. In the early days he had to burn hay as there was no money to spare to buy fuel, and they had so far to go after the fuel. In the blizzard of 1888, our subject lost some of his cattle. In 1875, Mr. Miller was joined in marriage to Miss Lodema McConnell, and they are the parents of three children, whose names are the following : Fred, who married Miss L. Morris, they have one child, by name Forrest ; Grant, married Ada Hill. and they have two children, by name Mearl and Mildred; and Glen. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are known well and widely, having resided in the one home so many years, and they hold the respect and esteem of all their friends, which are many. They are Methodists in religious belief and Mr. Miller is a democrat in politics. HERMAN STEINKRAUS. In the gentleman above named we have anoth er one of the sturdy sons of Germany who left his native land and came to this country to help in the steady march of progress. He is one of the very earliest settlers of the northeastern part of Nebraska, having come to this section in 1870, with his parents, who came to America from the fatherland, to seek their fortune, as so many sons of the German Empire have done. Mr. Steinkraus was born January 28, 1855, in the village of Damgard, province of Pommerania, Germany, and is the son of Frederick and Sophy (Martin) Steinkraus, the former born in 1830, and died in 1910 ; the mother was born in 1832, and died in 1896. On coming to America in 1874, the family sailed from Hamburg to New York, on the steam ship "Harmony," and after their arrival came to Omaha, Nebraska. From here they drove to a homestead claim the father had entered two. and a half miles east of Norfolk. Here they lived eight years, when in 1882, the father moved to Plain- view, where he conducted a store for over twenty years. He retired about 1904, and made his home in Pierce until his death in 1910. On first coming, the nearest market place was at Wisner, thirty miles away, then the terminus of the railroad. Mr. Steinkraus was in Plainview the day of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and was half way home when the storm broke. After reaching home he spent two hours in the fearful blast, getting his stock into shelter. In 1876, Mr. Steinkraus filed on a pre-emp tion claim which he later converted into a home stead, in the northwest quarter of section seven teen, township twenty-six, range four, and also a timber claim, where he built a good .house. Mr. Steinkraus has always given much attention to stock, breeding Herefords, the herd amounting to two hundred and fifty and upwards each year. Mr. Steinkraus has one thousand seven hundred and twenty acres of good land, forty acres of which is set to a beautiful grove of trees, the pride of the country round. The home place con tains ten hundred and forty acres, devoted to stock raising. Mr. Steinkraus purchased a fine residence in Plainview in 1910, and removing there, retired from active business. May 5, 1879, Mr. Steinkraus was married to Miss Emily Ruhlow, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of William and Christina (Pasewalk) Ruhlow. Nine children were born of this union, eight of whom are living: Ida, wife of Chris Pet erson ; Richard, who occupies the Willow Creek ranch ; Clara, wife of Stanley Skeen ; Emma, wife of Ernst Gast ; Erwin, occupying part of the home ranch; Elsie; Arthur, also a tenant on the home place ; and Alfred, the youngest. Mr. Steinkraus has always been closely iden tified with both the political and commercial inter ests of his locality. He votes the democratic tick- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 359 et, and has served his county in the capacity of county commissioner. He holds the esteem and confidence of all who know him. JACOB P. HILD. Among the truly self-made men of Howard county, Nebraska, we might mention the name of Jacob F. Hild, who is the only remaining pioneer in his immediate neighborhood. He has been a foremost citizen of the locality from the time of his settlement here, and has given liberally of his time and means in helping build up his county, and state, during the time becoming prosperous and successful on his own account and gaining an enviable reputation as an active leading citizen of his county. His home is on section thirty-three, township sixteen, range ten. Jacob F. Hild was born in Wurtemberg, Ger many, on August 2, 1855, and grew up there, to the age of ten years. In 1865 father, mother, two brothers, two sisters and himself came to America, landing in Lincoln, Illinois, during Christmas week of that year, where another sis ter was born soon afterwards. The father en gaged in farming, and they were getting along nicely, although being poor, when the mother was taken ill and died in the winter of 1868, leaving her six little ones with just the father to care for them. He did the best he possibly could, but often had a hard struggle to carry on the farm and also keep the house going properly. In 1870 he took his family to Kansas, and there engaged in farming in Montgomery county. After a two years' residence in that section, Mr. Hild also died, and the following year our subject returned to Illinois, and there worked on rented land up to 1890, when with his family he came to Howard county. He had previously purchased eighty acres on section thirty-three, Logan precinct, and shortly after arrival, eighty acres more, and this is still the home farm. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres, about half a mile from this place, all of which is fine soil and most of it under cultivation. He has erected good buildings, has a fine orchard, and every improvement in the way of machinery, etc. Mr. Hild was married in Logan county, Illi nois, to Anna Proehl, in February, 1883. Mrs. Hild died in 1894 on the homestead, leaving three children, Fred, who is married, Oscar and Albert, all of whom are in Colfax county. In December, 1895, Mr. Hild was married the second time, to Mrs. Annie Harris, the ceremony taking place in Marshall county, Kansas, where she resided. They have two children^ Jacob and Minnie, both at home. Mrs. Hild has two children by her for mer^ marriage ; Mrs. Lillie Bilyeu, and Henry H. Harris. Mr. Hild has held different local offices, includ ing that of road overseer, and for the past ten years has been moderator of school district num ber twenty-one. WILLIAM J. TIMMERMAN. William J. Timmerman, a leading old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, who has gained an en viable reputation as a progressive agriculturalist and worthy citizen, resides on his fine farm in section nineteen, township nineteen, range thir teen, where he has a pleasant home. He has been a resident of this locality for the past thirty-one years, and is closely identified with the history of the development and growth of the agricultural and commercial interests of this region. William J. Timmerman was born in Montgom ery county, New York state, November 17, 1843, and was fourth of eleven children in the family of Jonas and Catherine (Cramer) Timmerman; two of the children died in infancy, and seven sons and one daughter grew to maturity. The Timmer man family were farmers ; Jonas Timmerman and family moved from Montgomery county, New York, to Steuben county, New York, in 1847. On August 29, 1864, William J. Timmerman enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty- first New -York Volunteer Infantry, and partici pated in the engagements at the Siege of Mobile, Alabama, Spanish Fort, and Fort Blakely. He received his honorable discharge September 20, 1865, returning to his home farm in Steuben county, New Yrork. Ransford and Montgomery Timmerman, brothers of William Timmerman, were also in the civil war, the former losing an arm in the service, a ball shattering a bone to such an extent that amputation was necessary. In the spring of 1879, Levi and Montgomery Timmerman, who were brothers, came to Valley county, Nebraska, and in December, 1879, William Timmerman, his brother, Hosmer M. Timmerman, and his brother-in-law, H. P. Eastman, moved from New Yrork state to Valley county, Nebraska. The Timmerman brothers and their families have been pioneers of Valley county, and have had much to do with the development of the county. They have been known as good citizens and stuck to Valley county during adverse years of this por tion of Nebraska, becoming prosperous and suc cessful men. Mr. Timmerman was married on March 9, 1864, to Miss Alsemeda Drake in Steuben county, New York, in the town of Jasper. Miss Drake was a native of Steuben county, a daughter of William and Adeline (Gerry) Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Timmerman have had five children born to them, namely : Lina, who is married to J. Cronk, has ten children and is living in Idaho; Edith, wife of William Cronk, has nine children, and re sides in Ord, Nebraska; Ernest, who has a farm in Noble township, now occupies the home farm, the parents residing with him; Herman, who -is married and living one mile west of the home farm, and has three children; and Clayton, also married, has three children, and lives in Elyria township on his farm purchased in 1910. November 30, 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Timmerman 360 Compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. and five children came from New York state, and with them also came the mother of Mrs. Timmer man, Mrs. Adeline Drake. The family settled on eighty acres of purchased land on section nine teen, township nineteen, range thirteen, and this farm has remained the family home until this date ; where William Timmerman and his good wife, surrounded by the farm homes of their boys, are enjoying their riper years, having the love and respect of a large circle of friends. Mr. Timmerman has three hundred and twen ty acres of choice Valley county land besides his home farm. He is republican in politics, a mem ber of the Methodist church and a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. For four years af ter coming to the west, the family lived in a sod house, and a sod retreat, known as Fort Bancroft, built by the earlier settlers as protection against the Indians, stood on the farm a few rods east of his dwelling. Deer and antelope were plentiful in the country at that time and smaller game was to be found in abundance. ADOLPH HILLE. To the men of perseverance and determina tion who came to Nebraska when it was yet unde veloped as an agricultural region, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Madison county who have been in timately identified with its development and have gained enviable reputations as citizens, may be mentioned Adolph Hille, a prosperous and suc cessful farmer who resides on section fourteen, township twenty-four, range one. Mr. Hille is a native of Jefferson county, Wis consin, where his birth occurred March 21, 1863, and is a son of Carl and Wilhelmina (Kluth) Hille, both natives of Germany. They came from Germany to America in 1850, sailing from Ham burg to New York in a sailboat and were twelve weeks on the sea, a much longer time than would take at the present time of traveling by water. After reaching the United States they came as far west as Wisconsin, where they settled and re mained sixteen years. In 1866, our subject, with his parents, started for Madison county, traveling by ox team, the us ual mode of migrating in those days, starting May 4, and reaching their destination two months later, on July 4. Upon their arrival they took up a homestead claim on section fourteen, township twenty-four, range one, which remains the home stead farm to this day, it now being the home of the subject of this biographical writing. On this land two log houses haye been erected, but Mr. Hille has now built a beautiful residence, which together with the well improved farm and fine orchard, makes one of the finest homes in the com munity. The land is naturally rich and resource ful, it lying along the banks of the Elkhorn river, which affords it a natural supply of moisture. In the first days of settlement in this new western country, numerous hardships and priva tions were encountered by the brave sons who dared the unknown dangers and suffering of a new and unsettled territory. Among other dis couragements met by our subject's family was that of the grasshopper pests that destroyed every leaf of vegetation for miles around during the first five years of cultivation; the crops would grow to a promising state, and along would come the clouds of grasshoppers and have their annual feast of young, tender vegetation. This was very discouraging to those concerned, but they man aged by fortitude and courage, to pull through these trying periods, and lived to share the pros perity and comfort of a later period. Mr. Hille was married May 31, 1887, to Miss Fredericka Wachter, a native of Wisconsin, and Mr. and Mrs. Hille were the parents of five chil dren, namely: Louis, Ernest, Amy, Arthur, and Alford. Mrs. Hille died June 17, 1896, deeply mourned by her husband and children and many sorrowing friends. Mr. Hille was again married October 10, 1898, the bride being Miss Bertha Wallschlager, and Mr. and Mrs. Hille are the parents of four fine children, whose names are as follows: Richard, William, Freda and Carl. Mr. Hille now owns one hundred and seventy acres of good land, on which are set eight acres of. orchard trees, this making a fine home, where he and his family live, surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. They are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Hille is a democrat. JOHN H. LOVEJOY. John H. Lovejoy has always been a farmer, and before settling in Custer county, which he did at a very early date, he carried on this occu pation in New Hampshire, his native state. He was born at Orford, April 8, 1834, second in the family of six children born to Enos and Mary (Hale) Lovejoy. The only other surviving mem ber of the family is his brother, Lewis, who still lives in New Hampshire. The parents were born in New Hampshire, where they spent their entire lives. On March 5, 1856, Mr. Lovejoy married, in Orford, New Hampshire, Mary A. Lamprey, also a native of that city, and in the spring of 1880, they came with their six children to Custer coun ty, Nebraska, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section seven, township nine teen, range eighteen, the home place for a num ber of years, and which is now owned by their son Frank E. Later Mr. Lovejoy pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section eight een, township nineteen, range eighteen, eighty acres of which he still owns. Mrs. Lovejoy died on the homestead June 12, 1887, survived by her husband and six children: Emma P., wife of Frank Washburn, lives in Orford, New Hamp shire, and they have five children; Mary E., mar- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 361 ried Charles P. Sharp, of Garden City, and they have three children; Frank E., of Custer county, is married and has three children; Amy M., wife of George W. Brown, of Sargent (a sketch of whom appears in this work), has five children; Hattie A., wife of F. Wittemeyer, of Sargent, has seven children; George C, who was accidentally killed while hunting, in 1900. In 1889 Mr. Lovejoy married (second) Ellen Sawyer, also of New Hampshire, who was an orig inal homesteader of Custer county in that year, and she died March 6, 1894, survived by her hus band. Mr. Lovejoy has always taken an active and useful part in public affairs and served in various public offices from time to time. He helped organize school district number two hundred and fifty-two and for many years served as moderator of same. He was also justice of the peace and held township offices. In earlier years he passed through the various trials and vi cissitudes incident to pioneer life, and through his energy and hard work became successful as a grain and stock farmer. He is widely and favor ably known in the community for his support of various worthy measures and is highly respected as a citizen. He has been a devout and active christian for nearly sixty years and has given largely of his time and substance to the cause. December 26, 1894, Mr. Lovejoy was married (third) at Broken Bow, to Agnes J. McAllister, a daughter of James A. and Lettie (Gaily) McAl lister, the seventh born of a family of eight chil dren. Her girlhood days were spent in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. As a young girl of sixteen she came to Nebraska and resided with her par ents in Gage county and then in 1888 the family moved to Custer county, where they made their home in the sod houses of that day. She home steaded a claim in 1894 in section seven, town ship nineteen, range eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy have two children, Alice and James E., both at home. In 1907 Mr. Lovejoy retired and moved with his family to Sargent, purchasing the comfortable home where they now live. ROBERT WILLIAM WALLACE. "A man without fear," is the designation of Robert William Wallace, city marshal of Harting ton, given by his fellow citizens to a man who has been the instrument of the execution of the law as constable or city marshal for all but a few years since his advent to Hartington on its found ing in the fall of 1893. Mr. Wallace was born near Chatham, Ontario, Canada, June 25, 1843 ; here his youth was spent until 1856, when his father moved to Michigan and resided two years at Ann Arbor, and then re turned to his former Canadian home, and lived here until his death. Robert learned the carpen ter 's trade and was employed in that vocation for several years. In 1869 he crossed the national boundary again and for a year was employed in the saw mills of Bay City, Michigan, and fol lowed the sawyer's trade at Blenheim, on the shores of Lake Erie, after returning to Canada the second time. In 1876, Mr. Wallace emigrated to Nebraska, coming by rail to Mechling, South Dakota, and crossing thence to St. James, which he reached July 16, 1876. He was employed at farm work the rest of that season, and in 1877 went to the Black Hills, where he "grubstaked" a party from Cedar county, but some of them becoming dissatisfied the entire party returned after thir ty days there, although prospects were good. He resumed farm labor on his return to St. James and in 18.80 found employment in construction work on the railroad then being built through Jackson, Nebraska. He was employed in this work in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota for several years, and was employed one winter mak ing ties for the railroad north of Jackson. He was one of the surveying party which laid out the road from Sioux City to Norfolk. In 1883 Mr. Wallace removed to Hartington, bought a lot and built a house which has since been his residence. For all but six of the inter vening years, he has served the public as con stable or city marshal, and has proved an efficient, faithful officer of the law. His father, Joseph Wallace, was born in Ireland, near Cork, of Scotch parentage. He came to America in 1837, landing in New York after a voyage of seven weeks, and shortly after proceeded to Canada, where he was married to Mary Reardon, whose life was spent in Ontario, Canada. Mr. Wallace was married in South Sioux City, Nebraska, then known as Covington, to Miss Maria Plant, in February, 1880. She was born in Indiana and came west about 1876 to join a sister in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who later removed to Sioux City, where Mr. Wallace and his future wife met; they have been a happy couple ever since and bless the circumstances that brought them together. They have reared and matured two boys, Walter Cramer and James Bruce Al- lingham, one of whom is still with them. Mr. Wallace has been a life-long democrat. His father while living in Michigan, cast his ballot for Buchanan, in 1856, before returning to Can ada. Mr. Wallace is a charter member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges of Harting ton ; he was made a Mason in Canada in 1872 and joined the Odd Fellows there also the same year. He revisited his old home for the first time in 1906, and stopped off to visit two brothers, prom inent physicians in Michigan, on his way to his sister's in London, Canada. Mr. Wallace remembers well the blizzards of October, 1880, and January, 1888; and the flood of March, 1881, when all who lived along the bluffs on the Nebraska side rendered aid to the sufferers on the low lands across the river m South Dakota. 362 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Wallace has always been fond of fine horses and has done well his part in improving western stock of that kind. He owns Acme, a fine bred horse by Alcyone, a standard bred trot ter that has made excellent records on the track. His horses show well in this region of fine horses, and have left their impress for good in the state. JAMES VIEREGG. James Vieregg, one of the leading old settlers of eastern Nebraska, in fact the very first white man to settle in Lone Tree station, went to that lo cality when it was in its most undeveloped state, and has resided there for the past fifty-three years. He is recognized as one of the substantial citi zens of that part of the country. Mr. Vieregg was born near Probsti, Germany, December 6, 1833, where he grew up to his young manhood, and in 1852 came to America via the Gulf of Mexico in a sailing vessel, making final settlement in Iowa; then going from Iowa to Cali fornia via Isthmus of Panama route, and in 1858 moved from California to Nebraska, coming over land on horseback, and settling near Lone Tree, taking up such land privileges as were afforded by the government at that time. Mr. Vieregg was one of the first, possibly the first, to settle in this portion of territory in Nebraska, and we quote the following taken from a Fourth of July ad dress by John L. Martin, delivered at Central City, Nebraska, in 1876: "In August 1858, James Vieregg returning to the States from the gold fields of California, stopped in Hall county to visit his brother John, who had squatted there. While resting there and beholding the fertile plains displayed before him, and looking with prophetic eye forward to its future greatness, he came on down within the boundary of Merrick county, drove a Cottonwood stake into the ground and lariatted his claim on what the government surveyors afterward located as the southeast quarter of section five, township eleven, range eight. This claim was located Thursday, Septem ber 5, 1858, and was the first settlement by white man in Merrick county, Nebraska. In 1858 the Western Stage company established a station at Lone Tree and erected the first building in Mer rick county. Lone Tree was so called from a beautiful tree which stood alone on the prairie. The Lone Tree was three or four feet in diameter at stump height, and was twenty feet in height to the first limb ; the branches were wide spread ing and the whole tree was remarkably symmet rical in its proportions. It stood about eighty rods from any ether tree and could be seen for twenty miles. ' ' Mr. Vieregg followed the occupation of farm ing and about 1870 left the farm and came into the little village of Central City to reside. He was the first county treasurer of Merrick coun ty, holding said office for eleven consecutive years, then engaging in the grain business. In 1886 Mr. Vieregg purchased the Brewer mill built by J. G. and W. Brewer, it being the pioneer mill of Merrick county. Mr. David Mar tin was a partner of Mr. Vieregg, but about 1894 Mr. Vieregg became sole owner of the mill prop erty which remained in the Vieregg family until 1907, when it was sold. Mr. Vieregg now spends a great portion of his time in Oregon, and al though nearing his eightieth year is still an active man of affairs. Mr. Vieregg assisted greatly in the develop ment of this portion of Nebraska. He was at all times an active, progressive man, and is known and respected by a wide circle of friends and ac quaintances. Mr. Vieregg was married in Hall county, Ne braska, to Miss Sarah Martin, May 6, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Vieregg have had seven children, all born in Merrick county, and five of whom are living: Nettie, wife of E. C. Fisher, has one child and lives in Basin, Wyoming; Joseph W., married, has one child and resides in Central City; Eva, wife of 0. T. Bishop, has one child, and lives in Central City; Amy, wife of John Zane, resides in Basin, Wyoming ; and Hazel, who is completing her musical education in Oberlin, Ohio. The family of Mr. Vieregg are one of the real pioneer families of Nebraska. The son, Joseph, is said to be the first male child born in Merrick county. Mr. Vieregg passed through all those early years that make history. T. J. BUCKMASTER. Mr. T. J. Buckmaster first came to Knox county, Nebraska, in October, 1876, settling on a farm west of Creighton, which he had secured two years before. He came with his brother, Jasper M., who has since moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and others of the family came about the same time. A brother, W. W. Buck- master, has removed to Brunswick, and a sister, Mrs. Eliza Doty, lives at Bloomfield. Mr. Buckmaster resided on his farm five years and then moved to Creighton, which has since been his home. He also owns two hundred and forty acres of land two and one-half miles from Creighton. During his five years' residence on the farm he taught school at Niobrara and dur ing the last term was elected county superintend ent of schools, serving from January 1, 1879, to January 1, 1885. Later he taught a term at Bazile Mills, and one at Verdegris. On coming to Creighton he was engaged in the livery busi ness about nine years, and since 1900, he has been interested in real estate and insurance. Mr. Buckmaster was born near Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio, December 14, 1847. His parents moved to St. Joseph county, Indiana, about 1853, and to Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1860, settling near Independence. The parents of AARON Z. PERRIN. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 363 our subject were Joshua R. and Mary (Young) Buckmaster, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the former died in Iowa, and the latter in Ohio, the mother passing away when our subject was quite young. The marriage of Mr. Buckmaster was solemn ized at Jessup, Iowa, in January, 1875 ; the bride, Miss Mary E. Thomas, was born in the southeast ern part of Iowa, whither her parents, Henry and Sarah Thomas, had moved when that country was sparsely settled. Mr. and Mrs. Buckmaster have one child living: Maude L., wife of Milford Kyle, a jeweler of Creighton; they have one son named Marvin W. Mr. Buckmaster served nearly twenty years on the county board, and while teaching in Nio brara in the early days, was appointed justice of the peace against his wishes; after dismissing the first case brought before him, he , resigned. He served as collector two years, and a like period as township treasurer. During the time of his in cumbency of the superintendent's office, he saw the schools of the county increase from sixteen districts, one of which is in what is now Holt county, to eighty-five. At that time there were only three frame school houses in the county, those at Niobrara, Blyville, and Bazile Mills; the others were sod or log buildings, and school was held in some districts in a dugout. This was all open country in those days with deer and antelope still roaming the prairies. The famous "rustlers," Kid Wade and Doe. Middle- ton, were running off stock throughout the coun try, and were frequently seen in Knox county. Mr. Buckmaster met them from time to time, but was never molested by either. Mr. Buckmaster was never caught out in any of the well remembered blizzards of 1880 or 1888, but was caught in the open south of Niobrara by one of the severe hail storms that frequently swept the country, and had his buggy and team badly pelted by the fall of ice, but without injury to himself. Mr. Buckmaster is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and wor ships at the Episcopal church. AARON Z. PERRIN. Aaron Z. Perrin is one of the most prominent and successful business men of central Nebraska, and is recognized as a public-spirited and useful citizen. He has splendid business qualities and has a reputation for integrity and upright deal ing. A portrait of him appears on another page. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, October 4, 1863, sixth of the eleven children of Samuel and Sophia (Roubleau) Perrin. Ten of these chil dren now survive, namely : S. W., of Lincoln ; G. F. and S. L., of Sargent; two sons in Cedar Rap ids, Iowa ; one son in charge of the United States government station at Balabac, Philippine Is lands; Aaron Z. ; Mrs. James D. Courtney, of Omaha; Mrs. Granville Ivers, of Winner, South Dakota ; Mrs. William Crinklaw, of Craig, Nebras ka. A sketch of S. L., who spells the surname "Perin," also appears in this work. The father was of German descent, born near Cincinnati, Ohio, a civil engineer by profession, and settled in Custer county, Nebraska, where he took a homestead about 1884, dying there in January, 1888. The mother was born in New Orleans, Lou isiana, of French parentage, and died in Lincoln, Nebraska, May 13, 1911. Mr. Perrin was reared to young manhood in Iowa, receiving the educational advantages gen erally given in the common schools there, and in the spring of 1880, came to Custer county, where he spent four years with his brothers on the farm. March 1, 1884, he came to Sargent and took a po sition as clerk in the general store of J. K. Spacht, remaining with him five years. In the fall of 1889 he took charge of a grain elevator in Sargent. This was put up by a Chicago firm before the rail road went through Sargent, and after buying grain to fill the elevator they hauled it to Ar cadia with teams and shipped it from there by rail carrying on the business in this manner for two years. In February, 1891, Mr. Perrin accept ed a position as book-keeper for a chain of seven elevators belonging to the Nash-Wright company, remaining with them until July 1, 1899, when he resigned the position and returned to Sargent with his family. By this time the railroad had been completed to the town and he erected a com fortable modern home on a twenty acre farm tract three quarters of a mile north of Sargent, where he has since resided, and where he has set out trees and flowers and made many other im provements. In the fall of 1900, Mr. Perrin, in company with C. W. Parks, purchased the J. S. Spooner stock of hardware and implements, and in the fall of 1906 they were incorporated as the Sargent Hardware & Furniture company. They carry a full line of farm machinery and agricultural im plements, and from a small beginning have built up an extensive trade. It is one of the largest and best equipped business houses in central Ne braska. Mr. Perrin was married March 4, 1888, at Sar gent, to Flora M., daughter of I. C. and Cynthia Tobias, of that place, and they have had four children, three of whom now survive: Otto, K, a student in the state university; Clyde W., at home; Marie Blanche, deceased; Ruth Gladys, at home. They are one of the prominent families of Sargent, prominent in social and educational circles, and have many friends. JOSEPH B. COPLEY. Joseph B. Copley, for many years a prosperous agriculturalist of Nance county, has retired from active work and now enjoys a comfortable home in Fullerton. He is known throughout that part 364 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of the state for the deep interest he has always exhibited in the welfare of his county and vicin ity. He is a thorough western citizen," an enthus iastic admirer and firm believer in the possibil ities of Nebraska as a leading state of the Union, and during his residence here has accumulated a nice property, and gained the respect and con fidence of those with whom he has come in con tact in either a business or social way. Mr. Copley was born in Delaware, county, New Y^ork, on May 13, 1853. He was the fourth in a family of six children born to Joseph H. and Ruth Ann Copley, all of whom are deceased ex cepting one sister now living in Colorado and a brother in Kansas. At the age of five years his parents moved to Knox county, Illinois, and there he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common and high school of Alton, Illinois, and as a young man interesting himself in farm ing. In 1878 he came to Nebraska, locating in Howard county and remained one year, then came into Nance county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land on section tweny-five, township sixteen, range seven, built a rough dwelling and started farming. Although he had a hard time to get along during the early years, going through all the pioneer experiences in the way of discouragements from failures of crops, etc., he has been successful in the main, and is now proprietor of two hundred and twen ty-five acres of choice land, also considerable val uable town property. Mr. Copley is now (1911) serving his fifth year as treasurer of the Farmers' Elevator Company of Fullerton. This concern handled two hundred and twenty-seven thousand bushels of grain in 1910. Mr. Copley is numbered among the earliest settlers in his section, helping to organize the first Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school in his neighborhood. He is now county superintendent of Sabbath schools. The first church and Sunday school was held in a sod school house, and in 1901 the church known as Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church was erected. On August 28, 1878, Mr. Copley was united in marriage to Miss Sadie E. Richmond, of Winfield, Kansas, who was a very charming and accom plished lady and a musician of considerable ability. Her death occurred October 26, 1881. Mr. Copley married the second time Novem ber 1, 1883, taking as his wife, Fannie M. Ells worth, of Nance county, who had for some years been a teacher in the public schools. To them were born four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Arthur, who married Olive Sher man, and is a Nance county farmer, and E. Mar vin, who married Natalie Conard and is now operating subject's farm, and Lena May, living at home. The Copleys have a pleasant home and a host of warm friends. LEWIS WLNA. Bohemia has made a liberal contribution to the progressive citizens of the United States, and especially in the vicinity of the Niobrara valley, where several colonies settled in the wilderness before the Indian dwellers of the region had, by treaty, given over the surrounding country. Lewis Wlna was born in the town of Pisk, Bohemia, on September 25, 1866, and was but a few months old when his father emigrated to America. He settled in Michigan county, Wis consin, and his sole cash capital was eighty dol lars, which was considered at that time, a high premium, and such was the fluctuation of coin in those days, that the loan of it brought him a re turn of about three hundred dollars. In about the spring of 1871, he came west to Nebraska, settling near West Point. Fremont was as far as he could travel by rail, the balance of his journey being made by wagon. He was met by an uncle who had established a brewery at West Point, and taken to his destination. When our subject's father landed in West Point, he had eight children and eighteen dollars in money, sixteen of which went to the land office in pay ment for filing on land, the remaining two dollars purchasing a sack of flour. On the day he landed in the vicinity, Mr. Wlna found work cutting wood, while his two boys, Lewis and Anton, carried it into a shed. For this the lady of the house rewarded them with a piece of cake, which was indeed a treat to them, and which tasted better to them than any they ever ate, before or since. Lewis Wlna was reared at West Point, getting but a limited education, his spare time from work being spent in the local schools. At the age of fifteen he secured a situation in a mill and learn ed the miller 's trade, continuing in the same up to the spring of 1910. In 1884 he came to Knox county, and in partnership with two friends, Messrs. Dusatko and Pavlie, established the mill at Verdegris, which he ran alone after the first year. In 1893 he came to Lynch, built a mill on the bank of Ponca river, and operated it success fully until April 28, 1910, at which time he sold out to engage in other enterprises. During his career as a miller he was confronted with serious obstacles at various times, one season the water running low obliged him to resort to the use of gasoline as supplementary power. Cash was necessary to obtain goods from the Standard Oil Company, and there was none to be had in the country with which to pay, his grinding being taken in toll. Thinking to supplement the natural flow of the stream with artesian water, a small well was drilled in 1900, and a larger one in 1904, which throws through a ten-inch pipe a volume of water large enough to form a large stream. In 1905 Mr. Wlna built a commodious bath house with a fine swimming pool, through which COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 365 flows a stream of health-giving mineral water from the larger well, of the same temperature and properties as the famous waters at Hot Springs, South Dakota. This resort is a boon to the traveling public, as well as the citizens of the little town, and if "cleanliness is next to godli ness", Mr. Wlna has done his full share to human ity as a. means of grace. Mr. Wlna was united in marriage in Verde- gris, on September 28, 1892, to Miss Amelia M. S, Bartak, daughter of well known pioneers in that locality. Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wlna, seven survive, as follows: Fred, asso ciated with his father in business; Henry, Will iam, Vernie, George, Alvin, and Anna. Music is a trait strongly developed in the Bohemian race, and it is not lacking in this fam ily, as with his three eldest sons, our subject conducts the Lynch orchestra, consisting of two violins, double bass, and cornet. The class of music which they produce is equal to that heard in orchestras of note in larger cities, and is a credit to the town of Lynch, as well as to the family constituting the organization. Mr. Wlna and his family are devout members of the Catholic church, and he has the credit of having begun the movement which resulted in the erection of their house of worship at Lynch. Mr. Wlna is a charter member of the Royal Highlanders and the Bohemian Benevolent Or ganization, Z. C. B. J., he being one of the prime movers of the building project by which they erected a sightly hall at the end of the municipal street in Lynch. He helped institute the lodge at Niobrara, that organization dedicating their fine new hall and opera house on June 17, 1910. In political faith Mr. Wlna has been a repub lican since the campaign of 1888, when he diverg ed from the political views of his father, who was a strong democrat. A teacher had shown to him clearly the political principles of both parties, and made it plain to him that the republican party was the truly constructive and progressive organization. ALPHONSO L. YATES. Alphonso L. Yates, well known to anyone familiar with the personnel of the farming com munity in Boone county, Nebraska, is now a res ident of Albion, where he settled a number of years ago, after having spent a successful ca reer in the pursuit of agriculture in Boone pre cinct. Mr. Yates is the son of Asa and Mary Yates, born in Boone county, Illinois, on January 17, 1849, and was the eldest of their eleven chil dren, all of whom are now residing in Illinois, except our subject and one sister, who is in Wyoming. The mother died when our subject was a boy, and the father's death occurred in 1874. Alphonso spent his boyhood in Illinois, at tending the country schools, spending consider able of his time farming, and also engaged in different business enterprises as a young man. He was married on June 5, 1878, to Miss Retta Cramer, and in the fall of that year they came to Nebraska, purchasing a tract of land on section eight, township nineteen, range five, which re mained the home place until 1902, at which time Mr. Yates sold the farm and moved to Albion, where he built a good home which he and his family now occupy. Mr. and Mrs. Yates are the parents of one child, a daughter, Ruby, who married B. D. Childs, they having two children, and also being well known as prominent citizens of Albion. Two sisters of Mrs. Y'ates reside in California, another in Boone county, Illinois, and these with herself are all who remain of seven children in their family, father and mother both being deceased. PAUL SCHELLENBERG. Paul Schellenberg is located on section twen ty-two, township twenty-five, range one. He was born near Berlin, Germany, in 1875, and is a son of Carl and Fredericka Schellenberg. He re ceived his earlier education in his native country, and when about eleven years of age, accom panied his parents to the United States. His brother, August, had secured land in Wayne county, Nebraska, for the low price of eight dol lars per acre, and had made some improvements thereon, the place being purchased by him about 1889. August Schellenberg finds mixed farming a profitable occupation in his part of the state, and pays considerable attention to stock raising. Paul Schellenberg has won the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, and has a rep utation for upright dealings in business affairs. His father died in 1890, shortly after coming to America, and his mother is living with her son, August. After coming to America Paul Schellenberg 's father rented land, and Paul remained with him until his death. After the father's death, Paul began working out, which he has done most of the time, although he has rented land to some extent. In 1902, he went to Freemont county, Idaho, and. homesteaded a claim, on which he remained two years and proved up on it, after which he sold and returned to Wayne county, where he has resided since. LOUIS LEHMAN. Prominent among the old settlers, although still one of the younger men of the community, paradoxial as it may seem, is Louis Lehman, who has spent his entire life in this county. He has been closely identified with the growth and development of the farming interests in this community for nearly forty years, and is widely and favorably known as an energetic, intelligent, and industrious farmer and citizen. 366 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Lehman was born in Stanton county, Ne braska, in 1870, and is the son of Louis and Molly Lehman, of Brandenburg, Germany, who came to this country several years previous to his birth. They were in Wisconsin about fifteen years, and in 1868, with an ox team, took the long six weeks' trip across the states to Stanton county. They bought a homestead here, and first built a log house, where Louis was born. This same house served as a home for the family for twenty-five years. The country was but thinly settled at that time, and Mr. Lehman enjoyed the life of a true pioneer child. At that time, it was not an infre quent sight to behold deer and antelope< on the prairie, not far away. Omaha was the nearest market, and it took a long time to make the trip to market and return. Mr. Lehman can tell many most interesting tales of life as it was then in those early days. In 1900, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Miss Martha Wagner, of Stanton county. Pour children have been born to them: Edna, Alice, Zelma and Elmer. Probably no citizen of the county more fully appreciates and understands the wonderful transformation of this section, from a wild and uncultivated tract to its present one of thriving activity as an agricultural center, than does Mr. Lehman. He himself has aided materially in its development and is one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens of the community. CHARLES WOLFE. Prominent among Antelope county old set tlers is Charles Wolfe, who since the spring of 1881 has made this region his home and done his share in the development of the agricultural re sources of this section of the country. Mr. Wolfe lives in section four, township twenty-five, range eight, and is highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he has to do. Mr. Wolfe is a native of Polk county, Iowa, born November 9, 1861. His father, John Wolfe, came from England to Pennsylvania, about 1830, and died when our subject was very young; his mother, Lydia (Miller) Wolfe, was a native of Germany, and died at the age of sixty-four years ; at the time of her death she resided in Neligh, Nebraska. On March 25, 1881, Mr. Wolfe came to Ante lope county, and took up a pre-emption claim in Lincoln township. In 1897 he bought his present home in section four, township twenty-five, range eight, purchasing the land from John Cortyou, this farm having been originally the homestead of John Rynor, senior. This land was not much improved, only twenty acres of it being broken when our subject took possession. He now has sixty acres of it broken, and raises corn and oats ; and also has five acres set with trees. Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage to Miss Silvia Viola Kimes, June 6, 1887, and Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have had the following named chil dren born to them : Archie, Grace, and Lue ; and Alta, who died in 1890, in Oklahoma. She was the eldest child. Mr. Wolfe is fond of hunting, and in 1891 he with his wife went to Oklahoma on an extended hunting trip, and were gone three years, during which time they thoroughly enjoyed their out ing and returned home well satisfied with their efforts. JOHN MUMM. John Mumm, a retired farmer, and a highly respected citizen of Plainview, first came to Ne braska in 1885, reaching Antelope county Feb ruary 20, and purchasing a quarter section of school land in Crawford township, seven miles southwest of Plainview. In 1895 he sold this and bought two hundred acres in the same town ship, within two miles of Plainview, which he cultivated until 1903, in which year he retired and for three years resided in Plainview before actually engaging in farming again, which he did, in partnership with his son, Jacob, from 1906 to 1909, when the latter opened a store at Copenhagen, a station on the Burlington railroad nearby the farm. Mr. Mumm then sold the farm to his eldest son, John H., and again became a resident of Plainview, to take life easy the re mainder of his days. Mr. Mumm was born in the village of Hohn, Schleswig-Holstein, a province of Prussia, June 23, 1842. His father, Claus Mumm, died in 1844, and the mother, whose maiden name was Kate Storm, died three years later, leaving the boy to the care of strangers. His opportunities for school were very meager, and he early became inured to a life of toil. In 1865 he decided to cast his lot in the new world, and sailed from Hamburg on the "Germania," in the early days of November, landing in New York after a voyage of twelve days. He then went to Woodford, county, Illi nois, where he found work during the rest of the winter, and from there he found his way to Kan kakee county, Illinois, where for several years he was employed at farm labor. About this time he married, and bought a forty-acre tract of land near Sherbornville, in that county, where he continued to prosper until his migration to Nebraska to secure a larger farm and enjoy greater opportunities. But the early years were not all sunshine; droughts blighted his crops, hail beat them to the ground when prospects were most flattering ; and at times when harvests were abundant, prices were so low it was hardly worth the hauling to take produce to the market. But with more prosperous days came greater successes; better improvements on the land and later larger acreage and more conven- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 367 ient homes were secured. The west has been good to those who had the pluck and energy to fight the hard battle to a finish. Mr. Mumm was married in Kankakee county, Illinois, February 5, 1869, to Miss Louisa Buche, who was born in Wisconsin when her parents were following the construction of a railroad on which the father was employed. Her parents, John and Lena (Frahm) Buehe, were natives of Prussia and Holstein, respectively, coming to America about 1848. Mrs. Mumm died August 22, 1910. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mumm, three are living: John H., who has pur chased the farm from his father and is making a success of it; Jacob, as before stated, is engaged in merchandising at Copenhagen, his health pre cluding his remaining on the farm; and Katrina married Jacob Peterson, now a retired farmer residing in Plainview. Mr. Mumm was reared in the Lutheran faith. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Mumm has lived in Nebraska long enough to have witnessed one of Nebraska's three most noted blizzards. With a neighbor, he hap pened to be in Plainview January 12, 1888, when the storm broke. They started for home, but within a mile of town the whirling icy snow be came so thick they could not see their team. The neighbor, longer experienced in the west, coun seled a return to town, knowing they would not likely reach home alive. They spent the night in town, returning home the next day to find all safe. One of the freaks of the storm was illus trated on Mr. Mumm's farm: the chicken house was drifted full of the fine snow up to the roof, completely enveloping the fowls on the roost; most of them were alive by means of a small breathing hole through the snow, but they had to be dug out as a miner would dig out gold. The severe hail storm of 1890 played a prank on Mr. Mumm, taking a part of his oat crop but leaving his cornfields out of its path. Prairie fires were a source of danger in those days, but by care in plowing fire guards and fighting fires that did get under way, Mr. Mumm escaped the severe losses that many of the early settlers suffered. Mr. Mumm has lived through hard times, and is all the stronger for having endured those early privations ; but with others he rejoices that Prov idence has vouchsafed him a life of comfort in his declining years. NIELS NIELSEN. Niels Nielsen, an enterprising and prosperous farmer and stockman of Howard county, owns a valuable estate in Warsaw precinct. He was among the very first settlers in the locality, com ing here with a Danish colony in the summer of 1871, and has remained through all of the good, bad and indifferent times experienced by the pio neers of his adopted state. During his entire residence here Mr. Nielsen has taken a prominent part in all the important affairs of his county and state, and has become well and favorably known throughout his section of the country. Mr. Nielsen was born in Denmark, January 3, 1845. He was the second member in a family of five children, four of whom eventually came to America, one sister having died in Denmark. Both parents passed away in Howard county, also a sister of Niels. Two brothers are residents of Howard county at the present time. Our sub ject came alone to the United States, arriving here in 1867, his first location being Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he spent about two years. Prom there he went to Chicago and re mained about two months; and then to Keokuk, Iowa, later to Burlington, Iowa. He secured em ployment with the B. & M. Railroad and followed that work for six weeks, then left the road and worked in the harvest fields at Davenport, Iowa, for a couple of months, returning to the B. & M. and following railroading for several months. He afterwards did different kinds of work in the southern states, spent some time at Burlington again, then went to Dubuque and remained through the summer of 1870. His next move was back to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, there he joined a Danish colony that was coming over land to Nebraska, and the party landed in How ard county after a tiresome trip. Those in this colony were among the very first settlers in the locality. Mr. Nielsen located on a homestead sit uated on section twenty, township fourteen, range eleven, and after putting up a dugout, started to establish a home. He went through every form of pioneer life, meeting with discouragements, hardship and privation, but never gave up hope, and through thrift and perseverance succeeded in developing a good farm and accumulating a valuable property, at the present time being owner of six hundred acres of choice farming land, occupying the original homestead as his home place. He is quite extensively engaged in the stock business, running a fine bunch of horses, cattle and hogs every year. Mr. Nielsen was married at Grand Island, on August 16, 1872, to Miss Marie Lausten, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have had ten children, the following named of whom are living, one daugh ter and two sons married and settled on Howard county farms, while the others are living at home. They are named as follows: Christian, who lives in Boelus ; Valentine, in St. Paul ; Will iam, Alfred, Clarey, Henry and Helen, at home, the two youngest boys now teaching school in Nebraska. The two who died in infancy were Clara and Columbus. The entire family is well known throughout Howard county, and are pop ular members of the social life of their respective neighborhoods. Mr. Nielsen has for years been prominent in 368 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. all affairs of his county and- state, and is classed among the wealthy and successful men of his locality. HENRY HANSEN. In presenting to the public a history of Ne braska, the list would not be complete without having mentioned the name of the gentleman above. Mr. Hansen is a native son of the state of Nebraska, his birth occurring in Fremont, September 28, 1875; he is a son of Christian and Christiana Hansen, who are natives of Denmark. In 1882 Mr. Hansen came with his parents to Valley county, Nebraska, where he received the greater part of his education and grew to man hood. In 1897 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section four, township twenty, range fourteen, which is still his home place. Mr. Hansen is a man of good attainments, and enjoys the highest esteem and respect of a wide acquaintance. He always devotes his best efforts to aiding in the development of the natural re sources of Valley county, and has helped to build up the community in which he has chosen his home. Mr. Hansen's parents live in Valley county, and are a well known pioneer family, having re sided here some twenty-eight years. They, as well as our subject, have experienced nearly all phases of Nebraska farm life, and have all been potent factors in the growth and advancement of all the best interests of their home state and county. AUGUSTUS M. CUNNINGHAM. Augustus M. Cunningham, now retired and living in Madison, Nebraska, is one of the oldest farmers of Madison county, and also a prominent pioneer of that region, widely known as a cit izen of true worth. He has always taken a great interest in the development of the locality in which he has chosen to reside, and is counted among the prosperous and successful citizens of his county. Our subject is a son of David and Agnes N. Cunningham, both of whom are deceased. He was born in Juanita county, Pennsylvania, on August 31, 1842, and was the youngest of their eight children, of whom but himself and a brother, David Cunningham, of Wayne, Nebras ka, are now living. Mr. Cunningham received his education in his home state, and in Septem ber, 1862, enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Regiment of Cavalry, serving until the close of the war, receiving honorable dis charge on June 17, 1865, at Lynchburg, Virginia, and participating in the grand review of the army held at Washington. He was with his regiment during the battle of Kelley 's Ford, Gettysburg, Travillion Station, and Mine Run, during the last mentioned engagement receiving a serious wound which disabled him for four months. Be sides the above he also took part in many minor encounters with the enemy, and saw all the suf fering and hardship incidental to a soldier's career. After leaving the army he returned to his home state and engaged in farming. Mr. Cunningham was married on January 5, 1871, to Mary Elizabeth Ellis, also a native of Pennsylvania, who had been a public school teacher for some years there. In the spring of the same year the young pair came together to Madi son county, Nebraska, where our subject home steaded on section twenty-seven, township twen ty-three, range two, which remained the home place up to 1906, at which time Mr. Cunning ham retired and settled in a good home in Mad ison, where they now live surrounded by many good friends. Mr. Cunningham was always a leader in every movement to build up his county and state,. help ing organize the first schools here, and for over thirty years was a member of the board in dis trict number twenty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have had four chil dren, namely : Arthur K, who died in 1903, sur vived by a wife and one son; Alexander E., mar ried and occupying his father's homestead with his wife and two children ; Martha A., wife of Dr. W. E. Reed, mother of one child, they living in Valley, Nebraska, and Alma M., wife of 0. P. Peterson, they the parents of one child, and re siding in Madison county. Mrs. Cunningham 's parents are both dead. She has four brothers and three sisters, all living in Pennsylvania. JAMES D. FINLEY. James D. Finley, an early settler of Custer county, has passed through the many trying ex periences of pioneer life and has always taken his part in promoting the general progress and development of the region. He is well and fa vorably known as an enterprising and useful cit izen and has a large circle of friends. He is a native of Monroe county, Indiana, born June 24, 1838, youngest of the sixteen children of_ George and Prances (Hancock) Finley, and the only member of the family now surviving. The father was born in Kentucky and the mother in South Carolina, she being a niece of John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Both died in Indiana, he November 3, 1851, and she in 1875. They were married in Tennessee March 1, 1812. Mr. Finley reached manhood on an Indiana farm and received his education in local sub scription schools, later engaging in farming. He was married in Indiana in 1858 to Miss Mattie Nichols, who died ten months later. On July 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war and receiving his final discharge J. T. PROUTY. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 369 in Indianapolis August 15, 1865. He participated in many decisive battles, among them: Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 7 and 8, 1862 ; Perryville, Kentucky, where he was color bearer; Stone River; Tennessee; Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Rome, Dallas, Siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro. He also took part in many minor battles and in the grand review in the city of Washington in May, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Finley returned to his Indiana home and on December 5, 1866, married Miss Lucy A. Mathers, a native of In diana, who died in February, 1878, being sur vived by her husband and six children: Edgar, married and living in western Nebraska, has two children: Mattie, died at the age of fourteen years ; Mary J., married B. P. Morse, and they live in Iowa and have seven children ; George, of Cus ter county, is married and has five children ; Fred, married and living in Custer county, has three children; James, of Fairbury, is married and has one child. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Finley came to Cus ter county and took up a one hundred and sixty acre homestead three and one-half miles east of Sargent, which was his home for a number of years. He was instrumental in organizing school district number thirty-six, and served as the first director of the same. He has also held various township offices and has served as justice of the peace. On March 15, 1882, at Grand Island, Nebras ka, Mr. Finley was united in marriage with Mrs. Julia (Dillman) Butcher, who was born in Mon roe county, Indiana. In 1893 they left the farm and moved to Sargent, which has since been their home, with the exception of one year spent in Lucus county, Iowa. They have traveled exten sively through the United States and in 1910 spent seven months in Florida and other states along the Atlantic coast. They are well known in social circles and have a pleasant home in Sar gent. PETER DREESEN. Peter Dreesen, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Cedar county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for many years. He is prominently known as one of the most pro gressive and successful farmers in the western part of the state. Mr. Dreesen 's parents, Theodore and Agnus Dreesen, were both Germans who came to this country in 1852, and our subject was born in Wisconsin in 1858. His childhood was spent in this state and it was here that he obtained his education. On November 2, 1873, the subscriber with his parents, started for the west in a wagon, where they could get land cheaply. They journeyed on 13 until they came to Cedar county, and there filed on a homestead in section six, township thirty. They also took up a timber claim adjacent and planted thirty-five acres of fine trees. The first years on the homestead were very hard, but as the years passed by and the country became more thickly settled and more resources were developed, times became much better. The first building on the homestead was a cottonwood shanty, but that has long since given place to a fine modern house. Other buildings have been added from time to time, as occasion demanded and means permitted, and one improvement after another has been made upon the farm until it is now one of the finest in the county. In 1873 Mr. Dreesen was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Suing, of Cedar county. They are the parents of five children, named as fol lows: George B., Madeline, Euphrosena, Stephen and Roman. For more than thirty-five years, Mr. Dreesen has been closely identified with the best interests of the community, and is regarded as one of those citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of the state. He is a director of school district number fourteen. JOHN T. PROUTY. One of the most interesting personalities to be found within the borders of the state of Ne braska is the venerable John T. Prouty, a portrait of whom is presented on another page, now liv ing, retired from active life, in the town of Spencer. He is the first settler of the city of 0 'Neill, and was, at the time of filing on his home stead claim there, one of the first white settlers in the upper Elkhorn valley. He was the first merchant of the place, the first notary public of the county, and holds several other premier honors of the early day. His claim was, at the time of his locating on it, five miles west of that of William H. Inman's, one of his old school chums, the next nearest neighbor to civilization. Mr. Prouty moved on to his homestead quarter July 14, 1873, and with his timber and pre-emp tion claims had a fine body of land in the beauti ful valley. In strange contrast with actual de velopments, he amusingly relates that he and a neighbor agreed that a man might extract a living from the soil of the immediate valley of the Elkhorn, but that to attempt to do so from the broad tract of prairie to the north would be utter folly, because of the lack of rain and the yearly prairie fires. This entire region is now a thickly settled, highly productive part of a fertile commonwealth. Mr. Prouty was born in Morrow county, Ohio, July 21, 1837, a son of Barnabas and Rebecca (Trumbo) Prouty. In 1854 the father moved with his family to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where the 370 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. son began life for himself in 1859, farming a ninety acre tract of land, though continuing under the parental roof unti 1 1867. This was heavily wooded land and had to be cleared of the timber before it could be brought under the plow. Thousands of feet of fine timber, that today would be worth a fortune, were felled, rolled into heaps, and burned as a cumbrance to the ground. Log houses with puncheon floors, open fireplaces, and stick chimneys were the rule, and a house with a brick or stone chimney was an unusual sight. Bunches of hickory, splits bound together, were used at night as torches to light the way from one house to another, though travel by night was an unusual occurrence. Mr. Prouty learned the trade of cabinet maker and wood turner, carrying this on in con nection with farming, and found employment at, this vocation up to the time of his coming we,st. Craftsmanship is a trait of the family, a brother of Mr Prouty 's in Chicago being an inventor of many useful railroad and other appliances. Mr. Prouty first settled in Holt county, then known as Elkhorn county, in July, 1873, reach ing his claim on the. fourteenth day of tlie month. They drove through from Wisconsin, camping by the wayside, and were forty-three and a half days on the road before reaching their journey's end. For a time they lived in the wagon, Mrs. Prouty sleeping in it while Mr. Prouty was under on the ground ; and their first shack of a dwelling was covered partly with lumber and partly with the canvas wagon cover. The town of O'Neill, to be, was first known as Rockford, and Mr. Prouty was its first postmaster. He planted the first grove there, and the fine old trees in the end of town, where the round house stands, "were planted by his own hands on his pre-emption claim. Nor folk, ninety miles distant, was their trading point, and it often required five or six days to make the round trip with even a light load. The scourge of grasshoppers swept the country in 1874, devouring their only crop — seventeen acres of corn— and the two years following wheat and oats were their principal bill of fare, only a scant supply of the crops being left for the settlers. When the colony of which General John O'Neill was the head, came to the county, Mr. and Mrs. Prouty fed them at barely the cost of provisions, and helped them to get established in the new country. After the railroad came through in 1881, and four years later, Mr. Prouty removed to the north border of Holt county and secured a fine tract of land near where the postoffice of Paddock was established, of which he was post master after moving to this point. He lived, and prospered, at. Paddock for twenty-five years, re tired to Atkinson in 1902, and came to Spencer six years later. Here he keeps a successful apiary, for, being still a man of vigorous vital ity, he finds something to keep his hands and mind busy that he may not rust out. Mr. Prouty owns two fine ranches, three miles apart, of three hundred and forty-five acres and one hundred and forty-three acres respectively, in each of which are numerous fine springs of excel lent water with an unlimited supply in the Nio brara river near by. When the first wagon trains made their way up the Elkhorn valley to the Black Hills, they made Mr. Prouty 's house a stop ping place, getting there the last meals at table in a civilized way. The first lyceum was held in this part of the west at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Prouty, Decem ber 2, 1873; the first Sunday school on the four teenth of the same month ; and the first prayer meeting one week later. No sermon was preached here until April 20, 1875, when a minister of the Methodist denomination held services at the home of Elijah Thompson. Mr. Prouty was first chairman of the repub lican county committee, being elected at the con vention held in Norfork in May, 1875, and, as stated before, was the first postmaster of Rock- ford, his commission bearing date of June 18, 1874. His first commission as notary public was dated June 20, 1874, and this was renewed re peatedly until he had filled the office for twenty- four years. In the fall of 1876, during the Hayes and Wheeler campaign, a republican rally was held at Mr. Prouty 's place. The ladies of the neighborhood bought the material for a flag, which was made at the Prouty home and raised for the first time on the day of the rally, and for many years after used at any celebration or spe cial occasion in Holt county. On the organization of Holt county, Mr. Prouty served as first county clerk. While living at Paddock, Indians were plenti ful on the reservation across the Niobrara, and as many as seven thousand of them were seen in camp there at one time; they were eager traders and would swap even their clothes for a chicken or a piece of pork, of which they were very fond. Mr. Prouty was married in Sauk county, Wisconsin, March 3, 1867, to Miss Marietta Shultz, who was born in Conneaut, Ohio. Her parents were Adam and Lucy (Quatermass) Shultz, the former born in Lancaster, Pennsyl vania, and the latter in Essex county, New York. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Prouty are : Angela, wife of Eugene Sebring, of Quincy, Michigan ; and Harry S., who has a ranch of seven hundred and twenty acres near the old home place in Holt county ; and leases, in addition, the three hundred and forty acre ranch his father owns. Mr. Prouty is a republican in politics and was for years "wheel horse" in the political team. Mrs. Prouty is a member of the Methodist Epis copal church. Few men can claim to be as tem perate as Mr. Prouty, he having been a total ab stainer all his life from liquor and tobacco in all forms. He is very careful of his language, never indulging in profanity or vulgarity. Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. 371 PAUL FRAUEN. Paul Prauen, who holds a foremost place among the pioneer settlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, has built up a fine estate in Merrick county on section thirty-two, township twelve, range eight. He has since his residence in this region done his full share in the upbuilding of his locality, and has become one of the lead ing and substantial citizens of his community and enjoys the esteem and respect of all with whom he has had to do. Paul Frauen, son of Paul and Cecelia (Janss) Frauen, was born in Germany, September 22, 1847, and was the eldest of five children. The parents died in Germany. Mr. Frauen received his education in the schools of his home country and in 1866 came to America locating in Scott county, Iowa, where he followed the occupation of farming. In 1868, Mr. Frauen came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land on section thirty-two, township twelve, range eight, in Vieregg precinct, which has remained the home all through the years. In 1869 Mr. Frauen was joined by his brother, Claus Frauen, the two going into partnership in farming. On March 10, 1876, Mr. Frauen was joined in marriage to Catherine Paustin, who also was born in Germany and came to America in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Prauen have had five children born to them : Cecelia, deceased in 1907, survived by her husband, Max Cornelius, and one child; Otto, who is married, has two children and lives in Merrick county; Henry, married, has one child living and lives in Hall county, Nebraska; John J. is married, has one son and resides in Merrick county; and Anna, wife of Chris Sass, has two children and lives in Merrick county. Mrs. Frauen died March 23, 1897, at the home farm. Mr. Frauen has been prosperous and success ful and owns two thousand three hundred and twenty-three acres of stock and grain land. He has served as supervisor of his county, and has also officiated as precinct assessor. He helped to organize his school district number one and served as director of same twenty-five years. Mr. Frauen is now one of the directors of the First National Bank in Grand Island, Nebraska, and is a successful man of affairs interested in all per taining to the welfare of his state and county. He has passed through all the discouragements and trying experiences of frontier life and is one of the best known men of his county, enjoying the respect of all who know him. He first built a sod house, a few years later a frame house, and in 1900 erected a beautiful home, where he now lives, on the old homestead. G. E. VAN KLEEK. A typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above mentioned. He has spent many years in this section of the country, and has been a material part of the growth and progress of this region, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and through his integrity and honesty becoming one of the fore most citizens of Knox county. G. E. Van Kleek was born near Madison, Wis consin, December 17, 1871. He is a son of Adison and Helen Van Kleek,. both natives of New York state, who came from Wisconsin to Nebraska with their family in 1883. Here the father was a home steader. G. E. Van Kleek 's farm is now what is familiarly called "The Henry Grim Homestead," which Mr. Van Kleek purchased in July, 1899. This was a partly improved property when he acquired the place, and he has since added much to its appearance, erecting good buildings, plant ing trees, and fitting it up with good fences, etc. He engages in stock and grain raising, and is fast gaining the reputation of one of the most progressive and prosperous residents of his section. Mr. Van Kleek was married December 5, 1895, in Walnut Grove township, Knox county, Nebras ka, to Millie Grim, who was born in Buchanan county, Iowa, and came with her parents to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1873. One child has blessed their union, Dollie, born in 1896. Mrs. Van Kleek 's father, Henry Grim, was one of the very oldest settlers of Knox county, and died in De cember, 1895. WILLIAM F. KREMER. William F. Kremer, retired farmer, residing in Fullerton, Nebraska, is one of the early settlers of Nance county. He followed active farming in Newman precinct up to 1907, when with his fam ily he settled in town, where they enjoy all the comforts of a modern residence and a large circle of friends. The subject of this sketch is a son of Perry and Nancy Kremer, and is a native of McKees Half Falls, Snyder county, Pennsylvania, born. in 1847. His boyhood was spent in his native county, where he also received his early education, and as a young man he was in the mercantile business for about ten years, later following farming. About 1882 he went to Iowa, remaining for two years, then came on to Nance county, Nebraska, landing here in July, 1884, having made the trip overland in a covered wagon, the journey taking two weeks, and accompanied by his family, all suffering some little hardship from exposure and rough weather. Mr. Kremer purchased one hun dred and sixty acres on section twenty-five, town ship sixteen, range six. He begun with an entirely unimproved tract of land, without buildings or any sort of facilities for farming, and by indus trious labor and perseverance, made of it a thor oughly productive farm and valuable property, 372 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. selling it in 1907 at a good round sum. In the latter year he purchased a fine home in Fullerton, also has acquired a section of land in North Dakota, and is possessed of a good income as a reward for his many years of labor. He is considered one of the substantial and represent ative citizens of his county, and an active man of affairs, with his family enjoying a large circle of friends and the esteem of everyone with whom he comes in contact. Mr. Kremer was married in Pennsylvania, September 25, 1877, to Virginia A. Aldrich, and they have had four children, two now living. During the earlier years, Mr. Kremer took an active interest in establishing the schools in his locality, and served on the school board in dif ferent capacities. JOHN STORY. Pioneering runs in the blood of some families, the spirit of the frontier being transmitted from father to son for generations. Of such timber is John Story, the veteran merchant of Butte. His parents, William and Susan (Bayne) Story, were early settlers of Louisa county, Iowa, where John was born. The father was a native of Ireland, and he died in Kansas at the age of sixty-six. The mother, who was born in Kentucky, passed away in Iowa, having traveled in life's journey beyond the sixty-third mile-stone. John Story's birth occurred in the town of Wapello, September 14, 1846, and here he grew to manhood, married, and engaged in farming near his native city until his migration to the Nebras ka country, of which glowing reports had reached far beyond the eastern borders of the Hawkeye state. Mr. Story's advent to Nebraska dates from April, 1883, when he settled in Rock county, fourteen miles northwest from Stuart, filed on a homestead and timber claim, and for seven and a half years lived the life of a ranchman in the new west. When the Indian country north of the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers was being thrown open to the white settler in 1890, Mr. Story sold his ranch in the fall of the year and drove over land to the new town of Mankato, two miles south east of where Butte was located a year later, and here opened a hardware store, the first of the kind in the new territory. When, a year later, the county seat was established by proclamation at Butte, Mr. Story cast his fortunes with the new town and. moved his stock over to the town site, again being the first in his line in the infant me tropolis. Since that date, Mr. Story has been con tinually in business and has built up a trade ex tending into adjoining counties and across the border into the neighboring state. He carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, and other goods of that class on demand. His square deal ing has won for him the confidence of a wide cir cle of patronage that has remained with him against all competition. Mr. Story was married in Wapello, Iowa, No vember 4, 1869, to Miss Caroline Weber, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of George and Rachel (Hartman) Weber. Of six children born to them, four are living: Rosanna, wife of James A. Mc Laughlin, cashier of the Citizens bank of Butte , George William, who with his mother is propri etor of the leading general store in Butte; Stella M., and Harvey H., the latter proprietor of a clothing store in Butte. Mr. Story is a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the fraternal order of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. When Mr. Story first settled in Rock county, deer and antelope were plentiful, and he has often seen a herd of deer grazing on the hills a mile away when following the plow in his fields, but being too busy farming to follow the chase, he never killed any of the larger game. During the Indian scare of 1892, Mr. Story felt little uneasiness, and when at Stuart on business one day, found its citizens in a worse nervous condition than the people of the newly opened reservation. The state of feeling was best illus trated to him when he noticed that there were but three passengers on an incoming train from the east, and that every car was packed the next morning when the train left for Omaha and be yond the Missouri. Many of the passengers never returned to the west, but those who did return have had no occasion for regret. The old chief Yellow Horse, was a great friend of Mr. Story, and promised to let him know if any real danger should arise, a promise that would have been faithfully kept. Mr. Story had the usual experience of the pi oneer in the west ; prairie fires had to be fought, blizzards were encountered, and the crops were laid low by the hail, of which several storms passed over the farm when he was living in Rock county. His goods, during the early years he was in business in Boyd county, had to be freighted across country from Atkinson until 1902, when the railroad was extended up the Ponca valley. There were ferries at some places on the Niobrara river, and at other places pontoon bridges, ford ing the treacherous stream being fraught with danger. Mr. Story did not for years live, as most pioneers do, in a sod house, but on coming to Boyd county, that was the only dwelling avail able at Mankato, and for ten months he lived in a "soddy" in the new town. Pioneering had its drawbacks, but.it had its pleasures, too, and a frequent expression of tbe first settlers, recounting the hardships of those early times is: "Those were the happiest days of our lives." FRED E. CULVER AND ALANSON CULVER. Alanson Culver, a well-known old-timer of Ne braska was one of the original forty-niners who COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 373 traveled overland to California in the search for gold, and, like many others of those memorable times, was sadly disappointed in his quest. How ever, he became successful later in life in the pur suit of agriculture, and at the time of his death, January 26, 1891, was classed among the well-to- do residents of his section. Mr. Culver came into Boone county from Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1877, and made homestead entry on one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-five, township twenty, range six, returning to Wisconsin for his family in June, the following year. He engaged in farming and stock raising, and followed that work during his entire career. He was always active in building up his locality, was progressive and a leading man of affairs in all township and county. Mr. Culver was survived by his wife and four sons, the former dying March 3, 1911. She made her home with her youngest son, Fred E. Culver, and was a charming'woman. Fred E. Culver, youngest son of Alanson and Mary J. Culver, was born in Dane county, Wis consin, on July 12, 1871. When he was seven years of age, he came to Nebraska with his par ents, and has made this state his home, with the exception of five years, up to the present time. He attended the local schools of Boone county, and has practically made his own way since he was seventeen years old. Mr. Culver spent five years in the lumber woods in Wisconsin, doing all sorts of work there, and gained a wide experience of camp life. He returned to Nebraska in the fall of 1893, and for some time 'was agent in Boone county for a large fruit tree firm, later connecting himself as a part ner with a general mercantile store in the city of Boone. In addition to a good stock of merchan dise, the company ran a creamery department, and also dealt in stock and grain. Our subject continued in this business for four years, then dis posed of his interests, and since that time has been engaged in different enterprises, giving consider able attention to the stock business, feeding, buy ing and selling horses. Mr. Culver is now located on a fine farm situ ated on section twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, fully equipped for grain raising and as a stock farm, and is becoming one of the prosper ous and leading citizens of his section. He also owns besides his other interests, considerable range and farm land in western Nebraska. On December 15, 1897, our subject was mar ried to Miss Nellie A. Postler the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride's parents near Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have two sons, Ivan Justin and Alanson Frederick, bright and inter esting youngsters, and the pride of their parents' hearts. CHRISTOPHER P1EPER. Among the older settlers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have acquired a very fair degree of success in farming and stock raising, may be counted Christopher Pieper, who has made his home there since about 1881. He is a native of Lippe Detmold, Germany, born in 1851, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Pieper, who spent their entire lives in Germany. Mr. Pieper was left an orphan when still a small boy, and had to look out for himself at a tender age. He was educated in his native country, and lived there until about thirty years of age. In 1881 he left home, came to America and soon afterward bought a tree claim in Wayne county, which he has since owned. This land is well located on section two, township twenty-five, range one, and contains rich, fertile soil. He has spared no pains to make all possible improve ments and now has a fine estate, with a comfort able home, and has also added to the value of the place by planting a grove twelve acres in extent and consisting of fruit and shade trees. He is an industrious and energetic farmer and everything on his property speaks of thrift and prosperity. In 1884 Mr. Pieper was united in marriage with Miss Mina Holbert. Three children have blessed this union. Mr. Pieper and his wife have always been much interested in educational mat ters and have been prominent in social circles, both having many friends. WILLIAM LUBKE. One of the prominent old residents of Stanton county, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has resided in this part of the country, for many years, and is regarded as one of the most successful and influential farmers of the community. He has a comfortable home, located very pleasantly in section nine, towrnship twenty- three, range one, east. Mr. Lubke was born in 1842, in Pommeron, Germany, and is the son of Charles and Freda Lubke. The subscriber spent his childhood years in Germany, and obtained his early education in the German schools. When he was twenty-five years old, he decided to cast in his fortunes with the new world, and accordingly set sail from Bremen in a small sail ing vessel, which took seven weeks for the trip to New York City. Upon his arrival in the United States, he came directly to the central states., then regarded as the west, and remained in Wis consin for three years. By this time, he wanted to get further away from the well-settled portions of the country, to a place where land was cheaper and where there would be more chance for a young man to start out for himself. Accordingly, in 1870, early in the spring, Mr. Lubke came to Omaha by rail, and from there walked to Stanton county, where 374 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. he took up his present homestead in May of that year. He put up an adobe house first, which served as a home for himself and family for four years, when a frame house was built. In that same year, Mr. Lubke was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Minska, and he took his bride at once to the new homestead. Their first few years there were very discouraging, as they lost their crops because of the grasshopper plague. Prairie fires, too, were a source of constant anxiety. The country was still so new that deer and antelope were quite plentiful, and a few elk were occasionally seen. Gradually their fortunes brightened, and from time to time, improvements were added to their farm, until now it is among the finest in that region. Mr. and Mrs. Lubke have had twelve children born to them, but only three of them — Carl, Ida and Amel are now living. Taking it all in all, a sketch of Mr. Lubke 's life really shows a striking example of what may be accomplished by the exercise of industry, per severance and good management, for he came to this state practically without much means, and has now achieved a signal success in his chosen calling. JASPER N. AUBERT. Jasper N. Aubert, residing on section twenty, township twenty-seven, range five, of Antelope county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the lead ing citizens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development and growth from the time of its early settlement. Mr. Aubert was born in VanWert county, Ohio, November 3, 1854. His father, William Aubert, was a farmer, who died when our subject was but two years of age. William Aubert came to Ameri ca from Germany at the age of fourteen years. He married Phoebe Carle, who was born in Mary land of Scotch descent, in 1801, her death oc curring about 1865. Jasper's boyhood was spent in his native state. In the fall of 1874 he came to Nebraska, locating in Saline county, where he worked out for one year, then moved to Antelope county and filed on a claim, which is his present home. When he landed in this region his money was about gone, so he was obliged to seek work in order to get a start and provide the necessaries of life. He found employment with the construc tion gang of the Northwestern railroad company being put through from Plainview to Creighton, later was on the main line from Neligh to Valen tine and in Iowa from Sac City to a distance of sixty miles north. After accumulating a little money he returned to his homestead, on which he built a dug out and batched it for two years, with occasionally a visit to a neighbor who furnished him with meals when desired, the latter also occupying a sod shanty. During his early years as a pioneer Mr. Aubert suffered many discouraging experiences, to all of which the early settlers in the western country were subjected. On July 28, 1890, also June 23 of the same year, his crops were totally lost by hail storms, and in 1894 he suffered severeiy financially through the droughts which prevented any crops being raised. In the blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, he had all of his cattle in the corral before the storni struck, but was fortunate enough to get through it without any serious mishap such as was the experience of so many who were caught in the dreadful storm. Mr. Aubert was married January 22, 1884, to Miss Lucy Fletcher, daughter of Wm. Fletcher, the ceremony taking place in Willow precinct, two miles from our subject's present home. To Mr. and Mrs. Aubert four children have been born, who are named as follows: Roy, Oscar, Edward and Esther. Mr. Aubert has on his farm one of the finest bodies of timber to be found in the west, con sisting of a grove of ash and walnut covering fourteen acres, and extending for half a mile along the south side of his quarter section tract, which he acquired some few years after taking his original homestead, making in all three hun dred and twenty acres. A fine bearing fruit orchard is one of the notable improvements of the place, adding much to the income and the living of Mr. Aubert and his family, and all this, together with a complete set of substantial build ings, makes the farm one of the most valuable and desirable in this section of beautiful Ne braska. HANS THOMSEN. Haus Thoinsen, a well-to-do farmer and a lead ing citizen of Pierce county, Nebraska, whose residence is located on the northeast quarter of section five, township twenty-eight, range three, presents in his own career a striking illustration of the field of opportunity this northeastern county abundantly offers the ambitious, as well as the rich results that have long waited on in dustry and integrity. Mr. Thomsen was born November 20, 1865, in the village of Sturdebuell, providence of Schleswig, Germany, and is the son of Paul Henry and Marget (Jensen) Thomsen. The father was born in 1835, and served in the Danish army in the war with Germany in 1864. The mother was born in 1840. Our subject left Germany from Hamburg on the steamboat "Raetia," landing in New York after a voyage of twelve days. He came to Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1885, and in 1890 came to Pierce county, where he settled and has remained to this day. He bought his land from the Gain- mel Land Company, owning three hundred and twenty acres of fine improved soil, the last half of section five. He rents eighty acres of pasture across the road, and raises two carloads of cat- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 375 tie each year. His large nine-room house was rebuilt in 1908, and the big barns and other buildings were all built by our subject. He also has a fine grove. Mr. Thomsen was married in 1892, to Miss Matilda Hladick, who is a native of Bohemia, born in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Thomsen are the parents of five children, whose a names are here given: Anna, Hannah, Henry, Katie and Bertha. They are of the German Lutheran faith, and Mr. Thomsen votes the republican ticket. Mr. Thomsen and family have a pleasant and comfortable home, and all our subject's time is spent in improving this and surrounding himself and family with all the comforts of a rural home. They have the respect and esteem of all who know them. PAUL NIELSEN. Paul Nielsen, numbered among the leading pioneers of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of Considerable valuable property in that region. He has built up a splendid farm, passing through all the hardships and discouragements incidental to the development of the same, accumulating his possessions by dint of industry and thrift, and now enjoys an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen. In 1908 Mr. Nielsen retired from active farm life, purchasing a fine residence in Danne brog, where with his family he resides, all being well known and highly esteemed throughout the community. Mr. Nielsen was born in Denmark on Septem ber 12, 1855, and grew up in that country. At the age of sixteen years he came to America with his mother, one brother and a sister, the father having emigrated here in 1870, one year previous. They located in central Illinois, remaining there for two years, when all came to Howard county, Nebraska, the father taking a pre-emption on section twelve, township thirteen, range twelve. Later he released this land and homesteaded on the same section, where they began to build up a home. Paul worked for his father for a number of years, then bought a homestead owned by his sister, consisting of eighty acres, and started to develop a farm for himself. He started in the stock raising business, became fairly successful, and was soon able to purchase another forty acres near his original homestead, which he de voted to grain raising, putting it in principally to wheat. Besides this he bought forty acres of school land, and several years afterwards sold part of this property and bought other land on section eighteen in Dannebrog precinct. Although starting out with practically no capital but his strong heart and willing hands, Mr. Nielsen has accumulated a fine estate. He never had the ad vantage of schooling except a few months in the year after coming to this country, but solely by his diligence and determination mastered the English language and made considerable progress along other lines of study, at the present time being a man much above the average in intelli gence, well read and up-to-date on all events of public interest. He is owner of half a section of fine land, also considerable town property, and is recognized as one of the leading and wealthy citizens of his locality. On January 20, 1883, Mr. Nielsen was married to Anna Cecelia Christensen. She is a native of Denmark, and came to America in 1882 to join two sisters, who had come here some little time before. They immediately settled on the farm and together worked faithfully to gain a competence. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have a family of ten children, who are named as follows : Martha M., living at home, Annie Christina, wife of Peter Nielsen, residing on a fine farm two miles north of Dannebrog; Willie O, who lives on his father's farm, Helena, wife of Magnus Jacobson of Dannebrog; Arthur A., Tora, Einer, Edna, Bessie and Gilbert, all living at home, except those who are married. Our subject's mother lived on their original homestead, until she reached the advanced age of ninety-three years and had the distinction of being the oldest woman resident of Howard county at the time of her death, which occurred on February 4, 1911. Mr. Nielsen is a populist, although he has never taken an active part in polities. For a number of years he acted as moderator of school districts thirty-one and seventy-four, and since coming to this region has done his full share in aiding in the upbuilding of his county and vicin- ity. JAMES A. OLLIS, Sr. James A. Ollis, senior, son of Mathias and Catherine (Armstrong) Ollis, was born in Mont gomery county, Indiana,- September 8, 1828, and was fourth in a family of seven children; he has one brother living in California, the other chil dren being deceased. The father was of English birth and died in 1838 in Hancock county, Illi nois, and the mother was a native of the state of Ohio, her death occurring in 1882 in Kansas. In 1836 the family went into Illinois, locating in Hancock county, where Mr. Ollis received his education in the little log school house of the early days in Illinois, and later engaged in farm ing. On March 2, 1854, Mr. Ollis was married to Miss Martha Brown, who was born in Ohio. Mrs. Ollis died in March, 1880, survived by her hus band and five children : John M., who died in 1878 ; James A., who is married and lives in Mira Valley, and has eight children ; Mary O, wife of George Stancliff, resides in Texas, and they have four children; Sarah C, died June 1, 1909; and Elizabeth A., who is married to Oliver Cromwell and resides in Ord. 376 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Ollis came to Valley county, Nebraska, and purchased four hundred acre^ of land in Mira Valley, which remained the home place until 1904. On November 2, 1901, Mr. Ollis was united in marriage to Laura S. Ragan of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ollis have one child, Clyde L., who resides at home. In 1904 Mr. Ollis retired from the farm and moved to Ord, building a good home where he now lives. He has been prosperous and success ful, owning two hundred and forty acres of his original four hundred acres of fine stock and grain land, aside from considerable city property. Mr. Ollis has been an active public-spirited man, serving as justice of peace for four years; also as township assessor in 1890; he also served as moderator and treasurer of school district num ber nine over ten years. He is a man interested in all pertaining to the welfare of state and coun ty, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. While. Mr. Ollis has reached the very mature age of eithty-three years, he enjoys good health and is still very active and interested in all the affairs of life. GEORGE HEUERMAN. George Heuerman, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Madison county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality for many years. He is prominently known through out the county as one of the foremost farmers and stock men in Nebraska, and after many years' hard labor in building up his business is now pre pared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends. Mr. Heuerman has now retired and lives in Battle Creek. Mr. Heuerman is a native of Germany, born January 20, 1840, in the province of Aldenburg, the son of Herman and Anna (Lueeschen) Heuer man, the latter having died when our subject was two years of age. In 1868 Mr. Heuerman left his native land for America, embarking at Bremen on the steamship "Deutschland, " and for two weeks was on the water. After landing in New York, where he re mained one week, Mr. Heuerman went to Wiscon sin, where he lived one year in Milwaukee, work ing there in a mill for thirty-five dollars per month. In 1869 he came to Omaha, Nebraska. There he bought a pony and rode to what is now known as Norfolk, but at that time the town consisted of but one building, which was the postoffice and store combined. This building was made of logs, and was sixteen feet by fourteen feet. He then proceeded to Madison county, where he took up the homestead on which he now resides. He first built a log house in which he "batched it" a few years; in 1873 he built a frame house, hauling the lumber from Columbus, fifty miles distant, this dwelling being sixteen feet by twenty-four feet, and twelve feet high. In the pioneer days many hardships and disap pointments, owing to crop failures, etc., were ex perienced by the sturdy sons who braved the un known dangers of this region; the drouths and grasshopper pests were about the worst causes of calamity, the latter eating up every vestage of crops, leaving a bare, rough surface where a short time before their coming had been luscious, thriving vegetation. During this period ten dol lars was all the money that Mr. Heuerman had to spend in a year. In the first year of his residence here, he experienced the hardest blizzard he ever saw, that of January 1, 1870, which lasted three days, and in that storm and one later during the winter, which was a severe one, he lost consider able stock. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days on the western frontier, and could fre quently be seen in herds grazing on the open prairie. Mr. Heuerman was united in marriage July 4, 1871, to Miss Emily Fanske, a native of Wiscon sin, and Mr. and Mrs. Heuerman are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living: Min nie, Bertha, Ella, and Herbert. Mr. Heuerman now owns two hundred and ninety acres of fine land which is well improved with good buildings and a beautiful home. This is an ideal farm, the beautiful Elkhorn river run ning through the land, being a natural source of irrigation to the fine groves of trees that' line the river's banks. JOSEPH C. HINES. Among the old settlers of Cedar county, one of the most prominent is the above. Not only is he noticeable because of his long residence in the county, but also because he is one of those pro gressive and aggressive citizens, whose persever ance, integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the natural wealth of the state, and have contributed so much to its development and growth. Mr. Hines is a native of New York state, and was born there in 1832, the son of Joseph C. and Mary Hines. The father died when the subscriber was but a small boy and the bringing up of the little family devolved upon the mother. Mr. Hines remained in New York state with his mother until 1857, when he fell a victim to the "western fever" and came to Illinois, which was then one of the western states, locating at Gene- seo, in Henry county. He remained in this state until 1875, when he again pushed westward and came to Cedar county, Nebraska, and bought his present home. This was in the early days of the settlement of Nebraska, and deer and antelope were quite plentiful. The nearest market at that time was Yankton, Dakota. When Mr. Hines built his first pioneer cabin, the Cottonwood lum- •RIDGE LAWN FARM," RESIDENCE OF J. C. HiNES. 'RIDGE LAWN FARM" VIEW ON J. C. HINES' PLACE. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 377 ber was hauled a considerable distance, from Jones' mill. Mr. Hines suffered all the usual vicissitudes of an early settler's life, and it probably seemed to him at times that he had even more than his share of the prevailing misfortunes. The very first year of his residence in Cedar county, the grasshoppers took every bit of his crops, thus making it necessary for him to start anew the next year. Prairie fires were of common occur rence, and many times Mr. Hines and his family were compelled to fight the fire for hours in order to insure the safety of their little home. Even as late as 1894, all crops were a failure owing to the prevalence of hot, dry winds, which destroyed everything growing. However, Mr. Hines was one of those persever ing men who will never own to being defeated. When crops were destroyed one year, the family existed somehow until time for the next year's crops to be harvested. Improvements to the home and farm were added gradually, and more land was secured from time to time, until at the present time, Mr. Hines owns about three hundred and twenty acres of well improved farming land, most of it under cultivation. There is about ten acres of timber near the home, all of which was planted by himself. An interesting view of the place ap pears on another page. Mr. Hines was united in marriage to Miss Julia Frost, of Geneseo, Illinois, and they are the parents of four children, all of whom are living except one. They are named as follows: Emma S., Eva O, deceased, twins; Hamlin F., and Wil liam. By reason of their long residence in the county, Mr. Hines and his family are unusually well known. They have been prominent factors in the development of the community in all lines. WILLIAM A. PIERCE. William A. Pierce, of a prominent and well known family of Custer county, is a native of Mower county, Minnesota, born March 8, 1865, fifth in order of birth of the eight children of James and Jane (Hunt) Pierce. A sketch of the father appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Pierce received his education in his Minnesota home and at the time his parents came to Custer county he remained behind to come with the car load of household goods and machinery which was shipped to Grand Island and Wauled by wagon to the homestead farm. He joined the family some little time after the others had reached the new home and remained with his father until going out into the world for himself in his twen tieth year. He and his brother Alfred began farm ing 'and raising stock in partnership and this con nection lasted about fifteen years to their mutual benefit. He was also an original homesteader, having secured a pre-emption when he reached his major- 13% ity and his homestead some time later, and he still owns a portion of his pre-emption, which is located in Somerford valley. On October 30, 1901, at Lakeland, Brown county, Nebraska, Mr. Pierce was united in mar riage with Etta May Stevens, a native of Minne sota, and daughter of Franklin and Annie (Cox) Stevens, her father a native of Maine and her mother of Wisconsin. The parents were married in the latter state in 1864. The mother died in Minnesota in 1886 and the father still lives there. Of their children, the following survive: Mrs. Pierce; Charles lives in Antelope valley, Custer county; Edwin B., lives in Brown county, Ne braska; Olive lives in Cherry county. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Pierce closed out his partnership with his brother Alfred and continued in the stock business alone. In 1910 he came to his little farm adjoining Sargent on the north. He is one of the self-made men of the county and has a fine family and a pleasant home. He and his wife have three children: Edith, Annie, Emily Jane and Louella May. HENRY L. PECK. Born in the west and western bred, Henry L. Peck, editor of the "Randolph Times," is essen tially western in all his thought and sympathy. His birth took place at Anamosa, Iowa, March 17, 1868. His father, L. B. Peck, a merchant of Ana mosa, is a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Iowa in 1856. The mother, a native of New York, was born in Cortland county and married in Ana mosa, Iowa. Mr. Peck began his journalistic career before he had fairly completed his course in the high school. He was employed about two years on the "Anamosa Eureka," and an equal period on the "Journal;" he was also employed at the case in Monticello, La Grand, Gladbrook, and Rockwell City, in the latter place about two years. Return ing to the east part of the state, he was on the staff of the "Pioneer," at Cascade, for five years, from which place he started to the west. In September of 1900, he came to Randolph, purchased the "Times" when its circulation was at a low ebb and at once began to install new life into it; the circulation has steadily increased from year to year until it now has a paying sub scription of over eight hundred, with a good pat ronage in its advertising columns. The job de partment is fully equipped for all classes of work, and an excellent quality of the art preservative is turned out from the "Times" print shop. Mr. Peck was married in Anamosa, August 27, 1895, to Miss Gertrude Burch, a native of Iowa, and daughter of M. G. and Jane (Gleason) Burch. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peck, namely: Neva, Floyd, Dorothy and Gertrude. Mr. Peck is a true-blue republican, giving the candidates and policies of that party his hearty 378 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. support. He is a member of the Presbyterian church; he affiliates with the Ancient Order United Workmen and the Odd Fellows, the lat ter of which he is the past grand, and has been their representative in the grand lodge; for six years he has been secretary of the Northeastern Nebraska Odd Fellows' Association, an auxiliary organization intended to promote better acquaint ance and fellowship in the fraternity. THOMAS FAUQUIER. Among the leading citizens of Merrick coun ty, Nebraska, none stands higher in the minds of his associates than the gentleman here named. For many years he has been a resident of this section, and with his family enjoys the comforts of a pleasant rural home, and the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. Thomas Fauquier was born in Keokuk, Iowa, October 8, 1860, and was the youngest of three children in the family of Ephriam and Margaret (Gosnell) Fauquier, who had two sons and one daughter born to them. The father was a veter an of the civil war, enlisting in Company C, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry from Birmingham, Iowa, in September, 1861, and died in Benton bar racks from exposure and cold contracted during the Siege of Vicksburg. He was survived by his widow and three children. The family moved from Iowa to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1866, and to Danville, Illinois, in 1868, and in the fall of 1872, our subject's mother and her three children, Charles, Lizzie, and Thomas, came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and made homestead entry on the south half, southeast quarter, and south half, southwest quar ter, of section twenty-two, township thirteen, range eight, and this has been the home farm until this date. Thomas Fauquier, from his twelfth year, grew up in Merrick county on the old farm, which is still his home place, and also that of his mother, who is now in her eighty-seventh year. His brother, Charles, now lives in Holt county, Ne braska, and his sister, Lizzie, who was the wife of George W. Welton, is deceased. She left seven children. Mr. Fauquier was married to Miss Bell Bruno, November 21, 1897, on the Gosnell farm, just north of his own home. Mr. Fauquier grew up to manhood in Merrick county a farmer and stockman, and he is one of the few pioneer boys that still live in their old original homestead farm. He is at the present time deputy county assessor in Prairie Creek township, and also moderator in school district number twenty-eight. He has always been a strong democrat. Mr. Fauquier is a man who has always taken his part in the upbuilding of his county. Mother Fauquier is a woman of the pioneer clays who brought her little family into Merrick county in the early years to brave whatever the future held in store for them ; and they are today one of the well known families of their section, and hold the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Fauquier is a man of sound principle, and possesses the sterling qualities which when combined go to make the perfect man. VACLAV VLASNIK. Like so many of the citizens of the northern part of Knox county, Nebraska, the subject of this review is a native of Bohemia, born in the village of Lhota, Cheslav District, on December 8, 1863. His parents came to America with their family in 1867. In his native land the father was employed in the sugar refineries of the beet dis trict, and was familiar with the entire process of sugar making. He was also a first class car penter, following that work when not needed in the sugar factory. On reaching New York, they immediately crossed to New Jersey, where Mr. Vlasnik secured farm work and followed that occupation during one year, then taking his fam ily to Chicago. There he found employment in a planing mill part of the time, and filled in with various other kinds of labor, until 1870, at which time he joined a colony of fellow countrymen who were coming west to find homes and satisfy their desire for land. From Chicago the colony traveled to Sioux City by rail, thence by boat to Niobrara, which was then located on the old site on the river bank. Here the colony divided, some settling in Yank ton county, South Dakota, others coming on to Knox county, our subject's family settling on a claim near Pishelville. All went very well for a few years, but in 1873 and 1874 the grasshopper raids reduced them to the very lowest ebb of poverty, leaving nothing to feed people or stock. When later crops were secured, there was little market for the products, many carrying a little produce to Port Randall, twenty-five miles away, and through a country filled with unfriendly Indians, who were at all times a menace to the white settler. Horses were beyond the means of many of the pioneers, and some carried their products to market in a wheelbarrow. Six fam ilies living rather near together pooled their money and bought a pair of oxen which they used in common. Our subject received but a scant education, but through experience and observation he has become a thoroughly well informed man, having a knowledge of the world and its people that is sufficient to make him stand high among his fel- lowmen. He remained under the parental roof until the age of twenty-three years, then settled on a claim for himself, located in Cherry county, Nebraska, and spent three years in farming. From there he went to Rapid City, South Dakota, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 379 himself and wife keeping boarders to make a little money, as there was nothing else for him to do. He decided to go to New Mexico for settle ment, and started on the way, but traveling southward he fell in with a party of emigrants from that region, so turned back at Colorado Springs, feeling that a country which the people were leaving in such numbers certainly could not be a very desirable location. He soon afterwards came into Knox county and engaged in business, in Niobrara, continuing some sixteen years. In the spring of 1904 he became interested in the Niobrara Roller Mills Company, which he still manages, turning out an excellent grade of flour and meal for the local trade. In the fall of 1909, Mr. Vlasnik was given the preference for sheriff of the county, and although the county is normally republican, and he a democrat, he carried the election by an over whelming majority, taking the reins of office on January 1, 1910. Those who know him best testify that he is a man of undaunted courage, to whom fear is a stranger, and will not be a disappointment to those who have placed him in office. Mr. Vlasnik is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, Woodmen of the World and of the Bohemian Benevolent Society, Z. C. B. J., while Mrs. Vlasnik is a sister in the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Vlasnik was married on September 19, 1886, to Marie Tomek, and to them have been born three children, two of whom survive. Their daughter, Anna, who after graduating from the Niobrara schools, attended the Belleview college, and later graduated from the State Normal at Peru, has taught two successful terms in the country, and since the fall of 1906 has been one of the efficient members of the faculty on the city schools of Niobrara. Mr. Vlasnik 's only son, George, completed his course in the city schools, and afterwards entered the State University, from which he will graduate with the class of 1912. The family enjoys a wide circle of friends and their home is one of the most comfortable and hospitable spots to be found in a day's travel. WILLIAM S. AGNEW. For over twenty-five years the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has been associated with the agricultural and commercial interests of East Newman precinct, and is one of the well known old settlers of Nance county. Mr. Agnew is proprietor of a fine tract of farm land lying three miles southeast of Fullerton, also has a beautiful residence in the town, where he has resided since retiring from active labor several years ago. Besides this prop erty he has considerable land in North Dakota, all of which has been accumulated by persistent and honest labors, gaining for himself a high reputation as a loyal friend and sup porter of the best interests of his locality. William S. Agnew was born in Park county, Indiana, on November 12, 1836, and is a son of Gibson and Eleanor Agnew. His boyhood was spent in his native county, and at the age of fifteen years he accompanied his parents to Cedar county, Iowa, where his father settled on a farm and they worked the land together for about ten years, then took a farm for himself, remaining in Iowa up to 1884, when he came with his family, consisting of wife and three children, to Nance county, Nebraska. Here he purchased four hun dred and eighty acres situated three and a half miles east of the then small town of Fullerton, lived on the place for three years, then traded it for a stock of dry goods in Fullerton, and car ried on the business for two years, at which time he again located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased, and which has been their home since that time up to 1907, when he quit active farming and now rents his land. Mr. Agnew married Mary C. Barclay, a na tive of Pennsylvania, at Tipton, Iowa, January 24, 1861. To them have been born six children, as follows: Arthur O, Irwin C, who died in 1863, Loretta J., died in 1864, and Eleanor, in 1897 ; Mattie, wife of Rufus Lumrey, residing in Omaha; John G., living in North Dakota. Be sides their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Agnew raised and educated a grandson, Floyd C. Agnew, who is now in North Dakota. The entire family are held in the highest esteem by their associates. Mr. Agnew was director of his school district during the early years of his residence here, also held the office of road supervisor. He is an ardent Presbyterian, and has been elder of that church for forty years. WILLIAM M. SMITH. Nebraska as it was known at the time of the civil war is known to but few of the remaining residents of the state, partly because there were comparatively few citizens of the state at that time, and partly because that few has been dis seminated by death. Mr. Smith was born in Boone county, Iowa, May 5, 1855, a son of Solomon and Rebecca (Dai- ley) Smith. The father was a native of the Cum berland mountains, near the border land between Kentucky and Tennessee, and the mother's na tivity occurred in Ohio. They came at separate times to Fulton county, Illinois, where they were married. They later moved to Wappalo county, Iowa, from which place they moved to Boone county, in the same state, where they resided until migrating to Nebraska in 1864. Crossing the river at Nebraska City, the family settled in the small village of London, near Peru, in Ne maha county. Mr. Smith grew to manhood near London and resided there until 1880, when he moved to a 380 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. farm near Syracuse, in Otoe county, which he operated some three years, having married dur ing the time. In the spring of 1883 he came to Holt county, having settled on a pre-emption claim some six miles east of Eagle Mills, and where he also secured a timber claim. After six and a half years here he moved to Platte Center, in Platte county, where he resided for a like period before trying his fortune in the state of Missouri. Malaria drove him out of Cedar county, of that state, within seven months, and he found an asylum in Boyd county, Nebraska, and settled three miles south of Spencer, where he lived two years. The summer of 1900 was spent in Cherry county, six miles northeast of Wood Lake, near where some of his kinsfolks lived. In December of that year, they became residents of Jefferson county, Iowa, where they bought the farm belonging to the mother of Mrs. Smith, and resided until their return to Boyd county, in March, 1903. For a year Mr. Smith and his son operated a rented farm, and since that time he has resided in the town of Spencer. He is an expert carpenter and has work at hand the year round. He learned the trade from his father, who, besides being a fine craftsman at carpentry, was a good wagon-maker as well, and his skill with wood-working tools did not end here, for as fine cabinet work came from his bench as from any artisan in all the region. Mr. Smith was married December 24, 1882, at Libertyville, Iowa, to Miss Saletha Hall, a na tive of Van Buren county, Iowa, a daughter of William and Annie (Dailey) Hall. Her grand father, Jacob Dailey, attained the unusual age of ninety-four years, and one of his daughters lived to be nearly the same age. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : George, works with his father at the carpenters' trade; Raleigh lives in Spencer in a neat new cottage overlook ing the Ponca valley; and Ora May and Anna, the two latter at home. Mr. Smith is a republican in political views, and works for the candidates bearing the party banner. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Smith was at the barn caring for his horses when the storm broke. He remained there until after one p. m., carried water for his stock, and then tried to find his way to the house, which, of course, could not be seen at the distance of a yard. Twice he lost his way in the short dis tance between the two buildings before he got his bearings and found himself safely within doors. He has fought prairie fires, as have all western men of early days, and he has encount ered some of the severe hailstorms that at times sweep over the west. His brother was returning home on the third of July, 1884, when suck a storm broke over them. Mr. Smith, grabbing a bread board from the kitchen, rushed out with it over his head to open the gate that his brother, whose horses were frantic, might get safely into shelter. Life in a "soddy" is not unknown to Mr. Smith, he having twice lived in that com fortable sort of dwelling. At the time it was necessary to have the vig ilance committee, Mr. Smith was living in Holt county, and at times his residence served as court house and jail. The outlaws were captured and given legal trial wherein judgment was regularly rendered against them. Nearly all of Mr. Smith 's relatives have .re moved to the coast, four of his brothers residing in the Hood River valley, Oregon. One of them drove through to his destination, from the east, with an ox team yoked to a covered wagon. Mr. Smith has an acquaintance with the red man and his ways, and among his personal friends of this race is the famous old chief, Yellow Horse. CHARLES W. CULVER. Among the representative farmers and stock men of Boone county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in the development of that region, striving to advance the best interests of the com munity whenever possible, a prominent place is accorded Charles W. Culver, who resides on sec tion twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, where he lives on his farm of one hundred and seventeen acres. His beautiful home is called "Elm Place." Charles W. Culver was bora October 30, 1857, in Dane county, Wisconsin, the son of Alanson and Abigail (Hatch) Culver, and was sixth in a family of eleven children. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Culver came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land twelve miles north of Albion, selling the same a few years later, when he purchased one hundred and seven teen acres on section twenty-seven, township twenty, range six, where he now resides, as before stated. He also owns one-half section of fine farming land one and one-half miles south of Albion. Mr. Culver deals in fine stock, and makes a specialty of short horn cattle and Po land China hogs. Mr. Culver has served his community well in a way that has brought credit to himself and satisfaction to his people. He has served as assessor from 1886 to 1890, inclusive, and was treasurer of school district number twenty-three, which office he filled faithfully for ten years. Mr. Culver was married on December 24, 1885, to Miss Sarah R. Williamson, a native of Delaware county, Iowa, who came to Boone county in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have had two pairs of twin boys: Verne A., who is a graduate of the State University, and interested in the wholesale hardware business in Salt Lake, Utah ; Vere S., graduated from the State Agri cultural College in 1907, and in 1910 completed the course in technical agriculture ; he was a mem- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 381 ber of the international dairy judging team of 1908, sent from the State University to Chicago. He was also a member of the international judg ing team of 1909, and the American Royal judg ing team. Both boys are members of the Young Men Christian Association. Warren W. resides at home, and Thomas is deceased. Mrs. Culver was teacher of the first school in Boone, Nebraska, for one year, then returned to Hopkinton, Iowa, where she taught for five years; and then came to Albion in 1881, where she taught in the city schools until 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have passed through all the trying experiences of the early pioneer, and are well and favorably known. CHARLES MAAS. One of the successful farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, is Charles Maas, who has taken a foremost part in the upbuilding of his commu nity, and has developed a fine estate, where he now resides. He was born in Germany in 1858, a son of Gottlieb and Minnie Maas, who emi grated to America in 1884 and came direct to Wayne county, where the father died in 1909. The mother is now living at Hoskins. In boy hood, Charles Maas helped his parents and attended the public school, and was reared to farm work. His parents had six children. In 1881, Mr. Maas left his home for America, having in view the purchase of land and the establishing of a home of his own. He sailed from Bremen to Baltimore, and soon afterward purchased his present home on section three, township twenty-five, range one, Wayne county, where he has since resided. He has brought his land to a high standard of productiveness and has erected a comfortable and modern residence, which is fitted with many conveniences. He car ries on mixed farming, with special attention to the raising of stock, and his enterprise and thrift have been well rewarded in the results he has been able to obtain. He is regarded as one of the substantial and useful citizens of his neighbor hood, and has always taken an active interest in educational matters and every measure tending to promote the general welfare and prosperity. In 1886, Mr. Maas was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Maas, daughter of Carl and Alber- tina Maas, a native of Germany. Eleven children have blessed this union, their names being : Will iam, Frank, Emma, Henry, Lena, Martha, Lydia, Charley, Paul, deceased, and Eddie, one other was not named. The family are well known and have a host of friends. ALBERT ZANDER. interest of that region, may be mentioned the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He has always been found ready to further the inter ests of the community, and has gained a wide and enviable reputation as a citizen and substantial farmer of the locality. He has a fine farm located on section three, township twenty-three, and also a pleasant home. Mr. Zander was born in this county in 1873, and is the son of Fred and Augusta Zander, who had come to this country from Germany some years previous. They came first to Wisconsin, but did not remain very long, soon after driving to Stanton county with a yoke of oxen, the trip occupying about six weeks. Here they took up the homestead where the subscriber now lives and built the log house where he was born. Mr. Zander grew up in the county, obtaining his education in the common schools of the dis trict. He is naturally acquainted with all the hardships, as well as the advantages of a pio neer's life. He can remember where it was not an uncommon sight to see deer and antelope where cultivated fields or fenced-in meadow can now be found. More than once he assisted the family in fighting the prairie fires which broke out during the dry season and threatened to destroy their little home. In 1897, Mr. Zander was united in marriage to Miss Lula Morris, of Stanton. They have but one child, Oscar, who is still at home. Mr. Zander occupies a foremost place among the prosperous farmers of this section and is deservedly held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. Among the early settlers of Stanton county, Nebraska, who have been largely instrumental in the growth and development of the agricultural CONRAD GOKE. Among the leading old settlers and public spirited citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a prom inent place. Mr. Goke is well known through out the community in which he resides as an honest, upright and worthy citizen, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he has to do. Mr. Goke is a native of Germany, being born in the village of Haaren, province of Westphalia, on May 7, 1844; his wife, Katie (Spinner) Goke, was born in the same village, October 4, 1852. They were married in 1876, in Germany, the church where they were both baptized, and are now the parents of eight children living and two deceased. Their names are as follows: Katie, Joseph, who is married to Francis Thiel, they having four children ; Gertrude ; Conrad, died at the age of twenty; Mary; Lizzie; Anna; John, who was killed by lightning when he was six teen; and his two younger brothers, Carl and William, were with him at the time, but they re covered from the shock. In 1884 Mr. Goke with his family left Rotter dam for the new world, sailing on the "City of 382 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Cologne," and were sixteen days on the sea. After landing in New York, the family pro ceeded to West Point, Nebraska, where they worked out for three years to save enough money to take up a homestead. In 1887 they took a homestead claim in south half of south west quarter, section eighteen, and north half of northwest quarter, section nineteen, township twenty-five, range eight, Antelope county, which has remained their residing place through the years, but he has bought two more "eighties" and now owns three hundred and twenty acres. The first house put up by our subject was a "soddy" in which they lived for five years and then built a substantial frame house, which remains the present home. Mr. Goke now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, and can now enjoy the fruits of his hard labor in former years. Mr. Goke is not content to sit idly by, and still looks after his land and farming interests. Mr. Goke with his family are strict adherents to the Cath olic faith, and worship in the church of that denomination in the country two and a half miles from their home. Mr. Goke was in the army in is native land, serving in the Franco-Prussian war, in the artillery service, and participated in the battle of Sedan and Siege of Metz and Paris. Mr. Goke is a democrat in political affiliations. ALFRED LINCOLN BRANDE. Alfred L. Brande, widely known as one of the leading business and professional men of Pierce county, is a gentleman of superior intelligence and integrity, and has gained the entire confi dence and esteem of the people among whom he has resided during the past twenty years. He has held the office of postmaster of Pierce since 1897, and is prominent in political circles in his county and state. Mr. Brande first came to Nebraska in August, 1891, and a few weeks after bought the Pierce County Call, taking charge September 1. Estab lished in 1877, the Call was the first newspaper published in the county. Mr. Brande increased the circulation to four teen hundred copies, which was the rec ord for the county. He has owned and edited the paper since first purchasing except for a period of eighteen months, during 1909 and 1910, when he leased it to Witten & Brande — the latter a younger brother. Our subject is a native of Troy, Minnesota, born August 27, 1867. In 1869 the family settled in Wapun, Wisconsin, remaining there four years, then going to Charles City, Iowa, and thence to Warren, Illinois, in which towns the elder Brande filled the pulpit of the Congrega tional church. In 1885 they went to Tipton, Iowa, and for many years the father was pastor of the Congregational church there. Our subject received his education in the public schools of the different towns in which they sojourned, finish ing his studies in the Tipton high school, and later taking a course at the State University in Iowa City. During vacations he worked in printing offices and thus acquired a good knowledge of that work, which helped him in his later efforts. Rev. Alfred Brande, father of our subject, was a soldier in the civil war, and served for about four years. He is a man of high order of intelligence, broadminded, and one who did much to help his fellow men in every walk of life. A. L. Brande was married in Pierce, July 7, 1894, to Ida Inhelder, a native of Cass county, Nebraska. Her parents were early pioneers of that section. To them have been born two chil dren, Grace and Winnifred, both charming young girls, and the family occupies a high position in the social affairs of their community. Mr. Brande is a member of the Masonic, Mod ern Woodmen and Pythian orders in Pierce. Politically he is a republican. HANS SORENSEN. Hans Sorensen, a successful farmer and stock man of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of a fine estate consisting of four hundred and eighty acres of choice farming land, and is otherwise prosperous. He came to this region practically without means enough to buy a team of oxen with which to start farming, and by energy and thrift has become one of the solid and substantial men of the county, gaining also the high esteem and respect of his fellowmen by his honesty and loyalty to the best interests of his county and state. Mr. Sorensen is treasurer of school dis trict number sixty-six. Mr. Sorensen was born in Denmark, on March 26, 1851, and is the fifth child of Soren and Kara (Larkins Daughter) Ericksen, who had a family of seven. The mother died in Denmark in 1867, and the balance of the family, except Hans, came to America about 1870. Two years later he came over, locating at first in Chicago, and spent about one year in and near that city, then went to Michigan. He was married in Chicago on May 2, 1873, to Hannah Andersen, she being a native of his birthplace, and coming to America in, the same year. Mr. Sorensen located in Manistee county, Michigan, in 1873, and remained in that vicinity for five years, working in the lumber camps, etc. In the fall of 1878, the family came to Howard county, joining Mr. Sorensen, senior, at Nysted, where three brothers and two sisters also were located. About the first of the following year, Hans took a homestead on section twenty, town ship fourteen, range twelve, which he has made his home place since that time. Two brothers, FARM RESIDENCE OF PETER FLEMMING. "CEDAR LAWN STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF V. M. SWITZER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 383 Chris and Paul, reside in the same neighborhood, and all are industrious and thrifty farmers, and the three form the only remaining members of the once large family. To Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen have been born six children, two coming to them in Michigan and the rest born in Howard county. They are named as follows : George, Minnie, Victor, Kara, Soren, and Herman, all married except Victor and Soren, and all making their home in Nebraska. PETER FLEMMING. The gentleman mentioned above is one of the sturdy sons of Germany who came to the new world with a brave heart to carve out a name for himself and establish a home in the wilder ness, and well has he succeeded in his determina tion, now owning good property in the sonthwest quarter of section twenty, township twenty-seven, range two, in Pierce county. Peter Plemming was born in the village of Wisch, province of Holstein, Germany, then a province of Denmark, November 17, 1853, and is the son of Hans Plemming, who served five years in the Danish army. The mother, Anna Schutz in maidenhood, died in 1879. Mr. Plemming received his education in the fatherland, engaging in farm labor from the age of ten years. He served in the German army during the years of 1873 to 1877, inclusive, enter ing the army soon after the Franco-Prussian war. He remembers that war as well as those of 1864 and 1866. In 1880, he sailed from Hamburg, Germany, for the new world on the steamship "Wieland, " and was on the water twenty-three days, during which time they encountered severe storms. Upon landing in America Mr. Flemming came to Iowa, where he bought forty acres of land near Meriden, in Potawatamie county, and lived there some four years. He came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1884, buy ing railroad land in section twenty, township twenty-seven, range two, his present location, and this he has increased and improved until he now owns four hundred acres of as fine land as can be found in his part of the county. He has four acres set to trees. In 1912 he retired from active farming and purchased a residence in Osmond, where he can take life easy the rest of his days. Mr. Flemming has had discouragements along with his prosperity, and during the blizzard of 1888 lost all his cows and horses. He braved the blizzard for half an hour attempting to save his stock, but returned with his face and head cov ered with ice. Times were hard during the early years of settlement. They burned hay in the burners common in those days, and for a year or two burned corn. It sold for only seven and eight cents a bushel. Eggs were two cents per dozen, and butter two cents per pound. Hogs sold for only two dollars and twenty cents per hundred pounds after hauling twelve miles; in 1910 he got nearly sixty dollars for two hogs and hauled them only about five miles. Deer were about gone from the country at the time of his coming, but he remembers seeing one specimen at night. August 6, 1877, Mr. Flemming was married in the village of Wisch, to Miss Bertha Wiese, a native of Hoendorf, a neighboring village. She is a daughter of Hans Wiese. Mr. and Mrs. Flemming have seven children, whose names are as follows : Minnie, wife of Henry Miner ; Anna, wife of Gus Weindrich; Celia, wife of Herman Kohler; Teresa, wife of Archibald Sch neider; Augusta, Theodore and Henry. Mr. Flemming is of the German Lutheran faith, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen lodge. He is independent in politics, always casting his vote for the best man. We show a view of Mr. Flemming 's farm resi dence, nestled in a grove of fine trees, planted by his own hand. An orchard of about three acres adds to the value of the farm. VIRGIL M. SWITZER. The well regulated farms of Frenchtown pre cinct contribute largely to the wealth of Antelope county, Nebraska. The gentleman whose name introduces this review, is proprietor of a fine estate in section twenty-six, township twenty- six, range eight. He is one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of his locality, and has aided materially in its growth and development, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift. Mr. Switzer was born September 28, 1846, and is a native of Elgin, Kane county, Illinois. He had one brother, J. L. Switzer, who served in the civil war, enlisting in Company G, one Hun dred and Forty-first Illinois Volunteers, and served in 1864 for one hundred days. Our sub ject's father, M. J. C. Switzer, was born in 1815, in New Jersey, and died January 25, 1893, of Irish descent, his grandfather having come from Ireland. On January 23, 1878, Mr. Switzer was mar ried to Miss Martha E. Hemenway, and Mr. and Mrs. Switzer are the parents of the following named children : Olive ; Grace, who died in infancy; Arthur, Clarence, Edgar, Ralph, Ora, Amos, Lyle, and Lloyd. Mrs. Switzer was born February 5, 1858. Mr. Switzer has seen this locality grow from pioneer days. He purchased his home in 1878, and moved onto it in 1880, and has had an active part in the development of this region. He now owns four hundred and forty acres of land, three hundred and twenty acres which are in Sheridan county, and thirty acres of which are in trees, making a beautiful grove — and a fine grove of 384 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. pine and cedar trees. The farm is known as "Cedar Lawn." Mr. Switzer is well known as a stock raiser and general farmer, and he and his family are highly esteemed and respected by the community in which they live, and they have a host of warm personal friends and neighbors. Mr. Switzer devotes a good deal of attention to fine stock. He has on hand about fifty head of fine Polled Durham cattle, also about thirty head of horses, consisting of draft and harness horses, in which he takes great pride. A picture of his place appears on another page of this vol ume. JOSEPH P. BRADEN. Joseph P. Braden has one of the best equipped farms in central Nebraska, and is a self-made man, interested in the welfare of his county and state. He has been prominent in political circles and has held various offices of honor and trust. He has been an influential factor in the moral, educational, and social life of Valley county, and is well known as an upright, progressive citizen. Mr. Braden was born in Lee county, Iowa, February 25, 1851, fourth of the seven chil dren born to David and Sarah Jane (Taylor) Braden, who had seven sons. He was born and reared on a farm and has spent his entire life in agricultural operations. Both parents died in Iowa, the mother November 21, 1858, and the father October 12, 1898. But two of their sons now survive besides Joseph P. Two of his brothers came to Valley county some time after 1883, John T., and William H., and the latter is the only one of the family now a resident of Nebraska, besides the subject of this sketch. Mr. Braden lived on the home farm with his father until the time of his marriage and there received the usual common school education. He was mar ried September 14, 1876, to Lizzie Etta Pease, daughter of Jonathan L. and Sarah J. (Herren) Pease. After marriage the young couple located on his farm in Lee county, and in February, 1883, moved to Hamilton county, Nebraska, with their one child. They lived on a rented farm there until March, 1885, when the family removed to Valley county and located on two hundred and forty acres of school land which Mr. Braden purchased on section thirty-six, township seven teen, range fifteen, Yale township, which has since been the home place, although he has added to his holding. He is one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of his part of the state, where he was one of the earliest settlers, being one of the few who persevered through adverse circumstances of pioneer life and remained on their original locations. He is active in the development of Valley and the adjoining county, now being the owner of seven hundred and eighty acres of choice land in Valley county. He was a member of the county board for nine years and in the fall of 1901 was the nominee of the fusion party for the office of county treasurer. Four of the five children born to Mr. Braden and wife are now surviving, namely: James Albert, farming in Yale township, is married and has one child ; Dora, wife of Homer Hagermeyer, living on a farm adjoining her father's on the northeast, has two children ; Charles Patterson, and David J., at home. The mother of these children died on the home farm in November, 1900. On December 16, 1902, Mr. Braden was married, at Mitchell, Nebraska, to Ada Logan, daughter of Hugh and Catherine (McFarland) Logan, one of ten children. She has three brothers and one sister living in Nebraska and five of the children are living elsewhere. Her parents are deceased. He and his wife have a comfortable home and are surrounded by every possible comfort. James A. Braden, son of Joseph P. and Lizzie (Pease) Braden, was born in Iowa, June 30, 1877, and was married at Ord, Nebraska, August 29, 1900, to Miss Maud Brown. He is a young man of ambition and industry and successful as a farmer. He lives on the southeast quarter of section twenty-three, of Yale township. He and his wife have one child, Gertrude. Mr. Braden was a member of the Presbyterian church in Iowa. In politics he is a populist, is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which Mrs. Braden has taken the auxiliary degree of the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Braden lived in a sod front dugout for a short time on first coming to Nebraska, so knows what real pioneer life is like, having during those days seen a few deer and antelope running at large. During the year of drought, 1894, Mr. Braden raised nothing, not even enough to re-seed. L. S. JOHNSON. The gentleman above mentioned is one of the oldest settlers in Madison county, Nebraska, and since locating here in 1876, he has taken a prom inent place in the work of developing the region. He is the owner of a fine property in Shell Creek township, and himself and family are held in high esteem as worthy citizens and good neighbors. Mr. Johnson is a son of John and Tala John son, natives of Norway, where our subject was born September 9, 1868. John Johnson was born in the western part of Nor way, and on reaching the required age, was drafted as a soldier, serving the customary time. L. S. was the third child in the family, the others being Ole, Mons, Lauris S., Martha and Gustave. In 1870 the entire family shook the dust of their native soil from their feet, securing passage on a sailboat at Christiana for America, and for eight weeks they were tossed about on the high seas, suffering every sort of hardship from such a trip, but eventually landing safe and sound in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 385 New York City. They immediately set out for the west, arriving in Madison county, Nebraska, in the month of April. They set about making a home, taking a home stead on section twenty-two, township twenty- one, range four, on which they built a sod house, which remained their dwelling for several years. They all worked together in an effort to estab lish a farm and accumulate a competency, and while they succeeded to a considerable extent, they, like every one else in those days, met with frequent losses by reason of unfavorable weather conditions, such as the dreadful hot winds which destroyed crops, etc., hail storms, grasshopper raids and other calamities. Their living was made largely from the hunting of wild game, deer and antelope being plentiful during the early years of their residence in the region. For fuel they burned corn stalks and often were obliged to use hay for a fire, especially when their fund of cash grew low and they were afraid to spend it for anything but the utmost necessaries of life. Our subject settled on his homestead in 1876, and in 1890 was married to Miss Anna Lee, a native of Norway. They are the parents of ten children, namely: Tena, Joseph, Andrena, Johanna, Henry, Lenore, Casper, Minerva, de ceased; Ruth and Mildred. ERWIN W. GOODRICH. Erwin W. Goodrich, of Sargent, is a large landholder in Custer county, and has been suc cessful as a grain and stock farmer. He is one of the early settlers of the county, where in early days he met the usual vicissitudes and trials of pioneer existence. He was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, February 29, 1856, next to the eldest of the four children of Julius L. and Olive (Cpnklin) Goodrich. Only two of the children survive, he and his sister, Mrs. E. E. McCray, a teacher in Loup City schools. The father was born in Vermont, of Welsh descent, settled on a homestead in Custer county in 1878, and died there in March, 1903. The mother, a native of Syracuse, New York, now lives in Loup City, Nebraska. Mr. Goodrich grew to manhood on a farm in Illinois, receiving his education in local schools and later engaging in farming. In the fall of 1878 he came to Custer county and took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty, township twenty, range eighteen, and re turned to Illinois. In the fall of 1880 he again came to Custer county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his tree claim, and also pre-empted one hundred and thir ty-five acres on the river. He soon began to pros per and has since added to his possessions and has made many improvements on his land. On April 4, 1888, in Taylor, Nebraska, Mr. Goodrich was united in marriage with Emily McGrew, born in Mercer county, Missouri, daugh ter of Kirby and Elza Ann (Mark) McGrew, na tives of Ohio, who now live in Burwell, Nebraska. Mrs. Goodrich has a brother, Melvin, living in Burwell ; a sister in Denver, and one in Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich made their first home in the little sod house on the homestead. In early days Grand Island, one hundred miles distant, was their nearest trading point and mar ket. Mr. Goodrich served as moderator and direc tor of the school board of district number one hundred and forty-five and aided all measures for the furthering of the best interests of the com munity. He is a successful farmer and owns eleven hundred acres of land which is devoted to stock and grain farming. This includes his three original claims. He engaged quite extensively in the stock business. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich: Arleigh H., Ruth G., Mary Elza, and Niel, at home, and one son who died in infancy. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to Sargent in order that the children might enjoy better educational advantages. CHRISTIAN LAWSON. Among the prosperous citizens of Cedar county, Nebraska, who form one of the connect ing links with the past history of this state is the above named gentleman, who resides on a fine farm pleasantly located in section eight, township thirty-two, range three, east. Mr. Lawson was born in 1861, and is the son of Lars Laveson and Caroline (Nelson) Laveson, both natives of Denmark. He was united in marriage to Miss Laura Wiseman of Cedar county, Nebraska, in 1888. They are the parents of six children, Bertie, Carlin, Pearl, Ella, Effie and Mary. Mrs. Lawson 's father was one of the earliest settlers of the west, and the story of his life and experiences is one which can not be duplicated in the history of its settlement. He was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, November 5, 1817. He was united in marriage in 1838 to Phoebe Ann Cross, at ParkerSburg, West Vir ginia. The following year he came west with his family to Burlington, Iowa, where he re mained for a number of years, afterwards going to Port Des Moines, then on the frontier. He was a carpenter by trade and by the exercise of economy the family managed to save a little money, which they invested in some property at this place. In 1856, he left Des Moines for Sioux City, where he roofed the first house in the city with shingles. In 1857, he moved to Cedar county, Nebraska, and settled upon a piece of land under the Squatter Law, and it was here that the ter rible series of misfortunes began. During the time Mr. Wiseman lived in Iowa, eight children had been born to him, two of whom died and were buried in that state. 386 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. When he first came to Nebraska, he had five boys and one girl, one of the boys, Benjamin F. dying in 1859, the first death in Cedar county. The same year another son was born, making the number of children just the same as before. In 1863 the population of the entire county did not exceed two hundred and seventy-five, in cluding about fifty citizens who had enlisted in the Nebraska cavalry, raised for the purpose of defending the frontier settlements against the Indians. The eldest son, John, was a member of this organization and was stationed at a con siderable distance away from home. In 1862, the governor directed that a second company of cavalry be formed. Mr. Wiseman enlisted in Company I, as he believed that the government needed all possible help. He left his family in good condition and took a soldier's fare, when he was forty-five years old. For some time, Mr. Wiseman was stationed near by where he could hear from his family often, but in the summer, the whole regiment was ordered to Sully, Dakota. He received a furlough in order to visit his family before he left and upon telling them the news, they were all badly frightened, as the Indians there were in a state of unrest. He comforted them by telling them that another regiment would be sent at once to take the place of the one which was being re moved, and they would be just as well protected as now. How true their forebodings were can be told by reading the following paragraphs. This was the last time Mr. Wiseman ever saw his five children. About thirty days after he left home, when the regiment was about two hundred miles away, on the twenty-third of July, 1863, the Yankton and Sioux Indians took to the war path. They visited the home of Mr. Wiseman, and found the children there all alone, the mother having gone to Yankton to purchase some needed supplies. When the mother returned in the even ing, she found the multiated bodies of her five children in the once happy pioneer home. It was eight days before the news reached the Fort and even then, at first it was not definitely known whose family it was. When Mr. Wiseman finally heard the report, he was guarding some horses about two miles away from the camp. About daylight he rode away from the camp on his sorrowful journey home, starting without any thing to eat, and getting nothing until he reached Fort Randall, one hundred miles away. He traveled day and night stopping at the fort only long enough to get something to eat and rest his horse, and at about nine o'clock the second day reached Yankton, almost crazed. Here he found that his wife had waited almost a week for him, sick and almost insane, and had then started for Sioux City. Mr. Wiseman then went to St. James, awaiting word from his wife. Twenty-five days after the massacre of his chil dren, he could bear the suspense no longer and started for Sioux City to search for his wife. Three days later, he met her on her way back to find him. She was almost insane from grief and sorrow, and it was almost a year before she could tell him. of that terrible day's experience. Mr. Wiseman then took her back to Virginia where they remained one year. When he returned to Cedar county, he hired a man to guard his home. He naturally had an intense hatred for Indians after that time, and was known to have killed nine Indians with his own hand. When looking upon the peaceful, smiling landscape it is almost impossible to realize that such bloodshed, and terror and sorrow could have ever taken place within the memory of people now living. WILLIAM JOHNSTON. The gentleman whose life history is here pre sented is widely known as one of the oldest set tlers and most influential citizens of Merrick county. Mr. Johnston was born in Indiana, Sep tember 2, 1860, and is the son of Alexander and Susan (Farington) Johnston. He was the youngest in a family of three children, having one brother in Galesburg, Illinois, and one sister, Mrs. George Ferris, residing in Merrick county. The father died in 1863, in Galesburg, Illinois, and the mother in February, 1909, in Central City, Nebraska. In 1860 the family moved to Galesburg, Illi nois, where Mr. Johnston, subject of this sketch, received his education, and later was employed in a dry-goods store in Galesburg four years, and came with his mother and family to Merrick county, Nebraska, in 1879. Here Mr. Johnston purchased eighty acres of land on section two, township fourteen, range seven, west, which is still his home place, known as "Fairview Ranch. " On June 1, 1881, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Myra A. Jewell of New York state, and later of Nebraska, and who was a teacher in Nebraska schools. She is from a pioneer family and came to Nebraska in 1871. Her father, C. C. Jewell, lives in New York state, and her mother is deceased, having died in 1895 in Nebraska. She has one brother residing in Akron, Ohio, and a sister who died in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have had nine chil dren born to them, eight of whom are living: Charles A., who resides at home ; James N., mar ried, has two children, twin boys, and lives in Merrick county; Robert W., resides at home; George A., is married and lives in Merrick county ; Hattie M., deceased in 1897 ; Frank N., resides at home ; Cecil J., also at home, as are Cora L and Willie S. Mr. Johnston is a successful man of affairs. He owns seven hundred and twenty acres of stock farm, and feeds on an average five hundred head of cattle a year. He is treasurer of his COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, ^REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 387 school district number twenty-three, which office he has been filling for about fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are among the earlier settlers of the county, and have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of fron tier life. They are widely and favorably known. T. C. JOHNSON. Among the leading old settlers and public spirited citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. Johnson has aided in no slight de gree in the development of the commercial re sources of this region, and has always been in terested in the welfare of his state and county. He resides in section thirty, township thirty-one, range four, where he has a pleasant home. Mr. Johnson is a native of Illinois, his birth occurring in the year of 1850, and he is the son of Joseph Johnson, a native of England, and Louisa Ann (Card) Johnson, a native of Germany. Our subject grew to young manhood in his native state, and then came to Woodbury county, Iowa, where he lived thirteen years. He came to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1875, and bought the James Abbott homestead, which he started at once to improve, and he now owns nine hundred and twenty acres of improved land, making one of the finest estates in this part of the county. As before stated, Mr. Johnson has always been interested in the welfare of his county and state, and has always done all in his power for the betterment of conditions, and his efforts have been so appreciated by the people that he was elected by his constituents to the office of deputy sheriff, which position he satisfactorily filled for six years. This fact goes to show the popularity and esteem Mr. Johnson enjoys in his community. In 1876 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Beverill, and to this union ten chil dren have been born, whose names are as follows : Samuel Thomas, who died when two years old; Elmer T., Florence Elizabeth and Chester (twins), Mary E., Grace, Rolland, Dorothy E., Ruth and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family are promi nently known throughout the county, where our subject has resided for the past thirty-six years, and they are highly esteemed and respected by all with whom they have to do, and they enjoy the friendship of a wide circle of friends and ac quaintances. WILLIAM D. DEAN. In reviewing the history of Nance county, Ne braska, the citizens who have contributed largely to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among the number is accorded the gentleman above named. Mr. Dean is a pio neer settler and one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of that region. He is prosperous and has gained this success by the ex ercise of business tact supplemented by the strict est integrity of word and deed. William D. Dean was born on September 10, 1864, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. He was the youngest child in Isaac and Elizabeth Dean's family of four, and grew to the age of six years in his native state, then the entire family moved to Illinois, settling in Rock Island county and re mained there up to 1883, and then spent three years in Whiteside county, Illinois. They next emigrated to Nance county, Nebraska, joining a sister of William D., who had previously located here, arriving in the region on March 10, 1886. The sons, John N. and William D., rented a farm and went through hardships and discouragements during the first few years. Misfortune also over took them in the death of the mother, on March 10, 1887, and the father died on January 8, 1893. William D. Dean rented land from the time he came to Nebraska, up to 1898, when he bought eighty-three acres where he has since continued to reside, with the exception of two years at Ful lerton, from the fall of 1901 to the spring of 1904. This place is well improved and well equipped with substantial buildings and machinery for con ducting a model grain and stock farm on a small scale. He has been very successful in his efforts, and while not the largest landowner in his local ity, is progressive and known as one of the well- to-do men of his township. Mr. Dean was married in December, 1888, to Mary Elizabeth Turner, at the home of her brother, Samuel Turner, in Fullerton township, Nance county, Nebraska. They have two children, Clyde B. and Mazie Elizabeth, who are bright and interesting young people. Mr. Dean has two sis ters, Mrs. Charles Copple and Mrs. James F. Downing, also one brother, J. N. Dean, all living in Nance county. Mr. Dean is active in local affairs, always standing for the best interests of his county and state. He is well known in the social life of his section, being a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and Ancient- Order of United Workmen lodges. GEORGE E. COLLINS. George E. Collins, a native Nebraskan, who is one of the active ranchmen of Holt county, was born in Saunders county, March 15, 1882, a son of Joseph S. and Isabel (Cameron) Collins, the former a native of New York and the latter of Canada. The father participated in the civil war, and was severely wounded at the battle of Gettys burg. Soon after the close of the war, he and his wife came to Nebraska, settling twelve miles southeast of Fremont, in Saunders county, where he acquired seven hundred acres of land, two hundred acres of which be later sold. He reached 388 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY the age of sixty-three or sixty-four years, and the mother died when about forty-five or forty-six years of age, twenty-seven days after the death of her husband. Of the three children born to this couple : the eldest died at the age of eight een years ; Joseph R., lives at Fremont, and George E., is the youngest. After attending the public schools, George E. Collins entered the normal school at Fremont, which he was attending at the time his parents died. He was then eighteen years of age and left school to start in life for himself. He soon after ward came to Holt county, where he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land fifteen miles southwest of Atkinson, on the line between Rock and Holt counties, and one hundred and. sixty acres of land five miles southeast of the city, be sides one hundred acres of land adjoining the town on the northwest. He owns one of the finest business blocks on Main street, which is occupied as a general store. August 25, 1903, he bought an interest in the Atkinson State Bank, but sold out his interest in October, 1906. Mr. Collins was married at Fremont, Novem ber 7, 1901, to Miss Lottie 0. Tuller, who was born eight miles southwest of Atkinson, daughter of Nelson J. and Flora A. (Jones) Tuller, natives respectively of New York state and Columbia county, Wisconsin. Mr. Tuller and wife were in terested in ranching and hotel keeping, and Mrs. Collins and her sister, who were reared on a ranch, had no brothers, and learned to ride and drive like cowboys. Should it ever become necessary for Mrs. Collins to earn her way in the world she could become very successful dealing in cattle, as she is an excellent judge of stock. Three chil dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Collins, namely: Harriet May, Raymond Edward and Earl James. In political views Mr. Collins is a republican; fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Wood men of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the family are regular attend ants -of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Collins has had the experience of living in a sod house for short periods during the haying season on his ranch in Holt and Rock counties, and can remember some of the hardships of early settlers. Both he and his wife remember the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and at his father's house in Saunders county, the snow at that time was fif teen feet deep in many places. When a little girl, Mrs. Collins was sent to the store for needed sup plies, and was there when the storm came on, her mother coming to get her. During her two years' residence in Valley county, Montana, she had many interesting experiences. Her father kept a hotel, store and postoffice a mile from the Sioux reservation, and sometimes as many as one hun dred Indians at once would drink to excess and raise a disturbance, which at times could be quelled only by the threat of sending for the sol diers. There were often as many as forty or fifty cowboys in the place at one time, and in their own particular way they kept things pretty lively. She and her sister learned to speak the Sioux lan guage as fluently as their own. Mr. Collins is highly regarded as a progressive, useful citizen, who has done his share to advance the general welfare of his community. He and his wife are planning to erect a handsome resi dence on their property adjoining Atkinson, which they intend shall be fully the equal of any building now to be found in their part of the county. JOSEPH BAUMGARTNER Among the representative farmers of Boone county who have aided materially in its develop ment and advancement, a prominent place is ac corded Joseph Baumgartner, who resides on his well improved estate in section ten, of Oakland precinct. He is a gentleman of energetic char acter, and well merits his success and high stand ing. Mr. Baumgartner is the eldest of two sons born to Joseph and Christina Baumgartner, and first saw the light on November 13, 1859, his birthplace being in Switzerland. Joseph is now the only liv ing member of his family. He grew to manhood in his native country, coming to America in May, 1880, locating at first in New York City, where he followed his trade of cabinet maker. He was married there in Decem ber of the following year, to Mary Ann Ruesch, who had also emigrated to this country from Switzerland a short time before. They remained in New York about one year, then came to Ne braska, buying homestead rights on section ten, township twenty-two, range seven, Boone county, they being one of the original homesteaders in the county, and this has been their home continu ously since that time. During the early years, they met with many discouragements, but gradually prospered and now own a splendidly improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres, having a fine resi dence and good set of farm buildings, etc. Mr. Baumgartner 's family consists of himself, wife, and ten children, namely: Richard J., George W., Annie, Joseph J., John, Mary Matilda, Leo P., Fritz, Mary Agnes, and Clara. They are a very happy family, all ambitious, and ever striv ing after the best in life along social and intellec tual lines, and have many friends in their section of the county. Mr. Baumgartner has for a num ber of years served as a member of the school board in district number sixteen. JULIUS MAAS. Julius Maas belongs to a family that has borne an important part in securing the present agricul tural and commercial prosperity of Wayne county. He has made his home there since 1882 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 389 during which time he has developed an excellent farm and erected a beautiful home. It is such citizens who have been the means of bringing about the change in the region, from virgin prairie to a land of fertile fields, dotted with houses and other buildings. Mr. Maas was born in Germany, in 1863, and is a son of Gottlieb and Minnie Maas, who were parents of six children, all of whom were educated in that country and all of whom came to the United States. In boyhood, Julius Maas attended the public school and helped his parents, and in 1882, before attaining his majority, left home and native land to come to the New World and seek his fortune. Soon after landing, he made his way to Nebraska, then offering such splendid opportunities to the young man of little capital. He rented land for three years, then purchased railroad land on sec tion three, township twenty-five, range one, where he now lives. He has brought his land to high standard of productiveness and is engaged in gen eral farming, with special attention to stock rais ing. He is well known in his community and has many warm friends. In 1892, Mr. Maas was united in marriage with Miss Anna Prieburg, a daughter of Fred Frie- burg, and a native of Nebraska. Four children have been born to this union : Clara, Ella, Alward and Walter. HERMAN DRAUBE. The above named gentleman is a fit represent ative of the sturdy, energetic, resourceful pio neers of northeastern Nebraska, who have made this section what it is. He has lived many years in this locality, and has been a part of the growth and development of the region. He has been successful in his pursuit of agriculture, and has built up for himself a substantial and com fortable home, where he is now enjoying the fruit of his labors. Mr. Draube was born April 1, 1856, in Wis consin and is the son of August and Carlion Draube. His parents were both natives of Pom- meron, Germany. Like many other fellow-coun trymen, they decided that America offered greater opportunities than their own land, and so, in 1854, they set sail for this country. They had an eventful voyage, as it happened, for their sail ing vessel was nearly wrecked several times, and they were driven so far out of their course that it was almost seven months before they finally reached their destination, almost starved. They came direct to Wisconsin, where they remained until 1866. By this time, Mr. Draube was a sturdy little chap of ten, who took great pleasure and interest in the long trip to Nebraska, which was taken with a yoke of oxen. Upon coming to Stanton county, the parents took up a homestead, where the subscriber now lives. At that time, the nearest market place was Omaha, and as for the first few years oxen were employed more extensively than horses, one can imagine that it was quite an undertaking to go to market. At that time, also, deer and antelope were quite plentiful, which disposed of the prob lem of occasional fresh meat. The first years in the new country tested their courage and deter mination to the utmost, as nearly all of the crops were taken by grasshoppers. To many of the set tlers now, it is a matter of wonder how they ex isted after one crop was destroyed until time for the next one to disappear. They had faith in the country, however, and remained to reap the re ward which they surely had earned. The original homestead has been added to and improved so that now it is one of the finest in that locality. One of the improvements which has added greatly to the value of the farm, is a fine orchard and grove, planted years ago by the subscriber's father. In 1881, Mr. Draube was united in marriage to Miss Gusta Whipple, of Petersburg, Illinois. They are the parents of two children, Ladena, now Mrs. August Mohler, of Stanton, and Albert. Mr. Draube is one of the most influential and prominent farmers in this locality and enjoys the esteem of all with whom he has come in con tact. GEORGE BOHL. Of the many prominent and leading old set tlers of the state of Nebraska, none is held in higher esteem by his fellowmen than George Bohl. He has spent his entire life in the region since 1868, is a gentleman of wide experience and excellent judgment, and is deservedly popular as a good neighbor and worthy citizen. Mr. Bohl is a native of Iowa, having been born in Muscatine county, October 23, 1859. His parents, Nicholas and Margaret Bohl, were natives of Germany, where the father followed the occupation of farming until emigrating to the United States in 1840, meeting the lady who afterwards became his wife, in Marietta, Ohio. There they spent some little time, and in the spring of 1868 pulled up stakes and pushed on farther west, driving through the country in a covered wagon to Lancaster county, Nebraska. They located thirteen miles from Lincoln and fifty-five from Nebraska City, the latter being their nearest market place. During the first days of their travel in the region, the season being a wet one, making bad roads and delaying them in their journey, they suffered considerable dis comfort in camping along the way, and they were indeed glad to complete their trip. The first year was full of hardships, Mr. Bohl recounting his experience of having fought prairie fires for hours at a time in order to save their property from utter destruction. Also, in 1873, they suffered greatly through the grass- 390 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. hopper raids, in which they lost all of their corn from the pests depredations, although saving their small grains, in which they were more for tunate than many of their neighbors. The bliz zards of April, 1873, and October, 1880, caused severe hardship to all, especially so to those who had cattle exposed to the extreme weather as well as those whose supply of fuel was scant. In 1903 Mr. Bohl came into Antelope county and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, which is located in section four, town ship twenty-seven, range five, where he now re sides, giving his attention principally to the rais ing of stock and small grains. He has a good dwelling and outbuildings, barns and sheds, sur rounded by an abundance of fine shade trees, with an orchard in bearing supplying a large quantity of good fruit. Mr. Bohl is an experienc ed stockman, raising from thirty to forty head of cattle each year, also buys and feeds Jersey Duroc hogs. Mr. Bohl was joined in matrimony March 31, 1892, to Miss Augusta Wegman, daughter of Henry and Sophia Wegman, and they are the parents of eight children, named as follows : Mag gie, Sophy, Edward, Clara, Elmer, Lydia, Allie and William. Mr. Bohl is a republican in national and in dependent in county politics, and with his family worships at the Methodist Episcopal church. He has made a fine record as a successful farmer, and by industry, good management and per severance has placed himself and family in very comfortable circumstances, is widely known and universally respected as an honorable citizen. JOHN H. HOES. As a citizen of integrity and worth and a man of industrious character, this gentleman is well known to the people of Howard county. He has studied the needs of the people in his community for a number of years and has always been found standing on the side of right, doing his part to ward meeting and providing for the public wel fare. Mr. Hoes is a resident of St. Libory precinct, where he has a beautiful home and pleasant surroundings, his estate being one of the most perfectly equipped in the county. John H. Hoes was born in Washington county, Maryland, on June 13, 1841, and was the third child in a family of nine, two of whom are now deceased. At the age of sixteen years, he went with his parents to Freeport, Illinois, remaining for only about eight months, then moved to Ogle county, Illinois. He spent some time as a student in the high school at Freeport, and in the spring of 1857 the entire family settled in Montgomery county, Illinois, where they purchased a farm and resided for several years. John assisted in car rying on the farm, and finally took the place on his own account, leasing it for seven years. Dur ing this time he was also engaged in the merchant tailoring business in Butler, a short distance from his home, and built up a good patronage. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Hoes went with his family to Lassen county, California, and after three years in that vicinity, came into Howard county, Nebraska. In the spring of 1883 he pur chased four hundred and twenty acres of section thirty-four, township thirteen, range nine, and here he has built up a fine farm, supplied with every modern convenience in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., for the operating of a model stock and grain farm. During the early times here the family saw many hardships, but met every situa tion with bravery and cheerfulness, and unlike many, have had very few failures of crops, etc. Mr. Hoes was married on November 19, 1867, in Butler, Illinois, to Miss Melvina Masters, of that city. Mrs. Hoes was a native of Kentucky, and possessed all the charm and graciousness of the women of that state. She died on the home place April 22, 1898. Twelve children were bora to Mr. and Mrs. Hoes, named as follows: Irene E., now Mrs. A. A. Dudy, they residing in Grand Island; Catherine, deceased; Anna L., living at home, an infant son and daughter and Archie and Arthur, (twins), are all deceased; Winnie P. Bessie M. and George, at home, James W., who is married and works the home place, and Bertha, wife of Theodore Cordes, living in St. Libory. All highly esteemed by their fellow citizens in their respective neighborhood. The Hoes farm is one of the finest stock and grain tracts in the region. Mr. Hoes is a great lover of flowers, having a commodious green house where he grows plants and shrubs in great variety. He also has a large fount in which are many gold fish, and it is his chief pleasure to care for his pets. In the summer season the ex tensive grounds about his residence present the appearance of a beautiful city park, laid out in floral designs, arbors, summerhouses, etc. This he keeps in a fine green state by having a com plete water system so that he can spray when necessary. In addition to the beautiful grounds surround ing his home, Mr. Hoes has a large fruit orchard containing bearing trees of all kinds, and often raises over one hundred bushels of cherries, many apples and small fruits, for which he finds ready sale in the nearby markets. The Hoes family are among the foremost in their county in social affairs. .For a number of years Mr. Hoes has been treasurer of school dis trict number forty-nine. Potraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hoes will be found on another page. ISAAC C. BARNES. Isaac C. Barnes, a public spirited citizen and well known resident of Pierce county, has a nice farm under first-class improvement, in section MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. HOES. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 391 twenty-one, township twenty-six, and range four, making for him a most creditable and desirable home. He is considered one of the old-timers in this region, and has taken an active part in the de velopment of the community in which he chose his home some twenty-eight years ago. Mr. Barnes was born March 4, 1842, in Kala mazoo, Michigan, and is a son of Lucius A. Barnes who was born in 1809, and Kizziah (Dexter) Barnes, born in 1818, both natives of New York state. Mr. Barnes is a representative man, having served his country in the civil war from 1863 to 1865, just two years, two months, and vnineteen days. He enlisted in company E, tenth Michigan cavalry, being on detached duty in Tennessee most of the time. He has also served his present home county, having held the office of precinct assessor for eighteen years, beginning soon after settling in Pierce county. Our subject was married in Middleville, Bar ry county, Michigan, to Miss Mary Hutchins, September 7, 1867. Eight children were born to them, named as follows : Fred, who died in 1884, Lucy, married William H. Smith of Niobrara; Edwin, who died in 1879 ; Melzar ; Sarah, married I. B. Lintt, living near Stanton; Kissiah, married John Calhune and lives in Colorado; Joe, and Mary, who married Lewis Walton and lives in Pierce county. In the fall of 1882, Mr. Barnes drove through from Michigan to Nebraska, and filed on a tree claim of eighty acres in section twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range four, and also a pre emption claim of equal amount in section twenty- nine, to which he added forty acres by purchase. His first house was built of sod and cotton-wood slabs, and seven years later he built a frame house. Mr. Barnes has experienced all the hard ships of the early settlers' lot, having lost his crops in 1873, 1874 and 1875 through the memor able grasshopper raids of that period, and suf fered from the blizzards of 1870 and 1871, the latter occurring neat" the middle of April and lasting three days. He says the winter of 1871- 1872 was the worst winter of his recollection. Cornstalks were used for fuel for several winters after coming to Nebraska. Our subject votes the republican ticket, and as before stated, held the office of precinct asses sor for eighteen years, between 1881 and 1901. During his early administration of the office, his precinct comprised two and one-half congres sional townships, but later was reduced by one township. GEORGE WALL. (Deceased.) George Wall was well known to nearly all the pioneers of eastern Nebraska as a leading citizen, and for many years prior to his death was a resident of section one, township fourteen, range eleven, in Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. Wall was born in Devonshire, England, in July, 1827. He removed to Canada at the age of twenty-two years, and was married there De cember 27, 1854, to Miss Ann Manning, daugh ter of Lawrence and Charity (Lee) Manning, who survived him until October 31, 1906. Mrs. Wall was born September 1, 1832, in Exeter, Cornwall, England. Twelve children were born of this union, seven sons and five daughters. In company with his son, John, Mr. Wall removed to Howard county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1877, his family joining him five months later. Six sons and one daugh ter remain of the family: William H., who lives in California; Thomas, residing in Howard county; Charity, who is now Mrs. S. J. Peterson and resides in Valley county; John, George R., Charles W., and Lawrence A., all of whom re side in Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Wall were pioneers of Howard county, having resided here since 1877. They were widely known, highly respected, and helped make Howard one of the best of Nebraska counties. At their death they were mourned by a large number of friends all over the county, and their loss will ever be felt for their good qualities and fine character. They were ever faithful and true to the best interests of their family, county and state. FRANK L. GREENE. Frank L. Greene who resides in section ten, township seventeen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, was born near Peoria, Illinois, November 30, 1868, a son of Joseph A. and Louisa (Louis) Greene. He has one brother, Wardner, residing in Valley county; a sister, Mrs. Sylvia Branan, also living in Valley county ; and a twin brother living in New York. The father lives in North Loup and the mother died about 1895, in Bennington, Vermont. During his early childhood, Mr. Greene lived from time to time in Illinois, near Emporia, Kan sas, and near Berlin in Reussalier county, New York, coming to Nebraska in the spring of 1875 with his parents; here he received his education in the local schools and later engaged in farming. On March 18, 1891, Mr. Greene was married to Miss Lela Potter, who was born near Farina, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Greene have been blessed with six children, namely : Leslie J., Matilda H., Melvin P., Hettie E., Glen, and an infant de ceased. In the late nineties Mr. Greene purchased forty acres of land in section two, township seventeen range thirteen, where he lived eleven years; he then sold and purchased three hundred and twenty acres, the west half of section ten, town ship seventeen, range thirteen, a fine stock and grain farm, which is still the home place, where 392 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. he makes a specialty of black Galloway cattle and Percheron horses. Mr. Greene is one of the younger men among the pioneers; he is a successful man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the upbuilding of his home state and county, and is well and favor ably known. Mrs. Greene's mother who was Antonette Maxon, lives in Boulder, Colorado ; the father, Luther G. Potter, died in 1888, having been kil led in a run-a-way in Valley county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Greene and family are highly esteemed in their community, and have added much in many ways to the standing and upbuild ing of the county in which they live. In political views Mr. Greene is a democrat. He has en dured all the hardships of pioneer life among other misfortunes suffered one year's devastation by grasshoppers, and one year a loss by hail. For many years they lived in a dugout or sod house at a time when deer and antelope were plentiful. Prairie fires were frequent and one season Mr. Greene saw a threshing outfit des troyed by a fire that swept over the hills too swiftly for the machine to be moved to a place of safety. He well remembers the three days bliz zard of October, 1880, but fortunately escaped being out in it. FRED KLUG. A history of northeastern Nebraska would be incomplete without including a sketch of the life of Fred Klug, who is one of the most prominent of the early settlers of this part of the state. Mr. Klug is a native of Milwaukee, Wiscon sin, where his birth occurred January 29, 1859, and he is a son of William and Mene (Ueeker) Klug, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1856, Mr. Klug, our subject's father, with his family, left his native land and came to the new world, embarking at Hamburg, Germany, on a sailboat, the voyage consuming twelve weeks. After landing on American soil, the family immediately started from New York for the west, coming to Wisconsin, where they re mained ten years. In 1866, Mr. Klug's father and his family started for Madison county, Nebraska, to take up a homestead, the journey being accomplished by ox team, which was the proper mode of traveling in those times. After coming here the father took up a homestead claim in section twenty-three, township twenty-four, range one, which remains the homestead farm to the present time, and where our subject now lives; this homestead is now a part of the town site of Norfolk. Mr. Klug was united in marriage April 20, 1882, to Miss Mary Heckman, a native of Wiscon sin, and Mr. and Mrs. Klug became the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows: Robert, Minnie, Otto, and Eltie, living; and Louie, Cordelia, Ralph, and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Klug died April 12, 1896, survived and deeply mourned by her husband and family, and many friends and relatives. During the early days of the western frontier times, our subject's father and family, like others of those pioneer .days, suffered many hardships and disappointments, and their mode of living at that time was very primitive compared with that of today. The first house erected on the home stead farm was constructed of logs, as lumber was an almost unknown article in this part of the country. The grasshoppers were about the greatest source of anxiety and hardship, as they came in hordes and destroyed everything in veg etation and crops to be seen, and kept this up for several succeeding years, until our little family became almost disheartened; but they, like so many of the strong-hearted people of that day, persevered until fortune began smiling upon them, and they began to reap the rich reward they deserved so well. April 25, 1897, Mr. Klug was again united in marriage, Miss Amelia Klivetter being the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Klug are the parents of four fine children, whose names are as follows: Herman, Herbert, Fred, and Gordie. Mr. Klug now owns one hundred and seventy acres of good land, and on this has fifteen acres of the finest orchards in the country. He is one of the substantial citizens of his community, and has always worked for the best interests of his home county and state. He is a democrat, and a mem ber of the Lutheran church. DAVID M. SHAW. David M. Shaw is well known throughout central Nebraska, having for years been a con tractor and builder in that region. In this con nection he has had much to do with its progress and development. He is a pioneer homesteader, farmer and business man and has made his own way in life from an early age. He is a native of Cape May county, New Jersey, born January 21, 1851, second of the three children of Aaron and Esther (Moore) Shaw, who had three sons. The parents were natives of New Jersey and were married about 1846. The mother died in Camden, New Jersey, in the winter of 1878-9 and the father came to Nebraska in 1903, making his home with his son David until his death in April. 1910, in his ninety-first year. His son Jonas lives in Camden. Mr. Shaw lived in his native state until he was eleven years old, when the family removed to Phoenixville, Pennslyvania, and four years later they located in Cumberland county, New Jersey. He has practically taken care of himself since he was fifteen years of age, at that time beginning to learn the trade of mason, which he followed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and later in Ohio, Illinois and Nebraska, coming to the latter state COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 393 in August, 1878. He became a first-class me chanic and was thorough in his work. Upon com ing to Nebraska, he located two miles east of what is now Sargent, taking a homestead in August, 1879. He has since held continuous residence in the county and to a greater or less extent has al ways followed his trade, although he has large farming and stock interests. He now lives on his farm on section five, township nineteen, range seventeen, and has a cement plant at Sargent. He is one of the most prominent men in his trade in central Nebraska and has a reputation for turning out only high-class work in every particular. On December 28, 1879, at Loup City, Ne braska, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Miss Maria L. Courtney, daughter of William and Amy Courtney. Of this union four children were born, all on the home place, three of whom now survive: Earl, married and living in Seattle, Washington, has three children ; Arthur, at home ; Jessie, deceased; Ethel, wife of Lee Coolidge, of Central City, has one child. The family are prominent in social and educational circles and have many friends. Mr. Shaw has assisted in building many residences, business blocks and public buildings in central Nebraska and has always been actively interested in the upbuilding of his part of the state. DANIEL E. NELLOR. If ups and downs of a checkered career can make life interesting, Daniel E. Nellor has not suffered from monotony since he began life for himself as a publisher. The name is of ancient English origin; the ancestors held office under the crown with the duty of ringing or knelling the bell in the royal palace, and the name was originally spelled Knel- lor. The grandfather, Charles Nellor, sailed for Australia with his family in 1854 to seek his for tune in'the gold fields in which he prospered, com ing to America in 1866, with a snug little for tune. He joined a daughter in Omaha, where his son-in-law held valuable property which is now in the heart of the city, but was sold about that time, he fearing the railroad would cross the river further north and leave Omaha off the line of travel. The grandfather filed on a homestead in Cuming county and resided here until his death at the age of eighty-six years. John Nellor, the father of our editor, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1854, and crossed the seas with his parents for the Australian continent in 1854. In 1866 he came with his father to Ne braska, and on attaining his majority in 1872, filed on a homestead in Cuming county near his father's farm. Mr. Nellor lived on the farm un til 1887, when he moved to Beemer and dealt in live stock for some thirteen years ; in 1900 he opened a mercantile establishment there and was in business for three years, since which time he has been retired from active life. The mother, Elizabeth Crellin, was a native of Fort Mary, Isle of Man, off the coast of England in the Irish sea, where the family had lived for upwards of four hundred years. Her parents, Daniel and Margaret (Tarbman) Crellin, emi grated to America in the spring of 1871 ; sailing from Liverpool in the "City of Brussels," they landed, after eight days' voyage, in New York, in April. Spending two days in Cleveland en route, they traveled on to Nebraska, reaching their destination, West Point, the 10th of the month. Here the father took up a homestead nine miles northeast of West Point on Cuming Creek, where he lived until his death. Daniel E. Nellor was born near West Point, March 18, 1877, and graduated from the Beemer high schools in 1894; when but twelve years of age he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the "Beemer Times," conducted by L. E. Hunter, a relative of his step-mother, at Beemer while living two years with an aunt in that city. In 1895 he taught school for one term, and then took a two years' teachers' and scientific course at Fremont college. Coming to Cedar county in 1896 he taught school one year, and then started a small paper at Belden which he discontinued at the end of the first year. About this time he mar ried, and coming to Randolph, secured a place in the office of the ' ' Times ; " in the spring of 1900 he purchased the paper, and in September of the same year he sold to H. L. Peck, the present pro prietor. He moved to Plainview that fall and with his uncle, D. L. Crellin, purchased the "Republican;" in this venture they were doing well when a fire swept away in the space of an hour, all they pos sessed in the world. Having had no insurance they were left stranded. Mr. Nellor returned to Randolph and finding nothing else at hand, sup ported his family at common labor for a time until he could get a start again. Securing a school he taught through the winter and then resumed his old place in the printing office in Randolph. In 1903 he moved to Bloomfield and took charge of the paper there ; but gave it over after one month, his capital being too small to successfully operate the business. In company with H. C. Tatum, he went into the real estate business, in which he was signally successful, and paid off his indebtedness of one thousand dollars and had money in the bank. His wife, who had been in frail health, died during that year, leaving him the care of five small children ; to do this properly he found it necessary to discontinue the real estate business, which kept him too much from home. He re turned to Randolph in 1904 and again worked as a day laborer until he could find his bearings again. For a year he again held a case in the of fice of the "Times," and then ran the "Hoskins Headlight" for fourteen months. In 1907 he 394 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE ANT) BIOGRAPHY. came back to Randolph, bought the "Reporter," sold it six months later, and within a fortnight established the "Randolph Enterprise," issuing the first number March 19, 1908. Success has at last attended his efforts and the "Enterprise" is proving true to its name. Mr. Nellor has had a struggle to keep his little family together, but having been of a scattered flock when young and knowing how the children of a family will grow away from each other when separated, he has strongly maintained the unity of his little house hold. Mr. Nellor was married at Pierce, in Septem ber of 1898, to Miss Alice Totten, a daughter of William and Mary (Whitney) Totten, who settled in Cuming county in the spring of 1881. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nellor : Mary, Theodore R. and William Mc K, twins, known as Teddy and Mack ; Bessie, and Floyd. Mr. Nellor 's memory does not extend back to the blizzard of October, 1880, but he has a vivid recollection of that of January 12, 1888. He had remained home with his father that day, but the brothers were at school, where they remained all night. His first recollection of a dwelling was the family's first house, a dugout, in which they lived until 1883. He recalls the fireside talk in the family, of the devastations of the grasshoppers for three years in the seventies before he was born; these hardships were still fresh in memory when he was a child. Mr. Nellor is a democrat in politics, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Woodmen of the World and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. BENJAMIN F. COLBORN. Benjamin F. Colborn, a prominent resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, is an old settler in this state, and through his efforts in his locality has added materially in bringing that region into one of thrift and prosperity. Mr. Colborn was born in Sauk county, Wis consin, May 3, 1859, and was sixth of eleven chil dren in the family of Abram and Mary (Comfort) Colborn. Our subject grew up on the farm in Sauk county, and in 1880 first came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and in the fall of 1882 returned to Wisconsin ; and in the fall of 1883 was married to Miss Mattie F. Farnum, returning then to his homestead farm in Howard county, Nebraska. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Col born: Rusk L., Winfred, and Vera M. Mrs. Col born died in August, 1899. In 1886 Mr. Colborn went to O'Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, and engaged in the milling business and in 1889 moved from O'Neill to Crete, Nebraska, going into the milling business at that place. He returned to his Howard county farm in 1891, and in 1900 purchased a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Merrick county, on section eight, township fourteen, range eight, in the same neighborhood where his brothers, John and Hiram reside. Here he has a fine grain and stock farm, well equipped. On March 4, 1906, Mr. Colborn was united in marriage to Mrs. Lily Wolcott Williams, who was a native of Iowa, but came to Merrick county, Ne braska, with her parents in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Colborn have two children : Marion and Teddy, Mr. Colborn is an active factor in the upbuild ing of this portion of Nebraska, and in past years served on his township board. He was appointed postmaster at Palmer in 1903, which office he creditably filled for five and a half years. At present he is assessor of Loup precinct. In the spring of 1910 the Merrick county Farmers' Co-operative Association was organized at Palmer for the purpose of handling farm pro ducts and goods consumed by farmers. This is a stock company with about eighty members. Mr. Colborn being, one of them. He was chosen as manager. During the year 1910, they built an elevator at Palmer which was finished in August, of that year and during the first six months, from August, 1910, to February, 1911, the company handled about $100,000 worth of business. They buy all kinds of farm grains and cereals and sell coal, twine, flour and feed. Mr. Colborn 's time has been taken up with the supervision of this business since the association was organized. JOHN AYERS. John Ayers, retired, of Creighton, is one of the sons of the Empire state who has given the best of his life to the west. He was born at Wheat land, New York, February 20, 1832, the son of Joseph and Abagail (Willard) Ayers. His par ents removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1840, and a few years later to Shalersville, in Portage county. From there they moved to Racine county, Wiscon sin, and about a year later to Juneau county, where Mr. Ayers, subject of this sketch, ran a large lumber mill many years. He was engaged in this business twenty-six years and prospered until 1870, when a fire swept his property away in an hour. The mill was located on an island in a cranberry marsh, and Mr. Ayers bought berries from the Indians in season, and one year had three thousand bushels to dispose of in the cities. These Indians were of the Winnebago, Potawat- tamie, and Menominee tribes, and they were in dustrious pickers. During the first years of his life in Wisconsin, Mr. Ayers was employed at rafting on the Wis consin and Mississippi rivers, making trips with lumber and shingle rafts to points on the river above St. Louis. For some years after the loss of his mill, Mr. Ayers was variously employed in Wisconsin, but feeling that the west offered more opportunities, he emigrated to Knox county in June, 1876, and early in July secured a homestead and timber claim a few miles from where Verdegris now stands. He drove through from Wisconsin, camp- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 395 ing by the wayside, and for a time lived in a dug out that was on one of the tracts of land secured. To his original half -section he has added from time to time until he now has seven hundred acres of as good land as is to be found in Nebraska; sixty acres of which adjoins the town of Creigh ton. For twenty years Mr. Ayers resided on his homestead, and in 1896 moved to Creighton where Mrs. Ayers opened a millinery establishment in a building they bought on Main street. Here they lived some ten years and then occupied their pres ent large residence which they bought, remodeled and enlarged in 1905. Mrs. Ayers before her marriage was Miss Almie Thornton, born at Saranac, New York, a daughter of Marshall and Susan (Lyon) Thorn ton. The father was killed in the battle of Gaines Mills, during the civil war. Nathaniel Lyon, the famous general of the civil war, was a cousin of Mrs. Ayers' mother, and was descended from Sir Thomas Lyon of Scotland, who was knighted in the sixteenth century. Mrs. Ayers' father was born at Royalton, Vermont, and when a young man settled in Saranac at the foot of Lyon Moun tain which was named for his wife's father. Mrs. Ayers taught school for a few terms in New York and Vermont, and then in 1864 came to Wisconsin to join a married sister who had written her to come to the west, where teachers' salaries were much mqre generous. In September, 1865, she was married to George Ayers, who died in August of the following year, some six months before the birth of a daughter who followed her father to the great beyond. On February 1, 1870, Mrs. Ayers was married to Mr. John Ayers, a brother of her former spouse, and became the mother of two children : Nellie is the wife of Alva A. Baker, living on the original homestead, their three children are : Miles J., Nellie B., and Helen; and Niles Fred, who occupies a part of the family estate on the old homestead, is growing one of the finest Lom- bardy poplars in the west, which Mrs. Ayers brought as a seedling from Wisconsin. Fred graduated from the Creighton high school and afterward attended Boyles' Business College, and was employed for a number of years by a lumber firm in Creighton. So well pleased were his employers that they offered him an interest in a new yard further west. During the first three years of Mr. Ayers' ranching in Nebraska, Mrs. Ayers remained at Necedah, Wisconsin, where she conducted a mil linery establishment ; she owned several pieces of property there that could not be sold to advantage at the time Mr. Ayers left for the west. Tliese she sold in 1879, packed their furniture in a car, filled the balance of it with lumber and shipped the cargo to Running Water, South Dakota, then the nearest railroad point to their Knox county home. The railroad was finished to Running Water by the time the car reached Scotland, South Dakota, so they had it re-shipped to the new town, it being part of the first freight train to come down the new line; and it had been thirty days on the way. Mrs. Ayers invested part of her ready money in a quarter section of land at one dollar and a, half per acre; it is now worth over forty times that price. During the early days times were hard for the settlers. Grasshoppers devoured their crops several years, and they had nothing to market for even a scanty income. One year when Mr. Ayers raised a small crop of corn he could get but ten cents a bushel for it. The next year he had to pay a dollar a bushel for a scant amount to feed his working team, hauling it from Yankton, South Dakota, fifty miles. Twisted hay was their only fuel at times and often they burned corn when the price of that commodity was so low that three loads of it could not pay f^one load of coal, and the supply of the latter many miles away. Mr. Ayers has been for many years a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been raised to his master's degree in Wisconsin, 1865; he de- mitted to the Creighton lodge in 1883, and with Mrs. Ayers became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star when a chapter was instituted here. Mrs. Ay^ers is now serving as treasurer for the tenth year, besides having filled the matron's and associate's chair from time to time. She is also a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and is now beginning her second year as president. Fortune has smiled on this worthy couple since they came to the west, and they deserve all that has come their way. The hardships they en dured merits them a generous reward. MARTIN H. HUFF. Martin II. Huff, a popular resident of Fuller- ton, Nebraska, and one of its most substantial business men is engaged in the real estate busi ness at that point, and enjoys the esteem and con fidence of all with whom he has to do. Mr. Huff is a native of the state of Iowa, bora in Tipton, on July 11, 1856, and is the first in a family of two children resulting from the union of John B. and Lavina Huff. This was the second marriage of John Huff, there having been ten children by the first marriage. Of this large fam ily only himself and one half-brother are now alive, the latter being a resident of Central City. Nebraska. The mother died in Iowa in 1860, and the father in 1869. After the death of his parents be went to live with an uncle, W. J. Henry, at Shelbyville, Illinois, and there received his edu cation. He later went back to Iowa and became interested in farming in Cedar county, remaining there up to 1878, in the spring of that year coin ing to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he spent one year, and then came on to Nance county. Here he purchased three hundred and twenty acres in sections thirty-one and thirty-two, town ship seventeen, range six, and farmed the land for 396 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. about five years, then sold the tract and purchased a quarter section in Cedar Valley, near Fullerton. This he made his home for two years, at that time returning to Iowa and spent one year, coming back to Nance county in 1885. He bought a half section in the same locality as his first farm, and after working it for four years again pulled up stakes and removed to Oregon, where he settled on a one hundred and seventy acre tract and fol lowed farming and stock raising for three years, then again came into Nebraska and established himself in the mercantile business at Central City, continuing it up to 1892, at that time moving his stock of goods to Belgrade and carried on the same business for one year. He went back to his farm and remained there until 1908, when he re tired from active farming and settled in Fuller- ton, where he now refjdes with his family. Mr. Huff is a man of wide experience and has been prosperous and successful in his different business ventures, at the present time being classed among the large landowners of Nance county. Politically he is a republican, in the fall of 1907 having been elected county assessor, which office he is filling at the present time to the satisfaction of his county. He has also served for a number of years on the school board. Mr. Huff was married in October, 1876, in Iowa, to Miss Mina Rice, and they are the parents of six children, namely : James H. ; Belle, now the wife of H. F. Pardey; Prank H., William P., John J., and Robert P., two sons are married, and the others live at home. HENRY TIENKEN. Henry Tienken enjoys the distinction of being the first white settler in what is now Boyd county, Nebraska, having located on the Niobrara river, eight miles southwest of Naper in 1877. He came to Niobrara in 1874, and his brother Charles, came to Nebraska in 1877, where they located on some of the land they now own. At that time, Wisner was the nearest railroad point in Nebraska, the road being built on to Neligh in 1880, and later to Long Pine, which was the western terminus for several years. The brothers engaged in raising cattle and horses until 1903, when they moved to town, Charles settling in Bonesteel, and later re moving to Gregory and Tripp counties, South Da kota, where he engaged in the mercantile business. Henry came to Naper and opened a lumber yard, carrying besides a well selected stock of imple ments, farm machinery, and both light and heavy vehicles. He has built up a most excellent busi ness by his fair dealing, and having always been of a genial, cheerful disposition, he could not fail of success. Mr. Tienken was born near the city of Bremer- haven, in Hanover province, Germany, April 28, 1851. His parents, Jurgen and Margaret (Berje) Tienken, spent their entire life on their farm in their native land. Charles and Henry Tienken came to America in 1870, sailing from Bremer- haven in the steamer ' ' America. ' ' They landed after a voyage of two weeks, in New York, from which place Henry came direct to Door county, Wisconsin, working on farms in this county un til coming to Knox county, Nebraska. Mr. Tienken was married in Boyd county, December 13, 1887, to Miss Alice Zimmerman, a native of Iowa and daughter of Jacob Zimmer man. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tienken, namely : Charles L., who has a po sition in the Anoka Bank; William B., and Ger trude. Mr. Tienken holds no political affiliation, vot ing for the candidate of either party whom he feels will best serve the public good. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, and is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen lodges. No one appreciates more the advancement of the country than Mr. Tienken. When he first set tled here, the nearest neighbors were twelve miles away; provisions were procured in Niobrara; and the nearest mills were at Norfolk and Bon Homme, South Dakota, a distance of a hundred miles or more, the time required to complete the round trip being six or seven days. Blizzards have had their share in making life uncomfortable to the western settlers, and Mr. Tienken has suffered losses, as others did. The winter of 1880 and 1881, known as "the winter of the deep snow," was unusually disastrous to him, as they lost over half of their cattle, a severe blow to beginners in the cattle business. The most notable blizzard, that of January 12, 1888, while severe, did not work havoc with their stock as did the storms of earlier seasons. They- did not loose a hoof, as the storm did not last long and their cattle had fine shelter in the timber along the Niobrara river. In one of the severe hail storms that swept the western country, Mr. Tien ken was caught out in the open. To save his life, he crawled under his pony, making it stand still through the icy bombardment. Of the many prairie fires he witnessed, one was started by trappers on Oak creek, March 31, 1880. All their buildings, hay and grass were consumed, leaving only smouldering ruins, they having barely es caped with their lives and saving only the cat tle. During the spring of 1878 he encountered a band of Spotted Tail's Sioux Indians, who were following a band of rustlers who had stolen a herd of their ponies. He did not know for a time that they would not be hostile to him, but con vinced them that he was innocent of the depre dation. During the days of "Doc." Middleton and "Kid" Wade and others of their class, Mr. Tien ken suffered losses through the depredations of these notorious characters. He knew these out law characters well, Wade having lived here be- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 397 fore Mr. Tienken 's arrival, and Middleton having come afterwards. Mr. Tienken after years of hardship and de privation, years of toil and unremitting effort, has attained a competency, and is possessed of a large tract of land, placing him in the independ ent class of citizens who can look the whole world in the face and know that so long as he lives he need not owe any man. HENRY GUILES. (Deceased.) Henry Guiles was a highly respected citizen of St. Edward, Nebraska. He was for many years prominent in the agricultural 'regions of Boone county, having improved a large tract of land, and operated the same successfully, being at the time of his death, classed among the wealthy re tired residents of that region. Mr. Guiles was born in Columbus, New York, on June 20, 1834, and was the youngest of thir teen children born to William and Phila Guiles, but two brothers of whom are now living, one in Platte county, Nebraska, and the other at Parley, Iowa. When Henry Guiles was about six years of age, he moved with his parents to Erie county, Pennsylvania, remaining there until he was twen ty-two years old, then settled in Illinois on a farm. In 1858 he went to Iowa, and started farm ing, returning to Illinois in the fall of the year and was married to Miss Mary Dufoe, on Thanks giving Day, their first home being in Delaware county, Iowa, where they farmed up to 1873. From there they came to Nebraska, locating in Platte county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, also filed on a timber claim of the same size. Later he purchased one hundred and eighty acres adjoining these tracts, and made a fine farm of the entire lot. Mr. Guiles made his first settlement in Boone county in 1875, coming here from Platte county on account of the better educational ad vantages for his children, and the same year or ganized his school district, number forty-two, in Platte county, which was six miles wide and four teen miles long, moving his family on the home stead, where they lived until 1893, and in the lat ter year Mrs. Guiles died there, survived by her husband and five children. She was a woman of beautiful christian character, greatly beloved by all who knew her, and her death was a severe blow to her sorrowing family. Her three daugh ters and two sons are all married and settled in comfortable homes in different parts of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. After the death of his wife, Mr. Guiles set tled in St. Edwards, building a good home, and carried on a prosperous real estate business, which he established fifteen years ago. He was one of the first settlers in the county, passing through all the experiences and hardships of pio neer life, and coming out victorious from the struggle, in the possession of a good property and the highest esteem of his fellowmen. When he first settled in this locality, himself and wife were instrumental in organizing not only the first school district but also the first Methodist Episco pal church in their community. Their first ser vices were held in sod buildings, occupying three as churches until they had each in turn rotted down, and they then erected a frame building, which served as a house of worship for many years. Our subject and his family were active christian workers, Mr. Guiles having been a pil lar in his church for over fifty years. On March 6, 1894, Mr. Guiles was united in marriage to Mrs. Lucretia Reeder, who was born and raised in Iowa, the ceremony taking place at Columbus, Nebraska. Mr. Guiles was a prominent Grand Army of the Republic man, having enlisted in Company K, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Regiment of In fantry, 'and took active part in the following fa mous engagements: Battles of Hartsville, Mis souri, Port Gibson, Jackson, Mississippi, Ray mond, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, Siege of Vicksburg, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Mobile, also minor skirmishes. W. H. ROOT. W. H. Root is an agriculturalist of prominence and a well known and popular citizen of Wayne county, Nebraska, residing on section six, town ship twenty-seven, range two, east, where he has a very comfortable home. Mr. Root was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, October 22, 1860, and is a son of Marvin and Jane (O'Connell) Root. The father was born in 1840, and was a native of Schoharie county, New York, but prior to the civil war moved to Cattaraugus county, where he lived until 1880. He served in the civil war as a mem ber of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in 1862, and receiving his discharge in 1865. At the close of the war, he returned to New York and resumed his occupation of farming. His wife was born in Ireland, and at the age of nine years was brought by her mother to America, the father having died previously. The voyage was made in a sailboat which was six weeks on the way. They were parents of seven children, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living. The education of W. H. Root was acquired in a log school house in his native state, and he accompanied his parents to Nebraska in 1880. The father secured a homestead and timber claim and W. H., a timber claim ,where he now lives. The patent for this claim is signed by ex-President Benjamin F. Harrison. They imme diately set out to make improvements, and have become successful as farmers and stock-raisers. The father died in 1890 and the mother in 1904^ 398 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY^. W. H. Root is an enterprising and progressive farmer and much interested in the question of modern scientific farming. He owns four hun dred acres of land in Wayne and Cedar counties, Nebraska, which all joins, and one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota. He is ready to sup port the cause of education and is a substantial and influential citizen. December 26, 1882, he was united in mar riage with Miss Lydia Marsh, daughter of Allen and Mary (Derry) Marsh, natives of New Ytork state. Four children have been born of this union, namely : Marvin, born October 9, 1883, who married Bell Martin and resides on one of his father's farms in Cedar county; Guy, born September 19, 1886, who married Florence Cross, and resides on part of the homestead; Alice and Iva, twins, at home. The twins were born Sep tember 8, 1894, and both graduated from the Sholes high school in May, 1911. NATHANIEL CRABTREE. In compiling a list of the pioneers of Nance county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in making of that region a thriving agricultural dis trict, the gentleman above named deserves prom inent mention. For over thirty years Mr. Crab- tree has been identified with the history and de velopment of Nance county, and his labors to this end are well known by all who reside in that community. Mr. Crabtree is a native of England, born in London in 1842, and was the eldest of three chil dren in the family of Aaron and Mary Crabtree. When our subject was two years old the parents came to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where two daughters were born. They remained in that state for about four years, then removed to Illinois, settling on a farm in Mercer county, and there the father died in 1850, his widow sur viving him for four years. Both daughters are deceased, leaving our subject the only living mem ber of the family. When Mr. Crabtree was a lad of fourteen he was thrown upon his own resources, and he began as a farm hand in Knox county, Illinois, remain ing in that vicinity up to 1862, then enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry. He was in numerous engagements, and on the eighteenth day of November, 1863, was in the thick of the Siege of Knoxville, there re ceiving a gunshot wound which required the amputation of his left leg on the same date. He was under General Burnside's command at that time, and saw every side of a soldier's life, suffer ing hardship and privation of all sorts. After his leg had been amputated and Mr. Crabtree had sufficiently recovered he was given a furlough and sent home in March, 1864. After thirty days he started for Dayton, Ohio, but on account i if a severe atliick of illness was taken from the train at Chicago, and sent to the Marine hospital at that place. This was at that time a govern ment institution. Here Mr. Crabtree remained until he was honorably discharged in August, 1864, when he returned to Knox county, Illinois. He spent about two years there and in Bloom- ington, and in the fall of 1867 moved to Pulton, Illinois, there attending the soldier's college for about three years. After his college course he went to Mercer county and remained for two years, then came to Nebraska, taking up a home stead in Platte county. This was his home for six or seven years and all of that time was devoted to farming and stock raising, of which he made a success. He next came into Nance county, arriv ing here in April, 1881, purchased a quarter sec tion of land on the Loup river bottom situated five miles southwest of Genoa, and lived on the place for several years, then moved to Fullerton, which at that time was a small village. From 1903 to November, 1910, he was engaged in the flour, feed and coal business. In November, 1910, Mr. Crabtree disposed of his business in Puller- ton and is now living retired. In February, 1878, Mr. Crabtree married Marie Minsterman, at Columbus, Nebraska. Mrs. Crabtree is a native of Germany, coming to Amer ica about 1876. To our subject and wife have been born seven children, namely : Aaron, Ceaser, John, Kate, Annie, Noah and William, all now grown and making their way honorably in life, all single except Ceaser. The Crabtree family are all well known and highly esteemed throughout their section of the country, and are actively interested in the advancement of their respective localities. A family group picture of the family appears on another page. It has now, in 1911, been forty-one years since Mr. Crabtree came to Nebraska. When he set tled in Platte county his nearest neighbor was seven miles away. The town of Humphrey is now on a part of Mr. Crabtree 's first claim. When he settled in Nance county there was no one living between his place and Genoa, a dis tance of five miles. All of that country is thickly populated now. At the time he settled in Nance county the nearest postoffice was at Columbus, over twenty-five miles away. There were no fences in the county then. CHARLES SPENCE. Charles Spence, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section thirty-six, township twenty- four, is well known throughout Stanton county as a progressive, energetic and successful citizen, and has won the respect and esteem of all with whom he has had dealings. Although a young man, Mr. Spence is counted among the early set tlers, as he came to this county in 1874, and has practically grown up with the country. Mr. Spence is a native of Canada,- and was NATHANIEL CRABTREE AND FAMILY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 399 born in 1872. When he was only two years old his parents, Anna and Hamilton Spence, took their little family to Stanton county, Nebraska, making the journey from West Point on a stage. Having arrived in Stanton county, the father bought some land, which has later been much improved, and is now the home of the subscriber. Mr. Spence himself received his education almost entirely in the schools of Nebraska, and can tell many interesting stories of a settler's life as he remembers it when he was a child. At this time, Wisner was the nearest post- office and market place, and their neighbors were few and far between. - What with grasshoppers, prairie fires and blizzards, the life of the early settler was certainly made a burden. However, they remained, trusting to their efforts to produce a change. Charles Spence later started to farming for himself, and has succeeded in developing a fine farm and is engaged in diversified farming and stock raising. He has a good supply of water from deep bored wells, and his place is well equipped for stock raising. He has all buildings necessary for a well improved farm, and, more over, a comfortable residence with many of the modern improvements. In 1901, Mr. Spence was united in marriage to Miss Alice Murphy. Three children have come to bless their home, and they are named as fol lows: Ada, Lynn and Orval. HENRY MENEBROKER. A history of the northeastern part of the state of Nebraska would be incomplete without including a sketch of the life of Henry Mene- broker, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers. Mr. Menebroker is one of those sturdy sons of the German Empire who, with his parents, came to the golden west in the days of the early pioneer to seek their fortunes and build up for themselves foundations for a more free and substantial life than could be had in any other country. Mr. Menebroker is a native of Germany, being born in Lotte village, Westphalen province, September 29, 1870, and was the eldest of six children in the family of Henry and Welhimena (Roower) Menebroker, both natives of the old fatherland. . His father served his native country in three wars, the first in 1864, in the strife be tween Denmark and Germany; the second, in 1866, between Austria and Germany ; and the third, in 1870, between Prance and Germany. Our subject's wife, who before her marriage to Mr. Menebroker, was Miss Carrie Reutzel, was born April 7, 1879, in Fillmore county, Nebraska, her parents being old settlers of this state. In 1887 Mr. Menebroker came to America with his parents where they could get cheap land and a place to make a fortune; they left Bremen, Germany, on the steamship "Wesser, " sailing to Baltimore, August 14, and after landing here, proceeded westward where they settled in Clear water, Nebraska, One sister preceded the family to America by four years and one brother, who arrived one year later. In 1904, Mr. Menebroker bought his present farm from 0. A. Briton, which farm was originally the "MeGowen Homestead." Mr. Menebroker now owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has four acres of good forest trees and orchard. Mr. Menebroker was united in matrimony May 7, 1902, to Miss Carrie Reutzel, and Mr. and Mrs. Menebroker have one child, Paul, who is a fine lad, born February 14, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Menebroker are highly esteemed in their neighborhood, and enjoy the respect of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. WILLIAM DEDLOW. While not one of the earliest settlers of Pierce county, William Dedlow, of Plainview, came but a few years after his father and brothers made the first settlement on Dry Creek, about a mile from where Plainview was established. Mr. Ded low was born in the village of Ihlenfeldt, near the city of Brandenburg, province of Mechlen- berg-Strelitz, May 8, 1852. His parents emi- , grated to America the latter part of December, 1866, a son, Frederick Dedlow, with a sister, having preceded the family two years. Embark ing at Hamburg in an old sail ship, after a voyage of nine weeks and four days, the parents and re maining children landed at New York and pro ceeded at once to Wisconsin, where they settled in Jefferson county and made that their home for a few years, coming to Nebraska in 1871. William, not being old enough to file on a homestead, remained in Wisconsin until 1879, where work was more plentiful and competent workmen were in demand. For four years of the six that he spent in Wisconsin, after the family migrated, he was employed in a cheese factory in Whitewater, becoming proficient in the craft. In March, 1879, he followed the old folks, and in 1880 filed on a homestead two miles east of Plainview, and a year later, with his young wife, began farming on the tract. He prospered from the start, and by his energy and industry, added to his landed possessions from time to time until his retirement from active life in January, 1910, when he was the owner of more than five hundred and twenty acres of Pierce county's finest land, all of which has been highly improved and kept in the highest state of cultivation. Mr. Dedlow is a son of Frederick and Fred- erieka (Grehn) Dedlow, who followed their son, Frederick, to America in 1866, and in 1871 set tled on Dry Creek, near the present site of Plain- view, being the earliest comers to this part of the county. 400 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. The marriage of Mr. Dedlow was solemnized at Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Miss Kate Brown, a native of Wisconsin and daughter of William and Nancy (Freyer) Brown. Three children have been born to them: Frank, Inez, and Cora, married Herman Buchholz, and lives six miles south of Plainview ; Inez is the wife of Carl Ket- tlesen, of Lyman, South Dakota; their first born is a girl, lona Catherine. Mr. Dedlow is a republican, and from 1886 to 1892 served his constituents as county commis sioner. He was attending a meeting of the board at the time of the notable blizzard of January 12, 1888, and, of course, was unable to reach home. His son, Frank, a small lad at the time, was com pelled to remain at the school house during the night, a cause for great worry to the mother. A severe hailstorm in 1880 is well remembered by Mr. Dedlow, and he relates that pieces of ice as large as his fist fell at times and in some places broke through the roofs, and that for a long time after, dents where they had fallen were to be seen in bare places on the ground. When Mr. Dedlow first came to the state, deer and antelope were to be seen, but necessary work kept him too busy to spend any time hunting them. Prairie fires were frequent dangers, but no disaster befell the Dedlows from them. After years of strenuous labor, the success that has attended Mr. Dedlow 's thrift and in dustry is such that he can, while still in the prime of life, retire from active farming and take his ease in the large, commodious home he built in Plainview during 1909 — one of the most ele gant residences in the east part of town. JOHN J. EGGERS. John J. Eggers, a public-spirited citizen and prominent old timer of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of a fine estate in Kelso precinct. Mr. Eggers was born in Holstein, Germany, September 7, 1856, and was the third member in a family of six children, being his father's name sake. His boyhood was spent in his native coun try, and in the spring of 1880 he started out to seek his fortune, coming to America in company with a sister, who, after a short residence in this country, was taken ill and died. Mr. Eggers' first location was at Avoca, Iowa, where he en gaged in farming, remaining there for three years, then started alone with a single team and wagon to drive overland into Nebraska. His destination was Howard county, and immediately after arriving in section nineteen, township twelve, range eleven, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land on which he put up a rough shanty and started to build up a home. Here he spent four years, succeeding in getting the farm in good shape, and in August, 1892, sold his interests and bought another quar ter section a short distance from that place, this being partly improved land. He erected good buildings on the place, stocking it up well, and soon was enjoying a nice income and the well merited reputation of being one of the solid and progressive farmers of his section. Our subject was united in marriage on Feb ruary 24, 1888, to Lena Hendricks, also a native of Germany, who came to America in the fall previous to her marriage. She was the second child in a family of eight, her parents now living in Grand Island with three of their children, while another daughter resides at Cairo, Ne braska. Mr. Eggers has one brother living in Hall county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eggers are widely and favorably known for their good qual ities and hospitality, and they enjoy a pleasant home. In the spring of 1908 they left their farm and settled in Boelus, where they own a comfort able residence and are surrounded by many friends. VAN J. THOMAS. Van J. Thomas, who resides in section twenty- three, township eighteen, range thirteen, Val ley county, Nebraska, is a son of Noah and Eliza (Seward) Thomas, and was born in Lee county, Illinois, January 21, 1846; he was fifth in a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are living. The father, who was of Welsh descent, is now deceased, having passed away in the year 1874, at Dixon, Illinois ; the mother was a native of New York, she having died in April of 1846, in Illinois. Mr. Thomas received his elementary educa tion in the schools of his home state, where he grew to manhood. On December 30, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, First Illinois Light Artil lery, known as Cheeney's battery, serving until the close of the war; he received his honorable discharge July 6, 1865. Decisive engagements participated in were at Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Kingston, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Siege of Atlanta, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. Much of his service was per formed under the command of Thomas, who was a cousin of his father. After the war he returned to Illinois and attended Dixon college one year; then entered as a student at the Ames Business college in Syracuse, New York. In March of 1869, Mr. Thomas left Illinois for Nebraska, coming alone across the prairie, partly by train and walking the rest of the distance; landing in Nebraska City, April 5, his financial resources having dwindled to ten cents. How ever, he soon secured work on farms and in other lines and got a start again. In the latter part of April, 1869, he homesteaded forty acres of land in Otoe county, living there until 1874. On September 5, 1870, Mr. Thomas was mar ried to Miss Emma Rodaway, who was born in England and came to America in 1861 with her COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 401 parents, Samuel and Maria (Marshman) Rod- away, sailing from Bristol to Quebec in the "Ocean Queen," settling in Columbiana county, Wisconsin. Miss Rodaway was a pioneer teacher in Nebraska schools, having taught several years in Otoe county. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had eight children, namely: Rozella, wife of W. E. Barrows, has six children, and lives in Montana ; Isabel A., is the wife of C. E. Creager, they hav ing three children, and reside in Colorado ; Claud, who is married and has three children, lives in Greeley county; Maude E., resides at home; Flor ence M., is the wife of A. M. Holman and has three children, the family residing in Garfield county, Nebraska; Bessie M., residing at home; and two children were deceased in infancy. In 1874 Mr. Thomas purchased eighty acres of Baltimore and Missouri railroad land, in Otoe county, which was the home place until 1883. Mr. Thomas was the postmaster at North Branch, Otoe county, for ten years, under Grant 's administration. In 1883 Mr. Thomas moved to Valley county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-three, and pur chased sixty acres of railroad land in section twenty-two, township eighteen, range thirteen, making a fine stock and grain farm which is still his home place. During his years in Nebraska Mr. Thomas has served in the various offices of his school boards for ten years. Mr. Thomas is one of the earliest settlers of Nebraska, and has passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to frontier life. He is a successful man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been active church workers for twenty-seven years. They were charter members of North Loup Presbyterian church, of which church Mr. Thomas was elder. Mrs. Thomas' parents are deceased, the mother having passed away in the year 1896, and the father in 1873, both in Nebraska ; they were of English birth. Mrs. Thomas has two brothers and two sisters residing in Otoe county, Nebraska, and one sister in the state of Kansas. Mr. Thomas lived for a time before his mar riage in a dugout and during those days saw deer grazing on his winter wheat. When the family settled in Nebraska in 1867 Omaha was the cap ital, and where Lincoln is now there was nothing but open prairie. He raised nothing in the dry year, 1894; July 26 of that year has been known since as the hot day. Hail destroyed his crops in 1875, and two years grasshoppers consumed his growing crops. While living in Otoe county a prairie fire came through, burning their barn and some of their livestock; here, too, they expe rienced the worst blizzard in their lives during March, 1870. 14 GEORGE R WYCOPF. George R. Wycoff, the popular ex-mayor of Madison, Nebraska, is well known throughout Madison county as a successful man. He is a man of sterling character and has an extensive ac quaintance, universally esteemed and respected in his community. Mr. Wycoff was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, December 24, 1862, and was second of four children in the family of John M. and Mary Jane (Abbott) Wycoff, who had three sons and one daughter. The parents were both natives of Indiana, in which state the father died in 1867. The mother some years later was married to M. J. Knox, and they have two children, a son and daughter, and reside in Lebanon, Indiana. Mr. Wycoff, the subject of this sketch, grew up to his young manhood days in Indiana, receiv ing his early advantages in his native state, and going out for himself in his fifteenth year. He worked in a grocery store in Lebanon, Indiana, for a year, then became an apprentice in a car penter shop. In his eighteenth year he formed a partnership with a co-worker and they became contractors and builders; and in October, 1882, he disposed of his interests in the business to his partner and came, west, locating in the city of Madison, Madison county, Nebraska, accepting work on what was then the new school building, doing the inside finishing work. He continued to work on various buildings in Madison until he, in 1884, opened his own carpenter shop and be came a contractor and builder. In August, 1885, Mr. Wycoff accepted a posi tion in the Ramey & Wyatt general hardware store, and was with this firm four years; Mr. Wyatt selling out his interest to Mr. Ramey in 1889, and Mr. Ramey one year later, in 1890, sell ing out to William Parkinson. Mr. Wycoff re mained with the store during these changes, and was with Mr. Parkinson until April, 1902, when the firm of the Hume-Robertson- Wycoff Company was formed to take over the Parkinson store, Mr. Wycoff becoming the active manager of the bus iness. The company has large and extensive bus iness interests in Madison, having large lumber and coal yards, and grain elevator, etc., being one of the largest firms of its character in this portion of Nebraska. Mr. Wycoff was married to Miss Jessie A. Crue at the home of her parents in Madison, Ne braska, October 7, 1886, the Crue family being one of the older Madison county families. Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff reside in the same house where they were married, it now being one of the pleasant modern homes of Madison. They have had five children born to them, four of whom are living: Neal A., who attended college at Des Moines; Ruth, deceased; George R., junior, Elanore Irene, and Charles T., who resides under the parental roof, and are a pleasant family. Mr. Wycoff served two years as mayor of 402 Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography". Madison, serving his second term. In past years he has been a member of the city council for three years, and served some years on the school board. He is president of the Madison Commercial club, president of the Public Library Association, and connected with several prominent state business associations. He is identified with most of the fraternal and secret organizations of Madison, and is now serving his fifteenth successive year as venerable consul of the local lodge of Modern Woodmen of America ; and is in his twelfth year as treasurer of the Madison County Agricultural Association. In fact, Mr. Wycoff is a booster for his home town and county, and is closely identified with the business life of this section of Nebraska, and is always a leader in educational and social and moral questions. Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff and family enjoy the friendship and esteem of a wide circle of friends. STEPHEN N. SWEETLAND. One of the most prominent old settlers of Sherman county, Nebraska, is the above named gentleman. For many years he was known as a most successful farmer, and for the last ten years has been a resident of Loup City. He has always been closely identified with all measures affecting the common good, or promoting the general welfare and is well known especially for his work along educational lines. Stephen N. Sweetland was born on July 17. 1855, in Liverpool, England, and was the fourth of a family of six children born to Richard and' Maria Furnace Sweetland. Both parents were of English birth, and both died in New York state, the father in 1890, and the mother in 1859. The father was married a second and third time, rearing four children of the half blood. Of the large family of children, only six remain, one brother in Colorado, one brother and three sisters in New York, and the subject of this sketch. In the fall of 1856, while Stephen was but an infant, his parents emigrated to America, locating in New York, where the boy received his educa tion and later engaged in farming. In March of 1879, Mr. Sweetland came to Sherman county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the northeast quarter of section fourteen, township fourteen, range fif teen, a few miles from Loup City, and at the same time also took up a timber claim in Custer county. The former homestead was the family residence for many years. This was subsequently sold, to gether with all his farm property, and the pro ceeds invested in a fine business block in Loup City, which was finished in May, 1909. On November 12, 1885, Mr. Sweetland was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Goodwin, a native of Bremer county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Sweetland have had six children, four of whom are living: Clarence R., now lives in Loup City, is married and has a son ; Leslie F.r a graduate of Bellevue college, class of 1910, was superintend ent of the Winnebago schools for a year, and in the fall of 1911 entered the Omaha School of Theology to enter the Presbyterian ministry; Francis J., graduated from Bellevue in 1911, and was appointed principal of the Loup City high school, while Raymond S., is still attending the home school. The entire family is ' prominent socially and stand high in the estimation of the community. Mr. Sweetland left the farm in 1901 and moved to Loup City, where he erected a beautiful modern home. Mr. Sweetland is well known in educational circles, as he has served the public along this line for many years. He is now treasurer of the Loup City schools, and while living on the farm served on the school board of district number thirty-six for twelve years. He has also served as county supervisor for district number three for six years, and several terms as township clerk, town ship treasurer and township assessor, respectively. In 1901 he was elected county treasurer on the peoples' independent ticket, and served the pub lic in that capacity for two terms. He is a mem ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Sweetland has had a touch of real pio neer life, having lived five years in a "sody, " while a bachelor on his homestead, and lived two years in one after becoming the head of a new family. FRED FISCHER. The above named gentleman is one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of Cedar county, Nebraska. He is respected alike for his industry, ability and native force of character, and belongs to that great army of honest, hard working farmers that Germany has contributed to the various western states. Never afraid of hard work, he has endured the toil and hardships of those early days, and his thrift, industry and integrity have brought him his present success. He has now a comfortable and beautiful home, pleasantly located on section thirty-two, town ship thirty-two, and commands the respect of all who know him. Mr. Fischer was born in Bronburg, Germany, in 1846, and is the son of Christian and Louise Fischer. He- obtained his education in his native land, and in 1866, was called upon for military service. Believing that America presented greater op portunities for developing one's career, in 1870, the subscriber came to this country in a sailing vessel, the trip taking him seven weeks. He came first to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1876. In this year, he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, and bought his present home from Henry Tame COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 403 for two hundred and fifty dollars. He also took up a timber claim a little later, of about eighty acres. Having so much timber near him, he was not forced to resort to the dugout which so many settlers used, but built himself a log "shack" fourteen by sixteen feet, which served him for a dwelling for six years. He remained here through all the discouragements of the early years, and as he became more prosperous, added improvements to his farm. He now has one of the best farms in the community, and is especially proud of his fine orchard, which comprises about ten acres. In 1872, our subscriber was united in mar riage to Miss Louise Kramer, and eight children have been born to them, only four of whom are now living: John, Edward, Mary, now Mrs. Joe Noacker, and Bernard. ADDISON J. PARKER. Addison J. Parker was born in Bellevue, Sarpy county, Nebraska, August 12, 1856, and was the eldest of- three children in the family of Jason and Submitta (Wakefield) Parker. Two children died in infancy leaving Mr. Parker the only child of this union, but the father had five children by a former marriage. Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm situated about two mlies southeast of Central City. Up to his tenth year he did not have the usual school advantages, as there were no schools within sixty miles, but after that age he had local school advantages, and in his twentieth year attended a graded school one year in New York state. November 9, 1879, at the home of H. D. Rey nolds, in Central City, Nebraska, Mr. Parker mar ried Miss Almeda Reynolds, a sister of H. D. Reynolds, who were natives of New York state, the brother having come to Nebraska in 1871 and was joined by his sister in 1878. Mr. Parker, in the spring of 1878, bought the first quarter section of land south of the Loup river that was put up for purchase at the time the Pawnee Indian reservation was thrown open for settlement in Nance county, Nebraska. Mr. Parker built on this land and prepared to farm and stock it. After their marriage Mr. and' Mrs. Parker made Nance county their home until 1901 . Mr. and Mrs. Parker have had seven children born to them, two -of whom are now living : Alpha A. ; and Diton J., who married on June 26, 1907, Miss Alvina Holtorf, daughter of John Holtorf, at the home of the parents in Merrick county, and have one child. May 1, 1901, Mr. Parker and family moved to Merrick county, going on their farm two miles northeast of Central City, where they resided five years. After selling this farm they then purchased forty acres adjoining the corporation limit of Central City to the southwest where they now reside. While living in Nance county Mr. Parker served on the school board and held other offices in his township. He is now county supervisor of Lone Tree, Central and Prairie Island town ships, having been elected first in 1909 to fill an unexpired term and re-elected in the fall of 1910 for the full term of two years. He is a self-made man, his boyhood being passed in the pioneer days when he went through all the experiences of early frontier life. Mr. Parker has always been active and ener getic along all lines towards the building up- and advancement of his native home. Trueman Franklin Parker, deceased, half- brother of the subject of this sketch, was born in New York state, June 13, 1841, and was the sec ond in a family of five children, of whom one brother and two sisters reside in Merrick county, Nebraska. The parents (deceased) were Jason and Fannie (Conrad) Parker. In 1856 the family went to Bellevue, Ne braska, where they lived one year, then located in Potawatamie county, Iowa, for two years, after which Mr. Parker engaged in ranching in what is now Merrick county, Nebraska, and in 1863 homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section fourteen, township thirteen, range six. On January 22, 1865, Mr. Parker married Miss Sarah Eatough, who was born in England and came to America with her parents in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Parker lived on the homestead until 1898, when they retired from the farm and moved into Central City, where Mr. Parker pur chased a good home and lived until the time of his death, December 1, 1898, survived by his wife and five children: Ellice M., married to Doctor W. Y. R. Gawne, and living in Central City; Prank, married, has seven children, and also re sides in Central City; Louis, married, has two children and lives on the original homestead; Delia, married to Ralph Cox, has one child, and lives in Alma, Nebraska ; and Roy, who is married and lives in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Parker was a democrat, politically, and had the distinction of being the first judge of election of Merrick county. In April, 1867, he was appointed sheriff to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of P. S. Reed, who had been elected to that office. Later Mr. Parker served the county as assessor. He was prosperous and successful, and owned two hundred and sixty acres in Merrick county, as well as good city property. He was a public-spirited man of affairs, widely and favorably known. Mrs. Parker lives in her Central City home surrounded by a large circle of friends. Jason Parker, deceased, father of Addison J.; and Trueman Franklin Parker, was born in New York state in 1812, where he grew to manhood on a farm. Here he married Fannie Conrad and resided until 1856, when he came to the state of 404 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Nebraska and followed his occupation of farm ing. Mr. Parker's first wife died in New York state following which he married Submitta Wake field. In 1856 Mr. Parker and family of wife and five children moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, where they remained one year, moving from there to Pota- watamie county, Iowa. After a residence of two years in the latter place they came to what is now Merrick county, Nebraska. Mr. Parker pre ceded his family, coming here in April, 1859, when he took up a squatter's right and then returned to Iowa; and in May of the same year came with his family to this land. About 1878 Mr. Parker went into the Black Hills, returning to Nebraska about 1888. In the later years of his life he made his home with his son, Addison J., in Nance county, Nebraska, until the time of his death which occurred in March, 1895. This family has been prominent in building up this now prosperous section of the west. GEORGE C. JAMES. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. James aided in no slight degree in the development of the commercial resources of this region and has done his full share in building up the schools, and has done all in his power for the betterment of conditions socially and politically. Mr. James was born in the state of Indiana, February 22, 1845, a son of Henry and Mariar James; his father is a native of Germany, and the mother of New York state. In 1863 Mr. James enlisted in the army during the civil war, joining Company D, Seventh In diana Cavalry, under Generals Greyson and Sher idan, and participated in all the battles fought under these generals in Mississippi and Tennessee. Mr. James finished an excellent war record in 1866, receiving his honorable discharge in that year. After the war Mr. James went to Iowa re maining there two years, when he decided to go further west, driving to his homestead in Knox county, Nebraska, which still remains the old homestead farm to the present day; on this land he first built a sod house, which was later re placed by a dwelling built of logs, both of which have been succeeded by a beautiful frame resi dence, which together with the fine farm and orchard and beautiful grove of trees, makes this one of the finest farm homes in this section of the country. In the first years of his residence in Knox county, Mr. James went through the many hard ships and great suffering due to a new and unset tled country which had as yet scarcely known the tread of a white man's foot, and whose virgin soil had not felt the cut of a plow. And after our subject's coming to this region, dire misfortune seemed to pursue him at every turn; the grass hopper pests that infested that part of the west ern country in those earliest days of settlement destroyed the entire crops the first two years ; and another source of danger was the fires that swept over the open prairies of this western country which devastated everything in its wake, and which our subject had to fight many times to save his life, home and possessions. In 1867, Mr. James was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Mortoff, and they were the parents of one child, True S. James. In 1898 Mr. James again married, the bride of this second union being Miss Retta Hill. In 1910 Mrs. James died, survived by her husband and family by whom she was deeply mourned. Mr. James is a highly respected and es teemed citizen of his locality, and holds the full confidence of the people. While he was in Ne braska he served his community well for two years as assessor, and through his strict adhe rence to his full duty has added dignity to that office. Mr. James moved to Angola, Indiana, April 18, 1911, purchased nice property there and re tired from hard labor. He expects to spend the rest of his days there. JOHN W. WILLIAMSON. John W. Williamson, one of the truly self- made men of Nance county, has prospered as an agriculturalist, and is owner of a well improved farm in Boone county, as well as a residence in Genoa, which he occupies with his family, all of whom are popular members of their neighbor hood social set. Mr. Williamson is a native of Delavan, Wis consin, born on June 28, 1850. He was the eldest of thirteen children in the family of Ole and Mary. Williamson, and lived in Wisconsin until he was twenty-one years of age, receiving his ed ucation in the country schools and assisting his parents in carrying on the farm work. In 1871 he started out with a team and wagon to drive across the plains to Nebraska, and picked out a location in Boone county on which he filed as a homestead. He was in the government service, his work being on the Pawnee Indian reservation, which at that time embraced the whole of Nance county. His work was in teaching the red men to farm, and came to know their language and habits well, many times hunting buffalo with them, and of those days he tells some very inter esting and exciting incidents. He remained in the government service up to the fall of 1874, at which time the Indians were transferred at their request, to Indian territory, our subject acting as their pilot and friends on the journey. There were in all a party of twenty-four hundred In- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 405 dians, many of whom walked the entire distance to their new home. On one occasion, while on a buffalo hunt in the Republican river region, Mr. Williamson and his companions met a tribe of over fifteen hundred warriors of the Sioux band, and a terrible massacre occurred, between three and four hundred Pawnees being killed, and many of the Sioux. This took place on August 5, 1873. Mr. Williamson is still in the Indian service as a regular employee, his duty being gardner and dairyman in connection with the Indian In dustrial school at Genoa. He has been successful along agricultural lines, and is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Boone county, also has a comfortable home in Genoa, where with his family he has lived for the past several years. In all he has made Nance county his home for forty years, which is a longer period than any other white man can boast of. On April 25, 1874, Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Carrie Atwood, of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, whose family dates back to the Pilgrims of Mayflower fame. Mrs. Williamson came to Boone county with her parents in 1871, they also being among the prominent old timers of the region. Pour children were born to our subject and his esteemed wife, who are named as follows: Harry V., Lois Gertrude, Eugene, and Anna May. Eugene died in 1880, while the others are married; the two daughters live in Nebraska, while the son is a druggist at Delta, Colorado. DR. JAMES S. STOCKWELL. One of the oldest and best known practitioners of the northwest is found in the person of Doctor James S. Stockwell, of Butte, who, while well along in years, is still as young in heart, mind and body as many who are his junior by a score of years. James S. Stockwell was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, September 3, 1834, and is a son of Ephraim and Margaret (Streeter) Stock- well, who moved to Licking county, Ohio, about 1837, and after a short time in that vicinity went to La Grange county, Indiana. James' early edu cation was obtained through attendance at the country schools in these various places. At an early age he learned the carpenter trade, and sup ported himself while studying for a higher pro fession. He early evinced a liking for medicine, and determined to fit himself for that work, so began his studies in Kendallville, Indiana, and in 1859, removed to Sturgis, St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he could have better advantages. Having finally saved enough money to commence his college career, he went to Ann Arbor, and entered the medical department. He was mar ried, and his wife also took up a course of study. After completing his studies and receiving his diploma, he located in South Bend, Indiana, where he established an office and practiced for ten years, then gave up his work there to go farther west. In 1883, he settled in Parkston, South Dakota, remaining for five years, and then removed to Phoenix, Holt county, Nebraska. In the spring of 1890, he filed on a homestead sit uated three miles southeast of Butte, and after residing on the land for two years, purchased a house in Butte, removed his family to town, and bas since that time made it his home. During the course of his practice in different locations, Doctor Stockwell has encountered many severe storms on the plains, etc., the worst probably being the blizzard of January 12, 1888. He had a call to a sick bed eight miles from town and was on his way home when the storm over took him. For two hours he battled with the blinding, frozen blast, and became confused as to direction, so was finally forced to give his team their heads, they going to the house of a settler, who gave him shelter for the night. On other occasion he had experiences with prairie fires which might have resulted seriously. When in South Dakota at one time his escape from one was effected only by speedily starting a back fire and driving out the flames, thus giving him a chance to get his team into the burned space. Doctor Stockwell has enjoyed a wide prac tice throughout Holt, Boyd and other counties in Nebraska, as well as in Gregory county, South Dakota, and while younger physicians have en tered the field with diplomas of a much later date. the old doctor holds his own against all competi tion. He is a typical pupil of the old school, kindly and sympathetic, in whom his patients have the utmost confidence, and for whom they have an affection that is almost that of a beloved blood kin. Doctor Stockwell was first married at Kendall ville, Indiana, in 1856, to Miss Sarah Fowler, a native of Michigan. Two children blessed this union : Adelbert, now in business at South Bend, Indiana, and Lillian, an artist of flattering at tainments, at present making her home with her brother in South Bend. Doctor Stockwell's wife died in 1884. June 29, 1888, our subject was married the sec ond time, in Holt county, to Miss Amelia Da- mero, a native of Wisconsin. Her family came to Nebraska, settling in Holt county, and are well known old timers in that vicinity. Dr. and Mrs. Stockwell have three children: Ver, Lynn, now attending Butte high school ; and Mabel. Doctor Stockwell is a democrat, and has al ways evinced a deep interest in party affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Butte. 406 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. FREDERICK H. GLEASON. Energetic efforts and intelligence go hand in hand in the building up of one's fortune, regard less of the vocation to which they are applied. One of the well-developed and improved estates of Pierce county is that owned and operated by F. H. Gleason, who resides in section three, town ship twenty-five, range two, and is the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent ranch and farming land. Mr. Gleason came to Pierce county in 1885 with his parents, who were natives of Massachu setts, and his father bought and improved a farm situated three miles south of Foster, Nebraska. Our subject was born on August 27, 1862, in Worcester, Massachusetts. His father, Frank Gleason, was born in Massachusetts in 1840 and died in 1898. At the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the sixty-first Massachusetts regiment, and participated in the battles of Mis sion Ridge, Chattanooga, Shiloh, and Nashville, Tennessee ; during his term of service he was wounded three times. The mother, Miss Lizzie Hyde, was born in 1840, in Massachusetts, and died in 1894. Frederick H. Gleason was married to Miss Matilda Klug in 1894 ; two children were born to them: Ervin and Beulah. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason have a beautiful home situated on a high point which can be seen for miles around, and which commands a view of the city of Pierce and the surrounding country. This home is encircled by one of the best cedar groves in the county, and gives evidence of the taste of its owner and his pride in improving its appearance. We are pleased to publish an engrav ing of the dwelling and surroundings that give a better idea of its fine appearance than could be done in many words. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason are held in the highest esteem by all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Gleason votes the republican ticket. GEORGE ALLEN. George Allen may be truly numbered among the leading old-timers of Antelope county, Ne- oraska. He has made this region his home for the past twenty-seven years, and during that time has acquired a half section of valuable land. He has a comfortable home and farm on section two township twenty-five, range six. He came here when this section of the country was very sparsely populated and by his industry and per- serverance has gained a wide reputation as a successful agriculturist and worthy citizen. A view of his residence appears on another page. Mr. Allen is a native of Stephenson county, Illinois and was born four and one-half miles southeast of Lena, March 22, 1855. He is the son of Hiram and Lois (Bearden) Allen, both being natives of Canada. Our subject lived in his native state many years, receiving his edu cation there, while helping his father on the farm. Mr. Allen came to Antelope county, Nebraska, on April 3, 1883, taking up a homestead in section two, township twenty- five, range six, , which has remained the original homestead farm to this day. He bought an adjoining quarter section, making a goodly farm which is improved with a comfortable frame house for his dwelling home. Here Mr. Allen went through all the hardships and disappointments incident to those pioneer days, losing crops through failures caused by storms of every description, the most severe being the memorable blizzard of 1888 when he lost several head of cattle in the icy blast. In 1894 he lost his entire crops through the drouth of that year, the hot winds burning up every green thing in the northeastern part of the state. Then one season he lost his crops in part from the ef fects of a hail storm, all of his corn being killed. Prairie fires were a source of great danger at times and in fighting a particularly severe prairie fire, Mr. Allen was seriously burned. Mr. Allen was married in 1882 at Freeport to Miss Rosa Beck, a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, a daughter of John and Mary Beck. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one daughter, Pearl, who married to H. Peterson; they have two children and live on a farm a few miles north of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Allen enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and they are sur rounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. Politically, Mr. Allen is independent of party ties, voting for the man he thinks is best qualified to give the people the most satisfactory service. ARTHUR W. LADD. The subject of this sketch was born at Oneida, Knox county, Illinois, on the twenty-ninth day of July, 1858. His parents lived on a farm until he was about twelve years old, when they moved to town, where he attended school for three years. Although he had not completed the high school course, he was compelled to leave school and start in the battle of life. As a boy he was em ployed as a clerk in a restaurant, dry goods and grocery stores, and finally as assistant postmaster in his native town. While thus employed he purchased one of the amateur printing outfits for printing cards or other small matter. Being fascinated with the taste of the printing busi ness, and being discharged from his position in the post-office on account of a change of admin istration, he conceived the idea of starting a newspaper. The town had never had a printing office, and had always been considered too small to support a paper. Such obstacles looked small to the eighteen-year-old boy, and he found a friend who "staked" him to the amount of sixty dollars. This with a small amount he had "HILLCREST FARM," RESIDENCE OF F. H. GLEASON. =3===fSj "FAIRVIEW STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF GEORGE ALLEN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 407 himself was used for the purchase of a very small printing outfit. The paper as first started had four .columns to the page, and it was printed one page at a time. It proved to be capable of supplying "a long felt want," and it waxed strong with every passing month. Additional equipment was added as fast as any surplus funds accumulated, until at the end of three years a nice little country newspaper was being printed. Mr. Ladd now being twenty-one years of age, and having developed the newspaper business of his native town to its full extent, yearned for other worlds to conquer, and decided to "go west and grow up with the country." He made a prospecting trip through Nebraska, and the first place he visited was Albion. This place was then fifty miles from a railroad, Columbus being the nearest station. However, bonds had been voted and the Union Pacific was sure to be built to Albion the following year. The prospect looked good to him, and he decided to locate in Albion.' This was in September, 1879; in thirty days he had returned to Illinois, closed up his business, and was on the ground at Albion, where he commenced the publication of the Albion News. At this writing he has just completed thirty years as publisher of this paper, which he started in 1879. This is a record very seldom heard of in the country newspaper business. The News is one of the leading weekly papers of the state, and has developed into a good busi ness property. It occupies a nice brick building built especially for a printing office. Mr. Ladd has also built one of the best residences in the town, and has acquired other business interests. He is vice president of the Albion National bank, one Of the "roll of honor" banks of the state. He is a stockholder and director of the Albion Mil ling Company. On the whole his thirty years of newspaper business seem to have resulted in a fair return. In September, 1887, Mr. Ladd was united in marriage with Miss Amy I. Fox, and to them one daugther was born. In 1890, under the administration of Benja min Harrison, Mr. Ladd was appointed post master for Albion, and he served the term of four years, when a democratic president passed the office along to a member of his own party. As a member of the school board and city council, Mr. Ladd was drafted several times. When the commercial club was organized, he was elected president for two consecutive years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and served the local lodge in all of its several official capacities. Mr. Ladd organized the first brass band in Boone county in 1880, and continued to play in or conduct a band at Albion for more than twenty years. He was also musical director of the Philharmonic orchestra, which for several years was a musical organization of more than local reputation. Mr. Ladd has been a member of the State Press Association for more than twenty -five years, and in 1904 he was elected president of that as sociation. In 1900 the republicans of his senatorial dis trict nominated Mr. Ladd for state senator, but as this was in the days of populist supremacy he was defeated in the district, although he carried his own county by a nice majority. He has never sought public office, being content to exert his efforts for the election of others. He has always been a consistent republican, and of late years of the "progressive" type. WILLIAM W. BLACK. William W. Black is a prominent farmer and stockman of Wayne county, Nebraska, and is known throughout this part of the state as a successful and progressive agriculutrist. He has a good home situated on section seventeen, town ship twenty-seven, range two, where he has de veloped a fine farm. Mr. Black was born in Henry county, Iowa, April 22, 1853, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Black, who were parents of six children. Samuel Black enlisted in the Civil war, but a short time after entering the service was taken sick and died. He had one son, Abram, who served in Company B, twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infan try, remaining in the army from 1861 until 1865, and participating in many important battles. He marched with Sherman on the historic trip from Atlanta to the sea, and was a brave and faithful soldier. At the time of Samuel Black's death, his son, William W., was only eleven years old, but being the oldest son at home, although the young est of the family, he took charge of his mother's farm until four years after he was married, then moving to Potawatamie county, Itfwa, where he rented for four years. Mr. Black received his education in his native state and was there married. In 1886, he came to Wayne county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present place, which then con^ tained no improvements, being in a raw state. Mr. Black broke all the land on the homestead quarter. He first built a small house, sixteen by twenty-four, where the family lived until 1905, when the present home was erected. He has also built a large barn, granary, hog houses, and other out-buildings, and has planted a ten-acre grove and two orchards. Mr. Black has, since coming to Wayne county, added two hundred and forty acres to his first purchase, now owning four hundred acres, for which he paid from eleven to thirty-five dollars per acre, and none of which he would now sell for less than one hundred dol lars per acre. Mr. Black is an energetic and ambitious farmer, and has achieved very good results by his efforts, being now one of the well-to-do men 408 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of his locality. He is always interested in the public welfare and progress ; is upright and re liable in his dealings, and has many firm friends. In 1880, Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss Mary McPherron, daughter of John Wesley and Mary Elizabeth (Cook) McPherron, and a native of Iowa. Five children have been born of this union : Edith Pearl, Otto Lewis, Delia Octavia, Jessie May, and Minnie Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the Metho dist Episcopal church at Carroll, and Mr. Black is a republican. JULIUS ECKERT. It is a notable fact that in many localities in the western states, we find communities made up almost entirely of foreign-born people and their American-born descendants, with but few of the descendants of the eastern Yankee. In Nebraska especially, we find many of the sturdy citizens who first saw the light in a land under the German skies. Prominent among the German settlers we find the name above given, Julius Eckert, who has been a resident of Stanton county for about forty years. Mr. Eckert was born in 1850, in West Prussia, Germany, and is the son of Wilhelm and Augusta Eckert. He grew up in his native country and obtained his education in the schools there. In 1870, Mr. Eckert determined to come to America where the poor man had a better chance than in his native land. He accordingly came by steamship from Bremen to New York, and from thence to the prairie lands of Illinois. He re mained here but one year, then came to Stanton county, Nebraska, where he took up a home stead. He first built a dugout, and this served as a dwelling for him and his wife for several years. The settlers of that time and place met with many discouragements and losses, and those who remained must needs have possessed more than ordinary will power and determination in order to overcome the obstacles thrown in their way. The first few years, their crops were almost total failures, owing to the ravages of the grasshoppers. Several times they were compelled to fight prairie fires in order to prevent the destruction of their property. Even as late as 1894, the crops were almost a total failure, owing to the hot, dry winds prevailing that year. Neighbors were few and far between, and Wisner was the nearest post- office and market place. However, they did not lose heart but persevered, and now have received their reward. They have watched the phenominal development of this treeless wilderness to its present high status, and have the satisfaction of knowing that chiefly through the efforts of these early settlers, this development has been made. Mr. Eckert was married in 1870 to Miss Augusta Schultze, of Stanton county, and six chil dren have come to bless their union. The children are named as follows : Otto, Ernest, Hulda, Theo dore Max and Agust. Mr. Eckert has retired from active manage ment of his farm, and is comfortably situated in his town residence in Stanton, where he enjoys what comes to a man in affluent circumstances, who has passed the meridian of this life. ANTON DROBNY. For the past quarter of a century the subject of this review has been a resident of Knox county, Nebraska, and on the original farm which was first purchased by his father and later bought by ' our subject, which is located in section twenty- six, township thirty, range six, Mr. Drobny and his father before him have been potent factors in the advancement and upbuilding of the best interests of the state in which they chose their home on coming to American shores. Mr. Drobny is a native of Bohemia, having been born in Satski village, in the year 1875; he was the youngest of seven children in the family of Frank and Katie Drobny, both natives of Sat ski village, Bohemia. When but ten years of age, in 1885, our subject with his parents, came to America, embarking on a sail boat bound from Bremen to New York. After landing in the United States, they at once proceeded to the far west, lo cating in Knox county, Nebraska, where they bought outright the land on which our subject now lives, which, as before stated, is located in section twenty-six, township thirty, range six, they began at once to improve the land, steadily adding by degrees to its advancement, until now it is one of the finest and most valuable estates in this part of the county. Later our subject bought the farm and since his possession of same has strictly adhered to the standard of progres sion set by his father before him. Losses from various causes have been experienced by our sub ject, when in the years of 1896 and the early part of 1910, hailstorms destroyed the greater portion of the crops for those years ; and in the drouth of 1894 the hot winds of that year burned every spear of crops that in the beginning gave such good promise of a plentiful harvest. In 1893 Mr. Drobny was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Slanido, and Mr. and Mrs. Drobny are the parents of two fine children, named as fol lows: Frank A. and Mary Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Drobny and family are highly respected in their community, and are surrounded by a wide circle of kind friends and acquaint ances ; and Mr. Drobny is known throughout the county as a man of sterling qualities who can be always relied upon. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 409 FRANK POCHOP, JUNIOR. Prank Pochop is a prominent and much re spected resident of Pierce county, Nebraska, and owns and resides on a farm in the east half of the northwest quarter of section twenty-one, township twenty-eight, range three. Mr. Pochop was born October 9, 1870, in Bo hemia, and is the son of Frank and Barbara (Panas) Pochop, who were both born and raised in Bohemia. Our subject's parents came to America in 1871, locating in Saunders county, Nebraska, where they homesteaded eighty acres of land, walking the entire distance, thirty-five miles, to their claim, from Fremont. They lived first in a dugout, later erected a sod house, and finally a frame dwelling. The family experienced all the priva tions and hardships of the early pioneer days, hauling their grain to Fremont, the nearest mar ket place, by oxen, with which their early farm ing was done, horses being too expensive for the earliest settlers. Mr. Pochop 's father came to Pierce county in 1892, where he purchased four hundred and eighty acres of good land, which he later divided between his sons. Prank Pochop was married to Miss Anna Vachal in 1896, the result of this union being six children, whose names are as follows : Frank, Anna, Otto, Lizzie, Emil and Lydia. Mr. Pochop is a member of the C. Z. B. J. lodge, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is independent, voting for whom he considers the best man. CHRISTEN A. CHRISTIANSEN. Prominent among the large number of sturdy Danes who have left everything they held dear in their native land to seek their fortunes in an entirely strange country, is the gentleman whose name heads this personal history. Mr. Christian sen was born October 11, 1848, and is a son of Mogens C. and Annie Christiansen. They had a family of five children, Christen being the sec ond in order of birth. He remained at home until his twenty-third year, following farming in Den mark, then came to America alone, his first stop ping place being northern Michigan, where he worked in the copper mines for one year. Prom there he went to Illinois, settled on a farm and worked it for three years. He spent several months in traveling through the different states, coming to Kearney county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1876, where he took up a homestead and lived on it for about eight years, engaging in farming and stock raising. He then sold out and removed to Minden, securing a good position with a leading hardware firm for whom he worked twelve years as a tinner. Mr. Christiansen came to Howard county in 14 y8 the spring of 1901, purchasing eighty acres of choice land on the tableland, situated in section fourteen, township thirteen, range twelve, which he developed into a fine farm, completely equipped with substantial buildings, etc., and is regarded as one of the well-to-do and progressive agricultur alists of his locality. Mr. Christiansen was married at Minden, Ne braska, in 1862, to Annie Blase, who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and came to America with her parents in 1870. Our subject's parents also came to this country and took up a homestead in Kearney county, near their son's farm there, and were among the pioneers of that region. The father died there in 1906, at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife had passed away in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen have had eleven children, four now being dead, and the remaining ones named as follows: Oswald, married and living in Howard county; Clara, wife of Carl Hanson, residing in Boelus; while Nora, Etta, Amy, Walter and Nannie are at home. Our sub ject and his family are popular in their com munity, and actively interested in local and county affairs. CHRIS HANSEN. Among the old settlers who have watched the growth and development of central Nebraska from the early pioneer days, who have taken an active part in its history from the very beginning and helped to advance its commercial and agri cultural industries, the gentleman above named holds a foremost place. Mr. Hansen resides on section eleven, township eighteen, range fifteen, in Valley county. Chris Hansen was born in the village of Fried- ensberg, near Copenhagen, province of Sealand, Denmark, February 19, 1840, where he received his education and grew to his manhood years. He served in the army from the spring of 1862 to the fall of 1864, and during this time participated in the war with Russia. In 1868 he came to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York in the ' ' Cym- bria, " which was lost on its next trip. Pie came west and first located in Dodge county, Nebraska, several years later taking up a homestead in Saunders county. He came to Valley county in 1882, purchasing the west half of section eleven, township eighteen, range fifteen, which was rail road land, and this is still his residing place ; here he has a good home and a fine grain and stock farm. Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Christine Hansen in Denmark in March, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have five children living, whose names are as follows: Henry,- of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; Carl, Annie, who is the wife of Andrew Johnson and lives in Cherry county, Nebraska; William and Louie. 410 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Hansen is indeed one of the very first old settlers of eastern Nebraska, he having come to Dodge county forty-four years ago when this re gion was but an open, unbroken prairie, inhabited by Indians and wild game. Few people have had the honor and opportunity to have seen so many years of Nebraska life and the ever evoluting changes which time brings from the sod dugout in which the family first lived to a comfortable farm dwelling with good barns and outbuildings protected b,y orchards and groves. ANDREAS SCHWANK. Andreas Schwank of Madison, Nebraska, until recently an implement dealer, was one of the sub stantial business men of that place. He is a man of sterling citizenship who has met with deserved success in his business ventures, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact in a business or social way. Andreas Schwank, son of George and Mar garet (Ammer) Schwank, was born in Widenburg province, Germany, April 8, 1860, and was the sev enth in a family of nine children, six boys and three girls. Mr. Schwank has one brother who re sides one mile west of Madison, Nebraska; one brother in Platte county, Nebraska ; one brother in Springfield, Missouri ; and one sister in Omaha, Nebraska; two brothers died in Germany, and two sisters died in America. His father died in 1894, and his mother in 1882. In the spring of 1868, our subject came with his father and family to America, locating in Kankakee county, Illinois, for one year, and in May of 1869, they moved to Madison county, Ne braska, where the father, George Schwank, home steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in the southeast quarter of section twenty-three, township twenty-one, range two, west, which re mained the home place until 1885, when he retired and moved to Madison, where he lived until the time of his death. Andreas Schwank lived on his father's farm until 1888, when he went to Mad ison where he engaged in different enterprises. On September 17, 1889, Mr. Schwank was joined in wedlock to Miss Doretta Clausen, of Madison county, Nebraska, this union resulting in the birth of three children, named as follows: Manferd, Hilda and Doretta, all of whom are liv ing under the parental roof. Mrs. Schwank died December 4, 1895, survived by her husband and three children. In the earlier clays, Mr. Schwank was presi dent of the Madison Hook and Ladder company, and was an active member of the company for eighteen years. On February 14, 1897, Mr. Schwank was again married, to Sophia Stolle, of Madison county, Nebraska. They have one child, Selma J. Mr. Schwank passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of the early pioneer and is widely and favorably known. He well re members the early days of Madison county, when the nearest postoffice was thirty-five miles away, at Columbus, Nebraska, and from which place they bought all their provision. JEREMIAH SHETLER. One of the prominent old settlers of Sherman county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this biographical sketch. When but a young man, he showed his love of country by enlisting and serving for three years during the civil war. He gained an enviable war record, and was after wards for a time in business in Taylorville, Illi nois. Since that time he has made a name for himself in Sherman county as a successful farmer, and is now a resident of Loup City, having retired from active management of his estate. Mr. Shetler was born in Ohio, on May 29, 1834, and was the fifth in a family of ten children bora to Henry and Mary Hammel Shetler. Of this large family, only five are left, two sisters in Indiana, one brother in Illinois, one in Sioux county, Nebraska, and the subject of this sketch. The father, Henry Schutlar, as the name was orig inally spelled, was a veteran of the war of 1812, and was born in Pennsylvania, of German de scent; he died in 1867 in Illinois. The mother, Mary Hammel before marriage, of Scotch-Irish de scent, was also a native of Pennsylvania ; she passed away in New Philadelphia, Ohio, in 1887. Our subscriber received his limited education in the local schools of his native state, and in his young manhood learned wagon and carriage mak ing, working at his trade in Ohio, until 1857, when he went to Illinois for a short time. Later, he went to Keosauqua, Iowa, and during his resi dence there, he was married on February 8, 1858, to Miss Matilda A. Hunt, a native of Pennsyl vania. He went next to Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri, and after four years' residence in this state, the family came to Taylorville, Illi nois. This was at the outbreak of the civil war, and the Missourians at that time being intolerant, his life was in danger, as his sympathies were with the north. Being a fine marksman, his neigh bors stood somewhat in awe of him in a fair fight, but they were treacherous and apt to kill in the night. In August, 1862, Mr. Shetler enlisted in Com pany A, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Vol unteers, and served until the close of the war, be ing mustered out at Camp Harker, Tennessee, in June, 1865. He was in a number of decisive en gagements and during the winter of 1863-64 and being one of the finest mechanics in the army, was engaged in building pontoons at Nashville, Ten nessee. After the war was over, he returned to Illi nois and engaged in the manufacture of the fa mous Schutlar carriages and wagons and until compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. 411 the spring of 1883, when he came to Sherman county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in sections twenty and twenty-one, township fifteen, range sixteen, and this homestead was his home for many years. At the same time, he also took a timber claim of like acreage near the homestead. He still owns the original three hundred and twenty acres. On April 27, 1887, our subscriber was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha Rouse, who was a native of Tennessee, but grew up in the state of Illinois. They have but one child, Walter, who is married and living on the old Shetler homestead. In June, 1906, Mr. Shetler retired from active labor and removed to Loup City, where he has built a comfortable home, and where he is now en joying the results of his early toil. He is a man of much native ability and is respected by all who know him. He has considerable artistic talent and has executed many fine pieces of furniture and wood carving, heads of dogs, deer, lions, and other animals. For many years he has served as a member of the school board in his home district and has also held office as justice of the peace. In politics Mr. Shetler has been successively re publican, populist and democrat. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and chapter at Taylorville, never having transferred his membership. For over sixty-five years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shetler first lived in a dugout with a sod front, the most primitive residence of the pio neers. At the time of his residence in Missouri, during the fifties, deer were plentiful on the Charitan river. On coming to Nebraska he killed one while on a trip to the Dismal River Valley. Often the family camped in that region to gather the wild fruit that grows there in profusion. While there they occasionally saw mountain lions, lynx and grey wolves, but were never mo lested by them. JUDGE ENSINE S. MILLER. The advent of Judge E. S. Miller, of Ran dolph, to Nebraska, dates from February 28, 1889, when he purchased a farm in Pierce county known as the Suckstorf ranch, two and a half miles west of Randolph. This he cultivated until the spring of 1898, when he rented theJand and moved into Randolph to make his home. He pur chased a cottage home in the south part of town and here takes life easy, as one may when life's work has been well done. Being still energetic and thrifty, he cannot endure idleness, so has asked and received at the hands of his fellow citi zens the office of justice of the peace, which he has efficiently filled for the past eight years. Mr. Miller was born in Wyoming county, New York, June 24, 1836, and lived in that state until his mother's death in 1850, since which time he has made his own way in the world and with creditable success. Coming west he found work at Neenah, Wisconsin, nearly one year, and went thence to Du Page county, Illinois, and while here met the girl whom he found indispensable, and for whom he later returned to make his wife. He retraced his steps to his native state and later found work in Ohio ; he traveled from time to time into seventeen states and in sixteen of them sojourned for a longer or shorter time. After his marriage in 1861, he settled down in Du Page county and opened a shoe store in Wheaton ; after the Chicago fire many of the big printing houses of the city came out to Wheaton to establish tem porary plants, and one of these catching fire, burned along with it part of Wheaton 's business district, including Mr. Miller's store. He came to Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, in 1872, and was in farming there for seventeen years, moving thence to Pierce county, Nebraska, as before stated. Mr. Miller is a son of Simeon B. and Julia Ann (Gates) Miller; the father, who died when Mr. Miller was quite young, was a native of the town of Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, whence he moved to New York; the mother was born in Connecticut, of Scotch descent. Mr. Miller was married near Wheaton, Illinois, January 1, 1861, to Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Ruth (Wright) Woodward, the former from Con necticut, the latter a native of Rutland county, Vermont. Mrs. Miller was born in Du Page county, Illinois, to which locality her parents emigrated in 1849, settling near Wheaton. The father died at the age of sixty-eight, and the mother attained the goodly span of seventy- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of four daughters: Vina, wife of Ed. A. Bark- doll of Longmont, Colorado; where the parents visited them in the summer of 1910 ; Julia, a very successful teacher of music until her marriage to Oran McCrary in 1891, was left a widow in 1897, and in 1910 married Walter S. Hamilton, and re sides in Randolph; Carrie, a former teacher in the Randolph schools, married Daniel Kerr, who died in 1910, and resides in Randolph; Blanche was a successful teacher in Cedar and Pierce counties until her marriage in 1911 to William Ranard, and lives near Randolph. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, extended into Iowa, and though severe, was not so bad as to prevent Mr. Miller attending to his stock. Un like many of the early comers to the west, Mr. and Mrs. Miller never found it necessary to live in a log or sod house, a comfortable frame dwelling having always fallen to their lot; nor did they ever have to move by covered wagon, railroads having penetrated to the region in which they settled prior to their coming. It is pleasant to know that after a life of in dustry and economy Mr. Miller is enabled to live in comfort in his declining years. Mr. Miller is a republican in politics, having supported the prin ciples of that party since its organization. 412 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. LUTELLUS L. FRAZER. Lutellus L. Frazer, of Central City, Nebraska, is widely known as an earnest and reliable citi zen, and a man who is to be relied upon and trusted. Mr. Frazer was born in Pennsylvania, May 21, 1836, the son of Alexander and Amy (Long) Frazer, being the eldest of nine children, and is now the only one living. His father died in Au gust, 1871, and the mother in 1891, both in Penn sylvania. Mr. Frazer received his education in the home schools, and later carried on tailoring. On June 27, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, receiving his discharge July 17, 1865, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Frazer 's first term of enlistment expired in December, 1863, and immediately re-enlisted and veteranized in the same company and regiment. Decisive battles engaged in were at Chancelor- ville, Virginia, Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta campaign, march to the sqa with Sherman, through the Carolinas to Wash ington with Sherman, and many minor engage ments and skirmishes. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington in June, 1865. At one time he was taken prisoner while scouting and held for three weeks in Virginia. After war Mr. Frazer returned to his home state and en gaged in mercantile business for ten years, then followed farming for three years. On July 4, 1867, Mr. Frazer was united in matrimony to Miss Eliza J. Newmyer, of Pennsyl vania. In March, of 1878, our subject came with his wife and family to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded eighty acres in section twenty-six, township fourteen, range seven, seven miles northwest of Central City, which remained the home place until 1908, when Mr. Frazer re tired from the farm and moved to Central City and purchased a good home where they now live. Mr. Frazer served in various offices of his school district number twenty-six nearly all through his Nebraska years. Mr. and Mrs. Frazer have had four children: Howard M., lost in the first rush to the Klondike gold fields; Jessie M., wife of C. K. Sinsel has eight children, and lives four miles west of Central City; John N., resides in Basin, Wyoming; and Arthur L., married, has three children, and lives five and a half miles northwest of Central City. Mr. and Mrs. Frazer are among the early set tlers of Merrick county, have passed through all tbe trying experiences and hardships incident to pioneer life, and are widely and favorably known. They are both members of the Baptist church and Mr. Frazer is a member of Buford Post Grand Army of the Republic of Central City. He is a republican in politics. JOSEPH H. BARKER. Pew men remain in the west who have seen it in as early a stage of its development, or as many phases of its varied career, as the venerable Joseph H. Barker, and, after the storm and stress of a lifetime on the plains, still retain their facul ties as little impaired as he. He has reached nearly four score years, most of his career spent on the frontier, where he has experienced every vicissitude of the pioneer in the west. Joseph H. Barker was born in Russia, Herki mer county, New York state, on September 10, 1832, and is a son of Oliver and Ruth (Hubbard) Barker, the former killed by lightning when Joseph was but four years of age. Mrs. Barker married again, and in 1844 the family emigrated west, locating in Wisconsin, where they took up their residence in the primeval forest thirty-five miles from Milwaukee. The journey from the east was made by wagon and was necessarily long and tedious. The family, with the exception of Joseph remained in Wisconsin during the balance of their lives. Our subject lived with his mother until he reached the age of fifteen, then went to Milwaukee to make his own way. He had two dollars and fifty cents in his pockets, given him by his mother, which was all the money he had in the world, and all that his mother and a step sister could obtain. On reaching his destination he secured work on a lake vessel plying the great lakes during the summer season, and in the high seas through the winter, remaining at this work for five years. The year 1853 he spent, with his mother in Wisconsin, and the following spring struck out for the west, locating at Mankato, Minnesota, where he clerked in a hotel for a time, after wards becoming proprietor of a billiard hall, continuing as such until the call to arms in 1861. He enlisted at Port Snelling, Minnesota, on No vember 25, of that year, in Company B, Brack ett 's Minnesota Battalion of Cavalry, which was later consolidated with Company I, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, and they were mustered out in Decem ber, 1863, but re-enlisted as veterans at Pulaski Tennessee, on January 1, 1864, serving contin uously up to June, 1866. Brackett 's Brigade saw the longest term of service of any company sent out of Minnesota, and, so far as is known, longer than any body of troops from any of the states during the war. The regiment was formed of battalions from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. They proceeded to Benton Barracks at St. Louis, and were soon sent to the front, reaching Fort Henry the day after it was re duced by the gunboats. They participated in the fights around Fort Donaldson, and were in three engagements, followed by the battles of Pitts burg Landing, Siege of Corinth, Lockbridge Mills, and the Tullahoma Campaign, before they were ordered to the northwest to subdue the Indians in 1864. Major Brackett 's Battalion was ordered MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM FOSTER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 413 to join General Sully at Sioux City, marching across the country from Fort Snelling to the ren dezvous. From Fort Randall spuads were de tailed to the various settlements for protection against the redskins, and later Mr. Barker was one of the detachment in which were the first white men to cross the Bad Lands to the Yellow stone river. On starting, they were accompanied by thirty friendly Indians as scouts, and were attacked by hostile tribes, who killed a number of their company, including the chief scout. After three days of privation, much of the time without water for themselves or their mounts, they came into the valley of the Yellowstone, where they were cheered by the whistle of a steamboat which had been sent from Sioux City up the river to bring them supplies. In 1865 their campaign extended as far west as Devil's Lake, returning to Fort Union, and in the spring of 1866 they marched back to Port Snelling, re ceiving honorable discharge from the service on June 1, of that year. In 1868 Mr. Barker went to Fort Randall and secured a clerkship with the military traders, Hamilton & Thompson, remaining with them until they lost their franchise, when he obtained a similar position with John W. Smith, an Indian trader, and filled it for two and a half years. They did business with the Spotted Tail Sioux, (now known as the Rosebud Indians), at Whet stone. When Mr. Smith also lost his franchise, our subject moved to Springfield, South Dakota, and kept a hotel for about one year, then followed farming for about the same length of time near the town. In 1874 he secured a franchise for trading with the Indians at the Santee Agency, and for eleven years operated the store and post- office at that point. He had previously taken an allotment of land under the Indian rights through his wife's relationship with the Sioux tribe, and stocked it with horses, cattle and hogs. On this tract he erected a substantial dwelling, costing $1,500, and his family occupied it while he ran the store. On resigning his rights at the Santee Agency he joined them, remaining on the place and accumulating considerable property, up to 1905, at which time he bought a comfortable cottage in Verdel. This he has improved with shrubbery and flowers, having beautiful lawns, etc., and is prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and plenty. Mr. Barker was married at Fort Randall on October 9, 1871, to Miss Fannie Tackett, who was born at Fort Laramie, and is a daughter of George L. Tackett, a native of Kentucky, of French descent, while her mother was of French and Indian blood. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have four living children : William J., engaged in the real estate business at Gregory, South Dakota; Mabel, wife of Charles Black, living in South Dakota also; Maude, wife of E. J. Dunlap; and Byron J., well know dealer in horses residing in Tripp county, South Dakota. He is an expert judge of horses, also a master of them, and se cured first prize in a roping contest held in his vicinity in 1910. Mr. Barker is a democrat, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Niobrara. WILLIAM FOSTER. It is now over thirty-eight years since William Foster became a resident of Merrick county, Ne braska, and since that time he has been promi nently assocciated with agricultural interests of this part of the state, and as an old settler and one of its worthy citizens he is prominently known. William Foster is a son of Alexander P. and Mary (Crawford) Foster. He was born in Abbe ville county, South Carolina, September 20, 1828, and was the eldest of nine children; he has one sister residing in Sparta, Illinois, and another in Denver, Colorado. His father died February 11, 1871, and the mother died in July, 1907, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years, eight months and six days, both having passed away in Sparta, Illinois. Mr. Foster went with his people to Illi nois, where his father engaged in the mercantile business at Sparta, and here our subject received his education in the common schools, and later engaged in farming. On January 18, 1849, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Nancy L. McDonald, also of South Carolina, who was born February 13, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had five children, two of whom are living: John P., married, has two children and lives in Clarks, Nebraska; James L., married, has ten children and lives in Oregon ; William T., deceased in 1873, at the age of eighteen years; Alexander P., died September 24, 1858 ; and Alva S., died April 28, 1862. On August 13, 1862, Mr. Poster enlisted in Com pany G, Eightieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He partici pated in many of the most decisive battles of the war, among them being tbe following: Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862 ; Milton Heights, Gods- den, Alabama, May 2, 1863 ; Sand Mountain, Day's Gap, Alabama, April 30, 1863; Look Out Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, (in which battle Mr. Foster was wounded) ; Galla tin, Knoxville, Rocky Flace, and Nash ville. Mr. Foster's regiment was surren dered by Colonel Straight as prisoners of war to Brigadier General Forest at Cedar Bluffs, Alabama, May 3, 1863. They were prisoners of war for about eighteen days, then parolled and went home for a few days, when they were ex changed and reported for duty at St. Louis, Mis souri. Mr. Foster received an honorable dis charge at Camp Harker, Tennessee, June 10, 1865. After the war Mr. Foster returned to Illi- 414 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. nois and again engaged in farming. In the fall of 1873, with his family, he came to Merrick county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-eight, town ship fifteen, range eight, which remained his place for eleven years ; and then moved on to an other farm which he had purchased in the meantime, just north of Palmer. In May of 1886, Mr. Poster retired from farm life and moved to Central City and purchased a home in the south west part of town, where they lived until April, 1908, when they moved to their present home. It seldom occurs that two people have traversed together the road of this earthly life so many years, live to enjoy their later days to gether, and it is surely ideal to pass one's last years surrounded by one's helpmeet, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Poster have passed their sixty-second wed ding anniversary, and they have seven great grandchildren. They are widely known and be loved by all. Mr. and Mrs. Poster are members of the Meth odist Episcopal church. Mr. Foster is a member of Buford Post Grand Army of the Republic and his wife belongs to the Women's Relief Corps. Portraits of this worthy couple will be found on another page of this volume. CHARLES H. DAVIS. (Deceased.) Charles H. Davis, deceased, was one of Nance county's early settlers and worthy citizens who have done their full share in the building up of that region, using liberally his money and influ ence to make of it a thriving agricultural sec tion. Mr. Davis was born in Albia, Iowa, July 20, 1853, and was a son of William and Ellen Davis who were pioneers in that state, and raised their family there. He received a good education, pursuing the study of law in his young manhood, and afterwards practicing his profession in Iowa. In March, 1881, he married Elizabeth Allen, also a native of the state of Iowa, the event occurring at the home of the bride's mother, at Newton, Iowa, and they made that vicinity their home up to 1887. At that time, accompanied by his wife and two sons they came to Nance county, Ne braska. They settled on a ranch and remained for five years, then located in Fullerton, where Mr. Davis purchased a residence. He at first ran a grocery store, and later opened a mercantile establishment, continuing up to 1902, when owing to ill health he was obliged to retire from active labor. Mr. Davis departed this life on March 31, 1904, leaving a competence for his family, and his demise was deeply mourned by a large circle of acquaintances. He was well known in public life both in Nebraska and Iowa, having held various offices while living in the latter state, serving as mayor of Chariton, Iowa, for one term, also was city clerk and deputy county clerk. Mr. Davis was survived by his wife and three children, named as follows: William A., Tom B., and Karl P., the first and last mentioned living with their mother in the old homestead at Fuller- ton, while Tom B., an attorney, is deputy county treasurer of Nance county. Mrs. Davis' father is dead, but her mother is still living at the ad vanced age of eighty-three years. The Davis family located in Iowa in 1845, at which time that state was in the early stages of settlement, and they were among the prominent, pioneers. Their family consisted of two girls and six boys, Mrs. Davis' sister now living in Iowa, four brothers in that state, one in Nebraska, and an other at Atlanta, Georgia. The parents of our subject, were charter members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Chariton, Iowa, which church has been rebuilt three times since its organiza tion. The mother of Mr. Davis, at the age of seventy years, wrote a complete history of the church, and this book was published and eagerly read by the old residents of the locality. PETER H. ANDERSEN. Peter H. Andersen, postmaster of Naper, is the eldest of a family of sturdy, energetic brothers who have been well and favorably known in Boyd county since prior to the organization of that political division of the state. John is a mer chant of Naper, of whom a sketch appears on another page of this work ; and William holds the contract for carrying the mail between Naper and the railroad at St. Charles, South Dakota. Peter H. Andersen was born near the city of Sehleswig, in the province of that name, now a part of the German Empire, on May 19, 1859, and up to the time of his emigration to the states, was almost continuously in school. Sailing from Hamburg in 1879, he landed, after a voyage of two weeks, in New York and came on to Benton county, Iowa. He came in advance of his parents, who followed with the remaining children in the spring of 1880. For several years Peter found work in Benton county, and about 1882 went to California, working in a number of cities through out the state, but most of the time in San Fran cisco, where he was employed for several years on the street railway. In 1888 Mr. Andersen rejoined his home folks, who had in the meantime migrated to Holt county, Nebraska. Here for four years he farmed the abandoned fields of settlers who had become discouraged and left their farms to return to the prairies from which they had. but recently been broken. In 1892 he crossed the Niobrara and filed on a homestead claim three miles south of Naper ; this proved to be school land and had to be abandoned, so he bought the relinquishment of a COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 415 quarter section five miles west of town, and in two years commuted, securing a title to the land. During these years he worked at the blacksmith's trade and dealt in implements, driving into town in the morning and returning at night. He lived in the country until 1901, when, hav ing been elected sheriff of the county, he moved to Butte and lived there for four years. On March 8, 1907, he moved to Naper and opened a general store, which he sold in 1908. He had been ap pointed postmaster while in the store, and since 1908 has given his entire attention to the duties of his official position. Mr. Andersen was married in Belle Plaine, Towa, December 25, 1884, to Miss Mary Schmidt, daughter of Clause Schmidt, who emigrated from Schleswig-Holstein with his family to America. Of nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Andersen, seven are living. They are : John, George, Ernest, Clarence, Alma, Gertrude, and Gladys. Mr. Andersen has had a somewhat more varied experience than the usual settler in the west, for in addition to prairie fires, blizzards, hailstorms and tornadoes, he was living near the track of the cyclone that passed down Keya Paha Valley. Two of his brother's children, besides five others, were lost in the storm and many were injured, and the latter he helped rescue and attend until their recovery. Like most of the early settlers, Mr. Andersen has lived in a sod house, and later had a frame addition built to it, hauling the lum ber from Stuart, thirty-five miles across the prairies. Mr. Andersen has all the qualities that go to make the westerner a companionable, loveable man. He is generous, broad in his views, cordial and public-spirited ; the type of man of which the western country may be proud. Mr. Andersen is a republican in politics, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. IRA WHIPPLE. This gentleman was for- many years an agri culturalist of prominence in Boone county, own ing a fine farm in Oakland precinct, but is now retired from active labor and lives with his charming family in Petersburg, where he enjoys a pleasant home and is surrounded by every com fort and convenience of modern life. He has always been a man of untiring energy, and through industry and economy has built up a valuable property, now being classed among the eminently successful men of that part of Ne braska. Ira Whipple is the sixth child in the family of Philip and Sally Whipple, to whom eight were born. He first saw the light on September 6, 1833. The mother died in 1852, and her husband sur vived her by eleven years. His early childhood was spent in New York state, the place of his birth being Cattaraugus county, and in 1842 the entire family settled in Indiana, where he re ceived a common school education, later engaging in farming there. When he was about twenty-one years of age he returned to New York state, fol lowed farming there for two years, then went to Wisconsin and started to farm. He was married there, in Monroe county, on August 28, 1859, to Lucy Hazen, who was reared in that state, and the young pair made that their home for several years, moving into Minnesota in 1864, in April of that year Mr. Whipple enlisting in Company I, First Minnesota Regiment of Infantry, and serv ing until the close of the war. He took part in many famous battles and minor skirmishes, saw hard service, and was discharged from the army in July, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana. After leaving the army, Mr. Whipple returned to Minnesota and followed farming up to 1868, then returned to Wisconsin with his family, re maining up to 1872, when he came to Boone county, Nebraska. He made the trip with a team and wagon, driving across the plains the entire distance, the journey consuming five weeks, and while on the road their fourth son, Claude, was born. Mr. Whipple homesteaded on section thirty, township twenty-two, range seven, which tract remained the home place for twenty years. He also took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres and proved up on it. In 1892 he sold the homestead and purchased a quarter section of railroad land situated five miles west of Peters burg, this being their home for the following ten years, at which time our subject retired from active farm life and moved to Petersburg, pur chasing a good home in which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple had ten children, nine of whom are now living: Francis M., Casper W., Laura E., Charles H., Curtis C, Claude E., Fred H, Ethel M., Erwin R., and Ida C. Laura E. died in 1900; the others all live in Nebraska ex cept Casper W., who is in Colorado. Mrs. Whip ple died January 7, 1910. Our subject is classed among the very earliest settlers of his county, well remembering when antelope and deer ranged at will on the Nebraska plains. He helped in a large measure to produce the prosperity enjoyed in that region at the pres ent time, and well merits the success and esteem which is accorded him. In the early years Mr. Whipple served as director of school district num ber eighteen for a good many years. JAMES STEPHENS. A representative citizen of northeastern Ne braska is James Stephens, who has occupied his present farm on section eighteen, township twenty-seven, range two, since 1885. Mr. Stephens may reasonably be counted as one of the pio neers of the county, and he has always borne his 416 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. part in advancing the general welfare and pros perity of his community. He has a substantial and comfortable home, and his land is in a high state of cultivation and productiveness. Mr. Stephens was born in Indiana in 1856, and is a son of Spencer and Nancy Stephens, both natives of Indiana. The parents had five children, who were all natives of the same state. Spencer Stephens died on his farm in Indiana in 1871, and Nancy Stephens died at Sheffield, Illinois, in 1880. In 1875 James Stephens removed to Sheffield, Illinois, and he moved six years later to Carroll county, northwestern Iowa, where he rented land until coming to Nebraska. In 1885, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Wayne county, which was then partly improved, and since then he has been employed in adding to its value and productiveness. He has a five-acre grove, includ ing shade and fruit trees. Mr. Stephens now owns two hundred and forty acres, but formerly had more. He has built all the buildings on his place, and improved it in many ways. In 1878, Mr. Stephens was united in mar riage with Miss Maria Fisher, daughter of John and Margaret Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of ten chil dren, namely : Orie, Edgar, Laura, Oscar, Archie, James, Stella, Viola, Irvin, and Spencer, all living. Mr. Stephens is well known throughout the county and has a reputation for uprightness and fair dealing in matters of business. He and his wife are prominent in social circles and have a wide circle of friends. They are interested in educational matters and other public move ments, and represent the highest interests of the locality in which they live. GEORGE E. WILLARD. George E. Willard, son of Paul and Nancy (Pollett) Willard, was born in Winchester, New Hampshire, February 11, 1839. He was the fourth son of nine children, and has one sister residing in the state of Connecticut, one sister in the state of Massachusetts, and one in the state of New Hamp shire; he also /has two brothers, one resides in Genoa, Nebraska, and the other in Oklahoma. The father died April 25, 1852, and the mother in April, 1882. In the spring of 1857, our subject went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he remained about six months, and from thence 'going to Two Rivers, Wisconsin where he worked in a woodenware fac tory. In 1862, he went to Grand Haven Michigan, where he engaged in the manufacture of wooden- ware, and was burned out in the spring of 1869; and in October of the same year Mr. Willard came west to Nebraska where he located at Genoa, where his brother, D. A. Willard, had located a year or two previously and was engaged in trading with Indians. Our subject took up a pre-emption claim of eighty acres, three miles east of Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska, and also purchased five hundred and seventy-five acres adjoining the town of Genoa, where he engaged in the stock business. In 1872 he came to Columbus, retaining his farm interests and continuing in the stock business. On February 21, 1882, Mr. Willard was mar ried in St. Edwards, Nebraska, to Miss Catherine Coyle, who was born October 11, 1852, in Utica, New York state and who came to Nebraska with her parents Patrick and Margaret (Ely) Coyle, in 1872. Mrs. Willard 's father died in June, 1904, and her mother in April, 1892. She has one brother, John T. Coyle, residing in St. Edwards, Nebraska, and one sister, Mrs. David Spencer, who resides in St. Edwards, Nebraska. Miss Coyle, now Mrs. Willard, was the first school teacher of St. Edwards, Nebraska, where she tausrht for several years. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Willard resided in Columbus, and in the spring of 1896 moved to St. Edwards, Ne braska, where they purchased land and engaged in farming, having four hundred acres under culti vation and some stock land. In 1905, Mr. Willard retired and moved to Columbus, Nebraska, where he bought a fine home, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Willard have had three children, whose names are as follows : George P., who lives in Pierre, South Dakota ; William C, and Margaret L., both of whom are under the parental roof. Mr. Willard has been prosperous and success ful, owing one thousand and eighty acres of land in Nebraska and Kansas. He has lived the pioneer life in Michigan, where he homesteaded; in Wis consin, and also in Nebraska, where he is widely and favorably known. Mr. Willard has been a member of the city council of Columbus since 1907, and enjoys the friendship and popularity of a host of people. HUGH McKAY. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Antelope county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Hugh McKay. For many years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in section twenty-six, township twenty- four, range seven, and has done a large part in developing the resources of that part of the coun try, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a comfortable home and valu able estate, and is classed among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county. Mr. McKay is a native of Antrim county, Ire land, being born May 15, 1836, in Ulster village, in the north of Ireland. He is the son of Hugh and Jennie (Kenny) McKay, who were i natives of Ulster village, County Antrim, Ireland. In 1868, our subject left his native land and came to America, sailing from Belfast to Liverpool, from where he embarked on the steamship "Levesho" for New York, and after landing June 7, 1868, in COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 417 that city, he immediately started for the west, settling in LaSalle county. Illinois, where he lived ten years. In the fall of 1878 Mr. McKay came to Antelope county, Nebraska, by way of Des Moines, Iowa, driving the entire distance from Illinois, and after arriving here he took up a homestead, making the usual crude improvements possible in those days, such as building a sod house, etc., and experienced the many incon veniences and hardships incident to those times. Lumber was a very scarce commodity in those days, the railroad termination was then Fremont, Columbus being the nearest market place, seventy- five miles distant. Deer and antelope were plenti ful in those days. Mr. McKay coming in the very earliest days of Nebraska's settlement, built and lived in two different sod houses before lumber could be had. In 1855 Mr. McKay was married to Miss Jane Patton of Ireland, this marriage taking place in Ireland. Four children were born to this union, whose names are as follows : Hugh, who is married to Miss Margaret Paul; William, married to Miss Mclntyre; James, who is married to Miss Ada Meyers; and Alexandra, married to Miss Mattie Mclntyre. In 1866 Mrs. McKay died deeply mourned by her husband and family and kind neighbors and friends. Mr. McKay remained eighteen months in Ireland after his wife's death, when leaving his four small children with his father, Hugh McKay, who came to America one year later than our subject, he sailed for the United States. On December 23, 1875, Mr. McKay again was married, the bride being Miss Jane Paul, and Mr. and Mrs. McKay are the parents of two children : Jennie, wife of Mr. Charles Green; and Lizzie, wife of Claude Green. Mr. and Mrs. McKay and family have a wide circle of good true friends and neighbors. JUDGE DOUGLAS CONES. Judge Douglas Cones is one of the best known residents of Pierce county, and has been a leading attorney in that vicinity for many years. He is prominent in business and political circles, has served two terms as county attorney, having been appointed district judge in 1899 to fill the va cancy created by the resignation of William V. Allen, on his appointment to the United States senate to fill a vacancy arising by the death of United States Senator Hayward. Douglas Cones was born on April 26, 1865, in Scott county, Iowa, and is a son of W. W. Cones who is a pioneer of northeastern Nebraska. The family settled in West Point in 1875 ; two years later moved to Wisner, and there our subject re ceived his early education, afterwards attending Oberlin college for two years. In the fall of 1885, he entered the railway mail service, running from Missouri Valley to Chad ron. After two years' service with the North western, he was transferred to the Union Pacific, his work occupying the early morning and late evening hours, and during the day his time was spent studying law in the office of Sullivan & Reeder, at Columbus, Mr. Sullivan being judge of the state supreme court. Mr. Cones was ad mitted to the bar April 31, 1889, and established an office at Pierce, practicing in the state and federal courts. Mr. Cones was married at Pierce, July 15, 1899, to Grace Lee, who is a native of Sac county, Towa, her parents being born in England. To our subject and his wife two children were born : Melba, who died at the age of thirteen months, and Dorothy, now a charming and accomplished young woman. W. W. Cones, the father of our subject, was one of the best known pioneers in the west, having been engaged in numerous extensive enterprises at various ¦ times, including banking and real estate, speculation, and handled large tracts of Nebraska land, he being instrumental in influenc ing many to settle in this state. He owned and operated the first bank opened in Wisner. He was living, retired, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the time of his death, January 17, 1910. His wife was Miss Lorinda Woods, a native of Tennessee, daughter of Reverend William H. Woods, who served as chaplain in an Iowa regiment during the war ,his wife being a cousin of Sam Houston, of Texas fame. Judge Cones is a staunch democrat, and has been honored by his party with two terms as county attorney, also has held other official posi tions. MARTIN C. MORTENSEN. Martin C. Mortensen, although a native of Denmark, has spent practically his entire life in Howard county, Nebraska, coming here with his parents when a very small child, and is now proprietor of a fine farm in Warsaw precinct. Since reaching manhood he has been constantly identified with the agricultural interests of that locality, until a history of its development would be incomplete without mention of his labors and the pioneer experiences through which he has passed. Mr. Mortensen was born in Denmark, Feb ruary 18, 1873, and came to America when little more that a babe. The family located in Howard county immediately on arriving in Nebraska, the father purchasing the homestead privilege and improvements of the Paul Anderson claim, and they carried on that place for many years. Mar tin received his early education in the country schools, putting in all his spare time on the home farm, and in 1893 attended the Western Normal school at Lincoln, for one term, afterwards at tending college in Fremont for two years. In 1897 he started farming on his own account, and 418 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. is now owner of two hundred and forty acres of choice land purchased from the Mortensen estate, his home residence being located on section twenty-one, township fourteen, range eleven. He has the entire place improved in good shape with substantial buildings, and every kind of ma chinery for running a model farm, also has planted many shade and ornamental trees and has a fine orchard. On April 11, 1900, Mr. Mortensen was united in marriage to Anna M. Obermiller, the ceremony taking place at Nysted. Miss Obermiller was the daughter of an old pioneer family in Howard county, and is a young woman of charming per sonality. They have five children, as follows: Myra, Lillian, Edward C, Mildred, Evelyn, and Elvera, who form a most interesting family circle. Mr. Mortensen is a fine young man, indus trious and progressive, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has to do. At the present time he is serving as director of school district number sixty-one. CYRUS H. SNOW. Prominent among the enterprising and pro gressive citizens of Valley county, Nebraska, and among the number who have been associated with the very early history of this part of the state, their connection of it running back to frontier times and days, is Cyrus H. Snow. He has seen Valley county as a dry and thinly set tled wilderness, and has witnessed the progressive steps of its conversion into the prosperous com munity now the delight of the west. Cyrus H. Snow was born in Alleghany county, New York, April 23, 1847, and was second of three children in the family of Calvin and Lucinda (Buell) Snow, who had two sons and one daughter. The father was born September 18, 1815, and died in Michigan, November 14, 1868; and the mother was born June 30, 1820, and died May 6, 1880, her death occurring in Valley county, Nebraska. After the father's death, our subject's mother and brother William also be came residents of Valley county, the brother later returning to Michigan, where he still re sides; his sister is married to Stillwell Conner and lives in Ord, Nebraska. The Snow family moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, going on a farm near Union Mills, and in 1863 they moved to St. Joseph county, Michigan, locating near Centerville. While living here, the father and son, Cyrus, enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Battery and went to Kalamazoo to be mustered in, but owing to the father being over age and the son under age, they were not accepted. Cyrus H. Snow and sister, Mary Zelnora, came overland by team from St. Joe county, Michigan, to Valley county, Nebraska, in the summer of 1878, reaching Valley county in September, tak ing up a homestead on the northwest quarter of section two, township eighteen, range fifteen, and this is still the home farm of Mr. Snow, he being one of the very few that still live on the original homestead. Mr. Snow first farmed the Peter Mor tensen farm for two years, living in a log house, and since that time has resided on his own farm, which is a fine one, well improved. Here for seven years they lived in a sod house until pros perity enabled them to build a more pretentious one. Mr. Snow was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Jackson, in Ord, July 6, 1879. Mrs. Snow was born in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, Jan uary 18, 1859, a daughter of Eli and Margaret (Johnson) Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Snow haye had six children, namely; Minnie Belle, wife of Lin coln Crouch, has one child and lives in Sargent, Nebraska; Prank B., at home; James E., also at home; Julia Etta, died June 13, 1887; Archie A., at home ; and Gerald D., died January 17, 1892. Mr. Snow was one of the first actual settlers in this portion of Valley county, and has had much to do with its development. He and his family have had much to do along social and educational lines. They have passed through the different Nebraska years, and now enjoy the prosperity of their later years. They have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Snow has experienced all the incidents of pioneer life, including the fighting of prairie fires, the drought of 1894, and a severe hail storm two years later. Mr. Snow is a republican and a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur. WILLIAM SEIP. William Seip, who resides in section thirty, township twenty-four, range two, Madison county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this region who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. William Seip is a native Nebraskan, his birth occurring March 21, 1878, on his father's home stead farm, where they now live. He is a son of Leonard and Minnie (Touro) Seip, who were married in 1865. The father is a native of Ger many, his birth taking place in the province of Hesse, September 24, 1836. The mother is a na tive of Pommerania, Germany, and was born October 15, 1848; and died December 28, 1909. Our subject was fourth in the family of four chil dren, four of whom are living: Adam, William, deceased ; Emma, and William J., our subject. Mr. Seip's father left his native land in 1864, embarking on a sailboat at Bremen, and was on the sea forty-three days. He first went to Canada, remaining there but one year, later going to Mich igan, where he lived for eight years. In 1873 the father, with his family, started for the far west, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 419 as Nebraska was then known, to take advantage of the cheap land to be had there at that time. He came to Madison county, where he bought the Sehrotte homestead, which is located in sections thirty and thirty-one, township twenty-four, range two. On this land they built a log house in which the family lived for six years. In those days, Columbus and Wisner, several miles distant. were the nearest market places, and as ox teams were about the only mode of travel then, it took several days to make the round trip to market and return. Deer and antelope were plentiful at that time, and frequently could be seen in herds grazing on the open prairie. Many hardships and discouragements were endured by the pioneer settler of this country ; the grasshopper pests that infested this region in the early days were about the greatest source of anxiety that had to be met, and for three successive years the crops of this section were a total failure on account of the hordes of these grasshoppers that swept down and destroyed every vistage of vegetation; this made it very hard for our family to get along and for a time they suffered many hardships on account of same; but patience and perseverance have brought their full reward, and where pri vation and hardship once reigned there is now plenty and comfort. As late as 1894 our subject lost the entire season's crops by the hot winds that were a result of the severe drouth. Mr. Seip was united in marriage July 17, 1907, to Miss Martha Beckdorff, and Mr. and Mrs. Seip are the parents of one child, a daughter, Emma. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. They are mem bers of the Baptist church, and Mr. Seip is a democrat and a Modern Woodman. CHARLES VAN SKIKE. During the last fifteen years or so, one of the most prominent members of the farming commu nity in this section of Nebraska, has been the above, perhaps most widely known as the pro prietor of the Fair View Stock Farm. He is uni versally respected and has met with unbounded success, both in genreal farming and stock rais ing. Charles Van Skike was born in Bartholemew county, near Columbus, Indiana, on October 4, 1860, being the third of six children in the family of David R. and Margaret (McCallip) Van Skike. Charles grew up on the Indiana farm, attending the little district school regularly, and helping manfully with his share of the work on the farm. In the spring of 1879, David Van Skike, with his wife and five of the children came to Howard county, Nebraska, meeting there the other son, James, who had gone first. Mr. Van Skike also had three brothers who had settled there in 1872, being the original homesteaders. He joined them and purchased railroad land on the county line between Howard and Greeley counties. The en tire family remained here until the dry year of 1894, when all except two sons, James and Charles, moved to the Pacific coast, settling in Eugene, Oregon. They afterwards moved again to Everett, Washington, and here David Van Skike and his wife lived until the time of their death, which occurred in 1908-1909, respectively. Charles Van Skike, the subject of this sketch, remained on the home farm with his father, until about his twenty-fourth year. In November, 1888, he was married to Miss Carrie Scott, the youngest child of Samuel C. and Caroline (Ray- dure) Scott, old settlers of this county. In the fall of 1892, Mr. Van Skike purchased eighty acres in section thirty-three, township eighteen, range twelve, and is now the owner of two hundred and eleven acres, which is known as the Fair View Stock Farm. He has a fine, comfortable home here, with all modern appoint ments, and his farm is well equipped with sub stantial buildings and improvements. He has been especially successful in handling thorough bred improved Chester White swine. With the exception of a few months in 1884, which were spent in Colorado, Mr. Van Skike has made his home in Nebraska continuously. Al though now one of the most prosperous farmers in this section, yet he as well as others, suffered through the dry year of 1894, when so many gave up and left the state. He is a much esteemed citizen and has aided materially in the develop ment of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Van Skike have had seven chil dren, six of whom are living : They were named as follows : Samuel Carl, James Walter, Mary, Francis, Fred, Edward, deceased; and Maude. In polities Mr. Van Skike is independent of party lines. He is a member of the Modern Woodman of America. His first dugout, in which he lived three years, had a dirt roof and floor; the second residence, a sod house with a board roof, was occupied two years when he built a good frame dwelling. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Van Skike was ministering to a sick friend and a dreary night it proved to be. WILLIAM ALFRED WICKETT. In compiling a list of the influential citizens of Cedar county, Nebraska, who have become identified with the development of the agricul tural interests of that region, a prominent place is accorded the name of the above gentleman. Mr. Wickett has been a resident of this county for a number of years, owning a comfortable home in section twenty-one, township twenty- nine, range three. He has built up a good farm and has gathered about him the comforts and many of the luxuries of life and is reaping the reward of his many years of earnest labor. Mr. Wickett is a native of Canada, where he 420 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. was born in 1861. His father, A. Wickett, came from England when but a small boy, and his mother was a native of Canada. Our subscriber remained at home for a number of years, helping his parents. He received his education in Canada. Believing that even greater opportunities ex isted in the United States than in Canada, he came to Filmore county, Minnesota, in 1882, but remained there only one year, and concluded to locate in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, where he took up a homestead and tree claim, remaining for twelve years. He came to Cedar county, Ne braska, in 1896, and bought what was known as the Charles Holcomb homestead, which farm he still occupies. He has made extensive improvements on the place since it came into his possession, and he has now a farm which is quite as good as any to be found in that locality. One noticeable fea ture about his place which attracts the attention of every chance passer-by, is the thrifty grove and orchard, which in all comprises about seven acres. In 1890, Mr. Wickett was married in Louisi ana to Miss Lena Fuller, of Hancock county, Iowa. Four children have come to bless their home, to whom they have given the following names : Nellie M., Allen E., Verner A., and Wini fred B. Mr. Wickett is a republican, but is not bound to the party on all occasions. WILLIAM P. AGLER. The present commercial and agricultural pros perity enjoyed by the majority of the people of Nebraska is due to the efforts of the men of ambi tion and determination who settled in that state while it was undeveloped, and the soil was in its virgin state. Among the pioneers of Wayne county, is W. P. Agler, who is now located on a well cultivated farm on section twenty-five, town ship twenty-six, range four, and is one of the lead ing men of his community. Mr. Agler was born in the Keystone state, July 21, 1835, a son of Jerome and Sarah (Brit- tain) Agler, the father of German lineage, and the mother of English descent. The parents were born in the state of Pennslyvania, and married there. They had nine children. Mr. Agler received his early education in his native state, and in 1851 accompanied his parents to Illinois. He was reared to farm work, and to the habits of industry and thrift which have gov erned his later years in making a home for him self, and winning his own way in the world. In April, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Agler started for Nebraska, coming by rail to Missouri Valley, Iowa, and from there driving through to Wayne county. They first secured a homestead a mile and a half northwest of his present home, on sec tion fourteen, township twenty-six, range four, where he built a frame house of cottonwood lum ber, sixteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and this was his home for some time. During the first few years he suffered greatly from the depre dations of the grasshoppers, and endured many hardships, as did the other pioneers. He had often to fight the progress of prairie fires which threatened his home, his crops, and his stock, and endured many other trials. - There were many deer and antelope in the region at first, as well as a few elk, and his neighbors were few and dis tant. About 1892, he secured his present home, where he has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and has made many other improve ments, erecting suitable buildings for the care of his stock and grain and beautifying the place, until he now owns one of the valuable estates of the county. He is well known as a man of intelli gence and enterprise and is interested in whatever concerns the welfare and advancement of the peo ple. He and his wife have many friends in the county, where both are well known, and both are interested in the cause of education. Mr. Agler was united in marriage September 28, 1860, to Miss Minnie Harmon, of McHenry county, Illinois. She was born September 28, 1837, at Amhurst, New York, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Clarissa Harmon, natives of Buffalo, New York. Three children have been born to Mr. Agler and wife : Viola, wife of C. A. Fox, resides on a farm near Mr. and Mrs. Agler ; they have six children: Eva, wife of Andrew Folck, died January 22, 1911, leaving a husband and three children ; John, who married Annie Lueck, has four children, and lives in Benson, Nebraska. September 28, 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Agler cele brated their golden wedding anniversary at their home in Hunter precinct. Over two hundred and fifty of their relatives, friends and neighbors were present. The same couple who stood with them when they were .married in 1860 were present, and for the second time stood with them when they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Agler kept the first postoffice in Wayne county. It was known as Taft, and was named for Senator Taft of Nebraska. Mr. Agler had learned the blacksmith trade in Illinois, and ran the first shop of that kind in Wayne county. He was present at the meeting called for the purpose of organizing the county in 1871, and he carried the ballot box which contained the first votes cast in the county, to West Point. Mr. Agler operated the first harvester and binder ever used in Wayne county, and he and Judge Cyrus E. Hunter ran the first harvester and binder ever used west of the Missouri river, and shipped by way of Sioux City. Mr. Agler and Judge Hunter also ran the first threshing machine ever used in Wayne county. He has built five hundred and sixty-five bridges in Wayne county for the county. He worked for the county twenty-six years at bridge building. MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM P. AGLER AND FAMILY. Photo taken in front of their residence, which was the first Court House in Wayne county, Nebraska, located at LaPorte COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 421 Mr. Agler owns forty acres which was the county seat of Wayne county before it was moved to Wayne in 1882, and known as La Porte. His present residence is the building erected and used as the county court house. It is a large, substan tial brick structure and has a very imposing ap pearance. A picture of this building showing also the family group appears on another page. Mr. Agler rents his home to the county, and he is the county superintendent of the poor. La Porte was located on the land he now owns, and was a town of considerable size at the time it was voted to take the county seat to Wayne. All the build ings have been moved away, and the old court house, Mr. Agler 's residence, is all that is left of a once thriving town. JOSEPH W. VIEREGG. Prominent among the residents of Central City, Nebraska, is the gentleman above named who has lived in Merrick county the forty-five years of his life time. He has built up an envious reputation as a worthy citizen and business man, and is esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Vieregg was born in Merrick county, Ne braska, September 12, 1866, and is one of the first of Merrick county's native born sons. He was born on the farm, and about 1870, the family moved to Central City to reside ; this little village had but few homes and few people, and was then more commonly known as Lone Tree. Here our subject grew up, receiving a common school edu cation and also received advantages at the Ne braska Central College, located at Nebraska City. Mr. Vieregg left school in 1883, becoming connected with his father in the grain business, and also in the milling business until the year 1900, at which time he became connected with the Farmers ' State Bank of Central City, of which he is now cashier, and which is one of the leading banks in this section of Nebraska, having been organized in 1886. Mr. Vieregg was married to Miss Myrtle Scott in Central City, June 5, 1907, Miss Scott be ing a daughter of M. V. Scott, an old time resi dent of Central City, and president of the Platte Valley State Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Vieregg have one child, a daughter, Wilhelmina Fay. Mr. Vieregg is one of the wide-awake hustling young business men of central Nebraska, known for his business integrity and high character. He has a pleasant modern home, and he and his wife are prominent in social and educational circles. J. M. ONDRACEK. For about thirty-five years the gentleman whose name heads this review has been identified with the history of the development of north western Nebraska, and his large and valuable farm in Knox county is evidence of his labors dur ing these years. He has succeeded in building a good home and is one of the highly esteemed citi zens of his community. He resides in section two, township thirty, range six. Mr. Ondracek is a native of Chicago, his birth occurring in the year 1874, and is the son of John and Anna Ondracek, both natives of Bohemia. His parents came to America, where they could get land cheap and have a better opportunity to get a start in life, and after landing in New York City they at once came to the state of Illinois where they remained two years. In 1876 the family came to Knox county, Ne braska, where they took up a homestead two miles west of Verdigris, on which land they built a log house. On this homestead the family went through the many hardships and dangers incident to those earliest pioneer days, when the red man roamed at will through the unsettled country, the Indians being a source of anxiety and frequent scares to the venturesome white men who first set foot on the territory. Our subject grew to his manhood on the old homestead farm, and in 1897, was united in mar riage to Miss Anna Holan, and Mr. and Mrs. Ond racek are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Anna, Joe, Clara, Adolph, and Theodore. They are a fine family, and enjoy the esteem and respect of all with whom they have to do. They have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In 1896 Mr. Ondracek bought three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, known as the Kroker homestead, and has improved the place until he and his estimable family are now enjoying the comforts of life in one of the most pleasant and beautiful homes of the locality in which they live. JOSEPH PALMER. Among the prominent, public-spirited citizens of Nance county, Nebraska, the gentleman above named holds a foremost place. He has occupied many offices of trust in his township and county, and has been an important factor in the official life of the section for many years past, inciden- tially building up for himself a fine estate and gaining the respect and esteem of all with whom he has had to do. With his family, he occupies a handsome residence situated about half a mile east of Belgrade, where they entertain their many friends with lavish hospitality. Joseph Palmer is a son of Abraham and Emma Palmer, born on June 18, 1862, in Hazzardville, Connecticut, and was the fifth in order of birth in their family of twelve children. He grew up there to the age of eighteen years, then in com pany with his brother Abraham, he came to Ne braska, locating in Nance county, taking a tract of land on Timber Creek, on which they lived up to 1884, then together they purchased two hun dred acres situated about four and a half miles 422 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. southwest of where Belgrade now stands. They were engaged in the grain and stock raising busi ness for a number of years, succeeding in building up a fine farm, and were well known throughout the section as prosperous and practical agricul turists. Until recently Mr. Palmer was owner of over two hundred and fifty acres of finely im proved land, most of which was in Antelope county, but this he sold in 1911. He owns twenty- one acres, which he occupies as his home place. He has about sixty acres in addition to his home place, which is in Timber Creek township, Nance county. Besides his own home he owns six houses in Belgrade and a number of building lots. On April 9, 1884, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Roxie Elizabeth Main, who is a native of Iowa, coming to Nebraska with her parents, Silas and Elizabeth Main, in the spring of 1880, they settling in Nance county and afterwards became prominently known as among the prosperous and worthy citizens of their vicinity. They occupied a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located three miles from Belgrade, and resided there until 1895, when he and his wife moved to Belgrade, where the father died on June 16, 1906, his widow following him a little more than a year later, aged eighty-six and eighty years respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have two children, Lena M., wife of Floyd Cooley, they living in Belgrade, and Joseph A. L., still with his parents on the home place. Politically Mr. Palmer is a staunch democrat. During the early dayrs he served his township as road supervisor, and was treasurer of school dis trict number twenty-two, for a number of years. In 1886 he was elected assessor of Timber Creek township, serving one term, and several years later held the same office for one term. Tn 1906 he was elected county supervisor, and in every po sition of trust which he has held, has retained the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. JOHN HUBBY. For more than thirty-three years, the west has known John Hubby as one of her loyal citizens. He first came to Nebraska in April, 1878, and set tled on a homestead seventeen miles northeast of O'Neill and six miles south of Paddock, their post- office. He drove into the section from Iowa, bringing with him two young horses, and several cows. Besides his homestead Mr. Hubby leased a school section and farmed the entire tract for-six- teen years, and, while meeting with occasional failures, on the whole he was most successful. In 1894 he removed to Benton county, in south western Missouri, but on account of his family suffering from malaria in that vicinity, was ob liged to return to the prairie country in Novem ber, 1896. The trips back and forth were made by team and wagon, camping at night by the way side, and being exposed to all sorts of weather, at one time enduring a three days' storm. A ranchman offered shelter, and a welcome haven it proved to be, as a November storm is something to be feared on the open plains. On his return to Nebraska he came to Holt- county and bought a tract of deeded land near Paddock, on which he resided from the spring of 1897 up to March, 1905. He then traded it for town property in Lynch, holding sixteen lots, and a three acre tract in the edge of the village. Mr. Hubby was born in Kent county, Canada, near Montreal, on May 6, 1840. His father, John Hubby, was a native of Scotland, who came to America and married Hannah Jones, of New York state. When our subject was two years of age, the family settled in Winnebago county, Illinois. They later moved to Lynn, Jowa, where Mr. Hubby made his home until coming to Nebraska. He was married in Polk county, Iowa, on June 6, 1867, to Miss Mary Wheeler, a native of Indiana. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hubby, five are living: Nettie J., Charles Edward, Gertrude, Mary Maude and Pierre Prank, all married ex cepting the last mentioned, who is still with his parents, and holds the office of city marshal of Lynch. Politically Mr. Hubby is a republican," having voted that ticket since the war, in which he served for four years. He first enlisted in Company C, Second Iowa Cavalry, in April, 1861, serving up to September, 1863. He was then transferred to Company G, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer In fantry, and remained in the service four years and eight months, altogether. He took part in the bat tles of Port Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Cor inth, Iuka, Independence, Missouri, Pea Ridge and Helena, Arkansas, and later, the Sieges of Vicks burg, Jackson and New Orleans. Mr. Hubby was detailed to duty in the quartermaster's depart ment, in the fall of 1863, and was discharged at New Orleans on September 26, 1865, having seen every side of a soldiers' career, and he has a very vivid recollection of all the horrors of that ter rible time. In 1907 Mr. Hubby was elected justice of the peace at Lynch, and is still serving in that ca pacity. He is a, prominent comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic, and with his wife attends divine worship at the Methodist Episcopal church. FREDERICK WILLIAM RILEY. The above named gentleman was one of the very first settlers in Boone county, Nebraska, lo cating in the region in the spring of 1872, and has spent practically his entire life in the vicinity which is still his home. He is now well prepared to enjoy in his old age the fruits of a well-spent career, having been most successful in accumulat ing a sufficiency of this world's goods, possessing a fine home and elegant farm in Manchester pre cinct. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 423 Frederick William Riley was born in Delaware county, Iowa, on June 11, 1861. He was the third child in the family of Judge John W. and Jane E. Riley, who were the parents of ten. The entire family left Iowa and came to Nebraska in the spring of 1872, our subject driving an ox team across the plains to Boone county, and as he after wards expressed it, "thought they would never get to their destination, being some six weeks on the journey." He remained on his father 's farm for a number of years, attending the local schools, and finishing his education in St. Edward, under Professor Rush, in a graded school. With a brother, he practically had the management of the home farm from the time he was fifteen years of age, his father being engaged in the hardware and imple ment business in Albion. When Frederick was twenty-one, he started for himself in partner ship with his brother, Samuel S., in the farm and stock business, still remaining on the homestead. They engaged extensively in the latter work, getting together a thoroughbred Shorthorn herd, and succeeded in building up one of the finest and largest herds of registered stock of this breed in the United States. The Riley Brothers' Stock Farm, as it is known throughout the west, is one of the richest and most progressive in the country, and the brothers are authorities on the work of breeding and raising fine stock. Their home place is situated on section thirty-five, township twenty, range six, and contains one hundred and sixty acres. They also own large stock interests in Holt county, Nebraska, having twenty-five hun dred acres in that vicinity. Mr. Riley was married to Miss Fannie Speigel, at the home of her parents near Albion, in Feb ruary, 1904. Mrs. Riley's parents were early set tlers in Boone county, and widely and favorably known. Our subject has one daughter, Ruth, a very charming little miss. Recently Mr. Riley made a trip to Columbus, Nebraska, in an auto mobile, over the same country he drove an ox team in the early days, and this proved both a very pleasant and instructive journey, enabling him to note the great changes "which had occurred in a comparatively few years. The automobile trip consumed two hours' time, while in former days it required a day to cover the same ground. T. M. WOODS. T. M. Woods is one of the early settlers of Wayne county, Nebraska, and is a representative citizen, honest and industrious and interested in the general welfare and progress of his com munity. Mr. Woods was born in Perry county, Pennsyl vania, January 14, 1861, and is a son of James and Louise Woods, both natives of Pennsylvania. He received his education in that state, attending the common schools. He was one of nine chil dren, Mr. Woods lived in Pennsylvania until after he had attained his majority and then, induced by the prospect of securing good land at a small figure, came to Nebraska and purchased his present home of one hundred and sixty acres, where for several years he lived as a bachelor and kept house for himself. He acquired his place in 1885, at which time it contained no improve ments, and since then he has been occupied in de veloping the land and adding to the productive ness and value of his estate. He owns a very nice home and is one of the progressive and enterpris ing farmers of his part of the state, having to a large degree adapted modern scientific methods of operating his farm. He is engaged in a general line of farming and pays considerable attention to raising stock. Mr. Woods has added eighty acres to his first purchase and now owns two hundred and forty acres. In 1891, Mr. Woods was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Hill, daughter of James Hill, and born in Illinois. Six children have been born of this union, namely: Ethel, James Clarence, Gladys May, Hazel, Thelma and Elmer. He and his wife are interested in the cause of education and other matters affecting the interests of the public in general. FRED SCHELLPEPER. For more than a quarter of a century, the gen tleman above named has been identified with the history of the development of Stanton county, Ne braska, and his valuable property in section eleven, township twenty-four, evidences his ear nest labors during these many years. He has succeeded in building up a good home and is one of the highly respected citizens of his township. Mr. Sehellpeper is not a native of this country, as he was born in Brandenburg, Germany, in 1845. His parents were Fredland and Freda Sehellpeper. Our subject received his education m Germany, and remained at home helping his parents until 1870, when he decided to come to the United States, where he might perhaps be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the west. Like many of his countrymen, he came to America by way of Bremen, arriving at Baltimore, instead of going first to New York City. From Baltimore, he came direct to Stanton' county, where he took up a homestead, which has been in his possession ever since. For four years, Mr. Sehellpeper "kept batch" on his claim, but it was dreary, lonesome work, so that in 1874, he married Miss Ida Manthy, and took his bride home to the little frame house which he had just built. Their first years in Ne braska were somewhat disheartening, as the grasshoppers took most of their crops for several years, and they were a number of times in im minent danger from the frequent prairie fires. 424 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In the winter time, blizzards were a source of danger, too. In the great blizzard of 1888, Mr. Sehellpeper was lost all of one night and wan dered around over the fields, being rescued the next morning, nearly frozen. However, they continued their residence on the old homestead and gradually built up a val uable estate, with all improvements and conveni ences. Mr. Sehellpeper is a man of sterling char acter, and has gained the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He has an exten sive acquaintance and is universally esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Sehellpeper are the parents of eight children, upon whom they have bestowed the following names : Edward, William, Rynholt, Ella, Paul, Arthur, Lawrence, and Augusta. The family occupy a prominent place in the social and educational life of the community. They are mem bers of the Lutheran church. JAMES-BECKLEY^. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is entitled to a foremost place. He is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the betterment of conditions in his community. Mr. Beckley resides in section ten, township twenty- eight, range six, where he has a pleasant home and valuable estate. Mr. Beckley was born September 1, 1846, and is a native of the state of Indiana ; and is a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Garrett) Beckley, the for mer a native of the state of Ohio, where he was a farmer by occupation, and the latter a native of Virginia, who died when our subject was a small boy. Mr. Beckley knows every phase of a farmer's life from childhood up to manhood, being reared and educated in the country schools, when he was not assisting in the farm work on the home place. On May 20, 1877, Mr. Beckley was married to Miss Mary Losure, and they are the parents of five children, named as follows: Edgar, Hattie, who is a trained nurse; Edith, who married Wil liam Brooks ; and Thomas and Walter. Mr. Beckley 's wife passed to her reward in 1906. Mrs. Beckley 's father served in the army during the civil war in 1861, enlisting in the Twenty-sev enth Iowa Regiment. Mr. Beckley came to the western country in 1878, settling in Antelope county, Nebraska, where he took up a claim on the present lo cation of his home, making his residence in this one spot for over thirty-three years, which must have grown very dear to him in all this time, although some of his earlier experiences in this home may not have been the pleasantest. He had many hardships and incon veniences in those days. Niobrara was the near est market place ; and the scarcity of fuel and the distance it had to be hauled, caused great hard ships, especially during the winter or 1880 and 1888, when they had to burn hay and corn stalks for fuel, to keep from freezing to death. In those days it took two days to haul a small load of wood from the Niobrara river. Mr. Beckley has taken up timber claims in addition to his homestead and now owns eight hundred acres of good land, and has seventeen acres of trees that are the finest in the country round. He is now enjoying the fruits of his early energy and endurance, and hopes to attain a ripe old age to realize the comforts he was foresighted enough to prepare for himself. Mr. Beckley has several head of thorough bred Durham cattle. He is the only farmer in Antelope county who raises Lancastershire hogs, of which he now has about seventy-five head of thoroughbreds. JAMES M. ASKEYr. James M. Askey, who enjoys a pleasant home and owns a valuable farm in section twenty-one, township twenty-six, range four, Pierce county, is one of the well known old residents of this part of the state of Nebraska. He has gained' an envi able reputation as a progressive farmer and wor thy citizen, and is highly esteemed for his strict integrity and honest dealings by those with whom he has to do. Mr. Askey was born in the village of Snowshoe, Center county, Pennsylvania, February 29, 1848. and is the son of John and Harriet (McMaster) Askey, the former born in 1817, and the latter in 1827, both being natives of Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish descent. At the close of the war the family moved to Payette county, Iowa. Mr. Askey came to Nebraska, March 25, 1879, renting a farm at Neligh two years, and here laid the foundation of his extensive herds. He came to Pierce county inl881, taking a homestead in section twenty-eight, and a timber claim in sec tion twenty-one ; he now owns four hundred acres in the former section and two hundred and forty in the latter, in township twenty-six, range four. In coming to Neligh, Mr. Askey drove from Sioux City, having been ten days on the way, de layed by full streams and having often to drive to the head waters of the streams before being able to find a fording place. Mr. Askey lived on this homestead for six years, and then moved to his homestead where he resided until April, 191 1, when he moved to Norfolk. On the timber tract Mr. Askey has reared a grove of upwards of twenty-seven acres. At the time of the blizzard of October, 1880, a herder was out with the cattle. Not being able to manage them, he came to the house to secure help, during which time the cattle scattered and were not gotten together again until after the storm. The children were at school at the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and with diffi- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 425 culty the teacher, who boarded with Mr. Askey, got the children safely home. Prairie fires were a menace in the early days, and both Mr. and Mrs. Askey were at times compelled to fight the flames for hours at a time. After the drought of 1894, feed was scarce, Mr. Askey at one time paying five dollars for a load of corn fodder. For two years after settling on their homestead, they had no fuel but twisted hay. In 1873 Mr. Askey was married to Miss Martha Ash, a native of Richland Center, Wisconsin. To this union five children have been born, whose names are as follows: Miles, Bennie, deceased; Lydia, Ethel and Hollis. Lydia married John Por ter, of Norfolk, and is the mother of two children, Vivian and Thelma. Mr. Porter is the local repre sentative of the Ward Medicine Company. Mr. Askey 's entire time and attention has been devoted to the care of his farm and home he has never sought office, but takes a keen inter est in all affairs of local or state importance, vot ing the republican ticket. He- has a well im proved farm of six hundred and forty acres, and is a successful farmer and stock raiser. He en joys the esteem of a wide acquaintance and has been an important factor in the settling and upbuilding of this section of the country. THOMAS WALL. Among the prominent residents of Posen pre cinct we mention the name of Thomas Wall, who is a successful farmer of that locality, and highly esteemed for his integrity and sterling character. Mr. Wall is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the term, having by his own in dividual efforts and industry accumulated a val uable property from a very small beginning, and is now recognized as one of the foremost men of his section. Thomas Wall was born in Huron county, Canada, on June 20, 1859. His boyhood was spent in that country, coming to the United States 'with his mother, two sisters and three brothers in the spring of 1878, they joining the father and one brother who had settled in St. Paul, Ne braska, some time previously, the former pur chasing a tract of land which he intended to develop into a farm. Thomas lived at home for two years, then started out" for himself. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in section thirty-one, township fifteen, range eleven, lying one mile north of Farwell. This he improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and it is now his home farm and one of the best equipped places in the locality. Besides this property Mr. Wall is owner of a good farm in Sherman county, both places being devoted to diversified farming and stock raising. Mr. Wall's parents are both dead, the father passing away in 1902, and the mother four years later. One sister died in 1880. The entire fam ily are well known throughout Howard county as worthy and thrifty pioneers. Thomas was married in 1883, to Miss Margaret Kerr, of St. Paul. Mrs. Wall is a native of Canada, she com ing to this county with her parents as a girl, when they were among the earliest settlers of the region, both her father and mother now being deceased, survived by four daughters, including Mrs. Wall, also two brothers, all residing in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have seven children, namely: George F., and Sarah Jane, who live on their father's Sherman county farm; Mary Anna, Margaret Winnie, John Talmage, Thomas Jeffer son, and Martha Commora, all living with their parents. Our subject is a democrat. He is an active worker in all worthy projects for the betterment of his county and state, and has held different local offices, serving as road overseer for a num ber of years, also was moderator of school district number sixty-seven during 1892. WILLIAM J. STEWART. William J. Stewart is a native of the Empire state, from where so many early settlers in Ne braska state migrated, and who have proved such a power for the good of the locality in which they have dwelt so many years. Mr. Stewart's birth occurred in Oswego county, New York, August 27, 1854, he being the second of ten chil dren in the family of Chauncey and Mary Ann (Southworth) Stewart, both natives of the state of New York, coming to Howard county, Ne braska, in the pioneer days of the western frontier, being of the first settlers of that county. Upon coming to this locality, our subject's father purchased land in section thirty-one, township fourteen, range ten, which remained the home place all through the years until death claimed this worthy couple, the mother having died on November 24, 1908, at the ripe old age of sev enty-five years, and the father passing away in the fall of 1909, within a week of his ninety-first birthday. In March of 1879, William J. Stewart, subject of our sketch, came from Wisconsin to Howard county, and later on into Valley county; the Stewart family had moved from New York state to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1856. William Stewart came to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1879 and was a pioneer homesteader of that county; he now resides on the southeast quarter of section four, township nineteen, range fourteen. When first coming to Valley county, Mr. Stewart lived in the central part of the county for several years, moving to his present farm home three miles north of Ord in June of 1908. He has one hundred and twenty acres of fine land, which is a well equipped farm, on which is a fine residence. Mr. Stewart engages in farm- 426 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ing and stock raising, which has been his occu pation for many years, as also that of his father before him, and he has made a success of life. He deals in a1 well bred grade of stock only, and on his. farm has a goodly herd. Mr. Stewart was married to Margaret Hull in Valley county, November 21, 1886. The Hull fam ily came from Bartholomew county, Indiana, in 1879, settling in Howard county, the family con sisting of Byron and Mary (Robinson) Hull and six children. Mr. Hull is now living near Omaha, but his wife died March 23, 1890. All but one of the children survive and live in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have eleven children, whose names are as follows : Cora Belle and Ora Ellen, twins, are teachers in the public schools of Val ley county; Alta May, Estella, Enos, Ray, Hazel, Alice, Fay, Donald, and Aloa, all of whom reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart certainly have a charming family, all born on the old home farm and reared in Valley county, except the young est child, Aloa. One unusual feature of Mr. Stewart 's career is that he never lived on a rented farm and nearly everything he owns has been acquired by his own unaided effort. Mr. Stewart has done much toward the building up of Valley county, and always takes his part in the bettering of conditions and ad vancement along progressive lines. He is a re publican in politics and a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen. When Mr. Stewart first came to Howard county herds of deer roamed the open prairies, and again, in Valley county the same conditions prevailed. Mr. Stewart was out for a time in the blizzard of October, 1880, having gone to the school house to bring his younger brothers and sisters home. He braved the storm of January 12, 1888, to go part way home with a man, and safely returned to his own domicile. So severe were the winter storms of those days that he remembers on one occasion a buggy left out exposed was buried so deep in a drift that the top of the buggy was covered. G. W. STEWART. Another one of the highly esteemed and worthy public-spirited citizens and prominent old timers of Nebraska is found in the person of G. W. Stewart, with whose name we head this bio graphical sketch. Mr. Stewart is a native of New Jersey, and was born November 6, 1846, the oldest child in the family of six resulting from the union of William Stewart and Sarah Wooheaver, who were born in Pennsylvania. Our subject grew up in his native state, attending the public schools, and when little more than fifteen years of age, en tered the service of his country, enlisting in Company B, Second Regiment of New York Cavalry, under Captain Cook. He saw hard service during his entire career as a soldier, going all through Pennsylvania, Vir ginia and West Virginia with his company. On September 22, 1863, he was taken prisoner by the rebels, and sent to Belle Isle, where he remained for about eight months. He participated in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and a number of famous encounters. After returning to his home at the close of the war, Mr. Stewart followed farming up' to 1871, then went west to Lawrence, Kansas, remaining at that place for four years. From there he went to Mills county, Iowa, followed farming there for about twelve years, and from there came to Mad ison county, purchased land, and, from that time until the present, this tract has been his home. He has made a success of his undertaking, hav ing one of the well improved farms in the region, and is classed among the well-to-do farmers and progressive men of the county. Mr. Stewart was married at Clark, Iowa, Au gust 1, 1877, taking as his wife Miss Rebecca Moore, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, Sep tember 17, 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born eight children, bearing the following names, and all of whom are a credit to their pa rents: L. E., Sydney, Roy, Grace, Otis, Frank, Ora, Ray, and Billy. THOMAS M. CLARK. None in northeastern Nebraska stands higher in the estimation of his fellowmen than the ven erable Thomas M. Clark, now retired and living in Bloomfield. Mr. Clark has been a resident of the state since the fall of 1880, moving from Mont gomery county, Iowa. Mr. Clark was born in Center county, Pennsyl vania, March 31, 1839. His parents, J. W. and Sarah (Barnhart) Clark, were also natives of the Keystone state. J. W. Clark was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his wife's father was born in Ger many. They migrated to eastern Iowa in 1854, settling in Scott county. Our subject lived for a time in Washington county, then returned to Scott county, where he resided some twenty years prior to moving to Montgomery county, Iowa, in the west end of the state. Thomas M. Clark remained under the parental roof until his marriage at the age of twenty-five, when he began farming on rented land in Scott county. After coming to western Iowa, he re sided two and one-half years in Dickinson county, Kansas, during the grasshopper * pests. Mrs. Clark found the climate uncongenial she was ill most of the time— so they came back to their old home in Iowa. Returning to Montgomery, he resided there until moving to Knox county, Nebraska, in the latter part of October, 1880. He had come out to THOMAS M. CLARK. MRS. THOMAS M. CLARK. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 427 the state in June and selected his land, moving to it some time after the three days' blizzard in the middle of the month. He selected a tract eight miles west of Bloomfield on Brazil creek, pur chasing one hundred and sixty acres and filing on his homestead rights on an additional quarter section. This was all open prairie and unim proved. Mr. Clark fenced and broke the land, erected a dwelling, farm and other buildings, and planted liberally of trees. Here he resided and prospered, continuing in active labor until 1902, when he retired, and purchased a place in Bloom field, which he keeps up in considerable style* Mr. Clark was married near Davenport, Iowa, March 14, 1863, to Miss Ellen Learner^ who was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Her pa rents, David and Eliza (Campbell) Learner, came to Iowa in 1847 and settled in Scott county. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, five of whom are living: Blanch, wife of Frank White, who has a small fruit and poultry ranch on Fidelgo Island, Washington; Willard Kings- ley Clark is a prosperous physician in Niobrara; Philip B. is clerk of Knox county, residing at Center; Jessie B., who married Charles Wort, died at the age of twenty-six years; Milton is deputy in his brother's office, and Hope is married to Frank McGill, who is proprietor of a livery barn in Center. Mr. Clark's great-grandfather, James Clark, was killed and scalped by the Indians in Pennsyl vania. He had gone out across a stream — near his home — for his horses, when he was attacked and slain. This was at the time when the English were paying the Indians a bounty on scalps. The Clark family has been represented in most of the wars in which the United States has participated. Mr. Clark's grandfather, Philip Barnhart, was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He had had military training in his native country and raised a company of Pennsyl vania Dutch for the last war with England. Mr. Clark's brother, Philip, enlisted in the Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for the civil war. He was taken sick in Missouri, from there returning to his home where he died shortly after. A short time after coming to Nebraska the entire locality in which the Clark family resided was thoroughly aroused by a charivari party, who were taken for Indians, word being sent out that the latter were on the warpath. Most of the neighbors went to nearby towns for protection — one woman who was ill being taken to Plainview, but Mr. Clark and his family remained on their farm, not being alarmed by the report. During the early years when times were es pecially hard, Mr. Clark taught school in Ne braska. He had taught successfully in Iowa, so the vocation was not new to him. Several of his children have followed in his footsteps. Blanch and Philip were in school at the time of the de structive blizzard of January 12, 1888, and both were compelled to remain in the building all night. Mr. Clark was out in much of the storm getting his cattle safely housed. There being timber along the creeks, Mr. Clark usually had an abundance of fuel, but at times burned a little corn. Mr. Clark was living at Davenport, Iowa, at the time of the New Ulm massacre and saw the Santee prisoners when brought to Davenport and kept in a prison camp through the winter, during which time some of the ringleaders were exe cuted. Years later he settled on the edge of the reservation of this same tribe, but they have been transformed into peaceable citizens. Mr. Clark is a democrat in politics, and with his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served as supervisor of Central township for seven years. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Clark appear on another page. BENJAMIN T. SNYDER. One of the leading business men of Loup City, as well as one of the best known among the old settlers in the state, is Benjamin T. Snyder. For many years he has been closely connected with the commercial and agricultural life of this re gion and much of its present state of advance ment is due to his influence. , Mr. Snyder was born on January 12, 1834, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and was the fourth of eight children born to Thomas and Rebecca (Tilus) Snyder. Out of this large family, there is now left only Mr. Snyder and his sister, Se- repta, living in Kearney, Nebraska. The father, who was of German descent, was born in West Virginia, and died in Ohio in 1860. The mother, who was of English extraction, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio in 1884. When only seventeen years of age, Mr. Snyder started out in life for himself, working in Wau- kegan, later in Mercer county, and Rock Island. Five years later, on March 17, 1856, in Davenport, Iowa, he married Miss Maria Frazier, a native of Ohio, who had been for some years a teacher in the public schools of Illinois. In 1858, they went to Johnson county, Kansas, where Mr. Snyder purchased two hundred and forty acres of land near Olathe, and engaged in farming for about four years. On July 28, 1861, Mr. Snyder enlisted as sec ond lieutenant of Cavalry in Company A, of the First Kansas Regiment. Three months later, owing to illness which incapacitated him for fur ther service, he received an honorable discharge. The family then returned to Mercer county, Illi nois, farming until July of 1879, when with his wife and three children, Mr. Snyder came to Sherman county, Nebraska. He at once took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles south of Loup City, with an adjoining tim ber claim of an equal amount. 428 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Since that time, Mr. Snyder has bought and sold many different farms in Sherman county, living on them for various periods of time. Tn 1899, in company with his youngest daughter, he purchased two hundred acres of land in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range fifteen, which has been converted into a very valuable grain and stock farm. In 1911 he purchased his daughter's interest, which he immediately sold, but still retains his interest in the remaining one hundred acres. The year before that purchase, Mr. Snyder left the farm, bought a good comfort able home in Loup City, and moved to that place. He also bought a livery barn about the same time, which he is still conducting. Mr. Snyder has always taken a commendable interest in all public affairs, especially those per taining to education, and for some years was di rector in his school district number four. He comes of a patriotic family, his brother, Phineas Snyder, having given his life for his country during the war. Another brother, Joshua Snyder, also served through the war and was captain in the Eighty-third Illinois Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have had five children, three of whom are living. Birdie and John died in infancy; Gertrude, now Mrs. George Bentley, lives in Colorado ; Daisy, now Mrs. John Cowper, lives in Deadwood, South Dakota; Mattie, now Mrs. Morgan Hall, is a resident of Grand Junc tion, Colorado. The entire family is well and favorably known. JOHN PAPENHAUSEN. John Papenhausen, who carries on extensive farming operations in Cedar county, Nebraska, has been closely connected with the development of the agricultural resources of the county for many years. He has built up a good home for himself in section thirty-five, township twenty- nine, and has gained the highest respect of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He is a gentleman of intelligence and strict integrity and his success is the result of his persistent efforts and honest dealings. Mr. Papenhausen is a native of Hanover, Ger many, where he first saw the light of day in 1867. With his parents, Herman and Mary Papenhau sen, he came to America at a very tender age, the family coming by way of Bremen and Baltimore. In 1886, Mr. Papenhausen came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he bought the farm which has been his home ever since. He has made many improvements since buying the place, which have greatly enhanced its value. He now has an estate of four hundred acres in Nebraska, and three hundred and twenty acres in the state of Texas. Of late years, the subscriber has paid con siderable attention to stock raising, and has met with a great measure of success in that line. Mr. Papenhausen was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Uken. Five children have been born to them, named respectively : Tena, now Mrs. A. C. Bruce; William, Anna, Cora, who died at the age of eight years, and May. Both Mr. and Mrs. Papenhausen are well known throughout the community and are re spected by all with whom they have come in eon- tact. JAMES W. LAUB. One of the leading old settlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this review. His labors in this section have aided materially the development of the region and his name will occupy a prominent place in local history as one of those intimately identified with its growth and progress. James W. Laub, son of John Philip and Anna Maria (Groff) Laub, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, June 18, 1854, and was eleventh in a fam ily of thirteen children, of whom two borthers reside in Nebraska ; one sister in Omaha ; another sister in Kansas; the others are deceased. The father died in 1880 in Illinois, and the mother in 1882 in Nebraska. Mr. Laub, our subject, was educated in his home schools and later engaged in farming. On August 9, 1879, Mr. Laub was* married to Miss Clara H. Hunt of Illinois. In September of 1879, our subject came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded and hundred and sixty acres in section twelve, township thirteen, range seven, west, where he resided two years and then moved to Chapman, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near town and continued farming. In 1906 he came to Clarks, Nebraska, engaging in general mercantile business. Mr. Laub is a suc cessful man of affairs, and besides his Nebraska interests owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Laub have had four children: Claud L., who died in infancy; Percy W., mar ried, has one child and lives in Clarks ; Jessie H., resides at home ; and Mildred E., who also lives under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Laub are among the earlier settlers of the county, and have passed through much of Merrick county's history, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Laub has just re cently sold his mercantile interests, and contem plates going to Montana. A. J. KELLEY. Mr. A. J. Kelley of Creighton is one of the thrifty sons of New England, who have come into the open west and won for himself a competency. He first set foot in Nebraska in August, 1877, settling two and a half miles north of Creighton, where he homesteaded a quarter section of land COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 429 and secured eighty acres through a timber claim. He came to Nebraska by way of Yankton, South Dakota, then the nearest railroad terminus. Here he bought a horse and rode to Creighton, passing but a few houses on the way, and those were of sod, there being no frame ones at that time. The mill at Bazile Mills, was just completed, but the machinery was not yet installed. Mr. Kelley secured his claims and returned to Con necticut for his family, with whom he again reached Nebraska in October. They lived in a dugout that was on the homestead for two or three months until a frame house could be com pleted, the lumber having to be brought from Yankton, South Dakota, fifty miles away. Hay and corn were frequently used for fuel, coal be ing too far distant, and most of the timber along the creeks having been felled and hauled away.' Mr. Kelley had worked at the butcher's trade in Connecticut and found work at that vocation in Nebraska when not busy on the ranch. During the early days Bazile Mills was an outfitting place for freighting to the Black Hills. There was a pork packing establishment here of which Mr. Kelley was superintendent. Later when the railroad came through and this estab lishment was abandoned, he was offered the su- perintendency of a similar industry at Ulrich, South Dakota, but did not think best to be away from his ranch so much of the time. Mr. Kelley was born at Willimantic, Con necticut, April 8, 1835, the son of Henry and Caroline (Sly) Kelley, natives of Connecticut, where the father died at the age of seventy. The mother came to the west and spent her declining years at the. home of her son. Mr. Kelley was married in Connecticut, March 28, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth H. Williams, also a native of Connecticut, who died in Ne braska, January 1, 1887. Four children were born to them, of whom Carrie W., survives. Mr. Kelley became a member of the Masonic order, in 1872, in St. James lodge, number twenty-three, of Connecticut, but he now affiliates with Creighton lodge, number one hundred. With his daughter he is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, and a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Kelley joined the argonauts who were bound for California in February, 1852, and did not return to Connecticut until March, 1859, having met with a fair measure of success. On the outbreak of the civil war our subject enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, August, 2, 1862, and served nearly three years, being stationed most of the time in the Shenandoah valley. He participated, among other engagements, in the battles of Fisher's Hill and Berryville and was honorably discharged July 7, 1865. During his service he was cap tured, and endured the horrors of Libby prison and also those of Belle Island in the James river. Here the rations of a few ounces of black beans and mouthfuls of bread a day reduced the boys to skeletons, many of them dying from starvation. Mr. Kelley also suffered his share of hardships in the early days of Nebraska history. He was out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when he, with his son, a lad at school, made his way home in the thickest of it by keeping his eyes close to the ground, following a deeply worn road. After the winter of deep snow, the thaw caused high wafer in the spring of 1881. One of his sons went out to drive cattle home and so sudden was the thaw that a stream overflowed between him and the house. In attempting to cross, his horse un seated him and he had to swim ashore. The ex tremely high waters of the Missouri river flooded Niobrara, and Mr. Kelley with other neighbors drove to the river and helped rescue the unfortu nate ones whose houses were partly submerged. These were brought back to the hills and housed as comfortably as possible until their own homes were habitable again. Such were the many ex periences of pioneer life. After living twenty-one years on the farm, Mr. Kelley, in December, 1897, removed to Creighton, where he has a comfortable cottage home, and is one of the honored citizens of the town. SETH H. PENNEY. Seth H. Penney, now deceased, was during his lifetime one of the most influential and wealthy men of Nance county, Nebraska. His fortune was accumulated by his individual energy and thrift, and his high station as a worthy citizen and representative agriculturalist was well de served. Mr. Penney held numerous public offices, and was one of the oldest as well as most promi nent pioneers of the county. His death occurred at Long Beach, California, on January 11, 1908, and his loss was a severe blow to the entire com munity of Fullerton, where for twenty-five years he had resided with his family. Mr. Penney was born in Jefferson county, New York, September 27, 1833. He grew up there, re ceiving his early education in the common schools, and later attended the Adams seminary for three years. His time out of school was employed in helping his parents on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-three years he was married there to Elizabeth C. Wilcox, who was reared and edu cated in Jefferson county. In 1859, Mr. Penney settled with his family in LaSalle county, Illinois, there engaging in farming, carrying on this work up to 1864, at which time he removed to Livingston county and opened a general mercantile business. Later he established the Odell Exchange Bank, and suc cessfully carried on a thriving business for a number of years. He made that vicinity his home 430 Compendium op history, reminiscence and biograpHy. up to 1883, then brought his family to Nebraska, locating at Fullerton and establishing himself in the general mercantile business. He was among the pioneer business men of the region, doing both a wholesale and retail business, and through his influence and personal aid did much in ad vancing the commercial and educational interests, of his county. He served as mayor of Fullerton during 1894 and 1895, and during the well-re membered drouth in the former year was one of the most liberal distributors in Nance county. For a number of years he served on the school and county boards, and gained a high reputation as a man of sterling character and integrity. Our subject's wife died in 1886, leaving a family of five children, who are named as follows : Fred M., banker, lives at Omaha; Frank H., re tired business man, residing in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Edgar B., of Fullerton; Nina, who died in 1897, and Anna M., wife of Nelson Barber, also of Ful lerton. On June 22, 1892, Mr. Penney was married to Mrs. Lou Spurrier, a widow with one son, Ches ter E., at the home of Mrs. Spurrier's parents in Sandwich, Illinois. Mrs. Penney still occupies the homestead in Fullerton the greater part of her time, although she spends a part of each year, during the winter, in California. Mrs. Penney is one of the leading society and club women of her town, possessing a brilliant and charming personality. For many years she has been corres pondent for the local press, and is a woman greatly admired by all. ISAAC M. NEESE. One of the oldest residents of northeastern Nebraska is found in Isaac Neese, of Butte, now retired from active farming and taking life easy in the quiet of the county seat. Mr. Neese was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, on February 17, 1858. Before the railroad had been extended to Fort Des Moines, his father was obliged to haul his corn to that point to be ground for use. Isaac was reared in that vicinity, and was married there, following farming up to the time of his migration farther west. In 1888, loading a few necessary goods in a wagon, and taking his young wife, he started through the country for the west. After camping out on the trip for fourteen days, he unhitched his team at the end of their last day's weary travel, at the ranch of a brother-in-law a few miles north of Stuart, arriving there on the fifth of October, 1888. They were indeed a weary party, as it was necessary for one of them to go on foot all the way to keep their three cows following close to the wagon. Besides Mr. and Mrs. Neese, there was a niece with them, who took her turn in driving the cows and giving the others a chance to ride when they became tired and footsore. During the last day of their journey, Mrs. Neese 's shoes were left in a mudhole in which she had stepped, they being so worn that she could no longer keep them on her feet. On arriving in Holt county they decided to remain for the winter, and in the spring Mr. Neese settled on a farm ten miles north of Springview, where they resided until coming to Boyd county in 1891. At that time he located on a homestead near Butte, started farming and stock raising, and remained there for the following twelve years. He then removed to the town, taking pos session of a comfortable cottage, which is sur rounded by a fine grove of trees, orchard and lawns, making it one of the most beautiful spots in Butte. The orchard contains many fine fruit trees and is not surpassed by any in this part of the state for its size. Mrs. Neese 's maiden name was Miss Sarah Curry, and her marriage to our subject took place in Hamilton county, Iowa, on February 27, 1878. They have one daughter, Hazel, who is a charm ing young woman, and is being given every ad vantage as to education and womanly accom plishments. Mr. Neese was a democrat until his advent in Nebraska, at that time seeing hope in the populist doctrines, and since then following their prin ciples. The entire family are regular attendants at the Free Methodist church. On the arrival of the Neese family in Nebraska they erected a hay-roofed shack and occupied the same until a substantial stone house was built. As soon as possible, Mr. Neese also built a barn, chicken house, and other farm buildings of the same material, and this gave his farm an appear ance of prosperity far beyond, the average set tler 's outfit in those early days, as the usual dwell ing was of rude architecture in adobe, rough tim ber or logs. On coming into Boyd county their residence was a frame building much above the average in size and finish at the time. They worked hard and experienced many discomforts, Mrs. Neese doing more than a woman's share in winning their competency in the west, accompany ing her husband on his trips for timber, and after the wood was cut and loaded, drove one of their two teams to their home, thus saving considerable time, and the wages of an extra man. On their removal from Keya- Paha to Boyd county she drove a four-horse team hitched to an immense load of grain, and in every way she has been a true helpmeet to her husband. In the blizzard of 1888 Mr. Neese was able to reach his barn to feed the stock, by means of a long string of binder twine which he attached to the house, and on reaching the barn, made it fast, thus having a guide to return by. The plains were fairly well supplied with game, including deer and antelope, during the first few years, and Mr. Neese brought down one of the former occa sionally, but they soon moved farther west when settlers came in more rapidly, leaving only the smaller game for the hunter. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 431 During their residence in Keya Paha county, the "rustlers" carried on their raids, stealing horses and cattle in considerable numbers. There was littles protection to be had from the courts, as Deadwood was the nearest point where eases could be adjudicated, so the settlers were forced to resort to the vigilance committees to aid them in ridding the country of these lawless characters and protect their property. At the time of the Indian scare after the bat tle of Wounded Knee, Mr. Neese happened to be at Long Pine with a load of grist, and on hearing an account of the trouble, 'made haste to reach his home in order to protect his family from any attack. To one seeing the peace, quiet and plenty of Nebraska in these prosperous days, he can hardly realize that but a score of years back, the coun try was a wilderness filled with wild beasts, and (in some cases) still wilder men; that there were no obstructing fences from the Missouri river to the mountains, and where fields of golden grain and meadows wave as far as the eye can see, that then there was nothing but barren plain, or wild grass, with hardly a tree to break the monotony of the dead level. SYLVESTER Z. WILLIAMSON. Among the old settlers of eastern Nebraska whose names will figure prominently in the history of this section of the country, the above named gentleman holds a foremost place. Sylvester Z. Williamson, farmer, son of Thomas and Selina Parthena (Sawyer) Williamson, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, November 20, 1850, and was first in a family of seven children. He has one sister and a brother residing in Al bion — a sketch of the brother appears on another page of this volume ; one sister resides in Kan sas, and the rest of the children are deceased. The mother is still living in Albion at eighty- two years of age, while the father died February 11, 1910, aged eighty-four years and twenty-five days. On October 12, 1869, our subject was married to Miss Hattie Browder, a native of Iowa, and one son was born of this union, William A., who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa, who is married and has had two sons, and one daughter — one of the sons being deceased. Mr. Williamson has for the last twenty-five years been prominently connected with Boone county agricultural association, and was also one of the organizers, and chairman of the board of management, of the old settlers association of Boone county, being president in 1911. He was one of the originators, and the first president of the Albion Elevator and Lumber Company of Albion — a farmer's organization. On March 12, 1884, Mr. Williamson was mar ried to Miss Mary L. Mansfield of McHenry county, Illinois, of which union two children have been born, Edna L., and Roy M., both of whom reside under the parental roof. During the years of 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905 Mr. Williamson filled the office of road overseer, which he did very creditably and honestly. He is one of the earliest pioneers, having located before the county was fully organized, and has passed through all its history. Mr. Williamson is widely and favorably known. He came to Boone county in May, 1871, and homesteaded the farm on which he has lived ever since. The homestead consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and that is the amount of land he owns at the present time, although only eighty acres of his farm is of the original tract. He drove through from Delaware county, Towa, when he first came, being four weeks on the trip. He made the round trip by wagon from Al bion to Delaware county, the same year of his ar rival here. He is now handling pure-bred English Shire horses — owns an imported stallion and filly, and does general farming. He also owns high-grade Shorthorn cattle. D. R. THOMAS. Among the more successful farmers and stock men of Wayne county, Nebraska, may be mention ed D. R. Thomas, who, though not one of the early pioneers of the region, is well and favor ably known throughout a wide territory. His pleasant home is well situated on section thirty, township twenty-seven, range two, and he has been very actively- identified with the best in terests of the county and state since locating there. He was born at Coal Valley, Rock Island county, Illinois, February 20, 1866, and is a son of Morgan and Catherine Thomas, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother a native of Wales. They were parents of five children. D. R. Thomas spent his boyhood in his native state and there received a good common school education. As a young man, he spent eleven years in Iowa, where he worked at farming from 1882 until 1893, and at this time gained the ag ricultural experience that has been of so much value to him since. In 1891, he purchased his present farm, to which he moved two years later, and set about improving it and bringing it to a higher state of productiveness and value. He is an energetic and practical farmer, carries on his work in an intelligent manner that in sures the best results, and has been highly suc cessful. He has won a good standing among his neighbors and is much respected in his com munity. He takes deep interest in all public matters and lends his support to every measure he considers will be of benefit to the majority of the people in the county and state. He is considered a substantial and reliable citizen, and 432 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. has a good reputation for honorable dealings in all matters of business, having many warm friends. His first purchase of land in Wayne county, was one hundred and sixty acres, and he has since added eighty acres more. In 1896, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Ida Edwards, a daughter of Richard and Ann Edwards, and a native of Iowa. Seven children have blessed this union, their names being : Dewey, Hayden, Wendell, Cecil, Laverne, Dale and Viola. JOSEPH P. WOODS. (Deceased.) Joseph P. Woods, who before his demise was a prominent and substantial citizen of Colfax county, Nebraska, was a son of Horace P. and Jane (Mumford) Woods; he was a native of Ohio, his birth occurring in Stark county, July 1, 1842. He was third in a family of seven children, and has one sister, Mrs. Wallen Cameron, and one brother, Dr. J. D. Woods, residing in Schuyler, Nebraska, which was also the home of our sub ject at time of death; he has one sister living in Washington, D. O, and two sisters and one brother in Ohio ; the parents are deceased, the father's death taking place on March 4, 1892, and the mother having passed away on September 2, 1854, both deaths occurring in the state of Ohio. Mr. Woods grew to manhood in his native state, having received a liberal education, and in 1862 enlisted in company G, Eighty-seven Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and while serving in this company was captured at Harper's Ferry and taken prisoner, but was soon parolled. In June of 1863, he re-enlisted, serving until close of war. He was mustered out in Nashville, Ten nessee, August 23, 1865, the time having been spent in garrison duty and scouting. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Woods came to Colfax county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land seven miles north west of Schuyler. Owing to ill health, Mr. Woods left the farm in the fall of 1873 and moved to Schuyler where he built a fine home which still remains the home place. Mr. Woods served on the city school board; also as post master of Schuyler for twelve years, and for many years engaged in the real estate business. At the time of his death he was a member of Phil Sheridan Post, Grand Army of Republic. On January 4, 1872, Mr. Woods was united in marriage to Mrs. Maria Curry Matheson, who was born in Nova Scotia, arid came to Nebraska in 1870 with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Woods have had four children: Anna, wife of Frank Tobin, resides in Canada, they having four chil dren ; Etta V., is the wife of John C. Sprecher, they having three children, and live in Schuyler ; Alma, whose husband, E. Folda, is a banker in Omaha, has one child; Horace O, is a resident of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Wdods died January 18, 1888, at his Schuyler home, deeply mourned by hosts of friends and relatives. Mr. Woods was a self- made man, prosperous and successful, interested in all pertaining to the upbuilding of his home state and county. He was one of the earliest settlers in this part of Nebraska, and was widely and favorably known. Mrs. Woods' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Curry, were of Scotch-English stock, and came from Nova Scotia to Nebraska in 1870. Mr. Curry was a sea captain and a man of large means; he died in 1883, in Schuyler, where his wife also died in 1879. Mrs. Woods still lives in the old home place, surrounded by a large circle of friends. HON. GEORGE H. McGEE. In compiling a history of the representative farmers and ranchmen of Antelope county, Ne braska, a prominent place accorded the name of George H. McGee. For many years past he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ante lope county, and has done his full share as an old settler towards the development of the bet ter interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a comfortable home on section thirteen,' township twenty-five, range eight, where he and his family reside surrounded by a host of good and true friends, and many acquaintances. Mr. McGee came to Antelope county, May 29, 1871, from Dubuque, Iowa, which was his birth place, that event having taken place Sep tember 30, 1848. He is the son of James and Martha McGee ; his father was a native of county Armagh, Ireland, born May 21, 1808, and grew to his young manhood days in the land of his nativity ; in June, 1831, he came to America, embarking on the sail boat "Adelaide," and after a voyage of eight weeks from Liverpool landed in the new world. The mother's parents were John and Elizabeth Haggard. George H. McGee lived in his native state until attaining his young manhood, when after deciding to start out in life for himself, he left the parental roof May 15, 1871, going to Sioux City, and from thence driving to Clearwater Creek, Antelope county, where he engaged in the lumber business, running a saw mill, and did surveying. At the time he came here the nearest postoffice was Norfolk. Mr. McGee creditably filled the office of county surveyor for Antelope county for many years, serving from 1872 to 1882. From 1886 to 1900 he operated in connec tion with farming a flouring and grist mill upon his farm. In 1882 Mr. McGee took up a homestead claim in section thirteen, township twenty-five, range eight, and also took a tree claim in section COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 433 thirty-five, Blaine township. He now has twelve hundred and forty acres of good land in addi tion to which he has forty acres of school land, forty acres of land in Dubuque county, Iowa, and has thirty acres of trees on his home pro perty, which is known as the "McGee Ranch." Stockraising is Mr. McGee 's principal business, in which he takes a commendable pride, having about one hundred and fifty head of fine Polled Durham cattle, seventy head of horses and eleven mules. Mr. McGee, like others of those sturdy pioneers who were the advance guard of civilization in the far west, experienced all the hardships and discouragements incident to those days. In the years of 1873 and 1874, the crops were entirely destroyed by the grasshopper raids ; in the mem orable blizzard of 1888, Mr. McGee lost a few head of sheep, and in various other ways suffered losses which at the time were severely felt. Mr. McGee was married in 1881 to Miss Adelaide Van Ostram, a native of Wayne county, New York, born June 16, 1861 ; her parents were early settlers in Nebraska, locating there in 1874, in Clearwater township, Antelope county. Mr. and Mrs. McGee are the parents of nine children, namely : Emma L., Stella E., wife of Ernest Mil ler, now living in Blaine township, they having one child, named Mary Adelaide; Georgie Anna; Edward C, Susie M., Minnie M., James E., David N., and Frank. Mr. McGee is a popular man in his community and state. He was the first county assessor elected in Antelope county. First election for that office being held in 1903. He has held the office of county supervisor six years and was re elected to office 1910; was chairman of board of supervisors for three years; served as repre sentative of his district in the Nebraska legisla ture for one term. He taught school in Iowa in the early days. He was one of the organizers of his school district, number six, in 1872, which his tory goes to show the high esteem and popular ity in which Mr. McGee is and has always been held by his fellowmen. JAMES LANMAN. (Deceased.) A long and useful life closed the day James Lanman, late of Plainview, Nebraska, breathed his last. He entered this world on the 4th day of October, 1830, near the town of Rome, Indiana. His parents, James and Elizabeth Lanman, were of old southern stock that originated in the Carolinas, and lived successively in Tennessee and Kentucky, in their migration to Ohio and Indiana. They lived in the region at so early a date that they were frequently harrassed by the Indians in their attacks on the frontier settle ments along the Ohio river. Mr. Lanman was the fourth in the line of descendants to be named 15 James, his great-grandfather bearing that name also. When an infant, Mr. Lanman 's parents moved to Illinois, living for a season or two in the vicin ity of Springfield, and in 1834, as soon as the In dians had been pacified, after the Black Hawk war, moved across the Mississippi river and set tled near Fairfield, Iowa. When of age, Mr. Lanman moved to Wapello county, Iowa, where he resided until his marriage, when, with his bride, he migrated to what was then the frontier, the line between Monroe and Appanoose counties, living from time to time in each county. He was living here when the call to arms prompted him to enlist for service in the war of the rebellion. Leaving his wife and little ones at Moravia, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Vol unteer Infantry, January 4,. 1864. His regiment was assigned to service in Texas, and here, after a battle in which the confederates outnumbered them, the regiment with two others was captured and marched on scant rations some seventy-five miles to Shreveport, Louisiana, and held prison ers there. After ten months in the prison pens, they were exchanged at New Orleans, and shortly after the war closed, when the weary sol diers were sent home, received their discharge at Davenport, Iowa, June 8, 1865. Rejoining his family, Mr. Lanman engaged in farming in Appanoose county, Iowa, and in con nection therewith, ran a small grist and saw mill until he moved to Nebraska in 1868. Loading their possessions in a wagon, the young pioneer and his family journeyed over land, camping by the wayside and, after days in the open, settled in Douglas county. Four years later, he proceeded further into the state and be came a resident of Pierce county, Nebraska, where the autumn before he had filed on a home stead five miles northeast from Plainview and at the same time had pre-empted eighty acres, under a soldier's warrant, to the east of Plainview, a tract now adjoining the town. Through trickery^, his homestead was lost after three years, but his pre-emption was retained, and he resided on this tract until about 1878, when he moved into the village and made this his home until his death, February 19, 1904. The winter of their migration to Pierce county was memorable for the deep snow, and although the white blanket lay thick on the ground, they were comfortable as they journeyed along in their two wagons, in which beds were fitted, and in one a kitchen arranged. They had many hard ships in their new home, but escaped most of the grasshopper raids. To save part of their cab bage, Mrs. Lanman once tied some of the heads up in cloth to keep the pests from devouring them. Mr. Lanman was married in Appanoose county, Iowa, November 12, 1853, to Miss Sarah Sumler, who was born in Spencer county, Indiana, 434 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. November 25, 1835. Her parents, Seward and Elizabeth (Cummins) Sumler, were natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. The family had lived in the Ohio valley for a generation or two and participated in the Indian wars that accompanied the settlement of the great north west. The great Grandfather Sumler was killed by Indians in one of their raids, but not before he had made a valiant fight, and had taken five lives for his one. A year or so before, his wife had been scalped by them and left for dead, but she attained a century of life, and was full of stories of the terrors of the wilderness that beset the early settlers. When Mrs. Lanman 's father who was one of the earliest settlers in Appanoose county, migrated to the west about 1850, he brought his family in. covered wagons. He died there, and later the mother died at her daughter's home in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Lanman four children were born, two of whom are living : Reuben, who was first married to Miss Amy Brower, who died, leaving four children, Olsey B., Frank, Roy, and Amy; and who was then married to Miss Mary Tepner in Nebraska, they are living at Nor folk with three children, Merril, Lester and Hester, the latter being twins ; Isabel is the wife of Dominicus H. Neal, living twelve miles south of Plainview. After coming to Plainview, Mr. Lanman en gaged in the ice business and for ten years was in the local mail service. Later he was interested in the livery business with his son, Reuben, and others. . The Lanman family were living in town dur ing the blizzard of 1888, at which time the son- in-law, D. H. Neal, proved himself to be a hero. He made his way through the suffocating storm to the school house for the younger ones and brought several of the neighbors' children with him, and although only about a hundred yards were traversed one of them lost hold of the next ones hand and came near being lost. Mrs. Neal kept calling to him through the blast or he might have drifted past the house with his charges. The hardships of those early days are almost past believing by the younger generation. Our subject, Mr. James Lanman, was a demo crat in politics and a member of the Grand Army of Republic. CHRISTIAN SORENSEN. (Deceased.) Christian Sorensen was born in Denmark on February 6, 1838, and came to America at the age of twenty-two years. His first location was in Wisconsin, where he followed farm work for about two years, and was there married to Anna Margaret Hansen, on August 24, 1862. Only a few days after their marriage the young man enlisted in company B, twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and remained with his company which experienced hard service up to the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in the fall of 1865. Mr. Sorensen had a splendid record as a soldier, and while he did not participate in any great battles, he spent considerable of his time doing duty as a hospital nurse, and in this way was able to help many poor fellow-sufferers to re gain their health which had been shattered in following their country's fortunes of war. He did, however, take an active part in a number of minor engagements, while serving under General Sherman's command. After leaving the army Mr. Sorensen returned to Wisconsin and establish a hop raising busi ness, which he continued in for about six years, then with his wife and three sons, came to Howard county, Nebraska, arriving here in the spring of 1872. He took up a homestead on section eight, township thirteen, range eleven, erected a rough building for a dwelling, ana started to develop a farm and home, occupying this shanty for a good many years and during that period passed through the usual pioneer ex periences of the region in those days. He proved up on the land, and later purchased two hundred and forty acres of railroad land on section five, which he also built up in good shape, following farming continuously up to 1896, then retired and with his family moved to Dannebrog where he owned a very fine home. He engaged in truck gardening, which work he carried on successfully up to the time of his death, which occurred on April 27, 1907. He was survived by his widow and five children, whom he left well provided for in worldly goods. During Mr. Sorensen 's residence on his farm he took an active part in neighborhood affairs, serving as moderator of school district number seventeen, for a number of years, also held the office of road supervisor for some time. Anna Margaret Sorensen, widow of our sub ject, is also a native of Denmark, coming to America with her parents in 1857. They settled in Wisconsin, where they went through the usual pioneer experiences, but succeeded in building up a good home and valuable property. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living, all filling honorable careers in life. One daughter, Rosa. remains at home with her mother, while the rest are married and settled in homes of their own. Their names are as follows : Charles Augustus, Hans Edward, Louis Henry and William Fred erick. The first and last mentioned are in Bel- lingham, Washington, Hans Edward in Phelps county, Nebraska, and Louis Henry lives on an eighty acre tract belonging to the old farm. Jens Laurets and Rasmine Christina are deceased — the former at thirteen years of age and the latter at twelve. RESIDENCE AND FAMILY GROUP OF J. S. WISDOM, INCLUDING MR. AND MRS. GEORGE MORTON. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 435 J. S. WISDOM. Among the leading old settlers of Cedar county, the gentleman above mentioned and his wife deserve a foremost place. Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom have passed nearly all of their wedded life on the farm here, as they came to this lo cality just two years after their marriage. Mr. Wisdom has aided in no slight degree in the de velopment of the commercial and agricultural resources of the region and has done his full share in the betterment of the community. Mr. Wisdom is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born there in 1856. His father, M. B. Wisdom, at a very early date came to Iowa, being one of the the earliest settlers there. In 1880, Mr. Wisdom was united in marriage to Miss Laura Shearer, and two years later, as has already been related, the couple came to Cedar county to make their permanent home. Mr. Wisdom purchased a fine piece of land, which is still his home. Since his occupation of the place, the farm and its buildings have been much improved, and the estate is now a very valuable one. During the long period Mr. Wisdom has been farming here, he has met with many and varied experiences, in common with other pioneers. In comparison with many, his losses have been more severe than those which usually fell to the lot of the settlers. Like them, he lost heavily by grasshoppers, blizzards, and prairie fires, and in addition, on the fourteenth of June, 1890, he had the misfortune to have his house and almost all of the farm buildings wrecked by a cyclone which passed through that locality. His farm suffered most, as it lay directly in the path of the terrible storm. Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Orville C, Daisy, Nellie, now Mrs. George Morton; Ona, Mable, Murrell, Ivan and Dean. Orville C. is an attorney- at-law located at Emerson, and Daisy, the eldest daughter, has entered the professions as a trained nurse. On another page will be found pictures showing the residence and family. ORLANDO K. PHILBRICK. As an old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, and an agriculturist of untiring energy and per severance and a worthy citizen, the gentleman here named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent some thirty years in their midst, has gained a host of staunch friends, and incidentally acquired numerous acres of good land, and placed himself in a position to enjoy the latter part of his life in peace and comfort. He resides on section twenty-three, township twenty, range fourteen, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good friends. Orlando K. Philbrick, son of Harrison and Jane (Closson) Philbrick, was born in Dela ware county, Ohio, April 2, 1845; he was fifth in the family of eight children, and has three sisters living in Ohio, one in Iowa, one in Illinois, and another in Colorado ; another child is de ceased, as are also the parents, the father having passed away in 1872, and the mother in 1852, their deaths occurring in Delaware county, Ohio. Mr. Philbrick received his education in the home schools, and at the age of seventeen years, on August 22, 1862, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, serving one year. He participated in the battle at Per- ryville, and a few months later was taken prisoner, paroled to Camp Chase, Ohio, and owing to illness he was discharged. On February 1, 1865, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, serving until the close of war. He re ceived his discharge about July 25, 1865, in Nashville, Tennessee, and after the war returned to Ohio, where he engaged in farming. On October 4, 1867, Mr. Philbrick was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Stanton, in Dela ware City, Ohio, near which place she was born, a daughter of Frances and Margaret (Wooden) Stanton, natives of the states of New York and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick have had ten children, namely: Claud 0., who is married, has three children, and resides on the home farm; Mary J., living at home; Frank D., who is married, has four children, and lives in Garfield county, Nebraska; Ray A., resides at home ; Lulu M., wife of John Dever, they having three children, and reside in Grand Island ; Maud A., at home; Scott M., at home; and Dudley A., Florence, and Ben H., who also reside under the parental roof. Mrs. Philbrick 's father died in 1852 in In diana; and her mother passed away in 1889, in Ohio ; she has a brother residing in the state of Michigan, two sisters in Ohio, and another brother in Garfield, Nebraska. In 1869 Mr. Philbrick migrated from Ohio to Washington county, Illinois, remaining one year, then moved to Randolph county, Missouri, where he followed the occupation of farming near Moberly five years, before going to Shelby county, Iowa. In the spring of 1882 he came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land seven miles southwest of Ord, residing there a couple of years; he then purchased six hundred and forty acres in section twenty-three, township twenty, range fourteen, which is still the home place, and which is now a fine stock and grain farm, well improved. On this farm Mr. Philbrick built a fine ten room residence in 1907, lighted by gas and having hot and cold water on every floor. With his sons he owns one thousand and twenty acres of ranch land in Garfield county, on which he runs a fine bunch of cattle. The Philbricks are a prosperous and suc cessful family, owing seventeen hundred acres of fine land. They are an old pioneer family, and 436 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to frontier life, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Philbrick has had the usual "soddy" experience of the west, having lived on his present farm in a large one fifty-two feet in length, one of the largest in the country. Mr. Philbrick, as before stated, is a promin ent farmer and ranchman of this part of Ne braska, and has served as director of school dis trict number forty-five for years. He is a re publican in politics and a member of the Grand Army of Republic. J. A. KOST. J. A. Kost, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section thirty-one, township twenty-four, range one, is well known through out Madison county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Kost is a native of Illinois state, his birth occurring there in the year 1862; he is a son of Adam and Mary Kost, both of whom were born in Germany; the mother died in Norfolk, Nebraska, September 28, 1903, and our subject's father died June 15, 1911, at Sturgis, South Da kota, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. Our subject's father came to America in 1852, sailing from Hamburg for New York on a sail boat, and was on the sea seven weeks. He came to America on hearing such glowing accounts of the new world where a poor man had a better chance to get along in the world, and where land could be had for almost nothing by proving up on it. After landing in the United States, he was married to Anna Marie Voltz at Galena, Illinois, in 1856. They resided for twelve years at Galena, Illinois, and from there moved to Clinton, Iowa, where they lived four years. In 1872 the family including six children came to Madison county, Nebraska, locating four miles west of Battle Creek, where they took a homestead. While living here in the early days, the family experienced many hardships and dis couragements, and suffered many losses through the many different causes of grasshopper pests, drouths, prairie fires, etc. The first few years the entire crops of those seasons were completely desroyed by the ravages made by the grasshop pers that came in great clouds and ate every thing in their path. This made it very hard for the family, and the father being a plasterer by trade went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he se cured employment to get money for his family in Nebraska. But those days have passed into history, and although they never can be forgotten, they have been deeply buried in memory and other and more recent incidents have dimmed their vividness. In 1887, Mr. Kost, our subject, moved onto his father's farm which was bought from Mr. Doug las Priest, it being located, as before stated, in section thirty-one, township twenty-four, .range one, where he "batched" it two years; on this land he planted a few trees which now have de veloped into a fine grove. In 1890 Mr. Kost was married to Miss Matilda Kent, and Mr. and Mrs. Kost had four children born to them, whose names are as follows : Mary, Rose, Florence and Irene. In 1899 Mrs. Kost passed away to the great beyond, survived by her husband and children, and deeply mourned by many friends and relatives. In 1908 Mr. Kost bought the farm known as the Patty Macken homestead, which he now owns. Mr. Kost and family live in a pleasant home, where they are surrounded by a host of good friends and neighbors, and Mr. Kost is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him. FRED H. WITTEMYER. Fred H. Wittemyer is a large landowner of Custer county and well known as a successful stockman and farmer. Although a comparatively young man, he has passed through many im portant stages of Nebraska's history and in his youth met the discouragements and trials of pioneer life. He was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, January 8, 1876, the younger of the two children of John and Margaret (Smith) Witte myer. The other child, a daughter, lives in Ar kansas. The father, a native of Germany, came to America in 1850, and the mother was born in ^ Michigan. He enlisted in Company E, Seventy- fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving three and one-half years. He settled in Custer county inl884 and died in Sargent, August 31, 1906. His widow now lives in Sargent. Mr. Wittemyer went with the family to Iowa when he was an infant and four years later, in 1884, on to Custer county. He was reared on a farm there and educated in local schools. In the fall of 1893 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections seven and twelve of township eighteen, range eighteen, and on Aug ust 25, 1895, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Hattie (Lovejoy) Wittemyer, widow of Charles E. Wittemyer, who was born in Orford, New Hampshire, and came with her parents to Custer county in early life. She is a daughter of John H. Lovejoy and by her first marriage had a daughter, Gyneth Elizabeth Wittemyer. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wittemyer : Florence H., John, Jessie. Leonard, George and Beulah. Mr. Wittemyer and wife established their firsl home on the farm he had purchased, and he has prospered in his operations so that he has been able to retire from farm work and since 1908 has lived in Sargent. He is one of the younger men among the early settlers and is widely and favor- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 437 ably known. He owns thirteen hundred and twenty acres of stock and grain farm land, well improved and equipped, and has made a specialty of breeding Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. He is active in local affairs and for several years served as treasurer of school district num ber eighty-four. The family are prominent in so cial circles and are representative of the best in terests of their community. EDWARD PORSBERG. In reviewing the history of Cedar county, Ne braska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this number is accorded the gentleman above named. He has been for many years a resident of the county and is uni versally respected as a man of integrity and ex cellent characteristics. He now has a comfort able home pleasantly situated in section twenty- three. Mr. Forsberg is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1867 in Linkoping. He received his edu cation in the schools of his native land, and helped his parents, Peter and Carlion Forsberg. on their little farm. In 1882, our subscriber, left Sweden via Got- tenburg, on the steamer "Irene," bound for New York city. He came to Henry county, Illinois, and worked on a farm six miles south of Cam bridge, the county seat, for ten years. Then in 1884, he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he bought the farm which he has since occupied. He has made many improvements of late years, and his farm now is a picture of thrift and in dustry. Mr. Forsberg came to Nebraska when there were quite a number of settlers in this region, and for this reason escaped many of the hard ships which fell to the lot of the real pioneer. However, he did not entirely escape discourage ments, by any means. Even as late as 1894, he suffered quite a loss, when all his crops were a total failure owing to the hot, dry winds which prevailed. In 1897, our subscriber was united in mar riage to Miss Emily Magensen. Six children have been born to them, upon whom they have be stowed the following names : Hilga, Ruth, Esther, Phoebe, Ida and Joseph. THOMAS WINDFIELD. Among the younger residents of Merrick county, Nebraska, who have come to the front in a remarkable manner through industry and faith ful effort, the gentleman above mentioned holds a prominent place, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact. Thomas Windfield was born in Menard county, Illinois, January 8, 1875, and was the third of six children in the family of Troels and Hannah Windfield who had three son sand three daugh ters born to them. Troels Windfield, wife and five children, moved to Howard county, Nebraska, in 1884, settling on a farm. Troels Windfield, his wife, and a daughter, Mrs. Amelia Rasmussen, now live at Grand Island, Nebraska, and a son, Thurman, at Burwell, Nebraska. The other chil dren are deceased. Thomas Windfield grew up in Howard and Merrick counties, receiving the common school education of that time, and by his own endeavors has mastered four or five languages, speaking the Danish, Swedish, German, and other tongues. Mr. Windfield was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Lyda Wagner on April 12, 1898, in Merrick county, Nebraska. Mrs. Windfield 's parents were Christ and Ernestine (Vogel) Wagner, both born in Germany. They came to the United States in 1878, and located on a farm in Prairie Creek township, and there Mr. Wagner lived until the time of his death in 1892. Mrs. Wagner is still living in Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Windfield have had four chil dren born to them: Lillian, Edgar; Clarence, and Mabel. In June, 1898, Mr. Windfield purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the northeast quarter of section twenty-eight, township thir teen, range eight, and eighty acres on section twenty-one. At the time of the purchase this land was in poor condition ; but is now one of the fine farms of Merrick county, well equipped, is supplied with good buildings, and has a modern house built thereon. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Windfield purchased two hundred acres — one hundred and sixty farm, and - forty acres hay land. The farm land is in section twenty-two. He now owns four hundred and forty all in Prairie Creek township. He has made a success of farming and stock raising, and has always been ready to do his part toward the upbuilding of his home county and state, having served as township clerk of Prairie Creek township, and treasurer of school district number forty-two. W. D. GRIM. W. D. Grim, residing in Walnut Grove town ship is an agriculturist of prominence in Knox county, and one of those substantial citizens whose integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the, material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Grim is a native of Ohio, born in Har rison county, October 31, 1845. His father was also born and reared in that state, of German parentage, and he was a resident of his native state up to 1855, at which time the entire family emigrated to Iowa, remaining there until 1873. During their residence in that state the father was located on a farm in Buchanan county, and part of the time oiir subject was with his parents, 438 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. assisting in carrying on the home place. In October, 1873, they packed up their goods and came on to Nebraska, where the father filed on a homestead in section thirty-three, township thirty, range six, Knox county, their first dwell ing, which was their home for several years, be ing a log house. They went through pioneer ex periences, suffering from all the drawbacks that fell to the lot of the early settlers in that region, but eventually succeeded in proving up on their land, and improving it in good shape. W. D. Grim filed on a pre-emption claim for himself in 1873, but failed to prove up on it. He then filed on it as a homestead and as such proved up on it. This was the northeast quarter of section five, township twenty-nine, range eight. He then built a dugout and started farming, but had a hard time to get along during the first years, the grasshoppers and hot winds taking all his crops during three successive years. After that time, however, prospects were better; he was able to add to his acreage, and at the present time he has a fine farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, equipped with every convenience in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., and every part of the place bears evidence of the most care ful management and thrift. This place is on the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, township thirty, range eight, which he purchased about 1896, but he has lived on it in the neighborhood of twenty years, having rented the farm previous to purchasing. Mr. Grim was united in marriage October 8, 1868, to Miss Sarah E. Booth, and eight children have been born to this union, who are named as follows : Prank P. Grim, who is dead, leaving a wife and five children ; Stella Belle, wife of Charles Hamilton, and- mother of six children; Ella May, wife of Wm. Lester Clyde, and the mother of twelve children; Charles E., married, and having three children; George, who is dead; Ira, married, and having three living children ; and Maud, wife of Harry Yount, having one son. Another son, James, is also deceased. Mr. Grim has rented his farm for the past few years,, and of late he has been devoting his time to inventions, his spare moments being given principally to a flying machine propelled by physical power. GUSTAVE A. MOLLIN. Gustave A. Mollin, a leading citizen of Genoa, Nebraska, and president of the Genoa National Bank, is recognized throughout that part of the state as a man of the highest responsibility and integrity of character, who has always been fully alive to the best interests of his county and state. Mr. Mollin was born in Dane county, Wiscon sin, on December 1, 1855. He is the fourth mem ber in a family of seven children born to Alfred and Louise Mollin, and of whom but one sister and his mother survive, the former, Mrs. H. Saare, residing in Newman Grove, Nebraska, and the latter making her home with her daughter. Mr. Mollin came to Nebraska in the fall of 1879, locating at' first in Richardson county, where he spent a little over a year, then settled in Genoa. There, in company with a brother, he engaged in the mercantile business. His brother lived but a few months after they started in busi ness, and the burden of the work fell upon our subject, who continued it for a number of years, selling it out in 1895, and later purchased a two hundred and forty acre farm in Lancaster county, living on it up to 1901. At that time he returned to Genoa and connected himself with the Nance County State Bank, which was organized on August 2, 1899, with L. G. Stocks as president. Mr. Mollin became cashier of the bank in 1901, and two years later the institution received its charter to become the Genoa National Bank. In 1904 the bank was reorganized with the following stockholders: Edward L. Burke, D. A. Willard, Jacob Jemberg, Bengt Mortensen, E. M. Spear, Alfred M. Mollin, and G. A. Mollin. E. L. Burke was elected president and G. A. Mollin cashier, and the following year our subject succeeded to the presidency, and his son, Alfred M., was made cashier, both still holding these offices. The bank is on a solid basis and is doing a very large busi ness, ranking among the very first in that part of Nebraska. Mr. Mollin was married on November 30, 1881, to Alta M: Cook, who was born in New York state, and prior to her marriage was a teacher in the public schools there. Mr. and Mrs. Mollin have had five children, four of whom are living, named as follows: Alfred M., Stewart G., Pernand E., and Flora M. Mr. Mollin is one of Nance county's substantial men of affairs, alive to the best inter ests of his county and state, and enjoying the highest reputation as a man and worthy citizen. During the years 1892 to 1895 inclusive, he served as county supervisor, also as township treasurer for seven years, and was director of his school board for many years. LEN B. GORMLEY. The first family to settle in Butte was that of John D. Gormley, father of the man whose name heads this sketch, and Len was, the first white boy to play on the open prairies where the town now stands. John D. Gormley came to the site of Butte in the spring of 1890, and secured a claim in the school section on the north edge of town, but finding it devoid of water, transferred his interests to the quarter section just south, which was later dedicated to the town site. Here the following year the county seat was estab lished by proclamation, and later by the vote of the citizens of the county. The elder Gormley came to Nebraska from Vinton county, Ohio, in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 439 the spring of 1883, and settled on a homestead seven miles south of Stuart, where he followed ranching some seven years, until his removal to Boyd county in 1890. Here he opened a general store and continued in business for fifteen years, in the meanwhile purchasing a ranch west of Butte. He traded largely in stock, feeding large droves of cattle and hogs each year. In 1905 he removed toHerrick, South Dakota, where he is engaged in the real estate and stock business. Len B. Gormley is a son of John D. and Har riett (Halley) Gormley, to whom were also born two daughters, Mary and Rosa, who, with their mother, reside in Butte. Our subject was born in Vinton county, Ohio, June 16, 1879, and was little more than an infant when the family re moved to the ranch south of Stuart. He has no recollection of the state of his birth, and is typi cally a westerner. Most of his education was se cured in the schools of Butte, and as soon as he attained sufficient age he took his place as sales man in the store, as well as by his father's side in his cattle dealing, and became thoroughly fa miliar with both the drovers' life and the store keeper's vocation. Since his father's removal to Herrick, Mr. Gormley has continued stock trad ing and farming as well, having eighty acres of fine corn land west of town. He frequently rents additional acreage and raises some years nearly five thousand bushels of corn, part of which he feeds, selling the remainder in the open market. He farmed a small tract, his home place, on the north edge of town and devoted the rest of his time to stock trading until recently, when he moved to the country to engage in farming on a larger scale. Mr. Gormley was married October 31, 1902, to Miss Dora Hull, a native of Iowa, and daughter of Martin Hull, whose life in Nebraska is given at length in this volume. Of the four children born to this family two survive : Calvin and Joy. One little one's life was lost and the mother's face severely burned by the explosion of a lamp in which gasoline had been accidentally mixed with the oil. Mr. Gormley was himself severely burned while rescuing his wife and child through a window. The ease was carried into the federal courts after a judgment was rendered against the Standard Oil company, but later a com promise was effected through which Mr. Gorm ley received a substantial amount, but nothing can compensate for the loss of the little one and the mother's suffering. Mr. Gormley well remembers the fatal bliz zard of January 12, 1888. He was but a small- lad at the time and fortunately was at home when the storm struck. His father had hitched the team to go to town and, hearing a noise, looked out upon the approaching wall of frozen mist. To safely go from house to barn at feeding time, the father used a rope between the buildings or he might have been lost in the short space inter vening between the house and barn. One severe hailstorm is firmly fixed in the memory of Mr. Gormley. He was at work in the field a quarter of a mile from home, when he heard the roaring of the approaching hail. He ran and escaped most of the storm, but was pelted severely before reaching shelter. Twenty chickens and some hogs were killed, and large lumps were to be seen for -days on the horses and cattle from the bruises made by the large chunks of falling ice. The house they were living in was a "soddy, " and the elder Gormley had just covered the sheeting with a fresh coat of paper ready to lay the outer covering of sod. After the hail there was not enough left of the paper to cover a shingle. Ice and rain had beaten through the boards and soaked everything in the house. The family lived in the sod house seven years, and later had a frame dwelling. Mr. Gormley has seen deer and antelope since coming to Boyd county, but was too small to hunt at that time. One crossed the road near their house, soon after they first located at Butte, passed south across the lot where the court house now stands and was later killed on the south side of the butte below them. Hunters from Whetstone Creek at one time brought five deer on a sled to the elder Gormley 's for sale. Mr. Gormley learned the Sioux language, and when a boy, could converse quite well with the Indians, but from disuse much of his vocabulary has been forgotten. During the Indian scare in 1892, the Gormley family rested comparatively easy in mind. Swift Bear, the chief, was a friend and promised to warn if any danger threatened, which fortunately it did not. Prairie fires caused much labor at times, fighting the flames for hours or even days; and these alarms annoyed them every spring and fall when the Indians burned the prairies. JOSEPH PELSTER. Joseph Pelster, a prosperous agriculturist and one of the leading citizens of Boone county, Ne braska, is one of the pioneers of that region. His pleasant home and valuable estate is situated on section three, township twenty-two, range seven, where he has spent the past seventeen years. Mr. Pelster was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on April 1, 1861, and remained in that vicinity until he was nineteen years of age. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of three boys and four girls born to John H. and Elizabeth Pelster, who were natives of Germany, and came to America in 1858, locating in Ohio in that year. One son, Conrad, went to Kansas in 1880, and our subject joined him there immediately after ward, the two engaging in farming. Joseph Pelster was married in Seneca, Kan sas, on November 28, 1882, to Miss Margaret Honvlez, who was reared in Illinois. The young couple came to Boone county the following year and rented land for some time, finally purchasing some land in section three, township twenty-two, 440 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. range seven, in 1893, and this has been their home farm since that time. Mr. Pelster has worked faithfully in building up a good home and has met with marked success in his efforts, having a well improved farm, fully equipped for both grain and stock raising. Our subject is one of the really old-timers of Boone county, and has passed through all the var ious changes that have taken place, being himself an important factor in this progress. He came into the locality overland from Kansas, in com pany with his brother Conrad, and in the party there were also Joseph Schlipf, John Moser, An- tone Zuent and Martin Kitzhner, all well known old settlers of Boone county. Mr. and Mrs. Pelster have twelve children, all born in Boone county, and named as follows : Albert, John, Joseph, Edward, Theresa, (the two latter twins), Barney, Katie, Louis, Adolph, George and Nora, (twins), and Leonard, all liv ing at home with the exception of Albert, John and Theresa, who are married. They are a most interesting family, and have been a help and blessing to their parents in their career here, all filling honorable positions in life and popular with all whom they come in contact. Mr. Pelster has in years gone by been closely identified with the best interests of his com munity, holding different precinct offices. W. I. JAMES. For over a quarter of a century, this gentle man has been closely identified with the growth and development of Wayne county, Nebraska, and is counted among the most prominent set tlers of that region. He is proprietor of a very valuable estate located on section thirty-six, township twenty-seven, range one, east, where he has made a comfortable home for himself. Mr. James was born in 1851, in Wales, and was the son of William and Mary James. His father was a small farmer, and the subscriber re mained at home until twenty-eight years old, re ceiving his education in the local schools, and helping his parents in the farm work. In 1880, Mr. James decided to emigrate to America, and embarked at Liverpool on the old steamship "Egypt" for New York. He came first to Iowa, where he remained four years. In 1884, he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and pur chased the farm on which he now resides. His first dwelling house was a dugout and he lived here for four years. He kept bachelor's quarters until 1899, when he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. James. Three children have been born to them: Artie, Edna and Wilma, all of whom are living. Mr. James has suffered from the usual dis couragements attending a settler's life on the prairies. However, he had faith in the country and remained there, and has now received his reward. He has always taken a commendable in terest in local public affairs, and has always done his part in helping to develop the agricultural resources of the country. Mr. and Mrs. James oc cupy a prominent position socially and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. S. BURTWISTLE. It would be impossible to give a sketch of the history of northeastern Nebraska without in cluding much of the experiences of Mr. S. Burt- wistle, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers. For forty years he has been a con tinuous resident of Stanton county, and during that time he has been closely identified with every measure which has had as its object, the ultimate improvement of all conditions in the community. He is a man of untiring energy and perseverance and by honest efforts, has become one of the well- to-do men of that locality. Mr. Burtwistle was born in 1858, in Canada, and is the son of Richard and Melissa Burtwistle. The father was a native-born Englishman, while the mother was a Canadian by birth. The sub scriber received his early education in Canada, and remained at home with his parents in his na tive town. In 1870, with his parents, Mr. Burtwistle came to Stanton county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead about two miles west of Pilger, which they proceeded to improve and fit up as a place in which to pass the remainder of their lives. They suffered considerably from the grass hoppers during the first few years of their stay, and were several times compelled to fight prairie fires in order to save their home from destruction. In 1879, Mr. Burtwistle was united in mar riage to Miss Ellen Spence, of Stanton county. Soon after, he bought his present farm in section twenty-six, township twenty-four, range two, east. Since his possession, the farm has been im proved by the addition of necessary buildings, fences, wells, etc., until now it is as good a farm as can be found in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Burtwistle are the parents of three children, named as follows: -Ethel, now Mrs. Alven Barr; Harold, and Anna, now Mrs. Arthur Barr. Mr. and Mrs. Burtwistle are prominent members of the community and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. JOSEPH FISHER. In the person of Joseph Fisher, mentioned above, we have another of the sturdy sons of Germany who left their native land in their young manhood and came to America to carve out for themselves a name and fortune in the land of liberty and freedom. Mr. Fisher was born in the village of Camk, JOHN PATON, DECEASE^. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 441 Bavaria province, Germany, February 14, 1844, and is a son of Wolfgang and Holtzer Fisher. Our subject was reared and educated in the old country, and served his native land from 1866 to 1871 in the army, and participated in the war be tween Germany and Austria, and Germany and France, during which strife he received a wound. Mr. Fisher left Germany on the steamer "Waisser, " and was thirteen days on the ocean, to come to America, the land of promise, in the spring of 1872, and after reaching New York, he came west to Indiana, remaining there until fall, then went to Carroll county, Iowa. In 1898 he came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of five hundred and twenty acres. In 1873 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Anna Benzkoffer, who was also a native of Rosenheim, Germany, and came to America when she was three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are the parents of a fine family of eleven children, whose names are given as follows: Mary, who married M. Rebeck, lives in New Mexico, and has three children; Lizzie, lives at Creighton, Ne braska, married to Otto Rebeck, has three chil dren; John, married to Pauline Mock, has four children, lives at Creighton, Nebraska; Joe; Frank, who married Ada Newhearst, has two children, lives at Brunswick, Nebraska; Jacob, married Rosa Woolley, and Albert, Louise, mar ried to Fred Sulsdorf ; Rose ; Peter ; and Amanda. Mr. Fisher and family are enjoying the re spect aud esteem of all who know them, both in a social and business way, and Mr. Fisher is known to his associates as a good citizen and a progres sive farmer. Mr. Fisher was moderator on the school board in district number fifty, 1902-1907; and h'e was moderator on the same board, 1900- 1901. The family are German Catholics in re ligious affiliations. JOHN PATON. John Paton, now deceased, was formerly one of the well known business men of Nance county, Nebraska, where he had resided for many years. Mr. Paton was prominent in public affairs of that section, advocating by precept and personal example a high ideal of citizenship character ized by simplicity, frankness and directness, and in the pursuit of his career was an important factor in the upbuilding of his vicinity. We take pleasure in presenting a portrait of Mr. Paton on another page. The "Paton Crest" is a bible and a sword surrounded by the words "Virtute Viget. " John Paton, our subject, was the son of John Paton and Isabella Hendry, who were married in 1840, making their home in Ayreshire, Scotland. To this union were born ten children : Dewar, John, Hugh, Mary, William, Isabella, Jean, Janet, Mar garet and Alexander. In her devotion to the fam ily motto or principle, one Paton lady, about the 15% year 1600, was burned at the stake — she would not recant. She was a protestant persecuted by the Roman Catholics. John Paton was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, on November 20, 1847, and made that country his home until he was thirty-three years of age, at that time coming to America. His first location was at Fullerton, Nebraska, where in company with his brother, Dewar Paton, and a sister's hus band, John Caldwell, they purchased twenty thousand acres of land in Nance county, owning and controlling several large ranches. These they sold within a few years. After a time Mr. Paton engaged in the grain and lumber business in partnership with Fred Fuller, Sr., and con tinued with the concern for a number of years, then dissolved the partnership, Mr. Fuller taking over the lumber business and our subject keeping the grain interests and two elevators. He was comparatively successful in- his business ventures and would have amassed a comfortable fortune by his efforts but for his benevolent nature. At the time of his death, which occurred on July 28, 1901, John Paton was classed among the philan thropic men of the state who had shared many dollars earned with those about him less for tunate than himself. Mr. Paton was married in 1888, to Miss Eliza Caldwell, of Chicago Heights, 111., she being a woman of education and accomplishments, a graduate of Bloomington Normal College in Illi nois. Her parents were Scotch-Irish. One child resulted from their union, Anne, now a student at the Nebraska Wesleyan University. Mrs. Paton departed this life on March 14, 1895, her death occurring in California, and she was deeply mourned by her family and a large circle of friends by whom she was dearly beloved for her fine christian character and charming personal ity. She was buried in Chicago Heights, Illinois. On September 1, 1898, Mr. Paton was married again, to Miss Ella E. J. Stillman, also of Illinois, being born near Peoria. Her parents were from New Y"ork. Miss Stillman had been a student at Lombard College, Galesburg, and at the Lincoln Normal College, also attended the Nebraska Wes leyan University at Lincoln, Nebraska. She was a teacher in the Nance county public schools for six years, and in November, 1897, had the honor to be elected county superintendent of public in struction of Nance county, filling that office with credit and gaining the commendation of all by her ability and tact. Mrs. Paton attended many county, district and state teachers' associations. She is a woman of considerable literary talent, an elocutionist, amateur journalist and editor, also an artist of more than ordinary ability. In 1907 Mrs. Paton disposed of their pleasant resi dence with its splendid grounds, known all over the region as ' ' Paton Heights, ' ' and has designed and built a beautiful home in Fullerton, known as "Ash Cottage." Mrs. Paton has been a delegate 442 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. to several state and national conventions of var ious women's organizations and she is thoroughly progressive. Mrs. Paton is at the present time making her home with her two daughters, Anne, mentioned above, and Gladys, now in school at Fullerton. Gladys Paton is thoroughly a Paton, devoted to her home, school and church, and very much resembles her father and Anne in her looks, likes and inclinations. For over twenty years prior to his demise, Mr. Paton had been an elder in the Presbyterian church, and was an active worker for the tem perance cause in his state. He was county super intendent of Sunday schools for many years, and had given a number of very successful lectures on temperance and biblical subjects and on "Christian Citizenship." Mr. Paton traveled extensively, both in the United States and Euro pean countries. Mr. Paton 's eldest daughter, Anne, was born in Fullerton, and received her elementary educa tion in the public schools of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and Fullerton. She is now taking a course in the classics at the Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, also studying music, for which she exhibits a marked talent, at the Ne braska Wesleyan Conservatory of Music. She is a young woman of fine mind and high christian ideals, and with her gifted step-mother, is a popu lar member of the social life of their community. Anne Paton inherited a comfortable legacy from her mother. The Paton home has a reputation for lavish hospitality and the guests have included many of the most worthy, capable, influential and scholarly people who have visited the community. The .Patons have built four of the best homes or residences in Fullerton and indelibly stamped upon the town their love of refinement, good breeding and general culture. The Patons have been one of the families identified with the build ing of good schools, good churches and good homes in Nance county, Nebraska. ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN. Among the men who came to the state of Ne braska in the early seventies is the subject of this sketch, Isaac Chamberlain. He is promi nently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers, and after many years' hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Chamberlain was born in 1833 in the state of Maine, where in his early manhood he was en gaged in farming. On February 27, 1862, Mr. Chamberlain was mustered into the United States army, in Company M, First Maine Cavalry, un der Captain Brown. He was in the battles of Bull Run and Antietam; then did detached duty to quartermaster's department. He was dis charged February 27, 1865, and went to New- burgh, Maine. In the fall of 1871 he went to Zumbro, Minnesota, where he resided until the spring of 1874. In 1874, Mr. Chamberlain started for the west with an ox team and was seven weeks on the way to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he put a soldier's filing on section five, township twenty-seven, range four. His nearest market place was Yankton, South Dakota, fifty miles dis tant. He built a sod house and lived there but one year, as the drouth and grasshoppers took all his crops, which he had depended on for sus tenance for himself and family. He was forced to abandon his claim and worked on a steamboat which plied on the Missouri river ; and later when he had accumulated enough money, bought a lot and built a house and secured eight head of cat tle. Again fate seemed to pursue him, this time the high waters took his house and stock. He was a poor man and it seemed that everything was against him, as he had nothing left. House, stock, and everything was gone. In 1881 Mr. Chamberlain came back to Plain- view, Nebraska, where he suffered the usual hard ships prevalent in the west in those days, burning hay and sunflowers for fuel. Deer and antelope and wild game were plentiful in those days. Mr. Chamberlain was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Colsen in 1853, Miss Colsen being born in Hermon, Maine. They were the parents of eight children, whose names are as follows : George, born 1855, and died 1863; Edward, born 1857, and died 1863; Delson, bom 1860, is mar ried and has four children ; Eva, born 1862, mar ried to Mr. Sturgis and they are the parents of two children, whose names are George and Lila, the latter being married to Clyde Miller, who went to Africa as a missionary; Charles, born 1866, married Olive Moser, and they have five children; Ada, who married Sanford Packard, has five children; Franklin, who married Eva Headington, has two children; and Katie, born 1875, and died the same year. Our subject was united in marriage to Mrs. Kirk, on September 23, 1903. Mrs. Kirk was one of the early settlers of Antelope county, to where she came from Crawford county, Iowa, in 1878. She was born in the state of Michigan in 1839, and was married to Mr. Kirk, her former hus band, in 1855, they having two children: Charles R., who is married and has eight children, and Olive A., who is married to Martin Christenson and has six children. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk experienced all the incon veniences and hardships which the earlier set tlers were subjected to. The dry hot year of 1885 was so severe they had to keep wet towels around the room and on the doors to keep the house cool enough so that Mr. Kirk could live, as he was a great sufferer with asthma. In 1890 they lost all their crops by hail. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 443 Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. LOUIS H. SORENSEN. Louis H. Sorensen, residing on section five, township thirteen, range eleven, is one of the rep resentative farmers of Howard county, Ne braska, who have aided materially in its develop ment and advancement. He is a gentleman of energetic character, and well merits his success and high standing. Mr. Sorensen was born in Pewaukee, Wauke sha county, Wisconsin, December 18, 1871, and is a son of Christian and Annie Sorensen, the fifth in a family of seven children, of whom one brother and a sister, also the father, are deceased. The entire family are now residents of Howard county, excepting three brothers, one of whom lives in Osceola, Nebraska, and the other two in the state of Washington. They settled in Ne braska in 1872, homesteading a tract of land which was their home continuously during all these years, and enjoy the distinction of being one of the original families to settle in Howard county. They have built up a good home and farm. Louis received his early education in the coun try schools, later attending the normal college at Fremont, Nebraska, for one term. After leaving school he assisted his father in the farm work until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he started for himself, purchasing one hun dred and twenty acres on section five, township thirteen, range eleven. This he has improved with good buildings of all kinds, including a handsome and comfortable residence, having nice lawns, trees, etc., surrounding the house, making it one of the pleasantest homes in the vi cinity. He engages in stock raising extensively, also farms considerable land, and has been very successful in his various undertakings. Mr. Sorensen was married to Ellen M. Jen sen on October 18, 1893, the event taking place at Nysted. Mrs. Sorensen comes of an old Howard county family, and is a most estimable and charming lady. Both our subject and his wife are among the popular younger members of society in their community, and enjoy a large circle of friends. They have four children, as follows: Harley L., Richard O, Ferdinand and Ester. STILL WELL CONNER. To be called a, "leading old settler" is much praise to accord a citizen of any community, and this term when applied to the gentleman herein named, means more than is ordinarily meant when applying the term. Mr. Conner has been a resident of the eastern part of Nebraska for the past forty-five years, and has built up a valuable estate, and, incidentally, gained an en viable reputation as a worthy citizen. Stillwell Conner, retired farmer, son of Henry and Mary (Truax) Conner, was born in Morrow county, Ohio, December 19, 1843, and is third in a family of five children ; he has one brother, John, residing in Kansas, Nebraska, a sister, Rachel, is the widow of Isaac Thomas, and re sides in Valley county ; and two sisters are dead, as are also the parents, the father having died in 1867, and the mother in 1859, both in Ohio. When nineteen years of age, Mr. Conner joined his brother in Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm. In 1866 he came on west to Ne braska, locating in Dodge county, where he homesteaded eighty acres eight miles east of Fremont. In 1869, Mr. Conner was married to Miss Caroline Close, of Wisconsin, and to Mr. and Mrs. Conner five children have been born, namely: Clarence, who died in childhood; Ora, deceased in infancy; John, who is married, has one child, and lives on the home farm in Valley county; Stella, wife of Frank Adams, has two children, and resides in Colorado ; and an unnamed infant who is deceased. In 1872, Mr. Conner moved with his family to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he lived about seven years. Mrs. Conner died in the fall of 1879 at the home in Saunders county, deeply mourned by many friends and her surviving hus band and family. In 1887, Mr. Conner came to Valley county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres eight. miles west of Ord, which he sold in 1892, and pur chased a three hundred and twenty acre grain farm in sections thirty-one and thirty-two, town ship nineteen, range fourteen, moving on to same, a fine farm just south of Ord. On September 19, 1888, Mr. Conner was mar ried to Mrs. Mary Moore, who was born in New York state, and came to Valley county with her brother, C. H. Snow, in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Conner have one adopted daughter, Olive, who resides at home. In 1901, Mr. Conner retired from active farm ing and moved to Ord, where he built a good home where they now live. He has served as treasurer of school district number seventeen for some years; also has served in other districts where he has lived. Mr. Conner has passed through much of Nebraska's history, experienc ing all the ups and downs of pioneer life. He is an active man of affairs with varied interests, enjoying the highest esteem of a large circle of friends. FREDERICK W. RICHARDSON. Frederick W. Richardson, now a resident of Cherry county, Nebraska, was born in Winne bago, county, Illinois, July 31, 1844, and one of eight children in the family of Charles W. and 444 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Edna Richardson, who had five sons and three daughters. The father was a native of Ver mont, and the mother a native of New Y"ork; they were married in New York state in 1830, and migrated to Michigan, locating near Romeo. About 1842 they removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, locating in the Rock River valley, and were pioneer settlers in that section of the state of Illinois. In 1849 the family moved to Clayton county, Iowa, where the father bought govern ment land, making a home farm. Mrs. Charles Richardson died in Clayton county in 1853, and Mr. Richardson died in Madison county, Ne braska, in December, 1887. Mr. Richardson was a veteran of the civil war, being a member of Company D, Twenty- first Iowa Infantry. His sons, Henry, Edward, George E., and Frederick W., all served in the civil war. Henry and Edward were both in Company H, Twelfth Iowa Infantry, and both were taken prisoners at the battle of Shiloh and both died in the Macon, Georgia, prison from neglect and starvation. George F., saw three years' service, being in the Fourteenth Iowa In fantry, and' after the war became a resident of Nebraska. Frederick W. Richardson, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Clayton county, Iowa, and is practically a self- made man. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Com pany G, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, and was mustered into service at Dubuque, Iowa. In September he went to the front and spent the winter in Missouri ; he was in the engagement at Fort Gibson, Mississippi; and was at the Siege and capture of Vicksburg, and was also at Jackson, Mississippi; later on going to the gulf where he spent the winter in Texas ; then going to Mobile, taking part in the capture of Spanish Fort and Blakely. He was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 15, 1865, re turning to Clayton county, Iowa. In 1867, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Emily Bartlett, daughter of Lewis Bartlett, a native of Virginia. In 1869 they came to Madi son county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, where they built a log house and began the pioneer work of making a home and cultivating his land; Columbus, Ne braska, fifty miles away, being their nearest mar ket place. Mr. Richardson is a- man widely and favor ably known and has held various offices of trust and responsibility. In politics he is a republi can, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1881 he was elected to the office of county treasurer of Madison county, but was held out of office for one year pending a contest, the office being given him by decision of the supreme court of Nebraska. In 1883 he was re-elected to the same position and in 1889 elected to the office of county clerk and re-elected in 1891. At the expiration of his term of office in January, 1893, he returned to his home at Battle Creek to reside, and in the fall of 1904 was elected to the state legislature, serving one term. He was appointed postmaster of Battle Creek in 1908, resigning in January, 1910. Mr. Richardson has sold his interests in Madison county and has gone to Cherry county to reside. He has taken a Kin- caid homestead, where his sons, Fred, Ben., and Richard also reside. CARL KRIEWALD. Carl Kriewald was born in the village of Far- bezin, Pommerania, Germany, August 28, 1865, and is the second of six children born to August and Augusta (Rate) Kriewald. The mother died when Carl was only a small boy, but the father lived until 1894. None of the family, except Carl, ever came to America. Mr. Kriewald came to America in 1884, sail ing from Antwerp for New York on a Red Star liner, landing after a voyage of twelve and one- half days, joining his uncle, John Kriewald, who was one of the early settlers of Valley county, at Scotia, Nebraska. He worked for him one year and for other farmers until 1888, when he took up a homestead in Valley county, near Bur well. He proved up this land and later on sold it. In 1893, Mr. Kriewald bought the old William Brown homestead near the east line of Valley county, a farm of about one hundred and fifty- seven acres. He resided on this farm until 1908, improving the farm in many ways. He also bought another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section one, township thirteen, range eighteen. In the spring of 1908, Mr. Kriewald and family moved to the old Benson homestead in Greeley county, on section nineteen, township twelve, range eighteen, which was one of the first farms to be worked in the whole North Loup River Valley. Many improvements in the shape of fine buildings have been placed upon this farm since Mr. Kriewald became its owner. There is a fine grove on this farm, part of the trees being the original timber which was there when the settlements were first made. Mr. Kriewald is regarded as one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers and stock men in this part of the community. He was mar ried on the twenty-fourth of February, 1889, to Miss Mary Suhr, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, at her home in Hitchcock county, Nebraska, the marriage being performed by her father, Rev erend Carl Suhr, a minister of the German Evan gelical church. Her parents, who were natives of Mechlenberg-Sterlitz, came to America in 1870 and moved to Nebraska eleven years later. Her father died in 1905, and the mother, who was Johanna Bluedorn before marriage, is now in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Kriewald have five children, all of whom are living: John, Silas, Samuel, Earl, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 445 and Mary Alvina. Mr. Kriewald lived in a sod house for a time and in it their first son was born. In politics he is independent of party lines. The family worship in the Evangelical church. JEFFERSON D. VAN PELT. Jefferson D. Van Pelt is a man who since pioneer days has watched the development and growth of the locality in which he makes his home, and where he has resided for many years past. Mr. Van Pelt is a son of Jacob and Sophia (Chapin) Van Pelt, and was born in Meigs county, Ohio, January 19, 1845, and is the younger of two children, the sister residing in Ohio. Mr. Van Pelt's parents are deceased, the father died in 1851, in the state of Ohio, and the mother in 1899, the same state. Mr. Van Pelt received his education in his na tive state, and later engaged in farming. On January 6, 1866, he married Miss Mary M. Bur leigh, also of Ohio, and who was a teacher in Ohio schools. In September of 1879, Mr. Van Pelt came with his wife and five children to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section six, township fourteen, range seven, west, and has since purchased two hundred and forty acres adjoining, making a fine stock and grain farm, where he has lived all through the years since his arrival. He has served as director and treasurer of his school district number forty- four for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Van Pelt have had six children born to them, whose names are as follows: Mayo, who is married and has five children, lives in Merrick county; Milo, is married, has two chil dren, and also lives in Merrick county ; Sophia, married to Mr. A. Nitzel, has three children and lives in Merrick county; John B., married, lives in Merrick county, and has one child; lona, is married to William Trebilcock, has three chil dren and lives in Omaha, Nebraska; and Jesse D., who is married, has one child and lives in Nebraska. Mr. Van Pelt is one of the earlier settlers of his county, and is a successful man of affairs. He owns two hundred and forty acres of fine farming lands well improved. He has passed through many of the discouragements and try ing experiences incidental to pioneer life, and is widely and favorably known. FRANK McCLINTOCK. The thrift and energy of the "canny Scot," are proverbial, and the proverb loses nothing in the telling while recounting the career of Mr. Frank McClintock, the prosperous hardware merchant of Verdel. Mr. McClintock is a native of Clinton county, Iowa, and was born on his father's farm near Lyons, on December 26, 1855. He lived there until coming to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1885, with the exception of two years which he spent in the mountains, during 1882 and 1883, engaged in erecting telegraph lines along the Northern Pacific from Sprague, Washington, to Missoula, Montana. On March 24th of the latter year, he arrived in Creighton, and at once found work in the livery barn of Bill March, for whom he did all kinds of work for several months. He selected a quarter section of land in the open prairie near where Bloomfield now stands, for which he paid the sum of six dollars per acre, and immediately started in the stock business. At the same time he had an opportunity to buy any amount of land in that vicinity for four dol lars per acre, but like everyone else, had not the prescience to see that it would, in less than a quarter of a century, be worth twenty-five times that amount, and increase one hundred per cent per year. He remained on this place for about ten years, passing through the years of drouth and other hardships. He then moved to Crofton and built a livery barn, in anticipation of the coming of the railroad through the locality, a hope that failed of fruition, causing a heavy loss to himself as well as others who had settled in the town on account of the railroad being brought there. After a time Mr. McClintock sold out and moved to Hartington, following the oil busi ness there for a year. He then moved to Bloom field, where he secured a clerkship in a hotel, and continued in that work until he removed to Nio brara, in 1899. Here he bought stock for two years, and in 1903 located in Verdel and estab lished a hardware store, and also handled ma chinery and agricultural implements to which he has since added each year, and now has a fine line of wares and is rapidly increasing his pat ronage throughout the surrounding country. His stock includes machinery of all kinds, also re pairs for the same, and with Mr. McClintock 's unfailing courtesy and genial manner to all with whom he comes in contact, he is meeting the suc cess which he so richly deserves, Mr. McClintock is a son of Frank McClintock, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, as was also his mother, they settling in Iowa about 1844 where they farmed for many years in Clin ton countv. Our subject was married at Sioux City, Iowa, on May 3, 1900, to Miss Hilda Pos- berg, who was born in Sweden and came to the United States in 1891, with her parents. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc Clintock, as follows: Frank James, Paul Lewis, Mary Margaret, and Willard Nelson, all of whom are bright and interesting young folks, and the McClintock is one of the pleasant ones to be found in the town of Verdel. Mr. McClintock is a democrat on national issues, although still holding to the reform doc trines of the populist party, which he supported during the reign of the same. He was baptized 446 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in the Presbyterian church — "The kirk of auld Scotland," and with his family is a regular at tendant at divine worship. LEO LOGERWELL. Scandinavia has given to the northern states a large percentage of its thrifty citizens, and among those that Sweden has given to the state of Nebraska, possessed of all the sterling quali ties of the Norseman, is Leo Logerwell, druggist and merchant of Naper. Mr. Logerwell was born in the village of Fiegeholm, June 19, 1861. He has, since coming to America, slightly changed the spelling of his surname, a fact it might be well to preserve in the family archives. He is a son of Carl Peter Lagervall, who died when the son Leo was but six months old. The mother, who before her marriage was Inga Peterson, came to America with her orphaned children in 1864. Crossing the North Sea from Copenhagen to Hull, they went by rail thence to Liverpool and embarked there in a sailing vessel for New York. The mother brought her little family of three children to Andover, Illinois, driving by wagon from Geneseo, which at that time was the terminus of the railroad. Of the three children, Hulda married Olaf Olsen, and lives at Weyerhauser, Wisconsin, while Carl E., is a resident of Danville, Illinois. Leo made his home in Andover until the spring of 1879, when he migrated to the west, settling in Lindsburg, McPherson county, Kan sas, the greatest center of Scandinavian musical talent in the United States. He had learned pharmacy in Andover in 1875, and was in the drug business in Lindsburg from 1879 to 1882, and in Clay Center from that date until the spring of 1884, when he settled in Saronville, Clay county, the first day of June. In'the spring of 1887, he removed to Holt county and bought a farm eleven miles north of Atkinson. He lived here and in town until 1891. During 1889, he dealt in western lands, trading at one time for a drug store in Ohio, which he disposed of later in the year. From 1892 to 1902, he was engaged in the drug business in Aurora, Bertrand and Atkinson, following which he lived in Freemont where he was in the insurance business until the fall of 1903, when he moved to Oakland and remained until coming to Naper in 1905. For a number of years fortune frowned upon him — work as he would, success did not attend his efforts until his removal to Boyd county. Since coming to Naper, he has prospered as he did in the early years of his business career, be fore malign misfortune overtook him. Besides a full stock of drugs, medicines, and chemicals, Mr. Logerwell carries a choice line of fancy groceries and fruits, keeping his stock fresh and new. Mr. Logerwell was married jn Salina, Kan sas, January 4, 1881, to Miss Jennie Peterson, a native of New Sweden, Iowa. Her father, Nels Peterson, was a minister of the Methodist church; the mother was a Miss Anna Christina Heden before her marriage. They moved to Kansas in the summer of 1871, from Chicago, where they had been living for some years prior to mi grating to the trans-Missouri country. From Salina, they moved to Saronville in 1882, and made their home in Nebraska after that date. To Mr. and Mrs. Logerwell seven children were born, six of whom are living as follows: Wen dell is married and lives in Green River, Wyom ing; Reuben is a partner of his father; Raymond runs a barber shop in Naper, and Leonard is as sociated with his father in business, while Edna, who has become proficient in music is the wife of John Mannhalter of Tripp county, South Da kota ; and Carl, who is still in school. During the fearful blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Logerwell lived at Atkinson and as sisted in getting the children all safely home from school. During the Indian scare succeed ing the battle of Wounded Knee, Mr. Logerwell happened to be at Rushville and witnessed the rush of soldiers into the region to prevent any further acts of hostility. After years of vicissitudes, in which he with his family suffered many privations, fortune has at last showered on him the success for which all men strive, and with his business in the prosper ous condition it is, he can look with equinamity on the future and feel that he and his children need never come to want. Mr. Logerwell is a republican in political views, and is a member of the Odd Fellows. HON. WILLIAM A. McCUTCHEN. William A. McCutchen, who for many years was classed among the progressive and leading agriculturists of Boone county, is now a resident of Albion, retired from active work. His younger years were devoted to farming, and he has been handsomely rewarded for his industry and per severance in the possession of a valuable estate and the enjoyment of a comfortable home as a result of his earlier labors. Mr. McCutchen was the eldest of eight chil dren in the family of Samuel and Jane Mc Cutchen, and was born on May 21, 1841, in Mus kingum county, Ohio. The father died in 1888, and his widow followed him in 1903. About 1851 the McCutchens settled in Wisconsin, and remained for several years, then went into Iowa. Our subject was a student at the Lenox Colle giate Institute there, and after the war broke out was determined to give his services to the cause, so in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and participating with his regiment in the battle at Hartsville, Missouri ; Port Gibson, Jackson, Raymond, Champion Hill, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 447 Mississippi; Black River Bridge, Siege of Vicks burg, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, Mobile, and many minor actions and skirmishes. He was a brave and faithful soldier, and received honor able discharge in August, 1865, and is proud of the fact that during his entire term of service was never obliged to be absent from duty a single day. After returning1 home from the war Mr. Mc Cutchen re-entered the Lenox Institute and com pleted a course of study, and for the following eleven years spent considerable time in travel, being for some time in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. In November, 1878, he came to Boone county, Nebraska, and purchased two hundred acres of railroad land lying one mile south of St. Edward, making that his home farm for about thirteen years, then moved to Albion which has since then been his permanent residence. Mr. McCutchen was married on December 24, 1886, to Sarah Woodworth, of Ohio. Miss Wood- worth was a graduate of Mount Vernon college, and was for a number of years a public school teacher. She was a charming and accomplished lady, and greatly beloved by all who knew her. Mrs. McCutchen was killed by a cyclone which swept their strip of country on April 26, 1899. This storm is well remembered by all the old- timers, and was the cause of much suffering and destruction of property. Mr. McCutchen has been an active member of the people's independent party for the past many years, and during the sessions of 1891 and 1893 represented his district in the state legisla ture. He was also director of school district num ber seventeen for a number of years. EVAN JENKINS. The present prosperity of this region is with out a doubt due largely to the efforts of those men of perseverance and grim determination who came to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and commercial center. They came with the expressed determination of wrest ing the country from the forces of the wilderness, and while the encounter was long, and in many cases, an arduous one, yet in the end they tri umphed, and we, the later generation, can do no less than to honor the men who have won so much for us. Mr. Evan Jenkins, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, January 27, 1850, and was the son of Jenkin D. and Elizabeth Jenkins, both na tives of Wales. They came to America in 1842, and the sailing vessel on which they took passage occupied five weeks and three days for the trip. The subscriber spent his early years in Ohio. where he received his education. In 1875, Mr. Jenkins came to Iowa, which was then considered to be among the frontier states. and lived there until 1892. In that year he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and settled down to the work of improving it. At present, it is one of the finest estates in the county. In 1879, Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Jen nie Jones, a native of Wales. They are the par ents of six children: David, Samuel, Lizzie, Herbert, William and Lawrence. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are prominent figures in the social life of the community. Mr. Jenkins is well known throughout the county and is regarded as one of the most pros perous and influential farmers. He resides in sec tion thirty-six, township twenty-seven, range one, and has accumulated his estate by his energy. His high station as a farmer and citizen is well deserved. MARTIN HARTMANN. Martin Hartmann, one of the leading old set tlers of Stanton county, Nebraska, is spending his declining years in comfort in his home on section twenty, township twenty-four, and enjoys the re spect and esteem of his associates. He has en gaged actively in agricultural pursuits during most of his life, and by industry and honesty has gathered about him a valuable estate and placed himself above want. Mr. Hartmann was born in 1848, in Branden burg, Germany, and is the son of Fred and Louise Hartmann. Our subscriber received his educa tion in Germany, and remained at home with his parents until 1879. By this time, the little fam ily had heard much of the great riches to be made in the new world, and they decided to try their fortunes there also. So they left their native land at that date, coming from Bremen to Balti more by the steamship "Nuremburg. " Arrived in Baltimore, they at once came to the west, to Stanton county, Nebraska. They bought land here, and then also purchased a timber claim in Holt county. They met with a great many reverses during the first few years of their residence here, enough to have daunted even a stout heart. The first two years their crops were entirely destroyed by grasshoppers, which in itself was quite a severe loss for new settlers in an unknown country. Then, too, they were in constant peril from prairie fires, but luckily never met with actual loss from that reason. However, all discouragements and reverses seemed but to be an added incentive, spurring them on to greater efforts, and as a re ward, they have succeeded in building up a good home. In 1885, Mr. Hartmann was married in Stan ton county, to Miss Minnie Sydow, of Germany, she having come from the same part as her Hus band. They are the parents of one child, Henry, still at home. 448 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. JOHN WYLIE. John Wylie, who resides in section thirty-four, township twenty-four, range seven, Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old timers in this section who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Wylie as re sided in Antelope county for many years, and is well known as a progressive man and a highly es teemed citizen. Mr. Wylie is a native of Belfast, Ireland, born May 2, 1854. In 1883 he left Ireland and sailed for America, coming to Antelope county, Ne braska, in 1888, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, on which he built a shanty. He lived on this property a few years when he sold this land and bought where he now lives, section thirty-four, township twenty-four, range seven, which was originally, and is known as the Grant homestead. Here Mr. Wylie has a beautiful home and one of the finest orchards and groves in this section of the county. Mr. Wylie, as well as many of these brave pioneer sons who came to the western frontier in the early years, has experienced his full share of hardships and disappointments, suffering losses through blizzards, hot winds, hail storms, etc., which made it very hard for a young man to get a start, but Mr. Wylie being of sturdy stock could never say fail. On January 12, 1888, our subject lost cattle in the big blizzard of that year, in 1894 lost his entire crops by the hot winds,, and in the year 1897 was hailed out. In the early days they burned hay, corn, and everything that could be found to burn, as other fuel was almost unknown. Mr. Wylie was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Agnes McCaught. Mr. and Mrs. Wylie are the parents of nine children, whose names are the following: John, who is married to Miss Nellie Nurip ; Jennie, who is Mrs. Ernie Donner ; Nellie, wife of Mr. Will Nurip ; Ray, Max, Alva, Minnie, Grace and Bessie. Mr. Wylie is a progressive citizen and farmer, and now owns seven hundred and sixty acres of land, twenty acres of which is given to orchard and grove trees. CHARLES W. MOSS. One of the most active men among the early settlers of 'Holt county, Nebraska, is Charles W. Moss, of Atkinson, who is extensively interested in the production of fine cattle, al though he has nearly reached the age of three score and ten years, when most men have long since retired from active life. His father, Isaac Moss, was a native of Illinois, and his grand father, John Moss, moved to the prairie state from Virginia in the early part of the nineteenth century. Migrations at that time were made with teams and wagons, the former often oxen, and John Moss drove to the present site of Jackson ville, Morgan county, where nothing was then to be seen but prairie grass, and helped erect the first log house in the town. Neighbors from miles around came to the help of anyone then intending to erect a dwelling, and held a "raising bee." Logs for the new building were notched and laid in place in one day and the occasion was turned into a frolic. They settled on Indian creek, twelve miles west of Jacksonville, where Charles W. Moss was born September 27, 1842. Six years later the father, Isaac Moss, died. In 1854 the widow married Reverend James Solomon, who was a Baptist minister then laboring in Macoupin county, where the family resided until Charles W. Moss reached maturity, with the exception of two years spent near Litchfield, Montgomery county. At Mr. Solomon's death, in 1882, be had spent upwards of fifty-one years in the min istry. The wife of Isaac Moss was Sarah Ausman, who was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, Novem ber 28, 1822, her parents having settled on In dian creek the year previous. The Ausmans came from Pennsylvania, of which state they were natives, and when they located on the open Illinois prairie, there were but five families on Indian creek and government land was sold for twelve and one-half cents per acre. Mrs. Sarah (Ausman-Moss) Solomon came to Nebraska in 1887 and filed on a homestead twenty miles south of Atkinson, in time proving up her claim and acquired a title to a good tract of grazing land. During the past few years she has made her home with her son Philip, of Iola, Kansas. A third son, Isaac, now lives in Washington, and the only daughter, Margaret, died at the age of five. Charles W. Moss, in his twentieth year, mar ried and started in life on his own account. As a boy he had been hired out for two years to a neighboring farmer, and early learned the spirit of independence and initiative which has been of such value to him in shaping his career. He first purchased forty acres of land in Macoupin county, after marriage, paying on it five hundred dollars he had received from the estate of his grandfather, and on this farm he prospered to such an extent that he was able to purchase eighty-five acres of land upon selling the first tract, and on the second farm lived until he came to Nebraska in March, 1887, during which time he had much to do toward developing the social and political institutions of his community in the prairie state. For twenty-three years he was a commissioner from district one, in Macoupin county. That year he made a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota, where a son had a ranch, but de cided finally to locate in Holt county. He filed on a timber claim twenty miles south of Atkin son, and upon reaching majority his sons acquired claims nearby. He added to his holdings from time to time, and at the time of a sale held De- 'A FAMILY GROUP" -CHARLES W. MOSS, RETIRED RANCHMAN, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 449 cember 3, 1907, he owned nine hundred and his sons seven hundred acres. This sixteen hundred acres of the finest kind of ranch land was sold in one body. After disposing of his interests in the manner just related, Mr. Moss did not long remain a landless cattle-man, but invested in a ranch of twenty-three hundred acres of land two miles closer to town, on which he keeps about six hundred head of cattle, and of these annually selects some one hundred and fifty or more to fatten for the market, which is done on a tract of leased land near Atkinson, and he also sells a large number of the remainder of his herd as feeders to be prepared for market further east. He does not raise very much grain him self, and buys in very large quantities for feed ing purposes, turning out as fine a finished pro duct in the line of cattle for market as any cattle man in the state. In 1907 Mr. Moss located in Atkinson and for one year rented a dwelling, but in 1908 erected a neat and comfortable cottage residence in the southwestern part of the town, near his leased land, where he has feed yards for his cattle that are being fattened for market. Mr. Moss was married (first) in Macoupin county, Illinois, September 3, 1862, to Miss Nancy Moore, a native of that county, daughter of Mellen and Elizabeth Moore. Their oldest son, Thomas, who graduated from Blackburn univer sity, became a minister of the Baptist church and worked in the west for years as an organizer of the American Sunday School Union, his mis sionary work extending over sixteen counties in western Nebraska. He organized forty-three churches and two hundred and twenty-five mis sion Sunday schools during his mission work there, traveled over seventy-six thousand miles (mostly in a buggy) visiting his charges through out the Loup valley, his headquarters being at Broken Bow. Failing health necessitated his seeking a warmer climate, and in March, 1903, he removed to Auburn, California, where his death occurred June twenty-sixth following. He left a vacant place in God's vineyard on earth that can never be filled and his untiring activity in the good cause is well remembered by all who came under his influence. The second child of Mr. Moss, Mary Etta, married William Roberts, and after his death married (second) George Booth, of St. Louis ; another son, William Roberts, junior, is married and father of a son Charles, who completes a chain of five living generations that have been preserved in a photograph, a treasure held by few families. The second mar riage of Charles W. Moss occurred September 25, 1873, when he was united with Miss Matilda E. Womae, a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, daughter of John Watson and Nancy (Yowell) Womae, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky, where they met and were married. By his second marriage Mr. Moss had nine children, an account of whom is as follows : John Watson, has an excellent position with an electrical company at Spokane, Washington ; Theodore, is interested in cattle feeding in com pany with his father, at Atkinson ; Audrey Edith, is the wife of Harry White, and they live on a ranch twenty-seven miles south of Atkinson; Clarence, is a clerk in the railway mail service; Nellie Myrtle, married Charles Smith and they live on a ranch twenty-five miles south of At kinson; Harry, is a pharmacist at Atkinson; Cheever, is a teacher in Holt county; Ira and Earl, are still in school ; John, Clarence, Harry and Cheever graduated from the college at Fre mont, where the younger ones will be given a course after completing the common school course. In politics Mr. Moss is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Although reared in the Baptist faith, he and his family have become members of the Presbyterian church at Atkinson, as there is no organization of their own denomination there. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the Work men. He has witnessed remarkable changes since coming to the county and has always been willing to do his share to promote the general advancement and welfare of his community. He well remembers the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and was at a blacksmith shop at Amelia when the storm struck, being compelled to wait there until morning. His four children had a similar experience at school. Their cousin was teaching then, and although the school house was but four hundred yards from his own dwelling, the storm was so severe he was afraid to venture out with his charges. On each of the first two tracts of land he owned, he occupied a sod house for a time, but soon in each instance erected a com fortable and commodious frame dwelling. In early days hay was much used for fuel, and the family burned it six years, until coal was more available than at first. The school house, also, was heated with a hay stove, which Mr. Moss himself purchased, and he had to wait several years before the school district was rich enough to pay him for it. In early days much of the land was unsettled and taxes were compara tively small. At one time there were but seven quarter-sections in the district subject to taxa tion. At the time of the last Indian uprising. Mr. Moss saw the soldiers passing through, and they took possession of the road for two whole days. In the first few years of his residence in the state Mr. Moss often had to fight prairie fires, and he had to keep them from destroying the school house and his own barn. As a result of the hail storms which are so severe in the west, Mr. Moss lost his crop one year through the ice balls. When he came to the state the deer and antelope were almost gone, but he saw a few before all had been driven westward. He is a man of strong 450 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. mentality and force of character, mentally and physically fitted for success in any field he chose for his work. He is a man of indomitable energy and sterling worth and honest, his word being unimpeachable. None stand higher in the estimation of the community than he and his, and they are as the salt of the earth, who have not lost their savor, ready to help the cause of education and any other public movements cal culated to benefit a large number of persons. A group picture of the family is presented on another page of this volume. JARVIS DEAN. (Deceased.) Should the reader of this volume ask for the name of a representative man and old citizen of Pierce county, Nebraska, a man who came in middle life to breast the storms of the wilder ness, and beyond the dreams of youth to carve a name and fortune out of adversity, let him have the name of the gentleman that introduces this review. Jarvis Dean was born in Schuyler county, New York, on August 9, 1836, and was a son of Jarvis and Mary Miller Dean. He remained at home until his eighteenth year, then went to Mc Henry county, Illinois, farmed for a year, and moved to Buffalo county, Wisconsin. About this time he was married to the sweetheart of his school days, whose people had settled in Wiscon sin some time previously. In 1862, Mr. Dean enlisted in the fifth Elgin Battery and served for three years with his regi ment. He was corporal and bugler of the com pany part of the time, and also saw some severe fighting during his term of service, receiving honorable discharge in July, 1865, and returning to his home in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Dean first came to Nebraska, and was one of the earliest settlers in Pierce county, locating half a mile south of Plainview. He drove through the country from Buffalo county, accompanied by several families who were bound for the same destination, and experiencing considerable hardship and discom fort by reason of camping out along the way. On reaching Plainview, they staked out their claim, built a sod house and begun to break up land for the following year's crops. They went through every form of pioneer life — having nar row escapes from danger on account of wild beasts and Indians, and suffering failure of crops and all discouragements so familiar to the old- timers — but gradually became successful and prosperous. After a few years Mr. Dean added to his original homestead, and later bought two hundred and forty acres situated two and a half miles southwest of Pierce, which was the home farm until 1899, when they moved to Pierce for permanent residence, and his death occurred there May 3, 1906. He was survived by one son, William N. Dean, now occupying the home farm. Mr. Dean was for many years a loyal sup porter of the republican party, and was active in the affairs of his county and state. He was a member of the Grand Army of Republic at Pierce, and both himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. JOHN WALL. In reviewing the history of Howard county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among their number must be accorded the gentleman above named. Mr. Wall is a pioneer settler, coming here in 1877, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in his region. He is a prosperous agricul turist and has built up a "comfortable home and fine farm. John Wall, son of George and Ann (Manning) Wall, was born in Canada, March 1, 1863, and was fourth in a family of twelve children. He came to Howard county, Nebraska, with his father in the fall of 1877, and during the first year of his residence here he worked for J. F. Frederick. After that Mr. Wall attended school several winters, working on the home farm dur ing the summer, months. On May 16, 1881, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the west half of the southeast quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-six, township fifteen, range eleven, which is now the home place, a well improved and choice farm. He came out to this farm to live in Oc tober, 1889. On October 9, 1889, Mr. Wall was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Margaret Vincent, who was a native of Canada, being born in Huron county, Ontario. Mrs. Wall came to Howard county, Ne braska, in March, 1886, with her father, mother, six brothers and one sister. Her parents, William and Margaret Vincent, are still living in Howard county on section four, township fourteen, range eleven. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have had five children born to them, whose names are as follows : John W., Margaret Ann, William Henry, Agnes Jane, and George Arthur. Mr. Wall owns two hundred and forty acres joining the home place on the west, which makes a very fine farm of four hundred acres, as all farms lying on Canada Hill are choice tracts. Canada Hill is so called on account ef this vicin ity being settled by people from Canada. Mr. Wall has passed through the pioneer Howard county times, and is well and favorably known as a prosperous and successful man. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 451 THEODORE A. GREENLAND. Perseverance and diligence are the stepping stones to success. These characteristics, supple mented by honesty and good citizenship, are among the many attributes possessed by the gen tleman herein named. Mr. Greenland has resided in eastern Nebraska for the past twenty-one years, and is one of the representative men of the west, highly esteemed by all who have met him either in a business or social way. Mr. Greenland is a native of the city of Sneek, Holland, born August 31, 1869, and is a son of Andrew and Katherine (DeJony) Greenland. He was second in a family of nine children, and has one sister living in Holland, and another in Ger many, the other children being deceased, as is also the mother, who passed away November 3, 1880; the father is still living in his home coun try. In 1889 Mr. Greenland came to America, sail ing from Rotterdam to New York in the steamer "Obdam. " Locating near David City, Nebraska, he engaged in farming on rented land for two years, and in 1901 came to Valley county, pur chasing one hundred and sixty acres of land adapted to stock raising. In 1909 he sold this farm and bought a quarter section of good stock and grain land in section thirty-two, township nineteen, range fourteen, which he sold to advan tage in the spring of 1911, and with the proceeds purchased the east half of section twenty-five, township eighteen, range sixteen, securing pos session in March, 1912 ; of this, two hundred acres is arable land, with forty acres sowed to alfalfa. The remainder is devoted to pasture. Mr. Greenland was married in Butler county on February 18, 1892, to Miss Nellie Kuindersema, who was born in Holland and came to America in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Greenland have been blessed with two children, Katie, who resides under the parental roof; and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Greenland's mother lives in Holland, where the father died in 1904; she has one sister, and four brothers living in Holland. Mr. Greenland, in 1909, made a trip to his home country, remaining about three months, visiting his relatives. Mr. Greenland is one of the younger men among the earlier settlers of eastern Nebraska, and is well known in Valley county, where he has resided for the past eleven years. He is a highly esteemed and progressive citizen, and he and Mrs.. Greenland and daughter Katie are sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquaint ances. In politics he is a republican. ALBERT MANTEY. Albert Mantey, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Madison county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for many years. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as on of the fore most farmers and stock men in Nebraska. Mr. Mantey resides on section thirty, township twenty- four, range two, where he lives in his pleasant home surrounded by a host of true friends and many good neighbors and acquaintances. After many years of hard labor and much discourage ment and hardship, he is now enabled' to live in comfort and peace in the latter years of his life. Mr. Mantey is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the province of Posen, Prussia, No vember 17, 1839 ; he is a son of Martin and Bettie (Volker) Mantey, who also were natives of Ger many. Mr. Mantey grew to manhood in his native land, receiving the usual schooling, and after reaching the prescribed age, served as a soldier the allotted time specified in the German Empire ; that each male shall serve three years in the army upon reaching the age of twenty-one years. In 1866, Mr. Mantey left his native land for America, embarking on the steamship "Ger- mania, " and was on the sea two weeks, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to England, thence coming by way of Southampton to New York City. After arriving in the United States, he came westward and located in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in a tobacco factory for three years. In 1868 he came to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked at whatever his hands found to do, his first employment being secured from the Union Pacific railroad, and later he worked as a plas terer. He then proceeded still further west, and in 1869 settled in Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim which still remains his home farm. He first built a log house on this land, which has now' been replaced by a good frame residence. In those first days of settlement on the west ern frontier, Mr. Mantey and family experienced many hardships and discouragements, as did all those brave sons who came to this raw, unsettled country to make a fortune for themselves. The grasshopper pests that devastated that region in 1876 and other years, were about the greatest source of anxiety and privation, they destroying every spear of vegetation to be found for miles around, after their flight leaving nothing but bare ground, where a short time before had been growing and promising crops. Deer and ante lope were plentiful in those early days and were frequently seen in herds grazing on the open prairies. As late as 1894, our subject lost the entire crops of that season by the hot winds that were a result of the terrible drouth of that year. But those times have passed on to history, and have been replaced by a period of prosperity and plenty and the experiences of the old timers who came to this land and made possible this prosper ous condition, are scarcely comprehended by the people of these later days. Mr. Mantey was united in marriage January 452 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 6, 1875, to Miss Adeline Stolle, a native of Olden burg. They are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows : Laura, Clara, Martin, Rudolph, Otto, Albert and Edward. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and es teem of all who know them, and their friends are many. JACOB SAUTTER. Jacob Sautter, born in Indiana on the 18th of March, 1855, was the third of six children in the family of Michael and Nannie Sautter. The mother died when Jacob was a small boy. The father remarried, eight children being born of this union. Jacob Sautter was born on the farm and he remained there until his twenty-first year, when he began to shift for himself. He was married on October 17, 1876, to a distant relative, Miss Katie Sautter. Mr. Sautter, with his wife and son Jacob G., came to Greeley county, October 20, 1879, his brother John, also accompanying him. He took a homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-four, township eighteen, range eleven. He also purchased one hundred and sixty acres from the railroad in section eighteen. The original homestead is now owned by his son Jacob G., who is married and living on the old farm. Greeley county has been the home of Mr. Sautter since he first came here in 1879, and he has therefore been closely identified with the growth and development of the county. He is a successful and prosperous farmer and stock raiser, having extensive land holdings in this county. Two brothers of Mr. Sautter, John and Mich ael, came here in the pioneer days; John now re sides in Scotia, and Michael resides in Spokane, Washington. Pour children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sautter, Jacob G., Edward, Nannie Bell, now Mrs. Fred Miner, and Ella Florence, now married to Samuel C. Van Skike, of Scotia. Mrs. Sautter died in Scotia on September 14, 1910. Mr. Sautter and family had made their home in that city since 1905, prior to that date having resided on the old homestead. Owing to his long residence in the North I oup Valley, Mr. Sautter possesses a wide circle of friends and acquaintances and he holds an en viable reputation as a citizen. In politics he is a republican ; is a member of the German Metho dist Episcopal church and of the Modern Wood men of America. PHILIP MOST. A typical pioneer of western Nebraska is rep resented by the gentleman above named. He has lived in this section of the country for many years and has been a part of the growth and develop ment of this locality, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift. He is the owner of a well improved estate and has gained his possessions entirely by means of his own efforts. Mr. Most is a native of Germany, having been born in Hesse-Cassel in 1861, the son of Henry and Martha Most. He spent his childhood in Germany, and it was there too that he obtained his education. In 1865, Mr. Most came to America with his parents, where land was cheaper than in his own country. They came first to Cass county, Iowa, where they remained several years. Our subject then came to Woodburg county, Iowa, and settled on a farm, but owing to his wife's health he moved to Cedar county in 1888, and bought the farm formerly owned by A. K. Stewart. He at once set about improving it, so that now it is one of the finest equipped estates in the locality. He engages in diversified farm ing and has also been very successful in stock- raising, to which pursuit he has given consid erable time during the last few years. His es tate now comprises a tract of five hundred and sixty acres of excellent land. Mr. Most was married in 1885 to Miss Maggie Lamb, of Iowa, and they are the parents of five children, named as follows: Edith, now Mrs. Soren Jensen, junior; Floyd, who assists in farm ing the home place in addition to his own opera tions; Forest, also a farmer, Ruth and Keneth. JOHN KALAL. John Kalal, a prominent farmer and stock man, living on section three, township thirty, range six, is well known throughout Knox county as a progressive and successful agricul turist, highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Kalal and his parents have done much to improve the agricultural interests of Knox county, and have also been instrumental in bettering the con ditions of their vicinity; and they are a few of the many sturdy sons of foreign shores who came to this western country when it was but a wilder ness, peopled by the Indians who roamed the plains, monarchs of all they surveyed. John Kalal is a native of Bohemia, and was born in 1864, and is the son of Frank and Mary (Kubes) Kalal, both natives of Bohemia. When our subject was but six years old, he, with his parents, left his native land for America, sailing by way of Bremen to Baltimore. After arriving in the United States, the family went to Chicago, Illinois, where they remained three years, and then moved to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead in 1874, one-half mile south east from Verdigris. They also took up a tree claim. They built a log house, and lived on this homestead for a number of years. In those early COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 453 days of the wilderness this little family endured the hardships and dangers that so many of the venturesome pioneers experienced in the first days of settlement of the far west. The grass hoppers destroyed all their crops the first three years in succession, which was a very discourag ing start for a settler in a new country. The In dians were always a source of danger and un easiness, which fact did not add to the comfort of the early settler; but these experiences have passed to history, and the comparative comforts of modern civilization stand out in great contrast to the hardships and dangers endured by the early pioneers of this western country. Mr. Kalal grew to manhood's estate on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-two years, in 1884, took up the homestead where he now lives. This homestead he has improved and added to, until he owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land and a comfortable home. Mr. Kalal was united in marriage in 1892 to Miss Josie Franck, and they are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Lot tie, William, Aggie, Bennie, Elmer and Edith. JOHN DELANEY. John Delaney, well and favorably known as a prosperous and successful farmer of township thirty-five, range twelve, section twenty, in Boyd county, has met with decided success in his chosen career as an agriculturist, and is the proprietor of a pleasant home and a well improved farm, where he and his family live and enjoy the re spect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Delaney is a native of Pennsylvania, the Keystone state, his birth occurring in the year of 1859. His parents, William S. and Catherine (Sells) Delaney, were farmers by occupation, and our subject was born on a farm. Prom Penn sylvania, he, with his parents, moved to Michi gan, where he remained ten years. Mr. Delaney 's father served in the civil war, enlisting in Com pany H, One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served from 1861 to 1865. He served in the south, and was wounded at the bat tle of Bull Run. In 1881, Mr. Delaney, subject of this sketch, came to South Dakota, where he lived for ten years. In 1891, he moved to Knox county, Ne braska, where he took up a homestead, on which he first put up. a dugout, the usual style of dwell ing in those days ; he later built a sod house, and this was replaced with a good frame house. Mr. Delaney now has a good farm on which he has fifteen acres of fine orchard, and he has made good improvements on his land. Mr. Delaney was united in holy matrimony February 16, 1888, to Miss Minnie Conway, a native of New Ytork City, whose parents were Patrick and Mary (Haley) Conway, natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Delaney are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Katie, Grover O, Mary, Lillie and Alice, all at home except the first born, who is in Springfield, South Dakota. Mr. Delaney is a democrat, and a progressive man of sterling qualities. Mrs. Delaney is a member of the Catholic church at Baker. HUBERT REID. Hubert Reid, a prosperous agriculturist and one of the leading citizens of section fourteen, Dublin precinct, is an early pioneer of Boone county, Nebraska. The Reid family is one of the three original families to settle in that part of the county. The home place is one of the most pleasant spots in that section, and has been the residence of the family for over thirty-five years. Mr. Reid is a native of Ireland, born on Janu ary 23, 1846, the second eldest of seven children born to Moses and Sarah Reid. Hubert grew up in Ireland, sailing for America in 1869, his first settlement being made in Delaware county, Iowa, and that remained his home for about three years, at which time he came to Boone county, Ne braska. He was married in Delaware county, Iowa, in March, 1872, to Miss Jane West, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States in the same year as Mr. Reid. There were in the party emigrating to Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. Reid, Mr. and Mrs. John Maxwell and two children, and William Dobson, coming by team and wagon all the way, and all became homesteaders, the first in their portion of Boone county. Mr. Reid's lo cation was on section fourteen, township nineteen, range eight, and this still remains his home farm, being finely equipped for stock and grain raising, having good buildings of all kinds. The place contains four hundred and eighty acres, besides this Mr. Reid owns six, hundred and forty acres of Texas land. He is prosperous and successful, and is one of the truly old time pioneers of west ern Nebraska. He has taken an active part in the upbuilding of Boone county, and has been a mem ber of the school board of district number four teen for a great many years. To Mr. Reid and his estimable wife have been born the following children: John, Sarah, Eliza beth, Margaret, Rachel, James, deceased; and Harold, all married but two — Elizabeth and Har old — the latter attending school. Their oldest child, George, died at eighteen years of age. HARRY TUCKER. One of the most prominent and progressive farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, is Mr. Harry Tucker, who owns a fine farm in section thirty- four, township twenty-seven, range one, east. He is one of the respected citizens of that locality, and is classed among its self-made men. He is now well-to-do and enjoys a comfortable home, surrounded by many of the luxuries of life. Mr. Tucker was born in Devonshire, England, 454 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in 1863. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Tucker, were both natives of that region, the father following the occupation of a shepherd. In 1877, it was decided that Mr. Tucker should seek to take advantage of the greater op portunities afforded the poor man, and although quite young at the time, he came over to America alone. He went first to Mills county, Iowa, where he remained for nine years. In 1885, Mr. Tucker came to Nebraska and worked at different places and looked for a loca tion for three years. In 1888 he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and bought his present home. Since his possession, it has been improved in every way. Many new buildings have been erected, and the farm is under a fine state of cul tivation. Among the most valuable improve ments may be mentioned a fine orchard of two acres which he set out. There is also a good growth of timber in a small grove which he planted since owning the place. Mr. Tucker was married in 1888, to Miss Laura Bell Hill, of Illinois. Four children have been born to them, upon whom they have be stowed the following names: Mable, Homer, Raymond, and Norene. Mr. Tucker is awake to the best interests of the community in which he resides, and lends his influence to all measures affecting its best devel opment and is regarded by all as one of the most influential and substantial citizens. HENRY SYDOW. Henry Sydow, a prominent farmer and stock raiser living on section twenty, township thirty- four, is well known throughout Stanton county as one of the progressive and intelligent citizens of the locality. He has extensive land interests here and enjoys a home of great comfort, and is esteemed and respected by all with whom he has to do. He is counted among the younger genera tion, but has been in this county for nearly thirty years. Mr. Sydow was born in 1874, in Brandenburg, Germany, his parents, Fred and Henrietta Sydow, being natives of that city. In 1884, when but ten years old, the subscriber left his native land, with his parents, coming by steamship from Bremen to Baltimore. They came direct to Stanton county, where they bought a farm, paying twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. Their first dwelling was a dugout with a straw roof, which was their home for two years. They then built a small frame house, twelve by fourteen feet. Since that time, the little frame house has also been superseded by a beautiful modern home, in which the subscriber still lives. Coming a little late in the settlement of the county, Mr. Sydow missed some of the hardships which vexed the souls of the earlier settlers, but still he did not entirely escape all discourage ments. He has had the opportunity of watching the development of this section from a wild, un cultivated country with but few settlers, to its present state of prosperity, with tilled fields where before was open range, and thriving com munities where before was naught but wilderness. In 1901, Mr. Sydow was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Thieman, of Stanton county. Four children have come to bless their home, upon whom they have bestowed the following names: Mattie, Elsie, Clara and Louise. Mr. Sydow has always taken a commendable interest in local affairs, and is always to be found in the front whenever any measure tending to the betterment of his community is proposed. He was elected highway commissioner in Dewey township, and is one of its efficient officers. HENRY BONGE. Located very pleasantly in section twelve, township twenty-eight, range seven, Antelope county, Nebraska, is to be found the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical sketch. He has been identified with the history of this county from a very early date, and his contribu tion to the making of northeastern Nebraska, through his industrious habits, honesty of pur pose, and force of character, has helped mater ially in its growth. Our subject's desire to live the best American life possible has made him known as one of the leading and influential early settlers of the county. Mr. Bonge was born October 30, 1858, and is a native of Germany, from which country he sailed for America on a steamboat, embarking from Hamburg when he was a small boy, coming to the state of Illinois with his parents, where his father, Marks Bonge, followed the occupation of gardener near Bloomington, in that state; but in Germany, in the village of Mina, the father had learned and followed the trade of masonry and plastering. He died in the year 1895. The mother is living at the advanced age of ninety- three years. Mr. Bonge came from Illinois to Antelope county, Nebraska, in 1885, and later bought some land from Mr. Lewis Shoemaker, who had for merly homesteaded the tract. Mr. Bonge was married in 1884 to Miss Ma tilda Speck, who died thirteen months later. On July 21, 1888, he was again married, this time to Miss Sarah Petzal, and they are the parents of five children, who are named as follows : Bertha, Edith, Vera, Earl and George. Mr. Bonge now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, which contains eight acres of trees, and where he enjoys a comfortable home and is respected by all who have the pleasure of calling him friend and neighbor. In politics he is a republican, and a German Lutheran in re ligious affiliations. AUGUST LUBELEY. RESIDENCE OF S. G. SCHULTZ. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 455 AUGUST LUBELEY. From the German fatherland came many thousands of the sturdiest citizens of the Ameri can Republic, and many of them have developed the fertile prairies of Nebraska into a highly cul tivated country, supporting many lines of busi ness and industry. Among those who left the shores of Germany to better their condition in a new and growing western state, was August Lubeley, the leading hardware merchant of Hart ington, a portrait of whom appears on another page. Mr. Lubeley was born in the village of Wer- enghausen, near Finnentorp, province of West phalia, Germany, April 22, 1851. He was ninth in a family of ten children born to Bernard and Gertrude (Knoche) Lubeley, both of whom died in the old country, the former in 1863, and the latter in 1891, a few weeks subsequent to her son August's return to America after a four months' visit to his old home ; this visit was opportune, had he delayed another year he could never again have seen her. In 1873 Mr. Lubeley embarked for America at Bremen, on the "Hansa," and landed in New York June 25, after a voyage of fourteen days. His eldest sister had married and come to Amer ica in 1856, her husband having settled at Mani towoc, Wisconsin, and August joined them the 1st of July. Here he lived and engaged in car pentry until April of 1873, when he migrated to Nebraska. He settled in St. Helena, the county seat at that time, and secured work at his trade. He continued to reside here until Hartington was laid out in September, 1883, when he came to the new county seat and managed the local yards of the Wilcox Lumber company, of Yankton, four years, when he formed a partnership with the late John Lammers under the name of A. Lubeley & Company, Mr. Lubeley taking entire manage ment of the business. In 1897, Mr. Lubeley sold his interest in the lumber business and bought the firm's interest in the implement business in which they had been engaged several years. A stock of hardware was added to the implements, and in 1905 the latter stock was closed out, leav ing only the hardware business, in which Mr. Lubeley with his sons is now engaged. Besides a complete line of shelf and heavy hardware, the firm deals in tinware, plumbing, steam-fitting, and their allied branches. They enjoy an exten sive trade for miles around the county seat, their accommodating manners and square dealing have won for them the largest patronage in their line of any house in this region. Mr. Lubeley was married in St. Helena, May 5, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Stratman, who was born in Oedinger Berg, province of Westphalia, Germany; her parents, John Peter and Eliza beth Stratman, came to America in 1860, endur ing two years amongst the guerilla bands that un mercifully robbed those not in sympathy with them. In 1862 Mr. Stratman moved his family to New Vienna, Iowa, and in 1863, came with friends across the prairies, driving ox wagons to the new land of Nebraska. Their crops were devastated by the grasshopper pests that caused them hard times. Mr. Lubeley had no crops to lose at that time, but he lost many days' work because the settlers had no money with which to buy lumber and erect necessary buildings in the village and on farms. Mr. and Mrs. Lubeley have ten children, all living and doing well, a family of which every American should be proud. Their children are : August F., who has secured a homestead in Wyo ming ; Franciska, wife of William Habel, who has a homestead in Gregory county; Frederick W., a traveling salesman in the hardware department of Paxton & Gallagher, of Omaha; Matilda, housekeeper for Reverend Joseph Lubeley of St. Louis; John, associated with his father in the hardware business; Louis F., physician in charge of St. James hospital at Butte, Montana; Mary, has been teaching since graduating in the high school in 1907 ; Rosa, clerks in one of the big dry goods stores in Hartington; Annie, an excellent housekeeper, is the main stay of the home; and Veronica, who graduated from high school in June, 1911. Mr. Lubeley came to Nebraska a few months too late to experience the great blizzard that brought down three days' destruction in April of that year, beginning on Easter Sunday, the twelfth. He was living in St. Helena in October, 1880, when the three days' blizzard inaugurated the winter of the deep snow that caused the big flood of March, 1881. During this Mr. Lubeley worked two nights building boats with which to rescue flood sufferers across the river in South Dakota. These were perilous times, but brought out the metal of the pioneers who were always ready to lend a helping hand, give comfort to the sor rowing and distressed, and speed to the rescue of those who were in danger. Such are the people of the west, and of such metal are Mr. Lubeley and the pioneer sons of the western frontier. SVEN G. SCHULTZ. Sven G. Schultz, proprietor of one of the finest estates in Cedar county, has been a resident of his locality for a number of years and is well known there. He is a representative Swedish-American citizen, interested in the public welfare and car ing for his private interests with creditable am bition and determination to succeed. He was born in Sweden in 1848, a son of Olaus and Anna (Nel son) Schultz, who were farmers there. He was reared and educated in his native place and his earliest associations were with agricultural conditions, so that it is but natural he should choose a farmer's life. He has chosen well in de- 456 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ciding to be a tiller of the soil, as his present suc cess attests. His father was a soldier and served thirty-eight years in the Swedish army. In 1869 Mr. Schultz left home and sailed from Gothenburg to New York. He started for the west and bought a soldier's claim in Nebraska, which he improved and developed. He has erected suitable buildings and his home is pleasantly situ ated on section eight, township twenty -nine, range one, west. Mr. Schultz carries on general farm ing and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Schultz was married in 1884 to Miss Aug- gusta Gilbert, a native of Norway, daughter of Gilbert and Helen Dorothea Olsen. They are the parents of seven children, namely : Earl A., Charles J., Henry 0., Mary H., Emma R., Melinda V., and Ella M. A view of Mr. Schultz 's resi dence will be found on another page of this vol ume. GUSTAV MULLER. Gustav Muller, one of the prosperous farmers of Pierce county, Nebraska, is an old settler of that section, and has a wide circle of acquaint ances in the community in which he lives. He has built up a home by his industry and honest dealings, and enjoys a comfortable income from the fruits of his labors. Mr. Muller was born in the village of Burk- hardtsgruen, Kingdom of Saxony, October 16, 1859, where in later years he worked as a brewer, moulder and waiter in a hotel — in fact, any labor that he could find, always busy at what his hands found to do. He is the son of Frederick and Frederika (Enderlein) Muller, both natives of Germany, where the mother was still living when last heard from, at the ripe old age of seventy years, or more. On coming to America in 1886, Mr. Muller sailed from Hamburg on the steamer "Ham- nionia, " and after a voyage of twelve days, landed in New York and came directly to St. Louis. Being troubled with rheumatism, he went south to find work in the cotton fields, but dis liking the work, got a position revetting the banks of the Mississippi river. Returning to St. Louis, he was employed at various kinds of laboi until coming west. In 1890 he came to Norfolk, Nebraska, residing there ten years, and then, on the 17th of March, 1900, came to Pierce county. He had been farming land near Norfolk for two years and rented for a year in Pierce county. In 1901 he bought one hundred and sixty acres in section three, township twenty-five, range four, which is his present home, and later he bought an eighty acre tract in section four, all good farm ing land, on which Mr. Muller is prospering, as most western farmers do. September 2, 1888, Mr. Muller was married to Miss Annie Sophie Jensen, whose parents were old settlers of Nebraska, coming from Denmark, where Mrs. Muller was born. They emigrated to America in 1886, reaching Norfolk, June 21. To Mr. and Mrs. Muller, twelve children were born, eight of whom are living: Carl, Freda, Fritz, Elsa, Martha, George, Dora and Paul. Mr. Muller, as did others of the sturdy sons of Nebraskan soil, experienced losses and hardships in the first days of his coming to this section, and as late as 1909 lost his crops during the hailstorm of that year. Iri politics, Mr. Muller is independent, always casting his vote for the best man, and in religious faith affiliates with the Lutheran church, as does his family. NELS ENVOLDSEN. (Deceased.) The gentleman above mentioned, now de ceased, was for many years a well known and highly respected citizen of Howard county. He was born in Denmark on January 28, 1843, and grew up there, learning the carpenter's trade when a mere boy, and following the work up to the time he left his native land, which was in 1872. Mr. Envoldsen was married in Denmark when he became twenty-one years of age, to Mariane Christensen, and they made their native village their home for the following eleven years, when the family, consisting of husband, wife and four children, took passage on an emigrant ship for America. They landed in New York without mis hap excepting for a long and tedious journey, coming directly west to Nebraska and locating in Howard county, where the father homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twelve; township thirteen, range twelve. Here they started in a very modest way, trying hard to improve the farm and build up a good home, and succeeded splendidly. The family saw many hard times — familiar to all those who went through pioneer years in the region, but stuck to their homestead through all the discourage ments that fell to their lot, eventually accumulat ing a comfortable property. All together they made the original claim their home up to the time of the father's death, which occurred on October 31, 1907. Since then management of the place has devolved upon his widow and children. Mrs. Envoldsen has been kept very busy in carrying on the farm. She is now seventy-two years of age and has given up active work, al lowing her four children to take the burden of management of the estate from her shoulders, al though she still is the actual head. She is a re markably sprightly and well preserved woman. Her children are all married, have comfortable homes, near the old place, and are greatly es teemed by their associates. In the death of Mr. Envoldsen, Howard county lost one of its foremost pioneers, who by his en ergy, thrift and good example, was an important COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 457 factor in the development and growth since its early organization. HENRY THORNGATE. In compiling a list of the prominent settlers of Valley county, who have been intimately identified with the development and progress of that locality, a foremost place must be given to the name of Henry Thorngate, who has for more than thirty years been a resident therein. He is a man of sterling character and has gained the confidence and respect of the people among whom he has resided for so many years. Mr. Thorngate was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 27th of September, 1829, and was the fourth in a family of six chil dren born tb George and Matilda (Blanehard) Thorngate. When he was sixteen years of age, Mr. Thorn gate went with his parents to Wisconsin, where he later engaged in farming. On the 14th of June, 1858, he married Miss Lorenda 0. Crandall, who was also a native of Cattaraugus county, New York. Three years later, Mr. Thorngate enlisted in Company I, Seventh Wisconsin Infantry, known afterwards in history as a part of the Iron Brigade. He took part in some of the important engagements of the war, including that of Gainesville, Virginia, August 28, 1862, and two days later was in the disastrous second battle of Bull Run. About a fortnight later, September 14, he was in a battle at South Mountain, Mary land, during the progress of which he was wounded. He recovered after a time, but was un fitted for further service and received his dis charge on the first of April, 1863, at Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Thorngate then returned to his Wiscon sin home where for a few years he engaged in various pursuits. In 1866, he and his. family moved to Linn county, Missouri, where he en gaged in farming. He met with a fair degree of success but was not quite satisfied with his loca tion. In 1879, with his wife and four children, Mr. Thorngate came to Valley county, where he purchased eighty acres of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad land, about a mile south of North Loup, living for three years, however, on rented land, during which time they occupied a log house. While building on his own land they lived in a rented dugout and then moved into their own neat cottage. He has never re pented of the choice he made when coming here, for after living on this homestead for ten years, he retired from active labor and moved to the city of North Loup. Here he purchased a com fortable home, and is now taking his ease, after a life of strenuous toil. Mr. Thorngate has been a prominent figure in the community for many years, having held the office of justice of the peace for seventeen years. He has also served the people in various other capacities, having been official United State census enumerator several times for his district. He has also been clerk of the school board in his local school district. Mr. Thorngate met with a severe loss in 1910, when the loving companion of his life passed away on the 30th of June. Their four children are still living: Herbert H., lives in Valley county ; Gaylord W., resides in Boulder, Colorado ; Royal R., is a resident of Verona, New York, where he is the pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist church at that place ; and Belle, the youngest, is a teacher. The entire family have become prominent, no matter in what locality they have settled. Mr. Thorngate himself has been a deacon in the Sev enth Day Baptist church in Missouri and Ne braska for over forty years. , J. D. KAUFMAN. In mentioning those worthy old settlers of Ne braska, who braved the dangers and hardships of the frontier to secure for themselves a home and competence for their later years, J. D. Kauf man deserves a prominent place as a successful agriculturalist and active, public-spirited citizen of Madison county. He is the owner of a valu able estate in Emmerick township, and to his aid and influence is due much of the prosperity en joyed by the residents of that community. Mr. Kaufman was born in Williams county, Ohio, November 9, 1856, and reared in Steuben county, Indiana. He is a son of Joseph and Anna Kaufman, both natives of Pennsylvania, born of German parentage. Mr. Kaufman's father died in 1891, and his mother in 1859. In the month of March, 1880, Mr. Kaufman came into Madison county. He purchased a tract of school land, on which he erected a sod house and which remained his home for about ten years. He later bought the homestead of William An derson, situated on section thirty-six, township twenty-two, range four, and engaged extensively in the raising of grain and stock. For a time he was fairly successful, then had the misfortune to lose his crops by the hot winds during the summer of 1894, and it took him some time to recover from the loss occasioned thereby. He had sev eral years of good luck, and succeeded in improv ing his property in splendid shape, adding good buildings, fences, and got together a nice bunch of live stock; then, in 1902, along came the se vere hail storm, which will be well remembered by all the old-timers in the region — sweeping away many weeks of hard labor in the shape of fields of grain, vegetables, and all the destructible property on his farm. This was a heavy loss to him, but he was in better shape to meet it than he had been in the earlier years, so recovered quickly and soon made it up by hard work and other ventures. 458 COMPENDIUM OE' HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. January 12, 1888, Mr. Kaufman had two horses wander off in the blizzard, but was for tunate in recovering them. February 2, 1885, Mr. Kaufman was married at Chambers, Holt county, Nebraska, to Miss Alice Eckley, who is a native of Iowa. Five chil dren have resulted from their union, who are named as follows : Charles, Rolland, Fred, Ralph and Ervin. PETER J. THODE. Peter J. Thode is one of the younger farmers who have attained success in Nebraska, and be longs to • a family that has long been prominent in Sherman county. He passed through the pio neer years of the state, and is in every way a self-made man. He was born in the island of Fermen, province of Holstein, Germany, Feb ruary 13, 1870, son of Prederich and Gertrude (Heldt) Thode. The father was born in Germany June 10, 1840, and was married in 1868. Febru ary 13, 1881, the Thode family, consisting of the father, mother and three children, Maggie, Peter and Anna, set sail for America, crossing the North Sea from Hamburg to Hartlepool, England, embarking for the trans-Atlantic voyage in the American liner "Philadelphia," landing in the city for which the vessel was named. Fred Thode had been a sailor by occupation, and became the owner and master of a small ship ; in the fall of 1880 he had encountered a storm and lost his ves sel. He had followed the sea for about twenty years, but after coming to America took up a new life and spent his remaining days in farming. They came west and located on a homestead oh section twenty, township sixteen, range four teen, of Sherman county, Nebraska. Frederich Thode was highly respected as one of the most sturdy and substantial citizens of Sherman county, and was very successful as a farmer and stock man. He resided in Sherman county until his death, August 31, 1909, survived by his wife and four children: Maggie, Peter, Anna and Henry, the last named born in Sherman county. Maggie Thode is the wife of Henry Ronnefeldt, and they live in Grand Island; Anna, the widow of John Heesch, lives in Grand Island; and Henry is married and living in Sherman county. Peter Thode, whose name heads this article, reached manhood on the old homestead in Sher man county, and remained there until his twenty-sixth year. He was married in Loup City, December 29, 1895, to Minnie Jendrick, who was born in Cass county, Nebraska, a daughter of Ernest and Wilhelmina (Schulz) Jendrick, who came to Cass county in 1870, being among the pioneers of that region. Mr. Jendrick died sev eral years ago, and his widow lives on the farm with her daughter. Mr. Thode and wife have two children, John and Ernest, both at home. Mr. Thode purchased his present farm on sec tion thirty-five, township sixteen, range fifteen. Sherman county, where he has one hundred and eighty-six acres of rich farming land, in 1899. He has a comfortable residence, built of brick and concrete blocks, and other substantial buildings. He is a public-spirited citizen and is well liked for his reliability and integrity in all relations of life. He has been actively identified with the development of the county, and is a wide-awake man of affairs. He served from 1899 to 1904 as county supervisor. An uncle of Mr. Thode, Chris Thode, now a resident of Denver, Colorado, was an early set tler of Sherman county, where he came in 1872. The first residence of the Thode family was a rude dugout with a brush and straw roof; this the father soon replaced with a sod house and covered it with a thatched roof, such as are in use in the old country, which kept them drj where other roofs leaked and dripped for days at a time. Their first years were years of hard ship ; little was raised in 1893, nothing in 1894, and hail destroyed their crops in 1895, but since those days prosperity has crowned their efforts. Mr. Thode is independent in politics, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men. The family are members of the Lutheran church. PETER NISSEN. It is a noteworthy fact that many of the old settlers of our western states who have con tributed most largely to the development of all resources of this region, are emigrants from the north of Europe. The Scandinavian countries, Denmark and Germany, have sent many of their sons and daughters to create new homes in the newer country. Peter Nissen, the subject of this sketch, for instance, is a native of Denmark, born in 1859, the son of John and Katie Nissen. He spent his childhood and youth in his na tive land, but in 1884 he left it all to come to America. He came first to Shelby county, Iowa, where he remained on a farm only two years. Later he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he purchased a hundred and sixty acres of school land, which he has since improved in every way, until now it is really a model farm. In 1887, Mr. Nissen was united in marriage to Miss Lena Ferdensen, a native of Denmark. Their union has been blessed with seven children, named as follows: John, Ola, August, Dora, Esther, Dagmar and Ninne. Mr. Nissen is widely and favorably known as a prosperous farmer and as an intelligent, en ergetic and worthy citizen. LEWIS PARKER. Lewis Parker, known throughout his section and the surrounding country as a prosperous farmer and estimable citizen, has been a resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, the forty-two years COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 459 of his lifetime, and has aided materially in the development of that portion of Nebraska. Our subject is a man of active public spirit, and has gained prominence as a citizen of true worth. Lewis Parker was born on the old homestead farm in Merrick county, Nebraska, on section fourteen, township thirteen, range six, December 26, 1869, and grew up on the farm, and is one of the early Merrick county native born children. On January 1, 1860, Jason Parker, grand father of our subject, drove the stakes that bounded his newly acquired possessions, and in March brought his family out to share the for tunes of the great west. Mr. Parker's original claim lies just west and down the river from the farm taken up by his son, Frank Parker. Prank Parker was married to Sarah Eatough in Mer rick county, in January, 1865, and Lewis Parker, the principal subject of this sketch, is the son of Prank and Sarah Parker. "Uncle" Jason Parker, the grandfather of our subject, and fam ily, are said to be the first family to make Mer rick county their permanent home. Jason Par ker and son, Prank Parker, were men who had much to do with the upbuilding of Merrick county, and in the old overland stage days the Jason Parker ranch was a favorite resort. Uncle Jason was a man of decided opinions, kindly dis position, and honesty, and was beloved by all who knew him ; a man who had unlimited oppor tunities to amass wealth, yet went to his grave practically a poor man in property, but extremely rich in love of his children, and having the res pect of all. Lewis Parker, subject of this sketch, is a worthy descendant of his grandfather, "Uncle" Jason Parker, and his father, Prank Parker, and has always stuck to the old homestead farm, and well remembers the early Merrick county pio neer days. His father, Frank Parker, was the first appointed sheriff of the county. Our sub ject is a successful man, and has been a promi nent factor in the upbuilding of his home county. Mr. Parker has not entered actively in politics, but served as supervisor of his township in 1907 to 1909, inclusive, and a member of his school board in district number twenty. Mr. Parker was married February 6, 1895, to Leona Berryman, at the home of her uncle, Bell Berryman, in Central City. Mr. and Mrs. Par ker have had four children born to them: Mary Edgarda, Lewis Harold, Lewis Truman and Ruth. The two last named died in infancy. WILLIAM GRAHAM . William Graham is a native of England and was born on his father's farm in Cumberland- shire, near the borders of Scotland, November 24, 1851. He learned the carpenters' trade and worked at his vocation in many cities through out the two countries. He had been thus em ployed in Glasgow some five years at the time if his immigration to the states. His decision to come was sudden, only three days elapsing be tween his first thought of a trip across the seas and his coming. An old Scotchman from Janes- ville, Wisconsin, had a longing to see his na tive heath again, and while in Glasgow became too feeble to return home alone, and it was sug gested that Mr. Graham accompany him on the voyage. Sailing from Glasgow in the early weeks of 1880 on the "Anchoria, " they landed in New York after eight days of an ocean voy age, and came directly to the west. In passing through Chicago, Mr. Graham was offered work at his trade, and after a few days' visit in Janes- ville, he accepted the position and was employed in Chicago some months. Tn May, Mr. Graham came west to Nebraska, and was in Niobrara at the time of the great flood in the spring of 1881. He was employed for a time moving the town from the river bank to a higher situation a few . miles south and worked at his trade here until the fall of 1882, when he same to. Creighton, opened a hardware and implement store, and remained in business until June, 1903, when he retired, and is taking life easy in the thrifty little city of his adoption. During the summer of 1904, he took his entire family to his old home in England where they spent the season with their English kin. Mr. Graham had made a previous visit there some years before. When Mr. Graham first came here there were no houses on the prairies between Creighton and Bloomfield, but thousands of cattle ranged over the hills; the land might then have been bought for five dollars an acre, while now it is worth twenty times that amount. Antelope were still to be seen on the prairies west of town, though they were driven to the westward in a few years ' time. So rapid and so great have been the changes in the thirty years Mr. Graham has been a citizen of the Cornhusker state, that a new comer can form but the vaguest conception of what this country was in the pioneer days. William Graham is a son of John and Eliza beth (Johnson) Graham, whose ancestors have lived in this region for many centuries, handing down the farm to the eldest son generation after generation. Mr. Graham was first married December 16, 1885, to Mary, daughter of James Hindman, who died May 16, 1888. One daughter was born to them : Eva, who married Paul Weaver, and has one son, Paul Graham Weaver. Mr. Graham was again married, this time to Lucinda E., daughter of Jackson Woodward, who died Jan uary 16, 1907. A son, William, was born to them. Mr. Graham is a member of the Congrega tional church, and affiliates with the Ancient Or der of United Workmen. 460 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. MARTIN HULL. Among the worthy citizens that have come from Missouri to Nebraska, Martin Hull, of Butte, is not the least worthy of mention. He was born in Schuyler county, November 29, 1843, but was reared in Boone county, Iowa, whither his father moved when the boy was about four years old. At the outbreak of the civil war, Mr. Hull enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Iowa, on De cember 23, 1861, and re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, in the same company and regiment, serv ing up to July, 1865, when he received his dis charge at Louisville, Kentucky. During his term of service he participated in, the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, the Siege of Vicksburg and At lanta, battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and was with Sherman 's army on its march to the sea. He was within nine miles of Lee 's army at the time of the surrender at Appamatox, and was at the same place when the news of Lincoln's assassination reached them. After returning to his Iowa home at the close of the war, Mr. Hull was married, and imme diately rented a farm and began for himself. He was very successful in tilling the soil, until migrating to Nebraska, where he first settled in Brown county on the Niobrara river in May, 1885. During the summer he crossed over to Keya Paha county, and pre-empted a quarter section near Springview. This he sold five years later, removing to Cherry county, eight miles east of Port Niobrara. Much of his time during those early years was spent in cutting and hauling cord-wood for J. M. Thatcher, who was a trader at the post. In the spring of 1891, he came into Boyd county, and filed on a homestead, located three miles and a half southwest from the newly organized county seat. There he worked faith fully at farming until October, 1900, at which time he retired from active farm work and came to Butte for residence, since then making that his home. He has a comfortable home here and is taking life easy on a well merited competency. Mrs. Hull's maiden name was Laura E. Lott, whose mother died when she was less than two years old. Her father, Henry Lott, was quite a character in Iowa during the early days of set tlement. He was born in Pennsylvania and came to Iowa in 1843, and traded with the Sac and Fox Indians at Red Rock, Marion county, up to 1845, when those tribes were removed beyond the Missouri river. Mr. Lott then located near the mouth of the Boone river and traded with the Sioux Indians, the chief of whom, Si-dom-i-na- dota, was unfriendly to the newcomer, allowing his band to harass him in many ways, and on one of their winter raids, so frightening Mr. Lott's wife that she died a few days afterwards; while one son, who was out trying to find his father, was overcome with fatigue and cold and was found by settlers several days later several miles down the Des Moines river, dead in the snow. Many years later the Historical society of Iowa erected a monument to the memory of Mr. Lott. After the mother's death the family was scattered. A boy, John, was adopted by a fam ily named White, and is now known by their name, and a sister, Mrs. Henriette Duckworth, lives in Missouri. Mr. Lott remained in that vi cinity long enough to wreak vengeance on the Indian chief who had caused him such sorrow, himself and squaw being killed by a band of whites with Mr. Lott at their head, and the In dians soon after left the section. His name has been indelibly engraven in Iowa's history, and a lasting monument to the same is found in the Lott Creek, which was named in his honor. Mr. and Mrs. Hull have had twelve children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Emma, wife of Enoch Zenor, of Rapid City, South Da kota ; Albert, a homesteader in Mead county, South Dakota; Maude, wife of William Holt, of Smithwick, South Dakota ; Lott, who lives in Butte ; Mary, wife of William Wright ; Dora, wife of Len Gormley, both residing in Butte; and Harry, also holding down a claim near Smithwick,- South Dakota, and who is editor of the leading newspaper of that town. Mr. Hull is a republican, and a prominent member of the Grand Army • of the Republic. Himself and wife are regular attendants at the Congregational church, and among the popular old timers of the section. STEVEN D. AVERY. (Deceased.) Steven D. Avery, now deceased, was for many years one of the foremost citizens of Oakland pre cinct. He was one of the substantial men of his region, whose integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the wealth and growth of Nebraska. He lived to a ripe old age, and his demise was deeply felt by the people of his community who knew so well the influence for good which he had always exercised for the wel fare of the entire region. Mr. Avery was born in New Hampshire on June 13, 1833, and made that state his residence until he was thirty-eight years of age, being en gaged in the shoe manufacturing business for a number of years. He was a soldier in the civil war, serving nearly the whole time of the strug gle, and participating in many famous battles. During the battle of Fair Oaks he was severely wounded, receiving two gunshot wounds which disabled him for the balance of his life. He served in Company D, Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers. After receiving his discharge, he re- enlisted and was commissioned captain, but the war closed at about this time, so he was not COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 461 called into active service. In 1871, Mr. Avery came to Nebraska, locating on a. quarter section of homestead land in Boone county, this land being a part of the city of Albion at the present time. He was married in December, 1873, to Miss Ellen S. Counsell, who was born and raised in England, coming to the United States with her parents in 1866. Mrs. Avery's parents were John and Theresa Coun sell, both born in England and early settlers in Boone county. During the early days they went through the usual pioneer experiences, and from the first Mr. Avery took an active interest in the affairs of the county, acting as immigration agent for the state of Nebraska. He was also justice of the peace for many years. He suc ceeded in developing a good farm, and at the time of his death was classed among the well to-do men of his locality, he and his family being prom inent in the educational and social affairs of their community. He died on October 13, 1900, in Petersburg, after an illness of eighteen years, survived by his wife and seven sons, the latter named as follows: Prank, who with his family lives in Colorado ; John, now in Montana ; Fred and Jesse, both at home ; William, a well known farmer living near Petersburg; Edward, now in Idaho, and Ernest, who lives at Beatrice, Ne braska. Mr. Avery was the fourth of nine sons, eight of whom served in the civil war, two being killed while in service. Mrs. Avery's mother died in August, 1888, and her father in October, 1895. She has three sisters, two of whom reside in Albion, and the other is living in Omaha. Another died in Boone county in 1892, and a brother was accidentally drowned in Iowa, in August, 1867. Mrs. Avery is still occupying the old home in Petersburg, where she is surrounded by a large circle of friends. She is a woman of superior ability in a business way, having been a homesteader pre vious to her marriage. She proved up on one hundred and sixty acres situated on section twenty-two, township twenty-two, range seven, and during the pioneer times thought nothing of walking the distance of fifteen miles from this claim to the little postal station of Dresser, which was on the ground where Albion is now located. During these trips she was obliged to wade creeks where the water in places reached to her waist. She also helped build the first shanty which was her dwelling for a number of years. J. R. MORRIS. The above named gentleman is an able representative of the farming community of Wayne county, Nebraska, and has resided in this section of the country for over a quarter of a century. He is a man of considerable energy and by his strict integrity has become one of the highly esteemed and respected citizens of this locality. Mr. Morris was born in 1850 in Wales, and was the son of Robert and Katherine Morris, na tives of the same land. In 1870, when only twenty years old, he left his native country and came to America. Nearly all of his education was received in Wales, although he did receive one year's schooling in America. Our subscriber spent a number of years in Iowa, a few months in each place, until he came to Red Oak, in 1874. He remained there ten years. He was farming during the greater part of this period, and finally, in 1884, decided to seek a home for himself in another state. In that year he came to Wayne county, and purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which has since been his home. He added one improve ment after another, as fast as circumstances would warrant, and now has one of the finest farms in the precinct. Mr. Morris has made a specialty of sheep raising, although he follows diversified farming, too. He added to his first purchase until he owned over one thousand acres, but has deeded a part of it to his children, and now owns five hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Morris came into the state a little too late to have the misfortune of losing one crop after another by reason of the grasshoppers, but he has not entirely escaped loss. During the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, he lost considerable stock. On the whole, he has met with signal success in his chosen calling. His estate is known as the Star Stock Farm. In 1873, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hughes, of Louisa county, Iowa, and they are the parents of seven children, named as follows: Lot, Robert Bonner, Caradoe, Newton, Llewelyn, Celyn and Ivor. ROBERT MARWOOD. Robert Marwood, a prominent farmer and stockman living on section six, township twenty- five, range seven, is well known throughout An telope county as a progressive and successful agriculturalist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. He has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part of the growth and development of this region, build ing up for himself a substantial home and for tune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens in Ante lope county. Mr. Marwood was born July 20, 1835, in Rom- melkirk, Yorkshire, England, a son of Henry and Mary Marwood. After growing to his young manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, and later entered the locomotive works at Middles- boro, advanced from the first to the "high fire" in four years and was offered a foremanship ; from here he went to London where he worked at 462 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his trade in the shops receiving two shillings a week more than the other men. In 1856, Mr. Marwood was married to Jane Ann Harwood, who is also a native of England, being born at Walton, Durhamshire, in 1834. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mar wood, namely : Henry, who is married to Miss Carrie Moses, having eight children, they live three miles east of the home farm; James, died when a small child; Thomas, who is married to Miss Ida Hitchcock, and lives at the southeast corner of Clearwater; Samuel Dwight, is in the American navy; Jane, deceased, was the wife of Mr. Grenau; Lizzie and Rosa at home; Richard, married Miss Lottie Everhard, and lives in Seat tle; he is a graduate of the college at Yankton. In 1866, Mr. Marwood with his family left England for America, they having heard the glowing accounts of fortunes to be made and land to be had for almost nothing in the new world, for in the shops where he had worked one man usually read to the rest of the workmen and had a paper from America that gave an account of our homestead laws. They sailed from Liverpool, England, early in April, 1866, on the steamer "City of Manchester" and were thirteen days on the water and one in quarantine. An uncle of Mr. Marwood lived in Wisconsin and when the family got there they did not have money to go any further nor to take up a homestead. They remained in Wisconsin for about three and a half years. Mr. Marwood secured repair work in the mills at Little Grant, receiving fifty cents an hour and was employed there for three months when he opened a blacksmith and repair shop across from the mill and soon had all the work he could do. He saved his earnings and when he had ac cumulated one thousand dollars, he removed with the family to Antelope county, settling in Ord township when there was not another white man in the whole township. In coming west Mr. Mar wood loaded some of their belongings into a wagon he had made for that purpose in his own shop and started across the country. They crossed the Mississippi river from Prairie du Chien to McGregor and were three weeks on the way before reaching Council Bluffs. It was the summer of almost continuous rains, making the roads almost impassable and at Tama City, Iowa, Mr. Marwood shipped a lot of his goods by rail to Council Bluffs. This was delayed on the road and caused them a wait of two days. Driving to Fremont Mr. Marwood left his family and came on to Antelope county, located his claim and re turned for his family. He filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he built a log house, which still stands back of a beauti ful home which Mr. Marwood built later on. He also filed on a timber claim on which he had growing twenty-three thousand three hundred and forty trees at the time he proved up ; this was the first under this act of congress. So fine was the grove that the land commissioner at Washington wrote him asking his method of cul ture. He also secured a pre-emption, to which he secured title. When Mr. Marwood put up his log cabin with the help of a friend he laid up- the logs in a single day. It was necessary, of course, to chink and cover it which was done as rapidly as possible, but space between the edges of the roof and top logs had not been filled nor had the door been made when, on January 15, 1870, a few days after the family moved in, one of the worst blizzards of the early days descended upon them. A wagon cover hung at the door kept out the wind and snow fairly well, but it blew in under the eaves so plentifully that Mr. Marwood had to suspend a sheet over the bed to keep the snow from covering them, and this sheet had to be shaken out several times through the night so thickly was it blown in over the top logs. The cabin was thoroughly closed be fore the next storm. On the first of the follow ing March, another blizzard broke, but Mr. Marwood and his family were at the house of a neighbor to whom he had loaned his horses to pursue Indians that had stolen nearly all the horses in the neighborhood. Many neighbors congregated here for pro tection against a fancied attack of the Indians and on suggestion of someone standing guard outside none would volunteer until Mr. Marwood offered to be one of the pickets, Louis Portras offered to be picket with him and the two paced up and down the whole night through to keep from freezing. Occasionally they would go in, one at a time to drink a cup of hot coffee. They learned later that no Indains were within miles of them. At the time of the flood of the Elkhorn river in May, 1881, following the winter of the deep snow a wall of water eight feet high swept down the valley submerging many of the farms. Mr. Marwood 's house was above the flood, but the water surrounded it and lay a foot deep in their garden, which had been growing nicely up to that time, but which was a mud covered waste when the water receded. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Marwood was in several hours of the blast in getting his cattle that had drifted to the grove, into the sheds. Mr. Marwood understands fully the vicissi tudes of life, he having at one time been without a cent for three months, he couldn't write a let ter for three months for lack of a three cent stamp. He bore up as bravely as possible under this trying time, as did also his good wife, neither making complaint, one fearing to utterly discourage the other. But they stayed and per- severed through all the hard times that an early settler must experience in those days, and now Mr. Marwood owns twenty-six hundred acres of the finest land in the state, of which timber covers two hundred and fifty acres. When our subject and family came to this locality, this country was a wilderness, there being but a few RESIDENCE OF DAVID McCLINTOCK. HOME OF HENRY V. MEURET. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 463 settlers for miles around. The Indians were camped along Elk Horn river, and the pioneer settlers experienced many dangers and scares from the red skins. At one time the Indians went on the war path, which caused the settlers to abandon their homesteads for a time, they going further down the river away from the zone of danger and remaining there until the following spring; but Mr. Marwood, possessing the tena city of his race remained sleeping in the manger with his gun by him to prevent the Indians stealing his horses, but as he had always fed them when hungry they passed his stables by, but gathered in nearly every other horse in the country. Mr. Marwood remained on his farm and raised a fine crop, and was enabled to sup ply the wants of the refugees who had been frightened away and in consequence had sowed nothing and of course had nothing to reap. Many times in those days Mr. Marwood fought prairie fires to save his home and possessions; once the flames crossed the river and leaped the fire guards, consuming eleven stacks of wheat and three of oats, a heavy loss in those days. Columbus, Wisner and Yankton were the nearest markets, each seventy-five miles away. Mr. Marwood had the distinction of being the first county treasurer of Antelope county; there was no county seat established, and the residents of that locality came to Mr. Marwood 's house to pay taxes. Mr. Marwood is a stockman of con siderable repute, and well known throughout his section of the state, he formerly shipped four hundred head of cattle every year, but of late has reduced the number to less than one hundred. DAVID McCLINTOCK. David McClintock who resides on section twenty-six, township twenty-four, range seven, in Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the oldest settlers in the valley, and has done his full share ¦in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. On every hand he is named as a .successful farmer and good citizen. A view of the family residence is pre sented on another page. Mr. McClintock was born January 7, 1844, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His father, Robert McClintock, was born July 8, 1809, in Pennsylvania, and died May 20, 1884. His mother was Evelyn McNair before her marriage to our subject's father, and was born in Penn sylvania; her father came from Pennsylvania, bat their ancestors came from Ireland. Great Grandfather McClintock served in the revolu tionary war and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. On July 4, 1871, Mr. McClintock was united in marriage to Miss Minirva Handby, and they are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: John Ashley, Josia Robert, Merva, who was born 1876, died in 1877 ; David, married to Ida Troxell; August and Susie. David McClintock moved from Pennsyl vania to West Liberty, Iowa, in 1864, returning a short time later to Pennsylvania, and then back to West Liberty, Iowa, where he remained one year. He then worked as a carpenter in Polk and Warren counties, Iowa, being married at Norwalk, Warren county, Iowa, in 1871. In 1872, Mr. McClintock with his family came to Nebraska, settling in Antelope county. They drove from Somerset, Warren county, Iowa, where our sub ject had lived for four years. They drove the finest team of horses that had come to Antelope county up to that time. After arriving here,- Mr. McClintock took up a homestead claim in section twenty-six, township twenty-four, range seven, where he built a dugout and lived for nine years. In 1881 he sold out and moved to Cali fornia and from thence to Pennsylvania. He then bought the northwest quarter of section twenty- six, township twenty-four, range seven, from his brother and immediately returned to Nebraska and settled where he now lives. Here the Mc Clintock family experienced as many if not more hardships and dangers than any of the old settlers who came to the western frontier, on account of their early coming to this country. Their nearest market place was at Columbus, seventy miles distant, and Yankton, eighty miles away, which was a river town. They suffered many losses and hardships through grasshopper raids, during the years of 1873-74 and 1875 ; during the blizzards of 1873 and 1888; hot winds that de stroyed all their crops; and they fought prairie fires many times to save their home and posses sions. On October 15, 1878, in the effort to save his home Mr. McClintock had a narrow escape and was severely burned, losing all the hair off his head and face. The fire burned right up to the house, but he with several neighbors put up a gallant fight and by back-firing they saved the home. Mrs. McClintock was the first white woman to settle in this section of Antelope county. HENRY MEURET. Among the leading old settlers and public spirited citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. Meuret resides on his fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in sections seven and eight, township twenty-eight, range eight, where he has a well improved farm and a good orchard and a grove of fine trees. Mr. Meuret is a native of Rock county, Wis consin, born May 26, 1859. His father, Frank Meuret, is a native of France, and came from that country to America in 1861, from Belfour province, off village. Our subject's brother, Thomas, came to Nebraska in the early days, tak ing up a claim, but later died. This claim was 464 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. left to his father, and upon the father's death it was left to our subject. Mr. Meuret came to Antelope county in 1899. In 1874, Mr. Meuret was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Churchill, who is of English de scent, but a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Meuret are the parents of three children : Annie, who is married to Nelson S. Hendricks, lives in Orchard; they have four children. Olive M., married Chauncy Everhart, a printer, and they reside in Neligh ; Louis is the third child. The family enjoys the highest regard and esteem of all whom they know, and are surrounded by a host of warm friends. Mr. Meuret devotes his entire time and attention to the building up of his home and ranch and has met with deserved success. Mr. Meuret takes great interest in local af fairs and was elected a director for school dis trict number thirty for the term beginning in 1909, and ending in 1912. He has a splendid farm equipped with modern conveniences and follows stock raising to a considerable extent, having a herd of about twenty cattle, ten horses and several head of thoroughbred registered Poland China hogs. A picture of Mr. Meuret 's residence will be found on another page of this work. JOHN OBERMILLER. The well developed farms in Spring Creek pre cinct contribute largely to the wealth and pros perity enjoyed in Howard county. One of the highly cultivated tracts is owned and operated by John Obermiller, who resides on section nine, and is one of the well known and deservedly es teemed men of his community. He is an old set tler of Nebraska, and by his faithful efforts to improve his circumstances and advance the growth of his locality has placed himself among its prosperous and worthy citizens. Mr. Obermiller was born in Germany, on No vember 8, 1850, and at the age of eighteen years left his native land and emigrated to the United States, landing in this country in the spring of 1868. His first location was in Omaha, where he remained for a few months, then moved into Hall county and secured work on a farm, spending about one year there. He afterwards was in the employ of the Union Pacific railway company, working in the car department of their plant for several years, then returned to his old home place in Germany where he spent the winter of 1878 with his father and mother. He came back to United States in the following spring and became connected with the construction department of the Union Pacific Railway company, working in Wyoming for some time, then started as a brake- man on a freight train traveling between Sidney and Cheyenne, and later secured a passenger run between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. He also worked on a baggage train from Council Bluffs to Cheyenne, and from Council Bluffs to Denver, having this run for about eight years. He was one of the pioneer railroad men in Nebraska. In 1888 he quit the service and located perma nently in Howard county, purchasing land on sec tions eight and nine, township fifteen, range nine, and built up a good farm of about one hundred and fifty acres, which he has carried on up to the present time. He has been very successful in farming and stock raising, and has made money, devoting his entire attention to his work. Mr. Obermiller was married on November 8, 1880, in Boone county, Iowa, to Lillian Warner, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Oda, wife of George Pratt, living in Minnesota, May, a public school teacher in Howard county, and Osman, on the farm. SIDNEY H. CRIPPEN. Mr. Sidney H. Crippen, of Plainview, Ne braska, has been familiar with northern Ne braska since 1878, having preceded his father to the country two years. Sidney H. Crippen was born in Rutland town ship, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1846, and resided there until his migration to Nebraska. He was engaged in lumbering and saw mill work, that being a heavily timbered country in those days. His parents, Daniel and Annie (Hodges) Crip pen, were natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. The father was also engaged in lumbering and rafting, following that vocation down the Tioga, Chemung and Susquehanna rivers to tide-water in Chesapeake Bay, and in 1880 he came to Nebraska, and filed on a home stead in Antelope county, near the line of Pierce county. He died here in June, 1894, and the mother died in October, 1908. Another son, Jo seph, lives on Willow Creek, in Antelope county. Sidney H. Crippen first came to Nebraska in the fall of 1878, and, with four companions, left the railroad at Columbus, whence they proceeded on foot — the better to see the country — to Albion, where they spent a fortnight with an old Tioga county friend. Not seeing anything to their lik ing, the five friends came to Neligh by wagon, and thence to the north end of Antelope county, where within an hour all had selected homesteads and cast their lots with Nebraska. Mr. Crippen farmed in Antelope county some ten miles southwest from Plainview for twelve years, when he sold his farm and moved to town, now being engaged in well drilling and house moving. For two years he served as city marshal and an equal period as night watchman. In November, 1909, he was elected for his tenth term as constable, which, if he finishes his term will round out twenty years in the office. On one occasion, in November, 1904, when there was COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 465 a disturbance on the street, he stepped in to see what was the matter. A big fellow crazed by drink, thrust a saber through Mr. Crippen 's body and turned it before withdrawing the blade. No one expected the wounded man to survive, but so hardy is he that even a mutilation such as this did not kill him. Mr. Crippen was first married in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, to Miss Juliette McConnell, a native of Tioga county, and daughter of Justus and Hannah (Bryant) McConnell. Four of their children lived to maturity and married : Martha, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Houselander, their son, Earl, being the first to confer the honor able title of great-grandfather; Edith married Charles McCudden, of Sioux City; Mary is the wife of Oliver W. Nelson, engaged in automobile work in Plainview; and Ethel married John Weiler, also of Plainview. Mr. Crippen was a second time married to Mrs. Matilda Morton, who, like her parents, Am brose and Catherine (Arnold) Colson, was a na tive of Maine. After the death of her hus band, Edwin Morton, she brought her two daugh ters to the west, where she had relatives, reach ing Plainview in July, 1887, her parents following that fall. Her elder daughter, Angelia, is the wife of S. H. Finney, of Chadron, Nebraska, and Bertha married John L. Lapini, deceased, and lives in Plainview. During his early years in Nebraska, Mr. Crip pen experienced all the hardships of the frontier. On one occasion, on coming to Plainview with his father for coal, they found but two hundred pounds for sale, which they loaded on their wagon and started home. On the way they no ticed a neighbor and his wife busily at work near the side of a haystack and wondered what they were doing. By driving in and inquiring, he learned they were twisting hay for fuel. For the next two years his house was heated and their food all cooked with twisted hay. Corn was their fuel at times, and since moving to town Mr. Crippen has used it from time to time, paying for one lot seven cents a bushel, which was a much cheaper fuel than coal at the prices for which that commodity was selling. He saw the last flight of grasshoppers here in 1879, and although he thought them numerous, the earlier settlers who had seen them at their worst, assured him these swarms were very small. At the time of the blizzard of October, 1880, Mr. Crippen, with some neighbors was engaged in railroad construction near Niobrara. They were camping in the canyon under the canvas top of a covered wagon, which they had set up in a grove of small willows with the tree tops laced above. With their camp fire roaring at the front of their fragile domicile, they were quite comfort able despite the raging storm. During the bliz zard of 1888, Mr. Crippen was in town and made two efforts to get home, but could go only a little distance before having to turn back. Going with a party to the schoolhouse to rescue the children, he had the presence of mind to ring the bell which guided some who were lost on their way to the school and others who had started home and became bewildered in the storm. At his sug gestion the bell was kept ringing until after mid night. Deer and antelope were plentiful and so tame that they would feed at any time near the dugout of the settlers. At one time an antelope chased back to the house a puppy that was barking at it. Such incidents are typical of the frontier, and they can never be seen again. Mr. Crippen is a highly respected citizen, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In political belief, Mr. Crippen is a re publican. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOLMES. Benjamin Franklin Holmes, a successful grain and, stock farmer living near Arcadia, Nebraska, and a prominent man in his community, is a native of Clayton county, Iowa, born' January 25, 1869, eighth of the ten children born to Joseph M. and Mary (Powell) Holmes, the father of German and English, and the mother of English extraction. Joseph M Holmes was born in New York and died in Valley county, Nebraska, in March, 1908, and the mother, a native of Marion county, Ohio, died June 20, 1911. Besides Frank Holmes, there are four other sons and two daughters in Valley county, one son in Custer county, and one daugh ter in Dakota ; the other children are deceased. In 1884 Mr. Holmes accompanied his parents to Cedar county, Nebraska, and two years later the family removed to Valley county, where the father secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section four, township seventeen, range fifteen. For twenty years Mr. Holmes, in partnership with his brothers, Samuel, Joseph and William, carried on farming. Wil liam Holmes is now deceased. Together' they pur chased eight hundred acres of land in Valley county, which has since been divided into three parts, of which Frank received one. March 20, 1907, Benjamin F. Holmes mar ried Miss Etta Teeter, a native of Harrison county, Iowa, daughter of Frank and Charity (Markley) Teeter. Her father resides in Butler county, Nebraska, and her mother died in Iowa in 1884. Mrs. Holmes has three brothers in the state of Washington, one brother in Utah, one sister re sides with Mrs. Holmes, and two sisters are dead. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Ivan L. and Earl E. In 1904 Benjamin F. Holmes dissolved part nership with his brothers and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land on section fifteen, township seventeen, range fifteen, where he has a well developed and well equipped stock and grain farm. He is considered one of the 466 compendium oP HiStoRy, rEmINIScENce and biography. most upright and useful citizens in his part of the country and stands well in his community. He served three years as road overseer and for some years was moderator of school district number fifty-nine. Mr. Holmes with his family is a member of the church of the Bretheren, formely known as the Dunkards. In politics he is a democrat. CHRISTIAN ENDERLY Prominent among Madison county old set tlers is Christian Enderly, who, since the fall of 1883, has made this region his home and done his share in the developing of the agricultural resources of this section of the county. He lives in a pleasant home on section twenty-four, town ship twenty-four, range one, surrounded and loved by a host of friends, acquaintances and neighbors. Mr. Enderly is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Baden, November 9, 1828. He grew to his young manhood in the old country, where, in 1851, he served as a soldier in the Prussian army. While in the army, Mr. Enderly wanted to get married, but could not while in his country's service, so he and his bride-to-be, Miss Catherine Getzel, came to America, they being married November 28, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. En derly are the parents of twelve children, whose names are as follows : August, George, Kate, Fred, Will, Edward, Minnie, Lena, Caroline and Emma, living ; and Louis and Annie, deceased. Mr. Enderly first came to Toledo, Ohio, in 1853, and remained one year, then went to Quincy, Illinois, remaining there four years. In 1858 he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived for many years. In 1873 Mr. Enderly came to Nebraska, settl ing in the northeastern part of the state, in Brown county. Here he took up a homestead claim, on which he put up a shanty, living in this county for ten years. In 1883, he came to Madison county, Nebraska, purchasing six acres of the finest land in the county, and has improved this to a high degree; he has on this choice land one hundred splendid fruit trees. Mr. Enderly is" a gardener by occupation, and well understands his craft, as is evidence by the appearance of his beautiful home and grounds. Mr. Enderly is a highly respected and es teemed citizen of his locality, loved and revered by all who know him, and his friends and ac quaintances are many. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and a democrat. EDWARD G. TAYLOR. Edward G. Taylor is one of the younger self- made business men of his section and has exten sive interests in various lines throughout central Nebraska. He is director and former president of the Loup City State Bank, which was orig inally organized in 1904 and purchased by him and his business associates in 1906. He is presi dent and one of the organizers of the Sherman County Telephone Company, which has a paid-up capital of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Taylor was born at Ashton, Lee county, Illinois, December 12, 1867, a twin of Fred, (deceased), and one of a family of seven children born to John P. and Susan (Bridge) Taylor, mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. The family went to live. on a farm when Edward G. Taylor was three years of age, and nine years later, in April, 1879, the parents, accompanied by their five sons and two daughters, came to Sherman county, locat ing on a homestead farm eleven miles southeast of the county seat, Loup City. The father was one . of the original homesteaders of that part of the county, and became one of the most influen tial men in the community, erecting one of the first two frame houses in central Nebraska. The subject of this review remained on the home farm until reaching his majority, received the advantages of a district school education and a few years at high school at St. Paul, Nebraska, before he was twenty-one, and in 1888 entered business college at Grand Island. In the spring of 1889 he and his brother-in-law, A. N. Conklin, engaged in general mercantile business in the new town of Ashton, which was located near the Taylor homestead, and continued in this business until the spring of 1895, when Mr. Taylor sold his interest to his partner and embarked in the grain business at the same place. He was most success ful in buying and shipping grain and stock, and in September, 1903, moved with his family to Loup City, where he had for some time been in terested in an elevator. He continues to deal in grain and stock at several stations on the rail road, shipping from Schaupps, Farwell, Ashton, McAlpine and Palmer, as well as Loup City, on the Burlington and Missouri Railroad. He owns one of the finest and most modern residences in the city and he and his wife are closely identi fied with the social, educational and religious life of their community. They have many warm friends and both have shown an intelligent inter est in local affairs and events. He is keenly in terested along political lines and in personal views is an independent democrat, though he has never held' public office or cared for political honors. Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Lydia, daugh ter of William H. and Harriet Brown, at her home near Ashton, December 12, 1889. She was born in Iowa and came with her family to Sherman county in the spring of 1885. Her father was one of the early settlers of the state, to which he had come in 1877. He is a veteran of the civil war, participated in many of its battles and was wounded three times. He now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Taylor, in Loup City, his wife hav ing passed away in August, 1902. Mr. Taylor and wife have two children, Earl Brown and Lu- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 467 cile Harriet. Mr. Taylor is a Presbyterian, and a staunch republican. During the early days, many were the hard ships the family endured. Coarse weeds and corn stalks were their only fuel for a time. Water foi stock and family use had to be hauled four miles, until a well was dug, theirs being the first on the table land. The October blizzard of 1880, which inaugurated the winter of the deep snow, caused them much inconvenience. The father was away, working at St. Paul, leaving the boys to look after the farm work. The stable, which was in a ra vine, was completely covered by snow during the three days of storm; water and feed were passed down through a hole dug in the roof and when the storm had abated, a tunnel had to be dug through the deep drifts to the door before the stock could be led out. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, found Mr. Taylor at school in St. Paul. WILLIAM H. CRITES. Among the leading public spirited citizens of Merrick county, Nebraska, the name of William H. Crites merits a foremost place. He is a man of more than ordinary ability and has gained the esteem and confidence of the people of his state and county. William H. Crites was born on a farm in Sci oto county, Ohio, March 6, 1841, and was the sec ond of nine children born to John and Cecelia (Heath) Crites, who had six sons and three daughters. John Crites was a native of Virginia, and Cecelia Heath was born in Ohio. In the month of February, 1853, our subject's father and family moved to Mason county, Illinois, go ing by steamboat, and landed at Havana, March 4th. Six months later they settled on a farm. William H. Crites, subject of this sketch, in his twelfth year went out on the farm of John Aux- ier, in Mason county, Illinois, and herded cattle seven months, going to school during the three months of the winter term. Mr. Crites spent his youthful days in Mason county, having the usual experiences of the farm boy in those early days. Mr. Crites, on August 12, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged from ser vice September 20, 1864, in Springfield, Illinois. The war record of Mr. Crites is of unusual interest, as he was active in a large number of principal engagements ; a list of which is herewith given: Belmont, Union City, Island Number Ten, Farmington, Siege of Corinth, Levergne, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face, Resaca, Dallas, Mud Creek, Peachtree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. He was wounded a number of times and had many nar row escapes from capture by the enemy. Upon being mustered out Mr. Crites returned to Mason county, Illinois, and to the farm. Mr. Crites married in Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, September 18, 1867, Miss Phoebe Saxton, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are the parents of the following children: Myrtle, who is married to Mr. Walter Gillette, has five chil dren and lives in Idaho; Iva, married to Mr. Fred Marsh, has six children and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska ; Clay H., deceased, survived by his widow and four children who live in Central City ; Evan, who is married and has one child, re sides in Merrick county, nine miles north of Cen tral City; Ella, married to Mr. John Kyes, has two children and lives near Archer, Nebraska; Ethel, who is married to Mr. Ernest Hanna, has one child and lives at Lexington, Nebraska ; and Frank, who is attending Friends college at Whit- tier, in California. After marriage, Mason county, Illinois, was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Crites, with the excep tion of three years' residence in Menard county, Illinois. Leaving Menard county in September, 1871, they came to Lone Tree station on the Union Pa cific railroad. Lone Tree is now Central City, Nebraska. Here they took up a pre-emption claim, and in 1873 homesteaded land twelve miles northwest of Lone Tree. In 1874, during the hard times caused by the grasshoppers, Mr. Crites went out on a buffalo hunt, lasting some months, to procure meat for his family, and also for money derived from the sale of hides, etc. They lived on the homestead where they followed farming and stock-raising until 1903, coming at that time to Central City to reside. Mr. Crites has been an active man along all lines during his residence in Merrick county, and in the fall of 1887 was elected sheriff of his county on the republican ticket, and served two terms, during which he lived at the county seat. He has also filled many of the township and precinct offices of his county, and in 1880 and 1881 filled the office of postmaster at Bethel. He is a self- made man, going out in life for himself at an early age, his parents both dying soon after re moving to Illinois. He is successful and well and favorably known. ALLEN CHICKEN. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in Knox county, and since locating here in 1873, has taken a foremost part in the development of this region. He has gained an enviable reputation as a progressive citizen and a man of straightforward character and has built up a good home in section thirty- four, township thirty, range eight, where, with his family, he occupies a comfortable residence, and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow-men Mr. Allen Chicken is a native of Ohio, and was born November 25, 1838. His father was John Chicken, a well known farmer of that re gion, who died when our subject was a small boy 468 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. When about twenty-seven years of age, Allen left home and went to Iowa, remaining for about eight years, soon afterwards coming to Nebraska and selecting a location in Knox county. He filed on a homestead, which forms part of his farm, started to improve the land, and built his first dwelling place, which was a house made of logs. Grasshoppers destroyed his crops in 1873, 1874 and 1875, but after those years he was able to raise some crops, and soon began to raise live stock, grain, etc. As the years went on conditions became more ifavorable, and he increased his holdings in land and stock, until at the present time he is known as one of the leading men of his locality, taking an active part in every movement started for the betterment of conditions in the region. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land. During the early part of his resi dence here, he was one of two men being the pos sessors of a horse apiece in the section, all the other settlers owning oxen, with which they did all their teaming. In the summer of 1875 a band of thieving Indians came along and stole his horse. They also took with them his only cow and a calf, which at that time was a serious loss to him. Mr. Chicken was married in Iowa, November 24, 1867, to Miss Mary Grim, a native of Ohio. They are the parents of four children, namely : Sarah E., now Mrs. Charles Van Kleek; May Etta, wife of Alexander Copple ; Lillie Viola, wife of Prank House, and Wilmer H., who married Katie Bouy. JAMES M. McCUMBER. The Buckeye state is well represented in the successful men of the west, and one of her repre sentatives who stands well in the community where he has resided so many years, is James M. McCumber of Butte, now retired and occupying a new bungalow residence on the southwest side of the town. Mr. McCumber was born in Meigs county, Ohio, December 18, 1849. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Henry) McCumber, were both natives of Ohio. The father served three years and three months during the civil war as drum major in the Ninety-second Ohio Infantry, and came out with health so much impaired from a tumor in the ab domen that he lived but a few years after the close of hostilities. He came with his family to Carroll county, Missouri, and died shortly after his removal to that state. The mother is living with a daughter in Ellsworth, Kansas,, at the ad vanced age of eighty-two years. The Grand father Henry, came to Missouri some years be fore the McCumber family and had secured a, large tract of land at the old government price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and died here at a good old age. James M. McCumber was married in Carroll county, Missouri, and farmed there until his mi gration to Nebraska in September, 1884. He set tled first on a farm he purchased twelve miles northwest of Ainsworth, and resided here for eight years, during which they experienced their hardest times; drouths, storms, hail — everything seemed to conspire in working havoc with their prospects and their crops. When Boyd county was thrown open for set tlement in 1892, Mr. McCumber filed on a home stead on the west line of the county, about seven miles north of the Keya Paha river, and, in addi tion, bought three quarters of a section of school land, making an even six hundred and forty acres of excellent land for farming or ranching. In 1899 he came to Butte and bought eighty acres at the southeast corner of the town. He resided here until the spring of 1909, when he sold and moved into the city limits, building his present comfort able home in the summer of 1910. For three years Mr. McCumher was in the implement busi ness, selling to Mr. Krotter, and devoting his time thereafter to his farm. So rapid has been the advance in lands in Boyd county, that the eighty acres brought one hundred and five dollars per acre when Mr. McCumber parted with it. The fine, large residence on the place is in strong contrast with the "soddy" occupied during home stead days, although it was a large one for the times. James M. McCumber was married in Carroll county, Missouri, January 22, 1872, to Miss Lu- cinda Jennings. She was born in Missouri, and was a daughter of John and Nancy (Bingham) Jennings, who lived and died in Missouri. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McCumber, all of whom are living. They are Edmond, who is owner of the Brockman Ranch in Keya Paha county, consisting of two thousand acres, that has rapidly advanced in value the last few years until it is now well worth from sixty thousand to seventy-five thousand dollars; Everett, who is on the ranch of his brother Edmond; Norman, in the real estate business at Gregory, South Dakota, and doing well; Oma G., who is the wife of Mr. John P. Wood, one of Butte's leading business men, of whom a more extended mention is made on another page ; Earl, who is proprietor of a meat market at Caspar, Wyoming; and Maude, who remains as yet under the parental roof. Mr. McCumber is a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a brother in the Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. McCumber came to the county before all the large game was gone and secured' a few deer and antelope for the family larder. He had an unpleasant experience in one of the severe hail storms of the region, being overtaken a mile and a half from home, while driving. Unhitching the traces, he crept under the wagon, hoping to hold his team of mules with the lines, but they soon be came frantic, and breaking away, ran home, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 469 where Mr. McCumber found them after the storm abated, none the worse for their run. It neces sitated a three mile walk after the mules and the return for the wagon. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. McCumber was living on the ranch in Boyd county and had a narrow es cape from probable death. Had he been a little earlier in his projected trip to town, he would have been out in it. As it was, the team was hitched to the wagon to start when he heard the loud rumbling noise of the approaching cloud of whirling frozen mist. Hastily unhitching, he got his team into the barn and made his way back to the house by means of a rope to which he held until he reached his door. But the early pioneers inured to hardship, paid little heed to storms or drouths or prairie fires. They had the fortitude to meet all emer gencies and overcome them. JOSEPH WESTBROOK. Joseph Westbrook, deceased, was for many years one of the most extensive farmers of Beaver precinct, Boone county, and also one of the first settlers in that section. He was the possessor of an active public spirit and broad mind, and was one of the men who so materially aided the de velopment and growth of the county and state. His demise occurred in 1908. Mr. Westbrook was born in Chillieothe county, Ohio, on September 13, 1835, and grew up in that vicinity. He was married in July, 1856, to Mary Jane Ross, who was also a native of Ohio, their union occurring in Livingston county, IrM- nois, and they made the latter place their home for twelve years, then moved to LaSalle county. After two years there, they moved to Iowa, set tled on a farm, and after raising one crop, came on to Boone county, landing here in the spring of 1871. Mr. Westbrook homesteaded on the southwest quarter of section twelve, township eighteen, range five, and this place remained his home farm until his death, which occurred in April. 1908. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. West brook after settling in Boone county, the first, Henry, being the first white male child born in the county. At his death, Mr. Westbrook was survived by his widow and eight children, three still living here, also Mrs. Westbrook, who all live on the farm in section eleven, near the old homestead. Two other children live in Nance county, and three in Columbus. The entire fam ily is well known and greatly respected through the country, being among the first to settle here. They went through many hardships in getting started, landing with just fourteen cents after filing on the claim, and can fully appreciate the word "pioneer," having gone through every form of frontier existence. David R. Westbrook, now the head of the fam ily, was born at Buckhart Grove, Illinois, on April 25, 1857, and is the eldest of eleven chil dren. He and his father came to Boone county before the balance of the family, arriving in June, 1870, and on July 14 of that year, Joseph Westbrook filed on the homestead, after which the family returned to Iowa, and in the following year brought the entire family to Boone county. He can well be called one of the founders of the county, and to his aid and influence is due much of the present prosperity enjoyed in the section. HOWELL REES. One of the prominent farmers of Wayne county is Howell Rees, who owns a valuable es tate there, located on section thirty-five, town ship twenty-seven, range one. He is a well- known citizen, and is highly respected for his integrity and industrious life. He has a pleas ant and comfortable home and enjoys well de served success. He has done his full share in building up the agricultural interests of the community. Mr. Rees was born in 1857, in Glanmorgan Shire, Wales. He remained at home with his parents, David and Mary Rees, until 1879. At this date, he left his native land for America, coming from Liverpool to New York City by the steamship "Montana." From there he started for the west, coming first to Montgomery^ county, Iowa, where he remained for twelve and one- half years. In 1891, Mr. Rees decided to locate perma: nently in Wayne county, Nebraska, and with this purpose in view purchased his present home, which he has steadily improved until it is now as fine an estate as one would wish to see. Not among the least of his improvements, is a fine, thrifty grove, which he planted himself. He also has plenty of fruit. He has brought the land to a high state of cultivation and aided thereby in the development of the agricultural interests of his locality. In 1885, Mr. Rees was united in marriage to Miss Maggie E. Jones. They are the parents of six children, named as follows: David, William PL, Franklin T., Mary, Owen and Clifford. Mr. and Mrs. Rees are prominent in the social life of the community and enjoy the respect and esteem of all with whom they have come in con tact. ANDREW COLANDER. Among the self-made men in this section, a prominent place must be given to Mr. Andrew Colander, one of the leading old settlers of the county. His career shows, in a striking way, the prosperity which will invariably come to the man of indomitable will and untiring industry wlio 470 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. refuses to give up, no matter what the discour agement may be. All that he has is the result of his own efforts, and his sterling character has long been recognized by his fellow citizens, who hold him in the highest esteem. Mr. Colander was born in 1859, in Sweden, to Andrew Colander, and Anna (Klocker) Colander. His father died when he was a child, and, with his mother, he went to America in 1870. The start was made in May, and they went across the North Sea to Liverpool, thence to New York by steamship. They went at first to Omaha, Nebraska, in June, and as the mother's money gave out at this point, they were forced to work here for two years, until they had again saved enough capital to warrant taking up a homestead. This was done in the mother's name, the homestead chosen being located in section eight, township twenty- four, range two, east, where our subscriber now resides. The first few years they were here, a sod house sufficed for their needs, a frame house be ing erected later. For a time they met with more than the usual share of misfortunes suffered by the pioneer. In 1878, they lost everything they had by prairie fire, and for the first few years, the crops were utter failures, due to the grasshoppers. How ever, the word "fail" was not found in the vo cabulary of these two thorough pioneers, mother and son, and they persevered, and by untiring industry, gradually turned the tide of fortune in their favor. The farm has been improved in many ways. There is a fine orchard now bearing and also three acres of forest trees, all of which were planted by the mother. In 1882, Mi'. Colander was united in mar riage to Miss Anna Klocker, and five children have been born to them. They are named as follows: Louise, Lillie, Sadie, Alice and Esther. SAMUEL G. PURYEAR. Samuel G. Puryear, who resides on section thirty, township twenty-eight, range five, Ante lope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old- timers in this section who has ever done all in his power to better conditions throughout the com munity in which he chose his permanent home. Mr. Puryear was born November 28, 1856, in Henderson county, Illinois, and is a son of John and Mary (Beck) Puryear. The father was born in Tennessee about 1825. He was a union soldier in the Mexican war, participating in the battle of Buena Vista, where he was wounded while assisting in moving a cannon up a hill. The mother was born in April, 1835, in Belfast, Ire land, from whence her father emigrated about 1849, settling near Oquaka, Illinois. There she was married and removed to Iowa about 1857, where Mr. Puryear filed on a quarter section near Burlington, under a soldier's warrant granted him for services rendered in the Mexi can war. He later sold this land and moved to Minnesota, where he lived for five years, mi grating in 1865 to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and settling on a farm east of Council Bluffs. Samuel G. Puryear first came to Nebraska in 1892, sojourning for two years in Cuming county, before permanently settling on the farm he now occupies. Since settling in the state, Mr. Puryear has prospered and each year he has improved his farm by needful additions to the equipment of the place, making of it one of the best in the beauti ful northern section of Antelope county. He is engaged in stock raising and agriculture, ship ping at least a carload of cattle each year, and disposing of two thousand dollars worth of horses during the course of seven years. When Mr. Pur year first came to this place there was merely a small cottage on it. This he has rebuilt into a comfortable modern dwelling, also has erected a good barn which he replaced in 1910 with a much larger one fifty-four by fifty-four feet on a concrete foundation, which is designed to hold his entire crops and all the stock in separate com partments. Since settling on the place Mr. Pur year has planted liberally of trees, and at one time felled and sawed seven thousand feet of lumber. He came to Nebraska too late to ex perience the severity of the fearful blizzard of 1888, although he encountered the remnants of it as it spent itself throughout the western part of Iowa. While his stock was out in the open and felt the icy blasts, there were none lost. Mr. Puryear is now interested in raising thoroughbred stock, Hereford cattle, Poland China hogs, and English shire horses, and his stock ranks among the very best in northeast Nebraska. Mr. Puryear was married September 28, 1882, to Miss Melissa White, daughter of John and Martha (Blackstone) White, natives of England and Wisconsin respectively, who lived in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, at the time of Mrs. Puryear 's birth, and where she was reared. Pour children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Puryear, namely: Geneva, Wilda, Irving and Winfred. Mr. Puryear is an independent in politics and the family are Methodists in church affiliations. DAVID M. ROSS. David M. Ross, one of the most successful farmers and stock men of Valley county, Ne braska, is well known for his public spirit and for his interest in promoting the welfare and advancement of his state and county. He has a beautiful home near Arcadia, where he has re sided some half dozen years or more, and has there developed a fine farm. He has erected suitable buildings for carrying on his work and the house occupied by him and his family is one lvO^V>^T». w 'SUNNY SLOPE FARM," RESIDENCE OF D. M. ROSS. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 471 of the handsomest and most comfortable ones in his part of the county. It has spacious porches, which add much to its beauty and comfort, and is well situated on a good building site. Mr. Ross is one of the substantial citizens of his community and is well known for his upright ness and integrity. He is a native of Clark county, Ohio, born July 31, 1854, being eighth in order of birth of the nine children born to Joseph and Catherine (Freet) Ross. The. father, who was of Scotch parentage, died in Ohio in 1879, being a native of Maryland, and the mother, who was of German descent and a native of Pennsylvania, died in December, 1889. One of their sons, William Ross, served three years in the civil war. Mr. Ross grew to maturity and received his education in his native state, and after leaving school engaged in farming. On May 18, 1876, he married Miss Sarah C. Gipe, a native of Darke county, Ohio, a daughter of Garret and Mary J. (Long) Gipe, both natives of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Ross came with his wife and five children to Valley county, Nebraska. In November, 1902, Mrs. Ross fell from a wagon, was run over and crushed to death, being sur vived by her husband and five children. Their children are as follows: Amanda, wife of A. L. Juett, lives at Laten, California, and has four children; Joseph H. and Charles G. are mer chants at Raisen City, California; Mary C, wife of Floyd Miller, of Custer county, 'Nebraska, has three children; Pearl R., wife of C. V. Stern, of Valley county. In 1900 Mr. Ross purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land in Vinton township, re mained there four years, then sold this farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-nine, township eighteen, range fifteen, on which he has erected the house and other buildings, developing and equipping the fine stock and grain farm which he has since owned and occupied. On December 2, 1903, Mr. Ross married Mrs. Plorilla M. Mowery, who was born in Adams county, Indiana. Her parents, James and Maria (McCallum) Nelson, came to Nebraska in 1886. The mother died in Sherman county and the father in Valley county, where he was frozen to death, having become bewildered and lost his way returning from Ord. Florilla Nelson first married Daniel E. Mowery, four of whose five children are living: Alta M., married Adeson Musselman and lives near Mr. Ross; Jennie M., Inez G., and Zora J., are still under the pa rental roof. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross: David Levi and Wilbur M. Mr. Ross and family worship in the Church of the Brethern, formerly known as the Dunkards. Mr. Ross was largely instrumental in organizing school district number .fifty-nine, of which he served as treasurer for several years. Mr. Ross lived in a log house in Ohio, and for eight years occupied a "soddy" in the west. He has endured the many privations of a new country, and weathered one of the worst bliz zards, in February, 1890. In 1908 he erected a fine, modern frame dwelling and a large, roomy barn on his farm, together with an excellent water system, adding a silo to his equipment in 1911. A full page view of his well improved place is to be found on another page. GEORGE H. MALLORY. The life of this gentleman is an illustration of what grit and perseverance will accomplish in the face of discouragements and misfortune that would appall a less resolute man. George H. Mallory was born in New York City on June 7, 1854. His mother died /when he was nine years old, and his father not being in a position to care for him, placed him in an or phans' home. He was brought west with a lot of boys from the institution and bound out to T. W. Smiley, on a farm seven miles west of Monmouth, Illinois. Life became so unbearable that he ran away in 1867, going to Iowa, where he found work near Burlington, husking corn for the Tuman brothers, and remained all winter. In the spring he obtained employment near Calahan Creek, and spent five years in that vicinity. He was married during that time and workecf as a bricklayer, emigrating to Nebraska in 1876, and securing a position at Lincoln, working for Holmes & Hogan, in their brick yard. After three years he moved to Colorado, working for one year as a brick burner at Denver and Pueblo, then returned to Nebraska, following alternately farming and bricklaying, in Saunders county, for twelve years. In 1892 he came to Pierce and was employed in the brick yard for three years, and while there was considerable hardship en dured by many, he was among the more for tunate and got along very well, following his trade and at times engaging in different occu pations. In 1902 he opened a brick yard on his own account, manufacturing cement blocks also. He took in a partner later, but the deal proved unsatisfactory and he discontinued the business. In 1905 he bought a portable sawmill equipped with a Huber traction engine and the best fit tings obtainable, and it is one of the most com plete outfits imaginable, having three cars mounted on trucks, one used as a sleeping car for the ten or a dozen men whom he employs, one used for a dining car, and the other as an office and sleeping car for himself and sons. In this way he is able to take care of all the men Avhom he employs. They move to a grove, fell the timber, saw it into marketable dimensions, then pack up and move to the next place, thus re lieving those with whom they have contracts of the necessity of housing them. Mr. Mallory also made a record in the purchase of his outfit, he being the first man who, in dealings with the 472 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Huber company, was able to meet the different payments on or before the day they fell due. He has done remarkably well, and is credited with having handled some of the largest con tracts ever let in the state. Mr. Mallory has been married twice, his first wife being Lida Smith, of Iowa, she dying at Ashland, Nebraska, in 1887, survived by her hus band and three children. George Mallory, the eldest child ; Laura, wife of Prank Bird, and Nel lie, wife of William Cornell, all live in Denver. Mr. Mallory 's second wife was Mrs. Nellie Gould Ernst, widow of Joe Ernst, of Omaha, she having one son by her former husband. Of three sons and three daughters born of this second union, five survive, Ernst, Harry, Raymond, Ce celia and May, the first two being associated with their father in his latest enterprise. The Mallory home in Pierce is a very com fortable and homelike place, much of it being fashioned by Mr. Mallory himself, and here he finds rest and a sense of security during his leis ure hours, enjoying to the full this comfort after so many years of toil and ceaseless care. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Ben Hur lodges at Creighton. Politically he is a republican. HANS OBERMILLER. Hans Obermiller, an old and highly esteemed resident of Kelso precinct, Howard county, en joys a comfortable home and many friends by virtue of an upright life and honorable career. He has endured many hardships during his pio neer life in Nebraska, in spite of all securing his fine property and success through varied experi ences on the frontier of Nebraska. Mr. Obermiller was born in Germany ,on Jan uary 28, 1837, and lived in his home vicinity until he was twenty-five years of age, then came to the United States, where he hoped to carve a name and fortune for himself, which he has done far beyond his early hopes. His first location was in Kankakee county, Illinois, where he spent two years, and then for six months was in the Illi nois Central railroad depot in Chicago, after which he settled in Omaha, coming to that city in May, 1865, and remaining for two years, part of the tiine in a dairy and the balance in a brewery. He next moved to Grand Island, Hall county, making that his home for fifteen years, coming to Howard county in 1882. Here he purchased a tract of land on section twenty-three, township eleven, range twelve, started farming and suc ceeded in building up a good home, remaining on the place for a number of years. He carried on mixed farming and stock raising in a successful manner, becoming one of the well known men of the locality and accumulating a nice property during the time of his residence here. He retired from active farm work in 1902, at which time he settled in a comfortable residence in Parwell, where he now resides with his. family. He was married in Grand Island, September 10, 1866, to Margaret Larson, and they became the parents of thirteen children, the four youngest born in. Howard county. Eight are living and all filling honorable positions in life. They are named as follows: Minnie, John, Fred, Dora, Carrie, Al bert, Harry and Preida. All the children are married except the last two, who live at home. The family is prominent in their locality, and enjoy a large circle of friends. Albert A. Obermiller, the sixth son of the living children of Hans Obermiller, subject of this sketch, was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on December 5, 1881, and when but a few months old came with his parents to Howard county, where he has received his entire education in the precinct schools. He assisted his father in carry ing on the home farm up to his twenty-second year, at which time he started for himself, pur chasing some land on section twelve, township fourteen, range twelve. This he has improved in fine shape, developing a fine farm, and is en gaged quite extensively in the stock business. Mr. Obermiller is a young man of energetic habits, industrious and capable, making a suc cess of whatever he undertakes to do. In January, 1903, Mr. Obermiller was mar ried to Isabelle Irvine, who is a daughter of John Irvine, a prominent pioneer of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Obermiller have four children : Leonard, George, Mildred and Harold, and the I family occupy a pleasant and comfortable home. JAMES W. THOMPSON. One of the earlier settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, was James W. Thompson, who has for several years been retired from more active life. He owns a comfortable home in Arcadia, where he resides, but still owns his farm in Custer county. Mr. Thompson was born in Wilmington, Will county, Illinois, August 8, 1850, the second of the six children of David and Helen (Wright) Thompson, the father, a native of Scotland, came to America in 1848; the mother was born in England. Both died in Wilmington, Illinois, the mother in 1855, and the father in 1902. Of their children, one son was buried at sea, one daugh ter lives in Lockport, Illinois, one daughter in Michigan, one in Montana and one in South Dakota. Mr. Thompson was educated in his native state and there reached maturity, and after leaving school learned the trade of carriage painting. He was married at Wilmington, Illi nois, May 1, 1872, to Sarah L. Johnson, a na tive of Mexico, New York. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Thompson, in company with his friend, Henry Matthew, of England, drove through to Nebraska and both young men located on home- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 473 steads, Mr. Matthew in Valley county, and Mr. Thompson across the line in Custer county, each having one hundred and sixty acres of land. In the following spring (1880) Mr. Thompson's wife and their one child, a daughter, joined him on the homestead farm, which was their home for many years. Mrs. Thompson died August 22, 1907, while on a visit to her daughter in Mitchell, Nebraska, leaving her husband and two children to mourn her loss. The daughter, Marian, is the wife of George Whitman, of Mitchell, and they have three children. The son, David Clyde, the present postmaster of Arcadia, married Flora Brown. About 1898 Mr. Thompson retired from the farm, removed to Arcadia, erected a good home there, and has since occupied it. He owns his original homestead on section twenty-four, town ship . seventeen, range seventeen, of Custer county, which is well improved and devoted to stock raising and the cultivation of grain, and also owns some mining property in Colorado. He also has various other interests and is an enter prising business man. He was identified with the pioneer history of Custer county and became well and favorably known in that locality. He has made many friends in Arcadia, and stands well in the community where he now lives. In politics he was a democrat in early life, but of late years is a republican. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. After coming to Custer county, Mr. Thomp son first lived in a dugout, which he found on the place when purchased. This was used as a barn after building a good sod house on the hill the next fall. During one of the severe blizzards, when it was impossible to get the stock out to water, a well was dug in the corner of the barn. Game was plentiful in the early days, and Mr. Thompson killed one deer; at one time he drove past two lying down in the grass, but had no fire arms with him. With many others in the neighborhood, he was at a sale January 12, 1888 ; noting the coming change in the weather, he hastened home to get in a load of hay, which he had just succeeded in doing when the storm broke over them. RYLAND F. BRUCE. In reviewing the history of Madison county. Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and prominent among this number is the gentleman above named. Ryland F. Bruce, retired farmer, son of Rufus and Mary (Hovey) Bruce, was born in Lamoille county, Vermont, December 19, 1837. He was the youngest of three children, one sister, de ceased, and one brother, who lives in Vermont. The parents are deceased, both having passed away in their native state of Vermont, the father in June, 1874, and the mother in July, 1879. 16% Mr. Bruce received his education in his home state, and engaged in farming. On April 2, 1859, he was joined in holy wedlock to Sarah M. Love joy of Vermont. Four children were born of this union, whose names are as follows: Abby M., married to E. J. Rix, has three children and lives in Madison county ; Mary, died in infancy ; Emma A., died in 1887 ; Nellie M., married to W. H. Banner, has one child and lives in Norfolk Junction. In 1869, Mr. Bruce left Vermont, going to Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1887, when he located in Madison county, Nebraska, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the northwest quarter, section thirteen, township twenty-four, range one, west, which re mained the home place until 1903. On March 13, 1889, Mr. Bruce was married to Mrs. Rosetta J. Smith, of New York state. Mrs. Brace's father was a Baptist minister who died in 1892, in Des Moines, Iowa. Her mother died in 1887, in Waterloo, Iowa. Mrs. Bruce has one brother living in Oklahoma, and has one son by a former marriage, Dwight A. Smith, who re sides in the state of Washington. Our subject, Mr. Bruce, has been an active christian since 1855, and for about seven years served as one of the trustees of the First Congre gational church in Norfolk and is also a deacon. In 1903, he retired from the farm and moved to Norfolk where he built a good home, his present dwelling place. Mr. Bruce owns a number of good city properties, and has been prosperous and successful, and is widely and favorably known. He is an independent voter. david Mccracken. David McCracken, living retired from active life in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county and still owns his original homestead. He also owns some city property and is widely and favorably known in his part of the state. Mr. McCracken and his wife have both always been much interested in the progress and welfare of the county and they have passed through the various experiences of the pioneers in the region. Mr. McCracken was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, Janu ary 6, 1830, and in early childhood accompanied his parents to Indiana. He was the second of twelve children and has one brother in Indiana and a sister in Michigan, several of the children being deceased. Both parents were natives of North Carolina and the father died in Missouri in 1866, and the mother in Indiana in about 1896. Mr. McCracken received his education in the country schools of Indiana and as a young man engaged in farming on his own account. On August 17, 1851, he was married, in Grant county, Indiana, to Esther Allen, a native of Wayne county, that state, and they began housekeeping on a farm. "~In 1866 he took his family to Mis- 474 compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. souri and remained there a year, then returned to Indiana. About 1885-86 he brought his wife and five children to Custer county, Nebraska, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township seventeen, range twenty-one, which was the home place for many years. This farm was well im proved and brought to a high state of cultiva tion and Mr. McCracken met with success as a farmer. In 1908 he retired from the farm and erected a modern residence in Broken Bow, which has since been the family home. Thirteen children were born to Mr. McCracken and wife namely : Asenath, deceased, is survived by her husband, Jacob Sloderback, and two chil dren; Mary A., wife of J. J. Pickett, of Broken Bow, has four children; Eli J. and Levi, twins, the former father of three children and living in Indiana, and the latter father of two children and living in Oregon; Sarah E., wife of Henry Barber, of Howard county, Indiana, has one child ; Rachel J., wife of Frank Thomasson, living near Broken Bow, has two children; John N., of Idaho, has six children; Alice, wife of Henry Surface, of Peru, 'Indiana, has three children; Robert and Arilda R., twins, the former living in Indiana and the father of one child, and the latter, who lives at Broken Bow, is the wife of Orley Freel and has four children; Clara, wife of Lensley Crew, of Montana, has three children ; Drusilla, wife of Arthur Stone, of Indiana, has two children; Thomas E., died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken are well known and highly respected in Broken Bow and vicinity and have a wide circle of friends. E. W. JONES. For more than twenty years the gentleman named above has been known to the citizens of Wayne county, and he has gained a high station as a citizen and farmer. Strictly speaking, he is not one of the old settlers — yet he has, since his residence here, been closely identified with the development of the agricultural interests of the community. Mr. Jones is a native of Wales, and was born in 1850, in Meirionith Shire, his parents, John and Mary Jones, being natives of that region. It was here that Mr. Jones spent his childhood and early manhood years, and received his edu cation. His father was a miller by trade, and the subscriber followed the same occupation in youth and young manhood. When our subject was thirty years old, he determined to emigrate to the new world, which undoubtedly offered greater opportunities for the young man than his native country. He came first to Vermont, then to Wisconsin, and in 1882, to Red Oak, Iowa, where he remained until 1890. In this year he again moved, coming this time to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he bought a quarter-section of land from T. C. Humphrey, which has remained in his possession since that date. He has made many improve ments to the estate, which is now among the best in the county. November 18, 1890, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Anna Thomas of Cardigan Shire, South Wales. One child, Mattie, has blessed their union. A nephew of Mr. Jones, Robert E. Jones, came to live with his uncle when six years of age, and has since that time made his home here. He now does practically all the work on the farm, and seems almost the same to Mr. and Mrs. Jones as one of their own children. LEVI COVER. The above named gentleman has for over thirty-two years been closely identified with the farming and commercial interests of Merrick county, Nebraska, and has watched the develop ment and growth of this section from the early days. Levi Cover, son of Aaron and Mary (Deril- biss) Cover, was born in Frederick county, Mary land, March 24, 1837, and was sixth of ten chil dren. He has two brothers and one sister re siding in Iowa ; one sister in Kansas ; one brother in California; the parents are deceased. When seven years of age our subject went with his parents to Ohio, where he received his education in the home schools, and later learned the car penters' trade. On March 2, 1862, Mr. Cover was married to Miss Melissa Miller, who was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cover made their first home in Iowa county, Iowa, following his trade until 1879, when they came to Merrick county, Nebraska, home- steading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-four, township fourteen, range six, which remained the home place about ten years; and afterwards moved to Central City where they purchased a good home where they now reside. Mr. Cover was prosperous and suc cessful, and owned at one time over three hundred acres besides good city property. He has served as director of his school district number twenty- seven for some years. Mr. and Mrs. Cover have had seven children, five of whom are living: Elmer E., deceased in 1874; Harry, married, has three children and resides in Aurora, Nebraska; Amanda May, wife of E. Yager, has one child and lives in Colorado; Aggie B., wife of John Roth, lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Walter, married, has three children and lives in Scotts Bluffs, Nebraska; Zora E., wife of Frank Han- num, has one child and resides in Gothenburg, Nebraska ; and Harley, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Cover were among the early settlers of Merrick county, have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships inci dental to pioneer life, and are widely and favor ably known. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 475 PRANK ETTER. Prank Etter, one of Niobrara's successful farmers, has been a resident of the state since 1885. He had come to the state in 1882, remain ing four or five months, but returned to Iowa, thinking at that time that prospects were better there. In 1885, he returned to Knox county and filed on a pre-emption claim east of Niobrara, to which he perfected title, and sold. He next lived for a season on school land southwest of town, and in 1887 became a resident of Niobrara, where he has resided since. For three years he con ducted a barber shop, and later was employed at various kinds of labor. Of late years, he has secured farming lands east of town, and has been a most successful farmer. Mr. Etter was born in Cass county, Indiana, January 9, 1859, and there grew to manhood. His parents, Jacob and Susanna (Richards) Etter, lived and died in their Indiana home. Mr. Etter first came west in November of 1881, and remained in Iowa until the fall of 1882, when he migrated to Knox county, Nebraska. He stayed until the spring of 1883, and then returned to O'Brien county, Iowa, and worked on a ranch during the summer. In the fall, he went to Benton county, Iowa, where he met the lady who later became his wife. He was married in the summer of 1884 in Benton county, Iowa, and in April of the next year moved to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, remaining until September of that year, when he settled in Knox county, as before stated, and he has had no cause to regret his coming to this locality. Mr. Etter was married in Benton county, July 4, 1884, to Miss Minnie Breneihan, who was born in Dubuque, a daughter of John and Mary (Blodgett) Breneman. The mother died when Mrs. Etter was three years of age, leaving only a faint recollection in the mind of the child. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Etter, five are living, and their attainments in school have been a source of worthy pride to their parents: Bessie, the eldest, graduated first from the Nio brara high schools and later with honors from the state normal school at Wayne, where she shared the oratorical prize with a classmate from South Dakota; she taught one year in Knox county and three in Staunton county before graduating at Wayne, and was immediately after appointed to the department of higher branches in the schools of Center, her home county seat. Orange F., the eldest son, graduated from the high school of Niobrara in 1907, and has since taken a course in the business college at York; Glen A., graduated from the Niobrara high school in 1909 ; while Marjory at the same time finished the eighth grade; and Jacqueline is well along in her classes in the grammar department. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Etter was active, with other citizens, in getting the children at school safely to their homes. Mr. Etter never lived in a sod house in the west, but he has, with his wife, attended 'many a frolic in one, and danced with as much pleasure as if the sod were changed to marble walls. The trip from Dell Rapids to Niobrara was made overland, camping on the way, the journey occupying six or seven days. Part of the terri tory traversed was settled by Russians who could speak little English and were very inhospitable, few being willing to sell even a few eggs and provisions to travelers through their region; but other settlers along the way were helpful and courteous. Mr. Etter has prospered in the west, he has provided well for his children, given them good educations, and started them out on successful careers, and will see them well established in homes of their own. He is a democrat in politics, and was formerly a member of the Modern Wood men. The two elder children are members of the Presbyterian church. REVEREND FATHER JAMES J. CROWLEY. The Reverend Father James J. Crowley, one of Boone county's most exemplary citizens, has devoted his entire time since attaining his major ity to the ministry. He is virtually a newcomer in this locality, having assumed charge of his church here in 1905, but during this short time has by his kindly deeds and helpfulness become greatly beloved by all with whom he has come in contact. Reverend Father J. J. Crowley was born in Cork, Ireland, and received his education at St. Fin Barre Seminary, Cork, and finished at All Hollows College, Dublin. He made that country his home up to 1892, then came to America, serv ing in various churches in different states for nearly fifteen years, coming to Albion in 1905. Since taking charge of his present pastorate, through his efforts the new St. Michael's Catholic church has been erected at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars. This building was begun in 1906, and completed and dedicated on October 29, 1908, being one of the finest places of worship in that part of Nebraska. The members of St. Michael church are now preparing to build a new parson age on the lot adjoining the church grounds. St. Michael's church has a membership of seven hundred souls, and its pastor is a wise and loving leader of his flock. JOSEPH KENT. Mr. Joseph Kent is counted among the oldest settlers in Antelope county, Nebraska, and since locating here in 1881, has taken a foremost part in the development of this region. He has built up a good home and farm in section twenty-two, township twenty-four, range seven, where he and his family reside and enjoy the friendship and esteem of many. 476 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Kent was born in St. Lawrence county, New York. His father, Thomas Kent, was a na tive of Ireland, being born in the village of Derry, county Entrem, and came to America in 1814 ; our subject's mother, Eleanor (Knox) Kent, was also born in Derry village, Ireland, and died when our subject was but a small boy. In 1881 Mr. Kent came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land for eight hundred dollars, this land now being worth one hundred dollars per acre, which fact goes to prove that the knowing ones who came and remained in the western pio neer country, suffering and enduring many hard ships and privations have reaped a rich reward. Mr. Kent first built a frame house on his land, and during the dry year of 1894 this house was burned. . This was a year of disasters for Mr. Kent, for, besides losing his house, his crops were a total failure, the latter being burned out by the hot winds that prevailed during that year. Mr. Kent later erected a substantial house, and now has a good farm, and also a fine orchard and grove. December 14, 1879, Mr. Kent was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are the parents of nine children, whose names are : Nellie ; Lizzie, who is married to Mr. Arthur Kemp, and is the mother of one boy; Alice, wife of Mr. William Murphy, the parents of two children ; Martha, wife of Mr. George Probes, has one child ; and Thomas, Katie, Leo, Jay, and Milton. The Kent family enjoy the friendship and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. J. ABNER MYERS. J. Abner Myers, of an old and prominent Cus ter county family, is one of the younger men among the early settlers there who have won suc cess by their own efforts and are known as self- made men. He was born in Jersey county, Illi nois, February 24, 1874, second born of the eight children of Henry H. and Mary (Hartley) Myers. Mr. Myers was about eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Boone county, Ne braska, where they spent two years before com ing to Custer county. In the fall of 1884 the parents located on a homestead on West Table, then containing but few settlers. Abner Myers there grew to manhood and received his educa tion in local schools. Later he engaged in farm ing on his own account, and on February 24, 1897, married Barbara Thostesen, at the home of her parents in Custer county. The Thostesen fam ily came there in 1883 and engaged in farming. Mrs. Myers was born in Illinois and was brought to Nebraska in early childhood. Five children were born of this marriage : Rata, Tira, Edith, Sylvia and Willard H. In 1900 Mr. Myers took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-two, township seventeen, range twenty-three, which is now the home place. He has added to his hold ings until he has four hundred acres of land in this farm, which is well improved and stocked. He has erected a nice farm residence and is much interested in all that pertains to the welfare and development of his county and state. He is now serving as treasurer of school district number one hundred and fifty-one. He and his wife are prominent in social circles and have many friends, both being among the older residents of Custer county. HANS OLSON. Hans Olson, who came to Pierce county, Ne braska, in the early days of its settlement, and who has striven through many failures and hard ships to establish a home and accumulate a com petence for himself in the new western country, is now the owner of a fine farm, which is located in the northwest quarter of section twelve, town ship twenty-eight, range three. Mr. Olson is a native of Norway, born June 19, 1858, a son of George Olson, who was bora in 1827, and died in 1902 at the home of his son. The mother was born in 1835 and died in 1897. The elder Olson with his family sailed from Telarmar- ken, Norway, in May of 1866, on the sailboat "Roska, " and after a fair voyage of six weeks, landed at Quebec. The railroad extended only to Norway Station, Iowa, where an uncle, Knud Nelson, met them with a wagon and conveyed them to Omaha, reaching their destination after two or three days' camping, on the evening of the third of July. So small was the town at that time that the houses could easily be counted. The father remained in Omaha for a time and then filed on a homestead in Seward county, from which he retired in time and returned to Omaha. Hans Olson was married in Columbus, Ne braska, to Miss Julia Jacobson, a native of Den mark, born September 1, 1858, a daughter oi Ferdinand and Caroline (Lund) Jacobson, who sailed from Copenhagen for America in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of eight chil dren, whose names are as follows: Carrie, wife of Frank Prominski ; Henry, married Elsa Beals ; Julia, wife of Charles Borchert, of Java, South Dakota; Anna, Lottie, wife of Charles Rosburg; Morris, Walter and Evangeline. Mr. Olson is affiliated with the Masonic order, also the Modern Woodmen; in politics, he votes the republican ticket. When Mr. and Mrs. Olson settled on their present farm in Pierce county in 1884, it was open prairie; here they built a sod house, partly extending into the hill, which was their home for a number of years. They immediately planted trees, which have grown into a fine grove, shelter ing their frame dwelling, large barn and numer ous outbuildings from the wintry winds. A view of their fine dwelling and surroundings, with the RESIDENCE OF HANS OLSON. r ^< "GLENDOWER," RESIDENCE OF ALBERT GREGERSEN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY, 477 grove of big trees, is to be found on another page of this work, showing how rapidly Nebraska prairies may be developed into a comfortable country home. For several years after settling here, hay was their only fuel, and the prices of their products were very low ; they have seen fresh eggs sell for a cent a dozen, and butter, corn and grain at a proportionately low price. When first they settled in Seward county, the elder Olson built a dugout, which was the family residence for a number of years. Deer and ante lope were plentiful in those days, and were at times to be seen in droves on the hillsides. ALBERT GREGERSEN. Another one of the prominent old-timers of northeastern Nebraska, and a well known stock man who has passed through all the experiences of the pioneer of that region, is found in the person of the gentleman above named. He now resides on section twenty-nine, "township twenty-seven, range three, Pierce county, where he owns a val uable estate of seventeen hundred acres of land, and is held in the highest esteem and respect by his fellowmen. Albert Gregersen was born in the village of Enge, province of Sehleswig, Denmark, July 16, 1850. He is the son of Peter C. and Jecelia (Cars- tensen) Gregersen, both natives of Sehleswig. Our subject grew to manhood in his home country, during which time his native province was transferred to the Prussian Kingdom. In 1870, he came to America to seek his for tune in the land of promise, sailing from Ham burg on the steamship "Silesia," landing in New- York after a voyage of eleven days. For ten years he lived in Alliance, Iowa, the first three years working as a laborer. He then operated a cigar box factory for five years, and the last two years ran a saloon. In 1880 he transferred his busi ness to Ida Grove, Iowa, and four years later came to Pierce county, Nebraska, to take posses sion of land he had purchased there ten years be fore in section twenty-nine, township twenty- seven, range two. For the first quarter-section, he paid two hundred and eighty-five dollars, and was the third owner of the tract. There was no railroad to Pierce at that time, so he came by rail to Oakdale and drove across country from there to the county seat,- and thence to the land which formed the nucleus of his present holdings. Mr. Gregersen resided on this farm twenty-two years, adding to his possessions from time to time, until he owns nearly two thousand acres of farm and ranch land, the home farm comprising six hun dred and forty acres. In 1906 he moved to his present ranch of five hundred and sixty acres, six miles west of his earlier home, and there built one of the finest country homes in this part of the west. The dwelling, a fine im posing structure, makes a fine showing from all sides, but especially to travelers passing through the country by rail. It is heated by furnace, has hot and cold water all over the house, and the deep, airy basement opening on the level of the ground to the east, makes it virtually a three story house. A windmill and large supply tank on the hill to the north gives an inexhaustible supply of clear, cold water to the dwelling, and also to all the barns upon the place which are numerous, as will be seen in the engraving we present on another page. A third ranch of four hundred and eighty acres in Antelope county furnishes summer pasture for his large herds of cattle and supplies many tons of hay. Mr. Gregersen, unlike other pioneer settlers of this portion of Nebraska, escaped most of the hardships and disappointments in the early days, having come to the country with sufficient means to keep his family from want. The only season they burned hay was the first after their com ing, and was not because of poverty but because coal was not to be had at any price within haul ing distance of his home. Unlike many of the pioneers, too, Mr. Gregersen never lived in a sod house, but built a comfortable frame dwell ing the first year of his occupancy of the new land. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, wrought no injury to Mr. Gregersen, but gave him no little anxiety, for the children, who were at school, did not return that night. A neighbor, William Hoowaldt, took all the children to his house, tying them together with a rope, that none should stray in the short distance between the school house and his home. Illustrating the rapid increase in the value of Nebraska land, mention may be made of a tract of one hundred acres Mr. Gregersen purchased some years ago at forty-five dollars per acre and in two months sold at an advance of five hundred dollars. In 1911 the same land sold for over three hundred per cent of the price he paid for it, but a few years before. In 1874, Mr. Gregerson was united in holy wed lock to Miss Sofia Heeman, who was born in the Kingdom of Hanover in 1869, a daughter of Kort and Dorothea (Meierman) Heeman. Of this union have been born twelve children, a fine family : Rosa, Louis, Andrew, Ida, Albert, Nettie, Sofia, August, Siegfred, Clara, Edward, deceased, and Gahart. Rosa, Andrew and Nettie are mar ried : Rosa to Herman Miller, of Pierce ; Andrew to Miss Margaret Fanger, who lives on the old home place ; and Nettie to Rev. John Matthiessen of Pierce. Mr. Gregersen in religious faith is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics votes the democratic ticket. He is one of the best known and most highly respected men in the locality in which he resides. 478 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. PRANK LIDMILA. A sketch of the history of northeastern Ne braska would be incomplete without mention of Prank Lidmila, one of the most prosperous early settlers of this region. Frank Lidmila was born in Poloceka, Austria, January 6, 1864. He is the son of Prank Lidmila, who was born in 1837, and Josephine (Tamela) Lidmila, who was born in 1841 and died in 1907. Our subject came from a sturdy, industrious stock, his parents being thrifty farmers, and also owning a large store in the old country. The family came to America about 1875. They lived in Iowa a short time and then came to Cuming county, Nebraska, and filed on a claim there. The father died a year later. The mother married Fred Kuester, who had a claim on Rock creek in that county. The elder Lidmila first settled in Iowa in 1871, where he remained one year, going thence to West Point, Nebraska, and later took up a homestead in Dodge county, Nebraska, where he experienced the numerous hardships and dis couragements of a great many of the old settlers of this section. Upon this land the father built a frame house, and his first team was oxen, which he used for his work. The nearest markets were at West Point and Fremont. Like others of the earliest settlers, Mr. Lidmila lost all his crops during the grasshopper raids at Wisner, and also suffered in the blizzards of 1873 and 1888. Frank Lidmila, our subject, was married at West Point, July 24, 1893, to Miss Josephine Brazda, who was born in Racine, Wisconsin, March 18, 1871. Her parents came from Austria to Wisconsin. The mother died about 1879, and two years later the father moved to Nebraska and secured a fine farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lidmila have been blessed with nine children, who are named as follows: Frank, George, Edwin, Clara, Charles, Rudolph, Mary, Cecelia and Helen. Mr. Lidmila came to Pierce county in 1910, where he purchased seventeen hundred acres of land situated in section thirty-four, township twenty-five, range three, which makes him one of the largest land owners in this section. Mr. Lidmila is of the Catholic faith, and is affiliated with the Royal Highlanders, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He votes the democratic ticket. WALDO L. LITTLE. W. L. Little, born in Meigs county, Ohio, on November 13, 1851, is a well-to-do farmer and prominent old settler of eastern Nebraska. His father, Levi Little, was a soldier in the civil war, serving in the seventh Ohio cavalry, and was killed in battle at Blue Springs, Tennessee. He was one of the thousands who in defense of his country sacrificed home and gave his life for the cause, leaving behind him his beloved wife and children. Waldo L. Little grew up in Ohio, his mother keeping her little family together — there being a daughter and our subject as the only childern. At the age of twenty-one years, in company with N. J. and J. N. Paul, friends of the family, he came to Howard county, Nebraska. They ar rived here in 1871, and were among the very first settlers in the county. Mr. Little began his pioneer life, passing through all the experiences of frontier existence, and has been one of the leading men in aiding the development of the region, doing all in his power to advance its interests commercially and socially. He came here full of youth, health and enthusiasm, cap able of adapting himself to the rugged life of the pioneer settler, prepared to endure the trials and struggles incident to the carving out for himself of a name and fortune, which he has succeeded in accomplishing far beyond his ex pectations. He at once filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty^ acres in section twelve, township fifteen, range ten, and still owns this place, making this his home. Prom time to time he has purchased land near by, and at present is proprietor of one whole section of well im proved land, considerable of it under cultiva tion, and equipped with all modern machinery and buildings for conducting a model farm. He is engaged in diversified farming, also raises considerable stock. At the time Mr. Little put up his first build ings he was obliged to haul all the lumber needed for the same from Grand Island, using an ox team for the purpose, and fording the South and North Loup rivers, there being no bridge across the North Loup branch. He has seen every phase of life on the frontier, beginning with practically no capital, and from this small start has become one of the substantial men of his county. Mr. Little was married in 1882 to Miss Edith A. Seeley, the ceremony taking place at the home of the former's sister, Mrs. I. D. McDaniel, who then resided on a farm adjoining our subject's homestead. Mrs. McDaniel now lives in Utah. \ Mrs. Little is a native of New York state, and came to Howard county in 1878, with her mother, sister and one brother-in-law, her father, Samuel R. Seeley, and two brothers having settled here during the preceding year. Both parents of Mrs. Little are now deceased. Mr. Little's mother departed this life on March 3, 1896. Our sub ject has no children, but himself and wife have raised several, giving them the advantages of a comfortable home and good education, and be sides this have always done a great deal of phil anthropic work in an unostentatious way. Mr. Little's home is located near the forks of the North and South Loup river, and here they frequently entertain many friends in a most hospitable manner. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 479 JOSEPH H. CAPRON. Joseph H. Capron, a leading citizen of Ord, Nebraska, is widely known as a gentleman of good business ability and true public spirit. Mr. Capron has been a resident of Nebraska many years, coming to Valley county in 1874, and since his coming here has been an important factor in the development and progression of this part of the state. Mr. Capron was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, September 4, 1856, and was fifth of six children in the family of Elias and Clara (Hurlbut) Cap- - ron who had three sons and three daughters. The Capron family moved to Illinois in 1860. Joseph H. Capron and his sister, Mrs. Emma T. Bryant, are the surviving members of the family; Mr. Capron resides in Ord, Nebraska, engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and Mrs. Bryant resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Capron came from Freeport, Illinois, to Valley county, Nebraska, in September, 1874, becoming clerk in quartermaster's department of United States of America, at Fort Hartsuff, situated in the northern part of Valley county; his brother, T. H. Capron, was quartermaster at the fort at this time. Fort Hartsuff was estab lished in 1874, to protect settlers from the. Indians, and also to prevent different tribes of Indians from warring with each other. The fort was abandoned in 1881. Mr. Capron remained at Fort Hartsuff until December of 1875, at which time he was trans ferred from there to Camp Sheridan in the quartermaster's department on the Spotted Tail agency, remaining here about seven weeks. Mr. Capron then returned to Wisconsin, becoming managing editor of the "Manitowoc Pilot," and although only in his twentieth year he was a successful newspaper man. In the spring of 1878 he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, again be coming connected with the quartermaster's de partment of the United States of America, going on a military expedition into Montana returning some months later on, and back to Port Hartsuff where he closed up his work in December. In January, 1879, Mr. Capron purchased the "Valley County Courier" at Ord, changing its name to "Valley County Journal," and edited same until July 1, 1887. He then went into the real estate and insurance business in which he has remained until this date. Mr. Capron is a successful man and has had much to do with the development of this portion of Nebraska. Mr. Capron was married to Miss Mary F. Ramsey, daughter of William and Sarah L. Ram sey at the Ramsey farm home in Valley county, February 15, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Capron have three children, two of whom are living: Hazel, who is the wife of Fred W. Coe, lives in Grand Junction, Colorado ; and Arthur B., who is a student at school. Mr. Capron is a progressive man, always tak ing a keen interest in all matters . pertaining to the progress of his home state and county, and is regarded as a leading citizen of his locality. JOHN H. HARDING. John H. Harding, one of the prosperous ag riculturists of township twenty-four, range three, Madison county, Nebraska, owns a fine farm of five hundred and seventy acres on section thirty, and is a progressive and industrious member of his community. For many years past he has been a part of the growth of the agricultural and best interests of his home county and state, and has been largely instrumental in the success of the region in which he resides. Mr. Harding is a native of Missouri, his birth occurring in Holt county, May 23, 1862 ; he is a son of John and Margaret Harding who were natives of Germany, where they lived until 1869, when they sailed for America. Our subject reached the age of seven years in his native land, and in the year 1869, with his parents, emigrated to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father took up a homestead near Battle Creek; the family's first residence was a log house in which they lived some few years, later erecting a frame house. Columbus was the nearest market place in those first days of settlement on the western fron tier, and deer and antelope could be seen in large herds on the open prairie. Many hardships and dangers were encountered and braved by the sturdy pioneer sons who came to this wild, un broken country to make a fortune for themselves. About the greatest source of anxiety was the hordes of grasshoppers that devastated the re gion, destroying every spear of vegetation to be seen for miles around, thus making it very hard for the new settler to make a living, as he was al most entirely dependent upon his crops for a live lihood. Prairie fires were another danger en countered, our subject and family often having to fight the treacherous flames of burning tall prairie grasses to save their homes, and sometimes even their lives. In 1886 Mr. Harding was united in marriage to Miss Flora Palmer, a native of Indiana, and three children were born of this marriage : Wil liam, Clyde and Bessie. In 1894 Mr. Harding suffered the loss of his entire season's crops by the hot winds that pre vailed during the severe drouth, but still he pros pered and now owns five hundred and seventy acres of fine land, as before stated, and has ten acres of trees, making it one of the best farms and homes in this region. Mr. Harding is highly esteemed in his community, and in 1904 served his constituents as county commissioner. Mr. Harding was united in marriage Decem ber 22, 1898, to Miss Nellie Losey, a native of Iowa, and daughter of George W. and Elisa A. 480 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. (Van Buskirk) Losey. They are the parents of three children, George, John and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Harding and family are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them and in their pleasant home are surrounded by many friends and acquaintances. WILLIAM H. REEDER. William H. Reeder, now living retired from active life at Merna, Nebraska, is an early settler there and when he came to the county found con ditions very different from what they are today. For the first few years his nearest trading point was Kearney, a distance of ninety miles from his home. Mr. Reeder is a native of Lancaster, Wis consin, born June 13, 1858, and next to the oldest of four children born to Henry J. and Wilhel- mina (DeMour) Reeder, the father a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and the mother of Switzerland. Henry J. Reeder came to Ne braska in the 'eighties and died at Merna in Sep tember, 1905. His wife came to America in 1847 and her death occurred in Merna in 1909. They had two sons and two daughters, namely: Wil liam H. and Mrs. Frances J. Eddy in Custer county, the latter a resident of Broken Bow ; one son in Sheridan, Wyoming, and one daughter in Colorado. When he was eleven years of age William H. Reeder accompanied his parents to Clarke county, Iowa, and there reached manhood on his father's farm, being educated in the local schools and the normal school at Osceola. Later he taught in the schools of that state for three years, after which he engaged in farming. In the fall of 1881 he came to Custer county and took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres six miles north west of Merna. In the following May he took a homestead, the first quarter west of Merna, on section thirty-one, township eighteen, range twenty-one. Mr. Reeder was married in Wisconsin, Janu ary 24, 1883, to Margaret L. Bidgood, a native of that state, and they located on the Nebraska homestead, their home for many years. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Ann (Hutchinson) Bidgood, the former a native of New York and the latter, a native of England, came to America in infancy. The father served in the civil war and is now living at Plattville, Wisconsin, at the age of eighty-three years. The mother died in Wisconsin in 1890. One son, J. B. Bidgood, lives at Halsey, Nebraska; another son, W. G. Bid- good, lives at Wood Lake, Nebraska, a daughter lives in North Dakota, another in Wisconsin, and two in Montana; one son lives in North Dakota, and Mrs. Reeder. Mr. Reeder was instrumental in the organiza tion of school district number fifteen, in 1881, and for nine years he served as a member of its board. He was one of the very early settlers of his neigh borhood and has passed through the varied exper iences of the pioneer. He is well and favorably known as a public-spirited citizen who is actively interested in everything pertaining to the public welfare and is a successful business manager, be ing possessed of four hundred and fifty acres of fine farm and pasture land, besides good city property. In February, 1906, he retired from farm life and located in Merna, where he erected the fine modern residence now occupied by the family. He has won his prosperity as a result of business enterprise and energy and stands well with his fellows. He and his wife have one son, Clarence A., married to Maud Hall, of Nelson, Ne braska. They reside at Fairfield, Nebraska, and have one son. CHRISTIAN A. REIMERS. Few lives read more like a romance than that of a little Danish boy whose father died when he was an infant, leaving his wife with a family too large to support — one who with but a few months of schooling acquired a knowledge wide and deep enough to enable him to conduct large mercantile enterprises, a banking business, and fill public offices of honor and trust, in an efficient and cred itable manner, such as many college bred men are unable to do. Chris Reimers was born January 14, 1846, in the village of Ellendorf, Holstein, and was left an orphan at the age of four years. A brother, Jacob, had come to America about 1864, and after earning enough money to pay their passage, Christian and John decided to follow. The latter was a weaver by trade, and our subject had been apprenticed to a blacksmith. On landing in the United States, they traveled west, locating in Lyons, Iowa, and both worked at odd jobs to sup port themselves, often suffering greatly for even the necessaries of life, without shelter, and no permanent home or work. They soon obtained regular employment, Chris receiving three and a half dollars per week, which seemed an immense wage to him, shortly afterwards getting a raise. After a time he went to Sabula, Iowa, where he obtained work in the shops and remained for one year. His next move was to Thompson, Illinois, and as there were no German speaking people there, he was obliged to ' learn English, exchanging German lessons for those in English, with a lady teaching in the pub lic schools. After spending eight or nine months in Illi nois, he went back to Iowa, working in Van Buren, Jackson county, during the season known to old timers as "the hot summer." He again returned to Sabula, and after a time there rented a shop and went into business for himself, as sisted by friends, who bought his equipment, as he had no capital, but whom he soon repaid. He prospered and soon bought the shop. About that time he was married and built a comfortable home, and by hard and constant toil COMPENDIUM OF' HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 481 got along well and managed to save a little money. He was finally compelled to give up on account of failing health, and went to Chicago, where he sought medical advice, the head of Rush medical college telling him that he must quit work or order his coffin to be delivered within six months. He went home and traded his shop for eight hundred and eighty acres of land lying ten miles southwest of Pierce. His intention was to open a hardware store in Pierce, and meeting with D. W. Elliott, whose intention was the same, they. formed a partnership and bought a lot and built a substantial store, establishing a business which they carried on for ten years. In company with W. A. Spencer, he started the Pierce County State Bank, erected a fine building and after carrying it on for ten years, retired from the banking business. He is now in the brokerage and loan business, and is widely known as one of the pioneer business men of the state. Mr. Reimers ' first marriage was at Van Buren, Iowa, in May, 1869, to Anna Mohr, a native of that state. She died on October 14, 1891, sur vived by her husband and four of their seven children who are named as follows : Frederick and John, who died of diphtheria at the ages of ten and twelve years respectively; Edward, who died in 1904; Chris, junior, was appointed to the Annapolis naval academy, and after a short time there was compelled to resign on account of an ob scure eye disease. This was a severe disappoint ment to him, but he immediately entered the Ne braska state university, taking an engineering course and graduating with high honors ; he is now filling a good position as one of the head engineers in the employ of the Homestake Mining company, with a promise of brilliant success in his chosen work; Nettie, wife of F. A. Courtney, resides at Great Palls, Montana; Rosabel, who for seven years was a popular teacher at Plainview, grad uated in 1909, from the Deaconesses' training school at Chicago, and has since entered Cornell for a two years' course of study in Greek, Latin and Hebrew; Lily, another daughter, who was a teacher in the Pierce schools for a time, married B. F. Lyle of Pierce. In 1891 Mr. Reimers returned to Germany, where he met and became engaged to Miss Anna Tiedje, suggesting that she come to America and if she liked the country, they would be married. She came the following year, and after a year's visit, concluded to remoiri, they being married on October 22, 1892. One son was born of this union, Walter, now a student in the Pierce high school. Mr. Reimers is a republican, active in party affairs. He is a member of the Masonic lodge in Pierce, and has filled all the various chairs. Also is a prominent Pythian. He served four years on the town and school boards, and was also county commissioner for a number of years, during which time the new court house, which some op posed on account of the cost, was built, but time has justified his judgment. He has also helped build the town up in every way, always advocat ing progress and expansion, and giving liberally of his time, influence and money to carry out his views. GEORGE HERBERT GRAY. George Herbert Gray, whose upright and hon orable career should be an encouragement to the young men of the present generation, as in it they can see what thrift and industry, honesty and integrity can always accomplish, was born in the state of Indiana, February 27, 1868, and was second of four children in the family of George H. and Louisa M. Gray, personal sketches of whom we herewith give : George H. Gray, senior, father of our sub ject, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1839, and moved from Connecticut to Indi ana about 1857; and on November 4, 1861, was married . to Miss Louisa M. Caswell. In October, 1872, Mr. and Mrs. Gray and two chil dren moved from Noble county, Indiana, locating on a homestead about six miles northeast of Cen tral City, Merrick county, Nebraska. Mr. Gray died on the homestead farm February 12, 1874, and Mrs. Gray and family remained on the home farm until 1877, sufficient length of time to prove up. on the land. Then Mrs. Gray and family moved to Prairie Island, east of Central City, so as to be in closer touch with the family of her brother, George H. Caswell, and her sister, Mrs. S. J. Boies, both families being pioneer settlers of Merrick county. These were the days of fron tier experiences, Indians still being numerous on the island. Mrs. Gray taught precinct school for one term, and after a residence of two years on the island, moved to Central City, then but a small village. Mrs. Gray became connected with the public schools of Central City as teacher of the primary department, where she remained for twenty-four years, or until about 1903 ; Central City growing from a small town to a model little city during this time. Mrs. Gray was a success ful teacher and most of the youth of Central City received their first school training under her ef ficient careful teaching. She has seen her pupils go from the first grade to higher grades; grow up to their young manhood and womanhood days ; marry and have homes and children of their own, and many of these children received their first schooling under Mrs. Gray, the same teacher that had taught their father and mother the A. B. C. 's, and had laid the foundation for their edu cational life. Mrs. Gray was also active in teach ing the little ones in the Sunday school, as she was in charge of the primary department of the Methodist church Sunday school. She was a typical pioneer teacher, giving to the youth of 482 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Central City the best foundation a child could have to build on, an educational and religious training. Mrs. Gray now resides in Grand Island, Nebraska, with her daughter, Mrs. John Donald, but much of her time is spent in Central City with her son, George H. Gray, and where she has many close friends. Mr. and Mrs. Gray had four children, two of whom are living: Clarence, born in Rome, In diana, died in infancy; George Herbert, married and living in Central City; Nellie, wife of John Donald, has one child and resides in Grand Island, Nebraska; and Clarence, born in Merrick county, who died in infancy. Mr. Gray, senior, was a veteran of the civil war, and a man of high character, honored and revered by all. George Herbert Gray, son of the above men tioned subjects, when but a boy four years of age, came with his parents to Merrick county, Ne braska, and received such schooling as was af forded by the local schools; but at an early age of nine years Mr. Gray began to make his own way in life, and in the fall of 1883, secured a po sition on the Oregon Short Line railroad, and was located at Pocatello, Idaho, where he remained two years. Then he spent two years in school after which he was baggageman for the Union Pacific railroad at Central City. In 1888 Mr. Gray and Mr. Stableton pur chased the N. D. Keyes grocery store of Central City, and in 1892, Mr. Gray bought his partner out and continued the business until June, 1902, at which time he became connected with the Cen tral City Bank, which became a National bank in 1906, of which Mr. Gray is now president. This bank was first organized as a private bank in 1877; as a state bank in 1887; and a National bank in 1906, with a capital and surplus of sev enty-five thousand dollars, and the following of ficials: G. H. Gray, president; George P. Bissell, and Heber Hord, vice presidents; Ives A. Hord, assistant cashier. This bank is a solid financial institution, and was the first bank to be organized in Central City. Mr. Gray is a practical self-made man with an enviable business record, a man of high char acter, active in business, educational, and relig ious circles. He is president of the Central City commercial club, and is otherwise prominently connected. On June 1, 1892, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Mary Rodgers, in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one child, Nellie Naomi. They have many friends, and a pleasant home, and are very estimable people. J. V. HOLECEK. To such sturdy pioneers as the Holecek family the great inland empire of the middle west owes its present commanding influence in the commer cial and agricultural affairs of this nation. The Holecek family came to Nebraska when herds of buffalo and deer roamed the prairies, and Indians were still in control of a vast area of the terri tory, which was wild and undeveloped to such an extent that it was known as part of the Great American Desert. J. V. Holecek, formerly postmaster of Sparta, and one of the leading merchants of Knox county, is a member of this family. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Holecek, and was born in Bohemia in 1856. He came to America with his parents when eleven years of age, the family going direct to Chicago after landing in the new world. They remained in Chicago two years, when a Bohemian homestead colony was formed, and John Holecek cast his lot with his fellow countrymen and joined the colony, coming direct to Knox county, where they have taken an important part in the upbuilding and develop ment of the country. The story of the life of J. V. Holecek can best be told in his own words : "In 1867, or when I was eleven years old, my parents came to America and stopped in Chicago for two years. In 1868, while we were living in Chicago, my father became interested in a Bo hemian homestead colony that was being organ ized, and in October, 1869, we started for Ne braska, then known as the Great Western Desert, our destination being L'eau Qui Cost county, which in 1879 was organized and christened Knox county. The railroad ended at Sioux City, where we secured ox teams and drove the re mainder of the distance overland. The trip was a tedious one, requiring six days. We were warned by settlers of the dangers of the region we were going into, but we arrived safely at our destination with an escort of about a half dozen Ponca Indians. The village of Niobrara was made up of a few houses only; T. M. Paxton had a frame house ; Prank Janowsek one of like con struction; and Bruns & Westermann, who con ducted a general store in a log house. These, to gether with Ponca Indians, their squaws and papooses, dressed in buffalo skins or red blankets, made up the town of Niobrara, (pronounced Neeobrare, from the Ponca Indian dialect, and meaning running water). The town was made up largely of Indians, there being something like a dozen tepees. The nearest town was Yankton, then the capitol of Dakota Territory, which com prised all of what is now North and South Da kota. Norfolk was about sixty miles southeast. Aside from the settlements of Niobrara, Yank ton and Norfolk, the country was a vast wilder ness of Indians, antelope and coyotes. "Early in the spring of 1870, about a half dozen families settled on the bottom lands of the Niobrara river, in the vicinity of what is now Pishelville postoffice, and also on Verdegris creek. To one who has not experienced the hardships of pioneer life, it is impossible to explain the trials we underwent. Indian scares were numerous. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 483 as the Indians were not all peaceable. On May 1, 1870, the news was brought in by a frightened settler that a band of Indians were on the war path and had killed a boy eight years old, his sis ter, twelve years old, and wounded the mother. The settlers for miles around flocked to Niobrara with what household goods and effects they could carry, but in a short time the excitement died out and they returned to their homesteads. The In dians were a constant menace to the peace of mind and happiness of the settlers. They were constantly committing depredations, and no set tler felt safe. The Indians would kill or steal their live stock, and demand food or whatever they wanted. The Indians, however, were only a part of our troubles ; in 1874 and 1875 the grass hoppers destroyed everything in the way of vege tation. They were so dense as to shut out the sun, the air swarming with them, and when they settled down to the earth, shrubbery and small trees would be bent to the ground with their weight. "In January, 1877, I took up a homestead claim, 'batching' it for twenty years; then I saw an opportunity to engage in mercantile life. I saw that it would accommodate my patrons to have a postoffice convenient, and arranged to have the postoffice established in my store. In July, 1902, I was appointed postmaster, my pre decessor having resigned to move to Center. At that time the county seat of Knox county was moved to Center by popular vote of the people." The experiences of Mr. Holecek would fill a volume in themselves, and many interesting stories and incidents he can relate in connection with pioneer life. He was one of the first super visors of the county, and at the same time was manager of the Bohemian Anti-Hail Damage as sociation, which had a membership of some two thousand, with forty lodges scattered over the state. He has also held other offices, such as as sessor, township clerk, justice of the peace, etc. Mr. Holecek firmly believes in the advice of Horace Greeley to "Go west young man and grow up with the country." When he came to Nebraska it was truly a wilderness, inhabited by Indians, buffalo and deer, and he has undergone hardships of every kind connected with pioneer life. He has seen the country in the same state that Lewis and Clark and DeSoto saw it, and he has helped develop it into a part of one of the greatest states in the Union. Mr. Holecek is now living in Niobrara, hav ing disposed of his business at Sparta, and he en joys the confidence and good will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Knox county. ANDREW JOHNSON. For over forty years, Andrew Johnson has been a continuous resident of Staunton county, Nebraska, where he owns one of the most valu able estates in the county. He is well known throughout the northeastern part of Nebraska as one of the foremost farmers and stock raisers in the state, and after many years of hard labor in building up this business, is now prepared to en joy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. Mr. Johnson is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1865, the son of Andrew Johnson, senior, and Mary Hansen Johnson. In 1870, when our subscriber was only five years old, the parents came to America. They embarked on the steam ship at Gottenburg for New York, and were four teen days in making the trip. The father came to Dodge county, Nebraska, first, in the spring of that year, and in the fall brought his family to Staunton county, where he filed on the homestead where our subscriber now lives. A sod house was first put up here, to be fol lowed later by other improvements as the times would permit. At first, the family met with many reverses. The first five years were almost total failures, as the grasshoppers took the crops each year. To new settlers in a strange land, this was a misfortune of considerable magnitude, and it is a matter of conjecture to the people them selves now, how they really did continue to ex ist under such misfortunes. Many times they were compelled to fight prairie fires, sometimes a very closely contested battle with the flames, too* in order to save their homes from destruction. For some years most of the work was done by oxen, and they were used as a means of transit, also al though hardly rapid transit as the phrase is now understood. Wisner was the nearest market place, and it took two days to go to town with a yoke of oxen, so slow were the beasts. In 1883, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Anna Norling, and of this union eight children have been born. They are named as follows: Alexandria, Anita, Ray, Silas, Lloyd, Harold, Bes sie and Kenneth. During their long residence in this county, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have made many friends and acquaintances, and have won the highest respect and esteem from all. Bega post office was located in the house of Mr. Johnson's father twenty-one years, but the details of the business was managed by the junior Johnson, he later becoming the appointed post master, and he has always been identified with the community affairs. WILLIAM POSTERMAN. William Fosterman, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska has been a resident of that locality for some thirty-nine years. He is prominently known throughout Knox county as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in the state of Nebraska- and after many years of hard labor in building 484 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. up his business, is now prepared to enjoy the re maining years of his life in peace and comforf, surrounded by a host of good friends and ac quaintances. Mr. Fosterman resides in section twenty, township thirty-one, range six. Mr. Fosterman is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the province of Hanover, in the year 1854, where he received a part of his edu cation. In 1868 our subject, with his parents, came to the new world to seek their fortune in the land of plenty and golden opportunities. After land ing in New York, they proceeded to Minnesota, where they located and remained for four years. Later, in 1872, they came to Knox county, Ne braska, where the father took up a homestead. and also a tree claim, and on this land built a log house. Here the family experienced many hard ships and privations through the many causes in cident to those first days of settlement on the western frontier. During the first years of the family's residence in Knox county, the grasshop pers destroyed the entire crops; and, later, the hot winds that prevailed during one season burned every stalk of crops that had been planted that year. In 1878 Mr. Fosterman was united in mar riage to Miss Houzuika, and Mr. and Mrs. Foster- man are the parents of seven children, namely: Emma, Rosa, Lillie, Clara, William, Mabel and Arthur. They are a fine family and enjoy the esteem and friendship of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Fosterman, as before stated, is a promi nent man in his community and is known for his many good qualities. He now owns nine hundred acres of fine land, all well improved, and has one of the largest and finest tracts of trees in this part of the county, having forty acres of fine grove and orchard trees. milton w. McCandless. Milton W. McCandless, now living retired from active life in Broken Bow, Nebraska, and honored as a veteran of the civil war, was one of the earlier settlers of Custer county. He was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1841, the fifth born of the eleven children of James and Harriet (Mechling) McCandless. Two of the children now live in Custer county, Milton of Broken Bow, and Eli P., of Merna, and two daughters live in Indiana. The father was born in Ireland and the mother in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He came to America with his parents in infancy and died in Indiana in 1894, and she died in that state in 1899. At the age of sixteen years, Milton W. Mc Candless came with his parents to Indiana and lived there several years before his enlistment, which took place August 1, 1862, at Elizabeth, Indiana, when he became a member of Company C, Sixty-sixth Indiana Infantry, in which he served to the close of the war. He won a good record and was discharged in Washington city, in June, 1865. He was with Sherman on the mem orable march to the sea and participated in the grand review in the city of Washington in June, 1865. He took part in many important battles during the Atlanta campaign, besides many minor engagements. At the close of the war he re turned to Indiana and engaged in farming in Har rison county. On December 28, 1871, in Har rison county, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Black, a native of Indiana. In the spring of 1886, Mr. McCandless came with his wife and three children to Custer county, Nebraska, homesteading on one_ hundred and sixty acres of, land on sections twenty-nine and thirty, township eighteen, range twenty-three, which has been the home place throughout the years that have since intervened. He has been very successful in his operations there and added to his possessions as he was able, and finally owning a splendidly equipped stock and grain farm, where in 1906 he erected a nice house. He was very helpful in organizing school district number one hundred and ninety-five and has served on its board most of the time since coming to the county. In 1910 he retired from farm life and moved to Broken Bow, where he pur chased two and one-half acres of land inside the city limits, where the family now make their home. Mr. and Mrs. McCandless have three children: Robert A., married and living in Seneca, Nebraska, has one child; Grace, wife of F. 0. Brown, of Berwyn, has two children; Maud A., wife of G. W. Troyer, living near Cal laway, has four children. Being one of Custer county's earlier settlers, Mr. McCandless has passed through its various stages of development, from the days of pioneer existence to the present time. He has been closely identified with its upbuilding and progress and is one of the best known men in the county. His wife is a daughter of Robert and Matilda (Gun- terman) Black, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. Mr. Black lives in Indiana, being now ninety-one years of age, and his wife died on the home place there in 1903. GEORGE IRVINE. George Irvine, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the first resident settlers of Howard county, has been a potent factor in the develop ment of the agricultural resources of that lo cality. He is known throughout the region as a prosperous and energetic farmer and thorough stockman, and owns a fine estate in Kelso pre cinct. George Irvine was born in Roxburyshire, Scotland, on December 21, 1848, and grew up in that country, coming to America in 1870. He is MR. AND MRS. GEORGE IRVINE. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 485 a brother of John and James Irvine, whose names appear in this volume at the head of a review of their lives, and his early residence in America was identically the same as theirs, his first loca tion being in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He came to Nebraska in 18-71, his first stop ping place being at Omaha, and from there he went to Columbus, remaining in that vicinity but a few days looking for a desirable location. Not finding anything that suited him he came on to Grand Island, and from there to Howard county. Here he spent a few days looking over the land, returned to Grand Island, and finally came back to Howard county during the latter part of March, making settlement on a tract situated on Oak Creek, April 6, 1871. James Bax ter, also mentioned in this volume, Alex Lamb, and a brother, James Irvine, settled on adjoin ing claims, and these were the first white set tlers in the locality. They passed through all the incidents of early frontier life in Nebraska, and to these same men and others of their charac ter, the state owes its success. Mr. Irvine's claim was situated on section twenty-four, township fourteen, range twelve, and this still remains his home place. He occupied for many years his original dwelling, which was the first erected in the vicinity, but several years since built a fine residence, and his family are among the popular members of society in their neighborhood, Mr. Irvine is owner of nine hundred acres of as fine land as one ever saw, and he is called one of the wealthiest men of his county. Mr. Irvine was married on December 26, 1876, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Kerr, who resided east of Farwell. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine were married by James Baxter, who is a' brother-in-law of our subject, and for many years justice of the peace. Mr. Baxter also officiated at the weddings of Mr. Irvine's brothers, William and John. The Kerrs are an old Howard county family, coming here in 1872 from Canada, both Mrs. Ir vine's parents, Christopher and Sarah (Arm strong) Kerr, now deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Irvine, namely: James P., who married Sophia Mortensen, and lives in section seventeen of Fairdale precinct; Nellie Jane, wife of Herman Kaiser, section thir teen, Kelso precinct; Mary Delia, Esther Mabel, wife of George Kosch, of section seven, Posen precinct; John Robert, and Jennie Bell. Mr. Irvine is a democrat in political views, and has for many years past taken an active part in the affairs of his county and state. Dur ing 1891 to 1898 he was county commissioner of Howard county, and for a number of years has been officially connected with the local precinct schools. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Irvine will be found on another page. JAMES G. HUFFMAN. Few men have had more vicissitudes, more ups and downs during their initiative career, than James G. Huffman. His parents, John and Lockie Huffman, were natives of Kentucky, whence they migrated to Indiana and later to Boone county, Iowa, in the fifties, where James G., was born May 15, 1860, soon after which the mother died. The father was again married about 1863, to a Missouri woman, and the same year moved down into that state among his wife's people. This being a locality of strong southern sym pathy, Mr. Huffman's outspoken unionism made him an object of persecution by guerillas who in fested the country. Two of his stepsons, he learned, were members of a band of "bush whackers," as they were called. So great be came the tension that his life was endangered, so he had to abandon his eighty-acre farm and flee in the night, taking with him only a part of his children. James G., then a lad of but seven, who was not home at the time, was left with the hope of going back for him later. However, all communication between them were broken, and for ten years the boy lived around among strangers, some of whom were unkind or even cruel to him. In 1877, by corresponding with people whom he could remember in Boone county, he learned his father had migrated to York county, Ne braska. He came out to this state and found that his parent and two sons had filed on a homestead twelve miles northwest from Yrork. Being too young to file on a homestead, Mr. Huffman secured farm labor for one year and then tried farming for himself two years in the vicinity of York. Filing on a homestead in Charles, Mix county, South Dakota, on going to take possession, he found a squatter on his land, and after three months, owing to the expense of long litigation, abandoned his claim and returned to Iowa and worked on farms in that county for a year, and then for a like period rented a farm there. Coming a second time to York county, he was employed for a year breaking prairie and then again took up farming, hav ing wisely married about this time in Iowa. For two years after his marriage, Mr. Huffman farmed in Yrork county, when he sold and moved to Grand Island to take a six months' course in a business college, showing a determi nation and ambition few men exhibit at his time of life. During his boyhood in Missouri, drudg ery was his lot, none caring to give him enough of his time to attend school. He was in Grand Island during the memor able blizzard of January 12, 1888, and in the college at the time the storm broke. In making his way across an open square he became bewil dered in the blinding whirl of snow, and ran 486 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. into a house, whose. he did not know. Knocking, he was admitted, warmed, and was directed to the end of a grove of trees at the other end of which his home was situated; making his way from tree to tree he reached home without fur ther mishap. He next came to Verdigris, bought a lot, and with lumber brought from Creighton built a bakery, which, owing to a large foreign popu lation, proved to be unprofitable. Mr. Huffman then rented his ovens and bakery, and, with his wife, secured work in a bakery at Pierce for a few months to get funds for a new start. In July, 1889, he formed a partnership with C. M. Hall, the leading merchant of Plainview, and built and opened the first bakery there. After the first baking of bread was out of the ovens, Mr. Huffman had only fifteen cents, but pros perity came to him at once, the first month 's profit being one hundred and fifty dollars. For two years the business was carried on in partnership, when Mr. Huffman bought his part ner's interest and for seven years conducted the business alone. He then sold his bakery and opened a store of general merchandise, but owing to hard times prevailing then, he was forced to sell, having in eighteen months sunk three thousand dollars. He next opened a shoe department in another store, in which he was fairly successful. Selling the business a year later, together with his dwelling, he purchased a farm six miles south of Plainview, in 1899. Here he worked to such good advantage that in January, 1910, he rented his farm and moved to Plainview, where he and his helpmeet may take some ease in life after so long a period of struggle and toil. This farm he sold at seventy-two dollars and fifty cents per acre, cash, investing part of the pro ceeds in a half-section near Rushville, Sheridan county. His meat market he traded for one hun dred and sixty acres near Flagler, Colorado. Mr. Huffman was married in Clarion, Iowa, October 13, 1885, to Miss Ida M. Mclntire, a na tive of Vermont, Michigan, born August 30, 1865 ; she is a daughter of William and Ruena (Striker) Mclntire, both natives of New York. They moved to Wright county, Iowa, in 1876, where they died in February, 1891, within a week of each other. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have adopted two chil dren: Elmer, born January 22, 1905; and Lela Margaret, born June 2, 1908. Mr. Huffman is a republican, and is affil iated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. When he first came to the state there were still a few antelope, and he has seen a bear on the prairies around Verdigris, in the early days. He witnessed the last of the grasshopper raids while in York county, and, as before stated, passed through the blizzard of January 12, 1888. His experience in a prairie fire came near result ing seriously. While driving into the country, in the spring of 1883, a prairie fire came over a hill on to them suddenly, when they lived near Foster, Nebraska; starting a counter fire they followed it as rapidly as possible, but not before their wagon cover was scorched and the horses' tails and manes set afire. For a minute or two it seemed as if the end had come, but as soon as the fire reached their back-fire it was over as quickly as it came. When Mr. Huffman first came to York, he might have bought a section of railroad land adjoining the town at five dollars per acre and had ten years in which to pay. The land is now worth hundreds of dollars per acre; but no one dreamed at that time that land in Nebraska would bring such a price. However, these are vain regrets, as we are all at fortune's beck and call. Although Mr. Huffman did not buy this valuable property when at a low figure, he is able to enjoy life more than in his earlier days; and contentment, peace and happiness are greater than all riches. WILLIAM SORENSEN. Among the prominent young business men of Dannebrog, who is widely and favorably known for his capability and progressiveness, we men tion the name of William Sorensen. He is active in local affairs and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. Mr. Sorensen was born of Danish parents in Howard county, Nebraska, on July 7, 1873, and received his early education in the district schools of his vicinity. Later he attended the Danish academy situated at Nysted, also the Western Normal college at Lincoln, remaining at the latter school for one year, returning to his home locality where he purchased eighty acres of land and begun farming and stock raising. This land was situated about one and a half miles northwest of the town Dannebrog, and he suc ceeded in building up a good farm and comfort able home, occupying the place up to 1904. At that time he moved to Dannebrog and engaged in the creamery business, which he has since carried on with great success. . On March 21, 1897, Mr. Sorensen was married to Anna M. Frank, of Hamilton county, Nebraska, the ceremony being performed in the Lutheran church at Nysted. Mrs. Sorensen was a young woman of many accomplishments, and has a large circle of friends throughout the locality, as for eight years prior to her marriage she was a teacher in the Howard county schools. To our subject and his charming wife five children have been born, named as follows : Ansgar L., Hor- tense S., Alma A., Ernest V., and Ralph R., all at home, and forming a most interesting family group. Mr. Sorensen 's mother lives on the orig inal homestead at Nysted at the present time.. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 487 DAVID KAY. Among the early settlers of Nebraska is David Kay, who has lived in the state since April, 1872, and since 1881 has for most of the time occupied his homestead on section ten, township sixteen, range fifteen, of Sherman county. He was born in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, July 3, 1848, youngest of six children in the family of Cathcart and Elizabeth (McWilliam) Kay, the former of whom died in 1848, three weeks before David's birth, and the mother died when he was but thirteen months old. He spent his early years with his maternal grandfather, and in youth received a practical college education and spent some time in studying along the lines of medicine and theology. The father was a school teacher in the town of Gir van and was also ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church, though his prin cipal work was in educational lines, in which he was a prominent worker. When in his twenty-first year Mr. Kay left his native country and came to Canada, sailing from Glasgow, to Quebec in the "St. Patrick," an old sailing vessel converted into a steamer. They were carried out of their course and first saw land on the bleak coast of Labrador. In the last days of October, 1869, he came to Cass county, Illinois, where he joined relatives ; a year later he made a trip into northeastern Nebraska to take a look at the country, but returned to Illinois and soon afterwards made a visit to his home in Scotland. In June, 1871, he returned to Illinois and remained there until April, 1872, when he came to Nemaha county, Nebraska, and purchased a quarter section of land. He carried on farming there until 1881, when he came to Sherman county and secured the homestead which has since been his residence most of the time. He has developed and improved it and during all the years has been a farmer and stockman. He has substantial buildings and farming implements and is recognized as an ag gressive and successful farmer, as well as a cit izen of reliability and integrity. He taught sev eral times in the district schools of Sherman county. In politics Mr. Kay is independent of party lines; in the fall of 1895 he was elected county judge of Sherman county, being re-elected in the fall of 1897. He served two terms and went out of office January 1, 1900. In October, 1889, Mr. Kay published the Sherman County Citizen, in Loup City, which was democratic in politics, and in the spring of 1890 the paper was merged into an organ of the Farmers Alliance, which re mained in the field until the election of that fall. After the time of the Richardson- Willard killing Mr. Kay was connected with the Northwestern, a weekly journal at Loup City. He has been prom inent in the educational and political life and de velopment of Sherman county and has been ac tively identified with the interests of his com munity. He is widely known and has many friends, as well as the respect and esteem of all who have had dealings with him — in a social, business or other character. He is a mem ber of the American Peace society and belongs to several educational societies that are national in their scope ; is an honorary member of the Na tional Conservation Association. Mr. Kay's marriage occurred in Nemaha county, December 16, 1877, when he was united with Mary Caroline Williams. The family is an old one in Nebraska, and Mrs. Kay has a brother and sister in Valley county, besides a brother in Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Kay have seven children living, namely: Grace, wife of Sherman L. Wil son, of Sherman county, has three children; Ken neth; Elizabeth, wife of Eugene Tracy, of Sher man county, has one child; and William, James, Albert and Carrie, at home. Mrs. Kay is well known in the neighborhood and is a native of Cedar county, Missouri, daughter of Davis and Elizabeth (Ainsworth) Williams. Mr. Kay has always identified himself with every progressive movement, being a prominent worker in the Grange, Patrons of Husbandry and the Farmers' Alliance. AND. WALLIN. And. Wallin, who resides on a well improved estate situated on section eighteen, township twenty-two, range four, is one of the leading old- timers of Madison county, Nebraska. He is con sidered one of the worthy citizens in this region who has done his alloted share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he chose his home, and for this and his many sterling qualities of heart and mind, he is held in the highest respect and esteem by his fellowmen. Like so many of his neighbors, Mr. Wallin is a sturdy son of Sweden, born near Soderman- land, March 1, 1852, and is a son of Lars and Carrie Erickson. He left his native land in 1886 with the deter mination of seeking his fortune in the new world, going directly to Gottenburg, where he took pas sage in the steerage for New Y"ork, sailing on the steamship ' ' City of Chester. ' ' He was twelve days on the sea. Mr. Wallin made his entrance into Madison county in the month of June, 1893. He bought the Wells homestead located in Emmerick town ship, put up a frame shanty, and begun life here as a pioneer, which was not entirely new to him, as he had gone through the early settler stage of experience in Antelope county, Nebraska, having resided there for some time previous to locating here. During the summer of 1894, Mr. Wallin had the misfortune to lose his crops by the hot winds which swept the territory, and on account of the 488 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. hard times in the region, found it a problem to make a living. However, he begun over again, and through strict perseverance and thrift got a new start, and from that time-, although he occa sionally had setbacks, was able to improve his farm and accumulate a little money for a rainy day. Mr. Wallin 's first wife was Matilda Lund- quist. They were married in Sweden in 1878. Two children were born to them, namely : Lottie and Andrew. Mrs. Wallin died January 11, 1880. Mr. Wallin was married in Sweden to Miss Laura Ascelund, the event occurring August 17, 1883, and of their union two children have been born : Selma and Annie. ANDREW SOMMER. Andrew Sommer, one of the earliest settlers of his part of Custer county, has through the years of his residence there been identified with the progress and upbuilding of his county and state and is well known as a successful stockman and farmer, owning over nine hundred acres of land within the limits of Custer county, and having other land interests in the state. He is a native of France, born November 25, 1844, next to the youngest of the five children of John and Barbara (Gerrig) Sommer. He has a brother and a sister in Illinois. His parents, natives of France, both died in Illinois. Mr. Sommer was but four years of age when he was brought to America by his parents. They located in Illinois and there he grew to manhood, being educated in local schools and later engaged in farming and coal mining. In the spring of 1880 he came to Custer county and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on the northwest quarter of section thirty-two, township eighteen, range twenty-one, where he has made his home throughout the years since. He also took a timber claim of the same size and brought both to an improved state. He was in strumental in organizing school district number fifteen in 1882 and for ten years served as treasurer of same. He also served several years as justice of the peace and is now township clerk. He filled these various offices most acceptably and stands well with his fellow citizens. Mr. Sommer was married in Custer county, July 3, 1885, to Melissa Keedy, a native of Illi nois, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Bickel) Keedy, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. The father died in Colorado and the mother in Arkansas. One daughter, Mrs. Bell Stevens, lives in Merna, and another lives in California ; one son lives in Illi nois; Mrs. Sommer is the only other survivor of the family. Mrs. Sommer had been married be fore to a Mr. Tygart and has one son by that marriage, Perry W. Tygart, living with his mother. Five children have been born to Mr. Sommer and wife : Almore, at home ; Eva, wife of Alvin Cole, of Dunning, Nebraska, has one child; Benjamin and Lizzie at home; one daugh ter deceased. Besides his nine hundred and forty acres of land in Custer county, Mr. Sommer owns some land in Blaine county, Nebraska. He has made a specialty of the stock business and has found this line very profitable. He is honored as a vet eran of the civil war, having enlisted from Peoria, Illinois, in September, 1864, when not quite twenty years of age, in Company E, One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Volunteer In fantry, in which he served to the end of the war. He participated in the Siege of Spanish Fort and many minor engagements and skirmishes. He received his discharge at Chicago, in August, 1865, having won a good record for faithfulness and devotion to duty. At the time of his muster out he had not yet reached his majority by a few months. Mr. Sommer is a man .of high character and probity, having a large circle of sincere friends. RICHARD REES. Among the progressive, energetic farmers and stockmen who have contributed to the wealth of Wayne county, by their successful agricul tural occupations, a high station is accorded the gentleman named above. He has been a resident of this community for more than twenty years and has acquired a valuable property and an en viable reputation. Mr. Rees was born in Glanmorgan Shire, Wales, in 1866, and was the son of David and Mary Rees. The subscriber lived in Wales until he was twenty years old, and secured a part of his education in the schools of that state. In 1886, Mr. Rees left his native home and started from Liverpool on the steamship "Ne vada," bound for New York. Arrived at that point, he started at once for the west and came to Montgomery county, Iowa, where he remained until 1889. During the winter months he at tended school a part of the time. He then came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and bought the farm which is still his home. He has added many improvements to the place since it came into his possession and now has a fine, comfortable, modern home, surrounded by all conveniences, and even many of the luxuries of life. He has gained many friends during the course of his residence here, and well merits his good name. In 1904, Mr. Rees was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Griffith, and they are the parents of two children: Mary and Bladwen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rees are prominent factors in the social and educational life of the community. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 489 GEORGE DINSDALE. (Deceased.) The name of George Dinsdale is a familiar one among the residents of eastern Nebraska. Prior to his demise he was recognized as one of the representative farmers and stockmen and an old settler of this section where he had resided for about twenty-seven years. George Dinsdale was born in Gayle, York shire, England, April 10, 1850, and was eldest of seven children. After his school years he engaged in contracting on public works. In 1881, Mr. Dinsdale was united in marriage to Miss Annie P. Greenwood, also a native of Yorkshire, England. In August of 1882, Mr. Dinsdale came with his wife and one son to America, locating in Elk horn, Douglas county, Nebraska, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land where he lived for over four years ; then going to Nance county, Nebraska, where he purchased eleven hundred and twenty acres of land which was a stock and feeding farm, living on this farm for twenty years. Mr. Dinsdale was prosperous and success ful and at the time of his death owned seven thousand five hundred acres, all in Nebraska, feeding on the average over one thousand head of cattle. In 1908 Mr. Dinsdale sold his stock interests in Nance county and moved to Palmer, where he built a fine home and engaged in grain elevator business. Mr. Dinsdale was largely interested in the de velopment of Nebraska, always lending his aid personally and financially to enterprising projects. On August 28, 1909, while engaged in stacking hay, Mr. Dinsdale was thrown and instantly killed. The community mourned his loss as a man they could ill afford to lose. Mr. and Mrs. Dinsdale had six children, four of whom are living: Robert, a rancher in Loup City, Nebraska; Thomas G., who resides at home; Elizabeth J., also at home; George, a student at St. Paul business college ; and Matthew and Willie, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Dinsdale lives in their beautiful home in Palmer, and with the aid of her son, T. G. Dinsdale, is carrying on the extensive stock interests left by her husband. Mrs. Dinsdale 's parents are de ceased, and she has two brothers residing in England. Mr. Dinsdale was a man of unusually large interests and was called the "cattle king." He possessed a fine character, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. DOCTOR C. P. ZIMMERMAN. The old colonial Pennsylvania families have contributed a smaller proportion to the develop ment of the west than other states nearer the field of activities, but it is none the less worthy when found. Doctor C. P. Zimmerman, practitioner, and proprietor of a first-class village drug store at Naper, comes of such sturdy stock. His father, Jacob Zimmerman, was born in Cumberland county, of the old Keystone state, in 1833. Two years later his parents moved to Illeria, Lorain county, Ohio, pressing onward to the west in 1849, when they became residents of Laporte, Indiana. Here Mr . Zimmerman enlisted, in August of 1862, in Company B, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, during which time he participated in thir teen battles, the worst of which was at Stone river and vicinity, when there were six days of continuous fighting. The mother of Doctor Zim merman was Sarah Adaline Bowen, who was born at Laporte, Indiana, November 12, 1846. Doctor Zimmerman was born at Laporte, In diana, August 24, 1864, and was in his third year when his parents moved, in the spring of 1867, to Oakfield, Audobon county, Iowa. Here they resided until coming to Nebraska in the fall of 1883. The father filed on a homestead between the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers south of where Naper is now located, but which at that time was an unmarked spot of the prairie in the Indian reservation. He was one of the first set tlers within the present boundaries of Boyd county, and he resided on his homestead until 1902, when he retired from active farming and now makes his home with his children, principally in Naper. Doctor Zimmerman attained his majority while on the ranch in Boyd county and continued to reside there some years, leading a quiet coun try life. He began the study of medicine about 1893, reading the recognized text books at home for a time. He attended first the Omaha Medical College at Omaha, a part of the State University, for one year, and took a one year's course in Sioux City Medical College. With a friend he completed his medical education at the Chatta nooga Medical College at Chattanooga, Tennes see, which is connected with the United States Grant University, graduating and receiving his diploma, March 22, 1898. He at once began practice in Naper, and such is his skill in the healing art, that from the first he has enjoyed an extended and lucrative prac tice over the extent of several counties in two states. In 1900, he opened a drug store with the usual line of fancy and toilet articles, and has been favored with a liberal patronage by his . fellow-townsmen and dwellers of the surround ing country. Notwithstanding his diploma as a physician, Doctor Zimmerman passed the exami nation required by the state pharmacy board and in consequence holds the necessary certificate to practice two of the learned professions. For eight years he has been physician to the Indians under a contract with the federal government. In the fall of 1910, Doctor Zimmerman attended 490 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. a post graduate course at the Post Graduate Medical school of Chicago. Doctor Zimmerman was married in Wheeler, South Dakota, September 23, 1897, to Miss Mollie R. Sprenkle, who was born in Fremont county, Iowa. Her parents were Kanan and Susannah (Shipfley) Sprenkle, natives of Pennsylvania. The doctor has in his practice been called upon to brave the worst blizzards and rain storms that from time to time sweep over the west ; hail, too, has come within his experiences, and the quantity and size of the ice that has fallen within his view would seem incredible to one newly from the east, but entirely within the truth to one who knows what the west can produce in such storms when conditions are right. The doctor is fond of hunting, and has enjoyed the sport of bringing in deer when on the chase; he has seen as many as nine deer at one time. Dr. Zimmerman is a republican in politics, and a member of the Butte lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. ZINA A. WILLIAMSON. Zina A. Williamson, son of Thomas and Selina (Sawyer) Williamson, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, February 22, 1854, and was third in a family of seven children. On November 25, 1875, Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Louise Bailey, a native of Iowa, to whom one son was born, Bertrand B., who is married and has two daughters and one son, and lives in Boone county. Mr. Williamson came to Boone county, Ne braska, in the spring of 1880, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land in the northeast quarter, section eleven, township twenty-two, range seven, which remained the home place until the spring of 1886. Mrs. Will iamson died October 7, 1885. In 1886, our sub ject came to Albion, Nebraska, where he worked for S. V. Parrott three years, when he engaged in buying and selling horses with L. H. Kilbourn. On September 13, 1888, Mr. Williamson was joined in matrimony to Miss Nettie Kilbourn of Wisconsin, who for ten years had been a teacher in the public schools of that state. Mrs. Williamson's father died in 1880 in Wisconsin, in which state the mother is still living. Mrs. Williamson has one brother residing in Kansas and one sister in Wisconsin. In 1890, Mr. Williamson purchased his father's homestead, on which he lived four years, then he sold and purchased twenty-two acres adjoining Albion on the south, on which he built a house where he lived about six years. In 1900 he came to Albion and built the house which he now occupies. In the year 1908, he made quite a big land deal, purchasing one thousand three hundred and nineteen acres in Boone county, selling all but one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Williamsori is prosperous and successful, a man of wide experience, and for a period of about twelve years, had large cattle interests. In the nineties, Mr. Williamson was elected county _ commissioner, in which office he served two terms of three years. He also acted on the Al bion school board for six years, and a like period of time on the city board. Since 1894, he has been a live stock and gen eral auctioneer, and his sales have extended over Boone -and adjoining counties. JOSEPH CARROLL. One of the most successful of the hardy pio neers who endured the hardships of the forefront of civilization in eastern Nebraska, is Joseph Car roll, now retired from active life and residing in a fine new home in the south part of Creighton. Mr. Carroll was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Fagan) Carroll, natives of County Meath, who came to America in 1848. They had just been married a year before and their first child came to them during the four months' voyage on the Atlantic. The father died in 1898 at the age of eighty-two, while the mother, three years his junior, joined him in eternity in 1900. The grandfather, William Car roll, senior, lived to be ninety-two, and the ma ternal grandfather, Joseph Fagan, lived upwards of ninety-six years. At the age of eight years Mr. Carroll 's parents moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Joseph grew to manhood, learning the shoemaking and pipe-laying trades, at which he worked in the east until April, 1877, when he came west to seek his fortune and succeeded in finding it. He set tled on a homestead and timber claim seven miles west of Creighton, and for three years ' ' batched ' ' it alone on the prairies. He then mar ried and began a most successful career one hun dred dollars in debt. He had a fine team of mules with every prospect of doing well, but to wipe out his indebtedness he left his young wife alone on the ranch and sought work in the construc tion of the railroad, three hundred and thirty- five miles west from home. He had been em ployed here but a few days when his team, along with two others, was stolen, and although they followed the trail far into Wyoming none of the teams were ever recovered. A fellow workman sold him a pony on a year's time and later a horse for which he borrowed the purchase money, se curing in this way a team with which to get to work again. His father and grandfather had been stock men in the old country, and he had been engaged in buying cattle, sheep, and poul try in the east, so it was but natural he should find a congenial occupation in raising stock. His management in this line was so successful that he has out of the proceeds accumulated a large COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 491 acreage of fine land. He owns eleven hundred acres in Knox county ; a quarter section in Boyd county; a like amount in Oklahoma; besides eighty acres adjoining Sioux City, where he owns a good dwelling house. Besides his elegant new residence in Creighton, he owns a house and several lots. After living thirty-two years on his ranch in Knox county, Mr. Carroll moved to town in 1909, and is taking life easy, although he still keeps an interest in the stock on the ranch which his sons occupy and manage. Mr. Carroll was married on February 11, 1881, to Anna, daughter of James and Anna (Martin) Kain, a native of Crawford county, Wisconsin. Her parents came to America from Ireland in 1849, settled in Wisconsin for a time and then migrated to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1873. At that time there was but one house in Creighton. Here they endured all the privations of the fron tier, to which were added the successive years of loss by the grasshopper pests that swarmed the west so many years. For two years Mr. Carroll lost every leaf of growing crops. To Mr. and Mrs. Carroll thirteen children were born, ten of whom are living: Charles, a graduate of Wayne, Colorado, married Mabel Nies, and they have three children. He has a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres near Java, South Dakota; Bessie, a graduate of Ne braska State Normal, is a successful teacher of Sheridan, Wyoming; Jennie, married William Nies, who is proprietor of a hotel at Wayne, Ne braska, their only child is a son, William; Rosa and William graduated from the college at Wayne and together with Joseph and George occupy the home ranch ; and Vincent, Gerald and Edward, the youngest, are still under the pa rental roof. Two brothers settled in Nebraska near Mr. Carroll — Francis came the same year, and Peter in 1882. Oxen were their only work animals for a number of years. At one time Mr. Carroll had to wade into an icy stream to release a yoke of young oxen that were being drowned by an older yoke that were drawing their heads under the water. Once in a flood in Bazile creek he got out into the water, released his horses and swam ashore; the wagon was washed down stream and the two hind wheels were found in a tree two miles below. During the first two years when no crops were raised — living was a hard prob lem, but game was plentiful, such as ducks, geese, and even an occasional swan on the creek, and these with crackers and "flap-jacks" con stituted the principal food. Mr. Carroll was out in the blizzard of October, 1880, while at Bazile Mills, and in that of Janu ary 12, 1888, lost nineteen head of cattle, leav ing him but one cow. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and at one time Mr. Carroll saw as many as fifty of the big timber wolves in a pack. This was unusual, of course, but prairie wolves were always plentiful. At times wheat had to be hauled upwards of thirty miles to market, bring ing but twenty-six cents per bushel. When on railroad work at O'Neill, in the latter seventies, Mr. Carroll saw the famous "rustler," Doc Mid dleton, stumbling over him as he lay sleeping in a hay mound as a fugitive f ro'm justice ; not know ing at the time who he was, Mr. Carroll went about his business and Doe Middleton turned over and continued to sleep. Mr. Carroll is independent in politics, a mem ber of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. He richly deserves the success that has come to him ; he endured and suffered enough during the early days to merit all he has won. To such men the west owes the wonderful development it enjoys and has at tained in a few short years. HENRY H. MYERS. Henry H. Myers and wife were among the very earliest settlers on West Table, Custer county, where he still owns a farm, although re tired from active life and living in Broken Bow. Throughout the years of their residence there they have been identified with the best interests of their county and state and have been prom inent in social, educational and religious circles. They reared a large family to honorable man and womanhood and Mr. Myers has been active in local affairs, serving in various offices of public honor or trust. He was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1847, the eldest of the eight children of John G. and Charlotta (Hellery) Myers. He has two brothers living in St. Louis, Missouri, one brother in Arkansas, and others of the children are deceased. His father was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, and his mother in Wurtemburg, Germany. She came to America with her parents when nine years of age and died in Custer county, Novem ber 26, 1900. The father died in Custer county November 15, 1907. About 1857 or 1858 the Myers family moved to Elsah, Illinois, where Henry grew to manhood and completed his education. In February, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Illinois Infantry and served to the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 1865. After the war he resumed his residence in Illinois and for the next two years assisted as pilot on boats on the Mississippi river. On December 13, 1868, at Elsah, Illinois, he was united in marriage with Mary L. Hartley, born near Cincinnati, Ohio. They made their first home on a farm in Illinois and in the fall of 1882 (October) came with his wife and four children to Boone county, Ne braska, coming on to Custer county in the spring of 1884. In the latter county he took a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on sectin fifteen, township seventeen, range twenty-three, which was his home throughout the 492 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. intervening years until March, 1910, when he re tired from farm life and moved to Broken Bow, purchasing a fine home, which the family now occupy. Mr. Myers won notable success as a farmer and stockman and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining the homestead, making of it a well improved and equipped farm. For eight years he served as county supervisor and he was most helpful in consummating the organization of school district number sixty-one, becoming the first moderator on the board. Later he helped in securing the division of the district and served several years longer on the board. He gave valuable service in the establishing of the first Methodist church in Cliff township and gave his active support to' the cause afterwards. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Oliver L., married and living in Iowa, has three children ; Abner, married and living in Custer county, has five children; Clara E., wife of Frank Barrett, of Broken Bow, has seven chil dren ; Ethel P., wife of John Jones, lives near Broken Bow and has four children; Thomas Ed ward, at home ; Earl E., married and living on West Table ; two children died in inf anejr. PETER MORTENSEN. Some of our most loyal and valued citizens have been those born under other flags than the stars and stripes. This is especially true in the case of Peter Mortensen, one of the leading busi ness men of Ord, Valley county, Nebraska. He is president of the First National bank of that city and for years has been a prominent figure in the life of that section, along both political and educational lines. He is reckoned among the pioneers, having come to Nebraska when set tlements were so few and far between that he found it necessary to take his plow shears fifty- five miles to get them sharpened. He is essen tially a self-made man, his start in life in this new country being a part interest in two yokes of oxen and two breaking plows, and his present success has come only as a result of the exercise of considerable energy, good judgment, and un swerving integrity. Peter Mortensen, the third of five children, was born in Randier, Denmark, October 8, 1844. He received his early education in his native land, coming to the United States in 1870, first settl ing in Warrensburg, Missouri, engaging in rail- road'work at that point. He came to Valley county, Nebraska, in April, 1872, taking as a homestead the northeast quarter of sections eight, nineteen and four. With him were Niles Anderson, Christian L. Frey, Jeppe Smith, George M. and Falle Miller, the six taking adjoining homesteads. Out of the six, only Mr. Mortensen and the two first-named are now liv ing, all residing in this county. The first building put up in Valley county (with possibly one exception) was a dugout claim shanty put up on the Peter Mortensen homestead. He engaged in farming and stock-raising and devoted his efforts to that end until 1878. In February of that year, he was married to Miss Jennie H. Williams, near Bedford, Iowa. The young couple remained on the farm for several years, but during that year, Mr. Mortensen be came a partner in the hardware and implement business with John Case and Hans Sorenson, who were conducting a thriving business in Ord. In 1881, Mr. Mortensen and family removed to this city, which has been their home ever since. In the fall of 1874, Mr. Mortensen was elect ed county treasurer of Valley county, on the republican ticket, serving in this capacity for nine years, which in itself shows in what esteem he was held. This did not by any means end his political career, however, for in the fall of 1902, he was elected state treasurer of Nebraska, holding this office for two terms. In 1906, Mr. Mortensen was strongly urged to become a can didate for governor, and he would have been the nominee of his party, but for a constitutional pro vision which prevented an office-holder from be coming a nominee for another office, prior to the expiration of his own term. Had this not been the case Mr. Mortensen would undoubtedly have received the nomination and would have been elected. At the expiration of his term as state treasurer, he returned to his home town of Ord, which is still his residence. He is still actively engaged in the management of his banking in terests. In January, 1884, Mr. Mortensen, together with H. A. Babcock and J. E. Hale, purchased the Ord City Bank, which in June of the follow ing year, was merged into the First National Bank of Ord. Mr. Mortensen went into the bank as assistant cashier, but became president in 1888, and still holds that position. This bank now occupies a fine, new, well-equipped building, and is recognized as a strong financial institu tion, with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and surplus. , As may be imagined, Mr. and Mrs. Mortensen have played no small part in the social and edu cational life of the city. Ord City boasts of the possession of one of the finest high school build ings in the whole state of Nebraska and much of the credit for the erection of this fine build ing must be given to Mr. Mortensen. Mr. and Mrs. Mortensen have had four chil dren, three of whom died in infancy. The one son now living, Crawford J., was born in 1891, and is now attending college at the Nebraska state university. NIELS ANDERSEN. Among the old settlers of eastern Nebraska whose names will figure prominently in the his- LOG HOUSE 1873 "BOX ELDER GROVE," RESIDENCE OF NIELS ANDERSEN. 'CENTENNIEL GROVE FARM," PROPERTY OF PETER MORTENSEN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 493 tory of • this section of the country, the above named gentleman holds a foremost place. He has done everything in his power to aid in the upbuilding of his community, where he resides in section twenty, township nineteen, range fourteen. Mr. Andersen was born in the village of Rand ier, province of Jutland, Denmark, August 12, 1841, and was third of four children in the family of Andrew and Johanah (Nelson) Rasmusen, and following the custom of the Scandanavians, Mr. Andersen takes his last name from the father's given name. Our subject grew to early manhood in his native land, and then came alone to Ameri ca, crossing from Hamburg to Hartlepool, Eng land, and embarked at Liverpool for Quebec. He came west to Galesburg, Illinois, in June of 1867, the trip from Quebec to the prairie state occupying seven days; a wreck two hours out of Quebec delayed them for some time, and in cidentally gave Mr. Andersen a black eye. So slow was the schedule and so many were the delays that the immigrants often played ball at stations where they were on sidings. One man left in a town walked on to the next and over took the train. Mr. Andersen remained in Illi nois until the spring of 1869, employed at farm labor, and then went to Missouri, where he re mained in Randolph and Johnson counties until coming to Valley county, Nebraska. Mr. Peter Mortensen, an old school friend of Mr. Andersen, joined him at Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1870; Christian Frey and Jeppe Smith came to Warrensburg in 1871, becoming acquainted with Andersen and Mortensen; Mr. Andersen also had the acquaintance of George Moller. The five men decided to go to some other locality in partnership ; Andersen and Mor tensen wanted to settle in southern Missouri, and Frey, Smith and Moller voted to come to the North Loup Valley in Nebraska. So in April, 1872, Niels Andersen, Peter Mortensen and Jeppe Smith left Missouri and came to Grand Island, Nebraska, where they purchased an outfit of two ox teams, one wagon, two breaking plows, and other necessary camp utensils. They came to the North Loup Valley by the way of Dannebrog and St. Paul in Howard county, making their first homestead location near the town of North Loup, but later on came to the locality north west of Ord, where they made homestead loca tion on section eight, township nineteen, range fourteen; Niels Andersen on the southwest quarter, Peter Mortensen on the northeast quarter and Jeppe Smith on the northwest quarter. George Moller, who had joined the party at North Loup was with them at the time they made homestead locations, and filed on the southeast quarter. Christian Prey, the fifth man of this original party, joined the others several weeks later on, and took a homestead on the southeast quarter of section six. This made the party complete as originally organized in Warrensburg, Missouri; the oxen, plows, etc., had been purchased jointly and a joint dugout cabin was first put up on the Mortensen claim; these five men were known as the Danish colony. In the fall of 1872 they began to erect buildings on their separate claims, and the joint partnership heretofore existing was dissolved, and the men began life in their new home each for himself. They were loyal friends to each other, giving and receiving as sistance as needed. These men were the foun dation builders of this part of Valley county, being joined by other venturesome homeseekers as the months rolled by. They came in here to a raw country, filled with many unknown dan gers, and endured many privations. They also experienced some trouble from the Indians ; every time one of them went to Grand Island they heard of their massacre by the redskins. They suffered through the following years of grass hoppers, drouth, wind, hail and prairie fires, but all lived to see Valley county become a pros perous country. Of these five men, Niels Andersen, Peter Mor tensen, and Christian Frey remain, honored citi zens of Valley county. To go back a little in history, it might be said that Falle Miller made the sixth man of this party, as he came along in June of the same year and joined this little Danish colony. Niels Andersen was married to Hannah Mor tensen, sister of Peter Mortensen, by Elder Bab cock, in Valley county, July 8, 1873. Miss Mor tensen came to America in 1872 from Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen have had eight children, six of whom are living : Hannah, wife of Elbert Hollister, lives in Oregon ; Morton, who resides in Idaho; Christina, who is the wife of Albert Oleson, has one child and lives at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska; Peter, Jennie, who is married to Chris Hansen, and Annie, wife of Charles Lickly, who has one child and resides in Valley county. Mr. Andersen and family are one of the pioneer families of Valley county, enjoying the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Andersen's first residence in Nebraska was a log house built of the trunks of small wil lows ; to this he later built an addition and re sided there until 1883, when he moved to his present home on his timber claim a mile south, in section twenty, where he has one hundred and sixty-two acres, part of which is more like a park than a farm. He owns a fractional half section on Haskell creek, part of which is used as a farm and part as a stock ranch. A view of Mr. Andersen's home place, together with a sketch of his original log cabin will be found on another page. HERMAN WACHTER. Herman Wachter, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section four, township twenty-four, range one, is well known through- 494 compendium of History, reminiscence and Biography. out Madison county as a progressive and success ful agriculturist, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Herman Wachter is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the province of Prussia, in the year 1838, and is a son of August and Christine Wachter. Our subject with his parents left their native land for America in 1854, of which country they had heard very good accounts, and came here to acquire cheap land; they left Ham burg on a sail boat and were eight weeks on the sea, and after landing in New York, they im mediately started for the west, locating in Wis consin, where they remained twelve years. In 1866, Mr. Wachter started for the far west, as Nebraska was called in those days, coming by ox team, and was on the road six weeks. They came to Madison county, Nebraska, where our subject took up a homestead claim, and on this land built a log house, in which the family lived four years. In those very earliest days of set tlement on the western frontier, many hardships and privations were endured, and during the first few years of cultivation, the grasshoppers devastated that region, destroying all the crops for miles around, which made it very hard for the new settler of that section of the country; prairie fires were almost continuously fought, many times our subject and family having to fight them to save their lives and property; and deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and could frequently be seen in large herds. Mr. Wachter was united in marriage in 1861 to Miss Henrietta Kratke and Mr. and Mrs. Wachter are the parents of the following named children: Louise, Minnie, Amelia, Mary, Martha, Herman, Fred Ferdinand and Emil. Mr. and Mrs. Wachter and family live in their pleasant home, and are surrounded by a host of kind and loving neighbors, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. CHARLES A. SORENSEN. Charles A. Sorensen, numbered among the well known pioneers of Howard county, Ne braska, has built up a fine farm in Dannebrog precinct, where, until his removal to Billingham, Washington, he was comfortably situated and surrounded by a host of friends and all the com forts of life. Mr. Sorensen was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, May 5, 1848, and is a son of Christian and Anna Sorensen, who raised a family of seven children, of whom Charles was the eldest. A sketch of Louis H. Sorensen, a brother of our subject, appears in this book on another page. When Charles was eighteen years of age, he left home and started in business for himself. In the spring of 1872, he came to Howard county, and settled on a farm, and has made this region his home since that time. For the past number of years he occupied his father's original homestead, located on section eight, township thirteen, range eleven. The father, with another son, and one daughter, are now deceased, while the balance of the family reside in Howard county, excepting one brother, who makes his home in Minnesota, and another in the eastern part of Nebraska. At different times since locating here, also prior to that time, Mr. Sorensen has traveled ex tensively, visiting a great many states in the Union, and while he has been favorably impressed with some parts, has found that Nebraska can hold her own in every instance. He has been very successful in his farming and business operations, and was recognized as a leading citizen and active, public-spirited gentleman. Mr. Sorensen was married at Dannebrog on February 9, 1898, to Miss Elinor Bailey, and they have one child, Edna. WILLIAM A. PRENTICE. Among the public officials of Valley county, none are more prominent or hold the confidence of the people to a greater extent than William A. Prentice, who is serving at present as county as sessor. His faithful discharge of all duties, his per fect sense of justice, and his upright character and public spirit have placed him among the most highly esteemed men of this section. He has been a resident of the county for many years and pos sesses a large circle of acquaintances. His home is in North Loup and he is devoted to the interests of the community. Mr. Prentice was born in Waushara county, Wisconsin, on July 6, 1851, the youngest of nine children born to Allen and Elizabeth (Babcock) Prentice, and is the only one of the family now living. The father died in Wisconsin on January 9, 1872, while the mother died in New York state on the 20th of April, 1892. Mr. Prentice grew up on the farm in Wiscon sin and attended the local district schools, obtain ing his education there. Later on he taught for several terms. On January 18, 1872, Mr. Prentice was mar ried to Miss Callie Babcock, a native of New York state, and also a teacher. She is a daughter of Henry and Angeline (Langworthy) Babcock. In the spring following, Mr. Prentice, with his wife and child, came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section four, township seventeen, range thirteen. The family lived here for five years and then moved into North Loup, where a comfortable, cozy home was built. Since that time this has been the family home, and Mr. Pren tice has been engaged in his trade, that of car pentry. Mr. Prentice has served as justice of the peace for several years, and as stated before, is now the county assessor. He was admitted to the bar in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 495 1891. He has also served as director of school district number three. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Prentice : Angeline, now Mrs. John J. Abbey, is now living in North Loup ; Asa L. is now mar ried and resides in Elba, Nebraska ; Henry L., also married, is a resident of North Loup ; and Elaine, the youngest, now Mrs. G. G. Boehler, is also a resident of North Loup. One of Mr. Prentice's brothers, Asa B., was pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist church in Center, New York, for over thirty-three years, and in April, 1902, was called to the pastorate of the North Loup church of that denomination. He died on the 24th of May, 1904, at this place. Another brother, Nathan B., who served through the civil war as quartermaster of the Thirty-sev enth Wisconsin Infantry and afterwards served for thirty years in the United States pension bureau at Washington, died in 1906 and was bur ied in Arlington. Mr. and Mrs. Prentice have passed through all the trying years of pioneer settlement and have played an important part in the development of the community. They have been faithful church workers ever since coming to the state. AUSTIN L. CARTER. A history of that portion of the state of Ne braska in which Madison county is located, would be incomplete without including a sketch of the above named gentleman, Austin L. Carter, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers, and has always done his full share toward the growth and development of his state and county. Mr. Carter resides on section twenty-six, town ship twenty-four, range one, in his pleasant home, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good neighbors and friends. Mr. Carter is a native of Coles county, Illinois, his birth occurring September 1, 1847 ; he is a son of Benjamin and Susie (Keiger) Carter, the father being born in 1809 in Ohio, but of English descent. The Carter, family settled in Kentucky at a very early date, Carter county of that state taking its name from this family. Our subject's mother was a native of Virginia, born in 1812; her grandfather served in the revolutionary war, and her father in the war of 1812. In 1869 our subject moved to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he remained twelve years, until 1881, then came to Indiana, living there two years. While a resident of Kansas, Mr. Carter was married, and upon moving to Indiana his wife and family came with him. In 1883 they came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they bought their present home of one hundred ahd sixty acres of land, known as the Brosh homestead. Mr. Carter has greatly improved the land, and now has four beautiful houses on his place. Mr. Carter is interested in the raising of thorough bred Poland China hogs, of which he has quite a number. Mr. Carter was united in marriage February 21, 1875, to Miss Nina Giger, a native of Michi gan, and a daughter of John and Sarah Giger. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of two chil dren, Roy and Susie. Mr. and Mrs. Carter and family are highly es teemed by all who know them, enjoying the good will of a host of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Carter is counted one of the substantial citizens of his community, and has been a resident of Madison county for twenty-eight years or more. He is a republican, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. JOHN J. JOYNER. John J. Joyner is one of Custer county's ear liest settlers and has passed through many per iods of Nebraska history. He has always been in terested in everything pertaining to public wel fare and prosperity and is one of the best known men in the county. Mr. Joyner was born in Solon, New York, November 15, 1835, next to the eldest child of James and Henrietta (Tanner) Joyner, natives of New England. The father served in the civil war in the One Hundred Fifty-seventh New York Infantry and died in New York. The mother also died in that state, in 1847. They were parents of six children and besides John J., there is but one member of the family now sur viving, Mrs. Hannah Poison, of Cheboygan, Michigan. Mr. Joyner grew to manhood's estate on the farm in New York, receiving his education in the local schools, and as a young man engaged in farming. Later he learned the trade of wagon maker, and on May 26, 1857, was married in Whitney's Point, New York, to Miss Dorcas D. Cole, also a native of that state, and they made their first home at Cortland, New York, where he worked at his trade of wagon maker. Her father, Newell Cole, was a native of Rhode Island, and died in Cortland county, New Y^ork, in the six ties. Her mother, whose maiden name was Susan Potter, was born in New York and died in Cort land county, about the same time as the father. Mrs. Joyner has two sisters living in New York. On August 31, 1861, at McGraw, New York, Mr. Joyner enlisted as a member of Company A, Tenth New York Cavalry, of which he was made corporal, and he served until the end of the war, receiving his discharge in Syracuse, New York, in July, 1865. The important engagements in which he participated were Gettysburg and Ap pomattox, and he also took part in various other battles and skirmishes— in all, twenty engage ments. He was promoted through various grades to the rank of first sergeant, and the state of New York brevetted him with the honorary rank of 496 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. second lieutenant for his gallant service. His father and two brothers, James E. and Robert E., also served in the Union army. At the close of the war John J. Joyner returned to his home in Cort land county, and there resumed work at his trade, in the town of Cincinnatus. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Joyner came to Cus ter county, looking for a location for a homestead, and filed a claim on the northeast quarter of sec tion thirty-two, township eighteen, range twenty- two, and a timber claim adjoining of the same size. He returned to New York and returned with his family as far as St. Paul, Nebraska, in the fall of 1880, moving to the homestead with them the following spring. They made this place their home, improving and developing it, until Febru ary, 1906, when they sold their interests there and moved to the town of Merna, erecting a fine modern residence where they now live. In an early day Mr. Joyner was instrumental in or ganizing school district number fifty-four, and served as treasurer of same for several years, his son Grove, being its first, teacher. He also served six years as justice of the peace. He and his wife have had two children, Denton V., married and living in Broken Bow, has two children, and a sketch of him appears in this work, and Grove 0., married and living in Broken Bow, has two chil dren. The family are prominent in social and edu cational, as well as various other circles, and have a high standing in the community, enjoying the esteem and regard of a large circle of friends. AUGUST STARK. One of the leading old settlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, who has aided materially in the development and growth of this section, is the gentleman whose name heads this review. He has experienced all the hards times that fell to the lot of the pioneers in Nebraska, suffering much loss and deprivation, and is glad that the time has come when these things are changed and the people of this section can live in peace and plenty and enjoy the fruits of their hard labors. Mr. Stark was born in the village of Altsch- lage, province of Pommerania, Germany, No vember 24, 1839, and is the son of Fred Stark; who was born in 1799, and Christina (Doege) Stark, who was born in 1799. He sailed for America at Bremen, October 3, 1867, on the sailsbip "Johanna Maria," the voy age lasting two months. He landed in New York, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, in Febru ary, 1863, where he worked at farm labor four years, and from there moved to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead near Crowell, and lived eight years — six years in a sod house, building a frame house in 1878. In 1880 he settled in Pierce county, and took up a pre-emption claim, upon which he first built a sod house, and ten years later a frame house. Our subject came from Wisconsin to Dodge county, Nebraska, by team, and traded horses for oxen when times were hard. In those very early days he experienced his worst hardships and in conveniences. The grasshoppers took all his crops for the three years of 1873, 1874, and 1875, inclusive ; and like many of the first settlers, our subject burned hay for fuel; in those times, ante lope, deer and elk were plentiful. The nearest market place was at Fremont, twenty-five miles away. Hail destroyed all crops one year, and after the drouth of 1894, Mr. Stark 'got but eight bushels of wheat off the whole farm. In 1872, Mr. Stark was married to Miss Alvina Zemke, a native of the village of Lan- genhagen, province of Pommerania, Germany, and to this union ' have been born eight children, whose names are as follows: August, Ida, Augusta, Amelia, William, Anna, Prank and Em ma. Augusta, died in 1881, August in 1901, and William within the last few years. Our subject has always done his share as an old settler, and is held in high esteem in his com munity as a worthy citizen. He is a democrat in his political views, and in religious faith is a member of the German Lutheran church. JOHN B. BRANAMAN. John B. Branaman was born in Virginia, February 13, 1851, and was fifth of nine children in the family of David C. and Cynthia (Brady) Branaman, there being two sons and seven daughters. The Branaman family moved to Illinois about 1857, from whence they went to Adair county, Missouri, in 1859. The mother died on the Mis souri farm about 1867; and after a period the father again married while residing in that state. In the spring of 1874, John B. Branaman came with his father, step-mother, and sister Ella, to Merrick county, Nebraska. The father homesteaded on section two, township twelve, range eight, where he resided until the time of his death, January 5, 1899. Two sisters of Mr. Branaman also came to Nebraska later on. Of the Branaman family now living, there is the subject of this sketch and sister, Mrs. Clara Gil bert, who live in Nebraska, and a sister, Mrs. T. J. Overstreet, who lives in California. John B. Branaman took up a homestead in Merrick county on the east half of south east quarter of section twenty-eight, township thirteen, range eight, and this homestead was his residing place until January 1, 1911, when he rented the farm to his son David, and moved to Central City where he intends making his home. He has added to his land holdings until he now has three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in his farm. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 497 On October 13, 1881, Mr. Branaman was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Earhart who was a native of Brown county, Ohio. They married in Merrick county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Brana man have had four children, three of whom are liv ing: David B., who is married and living on the old home place, has one child ; Bertram, who is de ceased; Cynthia Pearl, and John Harold, who reside at home. Mr. Branaman is a successful farmer and stock man, and his family have the advantages of the modern home and enjoy modern educa tional advantages. They are best known along educational and social lines. JOHN HUTGENS. Among the progressive and energetic pioneers of Knox county who have contributed largely to the prosperity enjoyed in that vicinity, a high station is accorded the gentleman above named. John Huigens, descended from old Holland stock, has been a citizen of Nebraska since the spring of 1884. The first year he rented a farm four miles north of Creighton and then bought a relinquishment of a timber claim ten miles west of town; this he later changed to a homestead entry to which he secured title and made his residence until November, 1904. The first season he built a frame house, using up much of his means; then during the next four years there was a continual drouth and no crops. He suf fered many deprivations and discomforts, but presisted in his efforts in spite of adverse cir cumstances and has now a creditable success. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine Knox county land and some $7,000 worth of town property including his own commodious dwelling built in 1904, a tenant house and several vacant building lots. Mr. Huigens was born in Henry, Marshall county, Illinois, June 15, 1862, and reared just across the line in Putnam county; here he lived engaged in farming until his migration to Ne braska. He is a son of Edward and Catherine (Thoemas) Huigens, the former a native of Hol land who died when the son was but two years old ; the mother, a native of Germany, lived until 1903. Mr. Huigens was married in Marshall county, Illinois, to Mary, daughter of Wymer and Helen (Smith) Pitzler. To Mr. and Mrs. Huigens eight children were born all of whom are living, they are : Barnard, who married Jeanette Wattine, is cashier in a bank at Herriek, South Dakota, where he owns a town residence and a quarter section of fine land near by; Edward, is a bar ber in Creighton, and Anna, Joseph, Margaret, Emily, Julia and Henry are under the parental roof, the five youngest ones attending the Catho lie parochial school. When Mr. Huigens first settled in Knox 17 county, the prairies were free from fences, one being able to drive miles in all directions with out any obstructions. He saw three deer on the prairies after he came, but did not bring one of them down. Cornstalks and hay were their only fuel a part of the time, and provisions were scarce and hard to procure. During the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Huigens was at the house, and suffered nothing from the storm. His cattle that were out were grazing to the northwest, so drifted to the creek bottom and there they were found safe and sound when the storm abated; one small pig was all the storm cost him, while many neighbors lost their all. Hail storms missed him, while nearby neighbors' trees were barked and killed and hailstones were driven in the windows of one side of the house and out through the opposite ones. Mr. Huigens is independent in politics voting for the man he considers best, regardless of party. With his family he is a devout adherent to the Catholic faith; he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America,- and with his wife of the Royal Neighbors. After years of hardship and toil fortune has smiled on Mr. Huigens and leaves him still hale and hearty with a competency, and retired from any further toil of active life. OLIVER ASPLIN. In compiling a list of the representative farmers of Stanton county, Nebraska, a promi nent place is accorded the name of Oliver Asplin, the owner of a fine farm located in section eight, township twenty-four, range two. Mr. Asplin is one of the pioneers of the county, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits here for many years past. Mr. Asplin was born in 1850, and is a native of Nortlich, Sweden, the son of Olaf and Mar garet (Olson) Asplin. He received his education in the schools of his native land, and spent his childhood and youth there. When our subject was just of age, the family decided to emigrate to America. They crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, and after reaching New York, came direct to Staunton county, Ne braska. They at once took up the homestead where the subscriber now lives, which has been the home of the, family ever since that time. A substantial but small sod house was their first dwelling house, to be replaced later by a good frame house. Many improvements have been made from time to time, until now Mr. Asplin is the proprietor of as fine a farm as one would wish to see. One of the most valuable parts of the farm now is a six-acre orchard which was planted by the subscriber some years ago. It was not entirely plain and easy sailing from the first, however, for Mr. Asplin, at one time or another, has had to contend with many of the disadvantages and discouragements in- 498 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. cident to a pioneer's life. He had faith in the country, however, and remained with it, and now is enjoying happily his share of the prosperity which is evident everywhere in this section. In 1875, Mr. Asplin was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Pherson, and six children have blessed this union. They are named as follows: Carl, Adolph, Barnard, Annie, Mable and Emma. WILLIAM COUTTS. William Coutts, one of the oldest pioneers of Antelope county, Nebraska, is a man of wide ex perience in agricultural pursuits and has a thorough knowledge of his calling. Mr. Coutts has been a resident of his present location for the past thirty years, and during that time has ac quired an extensive acquaintance. He is highly esteemed and respected for his true worth of character by all who know him. Mr. Coutts is a native of Scotland, being born in Aberdeenshire, April 15, 1852, and is the son of William and Annie (Collie) Coutts, the father dying when our subject was but five years of age. Our subject's father followed the occupa tion of farming until about thirty-two years of age when he entered the employ of a railroad. Our subject received his education in Scotland and remained there until 1873. In that year he left his native land, going from Glasgow to Lon donderry, where he embarked for America. After a twelve day voyage on the steamship "Hibernia," he landed in Portland, Maine. Prom there he went to Kent county, Canada, where he remained seven years. In 1880 Mr. Coutts came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and took up a claim in section thirty- five, township twenty-seven, range six, which is his present residing place. At first he built a shanty, but later he erected a good house, in which the family now live. In the early days, our subject had a hard time to get started in the new country, as did many others of those brave hearted pioneers of the west. On August 27, 1886, Mr. Coutts was united in holy wedlock to Miss Katie McCloud. Mr. and Mrs. Coutts are the parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: Colin, Verna (de ceased), Josie, Minnie, Elizabeth, Georgia, Hazen, Hazel (deceased), and Gertie. Colin married Lou Tessier ; they live at Crookston, Nebraska. Mrs. Coutts is a native of Canada, as was also her mother. Her father was a native of Scotland. Mr. Coutts is a member of the Modern Wood men of America, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a republican and in religion a Presbyterian. Mr. and Mrs. Coutts and family are known by hosts of people in this part of the state, and in their thirty years' residence in Antelope county, have proved themselves worthy of the high es teem in which they are held. WILLIAM J. WILSON. William J. Wilson is one of the earlier set tlers of Custer county and has passed through many stages of the history of his part of Ne braska. He is a prosperous and successful man of affairs, owning a well equipped stock and grain farm and desirable property in the city of Broken Bow. He is interested in everything per taining to the welfare and progress of county and state, and is recognized as a representative, upright citizen. Mr. Wilson belongs to a family that is well known in Custer county and was brought there in childhood by his parents. He is a native of Madison county, Iowa, born October 27, 1877, eldest of the three living children of John 0. and Nancy (Kennedy) Wilson. A sketch of his father appears in this work. The family came to Custer county, and located there on a farm, where William J., reached maturity. After receiving a public school education he engaged in farming on his own account, and eventually purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on West Table. Mr. Wilson was married at the home of the bride's parents, January 1, 1902, to Miss Anna Hebble, of West Table, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and came with her family to Cus ter county in 1899. Her father, Detlef Hebble, was born in Germany and came to the United States in early manhood, being now a resident of Texas. His wife, Caroline (Mill) Hebble, was also a native of Germany, and died in Des Moines in 1889. Mrs. Wilson has a brother in Texas, and two sisters, Mrs. George Kennedy and Mrs. Cur tis Benger, in Custer county. After » marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wilson located on his farm, where they resided until 1905, when he retired from active life and came to Broken Bow. Since com ing to the city Mr. Wilson has engaged in con tracting and building, and has been successful in this line of work. He is an energetic and able business man and has well earned the success he now enjoys. He has added to his farm and it now contains two hundred acres of good farm land, highly improved and well adapted to rais ing stock and grain. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson: Lloyd L., Cleon D. and William G., all at home. FRED E. DELANO. ' The Delano family, of which Fred E. Delano is a member, dates back to the time of the Puri tans in Massachusetts. The immigrant ancestor, who bore the name of Phillip De La Noye, and a Frenchman by birth, came to America in the good ship "Fortune," in 1621, one year after the land ing of the Mayflower, and he and other members of his family were associates of such noted char acters of history as John Alden and Priscilla Mullen. Fred E. Delano has made a success of farming and stock raising in Nebraska, and is \ i COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 499 one of the solid, substantial citizens of the central part of the state. He and his immediate family haye been widely known for their progressive activity along the lines of education and similar public movements and have stood for the best in terests of the community where they have lived. Mr. Delano was born in Oakland county, Michi gan, April 13, 1859, third of the five children of Mortimer and Rosetta (Stevens) Delano. The father, who came to Oxford township, Oakland county, Michigan, about 1840, was a poineer of that township. He was a native of Genesee county, New York, born May 14, 1823 ; his death occurred on the Delano farm in Custer county, Nebraska, in August, 1898. His wife, also a na tive of New York, was born August 30, 1825, and her death occurred in 1896, while on a visit with her husband to the old Michigan home. Those of their children now surviving are : Will S., liv ing in Custer county, Nebraska, a sketch of whom appears in this work ; Milton, of Flint, Michigan ; Adelia, wife of Henry Ward Bristol, of Roswell, New Mexico ; and Fred, subject of this sketch. Mr. Delano was reared on a farm and re mained with his parents until coming to Cherry county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1886. He had re ceived the usual common school education given a farmer's son and was a graduate of the Michi gan agricultural college at Lansing. He was well prepared for a life of farming and possessed ability to succeed in this line of work. Upon com ing to Cherry county he secured a homestead there and in December, 1888, returned to Oak land county, Michigan, where March 27, 1889, he married Miss Rose Shoemaker, daughter of Cal vin and Mary (Cole) Shoemaker; the maternal grandfather was the Reverend Thomas Cole. A week after their marriage, the young couple came to their homestead, remaining there until December of the same year, proved up on the claim, and then came to Custer county and made their home on the old Delano farm where his father lived. In 1895 they located on the south east quarter of section twenty-five, town ship seventeen, range seventeen, which they later purchased, and which has since been their home. Upon first locating there they lived in a "soddy, " but now they have a fine, new modern country home, fitted with a furnace and a private gas plant, as well as many other conveniences and comforts. It is with pleasure we present a view of this elegant, well furnished country home, and substantial outbuildings, on another page of this work. This commodious home compares very favorably with the one in which they began housekeeping on this place, and they now own one of the best equipped grain and stock farms in their section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Delano have two children, Harry Calvin and Lois Elsie. The former gradu ated from the state university farm school in the class of 1911, and the latter in the class of 1912. Mr. Delano's father, mother and brother Milton came to Custer county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1889, and the parents continued to make their home there until their deaths. The elder De lano organized the Farmers' Club in June, 1889, under the trees of the place which Fred E. owns, and the club has had a continuous existence since that date. Before the new house was completed, Mrs Delano entertained seventy members of the club in their three-room "soddy," and all had a most enjoyable time. Mrs. Delano's parents are also both deceased. Her mother died in Michi gan in 1871, and her father died in 1910, being in his eighty-third year. She has two brothers and a sister residing in Michigan. In reaching their Cherry county homestead, Mr. and Mrs. Delano encountered the spring floods ; in many places on the road from Thedf ord to their claim the hay flats were under water. Here in the sand hills Mrs. Delano had one of the finest flower and vegetable gardens ever known in that region. A pet deer they owned, made itself very much at home in these gardens, eating their crop of cabbage at one time. The contrast of the soddy and the treeless billows of sand in this re gion was in strong contrast with the old settled state of Michigan in which the bride had been reared, but she soon became accustomed to' pio neer surroundings, and has done her share cheer fully in building their fortune and keeping their beautiful new modern home. Mrs. Delano is a member of the Congrega tional church of Arcadia. Mr. Delano affiliates with the Modern Brotherhood of America, and in politics is a progressive republican. He has served a number of years as township official, and was also for many years director of the school board of district number eleven. WILLIAM LUEBKE. William Luebke, an honest and industrious citizen of Pierce, carries on a good business as a blacksmith and wagonmaker at that place. He is owner of a comfortable home, and enjoys the re spect of his fellow men, gained through strict in tegrity and sound business principles. Mr. Luebke is a sturdy son of Germany, born in the village of Panger, district of Naugart, province of Pommerania, Prussia, October 18, 1861. He attended the parish school between the ages of six and fourteen, and the following three years was apprenticed to a blacksmith at Laks- beck, working for him two years as journeyman ; at Stettin, nine months, two years at Friederichs- gnade, and about one month at Berlin. He was employed as a blacksmith during his time in the army. He finally decided to try his fortune in the new world, so took passage from Bremen on the "Maindt, " and landed at Baltimore after a voy age lasting eleven days, three of which a severe storm raged. He came directly to Nebraska and 500 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. secured farm work near Bancroft, Cumings county, but remained only a short time and then came to Pierce, where he followed his trade for over two years in the shop of William Wigam. In December, 1890, he. began business for himself and has enlarged from' time to time, installing labor-saving machinery. In 1904 he replaced the frame building by a fine brick structure. Mr. Luebke 's parents came to America in 1888, the mother dying in 1895. Her husband later re turned to Germany, where he is at the present time. Of their children living in America, Aug ust is owner of a fine farm in Canada, whither he migrated in 1910, and Amelia is the wife of Otto Gahm, who lives on a farm nine miles east of Pierce. Our subject was married at Pierce on April 22, 1889, to Alvina Kolterman, who was born in Wisconsin. Her parents natives of Pommerania, Germany, and later were pioneers of Pierce county. Our subject and his good wife have had eleven children, eight of whom are living, as fol lows: Martha, Alvina, William, Minnie, Rosa, Robert, Lola and Evelyn. Mr. Luebke is a democrat in state and national politics, although in county and local elections, he votes for the man, regardless of party. He and his family are active members of the Luth eran church, and both Mrs. Luebke and her hus band are members of the Norfolk Parochial lodge. He is a member of the Eagles, The Sons of Herman, and the German War Union. GEORGE A. WELSH. Among the younger Nebraska farmers and citizens of Howard county, who have come from pioneer families of the county and state, and prom ise to emulate their fathers in the sterling qual ities displayed in the early days, is the above named gentleman. George A. Welsh, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Welsh) Welsh, was born July 5, 1878, in Brus sels, Canada, and was sixth in a family of seven children. He came to Howard county, Nebraska' with his mother, five sisters and one brother, his father having died in Canada in December, 1880. The family located on section twenty-two, town ship fifteen, range twelve, and remained on the place until 1890, moving at that time to section twenty-five, township fifteen, range eleven, which is now the home place of our subject, where his mother still lives with him. Mr. Welsh was married to Miss Agnes Dodd, daughter of James and Margaret (Henderson) Dodd, who was ninth in a family of twelve chil dren, and was born in Howard county. Her parents came here in June, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh were married on the home place, March 24, 1897. They are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Charles E., Joseph E., George James, Elsie Elizabeth, Roy E., and Henry Allen. Mr. Welsh is well and favorably known as a prosperous and successful man, and holds a prom inent place in local affairs. He owns one hun dred and sixty acres in the home place, and also two hundred acres one-half mile north of this. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh are both from old pioneer families of Howard county, Nebraska, and they and their fathers are known for their many good qualities and progressiveness. ALBERT S. CLEARY. ¦ Albert S. Cleary, son of John and Hannah (Sargeant) Cleary, was born in Amesbury, Massa chusetts, December 10, 1858, and was third in a family of five children, and the only one now liv ing. He received his elementary education in the local schools and later was a student for three years at the Phillips Andover academy, a member of the class of 1880, and later engaged in mercan tile business in Merrimac, Massachusetts, for sev eral years. In 1881 Mr. Cleary sought the larger opportunities of the western country, going to Iowa for one year; and in October of 1882, came on to Nebraska, locating in Valley county. Here he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section two, township seventeen, range thirteen, which is still the home place. In 1888 Mr. Cleary returned to his old home in Massachusetts, and on August 22, 1891, was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Hughes, at the home of her parents, Isaac W. and Mary A. (Merrill) Hughes, in Massachusetts where she was born. Miss Hughes had been a teacher in Massachusetts schools. In 1892 Mr. Cleary re turned with his bride to the homestead in Ne braska. Mr. and Mrs. Cleary have seven children born to them, namely: Edith P., Helen M., John, Esther A., Charles A., Frances H., and Eliza beth H., all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. Cleary is a successful man of affairs, owns four hundred and twenty acres all in one body, a splendidly improved and equipped stock and dairy farm ; he is one of the younger men among the earlier settlers, and is widely and favorably known. In the fall of 1907, Mr. Cleary built a splendid home on his farm, and just finished a ce ment silo holding one hundred and twenty tons, the first of its kind in the vicinity. He filed on a timber claim in Blaine, earlier in his career, broke part of it and then abandoned the tract. ' Mr. Cleary's father, John Cleary, was born in Halifax, Novia Scotia, in 1816. In early manhood he came to Massachusetts, engaging in the mer cantile business ; he died there in 1887, at the age of seventy-one years. The mother was a descend ant of William Sargeant, who settled in Ames- bury prior to 1656. She was born in Amesbury, and died in Valley county, Nebraska, while on a visit to her son in 1902. Mr. Cleary has served as justice of the peace, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 501 and in the various township offices, and is at the present time treasurer of his township, elected on the democratic ticket. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. There were a few deer in the country when he came, but they soon disappeared. He lived a number of years in a dugout on the place, which was later used as a summer kitchen when a larger, two story structure was built. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Cleary was herding cattle north of the house. Most of the cattle drifted into sheds where ten or twelve perished. In the drouth of 1894, he raised less than enough to seed the land again. He lost nearly all crops by hail in June, 1911. HENRY E. BECKER. Henry E. Becker early in life left his native land and emigrated to the new world, where he became identified with American progress and civilization, and has been a loyal citizen to the land of his adoption, and is esteemed and re spected by all who know him. Mr. Becker was born in Sehleswig, Prussia, Germany, November 1, 1829. His parents, Jacob F. and Mary C. (Tortsen) Becker, had eight chil dren, one son and seven daughters. The mother died in 1848, and the father in 1878, in his seven ty-ninth year, both in Germany. Henry E. Becker was an only son and grew up to manhood at his old home, received his edu cation there and learned the trade of a cabinet maker ; and in the war of 1848 served his country as a soldier. In 1853 he emigrated to America, locating at Mount Vernon, New York, where he worked in a door factory. In 1855 he went to Greenwich, Connecticut, and followed the car pentry trade. In 1859 Mr. Becker was married to Miss Cath erine Duffy, who was born in Ireland, January 8, 1829. She was an excellent woman, and passed to the great beyond at her Madison, Nebraska, home, May 10, 1905. On September 25, 1861, Mr. Becker enlisted in Company I, Tenth Connecticut Volunteer In fantry. He served three years and participated in engagements at Jfcoanoke, Newbum and Kingston. North Carolina, and was at the Siege of Fort Sumpter, and at St. Augustine, Florida. His health failed and he was sent to Hampton hospital until the battle of Cold Harbor, where he served in the ambulance corps, assisting in removing the wounded. He next was sent to Petersburg and then to Deep Bottom, Virginia, where he joined his regiment. In an engagement there he was taken prisoner and sent to Belle Isle for a short time and then to Libby hospital and was soon mustered out at Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Becker, as a result of his prison experience re ceived an injury which affected his right leg. He suffered very much from this diseased limb, and January 12, 1906, the limb was amputated between the knee and thigh, and from that time his health became better. In 1874, Mr. Becker and wife moved from Connecticut to Madison county, Nebraska, and started the first furniture store in Madison. He sold his business in 1888, but later on re-pur chased one-half interest in business which he re tained until 1901, when he retired from active business. Mr. Becker retains his home in Madison, but spends part df the year in travel, and with his sister, Mrs. Charles Frederick, at Phillipsburg, Kansas. Mr. Becker is a self-made man and has made a success in life in a financial way, and has always been active along all lines for the upbuilding of his adopted home county and state. In politics "lie is republican, and has served his county as commissioner; and also has served on his school board, and in the city council. He is a wide gauge man, always taking active interest in educational, social, and church affairs, and holds the respect and esteem of many friends and the community at large. CHRISTIAN KAUPP. Christian Kaupp is a large landholder and prominent citizen of Custer county, and through his energy and industry has won success as a farmer and stockman. He owns nine hundred and sixty-five acres of land, most of it in Custer county, and it is largely devoted to well improved and equipped grain farms. He was able to retire from active life in March, 1910, when he moved to Merna and erected a modern residence, where the family have since lived. Mr. Kaupp is a na tive of Germany, born February 10, 1836, young est of the five children of August and Rosina (Wolf) Kaupp, and the only member of the fam ily now surviving. In 1864 he came to America, spending a time in New York and other eastern points, and locating in Illinois in 1866. He worked on farms for a time, then purchased land and operated it, on his own account, and in March, 1867, was married at Loraine, Illinois, to Miss Katherine Heimindinger, a native of- Germany, who came to America in 1852. After marriage Mr. Kaupp lived in Illinois on a farm until the spring of 1887, when he brought his wife and children to Nebraska. He took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on sec tion fifteen, township eleven, range twenty-three, which was the home place for many years, and he secured a timber claim of the same size. He is widely and favorably known and is recognized as one of the successful and progressive men of the county. Fourteen children have been born to Mr. Kaupp and wife : William, married and liv ing ten miles west of Merna, has four children ; Christina, wife of Benjamin Cox, of Custer county, has eight children; Charles, married and 502 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. living in the state of Washington, has three chil dren; Rosina, wife of Prank Lilly, of Custer county, has one child; Julia, wife of Michael Brown, of Canada ; Florence, wife of Charles Dox- see, of Custer county, has two children; Sophia, wife of William Brown, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has one child ; Mamie, wife of Adolph Gibhart, of Lin coln ; Hardy, Albert, Walter and Nettie, at home ; two sons are deceased. The family are well known in many circles and have many friends. HERMAN A. MABEUS. Among the early settlers of Cedar county, Ne braska, Herman A. Mabeus deserves especial men tion. He is a man of active public spirit, always ready to lend his influence in furthering any movement for the general welfare, and promi-. nently identified with the best interests of his community. Mr. Mabeus was born in Henry county, Iowa, in 1866, a son of August and Henri etta Mabeus. The father came to America from Germany, in a sailboat, when he was a young man, and made his home in Buffalo. The mother died when H. A. Mabeus was but five years old, and when he had reached the age of fif teen years he left home, coming to Harding county, Iowa, in 1881. After spending one year there he went to northwestern Iowa, and lived there four years. In 1887 he re moved to Wayne county, Nebraska, and pur chased the D. W. Barley quarter. He has im proved his land and has planted a five acre or chard and grove, which greatly improves his farm and adds to its value. During his first years in the state he suffered from the usual trials which beset the pioneer, and has won his present success through his untiring energy and enter prise. During the first winter he went to the eastern part of the state and found work. In 1896 Mr. Mabeus was united in marriage with Miss C. Hiebenthal, who was born in Benton county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Beck) Hiebenthal. Six children have blessed this union, namely: Lester J., Victor R., Frank G., Paul A., Harvey A. and Marvel. Mr. Mabeus has a pleasant home, well located on sec tion five, township twenty-eight, range one, east, in Cedar county. WILLIAM P. SINSEL. William F. Sinsel, farmer, son of John and Sarah (Curry) Sinsel, was bom in Taylor county, West Virginia, December 13, 1841. He was fourth in a family of fourteen children, and has one brother residing in Merrick county, Nebraska, and one sister residing in Grafton, West Virginia. His mother died in March, 1895, in Nebraska, and the father in 1864, in West Virginia. Mr. Sinsel received his education in local sub scription schools, and in the fall of 1862 entered the United States railroad bridge service and served all during the war. While at work on a bridge at Bridgeport, West Virginia, he was taken prisoner in the famous Jones raid, and held six months, and one day at Richmond, Virginia, in Libby prison and Castle Thunder. After the war, Mr. Sinsel returned to West Virginia and continued on bridge service for the Louisville & Nashville railroad, through Kentucky and Tenn essee, until 1866. On September 6, 1866, Mr. Sinsel was mar ried to Miss Fanny Holden of West Virginia. After farming nine years in West Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Sinsel came to Merrick county, Ne braska, in 1875, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range seven ; also timber-claimed eighty acres ad joining and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land. They have lived on the homestead all through the years, since that time. Mr. Sinsel served as county commissioner a number of years, and also has been director of his school district, number forty-six, for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Sinsel have had seven children born to them, four of whom are living: Charles J., who is married, has three children and lives in Boise City, Idaho; Guy R., married, has two chil dren and lives in Parkersburg, West Virginia; Thayer A., lives in Boise City, Idaho, and Carl W., who is married and resides at Parkersburg, West Virginia. The others died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Sinsel's lives are particularly rich in pioneer experiences. They have been active Baptist church workers since the early days, and have both been instrumental in build ing up this section of the state both in a business and a social way. Mr. Sinsel's old home in West Virginia was within twelve miles of Phillippi, where the first battle occurred after the fall of Fort Sumpter. The Sinsels are among the best known fam ilies of Merrick county, Nebraska, and enjoy the respect and high esteem of all who know them. JOHN MEIKLE. An agriculturist of prominence in Knox county, Nebraska, resides in Cleveland township, and is one of those substantial citizens whose in tegrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and devel opment of that region. John Meikle was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, December 17, 1840, and was the third child born to John and Margaret (Edgar) Meikle. The father died when his son, John, was only six months old. John received a common school education, and lived with his mother until he was about ten years old. At that time he started out for himself, following farm ing until he was fifteen, and then commenced learning the blacksmith trade, which he followed COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 503 for six years, after which he worked in Glasgow at various occupations, until 1874. In the spring of the latter year he left his native soil and struck out for the new world, coming to New York on a steamship. Immediately after landing he started for Ne braska to make his fortune, having heard glow ing accounts of the opportunities to be found in that state. His first location was in Colfax county, where he rented land and started farm ing, being joined by his wife and four children during the fall of 1874. During the first three years he tried in every way to raise crops, but the grasshoppers were through the locality in such numbers that he was unable to get any thing, hardly raising enough to keep him from starving to death. In 1878 a prairie fire swept the vicinity and burned everything on his farm, leaving him without even a roof over his head, and he became discouraged, gave up the place, and came into Knox county. In 1880 Mr. Meikle settled on a homestead with his family, filing on a quarter section in section nineteen, township twenty-nine, range four. He put up a sod house, which remained their dwelling for some years. After a time he also took up a pre-emption near his original tract, and while his wife remained on the home place he returned to Colfax county and secured employment on a ranch to help make a living and save a little money. He finally suc ceeded in adding many improvements to his farm/ and made it his home from that time on, now owning about eight hundred and eighty acres, all equipped with good buildings, having fine groves, etc., making it one of the valuable properties in that part of the county. In December, 1866, Mr. Meikle was married to Miss Elizabeth Tennant, a native of Scotland. They have had a family of seven children, all now comfortably settled in homes of their own, and worthy citizens of their respective locali ties. The children 's names are : Anna, now de ceased, wife of Charles Desenfanto; Edgar, Mag gie, wife of Marion Bently; William, Christina, deceased; Mary and Samuel. Mr. Meikle has always taken an active part in local affairs, having held the office of town ship assessor for the past twenty-five years. He is independent in politics, voting for the men he considers best qualified for office. He is a mem ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. HENRY H. GILLETT. (Deceased.) The gentleman above mentioned, whose death occurred on June 11, 1897, was one of tbe earliest settlers in Boone county, locating in the region in 1878. and during the earlier stages of devel- ment of the county took an active part in its up building and progress. He became widely known as one of the leading citizens of Boone county, and enjoyed the respect and good will of all with whom he came in contact in a business or social way. Henry H. Gillett was born on June 13, 1840, in Mercer county, Illinois, and was the younger of two sons born to Joel and Susan Gillett. His brother, Thomas J. Gillett, died in Iowa in 1908, both parents having passed away a number of years ago. Our subject was married in Illinois on May 19, 1863, to Emeline Wallis, a native of Ohio. They came to Boone county in the spring of 1878, taking a homestead on section four, township nineteen, range six, also timber- claimed one hundred and sixty acres. This homestead remained the home place up to 1893, when the family left and went to Oregon, expect ing to make their home in that state, but after spending some little time there did not like the place so well as they expected, and returned to Boone county, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land near Albion, and resided there at the time of Mr. Gillett 's death. Mr. Gillett was one of the leading men in his community during his entire residence there, doing all in his power to promote the general welfare. He helped establish the schools, and for a number of years served as a member of the board in district number twenty-five. Mrs. Gillett, a daughter and two sons sur vived our subject, the latter, Harry P., and Jus tice, engaged in the stock raising and farming business under the firm name of Gillett Brothers. They are joint owners of eight hundred and forty acres of choice land, all lying within six miles of Albion, and are numbered among the wealthy and progressive citizens of Boone county. The family residence is in Albion, where they moved during 1909, occupying a pleasant home, and are popular members of the business and social life of that city. While holding membership in no church Henry H. Gillett, was, with his wife, active in the organization of the Sunday school in district number twenty-five. Mr. Gillett was for many years a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Master Mason. In politics he was a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Gillett, with their three chil dren, came to Boone county, Nebraska, before there were any railroads in the county, driving all the way from Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where they owned a farm and had lived ten years. There were few settlers in the county when they came, and Albion at that time had no more than three business houses. The Gillett 's first built a sod house in which they lived for several years before it was replaced with a frame dwelling. * Mr. Gillett was so unfortunate as to lose one 504 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of his horses the year of his arrival and another died the second year. This necessitated the hiring of others to break the land, which took the money they had saved for a frame house. These misfor tunes combined with grasshoppers and poor crops made the first years of the family in Ne braska ones long to be remembered. They often went fifteen miles for wood, there being no coal in the county until the railroad came and many of the pioneers used hay for fuel. GEORGE H. CROOKS. A typical plainsman of the early days, when open ranges were to be found throughout all the west, is George H. Crooks, of Spencer. He was born in Boone county, Iowa, April 26, 1860. In 1874 the family migrated to Nebraska. The parents were George and Jane (Harlan) Crooks. George H. Crooks and a brother drove through from Iowa to Yankton, where they crossed the river and came to Knox county, arriv ing on April 20, and the mother drove through with a colony from Boone county. George H. Crooks' mother and stepfather, Vincent Ross, settled near Paddock, in Holt county, where they resided many years. George H. Crooks when a youth of sixteen found work with the big ranch outfits, and for fifteen years rode the ranges throughout the en tire west, becoming familiar with the whole range country from Canada south through Wash ington, Montana, the Dakotas, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. So well did he know the Nio brara country that he was chosen when a guide was needed to pilot a preliminary surveying party to the western part of the state, and so accurate was his knowledge that in a forty mile trip through the table lands north of the river, he brought them back to a signal flag they had left northeast of Valentine where they followed the stream to the western part of the Cherry county country. In 1892, he came back to Holt county and has made this region his home ever since, having resided in Spencer since 1906. Mr. Crooks was married March 9, 1892, at Paddock, to Miss Edith Miller, a native of Boone, Iowa, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Hull) Miller, now living near Paddock. Ten children bless the home of Mr. Crooks, as follows: Jane, Eva, James Howard, Ira, Homer, Ora, George, junior, Kenneth, and Leah. Arlie died when two months old. Mr. Crooks has anything but a pleasant recol lection of the blizzard of January 12, 1888. He and a companion, Billie Hudson, were in Wyom ing, and found shelter in an abandoned dugout where they were compelled to remain for a pe riod of two weeks; they ran out of provisions towards the last, of course, and were reduced to a diet of beans without salt. For years after the sight of a bean at table gave him nausea and until recently he could not endure the taste of them. He has known the Indians from childhood and learned their language; he has been on the plains before the buffalo became extinct, and has seen them in herds of four or five hundred. In Wyoming the cowboys would sometimes rope an old bull buffalo, shear him of his long mane and use the hair to plait saddle girths, they being soft, strong and light in weight. The roving spirit still sometimes possesses Mr. Crooks, and he feels the impulse to hit the trail — once a rover, the roving spirit will not down. Mr. Crooks is independent in politics with democratic leanings. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World. SEVERT K. LEE. S evert K. Lee, a representative and substan tial citizen of Broken Bow, Nebraska, is a na tive of Columbia county, Wisconsin, sixth of the eight children born to Knudt Iverson and Doro thy Knudtson Iverson, and first saw the light of day on February 8, 1858. Of the other children of his parents the following information is avail able : One son lives in the state of Washington, one daughter resides in Wisconsin, and one daughter in Minnesota. Others of the children are deceased. Knudt Iverson and wife were born in Norway, and in 1856 came with their five chil dren to America, locating in Wisconsin. The father served in the Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry during the civil war, and died in December, 1861, from a wound received in the battle of Stone River. The mother died in Wisconsin in 1905. At the age of fourteen years Severt K. Lee left his native state for Minnesota, where he worked at farming. He was married in Dodge county, Minnesota, March 28, 1879, to Josephine Johnson, a native of Christiana, Norway, who came to America in 1874. In June of the same year Mr. Lee and four of his brothers drove from Minnesota to Custer county, Nebraska, and all of them, with the exception of one who was under age, filed on homesteads there. However, but two of them, Nels K. and Severt K, remained in Nebraska, and the former died on his homestead about 1907. Severt K, filed on land in Grand Island, after which he returned to Minnesota for his wife, and soon afterwards they started on the return trip, making the journey with an ox team and bringing with them five cows and some house hold goods. There was a severe drouth in Iowa, at this time, so that while passing through that state they found it difficult to obtain water and food for their stock, and were obliged to remain in the state several months, finally reaching their new home in June, 1880. They had a homestead and timber claim, both on section four, township D. W. COMSTOCK. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND' BIOGRAPHY. 505 eighteen, range nineteen, which has been the home place throughout the succeeding years. Mr. Lee at once set out to improve and develop the land, and has one of the best stock and grain farms in the neighborhood. He has always been closely identified with the growth and welfare of Custer county and is accounted one of the prosperous and successful farmers of the region, being widely and favorably known for his untir ing energy and public spirit. In 1906 he retired from farm life and moved to Broken Bow, where he erected a modern residence. He was in strumental in organizing school district num ber sixty-six and served as first moderator of same. He served as the second postmaster of Round Valley, holding office for a period of fif teen years, and he established the first store in the valley, handling a large line of general mer chandise. He also served for some time as jus tice of the peace. Six children have been born to Mr. Lee and wife : Carl J., married and living in Round Valley, has one child; Albert 0., of Custer county; Edward M., died at the age of fourteen years ; Dorothy M., is the wife of Earl Poss, and they reside in Ord, Nebraska; Henry E., lives at home. DEWITT COMSTOCK. DeWitt Comstock, of whom a portrait appears on another page, is one of the early settlers of Custer county and has passed through the va rious stages of its history. He met all the dis couraging and trying experiences incidental to pioneer life and has always taken his part in forwarding the progress and development of county and state, being widely and favorably known. He was born in Yates county, New York, November 15, 1834, seventh child of Jonathan and Phoebe (Christian) Comstock. The father, of English descent, born in Plattsburg, New York, served in the war of 1812, and died in Wiscon sin. The mother was born in Hoosac, New York, and died in Wisconsin. They were parents of nine children. Mr. Comstock grew to manhood on a New York farm, receiving his primary education in local schools and later attending Canandaigua academy. Later he learned the trade of harness maker. He was married at Sandy Creek, New York, March 18, 1856, to Miss Martha Bennett, also a native of that state. In 1861 Mr. Comstock enlisted in Company G, Seventh New York Cavalry, spending sixteen months in the service. In March, 1882, he came with his wife and chil dren to Custer county, Nebraska, where he pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land and later homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty-three, township nineteen, range seventeen, which was the home place until 1898, when he retired from the farm and located in Ansley, where he started a harness making 17% shop. Three years later he removed to Com stock, where he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have had six children : Edward, married and living in North Loup, has seven children; J. W., of Ansley, is married and has seven children; Mattie, wife of M. E. Van denberg, of Sargent, has four children; W. R., of Comstock, is married and has two children, and two children are deceased. MICKEL PETER. Among the German settlers of Cedar county, Nebraska, who hail from the German fatherland, none holds a higher place in the hearts of his fellow citizens than Mickel Peter, now retired, of Hartington. Mr. Peter was born in the village of Thele, Prussia, . August 24, 1833. Though nearing the age of four score years, his faculties are unim paired, and he is still capable of business and he need to again enter the struggle of life. He is a son of Mike and Barbara (Reuter) Peter, and is the youngest of their four children. In 1847, the father left the old country, where the mother had died a short time before, bring ing his children to the new world. They made their way to Antwerp, where they waited a fort night for a vessel coming to America. Embark ing in the "Echo," they landed after a voyage of eight weeks in Baltimore, where the father died. Here the son, Mickel, learned the shoe makers' trade, and worked at the bench in that city for eleven years, during which time he mar ried. In 1858 he moved to Dubuque and plied his trade here for six years, saving his earnings to establish himself in the west, as he intended to do. Six families formed a colony to come to Ne braska, including two of Mrs. Peter's sisters; they reached Cedar county in May of 1864, after an overland journey of four weeks, camping along the roadside at night. Mr. Peter's outfit consisted of three yoke of oxen, owned in com mon with his brother-in-law, Mr. H. Koch. Mr. Strathman was one of the party and was for years one of Cedar county's substantial citizens. Sioux City, where they crossed the Missouri river, was at that time but a small town. In crossing, their oxen fell into the river and were with difficulty rescued; later they strayed away and several days were lost in finding them. Mr. Peter settled on the "Second Bow" creek, three and a half miles south of St. Helena ; his nearest neighbor to the west was Mr. Weigand living twenty miles distant in Knox county. For two years Mr. Peter squatted on land before de ciding where to buy. He homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres and a few years after bought eighty acres at one dollar and twenty- five cents, but at even this low figure it took him several years to pay for it; times were so hard 506 Compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. and markets so poor. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, on the rentals of which he lives comfortably in his town home, to which he retired in May, 1902, turning over to younger hands the task of active farm work. Mr. Peter was married in Baltimore in Feb ruary, 1854, to Miss Josephine Koch, a native of the village of Uhenbaeh, Kuhr-Hessia, Germany, a daughter of Fred and Mary (Hohman) Koch; the mother died when Mrs. Peters was quite young, and the father some years later. The orphan girl sailed for America from Bremen on the ship "Sarah," and was on the water nine weeks in her voyage to Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Peter have five children : Mary, wife of Joseph Schramp, who farms near St. Helena; Elizabeth, is the wife of Henry Necker, whose farm is near Crofton; Mina and her husband, Leo Schramp, brother of Joseph, have a farm on Second Bow creek; and the sons, Prank and John, cultivate the old home farm, which is known as the Prank Bergman place. Times were hard during the early years in Nebraska; grasshoppers began to be a pest as early as 1865, and in the seventies were an all- devouring swarm. For a number of years crops were partially, if not wholly, destroyed; flour at times cost the settlers eight dollars for a fifty- pound sack, and corn bread, though not so palatable, was in more general use. Of the blizzards that swept the plains, Mr. Peter has weathered his share ; in the especially severe one of January 16 and 17, 1869, Mr. Peter and his son were in Gayville, South Dakota, where they were compelled to remain until the storm abated. When Henry Hoese's mill was started, it be came a very popular place for grist, so much so that sometimes a man was compelled to wait three days for his turn, camping near the mill the while. Game was plentiful, as one may sup pose from an incident Mr. Peter relates : He was mowing and had stopped to rest his oxen when twenty-four antelope came close to him and re mained as still as statues until he spoke to the oxen, when all were off like a flash. The spot where Mr. Peter built was within fifty feet of the old Indian trail between the Santee and Ponca reservations, and Indians were always passing to and fro. He came home one day when they came to beg coffee and bread and insisted on having his stock of leather which he used in plying his trade in the west after settling here. Prairie fires wrought him damage from time to time, but the worst was when one burned nine log buildings he used for granary, corn-cribs, stables and such. Only the new house, standing at a little distance, escaped. His buildings — as numerous as a small village — were swept away by the flames, which were carried from a pile of burning straw. Their first dwelling — a log house — was swept away with the rest, and his loss included four or five hundred bushels of corn and oats, together with machinery; a severe loss for him at that time. At the time of the great flood of March, 1881, many found refuge at Mr. Peter's home until the waters subsided and they could return to their own homes. He kept his brother-in-law's cattle for him for a time until their flooded pastures were again fit to graze. Mr. Peter is one of Cedar county's most sub stantial citizens, one who has done his share in the development of the west, has reared a creditable family and started them all on the road to prosperity. Such men are the bulwark of the nation. Mr. Peter is a democrat in politics, and a devout member of the Catholic church, to which he contributes liberally. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Peter will be found on another page. CHARLES LEDERER. Charles Lederer is indeed entitled to the claim of "old settler," having lived in Pierce county, Nebraska, some twenty-five years, where he now resides in the north half of section twenty, township twenty-five, range two. His place is very well improved, having a twenty acre grove, the finest in the county, planted in 1870. Mr. Lederer was bora May 1, 1850, in the town of Geredsfetten, Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Ger many, and is the son of Gotlieb and Barbara (Baeder) Lederer; the former was born in 1809 and died February 3, 1892, and the latter was born in 1813, and died in February, 1874. Mr. Lederer 's father was a farmer, in the old coun try, owning a large vineyard. He served in the army in that country for six years, and in 1855 emigrated to America by way of Paris and Havre, Prance, where he embarked in a sailship, the "Confederation," a new boat, that being its first trip across the ocean. After a voyage of eight weeks, they landed in New York, whence they journeyed to Montgomery county, Pennsyl vania, and from thence they went to Whiteside county, Illinois, in February, 1864, and here the father died. Charles Lederer was reared in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Coming to Nebraska in 1882, he rented for two years a farm four miles west of Norfolk, and on March 3, 1885, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he bought the relin quishment on a tree claim of eighty acres in sec tion twenty-eight, township twenty-five, range two, for six hundred dollars, which he improved. He first put up a sod house and lived in that two years. He sold to James Colson in 1886, and again rented a farm for two years. He then bought the southeast quarter of section nineteen, town ship twenty-five, range two, living on this farm for sixteen years, and during that time made very good improvements, selling August 23, 1904. In 1901 he had purchased the land he now oc- MR. AND MRS. MICKEL PETER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 507 cupies, the north half of section twenty, township twenty-five, range two, and erected all of the buildings on the place. No finer farm property is to be found in this part of Nebraska. Mr. Lederer was married November 27, 1873, to Miss Mary Brubaker, of Whiteside county, Illinois, whose parents, Daniel and Annie (Meyers) Brubaker, came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Mr., and Mrs. Lederer are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Louis Henry, Charles Marion, Noah Webster, John Martin, Cleo, George W., Walter Scott, and Ruth Mary. Some of the children are married, and have presented the old people eight grand children. Mr. Lederer votes the republican ticket, and was reared in the Lutheran faith. CHRISTIAN NELSEN. Christian Nelsen, a well-to-do agriculturalist and business man of Howard county and owner of a valuable estate in Loup Fork precinct, is a son of Nels and Mariane Envoldsen, whose life histories are recorded in this volume on another page. He was born in Denmark in 1870, and was about two years of age when his parents emi grated to America. Mr. Nelsen grew up in Howard county, Ne braska, as a mere boy taking a man's place in helping his father carry on the home farm. In 1893 he struck out on his own hook, purchas ing a tract of land containing eighty acres, sit uated on section twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve, which he put in good shape and car ried on for three years. He erected substantial buildings and engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, and then sold out at a profit. About 1897 he moved to Boelus and engaged in the livery business. He put forth every effort in building up a trade, had first class rigs, was ever trying to please the public and give them the best service possible to be had, and ran the barn successfully for about three years, at which time he was appointed manager of the T. B. Hord Grain and Elevator Company in Boelus. In this capacity owing to his energy and good busi ness ability he has gained the entire confidence of his employers and continues in the work at the present time, proving a most efficient and reliable man for the place, whose services are greatly appreciated by the company. Mr. Nelsen was married in August, 1905, to Mary Rasmussen, of Howard county. Mrs. Nel sen had been a popular teacher in the public schools of Nebraska for six years prior to her marriage, and is an accomplished and charm ing young woman. They have one child, Chris tian- Adelbert, who is a bright and promising youngster, the pride of his parents' hearts. Our subject is a young man of promise, and in the various enterprises in which he has en gaged, has met with merited success. He is owner of a handsome residence property in Boelus, also owns a fine quarter section of land in Sherman county. EDWARD FAGEN. Edward Pagen is one of the few original homesteaders of Sherman county who still re sides on their original homestead farms. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, April 3, 1852, fifth of the eight children born to Edward and Mary (O'Rourke) Pagen, who were parents of five sons and three daughters. When Edward Fagen was six months old his parents located on a farm where he was reared and remained until his twenty-fourth year, receiving his education in the local schools. He then moved to Harrison county, in western Iowa, rented a farm and en gaged in farming on his own account. He may be said to be a self-made man, as at the time he left home he had but fifty dollars in cash, but was possessed of energy and ambition and also a de termination to improve his condition. On February 2, 1880, Mr. Fagen was united in marriage with Miss Mary McDowell, the eldest of the eight children of Barney and Mary (Hughes) McDowell, then living in Harrison county, Iowa. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Fagen made a trip from Harrison county, Iowa, to Sher man county, Nebraska, where he took up his present homestead on section seven, township sixteen, range sixteen, then returned to his home in Iowa. The following spring he made the trip to his new home with teams and wagons, taking his household goods and driving cattle to the homestead, the trip lasting about ten days. His wife and their two children, Agnes and Minnie, came by railroad to Grand Island, Nebraska, and thence by team to the new farm. In that day Grand Island was the trading point for a large territory in the surrounding country and was a busy, thriving town. The Fagens were among the early settlers of Sherman county and passed through years of privation and struggle against pioneer hardships and discouragements. Mr. Fagen became one of the most successful farmers and stockmen of his part of the state and now owns the east half of section seven, where he has a comfortable home and a well equipped farm. In a quiet, unassuming way he has assisted in the advancement and progress of central Nebraska and has many close friends there. His is a rep resentative family and they have at heart the best interests of the community. Six children have been born to Mr. Fagen and wife, of whom five now survive, namely: Agnes, wife of Alfred Anderson, of Fremont, Nebraska, has one child; Minnie, wife of Theodore Guyon, of Fremont, also has one child ; Vincent, at home ; Katie married Thomas Murrey, and they live in Custer county; Elizabeth, deceased; Edward, at home. 508 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Pagen is independent in politics, voting for the man irrespective of party. With his fam ily he is a member of the Catholic church. When the blizzard of January 12, 1888, struck, Mr. Fagen was riding to Arcadia with a neighbor. As soon as the storm abated he started back on foot, reaching home about daylight, braving the bitter cold to be assured that his family was not suffering. Mrs. Fagen, when the storm eame on, turned the cattle out of the pen coralls that they might find shelter behind the stacks and brought in corn enough to burn and keep them warm through the night. JACOB MULLER. Among those who have contributed largely to the prosperity of Madison county, Nebraska, and whose patient industry and well directed energy have brought individual competence, may be mentioned Jacob Muller, whose fine farm lies in section six, township twenty-three, range three, where he has built up a pleasant, comfort able home, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Muller is a native of Hamburg, Germany, where he was born in October, 1856, a son of Henry and Lizzie Muller, both natives of the German Empire, who died when our subject was but a small boy. Mr. Muller grew to his manhood days in his native land, receiving the usual school ing, and working on farms and after attaining the proper age was drafted into the army, serv ing three years as a soldier of the German Em pire. In 1887, Mr. Muller left his fatherland for America, the new world of which he had heard so much; he embarked on the steamship "Haps- burg, " sailing from Bremen, and landed in New York after a voyage of twelve days. After reach ing the United States, he immediately started for the west, locating in Saline county, Missouri, which was his home for five years. In 1892, Mr. Muller came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought the Joe Hurd home stead; on this land he first built a shanty, liv ing in this a few years, when a fine new residence replaced the original dwelling. Although not as old a settler in point of time as some of the in habitants of this region, Mr. Muller has proven himself a worthy and progressive citizen in his eighteen years or more of residence here. He has made rapid improvements on -his property and now owns a good farm and home where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and in their home are sur rounded by a large circle of friends and ac quaintances. Mr. Muller was united in marriage to Miss Anna Buck, in June, 1888 ; Miss Buck was a na tive of Hanover Province, Germany, and a daughter of John and Margurete Buck, also na tives of Hanover Province. Mr. and Mrs. Muller are the parents of five children whose names are as follows: Maggie, Lizzie, Annie, Martha, and Elmer. SAMUEL M. LUCE. Samuel M. Luce is a citizen who is much in terested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of Custer county and Nebraska, and has been a resident of the state about thirty years. He is a native of Maine, born near Ban gor, March 25, 1850, sixth born of the eight chil dren of William and Hulda (Rogers) Luce, the father a native of Maine and the mother of Massa chusetts. Both parents died in Iowa, the father about 1871 and the mother in 1870. Four of the sons served in the civil war, but in different reg iments, all from Illinois : William S., in the Ninth Cavalry, Alonzo in the Nineteenth Infantry, Richard in the Ninety-third Infantry and Isaac in the One Hundred and Twelfth Infantry. The children now surviving are : Two sons in Clarke county, Iowa; one son in lola, Kansas; one daughter in Oklahoma, and Samuel M., of this article. In 1854, when about four years of age, Mr. Luce accompanied his parents to Grand Prairie, Stark county, Illinois, and there he received most of his education. In 1866 the family moved to Clarke county, Iowa, where Samuel completed his education and then engaged in farming on his own account. He was married near Leslie, Clarke county, February 28, 1872, at the home of her parents, to Miss Mary V. Perry, a native of Illinois. Her father, Zachariah Perry, was a na tive of Kentucky, moved to Illinois before his marriage, and in 1882 took a homestead in Cus ter county, where he died in 1893. The mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Keedy, was born in Illinois and died in Custer county in 1892. Mrs. Luce has a brother, Elijah, living two miles east of Merna, Custer county; her brother, Robert, lives in Broken Bow, where he has a plumbing business, and another brother, Charles Rufus, lives near the Luce homestead, three miles south west of Merna. Mr. and Mrs. Luce made their first home on the Iowa farm and lived there until the spring of 1882, when they eame to Nebraska, spending one year in Nuckolls county, although during that spring Mr. Luce had come on to Custer county and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section six, township seven teen, range twenty-one, where he located in 1883, and which was his home until he retired from active life. He also secured a timber claim in section eleven, township seventeen, range twenty- two. He brought his place to a high state of improvement, devoting it to grain and stock farming, and now owns there hundred and twenty acres of well improved and equipped land, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 509 part of it being his original homestead. He is much interested in local affairs and was instru-- mental in organizing school district number sixteen, helping to erect the little sod house. He served many years on the school board and was road supervisor eight years. He is well and fa vorably known in the county, in many circles, and identified with the movements for the de velopment and upbuilding of the region. He is affiliated with the. Modern Woodmen, the Modern Brotherhood, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, being active in all these orders. In January, 1906, he retired from farm work, erecting a handsome resi dence in Merna, the present home. For six teen years he conducted a threshing machine, but in 1887 his left hand was caught in the ma chinery and taken off. Mr. and Mrs. Luce have had seven children: Sarah P., wife of Benjamin Browning, of Merna, has two sons; Elijah L., married and living twelve miles west of Merna, has two sons ; Nancy, wife of Del Jones, of Merna, has five sons ; LeRoy L./ married and living in Merna, has two chil dren; John W., married and living at Ulysses, Nebraska; Charles W., whose wife died in May, 1909, has two children; Bessie, married Orvil Burton and they live on her father's original homestead. C. 0. SELLON. In compiling a list of the citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have become identified with the development of the agricultural and live stock interests of that region, a place must be accorded the name of the, above mentioned gentleman, who is the owner of a valuable estate located in section sixteen, township twenty-seven, range one. He has there a comfortable home and has gathered about him the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and is reaping the reward of his years of hard work. Mr. Sellon was born in 1864, in the state of Iowa. His parents, William and Theresa Sellon, are of English descent, the family having come to this country at a very early date. C. 0. Sellon spent his childhood and early years in his native state, which was then regarded as being on the frontier. In 1884, Mr. Sellon came to Wayne county and worked on various farms until 1891, when he purchased his present farm, and this estate has been his home ever since. The subscriber has met some of the usual reverses encountered by the settlers, but he is a man of great energy and has prospered through his persistent efforts. Since his possession, he has added many improve ments to the estate which have greatly enhanced its value, the place being wild prairie at the time of purchase. For many years, he has given con-' siderable time and attention to cattle, hogs, and sheep, and has met with great success. Mr. Sellon was married, in 1888, to Miss Mag gie McNeill, of Cedar county, but born in east ern Iowa, and ten children have been born to them: Harry, Roy, Vernie, Ray, Gail, Mark, Ora, Arthur, May and Elsie. Mr. Sellon has always taken an active interest in all public affairs and has materially aided the development and upbuilding of the communtiy. M. PATTERSON. In reviewing the life history of this gentle man, we find him to be one of the oldest men of his locality, as well as among the very earliest pioneers of middle Nebraska. Mr. Patterson has seen all the wonderful changes incident to the development and progress of a country blessed with more than the usual amount of natural re sources, and in this advancement he has himself been no small factor. Mr. Patterson was born in Tompkins county, New York state on January 4, 1834, and grew to the age of six years in that vicinity, then his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he received his education and at the age of twenty 'started out for himself, doing government surveying in Minnesota. In 1858 he went to Colorado in search of gold, and spent two years in the west, then returned to Minnesota and arrived home just in time to cast his first vote for Abraham Lin coln for president. At the first call for volun teers by his country, he enlisted and had the honor to be the first man to put his name on the roll as ready for service in the army. He remain ed with his company for about eighteen months, then received an honorable discharge and went to Wisconsin where he began farming and was married there on February 23, 1865, to Miss Cyn thia Smith, of that state. In 1871 he eame into Nebraska, settling on a homestead in Boone county and succeeded in building up a good farm, passing through all the pioneer experiences of those days, finally retiring from agricultural pursuits in the fall of 1879, at that time locating in Genoa. He remained there for eight years. His next location was in Central City, where he served as county surveyor and city engineer for four years, then went to Boone county and was county surveyor there for a number of years. In 1900 he removed with his family to Genoa, and has made that his home since that time., The Patterson family are widely and favor ably known throughout Nance county as being among the. prominent pioneers of the region. Mr. Patterson is well-to-do, having accumulated a valuable property by dint of thrift and good busi ness ability, and he also takes an active interest in the commercial and political life of his county and state. 510 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. JOSEPH J. WALKER. Joseph J. Walker is a gentleman of active public spirit and sterling character, who has taken an active part in the upbuilding of the region where he chose his home many years ago. For many years he has been associated with the agricultural and other best interests of Boyd county, Nebraska, where he now resides on sec tion thirty-one, township thirty-five, range twelve, highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Walker was born in 1858, in Grant county, Wisconsin, a son of Jonathan and Louisa (Eldridge) Walker, who were natives of New York state. Our subject's father served in the civil war, enlisting in a Wisconsin volunteer infantry regiment, and saw duty all through the war. He served under General Sherman and was with him on the memorable march to the sea. After the war, Jonathan Walker continued to re side in Grant county, Wisconsin, and lives there at the present time. Our subject's mother died there in 1876. In 1884, Joseph J. Walker and family moved from Wisconsin to Moody county, South Dako ta, where they remained three years, then going to Sioux county, Iowa, living there six years. In 1890, Mr. Walker, our subject, and family, drove from Sioux county, Iowa, to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead five miles west and two miles north of Butte, which he improved and on which he built a frame house. He remained here until 1904. He then sold, and bought the Sid Smith homestead, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, and also has ten acres of natural forest trees along the creek. September 2, 1880, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Rosa Gratz, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: William J., Anna E., Stella E., Rosa E., Mabel L., Clayton J., Howard C, Arlie 0. and Drusilla I. Mr. Walker has had his experiences and hard ships of Nebraska frontier life, but these events have passed into history, and he now enjoys the prosperity that has come to the faithful who have stuck through thick and thin. FREDERICK RABELER, Sr. Frederick Rabeler, senior, was born in Ger many, June 8, 1841. He came to America in August, 1882, first locating in Platte county, Ne braska, where he remained about six months, and from there moving to Stanton county. Mr. Rabeler was the third child in the family of Frederick and Anna Rabeler, who had one son and three daughters. Mr. Rabeler was married in Germany to Miss Margaret Putensen, May 1, 1869, and at the time of emigrating to America, there were in the family himself, wife and six children. They now have seven children, whose names are as follows : Frederick H., married and living in Leigh, Ne braska, who is mentioned at length in this bio graphical writing; Alwine, married to Carl Mul- lenhoff, they having five children and residing in Colfax county ; Marie, wife of Ed. Wurdeman, has three children, and lives in Leigh, Nebraska; Henry, married and living in Stanton county on the home farm; Freida, wife of Oliver Oleson, lives in Platte county, Nebraska, they having five children; Paulina, who was born in Stanton county, Nebraska, is the wife of Clarence Oleson, has two children and lives in Platte county, and Alex, also born in Stanton county, where he is residing at the present time. Mr. Rabeler upon coming to Nebraska pur chased six hundred and forty acres of land in Stanton county, where he now owns sixteen hundred acres, and one hundred and sixty acres in Platte county. He has been an active and progressive man of affairs and is one of the prominent farmers arid stockmen of this portion of Nebraska. He has passed through the ad verse years of this portion of Nebraska, and as sisted in building up this section of the state. He and his family are widely and favorably known, and have had much to do with the affairs of their community. Mr. Rabeler now resides in Leigh, Nebraska, where he came to live in 1900, and is vice president of the First National bank of that place. Frederick P. H. Rabeler, junior, was born in Germany, December 28, 1872, coming to America with his father and family in August of 1882, when the family located in Stanton county, Ne braska. Here our subject grew up on the farm, and in connection with his schooling in Germany, received the usual school advantages. In 1903, Mr. Rabeler went out in life for himself, becom ing connected with the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Leigh, Nebraska, in June of 1903. This bank has been merged into the First National Bank with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. The Farmer's and Merchant's Bank was first or ganized in 1886. In May of 1910, the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank of Leigh, and the Maple Val ley State Bank of Leigh, Nebraska, were consoli dated into the First National Bank, with the fol lowing officers: Thomas Mortimer, president; J. H. Wurderman, vice president ; P. Rabeler, senior, second vice president ; P. Rabeler, junior, cashier ; R. J. McNary, assistant cashier, and J. E. Spof- ford, assistant cashier. Mr. Rabeler, junior, was married to Miss Flor ence Bowers, June 3, 1908, in Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Rabeler is a native of Colfax county, and the Bowers family is one of the first pioneer fam ilies of Colfax county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabeler have two children, Florence Margaret and an in fant. Mr. Rabeler is one of the prominent young business men of Leigh, Nebraska, where he is prominent in business and social circles. RESIDENCE AND FAMILY GROUP— ALEX. MATHESON. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 511 N. P. JOHNSON. The gentleman mentioned above is one of the sturdy sons of Sweden, who came to the new world with a brave heart to carve out a name for himself and establish a home in the west, and well has he succeeded in his determination, now be ing proprietor of a good ranch, and has also be come one of the prominent citizens of his locality. He resides on section twenty-four, township twenty-five, range eight, Clearwater township, Antelope county, where he owns a good farm of five hundred and twenty acres, making a fine home. Mr. Johnson is a native of Skone, Sweden, born April 8, 1861, and is the son of Olaf and Helen (Pierson) Johnson; both natives of Sweden; the father is still living at Elgin, and enjoys the ripe age of seventy-six years. In 1880 qur subject and his father came to America, sailing on the White Star Line steamship from Liverpool, landing in New York City, August 23, 1880. After reaching New York they started at once for the west. Mr. Johnson, our subject, went to Kansas City to pro cure work, he being then full grown to manhood, and able to care for himself. He worked as a laborer in Kansas City for eight years, saving enough money to enable him to come to Antelope county, Nebraska, and start farming. In 1900, he bought a farm of three hundred and sixty acres, and here he has built up a beautiful home for his family, he having married while residing in Kansas City. Mr. Johnson was married April 5, 1884, to Miss Elise Akstrom, a native of Skone, Sweden, and a daughter of John and Johannah (Pierson) Akstrom. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of six children, whose names are as1 follows : Roy ; Aimer; Oscar; Esther; Mabel; and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family are held in high regard in their community, and Mr. John son is prominently known as a most estimable and upright citizen. MACK C. WARRINGTON. Mack C. Warrington is numbered among the pioneers of Custer county, Nebraska, and has al ways been ready to do his part to advance the general welfare and prosperity. He was born at Guthrie Center, Iowa, October 29, 1864, a son of William and Julia (Cooper) Warrington, and fourth of their six children. The father, a native of Yorkshire, England, came to America about 1852 and located at Hartford, Connecticut. He died at Guthrie Center, July 31, 1907. The mother, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, came to America in 1848 and died in Guthrie Center in 1901. They were pioneers of Iowa and erected the first house in the town where both died. Of their children, one son, Bert, lives in Iowa; a daughter, Mrs. Ann Holster, lives in Mason City, Nebraska ; another daughter, Mrs. T. J. Campbell, lives in Colorado ; Mack C, is given further men tion below, and two are deceased. Mack C. Warrington reached manhood in his native state, receiving his elementary education in local schools. Later he attended Cornell col lege, at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and after leaving school he learned the printers' trade. In August, 1886, he located at Mason City, Nebraska, becom ing a member of the staff of the first paper pub lished there, the Mason City Transcript. He be came proprietor of this periodical in 1887, and has since edited it under the original name. It is an organ of the democratic party and widely read throughout Custer county. Mr. Warrington is a wide-awake, enterprising man, and regarded as an upright, useful citizen. He helped to organize the village and the school district; served eleven years on the school board, some time as chairman of the town board, and during Cleveland's admin istration served as postmaster. He is now serving as justice of the peace. He is well known in fra ternal circles as a charter member of the local Masonic order and as one of the organizers, and also belongs to the local camp of Modern Wood men of America. Mr. Warrington was married at Broken Bow, October 4, 1893, to Miss Mena Mengel, who was born in Springfield, Illinois, where her childhood was spent. They are well known socially and have a wide circle of friends. Mr. Warrington erected their present comfortable home in 1898. ALEXANDER MATHESON. It has been said with truth, that "America is the melting pot of the nations," and the same can be said of almost any state in the Union. It ap plies to Nebraska, most certainly, for although all of the early settlers are Americans now, yet in many instances, they were born under other colors than the stars and stripes, and even if American born themselves, one generation back, or at the most, two, will almost invariably take us across the water to the Old World. Alexander Matheson, one of the most promi nent retired farmers of Stanton county, was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, March 8, 1848, but his parents, Murdoch and Eliza (McKenzie) Matheson, were natives of the Scottish Highlands, near Loch Elsie. His grandsire, John Matheson, died in "bonnie Scotland," but the grandmother, Jessie McRae Matheson, then joined her son's family in Wisconsin, where she lived to an ad vanced age. Alexander Matheson grew up on the Wiscon sin farm, and in 1867 started out for himself, working as a farm hand in Stark and Henry coun ties, Illinois. In 1869, he made his first trip to Nebraska, and purchased half of section eight. township twenty-four, range four, in Cuming county, and then returned to Illinois. He retained possession of this land until about 1878, when he 512 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. sold it at a price which is about one-tenth of its present value. In the fall of 1869, Mr. Matheson went to South America to work on a sugar plantation of a thousand acres near Georgetown, in British Guiana. The climate was very unhealthy and he returned to Illinois in the following spring. In the fall, he filed claim on a homestead in section nineteen, township twenty-four, range three, in Stanton county, on what is known as the upper Humbug Creek. He lived here for one year, in a small dugout with a neighbor, but later built a slab shanty. In December, 1872, he rented this farm and went back to Illinois, where he worked at farm labor for a time, then farmed on rented land for himself for three years, making his home mean while with a very wealthy farmer, whose lack of education enabled Mr. Matheson to assist him very materially in the keeping of accounts, etc. Mr. Matheson 's third trip to Nebraska was made in 1878, when he rented the Captain Butler farm near Pilger for some time. In the spring of 1880, he realized the need of a helpmeet and returned to Illinois, where he was married at Elmira, Stark county, to Miss Mary M. Oliver, a daughter of Thomas and Jean Oliver, natives of the Scottish Lowlands. As soon as Mr. Matheson came to Nebraska with his bride, he at- once took steps to improve his homestead by erecting a comfortable house, barns and outbuildings, planting orchards and groves, and cultivating the land. He finally de veloped as fine a farm as can be found in the county. In 1893, he rented the farm, coming to town to live, but in three years was again back on the farm. He sold it, however, in October, 1909, and decided to locate permanently in town, and is now enjoying his ease in a comfortable home in the west part of Stanton. All of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Matheson are living. They have all received a good education, the younger ones being still in school, and all are destined to take a prominent part in social and educational affairs. Jennie, Mary Luella and Barbara graduated from the Wayne normal college and are successful teach ers. Earl has taught for some time and is now studying in the state university at Lincoln. An other daughter, Zula Elzora, is also teaching, and the other children, Oliver, Maude, Donald and Lola are attending the schools in Stanton. Originally, Mr. Matheson was a democrat, but he joined the populists in their reform movements and at present is an independent, voting for the man whom he thinks is best qualified for the of fice, regardless of party affiliations. Mr. Matheson was away from the state for a considerable length of time after first taking up a claim, and has consequently escaped some of the hardships of the early settler's life, yet he took up his residence here early enough to suffer some of them. He was away during the years of the grasshopper plague, but was living in the state during some of the worst blizzards. He has been a farmer all of his life, and now, having won a competence from the soil, is enjoy ing the fruits of a life-time of industry and thrift, surrounding himself and family with all the com forts heart could wish. A picture of the family and residence is presented on another page of this volume. DR. W. T. KILE. Dr. Kile first saw northeastern Nebraska in the, fall of 1883 when he came to the region of Plainview with his father, Ransom Kile, to select a tract of land. The father, Ransom Kile, pur chased the relinquishment to a quarter section in Antelope county, four miles west of Plainview, and filed on it under the homestead law, taking possession in the spring of 1884. Here he pros pered and resided until 1900, when he bought a residence in Plainview and moved to town. In the fall of 1909, he rented his house and has since made his home with a son in Creighton. Ransom Kile was a native of Knox county, Ohio, moving thence to Lake county, Indiana, not far from Chicago, and in 1879 secured a farm in Cass county, Iowa, where he resided Until moving to Nebraska in 1884. He was married in Lake county to Miss Mary Powers, a native of Provi dence, Rhode Island, her parents moving to Lake county while she was a small child. She died on the home farm in Antelope county, Nebraska, in 1897. Doctor W. T. Kile was born in Lake county, Indiana, August 18, 1857, and lived on a farm there and in Cass county, Iowa, until attaining his majority. He taught school, and read medi cine with Doctor Wilder of Atlantic, Iowa, until entering the medical department of the State University at Iowa City, from which he graduated in 1885. On receiving his diploma, he formed a partnership with his old preceptor, and for seven years was engaged in practice at Atlantic and vicinity. In 1889 he removed to Plainview, opened an office here, and was at once recognized as a physician of more than usual skill. He soon built up a large practice and has sustained his excellent reputation as a healer. In the fall of 1909 he discontinued his practice, moved to a farm he had purchased in Knox county, and en deavored to get some respite from his arduous labors in the profession ; but the social and educa tional privileges were not such as his family had been accustomed to, so three months later he re turned to Plainview and at once resumed his practice, much to the satisfaction of his old patrons and friends. Doctor Kile was married at Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 28, 1890, to Miss Amy D. Halsey, who was born in Genesee county, New York. She is a daughter of George W. and Thankful (Wil- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 513 cox) Halsey, both born in the state of New York, whence they removed to Cass county, Iowa, about 1870. Of the children born to Doctor and Mrs. Kile seven are living, named as follows: Mary, Ruth, Esther, William, • Martha, Kenneth and Dwight, Grace and Miriam, the fourth and seventh chil dren have passed away. Doctor Kile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows; the Woodmen, the Workmen, and others. In politics he is a republican on national questions, and independent in local contests, vot ing for whom he considers the best man regard less of political affiliations. Doctor Kile was living in Iowa at the time of the well known blizzard of January 12, 1888 ; but in that of January 28, 1909, he had several hours' struggle in getting to shelter; so bad was the storm, blinding the horses and at times stopping them, that the doctor and his driver were nearly two hours making the mile and a half to a dwell ing, the nearest to them when the storm broke. No one who has not encountered or witnessed a western blizzard has any conception of what such a storm really is. Doctor Kile is a genial, courteous gentleman, one who wins and holds the confidence of those whom illness throws into his keeping, and this is half the secret of his success. FARMER W. CREW. Farmer W. Crew, a pioneer real estate man of Howard county, Nebraska, was born in Bel mont county, Ohio, December 28, 1847. He was a son of Acquilla and Rachel (Farmer) Crew, the former born in Belmont county and the latter in Jefferson county, Ohio. In religious views both parents were Quakers. They were married in Ohio and their children were all born in Bel mont county where the father owned and operat ed a farm. This continued to be the family home until 1863 when Acquilla Crew sold and removed with his family to Linn county, Iowa, and there purchased a farm where he and his wife resided until their deaths. Parmer W., was the fifth child in a family of eleven, of whom three brothers and two sisters are still living. He received his education prin cipally in the common and Quaker schools of Ohio and when sixteen years of age accompanied his parents to Linn county, Iowa. On November 20, 1867, Mr. Crew was united in marriage to Carrie E. Force, daughter of Cap tain Jacob A. Force, at the latter 's home in Linn county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Crew continued to reside in Linn county until 1873 when they came to Howard county, Nebraska. The first two years here Mr. Crew followed farming, living near St. Paul. In 1875 he was elected sheriff of Howard county on the republican ticket, and held that office for six years, he being the second man to serve in that capacity in the county. During his service he met with many difficult and trying events. In those days it took more than ordinary nerve and bravery to successfully fill the office, as well as tact and good judgement, in none of which Mr. Crew was lacking. One instance in particular was when in connection with the sheriff of Hall county he accomplished the arrest of the famous outlaw, Doc Middleton, who with a gang of cattle rustlers and thieves had for some time been terrorizing the western states, and after a desperate battle between the outlaw and officers was finally captured and placed under arrest. After his term as sheriff had expired Mr. Crew was in the United States government ser vice, acting as Deputy United States Marshall for three years and also was a revenue officer for two years, during the latter time being stationed in the Black Hills. He returned to St. Paul in 1886, and is now engaged in the real estate busi ness there, being among the pioneers in that line of work. He was a member of the city council of St. Paul during 1889 and 1890, and was mayor of the city in 1891. In the earlier years Mr. Crew was active in establishing the schools in his vicin ity, and served on the district board. Mrs. Crew died in St. Paul in 1895, survived by her husband and a daughter, May, who mar ried Chas. A. Robinson, and now resides in Denver, Colo. In 1897 Mr. Crew was married the second time, to Mrs. Clara E. Corliss. They have a beautiful home, and are among the leading members of the social and educational set in their community. Mr. Crew is a gentleman of far more than the usual ability, a foremost member of the business life of his region, and has been respon sible in a large degree for the prosperity enjoyed in his locality. He has always taken a leading part in the political life of his county and state. JARED PIERCE FORD. Jared P. Ford, an energetic and enterprising young farmer and stockman of Valley county, is known as a progressive and upright citizen, in terested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community. He was born at Bloomfield, Iowa, February 26, 1862, sixth of the eight children of Ivan S. and Elizabeth (Fry) Ford, who were parents of five sons and three daughters. When Jared Ford was but six weeks old the family moved to Madison county, Iowa, and he was reared on a farm there, receiving a common school education. He lived on the home farm until the time of his marriage, on Christ mas day, 1886, to Minnie Cora Smith. After their marriage they lived in Madison county, and March 1, 1887, Mr. Ford and Mr. M. Cocklin (a young married man), shipped their household goods and some stock to Loup City, Sherman 514 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. county, Nebraska. Mr. Ford rented a farm eight miles north of that town, and soon afterward his wife and Mrs. Cocklin joined their husbands. A sister of Mrs. Ford's came with her, but remained only a short time. Mr. Ford now resides on a leased farm on sec tion thirty-one, township seventeen, range four teen, where he operates four hundred acres of well improved land that is well adapted to grain and stock raising. He has a fine herd of cattle and has met with fair success, keeping on hand usually about twenty-five horses and three times as many head of cattle. Mr. Ford's father and mother are both de ceased. His brothers, William McMillan and Richard C, live in Iowa, as does his sister, Sarah E. (Mrs. William Smith), and his sisters Laura May, (Mrs. James Harlan Everly) of North Loup, and his sister Eliza Ann, (Mrs. Everett 0. Cool), of Alliance, are the only members of the family beside himself who came to Nebraska to live. Mrs. Ford's sister, Estella Maud, (Mrs. Charles Edward Trump), lives at Bradshaw, Nebraska. She is a daughter of John and Mary (McLaughlin) Smith, who had four children; the mother died February 9, 1890, while the father is still living at Marshalltown, Iowa. The only child living besides Mrs. Ford is Mrs. Trump, above mentioned; a half-brother, John J. Duby, lives in Boulder, Colorado, he is a son of John Duby, who was killed during the war. To Mr. Ford and wife three children were born: Beulah Maude, Achsa May and Loyal Jared. For the past twenty-five years Mr. and Mrs. Ford have helped in the advancement of the educational and other movements for the good of their portion of the state. He is a director of school district number forty-seven, and in former years held the office of treasurer of Yale town ship. He is recognized as a man of strict integ rity and square dealing, and is held in high re spect by all who know him. In politics Mr. Ford is a democrat; he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men, being a charter member of the North Loup lodge organized in 1893. A. G. REED. Located very pleasantly in section thirty-five, township twenty-one, range four, is to be found the genial gentleman whose name heads this per sonal history. Mr. Reed is one of the well known and highly esteemed old-timers of the region, and has had considerable to do with the development and growth of Madison county, having come to the county about 1887. He has endured the usual hardships and privations experienced by those hardy spirits who braved the terrors of the fron tier in the hopes of carving out for themselves a name and fortune from the soil. A. G. Reed is a native of Smoland, Sweden, born December 28, 1866. He was the youngest child in a family of six coming to bless the union of John and Christene Reed, who were farmers in that country. He grew up there to the age of fourteen years, receiving a scanty education while assisting his parents on the home place. May 1, 1880, Mr. Reed left' his birthplace, going to Gottenburg and there taking passage on the White Star Line steamship bound for New York, and landed safely in that city after, a voy age of eight days. He first went to Illinois, se curing work in a factory at Sterling, Illinois, and remained there for seven years, then came on west, arriving in Madison county, March 11, 1887. Here he shortly afterward bought the old Olson Sholes homestead, which was a rather rough and unimproved tract, and required a great deal of hard work to put in shape. He went to work faithfully and soon had it in good running order, and in spite of the fact that he had some hard luck occasioned by crop failures, storms, etc., he rapidly forged to the front as a successful farmer and stockman, and at the present time is classed among the well-to-do men of his section. Mr. Reed was united in marriage May 2, 1894, to Miss Anna Wedergreen who was born and raised in Sweden. Mrs. Reed died July 11, 1894. JOHN R. LONGFELLOW. John R. Longfellow, one of Custer county's early settlers, who has passed through many per iods of Nebraska history. He has large land in terests in the state and is a successful farmer and stockman. He was born in Dewitt county, Illi nois, eldest of the eight children of R. M. and Melinda (Bright) Longfellow, the date of his birth being July 11, 1855. He has two brothers in the state of Washington, and his two sisters — Mrs. Mary Thomas and Mrs. Ella Bryan, live in Custer county. The father and mother were born in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, and lo cated on a homestead in Custer county in 1882. Both parents died in Custer county, the father in 1892 and the mother July 26, 1902. Mr. Longfellow grew to manhood on the Illi nois farm, receiving his education in local schools, then engaged in farming on his own account. In the spring of 1882 he accompanied his father and the rest of the family to Custer county, Nebraska, and himself secured one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-two, township seventeen, range twenty-one, which is still the home place. He also secured a tree claim of like size. He was married at Aurora, Nebraska, to Miss Catherine Phillipson, a native of Illinois, and daughter of John J. and Mary A. (Stone) Phillipson,* the for mer born in Danzig, Prussia, and the mother in Wabash county, Illinois. Mr. Phillipson came to America in early childhood, in 1839, and in 1886 secured a homestead near Broken Bow, Custer county. Both he and his wife died in Custer COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 515 county, he May 3, 1911, and she in 1893. Mrs. Longfellow was the first born of fourteen chil dren, nine of whom survive : William, of Blaine county, Nebraska; Edmond, of Logan county; John J., of Idaho; Mrs. Lizzie Dagan and Mrs. Irene Hanna, of Custer county; Mrs. Rosetta Hanna, of Blaine county ; Mrs. Augusta Harget, of Milf ord, Nebraska ; Mrs. Anna Brown, of Dewey, Wisconsin; and Mrs. Longfellow. Mr. and Mrs. Longfellow have seven children, namely: Charles P., at home; Daisy, wife of George Kindness, of Custer county, has one child ; Lilly, Alice, Johnnie R., Florence and Esther, at home. Mr. Longfel low is widely and favorably known in Custer county as an enterprising and public-spirited citi zen, interested in the progress and welfare of the region. He is an able and ambitious farmer and has made his own way in life, attaining a very fair degree of success in Nebraska. He has a well improved farm in Custer county and also land interests in the state of Wisconsin. He was instrumental in the organization of school dis trict number seventy-four, and for several years served on the board of same. Mrs. Longfellow also served several years as director of the board. Both are well known in many circles and have many friends. ROBERT MARSHALL SEARS. Among the sturdy sons of Old Albion who have found their way to Nebraska and by- thrift and energy secured a competency for thmeselves, may be mentioned Robert Marshall Sears. Mr. Sears was born in the village of Fritten- den, Kent county, England, August 31, 1840. His parents, Henry and Millicent (Marshall) Sears, spent their entire lives in England, the father's death occurring in 1848 at the age of forty-nine, while the mother's life was extended to the year 1879, when she was seventy-eight years of age. When a youth, Mr. Sears was apprenticed to a butcher but was not indentured, so when, at sev enteen years of age, he desired to come to America to join five of his brothers who had pre ceded him here, this preceptor gave consent. Embarking at London in an old sailing ves sel, the "Palestine," April 11, 1857, he landed in New York the twelfth of May and went direct to Syracuse, where his brothers were established. Here he made his home, except during his service in the army, until coming west in the spring of 1869. His mother had instilled in him a hatred for slavishness and slavery in any form, so when the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Sears was one of the first to answer the call of his adopted country. Enlisting April 15, 1861, the Monday after the attack on Fort Sumpter, Company E was assembled May 6, the day the captain re ceived his commission, and was mustered into the Twenty-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry the seventeenth of the month. Mr. Sears participated in both battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness cam paign, campaign at Petersburg, the engagement's around Cold Harbor, the battle on the Weldon rail road, the Shenandoah Valley expedition, includ ing Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, in all thirty-four engagements, great and small, including that of Saylor Creek, the last fight along the Potomac on April 6, 1865. His service was in the third batallion of what was known as the Iron Brigade, first division and first army corps. He was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run and convalesced in the hospital at Philadelphia. The artillery fire in which he was engaged was at and around Cattelett Station, a few days before the second battle of Bull Run. though little mention is made of this in general history, it was one of the deadliest of the war. Serving out his first enlistment, Mr. Sears vet eranized December 29, 1863, and served until the close of the war in the First New York Inde pendent Veteran Artillery. On peace being declared, the army disbanded and Mr. Sears returned to Syracuse and his young wife, whom he had married during a furlough granted him prior to his re-enlistment. For a year or two he engaged in the meat business and later was employed in a silver factory making spoons, forks, and tableware, until his migration to the west in 1869. At Paxton, Illinois, he rented farm land until the fall of 1872, when he removed to Sherburne county, Minnesota, near Elk river, where he farmed for eight years on a homestead tract he entered there. It was during his residence here that Mr, Sears endured the severest winter in his experi ence. Prom November 9, 1880, to the latter part of May following, but one train passed through on the railroad in that country. Drifts in some places where trains were shoveled out, were twenty feet high. Between the cracks of an outer door, snow sometimes drifted into the house to a depth of three feet. Christmas morning in 1879 they awoke with the fires all out and the ther mometer registering seventy-two degrees below zero, the coldest temperature they have known. Leaving Sherburne county, Mr. Sears and fam ily resided for a year in Jackson county and a like period in Martin county, and then in the spring of 1882, he was employed for the summer in the construction of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad in Iowa. In September of that year, he located in Pierce county, Nebraska, and has made this state his home ever since. Pre-empting One hundred and sixty acres of land four miles northeast of Plainview, he bought eighty acres out of a half section of school land which he had leased, and later sold his lease for the remainder. Here he built a comfortable house and for twenty years was engaged in farming, in which he has proven to be a notable success. He loves good stock and always keeps one of the 516 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. best teams in the community. In the fall of 1903, he purchased some twenty acres in the College addition to Plainview, and built a commodious dwelling, which he has occupied since the follow ing spring, having leased his farm. He has planted trees on both the farm and the town place. Mr. Sears was married in Syracuse, New York, in December, 1863, to Miss Laura Squier, a native of Joliet, Illinois. Her parents, George and Lydia J. (Hopkins) Squier, died in the east. Of their eight children, all are living. They are: Charles, residing in Council Bluffs; Hattie, wife of Prank Finney, of Plainview ; Ella, married C. W. David son, and with her daughter, Edith, makes her home with her parents; Ina is the wife of Bert Southwick, of Norfolk; George, employed as con ductor of the Northwestern railway, lives in Norfolk ; Oliver lives in Chicago, Illinois, engaged as a steel expert ; Minnie, married Albert Meeker, who lives near Phillips, South Dakota ; and Leonard is a contractor and builder at Naper, Nebraska. In January, 1909, Mr. Sears attended a re union of his family at the house of Henry Sears, a brother, over eighty years old, at Fabius, New York, whom he had not seen in forty- three years. His sister, who is seventy-one years of age, he had not met in fifty-two years. They are all that is left of a family of nineteen children, fourteen of whom lived to be grown. Mr. Sears has endured the usual privations" of the frontier, weathered the blizzard of 1888, and has fought prairie fires so severe that his eye brows have been scorched off, part of them never growing in again. He has suffered years with rheumatism, especially during *the early years of sod house life, and excepting a touch of that malady he is now as rugged as a much younger man, and bids fair to attain an extreme old age. In politics, Mr. _ Sears affiliates with the repub lican party. HONORABLE LUCIUS C. LAWSON. Prominent among the progressive ranchmen and citizens of Merrick county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this personal his tory. He has long been a resident of this county, and has done his share in the development of this section. He resides on section thirty, township fifteen, range five, being one of the few who still live on their old original homestead, Lucius C. Lawson was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1850, and was the eldest of eight in the family of Harvey and Maria (Stewart) Lawson, who had three sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson were of Quaker parentage. The Lawson family moved to Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, in 1865, where on November 12, 187:J, the father died. Mr. Lawson, the subject of this sketch, practically became the head of the family at his father's death and went out for himself at the early age of fifteen or six teen years. Mr. Lawson came to Merrick county, Ne braska, in October, 1873, and homesteaded land in section thirty, township fifteen, range five, and this homestead ranch and farm is still the resi dence of Mr. Lawson, who, as stated before, is one of the few that still remain on the old orig inal homestead. He now has three hundred and eighty-two acres in his farm, or rather stock ranch, where he deals in stock, making a spe cialty of short-horn cattle, Berkshire swine, and standard bred horses. Mr. Lawson has always been an active figure in the upbuilding of this portion of Nebraska, being foremost in all mod ern improvements for the rural districts, and for educational advancement. In fact, he is a booster for county and state prosperity. Mr. Lawson has traveled extensively, gaining ideas of pro gress, which enables him to assist materially in the development of his community. Mr. Lawson was married to Miss Marian J. Bander in Omaha, Nebraska, October, 1873, Miss Bander being a native of New York state. Six children were born of this union, four of whom are living : Harvey J., married, has two children and lives in Blaine county, Nebraska; Clarence E., a widower, has one child, and also lives in Blaine county; William W., married and residing in Blaine county ; Harrison M., married, has one child, also a resident of Blaine county. All of the boys are on Kincaid homesteads. Mr. Lawson since coming to Merrick county has made the homestead farm his continuous home, although he has resided temporarily in other states and other Nebraska localities, at one time living in Lincoln to school the children. Mother Lawson died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Feb ruary 19, 1908. Mr. Lawson and brothers William and Charles J., are residents of Ne braska, and the remainder of the family are in different states. Mr. Lawson in past years was connected with the Farmers' Elevator and also other business propositions in his county. He has a pleasant home and possesses a fine library, of which he is justly proud. Mr. Lawson is president of the Nebraska Farmers' Congress and a member of the execu tive committee of the National Farmers' Con gress, having been elected to both positions with out any solicitation on his part. He has recently been appointed by the governor as a member of the commission of Nebraska, intended for edu cational work, for giving the farmer a broader and higher education. Mr. Lawson has for years advocated the draining and ditching of the Platte valley, and largely at his suggestion this is being done. He is president of the Merrick County Agricultural Society and a member pf the State Board of Agriculture. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 517 GEORGE WILKISON CHAMBERS. Among the native born Nebraskans whose en tire lives have been spent within the borders of the state, we would be remiss should we fail to mention George Wilkison Chambers, cashier of the Niobrara Valley Bank. He is the namesake of one of his father's most intimate friends, George Wilkison, with whom the father kept up a weekly correspondence to the time of his death. George Chambers is a •son of Benjamin F. and Sarah A. (Hull) Chambers, both natives of West moreland county, Pennsylvania. They came to Nebraska in 1856, and settled in Dakota City, where the father plied his trade of blacksmith, an occupation that gave him a giant's strength in his massive, sinewy frame. He served as sheriff of Dakota county prior to his removal to Niobrara in 1877, when he was appointed regis ter of the land office, a position he filled for eight years; while James Stott and others served as receivers. He was elected county judge and held his place on the bench for six years before retir ing from active life. He died at Niobrara, Ne braska, March 11, 1906, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother lives in Niobrara, having at tained full four score years of life. Of their children, five are living: Belle, wife of John W. Wood, of Hawarden, Iowa; Edwin H., in business at Columbus, Nebraska; George W., of whom we write in this article; Alice B., wife of John W. Turner, of Springfield, South Dakota; and Sarah A., who was married to William C. Mason of Chicago. George Chambers was born in Dakota City, Nebraska, November 6, 1867, and lived there the first twelve years of his life, arriving in Niobrara, May 29, 1879. The family continued to reside in Dakota City some two years after the elder Chambers' appointment to the land office. The first man the boy met on arriving in Knox county was Mr. Prank Nelson, with whom he was later to become associated in business; and the first man he met in town was Judge Solomon Draper, one of Nebraska's grandest pioneers. The boy had begun his schooling in Dakota City and continued in Niobrara, but did not finish the course, being eager to get to work. He began work in the bank even before his school days were over, sweeping out mornings, running er rands and making himself generally useful. On completing his schooling, Mr. Chambers became bookkeeper in the bank, later assistant cashier, and since 1895 has served as cashier of the insti tution of which his old friend, Prank Nelson, is the head. He is also vice president of the Farm ers' State Bank of Verdel, and of the Bank of Lynch, in Boyd county. His whole business life has been spent in banking, which he understands thoroughly in all its departments, including lands and insurance. Mr. Chambers was married in Niobrara, De cember 20, 1889, to Miss May Thompson, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of Robert and Mar garet (Casey) Thompson. Three children have been born to them : Helen, Stewart and Margaret. Mr. Chambers is a staunch republican, and at tained his majority on election day, 1888, when he voted for Harrison and the entire republican ticket. He has joined a number of the branches of the Masonic order, being enrolled in the blue lodge at Niobrara, and in the chapter and com- mandery of the Knights Templar at Bloomfield. Mr. Chambers has vivid recollections of the great flood of March, 1881, when their dwelling, which stood on the highest ground in the old town, had water on the lower floor to the depth of about two inches. With his mother and the younger children, he was cared for the first night at Judge Draper's, and spent a week or ten days following on the Jackson ranch near Bazile Mills, which to a boy was one continuous picnic, he regretting that, with the receding waters, it became necessary to go home. He re members well the moving of the town across the prairie to its present site, and had a boy's share of playing around the big hotel and other build ings on wheels. Their wood-house was above the flood crest,- and in consequence contained the only supply of dry fuel in town. Neighbors bor rowing a small supply had it skidded over to them on the glare ice that formed on the pools left after the water receded. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Chambers was in the bank, but found no difficulty in making his way home, though many lost their bearings in going but a few rods in the storm. He was instrumental in playing a joke on the druggist next door: After clearing the snow away from in front of the bank, he and a friend made a bargain to clear it away from in front of the drug store for "a good cigar apiece," and had twenty helpers before the last of it was shoveled off. The victim of the joke paid each his hire, but found it an expensive piece of work. Mr. Chambers has always been fond of hunt ing, fishing and camping, and well remembers when a hunter could go out into the hills around Niobrara and get forty to fifty prairie chickens after four o'clock in the afternoon. He makes frequent trips to Lake Andes, South Dakota. during the open season, and brings in his share of game and fish. He is known among his friends as a jolly, good fellow, one who can play a good joke, and with an equally good grace take one when played upon himself. As a business man he has no superior, and in knowledge of land values and insurance ranks with the best: GEORGE F. GALYEAN.' George P. Galyean, known throughout Boone county, Nebraska, as a man of good citizenship and untiring energy, is a resident of Albion, where he 518 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Galyean is. a genuine "old-timer," and in the years he has resided in this region he has had much to do with the development of the county, both in a financial and social way. He is one of the foremost men of his locality, and in January, 1908, was appointed deputy sheriff of Boone county, which office he has filled creditably to himself and constituents. Mr. Galyean is a popular officer and is widely known in this section of Nebraska. Mr. Galyean was born in Delaware county, Iowa, November 6, 1869, and was fifth in the family of Jesse B. and Catherine Galyean, who had eight children, our subject being the only son. The Galyean family came into Boone county, Nebraska, in June, 1880, coming overland from Delaware county, Iowa, in regular pioneer style, with stock, etc. Jesse B. Galyean homesteaded eight miles northwest of Albion, and his son, George P. Galyean grew up on the homestead farm, purchasing same in later years, about 1896. Mr. Galyean grew up to his young manhood years on the farm, and went out for himself in about his twenty-first year, farming and stock- raising. He made a success of his business, and some years later sold the farm and purchased four hundred acres of fine land in Custer county. Mr. Galyean was married to Miss Nannie Sutton, December 17, 1890, and to this union three children were born: Elva Viola, Marie Josephine, and George Lee, all of whom reside at home. Mrs. Galyean died in April, 1905. On November 26, 1908, Mr. Galyean was mar ried to Prudence Longnecker, who was a native of Iowa, the family coming to Boone county in 1907. Mr. Galyean has practically grown up in Boone county, and is a successful self-made man. Connected with his. farm experience he has been identified with the stock interests in this locality as a breeder, shipper and general salesman in horses. Mr. and Mrs. Galyean and family reside in Albion and have a pleasant town residence. TURNER GARDNER. A typical pioneer of western Nebraska is rep resented by the gentleman above named. He has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part of the growth and develop ment of this region, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his persever- ence and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremdst citizens of Antelope county. Mr. Gardner was born in Cayuga county, New York, April 13, 1835, and is a descendant of Wales, his grandfather having come from that. country when he was a small boy. Our subject has served his country well dur ing the agitating times of the civil war, when he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty- eighth New Yrork Volunteers, and later in the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, and received his honorable discharge April 24, 1864. He par ticipated in a number of battles, including Cold Harbor; Monockesy Station, Maryland; Cedar Creek. During the war our subject served under Captain Alden, General Lew Wallace and Major General George Wright. In the year 1864, Mr. Gardner went to the state of Michigan from whence he moved in 1875 to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he rented a farm, and in 1878 drove from there to his claim in Antelope county, where he experienced all the inconveniences and hardships relative to those days of the early pioneer. The market place was at Columbus, some sixty miles away. During the grasshopper raids our subject lost everything. During these early days Mr. Gardner at times worked for neighbors and was paid one bushel of wheat per day, which was worth thirty-five cents per bushel when hauled to Fremont. In 1876, Mr. Gardner came to Antelope county, near Tilden. There were but a few set tlers here and they had a great many frights from the red skins, but never had any trouble with them worth mentioning, only one time when they were on the war path and set fire to buildings and murdered some people, but were captured at O'Niell by soldiers before they reached our sub ject's neighborhood. Antelope, deer and elk were plentiful in those days. Our subject built two sod houses in the early days. While in Saunders county when wood was required it had to be hauled by ox team from the Platte river, which journey consumed two days to get a small load of wood. At one time in 1879, Mr- Gardner was caught in a prairie fire and nearly lost his life. His wife only saved their hay and stable by the most strenuous efforts. Mr. Gardner was married July 5, 1858, to Miss Susan Hyde, and two children were born to them, named as follows: Corwin, who married Miss Jennie Sherman, they have four children ; and Anna L., who married Charles Tatro, who have five children. In 1871 our subject's wife died. On December 10, 1872, our subject again mar ried, Miss A. Stanton, to whom seven children were born, whose names follow : Addie, who mar ried R. S. Gibson, who have eight children; Olive; Emma J., who married Paul Dewitt; Ada, who married Albert Irwin, and has four chil dren: Stella, married to J. Jenkins, and has one child; Ray; and Susie, who is married to Prank Adamson. Thus ends the personal history of one of Ne braska's early pioneers who is reaching a good ripe age and whose years have been well spent in the advancement and industry of life. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 519 ALFRED O'BRIEN. Alfred O'Brien, who is an early settler of Nebraska, is a prosperous and successful mer chant of Mason City, where he is well established in his line of business. He is one of the sub stantial and highly respected citizens of the town, interested in everything affecting the progress and development of county and state, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. O'Brien was born at St. Ormonds, province of Quebec, Feb ruary 11, 1855, the eldest of the seven children born to Thomas and Ann (Corcoran) O'Brien. The father was born in Ireland(and at the age of two years was brought by his parents to America, growing to manhood in the state of Vermont. He served in the civil war as a private in Com pany I, Foster's Division, First New York en gineer corp. He resides in Cheruhuser, Clinton county, New York, and is now (1911) eighty- seven years of age. His wife", a native of Port land,. Maine, is of Irish parentage and is now seventy-seven years of age. But one of their children, Alfred, resides in Nebraska; one son lives in Concord, New Hampshire, and one in Boston, Massachusetts ; two daughters in Mon treal, Canada, and a son and daughter in New York. In early childhood Alfred O'Brien accom panied his parents to Clinton county, New York, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in loeal schools. He started out in life on his own account when six teen years of age, being employed by a railroad company. In 1874 he located in Nebraska and for the next eight years made his headquarters at Grand Island, Nebraska, being for this length of time in the employ of the Union Pacific company. He was united in marriage at Grand Island, November 23, 1881, with Ellen McAllister, who was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, daughter of William and Ellen (McTwiggen) McAllister. In the spring of 1882 Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien came to Custer county and homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land on section thirty- five, township fifteen, range seventeen, where they lived some dozen years. He also took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres. While living on his farm he served several years as a member of the school board of district number nine. In 1895 he sold part of his farming inter- , ests and came to Mason City, where he erected his present comfortable modern residence. He still owns a six hundred and forty acre, well equipped stock and grain farm. After coming to Mason City, Mr. O'Brien engaged in hardware and grocery business, in which he met with pleasing success. In 1905 he lost his building by fire and soon afterward erected a fine concrete business block. His business is well established and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large number of patrons. Three children were born to Mr. O'Brien and wife: Evelyn, wife of C. M. Anderson, lives in Broken Bow ; George, deceased, aged nine years ; and Frank L., lives at home, attending the pub lic schools.Having spent so many years in Nebraska, Mr. O'Brien has passed through many periods of the history of the state and is well known in his community, where he has a large circle of friends. Mr. O'Brien has been a Mason ever since he reached his majority, member of one hundred and seventy Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Duel chapter number eleven, of Grand Island, Nebraska ; also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. WALTER M. ALVORD. Walter M. Alvord, who resides on section eleven, township nineteen, range fourteen, Val ley county, Nebraska, was born in Foxburg, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1880, and is second of three children in the family of Benjamin and Alice (Randall) Alvord, who had two sons and one daughter. Mr. Alvord was only a few months old at the time his father and family came to Valley county, Nebraska, and practically all his years have been spent here. Mr. Alvord, senior, had purchased land in Valley county in 1879, and Walter, as he grew up to young manhood years, had the man agement of the farm near Ord while his father attended to his duties as station agent of the Union Pacific railroad at North Loup. On September 16, 1901, Mr. Alvord was mar ried to Miss Ruby Evelyn Bowen, at Ord, Ne braska. Mrs. Alvord is a native of Valley county. Her parents, James C. and Eva (Hall) Bowen, were natives of Illinois and Missouri, respectively. They moved from Wisconsin to Valley county, Nebraska, in 1879, settling on land twelve miles northwest of Ord. They moved to North Loup in 1890, and eight years later to Ord, where they resided until 1907, removing that year to Powers county, Colorado, and now reside on a farm twelve miles from Le Mars. Of their four children, three are living: Ben P., who represents the Standard Oil Company at Ord; Ruby Evelyn — Mrs. Alvord of this sketch; and Ruth Esther. Mr. and Mrs. Alvord have one child, a daughter, Ruby Evelyn. Mr. Alvord moved to his own one hundred and sixty acre farm, located in section eleven, township nineteen, range fourteen, in 1906. He has a fine, modern nine-room dwelling, erected in 1910, heated by furnace and lighted by acetylene gas, and a well equipped farm, with all necessary buildings. An engraving of the home and sur roundings adorns another page of our work. Mr. Alvord is one of the prominent young men of Valley county; he deals in and raises stock, making a specialty of horses, mules and 520 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. swine. He has made a success of farming and stock raising, and is a young man who has a promising future. In politics he is a liberal re publican, and is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Modem Woodmen. With Mrs. Alvord he has also joined the chapter of Royal Neighbors at Ord. BENJAMIN H. ALVORD. Benjamin H. Alvord, who resides in section eleven, township nineteen, range fourteen, Val ley county, Nebraska, was born in Canaan, Columbia county, New York state, August 2, 1849, and was second of five children in the fam ily of Henry Wells and Emily (Chapman) Alvord, who had two sons and three daughters. The Alvord family came from England to America in 1634, in the person of William Alvord, who emigrated from London to the colonies" that year, he being a member of the Skinner Company settling in Salem, Massachusetts. The forefath ers of this William Alvord date back in English history to 1060, supposedly of the family of Afford, then Alward, and later on to the name of Alvord, as it is known today. Helaz Alvord, the father of Henry Wells Al vord, was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts, March 28, 1791, and died at Bloody Brook, Massachusetts, December 12, 1829. Henry Wells Alvord was born in Massachu setts in 1821, and married Emily Chapman at New Lebanon, New York, in 1846. He moved to Pennsylvania in 1857, and there enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment ; among other battles and engagements he participated in that of Fredericksburg, and died in the service, in 1863. The Alvord family, known in English and American history, have had much to do with the revolutionary and civil war history of the United States, and are prominently known in army circles ; the family have furnished soldiers and statesmen of renown and are known in state history ; and in educational fields the Alvord family have taken no small part for many years past. At the close of the war the family scat tered, Mrs. Henry Wells Alvord dying in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1872. Benjamin H. Alvord, the principal subject of this sketch, went out for himself in his early boyhood days and lived in Pennsylvania until coming to Valley county, Nebraska, in November of 1880, the season known throughout the north west as "the winter of the deep snow." Mr. Alvord was united in marriage to Miss Alice Randall in May of 1873, in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and this union was blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Walter, Howard and Belle, who is now Mrs. Ed Walker of North Loup. Mrs. Alvord died' on the home farm, July 4, 1905, survived and deeply mourned by her husband and family. Mr. Alvord was employed on the Erie and Pittsburg r.ailroad some six or seven years be fore coming west, and was in railroad employ from his eighteenth year until 1905; he was an employee of the Union Pacific railroad for twenty- four years, and station agent at North Loup, Valley county, for fifteen years. Mr. Alvord had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Ord in 1879, and about 1905 he and his family moved on this farm, where they now re side, and have a fine new cement nine-room mod ern home, with bath room and numerous closets. A large silo is built into a corner of the barn, making a great convenience in feeding. A view of the home looking across the beautiful North Loup valley is presented on another page of our. work. This is a fine dairy and stock farm and Mr. Alvord makes a specialty of fine bred Hol stein and other pedigreed stock. Howard Chester Alvord, the second son, lives on the farm and works it jointly with his father. Mr. Alvord was again married, October 24, 1907, at Ord, the bride being Mrs. Lida Benson, daughter of Benjamin P. and Mary Ann (Hill) Kingsley, and a native of Pennsylvania. She first married George Benson, who died in the Keystone state. Mr. Alvord and brother, Elias, are the only surviving members of the family. Elias now lives in Washburn, Wisconsin, whither he moved in 1860, and where he is creditably filling the office of district attorney. In politics Mr. Alvord is republican ; he is a member of the Presbyterian church and affilates with the Modern Woodmen of America and the American Nobles, a fraternal order. BART SAZAMA. Bart Sazama, a resident of Pierce county, Ne braska, is one of the earliest settlers of that re gion. He has not only witnessed the wonderful transformation of this country from a wild and uncultivated state to one of prosperity and a region rich in agriculture, but he has assisted in its development and has acquired the highest es teem of those with whom he has associated for many years. He has a home of comfort, and is one of the worthy citizens of his township. Mr. Sazama was born in the village of Ra- donic, Bohemia, August 24, 1850, and is the son of Jacob and Katrine (Haus) Sazama; the former ' is still living in Bohemia at the advanced age of ninety years. Bart Sazama learned the black smiths' trade and followed that occupation in his native country and in Germany two years. In emigrating to America he sailed from "Bremen in May, 1867, for New York, on the steamer "Metropolis." During the fourteen-day voyage, they passed through a very bad storm which lasted four days and three nights. On landing in America, Mr. Sazama went to "VALLEY VIEW STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN H. ALVORD. 'ASH GROVE STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF WALTER M. ALVORD, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 521 the state of Wisconsin, where he worked in the pineries at various places, and in the upper peninsula of Michigan as well. He came to But ler county, Nebraska, in 1878, and after remain ing in David City for a time worked in Colorado, Wyoming and the two Dakotas. He came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1897, and purchased the farm he now owns, which is located in section twenty-seven, township twenty-eight, range three. This was raw prairie, and on it he planted groves and erected all the buildings that make it one of the finest farms in this part of the county. Mr. Sazama was joined in wedlock September 11, 1884, to Miss Kathrina Halwek, a native of the village of Oulikov, Bohemia, born in Febru ary, 1860. She eame to America by way of Bre men, reaching David City in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Sazama are the parents of six children, two of whom are married. They are named as follows: Agnes, Barbara, Jerry, Charles, Tony and James. Agnes married Louis Pochop, and Barbara mar ried Anton Pochop, both living near the old home. ' Mr. Sazama is a mmeber of the Z. C. B. J. society, and was formerly a member also of the C. S. P. S., a similar organization. In polities he votes independently. Mr. Sazama has "experienced many hardships and discomforts in the early days, losing all his cattle and horses in the memorable blizzard of 1888. In 1897 he suffered loss of all his buildings by a cyclone which passed over his place the morning after his aged father had started to re turn to his old country home. Had it occurred a day earlier, all might have been killed. CHRISTIAN HANSEN. Christian Hansen was born in Denmark, May 28, 1817, coming to America in 1871. During the years in his native country he followed black- smithing principally, and was married there in 1860 to Karen Petersen. Mr. Hansen's first loca tion after coming to this country was in Wisconsin, where he spent one year, then came to Howard county, Nebraska, and filed on a claim situated on the northeast quarter of section two, township fourteen, range twelve. After two years he was joined by his wife and two sons, Lars P., and Niels, who grew up in Howard county. Mr. Hansen built up a good home and farm, and died on the homestead May 1, 1886, his burial taking place on the farm. His widow still lives there at the advanced age of eighty-two years. LARS P. HANSEN. Lars P. Hansen was born in Denmark, Septem ber 21, 1861, and as above stated, came to Amer ica with his mother and brother, they joining the husband and father in Howard county in August, 1874. He lived at home, .assisting his parents until his eighteenth year, then began farming on his own account, purchasing eighty acres on sec tion three, township fourteen, range twelve, which he has occupied ever since, and of which he has made a fine homestead. He was married in St. Paul, May 5, 1897, to Mary Juel, who comes of an old pioneer family of Howard county, being born and raised in this section. Mrs! Hansen's parents were Hans Peter and Annie Juel, the former a native of Denmark and the latter of Bohemia. They met and were mar ried in Howard county, to which place Mr. Juel came in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have had five children: William W., Charlie P., Sophia Mag- deline, who died in 1908; Georgina Mary, and Edison Elmer, all bright and intelligent young people, the family being among the popular mem bers of their community. Mr. Hansen is director of school district num ber seventy-eight, and has always taken an active interest in local and county affairs. He has a host of warm friends and is regarded as one of the leading and progressive farmers and stockmen of his locality. ASAHEL WARD. Asahel Ward, retired farmer, son of Phillip and Margaret (Brown) Ward, was born in Bel mont county, Ohio, December 13, 1819. He was ninth in a family of ten children, and is the only one now living. His parents died in Ohio, his father living to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. Ward is a self-educated man, having at tended school but sixteen days, and that after his twenty-first year; he learned the shoe cobblers' trade and later taught school in both Ohio and Iowa. In 1850 he went to Iowa, where he lived for twenty-one years. On December 13, 1862, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hagan, who was born in Pennsylvania. In 1871 he came with his wife and five children to Howard county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres about eight miles northwest of St. Paul. living on same for four years. Mrs. Ward died June 6, 1875, on the home farm, survived by her husband and six children: Harriet A., widow of Richard Todhunter, who died in 1904, resides in California and has six children ; Ella, wife of Joseph McCracken, has eight children, and re sides in California ; Margaret, died May 22, 1876, her husband, Woodford Evans, dying June 8, 1911, leaving one son, Chester; Mary E., died in Iowa in 1885, and her husband, George Blat- tenberg, died December 25, 1892, leaving four children; William W., died March 7, 1890, and his wife some time later, leaving two children ; and Abigal, who died. In 1876, at Grand Island, Nebraska, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Amanda J. Honnold, of Belmont county. Ohio, one of a family of twelve 522 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. children, ten sons and two daughters. In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Ward came to Valley county, Ne braska, living on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-eight, township eighteen, range fourteen, which was homesteaded by Mrs. Ward before her marriage. This remained the home place until November, 1909, when Mr. Ward retired from the farming and moved to Ord, purchasing a good home, where they now live. The homestead he retained until 1910, when he sold it and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, fourteen miles north of Ord. Mr. Ward served as commissioner of Howard county during his residence there ; and while re siding in Warren county, Iowa, he filled the of fice of county treasurer; he has been justice of peace in Nebraska for many years ; postmaster at Cotesfield for four years, and also filled a like office at Mira Valley for twenty-two years ; he has also done some United States government survey work. Mr. Ward was instrumental in organizing school district number ten, and served on the board of directors for a number of years ; indeed, since his majority, Mr. Ward has always been directly identified with school interests. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have three children: Flora A., wife of Charles J. Nelson, lives in Ord, and has three children; Jessie M., who is married to S. W. Roe, lives in Howard county, Nebraska, and they have three children; and John L., who is given a more extended notice on another page of our work. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are numbered among the earliest settlers in this part of the state, and have passed through the usual hard experiences of pioneer life. They are well and favorably known. Although very advanced in years, Mr. Ward is still a progressive man of affairs, interested in all effecting state and county. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge since 1857; and with his wife is a member of the Rebekah degree. He is also a member of the Grand Army of Republic, Foot Post number forty. Mr. and Mrs. Ward both are members of Ord Circle number six, Ladies' Grand Army of Republic. While living in Iowa, in May of 1862, Mr. Ward enlisted in Company K, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry; he raising thirty-six men for the com pany; shortly after enlistment Mr. Ward was discharged on account of illness. In 1864 he raised one hundred and fourteen men for the one hundred day service, and two hundred and three men for three-year service. On February 22, 1864, Mr. Ward again enlisted in Company A, Forty-eight Iowa Infantry as first lieutenant, and received his discharge October 20, 1864, in Davenport, Iowa. PAUL BRUMMUND. Located very pleasantly in section twenty- four, township twenty-four, range one, Madison county, Nebraska, is to be found the highly es teemed gentleman whose name introduces this biographical writing. He and his father before him have been identified with the history of Madi son county from a very early date, and his con tribution to the making of northeastern Nebraska has been considerable. Paul Brummund is a native-born Nebraskan, having been born in Madison county, February 5, 1871; he is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Brummund, natives of Germany, and early set tlers of Nebraska, coming here from Wisconsin in 1868 by ox team, which was the usual mode of traveling in those times. After arriving in the state, they settled in Madison county, where the father took up a homestead in section twenty- four, township twenty-four, range one, first put ting up a sod house, which was later replaced by a dwelling built of logs. During the family's first years of residence in Madison county, some forty-two years ago, the country was but an unbroken, open prairie, with scarcely any habitation, the soil had not been cultivated to any extent, and deer and antelope and wild game roamed the country. Dangers and hardships were encountered by the first few brave settlers who came to this region* to seek their fortunes on the western frontier, and many discouragements and failures were met, not trhe least of these being caused by the grass hoppers which infestedjme region the first seven years that the family settled here, the crops all being destroyed just as they were grown to a promising size and the harvest seemed plenti ful and sure. Mr. Brummund, our subject, was united in marriage May 15, 1894, to Miss Mary Benning, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of John and Annie Benedict. Mr. and Mrs. Brummund are the parents of six children : Emma, Anna, Mary, Martin, Hulda and Helen. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Brummund owns eighty acres of choice land, ten acres of which are given to trees; the land is well improved, and there is a comfortable home, and here our subject and family reside surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. They are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Brummund is a democrat. JOHN CONWAY. John Conway is one of the most prominent business men and largest landholders in central Nebraska, where he has been identified with various interests for about twenty-five years past. He was born at Janesville, Wisconsin, next to the oldest child of Malachi and Bridget (Bowen) Conway. The father was a native of Ireland and came to America when sixteen years of age, locating first at Hoboken, New Jersey. He became one of the "forty-niners" who sought COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 523 gold in California, and his death occurred at Edgerton, Wisconsin, in 1884. The mother, also a native of Ireland, was brought to America when nine years of age, and she died at Edgerton in 1888. They had nine children, of whom those now surviving are : Mrs. Delia Tobin, of Burt county, Nebraska; three sons and two daughters living in Edgerton ; John, subject of this article. Mr. Conway grew to manhood on his father's farm in Wisconsin, acquiring his education in the public schools. Later he engaged in mercantile business in Janesville, Wisconsin, which he con tinued four years. He was married in Janes ville in August, 1885, to Kate Kemmitt, a, native of Wisconsin, who died in 1886, leaving one daughter, Stella, also now deceased. In the fall of 1887, in company with Thomas Tobin, Mr. Conway came to Nebraska looking for a loca tion and was very favorably impressed with the land in Custer county. They returned to Wis consin, where Mr. Conway sold his business in terests, and soon afterward the two young men shipped one hundred and sixty-eight head of cattle to Omaha, whence they drove them to Custer county, where they began ranching. Mr. Conway pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section ten, township twenty, range twenty-four, and Mr. Tobin secured one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining. Mr. Conway also secured one hundred and sixty acres on section nine township twenty, range twenty- four, and still retains ownership of his half- section of land there. On September 2, 1903, Mr. Conway was mar ried in Dale, Custer county, to Miss Josephine M. Dority, daughter of John N. and Martha (Jor dan) Dority, the former a native of Toronto, Canada, and the latter born near Cleveland, Ohio. The father has been connected with the Burlington railroad, and he and his wife now live in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mrs. Conway has a sister in California, and her brother, Matthew, lives at Comstock, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Con way have three children : Dorothy M., John D. and Helen, all at home. Mr. Conway is recognized as one of the sub stantial and public-spirited citizens in his county, where he is well known for his upright methods and has a reputation for honest dealing and pro bity. He is one of the early settlers of the cen tral part of the state and during his residence there has accumulated four thousand, three hundred and twenty acres of land in Custer and Thomas counties. During his five years of resi dence on his homestead he was engaged in mer cantile business at Dunning, and since coming to the county he has always been extensively en gaged in buying and shipping horses and cattle. At the same time he has retained his ranch in terests, spent some time in the live stock com mission business in Omaha and had large feed ing places at Sargent, Nebraska. In 1908 he erected one of the finest modern residences in Merna, where the family now reside. THOMAS SCHUTT. Among the prominent and progressive farmers of Wayne county, may be mentioned Thomas Schutt, who is the owner of a good farm and comfortable home, very pleasantly located in section one, township twenty-seven, range one. He is a gentleman of unusual perseverance and energy, and is classed among the leading citizens of this community. Mr. Schutt was born in the province of Hol stein, Germany, October 1, 1850, and is the son of Hans Henry and Catherine Schutt. He grew up in the little German home, received his educa tion in the excellent school of the village, and as he became old enough, learned the carpenters' trade. During the Franco-Prussian war, Mr. Schutt served his country from 1871 to 1873, and can tell many interesting stories of the engagements in which he took part. After the war was over, he returned to his home, where he remained some years. In 1883, just after his marriage to Miss Mach Dalena Barnholdt, Mr. Schutt and his bride came to America, going first to Port Calhoun, Wash ington county, Nebraska. They lived here for about ten years, and Mr. Schutt worked at his trade of carpenter. They then removed to Wayne county, Nebraska, where the subscriber bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which has been his home since that date. He has since purchased eighty acres more and now owns two hundred and forty acres. When Mr. Schutt purchased his present farm, it was raw prairie. It is all under cultivation now and he has built a good house, barns and out-buildings, and has planted- a grove and orchard. Mr. Schutt has encountered the usual trials and reverses which the early settlers had to con tend with, but they have only served to incite him to greater effort and he is now regarded as one of the solid and substantial citizens of the locality. Mr. and Mrs. Schutt are the parents of six children : Christine, Franc, Ella, Thomas, Wilibert. Rudolph and Alfreda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schutt are well-known and enjoy the respect of a wide circle of acquaint ances. They and their children are members of the German Lutheran church. WILLIAM PHELPS. A resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, for the past twenty-six years, the gentleman herein named has gained the esteem and confidence of 524 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. all with whom he has come in contact by his in dustrious habits and .honesty of dealing with his fellowmen. William Phelps was born in Henry county, Illinois, May 8, 1851, and was second of four children in the family of Bela and Henrietta (Cherry) Phelps who had two sons and two daughters. -Both of Mr. Phelps, parents had been married previous to their marriage — the father to Henrietta Sivley, who died and who was the mother of four children. Our subject's mother at the time of her marriage to Bela Phelps was the widow of William Maxwell by whom she had one child. Mr. Phelps was born on the farm where he grew up to his young manhood and received such advantages in schooling, etc., as Henry county afforded ; and December 12, 1872, Mr. Phelps was married to Miss Mary A. Sidebottom, a native of Illinois, the Sidebottom family being of the pioneers of Henry county, and at their home the daughter was married. In 1873 Mr. Phelps purchased a farm in Fre mont county, Iowa, where he lived until coming to Merrick county, Nebraska, with his wife and four children. He purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres two miles west of Central City which is well equipped, and where he still resides. Mr. Phelps has a good orchard on this farm and raises a fine variety of apples. Joseph Phelps, a half-brother, had come to Merrick county in 1869, and Father Phelps and wife came to visit him in 1883 ; and after the son William and family came to Merrick county, Father and Mother Phelps made their home on the farm of their son James and family. James Phelps came to Merrick county in 1884 and moved to Seward county, Nebraska, in 1888. Father- Phelps died February 20, 1899, in his ninety-first year. Mother Phelps died Septem ber 7, 1907, in her eighty-fourth year. Our subject and wife have had five children born to them, four born in Iowa, and one in Merrick county, Nebraska: Lily, Samuel, Claudie, who reside under the parental roof; Walter, who died in Merrick county in 1884; and Effie, who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps, whilst not of the very first settlers in Merrick county, have assisted in making this portion of Nebraska a prosperous and successful community, using their best ef forts for the betterment of their home and county, and they have the respect and esteem of many friends. JOSEPH F. TICHY. Residing on section ten, township thirty-one, range six, Knox county, Nebraska, is Joseph F. Tichy, who is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his locality. He, and his father before him, have always been important factors in the upbuilding of this region, aiding materially in its development and growth from the time of its early settlement. Mr. Tichy is a native born Nebraskan, his birth having occurred in 1878, in Knox county, which has been his dwelling place through all the years. He is the son of Albert and Mary Tichy, both natives of Bohemia, from which country they emigrated in 1870, coming from Bohemia to the United States. After landing in the United States, they went directly to Chicago, Illinois, remaining there about a year, when, hearing of the golden opportunities offered to those who would brave the dangers and hard ships of the western country to gain free land, they started for the west, locating in Knox county, Nebraska, where the father took up a homestead in section ten, township thirty-one, range six, which remains the old original home stead to the present day, and which is now owned by our subject On this land a log house was built; and here the family endured hard ships and dangers almost beyond belief in those very first days of settlement of the wild western country which as yet had scarcely known the presence of the white man. Indians roamed at will and did not take the white man's advent to this territory in a very friendly manner, and were a source of anxiety and danger to the peace and comfort of those who first set foot on the unbroken prairie lands of the west. The family suffered many privations through the losses and failures of crops from various causes, such as the grasshopper raids, hot winds of the years of drouth, etc. The grasshoppers were the greatest source of hardship, they having de stroyed all the crops for three consecutive years. In 1900 Mr. Tichy was united in marriage to Miss Mary Liski, and Mr. and Mrs. Tichy are the parents of three fine children, namely: Eddie, Vlasty and William. Mr. Tichy owns a fine estate of five hundred and sixty acres, of which thirty acres are given to trees. ERIC NORLING. One of the most progressive and prosperous farmers and stockmen of the northeastern sec tion of Nebraska, is the above-named gentleman, who has been a resident of this locality for many years. He is proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Stanton county, and after many years of hard labor in building up his busi ness, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Norling is a native of the north of Sweden, and was born in 1862, to Eric and Anna Norling. The father was a small farmer, and the subscriber spent his early years on the little farm, receiving his education in the schools of his native land. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 525 In 1880, the subscriber, with his parents, left Sweden for America, coming at once to Stanton county, Nebraska, where they took up the home stead which is now occupied by Mr. Norling. The first thing to be done upon gaining posses sion of their claim was to put up a dugout twelve by twelve, which served as a home for the family for ten years. At this time, a good' substantial frame house took its place. The first years in this country were not mo notonous in any way. During the summer, they had the prairie fires to contend with, and in the winter, there were disastrous blizzards which made traveling, even for a few feet away from the house extremely dangerous. In 1886, Mr. Norling was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Hendrickson. Seven children have been born to bless their home, named as follows: Amy, Hattie, Ida, Leonard, Elfy, Pearl and Kermitt. Mr. Norling has always taken a keen interest in all that affected the interests of his new coun try. The family is prominent in social and edu cational matters, and they are well esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Norling is a director of his school district, and is one of the select men of the county. JUSTUS BUTTERFIELD. Located very pleasantly in section thirty-five, township thirty, range eight, is to be found one of the well known and highly esteemed old set tlers of northeastern Nebraska. This gentleman is Mr. Justus Butterfield, and he has been closely identified with the history of Knox county from a very early date, having come here when the country was very sparsely settled, and he well re members when the plains abounded with wild game, arid Indians were frequently seen in bands near their settlements. Mr. Butterfield is a native - of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and was born October 2, 1850. His father was born in New York, and his mother was a native of the same state. Our subject's boy hood was spent in his native state until he was about eight years old. He then came with his parents to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he fol lowed farming as an occupation until he was twenty-four years old, at which time he came west, driving through from Buchanan county, Iowa, to Knox county, Nebraska, where he filed on a homestead in 1874. His first work was to build a house of rocks, in which he lived for sev eral years. During his early residence in Nebraska, Mr. Butterfield and his family went through their share of the hardships which met every pioneer on the frontier, experiencing failures of crops, grasshopper raids, severe storms, etc. ; but they had the courage to endure, and in the years of plenty that followed those times, have managed to accumulate a fine property and establish a per manent home. His holdings consist of two hun dred and eighty-eight acres of land, every part of it under good improvement, except eight acres of timber. Mr. Butterfield was united in marriage in Oc tober, 1877, in Knox county, to Miss Queiney Canning, a native of Wisconsin, who came to Ne braska with her parents, William and Mariette Canning, in 1874. To them have come eleven children, named as follows: Henry, Hiley, Laur ence, Eva, Elmer, Willard, Marvel, Merle, Clar ence, Mabel and Claude. Merle, Mabel and Claude are now deceased, all having died from diphtheria and membraneous croup in October, 1910. Mrs. Butterfield died May 2, 1906. RIpHARD R. MARTIN. Richard R. Martin, a prosperous and public- spirited citizen of Custer county, is a self-made man and one who has many friends. He is an early settler of the state and has passed through many stages ' of its history. In years past he spent considerable time in helping to locate home steaders on government land, for which work he was well fitted by training and experience. In his youth he hunted and trapped through the west and many times acted as guide to parties desiring to hunt buffalo. For the past few years he has devoted much attention to real , estate, dealing chiefly in land in Texas and Old Mexico. Mr. Martin was born in Dodge county, Wis consin, January 1, 1854, next to the youngest of the eight children of Noah and Hannah (Prest) Martin, the father a native of New York state and the mother of Pennsylvania. His three brothers, Jerry, John and Asa, and also two sisters. Mrs. Ordelia Dimery and Mrs. Caroline Tidyman, live in Seward county, Nebraska, and another sister, Mrs. Hattie Conway, lives in York, Nebraska. Mr. Martin's father was of Irish descent. He served in the civil war as a private in the Third Wisconsin Infantry, for two years. In the fall of 1868 he settled in Nebraska, and in 1869 took up a homestead in York county, being murdered on his way to the homestead from York, Decem ber 10, 1879. He was a millwright, and intended starting the next day to build a mill in Harlan county, one hundred and twenty-five miles west. His sons completed the work the following year. His widow died at Beayer Crossing, Seward county, Nebraska, in 1894. Richard R. Martin grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving his education in local schools, and later engaged in farming and in the milling business. On November 28, 1876, in York county, he was united in marriage with Emma Lezotte, daughter of Charles and Mary (Little) Lezotte, and a native of McHenry county, Illinois. She came with her parents to Seward county in 1874, her father being a homesteader 526 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. there. He was born in New York, of French de scent, and died at Beaver Crossing, in 1895. Mrs. Lezotte was born in Vermont, also of French de scent, and now lives at . Beaver Crossing. Mrs. Martin has four brothers and two sisters in Ne braska. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Martin brought his wife and their two sons to Custer county, and shortly thereafter pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Mason City. The fol lowing year he erected the first flouring mill in the county, at Algernon, its capacity being one hundred barrels per day. The railroad refusing to make a station here, the town and mill were abandoned. He hauled one hundred and seventy- six loads of lumber and machinery from Kearney, a distance of about fifty miles. Mr. Martin has operated three different mills in the vicinity, the Algernon mill, followed by the Old Muddy Mill near Litchfield, and a mill three and one-half miles south of Mason City and known as the Mason City mill ; he remained in the business for twenty-one years. He has added to the home farm until he now has a ranch of seven hundred and twenty acres of improved and well equipped farm land, including the original pre-emption, on which he erected a comfortable cottage in 1905, and which remained the home place since he lo cated there until the fall of 1911, when he built a fine seven-room dwelling east of the creek. This is lighted with acetylene gas, and is piped for water, which is supplied from a five hundred barrel cistern on the hill, giving a pressure of one hundred and ten feet. Mr. Martin has always been deeply interested in the progress and development of his locality, and is one of the best known men in central Ne braska. While a resident of York county he acted as locater of homesteads for several years, and had many meetings with the Indians in those early days. When the railroad was built in Cus ter county, he had a contract for forty miles of repair work along the line. He is interested in various mining propositions and has valuable holdings of land in the. southern and western states. He and his wife have traveled widely through the south, west and east, in connection with their various interests or for pleasure. He served for some years as director of his school district, number twelve, and has always been the friend of progress and education. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had five children: Charles W., married and living on the old home place, has one son ; Asa C, Jennie E., who has a school of cutting and fitting at Broken Bow, under a system of which she is the patentee, Emma C. and Tda M., at home. Mr. Martin is republican in politics, and a member of the Odd Fellows. He is a typical westerner in his hospitality, and even goes most of them one better. While many object to having the public cross their land, this jovial Nebraskan has a sign posted at the mouth of a lane on his south line, "Welcome, Road Here. R. R. Mar tin." This "welcome road" is a great accommo dation, as it is the only convenient cross road in several miles. MELVILLE B. GOODENOW. Melville B. Goodenow, who for the past forty years has been a resident of Valley county, Ne braska, is one of the few old settlers who still live on the old homestead farm. He is one of the oldest settlers of Valley county, and has wit nessed the country grow from a wild, bleak, wind-swept prairie to a land of beautiful homes and groves, occupied by intelligent, contented and prosperous people. He has coped with the varying fortunes of pioneer life and has surround ed himself with the satisfying evidences of work well done. Mr. Goodenow was born on French Mountain, at the head of Lake George, in Warren county, New York, March 11, 1844, and was the only child of Royal and Marilla (Griffin) Goodenow, both natives of New York. The father died in Iowa, March 21, 1911, at the age of ninety-one years, and the mother died in her native state in March of 1844, shortly after Melville's birth. About 1848 our subject went with his father to Clinton, Iowa, where he was raised on a farm anci received his education. On September 20, 1861, Mr. Goodenow en listed in Company I, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, re ceiving his honorable discharge in January of 1864, at Shawalee, Tennessee. Here he re-en listed and served until February of 1866, receiv ing his final discharge at Davenport, Iowa. The battles engaged in were at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the two battles at Corinth dur ing the siege of that place; during the last of these battles the troops fought seven times over the same grounds in dense woods; Iuka, and two battles at Jackson, Mississippi, Clinton, Mississ ippi, the Siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Meridian, Red River, Oxford, Tupelo, Nashville, and Mobile, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. His regiment, under General A. J. Smith's command, was at Montgomery when the news of Lee's surrender and Lincoln's death reached them. After the war he returned to Clinton county, Iowa, where he followed farm ing until 1870, when he moved to Woodbury county, locating near Sioux City. On January 18, 1868, in Dewitt, Iowa, Mr. Goodenow was married to Miss Minetta Coffin, of New York birth. It is an interesting coinci dence that Mr. Goodenow 's father and himself, as well as his wife, were all born in the same house, in Warren county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Goodenow have had four children, namely: Claude, who died in 1898, while in service during the Spanish-American war; Maude, married N. E. Jackson, and lives in Valley county, Nebraska ; £.:--.¦•.."¦ "MEADOW BROOK FARM," RESIDENCE OF M. B. GOODENOW. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 527 Irene, who is married to L. N. Kennedy, has six children, and lives in Custer county, Nebraska; and Marilla, deceased. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Goodenow made a trip into Nebraska from Sioux City, driving a light rig, and with an Indian for a guide drove up Cedar river, crossing to" Long Pine, thence south to Burwell by way of the Calamus, look ing for a location. In the spring of 1872 he first pre-empted, but later homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Valley county, the northwest quarter of section six, township fifteen, range twenty, north; also filed on a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Goodenow was joined by his wife and two children, and he and his family are still residing on the old homestead farm. The dwelling now stands on the timber claim, on which forty acres of most excellent timber is standing, making a most beautiful grove, in which all neighborhood picnics are held. Mr. Goodenow is a proserous man of affairs, owning seven hundred and twenty acres of stock farm land, where he has a fine herd of Aberdeen and Angus cattle. He is a stockholder and di rector of the First National Bank of Ord, Ne braska, the First National Bank at Burwell, Ne braska, and vice president of a Savings Bank at Wall Lake, Iowa. He was instrumental in or ganizing school district number one, of which he also served as moderator, and he also served as sheriff of Valley county in the years of 1875 and 1876. Mr. Goodenow has passed through the Valley county pioneer years, sharing all the experiences. He well remembers the Indian days, knowing many of the tribe personally, and has in his pos session the tomahawk that belonged to Chief Crazy Horse during his career in the west. Mr. Goodenow is the earliest settler in the upper val ley of the North Loup in Valley county, settling there before Fort Hartseff was established. He remained here, holding down his claims, after the commandant of the fort had ordered all settlers to abandon their claims and come in for pro tection. He has fought Indians, and was person ally acquainted with all the noted chiefs, Spotted Tail, Black Bird, Crazy Horse, Man-afraid-of-his- horses and Snow-in-the-face, who ranged the plains of Nebraska at the time of settlement. To keep them from stealing his horses for the first three years, he hid them out every night in the canyon, changing their hiding place after dark so the marauders could not find them where they were seen feeding in the evening. Seven were stolen from neighbors above him in the valley and eleven below, but his caution saved him any loss. His saddle mare could smell an Indian before her owrier could see him, and gave him warning of their approach. One time they were stam peded and driven as far as North Loup, where they were recovered, while the man was caught on Mira creek. Once when his circumstances were in a criti cal condition and a loan was refused him at Grand Island, he rode to Sioux City and return, a dis tance of seven hundred miles, for fifteen dollars that was due him, and saved the day. It was while returning from this trip, when nearing home, he came near riding into a camp of hostile Sioux on the war path after their Pawnee enemies. Seeing them around thier campfire as he came over the crest of a hill at dawn, he backed his horse down and rode around to a place where he could watch them in safety. On their leaving, he rode to their camp and appeased his hunger from the remains of a deer on which they had been feeding while in camp there. He had been riding night and day on the trip, and at times was with out food for twenty-four hours or more. On reaching home, exhausted as he was, he paused not for sleep or rest, for he learned that the sol diers and officers at Fort Hartseff intended filing on land he and other settlers occupied. Snatching a hasty morsel of food, he journeyed on, and at dusk overtook the army wagon of soldiers on the way to the land office at Grand Island. He lagged along until night, pulled his hat down over his face to keep from being recognized if seen, and, when the soldiers were housed in the hotel at West Point, rode -on through to Grand Island that night, put his exhausted horse in a barn, and perched himself at the door of the land office to await the break of day and the coming of the officials in charge. When open he filed on his own claims and those of all his neighbors who were bona fide settlers, and then started out in search of food and to care for his faithful horse that had carried him over seven hundred miles at a time when the delay of a few hours meant financial ruin. On emerging from the office he was met by the sol diers, who had taken an early start, and thought they had outdistanced him. Tliey were chagrinned to know he had saved his own land and that of his neighbors, and be it to the shame of some of the latter, they never repaid Mr. Goodenow their fil- ' ing fees which saved their land. After his family joined him, Mr. Goodenow never went far from home without taking them with him, for there was danger of an Indian raid at any time. Deer and antelope were so plentiful that they might be seen in herds of a hundred or more most any time. Mr. Goodenow has killed hundreds of them, at one time bringing down four elk in one day. Wild turkeys were plentiful, and furnished a most palatable food to the settlers. He became so excellent a hunter that his fame spread to the states east of the Mississippi, and prominent men from Indiana and Ohio came out annually to hunt in this region, insisting that Mr. Goodenow act as their guide. When Mr. Goodenow settled on his claim, Mr. Mortensen and his colleagues were still living in their wagons,- not yet having had time to build the dugout that later became noted in local an nals. Mr. Goodenow 's first dwelling was a log 528 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. cabin with a dirt floor, to build which Mr. Goode now rafted the logs across the river from Cedar Canyon. In this cabin was held the first Christ mas celebration, a Christmas tree and dance ; a cotton rabbit for the child gave it more pleasure than most elaborate presents have ever done since. Those were days of helpfulness and good cheer, and, although times were hard and pleasures few, every one was friendly and kind — as many have expressed it, "those were the happiest days of our lives. ' ' Mr. Goodenow was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church, is a member of the Grand Army, and a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Burwell, having transferred from Ord. In poli tics he is independent. WILLIAM E. POWERS. William E. Powers, for many years a prosper ous business man of Pierce county, Nebraska, has a pleasarit home at Pierce. He has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business at that point since July 1, 1902, during which time he has prospered in a marked degree, and is now classed among the wealthy and successful residents of that portion of the state. Mr. Powers was born in Henry county, Iowa, on July 20, 1863. His father, Ira C. Powers, was a native of Indiana, and was married in Iowa, making that state his home for many years after wards. He was a member of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serv ing for about six months, at the close of the war returning to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and making that his home until his death, which occurred in 1897. There our subject was reared, and was well acquainted with that city's distinguished citizen, General Lew Wallace, who was also an intimate friend of both his father and grandfather. Mr. Powers was graduated from the high school there, and then entered the Journal office and learned the printers' trade, remaining up to 1885, when he came west, locating at Des Moines, Iowa, and securing a position with the Register and Leader. He next was with the Commercial, of Hawarden, then filled the "easy chair" as editor of the Sioux County Leader, at Orange City, Iowa. His next move was to Caldwell, Kansas, there editing the Daily Journal until its discon tinuance, being transferred to the Weekly News and becoming foreman in that establishment. After a short time there he became telegraph editor, reporter and compositor for the Daily Traveler at Arkansas City, Kansas, then pur chased a half interest in the Plainville, Kansas, Weekly Times. This purchase was made entirely on credit at twelve per cent interest and the debt was paid inside of three months. In July, 1891, he sold this business and came to Pierce, purchas ing the "Leader," which he built up into a pros perous journal with a greatly increased circula tion, retaining the ownership up to July, 1903, at that time engaging in the real estate business as above mentioned. Mr. Powers was married at Ainsworth, Ne braska, on November 15, 1887, to Emme E. En derly, who was born near New Chicago, Iowa, and whose parents were well known pioneers in Brown county, Nebraska, now residing in Mad ison county. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have had four children, namely: Robert M., who is an expert stenographer, associated in business with his father; Ira Christian, who died in June, 1907, at the age of fifteen, Bryan Allen and Ellen, the two latter at home. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Powers took an extended trip to the Pacific coast, visiting many points of interest, returning greatly benefited in health by their travels. Mr. Powers has been almost a lifelong demo crat, and during the administration of Cleveland was honored with the postmastership of Pierce. He has also served in the city council for several terms. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Royal High landers, and Modern Woodmen of America, of Pierce. GEORGE W. McCLOUGHAN. George W. McCloughan, a prominent old set tler of middle Nebraska, resides in St. Paul, Howard county, and is widely known as a man of industrious habits and good business ability. Mr. McCloughan was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, September 20, 1844, and was the eldest child in a family of five boys. He grew up in his native county, receiving a common school education, and at the breaking out of the war, enlisted in the army, beginning his service on August 9, 1861, in Company H, Sixth New Jer sey Volunteer Infantry, remaining with his regi ment up to October of the following year, when he was transferred to Troop B, Second United States Cavalry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war. He was mustered out February 14, 1866, receiving his discharge at Fort Kearney, Nebraska, having been sent to this state in the early fall of 1865 on frontier service. During his career as a soldier he took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Gettysburg, and Wil liamsburg, besides numerous other skirmishes, re ceiving slight wounds at the battle of the Wilder ness and at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia. He has a war record of which he is justly proud, and is a prominent member of Camby Post num ber eight, Grand Army of the Republic; depart ment of Nebraska. In the spring of 1866 Mr. McCloughan located in Nebraska City, where he followed farm work for about six years, then filed on a claim in Adams county. He made that vicinity his home for about fourteen years, engaged in farming and COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 529 stock raising, and succeeded in accumulating a comfortable property and building up a nice home. He then disposed of his holdings and re moved to Clay county, afterwards to Howard county, arriving at the latter place in the spring of 1888. After two years here he went to Loup county, remained there for two years, and again returned to Howard county, where he has since resided, having established a permanent home in St. Paul. Mr. McCloughan was married May 25, 1867, at Nebraska City, to Miss Melinda R. Davis, County Judge Dickey officiating. Mrs. Mc Cloughan is a native of Illinois, born in 1852. They have eight children, namely: Prank F., married and living on Davis Creek, in the north ern part of Howard county, he being the father of eight children; William J., married, living in Kansas with his wife and three children; George A., married and living in Howard county, he has one child ; Thomas A., married and living in Col orado with his family of two children ; Dennis L., of Hastings, Nebraska, single ; Lucy Ann, wife of Charles Crowe, they have three children and re side in St. Paul ; Nettie M., wife of William Burk, living on a farm southwest of St. Paul, and Stella May, married to John McCormick, and living in Lincoln, Nebraska. JOHN VANDEGRIPT. Honorable John Vandegrift, the oldest of nine children, was born near Hammonton, New Jer sey, September 10, 1854, and lived in his native state until his seventeenth year, when the family moved to Davis county, Iowa, residing there two and a half years, since that time he has lived in Sherman county, Nebraska. The Vandegrift fam ily own one of the large grain and stock farms of central Nebraska and are among the most influ ential and successful operators in the region, trading and shipping many cattle each year, and also handling Duroc Jersey swine. The parents, Edward and Hannah Ann (Chew) Vandegrift, with their eight children, moved from New Jersey to Davis county, Iowa, in October, 1870. The fattier worked at the trade of blacksmith and his sons farmed there for a few years, and in June, 1873, the family, consisting of the parents and eight children — John, Hannah Mary, Israel O, Angeline, Benajah (now de ceased), Edward K, Lambert C. and Clara 0. — came with a team to Sherman county, Nebraska, the journey lasting from May 1 to June 15. They had two mule teams and brought their household goods in wagons. The father secured a homestead on the northwest quarter of section ten, township fourteen, range fourteen, and this was the nucleus of the present large estate. The father remained on this homestead until his death, which occurred about 1886, and it is still the home of his widow, who lives with her children, being now in her eightieth year. One child was born after the 18 family came to Nebraska, Lyndia Etta, now de ceased. The children all reside in Sherman county except Edward K, who resides in Dawes county, Nebraska. With John Vandegrift live his brothers, Israel C. and Lambert, his sister Angeline, his sister Clara and her husband, C. P. Hays, and all help in operating and managing the farm. They now have nine hundred and sixty acres of land in the county and are known as able and enterprising farmers, being among the most prosperous in the region. They still retain the original homestead and have passed through the pioneer stage of their experience. In their early days in the new home they encountered many trials and difficul ties, over which they were victorious, and the success that now attends their efforts is the result of untiring industry and thrift. They had few neighbors in the beginning, but are now sur rounded with friends and acquaintances and ac corded the highest respect and esteem by all who have had any dealings with them, whether of a business or social nature. John Vandegrift has always been much inter ested in public affairs and has worked untiringly in the interest of the advancement of all meas ures he considers beneficial to the county or state. He is well liked and popular and has served in various positions of public trust and honor. In 1884 he was elected supervisor and for several years he was an officer of school district number two. In 1899 he was elected a member of the lower house of the state legislature and was re elected in 1901, serving two terms. He is pro gressive in his ideas and is able to present his views in a manner tb insure their respectful con sideration. He is a man of stability and influence in any circle and is enthusiastic in his support in what he considers right. Mr. Vandegrift is a populist in political belief and a member of the Seventh-day Baptist church. CARL FREDERICK HAASE. Carl Frederick Haase, whose name is familiar to nearly all the residents of Madison county, Ne braska, is a worthy representative of the pro gressive farmer of northeastern Nebraska. He was one of the very earliest settlers of this county, coming here in 1869, and has lived here continu ously since that time. Carl Frederick Haase, retired farmer, son of Fritz and Frederica (Uttecht) Haase, was born in Germany, January 2, 1848 ; he received his edu cation in the schools of his native land, and tried various business enterprises before coming to America. Hearing through a cousin, who had been in America for some years, of the homestead law enacted in Nebraska, he decided to come to this country where larger opportunities were offered. So in July of 1869, Mr. Haase came to America, locating in Madison county, Nebraska, homestead: 530 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ing one hundred and sixty acres of land in section nine, township twenty-four, range one, which re mained his home place for thirty-five years. On September 26, 1873, Mr. Haase was mar ried to Miss Louisa Maass, also a native of Ger many, who came to America in April, 1873, and they are the parents of thirteen children, four of whom are deceased ; the names of all the children being as follows : - Ludwig, who is married and has four children, lives in Knox county, Ne braska ; Sarah, died in infancy ; Martin, also died in infancy ; Fred, deceased ; Mary, married to Ar thur Conrad, has five children, and lives in Nor folk ; Martin, married and lives in Wayne county, Nebraska, has three children; Emma, married to Herman Wachter, lives in Madison county, Ne braska, and has three children ; Fred, married and lives in Battle Creek, Michigan ; Selma, married to John Rice, lives in Warnerville, Nebraska; Otto, deceased ; and Linna, Paul and Minnie, who reside at home. Our subject is prosperous and successful, own ing four hundred and sixty acres of land, most of which is under cultivation. He is an independent, politically, and served his township as road super visor for ten years in the early days, during which time the first bridges in the township (number twenty-four) were built. He was precinct as sessor for three terms, and for nine years was di rector of his school district (number twenty), which he was instrumental in organizing. Mr. and Mrs. Haase are among the earliest pioneers of Madison county, and have passed through all the various phases of its history. In 1905 they retired from the farm, moving to Nor folk where they built a good home, where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Haase have both been active members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church since 1870, indeed, they were among the organizers of the first church in their locality. It may not be amiss to here state that Mr. Haase paid his first personal tax in 1870, which was five cents in cash. The family is highly esteemed by all who know them, and Mr. and Mrs. Haase are enjoying the latter part of their life as they should after their early endeavors. They are genial, contented and happy, and richly merit the success that has come to them. WILLIAM R. LOHR. William R. Lohr, of Merna, Nebraska, where he has various business interests, is one of the old settlers of Custer county, where he has a large acquaintance and many friends. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, third born of the nine children of Solomon and Sarah (Sidles) Lohr, and first saw the light of day May 10, 1852. Be sides William R., those of the children now sur viving are: Mrs. Emma Trexler, of Bennett, Ne braska ; Mrs. Alice Steele, of Lincoln ; Mrs. Laura Rickard, of Bennett ; one son in Utah, one daugh ter in the state of Washington, one daughter in Illinois and one daughter in Wisconsin. The father was born in Germany and died at Pontiac, Illinois, in 1865, and the mother, a native of Penn sylvania, is living in Bennett, Nebraska. In early childhood Mr. Lohr went with his parents to Stephenson county, Illinois, and there grew to maturity, being reared to farm work and receiving his education in the public schools. Later he engaged in farming for himself and in 1871 went to Woodbury county, Iowa, going to Otoe county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1876. On March 24, 1878, in Bennett county, Nebraska, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Brenizer, a native of Illinois, and daughter of David K. and Margaret (Gabriel) Brenizer. In the fall of 1882 he brought his family to Custer county, taking up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, on section thirty-two, township eighteen, range twenty-two. The follow ing spring he brought his family to the homestead with an ox team and wagon, and began improving and developing a stock and grain farm. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and was instrumental in organizing school district number fifty-two, of which he served as treasurer several years. He and his wife have had six chil dren, namely: Mabel, wife of Ray Hicks, of Merna, has five children; Ralph D., of Montrose, Colorado, has two children; Charles O., of Ogden, Utah ; Ross W., at home, and two children who died in infancy . Mr. Lohr is an early Nebraskan and has passed through its periods of greatest progress and de velopment, in which he has done his share. He is successful as a stockman and in business affairs and owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of land, all in Custer county. He is extensively en gaged in stock business and also holds an interest in the farmers' elevator at Merna, Nebraska. He lived on and operated his homestead until 1904, when he came to Merna and purchased a fine resi dence now occupied by the family. The family are prominent in many circles. GUS BACKHOUS. Among the prominent settlers of eastern Ne braska we mention the name of Gus Backhous as being one of the best known from the fact that he has spent the past twenty-nine years of his career in this region, and during that time has devoted his best efforts to aiding in the development of the natural resources of this part of the country, and helped to build up the community in which he chose his home. Mr. Backhous is a Prussian, being born in Freidrich Gnade, Germany, in 1867, and is the son of William and Lena (Burns) Backhous. Our COMPENDIUM OP LIISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 531 subject's father served his native country in the war between Prance and Germany in 1870 and 1871, and died at the age of twenty-eight years. In due time Mrs. Backhous was married again, this time to Mr. John Seefield. Mr. Backhous while in Germany lived twen ty-five miles from Berlin from whence he came to America and settled in Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, where he resided eight years and then came to Pierce county, where he owns a good, well improved farm, upon which is one acre of fine trees. His land is located in the northeast quar ter of section sixteen, township twerity-eight, range two. In the year 1891, Mr. Backhous was married to Miss Anna Leauellan, a descendant from Ger many, and from this union were born eight chil dren, whose names are as follows: Frank, Fred, Ella, Rudolf, Viola, Johnny, Herman, Lawrence and Lillian. Our subject votes the democratic ticket in politics, and is a member of the German Luth eran church, and is respected by all who know him. ALFRED A. MORSE. Alfred A. Morse, a leading old settler of Mer rick county, Nebraska, who has gained an en viable reputation as a progressive agriculturalist and worthy citizen, resides in Clarks, Nebraska, where he has a pleasant home. He settled in this locality about forty years ago, and is closely iden tified with the history and the development and growth of agricultural and other interests of this region. Alfred A. Morse, son of Cornelius and Mary (Hutchings) Morse, was born in New York state, July 28, 1838, and was second in a family of six children; and has one brother and one sister re siding in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the others being deceased, as are also the parents, the father hav ing died in Merrick county, Nebraska, January 5, 1888, and the mother on May 8, 1894, in Mil waukee, Wisconsin. In 1845 our subject went with his mother to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he received his education, and later worked as painter. In the spring of 1861, Mr. Morse went to New York state on a visit and while there enlisted in Company H, Fifty-first New York Volunteer In fantry for three years, but after six months' ser vice was discharged on account of disability and returned to Wisconsin. On August 15, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fourth Wiscon sin Infantry, serving but a few months when he was again discharged on account of illness. Mr. Morse participated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. After the war he re turned to Wisconsin and to his trade of painting. On November 19, 1863, Mr. Morse was married to Miss Amanda Raymond, who was born in New York state. In the spring of 1871 Mr. and Mrs. Morse came to Merrick county, Nebraska, home- steading one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-eight, township fifteen, range five, and in the following fall moved on to the homestead which remained the home place for seventeen years, then going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they remained about six years; then returned to Clarks, Merrick county, Nebraska, where they purchased a good home which is their present re siding place. However, Mr. Morse kept his home stead until 1908, when he sold. In the early days Mr. Morse helped to organize his school district, number twenty-five, and served as director of same for many years. Mr. Morse also helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal church in Clarks, in March, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Morse were among the first settlers of Merrick county, and have experienced all the inconveniences and hard ships of frontier life, and are widely and favor ably known. Mr. Morse is a member of Thorn- burg Post number twenty-seven, Grand Army of the Republic, indeed, is one of the charter mem bers of the organization, and the only one of the original membership left in Clarks. RANSOME KILE. The venerable Ransome Kile, now retired from active life, has been a resident of Nebraska since February 10, 1884. He is a native of Knox county, Ohio, making his advent to his father's family December 23, 1835. Two years later his parents moved to Lake county, Indiana, and here Ransome Kile grew to manhood on his father's farm. After marriage he farmed for himself in Lake county, and about 1861 removed to Cass county, Iowa, where he resided about two years. Returning to Lake county, he soon after enlisted in 1863 in Company A, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer In fantry and served ten months; he re-enlisted in Company E, Thirty-third Regiment and served until the close of the war. His company joined Sherman after his march to the sea, somewhere in North Carolina, and was near Martha's Vine yard, north of Raleigh, when news of Lee's sur render reached him. Mr. Kile was on picket duty at the time and was at a loss to know the meaning, as there was shooting going on within their camp and bullets were cutting off leaves from the trees around him. He soon learned that his comrades were celebrating with whole cartridges, though they had been ordered to draw the ball before loading. After participating in the Grand Re view, having marched from Raleigh to Washing ton, he returned to his Indiana home and little family. Farming here until the fall of 1879 he again migrated to Cass county, Iowa, where he re sided the last four years prior to his settlement in Nebraska. Securing a quarter section in Ante lope county west of Plainview, he occupied his farm until 1903, when he moved to Plainview. He 532 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. had tried renting the farm, but the soil and build ings were deteriorating under a tenant, so he sold his land and built two houses in town. For these he finds good tenants, and makes his home al ternately with his children. Ransome Kile is a son of John and Sarah (Laf- lar) Kile, both natives of Pennsylvania ; the father died at the age of twenty-four when our subject was only two years old; the mother died at the age of forty-three. Mr. Kile was married in Lake county, Indiana, in September, 1855, to Mary Powers, a native of Providence, Rhode Island. Her birth occurred April 6, 1837, and she died December 9, 1907. They have three sons living: Doctor W. T. Kile, of Plainview, who is given notice on another page ; Levi E., of Verdel ; and M. L., a jeweler of Creigh ton, who married Maude L., daughter of T. J. Buckmaster, who is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. M. L. Kile and wife have one son, Marvin Wendell Kile. On coming to Nebraska Mr. Kile lived a short time in a sod house with a frame lining ; there was a good cellar under it — something few houses of the country had at that time. He brought grape vines and fruit trees from Iowa and these lived safely through the winter in the cellar. Like most of the early settlers they burned hay, corn, and cornstalks when other fuel was scarce and corn brought only ten cents in the local market. The most he ever sold corn for was fourteen cents. A severe hailstorm, such as sometimes passes over the west, one year, beat his growing corn into the ground, leaving but short stubs; these, however, sprouted again and produced thirty-five cents a bushel corn. Success attended his efforts in the west, and Mr. Kile is enabled to pass his declining years in peace and comfort surrounded by his children. EDWIN EVANS. The gentleman whose name heads this review, is probably one of the best known men of Boone county, Nebraska, having served as sheriff dur ing the past six years, prior to that time being for many years a successful agriculturalist and stockman of North Branch precinct. Edwin Evans was born in Dane county, Wis consin, on December 10, 1857. He was the eldest in a family of thirteen children born to George and Rena Evans. When he was three years of age his parents moved into Dakota, where they re mained but a short time, then went to Black Hawk county, Iowa. There the father took a farm and they occupied it for seven years, finally return ing to Dane county, Wisconsin, where Edwin as sisted his father in carrying on the home farm. In 1874, father, mother and nine children left Wisconsin and moved to Boone county, Iowa, making that their home for the following nine years, then the entire family came on to Ne braska, locating on school section sixteen, town ship twenty-two, range five. They engaged im mediately in farming and stock raising, and went through. the usual pioneer experiences, but soon got-their farm in good shape, and were successful in raising good crops and improving their farm with good buildings of all kinds, our subject re maining on the homestead up to 1904, when he settled on an eighty acre farm of his own, situ ated on section twenty-one, township twenty-two, range five, which he had purchased some time previously. Mr. Evans' mother died on the home farm No vember "28, 1903, and his father's death occurred on April 29, 1909, he being in his seventy-third year. There are ten children living, all of whom are residents of Boone and Madison counties. Our subject was married on March 16, 1904, to Mrs. Julia Julson, who was a widow with one child, Clarence Julson. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Reuben and Gladys, both charming children. Mr. Evans is a man widely known and greatly respected in his locality, and is one of the truly self-made men of his times. He is active in local affairs, and in the past has held different public offices. He is politically a democrat, and was first elected sheriff of Boone county in the fall of 1905, assuming charge of that position January 1, 1906. He has since been re-elected, twice in 1907 and 1909, serving now his third term, which will ex pire January 1, 1912. JOHN B. ROBINSON. John B. Robinson came to Nebraska when the eastern part of that state was, as you might say, still in its infancy, and has remained here through all the changes that have taken place in the past twenty-three years, aiding materially by his in fluence and means in the development of its nat ural resources. He occupies a high position as a worthy citizen and prominent old timer, and de serves prominent mention for his patriotism and loyalty for the state of his adoption. Mr. Robinson is a native of Delaware county, Iowa, and was born January 4, 1869. His father, James B. Robinson, was born in 1822 in Ireland, coming to America in 1844 from County Vermana, Ireland. Our subject, Mr. Robinson, came to Ne braska in 1887, settling in Stanton township, then went to Neligh, where he worked four years, then to Garfield county. In October 1895, he came to Antelope county, where he now resides on sec tion twenty-one, township twenty-four, range seven, and has a beautiful home and fine orchard and groves, which place is known as the Elgin Stock Farm. He owns twelve hundred acres of the finest land in Antelope county, and is a very prominent and influential citizen of these parts. Mr. Robinson was united in matrimony in 1891, to Miss Fannie Shain. Mr. and Mrs. Robin son have had two children born to them, whose names are : Lillie and Nellie B. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 533 Mr. Robinson has been instrumental in bring ing about his own success, as well as the pros-"" perity enjoyed in the farming community of that section of the county in which he resides, and has done his full share in its progress. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and is known for his thrift and good management, and enjoys the respect and high regard of all who know him. JOHN A. HALL. John A. Hall is an early Nebraskan who has made his success in the state and has always been much interested in the progress and development of county and state, and has been well known for his upright character and honest dealing. He was born in Edmeston, New York, April 7, 1844, eldest of the four children of Zachariah S. and Polly M. (Chase) Hall. He and his brother, Harvey D., are the only surviving members of the family. The father and mother were both natives of the state of New York, he born in Washington county and she in Pittsfield, and both died in that state, he in 1876 and she in 1890. Mr. Hall is a lineal descendant of an English ancestor of the name who came to America from England in 1640. Mr. Hall reached maturity on the New York farm, receiving his elementary education in local schools and later attending Cooperstown Acad emy, and the Williston Seminary at Easthamp- ton, Massachusetts. He taught several years in New Yrirk and later in the schools of Nebraska. He was married in Willimantic, Connecticut, March 9, 1869, to Mrs. Eliza Burlingame, whose maiden name was Bull. She has one daughter by a former marriage : Addie, wife of Prank Bene dict, of Hartford, Connecticut, who has three children. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall: Herbert E., at home, and Frank G., married and living near Mason City. Mr. and Mrs. Hall lived on the Hall homestead in New York until March, 1873, when they came with their small son to Hall county, Nebraska, securing a homestead of eighty acres near Grand Island. This place was their home until 1881, when they came on to Custer county and took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty, acres, later pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-nine, town ship fifteen, range seventeen, which is still the home place. He helped organ ize school district number nine, and served for some time on its board. He is a good citizen and interested in everything pertaining to the general advancement of the interests of his community. He has been personally successful, has a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land, and is president of the Farmers' State Bank at Mason City, in which he is a stockholder. The Halls are among the best known families in Custer county and have a large circle of friends. He is a member of the Baptist church and in politics is a populist. The family have lived out two "soddies" in Custer county and now occupy a neat frame cot tage. One of their most terrifying experiences was in a cyclone which tore out the west side of their stable and landed it over on the east side. A son who was milking in the stable at the time was uninjured, nor were the cattle hurt ; one calf, whose tether rope was new and strong, was carried over the roof with the timbers and killed. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Hall and wife were in town; driving to the school house he got the children and drove home. Much of the way, however, he had to walk ahead and pilot the team through the blinding, icy midst. Nothing was raised in 1894, the dry year, and eleven years before, hail completely destroyed the growing crops, but with later success those early hardships are but a memory. E. R. LIBBY. Located very pleasantly on section five, town ship twenty-five, range eight, Antelope county, Nebraska, is to be found the estimable gentleman whose name heads this biographical sketch. Mr. Libby has been identified with the history of Antelope county since pioneer days, and he has contributed largely to the upbuilding of the lo cality in which he makes his home. He is known as a man of industrious habits, and possesses persistent honesty of purpose and force of char acter, and is known as one of the leading influ ential early settlers of the county. Mr. Libby is a native of Canada, bom there near Prescott, November 1, 1847. His father, William LibbyT, died in Quebec, Canada, in, 1852, when our subject was very small; his mother, Wealthy (Townsend) Libby, was of English and Scotch descent, born in 1808 in the state of Maine. Mr. Libby 's two brothers, George and William, served their country's cause in the civil war. In 1855, Mr. Libby came from Canada to the state of Indiana, then coining from there, June 28, 1866, to Johnson county, Nebraska, with his mother who filed on a homestead near Elk Creek, and after taking possession built a board house fourteen by twenty-two feet. Here the mother and son passed through many vicissitudes and hardships, suffering losses through the grasshop per raids of 1866 and 1873, and during the latter year they also suffered loss through the drouth and hot winds of that season; these discouraging incidents made it very hard for the lone widow and her son, and had it not been for a brother of our subject's who was a miller in Johnson county, and who gave timely assistance when needed, it would have been impossible for our subject and his mother to exist on the homestead. Mr. Libby was united in matrimony to Miss Sarah Wright, and they became the parents of the 534 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. following children, namely: Martha, Wealthy, Clarence and Sylvia, the eldest is the wife of Jo seph Wood, they having six children. Mr. Libby is a great-grandfather. Mrs. Libby died in June, 1878, deeply mourned by her husband and family and many relatives and friends. On July 4, 1883, Mr. Libby again married, the bride being Miss Sarah Workman, who had a homestead in section five, township twenty-five, range eight, in Antelope county. They are the parents of two children, namely: Fred, who is married to Miss Laura Buffington, living in Clear water township ; and Lula, wife of Walter Gra ham, they having one child. A picture of the family home is presented on another page. LEWIS BITNEY. Lewis Bitney, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality since 1874. He is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost farmers and stock men in Nebraska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his business is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. He still looks after his farm and business affairs. Mr. Bitney is a native of Franklin county, New York, where he was born, March 16, 1840, and is the son of Charles and Ruth (Marsailes) Bitney ; the father was born in 1800, both parents being Canadians, the mother of French descent. The family migrated to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854, traveling by lake from Ogdensburg to Buffalo, thence by rail to Chicago, going from Chicako by lake to Milwaukee. He resided at Grafton for a year while recovering from the effects of a broken leg, the accident being the result of a runaway which occurred the day he was leaving New York; the horses were racing along the road when the buggy collided with another vehicle, throwing Mr. Bitney out and breaking his leg. A year later, the father bought forty acres of land in Sauk county, Wisconsin : this land was covered with heavy timber, and this the boy helped to clear, cutting some fifty thousand rails. At the outbreak of the civil war, Mr. Bitney was among the first to respond to his country's call, enlisting in Company B, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteers, at Washington, Wisconsin, in September, 1861. Four brothers of Mr. Bit ney also served in the civil war for different periods, all enlisting from the same state. Eli Bitney of Neligh, was a member of Company E, Eighth Wisconsin. This is the regiment that carried the famous eagle, "Old Abe," through the war. Moses, had his shoulder shattered at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, from the effects of which he died eight years later. Charles Bitney was taken prisoner at the battle of Richmond and was confined in Andersonville prison. Alfred en listed in the Eighth Wisconsin, when the term of Eli expired. Lewis Bitney, after participating in the Siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Jackson and Balls Bluff and the campaign around Atlanta, followed Sherman in his famous march to the sea and took part in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war. Mr. Bitney veteranized at Vicksburg, January 5, 1864, and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 16, 1865, and dis charged at Madison, Wisconsin, in September. The pay for the regiment was delayed and while waiting to sign the pay roll and receive his dis charge, he helped his brother through harvest. Mr. Bitney was married February 20, 1866, to Miss Laura Phelps. She was born at Alden, McHenry county, Illinois, a daughter of Water man and Mary (Marble) Phelps, who moved from New York to Illinois in 1841, then to Wis consin about 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Bitney are the parents of five children : Wesley, who married Miss Nellie Stone, resides in Neligh and has one child ; Elbert, married to Miss Maggie Hart, now lives at Hageman, New Mexico ; Anna, is the wife of John Goodell, resides at Rushville, Nebraska; Elton, married to Miss Lelia Hotaling; Prank, married to Miss Elizabeth Reutzel, has two children. In 1874, Mr. Bitney packed a few of his be longings in a wagon and started with his family for the west. It required twenty-seven days to make the trip, camping along the route. After arriving at this destination in Holt county. Ne braska, he took up a homestead in section fifteen, township twenty-six, range five, on Willow creek, and here he lived until 1894. At that time he moved to a thirty-seven acre tract east of town, where he lived until 1903, when he bought his present home of one hundred and sixty acres in section nine, township twenty-five, range five. Soon after coming to Nebraska, Mr. Bitney took up a timber claim, also a pre-emption claim, sell ing these two claims to his sons later. When Mr. Bitney settled on his homestead he lived with his family in their wagon until November 17, when they moved into a small frame house, which was later replaced with a more substantial dwelling. They had hard times in those early days; many were the hardships the early settlers had to con tend with. The grasshoppers destroyed the crops of Mr. Bitney three seasons, and then hot winds and drouth were the cause of heavy losses at times. The settlers were scattered and neigh bors were far apart. At .one time, Mrs. Bitney remained three days and two nights alone. Often the family fought prairie fires to save their home and property. One prairie fire that has not been forgotten was particularly severe. Wesley was compelled to lie down in a furrow that had just been made by his father, while the fire burned over him. Bert, then only nine years old, eame along, being caught in the fire while going to his RESIDENCE OF LEWIS BITNEY. HOME OF E. R. LIBBY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 535 father. The fire came within a few rods of the house before it burned out. Pierce storms were another source of worry and anxiety at times. At the time of the memorable blizzard, January 12, 1888, Mr. Bitney was a mile from the house when the storm came on, and had considerable difficulty in finding his way home. Two of the children were at school, but made no attempt to reach home, remaining with their Uncle Eli. In the blizzard of October, 1880, the threshers had reached Mr. Bitney 's and were ready to open the stack. Mr. Bitney, however, objected as the weather was threatening. The events that fol lowed proved the wisdom of postponing the threshing operations. Two families from Dakota who were looking for land in the neighborhood at that time were storm bound at the home of Mr. Bitney for three days, when the storm abated, per mitting them to go on their way. Deer and antelope were to be found in great numbers in those days, roaming the country at will. At one time, nine deer crossed Mr. Bit ney 's place and two deer wintered in a grove near his home. Frequently deer were to be seen graz ing with the cattle. The early pettier who braved the dangers and hardships of pioneer life, has, however, been well paid, not only in a financial of mercenary way, but in the satisfaction he has in looking backwards and comparing the tremendous ad vancement that has been made in the develop ment of the country and knowing that it was through his efforts and that of his pioneer neigh bors that this was brought about. A view of Mr. Bitney 's place will be found on another page in this work. MANO FREY. Mano Prey, the subject of this personal his tory, has done his full share in helping the old settlers build up the farming interests in eastern Nebraska. He is a resident of Pierce county, where he owns two hundred acres of land with good improvements and a fine grove, in section twenty-nine, township twenty-five, range two. Mr. Frey was born August 28, 1854, in Mont gomery county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Edward Frey, born in 1822, and died in 1887. and Susanna (Reinhart) Frey, born in 1823, and died in April, 1880. Mr. Frey comes of old American stock, his ancestors having lived in Pennsylvania for several generations. Edward Frey, with his family, came to Cuming county, Nebraska, in 1868, driving from Omaha to West Point, where he filed on a homestead. Here they endured the dreadful blizzard of March 17, 18 and 19, 1869, one of the worst Nebraska has ever known ; they had to bring their chickens into the house and put the pigs in the cellar to save them. They experienced all the hardships and draw backs of the early days ; produce was hauled from West Point to Omaha, the nearest market place. The elder Prey kept a small store at West Point, freighting the few goods handled from Omaha. At many of the mudholes the loads in the wagons were carried piece by piece on the heads of the men and then the empty wagons drawn over by long chains. They suffered losses through the blizzard of 1873, a great number of their cattle having perished; and also through the grass hopper raids of 1873, 1874 and 1875, as they took the entire crops during those seasons. Illustrative of the hardships endured by the early coiners, it is well to relate that one winter Mr. Frey and a brother hauled eighty-eight cords of wood from the Missouri river, thirty-five miles distant, making two trips a week. Often their feet were frozen to their boots, and frequently they slept in open barns, sometimes lacking even that meager protection. But their mother always had coffee and warm food waiting for them no matter at what hour of the night they might re turn. Mano Frey was married September 8, 1876, to Miss Ida Pribnow, whose parents, Christian and Wilhelmina (Kraus) Pribnow, were born near the city of Brandenburg, Prussia. They were early settlers in Nebraska, having secured a homestead five miles southeast of West Point, hauling the lumber for their house from Fremont, thirty-five miles. They lived for the first four months in a sod house they found on the place. The father died in April, 1887, at the age of six ty-nine years, and the mother in February, 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Frey are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Wellington, Ellen, Minnie, John, Leo, Lillian, Ida and Vera, four of whom are married. Wellington, married Annie Albricht; Minnie, married Wilton Hayne and has three children ; Ellen, married Charles Russell, and has three children, and John, married Jose phine Ottmann. Mr. Frey, with his family, came to Pierce county in 1902, where he rented one year near Osmond and then settled on his present farm of two hundred acres of well improved land. He is highly respected by all who know him. He votes the republican ticket, and was reared in the Evangelical church. CARL 0. SCHLYTERN. (Deceased.) Carl 0. Schlytern, now deceased, was a man prominent in all affairs of his county during his lifetime, and who had always taken a firm stand for prohibition. He served as chairman of the Dannebrog city council, also was treasurer of the school board for many years, was known far and wide for his upright character and integrity. Mr. Schlytern was born in Sweden on April 2, 1823, and grew up in that country. He made 536 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his home in northern Sweden during his younger years, engaged in the lumber business, and was prominently known as an extensive lum ber exporter for a number of years. He was mar ried there to Anna S. Sjoding, in 1844, and they remained in Sweden up to 1871, then our subject came to America accompanied by his eldest son, the latter locating in Chicago, while his father came on west and settled in Howard county, Ne braska, where he purchased a tract of three thousand acres of land in the locality of Danne brog and Nysted. After a short time spent in getting his affairs started, he returned to Sweden and settled up his business interests there, then came back to America, bringing with him two daughters, all coming to Howard county with him. The homestead was situated about two miles southwest of Dannebrog, and here all went to work to develop a farm. In August,* 1873, Mr. Schlytern sent for the balance- of his family to join them, consisting of his wife, a daughter and son. They immediately came on from their home in Sweden, and on arrival all were delighted with their new location. They lived on the farm for over ten years, when the father retired from active work and removed with his wife into Dan nebrog, where he engaged in the banking busi ness, conducting the same up to the time of his death, which occurred on September 16, 1894. His widow, now eighty-eight years of age, still resides at the family residence in Dannebrog, and enjoys the companionship of a large circle of devoted friends. Mr. Schlytern 's family consisted of eleven children, as follows : Caroline, still living in Sweden, and employed as government telegraph operator ; Hilda, married, also living in Sweden ; Anna, with her mother; Agnes, wife of John Mark; they are the parents of four children, and reside in Wyoming; Charles E., of Chicago, pres ident of the Union Bank of that city; John G., married and living in Howard county with his family, a sketch of whose career follows this. Five children of our subject died while the fam ily lived in Sweden. JOHN G. SCHLYTERN. John G. Schlytern, residing in Howard county, and counted among the leading citizens of his locality, is the youngest son of our subject. He was born in Sweden on October 7, 1863, and came to America with his mother and sister, join ing the rest of the family who had come over some little time before. He was quite a young boy on arriving here, and received his early educa tion in the public schools of Howard county, later attending the Luther Academy, which is a Swedish school located at Wahoo, Nebraska, spending about four years at this academy. From 1893 to 1898, he held the position of post master of Dannebrog, and has served as village clerk for over twenty years. He has been on the school board for the past number of years, and is a prominent member of the community in every capacity. Politically he is a democrat. In March, 1891, Mr. Schlytern was married to Mary Erickson, who is a native of this county, born of Danish parents, the latter early settlers here, and well known pioneers. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schlytern, namely: Edith M., Christian 0., Helen S. C, Charles E., and Leonard G., all at home. Mr. Schlytern is engaged in the real estate and insurance business and has a large clientage throughout the county and vicinity. JOHN H. HOGUE. One of the finest residences in Valley county is owned and occupied by John H. Hogue, now living retired from active farm work, in Arcadia, Nebraska. Mr. Hogue, has well earned the rest he now enjoys by many years of hard work and is respected as an upright, reliable citizen. He is a native of DeKalb county, Indiana, born No vember 1, 1850, the fourth of seven children born to John and Cornelia (Pray) Hogue, both parents being natives of the state of New York. The •father, who was of Irish and English extraction, was born in 1814 and died in Indiana in 1896, and the mother, of New England parentage and English descent, was born January 26, 1817, and died in Indiana in January, 1899. John H. Hogue has two brothers and one sister in Indiana, and others of the children are deceased. Mr. Hogue attended the country schools of Indiana, engaging in farming when he reached young manhood. November 14, 1871, he was mar ried in DeKaib county, Indiana, to Miss Olive R. Grimm, also a native of that state. Her mother died when she was six weeks old, and she was at once adopted by Mr. John J. Grimm and wife, who had recently lost a child of her age. She was reared as one of their own children and would never have known she was not their own child had not a school girl told her, as her foster parents never spoke of her own kin. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Hogue came with his wife and three children to Valley county, Nebraska, secur ing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land comprising the northeast quarter of sec tion twenty-two, township seventeen, range fif teen, which continued to be the home place for a period of twenty-four years, and which he still owns. He was closely identified with the in terests of his part of the county, served in all the various township offices and also held all the offices on the board of school district number thirty-seven. Four children were born to Mr. Hogue and wife : Lodema, married N. M. Cruikshank, of Arcadia, and they have three children; Phoebe, married J. C. Bridges and died in 1904; Clyde COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 537 N., is at home; Harry, died in 1889. Mr.' Hogue is an excellent business manager and is now owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he has developed into a fine grain and stock farm, and has accomplished good results in spite of the many .discouragements and hardships that beset his path in his early years in the state. He came through his many trying experiences With honor and credit and never lost courage and faith in the future of the region where he had settled. In the spring of 1908 he erected the present hand some dwelling occupied by the family. The Hogues are -well known socially and have a wide circle of friends. They have witnessed a remark able change in their part of Nebraska since lo cating there and have contributed their share in bringing about improved conditions. Mr. Hogue is a worker in the people's party, support ing the candidates and principles of that organ ization with his vote and influence. While not living in the primitive dwellings after coming, west,- Mrs. Hogue. grew up in a well made hewn log house in Indiana in which her foster mother died. It was originally built before the war and later removed to another farm where it stands today after sixty years, still in use as a comfortable dwelling. GEORGE HAIGHT. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Madison county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of George Haight, who resides on section eight, township twenty-three, range three, known as Valley View Farm. For many years past he has been engaged in agri cultural pursuits, and has always done his full share towards the development of the better in terests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a good farm and comfortable home in the location above mentioned, and in his many years of residence here has proven himself a creditable citizen, one of whom the county may well feel proud. Mr. Haight is a native of Canada, born Octo ber 17, 1851, a son of David and Hulda (Doan) Haight, who were also natives of Canada, but being of English descent. Our subject lived in the land of his nativity until he reached his young manhood, receiving the usual school advantages. In 1877 Mr. Haight left Canada, coming to the United States, proceeding westward and set tling in Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead on section eight, township twenty-three, range three, which remains the homestead to the present time. On coming to Nebraska, Mr. Haight came by railway to Wisner, from where he walked to the-homestead, and after reaching his destination had but seventy-five cents in his possession. He first built a sod house and lived in this and "batched it" for two years, working at whatever he could find to do. 18% In the first few years of residence here, our subject found it very hard to make a living, as owing to grasshopper pests, prairie fires, lack of fuel, etc., the condition seemed to be utterly against progress of any kind. In the years of 1878 and 1879, the grasshoppers came in swarms and partially destroyed everything in the form of pasturage and crops, and this made it very dis couraging to the new settler. Many times Mr. Haight had to fight prairie fires to save his home and grain. For fuel they burned hay, cornstalks, or anything they could find, as wood was to be had only at a great distance and our subject had no team with which to haul it. As late as 1894, Mr. Haight lost his entire season's crops by the hot winds that burned out the ground owing to the severe drouth of that year. Deer and ante lope were plentiful in the early years, and were often seen in herds grazing on the open prairies. On January 12, 1888, Mr. Haight suffered severely while gathering his stock in the memor able blizzard of that day, nearly loosing his life from the exposure. "._"" Mr. Haight was united in marriage in No vember, 1880, to Miss Flora Lewis, and Mr. and Mrs. Haight are the parents of four children, namely: Frances, who is the wife of L. R. Baker, and resides in Battle Creek ; Elera, who is married to Miss Emma Muller; Eva, who lives at home; and Ora, wife of John Huddell, they residing in Meadow Grove. Mr. Haight is a member of the Baptist church, and is an independent party voter. THOMAS F. KELLY. Thomas F. Kelly, of Merna, Nebraska, is well known as a public-spirited citizen, interested in the progress and welfare of his county and state. He is a son of Thomas and Anna (His- shon) Kelly, born in LaSalle county, Illinois, December 16, 1864, the fifth of seven children. The parents were both natives of Ireland and died in America, the father in Illinois in 1898, and the mother in Merna in 1911. The father came to America as a young man and was an1 early set tler of LaSalle county. Those of the children now surviving are: Robert J., Joseph and William H., of Merna; Stephen, a half mile west of Merna; a daughter in Kansas, and Thomas F. Mr. Kelly reached manhood on the farm where he was born and was educated in local schools. In the spring of -1886 he came to Custer county, joining his brother, Robert, who had located there the pre vious year. Thomas F, Kelly, soon after his arrival, took a pre-emption on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-six, town ship nineteen, range twenty-three, then returned to Illinois for a few months, after which he re turned and took up his residence on his Custer county land (in 1887,) securing a tree claim ad- 538 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. joining. He was married at Dale, Custer county, May 16, 1893, to Miss Kathryn Phillips, also a native of Illinois, and born in Iroquois county. She is a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (McGlone) Phillips, natives of Ireland, both of whom died in Iroquois county, the father in 1896, and the mother in 1905. Mrs. Kelly has two sis ters living in Nebraska and three in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have one daughter, Cath- ine Lenore, at home. Mr. Kelly is a self-made man and has attained a high degree of prosperity and success. He has passed through various important periods of Ne braska's history and in early days endured the usual hardships and privations of pioneer life. He has a well improved and equipped stock and grain farm of six hundred acres of land and is well known in his community. He stands ready to advance the cause of various movements for the good of his county and state and he and his wife are known in various circles. In 1889 Mr. Kelly purchased the hardware stock of T. W. Fountain, of Merna, conducting this business until 1904, when he retired from business life. He has served as a member of both city and township boards. In 1904 he erected a modern residence in Merna, where the family still make their home. T. F. KELLY. Popularly known as Frank, a nephew of the subject of the preceding sketch, is a practicing at torney of Merna; is a native of Illinois, born in Iroquois county, in September, 1881, a son of Robert J. and Elizabeth (Carey) Kelly. He came to Nebraska with his parents in 1885, and has lived continuously in the state since that time. He was educated in the public schools of his home vicinity. He studied law in the office of Carey & Saum, at Watseka, Illinois, for two years and then (1904) attended Creighton college in Omaha, graduating in the class of 1906, with the degree of LL. B. He then entered upon the prac tice of his profession at Merna. He was married at Chatsworth, Illinois, to Miss Ella Snyder, and has two daughters : Mary Frances and Helen Louise. ARNOLD HENRY HELMSY. Arnold H. Helmsy, who resides on his well improved farm on section thirty-six, township twenty-nine, range one, east, Cedar county, Ne braska, is one of the early settlers of that region and is well known and highly respected. He is recognized as a public-spirited, progressive cit izen, who has the welfare of his community at heart and is ready to advance any worthy cause. Mr. Helmsy was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1855, and received his education in his native land, where he reached maturity. In 1875 he left Bremen on a sailing vessel and landed in New York. He decided to go west, where he could procure land cheap and in this way meet larger opportunities than were offered in the east. He spent five years in Ohio and in 1880 came to Iowa, where he remained twelve years. He has been a resident of Cedar county since 1892 and has developed and improved an excellent farm there, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. He has contributed his full share to the betterment of conditions in his adopted state and has won a large circle of friends. MELVIN G. SCUDDER. Melvin G. Scudder, an enterprising and pros perous citizen of Central City, Nebraska, is a young man of sterling character who commands the respect and esteem of a large circle of ac quaintances. Mr. Scudder was born in Merrick county, Ne braska, July 22, 1873, on the old homestead farm, where he grew up to his young manhood days, re ceiving a district school education until the last few years when he took up higher branches of study. He also has had a wide and varied ranch and stock experience. In 1896 Mr. Scudder became an employee of the Creamery Company, and was with them two years. In 1898 he became a traveling salesman for the Standard Stock Pood Company of Omaha, with headquarters at Hastings, Nebraska. In May, 1899, he returned to Central City and for some six months was salesmanager of Tyndale & Warner, dealers in groceries and shoes. In 1889 our subject's father and self took over the stock, moving to the Hutchins building, continuing the business as a grocery store, increasing the stock, and the volume of business. Mr. Scudder re mained with his father until 1903, when in the fall of that year he was elected clerk of the district court for a four year term on the republican ticket. In January, 1908, Mr. Scudder became a traveling salesman for the Raymond Brothers- Clark Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, who were in the wholesale grocery line, and continued with them six months. In July, 1908, Mr. Scudder purchased the E. H. Bishop grocery and queens- ware business in Central City, taking possession September 1, and is still engaged in this business, having a large and complete store in this line. December 31, 1896, Mr. Scudder was united in marriage to Miss Manie Baird at the Baird homestead farm in Merrick county. Mrs. Scud der was also born in Merrick county, the Baird family being pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Scud der have four children: Claire Maurice, Vera Dean, Melva and Prudence. Mr. Scudder is one of the hustling young busi ness men of Central City, a Merrick county boy who has made good. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 539 Mr. and Mrs. Scudder and family enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. L. J. JOHNSON. Among the leading old settlers of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is entitled to a fore most place. Mr. Johnson is a man of public spirit, who has always given his support and aid in bet tering conditions in his community. His home is in Columbia precinct, where he has a well im proved farm and valuable estate. L. J. Johnson is a native of Sweden, born at Kolmerlen, May 22, 1846. He grew up there, following farming as a young man, and also spent one year in the army.- His father, John Peterson, was a farmer. About ten years after his son, L. J., came to Ne braska, his father joined him, and here remained until his death in September, 1900. When our subject was about twenty-two years of age he left home to seek his fortune in foreign coun tries, going first to Guttenberg, and from there to Liverpool, where he took passage for America. On landing in the United States he went directly to Henry county, Illinois, remaining there about eight months. He then came on west, arriving in Cuming county, Nebraska, in 1869. There he filed on a homestead, built a sod shanty, and began to improve his land. He went through many hardships while living in that vicinity, ex periencing drouths, grasshopper raids, hail storms, etc., but succeeded in developing a very good farm and saved some money. Mr. Johnson came to Knox county in 1901. He purchased a half section of land which was improved to some extent, and since his residence on the place has fitted it up with every modern convenience in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., and has the reputation of being one of the most successful and prosperous agriculturalists in this section. March 11, 1876, our subject was united in mar riage to Miss Emma Newman, a native of Swe den, at West Point, Nebraska. Eight children have come to bless their union, namely: Oscar, Albin, Joseph, Theodore, David, Gust, Minnie and Elmer. Mr. Johnson and his entire family belong to the Swedish Mission church at Wausa. OLIVER HANSON To the pioneers of a country is due most of the credit for the prosperity enjoyed there in after years. Among the early settlers who came to Stanton county, Nebraska, and have remained to enjoy prosperity, a prominent place is accorded the gentleman here named. He braved the hard ships of the pioneer's life, and despite losses and discouragements, worked steadily and earn estly, and is now one of the substantial citizens of this locality. He has not only witnessed the growth of the agricultural resources of the re gion, but has been a potent factor in bringing about the same, and well merits his success and high standing. Mr. Hanson is the son of Ans and Carrie (Olson) Hanson, and was born in 1859, in northern Sweden. His parents were small farmers of the vicinity, and the subscriber remained at home helping them until 1870. He was only a young boy when the parents decided to cast in their fortunes with America. After arriving in New York, they proceeded on to the west until they reached Dodge county, Nebraska, where they remained for two months. They then came to Stanton county, where the father took up a homestead on section five, town ship twenty-four, range two. The dugout, twelve by twelve, which was put up at that time, served as a dwelling for the family for sixteen years. At this time, it was replaced by a com fortable frame house. The family met with many discouragements at first, and were forced to contend with many hardships. About all the work and traveling was done by means of oxen, and as their market was at Wisner, many miles away, a trip to town was always a matter of considerable time. They were plagued by grasshoppers and every winged pest possible, it seemed. They were in peril by prairie fires in summer and by blizzards in winter. This time of privation had an end, however, and they have long since begun to reap the fruit of their labors. In 1890, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Matson. Six children have been born to them, upon whom they have bestowed the following names : Minnie, Mabel, Herman, Henry, Attie and Elfie. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have many friends in the community who esteem them for their many good qualities and sterling worth. J. KILPATRIC. J. Kilpatric, one of the early settlers of Ne braska, who has passed through all the pioneer experiences of the early days in the west, is now prosperous and successful as a result of many years of labor and persistence. He resides in section thirty-five, township twenty-seven, range six, where he enjoys the respect and high regard of all who know him. Mr. Kilpatric is a native of County Derry, Ireland, born January 30, 1856, and is the son of John and Jane (Hannah) Kilpatric, both natives of County Derry, Ireland. In coming to America, in 1873, Mr. Kilpatric sailed from Glasgow, Scot land, to New York, thence to McLean county, Illi nois, and from there came to Phelps county, Ne braska, in 1884, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Union Pacific 540 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. railroad company, and on this land built a sod house, later on putting up a good frame residence and improved the farm. In the first days of his residence in Nebraska, Mr. Kilpatric went through many hardships and inconveniences, one year losing his entire crops by hail ; and when wood was scarce and hard to get our subject burned hay and corn to keep warm by. Later he sold out in Phelps county and moved to Ante lope county. Mr. Kilpatric was united in marriage August '30, 1892, to Miss Mary Snodgrass, and Mr. and Mrs. Kilpatric are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Pern, Floyd, de ceased, Claud and Clara, (twins). They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and high esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. In 1903, Mr. Kilpatric came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-five, township twenty-seven, range six, from Mr. Bittney. Here our subject is well known as a progressive stock man and farmer, and has a well improved farm and a beautiful grove. Mr. Kilpatric is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry have added so much to the material growth of Nebraska. He is a Presbyterian in religious affiliations, and an independent in politics. JAMES HARVEY LEWIN. James Harvey Lewin, owner and operator of a fine grain and fruit farm, is one of the very early settlers of Custer county and in his earlier years there passed through the many trials and discouragements incident to pioneer life. He met these troubles undaunted and has triumphed over them to a gratifying degree. For the first three years of his residence in the state the grasshop pers ate most of his crops, for several years he was the victim of severe drouth, and he also suffered much from the destruction of crops by hail storms. Mr. Lewin was born in Louisa county, Iowa, December 4, 1848, eldest of the seven children of John A. and Lucretia (Blake) Lewin. The father was of English parentage and born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia. He served in the Civil war as a member of Company G, Third Iowa Infantry, and died in Andersonville prison. The mother, also of English extraction, born in Zanes- ville, Ohio, died in Elko, Nevada, July 12, 1884, while en route for California. Mr. Lewin grew to manhood on the home farm in Iowa, receiving his education in local schools, and later engaged in farming. He was married in Warren county, Iowa, March 26, 1874, to Miss Julia Guthrie, a native of Frank fort, Kentucky, and soon afterward they came west, making their first home in Adams county, Nebraska, and three years later, in the spring of 1878, coming on to Custer county. Mr. Lewin had hunted and trapped over that part of the state and was very favorably impressed with the prospects for obtaining good land in Custer county, deciding to locate there. He secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land and a timber claim of the same size adjoin ing, on section twenty-four, township nineteen, range seventeen, in Woods Park, which was the home place for a number of years. He did much to help in the early upbuilding and development of the region and became successful in his personal enterprises. He helped organize school district number six, serving as the first director of the school board. In 1892 he sold out and purchased two hundred acres of land on section twenty-three, township nineteen, range seventeen, which is now the home place, being well improved and equipped for raising grain and fruit. He has found this line of farming very satisfactory and is one of the proserous men of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Lewin have six children living: Newton A., of Arcadia, is married and has one child; Forest E., of Custer county, has four children; Lillian Edna, married Ernest Fuller, of Antelope county, Nebraska, and they have two children; Kate, wife of Bert Clark, of Comstock, has one child; William, of Comstock, and Nellie, at home. Mrs. Lewin 's father, William P. Guthrie, was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and served during the civil war as a captain of Company G, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer In fantry. He located in Nebraska in 1877, in 1878, located in Custer county, and now is a resident of Frontier county. He married Susan Hodges, a native of Kentucky, who died on the homestead in Custer county in 1882. Mrs. Lewin has a brother, James Guthrie, in Sargent; a sister, Mrs. Wallace Dye, in Custer county, and another brother, William B., of Broken Bow. NATHANIEL GEORGE CLEMENT. A list of the prominent citizens of Ord would be incomplete without the name of Nathaniel George Clement, the owner and manager of Wil low Dell Stock Farm. This is one of the finest and best equipped stock farms in this section, and its Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs, prize winners at all the fairs, are in great demand. Mr. Clenlent, born on December 26, 1839, in Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, was the eldest of eighteen children, nine sons and nine daughters, born to Benjamin and Lyda Ann (Baker) Cle ment; all of this large family grew to maturity, and until recently all were living, there being but one death in the family in forty years. The father was from Berkshire, England, and the mother a native of Ohio. She died in 1857. In the next year, Mr. Clement left home and went to Clinton county, Iowa, arid in October, 1859, came to Richardson county, Nebraska, near what is now the town of Humboldt, staying there for some time with an old acquaintance. "WILLOW DELL STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF N. G. CLEMENT. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 541 On his way back to Ohio, Mr. Clement travel ed through Missouri about the time of the elec tion of 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was the nominee, but as Mr. Clement shrewdly remarks, but few people in Missouri were in favor of Lincoln at that time. Soon after Lincoln was inaugurated, the war broke out, and Mr. Clement enlisted in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, and was assigned to Company A, First Battalion, under Captain Charles E. Ewing, of Ohio. He was in the following engagements : Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Black Bayou, Champion Hills, and in the Siege of Vicksburg and the as sault upon the fortifications of Vicksburg, May 19, 1863. He was promoted to the position of sergeant of his company and was discharged on August 14, 1863, at Camp Sherman, Mississippi, with an honorable war record. After the close of the war he settled for a time in Fayette county, Illinois, and later removed to Clinton county, Iowa, following his trade of carpentry in both localities. Mr. Clement was married to Sarah E. Platts, of Milton, Wisconsin, in May, 1865. Mrs. Cle ment was with him in the south some five or six months prior to his discharge from the regular army, and they both returned to Clinton county, Iowa, where Mrs. Clement died in Octo ber, 1871. Two children, Carl C. and Paul P., were born of this union. In September, 1873, Mr. Clement was married in Clinton county, Iowa, to Mary E. Hurley, a native of Shelby county, Ohio, whence her parents, Leven, and Sarah (Babcock) Hurley, moved to Iowa about 1854. In 1874 Mr. Clement and his family came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he filed on the southeast quarter of section twenty-two, town ship eighteen, range fourteen. He made home stead entry on same about six months later and still resides on the original homestead, on which the first little shack they occupied is still stand ing. They now occupy a fine, comfortable, modern dwelling, surrounded by one of the neat est, best laid out lawns in central Nebraska. The arrangement of the farm buildings in a crescent is Mr. Clement's original idea, and the planning of the house and other buildings is original with him. A view, of this well arranged farm home is to be found on one of our illustrated pages, and is one of the best in the entire work. Mr. Clement has followed his trade of car penter and builder for nearly thirty years, being engaged most of the time on government work. He drove the first nail at Port Niobrara and- was there at the time Lieutenant Cherry was killed. He was employed at Fort Robinson seven years, and took part in the building of all the posts in Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah, being top man in all these works. He built the first house and also the first school house erected in Ord. In 1903 he retired from active work at his trade and is now engaged entirely in the management of his great stock farm. It may be mentioned that a steer from this farm was entered by the Nebraska University at the Chicago stock show in the winter of 1909, and that a Poland China sow from his farm took the sweepstakes at the Nebraska and Kansas state fairs in the same year. As has been said before, Mr. Clement is one of the most prosperous farmers in the state ; yet, when he came here in 1874, his entire capi tal was about eighty-five dollars in money. Wil low Dell Stock Farm comprises four hundred acres of as fine land as may be found in the west. Mr. Clement also has a tract of forty acres near North Loup. Mr. and Mrs. Clement have four children, Guy G., who occupies part of Willow Dell Farm, of which he is the business manager; Clara, Ava B., and Hugh H. The family are widely known and highly respected. They worship with the Seventh day Baptists, and Mr. Clement is a repub lican in politics. Mr. Clement has tasted many of the hardships and privations of the frontier. While at work at Fort Hartseff he walked home, a distance of seventeen miles, nearly every Saturday night, and returned on foot Sunday afternoon to be ready for work Monday morning. One time when he was detained three weeks, Mrs. Clement, becom ing uneasy, walked to Ord to learn if the Indians had massacred the inmates of the post. Here she found him finishing a piece of work in town, the work at the post having detained him longer than anticipated. While at Port Hartseff he lived in a dugout some six months, and endured other hardships that young men of today would seek to avoid. ISAAC PEED. (Deceased.) Isaac W. Peed, deceased, was a native of In diana, born near Lafayette, February 28, 1846, where he followed farming as he grew to man hood. He emigrated to Iowa, settling in Warren county, and was married near Indianapolis, in 1869, to Mary A. Reed, the second member in a family of ten children bora to Benjamin and Delilah Reed. After his marriage, Mr. Peed and his bride lo cated in Boone county, Iowa, for a number of years, and came to Nebraska in the summer of 1879, he coming on in advance of the family and looking about for a suitable location. He met them at Yankton iri July, 1880, and drove across the country to their new home at Bazile Mills, Nebraska. When the party reached the ferry a favorite dog was afraid to cross the stream, and the children were fearful that they would have to lose their pet, but he finally gathered courage as the boat was leaving the bank, made a jump and got aboard, much to the joy of the small people. They reached their destination on July 4, in time to take part in the celebration, and get 542 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. acquainted with their neighbors. Five years were spent there engaged in farming, and Mr. Peed also did freighting to the Black Hills a part of the time. He ran a livery barn for some time, and made a little money at these various occupations. In 1884 our subject removed with his family to Pierce county, purchasing the relinquishment on the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, which remained his home to the time of his death, November 12, 1909. Mrs. Peed died in March, 1901. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom attained their majority. They are named as follows: Benjamin (deceased), Amanda (deceased), Enna E., wife of Ben M. Jones ; Ella J., first wife of Ben M. Jones, who died in 1907; Zoe, now Mrs. John A. Aird, of Center, Knox county; Earl, of Jonesville, South Dakota; and Pern, who lives with a sister, Mrs. Aird, at Center, Nebraska. Mr.- Peed was a republican, and a good citizen and neighbor. He was the platter of Peed's ad dition to the town of Plainview, and helped in many ways to improve the community. He passed through all the early Nebraska times, and the family is widely known among the pioneers of that part of the state in which they have made their home for so many years, and in his demise Mr. Peed was deeply regretted by the citizens of his town and county. NIELS C. PETERSEN. Niels C. Petersen was born in Denmark on October 16, 1867. His parents were Carl P. and Mary Petersen, and their family consisted of six children, our subject being the second in order of birth. When the latter was a babe, the family emigrated to America, landing in New York City in June of 1869, and coming directly across the states to Grand Island, Nebraska. There the father secured employment in the railroad shops and they remained for two years, then settled on a farm in Hall county and lived there for one year. In the spring of 1872, he came to Howard county, took up a pre-emption claim and lived on the land for a year and a half, returning to Hall county at that time and there followed farming for about seventeen years. He next went back to Howard county, locating in the town of Dannebrog and made that his home until the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1894. His widow occupied the family residence for a number of years, then went to live with her son Niels C, junior, on the farm, where she died, on March 2, 1909. Niels C. Petersen, who is the only living sou of our subject, started for himself in his sixteenth year, following different occupations in the vicin ity of his home for several years. He learned the carpenters' trade and worked at it for about seven years, and in the spring of 1890 begun working as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Dannebrog, continuing in that line of employ ment for four years, when he left Nebraska and went to Green River, Wyoming, where he engaged in business for himself, operating a general store for five years. Prom there he returned to How ard county and again went on a farm, taking up the old pre-emption claim of his father 's, situated on section eight, township thirteen, range eleven, and later purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section nine, which now forms his home farm. Here he has been very successful, building up the place in fine shape, now having a well improved farm and comfortable home. Since coming to his present home, he sold the pre-emption claim for merly owned by his father. Besides this tract of land, he owns one hundred and sixty acres in sec tion thirty-six, Cleveland precinct, and twenty acres in the same precinct, section nine, all being choice lands, acquired by Mr. Petersen through hard labor and good management. Mr. Petersen was married on January 9, 1896, to" Miss Katrina Christensen, who is a de scendant of an old Howard county family, the event occurring at Dannebrog. Mrs. Petersen's parents were Peter and Annie (Petersen) Chris tensen. Mrs. Petersen died February 18, 1902, on the homestead farm, leaving a family of three sons, namely: Charles, Peter and Alfred. In 1905 our subject was married again, to Sophia Olesen, in Dannebrog, and of this union three children have been born: Alma, Delia and Earl. The family are among the prominent mem bers in their community, and enjoy a large circle of friends. Mr. Petersen has been active in local affairs, serving as precinct assessor during 1892 and 1893, and has also held minor precinct offices. NED POWERS. Ned Powers is one of the younger generation of farmers to attain success in Nebraska and takes an active part in the measures in his community that are calculated to advance the best interests of the county and state. Mr. Powers was born in Polk county, Iowa, September 26, 1874, the fourth of the five children born to Francis M. and Louisa (Phillips) Powers. The father, whose im mediate ancestors were from Pennsylvania, was of Dutch descent, and was himself a native of In diana. He died in Valley county in 1906. The mother, a native of Ohio, is now living in Benton county, Arkansas, with two of her sons. In 1886, having received his primary educa tion in the schools of his native state, Mr. Powers accompanied his parents to Garfield county, Ne braska, and two years later to Valley county, where he reached maturity and later engaged in farming on his own account. He was married February 23, 1910, to Mrs. Ellen Berridge, a na tive of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whose father S. P. Conner, settled in Valley county in 1884. An extended notice of Mr. Conner appears else- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 543 where in this work. Mrs. Powers was first mar ried to Samuel Berridge, by whom three children were born: Elsie, Winnie and Samuel, junior, called Uel. Mr. and Mrs. Powers reside on a farm eight miles northeast of Arcadia. He raises stock and pays considerable attention to grain culti vation. He has spent his entire active life in agri cultural operations and carries on his work in an intelligent, progressive manner that insures his financial success. He is well known and has many warm friends in his vicinity All he raised in 1894, "the dry year," was eight or ten bushels of potatoes; they wintered their cattle in Cherry county where hay was more plentiful. Mr. Powers and an uncle weathered the blizzard of January 12, 1888, in an old sod house twelve miles northeast of where Burwell now is, in which three other men had sought shelter. Mr. Powers is a democrat in politics and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. CHARLES L. DANIEL. Charles L. Daniel, residing on section ten, township twenty-three, range three, in Madison county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this section who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Daniel came to Madison some twenty-nine years ago, and in the time intervening, through hard labor and hard ships, has accumulated a good competence, now owning four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, on which he has five acres of trees. Mr. Daniel is a citizen of which Madison county may be justly proud. Mr. Daniel was born in old Virginia, Novem ber 22, 1859, and is a son of Pinkney and Ruth (Cox) Daniel ; the father being a native of North Carolina; and the mother a Virginian by. birth. Our subject grew to his manhood days in his native state, receiving the usual school advantages. In 1882 Mr. Daniel came to Madison county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead in section ten, township twenty-three, range three, which re mains the homestead farm to this day. On this land he built a frame house and began at once to make improvements on the place, and has gradually added to his property. Mr. Daniel was united in marriage March 8, 1887, at Madison, to Miss Bell Sesler, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Mark and Elizabeth (Bennington) Sesler, who were natives of Vir ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel have been blessed with four children, whose names are as follows: Walter L., Roy O, Florence, Willie J. and David R., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and family enjoy the re spect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Daniel is a successful and progressive citizen of his community, and is a credit to the locality in which he resides. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and the Modern Woodmen lodge, and is an independent democrat. THOMAS McGRATH. Thomas McGrath belongs to a family that has long been prominent in Custer county. He was born in Ireland, February 8, 1849, a son of Phil lip and Catherine (Hogan) McGrath, also natives of that country. In July, 1848, the family came to America, Thomas then being an infant, and at that time their only child. They had four other children after coming to America, whose names are mentioned in connection with the sketch of the father, Phillip McGrath, which appears in this work. Thomas McGrath began his education in the city of Chicago, and there began life on his own account in the early seventies, having then reached his majority. In November, 1877, Mr. McGrath was mar ried in Hyde Park, Illinois, now a part of the city of Chicago, to Jennie Cummings, born in Lake Forest, Illinois, and a daughter of Michael and Maria (Curran) Cummings. They made their first home near Lacon, Illinois, and in 1887 sold their farm there and moved to Colorado. In 1899 Mr. McGrath accepted a position as salesman for the Arkansas Valley Sugarbeet & Irrigation Land company, in whose interest he traveled six years with excellent results. Although successful in the business field, he left it in February, 1907, to come to Merna, in order that he might minister to the needs and comforts of his father, who was then nearing the age of ninety years, and he still makes his home with him. Thomas McGrath and family have become well known in Merna, where they have many friends. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc Grath, namely: Ella in Towner, Colorado; Walter, in Colorado ; Frank, of Robinson, Kansas ; Robert, of Towner, Colorado ; Margaret, a teacher in Colorado, and Mary, of Towner. JAMES A. WITTEN. James A. Witten, who is today a worthy rep resentative ofthe best agricultural interests of Pierce county, and who has done much to rescue and redeem Nebraska from a howling wilderness and valueless plain, is respected alike for his straightforward character, thrift and good spirit. He rents farm land in Pierce precinct, living in the county seat, where he enjoys all the comforts of a pleasant home and good surroundings. Mr. Witten was born on March 23, 1851, in Tazewell county^ Virginia. His father, Ezra Witten, was a prominent farmer- of that section who died there at the age of fifty-four years. The mother was Rosanna Buchannan in maiden hood, 544 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. James Witten lived in his native state until the age of thirty-one, farming. He was married there on October 26, 1881, to Miss Susan C. Sex ton, a native of Tazewell county, whose parents, Joseph and Maria (McDonald) Sexton, were also well known in that country. They lived in the home state some eight years after marriage, then came west, arriving at West Point, Nebraska, on March 23, 1889. After a few months at that place, they moved to Pilger, later in the year coming to Pierce. Here they rented land near the town, which has been the home place ever since. Mr. Witten has worked at his trade of horseshoeing during a part of the time since com ing here, arid when work is rushing, his services are very much in demand. Mr. and Mrs. Witten are the parents of ten children, having had the good fortune to have lost none by death. Their children are named as follows: Hallie, married Hugh Martin, of Stan ton; Placid, married Merle Holbun of Norcaster, Kansas; Everett, follows painting in Pierce; Joseph, edits a paper at Wall, South Dakota; Rosalia, stenographer to the county judge; Frances Buren, Ansel, Dayton, Harlan and Alice. The entire family is popular in the community, and their home is a cheerful and congenial spot enjoyed by a host of warm friends and acquaint ances. Mr. Witten has always been a staunch demo crat, like most good old Virginians. He joined the Masonic Lodge at Jeffersonville, Virginia, afterwards transferring his membership to Pierce, and is still an active member of the order there. Both himself and wife are members of the Order of Ben Hur. AUGUSTUS F. SCHRAWGER. The venerable gentleman whose name heads this personal history is one of the old settlers of Nebraska, a gentleman of sterling character, who has made his mark in the affairs of his lo cality, and incidentally built up for himself a competence by dint of good management and thrift. Augustus F. Schrawger was born in Pennsyl vania, November 21, 1838, and was, third of four children, he being the only surviving child. The father died August 7, 1870, and the mother on May 12, 1871, both in the state of Ohio. Our sub ject received his education in the schools of his home state, and later engaged in the milling business about eight miles north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and at this place learned the trade of miller. In 1861, he removed to Franklin county, Ohio. In 1863, Mr. Schrawger enlisted in National Guards of Ohio for ninety days service and he participated in battles at New Creek, Virginia, in Early's campaign. After his discharge, which he received after four months service, he returned to Ohio, and on May 2, 1864, enlisted in the United States service in Company C, One Hun dred and Eighty-fifth Infantry Ohio Volunteers, serving until September 1, 1864, when he re ceived his discharge at Lexington, Kentucky. After the war Mr. Schrawger returned to Ohio farming four years, then going to Bureau county, Illinois, in the spring of 1866, where he again engaged in farming. In the fall of 1871, Mr. Schrawger came to Merrick, county, Nebraska, filing on one hundred and sixty acres of homestead land in section eighteen, township fifteen, range five, and moved his family on to same a few months later. Here he resided until 1903, when he retired from the farm and moved to Clarks, Nebraska, and pur chased a good home where he and his family now live. On January 16, 1867, Mr. Schrawger was married to Isabella Ramsey, who was born in Ohio, and moved to Bureau county, Illinois, when eleven years old. They have had eight children born to them : Nellie, wife of D. Chesley, has nine children and lives on the father's original homestead; William, who is married, has one child and resides in Montana; Arnold, married, lives in Tekamah, Nebraska; Martha, wife of M. Decker, lives in Omaha ; Tasey, wife of George Carman, has one child and resides in Merrick county; Frederick, is married, has one child, and lives in Tekamah, Nebraska ; Lucious S., who re sides at home; and Celia, wife of Frank Noble, living in Clarks, Nebraska. Mr. Schrawger has been prosperous and suc cessful, and owns two hundred eighty acres of fine farm land, as well as good city property. He has served as treasurer of his school district number fifteen. Mr. and Mrs. Schrawger are among the early pioneers of this part of Nebraska, and have passed through all the hardships and discouragements incidential to frontier life, during which time the grasshoppers destroyed all their crops in the raids made upon that section of the west. Mr. and Mrs. Schrawger are widely and favorably known, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. W. H. NEEDHAM. W. H. Needham, the veteran editor of "The Monitor" at Bloomfield, has been familiar with the political, commerical, and intellectual condi tions of Nebraska since 1867, when his father moved with his family to a tract of land a mile and a half east of the state house. Mr. Needham was born in Independence, Ohio, November 7, 1853, a son of H. E. and Lueina (Bagley) Needham, natives of Monkton, Ver mont and Cleveland, Ohio, respectively. The father died in Missouri, in December,- 1894, while the mother, nearing her eightieth year, makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Hughes, of Paxton, Nebraska. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 545 In 1859, the elder Needham moved with his family to Fremont county, Iowa, settling near Tabor; here he resided for twelve years, and on March 1, 1869, crossed the Missouri river at Wabanse Mills, on his way. to Lancaster county, .Nebraska. They drove through in wagons, bring ing with them one cow, and settled near Lan caster Center, now within the city limits of Lincoln. The father moved to Daviess county, Missouri, near Kidder, in 1876, and made this his home during the remainder of his life. Mr. Needham, after attending the state uni versity from the first year of its establishment, remained in Lincoln attending that school when the family moved to Missouri. His mother be coming seriously ill in the fall of 1875, he joined the family in Daviess county and remained with them for about two years. On leaving home, he sought work in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota until the spring of 1884, when he re turned to Nebraska, settling on a farm near Col- ridge and enjoying country life for three years. On the fourth of February, 1887, he took charge of the "Colridge Sentinel," in which his brother, Will A., joined him. In the fall of 1890, they established the "Bloomfield Monitor" under the firm name of Needham Brothers, of which W. A. took sole charge until the following spring, when the "Sentinel" was sold and the brothers joined forces on the "Monitor." In the fall of 1895, W. H. sold his interest in the "Monitor" went to Niobrara and published the "Tribune" four years, when he returned to assume full control of the "Monitor," soon after his brother's appointment as postmaster of Bloom field, in December, 1897. Mr. Needham is editing one of the most pro gressive and prosperous country weeklies in northern Nebraska. His equipment for job work is of the best, and work turned out from this office is not excelled by any. Mr. Needham was married at Luverne, Min nesota, August 3, 1883, to Miss Orpha Beach, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of Henry L. and Elnora (Hakes) Beach. Two children were born to them, Elnora, wife of J.' B. McCoy, editor of the "Crofton Journal;" and Lyndia L., who is an accomplished musician, having in 1910 and 1911 taken an advanced course at Sioux City. Iowa. , Mr. Needham, through his vote and his papers has always been a staunch supporter of republican principles. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained all the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter, council, and commandry. He also fraternizes with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is secretary of the Knox County Publishers' Association, of which he was one of the organizers. Mr. Needham has recollections of Nebraska in its primitive state; he has seen deer and ante lope grazing where the state capitol now stands. He was in the state during the years of devasta tion by the grasshopper 'pests and witnessed much of the havoc they wrought. He was fortunate in living above his office in Colridge at the time of the destructive blizzard of January 12, 1888-. and escaped its sharpness, but was cognizant of much suffering and death because of the storm. Like most of the pioneers, he has lived in a sod house, that being the construction of his father's dwelling when he first located on his homestead, in Lancaster county. Com at times was their fuel, though little of it was used in this way, as the father bought a small piece of timber on Salt Creek. The changes wrought in the development of the west in the forty-four years intervening between the advent of the Needham family to the state and the present time would be almost incredible, were not the witnesses of its progress here to recount the truth of it all. CAPTAIN WILLIAM J. FARRIS. William J. Farris, for the past twenty-five years known throughout Boone county as one of the leading pioneer agriculturists, now resides in Albion, having retired permanently from active farm work, several years since purchasing a hand some home in that thriving city. He is a gen tleman of superior business ability, and has always taken a leading part in the political af fairs of his locality. Mr. Farris is a prominent member of the Grand Army of Republic — Kit Carson Post number forty-two, of Albion, Ne braska, of which he has been commander, and filled nearly all the chairs. Captain Farris was bora in Tennessee on August 15, 1837, being the eldest of four children in the family of Moses and Nancy Farris. Both parents have been dead many years. He re ceived his education in his home state, and when about twenty years of age went to Missouri, there following the trade of a masoli. He was married there in 1864, to Nancy J. Bradford, and three years later eame with his wife and little son to Otoe county, Nebraska, remaining there for fifteen years. In 1882 Mr. Farris arrived in Boone county and purchased eighty acres on section nineteen, township nineteen, range five, which was the home place up to 1900. There he succeeded in building up a good farm and ac quired considerable additional land, becoming widely known as one of the leading old-timers, and did considerable in the way of promoting the welfare of his locality. Captain and Mrs. Farris have had nine chil dren, all of whom are now living, and all mar ried and having fine families and good homes in different parts of Nebraska and other states. They are named as follows : John T., Irena, Joycia, Walter C, Retta, Lulu, Izetta, Oney, and William Bruce. Mrs. Farris has a sister living in Iowa, the remaining members of her immediate family being dead. Captain Farris is a prominent old soldier. 546 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. He enlisted in July, 1861, in Company D, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was at once made orderly sergeant of his company and later received a commission as second lieutenant. He was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and remained in command until the close of the war. He was engaged in the following famous battles and held a splendid record as a brave and faithful soldier: Pittsburg Landing, Iuka, Champion Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, Savanah, Bentonville, and many minor en gagements, receiving his honorable discharge on August 17, 1865, having re-enlisted January 4, 1864, at Bellefonte, Alabama, and serving in all over four years and one month. He participated in the Grand Review of Sherman's Army in Washington at the close of the war, and was proud of the distinction of never having missed a day's service after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, was never wounded and never absent from any battle — large or small — in which his regiment was engaged. Captain Farris was well known in former years as an active man of affairs in Boone county, serving as sheriff during 1892 and 1893, being elected on the republican ticket. He has aided considerably in building up the schools in his locality and acted as director of district number five for more than fifteen years. Captain and Mrs. Farris are members of the Methodist Epis copal church. CARL F. H. PAUL. Carl F. H. Paul, agent for the David Cole Creamery Company at Creighton, has spent almost his entire life in Creighton, Nebraska. He was born, as was his father, in the village of Bacrwalder, Brandenburg, Germany, August 10, 1875, and was in his sixth year, when with his mother he embarked in the "Polaria" for Amer ica in May of 1881, to join the father, who had, late in the previous autumn, come to Nebraska and secured employment at Fremont. Here the boy grew to manhood, and having a roving spirit for the time being, and desiring to see the world, joined a drovers' outfit trailing sheep through Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Nebraska and Arizona to the coast. This was a wild life in the open, fraught with dangers, but was free and easy, developing incidentally rugged health in the young man. There was at that time an enmity between the cattle and sheep men, which at times grew to be lawless. The sheep outfit returned from the range one evening to find their wagons and provisions all burned and their horses stolen — the troupe of cowboys had paid their camp a visit when all but the cook were away, and left them a pile of ashes as a reminder that sheep men in a cattle country were not desirable citizens. The stolen horses were recovered and a new "chuck outfit" obtained, but for a time rations were somewhat limited. Around their camp fires strange characters dropped in, and among the noted characters that shared the even ing meal were the noted desperadoes and rustlers, "Broncho Bob," and "Diamondfield Jack," the former of whom later met a violent death, the latter is now marshal of Bull Frog, Nevada. Mr. Paul has a desiryba!i;#gain retrace the trail through the passef across ^th^ mountains, and being an expert JuainsmanNvifli'a good mem ory for locality coul^'no doubt fiM from day to day every camp where their evening' fires were lit in each of the three trips: thfou^ 'to the coast- He still owns the hors% he f6W*J§roughout the west, and though eighteen ^^s% Id, it is still in action, and is a useful animal. Returning to Antelope county in 1899, Mr. Paul began farming on his father's farm, and in 1904 secured the agency for the David Cole Creamery company and has made a financial suc cess. He is at the same time engaged in the flour and feed business, which has proved to be a profit able venture. His residence is still in Antelope county, from which he drives daily to his business place In Creighton. Mr. Paul was married in Creighton, July 15, 1901, to Miss Maude Slater, who was born in Mills county, Iowa. Her parents, Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Case) Slater, are natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively. They moved to Ne braska in 1889, and in 1904 migrated to Okla homa. Mr. and Mrs. Paul have one son living, named Frederick. Mr. Paul is not to be held in line by any party lash or traces, reserving the right to cast his bal lot for the most reliable candidate, as he views it, regardless of which party banner he carries. MATTHEW H. GLASSEY Matthew H. Glassey, owner and operator of a fine grain and stock farm in Custer county, is an early resident of Nebraska and has passed through the various trials and vicissitudes of pioneer existence. He has always been actively interested in the welfare and development of county and state and is held in high regard as a public-spirited, substantial citizen. Mr. Glassey was born in Brooklyn, New York, August 8, 1853, second of the four children of Matthew and Ann (Roome) Glassey. He has a brother, Frederick Glassey, in Iowa, and the other children are de ceased. The father was born in Scotland and died in New Orleans, and the mother was born in Eng land and died in Iowa. In early manhood Mr. Glassey removed to Illi nois, where he worked at farming for several years, and he was married in that state October 21, 1873, to Martha Brinley, a native of Indiana, daughter of Abraham and Anna (Wilson) Brin ley. Mr. Brinley, born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 547 vania, of German descent, died in Oklahoma, Jan uary 26, 1893, and Mrs. Brinley, who was of Irish extraction, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Iowa, January 28, 1885. One son, Eldridge Brin ley, lives in St. Paul, Nebraska, James Brinley lives in Lincoln; a daughter, Mrs. George Shep- perd, lives in Valley county," Nebraska, and an other daughter lives at West Point, Illinois. After marriage^Mir. <|]bsgsey and wife lived on an Illinois farmfuirtll the Coring of 1881, when they came w/thrfhelr 'two children to Johnson county, Nebraska.'" There Mr? Glassey purchased land and en^ged i'ri;f arming, 'later lived in Val ley county abqu^orie^ar, and in 1885 pre-empted one hundred aif^||xty, acres of land on section twenty-three, towmfflrp1*- nineteen, range seven teen, which is still the home place. He afterwards took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Westerville township. In 1892 he re moved to Lincoln to live for a time, in order to give his children better educational advantages, later returning to the farm. He has a well im proved farm, adapted to raising stock and grain, and specializes in Clydesdale horses. His farm lies along the beautiful valley known as Woods Park, which was named for the first settler there, and who raised the first corn in the valley. Mr. Glassey is one of the best known men of the re gion, and stands well with his fellow-citizens. The family have a large circle of friends and acquaint ances and are interested in every measure affect ing the general progress and prosperity. Two chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Glassey, George P., married and living in Custer county, has four children, and Ethel Grace, a teacher in Ne braska public schools. JOHN FERDINAND KOLTERMAN. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. Kolterman has aided in no slight de gree in the developing of the agricultural re sources of this region and has done his full share in building up the schools ; doing all in his power for the betterment of conditions, socially and po litically, in his community. John P. Kolterman is a native of Wisconsin, born seventeen miles north of Milwaukee, June 3, 1855. His father, Frederick Kolterman, was born in the village of Greifenberg, Prussia, in 1815. After growing to manhood he followed the car penters ' trade, and served the usual period in the German army. The mother was born in 1828, and is living at a good old age. In 1853 the father de cided to come to America, the land of the free, em barking at Hamburg, Germany, on a sailboat ; en countering a severe storm two hours after leaving port, the ship nearly foundered, and the passen gers had to man the pumps. Landing in New York City after a voyage of eleven weeks and three days, Mr. Kolterman, with his family started for the west, locating in Wisconsin on a rented farm, seventeen miles north of Milwaukee. Times were hard and work scarce. The father labored on farms at twenty-five cents a day ; on railroad work he was paid but fifty cents a day, which he would have lost but for his ready wit, taking his pay in trade. Seeing little hope of a competency here, they decided to go where there would be better oppor tunity for a young man with a family. They packed their goods in a wagon and started, not knowing just where until reaching Watertown. A part of the family wanted to go to the prairies of the west, and the others to the timbered region of northern Wisconsin. The decision was finally made in favor of the west, and here they came by ox team, camping for seven weeks along the high way on the journey to the west. They rented a thirty acre farm near Norfolk the first year, and then settled in Pierce county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1870, on section four teen, township twenty-six, range two, where they built on a son-in-law's claim a rough house thir teen by sixteen feet, of willows and box elder poles, covered with slough grass, in which the two families lived for a time, then added a room eight by thirteen feet for a bedroom. Later the elder Kolterman built on his own land a cabin of hewn logs thirteen by sixteen feet, and later added a lean-to room eight by thirteen feet, and this was their residence four years. In this house they went through many hard experiences, losing crops by drouth, hail and grasshoppers — everything seemed to be leagued against them for a time. They stuck to the farm however, per fected their title, and from time to time added to their original holdings until now it is one of the most beautiful farms in that part of the country. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Kolterman and a former officer of the German army had gone for a load of straw. The officer had sctiuted the idea of a storm in which he could not find his way. On the return, the storm, sud denly struck them, blotting out everything be yond an arm's length. After the horses had found their way to the barn, the young officer was willing to concede the western blizzard to be the worst of storms. Storm-bound neighbors held at Mr. Kolterman 's place filled the barn, hod house and chicken house with their horses, and crowded into the house, remaining until the storm abated the next day. Deer, antelope, and elk were plentiful in the early days of settlement, and , ducks and geese were easily secured. Mr. Kolterfnan killed four teen at one shot on one occasion, in the stream near his home. John F. Kolterman was married April 20, 1879, to Miss Wi.lhelmina Buetow, and four children were born to them : Laurence, married to Miss Mary Natzke, and has two children, Leonard and Norman; Emil, who is married to Miss Lena 548 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Manske, and has one child, Irene ; and Louis and Johan Friederich, who died in infancy. Our subject was again married December 26, 1893, to Miss Anna Smith, a native of Tama county, Iowa, daughter of George Smith; her mother was a Miss Becker. They were natives of the village of Carolinensiel, East Fresia, -Ger many, and came to America in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Kolterman have two children, Esther and Erwin. Mr. Kolterman is a member of the German Lutheran church. He has served his community as county commissioner for six years, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. We are pleased to call attention to a view of Mr. Kolterman 's fine country home and surround ings to be found on another page. CLAUS HERMAN KOPPELMANN. Among the prosperous citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality, is the subject of this review, Claus H. Koppelmann, owner of a valuable estate in Allen precinct. Mr. Koppelmann was born in the village of Kuden, Holstein, then a province of Denmark, March 20, 1851, where he was reared on his fath er's farm, assisting his parents in the work until he left home and began a career for himself. He was married in his native land, his wife being a native of the same village and province. On March 6, 1881, Mr. Koppelmann embarked for America with his family, sailing from Ham burg, to Havre, France, and thence to New York, on the steamer "Lessing. " After a short visit with Mrs. Koppelmann 's relatives at Elizabeth, New Jersey, the family became residents of Ben ton county, Iowa, where Mr. Koppelmann worked .on the railroad for two years at Belle Plaine. Prom 1883 to 1885 he was employed as foreman on a large stock farm in Benton county. In 1885 Mr. Koppelmann traveled farther west, locating in Pierce county, Nebraska, where, after renting five years, he settled on his present farm, which is situated in the southwest quarter of section seven, township twenty-seven, range one. They occupied a dugout for five years and then built a good frame house, their present dwelling. Mr. Koppelmann now owns three -hun dred and twenty acres of good land, having pur chased the northwest quarter of section seven in 1906. Here he engages in stock raising, growing enough grain to fatten four carloads of cattle per year and four carloads of hogs. He has about two acres of trees growing on his home place, and an orchard of equal area, which he planted on the open prairie. At that time there was not a tree in sight. Land that at that time could have been bought for six or seven dollars, has since sold for one hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Koppelmann has experienced all the hard ships and privations which so many of the earlier settlers had to face upon coming to the new coun try. He lost all his crops in the hailstorms of 1887 and 1890, 1893 and 1896. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, the children, most of them quite small, were all at school, remaining there through the night. 'Mr. Koppelmann took lunch to them about three o'clock in the morning; the scholars were huddled together very hungry and cold, having burned the last lump of coal. He lost some cattle in this blizzard. During the early days while a renter, he burned hay for three years, and later used corn for fuel when it was selling for eight cents. During the year of drouth, 1894, Mr. Koppelmann had a fairly good crop of corn, wheat and oats. When he first came to the coun try, prairie chickens were plentiful, furnishing fresh meat to the hungry settlers. Mr. Koppelmann was married February 28, 1875, to Miss Margaret Umlandte, a native of the village of Kuden, where they were married, and a daughter of Diedrich and Margaretta (Soeth) Umlandte. Fifteen children have been born to them, three of whom died in Germany. Those liv ing are : John ; Maggie, wife of Henry Huwald, has three children, Emma, Wilhelm and Walda; Henry; Anna, wife of Frank Stadry, has three children, Esther, Fremont and Nora; Gustav, married Anna Blaekwell; Louis; Emma, married John Schroeder, a farmer of Allen township, and Hulda. Mr. Koppelmann is a worthy citizen, esteemed and respected by all. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a communicant of the German Lutheran church. He is a republican. Mr. Koppelmann 's farm is well equipped with machinery, including a gas engine, which operates the grindstone, separator, churn and washing ma chine. There is running water in the house and in all the barns and sheds. We call attention to a' view of Mr. Koppelmann 's residence and farm buildings on another page. W. A. TAWNEY. W. A. Tawney, long and prominently known in the eastern part of the state of Nebraska, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, in the year 1868, coming of old American stock, his father, J. E. Tawney, and his mother. Anna (McCul- lough) Tawney, being born in the state of Penn sylvania. Our subject's father enlisted in the army in the civil war on the Union side, and was discharged three months later. ' W. A. Tawney, when but a lad of ten years or so, came with his parents to Saunders county, Ne braska, in 1878, and after his marriage eame to Pierce county in 1894, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty- four, township twenty-eight, range three, four acres of which is given to trees, and where our RESIDENCE OF CLAUS H. KOPPELMANN. t=;j -:¦ ^:;:'.|g^rrijr-'r=^ "RIVERSIDE STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF J. F. KOLTERMAN. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 549 subject resided until his death, April 13, 1911. Mr. Tawney was married to Miss Jennie Lewis, on March 8, 1893, and three children were born to them, who are named as follows: Edward, William, and Morris, all under the parental roof. Mr. Tawney was a member of the Presbyterian church, and affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen lodge, also the Modern Wood men of America. Politically he was independent, voting for the best man. CHRISTOPHER CROW. (Deceased.) Christopher. Crow, deceased, was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, July 18, 1840, and was a son of Charley and Mary (Welsh) Crow. In March, 1861, Mr. Crow was married to Miss Susanna McCracken and ten children were the re sult of this marriage : W. J., who lives in Howard county; Eliza Jane, now Mrs. Armstrong, lives in New York state; Charles Wesley, now deceased; Mary Ann, who is now Mrs. M. A. Loury, lives in Ohio; George P., resides in St. Paul, Nebraska; Joseph H., lives in Howard county; Lavina, now Mrs. Frank Murr, who resides in Chicago, Illinois ; Hannah, died when two years old, and two died in infancy. Mrs. Crow died May 15, 1880. Mr. Crow was again married, this time to Mar garet Crow. Eight children were born of the sec ond marriage, as follows : Mabel, Christopher, Ar thur, David, Paul, and Floyd, two died in in fancy. Mr. Crow is widely known, and always was a man of energy and push, being interested in num erous business enterprises in Howard county, where he put in the first saw mill and grist mill erected in the county, and also ran the first thresh ing machine used there. He came into Howard county early in the spring of 1872, where he founded a colony of Canadians on what was known as ' ' Canada Hill. ' ' Mr. Crow was interested in many business en terprises in Nebraska and other states, and at the time of his death, June 12, 1903, resided on his farm, west of St. Paul, Nebraska. He was a christian man, and a prominent mem ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a charter member of St. Paul lodge number thirty- one, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was always up and doing for the interests of his home county and state. Thus ends the history of a well spent, useful and upright life, the end being full of peace and honors. BENNIE JOHNSON. Among the prominent pioneers of Madison county, Nebraska, we mention Bennie Johnson. This gentleman is justly entitled to a foremost place among the sturdy old settlers who helped to make the region what it is today, as he has ever been on the side of progress and justice, taking an active part in public affairs and lending his aid and influence for the betterment of conditions in his community. Mr. Johnson is a native of the state of Illinois. He was. born July 1, 1871, and is a son of John and Nellie Johnson, both of whom were born and raised in Sweden, coming to this country shortly after their marriage and settling in Sterling, Illi nois, where Mr. Johnson worked in a factory, and where the first eleven years of our subject's life were spent. The family then came to Madison county, where the father bought some railroad land and built a sod bouse for temporary use, but which remained their dwelling for a number of years. This was made very comfortable, having a good shingle roof to shed the water, and with stood severe storms winter and summer. They worked hard to improve their farm, and suc ceeded as well as the majority of the early settlers, meeting with the usual setbacks occasioned by drouths, etc., finally adding to the original tract until there was altogether one hundred and sixty acres of well tilled land, and a good set of build ings. Our subject started for himself in 1895, pur chasing a farm, which he has now in first class condition, and is classed among the prosperous and well known citizens of his locality. He was married February 15, 1895, to Miss Christine Newman, and they have three children: Carl 0., Nellie M. and Alice E. Mrs. Johnson's parents were natives of Sweden, coming from that country to America at a very early date, and set tling in Vermont, where Mr. Newman worked in a stone quarry for a number of years. From there they went to New York state, the father working in the mines, and it was during their resi dence there that Christine was born. In 1878 the family emigrated west, settling in Platte county, on railroad land. In June, 1884, their house was burned to the ground with all contents, and left them practically destitute. Mr. Johnson's father retired from active work in 1907 and moved to Newman Grove, where he resided two years before his death in 1909, and was one of the leading merchants of that thriving town. PHILLIP McGRATH. Phillip McGrath, one of Custer county's most highly respected citizens, and a resident of Merna since 1900, is one of the oldest men in his part of the state, but retains his active interest in all that transpires about him and is ready to advance the welfare and progress of his county and state. He was born in county Tipperary, Ireland, June 29, 1818, next to the youngest of thirteen children born to Thomas and Nellie (Hanley) McGrath, and is the only one of the family now surviving. He was reared and educated in his native place 550 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and was married on February 1, 1848, in Nenaugh, Ireland, to Miss Catherine Hogan, also of Irish birth. In July, 1848, they came to America and located first at Pleasantville, New York, where they spent six years, he being engaged in railroad work. In 1854 he went to Chicago, where he served three years on the police force, and they made their home in that city several years. In 1861 they moved to Lily Lake, Illinois, and there Mr. McGrath carried on his first farming opera tions in America. In 1865 they went to Lacon, Illinois, their home for many years. June 7, 1884, Mr. McGrath came to Custer county to visit his daughter, Mrs. Terry Johnson, who with her husband had come to Nebraska in 1881 and secured a homestead in Custer county. Mr. McGrath secured a homestead of a quarter section of land on section nineteen, township eighteen, range twenty-one, which he still owns, and his wife and family joined him in 1885, living on the farm many years. Mrs. McGrath died in Merna, February 11, 1907, being survived by her husband and five children: Thomas, married and living in Merna, has six children; Mrs. Al Thomas, of Holly, Colorado, has three children; John, a physician, died in 1887 ; Mrs. Mike Mc- Carty, living four miles west of Merna, has four children; Frank, of Holly, Colorado; Mrs. Terry Johnson, of Sargent, has eight children. Mr. McGrath passed through many discour agements in his early days in Nebraska and had the usual experiences of pioneer life. He served eleven years as treasurer of his school district, number one hundred and sixty two. In February, 1900, Mr. McGrath moved to Merna and pur chased four acres of land which had been home steaded by his daughter, Mrs. Johnson. He is surrounded by a large circle of friends and has a good standing in the community. He has been successful in his farming and stock raising and owns a grain farm of one hundred and eighty acres near Merna and good property in town. He has six great grandchildren and is held in great reverence and esteem by his many descendants. A sketch of his son Thomas appears in this work. HARRY HUGHES. The gentleman named above is considered to be one of the most progressive agriculturalists of Wayne county. Although not, strictly speaking, one of the pioneer settlers, he has for years taken a prominent place in the upbuilding of the most important interests of the community. He is the owner of a fine farm located in section one, town ship twenty-six, range one, with a comfortable home upon it. Mr. Hughes was born in 1860, in Wales, and is the son of James and Sydna Hughes. The years of his childhood and young manhood were spent in his native country with his parents, and it was also in this place that he secured his education. Having thought the matter out in all its rela tions carefully, Mr. Hughes came to the- conclu sion that the place for a young man to get a start. was in America, where the country was new and where he could get land cheaper. Accordingly, in 1888, he set sail from Liverpool in a little ves sel bound for New York City. After his arrival in that city, he went direct to Pennsylvania, but remained in that state only one year. The call of the west was still abroad in the land, however, and he followed its leading to Red Oak, Iowa. He remained there for two years, and then in 1891, came to Wayne county, Nebraska. He at once bought his present home of one hundred and sixty acres and this has been the family homestead ever since. Since this farm has come into his possession, Mr. Hughes has improved it in many ways, so that its value has been greatly enhanced. He has erected roomy and substantial buildings, set out trees, and dug wells, until now it is reckoned as among the most valuable in that section. The year after coming to Nebraska, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hammer. Pour children have been born to them, named as follows: Sydna, Thomas, Evan, and Ismael. ADOLPH NITZEL. Adolph Nitzel, one of the prominent residents of section three, township fourteen, range seven, Merrick county, Nebraska, has spent many years in this part of the country, and is well known as a man of energetic habits and sterling qualities. Mr. Nitzel is a native of Dekalb county, Illi nois, born in Sandwich, in the above named county and state, November 16, 1864, and was the eighth child in the family of Henry and Chris tina (Immel) Nitzel, who had four sons and five daughters. Our subject lived in Illinois until thirteen years of age. In March, 1878, the Nitzel family of mother, two sons, William and Adolph, and daughter Min nie, moved from Illinois to Merrick county, Ne braska. Henry Nitzel, the father, had died in Illinois in the fall of 1868. The family had pur chased eighty acres on section three, township fourteen, range seven, of the Union Pacific rail road in 1871, and upon moving to Nebraska built on this eighty which became the home farm ; and they have since added to this land at different times until the Nitzel family own about six hun dred and eighty acres. Adolph Nitzel from his thirteenth year grew up on the farm and received such advantages as local schooling, etc. In his twenty-first year he went to Rock county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead. On March 18, 1891, Mr. Nitzel was married to Miss Sophia Van Pelt, a native of Ohio, but whose family came from Ohio to Merrick county, Ne braska, in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Nitzel made the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 551 Rock county homestead their home until the fall of 1892, when Mr. Nitzel purchased two hundred acres of the Nitzel home farm in Merrick county of his mother, and moved from Rock county back to the old original home farm where he now re sides. Mr. Nitzel is a self-made man, successful, and now owns two hundred and eighty acres, and is a prosperous farmer and stockman, making a specialty of short-horn cattle. He also holds the position of shipper for the Archer Shipping Asso ciation. He is a quiet man along political lines, but has always taken an active interest in the up building of his home and the affairs of his county and state. Mr. and Mrs. Nitzel have three children: Lloyd, Jefferson, and Paul, and they are an inter esting family. Mr. Nitzel's mother and brother William live on an adjoining farm to the east. LOUIS P. SKOKAN. Louis P. Skokan, a well known farmer and stockman of Knox county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old settlers of that section of the state, where he has spent all but about six months of his entire life. He has contributed in no small de gree to the welfare of his community and has as sisted in the development of the farming resources in the locality in which he resides. His home is lo cated in section two, township thirty-one,range six, where he and his wife and family reside, sur rounded by a large circle of kind friends and neighbors. Mr. Skokan is a native of Bohemia, his birth occurring in the year of 1878, and he is the son of Frank and Anna (Safarik) Skokan, both na tives of Bohemia, and who came to America in 1878, when our subject was but six months old. After landing on the shores of the new world, our subject, with his parents, came to Knox county, Nebraska, where the father took up a homestead claim on section five, township thirty- one, range six, where he put up a log house and steadily improved the farm. Here our subject and his parents experienced the many hardships and dangers which beset the early settler of the west ern frontier. Mr. Skokan grew to manhood on the old homestead farm, receiving what educa tional advantages were obtainable in the first days of settlement there, and which gradually became better, and helping on the farm as he be came old enough to be a help to his parents. After reaching manhood's estate, Mr. Skokan started in life for himself and bought the farm known as the John Wilson homestead, where he now lives, and which is well improved. In 1901 Mr. Skokan was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Tichy, whose parents were early settlers in Nebraska, coming to the state in 1863, just forty-eight years ago, when this part of the western country was but a wilderness peopled by Indians, and where deer, antelope and other wild game grazed on the unbroken prairies. Mr. and Mrs. Skokan are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Addie, Emil, and Louise. They are a fine family and enjoy the re spect and high regard of all who know them. PATRICK GLEASON. (Deceased.) This honorable name is that of a man who passed on to the better world, leaving behind him the record of good and useful years, and should not be omitted from any comprehensive roll of the makers of Platte county, Nebraska. He was born in county Kerry, Ireland, about 1829, and came to this country in 1849, and after living in the eastern and southern states until 1857, he came to Platte county and was one of the orig inal homesteaders of this county. Mr. Gleason was .married to Miss Mary Foley m St. Joseph,, Missouri, about 1856, going from Omaha, Ne braska, to be married; and he and his wife then came .to Nebraska to make their home. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason were among the first pioneer settlers of Platte county, and to them and those who came in the early days, Platte county owes much of its growth and prosperity. Mr. Gleason was of sturdy and energetic stock, and was a successful farmer and stock raiser and the old home farm was his residence until the time of his death, December 13, 1897. Mrs. Gleason died May 13, 1898. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gleason: Mary, deceased; Thomas, married and living at Platte Center; Margaret, Patrick and Nellie. Patrick and Misses Margaret and Nellie left the farm in March, 1909, having lived on the old homestead since birth. The Gleason family are among the very first families, and the children were among the first children to be borri in Platte county. Patrick Gleason and sisters Margaret and Nellie now reside in their new modern home place just southwest of Platte Center, where they built one of the finest houses in Platte county. The old farm of four hundred and forty acres on Shell Creek, still remains in the Gleason family. Pat rick Gleason now gives his attention to raising thoroughbred hogs. But few families still remain of the old set tlers stock, and families like the Gleasons are widely known and have the respect and esteem of many friends. Mrs. Mary, the mother, was a woman of many noble qualities, and was always doing her part toward building up the best moral and church influences, and will ever remain en deared in the memory of many of the old resi dents. JOHN THIESSEN. Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county who have spent many years in this lo cality, is the subject of this review, John Thies- 552 Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. sen, owner of a valuable estate in section thirty- six, township twenty-five, range eight. For many years past he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has done his full share as one of the old settlers towards the development of the better interests of his community; and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Thiessen is a native of Germany, born in Bucholtz village, Holstein province, June 13, 1865, and is the son of Clouse and Abel Kruzie ; the father's birth occurred in the year 1831, he following the occupation of farming after grow ing to manhood; and also fought in the Danish army during 1848. John Thiessen grew tu young manhood in his riative land and in 1888, sailed for America where he could get cheap land and have an opportunity to get a good start in life. They sailed from Hamburg and after a voyage of fourteen days, landed in New York, then came westward, settling in Antelope county where he bought school land and now owns four hundred acres of land, and has built a fine home. His farm is well improved, and Mr. Thiessen is a highly respected member of the community in which he dwells. The first year of his residence here, Mr. Thiessen could barely make a living ; in 1894 he lost his crops through the hot winds that pre vailed during that year. He experienced the usual hardships and discouragements incident to those early days, but those times have passed into history, and glad to forget those experien ces, Mr. Thiessen is now happy in the fact that he has passed safely through those times, and is now in a better and more prosperous position in life. In 1900 Mr. Thiessen was married to Miss Emma Geise, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Clouse, Adelia, John and Lula. Mr. Thiessen 's parents came to America in 1893, but one brother and two 'sisters remained in the fatherland, where they still reside. WALTER S. WESCOTT. (Deceased.) The late Walter S. Wescott was one of the most prominent citizens of Custer county, and one for whom the entire community mourned. He was well known in business circles and also as a friend to all measures of progress, and was highly respected for his many good qualities of mind and heart, being always interested in the lives of those about him. Mr. Wescott was born in Wethers- field, New York, April 18, 1828, youngest of the five children of John and Eunice (Reed) Wescott, all of whom are now deceased. The father, of Scotch descent, was born in New York and died in Wisconsin in 1877, and the mother, also a native of New York, was of English extraction and died in.Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, in December, 1863. When Mr. Wescott was sixteen years of age he removed with his parents to Wisconsin, where they located on a farm and he was married, at the home of her parents in Green county, that state, Janu ary 28, 1855, to Thankful B. Cleveland, who was born in Embden, Somerset county, Maine, and for some time was a teacher in Wisconsin schools. Her parents, James Y. and Edith (Cragin) Cleve land, were also natives of Embden, and both died in Wisconsin, the father in 1868. Mrs. Wescott has one brother in California. Two of her broth ers, H. G. and Roger S., served in the civil war. For thirty years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wescott remained on a Wisconsin farm. In 1880 Mr. Wescott eame to Custer county and pur chased about two thousand acres of land in the vicinity of Wescott, starting a cattle ranch. He shipped one thousand head of cattle from Wiscon sin, including a number of thoroughbred Durham and short horn stock, and during the following winter lost all save sixty head, in the severe storms that were characteristic of the winter of 1880-81. However, he was undaunted by his great loss and made a new start. In 1885 he brought his family from their Wisconsin home to Custer county and located on the ranch. The fol lowing year he established the town of Wescott on his land, and in connection with his other inter ests engaged in general mercantile business there, carrying a large stock. He established the first bank in the village, known as the Bank of Wes cott, of which he was the president. He always took an active interest in the progress and devel opment of the community, lending his aid in var ious ways to help the general advancement. He was well known for his high character and was kindly and charitable in manner and disposition. Mr. Wescott, while in Wisconsin was promi nent in the affairs of that state, and served as leg islator in the general assembly two terms in the lower house and two terms in the senate. One incident occurred in the senate which illustrates well the fearless courage of the man. The Wis consin soldiers were in distress ; they needed clothing and their food was reported insufficient. A bill to appropriate money from the school fund for the relief of the soldiers in the field was before the senate. "It will never do," argued the op ponents of the bill. "It is not constitutional," argued the lawyers. Wescott 's turn came to vote, and here is his explanation: "Our soldiers are fighting for the very existence of the nation.- I allow no man to surpass me in solicitude for the education of our children or obedience to the con stitution and the law. But more important than all these is the comfort of our soldiers and the final triumph of our cause. A dire necessity ex ists, and necessity su,ch as this knows no law, no constitution. I therefore vote ' Aye ! ' " Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wescott: Ida May, married Ed. C. Gibbons and IC. E. DRISKELL AND FAMILY. RESIDENCE OF E- EJ. DRISKELL. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY,- REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 553 died in March, 1904, survh ed by her husband and three children; Eva Marie, wife of Charles D. Bragg, of Comstock; John J., of Monroe, Wis consin, is married and has one child; four chil dren died in infancy. Mr. Wescott 's death oc curred March 31, 1908, at the age of eighty years, being survived by his widow and two children. Mr. Wescott was well known as the originator of the Wescott irrigation canal, which was con structed on Middle Loup river between Sargent and Wescott. Mrs. Wescott still occupies the Wescott home, where she is surrounded by a large circle of friends, and she has been active in continuing many of her husband's former busi ness interests. She enjoyed excellent educational advantages in early life, and is a woman of busi ness intelligence and ability. E. E. DRISKELL. E. E. Driskell, one of the older settlers of Wayne county, Nebraska, is honored as a veteran of the civil war, and is one of the most public- spirited citizens of his locality. He has a pleas ant home on section twenty-two, township twen ty-six, range five, where he carries on general farming and stock raising with gratifying success, and he is the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of fine, fertile land in Wayne county. He also owns four hundred acres in Fremont county, Iowa, and one hundred and sixty acres in Per kins county, Nebraska. Mr. Driskell is a native of Iowa, and was born near the city of Burlington, Des Moines county, November 7, 1838, a son of Anglo and Sarah Dris kell, who were born in Ohio and England, respect ively. He was reared and educated in Iowa, and in November, 1861, enlisted in Company K, Four teenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving three years, and in March, 1865, re-enlisted in Company B, Fourth United States Veteran Infantry, from which he was discharged in March, 1866. He par ticipated in many of the important battles of the war during his long and faithful service, and won an enviable record for devotion to duty. He was wounded in the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, after which he spent two months in a hospital. At Shiloh, the entire regiment and brigade were cap tured by the enemy, but Mr. Driskell, at the time, was driving a team, and so escaped. The prin cipal engagements in which he fought were Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, where fourteen thousand prisoners were captured and Mr. Driskell's bri gade was the first to go over the breastworks; Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Corinth, Tupelo, and Yellow Bayou. After Lincoln was assassinated, the regiment was sent to Washington, and for four of five months they guarded the conspira tors who planned the killing of Lincoln and his cabinet. At the' time they were executed, Mr. Driskell stood on the prison wall only a few feet from the place of. execution. Afterward, the regi ment did provost and guard duty at Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, being finally dis charged at Columbus, Ohio. At the close of the war, Mr. Driskell engaged in farming in Louisa county, Iowa, and later in Fremont county, where he remained until 1882, when he came to Wayne county and bought four hundred acres of land. He has added to his orig inal purchase, and has shown great energy in im proving and cultivating his land, so that he now has a large and valuable estate, all the fruit of his own efforts. He has a grove and orchard of about ten acres in extent, and has in many ways beau tified his place. He is one of the most successful farmers of the region where he lives, and is a man of influence and stability, interested in every pub lic movement, and ready to advance the cause of progress in every form. In 1888 he lost consider able stock in the well remembered blizzard, and has, at other times, suffered loss from various causes, but he has steadily progressed in his way to prosperity. Mr. Driskell was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hartman in 1877, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Mrs. Fanny Hugel- man; Mrs. Ada McCorkendale ; J. 0., on the farm in Iowa; and W. R., farming in Dixon county, Ne braska. Mrs. -Hugelman and Mrs. McCorkendale are on a part of their father's old farm. Mrs. Driskell was born in West Virginia, and came to Iowa with her brothers, following the death of her parents. Mr. Driskell's home, which he erected in 1893, is one of the largest and best built houses in Wayne county. It is equipped with a bath, hot and cold water, and acetylene gas lights, being thoroughly modern in every respect. Since 1906, Mr. Driskell has erected three substantial homes for his children, who reside in Nebraska, two on the old home place, and one near Wakefield, Dixon county. A picture of the family residence and also the family group will be found on an other page. A. P. SEABURY. To the men of perseverance and stalwart de termination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and commer cial region the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, who has been intimately" identified with its development, and has gained an enviable repu tation as a citizen, may be mentioned A. P. Sea- bury, a prosperous and successful farmer of Craw ford township, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of land in section eleven, township twenty-seven, range five — five acres being in good trees with an orchard. Mr. Seabury is a native of Albany county, New York, but came here from Crawford county, Iowa, where he lived from 1867 to 1878. His father, Cornelius Seabury, was born in 1807, in the state of Rhode Island, and is a 554 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. descendant of the pilgrims who came over on the boat succeeding the Mayflower. He was a cousin of the Brusters. His grandfather, Philip Seabury, was born in 1767, in Massachusetts and died in 1845. He was a captain on a whaler. Our subject was born in 1848, and was the youngest of five children, and is the son of Cor nelius Seabury and Adeline (Crary) Seabury. Mr. Seabury came to Antelope county, Ne braska, in 1878, to where he moved by wagon from Crawford county, Iowa, making in all four trips, and then took up a homestead and timber claim in the north half of section ten, township twenty-seven, range five, where he built a good frame house, fourteen by twenty-two. While go ing after hay, Mr. Seabury was caught in the bliz zard of 1888, but did not get lost as some people did, although it is an experience he does not care to encounter again. He lost his crops by the hail storm of 1892, which makes him one of the many old settlers who suffered the hardships of those early days. Mr. Seabury was married in 1871 to Miss Elizabeth Gould, and they are the parents of a family of four children, whose names are here given : Charles, who married Edith Tyndall, they have one child Georgia; May, who married H. C. Holbert, they having three children, Wini fred, Charles, and Mildred; George, who married Gertrude Fisher, they having one child, Dwight ; and the fourth being Elva. Mrs. Seabury was born in Lewis county, New York. In concluding this personal history, we wish to state that the Seaburys are highly respected by all who know them in their community. THOMAS BLANCHARD. Thomas Blanehard, of Cotesfield, Nebraska, is one of the prominent citizens of Howard county. During his residence in the state he has held many positions of trust, always taking an active part in local affairs, and his name is familiar to to all who have spent any time in this section. During the early days he served as justice of the peace. In the eighties he was appointed post master of Cotesfield and served in that capacity for a period of fifteen years. In 1883 he was elected county commissoner, holding that office for three years, and for about thirty years was a member of the school board, and treasurer of district number fourteen. Thomas Blanehard was born in England on May 17, 1837, grew up there, receiving a common school education, and during his young manhood followed railroading as an occupation. He re mained in England up to the spring of 1871, then came to America, locating at first in Burling ton, Iowa, spending about six months there, and came on to Howard county. Here he pre-empted a quarter section in section nineteen, township sixteen, range eleven, also filed on a timber claim of forty acres in section eighteen, and later homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section twelve, township sixteen, range twelve, proving up on all three tracts. Prom time to time as he became able he bought more land, and at the present time is owner of a fine estate com prising one thousand and twenty acres in this state, besides having one quarter section of land in South Dakota. He has followed farming all of the time since coming here until the fall of 1900, when he retired from active work and moved to Scotia, making that his home for five years, then came to Cotesfield. Here he has es tablished a comfortable home and become one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of the thriving little city. Mr. Blanehard was married in 1874, to Miss Laura Rawalt, of Pulton county, Illinois. Miss Rawalt was for a number of years prior to her marriage a teacher in the public schools of Illi nois. To them have been born two children, both of whom are married and have comfortable homes of their own. Maud, wife of J. H. West, is a resident of Cotesfield; they have two children. Their son, Horace, married Miss Buda Paist, and with their four children, occupy the original homestead of our subject. Mr. Blanehard and his family are widely and favorably known as being among the old-timers of this locality. They have passed through all the various phases of Nebraska 's history and have seen its growth from the very earliest days of settlement. Politically Mr. Blanehard is a democrat and a firm supporter of party principles, proving him self a loyal friend to all that has stood for the good of his community and the welfare of its people. JAMES CRUIKSHANK. (Deceased.) James Cruikshank, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Valley county, Nebraska, and always during his residence there closely identi fied himself with the best interests of the county. For many years before his death he was an earnest and active christian, and is well remem bered for his kindly and charitable deeds. He was a native of Strathspay, Scotland, born July 16, 1833, and at the age of six years came with his parents to Ontario, Canada, where he reached maturity. On February 2, 1860, he married Mary McLachlen, a native of the township of East Williams, Canada, their union taking place in Middlesex county, and the first few years of their married life were spent in Canada. They then removed to Dallas county. Iowa, lived there until 1885, and in that year came to Valley county, which continued to be their home during the remainder of their lives. They secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the southwest quarter of section six, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 555 township seventeen, range fifteen, the home place for many years. 'Mrs. Cruikshank died March 14, 1892, on the home farm, deeply mourned by her husband and seven children, namely: Kate, widow of J. H. Rhinehart, who died in 1908, of Martinsburg, Missouri, has two children ; Jennie, wife of W. H. Clark, of Des Moines, Iowa, has six children; Mary, wife of N. H. Slaughter, of Minburn, Iowa, has five children ; Maggie, died December 7, 1904, survived by her husband, J. W. Hayes, has six children ; Nettie, wife of John T. Haworth, living near Selah, Washington, has two children; Nahum, of Arcadia, married Lodema Hogue and they have three children ; James Grant, of Valley county, a sketch of whom appears in the work, is married and has one daughter. In September, 1892, Mr. Cruikshank married Mrs. Martha Myers. In 1900 Mr. Cruikshank retired from active life and moved to Arcadia, where he remained until his death June 24, 1906. He was well known in the community and had many warm friends there, who sincerely deplored his loss. He was a man of high character, who had a high standard of life and endeavored to live up to it. He was reared in the Presbyterian church in Scotland, and while living in Iowa identified himself with the Baptist denomination. He was a republican in politics and a member of the Masonic frater nity. GOTTLIEB BRUMMUND. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in Madison county, Ne braska, and since locating here in 1868 has taken a foremost part in the development of his region. Mr. Brummund is a native of Germany, and was born in the province of Pommerania, May 11, 1834. Here he lived, growing to manhood and receiving his schooling, and later married. In 1867 Mr. Brummund, with his family, left his native land for America, where he could get land cheap, and where a young man had a better op portunity to get a start in life. They embarked at Bremen, Germany, on a sailboat bound for Quebec, and were ten weeks on the sea. After landing in the new world, Mr. Brummund went to Wisconsin, where he remained two years. In 1869 Mr. Brummund, with his family, came by railroad to Omaha, there purchasing an ox team, and drove to Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead in section twenty- five, township twenty-four, range one, which is still the home place. Mr. Brummund put up a log house on this land, and immediately began improvements on the place, building the necessary sheds for the stock, and various other improve ments until now he has a fine farm arid home. In the first years of residence here, he worked hard, broke sod and planted his first crop, reap ing a bountiful harvest. During the succeeding years he saw hard times and had a struggle to make a living for his family, as the grasshoppers destroyed every spear of his crops for seven suc cessive years, which was very discouraging to the family and caused them much privation and hardship. In the early days Fremont was the nearest market place, which was an eight-day journey by ox team. Mr. Brummund was married May 30, 1849, to Miss Uricka Ruhlo, a native of Germany, and Mr. and Mrs. Brummund are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: William, August, Emil, Paul, Minnie, Martha and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Brummund and family are highly respected in their community, and in their comfortable home are surrounded by a host of friends and neighbors. They are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Brummund is a demo crat. WILLIAM WALSH. William Walsh, one of Custer county's very early settlers, in early days passed through the trials and discouragements of pioneer existence and has reached a period of prosperity and suc cess. He is a self-made man and has always been closely identified with the development of Custer county, being a patriotic citizen of his state and county. He was born in Ireland in June, 1835, next to the oldest of five children, of whom he and a brother in Ireland are the only survivors at this writing. He reached maturity and acquired his education in his native country, meanwhile working on his father's farm after he was old enough. He engaged in farming on his own account as a young man and in April, 1868, came to America, where he again engaged in farming. In December, 1874, he made a visit to his native place and while there was married, February 8, 1875, to Ann Nolan, also of Irish birth.' The month after his marriage Mr. Walsh brought his wife to America and they lived on a farm in Iowa, where he had previously spent a few years, and lived there until. 1880. He then brought his wife and their four children to Custer county, being one of the earliest settlers in tbe region of his homestead, which was located on section twenty-six, township eighteen, range twenty-two, where he had secured a timber claim adjoining same. This has been the home during the many years since then, and they are of the few who have retained possession of their origi nal homestead place for so many years. They have been much interested in the cause of educa tion and other movements of progress and in 1880 Mr. Walsh helped organize school district number thirty-one, of which he served as a member of the board for some time. He served two years as county supervisor and for the past two years has been township assessor. He also served as as sessor of his township in 1882. He is a success ful man of affairs and owns three hundred and 556 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. twenty acres of land comprising a well improved and equipped stock and grain farm. In May, 1909, he retired from the farm and came to Merna to live, purchasing the comfortable, modern resi dence the family now occupy. He is known to be the friend of progress along all lines and is well regarded by his many friends and acquaint ances. Ten children have been born to Mr. Walsh and wife, of whom the following account may be given: Mary, wife of Dr. J. H. Morrow, of Merna, has five children ; Anastasia, of Omaha ; Elizabeth is a nun in a convent at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; Anna, is the wife of M. S. Quinn, of Colorado, and they have seven children; John J., lives in Sioux county, Nebraska; Kathryn, is a teacher and lives at home; Loretta and Margaret are in Omaha, where the latter is a student; two sons died in infancy. JOHN HAVEL. The gentleman above named resides on sec tion thirty-three, township twenty-six, range two, in Pierce county, where he owns an interest in seven hundred and eighty acres of well improved land, some of which is a beautiful grove of trees. Our subject was born in 1876, and came to Pierce county with his parents when but a boy of six years old. Mr. Havel's father, Mathious Havel, was born in Bohemia, in 1837, and served in the army of his native country for twelve years in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, and also in the war between France and Germany. He came- to America in 1872, and lived in Wisconsin a short time, and from there went to Omaha, and subsequently settled in Saun ders county, where he took up a homestead and where the family endured many hardships and pri vations, as did most of the early settlers on the frontier. Our subject's father first built a house of adobe, which is a mixture of mud and hay. The family experienced many severe losses through failures of crops on account of drouths and hail, and during the blizzards of 1873 and 1888 had to burn hay to keep warm, and lost some cattle. All the crops were lost in the grass hopper raids for two seasons ; then he finally bought a tree claim in Pierce county, from C. C. Ranch, which has developed into the present beautiful home of the two sons, John and M. M. Havel. John Havel the subject of this sketch was married in 1897 to Miss Mary Silhaeck, whose parents emigrated from Bohemia to America about 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Havel have a fine family of four children, who are named as fol lows: Mary, Anna, Rosa and Emma. Mr. Havel is a member of the Modern Wood men and is also affiliated with the Z. C. B. J. He is independent in politics, voting for the best man. HON. JOHN G BOELTS. The gentleman herein named is well known by residents of Merrick county, Nebraska, as one of the leading old settlers of his locality, and a man who has done his full share in the upbuild ing of the agricultural and other interests of his community. Mr. Boelts, in partnership with his brother, S. G. Boelts, and two sisters resides in section three, township thirteen, range eight, which is his home place, where he has a fine home and valuable estate, and enjoys the esteem and respect of his fellowmen. John G. Boelts, son of Gerd and Anna (Oelt- jen) Boelts, was born December 31, 1873, at Oldenburg, Germany, and was sixth in a family of eight children, two of whom are deceased. He has two brothers and two sisters in Merrick county, Nebraska, and one sister in Denver, Colo rado. Mr. Boelts came to America in September of 1878, with his parents who located in Merrick county, Nebraska, engaging in farming. In 1908, Mr. Boelts was elected to the lower house of the thirty-first Nebraska state legislature. His term of office expired January 1, 1911. He has also served on board of his school district number thirty-five, for four years; and as justice of peace and township treasurer. Mr. Boelts in partnership with his brother, S. G. Boelts and sisters own seven hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land in township thirteen, range eight. It is a splendid stock farm and they make a specialty of Hereford cattle. Mr. Boelts is a young man of good attain ments, standing for progression, and all uplift ing of state and county. He is an active intel ligent man who keeps abreast of the time and is conversant with all affairs of public interest. John G. Boelts' father, Gerd Boelts, died May 9, 1898. He located where the present buildings are situated when he first came to Nebraska and this was his home during the balance of his life. He added to the original farm until at the time of his death he owned four hundred and forty acres. His widow, Mrs. Anna Boelts, survives him and makes her home with her children. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerd Boelts the following children were born: Kate, wife of G. Pfleiderer, Johanne ; Frederick G., John G., S. Gustav and Anna L., besides two who died in. infancy before the family came to the United States. All the children were born in Germany except Anna L. N. P. BRADSTREET. The genial sheriff of Boyd county, N. P. Brad- street, has been a resident of Nebraska for the past thirty years. He has gone through all the early Nebraska days, tenting out during their first days here. He also well remembers seeing herds of deer and antelope roaming the plains, when occasionally an intrepid hunter brought one down with his trusty rifle, sharing his prize with COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 557 others less fortunate. There were Indian scares, and after the celebrated battle of Wounded Knee, the settlers felt much uneasiness, trying to keep together as much as possible, several families oc cupying one cabin so as to be better protected in case of attack by the redskins. Mr. Bradstreet was well acquainted with Kid Wade, one of the early rustlers of whom so much has been written. He started out from the vicinity of Holt and Knox counties, and for several years his name was a terror to the settlers throughout that part of the state. Those days are now long since passed, though not forgotten, and while they were hard ones at the time, the memory is not un pleasant, showing with what fortitude the pioneers met the problems that confronted them. Mr. Bradstreet was born in Ulster eounty, New York, on May 15, 1863, and is a son of Henry M. and Susan (Robinson) Bradstreet, the former's death occurring in Spencer in 1908, while the mother now resides with a son there, and enjoys good health and the society of many friends. After coming to Nebraska, Mr. Bradstreet re mained with his parents for about three years, then started for himself, filing on a homestead in Holt county, which he farmed for about twenty years. In 1905 he settled in Lynch, opened a liv ery barn and carried on the business for four years, when he was elected to the office of sheriff. Prior to his election, he had served as deputy for four years, thus being thoroughly familiar with the duties of the position and knowing every per son and part of the county. He was installed in office on the 7th of January, 1910, and begins his term under the most favorable auspices, having the complete confidence of the people, who know him to be a man of untiring energy and faithful ness to his charge. Politically Mr. Bradstreet is a democrat, and while Boyd county is normally republican, he won his recent election by a comfortable majority over his opponent. Mr. Bradstreet was married in 0 'Neill, on De cember 15, 1886, taking as his wife Miss Nettie Hubby, daughter of John Hubby, of Lynch, of whom an extended sketch is to be found in this work. Their marriage was performed by Judge Gillispie, and was one of the well remembered events of the season, both being members of the foremost pioneer families of Nebraska. Three children have been born to our subject and his esteemed wife, as follows: Howard E., Ethel and Nellie. Mr. Bradstreet is a member of the Lynch lodge number two hundred and fifty-five, Independ ent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Masonic lodge, number ninety-five, at O'Neill. ALONZO BROOKS. (Deceased.) The above gentleman, who is now deceased, was for many years a leading citizen of Boone county. He was a well known pioneer, a man of fine char acter, taking at all times a prominent part in any work which tended to the upbuilding of the locality and best interests of his county and state. Alonzo Brooks was born in New York state on January 25, 1829, grew to manhood there, and was married October 1, 1851, to Miss Mary J. Wilson, three children being born of this union. The family settled in Washington, D. C, in 1852, remained for two years, then came west, locating in Boone county, Illinois. In 1862 Mr. Brooks enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Volunteer Infantry of Illinois, and did splendid work for his country, being pro moted from second to first lieutenant of his com pany on July 10, 1863. He took part in many famous battles, and was with his company in con tinuous service from the time of enlistment up to the date of his discharge, being mustered out at the close of the war, in 1865. In the fall of 1872 Mr. Brooks came to Boone county, Nebraska, took up a homestead and was joined by his family the following year. He at once engaged in the farming and stock raising business, continuing up to 1885, at which time he moved to the village of St. Edwards and lived there for about four years. At this time, himself and family, with the exception of one son, Horace, moved to Homeland, Florida, and there his death occurred on May 3, 1901. He was survived by his wife, son Horace, and a daughter, Sarah. Mr. Brooks was a man of fine character, and was at all times prominent in- every work which stood for the upbuilding of mankind and the good of his community. He was successful in every re spect and was a truly self-made man, enjoying the esteem and love of all with whom he came in contact. G. H. HANKS. George H. Hanks, a prominent farmer and stockman living on section four, township twenty- eight, range five, Antelope county, Nebraska, is well known throughout this section as a pro gressive and successful agriculturalist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Hanks is a son of George and Kate (Kane) Hanks. Our subject's father was born in the year 1834 in England, and was a British soldier, and was stationed at Montreal, Canada, for four years. The mother eame to Canada when she was a small girl, from Ireland. Our subject, Mr. Hanks, is a native of New York, and went to Vermont when he was five years old, with his parents, and from thence re moved to Illinois in 1868, when in the year of 1870 the family migrated to the state of Iowa. In 1881 Mr. Hanks came to Nebraska and took up a homestead claim on Verdigris river, which claim consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, and then came to Antelope county, and settled on section four, township twenty-eight, 558 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. range five, which is his present location, as before stated. Mr. Hanks has one hundred and sixty acres of land in this section, and one hundred and twenty acres of land in Knox county, five acres of which are given to trees. Mr. Hanks was joined in holy wedlock in the year 1876 to Miss Emily C. Barnes, and they have one child, R. B., who is married to Miss Hilsinger, who also have one child. Mr. Hanks is affiliated with the Masonic, Woodmen of the World, and Workmen lodges, and has assisted materially through his labors and example in the upbuilding of the farming in terests of his community, well meriting his high standing as a worthy citizen. ANDREW J. THOMPSON. Andrew J. Thompson has been a resident of Custer county several years and has lived in the state much of the time since 1884. He is well known in his community as a prosperous and successful farmer and a substantial, progressive citizen. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, July 17, 1857, third in the family of seven chil dren born to James and Caroline (Vandevere) Thompson. Of these children, Daniel, James, Andrew, Ida (Mrs. Sturm), and Emma (Mrs. Williams), live in Nebraska, and, two daughters live in Illinois. The parents were born in In diana, the mother of English parentage. They lo cated in Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1885, and both died in Keya Paha county, Nebraska, the father in 1908 and the mother in 1907. In youth Mr. Thompson attended the schools near his father's home on the Illinois farm, and upon reaching young manhood engaged in farm ing. He was married in Peoria county, Febru ary 21, 1882, to Miss Vina Sturm, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, daughter of Lewis and Harriet (Robinson) Sturm, natives of Indiana, the father of German extraction. Both parents died in Iowa, the father about 1866 and the mother about 1887. Mrs. Thompson has one bro ther, George, in Lincoln; a brother in Mitchell, South Dakota; a sister in Portland, Oregon; three brothers in Portland ; one sister in Clinton, Iowa ; one sister in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson lived on the Illinois farm until the spring of 1884, then came with their young son to Richardson county, Nebraska, and engaged in farming there. In 1890 they went to Kansas and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lane county. After prov ing his title to this they returned to Richardson county, Nebraska, and remained there until 1904, and since that time have been residents of Custer county. Mr. Thompson had purchased, some time before 1904, one hundred and sixty acres of land on section nine, township eighteen, range eight een, which is still the home place. He has since purchased the west half of section fifteen, town ship eighteen, range eighteen, adjoining, making a farm that is well adapted for stock raising and. grain farming. Mr. Thompson is a man of influence in the community and is interested in local affairs. Dur ing the years he has been a resident of Custer county, he has served as director of the school board of district number forty-nine. He and his wife have five children : Albert L., married arid living in Custer county; Lester, also of Custer county, has two children ; Charles, Eva and Hazel, at home. CLAUS J. KOLL Among the adopted sons of Valley county, Ne braska, perhaps there are none who are better known than the Koll brothers, who are prosper ous farmers living on adjoining farms near Ord. , Claus J. Koll, born in the village of Ehlers- dorf, province of Holstein, Germany, on the 16th of June, 1856, was the eldest of three children born to Hartwig and Margarita (Kuehl) Koll. Mr. Koll spent his childhood and early manhood years in his native country, not coming to Amer ica until 1884, after the death of his parents. He sailed from Hamburg in the "Ritzia," and after eighteen days landed in New York. He first came to Dodge county, Nebraska, where he was em ployed at farm labor until 1889. At that time he came to Valley county, and after working for a year on a farm, purchased the northwest quarter of section five, township eighteen, range fourteen. He has since purchased adjoining land, and the farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres. At the time of purchase it was unim proved, but since his possession, Mr. Koll has set out a fine orchard, good, substantial buildings have been added, and the place is now regarded as one of the finest in Valley county. We are pleased to note that an excellent view of their farm home is to be found on another page of this work. On June 19, 1892, Mr. Koll was married to Emilie Prien, who is a native of Davenport, Iowa, and daughter of John and Augustina (Wagoner) Prien. They came to America in 1857, embarking at Bremen for Baltimore in a sailship, and were nine weeks on the voyage. Three children, Hart- wig, Henrietta and John, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Koll. Hartwig Koll joined his brother Claus in Dodge county in 1887, and was married there to Dorothea Hass a few years later. In 1903 he fol lowed his brother to Valley county, and now lives on his farm, which is a little southwest of that of Claus. Four children have been born to them, Anna, Rosa, Frida and Edna. Claus and Hartwig Koll are the only members of the family to come to America, and their perse verance and thrift have undoubtedly brought them a much greater reward than would have "DROOPING ELM FARM," RESIDENCE OF MRS. MARY E. BRYAN. Q ^ RESIDENCE OF CLAUS J. KOLL. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 559 been the case in the old world. They are, both of them, self-made men in the strictest sense of the word. All that they possess has come to them only as the result of work and the exercise of economy and good judgment. In 1890 hail de stroyed their crops and during the year of drouth, 1894, nothing came to harvest, but with all the discouragements, success has at last attended their efforts. Both families are well and favorably known and have the respect and esteem of a large num ber of friends. They were reared in the Luth eran faith, and in politics are independent of party lines, voting for the man best fitted for the office. JOSEPH BRYAN. (Deceased.) Joseph Bryan, formerly a prominent farmer of Custer county, Nebraska, was well known for the prominent part he took in advancing the edu cational, religious and material advancement of his part of the county. Mr. Bryan had a wide cir cle of friends and his loss was deplored by the en tire community. He was born in Missouri, March 29, 1846, a son of William and Caroline (Brinn) Bryan, and the oldest of their six children. He has one brother, John W., in Custer county, a sis ter in California and one brother and one sister in Illinois. His father was of English descent. served in the civil war, and was killed at the bat tle of Shiloh. His mother, who was of English and Scotch descent, died in Illinois. While Jo seph was still a very young boy, his father moved to Clay county, Illinois, and when but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company K, Forty- eighth Illinois Infantry, serving about two and one-half or three years. At the close of the war he returned to Illinois and engaged in farming. Mr. Bryan was married on September 16, 1869, at Taylorville, Illinois, to Mary E. Baker, who was born near Olney, Richland county, Illinois, a daughter of William and Caroline (Utterback) Baker, the former of whom died in Illinois in 1861, and the latter in Custer county in 1895. Mrs. Bryan has two sisters in California, one brother and one sister in the state of Washington ; one brother in Illinois; one brother, James Baker, at Mitchell, Nebraska ; one brother in Missouri ; one sister, Mrs. Sarah Carroll, died in Custer county, February 7, 1911. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Bryan brought his wife and two children to Lincoln, Nebraska, where for seven years he was employed in the salt works. In the fall of 1879 he moved to Custer county, living with his brother, John Bryan, until spring, when he erected a residence on his homestead, having filed on one hundred and sixty acres of land comprising the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, township sixteen, range seventeen. In the spring of 1880, the day he moved onto the place, he planted an elm by his door as a memor ial of the occasion and gave directions that it be ever preserved. It is now one of the finest of the many large trees on the place and holds a con spicuous place in the view of the home and sur roundings which we are pleased to publish on an other page. This remained his home until the time of his death, November 29, 1892, after fifteen years of invalidism. He was survived by his wife and the following seven children: William B., married and living in Kansas, has two children; Isabelle, wife of J. T. Wood, of Mason City, Ne braska, where he is a stockholder and cashier of the Farmers ' Bank, they have four children ; Jean- ette, wife of Grant Stevens, of Kansas, has three children; Alice, married Luther Wilcox, of Mon tana, and has two children; Frank G., of Lincoln, is married and has two children; J. Harry, mar ried and living in Custer county, has two chil dren; Robert L., has remained at home with his mother with whom he runs the farm, having purchased the interest of the other heirs. Mr. Bryan was instrumental in organizing school district number one hundred and thirty- two and served a number of years on its board. He and his wife were largely instrumental in or ganizing Pne of the first Sunday schools in the county. After Mr. Bryan's death his widow continued to reside on the home farm, and with the assist ance of her son Frank, carried on the place and paid off the mortgage. She devoted her attention to the care and rearing of her large family of children and proved herself an excellent business manager. The place is a productive tract, Mrs. Bryan being a frequent exhibitor at the county fair. In 1911 she and Robert secured twelve first and six second premiums on the home place, which is a well improved stock and grain farm. Fruits, vegetables, jellies, honey and other products, in cluding one sweepstake prize. JOSEPH FORSYTH. Joseph Forsyth, a faithful servant of Uncle Sam, is a popular and esteemed citizen of Pierce, Nebraska. He has been engaged in the mail ser vice since June 1, 1904, and during that time has become familiar to the entire community through which his work carries him, in the regular per formance of his duty gaining the confidence and respect of all with whom he has met. Mr. Forsyth was born in the village of. Money- moore, county Derry, Ireland, on September 14, 1837, and received his early education there. When he was eleven years of age his parents emigrated to Cornwall, Canada, embarking for that country at Belfast in June, 1849, in a sailing vessel, and after a stormy passage, last ing six weeks and three days, they landed at Quebec. Here Joseph was apprenticed to a printer and remained at the work for five years, 560 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. getting as pay his board and clothes. About 1850 his family moved to DuPuyster, St. Lawrence county, New York, leaving him in Cornwall, and he could only communicate with his parents through his employer, who kept him in ignorance of the place to which they had moved in New York state, but by watching his chance when the former was away, he secured one of his father's letters, found that his time was nearly out, so ran away. Taking an unpaid passage up the St. Lawrence river to Prescott, which was near where his parents had located, he made the en tire trip without paying anything for fare. Ar riving at his father's home safely, he soon found out that his former employer was coming after him to take him back and finish his term of ap prenticeship. To escape this, he ran away from home and hired out to a Mr. Lamberson, a drover who was passing with a herd of Canadian ponies, worked for that gentleman a year, for eight dol lars a month and his board. He was located in Herkimer county, and after being there a few months, wrote his father of his whereabouts. Learning of his mother's illness, he returned home and remained until after her death. After wards settling near his father's place, he was married there in 1861. In the same year he felt the impulse of patriot ism and enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-sixth New York Volunteers. In January, 1865, while with his regiment in Petersburg, he received the greatest shock of his life, a letter from Captain Day, sent from Washington, D. C, informing him of the destruction by fire of his father's house, in which his father, step-mother, her parents, his sister, and his baby perished. This news almost drove him to insanity, but so many furlougns were being granted that the order had gone out that no more were to be given. Friends took the matter up with General Griffin, who recommended a thirty day leave of absence, and the order was signed by General Grant for his transportation. He departed with a sad heart having the good wishes and sympathy of his com rades, his trip taking him through Washington, and while waiting for his train out, passed by the White House. President Lincoln was outside of the building, and ordered the guard to admit Mr. Forsyth, the latter telling him of hip, trouble, and the kindhearted president was very sympathetic, showing him through the building., and on his de parting gave him his blessing. On his arrival home, he found conditions so deplorable that he overstayed his time, returning to his company four days late, but his superiors were very kind and he was not even reprimanded. He was in the battle of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, there receiving wounds which disabled him, and he was taken to the hospital, where hasty attention was given him. Then be was sent with others to the Washington military hospital. His wound had become gan grenous and as the hospital was full to overflow ing he was sent on to the hospital at Philadelphia, there proper attention being given him and he recovered after weeks of suffering. He received honorable discharge on July 21, 1865, and he im-> mediately returned home. Mr. Forsyth conducted his farm up to 1879, then sold out and came to Nebraska, taking up a homestead in Pierce county, and resided on it for eighteen years, his wife's death occurring there in January, 1897, and afterwards he settled in town. He remarried and rented a farm near town, carrying it on up to 1903, then sold everything and settled in Pierce, and since June of the fol lowing year has held the position of mail carrier on rural route number three. Mr. Forsyth had six children by his first mar riage, five of whom survive, namely : Nina, Mary Jane, Frances, Cassie and Robert, all of whom are married and well situated in life. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Bell Johnson, widow of Louis Johnson, and of their union there were two chil dren, Dewey and Lucy, both of whom are now pupils in the Pierce schools. Mr. Forsyth is a republican ; his first vote wa? cast for Douglas, to please his father and against his own inclinations, but since that time he has supported the republican party in every cam paign. He is commander of Pierce post number one hundred and ninety one, Grand Army of the Republic, and with his family is a liberal contrib utor and active member of the Methodist Episco pal church. AUGUST C. WICHMAN. The gentleman above named is well known as one of the leading citizens and business men of Parwell, Nebraska, where his ability and sterling character has long been recognized. He is now in the prime of life, active and vigorous, and bids fair to have his name enrolled as among the fore most men of his time in the history of that region. He is at the present time cashier and active man ager of the Farwell State Bank, of which he was one of the organizers on its establishment in February, 1903. August C. Wichman is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, born July 18, 1867. His early childhood was spent in that state, coming to How ard county, Nebraska, with his parents, four brothers and a sister, in 1873, where his father had previously filed on a homestead. August was the youngest in the family, and his early educa tion was received here, living at home until his twenty-second year, when he began farming on his own account, locating on section twenty-two, township fourteen, range twelve, which became his home place after he had acquired considerable land in Howard county and the adjoining coun ties. He was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising for ten years, meeting with signal success in both lines of the work. In March, 1903, Mr. Wichman came into Far- well for residence, becoming one of the original COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 561 organizers of the Parwell State Bank, started in that year, the others being C. C. Hansen, presi dent, and T. J. Llansen, vice president, while our subject was appointed to the position he still oc cupies as mentioned at the head of this sketch. This bank is one of the solid and growing institu tions of the vicinity, and has a large clientage from the entire country tributary to Farwell. Be sides his connection with this business Mr. Wichman has other large interests, particularly in the Ashton State Bank in Sherman county, and the general mercantile business at Cotesfield, Ne braska. Mr. Wichman is an active and progress ive man in financial affairs in his locality, using his influence and money in every way possible to further the best interests of his community. He has formerly been chairman of the village board. Mr. Wichman was married to Miss Carrie Obermiller at the home of her parents on the Obermiller homestead, February 20, 1894. She is a daughter of an old pioneer family of Howard county, and is a lady of most charming manner and accomplishment. Mr. and Mrs. Wichman have five children living, all at home, named as follows: Sophia, Hattie, Sidney H., Frederick J. and Wilbur 0. FRANZ ONKES FRANZEN. Franz Onkes Franzen, living on section eleven, township seventeen, range sixteen, Val ley county, Nebraska, was one of the earliest set tlers of his part of the county and has lived on this farm since May, 1883. He was born in Han over, Germany, April 19, 1846, the fourth in a family of four sons and two daughters born to Onka and Jantje (Panders) Franzen. He was reared on a farm and educated in the parochial schools, and in 1871 came to America. Prior to coming to America Mr. Franzen had been a sailor from the spring of 1860 to the fall of 1871, and during that time made several voyages to the East Indies by way of Cape of Good Hope, and to South America. The ship on which he was signed changed captains at Liverpool, and Mr. Franzen took advantage of his right to claim a dis charge, after which he embarked there for Quebec on a Cunard liner and came thence to the United States. After working for a few weeks at Minier, Illinois, he came on to Nebraska and made settle ment in Cass county, September 2, of that year, and his first employment was as a farm hand, working in the big orchard of Perry Walker near Plattsmouth. Later he was able to engage in farm ing on his own account on rented land in Cass county, and chose Nebraska as a permanent home for the reason that he was able to secure good land there at small expense. Mr. Franzen was married November 13, 1874, to Gretje Bonnen, who had arrived in Nebraska from Germany during that year. She was one of the seven children of George and Renska Bonnen. Mr. Bonnen died in Germany in 1875, and his 19 widow and one son came to Nebraska in 1881. Her death occurred in Cherry county, Nebraska, when she was in her eightieth year. Mr. Franzen brought his wife and three chil dren to their present home in May, 1883, secur ing as a homestead the northwest quarter of the section. He has improved and developed the land until he now has a very pleasant home and a pro ductive farm. He and his wife have had six chil dren, of whom three survive, namely: Onke, Renske and George, all born in Cass county. The three who were born since they came to Valley county are deceased. The family passed through the severe trials of early pioneer life and their success is well earned. In politics Mr. Franzen is independent of party lines and votes for the man he believes to be best fitted for the place. HERMAN CHARLES SATTLER. Herman Charles Sattler, residing in Norfolk, Madison county, is one of the oldest settlers in northeastern Nebraska, and by his efforts has aided materially in the development of the agri cultural and commercial resources of his county. Mr. Sattler is a gentleman of most excellent char acter, and is highly respected in the community in which he resides. Mr. Sattler was born in Chicago, Illinois, No vember 16, 1861, and was the fourth of six chil dren in the family of George William and Cather ine Elizabeth Sattler, who had four boys and two girls; but two of the children died prior to our subject's birth. The father was born' in Hanover, Germany, and the mother in Baltimore, Mary land, where she died in January, 1906, survived by her husband, who died April 30, 1911, three sons and one daughter: Augustus, who was for merly an attorney in Norfolk, Nebraska ; Herman, William R. and Emma. Herman Charles Sattler from his second year made Baltimore, Maryland, his home until 1877, in that year going to Amherst, (Massachusetts) College, where he remained three years; when he went to Mexico on a railroad survey for one year ; then returned to Baltimore about a year, where he was manager of the Garrett farms. He then came west, spending some months in Chicago; then in Colorado, coming to Pierce county, Ne braska, in the spring of 1883, when he purchased eight hundred acres of land which he used for farming and stock raising ten years. He came to Norfolk, Nebraska, in February, 1892, with small capital, but a goodly supply of energy and ability, becoming connected with the Norfolk Trading Company, and in the following year purchased the Rudat Implement business and has remained continuously in the implement business until this date, enjoying a large and extensive patronage. He is also engaged in the purchase and sale of horses and cattle, and has large land interests. Mr. Sattler is practically a self-made man, owing his present enviable position in financial 562 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and business circles to his own untiring ener gies. He is a prominent man, in business circles, and is always interested in the upbuilding of his home county and state. Mr. Sattler was married in Baltimore, Mary land, February 2, 1888, to Miss Loulie Johnson, who died in Norfolk, Nebraska, April 7, 1893, survived by her husband and two sons: George William, junior, now connected with the Omaha National Bank; and Augustus Edmund, attend ing Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Sattler was again married in April, 1900, at Norfolk, Nebraska, to Annie Carton of O'Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, whose father and family were of old pioneer Nebraska stock, orig inally of New York state. Two children were born of this union : Edmund Herman and Loulie Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Sattler and family occupy a pleasant modern Norfolk home, and have many friends. Mr. Sattler is a democrat. BENJAMIN F. COX. Benjamin P. Cox, a progressive and enter prising stock and grain farmer of Custer county, is interested in various business ventures in the county and is generally respected as a man of good business principles and character. He was born in Jackson county, Indiana, August 16, 1856, fourth in the family of seven children born to Jabez J. and Margaret (Hubbard) Cox, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Indiana. The father was a soldier in the Mexican war and both parents died in Indiana. Besides Benjamin F., others of the children now surviving are : Henry, of Custer county; Adelbert, in Perkins county, Nebraska; and one daughter in Indiana. Mr. Cox received the usual educational ad vantages accorded a farmer's son in Indiana country schools, and in 1875, when he was nine teen years of age, went to Iowa, working at farm ing in several counties in that state. In the fall of 1882 he came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and in the fall of 1883 came to Custer county and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section eight, township seven teen, range twenty-two, and a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining on the east. This was the home place many years, and on February 22, 1891, was married to Chris tina Kaupp, a native of Illinois, who came with her parents to Custer county in an early day. The Kaupp family have been prominent in the devel opment and upbuilding of Custer county. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox, as follows: Lloyd William, Delia A., Chester V., Hazel R., Ralph, Benjamin F., junior, Gladys I. and Margaret, all at home. Mr. Cox is one of the earlier settlers of his part of the county and has prospered with the development of the region. He became success ful in his agricultural operations through ambi tion and energy and in his home farm of eight hundred acres has a fine, well equipped- estate, well adapted for stock and grain farming. He owns some fourteen hundred and forty acres of land, including the home farm, and is interested in the farmers' elevator at Merna, of which he is a director. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' State Bank of Merna, and is its president. He helped organize school district number one hundred and fifty-two, serving on its board several years. He is an intelligent and progressive citizen and has a wide circle of friends in Custer county, where he has lived nearly thirty years. THOMAS JAMES. For over twenty-seven years, the gentleman above named has been closely identified with the agricultural interests of Wayne county, Ne braska, and he has aided materially in transform ing this locality from its wild, natural state into a thriving farming and commercial district. He is a gentleman of great perseverance and energy, and has met with deserved success in his labors. Mr. James is a native of Oneida county, New York state, and was born July 27, 1845. His parents, William and Mary James, were natives of Wales, who came over to America at a very early date. Mr. James spent the years of his childhood in New York state, and also went to the schools there. In 1875, Mr. James decided to come to the west, following Horace Greeley's advice; and so, with his wife and family, came to Iowa. How ever, although they remained there until 1884, they were not entirely satisfied with their loca tion. In that year they came to Wayne county, and bought their present home in section four teen, township twenty-six, range one, east, where they still reside. They decided that this should be their future residence, and with characteristic energy Mr. James at once proceeded to make one improvement after another on the farm, as the times permitted, until now it is a very valuable piece of property. Mr. James was married, in 1870, to Miss Jennie Jones, of Herkimer county, New York. Six chil dren have been born to them, upon whom they have bestowed the following names : Ellen, Mame, Jennie, Fannie, William and Ward. Mr. James is one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of the community, and enjoys the respect of all with whom he has come in con tact. JOHN W. LUMADUE. John W. Lumadue for many years has been one of the leading citizens and prosperous agri culturalists and stockmen of Merrick county, Ne- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 563 braska. He came here during the early days of its settlement and has developed a fine ranch in section twenty, township fifteen, range five, and become closely identified with the best interests of the community where he has passed so many years of his career. Mr. Lumadue was born in Pennsylvania, July 28, 1845, and was eldest of four boys and one girl in the family of Robert and Mary Ann Lumadue. Our subject's mother died when he was but eight years of age, and the family became scattered, the father moving to Illinois and remarrying, where John W., our subject, joined his father. On July 20, 1861, Mr. Lumadue enlisted in Company H, Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and saw four years' service, receiving his honor able discharge July 25, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Lumadue participated in the battles of Port Henry and Port Donaldson, receiving two wounds at the latter place, then at the bat tle of Shiloh and at the Siege of Corinth, and also at the second battle of Corinth, being wounded again quite severely; and was in the campaign of Atlanta, having re-enlisted; then at Snake Creek Gap and Lookout Mountain July 4 and July 22, and was present at the time General McPherson was killed; he was also in the battles of Bentonville, at Altoona Pass, and was with Sherman on the march to the sea, being on scout duty, and continuously in line of battle all along the march; he was at Savannah, Georgia, siege, then on the march to where Johnson surrendered at Rollo, North Carolina, then to Washington, D. C. Mr. Lumadue had four years' of service and was in many of the most notable battles of the war. He returned to Illinois after the war where he remained about three years. On August 2, 1867, Mr. Lumadue was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Covey, and, to this union have been born nine children, six of whom are living : Annie, wife of John Beck, has eleven children and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska; Nettie, wife of Jacob Inbody, resides in Merrick county; Emma Trotty, now Mrs. George Bar ker, has five children and lives in York county, Nebraska; Charles, married, has four children and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Myrtie, wife of William Grant, has one child and resides in Mer rick county ; and Julia, wife of William Williams, who resides with her parents. On April 16, 1871, our subject came to Mer rick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded in sec tion twenty, township fifteen, range five, where he is still living. He has here a fine ranch and stock farm and also raises small grain, and breeds Poll Angus stock and Duroc swine. Mr. Luma due is one of the few original homesteaders of Merrick county that still remains on his home stead farm, and is a pioneer settler who has passed through all phases of early days. He is prosperous and successful, having a modern, im proved farm well equipped. He owns in all one thousand three hundred and sixty acres of land in Merrick county, at one time having owned two thousand acres. Mr. Lumadue and family are widely and fa vorably known in social and educational circles. Mr. Lumadue is a self-made man, himself and wife having started out with but little of this world's goods. He has been closely identified with the growth and development of this portion of Nebraska, and is widely and favorably known. CHARLES D. PANGBORN. Charles D. Pangborn, a leading citizen of Creighton, Nebraska, is widely known as a gentle man of good • business ability and true public spirit. He is now a retired business man, and cast his lot with Nebraska in 1882, reaching Creighton on the second day of June, when but two or three cabins constituted the town. He bought a relinquishment some four miles west and one mile north of town and proved up on it under the homestead rights. Here he lived until the spring of 1889, moving to town on the fifteenth of April, where he engaged in selling farm im plements until the spring of 1892, and in the fall of that year opened a harness shop and sales room, conducting this enterprise about four years when he retired from active business. Mr. Pangborn was born in Oswego county, New York, September 20, 1846. His mother died when he was but a few years old, and in 1854 he came west with an uncle, and made his home with another uncle near Blue Island, in the vicinity of Chicago, until attaining his majority. When troops were needed in the war of the rebellion, Charles Pangborn enlisted — Septem ber 3, 1862,--in Company H, Eighty-eighth Illi nois Volunteer Infantry, and served until June 8, 1865, when he was mustered out in ¦ Nashville, Tennessee, and discharged a month later at Chi cago. His entire service was rendered in the Army of the Cumberland, participating in many small engagements and in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Whiteside Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, and Siege of Atlanta. On Sherman's beginning his famous inarch to the sea, the Eighty-eighth, under Thomas, returned to Ten nessee and fought the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and were in eastern Tennessee near Louden when news of Lee's surrender reached them, and were on a march between that point and Chattanooga, when they heard of Lincoln's assassination. After the war Mr. Pangborn followed farming in Cook county until migrating to Nebraska in 1882. Mr. Pangborn was married in Chicago, June 8, 1869, to Caroline, daughter of Mark and Eliza (Skillinger) Crandall. Three children have been born to them : Albert Lewis, who is married and lives on a homestead near Ekalak, Montana; 564 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Ilah, who is married to Edward Hoverson and lives in Missouli, Montana; Wilbert L., who is married and lives on his homestead near his . brother, Albert L. Mr. Pangborn is independent in politics, a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men and of the Grand Army of the Republic. The fine, large residence occupied by Mr. Pangborn was erected by him in 1894, when waterworks were first iristalled in the town, and his house was one of the earliest to which pipes were laid. It has been kept in a perfect state of repair. During the first years on the ranch, times were hard and money scarce; like most of the early settlers, Mr. Pangborn burned hay, corn, and cornstalks until coal was more plentiful and cheaper. During the" well remembered blizzard of January 12, 1888, fortunately, he was in the house; his pasture lay to the northwest, and his cattle drifting with the storm came into the sheds and none were lost; his twenty-two horses were all in the barn at the time. A severe hail storm in July one year wrought havoc on the ranch, beating down all the grain and breaking over three dozen window lights. These losses could not well be born in those days, but there was no choice but to endure. AUGUST HARTMANN. For more than thirty years, the gentleman named above has been known to the citizens of this part of the state, and he has' gained a high name as a citizen and a farmer. He is one of those substantial men whose integrity, industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and prosperity of Nebraska. During his long residence in the state, he has not hesitated to take any measure which would pro mote the development of the community which he chose for his home. Mr. Hartmann was born in 1858, in Branden burg, Germany, and is the son of Fred and Louise Hartmann. The subscriber's childhood and young manhood years were spent in his native land, where he obtained his education. When he was twenty years old, in 1878, the family decided to emigrate to America,- where greater opportunities existed. They sailed from Bremen on the steamship " Brownsycke, " and after an uneventful voyage arrived in Baltimore. They at once started for the ' ' golden west, ' ' com ing direct to Stanton county, Nebraska, where the father first rented a farm, and then when an opportunity offered, bought a farm which he improved in many ways. As for the subscriber himself, he bought the Lewis Lee quarter sec tion, which has been his home ever since. During the first few years, the new settlers met with many discouragements, as for two sea sons they lost all their crops by reason of the grasshoppers. However, prospects brightened up then, and now Mr. Hartmann is recognized as one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of this section. In 1882, Mr. Hartmann was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Swartz. They are the parents of fourteen children, all of whom are living. They are named as follows: Mary, Fred, Anna, Herman, Amelia, Bertha, Helen, Curt, William, Martha, Minnie, Walter, Frieda and Lewis. JOHN D. BROWN. Among the prosperous citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality, is the subject of this review, John D. Brown, the owner of a valuable estate in Knox county, Nebraska. Mr. Brown resides on section twenty-three, township thirty-one, range six, and has lived in Knox county for many years. He has always taken an interest in the upbuilding and welfare of his county and state, and enjoys the respect and high esteem of all who know him, and his friends are many. Mr. Brown is a native of Ireland, and was born in New Market village in the year 1837, receiving his education in his native village, between times of helping his father on the farm. In 1889 Mr. Brown left his native land and started for the new world to make a fortune. He came to New York by way of Liverpool, embark ing on the steamship "The Queen," and after arriving in New York, came direct to the state of Nebraska, to take advantage of the distribution of land by the government. He took up a home stead in section twenty-three, township thirty- one, range six, and later he bought the homestead of Albert Cladick, in section twenty-three, town ship thirty-one, range six, which is his present residence. He has steadily improved his farm until now he owns four hundred acres of the finest land in this section of the county. In 1866, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Margaret MeSweeney. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: David, Mary, John, Peter, Ann, James and Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and family are highly esteemed in their community, and enjoy the well wishes of a wide circle of friends and acquaint ances. Mr. Brown is one of those substantial men who is a credit to the community in which he dwells, and has the sterling qualities that go to make an upright, reliable man. LYCURGUS AMOS. The Amos family have long been known in Custer county as representatives of the best in terests of the region and have taken their part in promoting the general welfare and prosperity. Lycurgus Amos, the second son of John M. and Catherine (Thompson) Amos, was born in Carrol 'SUNNY-SIDE FARM," RESIDENCE OF JOHN WELSH. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 565 county, Ohio, February 13, 1853. A sketch of his father, to be found in this work, gives a full account of the family. Lycurgus (generally known as Kirk) Amos grew to manhood on the Ohio farm, was educated in local schools, and as a young man engaged in farming. He was married in Carrol county, December 14, 1871, to Isabelle Myers, also of Ohio birth, and daugh ter of Joseph and Luella (Hardin) Myers, the father of German descent and a native of Ohio, and the mother probably born in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Myers died in Ohio, where three of their daughters and three of their sons now live. In the fall of 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Amos came with their three children west as far as Fayette county, Iowa, carrying on farming there until the spring of 1883, when they came to Custer county. They secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-one, town ship eighteen, range eighteen, which is still the home place, and which has been improved and developed to a fine grain and stock farm. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Amos: Merton S., of Custer county, is married and has six children; Cora I., died in 1877, at the age of two years ; Otto O., is at home ; John M., of Custer county, is married and has one child; Joseph Raymond, of Custer county, is married and has three children; Noel L. and Ted, at home. Mr. Amos is one of the very early settlers of Custer county, and one of the very few to retain possession of the original homestead for so long a period. He is prosperous and successful and is widely known as a man of high character and integrity, a substantial and useful citizen. He has the confidence and esteem of a large number of friends. JOHN WELSH. John Welsh is a highly respected Irish- Ameri can citizen of Custer county, who has been a resi dent of the county for a period of more than thirty years, and during this time has witnessed the remarkable growth and development of cen tral Nebraska from a pioneer region to that of well cultivated fields and comfortable farm houses. He and his wife are among the few to live continuously on their original homesteads. and have done their share to assist in promoting the cause of progress. Mr. Welsh was born in Ireland, March 4, 1837, the fifth child of James and Mary (Stephenson) Welsh, who were parents of eight sons and two daughters. He was reared and educated in his native land, and at the age of twenty years came to America, crossing from Londonderry to Liverpool, whence he sailed to New York in the spring of 1857. He made the trip alone, and lived successively in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, New York, until coming to Nebraska in March, 1880. Mr. Welsh was married in Jefferson county, New York, to Lavina S. Starling, their union taking place on December 29, 1868. She was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, a daughter of George F. and Mary Jane (Myers) Starling. After their marriage they lived on a farm in Jefferson county four years, and then moved to St. Lawrence county, where they resided until coming to Custer county, in 1878, with their two sons, George H. and Justin E. Mr. Welsh came in March, and the mother and children reached Kearney in June, when they drove the sixty-five miles between that point and the farm. Mr. Welsh first took a pre-emption on some land, and in 1882 secured a homestead comprising the north east quarter of section thirty-three, township seventeen, range eighteen, which has since been his residence and is known as Sunnyside Farm. One of the groves on his place is a favorite picnic place, especially for old settlers' meetings. We give a view of his comfortable home and surround ings, taken as when one of these annual picnic reunions is in session. Their residence the first year was a small "soddy" ten by fourteen, which was replaced by a larger one, which continued to be their residence until 1901, when their pres ent ornamental dwelling was erected. Mr. Welsh fared much better in 1894, the dry year, than his neighbors, having raised nine hundred bushels of corn on a thirty-acre tract, besides having some potatoes and oats ; few raised enough to seed their land the following year. Mr. Welsh was on the road from Ansley the day of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and seeing the storm com ing, returned to town, remaining over night. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh have three children; George H., a merchant, married and living in Westerville, has two children; Justin E., married and living two miles south of the home farm, has three children; Ena Pearl, wife of Fred Craw ford, living on the old Crawford homestead. Mr. Welsh is a representative and public- spirited citizen, and he and his family have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. They own two hundred and forty acres of rich farm land in their home place, and a comfortable farm residence. They are among the honored pioneers who have done so much to build up the region and have passed through the varied ex periences of this class of citizens. Mr. Welsh is republican in politics, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1886, his mem bership now being at Ansley. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Westerville; his door has, however, always been open to ministers of every denomination, some of them occasionally remaining weeks at a time, and only one of them ever abused his hos pitality. GEORGE BAUER. In the person of George Bauer, mentioned above, we have another of the sturdy sons who 566 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. left their native land in their young manhood and came to America to carve out for themselves a name and fortune in the land of liberty and freedom, and who is highly esteemed by his fel low men as a good citizen and progressive farmer. Mr. Bauer was born May 24, 1857, in the vil lage of Prank, Russia, a son of Johann and Kath- erina (Ulrich) Bauer. The father was born in Russia in 1825 and died there in 1905. The mother was born in 1827 and died in her native country, in 1890. Mr. Bauer learned shoemaking in his native country. In 1891 he emigrated to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York, the voyage occupying ten days. He reached Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 17, and soon after secured work at his trade. During the summer he found employment on farms. Mr. Bauer resided in or near Geneva, Fillmore county, Nebraska, for twelve years, and moved to Pierce county in 1906, where he now resides, his land being situated in section twenty-one, town ship twenty-five, range two. He owns one hun dred and sixty acres of fine land, on which he re modeled the dwelling and built barns, granary, corn cribs and lesser buildings, making a good piece of farm property. February 1, 1880, Mr. Bauer was married to Miss Kate Wagner, a native of Russia, whose parents, Conrad and Barbara (Bauer) Wagner, became residents of Pierce county in 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Bauer six children have been born : Mary, married Conrad Sell, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; John, married Barbara Lesser and farms near his father; George, Carl, Adam and Esther. Mr. Bauer and his family are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Bauer votes the republican ticket. Mr. Bauer is a good neigh bor and a worthy citizen. WILLIAM ABEL, SR. Should the reader of this, volume ask for the name of a representative old citizen and settler pf Howard county, a man who came in mature life to breast the storms of the wilderness and be yond the dreams of youth to hammer a home and fortune out of adversity, let him have that of the man who introduces this article. William Abel was born in Germany, August 6, 1832, and grew up there, spending his young manhood as a farmer. He came to America in the fall of 1859, alone, landing in New Orleans, Louisiana. He went first to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining for a few months, then went to Frank lin county, Indiana, making that vicinity his home for about twenty years. In 1880 he came into Howard county and homesteaded eighty acres in the St. Libory district, on section twelve, township thirteen, range nine. Later he pur chased railroad land on section eleven, township thirteen, range nine, and owned at that time about four hundred acres, which he im'proved in good shape, having fine buildings and well equipped farm. He made that locality his home up to the spring of 1902, then sold his farm and settled in St. Paul. In the following year he purchased two hundred and twenty acres in section twenty- six, and moved out on this place in the spring of 1903. He intends devoting this to stock raising, and has the place equipped with every improve ment for conducting the business. Mr. Abel was married in Indiana, August 17, 1865, to Lizzie Swinkman, and to them were born two sons, one of whom died in infancy, while the other, William, junior, now occupies a part of our subject's original homestead in St. Libory district. He is married and has three children. Our subject's wife died in Howard county in 1882, leaving a large circle of sorrowing friends, for she was a most charming and esti mable woman. Mr. Abel was married again at St. Libory, November 27, 1883, to Francis Kar- boskie, and they have a family of eight children, who are named as follows : Maggie, Joseph, Mary and Katie, all married and having comfortable homes in different sections of the country, while Annie, John, Frank and Francis are living at home. The entire Abel family is well known and highly esteemed throughout their county, and while Mr. Abel has never held office he has done .much to promote the general welfare of his town ship and county. ALEXANDER L. BAILLIE. Prominent among the early pioneers of Ne braska is the gentleman who has been a resident of that state since 1870. Mr. Baillie is also one of the most prosperous farmers of the region, and is the proprietor of a fine ranch of about seven hun dred and thirty acres of fine farming land, all in Sherman county. Alexander L. Baillie was born in Scotland, on March 5, 1842, and was the third in a family of seven children born to William and Jeanette (Lawson) Baillie. Of this family, five are living: Alexander and his brother, James, in Sherman county; one sister in Boston, Massachusetts, one in Riverside, California, and another in Oregon. The father died in 1886, and the mother in 1900, both in Sherman county, Nebraska. When a very young man, Mr. Baillie learned the baker's trade and when only seventeen years of age, took the position of pastry cook on one of the vessels of the Cunard line, and he held this position for three years. He then joined his parents, who in the meantime had moved to Canada. The family made several moves from Canada to Michigan, thence to Illinois, and finally in 1870, they came to Cass county, Nebraska. Five years later, in 1875, they came west to Sherman county, where the father took up a homestead, and the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 567 son, Alexander, the subject of this sketch, also pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres joining his father's homestead in section twenty-eight, township sixteen, range fifteen. Through all the years since that time, this ha's been his home. In August of 1876, Mr. Baillie was married to Miss Effie Quinton, a native of Nebraska. She died in 1888, survived by her husband and two children, Lawson and Alfred. Later, in 1892, he was again married, to Miss Anna Anderson, Who was born on Prince Edward's Isle. Mr. Baillie now owns one of the finest farms in the county, and he has put many valuable im provements on the place lately. In 1907 he built a beautiful new modern home, the old house hav ing been struck by lightning and burned. Mr. Baillie has always manifested a commend able interest in local public affairs and has sev eral times been called upon to serve his commun ity in various ways. For nine years he was di rector of his school district number twenty-three, which his father was instrumental in organizing. He is regarded by all as a man of unusual ability and unquestioned integrity. Mr. and Mrs. Baillie have passed through many hardships and discouragements during their residence here in the pioneer years of the history of the state, and are now enjoying their well-earned ease. FRED EYL. Fred Eyl, one of the old settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occu pies a good home and valuable property in sec tion fourteen, township twenty-three, range three. He has done his share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Eyl is a native of Maryland, born October 1, 1854, a son of August and Augusta Eyl, both of Hanover province, Germany. The parents left Germany in 1854, embarking at Bremen on a sail boat and were six weeks on the sea, their desti nation being America, of which country they had heard such flattering reports. After landing in New York, they went direct to Maryland, where they remained until 1863 ; then with their family they moved to the state of Indiana, living there three years, then going to Missouri, residing there for the same length of time. In 1869, when our subject was a young lad of about seventeen, the family emigrated from Missouri to Nebraska, where they took up a home stead in section eleven, township twenty-three, range three, Madison county. They first put up a dugout on this land, and later a log house in which the family lived eight years, when this was replaced by a good frame house. In 1885 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Wyner, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth Wyner. Mr. and Mrs." Eyl had four children, whose names are as follows : Mary, Lizzie and Carl, and Fred, deceased. Mrs. Eyl died in 1898. In the early years of residence on the western frontier, many hardships and discouragements overtook the family, as they did all the sturdy sons who came to this locality and faced unknown dangers and privations. For the first four years they suffered greatly through the grasshopper pests that devastated this region at that time, destroying all those season's crops, leaving nothing but bare ground in their track where once were growing the hardy crops that meant so much to the early settler. The fam ily fought prairie fires many times to save their homes and possessions, and had to be ever on the alert, as the fires would come so quickly that they rushed upon the settler before he was scarcely warned of their approach. As late as 1894 there was an entire loss of crops through the hot winds that prevailed on account of the severe drouth of that season, every vestige of green being burned almost to a black crisp. Deer and antelope were plentiful in pioneer days, and could often be seen in herds grazing in the open. Mr. Eyl was again united in marriage, July 18, 1899, the bride being Miss Anna Price, a na tive of Germany, and a daughter of Charles and Heneretta Price. Mr. and Mrs. Eyl have been blessed with five children, whose names are as follows : Harry, Nelda, Nora, Loretta and Loella. Mr. Eyl is a prosperous and successful cit izen, and now owns seven hundred acres of choice land, on which are fifteen acres of fine orchard and forest trees. JOHN 0. WILSON. John 0. Wilson,' an early settler of Custer county, where he is one of the largest landholders, was born in Lucas county, Iowa, March 13, 1856. He is the fifth born of the twelve children of Joshua and Fanny (Templeman) Wilson, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Ohio. The former died in Lucas county, Iowa, (where he had secured a homestead in an early day), in December, 1895, and the latter died in Custer county, Nebraska. One daughter, Mrs. Frank Smith, lives in Custer county ; three sons and two daughters live at Alliance, Nebraska; two daugh ters and a son live in California ; one son lives at Lost Beach, Washington ; one daughter lives in Omaha, and John 0., lives in Custer county. In childhood Mr. Wilson attended the public schools of Iowa and worked on his father's farm. Upon reaching manhood he began farming on his own account, and was married in his native county, May 27, 1877, to Nanny E. Kennedy, who was born in Iowa. In the spring of 1887, Mr. Wil son and wife came to Custer county and pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on West Table, where he developed a fine farm and became successful in grain and stock farming. Mrs. Wilson died while on a visit to Alliance, 568 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Nebraska, being survived by three children: William J., married and living in Broken Bow, has three children; Bertha L., wife of John Mc- Mahon, living on West Table, has eight chil dren; John F., living nine miles west of Broken Bow, has three children. Throughout the years of his residence in Cus ter county Mr. Wilson has been actively identified with the best interests of the county and state and has done his share to advance their develop ment and upbuilding. He has held various town ship offices and served several terms on the school board. Being an early settler, he passed through the early days of drouth and other trials of the pioneer there, and has won his present success by his ambition and determination to overcome all obstacles in the path of progress and pros perity. His . home place of four hundred and eighty acres of splendidly improved land contains a fine modern residence which he erected in 1908, and he also has other suitable buildings. He owns some twelve hundred and eighty acres altogether, in Custer county, and is known as a good busi ness manager. On March 10, 1904, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Mrs. Hannah Hircock, whose maiden name was Maxwell, a native of Iowa. She came to Nebraska in 1892, and by her first mar riage had five children: Flora A., wife of John Kennedy, of Merna, has nine children; Charles W., is married and lives in Arizona ; Fred J., liv ing on West Table, has three children; William, living on West Table, has two children, and Dora Whitney, deceased. JOHN C. STARR. (DeceasedJ One of the first five families to settle at Plain- view, Nebraska, was that of John C. Starr, who with Messrs. Dean and Rose migrated across country with oxen from Wisconsin to Pierce county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1871, reaching their destination and pitching camp for the last time June 20, after a journey lasting six weeks. Their claims were situated on the south side of Dry Creek, across from the locations of the Dealow brothers, who had preceded them by a week or ten days and were ' still living in their wagons. While camping near Norfolk they were referred to Mr. Chilons, then working in Pierce, who advised them to settle at Plainview, where he had recently filed on three quarter sections; the old surveyor, C. H. Fradey, located them on the land they selected. Knowing wood to be scarce they tied a bundle of small willows to the back of the wagons to serve as fuel until the men could go twenty miles to Bazile Creek for a load of wood. Mr. Starr's family lived in tents through the summer and in the fall he erected a sod house ; he broke up a piece of the raw prairie the first season, the beginning of his farm home. But he was not to attain success until after severe trials that were to test his endurance to the limit. Year after year they saw a fair pros pect of an abundant crop destroyed, sometimes in an hour, by the hordes of grasshoppers which settled down on their fields, darkening the sun. Starvation stared the early settlers in the face, and the grim wolf, want, drove many of them to abandon their holdings and move back east to begin anew where they had begun years before. But those who had the fortitude to remain have reaped a rich reward for their faith in Nebraska soil. During those early years, the energetic settler left wife and little ones to seek labor in a dis tant field that they might have a crust of bread. Mr. Starr for several years labored in the har vest fields around Norfolk, where all the crops had not been devoured, and after a turn at threshing, would return with fifty or sixty dollars in cash, together with a small supply of meat and flour to tide the family over until another crop would be raised. After proving up on his homestead claim, Mr. Starr moved to his tree claim in section five, one mile southwest of Plainview, where he built a frame house which now forms a part of the present family residence, the lumber for the original house being hauled from Yankton, fifty miles distant. Here in a grove of twelve acres, it is sheltered from the fierce winds that at times sweep the western plains. During their sod house days life was full of many strange experiences. One winter when snow drifted entirely over the house, a snow porch was constructed at one end of the house that, for months, served as a storage place for their provisions. The wash line was stretched above the roof on poles thrust down into the snow. A sudden wind storm one night carried the line with its contents across the field and they were not found until the snow melted in the spring. So rapid was the thaw with no channels for the water to run away that for six weeks the house was flooded to the depth of several inches, necessitating living on a platform built above the floor; when the water receded they lived for a week or so on a floor of sand spread over the dirt floor to absorb the moisture. Coffee was almost unknown for a year or two, a substitute being sometimes parched corn meal and sometimes roasted com, the cob being steeped together with the parched grains. Twisted wisps of hay was their only fuel for a year, with corn and corn stalks for a change at other times; their only supply of wood in the canyons of the Verdigris andi Bazile Creeks was cut off, as that region was settled and the land came into the hands of pri vate owners. Provisions were at first purchased at Norfolk, thirty miles away, the trip requiring three days with their ox teams. On these trips their only food for the three days was "Johnny cake," COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 569 which, in winter, they had to thaw out before it could be eaten. For three years the grasshoppers took everything they raised. An effort was made to save some early, cabbage by tying cloth over them, but the pests ate their way through; the only thing to do was to cut and use it. Their corn was eaten down to the ground, and small trees were bent over by the weight of the grasshoppers when they would alight. Deer and antelope were plentiful and provided an abundance- of fresh meat. At one time Mr. Starr, with the help of a hired boy, caught and killed a deer with dogs. The family witnessed three blizzards, those of 1871, 1880 and 1888. In the earliest of these, openings had to be shovelled out to the open air, the houses being snowed under; every prudent settler kept a large shovel in the house. And yet, after listening to these tales of awful hardships. one so often hears the expression, "Those were the happiest days of my life, ' ' such was the cheer ful disposition of the pioneers. John C. Starr was born in the village of Up- wells, Cambridgeshire, England, August 7, 1827. His parents, John and Sarah (Cawthorn) Starr, both died in their native land, having been en gaged in farming all their lives. After marriage Mr. Starr continued at farm labor for two years before setting out for the new world, where he hoped to prosper as he had no opportunity of doing in the mother country. Sailing from Liverpool October 6, 1854, after a voyage of thirty days in an old sailing vessel they landed in New York, went up the river, and in time bought a tract of farming land com prising eighteen acres, fifteen miles from Sara toga. Here they lived for some ten or twelve years, expecting the summer of 1864, which he spent in Illinois', returning in the late fall to Saratoga county. In 1866 he moved to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he farmed five years and then moved to Nebraska, as recounted above. His first residence in the new country was a sod house, as was the usual thing in the early days, and this was his residence until moving to his timber claim some six years later. Mr. Starr was married at Outwell, Norfolk county, England, November 18, 1852, to Miss Agnes Townley, daughter of John and Hannah (Ruff) Townley, all of the county, where the parents spent their entire lives. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Starr, three remain: Jennie, a teacher of note; Mary, married 0. J. Frost, attorney-at-law, of Plainview; and Emma, who resides under the parental roof. Mr. Starr passed to his reward November 8, 1896, after a long and useful life. In politics he was a staunch democrat, and for a number of years served his community as justice of the peace. 19% WILLARD L. JENKS. Willard L. Jenks, long and prominently known in Nance county, Nebraska, as a leading old settler of that locality, is now a resident of Ster ling, Colorado. During his residence in Nance county he manifested true public spirit and gained the esteem of his associates by his honesty and integrity. In 1909 Mr. Jenks retired from active farm life, removing to Fullerton, where with his family he enjoyed all the comforts of a fine home and the acquaintance of most of the residents of that thriving little city. In March, 1910, he re moved to Sterling, Colorado, where he now lives. Mr. Jenks is a son of Martin and Roena Jenks, and was born November 27, 1862, in Whiteside county, Illinois. He was reared on a farm, and on January 4, 1882, was married there to Sarah France, a native of the same state. They spent the first four years of their married life in Illinois, then came to Nebraska and engaged in farming, in 1893 Mr. Jenks purchasing one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-two, township sixteen, range seven, which was their home place until February, 1909, when they set tled in Fullerton. The family passed through the early Nebraska times in developing their home, and while at various times meeting dis couragement and failure, were in the main suc cessful, and built up a nice property. While in Nebraska Mr. Jenks took an active part in the affairs of his county and state. He held the office of road supervisor for a period of three years, and for nearly all the time of his residence there he was director of school districts number eighteen and fifty. Mr. and Mrs. Jenks have a family of four children living, having lost an infant daughter. The eldest daughter, Lelah, married L. E. Coak- ley, and they with their son have moved to Ster ling, Colorado; Elsie, who is a stenographer with a well-known firm in Omaha ; Edna, married Jesse Jones and lives in Fullerton and Viola, the latter having the misfortune to lose her hearing in in fancy through a childish ailment, and who for ten years was a student at the Omaha school for the deaf, is now in school at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our subject was the second member in a family of seven children, three boys and four girls, two sisters now living in Illinois, two brothers de ceased, one sister in Iowa, one sister in Alabama. Mr. Jenks' father died in June, 1910, the mother having died in 1905. Mrs. Jenks was one of a family of five, one sister died in March, 1881 ; and the balance of the family are living at the present time in Nance county. F. A. LARSON. We wish to make particular mention of another old settler who has done so much toward pro moting the growth and development of the ag- 570 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ricultural section of Knox county. P. A- Larson is the gentleman in question, and he is the owner of a fine farm on section two, township twenty- nine, range two, west, where he has a substan tial home, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of that region. Mr. Larson was born in Sweden March 6, 1861, and was reared on his father's farm in that country until about the age of five years, when the family left their native land and took pas sage for America on a steamboat. After a long and tedious voyage, they landed in New York, and went at once to Illinois. There the father worked at his trade of carpenter and later rented a farm in Henry county, Illinois, remaining there for about fifteen years. From there they came to Nebraska,, locating in Burt county, where the father bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. When Mr. F. A. Larson reached the age of twenty-five years he started out for himself, renting land for several years. He came to Knox county in 1891, and bought a quarter section of fair land on section two, township twenty-nine, range two, west, and this he intends to make his permanent home. When Mr. Larson bought his place in Knox county, not an improvement had been made on it The land was in a wild state and was purchased for twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. Our subject has built a house, erected good barns, and fenced the farm. In 1910 Mr. Larson refused one hundred dollars per acre for his farm. He is engaged in general farming, raising cattle, hogs, grain and hay. Mr. Larson is unmarried ; his sister, Josephine, is his housekeeper. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and in politics is a republican. ROBERT T. ROBINSON. Robert T. Robinson, retired farmer, son of Henry and Sarah (Parmer) Robinson, was born in Indiana, February 13, 1838, and was fifth in a family of eleven children, who are all deceased excepting three : our subject, one brother, who resides in California, and a sister living in Utah. The father died May 16, 1872, in Fremont, Ne braska, and the mother in 1877, in Cedar Rapids. Nebraska. At the age of sixteen Mr. Robinson went with his parents to Wisconsin engaging in farming, and on September 13, 1861, he was married to Rachel McClintick, also of Indiana, daughter of Hugh and Nancy (Steen) McClintick. Mrs. Robinson's mother died many years ago, and the father came to Nebraska to live with his daugh ter in 1890, where he died in 1893. She has a sister residing in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. In September, 1861, Mr. Robinson, enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, serving eighteen months, during which time he participated in the battle of Cotton Plant, Arkan sas, and many minor engagements and skirmishes ; and in February, 1863, he received his honorable discharge, after which he returned to Wisconsin and went to farming. In 1871, Mr. Robinson came to Nebraska, lo cating in Fremont county for a few months, and in the spring of 1872 came to Boone county, home- steading one hundred and sixty acres of land in section eight, township eighteen, range seven, which is now a part of the city of Cedar Rapids. He lived on this homestead twenty-five years and then sold out, going to Oregon in 1897, expect ing to make his home in that state, but returned to Boone county, Nebraska, within four months and purchased ten acres adjoining Cedar Rapids to the northwest where they lived until October, 1909, when they moved into Cedar Rapids and purchased a good home which is their present resi dence. Mr. Robinson was instrumental in organiz ing school district number six in the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had seven chil dren born to them, whose names are as follows : Pryer B., who is married, has three children and lives in Cedar Rapids; Henry L., is married and has one son, and also lives in Cedar Rapids: Schuyler C, married, has six children and lives in Boone county; James A., is married, has two children and lives in Cedar Rapids; Clara, mar ried S. S. Rohrer, died in 1899, and left one son; Euretta B., lives at home ; and an infant deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have passed through all the trying experiences and discouragements of pioneer life, and had trouble with the Indians. etc. During the three days' terrible storm in April, 1873, the family nearly perished. They were a family of nine living in a dugout of one room, snowed under and unable to get out for either wood or water, consequently had scarcely anything to eat, subsisting on two meals in three days. They also passed through the grasshopper siege and the years of drouth; but through all kept faith in Nebraska. The family enjoy the respect and highest esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaint ances, and are widely and favorably known. JOHN DONNER. Prominent among the successful agriculturists of Antelope county, Nebraska, is John Donner. who resides on section fourteen, township twenty- four, range seven, where he has a splendidly im proved ranch and pleasant home. He has spent the past thirty-three years in this region and during that time has become a leader in the progress of the locality where he chose his home and where he has passed through many hard pioneer experiences. Mr. Donner is a native of England, born Feb ruary 25, 1844, in Lincolnshire county. Boston COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 571 village, and during his youth followed the oc cupation of farming in his native land. In 1866 Mr. Donner left his' mother country, sailing for America on the steamship Kangaroo, and after landing in the United States settled in the state of Indiana, where he remained until 1868, then going to McHenry county, Illinois. In 1873 he returned to England, remaining one year, and again came to America, setting sail on the steam ship "Idaho." Mr. Donner then came to Ante lope county, Nebraska, in 1877, near Neligh, where he took a homestead claim. Here he built a dugout. Mr. Donner is one of the few old settlers who are still residing on their old ori ginal homestead farms. On this farm he has lived the better half of his life time, experiencing the different phases of life, enduring disappoint ments and hardships, and receiving his share of joy and sorrow. In the early days he suffered losses by the hot winds, etc., and one year lost four horses on account of not having proper feed for them. At one time, for protection he ploughed a fire line around his house and barn, and sodded up the sides of his house to protect it, and also to keep out the cold. In March, 1903, his house was burned to the ground, but he rebuilt and now has a very fine home. At the time of the fire, he was very fortunate in not losing any of his barns or other buildings. Mr. Donner now owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, well improved, and which is known as the Fairview Farm. He is very much interested in several very fine Clydesdale brood mares which he owns. Mr. Donner was united in marriage January 1, 1877, to Miss Ada Pethick. Mr. and Mrs. Don ner are the parents of three children, named as follows: Clara, married Robert Polzfuss, and has two children; Annie and Katie. Mr. and Mrs. Donner and family are highly esteemed and re spected by all who know them. ALFRED AMOS. Alfred Amos is a member of a representative family of Custer county, Nebraska, one whose members have identified themselves with various measures for advancing the public welfare and prosperity. They are prominent in social circles and held in high respect and esteem. Mr. Amos was one of the very early settlers of the county and in his first years there met and overcame various discouragements and trials incident to pioneer life. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, the eldest of seven children of John Morde- cai and Catherine (Thompson) Amos. A sketch of the father also appears in this work. Mr. Amos first saw the light of day October 1, 1851, and grew to manhood on the farm in Ohio, being educated in nearby schools. He engaged in farm ing as a young man and has since followed that occupation. In 1882 he came west looking for a suitable place to locate permanently, and settled in Custer county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-one, town ship eighteen, range eighteen. Mr. Amos then returned to Iowa and on March 1, 1883, was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Carnall, who was born in Iowa. She is a daugh ter of James and Caroline (Nicholson) Carnall, natives of England, the father born in Lincoln shire and the mother in Essex. Mr. Carnall was educated in his native country and married in London, he and his wife coming to America in 1851 and locating in Payette county, Iowa. He died in Arlington, Iowa, February 11, 1911, at the age of eighty-six years, and his widow now lives in the old home in Arlington, being now (1911) eighty- two years of age. Mrs. Amos has two brothers and a sister in Iowa ; one brother in Mansfield, Missouri; one brother in California, and one brother in Colorado Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Amos established their first home on the Custer county homestead, soon after mar riage, remaining there twenty years. He and his wife each served several years as director of the school board of district number ten, she filling the office ten years. In 1903 they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on section twenty-one, township eighteen, range eighteen, which is still the home place. They have a well improved and equipped stock and grain farm and are successful and prosperous to a gratifying de gree. They have eight children: Wayne L., of Custer county, married Esther Wooters, and they have one child; James Leland, also of Custer county, married Ida L. Bruner, who died March 30, 1911; Anna S., wife of Milton Copsey, lives near Westerville and has three children ; Glenn A. Bert S., Catherine, Caroline and Edith Mildred, all at home. Catherine and Caroline are twins. DANIEL B. SMITH. Daniel B. Smith was born in Indiana, August 19, 1853, sixth child of Martin and Lucinda (Good) Smith, who were parents of three sons and four daughters. The father brought the fam ily to Wisconsin when Daniel was a small child, and in 1861 enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Wis consin Volunteer Infantry. He died of sickness while in service, in 1863, his death occurring the day before the expiration of his term of enlist ment; his discharge papers arrived the day after his death. The mother died the following year, and Daniel B., remained with an older sister until his sixteenth year. He then started out in life for himself and in April, 1868, set out for Nemaha county, Nebraska, he and a younger brother coming to the home of their uncle, S. J. Good. Daniel lived in Nemaha county until 1883, then came to Valley county. He has. worked at farm ing since early manhood, beginning as a farm hand. 572 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Smith was married March 4, 1874, to Miss Martha Williams, a native of Missouri, born near Springfield, in Cedar county, their union taking place in Nemaha county. When they came to Valley county they had four children. They bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land southwest of Ord in section nineteen, town ship eighteen, range fifteen, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in section eighteen, ad joining, living on this farm until 1905, when Mr. Smith purchased two hundred and seventy acres of land two miles north of Ord. At that time the place contained no improvements and he has de veloped and improved it until he now owns one of the finest grain and stock farms in his part of the state, with a comfortable home and other sub stantial buildings. He still owns the three hun dred and twenty acre tract south of Ord, and has a dwelling in town to which to retire to when the time comes. He began life, a boy about fifteen years, / without a dollar of money, and by his own efforts has now become one of the prosperous stockmen of central Nebraska. He may be rated among the early pioneers and helped materially in developing Valley county and bringing it to its present high standard of prosperity. Mr. Smith and wife had eleven children and ten of them now survive : Olive, deceased ; Frank, is a blacksmith of Rocky Ford, Colorado; Ethel, wife of Germain Hoyt, living near Garland, Mis souri, has three children ; Myrtle, wife of Ed. Thompson, of Valley county, Nebraska, has three children; Charlie, graduate of Boston Theological College, is a Methodist Episcopal minister, mar ried and has one child; Lottie, married Harvey Friend, who lives in Valley county; Evet, Nina, Dora, Minnie and Mamie, all at home. The fam ily are well known in social, educational and re ligious circles and have many friends. Mr. Smith, a republican in polities, held township offices some years ago, and has always done his full duty as a citizen. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal church. For four years they lived in the primitive sod house and then replaced it with a more modern edifice. Mr. Smith's present home is one of the most pretentious country houses in the county and we are pleased to call attention to a view of the home and surroundings elsewhere in this work. THEODORE HOEPPNER. Although a comparatively recent settler in Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is well and fav orably known to the residents of this part of the country. Mr. Hoeppner was born in the village of Bellin, Holstein, then a province of Denmark, September 29, 1853, and he is the son of Christ and Margar- eta (Paulstin) Hoeppner, also natives of Denmark, the father following the occupation of farmer in that country, where he died October 1, 1872, at the age of fifty-one years. The mother followed our subject to America one year after his arrival here, he setting sail from Hamburg when about nineteen years of age, on the steamboat ' ' Silesia, ' ' and after a voyage of nine days landed in New York. Mr. Hoeppner went directly to Scott county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm six years, and for one year cultivated fifty acres of rented land. In 1879, he went to Tama county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres, on which he lived until coming to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1901. Here he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres from John Hamer out of the south half of section twenty-five, township twenty-eight, range two, his present home. He is a good farmer and has a well improved farm. He suffered loss by hail in 1905, losing on his own and rented land one hundred and seventy acres of corn and sev enty acres of oats — a severe blow to him at that time. On February 4, 1881, Mr. Hoeppner was mar ried to Miss Emelia Goettsch, a native of Scott county, Iowa, her parents, Joaehin "and Margar- ite (Lamp) Goettsch, were old settlers of Scott county, Iowa, where they followed farming, having lived there since 1860. The father had been a sailor in the old country from 1851 until 1860, when he came to America. He married in Davenport, which was only a "mud hole" when Mrs. Goettsch 's parents first settled there when she was a girl in her teens. They were eight weeks on the voyage crossing the ocean. Mr. Goettsch was employed manufacturing hand made shingles for a time, and for five years before marriage worked on the railroad section. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoeppner, seven of whom are living: Louis, Alma, Alfreda, who is now Mrs. Carl Shubert; Adelia, Lillie, Herbert and Edna. Mr. Hoeppner votes the democratic ticket, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Sons of Herman lodges. He and his family worship at the German Lutheran church, and hold the respect of all who know them. A view of Mr. Hoeppner 's home, with its fine grove of ornamental evergreens, is to he seen on another page. BENJAMIN M. JONES. Benjamin M. Jones, former sheriff of Pierce county, Nebraska, now retired from farming, re sides in the east part of Plainview. He first came to this state in 1889, landing in Pierce county on the seventh day of February, and has been a loyal supporter of the best interests of this section since that time. Mr. Jones is a native of St. Joseph, Indiana, born August 22, 1860, and is a son of Milton and Margaret (Aikens) Jones, both born and reared "RIVERSIDE FARM," RESIDENCE OF DANIEL B. SMITH. 'CEDAR L4WN," RESIDENCE; OF THEODOR HOEPPNER, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 573 in Ohio. The former is of Welsh origin, his an cestors coming to the colonies long before the revolutionary war, settling in Virginia, and his grandmother was a cousin of the famous Robert E. Lee.Ben remained with his parents on their Indi ana farm until he reached his majority, then left home and obtained a position as fireman on the Baltimore '& Ohio railway, running between Chicago, Illinois, and Chicago Junction, Ohio, con tinuing at that work for two years. He was after wards employed at various things, becoming thor oughly familiar with farm implements and their values, and on coming to Nebraska in 1889, he at once entered the employ of I. W. Alter, of Plain- view, remaining with him for two years. He then traveled for various firms for nine years, making all the principal towns of Iowa and Minnesota, and was very successful in bringing business to his firm. In the fall of 1901 Mr. Jones was elected sher iff of Pierce county, serving up to January 1, 1906, having been re-elected to the office by an increased majority. His positive refusal to accept a third term was all that prevented his nomina tion and consequent election, and in June after the close of his second term, he fitted up a large wagon containing all the conveniences for camp ing, and started across the country to Denver in the hope of improving his wife's impaired health. They spent some months in the open, following the Platte rivers to that place. Mrs. Jones, who was Ella J. Peed, was married August 18, 1900, died in Colorado in February, 1907, leaving two fine, bright boys, Reed M. and Wayne B. The for mer was an unusually precocious child, learning to read and write at the age of four years, and both are advancing in their studies much beyond the average child of their age. Mr. Jones was again married, on June 1, 1908, to Miss Anna Peed, who is a sister of his former wife, and this was a most admirable match in every way, as no one could so well fill the place of his children 's mother, or take a greater interest in their welfare. Mr. Jones is a staunch democrat, and has al ways commanded a large vote from the opposition, owing to his straightforward character and hon esty of purpose in all matters. While holding the office of sheriff, Mr. Jones' books and accounts were always open to the most critical inspection, and he proved a most worthy and efficient of ficial. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen of Plain- view. W. S. FREEMAN. The above gentleman is the possessor of a finely developed farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in Spring Creek precinct, which he has fitted with good buildings and every im provement in the way of machinery, etc., and is known as a successful agriculturalist who for the past many years has been prominent in all affairs of his county and state. W. S. Freeman was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, on November 27, 1853, and grew up in that locality, coming to Howard county with his parents in 1871. The father, William E. Freeman, is a native of New York state, born De cember 5, 1829, and was married in Potter county, Pennsylvania, about 1850, to Sarah L. Cushing. They remained in the east up to 1870, at that time coming to Nebraska, their first location being Columbus, where they spent several months, then came on to Howard county and filed on a pre-emp tion on section eight, township fifteen, range nine. The village of Cushing is located on a por tion of this land which was for many years their home farm. Mrs. Sarah Freeman's death oc curred August 24, 1905. During his residence in this section, William E. Freeman became one of the leading business men of the county. He was also one of the pioneer merchants, having for many years been engaged in the general mercan tile business in different towns, and in addition to this was extensively engaged in farming nearly all of the time. He went through all the old How ard county experiences, and during the early days of his residence here, was obliged to haul the lumber for his first dwelling from Hastings. After the death of his wife Mr. Freeman moved to CaU- fornia, where he makes his home with a daughter, Mrs. Carrie F. Doyle. There were four children in the family, W. S. Freeman, whose name heads this review, Carrie, mentioned above, Oscar H., of California, and Minnie, now Mrs. Penny, who lives in Fullerton. During the famous Nebraska blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mrs. Penny became known as "the Nebraska heroine," as it was through her efforts that the children of the school in which she was teaching, were saved from per ishing in the terrible storm of that date by being tied together with twine and by her guided to the nearest settler's house, three-quarters of a mile away. W. S. Freeman was married in Scotia, Ne braska, on August 31, 1876, to Mary A. Scott, who is a native of Kentucky and eame to Greeley county, Nebraska, in 1871, where her parents, Samuel C. and Caroline (Raydure) Scott, were prominent pioneers, she being the eldest of five daughters. Her mother and father, also two sis ters, are now deceased, while two sisters still live in Greeley county. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have one child, Winnie B., a charming young lady, who is at home with them, and they have a pleasant home and large circle of friends. JACOB B. WILLIAMS. Jacob B. Williams, son of Daniel P. and Lu- cinda (Scrivens) Williams, was born in Watson, Lewis county, New York, October 14, 1853, and 574 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. was seventh in a family of eight children; he has one brother residing in Boulder, Colorado; one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth L. Green, in North Loup, Nebraska; another sister in New York state, and the others are deceased. The Williams family are descendants of Roger Williams, Jacob B. Wil liams being of the seventh generation; his father was born in New York state, where he died in 1876; the mother was a native of the Empire state also, but died in Valley county, Nebraska, her death occurring January 1, 1888. Mr. Williams received the usual educational advantages in the home schools, and later was a student at Alfred University in Allegheny county, New York, and later engaged in farming. On March 15, 1876, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Babcock, at the home of her parents, Leander and Roxina (Williams) Babcock, in Brookfield, New York. Miss Babcock was born in Lewis county, New York, and was a teacher in the schools of New York and Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had no children, but have one adopted daughter, Sadie W., who is the wife of Roy S. Cox ; they reside in Valley county, and have two children, a daughter and a son. In March of 1879 Mr. Williams came to Ne braska, locating in Clay county, purchasing eighty acres of Burlington & Missouri railroad land, living on the same for seven years. In 1886 he came to Valley county and purchased one hun dred and sixty acres of land near North Loup, which remained the home place for nineteen years. In 1895, owing to ill health, Mr. Williams retired from the farm, which he sold after moving to North Loup, purchasing a good home where he now lives. Since 1896 he has been engaged in the real estate business. He is a successful man of affairs, and owns one hundred and seventy-two acres of land in Texas, as well as splendid Ne braska farm and city property. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are among the earlier settlers of this part of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Williams has served as director and treasurer at different times of school district number forty-two for some years. Mrs. Williams' father, Leander Babcock, was of English descent, born in Madison county, New York, and died February 15, 1881, in his native land. Her mother, Mrs. Roxana (Williams) Bab cock, was of Welsh descent, born in Brookfield, New York, where she died November 23, 1895. FRED SCHOEPPLIN. Fred Schoepflin, one of the old settlers of Ne braska, where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-eight, township twenty-one, range three, Madison county, has aided immeasurably in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well known throughout this part of the county. Mr. Schoepflin was born near the river Rhine Germany, October 17, 1844. His parents were farmers and butchers, and he worked on the home place as a boy, following farming continuously during his youth. When he was just twenty years of age he left the mother country and crossed the sea to Amer ica, of which country he had heard wondrous tales regarding the wealth to be accumulated by those who were willing to work and endure. He sailed from Havre in the month of January, and after a voyage lasting sixty days, the sailboat on which he was a steerage passenger, landed safely in- New York City. He first located in Illi nois, making his home in Kane county for four years, then came west to Nebraska in 1871, trav eling by rail to Columbus, and from there drove to the vicinity of his present homestead, where he filed on a tract of land and started to develop a farm. He has built and worn out two sod houses since coming here, finally erecting a comfortable frame dwelling, his present home. During the first few years in this region, Mr. Schoepflin went through all the hardships inci dent to the life of the pioneers here, suffering crop failures, and losses by prairie fires, which he fought for days together with his neighbors in an effort to save their property from destruction. In those days the hunting of big game was about the only sport, and deer, antelope and other wild ani mals were seen in plenty on the plains. Mr. Schoepflin 's holdings now comprise a finely cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all fenced, and supplied with a complete set of buildings, well stocked, and is one of the valuable estates in Madison county. In June, 1874, Mr. Schoepflin was united in marriage to Miss Dora Bolenski, who is a native of Prussia. They had one child, Amanda, who was married to John Weber, a German Lutheran minister. She died in 1905. CHARLES E. BLAKEMAN. Charles E. Blakeman is one of the best known farmers and stock men of Custer county, where he was one of the early settlers. He makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle, in which line he is very successful, being one of the largest landholders of central Nebraska. Mr. Blakeman was born in Lake county, Indiana, November 28, 1856, and was the third in order of birth of the five children of John and Lucinda (Williams) Blakeman, the father a native of England and the mother of Ohio. He has one sister, Mrs. Charles Hipsley, in Broken Bow, Nebraska, and another sister living in Indiana. John Blakeman came to America when about twenty years of age and located first in Ohio, but later removed to Indiana, which is now his home. He enlisted in an Indiana regiment for service in the civil war. His wife died in Indiana in the fifties. In boyhood Charles Blakeman attended the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 575 public schools of Indiana, and as a young man, spent four years at railroad work in Chicago. In June, 1884, he removed to Saunders county, Ne braska, and. on February 3, 1885, in Omaha, was united in marriage with Josephine Teeple, who was born in Indiana, daughter of Phillip and Mar garet (Pringle) Teeple, natives of Canada. The mother died in Canada in 1865 and the father now lives in North Dakota. Mrs. Blakeman has two brothers in Hammond, Indiana. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Blakeman came to Custer county and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on the northwest quarter of section six, township seventeen, range twenty-three, which was the home place for several years. Mr. Blakeman was very helpful in the organization of school district number two hundred and forty one, and has served as a member of its board most of the time since. He and his wife were among the first settlers on West Table and for many- years were unable to strike water for locating a well, so had to haul water from a distance. They have six children: John P., Howard, Homer C, Wallace E., Otto C. and Bessie B., all at home ex cept Howard. After passing through years of privation and hardship, Mr. Blakeman achieved a notable de gree of success in his farming operations. He has in his possession twenty-three hundred and sev enty-five acres of land, of which twenty-two hun dred and fifteen acres are in the home place, which is one of the best equipped farms in his part of the state. He has some fine shorthorn cattle and a number of high bred horses and has one thousand acres under cultivation. The fam ily stand well in the opinion of their neighbors and have a wide circle of friends. FRED ZIMMERMAN. The present condition of prosperity of Ne braska as an agricultural and commercial region is due to the earnest efforts and perseverance of the early settlers and pioneers, who came to the state while it was in an undeveloped condition. Among the citizens of Cedar county who have long been identified with the best interests of that county may be mentioned Fred Zimmerman, who has lived there the past eighteen years. He has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation and productiveness, and has won the respect and good will of all who have come into contact with him. He purchased his present farm on section twenty-four, township twenty-nine, range one, east, in 1893, and has made the improvements himself. He devotes it to -general farming and has reaped a fair measure of success in his opera tions. * Mr. Zimmerman is a native of Switzerland, born in 1858, son of John and Elizabeth Zimmer man, both also natives of that country. He re ceived his education in his native country and there reached maturity. He came to America in 1881 and spent the next six years in Iowa. In 1887 he removed to Kansas and in 1893 to Cedar county, his home since that time. He has proven himself an ambitious and able farmer and the farm which he has purchased bears witness to his thrift and industry. His place is pleasantly lo cated in a desirable section of the state. Mr. Zimmerman was married April 4, 1887, to Dora Ardesen, a native of Switzerland, and daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth (Miller) Ardesen. Four children have blessed this union, namely: John, deceased; Fred, George and Christian J., who died in 1911. The family is identified with the Reformed Lutheran church, and Mr. Zimmerman is an inde pendent republican. DAVID H. BURKE. David H. Burke was born in Potsdam, Saint Lawrence county, New York, June 28, 1861, and was eldest of eight children in the family of Wil liam and Mary (Carten) Burke, who had five sons and three daughters. Mr. Burke came into Merrick county, Ne braska, with his father in May, 1877. He was married to Miss Mary J. Farrell in the Catholic church at Central City, Nebraska, October 24, 1884. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burke, three of whom are living : Edmund Vic tor, married, has one child and resides at Chap man, Nebraska; Mary, deceased; John, and Aline, who reside at home. Mr. Burke was a conductor in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad from 1880 to 1885, in clusive, with headquarters at Rawlins, Wyoming. He now resides on the northwest quarter of sec tion seventeen, township thirteen, range six, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres, and deals in cattle, making a specialty of short horn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Burke has served as district supervisor in past years; on the school board at different times; and has always been active and doing in the best interests of his community. WILL A. NEEDHAM. Will A. Needham, postmaster of Bloomfield, and at one time member of the firm of Needham Brothers, journalists, is a native of Nebraska, his birth occurring March 1 9, 1869, in a sod house on the family homestead within one and one-half miles of the present site of the state house at Lincoln. His parents, H. E. and Lucina (Bagley) Needham, natives of Monkton, Vermont, and Independence, Ohio, respectively, migrated from Cleveland to Fremont county, Iowa, in 1859, set tling near Tabor, and in March, 1867, becoming residents of Lancaster county, Nebraska, cross- 576 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ing the Missouri river at Wabanse Mills the first day of the month. The father took up a home stead at Lancaster Center, now Lincoln, and made this his home until 1876, when he moved to Dav iess county, Missouri, settling near Kidder. Here Will A. Needham spent his youth, at tending the Cameron schools until 1886, when he eame to Colridge to join his brother, W. H. Need ham. He taught school for several years, receiving the first year twenty-five dollars a month and later forty dollars, a generous salary for those days. During vacations he learned printing, and in 1887 entered into a partnership with his brother Whitfield H., and purchased the "Colridge Senti nel." This same firm established the "Bloom field Monitor" in 1890, and when his brother took over the "Niobrara Tribune," in the fall of 1895, Will A. became the sole proprietor of the "Moni tor," of which he was the editor and publisher until his appointment as postmaster of Bloomfield in December, 1897, taking possession of the office the first of January, 1898. Mr. Needham was married in Niobrara Janu ary 25, 1895, to Miss Mattie J. Kamrar, who was born in Clinton county, Iowa. Her parents, David J. and Susan J. (Muntz) Kamrar, are natives of Pennsylvania. The father served several terms as deputy county treasurer, and is now residing in the south part of Cherry county, where he owns a large ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Needham are the parents of four children, Pern G., Vernon W., Mildred H. and Paul I. Mr. Needham has always been a republican in political beliefs, and his journals have al ways been hearty supporters of the candidates of his party when standing for election. He is high up in Masonic circles, holding membership in the blue lodge, chapter, council, and commandery, and has been the presiding officer of each. He has been an officer of the Grand Commandery five years, and is now grand senior warden of the lat ter body, with reasonable certainty of filling the presiding chair, should he live a few years more. He also affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, holding membership in the Bloomfield lodge. Mr. Needham recalls the time when Lincoln was a small village, and when deer and antelope were to be seen near the city. At one time, a party of six hundred Indians camped near his father's house. He has been a resident of Bloom field since its organization, and served as first vil lage clerk, and he was president of the village board when the town organized as a city of the second class. He was, during his incumbency, in strumental in building the excellent water system of the town. He has always taken a great interest in the schools, and has served for many years on the board of education, and the new school house was planned and built during his membership of that body. Mr. Needham has traveled extensively over the west, having made several trips to the Pacific coast ; he is thoroughly in touch with the western spirit and western ideas in politics. He has great faith in the achievements of the west, and full confidence in its future prosperity and influence. AMIL SCHULTZE. Mr. Schultze belongs to that goodly number of hardy Teutons who have contributed of their brawn and muscle to the reclamation of the Ne braska prairies, and put their character and stam ina into the making of a great state. The subscriber is a native of Brandenburg, Germany, and was born in 1859 to Carl and Wil- helmina Schultze. His father was a wagonmaker. He (the father) being the youngest of seven boys, the other six having all served in war, was ex empt from service. His father (grandfather of our subscriber), however, served in several of the continental wars. Mr. Schultze spent his childhood years in his native land, but in 1869, with his parents, came to New York from Bremen. They came to Nebraska at once, and the father took up a homestead in Stanton county. He first put up a dugout which served the family as a home for nine years. This was in time replaced by a log house. The first few years on the new farm were not entirely sunshine, for the family suffered the usual hardships which assailed the pioneer. Prairie fires were frequent in summer and were a constant menace to the settlers. Many times they were compelled to fight fires for hours in order to save their homes from destruction. They had one consolation, however, in knowing that they came too late to suffer the three or four years destruction of crops which the older settlers had to contend with. In 1884, our subscriber was united in marriage to Miss Frederick Lenser, of West Prussia. They are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living. They are named as follows : - Paul, Amil, Carl, Arthur, Christ, Adelheid and Regina. Mr. Schultze is a man of wide experience and well merits his success as a farmer. J. W. RICKERT. J. W. Rickert, an early settler and highly re spected citizen of Antelope county, Nebraska, has fought his way through many difficulties and discouragements to a very substantial success. He is a man of keen perception and executive ability, and has proven his good citizenship in many ways. He is the owner of a good farm in section thirty, township twenty-seven, rarige six, owning two hundred acres of good land and seven acres of fine trees. Mr. Rickert is a native of Illinois, born' May 15, 1854, and is the son of William and Anna Kieler Rickert, the father dying at the age of twenty-three years when Our subject was but, one year old; the mother was born in Illinois, her father being a merchant. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 577 Mr. Rickert, with his mother, came to Saun ders county, Nebraska, in the early days, 1866, settling seven miles south of Fremont. They drove from Illinois to the claim they took up in Saunders county, and while residing here, and when our subject was fourteen years of age, he went to Omaha and drove an ox team freighting from Omaha to Fort Kearney for fifteen dollars per month to help his mother. They then took up a timber claim in Saunders county also, build ing a frame house and put out ten acres of trees. Antelope and deer were plentiful in those early days in Nebraska, " and during those pioneer times our subject and his mother saw a great many hardships and privations. In the years of 1873 and 1874 the grasshoppers destroyed all their crops, and in the blizzard of 1873 they lost their cattle, which was a very serious blow to them at that time. Mr. Rickert and his mother moved to Ante lope county in 1883, after becoming discouraged in their Saunders county home, and upon their arrival here took up a homestead claim, and built a shanty eight by ten feet, and here in their first days of residence on this homestead they had many discouraging experiences. Wood was scarce and hard to get in those days, and our subject and his mother burned hay and corn for fuel. Mr. Rickert was united in marriage in 1880, to Miss Maggie Pox, who died May 25, 1885. To this union three children were born, all of whom are deceased. On July 19, 1896, he was married to Miss Nora Rickman and they have had four children, as follows : J. Earl, L. Rosie, Flossie, deceased, and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Rickert and family are highly esteemed and respected in the community and have a host of friends. Mr. Rickert is a republican in political affiliations. JOHN MORDECAI AMOS. (Deceased.) The late John Mordecai Amos was one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Cus ter county. He was a public-spirited citizen, interested in all pertaining to the general welfare, and ready to do his share tb promote the same. He was born in Pennsylvania, of English extrac tion, in March, 1831, third of the five children of John and Metsy Amos. He has two brothers living in Ohio, the only survivors of the family. When but a child Mr. Amos went with his brother, William, to Carroll county, Ohio, living on a farm and attending the district schools. He was there married, March 25, 1849, at the home of her parents, to Miss Catherine Thompson, daughter of Zachariah and Priscilla (Albaugh) Thompson, and a native of Ohio. Mr. Thompson was born in Maryland and was an early settler of Iowa, where he died. His wife was born in Ohio and died in Illinois. Mrs. Amos has three brothers in Iowa. In the late seventies Mr. and Mrs. Amos went to Fayette county, Iowa, where they carried on farming until the spring of 1883, when they came to Custer county and took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty- one, township eighteen, range eighteen, and a tree claim of like size adjoining. This was the home place for a number of years, but in 1905, Mr. Amos retired frofn active life and purchased ten acres in Wescott, where he lived until the time of his death, July 13, 1907. He is survived by his wife and seven children : Alfred, of Cus ter county; Lycurgus, Zachariah and William, all married and living in Custer county; Mrs. N. E. Armsyrong, of Broken Bow; Mrs. Emma McCuen, of Custer county; Mrs. Laura Wester ville,' of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. Mr. Amos was always interested in the up building of his locality and his wife likewise has identified herself with various measures for the public good. She is active and vigorous and still has the old home, although she spends con siderable time visiting among her children. She enjoys the regard of a wide circle of friends and is .well known in the community. Zachariah D. Amos, third son of John M. and Catherine (Thompson) Amos, was born in Ohio, and when sixteen years of age accompanied his parents to Iowa. He came to Custer county in the spring - of 1883 and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty- eight, township eighteen, range eighteen. He was married in Valley county, June 7, 1891, to Miss Arabella Love, who was born in Wisconsin, and for some time before her marriage had been a teacher in Nebraska schools. She had also homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-two, township eighteen, range eighteen, where she and her husband now reside. He has served for a number of years as moderator of the school board of district number two hun dred and forty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Amos have three children living: Ailsa Bell, Maud L. and Frieda B., all at home. They also have in their household circle, Alice Emerson, whom they have reared since her infancy. JAMES LINDLY. James Lindly has made a notable success of farming and stock raising in Custer county and is a self-made man, having come to Nebraska with out capital. He has had an eventful life, from the time he enlisted in the army for service in the civil war, through his experience as a freighter, stockman and farmer. He is one of the pioneers who have been closely identified with the growth and development of central Nebraska and has always been interested in worthy projects for advancing the interests of all. Mr. Lindly 578 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. was born in Jones county, Iowa, April 2, 1846, next to the oldest of four children in the family of Amasa and Mary J. (Garrison) Lindly, who had three sons and one daughter. Both parents were natives of Ohio and they were married in Indiana. The family moved from Indiana to Iowa about 1845, and were pioneers of that state, ar riving before the railroad had reached there. The mother died in Jones county, Iowa, in 1853, and the father died in Morley, that county, in 1908, in his eighty-fourth year. The parents of the father were married in Pennsylvania, of which state it is believed they were natives, and they were early settlers of Ohio. The only children of Amasa and Mary Lindly who now survive are James and his brother, Albert, the latter of whom lives at Columbia, Marion county, Iowa. Mr. Lindly was reared on an Iowa farm, where he lived until his enlistment in the army. His brother, Albert, enlisted in the fall of 1863, in Company G, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer In fantry, and James enlisted March 6, 1865, run ning away from home to do so, and becoming a member of Company G, Seventeenth Iowa In fantry, near the close of the war. He was mus tered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and received his final discharge papers at Rock Island, Illi nois. After the war he returned to Cedar county, Iowa, and resumed farm work, and in the spring of 1866 crossed the Missouri river and went to Omaha, then went on to Grand Island and for several months worked for the Union Pacific railroad company. Returning to Omaha he be came driver of ox teams, "deck hand on a bull train," as it was jokingly expressed, freighting across the plains to Denver,- Colorado, where he remained from August, 1866, to December 15, 1867, when he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then a mushroom town of shacks, the terminus of the Union Pacific. He returned to Cedar county and again engaged in farming. Mr. Lindly there married Charlotte Wood, daughter of George A. and Martha (Loughery) Wood, pioneers of Iowa. Her Grandfather Loughery was one of the earliest settlers of his part of Iowa and a prominent citizen. Their marriage occurred in the fall of 1868, and the following spring they moved to Marion county, Iowa. In February, 1874, he and his wife, with their one child, came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, Mr. Lindly driving through with a wagon and team and his wife and child coming by train as far as Plattsmouth. He traded for land in Lancaster county, but in the fall of 1874, after the crops were taken by grass hoppers, he returned to Iowa and remained there until the spring of 1878, when he returned to Lincoln and remained there until August, 1880. His wife died in Lincoln in the fall of 1879, leav ing three children, namely: Charles E., and Rosella May, both deceased; and Albert, living on section twenty-five, township nineteen, range twenty-two, Custer county, married Georgiana Karnes, and they have eight children. Mr. Lindly came to Custer county in the lat ter part of August, 1880, and on September 1, went on to New Helena and took a pre-emption on the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven, township nineteen, range twenty-two, and also filed an entry on a tree claim on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two in the same town ship. In 1883 he took up a homestead on section thirty-four, and is one of the very few (if there be any others) who proved up and received pat ents on a pre-emption, timber claim and home stead. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Lindly returned to Marion county and married Mrs. Mary J. Busby, who had three children by a former marriage. Their union took place February 3, 1881, and March 17, with their four children, they left Iowa with a wagon and team for their Nebraska home, a strenuous trip, through deep snow and bad roads, and they landed at the pre-emption claim1 April 22, 1881. They were unable to cross the Missouri river by the ferry, owing to the over flow, so had to cross by the transfer train over the Union Pacific bridge between Council Bluffs and Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Lindly have had five children : Grace, wife of Garland E. Lewis, of Broken Bow; Mabel, wife of Fred H. Anderson, of Custer county, has three children; Maud, wife of Ernest E. Bell, of Custer county, has three children; Fred G., married and living on a farm adjoining his father, has one child; Leonard V., at home. By her first marriage Mrs. Lindly had children as follows : Alice, wife of Louis A. Karnes, of California, has two children; Luella, wife of Harry G. Karnes, of Idaho, has two chil dren ; John Busby, married and living in Merid ian, Idaho, has three children. Mr. Lindly and family are pioneers and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He has twenty-two hundred acres of land, and makes a success of farming and stock raising, being active in the management of his affairs. He first carried on the farm of Charles Mathews, of New Helena, having landed at that place penniless, as he had spent his last dime at Westerville for tobacco. He now has a pleasantly located farm home, with a splendid grove of trees, and his place is well equipped and improved. It is known as "Pilgrim's Rest," from its having been the stopping place for early settlers traveling from the cattle country along Dismal river and beyond to Kearney and Grand Island. We show a full page view of the Lindly home on another page of our work. Mr. Lindly 's first residence in Ne braska was a "soddy," and later, while building a "soddy" on his present place, the family lived temporarily in a dugout and a corn crib, the latter being their sleeping quarters. A 'snow storm in November, 1884, almost cut them off from passage from one to the other, the drifts between the two buildings being three to four 'PILGRIM'S REST," RESIDENCE OF JAMES LINDLY. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 579 feet. Mr. Lindly and three friends were caught away from home and weathered a blizzard that must- have been forty degrees below zero. On January 12, 1888, Mr. Lindly was out in his yard, and observed the windmill, against which a warm south wind was blowing, whirl suddenly in the opposite direction. He knew at once a severe storm was on, and looking to the north saw the wall of frozen mist bearing down on them. Tak ing a supply of wraps, he started to the school house, a mile and a half away, to get the children. Finding them safely housed at a neighbor's he followed others until they reached home and then made his way back to his own house, facing the suffocating blasts for more than a mile and a half. Few men were out so long in that storm and sur vived; during that winter the family burned corn for fuel. In 1894, the dry year, Mr. Lindly planted five bushels of potatoes and gathered three pecks. In politics Mr. Lindly is a republican. He is member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife, of the Order of the Eastern Star. GEORGE LINDWURM. George Lindwurm, a prosperous tenant of large farms in northeastern Nebraska, has been a resident of the state for over a quarter of a century, and has proved himself to be a man of sterling character and worth. Mr. Lindwurm was born in the village of Abdachwind, Bavaria, July 5, 1858, and here re ceived a common school education. On attaining military age, he served his native country in the army from 1879 to 1881. A brother, Adam Lind wurm, still resides in Germany. Mr. Lindwurm came to America in 1884, sail ing from Bremen and landing at Baltimore after a voyage of thirteen days. He came to Fremont, Nebraska, and engaged in farm labor for a few years, and in 1887 came to Knox county, renting land for six years. In 1893 he came to Pierce county, and cultivated a half- section of fertile farm land in section seventeen, township twenty-eight, range three. He has met with comparatively little mis fortune, the two hailstorms of June and August, 1900, causing his most serious loss, ruining all his crops. Mr. Lindwurm was married in Germany in 1883, to Miss Rosa Stellweg, a native of the village of Alten Schembach, Bavaria. Mr. Lind wurm preceded her to America, saved his earn ings, and sent for her in 1887. Pour children have been born to them, named as follows: William, born in the old country; Jennie, John, who died in 1889 ; and George. Jennie is married to Mr. Kumm, and lives near her parents. Politically, Mr. Lindwurm is a republican, al ways voting that ticket. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is affiliated with the An cient Order of United Workmen. As before stated, he cultivates a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and is a pros perous man. He has gained the esteem of all in his community. He owns a quarter section of good land in Phillips county, Colorado, which is as yet in its wild state but is growing more valuable each year. HENRY H. BOESEN. In the person of the gentleman named above we have another of those sturdy spirits who came from a foreign country and through thrift and perseverance succeeded in accumulating a com petence and building up for himself a good home, besides acquiring many friends. Mr. Boesen is one of the best known pioneers of Howard county, and stands very high as a worthy citizen in the estimation of the public. Henry H. Boesen was born in Denmark, No vember 27, 1832, grew up there, and received the education common to the middle classes in that country. At the age of twenty-three years he was married to Hannah Sorensen, also born and reared in his home province, and they re mained in Denmark during the first five years of their married life. In 1860 the young couple came to America, their first location after land ing being in Wisconsin, where Mr. Boesen se cured work on a farm. Mr. Boesen followed farming in that state up to June, 1873, then ac companied by his wife and three children, emi grated to Nebraska, settling on a homestead of eighty acres, situated on section fourteen, town ship thirteen, range twelve, and here all worked together to build up a home. They improved the land in good shape, remaining on the original farm until 1901, then our subject sold it and built a home in Boelus, where he now lives. While occupying the farm Mr. Boesen was active in developing the country, and was also one of the leading spirits in establishing schools, etc. For five years he served as director of his district, and for the same length of time held the office of road supervisor. Since locating in Boelus Mr. Boesen has been active in public affairs, being a member of the city council from 1903 to 1907, inclusive. In 1909, he was again made a member of the coun cil, and is still serving in that capacity. Mr. Boesen is rated as one of the well-to-do men of his community, owning some town property be sides the residence which he occupies. Five children were born to our subject and his good wife, of whom three are now living, named as follows : Peter, who resides in Greeley county, Nebraska; Louis, father of five children, of the same county, and Chris, also having a fam ily of five children, living in Howard county. Mrs. Boesen died June 9, 1905, and was deeply mourned by her devoted family and a host of friends. Mr. Boesen has three great-grandsons, aged respectively, two, three and five years. The 580 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. entire family are greatly liked by their asso ciates, and occupy a high position in their re spective communities. CLIARLES H. WELLMAN. (Deceased.) Charles H. Wellman, deceased, son of Chester and Lavina (Axtel) Wellman, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, May 29, 1844 ; he was the_ young est of two children, the elder child, a sister, is now living in Oregon. The father died in 1865, his death occurring in the state of Wisconsin, while the mother passed away in the year 1878, in Greeley county, Nebraska. In 1851, our sub ject went with his parents to Wisconsin, where he received his education and grew to manhood on a farin. On May 18, 1867, Mr. Wellman was married to Miss Mary Francisco, a daughter of Phillip and Eliza (Covil) Francisco, both natives of New York; the father was of French descent, his grandfather being a native of France. Mrs. Wellman was born in New York and was a teacher in Wisconsin schools for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Wellman have four children, namely: Lowell C, a resident of North Loup, Nebraska; Edward E., is the station agent in the service of the Union Pacific at Callaway, Ne braska; Clyde E., is married, has one daughter, and resides in North Loup ; Merrill, the youngest, is associated with his brother in business in North Loup. In May, 1872, Mr. Wellman came with his wife and one son to Greeley county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-one, township eighteen, range twelve, living there about six years. He then moved to North Loup, where he purchased a good home and engaged in general mercantile business, until time of his death, May 4, 1899. He was survived by his wife and four children. In the early days Mr. Wellman served on his school board for a number of years. He was a progressive man of affairs, widely known and highly respected; he was reared in the Methodist church and was for many years the faithful treasurer of the North Loup Masonic lodge. Mrs. Wellman still lives in the North Loup home surrounded by a large circle of friends and still owns her original homestead; with three of her sons she is still conducting the mercantile business left by her husband. The Wellman home is a reconstruction of the building used for North Loup's first school house and first church, the Seventh Day Baptist. Mr. and Mrs. Wellman were among the earliest settlers, and passed through the trying experiences and hardships of pioneer life ; their nearest trading point in those times was at Grand Island, nearly fifty miles away. Mr. Wellman is held dear in the memory of all who knew him, and his good wife, who survives him, is highly esteemed and respected by all, and she is sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquaint ances. Mrs. Wellman 's parerits are deceased, her father passing away in 1865, in the state of Wis consin, and the mother's death occurring in the same state, in February of 1899; she has a brother residing in Wisconsin, one in Oregon; a sister in Iowa and another in South Dakota. Two of Mrs. Wellman 's brothers served through the civil war, both receiving wounds in the Battle of Shiloh.' The Wellman family endured the many hard ships incident to pioneer life. Grasshoppers de vastated their crops two years, the seasons of 1876 and 1877. The three days' blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, will long remain in their memory ; Mrs. Wellman kept her boy wrapped in blankets before the fire to keep him from freezing. For the first six years they lived in a log house, which was later swept away by a flood in the spring of 1879. SYDNEY D. ROBERTSON. Sydney D. Robertson, one of the leading cit izens of Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, is a prosperous professional man of good standing, and possesses true public spirit. He is a son of William and Anna (Garver) Robertson, and was born in Madison, Nebraska, September 24, 1878, and is the youngest son of three children, one sister living in Ithica, New York, and one brother, deceased. Mr. Robertson received his elementary educa tion in the public schools of Norfolk, and in 1897, 1898, and 1899, attended the Nebraska State University at Lincoln, where he received his de gree of law in June, 1899. He then returned to Norfolk, Nebraska, and entered his father's law office as his partner. On January 22, 1907, Mr. Robertson's father died, and since then he has maintained the office, and enjoys a good practice. Mr. Robertson is one of Madison county's pioneer native-bom young men, is successful and widely and favorably known, and is one of the coming young men of this county. He lives in Norfolk with his mother, and they enjoy the es teem and confidence of all who know them. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Elks and the Odd Fellows. He votes the repub lican ticket. ROBERT M. SEEVERS. Robert M. Seevers has long been identified with the progress and welfare of Custer county and is one of the best known men of central Ne braska. He was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, July 18. 1862, next to the youngest child of Ben jamin F. and Elizabeth (Forney) Seevers, who Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography 581 were parents of eight children. Besides Robert M., a daughter, Mrs. J. D. Ream, lives in Cus ter county; two daughters live in Colorado and one in Kansas, and the other children are de ceased. The father and mother were natives of Virginia, he of French extraction and she of Ger man parentage. He died in Iowa and she died in Custer county in 1893. Mr. Seevers reached maturity on his father's farm in Iowa, receiving his education in local schools. He was employed at civil engineering several years as a young man, then engaged in farming. In May, 1883, he came to Custer county, Nebraska, securing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-six, township eighteen, range twenty- three, which has since remained the home place. He also secured a tree claim of like size adjoining. On June 3, 1887, he was married, at the home of her parents in Ortello valley, to Rosa Butler, a native of Illinois, who accompanied her parents to Custer county in 1881. Mr. Seevers and wife have ten children: A. Franklin, of Custer county; Lewis 0., Bly, Guy, Ina, Xa, Tava, Ada, Cecil and Howard, at home. They also had twin sons who died in infancy. Mr. Seevers has been active along all lines of progress in the county and is a prominent man of affairs in his community, interested in every thing pertaining to the general welfare and pros perity. He was instrumental in organizing school district number two hundred and forty-one, serv ing many years as a member of its board. Being one of the early settlers of Custer county, he has passed through various periods of its history and through his enterprise and energy has attained success and prosperity. He has added to his homestead from time to time and now owns eight hundred acres of land, which is well equipped and improved. It is well adapted for stock and grain and in 1907 he erected a splendid modern resi dence at a cost of over five thousand dollars. He also has new barns and other buildings and is one of the leading stock men of the region, mak ing a specialty of thoroughbred hogs and horses. A. A. BELL. Perseverance and good management, supple mented by honesty of word and deed, have placed the gentleman named above among the most prominent and influential farmers of Wayne county. He has a pleasant home in section twen ty-eight, township twenty-six, range one, east, and owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is a native of Illinois, and was born on September 30, 1859. His father, W. C. Bell, was a Canadian, but his mother came from Vermont. On the paternal side, the family was of Irish stock. In 1888, Mr. Bell came to Wayne county, Ne braska, where he ultimately purchased the homestead of Doctor M. R. Regan. He at once set to work to improve the place in every way. New buildings were added, fences were built, and trees were planted, until now, his farm and home are most comfortable and convenient. Mr. Bell was married, in 1881, to Miss Eliza beth MaCauley, a native of Illinois. Pour chil dren have been born to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bell, upon whom they have bestowed the names of William, Grace, Lottie and Edward. Mr. Bell has certainly done his full share to ward the development of the agricultural inter ests of the community, and he has a wide acquaint ance and is universally esteemed as a farmer and citizen. THOMAS J. STEARNS. Among the representative pioneers of eastern Nebraska, the gentleman above named occupies a prominent place, and he has spent many years of his life in this section, and has succeeded in building up an enviable reputation and compe tence, and is recognized as one of the influential residents of Merrick county, well known and highly respected by all. Thomas J. Stearns, son of Isaac and Minerva (Castle) Stearns, was born in New York state, January 24, 1836, and was tenth of eleven chil dren. He has one brother residing in Omaha, Nebraska, one sister in Wisconsin, and another in Arkansas, the others being deceased; the father died about 1875, and the mother one year later. Our subject's mother was in a direct line of descent from ancestors who came over in the Mayflower. Mr. Stearns was educated in his home schools and later engaged in farming. In 1856, he went to Wisconsin, remaining three years, then return ing to New York state. On August 27, 1861, Mr. Stearns enlisted in Company I, Sixtieth New York Infantry, and received his discharge No vember 9, 1862, at Washington, D. C. While in service he participated in the second battle of Bull Run. Afterwards he returned to New York and on March 24, 1863, was married to Miss Caroline C. Loney, who was born in Cornwell, Ontario, Canada. In the following June they moved to Wisconsin and engaged in farming. On September 24, 1864, Mr. Stearns enlisted in Com pany D1, Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, serving until hostilities ceased, receiving his honorable discharge June 16, 1865, at Madison, Wisconsin. He was with Sherman on his famous march through the Carolinas and on to Washington, a continual skirmish. After the war he returned to Wisconsin and resided in Stockbridge. In the spring of 1878, he came to the Pawnee Indian reservation, which was that year opened for settlement and organized as Nance county. At this time Mrs. Stearns was one of the very few white women in the county, and for six 582 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. months of their residence there they saw nothing but Indians and coyotes. On the seventeenth of the following March, Mr. and Mrs. Stearns came to Clarks, Merrick county, Nebraska, where Mr. Steams purchased considerable city property and built a good home where they now live. Mr. Stearns had commenced learning the carpenter's trade in New York state and after coming to Clarks followed the business of contracting and building for many years. He has built many of the best homes in Clarks. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns are among the earliest settlers of their portion of the county, and en joy the esteem of all who know them. They have had six children born to them : Evelyn, de ceased in 1889, survived by her husband, Harry D. Showman, and two children; Cora, wife of C. B. Case, has two children, and resides in Overton, Nebraska; Willard A., physician in Hot Springs hospital, South Dakota; Archie, married, has one child, and lives in Clarks, Nebraska; Fannie M., wife of A. M. Cosner, has four children, and re sides in Clarks, Nebraska; and Brownie, wife of Hugh McDermott, has two children, and resides in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Stearns joined the Odd Fellows at Bril- lian, Wisconsin, in 1876, and is one of the older members of the order in Merrick county. He takes an active interest in public affairs and served for three years on the Clarks city board. EDWARD J. MEAHAN. For a man to have made use of advantages offered him to make an established place for himself in the world when given a fair chance, is creditable ; but for a boy, reared amongst strangers, given no advantages as a child, to be unable to read or write at the age of seventeen, and then to acquire a better knowledge of funda mentals than the average man, to be free from the average small vices, liquor and tobacco, to ac quire a competency and attain a business acumen the equal of his competitors, is a credit to a man far beyond the ordinary course in life. Such is the story of Ed. J. Meahan, proprietor of the Racket store in Butte, Nebraska. He has led a life of vicissitudes and come out of life's cru cible a credit to himself and family, setting a high example for his children to follow. Ed. J. Meahan was born at Naperville, Illi nois, a small town near ChicagOj on September 17, 1858. His mother died during his infancy, and he was adopted by a man in Dupage county, named Tom Stanner, who showed more human ity to his stock than he did to the orphan boy and his sister, who was also a member of the foster family. The orphans were given scant food and clothing and no school advantages at all; drudgery was their unhappy lot, which the boy endured until he was nine years old. At this time he revolted and ran away from the cruel household, and found a home in the family of John Craig, living in Will county, about three miles east of Joliet. A year later he found a home with Albert S. Hunt in the same county, who proved to be a kind hearted, fatherly man, and when he sold out the next year and moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, he took the boy with him. A year later they moved to Schoolcraft, in Kal amazoo county. Here the lad grew to manhood and lived until the spring of 1876, when he came west and took up his residence at Malvern, Mills county, Iowa, where he found employment at farm labor in the vicinity. Here Mr. Meahan was married and engaged in farming until coming to Nebraska in the fall of 1884. Leaving his wife with her sister at West Point, Mr. Meahan, with his brother-in-law, John Newman, and two friends, started to drive through to Gordon seeking a location. At Spring- view, in Keya Paha county, one of their mules went lame, and liking the looks of the country they decided to locate in that county. Mr. Mea han filed on a homestead claim sixteen miles northwest from the county seat, and returned to Malvern, Iowa, for the winter. On returning in the spring, he found his claim had been "jumped," so he had to select another tract six miles from town and seven miles from the state line, and lived on his land eighteen months. He next bought three relinquishments, that he might get the land he wanted, and secured four forties out of three-quarters lying along a stream, on which he proved up under the homestead law. After completing the necessary five years' resi dence to perfect his title, he rented his ranch and moved down to the Platte country. Here he bought an eighty-acre tract three and a half miles southeast of Creston, after having lived for a year on a rented ranch two miles nearer town. Here from 1891 until his return to northern Nebraska in April, 1899, Mr. Meahan was en gaged in farming much of the time. He resided in Albion for seven years, and sold medicines and stock food throughout Boone county. In 1906 he went into the real estate business there, but learned later that his partner was fleecing him. In the fall of 1909 he dissolved the partnership, but it took some months to close up the deals in land. In February, 1910, he traded his Keya Paha ranch for a stock of goods in the Racket store, together with the business, and took possession of his new property April 7, 1910. Mr. Meahan was first married at Malvern, Iowa, in January, 1880, to Miss Rosa Lee Mont gomery. One son was born, Silas Howard, who is married to Miss Helen Smith, and is farming near Creston, Platte county, Nebraska. Mr. Meahan was married a second time at Omaha, Nebraska, February 15, 1903, to Mrs. Mary Fothergill. Like Mr. Meahan, his wife was a foster child, adopted by the family of Henry H. Folkner, of Lincoln, Nebraska. By her first mar riage, Mrs. Meahan became mother to one daugh- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 583 ter, Mildred, whose father was killed on the rail road prior to her birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Meahan four children have been born: John Paul, Wil liam Clarence, Floyd Wendel, Pearlie Irene. Mr. Meahan has always been a republican in polities. He was a communicant of the Baptist church in Iowa, and a member of the Odd Pel- lows lodge at Butte. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Meahan was on his Keya Paha ranch and had hitched up to go for a load of wood. Hearing the roaring, he hurried his team to the barn and had difficulty in forcing his way through the icy mist to the house. He fought prairie fires to such an extent that carrying matches became a habit with him that he has not shaken off to this day, although he is now in no danger of such conflagrations and does not smoke. Unlike most of the men of the west, he neither uses tobacco in any form nor liquors of any kind, and stands almost alone in his abstemiousness. During the seven years he occupied his homestead, a sod house was his dwelling, and a comfortable house it was, well finished with a sub-cellar, which offered a safe retreat should a cyclone come their way. They never had to burn hay, corn, or stalks, as in many parts of the west settlers had to do, but got good wood in the river canyons at one dollar per load. One year he had ten cords all cut and neatly piled ready for the summer's use when a prairie fire swept through their place and burned the last stick of the wood. The loss was a severe one at that time, for dollars, as well as fuel, were scarce then. To secure ready cash, Mr. Meahan and a neighbor took their teams and worked on grading of the main line of the Burlington railroad in Custer county, and later secured work of the same kind in the northwest corner of Iowa, on the line between Sioux City and Sioux Palls, returning by the way of Yankton, Running Water, Niobrara, the trail up the river of that name, and the Keya Paha river to his home, richer in pocket and experience. An orphan boy, Mr. Meahan "s education was totally neglected. At the age of seventeen he could neither read nor write. He set about to acquire an education by his own efforts, and by perseverance has acquired a fund of knowledge equal to that of the average man. One in con versing with him would never think of him as ever having been deprived of early advantages. Of such men are the bone and sinew of the country; self-made, self-reliant and self -uplift ing. His life should be an inspiration to his sons. JESSE B. GALYEAN. (Deceased.) The gentleman whose name heads this personal history -was for many years a prominent agri culturist of Boone county, Nebraska, and one of the leading old settlers in this section of the country. He was successful in building up a good farm and home in section four, township twenty, range seven, accumulated property, and lived in the town of Albion, where he enjoyed life, in his later years. His death occurred at Albion, May 23, 1910. Jesse B. Galyean was born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 13, 1829, and after reaching manhood he moved to Delaware county, Iowa, where he followed farming. On March 11, 1856, Mr. Galyean was married to Miss Catherine Stoner, who was born in In diana, but a resident of Iowa at the time of her marriage. In the spring of 1880, our subject came to Boone county, Nebraska, homesteading one hun dred and fifty-two acres in section four, town ship twenty, range seven, and a timber claim of forty-seven acres adjoining the homestead. He lived on the homestead until 1894, when he retired from active farm life and moved to Albion, where he purchased a comfortable home, which was his residence until his death. While living in Iowa, Mr. Galyean served three years as constable, and also assessor for nine consecutive years; and during his residence in Nebraska was director of school distict num ber forty, for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Galyean had eight children born to them, five of whom are living : Josephine, wife of Alfred Clark, lives in Albion ; Leora, wife of Walter Havens has two children, and lives in Loretto; Florence, died in childhood; Eudora, deceased ; George, married, has three children and resides in Albion; Nettie, deceased, was the wife of Milton Hartsock, and is survived by her hus band and one son; Minnie, wife of Harley Long- necker, has three children and resides in Boone county; and Elva, wife of B. E. Morehead, lives in Albion. Mr. Galyean was one of the earliest settlers in Boone county, and widely and favorably known. FRED BAUMANN. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in Antelope county, Ne braska, and since locating here May 21, 1881, has taken a foremost part in the development of his region. He is a highly respected citizen in his community, and holds the regard ahd friendship of all. Mr. Baumann is a native of Germany, his birth haying occurred in Ril village, Wurtenburg province, February 7, 1845. He grew to manhood in the fatherland, and served his native country in two wars, the Austro-German, and Franco- German wars ; after growing to an age old enough to learn a trade, our subject was taught the blacksmith's trade, his father, George Baumann, having followed that occupation also. 584 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Baumann first came to America in July, 1872, on the steamship "Rheim, " and after landing in the new world remained in Phila delphia, Pennsylvania, for three and a half years where he worked in a blacksmith shop ; he then returned to Germany, remaining four years, when he again came to America with the intention of making this his permanent home, which he has done. He sailed to America on the steamship "Ryland, " coming by way of Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Baumann was united in marriage Feb ruary 25, 1885, to Miss Minnie Nenebroker, a native of Phalen province, North Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Baumann are highly respected and esteemed. Mr. Baumann came to Antelope county, Ne braska, in 1881, taking up the homestead where he now lives, which is located in section thirty-four, township twenty-five, range eight, and is still living in the first house built by him when he first came; he is one of the few old settlers of this region who are still living on the old homestead farm. The family experienced many hardships and discouraging incidents which so many others did at that period, and they suffered losses through storms of almost every description, hail, wind, etc. ; in 1894, the drouth and hot winds which prevailed that year destroyed their entire crops; and many times they were compelled to -fight prairie fires to save their home and posses sions, and even their lives. EDDIE WARREN EMERSON. Among the few old residents of Custer county who have retained possession of their original homesteads since first locating there is the enter prising farmer and stockman whose name heads this article. Mr. Emerson is a native of Alton, Illinois, born May 23, 1855, eldest child of Rich ard and Mary (Ellis) Emerson, who were parents of seven children. He has a brother and a sister in Minneapolis, Minnesota; a sister in Montana, a brother in Boston, the others of the children be ing deceased. Both parents were bom in Massa chusetts, the father of English parentage and the mother of English and Scotch descent. He died in Alton, August 5, 1872, and she in Minneapolis, August 23, 1910. The coat of arms formerly used by the Emerson family in England is in the possession of E. W. Emerson. Mr. Emerson was reared in Alton and there re ceived the educational advantages afforded in the public school. As a young man he engaged in farming and in the spring of 1882 decided to seek the larger opportunities offered in the west and went to St. Paul, Nebraska, where he remained one year. Mr. Emerson was married at Hastings, March 7, 1883, to Miss Lou Edwards, who was born in London, England, and came to America in in fancy. She had been a teacher in Illinois before coming to Nebraska. The young couple made their first home in Custer county, securing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on the northeast quarter of section twenty-seven, township eighteen, range eighteen, which has been their home throughout all the years since. Mr. Emerson has made all possible improvements and has brought his land to a state of large pro ductiveness. He is one of the older settlers of his neighborhood and in early days met with many discouragements and trying experiences, but has met them with unflagging energy and ambition, never losing faith in the future of Nebraska. In his early years there he did freighting between Westerville and Grand Island, during this time enduring the hardships of Nebraska's severe winters. He is well known in his part of Custer county as an upright and useful citizen and is re garded, with respect and esteem by all. Mrs. Emerson died on the home farm in Custer county, March 17, 1894, being survived by her husband and five of her six children : Myra, wife of Henry Snyder, of Custer county, has two chil dren ; Ralph W., married and has one child, living in Lewellen, Nebraska; Roscoe, died in July, 1887; Daisy M. and Richard R., twins, the for mer deceased and the latter living at home; George E., in Massachusetts, and Mina Alice. Mrs. Emerson was deeply mourned by her family as a devoted wife and mother and her loss was a grief to her many friends. Mr. Emerson was married (second) at the home of the bride's parents, March 5, 1905, to Miss Melissa Irwin, who was born in Cass county, Iowa, and two children have blessed this union: Mary E. and Ada Mae, both at home. Ernest T. Irwin, a son of Mrs. Emerson, resides east of Com stock, is married and has one daughter. EDWARD HOUTBY. One of the well known and prosperous citizens of Valley county is the above named gentleman. He has resided in this county for many years, and until about two years ago, followed farming and stock raising extensively with pronounced suc cess. He is now the owner of a valuable estate of about seven hundred acres, but has retired from active management of the property and lives in his own comfortable home in North Loup. Mr. Houtby first saw the light of day on a farm in Rock county, Wisconsin, the date being June 23, 1852. He was the third in a family of seven children born to Thomas and Martha (Dunn) Houtby. Only four of the children are now living, including our subscriber.' Mr. Houtby spent his childhood years on the farm in Wisconsin, but when ; only sixteen, started for himself, and went to Madison county, Iowa, working on a farm there for some time. On November 12, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary "ECHO VALLEY FARM," PROPERTY OF EDWARD HOUTBY "WEST SLOPE FARM," RESIDENCE OF GEORGE F. DEWEY. COMPENDIUM OE' HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 585 Young, a native of Belmont county, Ohio. She is a daughter of George T. and Sarah (Moore) Young, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re spectively; they moved to Iowa in 1856 or 1857, and here the venerable mother lives in Winterset at the advanced age of eighty years. In the fall of 1881, with his wife and two chil dren, Mr. Houtby came to Valley county, Ne braska, and filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty, township seven teen, range fourteen, where they lived for about eight years. Then this farm was sold, and the southeast quarter of section twenty was pur chased where they lived for about six years longer. Then section sixteen was purchased, a large eight-room sod house built, and this was the home place until 1909, when Mr. Houtby retired from active farming and moved to North Loup, after building a fine modern home on his property there. A view of the farm buildings in Echo Valley is to be found on another page. The dwell ing is one of the largest sod houses ever built in this section of Nebraska. Mr. Houtby has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, and most of the time since he has been in Nebraska, he has served on the school board of his local district school. He has also served on the township board. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Houtby, all of whom are living: George T., the eldest is living in Valley county, on the home farm; Martha (Mrs. Billings Clark)), now resides in North Loup; Myrtle (Mrs. Clarence Trump), also lives in North Loup ; Edgar M., the youngest, also lives in this county near the old home place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Houtby have been active members of the Methodist church for many years, and the former has been superintendent of their Sunday school for twenty years. They are promi nent socially, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Houtby is a firm believer in the principles of the prohibition party and trusts the day may come when those principles may prevail. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men. GEORGE P. DEWEY George P. Dewey, a successful and progressive farmer and stockman of Custer county, is a self- made man, and he and his wife have earned their present fine farm and comfortable home through untiring energy and thrift. He was born in El dorado, Fayette county, Iowa, January 1, 1868, third in order of birth of the eight children of Samuel and Amelia (Young) Dewey, who had three sons and five daughters. The father was a native of Indiana and the mother of England. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1855, was mar ried there, and all the children were born in that state. In June, 1880, Samuel brought his wife and seven children to Nebraska, first settling in Wahoo, Saunders county. Later he purchased a farm on the line between Lancaster and Saunders counties. He died in a hospital in Omaha in Sep tember, 1905, having made his home with his sons in Custer county for five years prior to his death. The mother died in Wahoo in May, 1896. Seven children now survive : Mary, now Mrs. E. F. Peck, lives in Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska; James H, living north of Ansley in Custer county, mar ried and came to the county in March, 1892; George F., whose name heads this article; Louise, employed by the government at Washington, Dis trict of Columbia; Laura E., now Mrs. J. H. Charling, of Saunders county; Myrta, a teacher in the public schools of Polk county, Nebraska; Helen, wife of Dr. Clarence LeMar, lives in Os ceola, Nebraska. In June, 1880, George P. Dewey located in Saunders county, and lived on his father's farm on the line of Lancaster county until 1892, then came to Custer county and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married January 1, 1897, to Bertha L. Bristol, daughter of Clarence R. and Nancy A. Bristol, a native of Iowa, their union taking place at Broken Bow. They have two children, Laura Emma and Prank R. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey live on the southeast quarter of section six, township fourteen, range eighteen, where they have a comfortable modern house and a well equipped grain and stock farm. He made his first purchase of land in 1900 and now has six hundred and forty acres of choice farm land in his home farm, two hundred acres lying in sec tion six and four hundred and forty in section five. He is a progressive farmer and is identified with the best interests of his community. The fam ily are highly regarded and have many warm friends, having established themselves in the con fidence and regard of their neighbors and associ ates. Mr. Dewey was renting four hundred and eighty acres of land in 1894, and owing to- the drouth, raised nothing but an armful of roasting ears — a larger crop than most of his neighbors. During 1893 and other bad years he worked in eastern Nebraska, and in Rock county six months at one time. In 1899 hail destroyed his crops, leaving little worth gathering. Mr. Dewey came to Nebraska too late for big game, but Mrs. Dewey enjoyed venison while living in Cherry county. Until the spring of 1911 Mr. Dewey occupied a sod house, but at that time the family moved into one of the most pretentious country resi dences in the eastern part of Custer county. A view of the new residence with the old soddy in cluded, is to be found elsewhere in this work. In politics Mr. Dewey is republican; he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Royal Highlanders. 586 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. THOMAS CHILVERS. Thomas Chilvers, engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business at Pierce, Nebraska, is a man of extensive business enterprise, who has done his full part in the development of the nat ural resources of that portion of the state. Mr. Chilvers is a native of England, born in the town of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on March 10, 1860. He attended the Episcopalian schools there until nine months after attaining his major ity, then embarked for the States, taking passage on the Cunarder "Servia," that being the ship's maiden trip. The voyage proved to be a stormy one — a gigantic wave demolished the hurricane deck, throwing the passengers in a panic, some thinking all would be lost, and for a time pande monium reigned. After eleven days of buffeting, the storm subsided and they were safely landed in New York. Our subject came directly across the country to Pierce county, Nebraska, locating at Plain- view on July 8, 1883. After a short stay there he eame to Pierce and for five, years filled the posi tion of deputy county clerk, and later a similar position in the treasurer's office. He was then elected county clerk, serving one term; and at the close of same revisited his native land and spent about six months. On his return he opened his present office in the Pierce County Bank build ing and has succeeded in establishing a large and remunerative patronage. He is extensively inter ested in Nebraska lands. His own residence is one of the most beautiful places that could be im agined. He has a handsome dwelling, surrounded by beautifully growing trees and shrubs artistic ally arranged, all planted by his own hands, and his grounds, as well as those of the neighboring homes, are all covered by a lovely, velvety green sward which has spread from his own lawn. Mr. Chilvers was married in Pierce, November 25, 1885, to Miss Eliza Parker, a native of Notting ham, England. They have two children, Ethel, married Dr. Pheasant, who was one of Pierce's most promising physicians and who met with an accidental death in his automobile, October 4, 1910, and Ada, who married Albert Pohlman in 1909, he being a well known business man of Pierce. Mr. Chilvers is a republican, and has always been prominent in party politics. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Pierce, also of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America, and is affiliated with the Norfolk lodge of Elks. CHRISTEN SORENSEN. The opportunities afforded honest industry to gain a footing in America were embraced by the gentleman whose name heads this article, and he is now recognized as one of the substantial farmers of Howard county. He came to this country from Denmark, and characteristic with his nationality, made the most of his opportunities, confident of success, and nothing in the way of discouragement or obstacles that came in his way could daunt his spirit. Christen Sorensen was born on September 21, 1854, being the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children born to Soren and Karn Erickson. Sketches of several of his brothers appear in this volume. His boyhood was spent in Denmark, and at the age of sixteen years he decided to come to America to seek his fortune, so together with his father and youngest sister, crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York in May of 1870. All the family, excepting the mother and one brother, who died in the old country, were already here, and had written them glowing accounts of the possibilities for succeeding in gaining a competency in this wonderful land. Some time was spent in Chicago, Illinois, also several years in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, he finally landing in Howard county, where the balance of his family had located. Here he purchased a tract of eighty acres of land from the railroad, which he at once begun to develop, it being entirely barren prairie, and as the facilities for getting it in a state of cultiva tion were very few, he had uphill work during the first few years. On account of the unfavor able conditions which prevailed through the re gion at different seasons of the year, he had poor success some years, but gradually became better able to cope with difficulties which beset his labors and has accomplished his purpose o' accumulating a good property. He later sold forty acres of his first purchase, and when his father died he inherited the eighty acre home stead owned by his father. He now has one hundred and twenty acres. His farm lies on sec tions thirty-one and thirty-two, township four teen, range eleven, and he engages in mixed farm ing and stock raising, having one of the best improved and equipped places in the section, supplied with good buildings of all kinds, etc. He has planted many trees, has a fine residence surrounded by nice lawns and shade trees, mak ing it one of the show places in his locality. In July, 1880, Mr. Sorensen was married to Maren Jorgensen, the ceremony taking place at the home of Larke Sorensen in Nysted. They have had three children, two of whom died in in fancy, the remaining child, Ella Ida, wife of Mads C. Madsen, living on the homestead. They have three children, Hertha, Evald and Prode. The Sorensen brothers, Chris, Paul and Hans, are widely knowfa as esteemed pioneers of How ard county, and in various ways all have con: tributed greatly to the success of their communi ties. They are all thrifty and honest, and deserve well the success and prosperity which has come to them. Larke, another brother, died in 1887. Mrs. Sorensen has been an invalid for over twenty-eight years — not being able to even do her own housework, and is able to get around the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE, AND BIOGRAPHY. 587 house, by use of a wheel chair only. She has been a great sufferer. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are members of the Danish Lutheran church at Nysted. EDWIN STEWART. Edwin Stewart, son of William and Sarah (Gidney) Stewart, was bom in the town of Conklin, New York, June 12, 1841 ; he was eighth in a family of nine children, and has one brother residing in Grand Island, Nebraska, and another in Boone, Nebraska, the others being dead. The father was of Scotch descent, born in New York, and died in Wheaton, Illinois, in the year 1895. He was a Wesleyan Methodist minister, and for other vocations was blacksmith, carpenter, cobler and farmer. The mother was of English descent, born in Newburgh, New York, and died in 1873 at Gage's Lake, niinois. In 1846 Mr. Stewart, subject of this sketch, went with his parents to Lake county, Illinois, where he received his education and grew to man hood on the farm. In October of 1861, he en listed in Company K, First Wisconsin Cavalry, serving one and a half years; when through illness he was unfitted for service, and discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, in the fall of 1862. His brother, George W., served three years as orderly sergeant in the same company and regiment. After the war, Mr. Stewart returned to Illi nois, farming until the fall of 1865, when he came to Nebraska, homesteading eighty acres in Platte county, near Columbus. At that time there were but eight miles of railroad in the state. For one year he worked with his team on the grade, and during 1867 was employed in Union Pacific bridge construction, helping to build the first bridge across the Loup river at Columbus. In the summer of 1869 he did govern ment survey work along the Middle Loup river ; during these early years Mr. Stewart had many encounters with the Indians. In the fall of 1870, he returned to Lake county, Illinois, farming the old home place for ten years. Mr. Stewart was married on August 14, 1875, to Miss Annie M. Young, at Diamond Lake, Illi nois. Miss Young was a native of Illinois, a daughter of James and Maria (Schadle) Young; the father was born in Scotland, and for twenty years sailed the high seas, and for one year on the great lakes. The mother of German descent, was a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Stew art have had three children born to them, namely: Laura E., wife of 0. M. Frazer, a minister of the Quaker church, has three children, and lives at Econemy, Indiana; Millie A., who is the wife of C. V. Thomas, has three children, and resides in Greeley county, Nebraska; both daughters Laura and Millie were teachers in schools of Nebraska, and Iowa; Guy R., deceased in infancy; and two adopted daughters whose family name was Mil- | ler, namely, May B., and Agnes M., both living at home. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Stewart returned to Platte county, Nebraska, and in the spring of 1881 went to Greeley county, where he home steaded an additional eighty acres, also timber- claimed eighty acres joining, near North Loup, living there until 1905 ; he then purchased six acres of fine land just outside of the city limits of North Loup, where he built a good home, which is his present residing place. Mr. Stewart served as director of his school district in Greeley county for several years, and for six years as justice of the peace; he was elected for a suc ceeding term but refused to qualify. Mr. Stewart is one of the earliest settlers in Nebraska, and is one of the best known citizens. His brother, Alza M. Stewart, took the first home stead claim ever issued in Valley county, Ne braska. Mr. Stewart is a prosperous and suc cessful man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. Stewart comes from a family of patriots, from both the paternal and maternal side, and he, as before stated, and his three brothers served in the civil war. His grandfather, Jehiel Stewart, served all through the revolutionary war, and our subject now has in his possession the powder horn used by his grandfather, bear ing the date March 28, 1775. He moved from Connecticut to Rockland county, New York, with an ox sled at a time when the only roads were blazed trails. Our subject's grandfather, on the maternal side, served in the war of 1812 ; amongst his ancestors were the Gidneys, noted" for their physical prowess; one of them by sheer strength lifted a cart out of the mud. His wife's father, James Yroung, came to America from Scotland, his native land, in the fifties; he served in the civil war, enlisting in Company G, Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry. This is a family history of which Mr. Stewart is justly proud, and he can relate many very interesting incidents of war. During his pioneer days, Mr. Stewart batched in a dugout with log sides, covered- with a clay roof. He was a member of the party on the government survey in the valley of the Middle Loup, and endured many hardships and much suffering on the expedition. Once in the month of August the party was without water for an entire day. One man, exhausted, fell in the prairie, three miles from camp ; a flask of brandy kept life in him until relief reached them. Buf falo were plentiful during the sixties, while deer and antelope ran in vast herds over the open prairies. Few can realize that within the span of one life such transformations in the west could pos sibly be made. Mr. Stewart is independent in politics, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 588 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. GEORGE A. SCHOTT. George A. Schott, a prominent farmer and stockman living on section twenty-six, township twenty-three, range three, where he owns four hundred and eighty acres, is well known through out Madison county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Schott is a native of Germany, born May 7, 1854, in the province of Bavaria, and is a son of Leonard and Katie (Prohm) Schott; the father had a crockery manufactory in the old country. Our subject remained at home until he became a lad of about twenty-two years of age. In 1874 he left his native land for America, embarking at Bremen for New York on the steamship "Don ner. ' ' After landing in the new world, he started for the west, locating in Boone county, Iowa, where he remained one year and worked at what ever his hands found to do. In 1874 he traveled farther west, settling in Madison county, Ne braska, and located on his present farm in section twenty-six, township twenty-three, range three, where he built a sod house in which he lived for several years. Upon locating on his land he at once went to work breaking up the prairie land and improving his farm, and was getting along fairly well until the grasshoppers took all the crops for three years in succession ; it seemed that these pests would wait until nearly harvest time to work their devastation, as each year they would come in swarms and destroy growing crops when they were at their best, leaving nothing but stubble and bare ground in their wake, where before their advent had been abundant and prom ising crops. Deer and antelope were numerous in those first days on the western frontier, and were frequently seen in herds on the open prairie. On February 4, 1883, 'Mr. Schott was united in marriage to Miss Anna Eyl, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of August and Augusta Eyl. Mr. and Mrs. Schott were blessed with seven children, whose names are as follows : Carl, Otto, Martha, Pauline, Paul, Albert and Wilhelm, who died May 20, 1911. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Schott is a member of the Lutheran church, and is an independent voter. STEWARD B. MATHON. Steward B. Mathon was one of the early set tlers of Custer county, Nebraska, being of the very first to locate on West Table, and has passed through the various phases of Nebraska's history since that time, being widely known in his part of the state. He was born in Pennsylvania, No vember 26, 1849, the third born of the eleven chil dren of John and Rebecca (Corey) Mathon, both natives of Pennsylvania, and the father born in Washington county. The father was of Irish and the mother of German descent and both died in their native state. The only two of the children living in Nebraska are Milton, of Grand Island, and Steward B., of this article, but several of them still live in Pennsylvania. Mr. Mathon was reared on a farm in the state of his birth, receiving his education in local schools. In 1878 he went to Warren county, In diana, and engaged in farming there, and on De cember 23, 1880, married Evangeline Shankland, of Indiana, a native of that state, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Shankland, the former of whom died in Indiana in the sixties, and the latter in Custer county, Nebraska, in May, 1907. Mrs. Mathon has one brother, George W, in Eureka valley, and a sister in Missouri. For one year after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mathon resided in Warren county, and in March, 1882, came to Ham ilton county, Nebraska, where for four years they engaged in farming. In 1887 they located in Cus ter county, taking a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty, township eight een, range twenty-three, which is now the home place. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and has made various improvements in his land, so that he now has a well developed stock and grain farm and is a prosperous and suc cessful farmer. He has a good home and other suitable buildings on his place and has always shown a keen interest in the conditipns and changes going on around him, giving his time and influence in furthering the development and up building of his county and state. He is well known on West Table, where he- has passed through the various stages of Nebraska history from the time of the pioneers. He was obliged to undergo hardships and tribulations before he could bring his farm under cultivation and realize a fair remuneration for his Work, but has perse vered in his efforts to bring his estate into cred itable shape. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs.- Mathon, of whom only two now survive : Re becca E., wife of Delbert Lewis, of West Table, has one child, and John J., who lives at home. During most of his residence in Custer county, Mr. Mathon has served as treasurer of school district number one hundred and ninety-five, and he has always been much interested in educational matters. A. E. LEWIS. A. E. Lewis, one of the oldest settlers in Pierce county, Nebraska, where he has resided all but one year of his lifetime, is one of the best known residents in this region. He came with his parents in 1869, and has lived here ever since. Mr. Lewis was born in 1868, in Wright county, Iowa, and is the son of Perry and Anna (Heath) Lewis, the latter being a native of Vermont. Our subject was born on the homestead farm in Wright county, Iowa, where the father on first COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 589 coming there built a sod house, in which they lived five years, and then put up a frame house. Here they lived until 1869, when they moved to Pierce county, Nebraska, driving from Wright county to their homestead claim, having one horse team and a team of cows, the latter having to work, as well as furnish milk for the family. The homestead is situated where Meadow Grove town- site is at the present time, it was a timber claim, and Columbus was the nearest market place, sixty miles distant. Indians were plentiful in those days ; and a white man who owned a farm adjoin ing the farm of our subject's father stole a mule from an Indian and the Indians went on the war path, but did no damage. Mr. Lewis was united in matrimony in 1888 to Miss Mary Lyle, a native of Ireland, and they have one child, son Earl. Mr. Lewis homesteaded eighty acres of land in section four, township twenty-five, range four, on which he first built a sod house and later erected a frame house, and had five acres of trees on same; he has since bought one hundred and sixty acres in section eight, township twenty-five, range four, on which there is a fine grove of twenty acres of trees, he having two hundred and forty acres of land in all. Mr. Lewis has experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, both on his father's homestead and on his own; he was through the grasshopper raids of 1873 and 1874 and also the blizzards of 1873 and 1888. He is a republican in politics, always voting that ticket. RICHARD L. MILLS. Richard L. Mills, whose name is familiar to nearly all the residents of Merrick county, Ne braska, is a worthy representative of the progres sive farmers of eastern Nebraska. He was one of the very earliest settlers in this county, coming here in 1868, and has lived here on the original homestead continuously since that time. Mr. Mills was born in Devonshire, England, September 22, 1833, and was seventh of eight children in the family of John and Elizabeth (Locke) Mills, who had three sons and five daugh ters, and who were descendants of an old English family. Mr. Mills grew up on a farm and received a good common school education. April 7, 1861, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Knight in the city of Bristol, Somer setshire, England. Miss Knight was bora in Eng land, November 6, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Mills left England in May, 1861, landing in New York City the latter part of that month, from which place they came by rail and steamboat to Florence, Ne braska. From there they went overland to Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Mills drove a team of eight oxen across the plains in Captain Creighton 's train which was loaded with telegraph material, landing in Utah in September, 1861. They lived in Utah about six and a half years, and in July, 1868, Mr. Mills, wife and three children came overland to Nebraska from Utah with team and wagon, taking up a homestead on section six, township thirteen, range five, Merrick county, in the fall of 1868. Mr. Mills is one of the few orig inal homesteaders of Merrick county that still re side on the old original land. In 1874 Mr. Mills lost the home buildings in the cyclone of that year. Mr. Mills now resides on the quarter of land taken as a timber claim, in the above named location and this property adjoins the original homestead. He has passed through many pioneer incidents, but most likely the cyclone is more vivid in his mind than anything else. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have had twelve children, nine of whom are living : Lily, wife of Mike Mc- Mahon, has nine children and lives west of Cen tral City, Nebraska; Richard E., married, has seven children, and resides in Wyoming; Emma, wife of 0. P. Taylor, has five children and lives in Columbus, Nebraska; William E., married, has four children and resides in Omaha ; George, who is married and lives in Central City ; Selina, wife of Harry Kidder" has four children and resides in South Omaha ; Betty, who is married to Prank B. Daniels and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska; Susie, wife of Albert Baird, has three children and resides in Central City, Nebraska; and An nie, wife of David Baird, lives on the Baird farm north of Central City, and has two children. All the children were born in Merrick county, except the three eldest. Lucy, John and Frank all died in infancy, Frank being a twin of Selina. Mr. Mills and family are recognized as one of the 6ld pioneer families of Merrick county, the children all being raised here. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have thirty-four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. They are widely known and have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Mills has from time to time filled all the local pre cinct offices and is a republican in politics. Mr. Mills was raised in the faith of the church of Eng land and has always adhered to that faith. CHARLES LANTIS. As an old settler of Knox county, Nebraska, and an agriculturalist of untiring energy and perseverance, the gentleman above mentioned needs no introduction to the people of his locality. Mr. Lantis has spent the past twenty years in this section of the country, where he built up a good farm and is highly esteemed by all as a worthy citizen. Mr. Lantis is a native of Missouri, his birth oc curring in June, 1859, and he is the son of Martin and Elizabeth (Woods) Lantis, both natives of the Keystone state. When but a small child, our subject with his parents came to Iowa, where they remained for a number of years, and where our subject received his education, grew to his man hood days and later married. 590 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In 1891, Mr. Lantis with his family drove from Iowa to Nebraska, which state has been his home ever since. He has had his good and his bad ex periences since residing here, but in checking up an average, Mr. Lantis considers his settlement in Nebraska state a lucky move. Mr. Lantis was united in holy matrimony in 1875 to Miss Annie Bradshaw, and Mr. and Mrs. Lantis are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Henry, James, William, Lottie, Blanche and Clyde. Mr. and Mrs. Lantis and family are well known throughout the local ity in which they reside and hold the esteem and friendship of a wide circle of friends and ac quaintances. DENNIS ROBERTS. Dennis Roberts, who lives in Platte Center, Nebraska, where he is known in an estimable way, occupies an enviable position ¦ among the old timers and successful ranchers of Platte county. Edmond Roberts, father of the above named gentleman, was born in Ireland about 1823, where in the year of 1862 he was married to Honorah Riordan and came to America in 1866, self, wife and three children, James, Dennis and Patrick, lo cating in Omaha, Nebraska, where they resided about three years and then came to Platte county, in 1869. Edmond, junior, was born in Omaha, so at the time the family came to Platte county there were Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and four sons. Mr. Roberts homesteaded in section eighteen, town ship eighteen, range one,, west, and Platte Center now stands on part of the original home farm. Mr. Roberts is one of the genuine old pioneer set tlers and has resided on the home farm until this date, a fact which is rare in the progress and de velopment of this portion of Nebraska. Mr. Rob erts was always of quiet disposition and a man who has stood for the better educational and church lines, and is known and respected as a man of strict integrity and moral character. Mr. Roberts now in his advanced years is en joying the fruits of a prosperous and successful life and has built up extensive property interests, Mr. Roberts and family having about seven hun dred and fifty acres of choice Platte county land. Mrs. Roberts died in Platte Center at her home in July, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts remained on the home farm just outside the corporation limits of Platte Center at the time of Mrs. Rob erts' death. She was survived by her husband and eight children, five sons and three daughters. Dennis Roberts, eldest of the living children, resides in Platte Center and is engaged in exten sive stock interests, buying, shipping and feeding of live stock, and also has farm interests. He is well known in this portion of Nebraska. The other members of the family are as follows: P. H., who is married and living on his farm near Platte Center ; Edward, who lives in New Mexico ; Catherine, wife of P. J. Scanlon, lives in Omaha; Annie, residing at home ; John, who lives in Omaha; Daniel, who is with his father on the home farm; and Sarah, wife of Thomas Corrigan, lives in South Dakota. The Roberts family are of the true pioneer stock, and have had a large measure of success due to their thrift and energy. J. T. WOODS. Pew men have the courage to face the prob lems of life after disaster, fewer still a second time, but such is the stamina of J. T. Woods, of Spencer, that after twice seeing a small fortune swept away, he braved the financial storm and beat out for himself a competency on which to retire in comfort while yet his mental and physi cal powers are unimpaired and while still able to shoulder the burden of life should necessity arise, and carry it to a successful termination. Mr. Woods was born in Boone county, Mis souri, on September 10, 1837, and attained his majority at the place of his nativity, familiar izing himself during those years with agriculture. On coming of age, he started farming for himself in Jackson county, remaining there up to 1868, at which time he removed to Minnesota, there meet ing with some reverses along with success. There were years when his crops were destroyed by the hordes of grasshoppers that covered the ground to the depths of several inches, and on departing left nothing but a blackened waste. He made that vicinity his home for about eleven years, then migrated west, settling in what is now Rock county, although at that time it was an unor ganized section of Nebraska, attached to Holt county for administrative purposes. He filed on a homestead north of Newport, and also took a timber claim on Ash creek, in due time proving up on both these tracts, finally acquiring full title to three hundred and twenty acres from the fed eral government, to which he later added a quar ter section of deeded land. When the country be came settled more thickly and the range became scarce, Mr. Woods disposed of his herd of cattle, numbering over one hundred head, divided the land into two tenant farms, and himself removed to Stuart, there opening a livery barn and hotel. Foreseeing the opening of the reservation in Boyd county, he disposed of his interests at Stuart in 1890, transferring his operations to Mankato, which then gave promise of being the chief town in the new county. However, Butte was chosen as the county seat, and the railroad ran into Spencer, so, divining that the latter would be the better business center, he settled there in 1891, establishing a hotel and livery business at that point. He erected what was then the largest hotel in the town, and built a barn in keeping with the size and style of his house, the lumber for both buildings being hauled across the coun- MR. AND MRS. ALEX LAMB. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 591 try from O'Neill, thirty-five miles away. In the fall of 1901, he sold his livery business, and the following spring gave up the hotel, since which time he has given his time to conserving his financial interests, consisting of a considtrable amount of the stock of the First National Bank of Spencer and its subsidary institutions, besides being largely interested in choice real estate here and elsewhere in the county. Mr. Woods is a son of James and Mary (Englehart) Woods, the former one of the fa mous forty-niners, who went with the thousands to seek gold, and from which trip he never re turned, his death occurring in California. The mother remarried, and passed away in Texas, where she and her husband had settled about the beginning of the civil war. Mr. Woods was married in Minnesota, in 1868, to Mrs. Lizzie G. Parker, and they had four children: Willie James, Luther T., and Prank W., of Spencer, and Ethie, who married Edwin John Barnes and lives at Parsons, Kansas. Mrs. Woods died at Stuart in 1889. Our subject was united in marriage the second time, at Madelia, Minnesota, to Miss Elida Farnsworth, one son being born of this union, Lynn Woods, now cashier of the branch bank at Gross, Nebraska. Mr. Woods is a republican in politics, and a leading members of his party. He is a member of the Congregational church, and fraternizes with the Masonic order at Spencer. WILBUR M. SPEER. Wilbur M. Speer is an old resident of Custer county, where he is weU known and has various interests. He owns a large farm, some town property, and is interested in the creamery in dustry in Comstock. He is one of the few who never lost faith in Nebraska's future during the hard years of drouth and poor crops, and has prospered well in his various enterprises. He was born in Rutland, Dane county, Wisconsin, De cember 20, 1861, the only child of John D. and Sarah (Lockwood) Speer, The father was a na tive of Michigan, moved to Wisconsin and from the latter state enlisted in the union army, dying while in the service, January 16, 1863. The mother was born in Vermont and died in Dane county in 1884. Mr. Speer reached young manhood on the Wisconsin farm and learned the trade of black smith. He was married at Paoli, Wisconsin, on February 22, 1879, to Miss Edna C. Warner, a native of Wisconsin, and one child was born of their union, Joseph A., married and living in Minneapolis. After marriage Mr. Speer con tinued work at his trade for a few years and served as constable of Rutland for a time. Mr. Speer was there married (second), May 25, 1884, to Caroline M. Owens, who was born at Brooklyn, Wisconsin, and they made their first home at Albany, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1888 they came to Custer county and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-nine, township eighteen, range seventeen, Douglas Grove township. They proved their title to this land and sold it, later living in Dry Valley for a number of years. In the spring of 1900 they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on the south half of section two, township eighteen, range eighteen, which is now the home place. It is well equipped as a stock and grain farm, and in 1905 Mr. Speer erected a modern residence, barns and other suitable buildings. He has held various local offices and for the past eleven years has been moderator, director and treasurer of school district number fifty-two. He is a pros perous and successful farmer and business man, owning six hundred acres of land, and has for many years specialized in breeding horses, having raised some of the best trotters in the state. For many years he has taken a threshing outfit over the region and is one of the best known men in his part of Nebraska. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Speer : Cora E., wife of Clifford Roth, lives in Comstock and has two children; Percy W, married and liv ing in Westcott, has two children; Elza A., John E., Frank E., and Zella L., at home. Mrs. Speer 's father, Ephraim Owens, was born in northern Wales and came to America in 1866, locating in Albany, Wisconsin. He died in that state in 1910. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Meredith, was also born in northern Wales, and now resides in Albany. Mrs. Speer has a sister, Mrs. Jennie Hattel, and a brother, George H. Owens, living in York county, Nebraska; one brother, Thomas P., in Comstock; and two sisters, Mrs. Emeline Shaffer and Mrs. Cora Williams, in New York and Wisconsin, respectively. ALEX LAMB. Alex Lamb, an influential and wealthy agri culturalist of Howard county, Nebraska, resides on his elegant farm in Kelso precinct, his dwell ing place being on section twenty-three. He has accumulated his snug fortune by push and energy, and his high station as a farmer and citizen is richly deserved. He was born in Roxburghe- Shire, Scotland, May 25, 1845. Mr. Lamb was the fourth member in a family of five children born to Alexander and Mary Lamb, and grew up in his native country. In 1869, he struck out for himself, coming to Amer ica, and stopping in Kalamazoo, Michigan, during that summer. For a few years he drifted around in different localities, and in 1871, in company with James and George Irvine and James Baxter, came to Howard county from Iowa, arriving here in March. The party made locations of homesteads 592 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. on Oak creek, April 6, and were the first actual permanent settlers in the county. Their first dwelling was a shanty which they erected on George Irvine's claim, and there the four men "batched" together in true pioneer style. Each went to work with a will to improve his farm, Mr. Lamb remaining on his original homestead from that time to this. He has purchased land at different times, and now owns three hundred acres, all of which is in the finest possible condi tion, and he has successfully engaged in grain and stock raising business. Mr. Lamb has passed through the actual pioneering days of Nebraska, and was one of the first party of white men to cross the Loup river and locate a fording place. During those early days their nearest trading place was Grand Island, and he has many a time carried plow shares to that point to be sharpened, also well remembers grub packing Grand Island days. On October 9, 1891, Mr. Lamb was married here to Sopha Miller, who is a native of Iowa, and one of the early teachers in Howard county. They have reared two children; Alexander W., and Walter M., and have lost two little ones. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Lamb appear on an other page. FRANK PETER. Frank Peter, one of the enterprising agri culturalists and worthy citizens of section twen ty-six, township twenty-five, range two, Pierce county, Nebraska, is a man of industrious habits, progressive in his chosen work, and the owner of a good farm. Mr. Peter has become successful through his strict integrity and honest dealings, building up a comfortable home and gaining the respect of his fellow-men and is known as one of the solid citizens of Pierce county, where he has resided for the past twenty years. Mr. Peter was born in Stoeckow, province of Pommerania, Germany, December 7, 1862. His father, Carl Peter, born in 1834, was superintend ent on a large estate in Germany. When a young man he served his time in the army, and was called to arms in the war between Austria and Germany, in 1866. He died in 1909. Our sub ject's mother, Henrietta Luedke, was born in the same province as her husband and about the same year, and died in 1892. Mr. Peter received all his schooling in Ger many, and learned the trade of harness making in the city of Prizow. In the spring of 1881 he sailed from Bremen to Baltimore in the "Leib- sig," making the passage in eighteen days. He depended upon common labor, drifting from one place to another; five years were spent on the range in Wyoming and Utah, riding horseback from Larimy to Ogden, thence to Salt Lake. He finally settled in Madison county, Ne braska, where he lived nine years, farming the last season on rented land; coming thence to Pierce county in 1890, where after renting five years, he bought the land he now owns in 1894, and took possession the following year. Mr. Peter was married October 6, 1887, to Miss Amelia Heekmann, who was born in Wisconsin, but whose parents, Godleib and Caorlina (Hils- berg) Heekmann, were natives of Germany, born near the Oder river some twenty miles from Ber lin. They moved from Wisconsin to Nebraska in 187S. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter, named as follows: Minnie, wife of Alfred Bauman, a farmer of Pierce county; Sadie, Otto and Frank. Mr. Peters is numbered among the leading old-timers of this region and has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow-men, all of whom admire him for his strict integrity. Politically he is a democrat, and he and his family are of the Lutheran religion. N. J. PAUL. The gentleman above mentioned has for Oil: past forty-four years been closely identified with the development and growth of Nebraska, and particularly Howard county, where he has passed through all the various phases of pioneer life, and is known as a leading educator and man of affairs in his county and state. N. J. Paul is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, born July 27, 1841. He grew up in that vicinity, remaining there until his twenty-first year, then came to Kansas where he engaged in school teach ing. He spent the years of 1863 and 1864 in Kansas, and then returned to Ohio, but after one year went back to Kansas, locating in Leaven worth county, and coming to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1867. There he became connected with the office of the surveyor general of Nebraska, and fol lowed the work of a surveyor. He was United States deputy surveyor and contractor for government surveys, and filled the position during the first survey of many of the Nebraska counties. In this work he became thoroughly familiar with the early history of Nebraska, and no man here, has a better knowledge of those times and the pro gress made than he. During this time he was also connected at times with the land department of the Union Pacific Railway Company. In 1871, Mr. Paul located in Howard county, homesteaded on section thirty-four, township fifteen, range ten, and still owns this place, which is situated just outside of the corporation limits of St. Paul, and on which he has a commodious residence and every improvement. The first bank established in the Loup river country, which was know as the Howard County Bank, was started by Wright and Carter in 1879. This was succeeded in 1884 by the St. Paul Na- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 593 tional Bank, Mr. Paul being one of the original organizers, and has been continuously engaged in the banking business up to the present time. He is now president of the St. Paul State Bank, which succeeded the St. Paul National Bank in 1897, and is among the solid institutions of its kind in the state of Nebraska. Our subject was one of the first county com missioners of Howard county, and also was the first probate judge, receiving the election in 1871. During 1880-1884 he served as county treasurer. He was a member of the Nebraska legislature, elected in 1876, and a well known man in politics throughout the state. N. J. Paul was the second child in a family of seven, both parents being natives of Pennsyl vania, the father dying in Meigs county, Ohio, in 1881, and the mother there also, in 1890. On coming to Nebraska, Mr. Paul was accompanied by his brother, James N. Paul, who is equally known throughout the section. Mr. Paul was married on February 19, 1876, at St. Paul, to Miss Lucile Holman. To them were born two children, both now deceased. Mrs. Paul died September 8, 1887. In 1893, Mr. Paul was married to Abigal E. Boswell, and she died two years later, leaving one daughter, Pauline, now a charming young girl. Mr. Paul has been prominently identified with every movement started for the advancement of the commercial and educational interests of his city, and for thirty-five years has been secre tary of the St. Paul school board. JAMES B. HUGHES. James B. Hughes is one of the early settlers of Valley county, Nebraska, who have been able to acquire a competency and retire from active life. Mr. Hughes was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, August 13, 1850, seventh of eight chil dren born to Hampton and Nancy (Patton) Hughes. The father, of Irish descent, was born in Kentucky, and died in Indiana in 1888, and the mother, also of Irish descent and a native of Ken tucky, died in Indiana about 1855. They have a daughter in Lincoln, Nebraska, two sons in In diana, besides our subject; others of their chil dren are deceased. The education of James B. Hughes was ac quired in his native state, where he grew to ma turity and engaged in agricultural pursuits. On January 20, 1880, he married Miss Katherine Smith, a native of Knox county, Indiana, and in the fall of 1888, brought his wife and two chil dren to Valley county, securing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land near Arcadia, the home place for a number of years. He was successful in his operations and developed an excellent farm, adding to his possessions and be coming a prominent citizen of the community. He now owns four hundred acres of land, con taining substantial buildings, the house being located on section fifteen, township eighteen, range sixteen. In March, 1910, Mr. Hughes pur chased fifteen acres of land within the city limits of Arcadia, where he has since resided, retired from more active life. Eight children were born to Mr. Hughes and wife, namely: Ralph, whose wife died in May, 1910, lives at Sheridan, Wyoming, and has two children; Belle, wife of Daniel Thompson, of Valley county, has three children; Roy, of Valley county; Harley, married and lives four miles north of Arcadia ; Curtis, of Valley county ; Nellie, married Claud Dalby and they live in Valley county ; Philip and Earl, at home, attend ing the Arcadia schools. Mr. Hughes passed through the usual hard ships of pioneer life, and by his perseverance and success won a good standing in his community, and the respect of all. The first seven years he lived in a sod house on his homestead claim. The times being hard in western Nebraska, Mb. Hughes removed with his family to a farm he rented three-fourths of a mile from Lincoln, and was in town when the memorable blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, broke over that part of the state. Facing the suffocating blast, he made his way safely home, more fortunate than many exposed to the icy wind. Deer were plentiful in the early days, and of these Mr. Hughes killed five. Mr. Hughes served several years as director and treasurer of school districts numbers sixteen and nineteen. He is a republican in politics. TIMOTHY N. TERRY. Timothy N. Terry, an old settler in the north eastern part of Nebraska, has done his full share in the upbuilding of this region, and his name will go down in history as one of those who spent the best years of their lives in assisting to develop the agricultural and commercial resources of the section in which they reside. He lives on section ten, township twenty-four, range four, Madison county, where he has a good farm of four hundred and eighty acres and a fine home, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good friends and many acquaintances, and are es teemed by all in the community. Mr. Terry is a native of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, born March 13, 1843, a son of John and Elizabeth (Nichols) Terry. The father was born in Connecticut of English descent, his peo ple coming from England in 1650 ; the mother was a native of Massachusetts, of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject grew to manhood in his native state, receiving the usual schooling, and in 1862 enlisted in the army during the civil war, serv ing until August 15, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. He saw service in Com pany G, Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry, under 594 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Captain E. G. Miller and command of General P. J. Harren. The battles participated in were at Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, Port Morgan and Spanish Port. In 1869 Mr. Terry came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead, also a pre-emption claim. He first built a log house in which the family lived for three and a half years, when a better and more commodious dwelling of the same construction was erected, this latter house serving the family for fifteen years, when a good frame residence was built. In those first years of pioneer life, the family suffered many hardships and privations through crop failures, prairie fires, elements of the weather, etc. ; not the least of these were the grasshopper pests that came for three successive years and destroyed every spear of vegetation to be found for miles around ; they would come in great dark clouds and swoop down on the fields of verdant crops that were nearly ready for har vest, and after their flight nothing but stubble and bare ground was to be seen. Another danger was from treacherous prairie fires that would come upon the settlers almost unaware, and often the family were compelled to fight the flames to save their home and property, and even their lives. Mr. Terry remembers that deer and antelope were numerous in those days and often could be seen in large herds grazing in the open. Mr. Terry was married November 25, 1866, to Miss Josie McKenzie, and Mr. and Mrs. Terry have been blessed with nine children, namely: Elizabeth, Frederick, Sherman, Frank, Richard, Mildred, Ruby, Elsworth and Clyde. Mr. Terry is a prosperous and successful agri culturalist, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of choice land, and has fifty acres of fine orchard and forest trees. He has one of the finest places in this portion of the county, and his home and family are widely and prominently known. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and an independent voter. WILLIAM J. RICE. William J. Rice is well known as a public- spirited citizen, ready to do his part to advance the interests of Custer county and the state of Nebraska, and is prominent as a member of the republican central committee. He is one of the early settlers of the county, where he was achieved notable success as a stock and grain farmer, and is honored as a veteran of the civil war. He was born in Adair county, Missouri, March 20, 1844, eldest of the seven children of Erastus and Amanda (Mason) Rice, the father a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Missouri. The father was a soldier in the Mexican war and both parents died in Missouri, he April 23, 1888, at the age of sev enty-one years, and the mother January 26, 1874, at the age of fifty-three years. One son lives in Idaho, one son in British Columbia, two daugh ters live in Missouri, one daughter lives in Okla homa, one son is deceased, and William J., is the subject of this article. Mr. Rice was reared to farm work and re ceived his education in the public schools of his native place, where he later engaged in farming on his own account. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Centerville, Iowa, in Company L, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, in which he served to the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Clinton, Iowa, in the fall of 1865. He passed through the Atlanta campaign and was with Wilson on his raid through Georgia, taking part in the important battles of Franklin and Nashville, besides many minor engagements. At the close of the war, hav ing won a very creditable record, he returned to Missouri, and on November 18, 1866, in Put nam county, married Miss Sarah A. Mullins, a native of that state. They spent several years in that state, then came to Nebraska, making the trip in 1887, with their seven children. Mr. Rice secured a homestead on the north east quarter of section seven, township seventeen, range twenty-three, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres adjoining. This has since been the family home and has been brought to a high state of productiveness, being equipped with modern machinery and appliances. In 1909, Mr. Rice erected a handsome modern residence. For the past fifteen years he has served as justice of the peace and filled various township offices at different times since coming to Custer county. He helped organize school district number sixty- one and is now treasurer of same. He is actively interested in all local affairs and has a good standing in the community. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rice: William E., at home; Mary L., wife of Daniel Maupin, of Sterling, Colorado, has eight children ; Martha F., wife of William Ward robe, of Custer county, has five children; Amanda, wife of Douglas D. Shaw, of Custer county, has eight children; James Riley, married and living on West Table, has two children; Charles Elmer, at home; John C, married and living in West Table, has one child. Mrs. Rice's father, Matthew Mullins, was born in North Caro lina and died in Missouri in 1871. The mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Guinn, was born in Tennessee and died in Missouri about 1879. Two of their sons, Thomas B. and John W., served in the Eight Iowa Cavalry in the civil war, and the former was for three months confined in Andersonville prison. Mrs. Rice has two brothers in Missouri and two in Kansas. RICHARD HANSON. Another one of the adopted sons of Nebraska who has, by dint of hard work, industry and COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY ' REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 595 thrift, succeeded in becoming one of the most successful farmers in Wayne county, is Mr. Rich ard Hanson of Wayne. Although living in town, he is still actively engaged in farming, even to the extent of often driving into the country and remaining a week at a time in order to give his personal attention to the work in hand. Richard H. Hanson was born in the village of Lugum, District of Tondern, Schlesswig-Holstein, on November 30, 1845. The province at that time was under Danish rule, the sovereignty not pass ing to Prussia until the close of the war of 1865. As was customary, Mr. Hanson served his three years in the army and had returned home, when a few months later, he was recalled to take up arms in the Franco-Prussian war. During the fourteen months that this war was in progress, he was in the battles of Wirth, Vionville, Grave- lotte, Beaumont, Sedan, Strausberg and Metz. A younger brother, Fred, fell in the battle of Gravelotte, but Richard and an older brother, William, passed safely through the war. Richard Hanson came to America in the spring of 1872, taking passage on the "Cymbria" on March 6, and landing at Castle Garden twelve days later. He proceeded westward to Daven port, and thence to Muscatine, Iowa, where he found work on the farm of Oliver Silverton. His brother, Hans, wrote him for money in order that he too might come to the much-dreamed new world without delay. Richard's employer ac cordingly paid him the balance of his five months' wages in advance, thus enabling Hans to start at once. He arrived in Iowa in August of that year. He prospered and later owned a farm in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he died. In December, 1881, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Anna Mueller, a native of the village of Ditmarchen, Holstein. Her parents, by a strange coincidence embarked on the same vessel which had taken Mr. Hanson to this country four years before they emigrated. The family settled on a farm near Davenport. In the spring of 1882 they moved to Omaha, where the father lived the re mainder of his life and died October 29, 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years. The mother lived there until her death, which occurred January 20, 1911, at the age of eighty-five years, three months and twenty-nine days. After his marriage Mr. Hanson moved to Shelby county, and farmed rented land for three years, but March 5, 1885, found him and his wife installed on their own farm about five miles south of La Port, the old county seat, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres at twelve dollars and fifty cents per acre. He began at once to im prove this open prairie land, ' first building a small house, then adding sheds and barns as occasion ' demanded. An orchard and groves were started and soon he had a very thrifty look ing farm. In 1895, a large addition was erected, making the farm house very roomy and comfort able. The original farm has since been increased by the purchase of an adjoining quarter section. He has also purchased a quarter section of fine land about seven miles southeast of Wayne. In 1907, after living twenty-two years on the farm, he moved to Wayne and is now taking life more easily than heretofore. Mr. Hanson's parents followed their children to the new world in 1882, making their home with one or another of their children. The father died at Minden, Iowa, on February 20, 1896, at the age of eighty-two, and the mother died at the age of seventy years, two months and sixteen days. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have had six children born to them, all of whom are living: Hans J., occupies the old homestead; Regina, now Mrs. Alfred Hass, is in Iowa county, Iowa; Catherine, Anna, Richard H., junior, and Harry are still at home. In politics, Mr. Hanson is a democrat and he is also a member of the Lutheran church. He is an associate of the German army societies and attends their meetings in Omaha, talking over with old comrades the days of trial in the trenches and in the open fields. He has several medals made from the bronze of captured French cannon, which commemorates deeds of valor done in the heavy battles of the Franco-Prussian war. Although they did not come to Nebraska until 1885, still Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have many stories to tell of their trials here, which includes reminiscences of the days when they had to burn twisted hay and corn for fuel. Mrs. Hanson has had the experience of learning English since coming to this state, and can now read, write and speak that language as fluently as her chil dren. FREDERICK LAUB. The above named gentleman is one of the old settlers of Nebraska, who came to this state when it was practically in its infancy and has remained to see it grow from a wild prairie to the fertile and productive country it has now become. Frederick Laub, son of John Phillip and Anna Maria (Groff) Laub, was born in Germany, No vember 30, 1841, and was third of thirteen chil dren, of whom one sister resides in Kansas, one in Omaha, one brother in Clarks, Nebraska, and another in Chapman. The parents are deceased. In 1848 our subject came with his father and fam ily to America, locating in Illinois, where Mr. Laub received his education and later engaged in farming. On February 1, 1869, Mr. Laub was married to Katherine Nordeen, of Illinois. She died March 31, 1870, survived by her husband and one son, Leonard, who died a few months later. In the spring of 1871, Mr. Laub came to Mer rick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hun- 596 compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. dred and sixty acres in section thirty-two, town ship thirteen, range seven, where he resided about fifteen years, and in 1886 retired from farm ing and moved to Chapman where he built a good home and where he. now resides. On November 22, 1874, Mr. Laub was married to Mrs. Mary McCatheron of Wisconsin. Two children were born of this union: Gertrude, who is married to Harry Easter, has four children and lives on the father's homestead; and Edna, who resides at home. Mrs. Laub died January 31, 1901, at her home in Chapman. Mr. Laub has been prosperous and successful, owning two hundred and forty acres of fine farm land, as well as good city property. He is one of the earliest settlers in this portion of Nebraska, and has passed through all the trying experiences and discouragements of frontier life; and is widely and favorably known. In November, 1864, Mr. Laub enlisted in Com pany I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge September 18, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, hav ing been mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, September 5, 1865. While in service he was on guard duty mostly in Tennessee. Mr. Laub served on the school board of Chap man schools four years, and is widely and favor ably known as a citizen who is always interested in the welfare of his home county and state. Jacob Laub, deceased, brother of the subject of this biographical writing, was born in Ger many, April 29, 1846, and his personal history is identical to that of his brother's above mentioned until the spring of 1872, when he came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in section twenty-eight, township thir teen, range seven. On October 31, 1875, Mr. Laub was married to Loa Fishbum, of Iowa, and from this union six children were born: Jennie, who is married to Roy Dunn, lives in Hamilton county, Nebraska; Vida, wife of Prank Clark, has four children and resides in Merrick county; Eva, who is married to Anson Holmes, has four children and lives in Perkins county, Nebraska; Anna, wife of Clyde Clemens, lives in Longhurst, Colorado; Nina, who resides at home; and Fred N., who is married and lives in Merrick county. Mrs. Laub has four brothers residing in Ne braska, two in Colorado, another in the state of Washington, where one sister also lives, and one sister in Colorado, and a brother in Merrick county. Her father died September 30, 1907. Mrs. Laub now resides with her mother, Mrs. David Fishbum, near Chapman, surrounded by a large circles of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Laub were among the early set tlers of the county, and passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to pioneer life. Mr. Laub was prosperous and suc cessful and owned one hundred sixty acres of good farm land. In the early days he served as precinct constable, and also was one of the organi zers of his school district and served as director of the same a number of years. He retired from the farm in 1884 and moved to Chapman, where he lived until the time of his death, which occur red March 9, 1885. He was survived by his wife and six children. H. J. KIMBALL. Few men have been privileged to enjoy so wide a range of travel, to participate in as many varied phases of life, and be personally acquainted with so many well known men as Mr. H. J. Kim ball of Creighton. He has mingled in political life in the east; ridden the range as a cowboy in the west; stood in the marts of the new -world's great cities, and sailed the seas to foreign lands with an elderly friend of his father's Who was like an uncle to him. H. J. Kimball was born in Bangor, Maine. February 8, 1847, the son of Captain Asa and Mary A. (Piper) Kimball of Bangor, Maine. Captain Asa Kimball was a ship builder in the old Pine state at a time when American clippers invaded every sea and outsailed the ships of all other nations. At the outbreak of the civil war he raised a company of the Twelfth Mairie Infan try and was elected captain; for his services on the staff and on detached duty he was brevetted colonel. His career was ended in one of the bat tles just a week before the surrender at Appo mattox, and he lies buried at Atlanta, Georgia. He was an intimate acquaintance of James G. Blaine, Hannibal Hamlin and other notable men of New England, and had not the accident of battle cut him off in the prime of life would no doubt have won distinction in the councils of the nation. The son, H. J. Kimball, later enlisted at the age of sixteen in the First Maine Heavy Artillery, under Colonel Daniel C. Chaplin and Major Charles Hamlin, son of the vice president, and participated in some of the hottest battles of the civil war. In the three day's siege of Petersburg his regiment lost sixty-six per cent of its men in an action of but twenty minutes ' duration ; the greatest death loss of any engagement in the history of the world. Among the general en gagements in which Mr. Kimball participated were Spottsylvania, North Anna, Topopotomy. Petersburg, Jerusalem Road, Deep Bottom, Wel- don R. R., Boy don Road, Hatchee's Run and Saylor's Creek. Mr. Kimball when a boy was frail, and was sent on a sea voyage that was to be his cure or his end, the doctors could not tell which. Em barking in a sailing vessel, the six months at sea put new blood into his veins and new thoughts and ideas into his brain. Coasting along the northern shores of the Mediterranean, he visited many of the smaller ports out of beaten tracks, and came home with a mind stored with bits of COMPENDIUM, OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 597 travel that could never have been gleaned from years of reading in books. When a young man he was employed by the well known capitalist and manufacturer, Robert B. Seaman, to promote the use and sales of the "iron clad" can in the dairy country tributary to New York. For twelve years he held a desk in the treasury department, at times taking part in political campaigns, being in close touch with old comrades of the tented field and wielding a strong influence with them. In the same office where he sat, Julius Rathbone, who later wrote the ritual of the Pythian order, and he conferred upon Mr. Kimball the degrees as they were given when the order was in its infancy. Coming west in the spring of 1884, he became the first industrial teacher of the Yankton Indian school at Greenwood, South Dakota, near Port Randall, and while here became intimately ac quainted with Charles Conger, son of the senator and minister to China. Coming to Creighton in April, 1885, Mr. Kimball for a time did with his might what his hand found to do, and later be came foreman in Holbrook & Freeze 's lumber yard. In 1895, he spent several months riding the range on the Smith ranch at Cottonwood, South Dakota, and later on the "Bar T" and "Cross Anchor" ranches. Mr. Kimball was married in Washington, D. C, July 16, 1873, to Miss Avadela Lewis, born in Remson, New York, daughter of Lafayette and Hannah (Herron) Lewis. Her father died when she was quite young and the mother removed to New Jersey, where Mrs. Kimball was reared. They have a well kept cottage home which com pares favorably with any of its class in town. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kimball: Hattie E., is the wife of William Raf- ferty, of Chicago; Harry J., of Portland, Oregon, married Mrs. Margaret Zimmer, whom he met while settling the estate of her late husband, and they have property in many of the larger cities throughout the western states; Gertrude A., lives in Creighton, her husband, Prank Hufsmith, be ing one of the business men of the town. They have two children : Ava A., and Janice K. Mr. Kimball has experienced many of the vicissitudes of western life, and one that came nearest being tragedy occurred in the blizzard of January 12, 1888. Going to the school for his children, he started home a short distance north and found himself with his little ones several blocks to the east on the banks of the creek; he finally made his way home with the young folk, but all were chilled through and nearly ex hausted and smothered by the ice dust that was driven through their clothing, and into their eyes, nose and mouth. The last few years Mr. Kimball has been en gaged in house painting and has won success in his business by square dealing and efficiency. He is a republican in politics ; one of the early" mem bers of the Pythian order, and a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. He attained some skill as a drummer, and is called upon on gala occasions to rattle the snares for the Grand Army of the Republic. ELIHU T. LONG. Elihu T. Long, owner of a valuable farm on section twenty-one, of Beaver precinct, Boone county, is a pioneer agriculturalist and stock man of that region. Mr. Long was born in Iowa county, Iowa, on May 8, 1855, the youngest of five children in the family of James B. and Francis Long. He re ceived his early education there, and in May, 1871, in company with his father and brother, , Windfield S., came to Boone county, the father and brother each taking up homesteads. In July of that year they went to Iowa and brought the family back with them, landing in Boone county in October. Here they went through the usual pioneer experiences, our subject remembering well the early days when they suffered priva tion and hardship by reason of the inability to get many of the necessities of life, being obliged to haul all supplies from Columbus, etc. Our subject filed on a homestead for himself as soon as he became of age, settling on section twenty-one, township nineteen, range five, which is still his home farm, comprising three hundred and sixty acres, having good buildings of all kinds, groves and orchards, and is one of the valuable estates in that part of the county. Mr. Long was married on March 14, 1894, at the home of her parents in St. Edward, to Miss Anna Warner. To them have been born three children: Forrest B., Asher D., and Elihu T., junior, all now at home and attending the local schools. Mr. Long's first poll tax was worked out on the public highway joining his father's home stead, and in his fiftieth year he worked his last poll tax on the same highway. He is a wide-awake man of affairs in his locality, and has made a decided success of farming and stock raising. He is familiarly known to his friends as "Hoot" Long, and is one of the old landmarks and lead ing citizens of his county. H. FULTON. A typical old settler of the state of Nebraska is represented in the gentleman above named, H. Fulton, who has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part of the growth and development of this region. Our subject's parents came to Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1870, from Wisconsin, which state had been their home for many years, driving the entire distance of the journey. Our subject was the eldest child of John and Addie (Phillips) Pulton, the father, John Fulton, was born April 598 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 3, 1842, and descended from Irish and English stock, and served America in the civil war from 1861 to 1864, enlisting in Company C, Seventh Wisconsin, and Battery B, Number Four, United States Light Artillery, and participated in the following battles: First battle of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Antietem, Cold Harbor, Battle of the Wilderness, Siege of Petersburg and battle of the Potomac. His brother was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness. Our subject's father helped to build the railroad from Fremont to Norfolk, Nebraska. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Addie Phillips Pulton, was of English descent, a native of Wisconsin, and Ifer father had come from the state of New York. Her grandfather took part in the war with Indians, which in his and his forefather's time was an additional hardship the later pioneers did not experience. When the grandfather was one year old, the Indians picked him up to carry him away, but he was rescued. Our subject and his parents began life in a modest way, and endured the many hardships incident to those early days in Nebraska. They took up eighty acres of land and built a shanty of rough boards, and their nearest market place was twenty-five miles distant. They faced star vation in those days on account of the grasshop per raids which took nearly all they had raised to sustain themselves with. The mother also had a hard time to protect the children from the Indians who had attempted to carry them away. The family also fought the prairie fires which devastated the prairies in those days. Mr. Pulton was married February 20, 1891, to Miss Bertha Dow, and they are the parents of four children, whose names are: John H., Blanche H., Muriel H., and Charles H. Our subject's wife came to Dodge county, Nebraska, from Germany when she was fourteen years old. In 1896, Mr. Fulton and family came to Ante lope county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land from Mr. W. T. Kirk, who had homesteaded the land and proved up. Before buying his land, our subject rented it for twenty dollars per year, and in the early days expe rienced many hardships common to that period, losing crops in the hail storms; and he only re ceived six cents per bushel for corn which he raised. Mr. Pulton now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, seven acres of which are cultivated to trees. Mr. Pulton is affiliated with the Workmen, Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges, and holds the respect and high esteem of all who enjoy his friendship and business relationship. CHARLES L. GALLAHER. (Deceased.) The late Charles L. Gallaher was among the early settlers of Custer county, where he was widely and favorably known, and in his death the community lost a public-spirited and useful citizen. He was born in Brown county, Illinois, October, 3, 1859, eighth of the eleven children born to Harvey and Sally (Knight) Gallaher. He has one sister surviving, Mrs. Rhoda Woods, of Overton, an early settler of. Hamilton. The Gal laher family is of English descent and its rep resentatives were early settlers of Brown county, Illinois. Harvey Gallaher served in the civil war and died in Brown county. His wife was also born in Illinois and died in Colorado. When about fourteen years of age, Charles L. Gallaher left home for Fairfield, Iowa, and there learned the trade of butcher. In 1886 he went on to Nebraska, locating in Broken Bow, Custer county. He was married at the home of the bride's mother in Custer county, on Septem ber 4, 1887, to Miss Mary E. Twombly, also a native of Brown county, Illinois, who came with her family to Saunders county in 1881. She is a daughter of Calvin and Susan (Wiley) Twombly, natives respectively of Vermont and North Caro lina. Her father died in Brown county, in 1867, and her mother in Custer county, October 29, 1905. Mrs. Gallaher has a brother, Thomas E., and a half brother, Charles Bedford, living in Custer county, a brother in Kansas and one in South Dakota. In 1883 Mary E. Twombly came with her two brothers, Charles and Samuel, to Custer county and herself took a homestead of one quarter of section twenty-seven, township eighteen, range eighteen, which is still her home. Mr. Gallaher served several years as modera tor of school district number two hundred and forty-two and stood well with his fellow citizens. He was an active and industrious farmer and in terested in everything pertaining to the general welfare and progress. He died in a hospital in Lincoln, February 17, 1907, being survived by his widow and five children. Five children were born to him and his wife: Eva May, deceased; Oliver P., Alice, Charles Elmer, Rena and Bell. Mrs. Gallaher, with the assistance of her two sons, still carries on the farm. They own four hundred and twenty acres of good stock and grain farm land, from which they derive a good income. They have one of the pleasant homes of the neighborhood and are held in high esteem by all. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD. William Rutherford is one of the earlier set tlers of Nebraska and has experienced the dis couragements and trying times incidental to pioneer life in any region. He is well and favor ably known in his part of the state and has always given his influence in the cause of right and progress. He was born near Cottage Hill, Dubuque county, Iowa, April 12, 1859, a son of Samuel and Mary (Boyle) Rutherford, being the eldest of their three sons. He has a brother in RESIDENCE OF JOHN POCHOP. M«ftiifw»)^ RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM RUTHERFORD. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 599 Colorado and one in Wyoming. His father, who was born in Livingston county, Illinois, served in the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry during the civil war, and died in 1863 while in the service. The mother, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, now resides in Palmer, Nebraska. In September, 1872, the mother, who had mar ried James L. Darrow, came with her family to Nebraska, where the three sons, William, Thomas and Samuel, homesteaded on their father's soldier's right, one hundred and sixty acres of land in Polk county. January 1, 1882, William Rutherford married Laura Davis, who was born in Warren county, Illinois, and came with her parents to Seward county, Nebraska, in 1869. She is a daughter of Samuel C. and Adaline (Henderson) Davis, the father a native of New York and the mother of Pennsylvania. Their first residence in Nebraska was a primitive dugout, which was later replaced with a "soddy." Mr. Davis, who served in the civil war, now lives at Hydetown, Pennsylva nia, where his wife died in April, 1910. Mr. Davis served as postmaster of Pleasant Home, Nebraska, eight or nine years. Mrs. Rutherford has a brother in Oklahoma, a sister in the state of Washington and two sisters in Pennsylvania. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford lived in Polk county some six or seven years, occupy ing a sod house the first four years of that time. About 1890 they moved to Nance county, remain ing one year, removing thence to Oklahoma, for one summer. Returning to Nebraska they settled in Boone county, where they lived from about 1892 until 1906, when they came to Valley county and Mr. Rutherford purchased a four hundred acre stock and grain farm on section thirty-six, township seventeen, range fifteen, which was the home place until sold in the summer of 1911. It is a well improved and equipped farm and yielded a good profit to Mr. Rutherford, who has taken an active interest in public affairs and won a good standing in the community. He served as director of the school board of his dis trict in Boone county, and in various other ways proved his devotion to the best interests of all. Three children have been born to Mr. Ruth erford and wife: Lawrence S., at home; Pearl, married William Hale and they live in Knox county, Nebraska ; Harry 0., at home. The Ruther- fords are well known in social circles and have a host of friends. Mr Rutherford has always been a man of stirring activity. He began the life of a thresh- erman at the age of eighteen and three years. later became owner of an outfit and has operated in that line ever since ; during these years he has worn out three or four engines and separators and five shellers; his sons have been a great assistance to him and understand the business as well as he. There were deer and elk in Polk county when Mr. Rutherford settled there, and here, too, he witnessed the devastation of his crops by grass hoppers in the summer of 1875. In politics he is a republican and was reared in the Catholic church. A view of the Rutherford home in Valley county is shown on another page together with a sketch of their old soddy of earlier days. JOHN POCHOP. Located very pleasantly on the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township twenty- eight, range three, Pierce county, Nebraska, is to be found the estimable gentleman whose name introduces this biographical writing. Mr. Pochop was born in August, 1876, in Saunders county, Nebraska; he is a son of Prank and Barbara (Panas) Pochop, both natives of Bohemia, who came to America in 1871 and took up a homestead in Saunders county, Nebraska. Here they lived first in a dugout and later a sod house, and when in better circumstances, built a good frame dwelling. They came to Pierce county in 1892 and bought land, which Mr. Pochop turned over to his sons in 1903 and re tired to Prague, Nebraska, where he lives in ease. The family experienced all the hardships and inconveniences of the pioneer days. They were thirty miles away from Fremont, the nearest market place, and all their grain was hauled by ox team. Besides burning hay for fuel, the fam ily frequently resorted to the use of the stems of wild artichokes and corn stalks. The father brought his family through the years of drouth, of the grasshopper plague, when he lost all his crops for three years, besides enduring the ravages of chinch bugs and other pests. Hail ruined their crops from time to time, and prairie fires caused them much labor and anxiety. Our subject was reared on the farm, and re ceived a common school education, later attend ing the Normal College at Plainview, Nebraska. He was joined in holy matrimony February 27, 1900, to MisS Bertha Kratochvil, who was born in 1882, a daughter of Frank and Katherine (Zizny) Kratochvil, all natives of Bohemia, where the mother died in 1884. The father emigrated with his family in 1886, sailing from Hamburg in the steamer "Westphalia." They came directly to Pierce county, where the father died in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Pochop have four children, named as follows: Bessie, Henry, Edward and Bertha. Mr. Pochop is affiliated with the New York Life Insurance Company, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the C. Z. B. J. lodges. He is well known through this section and has gained the respect and esteem of his fel low men. He has a well appointed country home, with water and bath in the house, a large supply tank being situated on the rising ground to the north of the house. We show a view of the 600 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. farm buildings and grove of Mr. Pochop on an other page. Like most Bohemians, the Pochop family is full of music — the father of our subject and five of his sons constituting at one time an orchestra. All are fond of music and have musical instru ments of various kinds in the house at all times. Mr. Pochop is a competent band leader, but his farming prevents his giving as much time to the art as he desires. Mr. Pochop escaped being in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, by the teacher's failure to ap pear at school that morning. After playing around for a time, the children all started home, and all but one boy, who loitered, reached their homes before the storm broke. BOYD S. LEEDOM. Boyd S. Leedom, editor of the "Osmond Re publican," first came to Nebraska, April 1, 1874. His father, crossing the river at Sioux City that day, on the "Undine," took up his residence in Dakota county, Nebraska. Mr. Leedom was born in Franklin, Pennsyl vania, in 1857, and is a son of J. P. and Elizabeth Leedom, the former a minister of the gospel, they now residing in Dakota City. Both are natives of Pennsylvania and come of old colonial stock. Boyd attended the public schools as a boy, and after coming to Nebraska, while his parents supposed him in school all the time, he frequently "played hookey." He had an early taste for journalism — literally a "turn" — which has moulded his entire career. At one time, while living in Iowa he was sent to the office of the Humbolt Kosmos, for his father's paper, and was told that it was not yet printed, but if he would ink the forms until his father 's paper was printed he might take it with him. While he thought it strange that this should be the last one to be printed, he did not mind the work, but remained until the papers were all out, and afterwards gen erally turned the press when he called at the office. He later wished to learn typesetting, so was promised instruction if he would turn the press every Thursday afternoon, which he did, running away from school to do this. His parents finally learned of the truancy of their son, but by this time he was able to set type like a veteran, so got off with a very light punishment. After coming to Nebraska, he had a case on the "Dakota City Mail" for two years, and later on the "Dixon County Courier." In 1880 he went to Lane, Kan sas, and for two years edited the "Lane Ad vance," then returned to Nebraska and estab lished the "Wakefield Republican," which he disposed of, and started the "Ponca Advance," which is now called "The Leader." His next venture was "The Wheeler County Republican," which he carried on up to February, 1892. He then came to Osmond and purchased the "Os mond Advance," which he changed to the "Re publican, ' ' and in May, with the change of name, he changed its politics as well. Within three months he had but one country subscriber left, so strong was the populist sentiment in that vi cinity, but he refused to become dismayed, al though he got down to bed rock of hard times. The business men of the town stuck to him, and he gradually regained his country patronage after the wave of populism had passed. Mr. Leedom was married at Ponca, July 3, 1878, to Miss Ella M. Weighton, a native of Del aware, Ohio. Five children have been born to them: Chester N., editor of the "Cottonwood Republican," and president of the Stanley County Land Company, has cast his destinies with South Dakota interests. He is married and the father of three children: Ethel L. Leedom eldest daughter of our subject, is the wife of Roy Thomas, postmaster of Osmond, while Adelle J., now Mrs. Fred S. Pry, resides in Wynot, where her husband is a well known attorney; Joseph W. Leedom was for a year a student at the Uni versity of Nebraska, and one year at Morning- side College, Sioux City, and is now a partner with his father in the newspaper business; Ger trude E., the youngest daughter, is attending the Osmond schools. Mr. Leedom is a life-long republican, and takes a prominent part in the doings of his party. He is a lawyer of considerable note, having been admitted to the bar in 1891. From 1897 to 1905 he served as postmaster at Osmond, and made an excellent official. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, as well as of the Masonic fraternity, in which he takes a leading part. REVEREND JOHN MORROW. John Morrow, one of the highly respected old settlers of Howard county, has until very re cently followed farming in different parts of Nebraska, and during his career here has suc ceeded in building up a valuable property through industry and good business ability. Mr. Morrow was born in Pike county, Illinois, on March 1, 1832, and grew up in that vicinity. He received a common school education, doing farm work up to 1864, when he enlisted in Com pany I, Seventieth Illinois Infantry, serving for four months with that regiment, then re-enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that regiment until the close of the war. He was hon orably discharged September 5, 1865. Mr. Morrow was married in 1855, taking as his wife Savana Richey, a native of Indiana, and ten children were born of their union, named as follows: Eunice E., deceased; Joseph M., Alice, who died in infancy; James, married, father of three children, now living in Greeley county, Ne braska; John, residing in Washington; Louisa, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 601 married and with her husband and three children, living in Oklahoma; Charles, with his wife and four children, living in Greeley county ; Olive M., married and mother of three children, living in Antelope county; Fred and Ida, the latter mar ried, and living in the state of Washington with her husband and three children. Mrs. Morrow died in 1883, sincerely mourned by her family and a large circle of friends. Mr. Morrow settled in Polk county, Nebraska, in 1873, and remained there up to 1889, then changed his location to Antelope county, where he lived for about two years. In December of 1891, he removed with his family to Howard county, purchasing eighty acres of school land sit uated across the river from the town of Cotes field. He later purchased a forty-four acre tract adjoining his homestead, all of which he improved in good shape, erecting good buildings, gathering stock on it, etc. They lived on this place up to 1907, then sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Logan county. During the latter year Mr. Morrow and his wife, who was formerly Elizabeth Hurst, of Polk county, they having been married in 1889, made a trip to the state of Washington, and there purchased a farm on which they lived for one year. Becoming homesick they returned to Nebraska, settling in Cotesfield, where they now reside. For the past twenty-three years Mr. Morrow has been in the ministry of the Free Will Baptist church, serving various charges, always giving his services without remuneration and laboring only for love of the work. He is a man of superior mental attainments, always willing and ready to aid in every good work which he finds to do, and both himself and his estimable wife enjoy the friendship and esteem of the entire community in which they live. Of Mr. Morrow's second marriage four chil dren have been born: Lloyd H., who makes his home in Washington; Silas, Eugene W., and Cur tis E., who are living with their parents. Mr. Morrow takes a commendable interest in local affairs and has held the office of assessor during former years, also was postmaster for a considerable length of time. LAPE PAIST. Among the substantial and worthy citizens of Ord, Nebraska, Lafe Paist, the subject of this biographical writing, stands in high repute, and is well known as a prosperous and successful man in his community. Mr. Paist was born in Carter, Wyoming, September 2, 1871, and was eldest of eleven children in the family of Charles E. and Nellie (Dowling) Paist, who had seven sons and four daughters. Charles E. Paist and family of wife and three children came to Kearney, Nebraska, in 1875; Mr. Paist became connected with the 20% Union Pacific railroad as station agent at Buda station, taking a homestead claim near Buda, and still holding his position with the railway com pany. He is now located at Elba, Howard county, Nebraska, as station agent, his connection with the Union Pacific railroad dating back to 1868, when he was station agent at Elkhorn, Nebraska. Mr. Paist was married at Elkhorn station or Elk City, on September 15, 1870, to Miss Nellie E. Dowling, and shortly after marriage went to Wyoming in the employ of the railroad company. In 1888, on March 5, Mr. Paist with his wife and five children came to Valley county, Nebraska, locating in Ord, where Mr. Paist went into the mercantile business. Of the eleven children, eight were bom in Nebraska, and ten of the eleven are now living; the parents and eight of the children are now residents of Nebraska. Lafe Paist, the principal subject of this sketch, since 1889, has made Valley county his home; he was in his father's store for three years, working in the store and going to school, finishing his education in 1889; with the exception of three years, Ord has been Mr. Paist 's home since 1888. He has been connected with different mercantile establishments of Ord, being in the Millford store a greater portion of the time. Mr. Paist has in many ways been actively con nected with the upbuilding of Valley county for twenty-two years, and is a popular young man of wide acquaintance and many friends. In the spring of 1904 he accepted the position of clerk in the county treasurer's office of Valley county; serving in that capacity until January 1, 1910, and in the fall of 1909 was nominee on the repub lican ticket for county treasurer of Valley county, was elected and took possession of the office on January 6, 1910. On November 29, 1899, Mr. Paist was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle E. Warner, daugh ter of Samuel and Mary (Young) Warner, at the home of her parents! The Warner family are old settlers of Nebraska, having come here about the year 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Paist are highly esteemed, and are favorably known in social and political circles. Mr. Paist in past years has been a member of Ord city council, and has also held the office of city treasurer in past years. HERMAN BLANK. Located very pleasantly in section twenty-six, township twenty-one, range three, is to be found the somewhat notable gentleman whose name in troduces this biographical writing. Mr. Blank has been identified with the history of Madison county from a very early date, and during his resi dence in the region has been instrumental in a large measure for the present prosperity enjoyed by the entire population. Mr. Herman Blank is a native of Pommerania, 602 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. near Berlin, Germany, born April 14, 1841. His parents were Wilhelm and Dora (Bessert) Blank, typical farmers of that country. He received a limited education. In 1866 Mr. Blank left his home for America, crossing as an emigrant, and landing in New York City, in which place he spent but a few days, then came west to Portage, Wisconsin. where he remained for eight years, working as section hand on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad. He became dissatisfied after several years in that state, so bought a team of horses and started to drive through the rough country for Nebraska. After a long and tiresome trip, he finally landed in Madison county, filing on the homestead which he now occupies, and on which he has used up two sod houses, finally erecting a good frame dwelling some twenty years ago. During the first few years here, Mr. Blank found the usual obstacles to overcome in the shape of crop failures caused by unfavorable weather conditions, blizzards, etc., but, like so many other sturdy pioneers, he stuck to his determina tion to win for himself a home and competence, and his possessions today are a silent testimony of his success. He has in all one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, also a complete set of substantial farm buildings, all kinds of stock, the place well supplied with fruit and shade trees, and altogether, it is one of the very up-to-date and valuable properties in the region. In 1880, Mr. Blank was united in marriage to Miss Molly Rudat, the ceremony taking place in Green Garden township, Madison county, Ne braska. Mr. and Mrs. Blank have a family of five children, as follows: Lizzie, Minnie, Annie, Herman and Samuel. WILLIAM SCHAAD. William Schaad was one of the early settlers of Custer county, with whose progress and de velopment he has been closely associated for many years. He is a native of Peoria county, Illinois, born April 26, 1865, the fourth born of eleven children of Jacob and Mary (Best) Schaad. The parents were born in Germany and the mother died in Illinois in 1898. The father came to America as a young man and now resides on the old home place in Illinois, being now eighty-four years of age. William Schaad has one brother, George, in Custer county; four brothers in Illi nois; one sister in Iowa and one in Illinois, and others of the children are now deceased. Mr. Schaad grew to manhood on his father's Illinois farm, was educated in the public schools there, and as a young man engaged in farming on his own account. In May, 1887, he came to Custer county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in the sand hills, and also took. a tree claim of like size on West Table. About one year later he moved to his uncle's farm on West Table and later pur chased this place, which has since been his home. This uncle, Reverend John Schaad, was one of Custer county's old and respected settlers, and prominent in the community. The nephew has continued to improve and develop the land and now has six hundred and forty acres, a fine stock and grain farm, where in 1907 he erected a fine modern farm residence, at a cost of over five thousand dollars. He is a progressive and ener getic farmer and stockman and has achieved more than ordinary success. He helped organize a school district which is known as number two hundred and forty-one, and served many years as treasurer of the board. He has also held town ship offices and is actively interested in local affairs. Mr. Schaad was married in Broken Bow town ship, February 6, 1890, to Miss Mary M. Whit- tington, a native of Peoria county, Illinois, who came to Custer county in 1887, and herself pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in the sand hills. Her parents were Sanford M. and Eliza (Armstrong) Whittington, the former born in Tennessee and the latter in Pennsylvania. Mr. Whittington died in Kansas in 1886 and his wife in Illinois in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Schaad have four children: Frederick E., H. Blanche, Fern C, and Mabel C, all at home, and £he two first mentioned are twins. Mr. Schaad and wife are prominent and popular in social circles and active in religious and educational movements. FRED E. MUHM. The Muhm family were among the very early settlers of Nebraska, and Fred E. Muhm has spent most of his life in that state. When' he ac companied his parents there, deer and antelope were frequently seen in Madison county, where they located. Then Columbus and West Point were their nearest trading points and they passed through the usual experiences and vicissitudes of the pioneer. They often had to fight prairie fires to protect their home, stock and crops, and during the first three years they suffered the loss of their grain through the depredations of grass hoppers. However, they triumphed over all diffi culties and developed an excellent farm, where Fred E. Muhm was reared. Mr. Muhm is a native of Iowa, born in 1860, a son of Fred and Susie Muhm, the former a na tive of Germany and the latter of Illinois. The father came to America, as a young man, in a sailing vessel, and consumed three months in the voyage. He located in Madison county in 1870, and there took up a homestead, erecting a log house which was their home the first ten years. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 603 _ The education of Fred E. Muhm was begun in his native state and completed after he came to Nebraska. IJe was reared to farm work and had the advantage of knowing conditions and require ments of carrying on farming in Nebraska from early boyhood. In 1882 he came to Cedar county and purchased his present place, which is very well situated on section seventeen, township twenty-nine, range one, east, and set about im proving it. He has a comfortable house and other substantial buildings, and his estate is a valuable one. He has identified himself with the best in terests of his community and is held in high esteem as a good citizen and desirable neighbor. In 1888 Mr. Muhm was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Kober, a native of Tama county, Iowa, and daughter of George and Elizabeth (Grunger) Kober, and seven children have blessed this union, namely: Hazel, John, Opal, Ruby, May, Onar, and Jay. Mr. Muhm is a republican, and has assisted in the public service at times as precinct assessor, and for twenty-three years he has been the treas urer of his school district. JOHN A. MILLER. John A. Miller, one of the representative agriculturalists of Merrick county, Nebraska, owns and operates a large farm in section thirty- four, township thirteen, range eight, where he has a good, comfortable home. He is recog nized as one of the successful and prosperous citizens of the county. John A. Miller was born in Germany, October 8, 1842, and was the fourth of five children in the family of Peter and Charlotte (Goger) Miller, who had five sons born to them. The Miller family emigrated to America in 1856, and settled in the state of Wisconsin on a farm, where our subject grew to manhood. In November, 1861, Mr. Miller enlisted in Company H, First Wisconsin Cavalry, in which he served until time of his discharge, in July, 1864, on account of disability. Mr. Miller re turned home to Wisconsin, but upon recovering his, health re-enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Vol unteer Infantry, and received final discharge at the close of the war in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Miller saw about four years' service and was in numerous engagements and skirmishes. He was a veteran in point of service, and had an honor able war record. He was in the battle at Chick- amauga and with Sherman at the time he began his march to the sea. He participated in many engagements and battles. After the war, Mr. Miller returned to Wisconsin to the home farm. In January, 1868, Mr. Miller was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Albertina Hoffman in Wis consin, and in March, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Miller and three children moved to Merrick county, Nebraska, where Mr. Miller homesteaded on sec tion thirty-four, township thirteen, range eight, which has been well developed and still remains the Miller home. Mr. Miller is one of the few original homesteaders in this section of Nebraska that still live on the homestead farm. He has passed through the different phases of pioneer life in Merrick county in the years of hard times, grasshopper raids, drouths, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have thirteen children living: Amelia, who is married to John Scheibe, has seven children and lives in Howard county; Julius, also married and lives in Merrick county, has two children; Elizabeth, married to William Otte, has five children and lives in Howard county ; Susie, mar ried to Henry Thede, has six children and lives in Merrick county; Julia, married to Herman Rup- hoff, living in Schuyler, Nebraska, and has four children ; Esther, who is married to Albert Peters, has four children and lives in Howard county, Nebraska; Ferdinand, married, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; MolUe and August, at home; Emma, who is married to William Krause, lives in Howard county and has one child ; and John, Sarah, and Clara, who reside under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Miller and family are well known and have the respect and esteem of many friends. G. W. JOHNSON. A typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named. He has lived in this section of the country for about twenty years, and has made himself felt as a part of the growth and development of the region, building up for himself, incidentally, a substantial home and valuable property. Mr. Johnson is a native of Sweden. He .was born March 12, 1851, and is a son of John and Lotoa Johnson, who were well known farmers and worthy citizens of their community in the old country. During his boyhoQd our subject helped carry on the home farm, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he left home and embarked for America. Spending little time in the city, he went almost directly to Iowa, where he secured work in a coal mine, following the same in the vicinity of Boone county for ten years. About the month of March, 1885, he came to Antelope county, Nebraska, where he filed on a homestead and tree claim, proving up on two hundred and forty acres of land in the required time. During his early residence in that vicinity he experienced many hardships and privations, incident to the life of the early settler on the Nebraska frontier, but bravely stuck to his self-imposed task of building up for himself a home and carving a fortune out of adversity, and his present pros- 604 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. perity is proof of his energy and perseverance. During the blizzard of 1888 he suffered severe loss, nearly all of his cattle being frozen to death. A short time after this, he sold his holdings in Antelope county and came to Knox county. In 1892 he purchased a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, which he has improved with good buildings, groves, etc. He has a very handsome residence, plenty of shade and fruit trees surrounding his dwelling, and his place is known as one of the most beautiful homes and best equipped stock and grain farms in the sec tion. July 8, 1876, Mr. Johnson was united in mar riage to Miss Clara Carlson, a native of Sweden, and to them have been born the following chil dren, all of whom are occupying honorable posi tions in life : Gust, Amanda, Edward, Leta, Min nie, Hilda, Carl, Freeman, Clifford, Warner, Mabel and Lawrence. H. VOELKER. Energetic efforts and intelligence go hand in hand in the building up of a fortune, regardless of the vocation to which they are applied. One of the well developed and highly improved es tates of Stanton county, is that owned by Mr. H. Voelker, whose pleasant home is located in sec tion eight, township twenty-two, range two, east. Mr. Voelker is a German by birth, and was born in Pommeron, Germany, in 1856, the son of John and Arelka Voelker. His childhood and early manhood years were spent in his native land, where he also obtained his education. In 1882 Mr. Voelker came from Germany to America, by way of Bremen. After landing in New York, he located in the city of Elmira, in that state, and accepted employment in a woolen mill, where he remained for about three years, coming then to Madison county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farm work in the vicinity of Nor folk. In 1890, Mr. Voelker came to Stanton county and bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, where he erected a frame house about six teen by twenty-four, which remained the home of the family for many years. Many improvements have been put on the farm since he purchased it, which have greatly enhanced its value. Mr. Voelker was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Timm, in 1882. They are the parents of eight children, all of whom are living. The chil dren are named as follows: Herman, Gustave, Martha, Anna, Paul, Otto, Ida and Clara. During his long residence in this country, Mr. Voelker has won the esteem of all who know him. His many sterling qualities have gained him friends everywhere he has gone. Mr. Voelker served in the army of the German Empire from 1876 to 1879, but has had no oppor tunity for military service in America. WILLIAM H. AND REBECCA ATKINSON. Located very pleasantly in section four, town ship twenty-four, range five, is to be found the family whose name introduces this biographical writing. It has been identified with the history of Antelope county, Nebraska, from a very early date. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson were born in Guth rie Grove, Lee county, Illinois; Mrs. Atkinson's name before marriage being Rebecca Guthrie. Her mother was born near Wheeling, West Vir ginia. Mrs. Atkinson was married in 1865 to Willis Lee, and they became the parents of six children. Mr. Lee's father served in the civil war, enlisting in 1863, and receiving an honor able discharge in 1865. On December 23, 1879, Mr. Lee died in Nodaway county, Missouri, leaving six little children to the care of his wife, who had a very hard struggle to provide for them. Two of the children are now living : Benjamin F., and Ida, who is now Mrs. Charles McCauley. On May 24, 1885, Mrs. Atkinson was united in marriage to William Atkinson, and they had one child born to them, Levie, who still resides at home. Mr. William H. Atkinson was born in Illinois, April 8, 1844. He was married in 1874 to Lucy Long, of Illinois, who died February 18, 1879. In 1882 he eame to Antelope county, Ne braska, from Illinois, and bought two hundred and forty acres of land from Mr. Ben Trueblood, who was the homesteader of the land. On this land Mr. Atkinson found a log house, in which he lived for ten months, working fifteen acres and renting the balance of his land; then returned to Illinois where he married. His father, William Atkinson, was a native of county Armaugh, Ire land, born in 1806. In coming to America our subject's father embarked on a sail boat, and did not see land for seventy days. He then stopped off at New Brunswick where he worked in the lumber region, where timber was being procured with which to build ships, and then went to New Hampshire, where he worked on a railroad. Mrs. Atkinson's mother, Mary Ross, was a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and died at the age of sixty-six years, deeply mourned by all. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson experienced many hardships and trials in early days. In the memor able blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Atkinson lost none of his own stock as did so many of the settlers, but he found shelter in his own shed for a neighbor's cattle, who could not drive them against the storm. Mr. Atkinson's children were at school, but the boy assisted in getting a neigh bor's little girl home and froze his ears while on the way. The severity of the storm may be realized from the statement that it was thirty de- 'THETKEADOWS"," FARM RESIDENCE OF ALVIN DAILY. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 605 grees above zero in the morning and by six o 'clock in the evening the thermometer registered six degrees below zero with a perfect hurricane blowing and the air filled with minute particles of snow. WILLIAM WESTBROOK. William Westbrook is one of the younger men among the old settlers of Custer county, which has been his home for over thirty years. He is widely and favorably known as a useful citizen and an enterprising and successful farmer. He was born in Livingston county, New York, Sep tember, 4, 1866, eldest of the four children of Charles and Susan (Speer) Westbrook. His sis ter, Marjorie, Mrs. William Story, lives in Iowa, and he has two sisters deceased. His parents were born in New York and both now reside in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The father enlisted in a New York regiment for service in the civil war, returned home at the close of his term, and in 1874 located in Merrick county, Nebraska. About 1879-80 he took up a homestead on Clear creek, near Lee Park. Mr. Westbrook received his early education in his native state and in 1874 accompanied his parents to Merrick county, coming with them later to Custer county. In young manhood he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-three, township eighteen, range eighteen, in Douglas Grove pre cinct, which is still his home. On November 25, 1890, at the home of her parents in Westerville, he married Laura Elizabeth Mattox, a native of Coles county, Illinois, who in 1884 came to Custer county with her parents, William R. and Mary (Larue) Mattox. A sketch of Mr. Mattox also appears in this work. Mr. Westbrook has improved and developed his farm, equipping it with modern machinery and appliances. In 1906 he erected a fine modern residence, which is well situated and has very pleasant surroundings. He is at present serving as treasurer of school district number ten, and is interested in everything affecting the welfare and prosperity of the locality. He and his wife be came parents of eleven children: Oral M., Charles R., Ruth E., Clarence W., Everett, Helen M., Laura Mildred, William, junior, Josephine Adelaide, and Leonard R., and Leora R., twins. The children have been educated in local schools and all of them live at home. ALVIN DAILY. Alvin Daily an early settler of Custer county, has been closely identified with the affairs of his district and is well known throughout the county. He and his wife are always ready to give of their time and means to all worthy projects and although among the younger people of the early settlers, have passed through many periods of Nebraska history, Mr. Daily was born near Halls- ville, in Otsego county, New York, January 1, 1862, the eldest child of William Grant and Phoebe (Howe) Daily, the father also a native of that county and born in the town or township of Decatur, February 8, 1833. William Grant Daily was the seventh born of twelve children of Peter and Lucretia (Fox) Daily, and his parents were both natives of New York, where they were married and reared their chil dren. William G. Daily married Phoebe Howe, March 18, 1861, and they quietly celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1911, on their farm near their sons. In 1871 he moved with his family to Altoona, Knox county, Illinois, and two years later located near Wapello, in Louisa county, Iowa. They lived for a time near Ster ling, Logan county, Colorado, coming to Custer county, Nebraska, in 1894. After coming to Ne braska, Mr. Daily purchased the southeast quar ter of section sixteen, 'township twenty, range twenty-one, where he and his wife have a pleasant farm home and both are active for their . age. They are respected and honored by all who know them. Mr. Daily is in his seventy-eighth and Mrs. Daily in her seventy-fourth year. They spent sixteen years in Iowa, four in Colo rado, and have been in Nebraska eighteen years. Eight children were born to them, of whom six survive : Alvin, of Custer county ; Leon, of Iowa ; Ella, now Mrs. John H. Brooks, of Colorado; Sadie, now Mrs. Thomas Morgan, of Iowa ; Marion S. and Rose, who is Mrs. Lee Athey, of Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Daily have twenty-three grandchildren. Alvin Daily was reared on a farm, receiving his education in district and graded schools. In 1871 he came with his parents to Altoona, Knox county, Illinois, where they remained two years and then removed to Louisa county, Iowa, where they remained about sixteen years. Two of the children had died in New York, and two were born in Iowa. Alvin Daily lived on the farm in Iowa until 1882 and in his twentieth year started out in life for himself. He was married May 26 of that year to Rose Dell Peters, daughter of Daniel H. and Mary (Lake) Peters, eldest of their six children and a native of Delaware county, Ohio. Her parents were natives of Ohio and moved from that state to Iowa in 1881. The father died in August, 1900, and the mother in November of the same year. Mrs. Daily has brothers as follows : Frank J., of Kansas ; Milton H. Peters, is married and has lived in Custer county since 1906; Mark, lives in Iowa; Wilbur S., is married and has lived in Custer county since 1900. Mrs. Daily is a woman of pleasing person ality and manner and has won many friends. Mr. 606 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and Mrs. Daily have an adopted son, Alexander Victor, who is developing a strong liking for stock raising and farming. At the time of his marriage Mr. Daily was en gaged in farming, although he had previously taught school for some time during the winter terms. In November, 1883, he and his brother Leon came to Nebraska with a covered wagon and four horses, and stopped one season in Howard county, farming on rented land. In the winter of 1883 Mrs. Daily joined her husband in Howard county and in the following May they came to Custer county, taking a homestead on section twenty-four, township twenty, range twenty-two, where they lived until 1896, when they moved to the northeast quarter of section sixteen, town ship twenty, range twenty-one, where Mr. Daily had purchased a farm in 1895. He had begun to improve this place before locating on it and the Daily farm now consists of four hundred acres of choice land, part of which lies along the Middle Loup river. It is one of the finest stock and grain farms in the vicinity and has fine fields of hay and pasture land. Mr. Daily has made a notable suc cess of raising alfalfa^ of which he makes a spe cialty. His farm is well equipped with modern machinery and appliances and is known as "The Meadows." One hundred and twenty-five acres are seeded to alfalfa, timothy and clover. A fine brook runs through the barnyard and lots, sup plying unlimited clear water. He also makes a specialty of stock raising, which has been very profitable. A gasoline engine is used to supply running water to the house and barns and runs a private dynamo and storage battery for light ing the dwelling, barn and grounds. This is prob ably the first country house in the county to use electric light. Mr. Daily is progressive along educational and moral lines and has always taken an active part in political matters. He served on the county board during 1902, 1903 and in politics is a dem- crat, but in local elections votes independent of party lines. He is a charter member of lodge number two hundred and sev enty-seven, Ancient Order of United Work men, of Anselmo. He and his wife have a pleasant home, surrounded by fine trees and they have a fine orchard. Mrs. Daily also has a small conservatory of flowers and plants in the home, in whose culture she has been very success ful. The family has experienced life in the prim itive dwellings of the west, having worn out three "soddies" before building their present comfort able frame dwelling. We are pleased to show an engraving of "The Meadows" on another page of this volume. CHRISTIAN DIBBERT. Christian Dibbert, the subject of this personal history, was born in the village of Sellin, province of Holstein, Germany, October 29, 1872, and is the son of Claus and Dorothea (Becker) Dibbert, both natives of the same province. Our subject re ceived a common school education in his native land, and on April 23, 1888, sailed from Hamburg in the steamer "Lessing," and landed after eleven days, in New York. He first settled in Tama county, Iowa, where he resided until the year 1891, when he came to Pierce county, Nebraska, and settled on the land he now owns and occupies, which is located in the northeast quarter of section six, township twenty- eight, range three. He has been successful in his farming, his only misfortune being the loss of his crops through two hail storms in 1900, one com ing in June and another in August. Mr. Dibbert 's father, Claus Dibbert, came to America in 1891, but died three months after reaching his destination. The mother makes her home with Mr. Dibbert when not visiting with two other sons in South Dakota, who came to America with their parents in 1891. October 22, 1908, Mr. Dibbert was married to Bertha Ernst, a native of Westphalia, who emi grated to the United States earlier in that year. Her parents, Reinhold and Louisa Ernst, are still residing in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Dibbert are of the German Lutheran faith, and Mr. Dib bert votes the republican ticket. RICHARD E. CALVIN. R. E. Calvin, one of the prosperous young farmers and stockmen of Howard county, Ne braska, is a descendant of a prominent pioneer family in that section, and a splendid specimen of vigorous manhood, energetic and progressive in his methods of agriculture. He has gained the rep utation of being one of the successful men of his locality, and enjoys the esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Calvin was born in Polk county, Iowa, on August 15, 1867. He is the third son in the family of David A. and Mary Jones Calvin, pio neers in Howard county, a sketch of the former appearing in this volume on another page. Rich ard was a boy of six years when his parents set tled in Nebraska, and small though he was, well remembers the adventures they passed through in making the trip to their new home. He received his education in the country schools here, remain ing at home with his parents until he was twenty- two, then began farming and stock raising on his own account. He was thrifty and industrious, and soon purchased a tract of land on section twenty-five, township fifteen, range twelve, which he put in good shape, and has since added to the original farm, owning at the present time six hundred and forty acres, making it one of the ex tensive and valuable stock and grain farms in his locality. On April 20, 1893, Mr. Calvin was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte E. Welsh, who is a COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 607 native of Huron county, Canada, and came into Howard county with her mother in 1880. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cal vin, their first born, dying in infancy, while Mabel, now a charming young miss, Archie W., George E. and Mildred Evaline, are sturdy youngsters and the pride of their parents' hearts. The fam ily have a pleasant home, and large circle of good friends in their community. Mr. Calvin is active in local affairs, having served in the past in different capacities for the benefit of his precinct, although at the present time he holds no office. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and is universally re spected- for his earnest 'endeavor in aiding his county and state JAMES GRANT CRUIKSHANK. James Grant Cruikshank is recognized as one of the more successful among the younger genera tion of farmers of Valley county, Nebraska, and the land he now operates is that secured as a homestead- by his father in 1885. Mr. Cruik shank is a native of Dallas county, Iowa, born December 19, 1879, a son of James and Mary (McLachlen) Cruikshank, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Canada. A sketch of the father is to be found in these pages and his career well illustrates the exceptional opportu nities offered in the state of Nebraska at the time he came to it with his family. He and his wife reared a large family of children amid pioneer conditions, James Grant being the youngest of the seven. He accompanied his parents to Val ley county at the age of six years, in 1885, re ceived his education in the community and there grew to manhood. He graduated from the Arca dia high school in 1897 and then engaged in farm ing. On April 17, 1901, Mr. Cruikshank married Miss Bessie Rhodes, who was born in Omaha, daughter of Henry F. and Cora (Reeves) Rhodes, who now lives in Eugene Oregon. The father was born in North Lansing, New York, and the mother in Douglas county, Nebraska. The Reeves family were among the earliest settlers of Omaha ; Mrs. Rhodes' father pre-empted the land on which Creighton college is situated, while her cousin, William Nebraska Reeves, was the first white child born in the city. An uncle, A. D. Jones, was first postmaster of the new settlement, and so little mail arrived that he carried it all in his hat. She has a sister, Mrs. S. W. Bright, liv ing at Arcadia, Nebraska, and one brother and four sisters in Oregon. Her father, Mr. Rhodes, was a Nebraska pioneer, served two years in the state house of representatives, and in an early day was a teacher in the Omaha schools. Mr. Cruikshank and wife have one child, Thelma Fern. Mr. Cruikshank is active in all affairs affect ing the general welfare and advancement of his community, is an enthusiastic farmer and a promi nent citizen. He is the owner and operator of the homestead originally secured by his father, which is well improved and equipped as a grain farm. He is now serving as director of the school board of district number thirty-four. In politics he is republican, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his wife has received the Rebekah degree. He well remembers when Valley county was all open country. Their first dwelling was a dug out fourteen feet square, having but one window ; in this six of them lived through the first few years. In 1894, the year of the drouth, they raised enough to supply the family wants, which was much better than most families were able to do. At the time of the fearful blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, Grant was a lad at school; he went home with some of his school fellows, remaining until the storm had abated the next day. One unusual experience of the early years occurred to Mr. Cruikshank about three weeks after his marriage; on May tenth he and his horse were found unconscious on the prairie and for sixteen days he lay in a state of coma. Consciousness returned gradually, and for years his nerves and eyes were severely affected, in fact he has not fully recovered to this day. PRANK G. LEHMANN. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Madison county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this personal history, and he is entitled to a foremost place. Mr. Lehmann is living on section one, township twenty-three, range one, where he and his family reside, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them; and their friends are many. Mr. Lehmann is a native of Dodge, Wisconsin, in which state his birth occurred August 16, 1866, and he is a son of Frederick and Henrietta (Melcher) Lehmann both of whom were natives of the province of Prussia, Ger many. The parents left their native land in 1848 coming to America, where there were better opportunities for a young man with a family to get a start in life. They embarked on a sailboat at Hamburg, Germany, and after being on the sea for sixteen weeks, they landed in New York. After landing in the United States, they proceeded westward as far as the state of Wisconsin, where they located, remaining there until 1868. They then migrated with covered wagon and ox team to Madison county, Nebraska, and were on the road seven weeks. Our subject's father had preceded him, had staked out a home stead, and had gone back for his family. When he and his family arrived in Madison county they found another man had taken the homestead and on this land had built the first store in this sec tion of the country, which became a trading post. Mr. Lehmann, our subject, bought this man out. 608 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Lehmann 's father died in April, 1881, and the mother still kept the old homestead, and in 1884 built a good frame house, the lumber for its construction being shipped from Wisconsin. In the pioneer days of some forty years ago, conditions were vastly different than now, as time has worked wonders in that number of years; instead of a thriving, well populated country and prosperity on every hand, in those early days there was scarcely anything to be seen for miles but the unbroken, rolling prairies, and the only living creatures outside of a very few settlers scattered here and there, were the deer and ante lope that frequently could be seen grazing around. Many hardships and privations were endured in those early frontier days, and among other dan gers to be encountered were the prairie fires that raged so fiercely at times, and which swept every thing before them and left black desolation in their path ; many times our subject and his family were compelled to fight the walls of flame to save their lives and property. Another discourage ment experienced by the family was the devasta tion wrought by the hordes of grasshoppers that came each year for the first few years of settle ment in this new country, and destroyed every blade of vegetation for miles, causing great pri vation, and hardship in this part of the country. But those trying times have long since passed, and prosperity and success attend the efforts of all who persevere. Mr. Lehmann was married November 27, 1890, to Miss Anna Rieggert, and they are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Herbert, Reinhold, Elsie, Erven, and Clara. They are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Lehmann is a democrat. WILLIAM A. KAUPP. William A. Kaupp belongs to one of the old and distinguished families of Custer county Who have had so much to do with its upbuilding and development. He has been notably successful as a farmer and stock man and owns one of the lar gest farms in the county. He was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, February 26, 1870, son of Christian and Catherine (Heindinger) Kaupp, and the eldest of their fourteen children. The family is mentioned at considerable length in connection with the sketch of the father, Chris tian Kaupp, which appears elsewhere in these pages. The parents reared a large family to honorable man and womanhood and they were among the best known families in central Ne braska. Mr. Kaupp spent his early life on his father's farm in Illinois and there received his education. In 1887, when about seventeen years of age, he accompanied his parents and the rest of the fam ily to Custer county, where the father took up a homestead. He remained with them on West Table several years, and in 1904 homesteaded two hundred and forty acres of land in Pine canon, section thirty, township seventeen, range twenty-three, where he lived about six years. On December 17, 1896, he married Nettie Troyer, of Pine canon, a native of Nebraska, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Troyer, who are now living in Callaway Nebraska. Mrs. Kaupp has two brothers in Cus ter county, George and Nicholas; two sisters there; one brother in Wyoming, and one sister and two brothers in the state of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Troyer came to Clay county, Ne braska, in the early seventies. Five tehildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kaupp : Loren E. and Orvil R., at home; one child died in infancy; Wilma and Zelma at home. In the spring of 1910 Mr. Kaupp purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on sec tion ten, township seventeen, range twenty- three, which was a well improved and equipped grain and stock farm, and the family have since made their home there. He is known as an enterprising and progressive citizen and is one of the younger residents of Custer county who have achieved success and prosperity there by their own efforts. He passed through many pioneer experiences and is one of the best known men in the region. He is director of school board of district number one hundred and fifty-one, and actively interested in educa tional and other beneficial movements in his com munity. He owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of well improved land. HERMAN H. MOHR. The gentleman above named was one of the leading business men of Pierce, Nebraska, and his career is a striking example of what ambi tion and enterprise will do when backed by per severance and determination, as from a humble beginning he grew to be one of the prosperous business men of his part of the county, success attending his every effort, and today his name is synonymous for prosperity and victory. Herman H. Mohr is a native of Clinton county, Iowa, born August 3, 1862, a son of Henry and Maggie (Koch) Mohr, who were married in Dav enport, Iowa. The father was born in the prov ince of Sehleswig, Germany, and was a pioneer in both Iowa and Nebraska. They had eleven children, seven of whom are living, Herman H. Mohr being the eldest. Mrs. Mohr's parents were natives of Sehleswig, Germany, her grand mother dying there in 1906 at the age of one hundred and five years. When Herman was thirteen years of age, the family settled in Sac county, Iowa, where the father opened a general store at Wall Lake, and he worked as a clerk in the store for seven years, then started in the same business for himself at Early, Iowa, continuing for six years. In June, 1888, he came to Pierce and opened a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 609 lumber yard, the first in the city, dealing in grain, coal and lumber, and became very successful. In November, 1910, he sold his business in Pierce and became identified with the International and Southern Mausoleum Company of Chicago, of which he is one of the officers. To this he brings the same energy and capability that have made all his business ventures successful; prosperity is sure to follow him. Our subject was married at Early, Iowa, to Miss Suza Lee, who is a native of New Yrirk state, her parents, John and Suza (Smith) Lee, were early pioneers in Iowa; the father emigrat ing from London, the place of his nativity. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mohr: Lloyd, now a student at the Wisconsin State University, and Lee, attending the Pierce high school. Mr. Mohr is a republican, and for about six teen years was alderman in his town. He has been interested in the real estate business for many years, and has platted three different ad ditions to Pierce, also owns several fine farms near the county seat. ANDREW RICE. Andrew Rice, one of the prominent early set tlers of eastern Nebraska, is proprietor of an ex tensive farm of four hundred acres known as the "Home Ranch," improved with splendid buildings and well equipped, and which is lo cated in section two, township thirteen, range eight, and is a fine stock farm. Mr. Rice is a man of excellent qualifications and in whatever enterprise he has embarked he has met with success. He has also been an importarit factor in the development of the agricultural and com mercial resources of Merrick county, and is wide ly and favorably known throughout this and ad joining counties. Andrew Rice, farmer, son of John and Eliza beth (Eckert) Rice, was born in Ohio, April 27, 1862, and is second in the family of four children ; he has one sister residing in Canton, Ohio, one brother in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and another in South Dakota. Our subject's parents died in Ohio. Mr. Rice received his education in the home schools and later was interested in farming. In February, 1885, Mr. Rice was united in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Hahn, also of Ohio, and in the same month came west to Nebraska, locating in Lancaster county for one year, then going into Otoe county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres, living on this farm for eleven years. In the spring of 1897 he sold this farm and eame to Merrick county, purchasing four hundred and eighty acres of land southeast of Archer, where he lived until January, 1909, when he sold this and bought his present home, which is a fine stock farm, known as "Home Ranch." This place contains four hundred acres. It is im proved with splendid buildings and is well equipped, and here he is still living. Mr. Rice has been moderator of his school district, number twenty-four, for some years. He is a successful man of affairs, and is interested in the welfare of his home state and county, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have had eight children: Clyde, who resides in Archer, Nebraska; Dexter, living at home ; Lilly, wife of Glenn Rice, has two children and lives in Merrick county; and Mel- ven, Andy, Vira, Ernest and Flossy, all of whom reside at home. JOHN STAHLECKER. Most of the immigrants from Europe prove to be thrifty, and in time prosperous, and such may be said of the venerable John Stahlecker, now living, retired from active labor, in the village of Naper, Boyd county, Nebraska. John Stahlecker was born in the village of Fredersdahl, Prussia, December 17, 1843. His parents, Josias and Katrina (Koch) Stahlecker, soon after his birth, moved to Russia, where that- govemment gave immigrants a tract of free land. Here he followed the life of a farmer until emi grating to America in 1873. Sailing from Ham burg, he landed in New York after a voyage of fifteen days, and came directly to Columbus, Ne braska. He rented farm land there for five years, thence moving to South Dakota, and filing on a homestead in Hutchinson county, where he lived for fourteen years. Selling his land here, he removed to Nebraska, in 1892, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Boyd county, two and a half miles west of Naper. Here he re sided until 1905, when he bought a comfortable cottage home in town and has since refrained from active labor. He is, with two sons-in-law, interested in two hardware and implement houses, one in Naper and one in Herriek, South Dakota. Mr. Stahlecker was married in the old coun try, in the year 1863, to Miss Barbara Reuter, who is the mother of eleven living children, named as follows: Conrad, who lives on his farm north of Naper; Predrika, wife of Pernand Klaudt, Gottlieb, who resides at Delmont, South Dakota; Josias, who rents a farm one mile west of Naper ; Katrina, wife of Samuel Statsmann, who is one of the partners in the hardware busi ness and runs the store in Naper; John has a farm two miles west of town ; Barbara, who lives in Naper, where her husband, Claus Vogt, is en gaged in the furniture business; Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Reichel, the third member of the hardware firm, and who runs the Herriek branch of the business; Marie is married to John Blakkolb, who owns a grocery store in Naper; Dora and her husband, John Houf, live on their homestead claim in Gregory, South Dakota; and Jacob clerks in the Naper store of his father's firm. 610 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Stahlecker is republican in political faith. and is a lifelong member of the Lutheran church. He has endured the many winter storms that prevail in this region and has weathered a num ber of the fierce blizzards that sweep the plains, including that of January 12, 1888. Prairie fires have devastated his farm from time to time, car rying up in smoke many tons of hay and en dangering his buildings. His earliest home was the typical sod house of the pioneer, but later he built frame dwellings and has had good houses on all the tracts of land that have been his home. ALFRED W. DYAR AND JOHN WALTER DYrAR. John Walter Dyar, one of the leading farmers and early pioneers of Boone county, occupies a fine estate in Boone precinct, where for the past many years he has manifested true public spirit, and gained, incidentally, the esteem of his asso ciates by his honesty and persistent labors for the good of the people of that region. John W. Dyar was born in Webster county, Iowa, on April 28, 1867, and is a son of Alfred W. Dyar, who is one of the old-timers of Boone county, Nebraska. John came here with his parents when a child of four years, the mother, a brother and one sister joining the husband and father, who came here in the spring of 1871, and the others following in August. Mr. Dyar had filed on a homestead and prepared a home for his family, and John Walter grew up on the original farm, which has been his home during his entire career. He was married to Miss Grace Swart at Sharon, Wisconsin, on August 7, 1895. Mrs. Dyar is a native of Boone county, Illinois. They have one daughter, Shirley Hazel. Alfred W. Dyar was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on July 31, 1822. On July 30, 1857, he married Catherine J. Campbell at Lyons, Wis consin, she being a native of New York state. Their first home was established at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where they remained for about nine years then moved into Iowa, following farming in Webster county up to 1871, at which time they came to Boone county, Nebraska. Here Mr. Dyar homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on section six, township nineteen, range five, which was used as the home place up to the time of his death, in June, 1893. Mr. Dyar was survived by his wife and three children: Herbert G., who is married and lives in University Place, Lincoln, Nebraska, is the father of six bright children, and the family are popular members of social life in their community. The second son, John Walter, is mentioned in the first part of this sketch, and one daughter, Mona, is the wife of Calude Maricle, mother of three children, the family well known in Boone county. Mrs. Dyar remained on the farm for about three years after her husband's death, then moved to Boone, where she has purchased a good home and enjoys a large circle of friends. Mrs. Dyar's mother died June 7, 1883, in Wisconsin, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years. She had survived her husband by many years, and had made her home in Lyons. Mrs. Dyar's father, Peter Campbell, also died at the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Dyar were among the earliest pioneers of Boone county, and passed through the discouragements and hardships of frontier life, becoming widely and favorably known for their many acts of neighborly helpful ness and good citizenship. Mr. Dyar enlisted in Company P, of the Sec ond Wisconsin Regiment of Cavalry in the early part of the civil war, and served for three years and three months. He saw every phase of a sol dier's life and endured much suffering and hard ship, receiving his honorable discharge in Janu ary, 1865. S. R. BARTON. For over thirty-three years the gentleman above named has been identified with the history of the growth and development of northeastern Nebraska, and is known as one of the prominent citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, where he resides on section twenty-five, township twenty- eight, range seven. He has lived on his present homestead for over thirty years, and during that time by good management and industry has be come one of the substantial agriculturists of his locality. He is also a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bet terment of conditions in his community. Mr. Barton is a native of Allegheney county, New York, born July 21, 1844, and was eighth in a family of nine children born to Silas R. and Har riett (Wolcott) Barton, the father being a native of Massachusetts, born in 1804, and the mother of our subject being born in the same year and state as the father. The family moved to Pennsylva nia when our subject was three years old, where they remained until 1852, when they went to Clinton, Iowa, remaining there until 1862, when they came to Pulton, Whiteside county, Illinois. While residing in Illinois, our subject left to serve in the civil war, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, un der Captain Clark. Mr. Barton enlisted Febru ary 22, 1865, being put on garrison duty, and re ceived an honorable discharge in May, 1865. Af ter his discharge Mr. Barton resided in Kent county, Michigan, until 1871, then moving to St. Louis, Missouri, remaining there until 1875, then going back to Pulton county, Illinois, and re maining there three years. In 1878 Mr. Barton came to Madison county, Nebraska, driving in a covered wagon from Illi nois, and after his arrival here worked at what ever his hands found to do, remaining there one year and a half. In 1880 he came to Antelope COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 611 county, taking up a pre-emption and tree claim of one hundred and sixty .acres in section twenty- three, township twenty-eight, range seven, on which he built a sod house. In the early days of his residence here, Wisner, Nebraska, and Yank ton, South Dakota, were the nearest market places. Since his residence in Antelope county, our subject has built three sod houses. His frame house was one of the first frame houses erected in this part of the county. On July 21, 1877, Mr. Barton was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Peasley, to whom seven children have been born: Henry, married to Miss Edith LaBranch, has six children; William, mar ried to Mary Thurston, has one child; Alfred married Agnes Croghan; Leonard, married to Miss Nora Geers, has one child; Ed., who is mar ried to Miss Lula Troutman, and has one child; George, married to Miss Lula Totten, has one child; and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Barton and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and they have a host of friends, and acquaintances. george w. Mcintosh. George W. Mcintosh is one of the early set tlers of Custer county who have passed through the discouragements and trials incident to pio neer life and have won success through untiring industry and energy. He is well known in his community as representative of the best interests of his county and state and has a large number of friends. Mr. Mcintosh was born in Monroe county, Iowa, February 22, 1851, fourth in order of birth of the eight children of Daniel and Emily (Land) Mcintosh. He has a brother, W. A., in Custer county; a brother, H. H., in Lincoln; two sisters in Iowa and a brother in Missouri. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Indiana, and both died in Iowa, the former in 1890. Mr. Mcintosh grew to young manhood on an Iowa farm, receiving the educational advantages usually given farmers' sons in his native state, and after leaving school engaged in farming. On August 12, 1880, at Hopeville, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Josephine DeBout, a native of Fulton county, Illinois, and they made their first home in Iowa. In 1884 they removed to York county, Nebraska, and in December, 1885 they came to Custer county to live, Mr. Mcintosh hav ing filed on a homestead on section thirty, town ship eighteen, range eighteen, on March 16, of that year. They lived on this place, improving and de veloping the land, until 1895, when they sold out and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty of the same township, which has since been the home place. They have a well equipped stock and grain farm and a pleasant farm residence. Four children were bora to them, all of whom died in infancy. They have an adopted son, Arthur J., who lives at home. Mr. Mcintosh is one of the men who have justified their faith in the future of Nebraska by their own success and the family are held in high respect in the neighborhood, where they were among the pioneers. CHARLES D. FRASER. Charles D. Fraser, now owning a fine farm in section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range seventeen, Custer county, was one of the earliest settlers in his part of the county and when he first came there the pioneers were mostly occupy ing sod shanties. Their nearest trading point for supplies of all kinds was Grand Island, seventy- five miles distant, and they were obliged to spend six days on the round trip. Mr. Fraser is one of the few men who have remained on their original homestead and he and his family passed through years of drouth and panic and fought against the usual trials and adversities of frontier life. He and his family have been influential in the upbuilding and advancement of that part of the state and are among the most highly respected families there. Mr. Fraser was born in North- Adams, Massa chusetts, February 23, 1838, the eldest of five children born to Freegrace and Lyda (Wilcox) Fraser, who had two sons and three daughters: When he was about seven years old his parents brought him to Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, and after spending three years there, in 1848 moved to Warren county, in the same state. The father was a carpenter by trade but had a small farm in Washington county and when he went to Warren county moved on a larger farm, for which he traded in his former place. At that time Warren county was unsettled and the family were pioneers there. The father died there in the fall of 1849 and the mother's death occurred in the same place about 1868. Two of their children were born in Massachusetts and three in the state of New York, and the only two now surviving are Charles G. and his sister, Mrs. Sarah Jane Fuller, living in Warren county, New York. Mr. Fraser was reared to manhood on the farm in Warren county, and there married in the latter part of November. 1865, Lorinda Hayes, daughter of George and Emeline (Combs) Hayes. The young couple settled in Warren county and Mr. Fraser engaged in lumbering. In March, 1878, he brought his wife and their four children by rail to Grand Island, Nebraska, and they lived there until May 14, 1881, when they came to Cus ter county. Mr. Fraser took up a homestead there in the fall of 1880, and traveled with a horse to get a sod house ready for occupancy by his family. He returned for the others and, with his wife and their five children, came on to their new home. In this they lived for a time and then built a second "soddy," which was their resi dence for twenty years. Recently, a neat frame 612 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. cottage was built, of which we give a view in our illustrated pages, together with barns and other buildings comprising the place. Six children were born to Mr. Fraser and wife, of whom three now survive: Hudson J., born in New York, lives two miles west of the home farm of his father ; Clara, also born in New York, lives with her brother Hudson; Nellie, born in Grand Island, married Reuben P. Moore, and they live on their farm on section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range seventeen, Custer coun ty, and have four children. Those deceased are : Lewis M. and Jennie, born in New York, and Ida, who was born in Custer county. Mr. Fraser is a member of the M. E. church and in politics is a democrat. Mr. Fraser had a notable experience on Janu ary 12, 1888, returning from a sale with a neigh bor through the fearful blizzard of that date. It was the worst he ever saw and in it many hu man beings perished and thousands of head of stock. WILLIS R. WAITE. Willis R. Waite, owner and operator of an excellent grain and stock farm near Arcadia, Ne braska, has spent most of his life in that state. He was born July 22, 1870, at Palmyra, Warren county, Iowa, he and his twin brother, Wilbur S., being the youngest of the five sons of John D. and Juliette (Roseberry) Waite. The father, of Eng lish and Dutch descent, and a native of Pitts- town, New York, served during the civil war as a member of Company F, Thirty-first New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and died in Valley county, Nebraska, October 20, 1891. Mrs. Juliette Waite, a native of New Jersey, now lives at Loup City, Nebraska. She has a son, Wm. H., in southern Mexico, interested in rubber and cattle, near Vera Cruz; a son, Elmer E., at Vancouver, Washing ton; Wilbur S., is at Loup City, representing the district in the legislature; Willis R., of Valley county, and one son is deceased. At the age of ten years, Willis R. Waite ac companied his parents to Valley county, where he reached manhood on his father's farm. John D. Waite had purchased, in 1880, the homestead right taken by his oldest son, C. E. Waite, who had settled in Valley county in April, 1879. Af ter completing the course in the local schools. Willis R. Waite entered the Capital City Com mercial College at Des Moines, Iowa, where he graduated, and he also holds a diploma from Co lumbian Business College, of Chicago. Aft' leaving school he engaged in teaching school, and later was employed as bookkeeper for the Bur lington & Missouri River Railroad Company, at New Castle, Wyoming, where he remained a year and a half. He taught school in Loup City and in Sherman county for a time, and in 1899 re turned to Valley county, Nebraska. Mr. Waite was married October 25, 1899, to Miss Abbie Grow, who was born at Loup City, Nebraska, and they are- the parents of two chil dren, Charles Edmund and Lucy Grow. Mrs. Waite is the daughter of Darwin C. Grow, post master of Loup City, whose wife was before mar riage Harriet Reniff, born near Hartford, Connec ticut. Mr. Grow was born at Batavia, Illinois, and came to Nebraska in 1876, becoming one of Sherman county's pioneers. In 1907 Mr. Waite purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in section sixteen, town ship seventeen, range fifteen, and this is still the home place. He has substantial and convenient buildings on his farm, of which we show a view elsewhere in this work. An especial item of in terest on the place is his fine orchard of over a hundred and fifty trees, protected by a grove of fast growing Norway poplars, of which he has several groves on the place. Mr. Waite is an energetic man of affairs, and is interested in everything relating to the welfare of the state or county. He is well and favorably known in Valley county and has many friends. He served for a time as director of district num ber twenty-seven. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Waite 's introduction to Nebraska was anything but pleasant; the family was snow bound at Seward by the three-day blizzard in the middle of October, 1880. They spent the winter in a half-finished house with nothing but shiplap between them and the cold world outside; for a whole week they stayed in bed most of the time, having only cornstalks for fuel. To keep their cow from freezing, she was brought into the house and kept in one room. When the floods came in the spring they were water-bound for three weeks, and even when it subsided travel was difficult, as all bridges were washed away. When the blizzard of January 12, 1888, came, our subscriber and his brother were hauling hay half a mile from home, and experienced great diffi culty in reaching home. Deer, elk and antelope were plentiful, the former sometimes being seen in herds of five or six. Mr. Waite. and his broth er killed a fine buck on one of their hunting ex peditions. They followed trapping to add to their income, and with good success; they trapped not only animals, but game birds, secur ing over one hundred prairie chickens one winter. ARTHUR H. BACKHAUS. Arthur H. Baekhaus, editor and proprietor of The Leader, published at Pierce, Nebraska, is one of the leading newspaper men of Pierce county. He has followed the work for many years, having been identified with different organs in that part of Nebraska, and since acquiring management of the above paper, has doubled the plant and circu lation of the same. Mr. Baekhaus is a native of Iowa, born in Allamakee county on August 18, 1880. He left that state with his parents when a small boy, AT n ^ n RESIDENCE OF WILLIS R. WAITE. 'VALLEY COVE FARM," RESIDENCE OF CHARLES D. FRASER. Compendium of History, remIniscEnce and biography. 613 coming to Holt county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1887, locating sixteen miles southwest of Atkin son. Here he received his education, attending the sandhill schools with his brother and 'sister, walking six miles to and from school, and these trips were attended by considerable risk in those days, the children from several families being obliged to cross a river by boat in order to reach the school, and often they had exciting experien ces along the way. Mr. Baekhaus remained, working on his fath er's farm until he was eighteen years of age, then entered the office of the Holt County Independent at O'Neill, and served his apprenticeship to the printer's trade. After an exteneded trip through the state, he entered the office of the Stuart Ledger at Stuart, soon afterwards entering into partnership with the editor of that paper, and they also started the Naper News in Boyd county, their equipment be ing a small hand press and some old type given them by Mr. Evans, of the O'Neill Independent, this same press being the one with which he start ed in business. However, a beginning was made in the small village, which gave no great promise of its later increase, the young men alternating between Naper and Stuart, a division finally be ing made, by which our subject was to handle the Stuart paper and the partner the Naper News. The latter was transferred to a successor about a year later, when Mr. Baekhaus secured a position on the Post at Lindsay, Platte county, remaining for one year in the position, and then purchased the paper, which he edited for two years and sold. In February, 1903, he came to Pierce, and bought the Leader, which he has run ever since, this be ing the chief official organ of the democratic party in Pierce county. Our subject was married in Lindsay, June 15, 1903, to Miss Elizabeth Thomazin, daughter of Thomas and Mary Thomazin, natives of England, the latter now living with Mr. and Mrs. . Baek haus. Two children have been born to our subject and his charming wife, Ramona and Edgar, both bright and interesting young people. Mr. Baekhaus has always been affiliated with the democratic party, and, through his paper, gives his earnest support to the candidates and principles of his party. He is popular in business and educational circles in his vicinity, and a man highly esteemed by the people. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge of Pierce. NIELS P. JENSEN. A fine two hundred and fifty acre farm is owned and operated by the gentleman above named. He resides on section twenty-four, and is one of the influential citizens of Howard county, having been identified with public affairs of his locality for the past thirty-six years or more. Niels P. Jensen is a representative son of Denmark, having been born there on August 29, 1868, and at the age of four years came to America with his father, mother, three sisters and one brother, he being the fourth in order of birth. The ship on which they came over stopped at New Brunswick, and from there the Jensens went to Quebec, remaining a short time, then came on to the United States, settling at first in Iowa. The father took a farm in Blackhawk county, and after three years residence there the entire family came to Howard county, locating on a homestead on section thirty-two, township fifteen, range eleven, proved up and occupied it as the home place for some years after the death of the father; Lars Jensen, in the spring of 1893. The mother survived him for two years, her death occurring in 1895, and two years later the farm was divided among the children. Our subject started out for himself when about twelve years of age, working by the month on farms in that vicinity, and in 1898 purchased his home place which he still carries on, and which he has de veloped into a fine farm, devoting his entire time to grain and stock raising so that he has become one of the well known prosperous men of his locality. Mr. Jensen was married to Annie Andersen, on March 5, 1890. Mrs. Jensen is a native of Denmark, coming to America with her parents in the spring of 1888. Ten children were born of their union, all of whom are living, as follows: Carrie, wife of George Wall, they living on a good farm in this county ; John, Mary, Ida, Hans, Chris, James, Olea, Walter and Peter, all at home. Mrs. Jensen died on the homestead May 22, 1908, and her demise was a sad misfortune to her family, who together with a host of friends sin cerely mourn her. She was a woman of lovely character, a devoted wife and mother, and was sorely needed in her home and community. In the earlier years Mr. Jensen was a mem ber of the school board in district ntfmber two, which was the first school established in How ard county outside of the St. Paul schools. He has also been prominent in local public affairs. On January 26, 1909, Mr. Jensen married Mrs. Minnie Hansen, also a native of Denmark, whose parents still reside in that country. By the last marriage there has been one child, Christina. DIRK O. FRANZEN. The Franzen family were among the very earliest settlers of Nebraska and passed through the experiences and trials of pioneer life. They have had much to do with the development and advancement of the best interests of Valley county and are numbered among the most pros perous and successful of the early comers. Dirk O. Franzen is a native of the Kingdom of Han over, Germany, born in the village of Luelesberg, province of East Friesland, May 15, 1850, youngest 614 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of the eight children of Onka and Jantje (Pran- ders) Franzen. The parents were born, reared and marired in Germany, where all their children were also born and reared. Two brothers and one sis ter of Dirk 0. Franzen came to the United States before he did and in the fall of 1873 his father and another sister came, and all settled in Cass county, Nebraska, except one sister, who settled first in Pennsylvania, but in later life came to Jefferson county, Nebraska. The father died in Cass county in 1881 in his eighty-eighth year; the mother had died in Germany in 1866. Mr. Franzen had a brother, Claus, in Germany, who died December 25, 1910, a brother, Frank, in Valley county, and a sister, Christina, (Mrs. Harm Lottman), in Cass county. As a young man Dirk 0. Franzen served three years in the German army, and during that time served in the Franco-German war. He partici pated in thirteen battles, the siege of Metz and the campaign against the army of the Loire. He came to the United States in the fall of 1872, sailing from Hamburg in the "Ohio," landing in Baltimore after a voyage of eighteen days. He reached Nebraska December 1, of that year. He was the only one of the family who came to the United States at that time and located first in Cass county, where he was employed by the month at farm work. January 2, 1879, he married Miss Sophia Peters, in Cass county. She was a daughter of Peter and Lena (Shoemaker) Peters. The father came to the United States in 1855, and Miss Shoemaker came shortly afterward and they were married in Cook county, Illinois, in 1857, having known each other in Germany. In 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Peters brought their children, Sophia and William, to Cass county, Nebraska, being of the hardy pioneer band to pave the way for the present prosperity and development of the region. Six children were born to Mr. Peters and wife in Nebraska. The mother died in Cass county, October 23, 1897, and the father Febru ary 28, 1904, both in their seventy-second year. Of their children six now survive and all live in Nebraska except Louis, of Kansas. Two sons and two daughters live in Cass county; Mrs. Ludwig Lenz and Mrs. Dirk Franzen live in Valley county. After his marriage Mr. Franzen and his wife began farming for themselves and rented a farm in Cass county until February, 1884, then moved to Valley county and there secured a homestead. They now have a well equipped grain and stock farm of four hundred and eighty acres of land on section four, township seventeen, range sixteen, which has been developed and improved by the efforts of Mr. Franzen and his family. They won their present success and prosperity by years of hard work and the practice of economy and thrift. Eight children were born to Mr. Franzen and wife, namely .- Emma, wife of Theodore Shultz, of Valley county, has two sons; Henry, married and living in Cass county; Frank, married and living on section three, town ship seventeen, range sixteen, has one child; Anna and Alvina, at home; Mary, wife of Nea- man Bouma, of Valley county ; and Christina and Claus, at home. The family has a good standing in the community and has many friends. Mr. Franzen is independent in politics and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel lows. Mr. Franzen first lived in a sod house like most of the pioneers. He built a fine concrete block house in 1906, and nearly all the other buildings on the place have been erected since Mr. Franzen came into possession of it. The dry year, 1894, nothing was raised on the farm, and on several occasions severe hail storms des troyed his crops. At the time of the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Franzen was in Arcadia, and made his way home traversing the three miles bent almost to the ground in order to withstand the severe wind and to better see the ruts of the road leading home. EDMUND P. WEATHERBY. The gentleman above named is one of the foremost citizens of Norfolk, Nebraska, and is a very well known and esteemed member of the northeastern part of Nebraska. Edmund P. Weatherby was born in Morrow county, Ohio, March 2, 1846, and was third of six children in the family of Thomas and Sophia Weatherby, who had three sons and three daugh ters, Edmund being the eldest son. The parents were natives of New York state. The Weatherby family went to Dubuque county, Iowa, in the spring of 1859, locating in Epworth, where the children attended the semi nary at that place. Our subject's father pur chased a farm in Delaware county, Iowa, in 1860, and removed his family to the farm. Edmund Weatherby was a student in Lennox College at Hopkinton, Iowa, in the spring of 1864. The president of that college enlisted in the war as Captain in Company C, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and with him in this com pany he enrolled about sixty of his students, the subject of this sketch being one of the number, and saw such service as fell to the lot of the regiment. This company was in the one-hundred- day service, and in September was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Weatherby then returned to his home in Delaware county, Iowa, and the following year attended Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he remained until his senior year; then going into a law office in Manchester, Iowa, as a law student. In 1869, Mr. Weatherby began the practice of law in Manchester, and later on practiced in Dubuque, Iowa. In the spring of 1875 he came to Pierce county, Nebraska, open ing up a law office in Pierce; and in the fall of 1886, moved to Creighton, Knox county, Nebraska, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY,. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 615 where he again began the practice of his pro fession in a new field. In 1888, Mr. Weatherby was the nominee on the democratic ticket in the third Nebraska con gressional district, making a fine run in a strong republican district, and although he suffered de feat he had the honor of six hundred majority over his opponent, in his opponent's home county. Mr. Weatherby continued the practice of law in Creighton until the fall of 1889, when he eame to Norfolk for residence, opening up his law office in Norfolk and still continues his law practice at this place, where he- now enjoys a large clientele. He has been a prominent attorney of Nebraska many years and in 1898 received the appointment of United States referee in bank ruptcy for the district of Nebraska. Mr. Weath erby is prominent along all lines, political, social and educational, and has creditably filled differ ent offices, among which he served in the capac ity of city attorney of Norfolk several terms. Mr. Weatherby was married at Creighton, Nebraska, September 3, 1890, to Miss Gertrude Warrick, a native of Iowa, coming to Nebraska with her parents about 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby occupy one of the pleasant homes of Norfolk, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Weatherby is a past commander of Nor folk Post Grand Army of the Republic, and is affiliated with the Knight of Pythias lodge, being chancellor commander in that fraternity. He is national and state aid de camp in the Grand Army of the Republic. JAMES W. HALLIWILL. James W. Halliwill, a prosperous and suc cessful farmer owning sixteen hundred acres of land, most of it within the borders of Custer county, is highly esteemed as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, who is interested in the upbuilding of the central portion of Nebraska. He passed through the experiences and hard ships of the early days in his region and is well and favorably known. He was born in Jasper county, Iowa, October 26, 1862, next to the oldest of six children born to Austin and Rebecca (Sims) Halliwill. He has one sister in Long Beach, California, and two brothers in Iowa, and two of the children are deceased. The father was born in Medias, Guilford, Ohio, August 16, 1833, and the mother in Indiana, April 13, 1844, and they now reside in Mitchellville, Iowa. Mr. Halliwill grew to manhood on an Iowa farm, received his education in the public schools, and as a young man engaged in farming on his own account.- In the fall of 1884 he de cided to seek the larger opportunities offered for advancement in the west and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land and took up a tree claim of like size about twenty miles west of Broken Bow, Custer county. After proving up his claims to these properties he took another one hundred and sixty acres of land as a homestead and another tree claim adjoining. On June 1, 1898, Mr. Halliwill married Miss Julia M. Klump, of Custer county, a native of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Klump, who were among the early settlers on West Table, Custer county, and became promi nent in local affairs. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Halliwill: Everett Lee, and Rebecca Jane. In 1903 Mr. Halliwill purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section fifteen, town ship seventeen, range twenty-three, to which the family moved. He has in this place a well im proved and equipped farm, well adapted for raising grain and stock, and very productive. He has been identified with the best interests of his county and state and is always ready to ad vance any movement for the general welfare and progress. For some years past he has served on the board of school district number one hundred fifty-one. He and his wife are well known in various circles and have many friends. JOHN C. HOFFMAN. That success comes to the man who earnestly seeks it, is well illustrated in the career of John C. Hoffman, landed proprietor and business man of Plainview, Nebraska. He began with nothing except his energy and integrity, and was able in the prime of life to retire on a competency, though life and energy were too strong for him to remain in retirement long. Mr. Hoffman was born in Girard, Trumbull county, Ohio, December 15, 1863, where the first four years of his life were spent there. The family then moved to Richland county, Wisconsin, where he attended school and assisted in working the home farm until he was eighteen years of age. In 1882 he sojourned in Dakota a short time, then to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he spent one year, coming to Chase county, Nebraska, in 1884, while that vicinity was still unorganized as a county. He was among those who helped form this county, and afterwards started on a prospecting trip to the Colorado mountains, be ing in the employ of a Chicago mining company. He remained with this firm for two years, then sought work in the mines at Park City, Utah, where he remained for a short time, finally re turning to his parent's home in Wisconsin in 1889. He spent that winter with the old folks, and in the spring of 1890 came to Chamberlain, South Dakota, looking for a place to settle, but finding no opening alluring enough to hold him, decided to seek other fields. He adopted a novel mode of travel, in that he secured a skiff and floated down the Missouri River to Niobrara, stopping to inspect different points along the way. On arriving at Niobrara he proceeded across country to Lynch, where he met John 616 COMPENDIUM OF HtSTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Lynch, for whom the town was named, who shared his dugout with the young stranger. Mr. Hoffman filed on a homestead west of the town site, and in May opened a small store in Lynch, which he ran for a year and a half; this was the first mercantile establishment and gives Mr. Hoffman undisputed title to pioneer merchant ' Boyd county. He then went into partnership with Prank Muller, to whom he sold out his in terest at the end of the first year. Mr. Boonsteel, who had the faculty of seeking out honest, in dustrious young men with whom he started new enterprises, made Mr. Hoffman an offer, which would have joined them in a profitable business venture, but the illness and subsequent death of the elder man played havoc with their plans. C. S. Anderson became an available partner in his next enterprise, and for three years they worked together and prospered to a flattering degree; then dissolved partnership, Mr. Hoffman retiring to reside on his homestead near town, where he farmed for a time. After fully proving up on his claim, mercan tile life again drew his attention to such an ex tent that he returned to town, establishing a new store which grew rapidly, compelling him to add to his floor space frequently, until at the time of his retirement in 1908, he had the largest store in the county. On retiring from active business life Mr. Hoffman engaged in the real estate busi ness in connection with the management of his own large estate. He' owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of fine Boyd county land, besides a half section in Minnesota, which he took in ex change for his stock of merchandise on quitting the store. But inactivity did not agree with a man in the prime of life with all his faculties still unimpaired and one of steady habits. On the failure of one of the old mercantile establishments in Plainview in the fall of 1910, Mr. Hoffman leased the building from the new owners and filled it with a complete new stock of general merchandise, which his years of experience en abled him to select with a view to the best for local needs. Mr. Hoffman was married in Lynch, on No vember 25, 1895, to Miss Kate Johnson, daugh ter of Marcellus Johnson, who for many years was post blacksmith at the Rosebud and Yankton Agencies, also at Fort Randall prior to his re moval to Lynch in 1893. Four children have come to gladden the Hoffman home, namely: Lloyd, Kenneth, Marvin and Duane Mr. Hoffman is a democrat in political faith. He was one of the members of the first board of county commissioners of Boyd county, and served two terms. He served as a member of the village council of Lynch, also on the board of education for a number of years. He is a mem ber of the Masonic lodge at Butte, also of the Royal Highlanders, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient Order of United Work men of Lynch. Mr. Hoffman's success is not an accident; he has won his wealth by the exercise of good judg ment and honest dealings which make for suc cess in any field of human endeavor. ABRAHAM LINCOLN PHELPS. Abraham Lincoln Phelps, an old settler of Merrick county, Nebraska, has done his full share toward the development and improvement of its fertile lands. He is a prosperous and successful citizen who has the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Phelps was born in the state of Wiscon sin, December 10, 1861, and was ninth of ten children in the family of Elnathan and Lucy (Wilson) Phelps, who had three sons and seven daughters. The Phelps family moved to Mer rick county, Nebraska, in 1867, coming overland by wagon. The father homesteaded land one mile east of Central City. In the memorable cyclone on July 5, 1871, Mr. Phelps, senior, was killed on the homestead. The Phelps house was destroyed, and of the family two daughters, Rose and Carrie, and boy Abraham, and the father were in the house at this time. Mr. Phelps, senior, had his neck broken, Abraham, our sub ject, had his collar bone broken and was knocked senseless, and Rose had her head injured. Abraham Phelps from his sixth year grew up in Merrick county, and Merrick county has been his home until this time. In past years he trailed cattle throughout the west, shipping them. He is now located on the old John Allen homestead, four miles north of Clarks. Mr. Phelps was united in marriage to Miss Cora Richfield in Central City, Nebraska, about the spring of 1880, and four children have been born to them: Gertrude, wife of Paul Cunning ham, has three children and resides in the state of Washington, on Whitby Island, eight miles from Seattle; Alnathan, married and lives in Merrick county; and William and Archie, who reside at home. Mr. Phelps is a pioneer in its truest sense, having grown up from boyhood in Merrick county, and has seen that section of Nebraska come up to its present condition of prosperity and plenty. He has had a wide western experience, and is a man of high character and known in tegrity. He has a brother living on Prairie Island, east of Central City. Of the cyclone in which Mr. Phelps, senior, lost his life, we herewith give a full account: "July 5, 1871, about six o'clock in the evening a tornado or waterspout crossed the country go ing in an easterly direction from Central City, and about one mile east of town destroyed the house of Elnathan Phelps, where he and three of his children were eating supper. They were carried some feet in the air and cast upon the ground some yards from where the building stood. The dead body of Mr. Phelps was found COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 617 in the debris of a cottonwood tree. The children escaped without suffering serious injury." E. S. BAGLEY. E. S. Bagley, a native of the Green Mountain state, is one in whose veins flows the energetic blood of Yankee land. He was born in the vil lage of Londonderry, Vermont, June 3, 1859, a son of George A. and Mary (Perkins) Bagley, both natives of Windsor, that state. The father was a tinner by trade. He moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, near the town of Palmyra, where he farmed and worked at his trade, and where his remaining life was spent. E. S. Bagley learned his father's trade, and when a young man moved to Whitmore, Iowa, where he ran a tin shop for several years. He next went into the hardware business at West Bend, in connection with his tin work, remaining until the fall of 1884. For six months he was at work at his trade in Dows, when he removed to Nebraska in April, 1885. He opened a hardware store in Geneva, which he sold two years later to engage in the lumber business at Millegan. In the spring of 1889, he removed to Creighton, dealing in lumber and coal until 1897, when he came to Bloomfield, then a new town. Here he opened a stock of general merchandise, which he sold in 1899 to engage in extensive lumber busi ness in partnership with Mr. Edward Rennard, with whom he owns a chain of lumber and hard ware establishments along the line of the Bloom field branch of the Northwestern line. Mr. Bagley was married at Whittemore, Iowa, July 17, 1881, to Miss Martha Vigren. Three chil dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bagley, none of whom survive. Mr. Bagley is independent in politics, reserv ing the privilege of voting for the man he con siders best fitted for the office, regardless of the party trade mark or stamp. He is a member of the Masonic order in Bloomfield, and of the local camp Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Bagley has traveled extensively, having journeyed from coast to coast. He visited the Jamestown exposition in 1907, and attended the National Lumbermen's convention at San Fran cisco in 1904. As a business man, Mr. Bagley has demon strated his ability in several lines of enterprise, and is now one of the moving spirits of an exten sive chain of establishments in northeastern Ne braska. He is universally acknowledged to be a good neighbor and genial friend. MICHAEL C. CASS IN. Michael C. Cassin, the subject of this personal history, is one of the best known and highly suc cessful business men of Columbus, Platte county, Nebraska, and holds the respect and esteem of all who know and have dealings with him. Patrick Cassin, our subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania about 1823, where he lived until 1878. In 1862 he was married to Miss Ellen Milan in Pennsylvania, and six children were born of this union in Pennsylvania: John, James, Michael, Thomas, Mary and Elizabeth. Mr. Cas sin by occupation was a farmer; and in June, 1878, he and his family moved to Columbus, Ne braska, arriving about the seventh of that month, where Mr. Cassin became an employee of the Union Pacific railroad. He made Columbus his home until the time of his death, in September, 1896; and Mrs. Cassin died October 13, 1909. Two children, Joseph and Margaret, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cassin in Columbus, and at the time of Mrs. Cassin 's death seven children sur vived, four sons and three daughters. All of the children are residents of Nebraska, except John, the eldest, who resides in Colorado ; and five of them reside in Platte county. Michael C. Cassin, subject of this sketch, was born April 22, 1868, in Pennsylvania, so was in his tenth year when the family came to Columbus in 1878, and he grew up to manhood in Platte county. September 22, 1891, Mr. Cassin was mar ried to Miss Sarah Kohler, daughter of Charles and Catherine Kohler. The Kohler family moved from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, about 1857, and was one of the pioneer homesteaders of Platte county, and the old homestead farm was the home of Mr. Kohler until the time of his death in April, 1888, he being survived by his widow and eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom live in Nebraska except a daughter who is married arid resides in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler and family was one of the representative families of Colfax county. They were pioneers in every sense of the word, pass ing through the Indian days, hard times, etc., becoming one of the successful families of this county. Mrs. Kohler continues to be an active factor in Colfax county and still resides on the farm. The family of sons and daughters grew up to manhood and womanhood in Colfax county, where they are widely known and have the respect and esteem of many friends. Mr. Cassin is one of the energetic and success ful business men of Columbus where he is en gaged in the meat market business, having one of the best equipped and finest markets in central Nebraska; and is also an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock. Mr. and Mrs. Cassin have a fine modern home in Columbus, and also own a farm adjoining the city. They have one child, a son, Lloyd. MICHAEL H. RAFFERTY. Among the progressive and energetic pioneers of eastern Nebraska, who have contributed largely to the prosperity enjoyed in that region, a high station is accorded the gentleman above named. 618 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Rafferty first set foot on Nebraska soil in 1869, when he made a trip to Lincoln before a railroad had reached that point. He did not again come to the state until February, 1881, at which time he settled in Saunders county, eight miles west of Ashland. In December, 1882, he filed on a homestead in Antelope county, three miles north of Brunswick, and later secured a timber claim ; here he lived eleven years, moving to Creighton in 1893. He is a mason and builder and has found work at his trade here ever since. He has a large, commodious home in the southern part of town and at present is taking life easy, enjoying a well earned rest. Mr. Rafferty was born near Easton, Pennsyl vania, June 8, 1844, and was living there at the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in Com pany K, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsyl vania Volunteer Infantry, August 1, 1862, and served until May 20, 1863, under Burnsides, Hooker, and Meade. He participated in the bat tles of Centerville, Bull Run, Antietam, Freder icksburg, Chancellorsville, and a number of minor engagements. After the war Mr. Raffer ty 's parents moved to Ohio, and here he worked at his trade in and near Fremont, until coming west. His parents, Michael and Margaret (Clemens) Rafferty, were natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively, and both died in Ohio. Mr. Rafferty was married near Fremont, August 29, 1865, to Miss Mary Keiser, a native of Fremont. Her parents, William and Catherine (Baer) Keiser, came to Nebraska in 1869, secur ing a homestead near Ashland. A son, brother to Mrs. Rafferty, had been in the state since 1869, teaching, and was instrumental in organizing the district and public schools of that region. Mr. and Mrs. Rafferty are the parents of nine living children: Cora, is the wife of Mr. John Carpenter, of Wingate, Indiana; Samuel, lives at Oakfield, Wisconsin; William, has been in Chi cago since 1893 ; Walter, makes his home in Lynch, Nebraska; Harry, resides at Casper, Wyoming; Charles, resides near his brother, Walter; Florence, married John Hengstler, and lives on their farm two miles south of town, while Grace and Catherine, are still under the parental roof. During his early years in Nebraska, Mr. Rafferty sought work in the west, and while on the Oregon Short Line in Utah and Idaho, helped a number of times to shovel trains out of the snow drifts ; at one place there were three engines and a snow plow piled up on the two sides of the tracks. In 1890 he spent some six months in Tdaho, and since that time has confined his ener gies to northeastern Nebraska. In politics Mr. Rafferty is a democrat, and is a comrade of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Rafferty and daughters are members of the Congregational church. Young folks of the present day can scarcely comprehend the wonderful change and progress in the west since Mr. Rafferty first set foot in Nebraska, or even since his coming more than a decade later. Open country is now a thing of the past ; in those days one might ride to the Pacific coast unimpeded by a fence, while now fine groves break the horizon where only waving grass appeared. Such are the wonders that have been wrought by the hardy pioneers within the life time of their children who were born here, and who are still in their minority. JOHN DAVIS. John Davis, now living retired from active life at Ansley, Nebraska, is one of the early set tlers of Custer county and has been identified with the history and development of the same for more than a quarter of a century. He is the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Arnold) Davis, who were pioneers of central Nebraska, and was born July 29, 1863, in Macon county, Illinois, being the fourth of eight children. He has a brother in Wisconsin; one sister, Mrs. Esther Lannum, liv ing in Ansley; another sister, Mrs. Charles Ar nold, also living in Custer county; a brother, William Davis, in Broken Bow, and' others of the family are deceased. The father, who was of German and English descent, was born in Wash ington county, Pennsylvania, and died in Ansley in January, 1901, and the mother of English descent, was born in Virginia and died in Custer county in 1898. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Davis came with his parents to Custer county and there the father secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on Clear creek. John Davis remained with his parents until his marriage July 4, 1889, at Grand Island, Ne braska, to Kate Caves, who was born in Wau shara county, Wisconsin. She had been a teacher in the public schools of Wisconsin, Iowa and Ne braska, and is one of eleven children, all of whom still survive. She has a sister, Mrs. Bert Lan- phear, in Rock county, Nebraska; four brothers and two sisters in Wisconsin ; a sister in Arkan sas; one in Montana, and another in Iowa. Her parents, Joel and Eliza (Stratton) Caves, were natives of England, and both died in Wisconsin he in 1886 and she in 1880. After his marriage Mr. Davis located in Ans ley and engaged in the meat business and dealing in stock. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on Clear creek, in 1885, and became a large landholder and an extensive stock feeder. In 1910 he erected the fine home where they now live. He and his wife had one child, C. Joda, who died October 10, 1910, at the age of eighteen years, sadly mourned by her parents and many friends. Both Mr. Davis and his wife have spent a large part of their lives in Nebraska and they are well and favorably known. They are inter- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 619 ested in the progress and welfare of the county and state and are ready to lend their influence to the furthering of any measure calculated to advance the common interests. james McAllister. James McAllister, one of the ihost extensive stock and grain farmers of central Nebraska, and the owner of eighteen hundred acres of land, all in Algernon township, has always been closely identified with the best interests of his county and state and is widely and favorably known. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, June 10, 1849, third of the ten children of William and Ellen (McTwigen) McAllister. He has a sister, Mrs. Alfred O'Brien, in Mason City; a brother, Robert H., in Grand Island, and another, A. S., in Dono van, Nebraska; a sister in Pueblo, Colorado, and others are deceased. Both parents were natives of Edinboro, Scotland, and came to America about 1846, locating first in Rhode Island, going thence to St. Louis, where they resided two years. In April, 1850, they settled in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, three miles from Council Bluffs, and resided there thirteen years. They came to Merrick county, Nebraska, in 1863, where the father se cured a homestead near Grand Island. Both he and his wife died in Grand Island, he October 29, 1886, and she March 9, 1900. James McAllister accompanied his parents to Merrick county when he was about fourteen years of age, and grew to manhood on a farm, receiving his primary education in local schools, and for three years attended high school at Council Bluffs, Iowa. For fifteen years he worked in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad company, running for nine years as conductor on one divi sion, between Grand Island and North Platte, and had been employed in the car department two years before entering the train service. He was united in marriage at Council Bluffs, December 2, 1873, with Miss Alice Allison, a native of Penn sylvania, daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Hetrick) Allison, also natives of that state. Mr. Allison died in Council Bluffs in 1894, and his widow re sides with Mr. and Mrs. McAllister. Another daughter, Mrs. W. R. McAllister, lives in Grand Island, and one son and one daughter live in Iowa. In the spring of 1882, Mr. and Mrs. McAllister brought their three children to Custer county, securing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-five, township fifteen, range . seventeen, which is still the home place. They also took a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Six children have been born to them: Hugh L., married, and living in Custer county, has two children; James H., at home; Ethel, wife of George Weimer, lives in Seattle. Washington; Edith, at home; one son and one daughter who died in infancy. Mr. McAllister was instrumental in organizing school district number nine, and for ten years served on the school board. Having been one of the earliest settlers of hi; part of the county, Mr. McAllister has passed through the various stages of its history. He has added to his possessions from time to time, and now has eleven hundred acres of land in the home place, besides other land near by. He met many trying experiences and discouragements naturally incidental to pioneer existence, but, through hard work and energy, triumphed over these difficulties. For some years he carried on freighting between Omaha and Kearney, and also to and from Fort Cottonwood. When he erected his first farm buildings, he hauled the lumber from Grand Island, a distance of about sixty-five miles. He is engaged extensively in stock feed ing, and also raises considerable grain. In 1908, he erected a fine modern farm house of concrete blocks at a cost of six thousand dollars, and also has substantial barns and other buildings. A hot-air system of heating was installed, as well as a complete system of water and sewerage, and the entire house is lighted by acetylene gas. We are pleased to give a full-page view of this fine, modern country home, with its many large barns and outbuildings, elsewhere in this work. Mr. McAllister was a democrat until Cleve land's last term, and since that time has voted independently of party lines. He was formerly an Odd Fellow, and is now a member of the An cient Order of United Workmen. EDWARD PUPAHL. Edward Pufahl, a well-to-do farmer, energetic and industrious, a typical representative of the German race, who came to this country to estab lish a home and accumulate a competence for his old age, resides on his farm of two hundred and twenty acres, which is situated in section twenty- five, township twenty-five, range two, and on which five acres are planted in trees. Mr. Pufahl has been for many years a resident of northeast ern Nebraska, having settled in Pierce county in 1892. Mr. Pufahl was born November 10, 1850, in the village of Sacho, district of Pegenwalde, prov ince of Pommerania, Germany, and is the son of William Pufahl (also a native of that province), who was born in 1820, and died in America at the good old age of eighty-two years. He was em ployed as a wood-worker in the factories in the fatherland, and in his younger days served his native country in the army. Mr. Pufahl's mother was Sofia Braun, also a native of Pommerania, and attained a good old age. Mr. Pufahl embarked at Hamburg in 1869 on the sailship "Matilda," on the eleventh of May- landing in New York on June 21. He settled in Wisconsin, where he first secured work in a woodenware factory at Two Rivers. In 1884 he bought one hundred acres in Manitowoc county, 620 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY which he cultivated some eight years, then sold and bought his present farm in Pierce county, near Hadar, in 1892. To this he has added two eighty-acre tracts, purchased at different times. Mr. Pufahl was married, June 14, 1878, to Miss Edith Oestrieth, who was born in the village of Schauen, province of Pommerania, Germany, in 1856, a daughter of August and Mina (Primnoh) Oestrieth. They came to America, and settled in Wisconsin in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Pufahl have been born five children, whose names are as follows : August, married Minnie Kloepke, and lives in Madison county ; Louis ; Edward, married Ella Wachter, and is farming near his father's place, and Emil. Willie, the second child, died when quite young. The family are members of the German Luth eran church, and Mr. Pufahl casts his vote for the candidates of the republican party. JAMES W. DODD. James W. Dodd, the subject of this biograph ical writing, was born in Canada, July 16, 1864, and came to the United States of America in the month of June, 1874, with his father, mother, one brother and seven sisters. His father purchased a farm on the southeast quarter of section four teen, township fourteen, range eleven, "which con sisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and he also purchased one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land. James W. Dodd has lived in Howard county continuously up to the present time, and now re sides on the southwest quarter of section eleven, township fourteen, range eleven, where he owns a well-equipped grain and stock farm. The Methodist Episcopal church is located on the southwest corner of the farm, this being one of the first churches in this section of the state, and his parents helped to build it. Mr. Dodd was married to Miss Alice Crow, January 5, 1887. She was born in Canada, and came to Howard county, Nebraska, with her par ents in the early pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Dodd have had six children born to them, all of whom are residing under the parental roof: Geneva, Elsie, Mabel, James William, Alice Margaret and Francis Winner. Mrs. Dodd's parents reside in St. Paul, Nebraska, and are well-known old-time citizens of Howard county. Mr. Dodd was fifth in a family of fourteen children, three sisters of whom are married and reside in Howard county, four sisters reside in Nebraska, other than those in Howard county. There is one brother and a sister in Wyoming, and the father, mother, two other brothers reside in Canada, and two girls died in Howard county. Mr. Dodd has held several local precinct offices, which he filled creditably to himself and satisfactorily to his constituents. He has always been active in affairs pertaining to his county and state, and is widely known as an upright, fair- minded citizen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dodd came from Howard county pioneer families. Mr. Dodd's father, James F. Dodd, was born in June, 1835, in France, although of English descent, and came to Canada when but four years of age, with his mother, his father having come about a year previous. He came into Howard county, Nebras ka, in June, 1874, with his wife and nine children, and purchased land as previously stated, farming same up to the time of leaving Howard county. There were five children born in Howard county. He sold out in the spring of 1904, and, with his wife and two children, went to Alberta, Canada. During his residence in Howard county, he was well known for his splendid character and good qualities. The Dodd family, father and son, have both contributed largely to the upbuilding and advancement of this section of the country, and are prominent factors in the making of Nebraska history. ABRAHAM LINCOLN ZIMMERMAN. Abraham Lincoln Zimmerman, one of the lead ing business men of Sherman county, Nebraska, is an extensive dealer in real estate, has a factory for manufacturing cement blocks, and various other interests in his part of the state. He spent six years in the ministry in central Nebraska, and he and his wife have been important factors in the religious and educational life of Sherman county, both always ready to espouse the cause of right and progress. Mr. Zimmerman was born near West Union, Adams county, Ohio, March 1, 1862, youngest of a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, born to Valentine and Elizabeth (Brandt) Zimmerman, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm in his native state, and received the usual educational advantages accorded farmers' sons in the district schools of the time. His father was a soldier in the civil war, and at the time of his discharge was captain of Company P, Seventieth Ohio Vol unteer Infantry, the promotion from the rank of lieutenant to that of captain given for gallant conduct on the field of battle. He died in Ohio in 1876, at which time Abraham L., was in his fourteenth year. Being the only son at home, he cared for his mother and the responsibilities of the farm. Later he engaged in the tombstone business with a brother, George, at Cynthiana, Ohio, which they closed out in 1880, and in No vember of that year came to Sherman county, Nebraska. George Zimmerman brought his wife and three children, and took up a homestead six miles west of Loup City. In 1883, the mother came to the county, accompanied by her daugh ter, Alice, and the latter 's husband, James Bone. She lived with her son, Abraham L., until a few months before her death in the latter months of 1892, passing away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alice Bone. Another son, John Zimmerman COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 621 came to Nebraska, and for several years was a minister in that state, in the service of the United Brethren church. Another son, Valentine A. Zimmerman, also became a resident of the state, and a daughter, Alverda, (Mrs. Charles Whit more) came to Nebraska with her husband in 1885. Those of the children who now live there are Abraham Lincoln, the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Bone, Mrs. Whitmore, and Reverend John Zimmerman, who occupies a pulpit at Orchard, Nebraska. The other members of the family are scattered into several states. Abraham L. Zimmerman eventually took up a homestead in the same locality as his brother George, and at that time had few neighbors, few homesteads having been filed in the neighbor hood, so that the two were among the pioneers of the region. In 1882 he returned to Ohio to be married, and there, February 1, 1882, he was united with Miss Etta Bone, a native of McCon- nelsville, Ohio. Her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Harkless) Bone, were also natives of the Buck eye state. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman began house keeping on the Nebraska homestead, where they lived until 1892. Prior to the time the railroad passed through Loup City, in 1886, Mr. Zimmer man had a small general merchandise store on his farm, and was instrumental in securing a post- office there, known as Cleoria, of which his wife was postmistress. They, were also the prime mov ers in securing the erection of the first school building in the neighborhood, and the first protes- tant church edifice in the county, it being erected by a congregation of the United Brethren. During the years 1892 and 1893, Mr. Zimmer man lived in Loup City, but returned to the farm in 1894, and in the following year he entered the ministry of the United Brethren church, serving three years as pastor of three congregations near Gibbon, two years at Marquette, and one year at Aurora, during which time he resided two years at Gibbon, two at Marquette, and one at Aurora. In 1901 he abandoned the ministry, and returned to his farm, at that time embarking in the real estate business in company with Mr. 0. Gunnar- son. In 1903 he brought his family to Loup City, where they expect to make their permanent home. They have a modern, comfortable residence there, pleasantly located near the central part of town. During the many years he carried on ag ricultural pursuits, he had various business inter ests outside his farm, and he has had much to do with the advancement of various interests in cen tral Nebraska. Every enterprise with which he has been connected has benefited through his en ergy and business foresight. Mr. Zimmerman and wife have three children, namely: Archie 0., Elizabeth and Elva E. Ar chie 0., was born in Sherman county, January 30, 1885, lives on his own farm near Loup City, and has one child; Elizabeth, married William Owen, and they have one child, and live at Sunnyside, Washington, where Mr. Owen is connected with the United States reclamation service; Elva E. Zimmerman, for a number of years a teacher of vocal and instrumental music in Loup City, was married, March 19, 1911, to R. II. Mathew, who served four years as county attorney, and was at the time of his first election the youngest official ever elected to that important position in the state. Mr. Zimmerman's first dwelling on his home stead was a small "soddy," with a dirt roof, in which he lived three years, and which was re placed later with a commodious house, lathed and plastered, and in this the family lived for four years. Since selling the homestead farm, Mr. Zimmerman has purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres north of Loup City, and another of three hundred and twenty acres south of town, besides a number of small tracts. He also owns a fine tract of timber sixteen miles south of Rich mond, Virginia, which was an old plantation be fore the war, and has since grown up in a forest of fine trees. Mr. Zimmerman is a republican in politics. and a member of the fraternal order the Loyal Mystic Legion, and also the Modern Woodmen of America. BYRON H. BAKER. For over twenty-eight years the gentleman whose name heads this personal history has been associated with the agricultural interests of Mad ison county, and as an old settler and one of her worthy citizens, he is prominently known. Mr. Baker is proprietor of one of the fine farms of this locality, and resides on section four, town ship twenty-four, range four. He has accumu lated his property and gained his good name by his persistent and honest labors. Mr. Baker is a son of Daniel and Fannie (Moore) Baker, and was born in Madison county, Iowa, December 7, 1851. His father is a native of West Virginia, of German descent. The mother claimed the Keystone state as her birthplace, she being descended from Holland stock. Mr. Baker remained in his native state until he reached the age of thirty-two years, receiving the usual schooling, and there followed the occu pation of farming. He came to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1883, and upon deciding to locate here, bought the Thomas Eberly homestead. He has steadily improved this place until he now has a fine farm of six hundred and forty acres, on which are ten acres of fine orchard and forest trees. In 1876 Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Lantie Hiatt, a native of Iowa, and a daugh ter of Aaron and Sarah (Neely) Hiatt, they being natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been blessed with six children, whose names are as follows: Milan D., Earl A., Clyde 0., Prank W., Clem G. and Floyd. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem 622 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Baker is a substantial, progressive citi zen, and a successful man of affairs. He has done much toward the betterment of conditions in his home county and state since his residence here, and well deserves the prosperity and com fort he now enjoys. He is a member of tin* Methodist church, and of the Woodmen, Odd Fellow and Workmen lodges. He is a democrat. EDGAR VARNEYr. (Deceased.) Perhaps there was none of the early pioneers of this section of the state who were better or more widely known than the above named gen tleman. For fully a quarter ofv a century he was a resident of this state, most of the time being engaged in the mercantile business, and at all times being recognized as one of the fore most citizens of the community in which he re sided. Edgar Varney was born in Corinth, Saratoga county, New York state, June 30, 1839. His early life was spent in that section of the east, and it was there that he secured his education. In March, 1868, he was married to Mary Emelia Tiffany, daughter of Thomas and Arvilla (Hogle) Tiffany, also a native of New York state. Mr. Varney first came to Nebraska in 1873, when he took up a claim in Hall county, near Grand Island. He occupied this claim and farmed until 1880, when, with his wife and family, now numbering eight children, he came to Custer county, first settling in Westerville, where he engaged in mercantile business. Six years later, in 1886, Mr. Varney moved from Westerville to Ansley, putting up and opening the first store in that town. From this time until 1900, he was known as one of the suc cessful merchants of that section of the country. He retired from active business at this time, al though still retaining and manifesting a great interest in public affairs. On September 23, 1908, he departed this life, leaving his family and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. All the eight children born to him are still liv ing: Mrs. Judge Armour, resides in Broken Bow, Nebraska; Mrs. R. E. Brega and C. E. Varney live at Callaway, Custer county; Mrs. Anthony Wilkinson is in Grand Island, while T. T., S. P. and J. H. Varney and Mrs. E. P. Gaines are still residents of Ansley. Thomas T. Varney was born in Corinth, New York, on May 2, 1872. He remained with his parents, moving with them to Nebraska, until 1892, when he first began life for himself as one of the members of the firm of Fairfield & Varney of Ansley. Three years later he disposed of his interest in this firm in order to have more time to devote to other matters in which he was in terested. In 1902 he assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Ansley, and has been connected with that enterprise ever since. He was the first vice president, and in 1906 became cashier, which position he still occupies. When organized, the bank had a capitalization of twenty-five thousand dollars, with a surplus of fifteen thousand dollars. This bank is one of the solid financial institutions of central Nebraska, and now occupies a fine new building, modern in all of its appointments. Thomas Varney also has large interests in Custer county outside of the bank, and is one of the prominent citizens of this section. He has devoted considerable time to public affairs, and was postmaster for ten years, first receiving that appointment in 1896, and has served as a mem ber of the town school board for several terms. He has always been connected with every enter prise tending to the growth and development of the county. WILLIAM HUSE. (Deceased.) An instance of a man's following the bent of his own mind, and following a chosen voca tion after a less agreeable one had been selected for him, is illustrated in the life of William Huse, deceased, for many years prominently con nected with journalism in northeastern Nebras ka. His father, Reverend Nathaniel Huse, a minister of the Episcopal church, recognized but three professions — the law, the church and med icine — so one of these his son William must pur sue. He chose the law, although his heart was in journalism. William Huse was born in Binghamton, New York, in 1828. His mother died about the time of his birth, and he was reared in the family of an uncle at Southampton, where he attended the common schools, most of his higher education being acquired through his own efforts. He studied Latin grammar before taking up Eng lish. He was admitted to the bar in New York. He moved to Bowling Green, Missouri, in the fall of 1865. The local animus toward northern men was not cordial or agreeable in that section in those days, and early in the spring, Mr. Huse moved to Janesville, Minnesota. He remained there until 1872, when he came to northeastern Nebraska and made it his home nearly all his remaining years. He settled at Ponca for the practice of his profession, and for a pastime and to satisfy a natural bent of his mind, he began a career as journalist. He established first the "Ponca Journal," and later others in Jackson, and La Porte, the old county seat. When Hartington was located, he established the "Herald" there the first winter, running his paper in a tempo rary building little better than a shack. He sold this, and in 1888, with his son, William M. Huse, bought the "Norfolk Daily News," of which the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. , 623 son is now editor, he having purchased his fath er's interest, and is now conducting the best daily paper published in any town of like size in the west. Mr. Huse was proprietor of the "Newcastle Times" for nearly a year, and in 1899, with his son, Eugene W. Huse, Mr. Huse went to the coast and purchased the "Republican" at Klamath Falls, Oregon, remaining in that country four years. In 1903, they returned to northeastern Nebraska and purchased the "Wayne Herald" in October, 1903 ; a year later they sold to E. Cunningham, with whom the son remained as manager until 1906. Mr. Huse was married in New York to Miss Ruth Almina Berry, a native of Chautauqua county, March 17, 1849. After the death of Mr. Huse in 1906, she made her home with their son, Eugene W., until her death in March, 1911. Mr. Huse was a fluent writer, as well as a ready speaker. He took delight in the stories of pioneer days and wrote many of them for the different journals he published; these he re vised and elaborated, publishing them in an at tractive little volume which in time will be in valuable in compiling a fuller history of the state. Mr. Huse was a man of broad mind, of wide reading and culture, and has left his im press on the thought and character of the west which will be continued for years to come, through the inherited mentality of his sons. GEORGE J. WOLCOTT. Among the old settlers of Nebraska who have spent many years in the work of building up and developing the commercial industries of a new country, the gentleman above named holds a prominent place. George J. Wolcott was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, March 4, 1857, and was* sec ond of seven children in the family of Oliver and Calista (Harris) Wolcott. Mr. Wolcott grew up to his young manhood days in Iowa, being but a small boy when the Wolcott family moved from Wisconsin to that state, where our subject learned farming and received such ad vantages as were afforded by the public schools. In June, 1880, the Wolcott family moved from Iowa to Merrick county, Nebraska, where they purchased a good acreage of land and be came largely interested in stock. On December 24, 1885, Mr. Wolcott was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eatough at the parents' home in Merrick county. Miss Eatough was born in Merrick county, the daugh ter of James and Sarah (Foot) Eatough, and at this date is the oldest living first born girl of Merrick county. The Eatoughs were one of the first pioneer families of this county, coming here before Merrick county was organized and when Central City was known as Lone Tree sta tion. They arrived here in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott lived on the old home farm until 1901, when in August of that year they moved to Central City on their small farm of thirty-four acres in the southeast part of town, so as to give the children advanced schooling. Mr. and Mrs. George Wolcott have had eight children born to them, all of whom are living: Mabel, who is attending the university; Calista, a teacher in the public schools; and Vella, Ju- nita, Olived, Enid, Marie, and George, junior, all of whom reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott and children are of the well-known Merrick county families, the children all being natives of this county, and they are interested along social and educational lines. The family of Wolcott is one of the larger representative families of Merrick county, Ne braska. P. J. GREINER. For the past quarter of a century P. J. Grei- ner, subject of this review, has resided on sec tion tewnty-four, township thirty-two, range five, Knox county, Nebraska, where he has a good farm and is well known as a highly es teemed, substantial citizen. Mr. Greiner since his coming to Nebraska, has always done his full share in advancing the best interests of his home county and state, and has been a factor in help ing to bring the present prosperity the state now enjoys. Mr. Greiner is a native of Iowa, his birth oc curring in Dubuque, April 11, 1864, and he is the son of John and Margaret (Clemens) Grei ner, both natives of Tryer village, province of Prussia, Germany, where the father learned and followed the stonemason's trade. Our subject's parents left their native land for the west to make a fortune for themselves, sailing from Bre men to New York City on a sailboat, and after a voyage of one hundred and three days landed in the United States. The family settled in Iowa, where our subject was born and raised to manhood. After reaching his maturity, in 1885, Mr. Greiner took up a homestead in Knox county, Nebraska, on section twenty-four, township thirty-two, range five, which has remained his home to the present day, as before stated: On this homestead he first built a sod house in which he resided four years, later building a good frame house. In his first days of settle ment here, Mr. Greiner experienced many hard ships and discouragements, as did many of the early settlers of that time ; he has had crop fail ures through the various destructive elements of hail, sleet, hot winds, etc. In the blizzards of 1888 and 1891 he suffered considerable loss and hardship; in 1894 he suffered through the con trasting element of heat, the hot winds of that 624 Compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. year burning every spear of crops for that sea son; and in 1896 and 1909 he experienced an other severe loss by hail. But through all these vicissitudes Mr. Greiner has prospered and now owns a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres, of which he is justly proud. In 1892 Mr. Greiner was married to Miss Ju lia Everett, and they are the parents of five chil dren, namely: Frank, Maggie, Ethel, Clara, and May. They are a fine family. JAMES B. LONG. (Deceased.) James B. Long, who departed this life in May, 1891, was among the very earliest settlers of Boone county, and succeeded in accumulating a valuable estate through industry and good management, becoming one of the best known men of his region, and at the time of his death having a host of friends to mourn his loss. Mr. Long came to Boone county, Nebraska, in May, 1871, driving overland by team from Iowa county, Iowa, accompanied by his two sons, Winfield and Elihu, and his brother-in-law, George B. Hyde, all of whom became homestead ers here and are among the well known pioneers of this part of the state. Mr. James B. Long took up the sixth claim filed in Boone county, on section twenty-two, township nineteen, range five, and his son was the next one in line. The entire party returned to Iowa in July, and in October our subject, his two sons, a daughter and the mother, also Mrs. Long's brother and family, came back to Nebraska, traveling by wagon and team. Winfield Long was married previous to coming here, and he also brought his wife and child with him. In 1873, Mr. Hyde was accidentally killed by drowning, or slain by Indians while herding cattle, as he disap peared and was never afterwards heard from. The Long family were among the best pioners here, our subject always being identi fied with the best interests of his locality, and was active along all lines in the upbuilding of the county, although quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and became weU known as a successful and prosperous agriculturist and stockman. Mr. Long's death occurred on the home farm, May 8, 1891, his wife departing this life the year previously. Two sons and two daughters sur vive, Winfield S., now of Chariton, Iowa; E. T. Long, Mrs. James Reynoldson and Mrs. Addie M. Phelps, all of Boone county. W. L. SEAMAN. W. L. Seaman, a worthy and highly respected citizen of Antelope county, Nebraska, is a pioneer settler of this section of the state, and has done his full share toward the development of the better interests of his community. Mr. Seaman is a native of New Ytork state, born November 13, 1865, and is the son of Wal ter L. and Agnes (Jolly) Seaman. Our subject's father was born in 1820, in the state of New York, and the family of Seaman had lived on Long Island for two hundred years or more; the house first built by a Seaman, in 1678, still stands. Our subject's mother was born in 1847, and is a native of New York state. Mr. Seaman with his mother came to Butler county, Nebraska, in 1877. They came direct from Troy, New York, but drove overland from South Bend, Indiana. On arriving in Butler county they rented a farm, living there about a year, and in 1878 came to Antelope county, where he took up a homestead and tree claim in sections fourteen, fifteen and seventeen, town ship twenty-eight, range seven, and had three hundred and twenty acres of land, first building a dugout where they resided six years and then in 1884 built a frame house. Mr. Seaman now has one hundred and sixty acres of land and twenty-five acres of trees, making a beautiful home place which is known as the "Jessup Farm. ' ' Mr. Seaman is practically a self-made man. He is well known along educational lines, having persevered in his studies under some little diffi culties. He attended school at Gates college, and went to Grand Island business college, and then attended Normal school at Fremont, Ne braska. After completing his studies he taught school three years, in districts thirty-seven, fifty- four and seventy-seven. Mr. Seaman takes an active part in public matters in his community, and was postmaster at Jessup (on the old Star Route) for eighteen years from 1887 to 1905. During this time he had a general merchandise store in connection with the post office. Mr. Seaman is without doubt one of the lead ing old settlers of the county and has done his share in bringing about the present prosperity enjoyed in the region. When he first came to Antelope county deer and antelope were plenti ful and on several occasions were known to come into his yard. Mr. Seaman is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Masonic Order. He was brought up in the Episcopal church, but is now a member of the Congregational church and has always been a republican. WILLIAM J. WALLACE. William J. Wallace, a large landholder, is recognized as one of the leading stockmen of Custer county. He was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, December 31, 1853, next to the youngest of the five children of Thomas and Eliza R. (Berkeley) Wallace. He has two brothers surviving, James R. and Lewis, both living on the home place in Iowa. The parents "HILL-CREST FARM," RESIDENCE OF HARVEY PARKS. RESIDENCE OF JAMES H. CUTLER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 625 were natives of Scotland and came to America in early life. They were married in Indiana and both died on the homestead in Iowa, the father in 1903 and the mother in 1855. In boyhood Mr. Wallace attended school near his father's home, being reared on a farm. As a young man he engaged in farming for himself and was married in his native country, April 2, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Sutton, who was born in Marshall county, Indiana. They lived in Iowa after their marriage until October, 1881, when they brought their two children to Custer county, Nebraska, securing a homestead and tim ber claim adjoining, aggregating three hundred twenty acres of land, and this is still the home place. Mr. Wallce ahas brought his land to a high state of productiveness and ' is successful in his various enteprises. He owns six hundred and ninety acres of land and was the first man in the county to own pure bred horses, having for many years made a specialty of raising and dealing in horses and mules. In 1898 he erected a fine modern residence, fitted with many conveniences. In his early years on the farm he had to haul his pro duce to Grand Island to market, a distance of one hundred miles, and in those days he met the usual trials and discouragements of the pioneer He has been closely identified with the progress and development of the county and has a good standing with his fellow citizens. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wal lace : Memory, married and living in Custer county; Pearl, at home; Delia May, wife of Fred Peters, of Custer county, has four children; How ard and Wesley, both married and living in the county, the latter the father of two children. The family are well known in Custer county, where they have a large number of friends. HARVEY PARKS. Harvey Parks, who has spent all but a few months of his life in Valley county, Nebraska, resides on section thirty-five, township nineteen, range fourteen, where he is well known as a prominent young man of his locality. Mr. Parks was born near Nashua, Chickasaw county, Iowa. November 8, 1877, and was second of five chil dren in the family of Charles and Annie (Simp son) Parks, who had three sons and two daugh ters. Charles Parks, who was born in Mont gomery county, New York, came to Valley, Ne braska, in the spring of 1878, overland by prairie schooner route from Iowa, and after reaching his destination bought railroad land northeast of Ord. The family lived on the farm until 1898, being engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Charles Parks died May 9, 1898, deeply mourned by her husband and family. Mr. Parks left the farm and now resides in Sargent, Custer county, where he is in the mercantile business, also still attending to his live stock intersets. The sons, Harvey, Walter and Glenn, reside in Valley 21 county; and two daughters, Mrs. Charles Bur dick and Mrs. Ernest Gifford, also live in Valley ¦ county. Harvey Parks, the principal subject of this sketch, was reared in Valley county, and his life has been that of a farm boy, receiving the usual school advantages. In 1898 he went out in life for himself, farming and stock raising. On March 22, 1899, at Ord, Mr. Parks was married to Miss Pauline Bradt, a native of Val ley county, whose parents, Aaron and Clara J. (Harlow) Bradt, came into this county in the early years; the former was a native of Niagara county, New York, and the latter of Rock county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Parks have been blessed with two children, Leonard and Lloyd. They now reside in their pleasant home in the east half of section thirty-five, township four teen, range nineteen, where Mr. Parks has a fine stock and grain farm; he also owns the west half of section thirty-six, making all a six hundred and forty acre farm. On his stock farm, he has a herd of Hereford cattle, of which he makes a specialty, and other finely bred stock. We call attention to an engraving of this farm home, sit uated as it is on the highest upland, giving a fine view of hills and the valley beyond. Mr. Parks and family are well known along educational and other progressive lines, and are highly esteemed. Mr. Parks is a successful farmer and stock man, and is one of the young men of Valley county who always take an active part in the upbuilding of their home county and state. He is independent in politics and a mem ber of the Modern Woodmen of America. JAMES H. CUTLER. James H. Cutler, a carpenter, builder and con tractor of Custer county, has erected many of the best buildings in Anselmo, Callaway, Merna and Broken Bow, besides smaller towns in the re gion. He has helped put up many of the large grain elevators. However, in recent years he has paid considerable attention to farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful to a grat ifying degree. He passed through the pioneer days of hardship and privation and he and his wife have reared a fine family in Custer county. He was born in Marshall county, Indiana, Febru ary 14, 1848, youngest child of the seven sons and three daughters of David and Lois (Hopkins) Cutler. He lived on the home farm until 1868 and on September 17, of that year, married Elmira Mosholder. After marriage they moved to Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, making the three weeks' trip with a wagon and team. They reached Mitchell county in October, and in the fall of 1869 returned to Indiana, but soon after came back to Iowa, where Mr. Cutler worked on a farm for his brother. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Cutler's brother, William, went to Beatrice, Nebraska, and in Sep- 626 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tember of that year James joined him, his wife coming later, reaching there on Christmas day. They lived on a farm about six miles from Beat rice until March, 1872, then James Cutler, with his wife and two children, removed to Nuckolls county, where they took up a homestead and lived on it for five or six years, then moved into the town of Edgar, three miles north of their farm, and lived there until the spring of 1882, during which time Mr. Cutler leaned the carpenter's trade. In February, 1882, he came to his pre emption claim five miles southeast of Anselmo, Custer county, where he lived until 1894, the year of severe drouth, when he removed to Sheridan county, Wyoming, and after twelve years spent there, during which he worked in lumber and rail road tie camps, returned to Custer county. In 1904 he purchased the northeast quarter of section thirty-two, township nineteen, range twenty-one, and the following year purchased the southeast quarter of the same section, to which they moved in 1908. He and his wife have a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and a modern residence built in 1909. We give this as the subject of one of the illustrations on another page. Their first resi dence in Custer county was a dugout, which was later replaced by a "soddy." During the three- day blizzard of April, 1873, Mr. Cutler braved the storm once a day to feed and water his stock. He shot several deer in the pioneer days, but only wounded them; however, he brought down many antelope and has killed his buffalo, the lat ter event occurring on a fork of the Republican river in the edge of Colorado. Ten children have been born to Mr. Cutler and wife : Albert L., of Kansas City, has one child; Maggie, wife of L. W. Wilson, of Merna; they toured the continent of Europe in 1910, at tending the Passion play at Oberammergau dur ing the summer ; Ernest, who is married and lives in Montana, has two children; John, married and living in Montana; Pearl, wife of J. W. Roberts, lives in Merna and has five children; Herbert, married and living in New Helena ; Arah, wife of Oscar Wilson, of Edgar, Clay county, has one child; Prank, Dae and Laura, are at home. Dae is a successful teacher in the Custer county schools. The family have a wide circle of friends. Mrs. Cutler has two sisters in Clay county, Ne braska, Maggie, now Mrs. J. B. Johnson, and Mary, wife of Doctor F. D. Anderson. Although Mr. and Mrs. Cutler have been married over forty- three years, they retain their capacity for en joying life, and seem to have the secret of re maining young and active. They have a keen interest in the progress of events, and have the gratification of knowing their children are well settled in life and doing well. In politics Mr. Cutler is a republican, and affiliates with the Merna lodge Modern Woodmen of America. HENRY J. BILLERBECK. The career of H. J. Billerbeck, veteran mer chant of Osmond, is one that should be an in spiration to the rising generation — a career worthy of earnest emulation. He has been con tinuously in business since 1855, and in Pierce county since 1884, antedating all other firms in the county. Nearing four score years, his step is as firm and his business judgment as keen as that of most men thirty years his junior. Mr. Billerbeck is proud of the honor of having heard the famous Lincoln and Douglas debate at Free- port, in 1858, and in celebrating the fiftieth an niversary in 1908, he was one of the guests of honor, occupying a chair on the grandstand. He has a vivid recollection of that memorable event, remembering the appearance of the two illus trious speakers and many of their expres sions word for word. The men who were present on that occasion are now very few and soon none will remain who can say "I was there." Mr. Billerbeck is a native of the city of Nie- heim, Province of Westphalia, Germany, born on January 11, 1832. He grew to manhood there, the entire family emigrating to America in 1853, em barking March 19, in the sailing vessel," Herman," and landing at New Orleans the thirtieth of April. They at once took an up-river steamer . to St. Louis and another from there to Savanna, Illi nois, from which point they crossed the country to Freeport by stage. Here in the fall of that year the father fell ill and died, leaving the family to care for themselves. The three sons engaged in farm labor, saving their earnings, and after several years had accu mulated enough to start a general store, building up a good business, and continuing in partner ship up to 1871, when our subject sold out his interest and removed to Carroll, Iowa. There he was engaged in the implement business for thirteen years, then disposed of it and came to Nebraska, locating in Pierce, and engaging in the implement and hardware business. He also opened a branch store at Osmond in 1890, putting his son in charge, and two years later sold the store at Pierce and moved to Osmond, taking personal charge of the business, which had grown to large proportions, and has since developed into the largest business of the kind in Pierce county. In fact, he does as much business as all the other implement houses combined. The store has large stocks of other wares, including harness, which the firm manufactures on a big scale, every piece fashioned under Mr. Billerbeck 's own roof. The furniture department is always stocked with a stylish line of modern workmanship, and the vehicle department contains a fine lot of wagons, buggies and carriages, in styles and prices to suit every taste. A splendid assortment of hardware is carried also, and every kind of implement adapted to the operations of a modem farm. The salesrooms cover an area of fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, and ninety feet of the building COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 627 proper is two stories high. The value of stock carried is over thirty thousand dollars. He buys by the carload, and frequently has two carloads on the siding at the same time. On September 5, 1857, Mr. Billerbeck was mar ried at Freeport, Illinois, to Miss Wilhelmina Cossman, who is a native of the village of Voer- den, Province of Westphalia, three miles from the city of Nieheim, Germany. She in company with two sisters, came to America in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Billerbeck have had twelve chil dren, as follows: Mary, Gertrude, Ed, John, William, and Charles, are deceased, while the surviving are Mary, Henry, married Prances Backes and has six children; Prank, Andrew, married Lena Backes ; Minnie, Albert, married Annie Prey, and Charles, married Anastasia Neu- bauer, all occupying honorable positions in life. In politics Mr. Billerbeck is a democrat, and an active member of the Foresters. With his family, he has always been a strict member of the Catholic church. LEELON B. KENYON. Leelon B. Kenyon, a leading citizen of Boelus, Nebraska, formerly proprietor of a flourishing general merchandise establishment at that place, is also president of the Boelus State Bank. Mr. Kenyon has for the past thirty-six years taken an active interest in the commercial and educational advancement of his locality, and is amply rewarded by the steady growth and thriv ing condition in which it is now to be found. He owns considerable town property in Boelus, and also a quarter section of good farm land ad joining Boelus on the east, a quarter section in Sherman county, and seventeen hundred and sixty acres in Rock county, Nebraska. Mr. Kenyon was born in New York state, on October 12, 1852. He grew up on his parent's farm, remaining at home until he was twenty years of age, at which time he went to Michigan and spent about one year in farming, then came to Howard county, Nebraska, arriving here in the fall of 1873. He was among the very earliest settlers in the county, picked out a choice location as his homestead, also filed on a timber claim, and proved up on both. He succeeded in building up a good farm, and lived on the place up to 1889, then moved into Boelus, where he has resided continuously since, with the exception of about one and a half years spent on the Sherman county farm. Several years ago Mr. Kenyon in partnership with a son, purchased and conducted a general merchandise store in Boelus, but in 1909 they traded the stock for the Rock county ranch. For twenty years past Mr. Kenyon has been engaged in the stock business, and during most of .that time was known as the heaviest stock buyer in his section of the country. Mr. Kenyon was married November 29, 1883, to Clara, Green, also a native of New York state, who came to Nebraska with her parents, Laten and Electa (Simons) Green, in the same year our subject settled here. She has one sister living in Boelus, and another in Antelope county, Ne braska, both father and mother, also two broth ers, being dead. Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon have had six children, named as follows: Arthur, Leslie, deceased; Albert, Leelon, junior, Clara and Glenn. Arthur, is married and lives on the ranch in Rock county ; Albert, is also married and works the Sherman county farm, while the last three mentioned remain at home. The family have a pleasant home, and all are popular in their community. Mr. Kenyon served for five years as treasurer of the Boelus school board and is still a member of that body. He has done much in the way of bettering conditions locally. In 1905 Mr. Kenyon and Anders, Peter and Niels Jensen, purchased the Boelus State Bank, Mr. Kenyon being elected president, and has con tinued holding that position up to the present time. HUBERT A. WEED. Another of the enterprising and prosperous farmers of Valley county, is the above named gentleman, who owns a fine farm near North Loup. He has been located there only in recent years, but has become known throughout the community as a progressive citizen and energetic farmer. Mr. Weed is the third in a family of four children born to Theodore and Sarah (Green) Weed. He was born at Milton Junction, Wis consin, on the second day of May, 1870. His father, a native of New York, who died in 1891, in Valley county, was a civil war veteran, hav ing been a member of Company E, of the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was en gaged in many conflicts. The mother, who was a native of Pennsylvania, is still living in North Loup. When Mr. Weed was eight years of age, the family came to Blaine county and three years later moved to this county, where the father took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near North Loup. The son, Hubert, received the greater part of his education in the schools of this state, and as he grew older, engaged in farming. On the tenth of November, 1891, he married Miss Fanny Wheatcraft, a native of Jasper county, Iowa, who came here with her parents when she was but a small child. She is a daugh ter of James Wheatcraft, a native of Ohio, while the mother, who was Helen Bishop before her marriage, was born in Vermont ; the family came to Nebraska in 1879, sojourning one year in Hall county prior to settling in Valley county, where they made permanent settlement. In 1901 Mr. Weed purchased eighty acres 628 COMPENDIUM OP" HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. adjoining his father's homestead, where he lived for a number of years. Finally, in 1904, he pur chased forty acres in section thirty-five, about a miles south of North Loup, and he is now living in a comfortable home at that location. Mr. Weed has made many improvements since pur chasing his farm, and is in every way a most successful farmer. Although one of the younger settlers, he remembers many of the hardships and curious experiences of the pioneer days, including the overland trip from Wisconsin, all* of which made a deep impression upon his mind at the time. From 1878 to 1891 he enjoyed the pioneer privilege of living in a sod house. Raising noth ing in 1894, the dry year, he spent part of the next winter in the western part of the state. He suffered the loss of his barn by fire in the sum mer of 1910, but with true western grit soon rebuilt. . For a number of years he was road overseer of the township. In politics he is a re publican. Two children, Bessie E. and Ervie H., were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weed. The family is prom inent iri a social way, and worships with the Davis creek congregation of United Brethren. Mr. Weed is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and with Mrs. Weed, has at tained the Degree of Honor. ERNEST NATHAN, SR. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Madison county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Ernest Nathan. For many years past he has been engaged in the pursuit of agriculture in Kalamazoo precinct, where he has aided in every way possible in building up that locality. He is one of the really old settlers who has done his utmost to promote the development of the better interests of his community, and now after years of labor enjoys the knowledge that he has the respect and esteem of all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Nathan is a native of Prussia, Germany. He was born August 3, 1845, and was the young est in a family of five children, whose parents were Fred and Wilhelmina Nathan, worthy farmers in Prussia. When a young man Ernest was apprenticed to a butcher and thoroughly learned that trade, devoting his time entirely to that while in his native country. In 1869 he left home, went to Hamburg, and there embarked for the United States, taking passage on the steamship Brushegea, and after a tedious voyage was landed in New York City, a stranger in a strange land. He spent some lit tle time in Wisconsin, and in 1872 started for Nebraska, traveling by wagon team across the country, and arriving in Madison county in the month of May. He immediately took homestead rights on a quarter section in section twenty-five, township twenty-one, range three, and later took a timber claim, proving up on both tracts in due time, al though during the first few years he had a hard struggle to make a living and make any pro gress, owing to the severe weather conditions, etc. He built two sod houses, living in those up to 1882, when he erected a comfortable frame dwelling. For the first few years Columbus was his nearest trading station, and all supplies had to be hauled from there. Mr. Nathan was married in July, 1868, in Germany, to Miss Caroline Karskezn, a native of Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan are the parents of six children, namely: Julius, Ernest, Herman, Otto, Martha and Minnie. JOHN PINCH. Among the men who were influential in secur ing the railroad which has recently been con structed through Arnold, Nebraska, John Finch deserves special mention. Mr. Finch is a native of Cedar county, Iowa, born September 6, 1860, third of nine children born to Thomas and Mary Ann Finch, natives of Ohio, who were married in Iowa. The family moved from Iowa to Kan sas in 1871, and in the spring of 1873, the father and the eldest son took a trip overland to Lincoln county, Nebraska, taking with them four yoke of oxen and a span of mules, taking up land two miles west of Brady. They had put in a crop in Kansas before starting, returned and harvested it, then with the family came back to the home stead and claim in Lincoln county, being the first white settlers on Pawnee creek. In the fall of 1876 the father, the eldest daughter and eldest son, besides one younger daughter, died of ty phoid fever. The mother now lives at Crooks, Idaho; William, lives on the Finch ranch in Cus ter county; Ephraim, lives in Colfax, Washing ton; Ira G, and Dennis G., live at Crooks, Idaho; Nancy, Mrs. Walter James, lives at Landore, Idaho; John, lives at Arnold. Mr. Finch lived in Lincoln county until his father's death. Early in the fall of 1875 the father and two brothers, Ephraim S. and David F., had come to the country eight miles below what is now known as Arnold, and established the first ranch, that far up the South Loup river, and the cattle were moved from the Lincoln county place to this ranch during the same year. Since that time this has been known as the Finch ranch, and was the home of E. S. Finch, one of its original owners, until the time of his death, July 25, 1905. The ranch, which contains two thousand four hundred and forty acres of land, belongs to the widow, Mrs. Sarah A., and a nephew, John Pinch. William Finch, brother of the subject of this sketch, lives on it. Mr. Finch lias been a resident of Custer county since 1875, and has had much to do with the growth and development of the locality. Since his fifteenth year he has been active in cat tle and ranch interests which were owned by his COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY, 629 father, and well remembers the time when the county was organized. He has continued to make his home on the South Loup river, with the excep tion of one year in Wyoming and one at Cozad. He has diversified business interests in Custer county and since 1886 has been a resident of Arnold, where he engaged in the drug business in 1887, being the pioneer druggist of the town. He owns large farming and ranch land interests and has dealt extensively in real estate. Mr. Finch was married in Cozad, November 28, 1883, to Miss May Kelley, daughter of William Kelley and wife. She is a native of Booneville, Indiana, her father being county sheriff there at the time of her birth. Two children were born to this union, one of whom survives, Pay G., in business with his father in Arnold. In 1883, Mr. Finch was appointed postmaster of Cozad, where for one year he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was active in securing the extension" of the Union Pacific railroad from Callaway to Gandy, taking in the business part of Arnold, which has been such a factor in insuring the pros perity of the town. He is one of the best known business men in central Nebraska, and is promi nent in many circles. He has taken thirty-two degrees in Free Masonry and is also an Odd Fel low. MICHAEL M. HAVEL. Michael M. Havel, whose name heads this personal history, is a thrifty and energetic resi dent of Pierce county, where he owns an interest in seven hundred and eighty-three acres of land situated in sections thirty-two, thirty-three and thirty-four, township twenty-six, range two, all of which is finely improved, and also contains one of the finest groves in the county. Mr. Havel was born July 16, 1870, in Bohemia, from whence he came when but a child to Amer ica with his father, Mathious Havel. The family sailed from Hamburg on the "Red Star," a sail ing vessel, and landed in Baltimore after a voy age of nearly seventeen weeks. They journeyed on to the state of Wisconsin, finding a home in Manitowoc county, where the father found work in a saw mill until 1872. Mr. Havel comes of a sturdy race, his father's history telling of perseverance and endurance in the early days of Nebraska; our' subject being a young lad, did not realize the hardships so greatly as his parents. "His father served his native country for twelve years in the wars between Russia and Austria and Prance and Germany, and was honorably discharged in 1866. He was gone so long, and being reported dead, his wife's parents urged her to marry again, but she in sisted her man would return. One day a bearded soldier came to the house whom none knew except the wife ; taking the shears she cut off half his beard and disclosed his identity. After coming to America, he worked in a saw mill one year, then walked from Manitowoc, Wis consin, to Omaha, where he worked in the con struction of the Missouri River railroad bridge for six months and earned enough money to bring his family to Omaha. He then took his family to the homestead in Saunders county in February, 1873, where they experienced very great hard ships, going through the grasshopper raids which destroyed all the crops, and also experienced losses from the hailstorm of 1874. In the spring of 1873, he bought three quarter sections of land northeast of the county seat in Pierce county, and also filed on a timber claim. December 5, 1883, he bought a house in Pierce and traded for farm land south of town. In 1897 he retired from ac tive labor and became a resident of Prague, Saunders county, where he is passing his days in comfort and ease. Of four children born to him, three survive : Barbara, Michael and John. The subject of our sketch was married Janu ary 1, 1898, to Miss Mary Paltys, a native of Col fax county, and daughter of Joseph and Chris tina (Sousek) Faltys. They are natives of Bo hemia, emigrating in the early seventies, and lived near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, some two years before moving to Nebraska. They were highly respected early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Havel are the parents of two fine children: Michael and Anna. Mr. Havel is affiliated with the Modern Wood men, of America, and is independent in politics. ALEXANDER S. NICHOLAS. Should the reader ask for the name of a rep resentative old timer of eastern Nebraska, who has spent many years of his life in the building up of a farm and later a good home in a country where but a few years ago there was a vast wil derness, and who is familiar with the early growth and development of this section, we would mention Alexander S. Nicholas as a typical west erner, a man of sterling character and energetic force of will, who has helped to make the his tory of this locality. Alexander S. Nicholas, son of Isaac and Sarah Nicholas, was born in Strongsville, Ohio, January 25, 1839. When eight years of age our subject went with his parents to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the home schools, and later engaged in farming. Mr. Nicholas was third in a family of seven children, two sisters of whom are living in Wisconsin, the parents be ing deceased, the father having died in August, 1860, and the mother in August, 1850. On July 2, 1859, Mr. Nicholas was united in marriage to Miss Salena Burge of Wisconsin, whose parents are deceased. She has one sister residing in Omaha, Nebraska, the other children being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas have had twelve children, eight of whom are living: Isaac, who is married, has four children, and lives in 630 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Palmer, Nebraska; William A., married, has seven children and also resides in Palmer ; Sarah, wife of Ira Griffin, has three children, and lives in Grand Island; Jemima, deceased in 1906, sur vived by her husband, George Stratton, and nine children; Alfred, married, has one child and re sides in Palmer; Mary, wife of James Peck, has eight children, and lives in Merrick county; Samantha, deceased in 1909, is survived by her husband, Wesley Devny, has three children and lives in Palmer; Martha, married to Albert Strong, has three children and resides in Merrick county; Charles, married, has two children and lives in Howard county ; Joseph, married, lives in Merrick county, has two children ; Clara, de ceased in infancy, and Myra, who died in 1885. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Nicholas, with his wife and seven children came to Howard county, Nebraska, and pre-empted eighty acres of land one and a half miles east of St. Paul, where they lived until the fall of 1873, when they came to Merrick county and homesteaded eighty acres in section eight, township fourteen, range eight, which re mained the home place for a few years; and he had also taken a one hundred and sixty acre tim ber claim near by, on which he lived from 1888 to 1904, when he retired from the farm and moved to Palmer and purchased a good home where he now lives. Mr. Nicholas helped to organize his school district in Howard county, and also was instrumental in organizing the first Sunday school in that county. He has also served on the school board of district number seventy-one, in Merrick county for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas are among the early settlers of this part of Nebraska, having passed through all the trying experiences incidental to the early Nebraska days, and are widely known and highly esteemed by all. They have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church since before they came west. C. E. YOCUM. C. E. Yocum, of Butte, who holds the office of treasurer of Boyd county, has been a resident of Nebraska since 1883, when his parents, James C. and Maria (Newell) Yocum, settled in Boyd county, selecting a location on the point between the Niobrara and Keya Paha rivers, and proving up on a homestead and timber claim. The family came from Wisconsin, where our subject was born on May 23, 1870. He attended the public schools in Charles City, Iowa, as a boy, finishing his education in Nebraska after the family had settled here. When Mr. Yocum was twenty-one years of age, he filed on a homestead for himself, situated on the north bank of the Keya Paha river, op posite his father's place, and lived on the farm until his election as treasurer of his county, tak ing possession of the office on January 9, i910. During his residence on the farm, Mr, Yocum went through the usual experiences of the pio neer, suffering storms, drouths, etc. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, which left disaster in its wake, will linger long in his memory, bringing to himself and family sorrow, in the finding of the bodies of his mother's sister and two of her grandchildren frozen on the prairies after the storrii had passed. Nothing but the delay of the blacksmith in finishing the iron work of a sled Mr. Yocum was having made, saved himself and mother from the same fate. As it was, they were delayed in Stuart until after the storm was over and the intense cold abated, and they could start safely on their long ride across the snowclad plains. As late as 1885, antelope and deer were to be seen on the prairies, and when the Yocum family first settled here, were quite plentiful. They suffered every discomfort in those days, but all had the fortitude to endure the hardships, firmly believing that better times would come, and in this they were more than right, as in no other part of the country has such a wonderful change taken place in the course of a few years, as in Nebraska. On December 14, 1899, Mr. Yocum was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Lawton, a native of Illinois, who came to Nebraska with her parents about 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Yocum have three. children : Percival, Sevilla and Florence, all bright and interesting young folks, and their home is one of the most pleasant and hospitable to be found in Butte. Mr. Yocum is a republican. DANIEL WERKMEISTER. One of the most prominent of the very early settlers of Stanton county, is the above named gentleman. For forty years he has been a resi dent of this state, and since 1894 has been living in this county. Through industry and good man agement, he has built up a valuable estate and is now enjoying the fruits of his years of toil. Mr. Werkmeister is a native of Shamburg, Germany, where he was born in 1848, the son of William and Sofia Werkmeister. His early years were spent in his native land, where he also re ceived his education. In 1871, the subscriber left his home in the old country, coming via Bremen to New York. He immediately came west, where better opportuni ties existed for a young man. He came to Otto, Nebraska, where he rented land and farmed until 1874, when he went to Douglas county. He re mained in this locality for quite a long time. Tn 1881, Mr. Werkmeister was united in mar riage to Miss Dora Stuhr. Thirteen years later, the family moved to Stanton county, which has been their home ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Werkmeister have nine children, named as follows: Sofia, Emma, Henry, Martha', Dane, Tiny, Dora, Rudolph and William. The COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 631 family is prominent socially, and are highly es teemed by all. Coming to the state at such an early date, Mr. Werkmeister suffered all the usual trials and discouragements which beset the life of the pio neer. For the first six years of his residence in the state, his crops were all taken by the grass hoppers, and it is a matter of wonderment even to him, these days, as to how he got along during those early times. One advantage they had, how ever, was that when he first came, deer, elk and antelope were plentiful enough to make a con siderable addition to their larder. Those times, with their toil and hardships, have all passed, and the old settlers, who did so much towards the development of the agricultural resources of this section of the country, are now so situated as to be able to enjoy the prosperity which is the result of their efforts. W. H. MUNGER. Located very pleasantly in section five, town ship twenty-four, range eight, is to be found the venerable gentleman whose name heads this per sonal* sketch. He has been identified with the history of Antelope county for the past twenty- six years, and has always contributed his full share to the best interests of his home county and state. Mr. Munger, while quiet and unobstrusive in his habits and ways, is forceful in character and honest in purpose, and is widely known as one of the leading and influential early settlers of the county. Mr. Munger was born in the state of Michi gan, August 29, 1840, and is the son of George and Sylvia (Wilcox) Munger, who were natives of New York state. Our subject lived in his native state until twelve years of age, when he went to Lafayette county, Iowa, where he resided thirty- two years. On September 5, 1861, Mr. Munger enlisted in the civil war, joining Company F, Ninth Iowa In fantry, under General Curtis and Captain Towner; while in service, Mr. Munger was wounded at the battle of Pearidge ; he was hon orably discharged in April of 1863. Mr. Munger with his family, he having mar ried, came to Antelope county, Nebraska, by rail, in 1884. After arriving in Antelope county, Mr. Munger took up a homestead claim in section five, township twenty-four, range eight, which farm remains the family home to the present time ; on this land our subject built a small shanty and put out three acres of trees; later he built a good substantial house and made numerous improvements, until now he has one of the finest home farms in this section. Mr. Munger, owing to his many sterling qual ities, always has been and still is a popular man in his community. His daughter is now post mistress of Vim, Stanton township, which office she has held for a number of years, having been appointed by President Roosevelt, in the year 1904. In 1866, Mr. Munger was united in marriage to Mrs. Pauline Wilcox Richards, whose hus band was killed while serving his country in the civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Munger have two chil dren, namely: Minnie, wife of E. W. Durham, the parents of three children; and Dora, who re sides at home, and is postmistress at the above mentioned office. NICHOLAS M. MORGAN. Nicholas M. Morgan is one of the well known citizens of Custer county, where he was one of the early settlers. He is honored as a veteran of the civil war and is prominently identified with the republican party, being active in public affairs. He was born in Calmer, Sweden, August 28, 1836, next to the eldest of eleven children of Samuel and Tina (Nelson) Morgan. He had two sisters and three brothers in America: Prank 0. Mor gan, of Bradshaw, Nebraska; S. P., of Henry county, Iowa; Mrs. Clara Carlson, of Iowa; Mrs. Martha Larson, of Joliet, Illinois; Charles A., was an early settler of York county, Nebraska, and died in July, 1907. In August, 1854, Mr. Morgan came to America, spent one year in New York, then came to Minne sota, where he worked at farming. In 1859 he enlisted in Company L, Second United States Artillery of the regular army, for five years. His first service was in Indian warfare in Minnesota and later he was transferred to service in the union army. The more important battles in which he participated were as follows: Chickahominy, first and second Malvern Hill, Fairfax, Court house, South Mountain, Antietam, Shepherds- town, Halltown, Warrentown, Chaneellorsville, Beverly Ford, Prankstown, (July 9, 1863), Fall ing Waters, Chester Gap, (July 22, 1863), three battles of Brandy Station in August, and Gettys burg, besides many minor engagements. He re ceived his final discharge at Cedar Point, Vir ginia, July 15, 1864. Upon leaving the army Mr. Morgan went to Galesburg, Illinois, and later to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He was mar ried at that place December 2, 1869, to Miss Angeline Bailey, born in Tennessee, who died in Burlington, Iowa, in 1874, survived by four chil dren : Josephine May, died at the age of nine years; Amanda Elsie, at home; Hattie G, died young; Henry W. P., in California. In February, 1878, Mr. Morgan came by team and wagon to York county, Nebraska, and for two years car ried on farming. On June 9, 1876, at Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Anna C. Johnson, a native of Sweden, who came to America in childhood. November 6, 1879, he filed an entry on a homestead and tree claim >of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 632 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. two, township fifteen, range twenty-three, which was the home place many years. He developed it into a splendid stock and grain farm and made a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle. In 1882 he was one of the principal organizers of the re publican party in Custer county, the meetings for this purpose being held on the Myers ranch. For three years later, 1884, 1885 and 1886, he served as county supervisor, and for some time was also treasurer of school district number three. He has passed through the most interesting stage of Nebraska's history and has witnessed the wonderful develop ment of his region during the past thirty years, doing his full share to aid in the general pro gress and advancement. He retired from the farm in July, 1907, and went to live in Callaway, where he has a pleasant home. Upon locating on his farm he lived four years in a dugout before erecting a sod house, and in 1891 he built a fine ten room house on his farm. He owns seven hun dred and twenty acres of well equipped grain and stock farm land. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan: Charles E., a clerk in the war depart ment at Washington; Laura S., wife of L. A. Witthuhn, of Perkins county, Nebraska; Alvin A., and Arthur D., twins, at home ; Lillian E., wife of Fred G. Peyton, of Callaway, has two children. NELS ANDERSON. Among the sons of the Scandinavian Penin sula who have come to America in search of greater opportunities of making comfortable homes than are presented in their own land, and who have become worthy and highly respected citizens, the gentleman named above holds a prominent place. He has been a resident of Cedar county, Nebraska, for more than thirty years and has prospered by faithful industry and integrity and well merits his high standing. Mr. Anderson is a native of Sweden and was born in 1854, the son of Andrew and Anna Nelson. His childhood was spent in Sweden, and he also obtained the greater part of his education there. In 1869, Mr. Anderson left his native land for America. He went to England by a sailing vessel, and then took a steamer bound for New York City. He came at once to South Dakota, and for several years worked for others. In 1873 he bought a farm and made considerable improve ments upon it in the next few years. In 1877, he came to Cedar county, Nebraska, where he bought the homestead which has been his home ever since that date. He came to Nebraska when the country was still but sparsely settled, and during the early years of his residence here he experienced man1' hardships- and had many discouraging expe riences. In spite of all obstacles, however, he has prospered and now has a beautiful home and finely equipped farm. Of late years, he has not only engaged in farming occupations, but has also given considerable attention to stock raising, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Ella Hogenson in 1879, and they are the parents of twelve children. They have given them the following names : Annie, now Mrs. Paul Harder ; Harry, Frederick, Stella, now Mrs. Charles Ding- man, of Sioux City; Hilda, Minnie, Mabel, now Mrs. Paul Pinenon; Lillie, Nels, junior, Bessie, Peter and Sadie. A picture of the family is pre sented on another .page of this work. PETER NISSEN. Peter Nissen, who resides on section one, township twenty-eight, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old- timers in this section, and has always done his share in the. betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Nissen was born January 16, 1852, in the village of Wesby, Province of Sehleswig, Ger many, and is the son of Mats and Mary Ann (Hollander) Nissen, who are both natives' of Sehleswig, which until 1864, was a province of Denmark. Both died in Germany. Our subject followed the occupation of farm ing in the old country until 1873, when he sailed from Hamburg for New York on a vessel of the Hamburg line, the voyage lasting ten days. After landing in New York, he came to Clinton county, Iowa, and worked as a farm hand for six years. He then rented a tract of wild land in Crawford county, Iowa, which he broke and made ready for cultivation. At the end of the year he sold his lease to the owner of the tract. In 1881, Mr. Nissen came to Pierce county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, his present home, from John Black. He has a well improved farm, on which good buildings have been erected, and is an en-: terprising farmer. Mr. Nissen first lived for a year in a sod house he found on the farm, then built his present frame house. Mr. Nissen was married in September, 1881, to Miss Anna Hladik, who was born in Bohemia in 1865, and whose father, Andy Hladik, home steaded in Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Nissen are the parents of eight children, two of whom, Mary and John, died in 1883 and 1909, respectively. Those living are: Andy, Peter, Andrew, Emil, Willie and Etta ; two are married, Andy to Miss Paulina Pilbeurt, they having two children; and Peter, to Miss Alma Filbeurt. Mr. Nissen went through many hard expe riences in the pioneer days. In 1882 he lost all his hay by a, prairie fire, and in the two hail storms of 1900, lost all his crops. The same storm destroyed a church nearby, carrying it across the road and leaving it a total wreck. Two of NELS ANDERSON AND FAMILY. COMPENDIUM OF' HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 633 Mr. Nissen 's brothers were out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888; one was three miles from home, and with difficulty found his way back; the other, who was on his way to town, continued to his destination, reaching shelter almost frozen. Mr. Nissen is a member of the German Luth eran church, and is an independent in politics, always voting for the best man. HANS LEMBURG. (Deceased.) In the gentleman above named, now deceased, we have one of the prosperous agriculturalists and leading citizens of Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. Lemburg passed through every form of pio neer life since locating here, and by dint of in dustry and good management managed to accu mulate a valuable estate and become recognized as one of his county's substantial public-spirited citizens. Mr. Lemburg was born in Germany on Feb ruary 4, 1846, and grew up there, receiving the education usual to the middle classes in that country, and at the age of twenty years left his native land and came to America. His first location after arriving was at Daven port, Iowa, where he remained for four years. He then decided to try his luck further west, so equipped with a good team of horses and a wagon, started to Nebraska, encountering many difficul ties in traveling through the rough country, but arriving at Grand Island, without any serious mishap, after a long and tedious journey. He spent about two years in that vicinity, then moved to Howard county in 1871, filing on a homestead on Oak creek, situated on section eighteen, township thirteen, range eleven, which he lived on for many years. During the early years he endured much hardship in building up his home, but was able to add to his acreage, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in section nineteen, which he also put in good shape, and at the time of his death he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of well improved land, supplied with fine buildings, etc. He had been engaged in the stock business for a number of years prior to his demise, and was enjoying a good income from his different opera tions. Mr. Lemburg was married in Howard county, Nebraska, on August 12, 1876, to Minnie Nicho- fel, and of their union three children were born, two of whom are now living on the home farm with their mother. The son, Willie H. Lemburg, was born September 17, 1887, and is now running the Lemburg farm. He was raised in Howard county, receiving his early education in the local schools, and later attended college at St. Paul, Nebraska, and being a young man of energetic habits, industrious and progressive, has made the most of his advantages, now recognized as one of the successful and prosperous farmers of his lo- 21% cality. His sister, Frieda D., also lives on the home farm, and is a bright and charming young woman. AMOS WILLIAM TRAVIS. (Deceased.) Among the highly esteemed and respected cit izens and old timers of Nebraska, the subject of this biographical writing held a prominent place at the time of his demise, and his memory is cherished and held dear by all who knew him in his lifetime. Amos William Travis, deceased, was of English descent, and born in Binghamtown, Pennsylva nia, August 21, 1822. In childhood he went to New Y^ork with his parents, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. About 1846 or 1847, he went to Wisconsin, and on July 14, 1849, was united in marriage to Miss Eunice M. Crocker, who was born in Watertown, New York. Miss Crocker was for some years teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, schools. Mr. and Mrs. Travis were blessed with seven children, namely : Jane, died in 1889, survived by her husband, George Byington, and two children; Ella, de ceased in November, 1899, survived by her hus band, Orrin Rashaw, and three children ; Fred, who is married and has eight children, lives in Valley county, Nebraska ; Frank, married May Gibson, lives in Valley county, and has three chil dren ; Cora, died June, 1907, survived by her hus band, Ferd Hollingsworth, and four children ; William, deceased in August of 1901, and Mira, wife of Lysander Watson, has two children, and resides in Valley county. Mr. and Mrs. Travis made their first home near Kingston, Columbia county, Wisconsin, on a farm. In 1876, Mr. Travis made a trip to Ne braska, looking for a location in which to settle, and in May of 1878, moved with his family to Valle.y county. Here he timber-claimed eighty acres of land, and also homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section eighteen, township eighteen, range fourteen, where he lived until the time of his death, August 1, 1888, survived by his wife and seven children. Mr. Travis was instrumental in organizing his school district, and served on the board of same for some years. He was one of the earliest set tlers in his county, and was closely identified with its interests. He was a man who was held in high esteem by all who knew him, and his friends were many. Mrs. Travis reached the mature age of eighty- two years, passing away March 2, 1911, on the old homestead, where she lived with her grand son, Jackson Rashaw, surrounded by a large circle of life-long friends and acquaintances. Fred Travis, son of Amos and Eunice (Crock er) Travis, was born in Wisconsin, November 17, 1848, and was third of seven children. He re ceived his education in his native state, and later 634 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMlNiSCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. engaged in farming. In 1878 he came with his parents to Valley county, Nebraska, and pur chased eighty acres of railroad land in the south half of the northeast quarter of section thirteen, township eighteen, range fifteen, which is still his home place. On February 21, 1886, Mr. Travis was married to Miss Addie Forbes, who was born near Winter- set, Iowa, and came with her father, Prank Forbes, to Valley county in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Travis have had eight children born to them, namely: Jennie, wife of Roy Juett, they having one child, and residing in Sioux City, Iowa ; Oscar, a teacher in Nebraska schools, and Lucy, Christie, Alta, Chester, Helen and Alvin, at home. Mr. Travis has served as treasurer on the school board of district number twenty-three a number of years, and has been a prosperous and successful man of affairs, owning three hundred and twenty acres of stock farm land, and two hundred and forty acres of fine grain farm. All during his Nebraska years, Mr. Travis has run a threshing machine, covering territory with a rad ius of thirty miles. Frank Travis, son of Amos and brother of the foregoing subject, was born in Wisconsin, Febru ary 15, 1861, and was fourth in a family of seven children. In 1878 he came with his parents to Valley county, Nebraska, where he purchased, in 1883, an eighty-acre tree claim, which is still his home place. On February 22, 1887, Mr. Travis was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Morgan, who was born in Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Travis have had three children, namely: Ethel, and Horace and Hazel, twins, who all reside under the parental roof. Mr. Travis has been prosperous and successful, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of well- improved stock and grain farm land in section four, township eighteen, range fifteen. Mr. Trav is has for twelve years served in the various offi ces of the school board of his district, number fifty-two. The Travis family are one of the highly es teemed, well known old pioneer families of the state of Nebraska, and have been associated with its history since the very first days of settlement. HERMAN F. BERGMANN. Among the prosperous citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality, Herman P. Bergmann, subject of this biographical writing, may be mentioned as one of the foremost and best known men in his locality. Mr. Bergmann is owner of a valuable estate in Norfolk precinct, and is a young man with a promising future before him. Mr. Bergmann is a native-born Nebraskan, his birth occurring in Madison county, March 25, 1873. He is a son of August and Amelia (Pas- walk) Bergmann, the mother being a native of Wisconsin, and the father a native of Germany. Coming to America when he was but seventeen years of age, he embarked on a sailboat at Ham burg, and was eight weeks on the sea before land ing in New York. After arriving in the United States, 'he proceeded directly to Wisconsin, where he lived for several years, and while residing there, was married. During his residence in Wis consin, he worked out at whatever his hands found to do. In 1868 our subject's father, with his family, started for Madison county, Nebraska, coming by ox team, and were on the road seven weeks. After landing in Madison county, they took up a homestead in section twelve, township twenty- three, range one, which still remains the home stead farm, where our subject now resides. On this land the father built a log house, in which the family lived for ten years, then a good frame house was built. In the first days of residence on the western frontier, our subject's parents suffered many hardships and discouragements, and about the greatest source of anxiety 'was the grasshopper pests which infested this region during the first few years' location here, destroying every spear of green for miles. The hot winds that prevailed during the season of drouth in 1894 were another source of discouragement, although this came upon them at a very much later day. In the early times, Columbus and Fremont were the nearest market places, being several miles distant, and the journey consuming three days for the trip back and forth. But those times of hardship and unpleasant experiences are days of the past, and now events of history, and with the present days of prosperity and plenty, there can be no repeti tion of those stirring incidents. WATSON W. BISHOP. Although not one of the first settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, Watson W. Bishop is classed among the earlier ones, and he has always been identified with the cause of progress along edu cational and various other lines in his county and central Nebraska. He was born in Piper City, Illinois, April 18, 1860, third of six children in the family of Lucas and Hannah (Watson) Bishop, natives of New York state, and now deceased. A son and a daughter now reside in Illinois, and the other daughter, Mrs. David Hannah, lives in Central City, Nebraska, being the only member of the family residing in that state, besides Wat son W., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Bishop, who was one of four sons, was reared on an Illinois farm, and received the usual education given a farmer's son. He remained at home until his twenty-first year, and in the spring of 1881 went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and en gaged in carpenter work, spending four years there. On June 25, 1880, he was married at Piper City to Miss Emma Thompson, daughter of James COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 635 M. and Margaret Thompson. In the spring of 1885, he and his wife, with their only child, left Grand Rapids for Lincoln, Nebraska, where they lived one year, then spent one year in Austin, Texas, and in the spring of 1887, with their daughter, Zoe, they came to Broken Bow, Nebras ka. Mr. Bishop engaged in business as contractor and builder, and did a great deal of work in erect ing buildings in the then new town of Broken Bow. His father later acquired land on section ten, township seventeen, range twenty, in Custer county, and this farm became the home of the Bishop family in 1902, prior to which they had continued to reside in Broken Bow since first lo cating there. Mr. Bishop now owns a well- equipped grain and stock farm of four hundred and eighty acres of land, which has suitable and substantial buildings. The land was unimproved when he came to live on it, and not only has he developed the farm for agricultural purposes, but he has also set out a very creditable orchard for the length of time he has spent in setting out and cultivating trees. Mr. and . Mrs. Bishop have two daughters, Zoe and Madge, both at home. The former, wife of Ollie Heaps, has one child, Margaret. Until 1905, Mrs. Bishop was for many years a teacher in the public schools of Custer county, also teach ing for a time in Colfax and Logan counties, being a woman of high attainment and ability as an educator, and in this connection has left an impress upon the young men and women who have come under her influence and teaching. Her father served in the civil war, and his death oc curred from exposure in January, 1863, while he was in service. Her mother is also deceased, and she has one brother, Ira Thompson, who lives in New Mexico. PRANK M. EVENS. A history of the men and events of north eastern Nebraska would be incomplete without extensive mention of P. M. Evens, one of the old settlers of Cedar county, who has been actively identified with the development and progress of his region. Mr. Evens is a native of Ohio, born in 1833, son of Thomas and Mary Evens. Thomas Evens, of Welsh descent, was born in Virginia, and his wife in Kentucky. The paternal grand father served in the revolution, and Thomas Ev ens in the war of 1812. P. M. Evens was edu cated in Ohio, and reached maturity there. In 1864 he was drafted for service in the Civil war, but, on account of sickness, served but a short time in one of the Iowa regiments. In 1884, Mr. Evens removed to Brown county, Nebraska, there took up a homestead, and erected a house. In 1890 he came. to Cedar county, and later purchased his present farm on section nine, township twenty-nine, range one, east, where he has made many improvements, and now owns one of the best equipped stock and grain farms of his part of Cedar county. He is well deserving of the success that is his, and has won many warm friends, being recognized as a man of upright ness and integrity in all his dealings. - In 1859, Mr. Evens was united in marriage with Elizabeth Stork, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when seven years of age. Ten children have blessed their union, namely: Eliza, now Mrs. Charles A. Rob erts ; Julia, now Mrs. P. S. Carpenter ; George C. ; Lillie, now Mrs. F. E. Jones ; Etta, wife of Robert Sceli; Charles; Harry L., and John P. Two daughters, Katie and Luella, are deceased. Mr. Evens is inclined to democracy, and al ways has assisted in a public-spirited manner in the precinct affairs of his home locality. JOHN L. DAVIS. In the person of the above-mentioned gentle man we find one of the oldest settlers of Merrick county, recognized by all as one of the repre sentative citizens of that locality, who has seen the growth and progress of that region from its early settlement. John L. Davis was born in Morgan county, Ohio, June 6, 1841, and was eldest of nine chil dren in the family of William P. and Hannah (Logan) Davis, who had five sons and four daughters. Mr. Davis was a farm boy, and re ceived the district school advantages, and re mained on the home farm in Noble county until time of his enlistment in the Civil war, in Com pany A, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, July 29, 1861. He participated in the battles of Lewisburg, Virginia, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Berryville, Winchester and Lynehberg, under Thomas and Sheridan. Mr. Davis had an excellent war record, and received his honorable discharge, September 3, 1864, when he returned , to Noble county, where he engaged in the oil busi ness for two years. On May 24, 1866, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elenor H. Posten, who was also a native of Ohio. After marriage, Mr. Davis farmed in Mor gan county one year, then moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he lived until 1872, and fol lowed farming. • In the fall of 1872, Mr. Davis, with his wife and two children, moved to Merrick county, Ne braska, taking up a homestead on section thirty- two, township fourteen, range eight, which now joins the town of Palmer, and he sold this prop erty about 1900. Mr. Davis was, therefore, one of the pioneer homesteaders of Merrick county. In the spring of 1888, Mr. Davis began busi ness in the new town of Palmer, dealing in farm implements, becoming one of the pioneer business men of Palmer, and has continued in the imple ment business to this date. He has a fine imple ment house, and enjoys a large trade. Mr. Davis in past years has been connected with the politi cal progress of the county, and, besides his busi- 636 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ness in Palmer, has land interests in Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had five children, four of whom are living : Elizabeth P., wife of A. T. Ferris, has seven children, and resides in Palmer, Nebraska; Frank T., married, has six children, and lives in Wheatland, Wyoming; Ann E., wife of A. J. McClellan, has four children, and resides in Nance county, Nebraska, and Elsie M., wife of R. T. Linderman, has one child, and lives in Palmer. Mr/ and Mrs. Davis and family are of the pioneer stock of Merrick county, and in social and educational circles are well known, having the respect and esteem of many friends. JOHN ICKLER. John Ickler, of Creighton, now retired, is one of the many thrifty sons of the fatheland who has won a competency for himself in the new world. He was born in the village of Allendorf, province of Hesse-Nassau, April 17, 1850, and spent the first nineteen years of his life in the old country, employed at farm labor. His par ents, Siebert and Catherine (Reitz) Ickler, died in their native province. On emigrating, he sailed from the haven of Bremen in November, 1869, and in ten days landed in New York. Coming west, he found work in Cook county, near Chicago, for a short time, and then went to Chatsworth, where he remained until near harvest time, when he came to Omaha, and found work in the grain fields a mile or two out of town. Here he was found to be so efficient and industrious that he remained one and one half years with the same man, work ing on his farm or in his mill at West Point. Desiring possessions of his own, he took what money he had saved, and filed on a homestead, nine miles northwest from West Point, in Cum ing county, which he occupied about six years. He then sold and rented for two years, after which he came to Knox county, reaching Creigh ton in November, 1880, before the railroad had been laid into town. He ran a dray in town nine years, during which time he built a comfort able home. Seeing more rapid prosperity in farm ing, he sold his town property, and purchased a quarter section, five miles south of Creighton, in Antelope county, and lived there twenty-one years, adding to his possessions until he accumu lated four hundred and eighty acres of fine farm and grazing land. Retaining two hundred acres for his own use, he divided the rest between two of his sons, and retired from active farming. He purchased from his son, Siebert, a neat concrete cottage in Creighton, where he is with his wife and younger daughters, taking life easy, free from the worry of whence is to come his daily bread. He well merits the rest he is enjoying; it was by hard, persistent toil his success has been won. Mr. Ickler was married at West Point, October 3, 1872, to Miss Anna Lobel, a native of the vil lage of Altdorf, in Bavaria. Her father, George Lobel, came to America about 1872, and was one of the early settlers of Cuming county. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ickler, seven are living: Paul, farming on part of the old home farm in Antelope county ; Siebert, who for a number of years was a prosperous blacksmith in Creighton, sold his residence to his father, and took up a claim near Wall, South Dakota, run ning a shop at his new ranch when not busy on the land; William, farms a part of the old farm near his eldest brother; Katie, married George Romine, a farmer of Knox county; Margaret, wife of Fred Hoffman, occupies the old home in Antelope county, and Bertha and Elsa are still under the parental roof. Mr. Ickler has lived in Nebraska in three of the memorable blizzards — that of 1874, the one of October 15, 1880, and the one of January 12, 1888. His first house in Cuming county was a dug-out of the usual type, which was later sup planted by a frame dwelling, the timber being hauled from West Point. The country was all open when Mr. Ickler came, with no fences to im pede travel in any direction. Prairie wolves were plentiful, and occasionally big grey wolves from the timber along the river were seen straying into the prairie in search of a calf or hog that had wandered too far from the herd. Mr. Ickler is a republican in politics, and, with his family, a member of the German Luth eran church. JONAS NELSON. Jonas Nelson illustrates in his career the strong virtues and manly qualities of his Teutonic ancestry, and, like them, defies any danger, and overcomes any hindering obstacle. Never afraid of 'hard work, he has made his own way entirely, and is well known to the people of Stanton county as one of the prosperous and prominent farmers of that locality. Mr. Nelson was born in 1849, in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, and is the son of John and Nellie Nelson. His childhood years were spent in the old country, where he recevied his education. As he grew up, he was for several years employed in local factories. In 1877 he yvas united in mar riage to Miss Minnie Mawz, a native of Germany. In 1881 Mr. Nelson, with his little family, left his native land, and came to the new world, which they imagined — and with truth — had so much for them in the future. They came at once to Washington county, Nebraska, where Mr. Nel son worked a rented farm for several years. Ten years later he came to Stanton county, where he bought a farm in section five, township twenty- one, range two, east, which has been the home farm ever since. Since he bought this place, he COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 637 has improved it in many ways, and it is now a picture of thrift and plenty. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of five children, upon whom they have bestowed the fol lowing names: Charles, William, Gusta, Emma and Mary. They enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. WILLIAM BROOKHOUSER. William Brookhouser, of Orchard, Nebraska, is an old settler in that part of the state, having come to Knox county over twenty-one years ago. He is a native of Iowa, born in 1858, and came west at an early day. During his residence in Nebraska, he has taken an active part and done his share toward the development of the agricul tural resources of this part of the state. ALEXANDER L. MATHEWS, M. D. Dr. Alexander L. Mathews owns desirable business interests in Custer county, and has an extensive practice in the vicinity of Callaway. He is interested in local and state politics, and is recognized as a public-spirited, enterprising citi zen. He was born in Bradford county, Pennsyl vania, February 18, 1849, fourth of the seven children of John and Eliza (Waltman) Mathews. The only ones of the family who still survive, besides himself, are : Sarah, Mrs. Kenyon, of Bradford county; Lewis, of Tioga county, New York, and Mrs. Minerva J. Fleming, of Picture Rocks, Pennsylvania. The father was of English descent, and was born at Morris, New Jersey. He spent most of his life in Pennsylvania, and worked most earnestly for the progress and de velopment of Bradford county, where he died in 1888. His father, Aaron Mathews, served in the war of 1812. The mother of Alexander L. Math ews was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, of German extraction, and died in Bradford county in 1885. Dr. Mathews reached manhood on the farm where he was born, and received his elementary education in local schools. In 1874 he graduated from the American University, of Philadelphia. where he had taken a medical course, and in 1882 graduated from Eclectic Medical Institute, of Cincinnatti. In 1874 he had spent some time in the Blockley hospital in West Philadelphia, where he had clinical experience, and in 1893 he took a post-graduate course in medicine and sur gery at the Bennett Medical College in Chicago. On January 1, 1870, in Bradford county, Penn sylvania, Dr. Mathews was united in marriage with Miss I aura Strevey, who was born in Brad ford, and who died in Pennsylvania in 1875, sur vived by her husband and two children — Lillian. who died in 1904, leaving her husband, Samuel Idell, and two children, and Willard V., who is married, and living at Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1886 Dr. Mathews came with his family to Fremont, Nebraska, and for six months engaged in drug business and cared for his medical prac tice. In October of the same year, he came on to Callaway, and established a practice which has since steadily increased. He has a high reputa tion, professionally, and stands well in the com munity in all circles. Dr. Mathews was married (second) in Brad ford county, to Mrs. Adelaide Brown, whose maiden name Avas Wilcox, a native of the county and a teacher in Pennsylvania schools. When Dr. and Mrs. Mathews decided to locate in Callaway, it was some six weeks before he could make ar rangements to leave his practice, and Mrs. Mathews came on ahead, and opened the first hotel in Callaway. Both have taken an active interest in the growth of the town, and in the welfare and upbuilding of the community. Dr. Mathews was one of the organizers of the Seven Valleys State Bank, of Callaway, and was its president for twelve years. While he has always continued in medical practice, he has helped var ious enterprises to get a start, was for six years engaged in mercantile business, has been quite extensively interested in the stock business, and has also had a retail drug business. In 1887 he helped organize the Callaway school district, and for seven years served as secretary of the board. For six consecutive years he was chairman of the town board, and he has always been influential in public affairs. In early years he was one of the prime movers in establishing a flour mill at Calla way, the only One within a radius of twenty-five miles, and a great help to the community. While Dr. Mathews has at different times had extensive and varied business interests, his pro fession has taken the first place in his life at all- times, and he has always kept abreast of the times in the line of medical work. He has read the literature of the profession, and belongs to various medical societies. During the years 1895, 1896 and 1897, he was a member of the faculty of Lincoln Medical College as lecturer on dermatology. Throughout the years he has been a patriotic Nebraskan, and is well known throughout the central part of the state. Dr. Mathews is a strong believer in the spirit ual, and all through his professional practice as a physician the spiritual feature has been a dom inant one with him. Frequently, when it is ap parent that the soul of a mortal is near the call to the great beyond, he has administered in this capacity, much to the relief and comfort to the one afflicted, and to those so soon to be bereft of a loved one. The peculiarities of the settlement of a new country, with its abnormal distances to neighboring homes, has made this a necessary part of his professional practice. Frequently his ardent prayers have given comfort to a departing soul when the life and end of a sufferer needed consolation, and when the services of a clergyman was not to be had. 638 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. STEPHEN N. ARNOLD. While not of the very oldest settlers of Ne braska, Stephen N. Arnold is considered one of the reliable men of Valley county, where he has lived for the past nineteen years, and the Arnold family has intermarried with some of the old Valley county families. Mr. Arnold resides on section twenty, township nineteen, range thir teen, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, and where he raises stock. This farm is well equipped, and has good build ings. Mr. Arnold was born in a log house in War ren county, Iowa, March 15, 1851, and was eldest of six children in the family of James and Mar garet (Durham) Arnold, who had five sons and one daughter. The father was a native of Indi ana, and the mother a native of Maine. The father and family moved from Warren to Jones county, Iowa, in 1852, remaining until 1859, when they moved to Marion county, living there ten years, then moving to Lucas county, and residing there several years. The -father died here in 1886, and the mother passed away in the winter of 1892. Of the family now living there are : Stephen N. Arnold, the subject of this review; William, who lives in Minnesota, and Abraham L., who lives on the old homestead in Lucas coun ty, Iowa. The Arnold family were pioneers of Iowa, and the mother's family, the Durhams, were pioneers of Iowa before its admittance as a state. Mr. Arnold was given his time by his father, and started out for himself on attaining his twen tieth year. He was married to Miss Margaret A. Carmichael in Lucas county, Iowa, November 13, 1872. Her father, Solomon E. Carmichael was a "native of North Carolina, and the mother, Eliza beth Young in maidenhood, was a native of Indi ana. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have nine children, namely : Emma Jane, wife of A. J. Litz, has three children, and resides in Rock county, Nebraska; Delia E., who is married to Albert McMindes, has three children, and lives in Ord; Charles G., farming with his brother, James; James S., who is married and living on the Wigent farm adjoin ing his father's land; Bertha May, wife of L. W. Seeriey, has two children, and lives on the Van Wie farm in Springdale township, and Benjamin H., David D., Verl E. and Lela Pearl, who reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Arnold lived in Lucas county, Iowa, until coming to Valley county, Ne braska, in March of 1$93, when they moved on the farm purchased in the fall of 1892, on section twenty, township nineteen, range thirteen. Mr. Arnold was a farmer and stock man in Iowa, and since coming to Valley county has continued to farm and raise stock. He now as a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, known as Pleas ant Grove Grain and Stock farm, on which a com modious dwelling and large, roomy barn were built within the last few years. We are pleased to call attention to a view of the dwelling and sur roundings illustrating another page of the book. Mr. Arnold has lived most of his life on the frontier. At the time of his birth, wolves were plentiful in Warren county, and each successive move of the family was into a new country with few settlers, and these far between. For years the mother cooked the family meals in an open oven before a wood fire on the hearth or in a skil let with coals heaped on top, as well as packed in below, and though for long periods johnny cake and sorghum formed the principal, if not the only diet, it was wholesome and nourishing, and to keen young appetites tasted good. There was usually a small sack of wheat flour in the cabin for biscuit Sunday morning or when a chance visitor remained with them for a meal, and the hope of such fare made visitors doubly welcome to the children, to whom hot, white biscuit were a great treat. Mr. Arnold has always taken a keen interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted county, always standing for advance ment along progressive and educational lines. He is a republican in politics, has served the people as treasurer of Springdale tonwship, and also as township assessor. JOHN W. BRYAN. One of the best known farmers of Custer county, Nebraska, is John W. Bryan, who has brought his homestead to a high state of improve ment and productiveness. Mr. Bryan was born in Clay county, Illinois* December 6, 1849, being third in a family of seven children born to Wil liam H. and Martha C. (Brinn) Bryan, the father of English and the mother of Scotch descent. The father was born in Tennessee, and the mother in Illinois; her mother was born in South Caro lina and at the age of fifteen came with her par ents to Shelbyville, Illinois. The family is men tioned elsewhere in this work in connection with others of its members. The paternal grand father, Gilson T. Bryan, was a minister of the Christian church. William H. Bryan served in the Civil war and was killed in April, 1862, at the battle of Pittsburg Landing. His wife died in Illinois in October of 1862. They have one son at Taylorville, Illinois, one daughter at Gi- rard, Illinois, one daughter in California, and the subject of this sketch, who survive, their other children being deceased., Mr. Bryan grew to manhood in the family of an uncle, John W. Bryan, and received his edu cation in his native county, later engaging in farming there. On December 23, 1874, he was married, in Clay county, to Sarah Ingraham, a native of that state, who died in July, 1876. In March, 1877, Mr. Bryan came to Custer county and homesteaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the southeast quarter of sec tion nine, township sixteen, range seventeen, "PLEASANT GROVE GRAIN AND STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF STEPHEN N. ARNOLD. "ELM HILL. FARM," RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. BRYAN, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 639 which has since been his home. He filed on this land October 27, 1877, being the first homesteader on Clear creek in Custer county; at that time deer, elk and antelope were plentiful, three be ing killed in one day about this time near his home. On April 10, 1883, Mr. Bryan married (sec ond), in Westerville, Nebraska, Miss Anna Dun- lap, a native of Ohio. The Dunlap family settled in Nebraska in the seventies. Mrs. Bryan died on the home farm April 15, 1893, survived by her husband and the following five children: Win field S., Daniel W., Wilbert M., Francis M., at home, and John, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Bryan is enthusiastically interested in all that pertains to the general welfare, and has been closely identified with the progress of his county, having held various township offices and performed every duty that fell to him as a citi zen. He is a republican in politics, and a mem ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the American Order of Protection. Mr. Bryan has a fine stock and grain farm, and gives much attention to bees, having many stands of hives. His place contains substantial outbuildings, the neat cottage dwelling having been erected in 1910. We give an illustration of the home on its elevation, with other buildings conveniently grouped, making an excellent farm residence. Mr. Bryan was three miles away from home at a sale when the well-known blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, began. Being familiar with every foot of the surrounding country, he had no diffi culty in making his way home. Among the early discouragements were hailstorms on July 4, 1880, and July 3, 1885, and the drouth of 1894, when Mr. Bryan fed an old crop of wheat to his hogs, thus saving them. AUGUST ROEPKE. Among the well-to-do retired farmers of Pierce county, the gentleman above mentioned, who has spent many years as a tiller of the soil, and during that time through industry, thrift and good management, has accumulated a valuable estate, is accorded, a foremost place. He has passed through the severest experiences of pioneer life, has been an earnest and faithful citizen, and well merits the success and high station to which he has attained. August Roepke was born February 26, 1836, in the village of Mandelsloh, province of Hanover, Germany, and as a boy attended the parochial school kept by an old soldier named Depmering, who had served in the Russian campaign under Napoleon. After leaving school, August secured employment as an errand boy and continued at that until he was eighteen years of age, then learned the shoemakers trade and followed it for about six years. During the hostilities be tween Hanover and Prussia, he served in the army for a short time, at the close of the war returning home. In 1868 he came to America with a brother, Henry, who settled in Illinois, acquired a good farm and has reared a large family of boys, most of them now in business in Chicago. On the trip from Germany, which was made on the "Deutchland," which was later lost at sea, they had a very stormy voyage but finally landed in New York safely. Our subject located in Chicago, obtaining employment with a railroad construc tion company, and was sent to Wisconsin where he worked at grade work and later bridge build ing, but this labor proving too heavy, he found work on a farm in Eaton county and remained there two years. He was very saving, and when he had gotten quite a little money together, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1870, at which time there were only two or three houses in the county seat. He filed on a homestead located on the edge of the present site of Osmond, when there was no obstruction in the open prairie for miles around. He went through pioneer experi ences there, for many years receiving frequent visits from bands of Indians, some of them prov ing very troublesome but by treating them kindly he won the good will of the chief, who, to show his appreciation, presented him with a large black hat many sizes too big for him, so he passed it on to a friend, Herman Kort, who kept it as a highly prized relic of the early days. Another odd experience once befell him in fording a stream on the way home from Pierce; his wagon box floated off the trucks and landed safely on the shore, but in order to recover a bucket that had fallen into the water Mr. Roepke waded out up to his arm pits, and as a result of this ex posure suffered a hard cold followed by a decline, and for twenty years he was affilicted with con sumption, at one time being so low and death seemingly so near, that a neighbor brought lum ber from Wisner to make his coffin. He begun to get better and now jokingly relates the cir cumstance, stating that the boards were after wards stolen. Although now well along in the seventies, he is seemingly in the best of health, and will not need a "wooden overcoat" for some time to come. After the title to his homestead had been per fected, Mr. Roepke sold the land and took up a timber claim, and bought other land which he operated as a farm for a number of years. This he sold in 1889, and purchased another tract located near Pierce, dealing in farm lands from time to time. In 1909 he disposed of all his land interests, putting his money into- securities that required no labor, and he is at present residing in Pierce, where he settled in 1898, having built a comfortable residence, and occupying his time in buying stock. Mr. Roepke was married to Miss Wilhelmina Rogge, a native of Wisconsin. Mrs. Roepke died at Pierce, April 21, 1903, survived by her husband 640 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and one child, Maria, now the wife of Herman Lumke, the latter a well known farmer living near Wisner. Mr. Roepke was for many years a staunch democrat, but at the beginning of the Bryan cam paign his sound money principles drove him to the opposing party. He has been active along political lines, as well as in a business way, since taking up his residence in Nebraska. He has been a life long member of the Lutheran church, and contributed liberally to the same, being the donor of two. lots on which the church stands, and also donated the bells of the church. WILLIAM M. PARKER. William M. Parker, one of the older pioneers of Howard county, Nebraska, whose farm in Cotesfield precinct has long been noted as one of the model establishments of the farming com munity in that part of the state, is now retired from active work, although he still makes the homestead his permanent residence. - Our subject is a native of Mount Ayr, Iowa, born August 4, 1858, and was reared and edu cated there. He remained on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age, afterwards traveling through the different states for about a year and a half, then came into Howard county where his father had settled about 1872. He at once bought homestead rights and took up a tract of land on section eighteen, township six teen, range eleven, and began farming. He also dealt in stock quite extensively, and remained on the place up to 1904, at which time he re moved with his family to Arkansas, where they spent two years, then returned to the home farm, and have since lived here. Mr. Parker has been very successful in building up his home, having it now in the best possible condition, and there is no more productive or better kept place in the county. The place contains two hundred and sixty-five acres, and is supplied with a complete set of good buildings, well stocked, and is a very valuable property, all of it having been accumu lated by the untiring energy and good manage ment of our subject. Lately he has been con siderably handicapped from the fact that about three years ago he completely lost the sense of hearing, and has been obliged to use an ear trumpet, although with the aid of this instru ment he is able to converse tolerably well with his family and friends. He is recognized as one of Howard county's substantial citizens, and by his earnest efforts and sterling character has gained the highest esteem and respect of his , f ellowmen. On August 4, 1884, Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Mabel Tucker, a native of New York state, who came to Nebraska several years prior to that time and had been a teacher in the public schools in Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of seven children : Ella May, George M., Jesse M., Edna E., Roy L., Olive Belle, and Ruth Pearl. Our subject is the oldest of seven children, one of whom is dead, and the balance, with the exception of a sister, who is in Wyoming, live in Howard county. Mr. Parker has always been prominent in local affairs, and has done much to establish and build up the schools in his locality, serving as moderator of district number fourteen for a number of years. GEORGE T. HATHER. (Deceased.) George T. Hather was born in England, De cember 9, 1828, coming to the United States in 1851, his first location being made at Rush, near Rochester, New York. After residing in the Em pire state for about four years, Mr. Hather was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Carter, Sep tember 13, 1855. Miss Carter was a native of Rochester, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Court) Carter, who were natives of England, and was born May 12, 1838, sixth in a family of thirteen and the first of American birth. Mr. and Mrs. Hather were blessed with ten children, four of whom are living, namely: Frederick, a black smith of Ord, Mary Jane, married George Cooper. now living in Scotia; Matilda, married Fred Di vine, and lives in Vancouver, Washington ; William has a fine farm a mile and a half north of Ord. A sketch of each of the sons is to be found on other pages of this work. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hather moved to Dubuque county, Iowa, where they re mained thirty years, coming from there to Val ley county, Nebraska, in 1885, where several of the children had already taken up their resi dence. At one time Mr. and Mrs. Hather and their ten children all lived in Valley county. Mr. Hather sold his farm in the fall of 1910, and a few months later, December 31, 1910, passed on to his reward in eternity. Mr. and Mrs. Hather have been active along all lines, and assisted greatly in the development of Valley county. Mr. Hather was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his widow, and she still takes an active interest in church work. Mr. Hather still lives in the memories of all who knew him, and his widow is greatly respected and beloved. WILLIAM M. ROBERTSON. (Deceased.) William M. Robertson, son of Collin and Margaret (Mungel) Robertson, was born in Andes, Delaware county, New York, January 23, 1848. His parents were born and married in Scot land, coming to America in 1841, locating in Del aware county, New York. His father served this country in the civil war, enlisting as private and rising to the rank of second lieutenant, which COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 641 rank he held when mustered out. During his service he was under General Sherman three years in the campaigns around Chattanooga and Atlanta, and in his famous march to the sea. Our subject's father died in 1875, but the mother lived in Worland, Wyoming, until at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, she passed away in September, 1910. During his childhood, Mr. Robertson attended the common schools, and at the age of eighteen entered Rock River Seminary, at Mount Morris, Illinois, for two years, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1874. He then re moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. He arrived in Nebraska with a small amount of cash and a large determination for success, with gratifying results, as success was his abundantly. After practicing in Norfolk for two years, he removed to Madison, Nebraska, where he practiced for sixteen years, then returned to Norfolk, living there until his death, January 22, 1907. When only sixteen years of age, Mr. Robert son enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois Infantry, after having been rejected three times on account of his small stature and physical conditions. His enlistment was secured May 4, 1864, after successfully eluding the vigilance of the mustering officer. Mr. Robertson was an active republican all his life, and his subsequent history shows how well he has served his state, leaving at his death a record his family may well be proud of. Mr. Robertson was a member of the Nebraska .constitutional convention in 1875, which drafted the present state constitution. In 1887 he was appointed by Governor Thayer as commissioner to represent Nebraska at the centennial at the time of the adoption of the constitution of the United States of America, held at Philadelphia. He was delegate to the republican national con vention in 1888, and national committeeman from 1888 to 1892. He was appointed registrar of United States land office at Neligh, by President Harrison, and held that office for three years. after which he served as mayor of Norfolk. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and also affiliated with Norfolk lodge number six hundred and fifty-three, of the Brotherhood Protective Order Elks. On December 29, 1870, Mr. Robertson was wedded to Miss Anna Garver, at Porreston, Illi nois, three children being the result of this union, whose names are as follows : Scott G., deceased in 1872; Ruth, married to Professor George C. Williams, who have two children and reside in Ithica, New York; and Sydney, attorney-at-law, who resides at home, and bids fair to follow in his father's footsteps. WILLIAM J. FORBES. Among the prominent and successful farmers of central Nebraska should be mentioned William J. Forbes, who in his early years there passed through the usual discouraging experiences of the pioneer in that region a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Forbes is a native of Will county, Illinois, bora March, 29, 1862, younger of the two sons (Charlie and William) of James and Mary Forbes, the former of whom died in Will county about 1865. The mother still survives and is liv ing in Arcadia, Nebraska. She married a Mr. Strathdee as her second husband. The son, Charles Forbes, lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Both sons were reared to manhood in their native state and after the father's death the mother and step father, George Strathdee, lived for a time in Joliet and later at Willmington, where both boys received their education. William J. Forbes re mained in Willmington until his twenty-first year and in the fall of 1882 came to Custer county, Nebraska, his brother having for some time been a resident of that state. The two brothers purchased the south half of section thirty-six, township seventeen, range seventeen, in March, 1883. On April 25, 1886, Mr. Forbes married Miss Nettie Brody, a daughter of Jesse and Annie Brody. The Brody family came to the state in July. 1882, and bought land in Sherman county. Mr. Brody died in 1887 and his widow is now living in Michigan. After marriage Mr. Forbes and wife lived on the farm he and his brother owned until 1894, then sold out to purchase eighty acres of the northwest quarter of section three, township sixteen, range seventeen, and two hun dred and forty acres on section thirty-four, town ship seventeen, range seventeen, in Clear creek valley. Mr. Forbes has developed a fine estate there, which has been the family home since the autumn of 1894. He removed to this place dur ing what was known as the "dry year" and well remembers the trials through which he passed. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, namely: George, at home; Florence, Mrs. Sperry; Myrtle and Ralph, at home. The son-in-law, Raj' Sperry, was born January 9, 1884, on the homestead farm on the southeast quarter of township sixteen, range seventeen, a son of Amos and Mary Sperry, and was married at Broken Bow, Nebraska, August 20, 1906, to Florence Forbes, and they have one child, Ethel Irene. They live on the Sperry farm, where he was born. Mr. Forbes has always taken an active interest in every public movement for the welfare or progress of the county or state, and is recognized as an upright, public-spirited citizen. He is now a member of the school board of district number ninety-one. 642 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. WILBUR SPAHR. For about a quarter of a century, the above named gentleman has been a resident of Wayne county. He is the proprietor of a fine farm lo cated on section two, and during his long resi dence here has built up an enviable reputation as a citizen. He is a man of active public spirit, lending his aid and influence for the improvement of conditions in the community. Mr. Spahr is a native of Indiana, and was born in that state June 12, 1869, the son of J. E. and Delia Spahr. Wilbur Spahr is the fifth of seven children. He has two brothers, Frank A. and James H., residing in Wayne county. About 1873, the family moved to Logan county, Illinois, where the father rented land until 1877, when they again moved, this time to Shelby county, Iowa, where the father rented land until coming to Nebraska. In 1884, Wilbur Spahr, with his parents, went to Wayne county, Nebraska, where the father bought the northwest quarter of section two, township twenty-seven, range three. At the time of purchase, this was raw prairie, and J. E. Spahr put all the land under cultivation and built good buildings. He continued to live on the place until his death in 1908. Mrs. J. E. Spahr died in 1903. Wilbur Spahr remained at home until his marriage, although he had previously purchased eighty acres of land. Before marrying, he had built a house on his land, and, following his mar riage, moved to the place. In 1899, he sold this land, and purchased another eighty on the north east half of section two, township twenty-seven, range three, which he made his home until mov ing to town in March, 1911. In 1909, he added twenty acres to his place, now owning one hun dred acres in a body, two and three-fourths miles from Wayne — one and three-fourths miles north and one mile west. In 1908, Mr. Spahr purchas ed about six acres on North Main street, Wayne. In 1910, he built his present home and barn. He now rents his farm. Mr. Spahr is a man of broad mind and keeps thoroughly abreast of the times. He takes an active interest in public affairs, and in political faith is a republican. Mrs. Spahr is a member of the Lutheran church. JACOB W. ABBOTT. Jacob W. Abbott, retired, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Merrick county, Nebraska, has been a resident of this section over thirty-one years, where he has given the best years of his lifetime to the progression of this state. Mr. Abbott was born in Miami county, Ohio, February 14, 1845, and is the son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Collins) Abbott, being the eldest of seven children. He has one brother residing in Lincoln county, Nebraska, one in Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; one sister in Washington county, Iowa, one in Tingley, Iowa, and another in Kansas, the others being deceased. The father died in the army in March, 1863, he having enlisted in Com pany C, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The mother died in Merrick county, in 1885. When about two years old, Mr. Abbott went with his parents to Indiana and about 1855 went on into Iowa where our subject received his edu cation and later engaged in farming. On August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving until close of the war and received his discharge July 10, 1865, in Davenport, Iowa. Decisive battles participated in were Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862 ; on Van Buren raid, Arkansas, in December, 1862 ; all through the Siege of Vicksburg ; at cap ture of Yazoo City, July, 1863, and the Siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama, in March and April, 1865. After the war, Mr. Abbott returned to Iowa and engaged in farming, and on January 1, 1873, was married to Miss Elizabeth Taylor of Iowa. In the fall of 1877, Mr. Abbott came with his wife and three children to Chapman, Nebraska, remaining several months when they drove into Kansas where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Jewell county. In the fall of 1880 they returned to Merrick county and have since resided in Chapman. In 1907 Mr. Abbott pur chased a fine farm which he sold recently. For many years Mr. Abbott ran a threshing machine and was indirectly interested in meat market business. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have had eleven children born to them, ten of whom are living: Ida, who is the wife of Wilson Bishop, has three children and lives in Sutton, Nebraska; Allan, who is married, has two children and lives in Merrick county; Kizzie, wife of Mr. W. Scott, has four children, and lives in Hamilton coun ty, Nebraska : Platte, who resides in Mer rick county; David, living in Hamilton county; Blanehard C, married and lives near Chapman; Melbourn, resides in Merrick county; John, in the same county; Iva, who is married to Profes sor John R. Stevenson, lives in Chapman ; Juanita, who resides at home ; and an infant deceased. Mrs. Abbott has one brother residing in Ar kansas, one in Brighton, Iowa, another in Red Cloud, Nebraska; one sister in Washington county, Iowa, another in Rogers, Arkansas, and one in Iowa. The mother died in 1905 in Chap man, Nebraska, at the mature age of ninety-four years, and the father, James Taylor, died July 13, 1903, in Iowa, also at the age of ninety-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are among the early settlers of their county, and have passed through all the hardships and discouragements incidental to frontier life. They are widely and favorably known. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 643 ANDREW OLSON. Andrew Olson, residing on section thirty, township twenty-nine, range two, Knox county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. Since settling here Mr. Olson has always been an important factor in the up building of his region, aiding materially in its development, and in the growth of its commer cial and agricultural resources. Mr. Olson was born in Sweden, January 3, 1854. There he received his education, remaining with his parents up to his twenty-ninth year, at which time he decided to try his fortune in the new world, leaving home and taking passage at Guttenberg in an emigrant ship for America in May, 1883. On landing in New York City he immediately started for the golden west, as he had heard glowing accounts of that country from friends. He first came to Burt county, Nebraska, where he worked on a farm for five years, after which he came to. Cuming county, Nebraska, reaching there in 1888, and at once started to look for employment. For a time he rented land and be gan on his own account, remaining in the locality up to 1894, when the drouth began. He then moved to Cedar county, and farmed for several years, succeeding in building up a comfortable home. He disposed of his interests in Cedar county and came into Knox county, landing here in 1902. Here he purchased a quarter section of good land, which he has improved in splendid shape, and has one of the best equipped stock and grain farms in this section. During the storm of 1888, some cattle belong ing to Charles Basom, a neighbor, got into a slough near Mr. Olson's house, and were com pletely covered with snow. Mr. Olson and Mr. Basom succeeded in getting them out and on higher ground, and all except one of them, which had drifted away, were saved. Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Mrs. Clara Nystrom, in Cuming county, March 12, 1889, and to them have been born eight children, who are named as follows : Emil, Nellie, Rudolph, France, deceased; Mabel, Reuben, Frederick and Hazel, all bright and interesting young people, and their home is one of the pleasant and hospit able havens to the traveler in their community. VIRGIL F. BARNHARD. Virgil F. Barnhard, son of John and Nancy (Lambert) Barnhard, was born in Knox county, Ohio, November 20, 1844, and was second in a family of five children ; one brother resides in the state of Washington, and the other children are deceased. The father died at Bluffton, Ohio, February 3, 1911, at the advanced age of eighty- nine years, eleven months and thirteen days. The mother died in 1880. After receiving his education, Mr. Barnhard engaged in farming, and on February 9, 1862, was mustered in Company H, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in July, 1865. During his service he engaged in the following battles: Stone River, Talahoma Cam paign, Chickamauga, and was with Sherman from Chattanooga to Kenesaw Mountain, Geor gia. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain and was disabled for any more active service, being in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, for about one year, being mustered out at that place and discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio. After the war, Mr. Barnhard returned to Ohio and again engaged in farming, and later married Miss Minerva Charlton, also a native of Ohio. In 1871 he came to Nebraska, locating for a few months in Colfax county, and in the spring of 1872 came to Boone county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, township eighteen, range seven, west, which re mained the home place a good many years. Mrs. Barnhard died June 22, 1884, on the home farm, survived by her husband and eight children: John, who is married and lives in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska; Mary, married to Frederick Wright, has three children, and lives in Boone county; Bessie, who was the wife of Frank Bealer, died in 1907, leaving six children; Albert, who is married, has three children, and lives on the original homestead; Newton, mar ried, and lives in Boone county; Nannie, married to George Schoolcraft, has four children, and lives in Nance county, Nebraska; Herman, resides in Boone county; and Adolph, who is married, has two children, and lives in Cedar Rapids. On New Year's day, 1891, Mr. Barnhard was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Hattie Mentz, of a Platte county pioneer family. Her parents came to Nebraska in 1871 ; the stepfather, H. A. Saun ders, is deceased, and the mother- died at lola, Kansas, in March, 1910, at the advanced age of nearly seventy-nine years. Mrs. Barnhard has a sister residing in Missouri; two brothers in Kan sas; and one sister in St. Edwards, Nebraska. In 1901, Mr. Barnhard retired from the farm and moved to Cedar Rapids, Avhere he has built a good home, which is his present residence. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of the people, and served on the school board for fourteen years, which length of service proves how credit ably and faithfully he performed his work. Mr. Barnhard has been prosperous and suc cessful and enjoys a wide acquaintance, and is a member of Caddall Post, number seventy-four, of the Grand Army of the Republic. MRS. PAT GRIFFIN. The lady above mentioned is classed among the most prominent of the early settlers of Knox county, and is well known throughout that part 644 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of Nebraska. Mrs. Griffin's maiden name was Lucinda Sterling, her birthplace being in Craw ford county, Pennsylvania. She married Pat. Griffin in Crawford county, November 12, 1876, he being a native of Canada, of Irish descent, born in 1858. Five children were born to them, one of whom, Rosa, died when an infant, and the others are : John, Thomas, Charles and William Patrick. The first and the last are married, and all live in Knox county. Mr. Griffin and his family left Pennsylvania in 1880, headed for the west, their first location being in Saunders county, where they remained for six months. Prom there they drove through the country to Knox county with a team and cov ered wagon, and on the day of their arrival in the locality their little daughter, Rosa, was in jured by an accident and died the following day. During this trouble they were indeed "strangers in a strange land," and of all their after expe riences, none seemed so hard as this. Mr. Griffin settled on a homestead which has remained their home up to this time, and they are now the owners of a fine tract of land consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, all in a high state of cultivation. The entire place is equipped with good buildings and fences, and shaded by many fine trees, which were all planted by Mr. Griffin and his family. The farm is located on section four, township twenty-nine, range seven. J. A. GUSTUS. J. A. Gustus has spent many years in Ne braska and has* passed through much of the early history of the state, having met all the discour agements and trials incident to pioneer life. He has become well known in Custer county, where he has a large number of friends. He was born in Sweden, December 21, 1855. When he was seventeen years of age, having received a com mon school education, he left his native land and eame to America, spending some time in Michi gan. Later he joined an uncle, John Gustus, in Geneseo, Illinois, and there worked evenings as clerk and attended a private school. On August 24, 1879, in Moline, Illinois, Mr. Gustus was united in marriage with Tilly Louisa Vangreen, also a native of Sweden, who came with her parents to America in early childhood. He was employed in the works of the Moline plow factory and they made their first home in that city. In 1881 they came with their two children to Omaha, Nebraska, and in the fall of 1884 they came on to Custer county. Mr. Gustus secured a homestead twelve miles west of Calla way in Elitn Valley, and made his home there until 1890, bringing the land into shape for suc cessful farming. Since 1890 the family have lived in Callaway and he is associated with the Farm er's Co-operative Creamery Company at that place He served several years on the school board and has at all times taken an active in terest in the affairs of the community. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gustus: Arthur C, of Omaha; Sophia, wife of S. C. Waldron, of Custer county, has four chil dren; Mabel, wife of Dan Pearson, lives in Call away; Esther, Josie, John, and Varner, at home. The family are well known in Callaway and Mr. Gustus is recognized as a progressive, public- spirited citizen and honest and upright in his dealings. WARREN" G. COLLINS. Warren G. Collins, son of John C. and Fanny (Godfrey) Collins, was born in Allegheny county, New York, December 2, 1845; he was the youngest in a family of six children, and now has one brother, Nelson Wilder, residing in New York state, one brother, Rufus J., in Ord, Ne braska, and a sister, Mrs. Olive A. Clark, living in Brown county, Nebraska; two brothers are dead. The parents both passed away in Valley county, Nebraska, the mother November 8, 1874, and the father September 2, 1886. In 1863, Mr. Collins went with his parents to the state of Wisconsin, Avhere the family lived for nine years, engaging in farming. On- January 30, 1869, he was married to Miss Amanda M. Thurston, of Maine, and later of Wisconsin. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Collins came with his wife and one son to Valley county, Nebraska, driving through from Wisconsin, the journey occupying some fifty-three days. For a few weeks they camped under their wagon cover, then built a dugout on Mr. Collins' sister's land, in which they all lived for a month or two, during which Mr. Collins suffered an attack of typhoid fever, with no physician to attend him. He homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen. Here he erected a dugout with a log front, and in this they lived ten years before erecting a com fortable dwelling. During these days Grand Island was their nearest market. It required ten weeks to haul ten loads of wheat to Grand Island. Grasshoppers consumed their crops for three years, making mere existence a hard prob lem. During the early days, hospitality was uni versal. Every one would find a place for the wayfaring, no matter how many there might be nor how small the house. Frequently Mr. Col lins' floor would be so full of sleepers — men freighting cedar posts of poles to Grand Island or supplies to the sand hills — that it would be difficult to pass through without treading on them. Every one carried his own "grub box" and blankets, otherwise he might go hungry arid be exposed to cold and storms as he slept. A view of Mr. Collins' primitive dugout, together with the modern dwelling on the farm, are shown in contrast on another page. Tn 1907, Mr. Collins retired from the farm and VPOOOUT, FIRST K£M£eNtE_ON_FftKf^_ "RIVERVIEW FARM," PROPERTY OF WARREN G. COLLINS. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 645 moved to Ord, where he purchased a good home where they now live. He has been prosperous and successful, owns six hundred acres of good land, which is utilized for grain and stock raising, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have had eight children : Oscar E., who is married, has six children, and lives on the old homestead; Carrie M., wife of W. J. Seeley, lives in Milford, Nebraska, and has three children, (Mrs. Seeley was the first white child born in Valley county) ; Helen E., a nurse, who resides in Mitchell, Nebraska; Earl W., who is married and also lives in Mitchell, Ne braska; Ralph H., who is married and lives in Valley county; Lynn V., resides in Valley county, Nebraska; Rex E., also a resident of Val ley county, and Floyd M. R., who resides under the parental roof. JOHN B. ROBERTS. To the men of perseverance and stalwart de termination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and com mercial region, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Pierce county who have been intimately identified with its development and who have gained enviable reputations as citizens, may be mentioned John B. Roberts, a prosperous and successful farmer of Clover Valley precinct. Mr. Roberts is a native of Illinois, born August 5, 1855, and lived in Logan county, Ohio, until 1865, when the family removed to Fremont county, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river the day of Lincoln's assassination. Here they lived sixteen years, and three years in Monona county. The father was a native of Ohio, and the grand father came from Wales, and settled in New York state in the early years of the Republic. In 1885, Mr. Roberts, our subject, moved by team to Nebraska, where he took up a claim in „ Pierce county, on section twelve, township twen ty-five, range four, and built a„good frame house, and planted fifteen acres of trees. After seven years' starvation on the land, he traded it for a team of horses and for eleven years rented from George Littell and John or Henry Spink. In 1900 he bought his present place of three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-four, township twenty-six, range three, owning besides a quarter section within sight of the home farm. Around the home he has a grove of some twelve acres in extent, and two acres of fine orchard. Mr. Roberts has been very successful in every venture he has undertaken of late years, but, like others who lived on the frontier, of Nebraska in earlier days, he has seen hard times. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Roberts was too ill to leave the house, and to keep them from freezing, Mrs. Roberts and a small son carried corn from the barn some distance from the house ; this was their only fuel at that time. For two winters they burned twisted hay. Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Hawhee, a native of St. Louis, and daughter of William and Nancy A. (Morgan) Hawhee, who moved to Page county, Iowa, when Mrs. Roberts was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have had eleven children, named as follows : Alphareta, married Charles Staley, of Tecump- seh ; William Frederick, married Nancy Murphy, and lives near Blake, in Holt county; Blanche, married Raymond Huckens ; Cecil, married Her bert Smith, of Oshkosh, Nebraska; Claude, mar ried Lona Garvey and lives near Pierce, and Thomas W., married Bertha Kloke. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are proud of the fact that they are the progenitors of seven sturdy grandchildren. Mr. Roberts is affiliated with the Masonic and Woodmen lodges. He has the greatest faith in the possibilities of this country, and with good management and industry, he has acquired a po sition of ease and prosperity, to which his beauti ful home from its high point of view stands tes timony. SOPHUS A. SORENSEN. Sophus A. Sorensen, a successful and ener getic young farmer of Howard county, Nebraska, is owner of a fine home near Nysted and ac counted one of the prominent citizens of his lo cality. Mr. Sorensen is a son of Larke and Johanna Sorensen, and was born on January 12, 1880, in Howard county. He lived at home until about twenty years of age, then started for himself. His*education was obtained in the local schools. and he also attended the Danish academy at Ny sted for one year. He purchased a farm and be gan in the stock raising business in which he has been very successful, carrying on also with suc cess diversified farming. He now owns and lives on his father's original homestead situated on section thirty-two, township fourteen, range eleven. All of this land is highly improved and well equipped with fine buildings, and he is recognized as one of the progressive, and thrifty young men of his vicinity. Mr. Sorensen was united in marriage on June 1, 1904, to Dorothy K. Paaborg, of Audubon, Iowa. Mrs. Sorensen is also of Danish parents, born and raised in Iowa where her parents still occupy the homestead which they settled on many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen have one son, Larke F., a bright boy and of whom the father and mother are justly proud. The family have a pleasant and comfortable home and enjoy the so ciety of a large circle of friends and acquaint ances in their community. JOHN W. POCOCK. John W. Pocock, a prominent citizen of Valley county, and the owner of the Maiden Valley 646 Compendium oP History, reminiscence and biography. Farm, is known as one of the earliest pioneers of Nebraska. Mr. Pocock was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the thirtieth day of March, 1838, in a two-story hewn log house — a very pretentious dwelling for those days. He was the ninth child in a family of six sons and four daughters born to Eli and Catherine (Knestrick) Pocock. When he was only four years old, the family moved to Pulton county, Ohio, where Mr. Pocock grew up on a farm. In the spring of 1858, he left Ohio, and came to Cass county, Nebraska. He came by rail to St. Louis, then by steamer to Weston, Missouri, by stage to St. Joseph, thence to GlenT wood, Iowa, and from there on foot to Platts- mouth, Cass county. On August 16, 1860, Mr. Pocock was married to Miss Lucinda Patterson, in the Platte Valley House in Plattsmouth. Mrs. Pocock is an older pioneer than Mr. Pocock, as her family came to Cass county in 1855, three years before he put in an appearance. Mr. Pocock engaged in farming until October, 1862, when like thousands of others, he decided that the country was in need of his services, and he accordingly enlisted in Company H, Second Nebraska Cavalry. He was in frontier service in the west during almost the entire time of his enlistment, and was discharged at Plattsmouth in December,/1863. His services extended as far west as Port Pierre, and he par ticipated in the battle of Whitestone Hill where the cavalry captured five hundred hostile Yank ton Sioux, who had been guilty of the New Ulm massacre in Minnesota in 1862. After leaving the army, Mr. Pocock returned to Cass county, where he remained on his farm until January, 1881. At that time he and his family removed to Nemaha county, but they re mained here only about four years, when they decided to move again, going this time to Nance county. ' In 1901, having at last secured a place which suited him, Mr. Pocock moved to Valley county, and he and his wife now reside there in their comfortable and cozy home. Since buying the Valley county farm, Mr. Pocock has made many improvements on it, and the Maiden Valley Stock Farm, as it is now called, is considered one of the finest in the county. Mr. Pocock has had the varied experiences through which all Nebraska pioneers were forced to struggle and now he and his wife are enjoying the fruits of their toil. Of the eight children born to them, six are living : Laura Ida, now Mrs. J. Q. Churchill; Glenn E., Edward, who is the active manager of the farm; Jessie, now Mrs. Charles Russel, of Genoa, Nance county, Clara Lela, (Mrs. Roscoe Williard), and Stella. All of the children, with the exception of Stella, were born in Cass county. The family is well and widely known in the several counties named be fore, and have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Pocock celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August, 1910, many of their family and friends being present. Mr. Pocock is independent in politics, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Pel- lows and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Pocock endured the many privations of pioneer life in the west. While in Nance county he lost forty acres of corn by a hail storm June 27, 1894, when hailstones fell the size and shape of door knobs. While in the cavalry in 1863, he was out in a hailstorm which covered the ground to the depth of four inches. Grasshoppers de vastated his crops two seasons, the summers of 1874 and 1875. PHILIP MILLER. Philip Miller, the subject of this review, is one of the representative farmers of Madison county, Nebraska, and a man who has done his full part in promoting the development of the agricultural interests of the community in which he lives. Mr. Miller owns a valuable estate in section thirty- one, township twenty-four, range four, and is one1 of the prosperous and highly esteemed citizens of this region. Mr. Miller claims Wisconsin for his native state, his birth occurring there April 29, 1854; he is a son of John and Sabina Miller, both na tives of the German Empire. They embarked at Bremen on a sailboat and were sixty days on the sea, and upon arriving near American shores landed in New York City. Prom here they pro ceeded to Wisconsin, remaining there the rest of their lives. The father died in 1904 and the mother in 1909. In 1872, Mr. Miller went to Illinois, where he remained until 1884. He then came to Madison county, Nebraska, bringing his family with him, as he had been married in the meantime. Upon reaching Madison county, Mr. Miller bought the Hanson homestead, and on this land built a good frame house, and has steadily improved this place until now he has one of the finest farms in this locality. Mr. Miller now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, and has four acres of fine trees on his place. Mr. Miller was united in marriage October 16, 1879, at Champaign, Illinois, to Mrs. Mary McEwen, who is a native of New York state, and a daughter of Edward and Catherine (Lyons) McEwen who claim Ireland as their native land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, and are named as follows: Arthur, Ivy, Irwin, Mayme, and Grace. Mr. Miller is a prosperous man of affairs, well known and highly esteemed and respected in his community, and he and his family are surrounded in their pleasant home by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is an independent voter, and a member COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 64? of the Modern Woodmen and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodges. JAMES T. BURDICK. James T. Burdick is a well known and highly respected citizen of Custer county, Nebraska, and has had many varied experiences in different lines in several states. He was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1860, the eldest of six children born to Isaac Newton and Annetta (Wood) Burdick, who had five sons and one daughter. He was reared in the usual manner of farmers' sons, receiving his education in the pub lic schools, and he remained in his native county until young manhood. October 14, 1878, he left home and came to Shelton, Buffalo county, Ne braska, reaching there October 17. He was em ployed on a railroad and at farm work three months and then found employment on a cattle ranch on the South Loup river, where he re mained several months. In December, 1879, he returned to Shelton and worked on a farm near there until August, 1881. Then he came to Cus ter county and secured a homestead on section seven, - township fifteen, range sixteen, Sherman county, which remained his home until July, 1894. On April 21, 1889, Mr. Burdick married Miss Ellen A. Marsh, daughter of one of the old pio neer families, their union taking place in Cus ter county. In 1894 he and his family removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, where they remained until October, 1899, then went to Pennsylvania. Mr. Burdick learned the trade of mason as a young man, and besides farming, has also spent considerable time at his trade. In 1908 he brought his family from Pennsylvania back to Custer county, where he has since been engaged in farm ing and stock raising. Mr, Burdick and wife have four children: Myrtle B., born in Sherman county, wife of Charles Milks, lives on the farm and they have two children; Mabel May, also born in Sherman county, married Milton G. Crist, and they live in Custer county; James Newton, and Arthur George, born in Custer county, are both at home. HEMAN TAYLOR. (Deceased.) Pierce county, Nebraska, will long remember, for his many sterling qualities, the man of whom we write this brief review. Heman Taylor came to Nebraska in 1885, and from his advent proved himself to be a man of deeds. He was born at Yarmouth, Barnstable county, Massachusetts, March 9, 1843. His an cestors since colonial days had lived on Cape Cod and, perforce, were seafaring men. There were two Richard Taylors in the colony, and to distinguish them, one was known as Richard "Rock" Taylor, because he lived in a rock house, and the other as Richard Taylor, the tailor. Mr. Taylor descended from Richard "Rock" Taylor. His father, Heman, senior, and the grandfather were captains of the Yankee Clipper ships that in those days made American seamanship famous. Some of their vessels cap tured during hostilities left a claim that would have enriched the whole family, had they been allowed by the earlier sessions of congress or had the documents proving the claims not been lost or destroyed when a later congress did jus tice to those who suffered for their country's cause. In company with six other youths who desired to learn seamanship, Heman, junior, spent a year on the sea, sailing to London, thence to Callao, Peru, and back to Glasgow, Scotland. As he had had a taste of the sea, and the ship was bound for India, Mr. Taylor went to Liverpool, England, and embarked for home on a trans-Atlantic liner. Coming to Chicago, he secured employment with the Toby Furniture Company, rising in position from year to year until after seven years he was sent to Omaha as manager and partner of their branch house there, known as the Heman Taylor Furniture Company. After so many years under roof, he felt the need of life in the open, and. so located at Red Oak, Iowa, where he bought and fed cattle on a large scale. Cattle growing scarce and his trips for stock growing longer, sometimes as far as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he decided to move to some point nearer the ranges, renting a tract of land at Tilden, Nebraska, in 1885, where he fed and shipped cattle for two years. In 1887, he came to Pierce county, Nebraska, purchased a half section a mile south of Plain- view, and developed it into one of the best stock farms in this section of the state. Here he pros pered until his untoward death, February 9, 1909, in a blizzard that was raging at that time. He had ventured out into the storm to see that his cattle were faring well ; heart failure in the suffo cating storm is supposed to have caused his de mise. Mr. Taylor 's parents, Heman, senior, and Lydia (Nash) Taylor, were natives of Yarmouth and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively. The father had learned the cabinet-maker's trade, his father having had each son learn some handicraft, and when he quit the sea after many years in com mand of a vessel, he plied his trade in his native town, leaving in the family many specimens of his skill in furniture building. Mr. Taylor was a republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Plainview. In the east he had been a communicant of the Congregational church. Mr. Taylor was married at Crejghton, Nebras ka, July 4, 1894, to Miss Mary Effie Reynolds, a native of Moravia, Iowa, born March 2, 1872. Her parents, Thomas Marshall and Emeline (Pol lard) Reynolds, were natives of Indiana, and de scended from old Virginia colonial families that 648 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. had successfully migrated to Kentucky and then across the Ohio river. They were married at Albia, Iowa, whither the bride's parents had moved by wagon from Indiana about 1850. Mrs. Reynolds came here about 1859. In 1861, Mr. Reynolds enlisted in the Third Iowa Cavalry, and served to the close of the war. Soon after reaching the front, he, with many others of his regiment, contracted measles, which so wasted his strength that he was unfitted for the field. He was often offered a disability dis charge — twice General Noble, who was later secretary of the interior under McKinley, offered to secure his release, but he declined, serving in the hospital, hoping to be able to again mount his horse, which he kept, and join his comrades at the front. After the war, Mr. Reynolds farmed in Iowa until 1877, when he removed with his family to Douglas county, Nebraska, locating at a settle ment known as Elk City. In 1881 they removed to Knox county, where the father died, March 25, 1889, at the age of forty-nine. The mother is living at present at Creighton. Mr. Reynolds' family endured all the priva tions of the early days in northern Nebraska. For a year or so they burned hay, sometimes var ied by cornstalks or corn. At one time their sup ply of twisted hay, lying near the stove, was ignited by a spark, and came near burning the house. During the blizzard of 1888, Mrs. Taylor was a student in the Creighton High school, and was rescued by the citizens, who, taking two chil dren at a time, found their way through the storm to the various homes. So thick was the air with snow dust that the children's eyes were fre quently frozen shut with a coating of snow. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor one son was born, Melville Heman Taylor, a student in the Plain- view schools. The Taylor residence is one of the most pre tentious residences ill the county, furnished in quiet elegance. One of the chief treasures is an old colonial hall clock that, despite its many years of service, is as accurate as a chronometer. All the fine elms surrounding the residence, together with the orchard, were put out by Mr. Taylor's hands, and the home place was always kept trim and tidy, as were the tenant houses on the place. Mr. Taylor has left his impress on northern Nebraska, and a tender memory to all who had the privilege of calling him friend. FRANCIS 0. JUDKINS. Francis 0. Judkins, who is classed among the largest land-owners in his section, is a popular and esteemed citizen of Fullerton, having spent the past many years in Nance county, and prev iously in adjoining counties. He has been en gaged in the stock business, also being an im portant factor in the upbuilding of the farming interests of his locality. Mr. Judkins is a native of New Hampshire, born in Unity on March 16, 1844, and is a son of Joel and Betsy W. Judkins, the youngest of their four children, and the only one now living. The father died in Missouri in 1869, and the mother in Red Oak, Iowa, in 1876. Francis was reared and educated in his home state, attending a pri vate school during 1862 and 1863, and afterwards engaged in farming. In 1866, in company with a brother, Jasper W. Judkins, he went to Missouri, and began farm ing and stock raising, continuing in the work there for five years, then the two brothers re moved to Red Oak, Iowa, at which place they opened a meat market, and run it for about two years. They next built a hotel, and carried it on successfully up to 1885, then sold out. In 1882, Francis had bought a controlling interest in the street car line at Red Oak, and he was acting manager of the same up to 1886. In that year he disposed of all 'his holdings in Red Oak, and came to Fullerton, having, two years previously, purchased, with his brother, sixteen hundred acres of land, the latter locating in Nance county at the time. They engaged in the cattle business on an immense scale, running fifteen hundred head of cattle on the ranch, also buying and ship ping to the markets, and carried on the business for fifteen years, being known as the largest feed ers and shippers in that part of Nebraska. In 1890, Mr. Judkins retired from the stock busi ness, and turned his attention entirely to his land interests, in which he has been successful, owning at the present time one thousand acres of fine land in North Dakota, and considerable in Nance county. On April 12, 1870, Mr. Judkins was united in marriage to Miss Kizie Day, of Wellsville, Mis souri, a charming and accomplished woman, she having been a teacher in the Wisconsin schools for a number of years prior to her marriage. Mrs. Judkins died in Fullerton on November 16, 1890. In 1901 Mr. Judkins was married the sec ond time to Mrs. S. H. Bennett, who was a widow with two children, and well known in Fullerton. One son Joseph Bennett, is married, and lives in Springfield, Mississippi, while Millard S. Bennett, the younger son, is editor of a newspaper in Ful lerton. WILLIAM B. FRYMIRE. William B. Frymire, proprietor of "The Pio neer Hardware Store" at Bloomfield, Nebraska, is truly the pioneer hardware dealer of the place, having purchased his lot on the fourth day of October, 1890, the day of the first sale of lots in the new town. He at once erected a building, and installed a stock of hardware, to which he has added new lines from time to time, until now he has one of the best equipped establishments of its kind in Nebraska. Mr. Frymire was born in Navarre, Stark coun- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 649 ty, Ohio, June 26, 1863. In 1869, his father moved with his family to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois. Here the boy attended the public schools until 1873. His mother died that year, and he, with his sister, returned to Navarre to make their home with their grandparents. When the father remarried, he sent for the children. The youth attended school until the age of seventeen, when he entered his father's store, learning the tinner's trade. When he was of age, his father gave him a third interest in the store, sold a third interest to his tinner, who had been with him many years, and enlarged the business under the firm name of Frymire, Bovell & Company, William B. being the junior member of the firm. The business continued under this management until 0.888, when the stock was divided, and the father and son shipped their two-thirds to Pierre, South Dakota, and engaged in business there until com ing to Bloomfield, on the founding of the town in 1890. At Pierre, Mr. Frymire voted in the first election of the new state in 1888, and helped elect Governor Malette to his term as first execu tive. Mr. Frymire is a son of Benton J. and Emma (Bell) Frymire, natives of Stark and Holmes counties, Ohio. The father was born in 1843 at Navarre, a son of old Pennsylvania Germans, and here he grew to manhood, and served through two years of the war, in the One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and then entered a mercantile life in Navarre. He was proprietor for many years of a hardware store at Navarre, Ohio; Paris, Illinois; Pierre, South Dakota, and Bloomfield, Nebraska. In 1900, he removed to Oklahoma, and, in 1905, retired and took up his residence in Santiago, California, where he has a thriving and profitable lemon grove. William B. Frymire was first married, Febru ary 29, 1893, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Miss Nora B. Hunt, a native of Iowa, and daughter of N. G. Hunt. She died, May 24, 1903. His second marriage took place January 30, 1904, Laura J. Cooper, a life-time friend and schoolmate of his first wife, becoming her suc cessor. She was born in Minnesota, where her father, Ezra A. Cooper, was one of the early set tlers of Mankato. They are the parents of two daughters, Emmavee and Billie B. Mr. Frymire has been a life-long republican. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1884, when he joined Paris lodge, number two hundred and sixty-eight. He dimitted to the Bloomfield lodge, and later attained the chapter degrees, those of the council and commandery, and also the Shrine of Tangier Temple, Omaha. He was a member of the Pythian Knighthood as long as he resided in a town where a lodge ex isted. Mr. Frymire well merits his success as a mer chant. He is affable in his manner, strictly hon est in his dealings, and keeps on hand only the highest quality of goods. A man so equipped cannot fail of success in any community. He is public-spirited, and takes a deep interest in pro moting the welfare of his home town and the surrounding community. RASMUS HANSEN. Rasmus Hansen, a well-to-do farmer of Stanton county, has been a resident of the state since 1884, and has become widely known as a man of untiring energy and honest principles. For -about twenty years he has lived in this county, where he has built up a fine property through his industry and good management. He has a comfortable home in section thirty-three, where he is now enjoying his ease, after years of toil. Mr. Hansen is a native of Denmark, where he was born in 1862, the son of Hans and Votel Han- seri. The first twenty years of his life were spent in his native land, where he received his educa tion. In 1882, the subscriber left Denmark for America, where opportunities for advancement were more numerous than in his native village. He came at once to Illinois, where he remained only two years, at the expiration of which time he moved to Douglas county, Nebraska. Mr. Hansen remained in this locality until 1892, when he came to Stantori county, and bought his pres ent farm, which has been his home ever since. He now has two hundred and forty acres under full cultivation, and his estate shows the careful management of a thorough farmer. In 1889, our subscriber was united in mar riage to Miss Saline Hansen, a native of Den mark. Nine children have come to bless their home, upon whom they have bestowed the follow ing names: William, Hans, Maggie, Frank, Rachel, Harry, Fred, Otto and Lillie. WILLIAM MOSSBARGER. Among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, William Mossbarger is entitled to a foremost place. Mr. Mossbarger is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his community. He has served as school director of his district for many years past. Mr. Mossbarger resides in section twelve, township twenty-four, range five, where he has a pleasant home and a valuable estate. Mr. Mossbarger, a native of Gallia county, Ohio, was born February 2, 1848. His father, Jacob Mossbarger, was a native of Germany. His mother, Nancy (Cherrington) Mossbarger, died when our subject was but eighteen months old, after which he was raised by his grandparents. In 1871, with his family, Mr. Mossbarger came to Wisner, Nebraska, where he bought an oxen team, and on the tenth of April, 1871, came and 650 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. took up a homestead in section twenty-five, town ship twenty-five, range five, on which land he built a log house, the roof of which was made of earth. He also took a tree claim on Willow creek. Mr. Mossbarger has passed through many vicissitudes and hardships, and in the first days of settlement suffered losses through the various causes of grasshoppers, hail, hot winds, blizzards, etc. In 1895 he lost all his grain by the memora ble hail storm of that year; in 1894, the drouth and hot winds completely destroyed his crops ; during the years of 1873-74-75 the grasshoppers ate all his crops, and in the memorable blizzard of 1873 they experienced many hardships. On September 14, 1870, Mr. Mossbarger was united in matrimony to Miss Fannie Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Mossbarger are the parents of two children, whose names are as follows: Ellen and Laura, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Moss barger and family enjoy the respect and esteem of a great many friends and acquaintances, hav ing lived in Antelope county for the past thirty- nine years, and in their present location for the past twenty years. His farm consists of four hundred and forty acres, on which he has built a beautiful home and made fine improvements. BENARD BEECHLER. Benard Beechler, who has recently erected a splendid modern residence in Callaway, Nebraska, and retired from farm life, is well known in central Nebraska as a prosperous and successful farmer and ranchman. He is the owner of thirty- three hundred acres of fine stock and grain land, and has long been closely identified with the progress and development of his county and state. He is a native of Luxemburg, Germany, born January 17, 1851, third of the eight children of John and Angeline (Fisher) Beechler, both of German birth. The parents died in their native country, the father in 1899 and the mother in 1866. Mr. Beechler has one brother, John, living in Custer county, and the other surviving mem bers of the family live in Germany. Mr. Beechler reached maturity in his native city, and there received his education, later spending two years in Prance, where he worked on a farm. In 1870, at the age of nineteen years, he came to America, and on to Iowa county, Wis consin. He went on to St. Louis soon after, and there spent two years, working in a large whole sale house. Returning to Iowa county, he was for eight years connected with a grain elevator busi ness. Mr. Beechler was married at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, July 28, 1875, to Miss Kate Bloom, a native of Nassau, Germany, who came to America in infancy, and located near Mineral Point. The father, George Bloom, died in Germany, and the mother, whose maiden name was Katherine Horn. who made her home with Mrs. Beechler, died November 14, 1911. Mrs. Beechler has a brother, who resided in Longmont, Colorado, who met his death in a runaway accident, November 2, 1911, and a sister in Fillmore county, Nebraska. In June, 1883, Mr. Beechler decided to seek the larger opportunities offered in the west, and made a trip to Nebraska, looking for a location. He filed on a homestead and timber claim, ag gregating three hundred and twenty acres of land, in section three, township sixteen, range twenty-three, which has since been the home place, and later he pre-empted one hundred and eighty-two and one-half acres. He was instru mental in the organization of school district num ber one hundred and two, and for some years served as treasurer of the board. He also helped establish the road district in his neighborhood, and has filled various town offices. He developed his farm into a splendidly improved and equipped stock and grain farm, and for the last twelve years has specialized in raising Shorthorn cattle. He has seventy-five acres of natural timber in his ranch, which is well located in the midst of a rich farming region. He retired from active life in the fall of 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Beechler have three children: Lena, wife of H. M. Davenport, of Custer county, has three children ; Katherine and Benard J., live at home. CLARENCE R. BRISTOL. Clarence R. Bristol is one of the few original homesteaders of Custer county to hold continuous residence on their farms, and was one of the first half dozen early settlers in the neighborhood of his present home. He and his family still use part of the old sod shanty that was put up on the homestead. They passed through the pioneer days, and experienced many hardships through reason of the years of drouth and hard times. Mr. Bristol was born in Port Jervis, New York, August 25, 1855, the youngest of the three chil dren of Horace and Anna (French) Bristol, who had one son and two daughters. He and his sister Anna, now Mrs. Charles Davis, of Elgin, Wash ington, are the only two now surviving. The father served three years in the Civil war as Captain of Company B, First New Jersey Volun teer Cavalry. His first wife died when Clarence R. Bristol, the youngest child, was but three years of age, and he married a second time. He re moved with his family to Iowa in 1869, at that time taking his second wife, three children by his former marriage, and three by his second marriage. The father died in Iowa about 1873. Clarence R. Bristol was reared and educated in the east, and accompnaied his father and step mother to Iowa in 1869. He was there united iri marriage, November 1, 1877, with Miss Nancy A. Patrick, whose parents, George and Emily (Herndon) Patrick, came to Custer county to live in 1890, and both died there, the father, who was RESIDENCE OF R. C. THOMPSON. RESIDENCE OF CLARENCE R. BRISTOL. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 651 a native of Kentucky, in April, 1911, and the mother, a native of Indiana, in June, 1909. Mrs. Bristol has a brother, Levi Patrick, living in Ma son City, Nebraska; one brother, William, live 5 in Kingman, Kansas, and her sister, Mrs. Dora Rhodes, wife of John Rhodes, in Ansley. In 1884, Mr. Bristol brought his wife and four children, with a team and wagon, to Custer county, starting from Minona in October, camping along the way ; averaging over forty miles a day, they made the trip in about eight days. He took up a home stead on the south half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, township fifteen, range eighteen, and the east half of the northwest quar ter of section six, township fourteen, range eighteen, and has since resided on the former section. To this tract he has added two hundred acres of adjoining land. Tie has been closely identified with the progress and welfare of his community, and served several years as a mem ber of the school board. He and his wife are among the highly-respected pioneers, and have a large number of friends. They have three hun dred and sixty acres of land in the home farm, and have substantial and suitable buildings there on. They have clung to the comfort of the sod house, in which Mrs. Bristol's fine collection of flowers flourish luxuriantly throughout the win ter. We give an illustration of the home and surroundings on another page. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bristol, ten now survive : Bertha, wife of George P. Dewey (a sketch of whom appears in this work), was born in Iowa, and she and her hus band have two children; Flora Belle, a native of Iowa, is the wife of Earl Hiser, of Custer county, and they have three children ; Clara, wife of Anton Dobesh, lives on a farm in Custer coun ty, and they have two children; Clarence, born in Iowa, is married, lives in Custer county, and has one child; Ernest, born in Custer county, is married and living there, and has three children; Emily, is deceased; Myrtle, is married to Grover Holman, and lives in Ansley ; George, Clyde, Cleo and Lawrence were born on the homestead. Clyde and Cleo are twins. Four of the children were bora in Iowa; the remaining ones are na tives of Nebraska. All the family are members of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Bristol is independent; he is a great admirer of Roosevelt and Bryan. During his early years in Nebraska, Mr. Bris tol and family endured great privations. Drouth killed their crops in 1890 and again in 1894, while hail, in 1893 and 1895, were equally destructive. Hail the former year was so deep that in favored places remnants of it were to be found two weeks after it fell, and enough to make ice cream was secured seven days after. ROBERT CLINTON THOMPSON. Robert Clinton Thompson was born near Dwight, Livingston county, Illinois, September 15, 1865, and was second of eight children in the family of Thomas and Mary (Murphy) Thomp son, who had five sons and three daughters. The parents were natives of Ohio, but were married in Illinois, where they resided several years. Mr. Thompson, our subject, was born and raised on an Illinois farm, receiving the usual school ad vantages, and lived the life of the pioneer farm boy, going out in life for himself in his twenty- first year. The entire family of father, mother and the children, except one son, Thomas, junior, who came about a year later, came to Valley county in 1883. They lived on rented land for four years, then moved to Box Butte county, Nebraska, Mr. Thompson, senior, taking up a homestead. Since 1898 he has been proprietor of a big ranch in Duell county, fourteen miles southeast of Alli ance. All the family reside there, except a son at Arcadia, a daughter in Garfield county, and the subject of this sketch. Robert Thompson lived in Box Butte county until 1896, proving up on a homestead, and dur ing this time lived in a "soddy." He then re turned to Valley county, and followed farming and stock raising for two years, and in 1908 pur chased the farm on which he now lives, the east half of section eighteen, township twenty, range thirteen, where he has a fine farm and comfort able home. An engraving of the dwelling and sur roundings, situated on its hillcrest, with a com manding view of the surrounding country, is to be found adorning another page of this work. Mr. Thompson was united in marriage on July 4, 1887, at Ord, Nebraska, to Miss Vesta Virginia Dye. The Dye family came from Ohio in 1878, and settled three miles from Lincoln. In 1881 they went to Marshall, Kansas, where they lived an equal period. The father, Thomas C. Dye, was a native of Ohio. He was killed in a wreck near Mason City. The mother, Jerusha M. (Forest) Dye, was born in Iowa a short time prior to the family's return to Ohio, where she was reared. Her death 'occurred in Garfield county. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have had five children born to them, all of whom are residing under the parental roof. Their names are as follows: Beulah, Charles E., Millie Fay, Mary Fern and Arlos. Mr. Thompson and family have seen much of the early pioneer life. While they were living in the west end of the state, they hauled all their lumber and wood from the Pine Ridge in Dakota, fifty miles away. Deer and antelope were plenti ful in that region during their residence there. They escaped the severe drouth of 1894, that being one of the best crop years of that region since it was first settled. The father of Mrs. Thompson drove his cattle to that region for the winter, finding abundance of fodder and grain. Many in the east part of the state had to sacrifice all their herds for lack of anything to sustain them. 652 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. HENRYr D. BRUEGMAN. Henry D. Bruegman, a prosperous farmer of Osmond, first set foot on Nebraska soil March 1, 1879, when he rented a farm near Pilger, and when his crops were most promising, saw them completely devoured by a horde of grasshoppers, the last flight of the pests that for a series of years had wrought havoc to the settlers of those times in the west. Seeing his prospects vanish, Mr. Bruegman abandoned the place early in July, and a few days afterwards purchased the farm of August Ruepke, lying northwest of Osmond, and one of the two that were first settled in the north part of the county. Here he lived until 1891, when he removed to his present farm, adjoining Osmond on the south, on which he built a large, two-story, eight-room house, which is one of the finest farm dwellings in the county. Mr. Bruegman was born in Probsteihagen, Holstein, Germany, on December 6, 1852, and is a brother of Prank F. Bruegman, whose sketch appears on another page. Like Frank, he fol lowed farming in his native land, also after com ing to America in 1872. He settled in Daven port, Iowa, with scarcely a penny in his pocket, his railroad fare from New York having been advanced by an old couple to whom he had shown kindness on the voyage across the ocean. His wages for his first year's work were one hundred and sixty dollars, and he worked in the harvest fields during the summer of 1873, saving his earnings, and going to Minnesota in the later fall, winding up with more money in his pocket than he had ever had in his life before, having re ceived most of the time four dollars a day. Dur ing that winter he worked in Davenport for a low wage and his board, in the spring going to Mer cer county, Illinois, where he remained for five years farming, his wages being two hundred and thirty dollars per annum, and he was treated as one of the family by his employers. During this time he was married at Davenport, Iowa, to Minnie Huwaldt, daughter of W. H. Huwaldt, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. She died after a married life of two years, leaving two sons, one of whom survives, he now perfect ing title to a homestead in Stanley county, South Dakota. During the first few years of Mr. Bruegman 's residence in Nebraska, the principal fuel used was twisted hay, and at times corn was also burned, wood and coal being too scarce and high- priced. Wisner was their nearest trading point the first two years, and often on the trip home, Mr. Bruegman would be in sight of his home, and then find the creeks surrounding his place too high to cross. On one occasion he drove eastward to find a crossing, and was obliged to go clear to the headwaters of the stream in Cedar county, re turning along the north bank, which made a dis tance extra of nearly twenty-five miles. He also had an exciting experience during the blizzard of 1888 that few passed through with their lives. He had started out from home to Pierce with a load of hogs and was about four miles from his farm when the storm broke. Turning, he tried to retrace his steps, but the horses were unable to face the storm, so again turning south he made his way as rapidly as possible. One of the horses fell and refused to rise, and on getting out to find out the trouble, Mr. Bruegman saw that long icicles were hanging from its nostrils, while its eyes were covered with ice. Breaking the ice off, and, resting the horse a few moments, gave it new courage, and he urged it to its feet, then continued on his way through the blinding blast, finally reaching Pierce in a state border ing on exhaustion of both man and beast, at about five o'clock in the afternoon. All who saw him were astounded that one could survive the terrific storm, as few' were able to even travel a short distance without severe suffering. Mr. Bruegman was married the second time, in October, 1884, in Pierce county, to Fredericka Jurgens, who is a native of the Island of Fem- arn, province of Holstein, Germany, coming to this country when a young girl. Eight children were born of this union, seven of whom are living, namely : William, a homesteader in South Dakota ; Netta and Ida, both graduates of a busi ness college at Des Moines, Ida now holding a lucrative position in that city, while Nettie re signed such a position for one at Lewiston, Mon tana, where she has homesteaded a half section of good land; while Alfred, Gertrude, Harry and Laura are students in the Osmond schools. The family have a very pleasant home and are well liked by all, taking a prominent part in the social affairs of their city. Mr. Bruegman is a republican and a member of the Masonic lodge, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. CURTIS A. CALVIN. Curtis A. Calvin, one of the prosperous younger members of the farming community of Howard county, is a worthy representative of a well known pioneer family and enjoys an envi able reputation as a worthy citizen and sucees- ful self-made man. Our subject was born in Howard county, on October 17, 1878, and received his early educa tion in the local schools. He is truly a genuine native production, his father, David Calvin, hav ing come into the vicinity with- his family in 1873. As a young man Curtis worked on the home farm, later locating on section twenty-four, township fifteen, range twelve, which he occupied as his home place for many years. He improved it in splendid shape, erected a fine dwelling house, substantial barns, etc., and had everything in the best possible condition. The farm contained two hundred and forty acres of good land, and he was engaged in mixed farming and stock compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. 653 raising, meeting with decided success in both lines. In November, 1909, Mr. Calvin sold his farm in section twenty-four," township fifteen, range twelve, which had been his home for seven years. In March of that year he had bought his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections seventeen and eighteen, township fourteen, range ten, and moved to this place February 28, 1910. His property is situated three and one-half miles southwest of St. Paul. Mr. Calvin was married February 8, 1899, to Margaret Bertha Welsh, at the home of the lat ter 's mother, Elizabeth Welsh, in this county. Mrs. Calvin was born in Toronto, Canada, coming to Nebraska as a babe, with her mother, arriv ing here in Howard county about 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have two children, George Earl and David Alfred, both sturdy boys and typical western youngsters, full of health and good spirits, and the pride of their parents. The Calvin family, have an exceptionally pleasant home and enjoy a host of friends throughout the entire country, taking an active part in the social life of their community. JUDGE AARON WALL. Judge Aaron Wall is one of the most promin ent members of the bar in the state of Nebraska, being licensed to practice the profession of law in all Nebraska courts and in the United States supreme court. He is especially prominent as a criminal lawyer and in the earlier days of his residence in central Nebraska had many exciting and dangerous experiences. He has always been active in the interests of the republican party, and served as delegate to the national convention held in Chicago in June, 1888, and as chairman of the state convention held in Lincoln during the same year; he has attended the state convention as delegate nearly every session since 1886. In 1896 he was the candidate for congress from the sixth district, being the highest man in the con vention for seventy-seven straight ballots, when his name was withdrawn. He is a citizen of whom his state is proud and in his public service has been actuated by the highest principles and motives. Aaron Wall was born in Lancashire, England. August, 1849, the oldest of thirteen children born to Edward and Agnes Wall. The Wall fam ily came to the United States in 1854 and located in Michigan. They first lived in the town of Kalamazoo and later in Allegan county — as Judge Wall speaks of it, "settling in the woods." They took up a squatter's privileges there. Aaron Wall left his home in 1865 and eame to Chicago, where he intended enlisting in the army, but was too late. He drifted into Iowa and thence as far west as Omaha. In the fall of 1867 he returned to Albion, Michigan, where he attended college two years, after which he taught one year in that state, during which time he first entered upon the study of law. He came to Saline county, Ne braska, in 1870, and there continued his studies, being admitted to practice in 1872 and remaining in that county until 1875. He located in Lincoln Center, Kansas, in the summer of 1875, and there entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1877 he came to Loup City, Sherman county, and in the fall of that year was elected probate judge of the county, serving ably four years, and then upon his retirement from office, resuming private practice, which he has since continued. Mr. Wall was married in Lincoln county, Kansas, in 1876, to Miss Addie Van Hessen. They have no children. Mr. Wall has always been prominent in social, educational, legal and politi cal circles, and has friends in all walks of life. He has been connected with some of the most important cases ever tried in the state and had much to do with the early court history of Sher man county, his life many times being held in the balance. An incident which not only illustrates Mr. Wall's decision of character and coolness in times of stress, but also gives a vivid picture of some of the most impressive conditions in the early days of Sherman county, is given below. The Olive gang were very active and powerful and much feared by the peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Jim Roberts, living on Beaver creek, was arrested by this gang in April, 1878, charged with stealing cattle, and Mr. Wall was acting as his council, the case being brought before Cap tain Hutchinson, a justice of the peace of that locality. The Olive gang tried to keep Judge Wall out of the room where court was held, standing around the walls with revolvers cocked. He managed to get inside, however, but was un able to get a fair hearing, although he asked to see the justice's docket, which was refused him. He then told the court that if he were allowed to talk a few minutes with the prisoner he would then go away. As the gang wished him out of the way, Judge Wall was allowed to consult with his client and they repaired to a point near the barn where the judge had his buggy, the gang standing guard with cocked weapons. During the talk they hit upon a plan that at a given sig nal Mr. Roberts should jump into the buggy and the judge should cut the horses loose. When anyone came near they were talking earnestly about the case, but they carefully watched their chance, and although it hardly seemed possible, they were taken by a spirited animal safely to 1" oup City. They were pursued some distance. but thought their pursuers had given up the chase before they reached their destination. They had hardly got into the house and got the team unhitched when Mrs. Roberts came in from the Roberts ranch saying Bob Olive and his cowboys were coming. They had with them a warrant from Justice Hutchinson for the arrest of Mr. Wall and intended taking him back for trial. Upon hearing a gentle rap on the door, he 654 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. saw a man he did not know, and who asked for a minute's conversation with him. When he stepped out he was immediately surrounded and all chance of escape cut off, five glittering re volvers being pointed at his head, though not one of the gang was courageous to attempt to arrest him. A large part of the afternoon was spent in an effort to effect his arrest, during which time many citizens of Loup City gathered around. Mr. Wall told them if he went with them he would not be given a fair trial, calling them a band of outlaws and cowards, and offering to take them one at a time and "lick the whole outfit" if they would lay down their arms, or if they would give him a chance to get his revolver from the inside, to give them a round with it. He was standing with his back against the build ing and with no weapon but his penknife, with which he was whittling a stick. They were so enraged at his remarks that finally they tried to throw a rope over his head, but each attempt to do so failed, and at one time one of them tried to take hold of him, but Mr. Wall struck at him with his knife with an upward thrust, ripping his vest from the bottom up. He appealed to the citizens for help and John Swain, son-in-law of J. C. Fletcher, who had recently come to the state in search of a location in the west, stepped up and offered to defend him with his life. Though the revolvers of the gang were leveled at his head, Mr. Swain did not flinch, but stepped fearlessly to Mr. Wall's side. Mr. Wall finally agreed to go with them if an officer of Sherman county and a sufficient number of citizens to protect him would go along, and suggested repairing to the court room, which was on the second floor in the Massasoit house. They all consented and a messenger was sent tor Deputy Sheriff Reuben French. Mr. Wall, then county judge, busied himself with papers and put the county seal on some blanks he had filled out, in order to have the seal near for a weapon, and upon the arrival of the sheriff said, "I com mand you to call court." After quietly sending another messenger for Martin Brambaugh, Judge Wall commanded the officer to arrest the entire Olive gang for contempt of court, but when Mr. French tried to carry out the orders the outlaws pointed their revolvers at him and he weakened. They then grew desperate and determined to take Mr. Wall with them, but he said ' ' county court is in session and I cannot leave." He was in this way trying to delay matters until Mr. Bram baugh and other citizens could get there. Two young men named Stringer came, as they had received some favor from Mr. Wall which they did not forget, and one of them slipped close enough to him to put a good revolver in his pocket. John Harkins came in with a sledge hammer in his hand with which he had been working, and although he did not intend to use it, it had a quieting effect upon the outlaws. "Mart" Brambaugh, in due time, came into the room, very much excited, and roared, "What is the matter here?" Judge Wall informed him he was deputized as an officer of the court to arrest the men who had caused the trouble for con tempt of court, adding, "Here is my revolver," and laying it on the table. Brambaugh picked up the weapon with one hand and with the other took Bob Olive by the throat, saying, "You are my prisoner." The sudden and unexpected movement took the outlaws by such surprise that in a few moments they were all arrested, brought before Judge Wall, and fined for contempt of court, from ten to thirty dollars each. They agreed to pay their fines soon if allowed to leave and this was granted them, but these fines still stand unpaid on the court records of Sherman county. During the time Judge Wall was engaged with the gang, Mr. Roberts was in the house up stairs in .hiding, with his wife and the Wall fam ily, and the women were very much frightened. The strain upon Mr. Wall, which lasted several hours, was severe, but he demonstrated to the citizens of Sherman county that he was deter mined to defend the cause of justice and right at the risk of life. PRANK SUEPER. Prank Sueper, proprietor of one of the most valuable farms in Madison county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality during the past thirty years. He is prominently known throughout that part of Nebraska as a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen, and has a host of friends among the people of his community, by all of whom he is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Sueper was born in Prussia, December 13, 1848. His parents were Barnard and Eliza beth (Berg) Sueper, they being farmers in the old country, and Frank was reared on the home place. When he was thirteen years of age, the entire family left their native soil and embarked on a sailboat at Bremen bound for America. While on the voyage the ship was overtaken by a terrific storm and was wrecked on an island, all the passengers finally landing after terrible suffering from exposure to the elements. Here they were forced to remain for six months, living as best they might, obtaining food from the wrecked ship. One day a sailboat came to the island and took all on board, and they were taken back to Bremen, which was their nearest port, and from which the Suepers had sailed. They again set out for America in another sailboat, the "Theresa," and after a stormy passage lasting eight weeks, finally landed in New York. Their first stopping place was in Lake county. Indiana, where they remained up to 1881. While there the family lived on a farm and managed to make a living, but were unable to get ahead as rapidly as they wished, so decided to try their fortune farther west, starting out for Nebraska COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 655 in 1881. They arrived in Madison county after a tiresome journey, and the father purchased a tract of railroad land, on which they erected a frame shanty, fourteen by sixteen feet, and set about developing a farm. Frank started for himself later on, in 1873, and was very successful for the most part, as he worked faithfully to build up a home, and after the usual hard luck and discouragements, be came proprietor of a good farm, now owning a three hundred and twenty acre |place, all in good shape, and is rapidly becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of his locality. November 3, 1873, Mr. Suepers was married in Indiana to Miss Wilhelmina Graina, a native of Prussia, and to them have come eight children, namely: August, Theresa, Eda, Frank, Lena, Toney, Mary and Emma. THOMAS J. GILLIGAN. Thomas J. Gilligan, a successful and prosper ous rancher and farmer of Custer county, Ne braska, came to the county with no cash capital, but was possessed of energy and ambition, com bined with a strong will to succeed. He is a self- made man and attained his present position through economy, industry and attention to de tails. He was born in Elizabethtown, New York, in March, 1860, third of the seven children born to John and Eliza Gilligan. His brother John, a physician and surgeon, came to Nebraska some years ago and located in 0 'Neill, Holt county, and these two sons are the only ones of the six sur viving children who live in Nebraska. The father died in New York in 1878 and the mother still lives in that state. Born and reared on a stony farm in the Adi rondack mountains in northern New York, Mr. Galligan early learned habits of industry and thrift. He remained with his parents until reach ing his majority. In 1878 he went to Iowa, and in the fall of 1881 came to Gage county, Ne braska, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1882 he came to Howard county, where he re mained until the spring of 1884, then filed on a homestead in Custer county. He worked in Howard county during the winter months of 1884-85, and in the spring of 1886 came to make a permanent residence on his new homestead. He also had a tree claim and began to improve and develop his land. He proved his title and added to his possessions from time to time until he was the owner of eighteen hundred acres. In 1911 he sold twelve hundred and eighty acres. In 1897 he moved from his homestead to another part of the farm of five hundred and twenty acres on section sixteen, township twenty, range twenty-one, where he has a fine and well equipped grain and stock farm. There is a fine grove of trees on this place and some fruit, besides splen did hay and pasture land. This farm is located at the mouth of Big River canyon, and the home is very pleasantly situated. Taken as a whole, Mr. Gilligan believes, with good reason, that he has the best farm in his part of the county. Mr. Gilligan was married in Blaine county, Nebraska, in Octo'ber, 1898, and six children were born of this union, one of whom is dead ; and all of the others are on the home farm, making a fine representative family. They are named as follows: Ellen, Mary, Peter, Thomas, deceased; Jennie and Nicholas. GEORGE HOFELDT. Among the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Wayne county, Nebraska, a high place must be accorded the name of George Hofeldt. He is the owner of a farm in section four, township twenty- six, range three, and is regarded as one of the progressive and successful farmers of the locality, which has been his home for many years. Mr. Hofeldt was born in Cook county, Illinois, in 1861, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Hofeldt, both natives of Holstein, Germany. His parents came to this country in 1851, on one of the slow sailing vessels, and were on the ocean nineteen weeks before they arrived in New York. Mr. Hofeldt spent his childhood in Cook county, Illinois. In 1875, when he was fourteen years old, the family removed to Carroll county, Iowa. The parents remained in Carroll county, Iowa, on a farm, which they owned until their deaths. In 1884, Mr. Hofeldt and his wife moved to Wayne county, Nebraska, where a farm of one hundred and sixty acres was purchased from Bob Taylor. When Mr. Hofeldt purchased his place, it was raw prairie, and since then he has put it all under cultivation, and built a modern house, good barns and other out buildings. This farm is still occupied by the subscriber, who has made it his home since the above date. He has added one improvement after another, as fast as his circumstances seemed to warrant, and now has one of the finest farms to be seen for miles around. Of late, he has given considerable attention to raising stock, in which pursuit he has been successful. February 24, 1884, Mr. Hofeldt was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Peters, of Carroll county, Iowa. Mrs. Hofeldt was born in Hol stein, Germany, a daughter of Claus Peters, her parents both dying in Germany. Mrs. Hofeldt came to the United States in 1882. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hofeldt. They were named as follows: Minnie, George, Louise, Bertha, Marguerite, Harry, Frank and Lester. Two died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hofeldt are well known mem bers of the community, and the number of their friends is limited only by the number of their acquaintances 656 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. REUBEN M. WOLCOTT. Among the prominent ranchmen and stock raisers of Merrick county, Nebraska,, the gentle man above named holds an enviable reputation. He is one of the old settlers in this section of the country, and has aided materially in the growth and success of the region in which he dwells. Reuben M. Wolcott was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, April 2, 1859, and was third in a family of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver S. Wolcott, who reside in Central City, Nebraska. In the fall of 1861, Mr. Wolcott 's parents moved from the Wisconsin farm to Western Iowa, where he received an education at the county schools, working on the farm during the sum mer months. He came to Nebraska in the spring of 1880 with his father and located in Merrick county, devoting himself to farming and stock raising. He is now located on the original Wolcott farm which he purchased from his father, and which consists of nine hundred and twenty acres of choice land located in the Loup Valley, on which are good buildings, and which is a well-equipped stock farm, on which Mr. Wolcott has bred Poll Angus cattle and is a breeder of Shire horses. He has been an exhibitor in the horse, cattle, and swine department in Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin state fairs, and the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. On July 30, 1903, in Merrick county, Nebraska, Mr. Wolcott was married to Miss Luella Adams, daughter of Robert and Amanda Adams, who were pioneers of Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. . Wolcott have one child, Ruby Evaline. Mr. Wol cott and family reside in their pleasant farm home, and enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends. In 1903 Mr. Wolcott was elected a member of the state board of agriculture and re-elected in 1905 and again re-elected in 1908, and is an active member of the board. He stands for the best interests of his county and state, and is pro gressive along all lines. In his stock exhibitions, Mr. Wolcott has taken many prizes, and in stock circles is known in several states, and is prominent as an exhibitor. MRS. ALICE R. ARMSTRONG. That the sphere of woman's activity has been widening rapidly cannot be gainsaid; that she is filling well her chosen part in the drama of life is equally self-evident. Of the progressive, ef ficient women of the west, not the least in men tal and moral advancement is Mrs. Alice R. Arm strong, the editor of the "Butte Gazette," Boyd county's official organ and one of the most ably conducted country newspapers in the northern part of the state. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, a daughter of Reverand N. E. Gardner, originally a minister of the United Brethern denomination; after which he was for over thirty years associated with the Congre gational church. Her mother was Mary Pricilla Allen, prior to her marriage to the young minis ter. N. E. Gardner was born in Perry county, Ohio, December 24, 1833. He worked at the pot ter's trade when a boy and became an expert at it. He became converted in early life and en tered the ministry when a young man. He was married in 1856 to Miss Pricilla Allen. He was licensed to preach in 1857 in the United Brethren Conference in Ohio. In 1863 he went to Min nesota as a missionary and located in Blue Earth county during the Sioux Indian massacre, where he was robbed of everything he had and barely escaped with his wife and little babes, while a number of his nearest neighbors were killed. In 1867, he moved to Missouri, where he spent several useful years of his life as preacher, pre siding elder and financial agent for Avalon Aca demy. While moving from one work to another, he lost his loving wife and helpmate. Later, at Avalon, he married Mary A. Neeland, who was a strong christian character and a devout wife and mother. In the latter seventies he went to Illinois, where several years were spent laboring as min ister in the Rock River conference. From here he went to Iowa where he labored as United Brethren Minister. In 1886 he went to western Nebraska and entered the Congregational church, and continued preaching for that church dur ing the rest of his work. In 1890 he went to Wyoming and held pastorate at Buffalo and Lusk. In 1893 he went to Silver Creek, Nebraska, and succeeded his son Jasper, who died while pastor of the Congregational church at that place. In 1895 he went to Arborville, Nebraska, and served as pastor for four years. In 1904 he went to Santa Cruz, California, and spent a year and a half. ' His health failing, he bought a little cottage home in the village of Arborville, Nebraska, where he and his faithful wife resided until he was called to his eternal home, April 29, 1911. He lived a very active life and his work was evangelistic, the greater part of which was spent on the frontier administering tbe kindly hand where help was most needed. He possessed more than ordinary talent as a speaker and was successful in winning many from sin to the better way. His success was the re sult of a life of consecration and a faithful pre sentation of the Word of God. His last sermon was preached to the boys at the state penitentiary in Boise, Idaho. Rev. Gardner was of a happy, cheerful dis position and scattered help and sunshine wher ever he went. For the last year he has been severely afflicted, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 657 having undergone a serious surgical operation which he endured with wonderful fortitude. To the last he retained his spirit of cheerful hope fulness and courage. Together with his wife he spent the past winter in Boise, Idaho, visiting with his daugh ters, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. M. P. Meholin. As summer approached he became more anxious to get home to Arborville, Nebraska, and in spite of the earnest request of friends to protract his stay, he left Boise April 4th, intending to visit at a few points on his way home. When he reached Grand Junction, Colorado, the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. K. Moore, he was very tired. Instead of getting rested and able to re sume his journey, he gradually grew weaker. He realized the fact that God was calling him home and calmly and peacefully responded to the summons. He asked what time it was, and added that the Master would take him soon. The minister's daughter taught her first school in Fayette county, Iowa, finishing out a term for her sister. On coming to Dawes county, she was one of the successful teachers there until her marriage to Mr. Thurlow S. Armstrong, then foreman of the "Dawes County Journal." The young wife at once took to newspaper work and assisted her husband on the Gordon paper, with which he soon became connected. They succes sively published the "Valentine Republican," the "Norden Borealis, " and "Ainsworth Journal," before trying ranch life in Brown county from 1889 to 1891. When Boyd county was thrown open to settlement, the journalistic couple saw in the new county a fine field for their editorial talent, and removed to the county seat and for a year published the "Boyd County Banner." A year later they established the "Butte Gazette," which has been in contiuous circula tion since that time. Mrs. Armstrong assumed full control of the paper as proprietor, editor, and publisher in 1904, since which time she has been assisted by her daughter Hazelle. Since Mrs. Armstrong has taken the management of the "Gazette," there have been no less than five other papers started at Butte, none of which are in existence now, the last one, "The Boyd County Register" having been purchased by her in 1910, and consolidated with the "Gazette." Mr. Armstrong had been appointed postmas ter of Butte in 1892, and was appointed to a third term, which Mrs. Armstrong finished out, having virtually been postmistress most of the time in fact, if not in name. A short time before the close of Mrs. Armstrong 's term, the office was burglarized of twelve hundred dollars worth of stamps and cash, but eventually all was recovered, the thief having hid his booty near by, which from time to time was found in installments in various places of concealment. The culprit was well known, but lack of absolute evidence to con vict prevented prosecution. The policy of the "Gazette" is republican, but 22 it is fair to its opponents and avoids the rancor of partisan journalism. It is an ably-edited newsy weekly, and, being the official organ of the county, enjoys an extensive patronage in legal and official job work. Mrs. Armstrong is a, member of three fraternal orders, the Rebekahs, the Royal Neighbors, and a widely extended literary association known by the cabalistic letters of P. E. 0. Sisterhood. In 1907 Mrs. Armstrong was elected presi dent of the Ponca Valley Editorial Association, comprising the counties of Boyd and Keyra Paha, Nebraska, and Gregory and Tripp, South Dakota, the meeting being held at Bonesteel, South Da kota. Mrs. Armstrong is the mother of two children, Hazelle and Kathryn. ALBERT BOWMAN BROWDER. Albert Bowman Browder, for many years a successful and prosperous farmer of Boone county and later a resident of Albion, where he was engaged in the furniture business for a num ber of years, is now retired from active labor and enjoying every comfort of life after years of faithful toil. Mr. Browder is a native of Delaware county, Iowa, born January 2, 1852. He is the eldest son of seven in a family of eight children born to George R. and Mary A. Browder. He grew to the age of twenty years in his native country, then came by team and wagon to Boone county, and was one of the first homesteaders in that portion of the state. He had been married in Iowa, on March 6, 1872, and after getting located in Boone county sent for his wife, she arriving here in June of that year. Mr. Browder took up a claim on section thirty, and begun to build up a farm and home, and while he met with some hardships during the first years, in the main he was successful and accumulated a good pro perty. He remained on his original farm up to 1888, then came to Albion for residence, engaging in the hardware business which" he carried on for ten years. He then embarked in the furniture business and built up a good trade in that line . also. Mrs. Browder died in Omaha on October 6, 1905, she having gone there to the St. Joseph hospital for treatment, and her death was deeply mourned by her family and many friends here. She was survived by her husband and one son, who is married and now lives in Albion. June 20, 1906, Mr. Browder married Mrs. Sarah Lewis, a childhood friend, in Iowa, and counted as one of the Browder family who came to Nebraska in 1878. In 1908 Mr. and Mrs. Browder left Albion and settled in University Place, which is a beautiful suburb of Lincoln, Nebraska. There they remained until Decem ber 1, 1910, when they returned to Albion, the old home, where they expect to remain. 658 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. WILLIAM ZIEGENBEIN. To the men of perseverence and stalwart de termination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and com mercial region, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of An telope county who has been intimately identified with its development and has gained an enviable reputation as a citizen, may be mentioned Wil liam Ziegenbein. Mr. Ziegenbein was bom in Prussia, Germany, in the province of Saxony, March 10, 1854, and was the third child in a family of six children. Our subject's father, Carl Ziegenbein, was born in 1827, in Germany, and after growing to man hood served in the army of his native land for eleven years in the war between Denmark and Germany. In 1870, our subject and his father started for America, sailing on the steamship ' ' Westphalia ' ' from Hamburg and landing in New York City where they stayed three days. They then left for the west to start where land was cheap, and came to Omaha, Nebraska, from where they drove to their claim in Saunders county, on which they built a sod house. While living here the family went through many hardships, and they had to go twelve miles by ox team to the Platte river for wood. In 1875 Mr. Ziegenbein was married to Miss Alice Briggs of Michigan, and to this union five children have been born : Mary, wife of E. Clark, has two children; Lizzie, wife of L. Buekminster, has five children ; Pearl, wife of Ben Mclntire ; Nellie, and Carl, who is married to Miss Nellie Williams. A few years after his marriage our subject had bad luck with his crops, became dissatisfied with local conditions and moved further west, coming to Antelope county, Nebraska in 1881, where he took up a homestead in section twelve, township twenty-seven, range seven, on which he lived in a wagon until he could build a sod house. He has since prospered and is now counted among the substantial citizens of the county. Mr. Ziegenbein is well thought of in his com munity, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge. In politics he is independent. REUBEN E. GLASS. (Deceased.) In the death of Reuben E. Glass, who spent tbe last years of his life retired from active life, in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Custer county, lost one of its most valuable citzens. He had been a resi dent of the state since 1873 and during that time he had become well known and had made many friends who appreciated his character and worth. Mr. Glass was born in Detroit, Michigan, November 13, 1846, third of the six children born to Zenas and Sarah (Ferris) Glass, natives of New York. The father, who was of Scotch- Irish descent, died in Michigan, and the mother survives, making her home in Lincoln, Nebraska. Of their children: one son, Milton, died in the Civil war; one son, Edwin C, lives in Lincoln; one daughter, Mrs. Sarah Frost, lives in Lincoln ; others are deceased. Mr. Glass grew to manhood's estate on a Michigan farm, receiving his education in local schools. He served in the civil war as a member of Company D, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, where he won a creditable record, and after leav ing the service returned to Michigan, where he engaged in business in the line of retail drugs. His first wife was Mrs. Lina Ferguson, who died in Michigan, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Nichols, who has since died. In 1873, Mr. Glass came to Plattsmouth, Cass county, Nebraska, where he engaged in the drug business, and there, on February 3, 1876, he married Miss Margaret Louise Mitchell, who was born in Iowa and came to Cass county in 1874. She is the daughter of Francis P. and Mar garet (Wright) Mitchell, the former a native of Greene county, Ohio, and the latter of South Carolina. The father, a physician by profession, died in New Orleans in the 'fifties, and the mother died in Iowa in 1845. In 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Glass moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where they spent two years, but on account of failing health he was obliged to give up his business, and in March, 1880, they eame to Custer county and he took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on South Loup, where they remained ten years. He also pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1897 or 1898 purchased one hundred and, sixty acres of land on section nineteen, township sev enteen, range twenty, although he never lived on the latter place, which Mrs. Glass now owns. In December, 1891, Mr. Glass retired from farm life and purchased a comfortable residence in Broken Bow, which continued his home until his death, October 11, 1905. He was survived by his widow, who still lives in the home, where she has every comfort and is surrounded by a large circle of sincere friends. Mr. Glass was a staunch Presby terian in religious views and stood ready to help any religious or beneficial movement in his county or state. He died in the prime of life, and his death came as a shock to his many friends and acquaintances, by whom his loss was deeply deplored. He was regarded as a public-spirited citizen and highly esteemed by all. ALONZO A. FOWLER. The Fowler family, of Valley county, Ne braska, is well -and favorably known in that re gion. The children were all born on the old home farm, which has been the continuous home of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Fowler since their marriage. Mr. Fowler is a native of Town of Edwards, St. Lawrence county, New York, born May 12, 1851, 'OLD HOME FARM," OF ALONZO A. FOWLER. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 659 the fifth child of Amos and Polly (Walker) Fow ler, who had five sons and two daughters. The father was a farmer and Alonzo Fowler was reared to farm work, receiving a rather meager education. He lived in his native county until he came to Nebraska in 1878. He was married in St. Lawrence county, September 30, 1871, to Amelia Durham, a daughter of William and Diana (Jones) Durham. They had three chil dren born there, of whom two survive: One son, Ephraim, lives in Valley county, Nebraska, and Charles, in Idaho. Mrs. Fowler died in Hall county, in 1881, survived by her husband and three children. _ In October, 1878, Mr. Fowler brought his wife and their three children to Hall county, Nebraska, took up a homestead and lived there until March, 1884, when he came to Valley county. He purchased the southwest quarter of section twenty-five, township sixteen, range seventeen, which has since remained the family home. He has added about one hundred and sixty acres of land for every five years spent in the county and now owns eleven hundred and twenty acres in one body, lying along the northeast bank of the Middle Loup river near Arcadia, one thousand acres being in Valley and one hundred and twenty acres in Sherman county. It is one of the finest estates in central Nebraska and Mr. Fowler is an extensive stock and grain farmer, being one of the most successful men of his part of the state. At the time he first came to the county he had a total cash capital of about four hundred dollars, and he now handles a large num ber of cattle arid hogs, making a specialty of feed ing and shipping. He hauled the lumber used in erecting his first building from Grand Island, sixty-five miles distant, the trip taking five days. When he first came to the Valley the present site of Arcadia was not yet laid out as a town. Mr. Fowler's second marriage occurred at St. Paul, Howard county, October 17, 1883, when he was united with Mary Parker, a native of Ohio, daughter of Jeremiah and Orphie (Finlaw) Parker, born in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respect ively. Nine children have been born of the sec ond marriage, namely: Daisy, wife of John Tucker, now occupying the original home farm, has four children; Arthur P., Thurman G., Leota V., and Glowie M. ; J. A., is married and lives on his own farm, and has one daughter, Opal Evelyn; Frank, Orrie, Nellie, Mabel, Geln- ford, Ralph, and Arnold, all at home. Mr. Fowler, who is a self-made man, begin ning with little education, has forged to ithe front through sheer force of will and energy, achieving financial success and winning the respect and esteem of all with whom he has had dealings. He has reared a large family and still actively looks after his various interests. He and his wife have made several extensive trips east and west, enjoying the diversion offered in several of the larger cities and the change of scene. Their travels have extended from Mon trose, Colorado, to Buffalo, Syracuse and St. Law rence county, New York, as well as parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. In the early years in Hall county, the family occupied a sod house for five years, and for six months on the pre-emption claim in Sherman county, lived in a dugout. Mr. Fowler was more fortunate than his neighbors in 1894, the year of drouth, har vesting about one thousand bushels of corn; his land, lying along the river, was underlaid with sufficient moisture to produce a fine crop. In 1898 an eighty-acre field of wheat was destroyed by hail, but the next year that eighty, with twenty acres additional, planted to corn, produced three thousand six hundred bushels, which sold at ninety cents. His corn made twenty dollars an acre, his wheat twenty-three and his alfalfa thirty, which goes to show what sort of a farmer Mr. Fowler has been. He has always given much attention to stock, and the large herds grazing in his river pastures make a picture to gladden the eyes of an artist as well as a stock man. We present on another page a view of the old home stead farm of Mr. Fowler, together with the other dwellings on his large estate. HENRY G. HOFFART. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this personal history, who resides in section six, township twenty-eight, range three. Mr. Hoffart was born in the village of Kirch Brombach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 4, 1863. He came to the United States in 1880, sailing from the Haven of Bremen on the steam ship "Mosel," and landing in New York after a very stormy voyage of two weeks. He stayed in New Yrork but four days, and then started for the west, arriving in Cass county, Nebraska, where he secured work on a farm and for four years followed this vocation, saving his earnings to make a start in life. In 1892 he came to Pierce county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, the southwest quarter of section six, township twenty-eight, range three, to which he later added an adjoining quarter. He built a good frame house, and planted two acres of trees, besides making other improvements. He has one hundred and sixty acres in section seven and eighty acres in section thirty-one, of the same township, the two latter tracts being farming and grazing lands. Mr. Hoffart has had adversities along with his success, having lost his entire crop in the two hailstorms of 1900. On January 12, 1888, while hunting, he was lost in the memorable blizzard of that date, and was exposed to the blinding, freezing storm for nearly an hour. He found his way by coming to a frozen creek, whose course he followed until he reached his home. In tiie earlier years of settlement, Mr. Hoffart 660 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. burned corn when it was as low as seven cents per bushel and coal was high. Henry G. Hoffart was educated in Germany, where as a young man he learned the butchers' trade and later secured a clerkship in a banking and financial institution for one and one-half years. His father, Henry Hoffart, was a native of Germany, who sailed from Hamburg in 1882 for America, his son, our subject, having earned money to send for the old folks. The father plied his trade as baker for two years, then turned to farming. He came to Pierce county in 1893, and has a farm adjoining that of his son. Mr. Hoffart was married January 31, 1889, to Miss Barbara Horn, who is a native of the vil lage of Zell, province of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger many. Her parents, Michael and Katherine (Heisel) Horn, were born in Germany in 1845 and 1848, respectively, and came to America with their family in 1886. The father served in the German army from 1869 to 1870, closing his mil itary career after the Franco-Prussian war. The parents live with their daughter, who married Michael Hoffart, brother of Henry, who has a farm near him across the line in Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffart are the parents of six children, named as follows: John, Elizabeth, Henry, Mary, William and Fred. The family- are of the German Lutheran faith. In politics Mr. Hoffart is a republican. He is a firm believer in sound financial institutions, and carries policies in the Bankers' Life and the New York Mutual companies, while his sons are equally prudent in the same way. NELS NELSON. Nels Nelson, for the past many years devoted to an agricultural career in Howard county, has a fine farm on section twenty-four, of Elba pre cinct, where he has made his name and influence felt as a capable and reliable citizen of his sec tion. This gentleman was born in Sweden, October 18, 1859, and was the eldest in a family of ten children born to Nels and Annie Nelson. He grew up there, and was married at the age of twenty-five years, to Annie Hokeson, also born and reared in that country. In the month of January following their marriage, the young couple took passage for the United States, leaving there on January 10, 1886, and landing in New York City in the latter part of February, 1888, and from the time consumed in making the journey, it is plainly seen that crossing the ocean in those days was a more serious matter than it is today, when the trip can be made in five or six days. Mr. Nelson's first location was in Riley county, Kansas, where he secured farm work for a time, afli'1-wards going on the railroad, and fol lowing that occupation for two years. In 1889 he came into Howard county, Nebraska, worked as a farm hand for a time," then rented a piece of land and began farming on his own account. This place was located on the North Loup river and owned by George C. Lothrop, and he lived on the farm for sixteen years, the same tract at the present time being farmed by Mr. Nelson's eldest son. Our subject purchased his present farm on section twenty-four,, township fifteen, range eleven, in 1903, and this farm is a fine piece of land situated on the table land, improved with good buildings, etc. He has it well stocked up, and is recognized as an up-to-date farmer and progressive stockman. About two years after our subject came to America he was joined by one brother and a sister, and later two other brothers also settled in Howard county. In the spring of 1892 his father, mother, and two sisters also came over, all now living in Nebraska except one sister who makes her home in Illinois. Mr. Nelson's father resides in Greeley county, and his mother died there in. February, 1910, aged seventy-six years. The father is now (in 1911) of the same age. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, as follows : Gusta, married and liv ing on the Lothrop farm ; Martin, who rents a farm in Valley county ; Mary, John, Louie, Harry, Willie, Effie and Archie, all living at home. They comprise a fine family, and all are popular with their associates. During the early years of his residence in Howard county Mr. Nelson was a member of the school board of district number two, and has also held minor offices in his precinct, always taking an active part in advancing the best in terests of his locality. In 1902 he was appointed road overseer of his district, and filled the office to the satisfaction of all. HENRY A. CHASE. -¦ Among the most prominent and prosperous farmers in Valley county, may be mentioned the above gentleman, at present residing in North Loup. He has been a resident of this county for more than thirty years and is one of the weil known and highly esteemed citizens of this lo cality. Mr. Chase was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the twelfth day of February, 1837. He was the youngest of ten children in the family of Jacob and Asenath (Howland) Chase. Of this large family, only the subscriber and one brother (now living in Wisconsin) are surviving. The father died in Wisconsin in 1867. The mother died in New York state in 1853. Mr. Chase received his education in the local schools of New York state, and in 1855 went with his father and the other children to Wisconsin, and for a time was a student at Albion Academy, near Madison. On September 28, 1859, he was married to Miss COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 661 Delia Babcock, a native of Cataraugus county, New York. She had been for some years prior to her marriage, a teacher in the Wisconsin schools. Mr. Chase is a civil war veteran, having en listed in Company G, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry as third sergeant, and serving until the close of the war. He was a participant in several severe engagements, besides many minor skirm ishes. At the time when the mine was blown up inside the fortifications of Petersburg, Mr. Chase was wounded. He was in the hospital about four months, but returned and was with his company all through the siege of Petersburg; He was also in the battle at Port Steadman on the twenty- fifth of March, 1865, and just a few months before the close of the war, he was made commissary ser geant. After the war, Mr. Chase returned to Wis consin, but shortly afterwards went to Minnesota. He remained there only about six months, and then sought the milder climate of Missouri where he farmed for thirteen years in Linn county. In the fall of 1879, Mr. Chase, with his wife and daughter, and his father-in-law, Mr. George C. Babcock. came to Valley county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-six, township eighteen, range thirteen, which was the home of the family for about twenty years. In 1899, he retired from active work and moved to North Loup, where he is still living in the comfortable home he had built. Their first dwelling was a cedar log house built for Elder Babcock. This Mr. Chase pur chased and removed it to his own premises. Mr. Chase has fulfilled all the duties of a good citizen and is at present serving the people as township treasurer. For more than twenty years he has been a member of the school board in his district, and has also served as county com missioner and county supervisor, for a consider able number of years. He is one of the earliest settlers of the county and has passed through much of its varied vicissitudes. When he pur chased his first Nebraska land in 1878, he paid three dollars per acre ; the same land is bow val ued at one hundred dollars. He is a successful man of affairs and is interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county. In poli tics he is a republican and a member of the North I oup Post. Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. and Mrs. Chase have one daughter, Nellie, now Mrs. E.. W. Black, who also resides in North I oup. The family have been for many years members of the Seventh Day Baptist church. WILLIAM MACHMULLER. William Machmuller, who resides on section eleven, township twenty-three, range one, in Madison county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this section who has always done his full share in tlie betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Machmuller is a native of Germany, his birth occurring on a farm ten miles east of Ber lin, April 26, 1848 ; he is a son of Martin and Sofia Machmuller, both of whom were natives of Germany. When our subject was but a small boy, the family left their native country for America, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to New York, on a sailboat, and were twelve weeks on the sea. Immediately upon arriving in the new world, they proceeded westward, going to the state of Wisconsin, living there thirteen years. In 1866, our subject's father and family started for the far west, as Nebraska was known in those days; they had two ox teams and one horse team, and were one family of a colony that comprised forty-eight families bound for the west to take advantage of the homestead act that had been passed in 1862. The trip was quite an event ful one, and lasted seven weeks ; the colonists had to stop and build a bridge at Humboldt before they could cross the river, which caused a delay in their progress. After arriving at their destina tion, our subject's father took up a homestead east of Norfolk. In 1869 Mr. Machmuller, our subject, took up a homestead in section eleven, township twenty- three, range one, which still remains his residing place. He first built a log house and lived iri this about two years. In the first years of residence on the western frontier, deer and antelope were plentiful, and herds of them could frequently be seen. Omaha and Columbus were the nearest market places then, both places being many miles away and the journey to and fro consuming many days. Many hardships and discouragements beset the family in pioneer days, but they passed through this trying period bravely, and those times have now passed to history. Mr. Machmuller lost consid erable stock in the blizzard of January 12, 1888. Mr. Machmuller was united in marriage Jan uary 28, 1875, to Miss May Bernhart, and Mr. and Mrs. Machmuller are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Emma, Charles, Albert, Frank, Lizzie, and Tilda. They are a fine family, highly esteemed in their community, and have a host of good friends and neighbors. ' They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Machmuller is a democrat. JOHN D. KNIGHT. The Knights are among the older families of Custer county and have been prominently identi fied with the best interests of their part of the state. John D. Knight is- a native of the state, born in Florence, Douglas county, January- 13^ 1863, third child and eldest son of John G. and I ovinia (Straight) Knight, and their first child bom in Nebraska. John Gardner Knight, the father, was born in North Brookfield, Massa- 662 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. chusetts, July 5, 1828, and grew to manhood's estate in his native state. He was married in Vermont on May 1, 1851, to Lovinia Straight, and they began housekeeping in North Brookfield. He was a shoemaker by trade and went to Wis consin in the summer of 1856, later in the same year going on to Florence, Nebraska, where for years he carried on farming in the large fields adjacent to the village which are now part of the city of Omaha. He enlisted in Company A, Sec ond Nebraska Cavalry for frontier service in the fall of 1862, and was mustered out late in the following spring. John Gardner Knight was a successful stock farmer and was an honored resident of Douglas county until his death, May 19, 1907, in his seventy-ninth year, his death occurring on the home place. He was one of the best known men in the county, an early settler and a soldier of the early frontier days. His wife died on the home farm March 20, 1881. They had five children, all of whom now reside in Custer county : E. E. Knight ; Minnie L., wife of A. W. Pierce, a sketch of whom appears in this work; John D., whose name heads this sketch ; George William, married and living in Round Valley; Margaret W., Mrs. Jesse Pierce. At the time of John D. Knight's birth Ne braska was still a territory and was generally known as a part of the great American desert. He has seen the development of the region from the frontier to a state noted for its well tilled farms and prosperity. He came to Custer county in September, 1883, made a selection of land in the same fall and the following spring filed on a homestead on section thirteen, town ship eighteen, range nineteen, building his sod shanty on the north half of the northeast quarter of the section. His sister, Minnie L., accom panied him upon his first trip. On November 26, 1891, Mr. Knight married Elizabeth J. Pierce, and six children have blessed their union, all born on the homestead : Margaret Elizabeth, Clara Lovinia, Jessie Jane, Florence Frances, John Gardner, and James Pierce. The family are well known among the early settlers and are prominent in various circles. Mr. Knight passed through years of drouth and hard times in the early day in Custer county, but has never lost faith in the future of the region. He is a repre sentative farmer and stockman and held in high esteem by all. S. E. STROM. S. E. Strom, who owns and occupies a valu able estate on section thirty-six, township twen ty-nine, range one, west, Cedar county, Nebraska, is one of the early settlers of the region where he makes his home and has performed his share in the upbuilding and advancement of the public welfare. He is well and favorably known through out his part of the county and has many friends. Mr. Strom is a native of Sweden, born August 31, 1853, a son of Esprong and Hedrick (Larson) Strom. The father served in the army and re ceived an injury during drill when he was thirty years old; he was partially disabled all his life. S. E. Strom was educated in his native land and after leaving school remained at home and helped his parents until 1882, when he emigrated to America. He landed in New York and at once started for the west, locating first in Burt county, Nebraska, where he lived four years. In 1886 he came to Pender and in 1890 purchased school land, which he has developed and improved to make a comfortable home and productive farm. He has a three-acre orchard and grove, a source of pleasure and profit to the family. He devotes his place to general farming and stock raising and is one of the most successful men in the community. He is recognized as a public-spirited citizen and is representative of the better class of agriculturalists, who win success as the re sult of intelligence and business ability. In 1880, Mr. Strom was united in marriage with Miss Enger Anderson, a native of the same locality in Sweden, and they are the parents of nine children: Nels, Albert and Helma, twins, Amil, Selma, Ellen, Nellie, Arthur, and Alice. DANIEL M'CLURE. Daniel McClure, the subject of this personal history, resides on section twenty-two, township fifteen, range seven, in Merrick county, Nebraska, where he has built up a home and farm through his industry and good business management. Mr. McClure is held in the highest esteem by his fel- lowmen. Daniel McClure is a son of Alfred and Mary (Wintrode) McClure, was born in Indiana, June 23, 1846, and was youngest of three children, and the only one now living, his parents also being deceased. He received his education in the home schools and later engaged in farming. In January of 1865, Mr. McClure enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-third In diana Infantry, serving until the close of the war, and receiving his discharge in September, 1865, at Louisville, "Kentucky, the time having been spent on guard duty at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, near the Cumberland river. After the war, Mr. McClure returned to Indiana, and in 1868 went into Tama county, Iowa, and engaged in farming ; and on March 30, 1870, was married to Miss Viona Dowell of Indiana. In the spring of 1873 our subject with his wife and one son came to Merrick county, Ne braska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty-two, township fifteen, range seven, which is still the home place. The family made the trip from Iowa in a covered wagon, being thirty- three days on the road, and it rained most of the time. They waited for seven days for the water to go down so they COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 663 could cross the Elkhorn river and they camped out nights during the entire trip. Mr. McClure has about one hundred acres under cultivation, all of which he "broke out" himself. He first built a one-room log house in which the family lived until 1879 and then built a sod house near the site of the present home, and lived there until 1886, when the present house was erected. Mr. McClure has served on the school board of his district number fifty-one nearly all of his Nebraska years; also has been road supervisor, and has been serving as precinct assessor since 1905. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have had twelve chil dren born to them, seven of whom are living Esther, deceased; Samuel, married, has seven children, and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska Pearley, wife of Peter Sorgenfrei, has five chil dren, and lives in Nance county, Nebraska William, who resides at home; Elizabeth, a milliner; Charles, deceased; Walter, married, and residing in Merrick county; Willis, a twin to Walter, married, has one child, and lives in Mer rick county; Maggie, deceased; Emma, wife of Bert Bliss, has one child, and resides in Merrick county; Franklin, deceased; and Carrie, who re sides at home. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have passed through all the discouragements and trying experiences inci dental to frontier life, and are widely and favor ably known. Mr. McClure is the only pioneer left in his immediate neighborhood. OTTO SCHINDLER. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Knox county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Otto Schindler, who re sides in section nineteen, township thirty-two, range six. For many years he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has done his full share, as an old settler, towards the development of the better interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Schindler is a native born son of the state of Nebraska, his birth having occurred in Knox county, in 1874. He is a son of Carl and Anna Schindler, both natives of Bohemia. In 1869, our subject's father left his native land to come to the new world to make a fortune and to give his children better opportunities in life. He pre ceded the family to America to get a home started for them, and after landing in the United States, he proceeded westward, stopping in Chi cago, Illinois, a short time where he worked as a laborer, then coming on to Knox county, Ne braska, where he took up a homestead in Bo hemia township, and on this land built a good log house. He then sent for his wife and family, they coming to America on a sailboat. Here our subject was born and grew to man hood; and here the family experienced many hardships and discouragements, for the three consecutive years of 1873-74-75 the grasshoppers destroyed all the crops, which was very dis couraging to the new settler of this portion of the west. Later our subject's father took up a tree claim and a pre-emption claim. As before stated, Mr. Schindler, our subject, was born on the old homestead farm, where he received such early advantages as were to be had in those days, the educational and other advant ages increasing as our subject grew older, and of which he received his full share. Mr. Schindler was united in marriage in 1902 to Miss Anna Havlicek, and Mr. and Mrs. Schind ler are the parents of five fine children, whose names are as follows: Martha, Helen, Prank, Ralph and Edward. Mr. Schindler, as before stated, enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he has to do. He is now farming two hundred and sixty- six acres of land. In October, 1910, he pur chased one hundred and sixty acres about two miles southwest of Nebraska, to which he and his family moved in the spring of 1911. HENRY BUCKENDAHL. Among the prosperous farmers of Stanton county, Nebraska, none stand higher with their associates than the gentleman whose name heads this article. Mr. Buckendahl is the owner of a very valuable estate and is a man of excellent character and good business judgment, and well merits his success and good name. Like many other settlers of Nebraska, Mr. Buckendahl is a native of Germany, and was born in Hanover in 1855, the son of Johan and Margueret (Weselo) Buckendahl. The mother died when he was but four years old. His child hood and youth was spent in Germany, and it was there that he obtained his education. In 1872, Mr. Buckendahl, with his father, came to America, via Hamburg and New York. They came at once to the west, and located on a home stead in Pierce county, Nebraska. As the elder Buckendahl was a carpenter by trade, he put up with his own hands most of the buildings on that farm. He even sawed the lumber to build the house. They led a pioneer life, as there were but few settlers at this early date in the country, and met with all the losses and discouragements which were incident to such a life. Their crops for the first few years were a total failure, owing to the ravages of the grasshoppers. They were menaped by prairie fires in summer and by severe blizzards in winter. Mr. Buckendahl next removed to Madison county, this state, where he took up a homestead, but he did not remain here very long, as in 1877, he came to Stanton county and later bought his present farm. He first acquired eighty acres, and has added to it until he owns four hundred acres. In 1886. Mr. Buckendahl was united in mar riage to Miss Minnie Timm. After only ten 664 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. years of life together, Mrs. Buckendahl died, in 1895. In 1906, our subscriber was again married, to Miss Jessie Minsinger. They are the parents of three children: William, Henry, and Carl. Mr. Buckendahl is interested in the public welfare generally, and is desirous of increasing the advantages of the locality in which he re sides, in particular. He rendered assistance in organizing the school board of his neighborhood and has efficiently served as a member of the board. J. W. WILSON. To the men of perseverance and indomitable determination who came to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and com mercial region, the present prosperity enjoyed in this state is due. Among the early settlers of Antelope county who have gained an enviable reputation as a citizen, may be mentioned J. W. Wilson, a prosperous and successful farmer. Mr. Wilson is a native of Canada, where he was born August 23, 1841. He is the son of Thomas and Prudence (Draper) Wilson. His mother was also born in Canada. Mr. Wilson's father came from England. In 1843 Mr. Wilson, with his parents, moved to McHenry county, Illi nois, where he lived twenty-six years, thence moving to the state of Iowa, where he remained for six years. Mr. Wilson served in the civil war, enlisting in Company V, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer In fantry, in 1861, serving under Captain Haywood, in General Pope's division; but Mr. Wilson did not see much active service, being sick and in the hospital a greater portion of the time of his enlistment ; he received an honorable discharge in the year 1862. Mr. Wilson was united in matrimony May 11, 1873, to Miss Lizzie Bahl, who is American born, but her father was a native of Alsace Province, Germany, coming to this country in 1845, to the state of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had. seven children bom to them, whose names are as follows : Thomas, Albert, John, Jessie, Harry, Arthur, and Iva. In 1880, Mr. Wilson with his family came from Iowa to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead and a timber claim in section four, township twenty-four, range eight, which still remains the residing place of the family. In those earliest days of settlement in this section of the west, deer and antelope were plentiful. Mr. Wilson endured hardships and discouragements to such an extent in those pioneer days, that it seemed almost impossible at times, to keep his family together and maintain his home ; among other failures, the drouth of 1894 did its share of havoc, the hot winds utterly destroying every vistage of crops for that year. Mr. Wilson now owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, including eleven acres of trees. He and his family reside on the original homestead farm, in the location above mentioned, where they are surrounded by a host of kind neighbors and friends. STILLMAN P. GROAT. Stillman P. Groat, who owns and occupies one of the finest homes in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is widely and favorably known as an enterprising and successful business man and a public-spirited citizen, being interested in all that affects the progress and welfare of his county and state. He is a native of the Province of Ontario, Canada, born January 2, 1839, a son of Preston and Lydia (Marsh) Groat, and sixth of their eight children. The parents were natives of Quebec province, the father of Scotch and the mother of English ex traction, and both died in Michigan, he in 1886, at the age of eighty-one years, and she in 1874. Besides Stillman P., those of the children now surviving are : Charles, of Chicago ; and Mrs. Amanda Lazier of Michigan. Mr. Groat grew to manhood in Canada, re ceived his elementary education in the local schools, attended one year a select school, taught by Rev. Hugh Johnson, and then entered Provin cial Normal College in Toronto, from which he graduated in 1863. For twenty years afterwards he followed the^ prof ession of teaching, becoming an instructor in various Canadian colleges, and then served five years as government inspector. Mr. Groat's marriage occurred in Middlesex county, Ontario, September 12, 1863, when he was united with Miss Gertrude Stripp, who was also of Canadian birth, and in 1881 he brought his family to Colfax county, Nebraska. He pur chased five hundred and twenty acres of land near Schuyler, and the following year moved to Schuyler. In 1887 he came to Custer county, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-one, township nineteen, range twenty-five, . also secured a tim ber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and purchased nine hundred and sixty acres. He also leased five school sections, and for five years op erated a large ranch. He then lived for a time in Waterloo and Omaha, spent a year traveling through the western states, and in 1898 eame to Broken Bow. He engaged in hardware and furniture business for a, time. He has been highly successful in his business ventures, and is a true friend of progress in various lines. He erected his present home in 1908, and, being a great lover of flowers and plants, has many rare and beautiful specimens in his home. He is iden tified with various movements which will forward the interests of his county and state, and is one of the best known men in his part of the state. Three children have been born to Mr. Groat and wife, namely: Gertrude, wife of L. G. Pay- zant, living near Ord; a daughter, Lincola S., RESIDENCE OF MANSELL DAVIS. RESIDENCE OF HANS W. FISCHER. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 665 lives at home, and William D., married, and living four miles from Broken Bow, has six children. (Since writing the above we learn that Mr. Groat has sold his possessions in Nebraska, and moved to Monte Vista, in San Luis valley, in southern Colorado, and bought a large tract of irrigated land in that valley.) MANSELL DAVIS. Many of the early settlers of Greeley county are still living, and they take pride in recalling the days of hardship which all were compelled to undergo in the days when the country was new. Mansell Davis, the subject of this sketch, still occupies the log cabin (considerably remodeled, however,) which was built on his claim in 1874. Additions have been made to the original struc ture, so that it is a very cozy and comfortable home. In addition to the first homestead, he in herited other land, so that now he owns one of the finest farms in the North Loup valley, consisting of two hundred and thirty acres. A view of the vine-clad cottage is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mansell Davis was born in Jamestown, New York, on December 5, 1848, and was the fourth of the five children born to E. Giles and Esther (Askay) Davis. He grew up in New York state, and when in his nineteenth year, his father, moth er, brother and one sister moved to Wisconsin, Mansell joining them in Dakota, Waushara coun ty, Wisconsin, in the fall of that same year. For several years he and his father remained here, farming. In September, 1871, Mr: Davis was married to Miss Mary Rood, daughter of Charles P. and Marianne (Thorngate) Rood, of whom we write more at length on another page. At the end of this month, Mr. Davis, with his wife's father and brother, Charles P. and W. Herman Rood, and a young man from the same town, named John Sheldon, made an overland trip to the North Loup valley, Nebraska. At this time, Mr. Davis made a homestead entry on one hundred and fifty acres, and John Sheldon also took a home stead one mile north of Mr. Davis. These were the first two homesteads taken in the neighbor hood on the south side of the North Loup river, in Greeley county. The party returned to their homes, and in the following April, Mansell Davis and wife and his father, Giles Davis, with John Sheldon and wife and Mrs. James and her three sons, together with her mother and sister, started on the trip to the North Loup valley. Mr. Davis pushed on ahead and reached the homestead about four days before the others arrived. He built a dugout shan ty, which was occupied for the first year, and then constructed a log cabin, seventeen by twenty- one feet, the logs being hauled from Cedar Can yon, near Burwell. As stated before, Mr. Davis still occupies this home. 22% His father, Giles Davis, also took a homestead near by, and was in many ways identified with the development of this country. He was at one time county surveyor, and died in April, 1880. The mother lived until March, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children: Horace Mansell, editor of the Ord Journal and Broken Bow Beacon; Ainslie Loran, editor of the Leader-Independent of Greeley and the Journal of Palmer; and Mary, graduate of North Loup high school, class of 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Davis and family have long been considered as promin ent in social and educational circles, and are well known and favorably regarded by their large circle of friends. In the past, Mr. Davis has proved himself to be a citizen of the highest character and most unswerving integrity, and has served the public as county surveyor for several terms, and has also been county superintendent of schools. He is in every way a successful and prosperous man, a member of the Seventh Day Baptists, the An cient Order of United Workmen and the Court of Honor. In politics he is independent of party lines, casting his ballot more for the man than for the party. One of his severest experiences during the pioneer days was during the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when he made his way home, afoot, for North Loup, while many men in going but a few rods in the storm were lost. HANS W. FISCHER. Hans W. Fischer, an influential and reputable pioneer of Valley county, Nebraska, lives on his comfortable farm in section thirty-five, township twenty, range fifteen, which is the original Val ley county home farm. Mr. Fischer was born in the village of Oster- rade, Sehleswig, then a province of Denmark, on February 4, 1858, and was second of three chil dren in the family of Otto and Elizabeth (Sturtz) Fischer, who had two sons and one daughter. The parents were Germans, living in the Danish province ceded to Germany in 1864. The family eame to Nebraska in the spring of 1884. The mother's death occurred in Sarpy county, and the father died in Valley county, where he made his home with his son. Mr. Fischer was raised on a farm in his native land, and, after growing to manhood, served his allotted time in the German army. In November of 1881 he came to America, sailing from Ham burg to New York on the "Polaria, " making the voyage in nineteen days. With him came his brother, Henning Fischer, then in his eighteenth year. After arriving in America, the brothers came to Sarpy county, Nebraska, where they located, and in 1882 Hans Fischer was married. He lived in Sarpy county on rented farms a year, then, in March, 1883, came to Valley county, where he 666 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. purchased the northeast quarter of section thirty- five, township twenty, range fifteen, which he has improved into a fine farm home. His first dwelling was barely completed, when it was swept away by the cyclone of September 11, 1883. A new dwelling was at once constructed, and in 1906 a large addition built, making it a commod ious farm home. A picture of the place, with its orchard and groves, is to be found on another page. Mr. Fischer was married in Sarpy county to Miss Anna Krambeck, a native of the village of Nebber, Holstein, Germany, January 4, 1882. Mrs Fischer is a daughter of Heinrich and and Eliza beth (Jepp) Krambeck. The father died from sickness contracted in the war between Germany and Denmark, in 1864. The mother married John Koch, and emigrated to America in 1881, settling in Clinton, Iowa, where she still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have twelve children, namely: Erna, Otto, Henning, Henry, Elsie, wife of Ed Albeis, lives in the north part of Valley county; Willie, Lizzie, Emma, Hans, Mary, Minnie and Freddie. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer and family are a well known family of Valley county. Mr. Fischer has a brother and a sister residing in Sarpy county. Mr. Fischer is of democratic political faith, but votes independently of party lines. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men and the Modern Woodmen of America. The country was all open and unfenced when Mr. Fischer came to Nebraska, and one could ride for miles in any direction without finding any obstruction. He was herding his cattle north of the house the day of the great blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888. As the day was warm, he was rid ing without a coat. When the storm suddenly descended on him, he got what cattle he could before him, and drove them home. The rest drifted after them, and found their way into the shed, which was completely covered by the deep drifts. Three days later it was necessary to dig a tunnel through the snow to them, to feed and water the suffering animals. At the time of the severe hailstorm of August 18, 1883, Mr. Fischer and his father were returning from Grand Island, and sought shelter in a house near North Loup, where Mr. Fischer received a severe blow on the head when the hail broke all the windows and beat into the room. WILLIAM LIERMAN. William Lierman, a well-known citizen of Pierce county, Nebraska, is a native of Pommer ania, born on August 25, 1866, and in the same year came with his parents to the new world, tak ing passage on a sailing vessel from Bremen, and landing in ' New York, after a voyage of seven weeks. They at once proceeded to Wisconsin, locating in Madison county, where they resided for three years, the father working as a farm .hand. In the spring of 1870, they, together with six or seven other families, migrated to Nebraska, driving across the country with a yoke of oxen in a covered wagon, camping out along the way. The colonists reached West Point on the Fourth of July, made a stop there of about one week, then went on to Norfolk, which was their goal. The elder Lierman filed on a homestead three miles south of Norfolk, which he later sold, and moved to Pierce county, living for five years on rented land five miles southeast of Pierce. He then bought a farm of his own, adding to his first purchase until he owned four hundred and twen ty acres, continuing in stock and grain raising until 1896, at which time he retired from active farming, and bought residence property in Hader, which he occupied until the time of his death, which occurred in 1898. William Lierman is the third in a family of five children, but two of whom lived to maturity. He has little recollection of the days spent in Wisconsin, and the journey from there to Ne braska, as he was a mere child when his parents settled in Madison county, and is practically a native Nebraskan. He grew up on the prairie, remaining with his parents on the home farm until he was twenty-five years of age, when he married, and started farming on his own account. In 1893, he moved to Pierce, and for two years was engaged in the livery business, then started the work of house moving and bridge building. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres, south east of town, is cultivated by tenants, other land which he owned having been sold in 1908. In 1909, he remodeled his residence, converting it into one of the finest and most complete modern dwellings in the city. Mr. Lierman 's wife was Mrs. Alvina Sauerbier, a daughter of Fred Dagner, one of the pioneers from Pommerania, who came here with his wife, who was a Miss Saustre, in 1867. Mrs. Lierman first married Charles Sauerbier, and to them two daughters were born: Elsa, married Robert Schultz, a merchant of Pierce, and Lillie, wife of Henry Rohn, deputy county clerk. Mrs. Lierman was the first white child born in Nor folk. Her father was the first blacksmith there, and the reason for his coming to America was on account of having deserted from the German army, he fleeing in advance of his wife and chil dren. Mr. and Mrs. Lierman were married, January 13, 1896. They have one daughter, Minnie, born in 1899. They have a beautiful home, and are popular members of their community. The fam ily are members of the Lutheran church. In na tional and state politics Mr. Lierman is a strong republican, although locally he votes for the best man nominated, regardless of party. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 667 SAMUEL W. ROE. Prominent among the successful grain and stock raisers of Howard county, Nebraska, the gentleman here named occupies a foremost place. Mr. Roe resides on the northeast quarter of sec tion fourteen, township fourteen, range eleven, situated in the above named county and state, where he has a well-improved and fully-equipped grain and stock farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and also has a pleasant home built thereon. Although Mr. Roe's birthplace was on Ca nadian soil, he could quite truthfully be called a life-long resident of his present abiding place, as he was brought here by his parents, Henry and Mary (McCracken) Roe, when but a baby of three months. Samuel Wesley Roe was born in Huron coun ty, Ontario, Canada, December 26, 1871. Three months later, in 1872, his parents located in How ard county, Nebraska, homesteading the northeast quarter of section fourteen, township fourteen, range eleven, which, as before stated, is now the home of Samuel Roe, who also owns a section of grazing land in another part of Howard county. Howard county has been Mr. Roe's continuous residence place, with the exception of a time spent at the college at Central City. The Roe family were well known and highly respected pioneers of Nebraska. Our subject, Samuel Wesley Roe, was the fifth child. The father, Henry Roe, died February 11, 1908, at his' home in St. Paul, to which place he had retired seven years before his death. His widow continues to make her home there. Mr. Roe is republican in politics, and has served his precinct in various local offices. On September 17, 1902, Mr. Roe was married to Miss Jessie M. Ward, of Ord, Valley county, Nebraska, who was the second in a family of three children, all of whom are living. Her par ents, Asahel and Amanda Ward, are still living in Valley county, the father in his ninety-second year, having been born in 1819. He is a well- known pioneer citizen of Nebraska, coming to Howard county in 1871 from Iowa. This county remained his home for a few years, and he then moved to Valley county, where he has since re sided. Mr. and Mrs. Roe have had three children: Edgar Ward, born July 24, 1903 ; Claud Morris, born December 1, 1907, and Henry Howard, born June 9, 1909. Mr. Roe is a prosperous and successful man of affairs, interested in the welfare of his county and state, and prominent in church circles. GEORGE W. FITZSIMMONS. George W. Fitzsimmons, born in Polk county, Iowa, on February 25, 1864, is the youngest of six children in the family of William M. and Maria Adams Fitzsimmons. The family moved to Atlantic, Cass county, Iowa, in 1872, and it was here that George W. grew to manhood years. He had good school advantages, and attended the high school at that place. The father was a miller, but George W. took charge of a mercantile business in Atlantic when he was only eighteen years of age, just after the close of his high school years. He remained in this business for six years, and then took up the lumber business at Anita, Iowa, making this last change on account of his health, in order to get more outdoor work. Later, he came to Scotia, Greeley county, Ne braska, engaging in the lumber, furniture and implement business under the firm name of Fitz simmons & Graham. In the following April, 1892, Mr. Fitzsimmons purchased the Graham in terests, and since then the firm conducts business under the name of George W. Fitzsimmons. He has a large and exceptionally well equipped lumber yard, a large stock of implements, and also carries a fine line of furniture. Mr. Fitzsimmons has a large and constantly increasing business, and is regarded as one of the most successful and prosperous merchants of this section of Nebraska. He is well and favorably known as a hustling business man, and is also noticeable for his progressive ideas upon educa tional topics. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, in polities republican, and a member of the Masons, of which he is past master; of the Modern Woodmen and the Tribe of Ben Hur. On November 28, 1889, Mr. Fitzsimmons mar ried Miss Lottie J. Blue at Morrison, Illinois. Four children have been born to them, named as follows: Clinton B., Edna, Dorothy and George. It is a curious fact that out of the large family of which he was a member, George W. Fitzsim mons was the only one to come to Nebraska. Two sisters are in Iowa, another in Montana, one brother in Kansas, and the other in Minnesota. The father died in Iowa in 1886 at the age of sixty-three years, and the mother then went to live with Mr. Fitzsimmons, the subject of this sketch. She died in 1898, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. HERMAN GERECKE. The subject of this personal history was born in Germany, August 28, 1844, and was the eldest of three children, our subject and William and Bertha Gerecke. In September, 1854, Mr. Gerecke 's father and mother and their three children and two children by the father's former marriage, came to the United States of America, settling in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in the town of Hustisford, where the father worked at his trade of plasterer and brick mason. Herman Gerecke, the subject of this sketch, from his tenth year, grew up in Wisconsin until 668 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the time of his enlistment in Company D, Six teenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, December, 1861. While in his country's service, he received a wound in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862, on account of which he was discharged on August 26, 1862, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after which, in July, 186.3, he came to Nebraska with a family by the name of Nettleton, coming overland by ox team from Wisconsin. In December, 1863, Mr. Gerecke again enlisted in the United States army from ' Burt county, Nebraska, and joined Company C, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, this regiment being stationed at that time at Omaha, Nebraska, on frontier duty. On May 7, 1866, Mr. Gerecke received his discharge at Leavenworth, Kansas, and in September, 1866, returned to Nebraska, going back to Burt county, where he took up a homestead, and where he is known as one of the pioneer homesteaders of Burt county. Mr. Gerecke also learned the carpenter's trade, and on April 29, 1869, moved to Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, where he went to work in a new flour and saw mill in Norfolk as a. carpenter and millwright, and Norfolk has re mained his home ever since. Our subject was first elected mayor of Nor folk, Nebraska, and served his people so well that he was elected to fill that office three differ ent times. He also held the office of justice of the peace fourteen years since 1880, and also served as assessor for Norfolk. Mr. Gerecke needs no words to acclaim his worth, as his own history tells of the popularity and esteem he en joys in his community. Mr. Gerecke is democratic, and has been prominent in his party for a number of years, and was the nominee of his party for the state legislature about 1892. Mr. Gerecke 's parents, after their residence in the state of Wisconsin, came to live in Madison county also, and were well known and highly respected by all. Our subject suffered the loss of both parents. His mother died in Norfolk in 1877 in her sixty-third year, and his father died in Norfolk in 1901 in his eighty-sixth year. Mr. Gerecke was married to Miss Sarah E. Brickley in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 22, 1871, and they are the parents of a fine family of seven children, whose names and histories are given as follows: Addie, who is married to A. K. Leonard. a druggist in Norfolk, Nebraska; Alfred M., also married, and lives in Holdrege, Nebraska; Ervin, married, and living in Fremont, Nebraska; Nellie, who is married to F. W. Emory, and living at Oakmont, Pennsylvania, ; Charley, who resides in Hastings. Nebraska ; Clarence and Fred, who live in their home town, Norfolk, Nebraska. Mr. Gerecke is one of the few remaining old settlers of this portion of Nebraska. He has had a varied career, and has been a successful man of affairs, and is one of the best known citizens of Madison county. REV. SYLVESTER CURTIS TUBBS. Rev. Sylvester Curtis Tubbs is a citizen of Custer county who has long been identified with its farm, stock and business interests. He is well known, also, for his activity in educational and religious interests. He has been especially forceful in church work and at different times has served as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in various churches in the Kearney dis trict. He has in past years devoted consider able time to pastoral work in Custer and ad joining counties. On account of throat- trouble, he gave up this line of work in 1904, but retains a keen interest in the affairs and welfare of the local church. Mr. Tubbs was born in Ulster county, New York, December 3, 1851, sixth child of the eight children of Lysander C. and Caro line (Swan) Tubbs. Of these children three sons and three daughters reached maturity. The parents were also natives of New York and were married in that state. The father died in Kansas March 23, 1875. The mother came to Nebraska with her son, Sylvester G, and her death occurred at his house, January 22, 1892. The only mem bers of the family now surviving are Sylvester and his brother James 0., who lives seven or eight miles south of Maxwell, in Lincoln county. Lysander C. Tubbs was a, farmer and also had a lumber mill and blacksmith shop. The younger days of Sylvester C. Tubbs were spent on a farm and later he helped his father in the mill. The family moved to Vineland, New Jersey, about 1869 or 1870, and about one year later to Potta wattamie county, Kansas, where the death of the father occurred. Mr. Tubbs was married in that county July 8, 1875, to Mrs. Anna E. Larrem, and they lived on a farm in Kansas a few years after their marriage. In May. 1880, Mr. Tubbs brought his wife and their adopted son to Custer county, making the trip via the prairie schooner route, and spend ing three weeks on the road. With the parties were his brother-in-law, Andrew Case, and his uncle, I. S. Sawn, with their families, and also George W. Ransier, brother of Mrs. Tubbs, and Luther Mattison. They reached their destina tion in June and all located in the same neigh borhood. Mr. Tubbs secured a timber claim on the southeast quarter of section eighteen, town ship seventeen, range twenty-five, and ¦ several years later took the northeast quarter of the same section as a, pre-emption, making a, half-section farm. The timber claim was taken June 30, 1880, and he still holds both pieces of land, being one of the few old settlers to retain possession of their original farms. At the time he came to Custer county the cat tle men and ranch men were the only residents of his part of it, and the members of his party were the original homesteaders of that region, being the farthest settlers up the South Loup river for about three years. Lexington, in Daw son county, was then their nearest trading point. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 669 Mr. Tubbs experienced the losses and trials of the years of drouth and other vicissitudes of the early settler, but was not discouraged, and event ually reaped the fruits of his toil. His wife died on the home farm March 13, 1900, and in July, 1908, Mr. Tubbs left the farm and came to live in Arnold. No children had been born to their union. Mr. Tubbs had been an active worker and ex- horter in the Methodist church before coming to Custer county, and soon after his arrival organ ized a Sunday school and held religious services. At first the congregation was made up of the lit tle settlement of which his family was a part, with cattlemen and cowboys from the neighbor ing ranches, but in 1888 he entered the ministry and for several years thereafter was engaged in supply work. He was well fitted for this good work and held many early appointments in cen tral Nebraska. It has been a regret and sorrow to his many friends and acquaintances that he has felt it necessary to give up active participation in this work. On July 8, 1901, Mr. Tubbs was united in mar riage with Mrs. Orpha Olive Gregory, and two children have blessed their union : Anna Leota, born in Dawson county, and Velma Mary, born in Custer county. Mr. Tubbs is one of the best known men in the central part of the state and has been associated for many years with the best interests of the region. ABNER BAILEY. The highly cultivated fields of Nebraska and well equipped ranch properties bear little sem blance of the land as it was in the time of the pioneer settler, when he found it a vast wilderness or barren prairie, perhaps covered in parts with brush or submerged. None of it was in shape for cultivation, and yet many of those who went to that country under these unpromising conditions have remained to become the owners of some of the finest farms in the state. Among those who have brought about this most pleasing condition is the gentleman above named, Abner Bailey, who for many years had a- pleasant and comfortable home in section one, township twenty-seven, range four, in Pierce county, Nebraska. They now live on section fifteen, township sixteen, range forty-seven, near Lodge Pole, Cheyenne county, Nebraska, having moved to the new loca tion March 1, 1911. Abner Bailey was bom in 1845, in LaPorte, Indiana, and is the son of Volney W. and Anna (Hendricks) Bailey, the father being of English descent, born in New York state in 1820, and died in 1873; and the mother was of German descent, born in 1824, and died in 1894. Our subject's father served in the civil war, enlisting in 1864. Mr. Bailey came from LaPorte, Indiana, to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1882, and home steaded land in the southwest quarter, section one, township twenty-seven, range four, where he built a sod house in which he lived six months and then built a frame house. Here he developed a fine farm after going through all the hardships incident to those early pioneer times, and among other calamities suffered from the great hail storm of 1894. Mr. Bailey was united in holy wedlock to Miss Marie Carr, and they have had two children born to them : Volney W., and Charles W. Mr. Bailey is highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him, and he is a member of the Masonic order; in religious faith he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he votes the republican ticket. ABSALOM Y. KING. Perseverance and integrity are the stepping stones by which many men have reached success, but of the early settlers of the west these charac teristics were required in greater measure than usually falls to the men of old settled regions. The genteleman above mentioned possesses these attributes in a marked degree and to this fact is due his present success. He resides in section two, township thirteen, range seven, where he has a finely developed farm, comfortable home, and good buildings. Absalom Y. King was born in New Jersey, January 7, 1842, and was third of eleven children in the family of Charles and Elizabeth (Van Fleet) King, who had nine sons and two daugh ters. The King family moved to Moline, Illinois, in 1855, and then to Henry county, Illinois, the following year. Mr. King was a farm boy, and farming and stock raising has been his occupation until this time. Mr. King enlisted in Company C, Ninth Illi nois Cavalry, in March, 1864, and was mustered out at Selma, Alabama, in November, 1865. He was out .on scout duty most of the time during his service, and was also on patrol and detached skirmish duty. After his discharge our subject returned to Henry county, Illinois, and in the spring of 1873 came to Merrick county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead on section six, township fourteen, range eight. Mr. King was married to Miss Susan Artman, in Henry county, Illinois, November 17, 1864, one child being born of this union : John Edward, who is married, has one child, and resides at Lin coln, Nebraska. Mrs. King died in January, 1866. Mr. King was united in marriage a second time, when on October 5, 1867, he was bound in holy wedlock to Malinda McHenry, _ in Henry county. Illinois : and at the time of coining to Mer rick county, Nebraska, the family consisted of himself, wife and three children. Six children in all were born to this union, three of whom were born in Merrick county. Of the six children five are living : Daisy, who resides at home ; Charles 670 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. William, married, has four children, and lives in Merrick county; Annie May, lives at home; Eugene, married, has two children, and lives in Logan county, Nebraska ; and Ernest, who resides at home; one child, Nora U, died in infancy. Mr. King lived on his homestead until 1884, and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section two, township thirteen, range seven, where he now resides. Mr. King is a demo crat and has in past years filled different precinct offices. He and his family are pioneers of Mer rick county, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. P. B. SMITH. New England and the east have furnished the west with many of its sturdiest citizens. New York was the birthplace of F. B. Smith, retired farmer of Creighton, Nebraska, who first saw the light of day in Oswego county, July 7, 1845. His father, Franklin Smith, died at the age of thirty- five when the boy was about four years old. His mother, who was Elizabeth House before mar riage, passed away in 1896, at the age of seventy- five years. Mr. Smith learned the tanners' trade and was employed in tanneries ten years in his native county, and five years in Forest county, Pennsyl vania. This was a forest country at that time and tan-bark was to be had in plentiful quantities throughout all the mountain region. In 1871 he came west, settling in Champaign county, Illi nois, where he bought an eighty-acre farm which he cultivated until the fall of 1881. Selling to ad vantage, he sojourned in Glenwood, Iowa, frohi December of that year until February following, when he came to Nebraska the first day of March and bought a half section of school land three miles from Creighton. This he proceeded to im prove with a fine frame house and good substan tial buildings, and developed one of the most productive farms in the vicinity. In .1904 he retired from active farming, built a trim and com modious dwelling in the southwest part of Creigh ton, and is taking the best out of life for the balance of his days. Mr. Smith was first married in Oswego county, New York, November 15, 1866, to Miss Philura Wilkinson, who was born in that county, Septem ber 10, 1849, and passed away in Forest county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1878. She was the daughter of George W. and Polly Ann (Spicer) Wilkinson. Of the first marriage, one daughter was born, Alice May, who is the wife of Moses Dayger, living in Oswego county, New York. Mr. Smith was married a second^ time in Glen wood, Iowa, April 3, 1882, to Miss 'Emma Guyer, who was born near Syracuse, Onondaga county. New York. Her father, Charles Guyer, came to Towa and secured a farm where he died; the mother Helen A. (Pierce) Guyer, died in New York when Mrs. Smith was a child. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Olive, wife of John Quartier, who is farming near Creighton; and Hazel, the younger, is a student in the Creighton schools. Mr. Smith happened to be in town during the blizzard of January 12, 1888, and was prudent enough to remain; he lost only a few hogs, his cattle all being in shelter. Along with others he suffered the four years drouth in the early nineties, but had the endurance to see it through, and those who had confidence in Nebraska and stuck to the land have been rewarded a thousand fold. During the years when much corn was being burned Mr. Smith used coal; he was wise enough to give the problem a scientific test; weighing out a dollar's worth of corn at the pre vailing price, and quantity of coal the same, he found that corn was no cheaper and could be turned into a marketable product in flesh, which coal could not. In political faith Mr. Smith is a democrat. He is a member of Creighton lodge number one hun dred, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, having joined the order in New York when but four months past his twenty-first birthday; with Mrs. Smith he is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and he also fraternizes with the Ancient Order United Workmen. The family all worship at the altar of the Baptist church. WILLIAM H. STOUT. William H. Stout, who is among the very earliest settlers of Boone county, Nebraska, is a prosperous agriculturalist of Manchester pre cinct, He still resides on 'his original home stead taken in April, 1871, which is now one of the most valuable and fully equipped farms in that region. Mr. Stout was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on May 23, 1849. He was the oldest of two children born to John Y. and Mary Stout, both parents now deceased, while his brother re sides in Michigan. When he was a child of three years, his pa rents moved into Michigan, and he made that state his home until he was about twenty-two years old, at that time coming into Nebraska and locating on a homestead in section twenty-one, township twenty, range six, of Boone county, this being one of the original homesteads in the county. There he went through all the pioneer experiences and became familiar with every change which came to that portion of the state. His first building was a sod house which he erected on a forty-acre plat, this land now being a part of the city of Albion, and the shanty it self stood on ground that is now one of the main streets of the place. He occupied this dwelling for a number of years, then put up a comfort able frarrie house, the lumber for the same being hauled from Columbus, Nebraska, and it was his home up to 1908 in its original state, when he COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 671 had the entire building remodeled, and the lum ber used at that time was sawed out of timber cut from Boone county trees, Mr. Stout him self cutting the timber and preparing it from a growth of trees which he himself planted. Mr. Stout's home is situated just outside of the city limits of Albion, and is one of tbe pleasant and well-kept places of that section. For a number of years Mr. Stout has been engaged to quite an extent in the stock shipping business, also carrying on an extensive grain farm. He owns large tracts of land in different parts of Boone county, also four hundred and eighty acres in Dawson county, the same number of acres in Frontier county, and three hundred and twenty acres in Wheeler county, and is justly called one of the successful and prominent old-timers of Nebraska. He is a truly self-made man, having practically made his own way in life since he was twelve years of age, and has devoted all of his time to the occupation of a farmer. He has always taken an active interest in promoting the growth of his chosen locality. H. E. HOLT. One of the most prominent Grand Army men of northeastern Nebraska is found in the veteran comrade, H. E. Holt, of Butte, who has been a resident of the state since the fall of 1886, when he settled ten miles north of Johnstown, in Brown county, and filed on a homestead and timber claim, leasing at the same time a school section. He begun farming, but crops were poor, and, after trying it for five years, decided to make a change, so sold out and removed to Boyd county. Here he invested in town lots in Butte, obtaining twenty in three different blocks, which are now worth a considerable sum of money. He has a pleasant home and cosy cottage surrounded by a grove of fine trees, orchard and beautif- ful lawns. Mr. Holt is custodian of the school house and grounds in Butte, and their neat ap pearance bespeaks his faithfulness to duty. He is familiarly known to everyone in his town as "Grandpa" Holt, and the children, particularly, claim him as their own. Mr. Holt was born in Troopsburg, Steuben county, New York, on March 20, 1842, and grew up there. Before attaining his majority he en listed in Company H, Eighty-sixth New York Volunteers, joining the regiment on September 7, 1861, and serving for three years. He then re-enlisted in the same company on December 31, 1863, remaining up to June 27, 1865, which is the date of his discharge. Mr. Holt's com pany was in the thickest of the fight, he having been a participant in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Siege of Pittsburg and the Richmond campaign, besides numerous smaller engage ments, making truly a long list of famous battles for one man to have gone through and come out alive. He was at Appomatox at the time of Lee 's surrender, and was on picket duty when General Meade received Lee's offer of a conditional sur render, remembering perfectly General Grant's demand for the surrender within an hour, or the beginning of hostilities again. The answer to this demand is well known to all. After the close of the war, Mr. Holt returned to his native county, remaining there engaged in farming until his emigration west, in 1886. Mr. Holt was married in Troopsburg, New York, on December 30, 1865, to Miss Ruth J. Metcalf, who was born in Brookfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. Her parents, Moses and Polly Ann Metcalf, spent their entire lives in the east, her father attaining to the age of eighty- three, while his wife survived him by several years, passing away at the ripe old age of ninety. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have had eight children, and they are named as follows : Will Ellsworth,- liv ing on a homestead in Fall River county, South Dakota; Cora B., wife of Emerson Whipple of Tampa, Florida; Estella, wife of Edwin Wilson, of Neodesha, Kansas; Gertrude, wife of William Dew, living in Belfry, Montana; Orton, engaged in the mercantile business in Three Lakes, Wash ington; Franklin E., a paper hanger by trade, living in Laird, Colorado; Mary W., wife of Jacob Sieler, a leading merchant of Butte; and Moses, who remains under the parental roof. Mr. Holt has been a lifelong republican, as are most of the boys who wore the blue. He is a member of the W. M. Hooton Post number three hundred and thirty-eight, Grand Army of the Republic, at Butte, and during the greater part of his residence here, has served as com mander. BURLEN W. LOWE. Burlen W. Lowe is one of Custer county's early settlers and has long been identified with the stock and grain interests of the region. He owns a large and well-improved farm, which in cludes his original homestead, and is widely and favorably known. He has lived retired from active life for some half dozen years past, and has a pleasant home in Callaway, devoting his atten tion to the business of buying and selling stock. Mr. Lowe was born in South Valley, New York, January 22, 1846, fourth of eight children of Peter and Louisa (Lettes) Lowe, both natives of the same place. The father was of Holland de scent and died in Irondale, Missouri, February 10, 1898, and the mother died in New York, No vember 15, 1859. Mr. Lowe's ancestors have lived in America for several generations past, and his great grandfather, Peter Lowe, came from Holland to New York about 1750, and served under General Washington in the Revolutionary war as captain. Mr. Lowe has brothers and sis ters as follows: Mrs. E. A. Cornist of Ladi, 672 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Custer county; Mrs. Luella Wineland, of Blue Springs, Nebraska; I. N. Lowe of Chapman, Kan sas ; Dea T. Lowe, Adrian, Michigan ; M. S. Lowe of Monroe, Michigan; Mrs. L. M. Lowe Ricketts who died in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 28, 1902. A few years after Louisa Lettes Lowe's death, Peter Lowe was married to Caroline Knowlton, June 18, 1860. To this union there were four children: R. A. Lowe, of Alamosia, Colorado; W. K. Lowe, of Monroe, Michigan ; F. E. Lowe ; Hollis of Sulligant, Alabama; and G. A. Lowe. Caroline K. Lowe died in St. Louis, February 2, 1900, and was buried by the side of her husband at Irondale, Missouri. Mr. Lowe reached manhood on the farm where he was born and received -his early edu cation in the local public schools. Later he at tended private schools and was for a time a student in the seminary at Cooperstown, New York. In 1867, he accompanied his father to Adrian, Michigan, and for some fourteen years thereafter was in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad company. He was married at the home of the bride's parents at Cherry Valley, New York, on December 28, 1868, to Fannie E. Gaylor, a native of the state and daughter of Chauncey and Mary (Hannah) Gaylor, the former born in New York and the latter in England. Both parents died in Cherry Valley, the father April 23, 1904, and the mother August 19, 1899. She had come to the United States with her parents at the age of twelve years. Mrs. Lowe has two brothers and two sisters liv ing in Cherry Valley, New York. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, namely: Eber C, married, and living in New York; Ethel, died in 1906, survived by her husband, Fred Wine land, and the following children: Elmer A., married, and living in Custer county; Eola L., wife of F. L. Hoffman, of Custer county, has one daughter; Elroy P., married and living in Deadwood, South Dakota, has two sons. Three children died in infancy. In March, 1885, Mr. Lowe, with bis wife and five children came to Custer county, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-eight, township fourteen, range twenty-two, took a timber claim of the same size, and in 1888 took homestead on section twenty-nine, township fourteen, range twenty- two, which was the home place until a few years since. He set out to improve and develop his land, and brought it to a high state of production, erecting suitable buildings and furnishing it with the necessary equipment for successful farming. For several years he served as a mem ber of the school board of district number seventy- three, and also held other township offices. He is a man of recognized business ability and has won the respect of his neighbors and associates. In 1905 he retired and came to Callaway, his present home. ALBERT RUSSELL. Albert Russell, a prominent and well-known citizen of Arcadia, Nebraska, is interested in all that pertains to the welfare or progress of his county and state. He is a native of Delaware, Indiana, born December 31, 1851, an only child and left an orphan in infancy. He was adopted by John Russell and wife of that state, assuming their name. When six years of age he accom panied his foster parents to Henry county, Illi nois, where, near Kewanee, he received his edu cation and grew to maturity. He engaged in farming there and was married in that county, November 10, 1874, to Miss Emma Gates, who was born at Chillicothe, Illinois, daughter of Nathaniel and Julia (Cross) Gates. Her father, a carpenter by trade, was born in New York and died in Illinois in 1876, while her mother, a native of Ohio, died in Illinois in 1872. A brother lives at Council Bluffs, Iowa, a sister died in April, 1911, in Henry county, Illinois, and one brother died in service during the civil war. Mrs. Russell passed into eternity, June 6, 1911, leaving a loving memory of christian woman hood. In February, 1877, Mr. Russell brought his wife and their first born, Grace, to Nebraska, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of rail road land in Platte county, where they resided until 1903, when they came to Arcadia, their home since that time. Mr. Russell purchased two hun^ dred acres of land within the city limits and there has a splendidly improved and well equipped grain farm. He has taken an active part in local affairs and during the years 1909-10 served as supervisor on the county board. He is now a member of the city board, and has well performed every duty that has fallen to him in his official capacity. Eight children were born fo Mr. and Mrs. Russel, and six of them now survive : Grace, married Charles Dockhorn, and has one son, Glen ; Fred J., of Valley county, is married and has three children; Harry W., lives in Idaho, is married and has two children ; Milo C, married. and living in Valley county, has one child; Olive O., wife of Adam Kunkle, of Schuyler Nebraska, has three children; Myrtle F., died in 1904; Ora. died in infancy, in 1894; Albert E., is a student in Lincoln Business College. Mr. Russell owns five hundred and thirty acres of land and is one of the more successful farmers of the region. He is a member of the Congregational church, the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is independent of party lines. During his residence in Platte county Mr. Russell and family lived in a dugout for fourteen years. The blizzard of October, 1880, that inaug urated "the winter of the deep snow," Mr. Rus sell was loading poles at the Platte river and found great difficulty in reaching home. He was out in the fearful blizzard of January 12, 1888, -Iaw¦n /, D H OSWpq< OHIu wQw 05 O H COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 673 on the road to town three miles from home, and with difficulty found a place of shelter. On another page we show a view of Mr. Rus sell's well kept town home, of his farm property and of the old home in Platte county. CARL SCHULZ. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place, he having lived on his present location since 1893. Mr. Sehulz is a native of the village of Beverdick, province of Pommerania, Germany, and was born September 16, 1844. He lived in his native country until he reached the age of twenty-nine years, emigrating in 1873 to the new world, arriving in New York after a sixteen days' voyage from Liverpool, England, having reached that port by way of Stettin and Hull. After landing in New York he came directly to Nebraska and settled on the land he now oc cupies, which is in section six, township twenty- five, range one. Owing to hard times in Pierce county, he sought work in Iowa for two years to keep his family in provisions. Our subject has succeeded in developing a good farm, engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, and now owns five hundred and twenty acres of land, five acres of which are covered with trees. Mr. Sehulz did not escape the privations and hardships of those pioneer days which beset the venturesome sons of the soil who migrated to Ne braska in search of prosperity. In those days, Wisner was his nearest market place, and in 1873 his crops were burned out by the hot winds, and for three years the grasshoppers took every thing, which caused him great suffering ; but after the coming of the better years he was very for tunate. He also went through the blizzard of 1888, and in 1881 suffered from the high water, but after all these trials has succeeded in accu mulating a nice property. Mr. Sehulz was married September 28, 1880, to Miss Johanna Gehm, who was also a native of Pommerania. She died December 10. 1900. Seven children were born to them, named as follows : Elsa, married William Wagner ; Ida, married Emil Newman, deceased; Minnie, mar ried Peter Dick; Bertha, and Reinhold. Adolph and Albert are deceased. Mr. Sehulz is a member of the German Luth eran church. ANDERS JENSEN. (Deceased.) The gentleman above named, now deceased, was for many years known throughout Howard county as one of the successful farmers and largest, land owners of that section. He was proprietor of five hundred acres of fine farming and grazing land, all of which he accumulated by thrift and good management. He was a pio neer in the region, and has been closely identified with its upbuilding from the early days of its settlement by white men. Mr. Jensen was a native of Denmark, born in Norre Vissing, October 10, 1843. His boyhood was spent on his father's home, and he followed farming as a young man. On November 29, 1872, he was united in marriage to Karen Petersen, who grew up in the same province with our sub ject, and they made their home there up to 1881, then emigrated to America. Their first location was at St. Paul, Nebraska, which they made their home for seven years, during which time Mr. Jensen was engaged in the hotel and livery busi ness. Prom there they moved on a farm containing one hundred and sixty acres, situated six miles southwest of St. Paul. Mr. Jensen worked faith fully to improve the place, and succeeded in de veloping a fine farm, erecting good buildings of all kinds, and put it in first class condition. His principal crop was grain, but he also raised con siderable stock. He remained on the farm up to the time of his death, which occurred on No vember 22, 1908. He was greatly missed by the entire community in which he made his home, as he was a man of broad mind, a very ardent tem perance worker, and one who gave liberally of bis means to aid the cause. Mr. Jensen's family consisted of a wife and six living children, who are named as follows: Peter, who is vice president of the Boelus State Bank, he is married, has three children, and lives in Boelus, where he carries on a general merchandise business; Mary, employed by the Brandies store at Omaha; Ella, attending college at Grand Island; Niels, cashier of the Boelus State Bank; Anna, who clerks in her brother Peter 's store in Boelus ; and Jenssine, assistant cashier in the Boelus -State Bank. After her husband's death, Mrs. Jensen rented the farm and moved into Boelus, where with her children, she occupies a handsome residence and joins in the social life of the town. In 1905, Mr. Jensen, his two sons, Peter and Niels, in partnership with L. B. Kenyon, pur chased the Boelus State Bank. Mr. Kenyon was elected president, Anders Jensen, vice president, Peter Jensen, cashier, and Niels Jensen, assist ant cashier. Anders Jensen continued to act as vice-president of the bank until his death. On January 1. 1909. Mr. Kenyon was continued as president, Peter Jensen was elected vice president in place of his father, and Niels continued as cashier, with Miss Jenssine Jensen as assistant cashier, which force remains the same at the present time. SAMUEL P. WARNER. Samuel P. Warner, a well known and highly esteemed old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, 674 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. resides in Ord, where he has a pleasant home and enjoys the respect and friendship of the many. In his many years' residence in this locality Mr. Warner has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions in his home state and county, and is accorded a foremost place as a substantial and worthy citizen. Mr. Warner is a native of Broom county, New York state, born February 24, 1844, a son of Alfred and Sally (Perkins) Warner; he was ninth in a family of fourteen children, and has two brothers residing in Wisconsin, and another in Minnesota, the other children being deceased, as are also the parents ; the father died January 13, 1867, in Wisconsin, and the mother passed away October 17, 1870, in Mukwonago, Wiscon sin. In early childhood Mr. Warner went with his parents to Wisconsin, where he grew to man hood, and on January 5, 1863, enlisted in Com pany B, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery ; he served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge at Lexington, Kentucky, July 1, 1865. After the war he returned to Wis consin, working at his trade of carpentry. On September 29, 1875, Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Young, who was born in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had one child, Myrtle E., who is the wife of Lafayette Paist, treasurer of Valley county. Mrs. Warners' parents are deceased, her father, Silas Young, died in Wisconsin; her mother, Bertha (Terry) Young, passed away in Nebraska. Mrs. Warner has a brother and a sister living in Cali fornia. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are among the earlier settlers of the county and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Warner is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and is popular with all classes of citizens in Valley county. In November of 1879, Mr. Warner came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded forty acres of land twelve miles north of Ord, which was the home place for about seven years, when in 1886 the family moved to Ord, where Mr. Warner engaged in carpentry. Mr. Warner is a successful man of affairs, owning good city property, and in 1908 built a fine modern home where he now lives. TROY C. OSBORN. The gentleman above named is one of the very oldest settlers in Madison county, Nebraska, and is familiarly known "to every one, having lived in Madison county for tbe past forty years or more, since his earliest residence here having been one of the leading citizens, who by his in fluence and personal aid, has helped to a won derful degree in the development of the region. Since 1908 Mr. Osborn has resided on his present farm, which is located in section twenty-one, township twenty-four, range four, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good friends and neighbors. Mr. Osborn claims Virginia for his native state, which was also the state of nativity of his parents, Enoch and Rena (Hocks) Osborn. Our subject remained in Virginia until he attained the age of twenty-one years, receiving the usual school advantages, and after reaching manhood followed the occupation of farming. While still living in Virginia, Mr. Osborn enlisted in the confederate army during the civil war, serving under Captain Cox in Com pany C, Forty-fifth Virginia Infantry, receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. Mr. Osborn was captured at Richmond and taken to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was kept prisoner for nine months. His father was also a confederate soldier, enlisting in Company C, Forty-fifth Vir ginia Infantry, father and son marching almost side by side. After the war, they both returned to Virginia, remaining there some few years. In 1868, Mr. Osborn, our subject, left his home in Virginia and started for the west, com ing by rail to Omaha. Prom there he came over land by ox team to his homestead southwest of Battle Creek, where he built a sod house and "batched it" for several years. In those first years of settlement in the wild and unbroken frontier, many hardships and dis couragements were experienced by those sturdy sons who braved dangers and much suffering, enduring many losses and crop failures through the various causes of grasshopper plagues, prairie fires, and elements of the weather.' The grasshopper pests that infested this portion of the country were about the greatest source of anxiety, they often coming in great clouds and swooping down on the fields of ripened crops, eating every spear of green to be found for miles in every direction. Prairie fires were often fought to save property and homes, and the settlers in those days were constantly on the alert of this danger. As late as 1894, Mr. Osborn lost the entire sea son's crops by the hot winds that burned out the soil and killed all vegetation; this was due to the severe drouth which caused so much havoc in that part of the country. In 1908, Mr. Osborn bought his present home, which is known as the Northup homestead ; this, as before stated, is located on section twenty- one, township twenty-four, range four. Mr. Osborn was married March 14, 1873, to Miss Molly Lyon, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are the parents of four children, named as the following: Lee, Alice, Prank and Enoch. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Osborn is a member of the Masonic fra ternity and a democrat. ^COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 675 RICHARD E. ALLEN. Richard E. Allen, of Arnold, has long been an important factor in the affairs of his community, where he has a wide acquaintance. He is one of the successful men of Custer county, and has large land holdings there, owning the town site of Arnold. He was born in Livingston county, New York, April 21, 1857, third of the six children of Silas E. and Amelia (Blakesley) Allen. The parents were natives of New York' and were married there. They had one daughter and five sons, but the only member of the family now living in Nebraska is Richard, although two other sons and the daughter at one time lived there. The parents came to Custer county sev eral years after Richard, early in the spring of 1886, he took a homestead in township sev enteen, range twenty-five. The mother died in Arnold in February, 1895, and the father some years later removed to Kearney, where he died in May, 1905. The daughter and four sons now survive. Mr. Allen was born on a farm near Mount Morris, but in 1858, when he was about one year old, the family removed to a farm adjoining the town of Alvira in Clinton county, Iowa. In the winter of 1863 they moved to Linn county in the same state, and Mr. Allen was married Decem ber 8, 1878, to Lovira Parks, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Morgan S. and Lydia Parks. In April, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Allen and one child left Linn county, Iowa, via the "prairie schooner" route, for Nebraska, accompanied by the family of Joseph Hall. They reached Custer county in June, and July 5 of the same year Mr. Allen filed an entry on a homestead on the north east quarter of section twenty-eight, township seventeen, range twenty-five. He was the original homesteader of the locality, as at the time he came there were only cattle men living there and using the land for grazing. In the fall of 1883, Mr. Allen laid out the town of Arnold on a part of the homestead entry. This was one of the early inland towns of the state. In the early days the little settlement had to haul merchandise and supplies from Cozad. on the main line of the Union Pacific railroad, and later from Gothenburg, when the latter town came into existence. Before the advent of the homesteaders into Custer county little thought was given to the project of making the region a farming locality, as it- was then used only for grazing cattle. Mr. Allen has lived on his home stead since these conditions existed and has made it his home since making the entry on the land, although he is now in the midst of the village of Arnold, which is just beginning- to boom as a result of the extension of the railroad to Gandy, Logan county, through Arnold, in the fall of 1911. After nearly thirty years of ex istence the town has received new impetus for progress and growth, and Mr. Allen has had much to do with this condition. He was an early merchant in Arnold, but went out of business in 1889. He served seven years in early days as postmaster in the village, following George Arnold, the first postmaster. Since giving up his mercantile interests, he has devoted his at tention chiefly to his farming and stock interests, which are extensive. He served as township supervisor during the first year after this system was adopted and has held other local offices, be ing active in educational matters. He has a host of friends and is a popular and public- spirited citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have three daughters: Gertrude, married Andrew J. McCant, and they live in Arnold; Myrtle May, married William Chadima, lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Blanche R., married Charles F. MeGuire, and they live on the old homestead. The family have a pleas ant and comfortable home in Arnold, which is in sharp contrast to their first habitation, which was a pine log cabin. HENRY KLOPPING. One of the prominent farmers of Wayne county is the gentleman named above, who resides in section fifteen, township twenty-six, range three, on his well equipped farm, with its com fortable home. He is one of those substantial citizens whose industry and thrift have added so much to the development of the state. For many years Mr. Klopping has been identified with the agricultural interests of this section of the country, and he has done his full share in bring ing about the present prosperity enjoyed by the residents of the community. Mr. Klopping is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born March 21, 1866, the son of Fred and Minnie Klopping, who were small farmers of their community. . In 1880, the subscriber, with his parents, left his native land for America, coming by steamship from Bremen to New York City. The family came west at once, and settled in Iowa, where Henry Klopping remained for about fourteen years. The father and mother are still on the same farm in Iowa. It was while in Iowa that he was married to Miss Mary Beck, March 7, 1889. Mrs. Klopping is a daughter of Rasmus and Jane Beck, the former born in Germany, and the latter in Mis souri. Mr. Beck died when Mrs. Klopping was only six years old, and Mrs. Beck died in March, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Klopping are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living except one. They are named as follows: Frank, Roy, Hazel, deceased, Bryan, Fred, Albert and Glenn! The family is well and favorably known in the community. In 1892, Mr. Klopping decided to move to the less thickly settled state of Nebraska, where land was cheap. He came to Wayne county and 676 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. bought the farm, which has been in his possession ever since. Since owning it, he has, little by little, added many extensive improvements so that •now it is a picture of thrift and good manage ment. WALTER CHAMBERLIN. Walter Chamberlin, a banker of Clarks, Ne braska, is one of the leading men of his com munity as well as one of the old settlers in east ern Nebraska, and to his efforts and influence during many years have been due much of the prosperity enjoyed by the residents of that re gion. Mr. Chamberlin was born in Cascade, Iowa, February 2, 1862, and was fourth in the family of Simon and Deborah (Price) Chamberlin, who had two sons and three daughters, the parents being natives of New York state. Of this family Mr. Chamberlin and three sisters are now living. Mrs. John A. Stockton resides in Palls City, Ne braska, and the other two sisters live in Missouri. Mr. Chamberlin is now engaged in the banking business in Clarks, Merrick county, Nebraska, in which state he has continued in that business since 1884. He organized the State Bank of Clarks in 1889, which institution was reorganized as a National bank in 1903, with the foUowing officers : Walter Chamberlin, president ; A. D. Sears, vice president; Marvin Chamberlin, cash ier. This is a solid, progressive bank. Besides his banking business, Mr. Chamberlin is active along other financial and business lines. Mr. Chamberlin grew up to his young manhood in the state of Missouri, the family going from Iowa to that state when he was seven years of age. On November 3, 1887, Mr. Chamberlin was married to Miss Mary E. Tracey in Pawnee City, Nebraska, a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin have two children: Walter, junior, and Edward S., both of whom reside at home. Mr. Chamberlin has been a member of the school board of Clarks for a number of years, and is otherwise active along municipal lines. The Chamberlin family are of English descent, and an old New England family prominent in early history. J. A. SKALBERG •J. A. Skalberg, one of the oldest settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a goodly estate in section nineteen, township twenty-nine, range two, Knox county, Nebraska. Here he has done his share in the up building of his locality, and has become well and favorably known throughout that part of the state. Mr. Skalberg is a native of Sweden, and was born February 28, 1865, growing to the age of nine years in his birthplace. Then, with his father, he left his native land and came to America, taking passage on an emigrant ship, which landed in New York City. His mother died when he was about two years old. Their first location was in Page county, Iowa, and after about twelve years, J. A. Skalberg came to Wakefield, Nebraska, where he spent about seven years. In March, 1892, he came to Knox county, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of well located land, and began farming on his own account. He has made this farm his home since that time, and has made of the tract a finely cultivated and improved place, equipped with substantial buildings of all kinds, stocked with all kinds of farm animals, and raises good crops of grain, etc. He has some fine trees on the place, a good orchard, and altogether, his property is one of the most valuable in that part of the county, consisting in all of two hundred and forty acres. February 11, 1888, Mr. Skalberg was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Peterson, who was born in Page county, Iowa, a daughter of 0. P. and Sarah Peterson, who were born in Sweden and came to America' when children. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born ten chil dren, as follows : Harry, Roy, David, Norris, Vernie, Bertha, Hazel, Mayme, Emma, and Christal, all of whom are industrious and intelli gent young people, helping their parents in carry ing on the farm work. Mr. and Mrs. Skalberg are members of the Mission church at Wausa, and the entire family attend its services. WALLEN CAMERON. Wallen Cameron, retired farmer of Schuyler, Nebraska, is a son of Alexander and Lydia (Miller) Cameron, his birth occurring October 1, 1833, in Ohio. He was eldest in a family of six children, and has one sister, Mary E. Lafferty, residing in Pindley, Ohio, the other children be ing deceased, as are also the parents, they both having passed away in Hancock county, Ohio. Mr. Cameron received his education in the home schools and later engaged in. farming. On April 19, 1857, Mr. Cameron was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Woods, of Han cock county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have had six children born to them, four of whom are living: Melville D., who is married and lives in Omaha, Nebraska ; Jennie, wife of Rev. W. W. Wells, resides in Valentine, Nebraska, and they have three children; Horace A., also married, lives in Omaha; Alexander B., is married, has four children, and lives in South Dakota; James C, died in 1878, in infancy ; and Wallen died in 1893, at the age of twelve years. On November 18, 1861, Mr. Cameron enlisted in Company H, Western Sharpshooters, after ward called the Sixty-sixth Illinois Infantry, serving until the close of the war ; he received his honorable discharge at Joliet, Illinois, in July, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 677 1865. Decisive battles engaged in were at Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, advance on Corinth, as also in the battle of Corinth. In December of 1863, his company marched from Corinth to Pulaski, Tennessee, camping for the winter, and there re-enlisting in the same regiment. After a forced march to Lookout Mountain they engaged in the Siege of Atlanta, being under fire for about one hundred days. They recruited at Rome, Georgia, and was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and also participated in the battle of Bentonville, and many minor engage ments and skirmishes; and he also participated in the grand review at Washington, after the strife of war had ceased, and peace reigned in the land. After the war, Mr. Cameron returned to Ohio, remaining until June, 1872, when he came to Col fax county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land in Shell Creek pre cinct. In a couple of weeks Mr. Cameron re turned to Ohio, and in October of the same year, with his wife and four children, drove to the Ne braska homestead ; several years later he pur chased eighty acres in Schuyler precinct and moved onto the same. He afterwards accumulated a farm of more than one thousand acres in one body, it being the finest farm in Colfax county at that time, and is still known as the "Cameron farm. ' ' In 1883, Mr. Cameron sold his farm and moved into Schuyler, running a hotel for a few years, then selling out and purchasing a farm joining the city limits of Schuyler, where they lived until March, 1910, when Mr. Cameron re tired, and moved to Schuyler, where he bought a good home, which is now the residence of the Cameron family. Mr. Cameron has been prosperous and success ful, now owning three hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land, aside from good city property. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have passed through all the discouragements and trying pioneer expe riences. They are widely known, enjoying the highest respect of the community. Mr. Cameron is chaplain of the Phil Sheridan Post of Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have been for over fifty years. ORANGE BRITTELL. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers of Antelope county, Ne braska, and since locating here in 1878 has taken a foremost part in the development of this re gion. Mr. Brittell has built up a good home and farm in section twenty-one, township twenty- three, range six, where he and his family reside and enjoy the respect and warm friendship of a host of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Brittell was born in Illinois, in 1844, and his father, Isaac Henry Brittell, is a native of Prance, who came to America when he was a small boy. Our subject's mother, Jane (Scott) Brittell, is a native of Ohio. Our subject grew to manhood in his native state, and during the Civil war enlisted in Company D, S.eventy-fifth Illi nois, Captain A. McMoore, under General Sher man. He enlisted in 1861, and received an hon orable discharge in 1865. The battles Mr. Brit tell participated in were at Perryville, Kentucky, Buffalo river, all through the Atlantic campaign and through various parts of the south. After the Avar Mr. Brittell returned to Illinois, later going to Iowa, driving the entire distance, and here he lived ten years. In 1878 he came to Ante lope county, Nebraska, driving in a covered wa gon, and took up a homestead in section twenty- one, township twenty-three, range six, where he now lives, and where he first built a sod house, which has been replaced by a fine residence. In 1868, Mr. Brittell was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie A. Russell, and Mr. and Mrs. Brittell are the parents of five children, named as follows : Ella, who is the wife of Thomas E. Chappell ; Roy, who is married to Julia Brittell ; Lloyd, married to Grace Russell ; Claud, married to Mvrtle Dale; and Sidonie, who is married to Pred'S. Walker. Mr. Brittell is well thought of and is a pop ular man in his community, and has served his county in -the capacity of county commissioner for six years. He and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. THOMPSON BAKER. Thompson Baker, a retired farmer whose home is in Ansley, Nebraska, is honored as a vet eran of the civil war and respected as a useful, public-spirited citizen. Mr. Baker was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1839, eighth of the eleven children born to Richard and Catherine (Thompson) Baker, both also na tives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Beaver county and the mother in Mercer county. Both died in Beaver county, the father in 1882, and the mother in 1884. Of their children the fol lowing facts are available : James, died in 1863, a prisoner in infamous Andersonville prison ; William, died in 1908, at the age of eighty years ; Sophronia, and Sidney, live in Pennsylvania; John, lives in Iowa ; Robert, died in 1862, while confined in Libby prison ; George, lives in Penn sylvania : Richard, lives at Westerville, Custer county; Sarah, lives in Pennsylvania; Thompson, is the specific subject of this sketch. Of these children, six sons served in the civil war, all of them with distinction. The boyhood and young manhood of Thomp son Baker were spent on his father's farm and he received the usual education accorded a farm er's son in those times. December 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundredth Pennsyl vania Roundheads, served until the close of the 678 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. war, and received his final discharge at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1865. He partici pated in many important engagements, the most noteworthy of which were: James Island, South Carolina; Bull Run, Virginia; South Mountain, Maryland ; Fredericksburg, Virginia ; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Jackson, Mississippi; Blue Springs, Tennesse ; Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee ; Battle of the Wilderness ; Spottsylvania Court House ; North Anna River, Virginia; Petersburg, Mine Explosion, Popular Grove Church, Hatcher's Run, Port Steadman, and the final assault on Peters burg, April 2, 1865. He was promoted to the rank of corporal May 5, 1863 ; to that of sergeant May 20, 1864, and to first sergeant May 17, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Baker returned to Pennsylvania, and there married, October 3, 1865, Sarah E. Huffman, also a native of that state. In March, 1866, this couple moved to Iowa, where they lived on a farm until the fall of 1872, then with his wife and three children, removed to York county, Nebraska, where he secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land not far from the town of York. He also secured a timber claim of a like size. In 1878 he came on farther west to Custer county, which has since been his home. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on Clear creek, where he lived many years. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Baker was elected sheriff of Custer county. In very early days he did his share in organizing school district num ber four, and he has always taken great interest in all questions affecting the general welfare and prosperity of the region. In 1897 he moved to Ansley, made his home there for a period of ten years, then returned to his farm, where he lived about two years, and in March, 1910, sold his farming interests and again located in Ansley, where he purchased the comfortable home where they have since resided. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of whom eleven now survive : Frank, married and living on Clear creek, eight miles north of Ansley, has three children ; Tina, widow of Charles R. Hare, who died September 1, 1904, has one child and lives at Ansley; Richard J., is married and lives in Berwin township, Custer county, and has three children ; Walter, married and living on Clear creek, nine miles north of Ansley, has four children; Alice, married Frank Hayse, and they are the parents of three chil dren and live on Clear creek; Hattie B., married William Gardner, and they live on Clear creek, and have eight children ; Ralph, a merchant, mar ried and living at Westerville, has three children ; Wesley N., married and living nine miles north of Ansley on Clear creek, has two children ; Katehrine, wife of Austin Daniels, lives at Ansley, and they have one child; May, wife of John Davis, lives at Westerville, and they have one child; Maud, wife of Herbert Hollenbeck, lives at Westerville, and they have two children. Mrs. Baker's father, James Huffman, was born in Pennsylvania and spent his entire life there, as did the mother, and Mrs. Baker now has three brothers and a sister still residing in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are well known in Ansley and vicinity, and have many warm personal friends. Mr. Baker assisted in the organization of Steadman Post number one hundred and eighty, Grand Army of the Republic, at Westerville, Ne braska, and for a long period of years was active as a member. He is also a member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ansley lodge number one hundred and fifty- six. EDWIN A. MARSH. Edwin A. Marsh, a prominent citizen of Cus ter county, belongs to an old English family and is one of the pioneers of the region where he now resides. He is one of the best and most favorably known men in his county, and has always repre sented the best interests of his county and state. He has passed through the trials and adversities of pioneer days, and is now classed as one of the most successful farmers and stock men of cen tral Nebraska. He has a well equipped stock and grain farm and a comfortable home, sur rounded by modern comforts and conveniences. Mr. Marsh was born in Glastonbury, Sommer- setshire, England, September 19, 1864, eldest child of Francis and Charlotte (Creeby) Marsh, who were the parents of five daughters and two sons. Edwin and his father came to the United States in January, 1880, sailing from Bristol to New York on a freight ship, the voyage lasting nineteen days. They first located in Fillmore county, Nebraska, where the son, Edwin, went to work as a farm hand, and the father found em ployment in the nursery at Crete. Edwin Marsh worked on a farm three years, beginning at a salary of eight dollars per month, and at the time he left was receiving twenty-six dollars per month. The father returned to Fillmore county after a few years at Crete, and in September, 1881, Edwin Marsh came to Custer county and erected a house on the farm his father had se cured as a homestead during the summer of that year. He then returned to Fillmore county, and in April, 1882, the father and mother, with four daughters and two sons, came to live in Custer county. The mother and younger children had come from England in August of 1881 to join the father and son in Fillmore county. Edwin Marsh lived with his parents until the time of his marriage, June 10, 1888, to Hannah Hyatt, their union 'taking place in the old sod building, known as Liberty church, in township sixteen, range seventeen. She is a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Abraham W. and Lorain (Severns) Hyatt, the former of German and the latter of French descent. The Hyatt family came to Nebraska in 1878, residing in Saunders RESIDENCE OF E. A. MARSH. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 679 county five years before making permanent set tlement in Custer county. After his marriage, Mr. Marsh moved to his farm on the north half of section four, township sixteen, range seventeen, where he had secured a timber claim in 1885, and this has since been their home. He has four hundred and eighty acres of. land in this farm, and one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty-five, township seven teen, range seventeen. He has in various ways helped in the development and welfare of Custer county, and has been a township official at dif ferent times. He is a self-made man, and one of the younger pioneers of his part of the state, and has steadily progressed since he began to work at eight dollars per month in 1879. He is an ex tensive dealer in cattle and hogs, buying, feeding and shipping stock. He also has a number of horses and jacks. Mr. Marsh's first residence, before marriage, was a dugout with a sod front, which was re placed with a small frame house when he brought home a bride. In 1908 he built his present com modious, modern dwelling, which, from its emin ence,, commands a fine view of the valley, one of the best located residences in Custer county. A view of this fine property is presented for your inspection on another page. Among the hardships of the early days, Mr. Marsh recalls hauling hogs in a covered wagon to Grand Island, a distance of seventy-five miles, and receiving only three dollars per hundred for his load. He well remembers an incident of get ting grist to the mill through the deep snows. The first week he got only three miles, being com pelled to leave his three sacks of wheat at a neighbor's. He tried again the next week, but had to leave after going only four miles. The third week he made a final attempt, and got it to the mill on Muddy creek, only twelve miles from his home. Three children have been born to Mr. Marsh and wife, namely: Francis W., married Orpha Eastman on Thanksgiving day, 1908, and living in Cherry county, north of Mullen, has one child ; Flossie Pern, married Guy Gates, December 23, 1910, and they live in Custer county ; and Guy, at home.. The children were all born and reared on the home farm. Mr. Marsh and wife have many friends and acquaintances, and are well known in social circles. They are members of the Christian church. Mr. Marsh is a populist, a member of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. The father and one brother of Mr. Marsh live at Ansley, and he has four sisters married and living in Custer county. FRANK FREDERICK BRUEGMAN. Frank Frederick Bruegman, a retired farmer of Osmond, Nebraska, is a native of the province of Holstein, Germany, born in the village of Probsteihagen on April 29, 1864. His parents were Claus and Catherine (Kohlmorgen) Brueg man. The father emigrated with his family to America, sailing from Bremen, February 4, 1878, and landing in New York ten days later. They came directly to Davenport, Iowa, where a son, older than our subject, had settled some time previously. Claus Bruegman found employment in a glucose factory, and remained in that city for three years. Frank F. Bruegman located in Nebraska with his parents in 1881, and here engaged in farming, having followed that work during his youth. On attaining his majority, he filed on a pre-emption claim four miles east of Osmond, and started for himself. One year later he bought a quarter section nearer the town, and made the latter place his home until 1903. He experienced every form of pioneer life in this vicinity, going through drouths, and endured great hardship during the memorable blizzard of 1888, braving that storm for three hours. He had ridden out to try and drive some of his stock to shelter, and the storm was so severe and blinding that he became bewildered and lost his way, wandering about for two or three hours before his stock was found. His horse refused to go in the storm, and he was obliged to get off and lead him back to his house, arriving safely at last, but not until his family had endured great anxiety because of his ab sence. Mr. Bruegman sold his farm about 1904, and bought successively two tracts near Bloomfield, on which he resided for two years, then sold the one last purchased and removed to Denver. He remained there and in Berkeley, a suburb of Denver, for about a year, at which time he re turned to Osmond, and has since made this his residence. He owns a good home here, besides two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land four miles east of the town, on which he has a tenant to care for the place, raising con siderable grain and running quite a herd of stock. Mr. Bruegman was married at Niobrara on January 7, 1902, to Melitta Eggert, a native of Holstein, Germany. In company with her par ents, she came to America in 1892, sailing from Hamburg in the Normania, landing in New York after a voyage of about nine days. They settled in Niobrara, Nebraska, where Mr. Eggert was employed for a time in a packing house. He later obtained the contract to supply beef to the Ponca Indians, and during his subsequent long intercourse with them, learned to speak their language fluently — better, in fact, than English. In 1904 he retired from active life, and is taking life easy in a comfortable home in Osmond, mov ing there in the summer of 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Bruegman are the parents of two children, Marie and Prank, junior, both bright and interesting. Mr. Bruegman is a republican, and an active 680 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. party man. He is a member of the Royal High landers, and takes a lively interest in all local affairs. With his wife, he attends the Lutheran church, and is among the active workers in that congregation. JONAS J. BLOMGREN. Jonas J. Blomgren, senior, accounted one of the most substantial farmers of Howard county, Nebraska, resides on his elegant estate in Danne brog precinct. Mr. Blomgren was born in Sweden on April 22, 1837, and grew to manhood in that country. At the age of seventeen, he left home, and started for himself, following farmirig the greater part of his time. In 1866 he was married, and contin ued to live in Sweden with his family for six years, then emigrated to America. The father, after reaching New York City, started for the west, and upon arriving in Ne braska decided to settle here, picking out a loca tion in Howard county, where he filed on home stead rights in section twenty-two, township thirteen, range eleven, put up a rude shanty, and sent for his wife and three children. After Mrs. Blomgren reached New York City, two of her children, who were taken sick crossing the ocean, were sent to the hospital, where both died. Following this, Mrs. Blomgren and her son Jonas J., joined Mr. Blomgren in Howard county in 1873. Here they worked faithfully to build up a home, and remained on the place through the pioneer days, suffering many hardships, but in the main being successful in accumulating considerable property. In 1881, Mrs. Blomgren died, leaving two children, to whom our subject has given devoted care, but after the death of his helpmeet, often found it hard to keep up the struggle of being both mother and father to his children, and in 1883 he was married the second time. Of this union, eight children have been born, and his family have been a great help to him in developing his farm, as all have .worked together with the one end in view of gathering together a competence, and making their home stead one of the most productive in the vicinity, which has been accomplished in a marked degree. Jonas J. Blomgren, junior, was born in Swe den in 1867, arid at the age of six years came to America with his mother. He was reared in Howard county, receiving his education in the country schools, living at home until he was sev enteen years of age, then started out to make his fortune. He spent several years in Colorado and Wyoming, following various occupations, and saw a great deal of the different states, going to New Mexico, where he remained for a short time, finally returning to Howard county in December, 1900. He had purchased an eighty-acre tract in 1895, on sections sixteen and twenty-one, and in 1897 forty acres in section twenty-four, and began farming for himself, after his return to Howard county in 1900. He has erected a fine residence, and has the place well set out with trees, fine lawns, etc., and in 1909 bought forty acres more in section sixteen. There are plenty of good farm buildings, and every im provement in the way of machinery and equip ment for conducting a model farm, everything on the place showing evidence of good management and thrift. Jonas J. Blomgren, junior, was married in Howard county in 1894 to Johanna M. Blom- quist. They had four children, and in 1902 the wife and mother died, all of the children also being deceased. On April 4, 1903, Mr. Blomgren was married again, taking as wife Ida A. Ostling, whose par ents are among the well-known pioneers of this county. Of this union, two children were born : Adler Joseph O. and Mildred Elizabeth S., both - charming and intelligent youngsters. The fam ily have a very pleasant home, and are held in high esteem by their associates. WILLIAM H. HUNT. As an old settler of Valley county, Nebraska, and an agriculturist of untiring energy and per severance and a worthy citizen, the gentleman here named needs no introduction to the people of his locality. He has spent over twenty-seven years of his life in their midst, has gained a host of staunch friends, and incidentally acquired a, good home, and placed himself in position to en joy his declining years in peace and comfort. William H. Hunt, son of William M. and Anna (Harmon) Hunt, was born in Lewis county, New York, April 27, 1848. He was the eldest of three children, and has one sister residing in Laramie, Wyoming, and a brother deceased, as are also the parents, the father passing away in 1892 in Illinois, and the mother in 1893, one year later, in Valley county, Nebraska. In early childhood, Mr. Hunt, with his parents, went to Illinois, locat ing in Marseilles, LaSalle county, where he re ceived his education in local and private schools, and later learned the tinsmith's trade. He also lived in Peoria and Bureau counties, in Illinois. On October 15, 1873, Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Zerissa Golden, a daughter of Philemon Golden, born near Trenton, New Jer sey. Two children were born of this union, whose names are as follows : Raymond, who re sides at home, and Charles, who lives in Ord. Mrs. Hunt died May 20, 1888, in Valley county, Nebraska, survived by her husband and two chil dren. In 1879, Mr. Hunt went to Leadville, Colorado, working at his trade and prospecting until 1885, when he moved his family to Valley county, Nebraska, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section nine, township eighteen, range fifteen, which is still his home place. Mr. Hunt has served as COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 681 township clerk, and director of his school district, number fifty-two, for six years. Mr. Hunt was married on December 14', 1895, to Miss Helen Cole, who was born in Howard county, Iowa, a daughter of Ezra Cole. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have had two children, namely : Eu gene E., deceased in infancy, and Lloyd C, who resides at home. Mrs. Hunt's father lives in Cresco, Iowa, in which state the mother died in October of 1893. She has a sister in Ord, a sister and a brother in South Dakota, and another sis ter in Iowa. Mr. Hunt has passed through much of Valley county history, is a prosperous man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he brought the school children home with him, and kept them safely through the awful night. In politics he is a populist, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. JACOB DECKERT. Among the prosperous citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality, is the subject of this personal his tory, Jacob Deckert, owner of a valuable estate in Emmerick township. Mr. Deckert is a native of eastern Canada, born January 28, 1852. He is a son of Cornelius and Lena Deckert, the father born in Germany and the mother in Canada. The father came to that country across the sea in a sailboat, being seven weeks on the water. Cornelius Deckert was a mason by trade, and followed that work in Canada, the family living there up to 1879, when they came to Nebraska, the elder Deckert taking a homestead, which was their home for a number of years, and is now occupied by our subject. They went through the usual hardships experienced by the early settlers in that locality, but, with grim determination, overcame every obstacle, and succeeded in building up a good home and becoming among the progressive and successful agriculturists and stockmen in their county. The father was hurt in an accident a short time after settling there, and he never re covered from his injuries, passing away, August 16, 1881. After his father's death, the entire burden of the farm work fell upon Jacob, as he was the eldest son, and he took his task up willingly, although sometmes, when crops failed and there seemed to be so many discouragements in his path, he was tempted to try new fields, but has since been very glad that he stuck to the old homestead, as he has been well repaid for all his efforts, in the comfortable home he now possesses The place contains one hundred and sixty acres of good land, and this he has put in the best pos sible shape, improving it with good buildings, and has it well stocked with cattle, horses, hogs, etc, Mr. Deckert has retired, and now lives at Newman Grove. Mr. Deckert was married, March 25, 1878, and has a family of seven children. His wife's maiden name was Anna Smith, and she is a native of Germany. John, the eldest son, lives in Boone county ; Henry, married, lives in Pierce county ; George, married, lives in Madison county; Louis, lives at home; Anna, Emma and Mary. IRA P. MILLS. Ira P. Mills is one of the early homesteaders of Custer county, where he has resided since the days the cattlemen began leaving the country. He was born in Madison county, Iowa, December 29, 1859, eldest child of William and Lucinda (Stark) Mills, who had three sons and one daugh ter. The father was born in Illinois, and the mother in Iowa, and they were married in Madi son county, in the latter state, in February, 1859. The father was a farmer by occupation, and at the time of the Civil war, enlisted in Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infant^, serving until he received his honorable discharge in 1863. He then returned to his Iowa home, and in the spring of 1865 moved, with his wife and their four children, to Lancaster county, Nebraska, via the "prairie schooner" overland route, and reaching their homestead farm there, April 6. They remained in Lancaster county until May. 1883, then came to Custer county, again making the move with a team and covered wagon. The father took a pre-emption and timber claim five miles northwest of Arnold, in the little valley which became known by the name of Mills Val ley, where he remained until his death, January 20, 1898. He was survived by his widow and four- children : Ira P., William G., Emma and E. Grant. Mrs. Mills lives in Arnold, as do her two elder sons ; Emma, Mrs. Nathan English, lives in Lexington, Nebraska ; E. Grant Mills lives in Oregon. The Mills family were pioneers in two counties of Nebraska, coming to Lancaster county before Nebraska was admitted as a state, and into Cus ter county in its early pioneer days. Ira P. Mills reached maturity in Lancaster county, receiving the usual school advantages, and made farming his occupation. He was there married on July 6, 1881, to Miss Clarinda Perrin, a native of West Virginia, and daughter of Joshua and Lucinda (Deems) Perrin. The mother died in West Vir ginia in 1861, and the remainder of the family came from Ohio to Lancaster county, March 23, 1875. Mrs. Mills was the older of two children. The father still resides in Lancaster county. At the time the move was made to Custer county, Ira P. Mills came with his wife and one child, and he also became an original homesteader of Custer county. He is one of the younger men among the early homesteaders who came to that locality, and has been active in various move- 682 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ments for the progress and welfare of county and state. He has been an energetic and successful farmer and stockman, and now has sixteen hun dred acres of land in his home farm, besides other land interests in the county. He now occupies one of the pleasant homes of the village of Ar nold, and his son, Benjamin, lives on the old farm. He experienced the usual trials and dis couragements of the early settler during the years of drouth and poor crops. He has always taken an active interest in educational matters, served fifteen years as a director of his school district in Mills Valley, and is now a member of the school board of Arnold. During 1891 and 1892 he served as a member of the county board. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mills, all in Custer county, except the eldest: William J., married, and living in Omaha, has two children; Bernard I., married, living in May- wood, Nebraska; Benjamin H., married, and liv ing on the old homestead farm; Helen L. and Floyd P., at home. The family are well known in social circles, and have many friends. WILLIAM BRUNE. One of the pioneers of the state is the above named gentleman, who has, for more than thirty years, been a resident of Nebraska. Nearly all of that time he has been identified with the agricul tural interests of Wayne county, having aided materially in transforming this locality from its wild natural state into a thriving farming dis trict. He is a man of perseverance and energy, and has met with deserved success in his labors, being classed among the leading farmers of his community. Mr. Brune was born, June 15, 1849, in Ger many, and was the son of Frederick and Katie Brune, of Westphalia. His childhood was spent in his native land, and he served as a soldier in the army of his home country. In 1877, he decided to come to America on account of the greater opportunities offered the young man. He came at once to Otter county, Nebraska, where he first rented land. A few years later, he came to Wayne county, where he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which has since been his home. The first few years were extremely discouragaing, but pros pects brightened somewhat as time went on, and by thrift and good management he has been en abled to add to the original land holding, and also to make extensive improvements. He owns three hundred and twenty acres, and also has a thrifty grove, about five acres in extent, which he planted. When Mr. Brune purchased his land, it was in a wild state. This he broke and put under cultivation, and he has erected all the buildings on the place and made every improve ment. In 1875, before leaving his native land, Mr. Brune was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Sommer. They are the parents of nine children, named as follows : Mary, Minnie, William, Anna, Emma, Henry, Fred, Sophia and Prank, all living in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Brune are well known among the people of this locality. COL. WALTER W. WOLCOTT.- The gentleman above named is one of the lead ing business men and prosperous citizens of Cen tral City, Nebraska, and has served his home county and state in the most creditable way for the past thirty-two years. Walter W. Wolcott was born in Dundee, Kane county, Illinois, December 25, 1854, and was third of nine children in the family of Oliver and Ca lista Wolcott, who had seven sons and two daugh ters. Mr. Wolcott grew up in Harrison county, Iowa, having moved from Illinois to Iowa with his parents in the pioneer days of 1861. He was a farm boy, and had received good advantages. Mr. Wolcott first came to Merrick county, Ne braska, in March, 1878, overland by team, from Harrison county, Iowa, to Merrick county, and was accompanied on the trip by his father, who also came to see the country. They returned to Iowa overland within a few days, and on April 2, 1878, Walter Wolcott and family, of wife and one child, came to Merrick county for residence. Mr. Wolcott was married to Miss Sylvia Lans- berry, December 27, 1874, in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, Miss Lansberry being a native of Floyd county, Iowa, and her parents natives of Kentucky. Mr. Wolcott and family remained in Central City until joined by his father and family in 1880, at which time he went out on the Wolcott ranch, and followed farming for ten years. In December, 1890, Mr. Wolcott came to Central City to reside, and purchased the weekly news paper, "The Nonpareil," and was owner, editor and manager of this paper for six years. Mr. Wolcott carried on this paper as a republican organ, and "The Nonpareil" was known as one of the most ably edited newspapers in Nebraska, being widely quoted along all lines. Mr. Wol cott, since the sale of "The Nonpareil," has en gaged in the mercantile business, and is inter ested in other business propositions throughout this portion of Nebraska. Mr. Wolcott had a wide reputation as a news paper man, but is probably best known by his connection with the National Guard of Nebraska, of which he was a member fifteen years. He en listed as a private in the State Guards, and served three years as first lieutenant, three as captain, three years as major, and six years as lieutenant colonel of the First National Guards, retiring January 1, 1897. He was offered a commission on the governor's staff, with the rank of colonel. Col. and Mrs. Wolcott have seven children. four of whom are living: Ollie, wife of L. R. Morrow, has three children, and lives in Oregon : Mary, wife of Frank Kombrink, who is engaged COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 683 in the furniture business in Central City, and has two sons ; Neva, wife of John Jenkins, junior, a miller of Central City; and Mauna Loa, who resides at home. Col. and Mrs. Wolcott and family are well known in social and educational circles, and are one of the prominent families of their locality. Col. Wolcott has always taken an active interest in all the affairs of his county and state, and is a man who is widely and favorably known. FREDERIC W. CARPENTER. The old Knickerbocker state has given her share of worthy sons in peopling the west, and of these, none has done his duty as he under stands it more faithfully than Frederic W. Car penter, of Bloomfield. Mr. Carpenter was bom at Afton, Chenango county, New York, September 1, 1860. His father, William A. Carpenter, was born near Goshen, Orange county, that state, and followed farming all his life. He lived in Chenango county at the time Frederic was born, and a few years later removed nine miles away to a farm near Harpersville, in Broom county. The mother, Susan (Seely) Carpenter, was born in Chenango county, and resides now in Afton, at the age of eighty years. Frederic Carpenter lived the first ten yeare of his life near Afton, and attended the schools of that town and of Harpersville until he was nearly of age. He learned the tinner's trade at Bing- hamton, being apprenticed, January 25, 1880, and worked in the vicinity of his home until coming west in 1883. He came direct to Nebraska, ar riving in Creighton September 7, and soon after filed on a homestead in the western part of Knox county, between Venus and Walnut Grove. He lived on the homestead until 1885, seeking work at his trade from time to time, to make a living until he could prove up and secure title to his land. On these trips, he worked at O'Neill, Ne ligh, Niobrara, Creighton and Bazile Mills. In 1885, he moved to Creighton, and was employed here until the spring of 1891, eight years for one man. He then migrated to Roseburg, Oregon, when he worked at his trade for seven and one-half years. Hard times brought him disaster, and, losing his all, he abandoned everything, and re turned to Nebraska. Working in Omaha for three months, he came back to Creighton, where he knew a place was always awaiting him, and had steady employment here until 1901, when he accepted a good offer at Bloomfield, and has been here ever since. He has had full charge of the tin shop of the Pioneer Hardware Store since 1906, and his excellent work gives entire satis faction to his employer and his patrons. This was not his first visit to the site of Bloomfield, he having ridden over the country when it was a part of the open plains, and when the present townsite was a herding ground for cattle on the open range. Mr. Carpenter was married in Creighton, January 5, 1888, to Miss Mary Agnes Carpenter, who was born in the Dominion of Canada, a daughter of Oliver Carpenter, who was in no wise related to the Carpenters in New York. Three sons have been born to Mr. Carpenter: Wayland, who has begun railroading; Everett, deputy postmaster at Bloomfield, and Oliver. During the early years of his life in Nebraska, Mr. Carpenter, like the other settlers, burned hay, corn and stalks for fuel. During one of his trips to O'Neill, he was employed for two months, working seventeen hours a day, making the sheet- iron hay burners that were in vogue at that time, such was the demand for those heaters. On his claim, Mr. Carpenter lived in a sod house, the usual dwelling of those days, and can testify to its comfort in both winter and summer. His marriage occurred just a week before the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888. He lived near the store, and had hardly become set tled at the time of the terrible storm. He had no occasion to go out into it, but has vivid recollec tions of the suffering in the frigid temperature following in its wake. Mr. Carpenter has never been much of a hunt er, but as a fisherman he is unexcelled. He in dulged himself to his heart's content during the years he lived in Oregon. Mr. Carpenter is a republican in politics, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men. HARLEY A. LONGNECKER. Harley A. Longnecker, counted among the successful farmers in Boone county, Nebraska, resides on a rented farm northeast of Albion. He has made that region his home for the past ten years, and during that time has become well and favorably known as a citizen of sterling worth and high business principles, enjoying the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Our subject is a native of Livingston county, Illinois, born on the 17th day of December, 1873. He spent the first seven years of his life there, then his parents moved into LaSalle county, and remained for about sixteen years, Harley receiv ing his education in the common schools of that vicinity. About that time he started for himself, engaging in farming with a brother in the north ern part of Iowa, but only remained there for a short time, coming to Taylor county, that state, and farming for a time. In March, 1897. Mr. Longnecker made a trip to Boone county, Nebraska, and was married in Albion on the third of the month, to Miss Minnie L. Galyean, at the home of her parents, the young couple immediately returning to Iowa for resi dence. 684 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Longnecker made his home in Taylor county for three and a half years, becoming very successful in his farming operations, but decided to try his fortune in Nebraska, and in the fall of 1900, came to Boone county for permanent resi dence. He rented land here, and has since then been engaged in mixed farming and stock rais ing. Mr. and Mrs. Longnecker have three children, namely : Clifford E., Leora Mae and Jesse Harold, who form a bright and interesting circle, and their home is one of the pleasantest one may wish to visit. Mrs. Longnecker conies of an old pioneer family, her father now being dead, but her mother resides in Loretto, Boone county. Our subject is the youngest of thirteen chil dren in the family of William and Sarah Long necker, both being deceased. AUGUST SWARD. Prominent among Antelope county old settlers is August Sward, who has made this region his home for many years, and has done his share in the development of the agricultural resources of this section of the county. Mr. Sward lives on section twenty-eight, township twenty-three, range seven, where he owns six hundred and forty acres of good land. Mr. Sward is a native of Sweden, being born in Erburn village, Stockholm province, Novem ber 18, 1849. Like so many of his countrymen, our subject became imbued with a desire to seek his fortune in the new world, of which they had heard such glowing accounts, and in 1869, Mr. Sward left his native country for America by way of Guttenburg to Glasgow, Scotland, and from there embarking on a steamship for New York. After landing in the United States, he proceeded to Pennsylvania, where he worked for fifteen years in a mine. Mr. Sward was joined in wedlock, May 17, 1873, to Miss Katrina Carlson, and Mr. and Mrs. Sward are the parents of five children, named as follows : Edward, Emma, Stella, Walter and Martha. They are a fine family, and are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and they have many friends. In 1884, Mr. Sward, with his family, came to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a home stead claim on section thirty-two, township twenty-three, range seven, and on this land built a good, substantial sod bouse, which served its purpose well for nine years, and then, in 1893, sold out, and moved to section twenty-eight, where he now lives. Along with the other set- tiers, he suffered many setbacks during early days. In 1894. he lost all his crops by reason of the severe drouth of that year. He well remem bers the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888. At that time the children were at school, and remained there all night, and until the storm abated, one of the boys making his way to a neighbor's house to procure food for the scholars. JAMES LEDWICH. James Ledwich, the present mayor of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and one of the most prominent attorneys of Custer county, was one of the orig inal homesteaders of the county. He is a native of Shoreham, Vermont, born July 14, 1844, eighth child of Robert and Bridget (Louth) Led wich, who had seven sons and four daughters. When a small child, his parents moved across Lake Champlain into New York state, and there he grew to manhood on a farm. He received a common school education, and in October, 1861, enlisted in Company K, Ninety-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, spending four years and seven months in the service. He received his dis charge in New York City in February, 1866. He served under McClellan through the peninsu lar campaign, and participated in the battle of Williamsburg. He took part in the battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks ; in the seven days' retreat to Harrison's Landing; marched thence to Fortress Monroe, and on to Suffolk. He was serving under General Butler during the cam paign in front of Petersburg in 1864, took part in the campaign before Richmond, marching into that city in April, 1865, and was serving under General Grant at the time of Lee's surrender. He was a non-commissioned officer, being first sergeant of Company K. After his discharge from the army, Mr. Led wich returned to New York, and soon afterward. went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he took a course in the business college of Bryant & Strat- ton. After completing his commercial course, he spent nine years, traveling through the south as agent for a fire insurance company. In 1875, he came west to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where he joined his family in the town of Avoca. His parents had come to Iowa in 1870. In 1876, Mr. Ledwich attended the Iowa College of Law at Des Moines, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. In 1878, he came to Wilbur, Saline county, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and in the spring of 1884, he came to Broken Bow, where he was one of the first attorneys, the only others who had located there prior to that time being Silas Holeomb and John S. Kirkpatrick. In 1885, Mr. Ledwich took up a homestead three miles south of Broken Bow. He is one of the leading attorneys of central Nebraska, and in connection with his law prac tice, deals in real estate. Mr. Ledwich was married in Crete, Nebraska, January 14, 1885, to Miss Delia Wisner, daugh ter of Captain Wisner, an early settler of Saline county, who is now deceased. Mr. Ledwich and wife have five children : Arthur E., Domain, Ralph, Louise and Ruth. Mr. Ledwich is a mem ber of Washburn Post, Grand Army of the Re public, of Broken Bow, and in politics he is" a re publican. With the exception of a few years spent in Douglas county, Custer county has been his home continuously since he first located there. OLD SODOY, 3V/L&T "SILVER MAPLE FARM," RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. WATSON. PORMCR SOD R£JIPEN« "NOBLE VALLEY STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF CHARLES M. STICKLER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 685 GEORGE W. WATSON. One of the best-known members of one of the older families of Nebraska is George W. Watson, a native of the state, born at DeSoto, Washington county, December 17,. 1860, at a time when Ne braska was a territory. He is the oldest of three children bom to James and Eliza (Coulter) Wat son, both natives of Indiana. The father was of Welsh descent, and served in Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry, in the Civil war. He settled in Washington county in 1856, and died there February 20, 1869. During his residence here, he ran a shingle mill at times, while a neighbor had a saw mill. The lumber and shingles they rafted to Omaha, where they were used to build and cover many of the early houses there. The mother was of Scotch parentage, and died on the old homestead in Washington county in July, 1873. Besides George B., there is one son and one daughter, Horace G., of Douglas county, Ne braska, and Luella, wife of Calvin Taylor, of Blair, Washington county. Left an orphan at the age of twelve . years, George W. Watson remained in his native county until attaining his majority, and there received his education. He then engaged in farming, and in 1880 went to Missouri, where he spent a year and a half in Worth and Nodaway coun ties, then returned to Washington county. On November 11, 1885, he married Margaret Leach. who was born in Indiana, daughter of Abraham and Mary (McKnight) Leach, both natives of Canada. Mr. Leach located in Washington coun ty in 1878, and is now living in Custer county, where his wife died in 1902. Besides Mrs. Wat son, they have three sons in Valley county, Ne braska; one daughter in Grant county, Nebras ka; one son in Joliet, Illinois; one son in Wash ington county, Nebraska, and one son in North Dakota. Mrs. Watson is now serving her third term as director of school board number fourteen, and both she and her husband are well known and popular in their part of Custer county. In the spring of 1889, Mr. Watson brought his wife and two children to Custer county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section twenty-two. township sixteen, range seventeen, which is still the home place. They occupy a highly ornamental frame dwelling beautifully situated in orchard and grove. We are pleased to call attention to a view of this fine esate on another page of this volume. He has been closely identified with the best interests of his locality, and has held various township offi ces. He is a successful farmer and man of affairs, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of fer tile and well-cultivated land, devoted to stock and grain, and well improved as regards substantial buildings. None of the corn raised on the place is ever sold; on the contrary, he buys each year and feeds from forty to sixty head of cattle, one to two hundred head of hogs, and has usually thirty to forty head of horses on the place. Five children have been born to Mr. Watson and wife, namely: Ferneman, deceased; Myrtle, wife of W. E. Wolford, of Custer county; Earl D., at home ; Nina, wife of 0. D. Wolford, of Rush ville, Nebraska; H. Glenn, at home. Mr. Watson has a vivid memory of conditions in Nebraska during his early years and has wit nessed the remarkable development that has taken place there since he was old enough to take cognizance of it. He has every reason to be proud of his success and of his family. Mr. Watson was present at one of the notable events of the early history of the state, but being an infant in arms, of course remembers nothing of it. His parents were in the train going up the valley when at Rawhide creek one man of the party wantonly killed an Indian woman sitting peacefully on a log watching the covered wagons go by. The entire party would have been mas sacred had they not consented to give up the cul prit that the Indians might be avenged. They compelled the whites to stand around in a circle while they skinned the murderer alive and then permitted the whites to go on their way. The eld er Watson did not look while the punishment was inflicted but of course heard the victim's cries. During one of the early blizzards, that of April 12 to 14, 1873, the family kept their cow in the kitchen to save her from freezing, and were compelled to do their cooking on a box stove in another room. It is related that some bachelor neighbors kept their four oxen in their small cabin the three days for the same reason ; there was nothing else to do. In the blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, Mr. Watson braved the storm to feed his stock, but felt it necessary to wear a veil over his face. Both Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Christian church ; he, with his son, is a mem ber of the Modern Woodmen and Mrs. Watson affiliates with the Modern Brotherhood of Amer ica. In politics Mr. Watson was formerly re publican but for the past fifteen years has been totally independent of party ties. CHARLES M. STICHLER. Among the prominent settlers of Valley county, Nebraska, we mention the name of Charles M. Stichler as being one of the best known from the fact that he has spent the- past twenty-six years in this county, excepting two years, one of which he spent in Washington state, and the other in the state of Missouri, always being satis fied to return to Nebraska. During his long resi dence here, Mr. Stichler has devoted his best ef forts to aiding in the development of the natural resources of Valley county, and helped to build up the community in which he chose his home. Charles M. Stichler was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, January 4, 1863, and was sixth of twelve children in the family of Adam and Mary (Harker) Stichler, who had seven sons and five 686 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. daughters. The father and mother are both dead ; eleven of the twelve children are living, five of whom reside in Nebraska. Charles M. Stichler and brothers Leonard and Martin, reside in Val ley county; all having been raised and brought up on a farm. Charles M. went out for himself in his twen tieth year, going to Colorado for a trip to see the western country. After spending a few months in Colorado he returned to Iowa, and in the spring of 1886 came to Valley county, Nebraska, going on a farm his father had purchased from the railroad company on section thirty-three, township twenty, range thirteen. Charles now owns a part of this farm, and also has purchased additional land, so he now has a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres, which is well equipped and improved with good buildings, and on which he has a good home. He raises good breeds of stock, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses. Mr. Stichler was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Honeycutt in Scotia, Nebraska, on April 25, 1887. Miss Honeycutt is a native of Indiana, born near Terre Haute, April 12, 1869 ; her parents, Moses and Nancy (Butcher) Honey cutt, were early settlers in Nebraska, but now reside in Bremer, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Stich ler have had ten children, eight of whom are liv ing, namely: Gladys; Mabel, wife of William Wheatcraft, they living on part of the old Stich ler farm; and Gertie, Hazel, Nettie, Walter, Her man, and Harold, all of whom are living at home. Mr. Stichler has stuck closely to Valley county, although in 1890, he went to the state of Washington, living in Terius and Tacoma for about a year, and in 1894 went to Davis county, Missouri, for a year, always returning to Valley county satisfied that Nebraska was a good place to live. Mr. Stichler 's brother, Martin, lives in Valley county; his brother, Leonard, is married and lives in North Loup, Nebraska. Mr. Stichler is an active man of affairs, and always ready to do his part toward the develop ment of Valley county ; he has served as township treasurer, and also as a member of the township school board. Mr. Stichler and family have a wide acquaintance and many friends. He is in dependent of the party lash, voting for the man best fitted for the office, regardless of the ticket on which he may be running, and affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Ord. When Mr. Stichler came to Nebraska, Scotia was the terminus of the railroad. Not a sod had been turned on his place when he settled there. He has passed through the "soddy" days, having had two dwellings of that construction, using the second one until 1906, when he built a fine, large frame house, with the usual conveniences. A view of the home with its large barns and ac companying outbuildings, is presented on another page of this work. An orchard of one and a half acres gives a varied supply of good fruit. JOSEPH W. MALY. Among the representative farmers and stock raisers of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in the development of that re gion, and also of the northeastern part of the state in earlier days, striving to advance the best interests whenever possible, a prominent place is accorded Joseph W. Maly, who resides on his well improved estate in section eighteen, Thompson township. He is a gentleman of energetic char acter, and well merits his high standing. Joseph W. Maly, son of Joseph and Fanny (Morage) Maly, was born in the village of Chas- lavi, Bohemia. He has three brothers, Warren, Frank, and John, and two sisters, Mary and Anna, all of whom are residing in Saunders county, Nebraska. His father was born in 1828, in Chaslavi, while the mother was born in 1829; and both are still living on the old home place in Saunders county. The parents, with their family, came to America in 1872 and settled in Saunders county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land. Here our subject passed his boyhood days, at tending the country. school, which was held in a sod school house, when not assisting in the farm work at home. Mr. Maly, when a boy, experienced all the hardships endured by the early settlers in those days, when people lived in sod houses and dug outs, and hay and corn were used for fuel. Our subject and family experienced the two great blizzards of 1873 and 1880; they lived thirty-five miles from a railroad, and had to drive to market with ox teams, the journey taking about a week to go and return. Mr. Maly was united in holy wedlock to Miss Anna Proaski, and to this union six children have been born, whose names are as follows : Emma, Bessie, Millie, Tillie, Olga, and Ella, all of whom are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Maly came to Pierce county, Nebraska, from Saunders county, in 1892, buying land from Tom Moore, remaining on this place up to the present time. Mr. Maly owns one hundred and sixty acres in section eighteen, Thompson township, and he and his family are highly respected by all who know them. In religious faith, they are Catholic. CHARLES E. TAYLOR. Charles E. Taylor, prominent in official cir cles of Howard county, Nebraska, is also one the substantial citizens in the commercial life of that region. He is cashier of the Citizens National Bank, and for two years held the office of mayor of St. Paul, filling the office to the satisfaction of the entire community, gaining many friends in every walk of life. Mr. Taylor is a very young man to hold the different offices to which he has been elected, and in every instance COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 687 has filled the same in a most creditable manner, possessing a remarkably keen and pleasant per sonality and winning the regard of all with whom he comes in contact by his integrity and straight forward business principles. Mr. Taylor was born in Ashton, Illinois, De cember 9, 1872, and is a son of John and Susan Taylor. When a lad of seven years old, the fam ily moved to Sherman county, Nebraska, and there Charles attended the local schools, later going to the St. Paul high school for two years. During 1892 and 1893, he was a student at the Western Normal College, at Lincoln, returning to Ashton, Sherman county, in the latter year, where he entered the employ of Taylor & Conklin, store keepers of that place. Mr. Taylor first came to St. Paul in August, 1895, going into the county clerk's office as deputy clerk, and on January 1, 1898, became deputy county treasurer, and served for two terms. In the fall of 1901 he was elected county treasurer of Howard county and held the office for four years. In January, 1906, Mr. Taylor be came connected with the St. Paul State Bank, was appointed cashier of the institution the fol lowing month, and remained in this position until November, 1909, when he was appointed cashier of the Citizens National Bank, of St. Paul, which office he is now filling. During 1907 and 1908, Mr. Taylor was mayor of St. Paul, and as such discharged all the duties of the office with tact and ability. On June 17, 1901, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Vera Force, who is a daughter of one of the pioneer families of Howard county. Mrs. Taylor is a charming young woman, and they have two beautiful little daughters, now about six years of age. They occupy one of the handsome residences of their city, and are among the prominent and popular members of society. CHARLES J. ROOD. Charles J. Rood, born on July 4, 1851, the fourth child of Charles P. and Marianne Rood, bears the distinction of being the first white child born in his township in Waushara county, Wisconsin. Mr. Rood grew to manhood years on the Wis consin farm, receiving the usual school advan tages of that time and place, and for some time taught school in his home county. On April 3, 1872, Mr. Rood and his brother, George, left Wisconsin, starting overland for the Loup Valley in Nebraska. Their party was only one of several that left Waushara county that spring, all bound for the North Loup Valley. The two Rood boys, with Oscar Babcock and a Mr. Jacobs, who had joined them at Grand Island, reached the Valley on May 13. Charles and George Rood took a homestead on the east half of section thirty-four, township eighteen, range thirteen, and the former, the I principal subject of this sketch, has thus been a resident of Valley county since the date of the first settlement. Mr. Rood has followed farming and stock raising, and has also given much of his attention to the agency business, represent ing the McConnon's Remedy Company since 1903. Mr. Rood has been closely identified with the progress and development of Valley county, especially along educational lines. He taught school in district number one, in 1874, and the following year taught in the first frame school house opened in Ord district, Mrs. Haskell hav ing previously taught in a dugout. Mr. Rood was married to Rosa P. Furrow at the home of her father, John Furrow, (one of the original settlers of the Valley) on October 30, 1875. To them were born ten children, named as follows: Bertha Alice, Byron R., Nina, Esther A., Marianne, Marcia, May, Carrie, Bayard A., Elsie Lee, and Eunice Pauline. Mr. and Mrs. Rood have resided in Valley county since the date of the first settlement and have thus become identified with the develop ment of this beautiful region. They are highly respected and esteemed by many friends. PRANK TANNEHILL. Prank TannehiU, who resides on section twen ty-five, township twenty-three, range one, Madison counnty, Nebraska, is proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Madi son county, and has been a resident of that county for a number of years. He is promi nently known throughout the section where he resides as one of the foremost farmers and stock men, and is one of the prosperous men of his locality. Mr. Tannehill is a native of Indiana, being born in that state February 15, 1862 ; he is a son of August and Amanda (Potter) Tannehill. The. father was born in Indiana, the mother's birth' occurring in the same state. Our subject's father served in the civil war, enlisting in Com pany C, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, and saw active service as captain of his company from 1862 to 1865, until the close of the war. Mr. Tannehill 's father is a descendant of the illustrious poet Tannehill, and comes from a good family. He went to Pike's Peak in 1854, with an ox team, during the rush to the gold fields, and altogether has had quite and eventful life. In 1883 the father, with his family, came from Indiana to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, known as the B. E. Reed homestead. When he purchased this farm there was a log house on the land, which has since been replaced by a frame structure. In the pioneer days of settlement in Nebraska, elk, deer and antelope were plentiful, and were 688 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. often seen in herds throughout the country; prairie fires were a great source of anxiety and danger when the family first came here, and many times they fought the rolling mass of flames to save their home, lives, and property. Our subject well remembers these incidents, and took active part in building up the foundation for a prosperous and resourceful country .- In 1883, Mr. Tannehill, our subject, was united in marriage to Miss Lucrettie Loney, a native of Indiana, and Mr. and Mrs. Tannehill are the pa rents of seven children, whose names are as fol lows : Maude, Eva, Clyde, Esther, Allen, Josephine, and Joseph, deceased. They 'are mem bers of the Christian church (Campbellites) and Mr. Tannehill is a democrat. Mrs. Tannehill's parents came to Cuming county, Nebraska, from Indiana, in the year 1867, and are old settlers of the state, highly esteemed and respected by all. AUGUSTUS MORROW. Augustus Morrow and family are well known among the older settlers of Custer county, where they have aided in furthering the cause of educa tion and other progressive movements. Mr. Mor row was born in Chambersburg, -Pennsylvania, June 8, 1835, third child of the four sons and three daughters of Wilson J. and Barbara (Metz) Morrow. Both parents were natives of Penn sylvania, where they were married, and both are deceased. In 1855 the family left Pennsylvania and located in Peru, Illinois, and Mr. Morrow has a sister and two brothers still living in that state. In 1856 he worked on river boats, having charge of ice barges that were being shipped to southern states. He was also employed as a watchman on steamboats, and in similar capacities. At the time of the civil war Mr. Morrow en listed in an Illinois regiment, being mustered in at 'Chicago in June, 1862, as a member of Company A, Sixty-ninth Volunteer Infantry. He served on gunboats and transports during most of his term of service and also served on detached guard duty. He was mustered out in the fall of 1864 and returned to Peru, where he again worked for the ice company during the winter months. In January, 1870, at Peru, Mr. Morrow mar ried Esther Robinson, and they began living on land he owned on the river bottom near that vil lage. He carried on farming during the summers and worked on the river in the winters. In the fall of 1883 he came to Custer county to look the country over for a suitable place to locate, and took a homestead on the southeast quarter of sec tion twenty-two, township seventeen, range twenty-five, returning to Illinois to spend the winter. In March, 1884. he came to Nebraska again, bringing a car of household goods, three horses and a cow. The journey was made by rail to Cozad, and then across country to the new home. In June of the same year his wife and five children made the trip to the homestead, and the family have continued since to make that their home, except for five years spent on a Kincaid homestead in Logan county. Thus Mr. Morrow became a homesteader a second time. This second home was located eleven miles northwest of Ar nold. He is one of the few original homesteaders still in possession of their farms and has made a splendid success of his years in Nebraska. He has done his share in promoting the general welfare and progress and is recognized as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. Mrs. Morrow died on the homestead February 4, 1904, sadly mourned by her family and friends and missed in the com munity where she had lived so many years. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrow, of whom six now survive : Martha, at home ; Dr. John H., a physician and surgeon, mar ried and living in Merna, has five children; George W., Augustus J., Charles R., and Wilson E., at home. The last-named is the only one born in Nebraska. Martha and Charles R., also own Kincaid claims in Logan county. HON. NEIL M. NELSON Honorable Neil M. Nelson, county commissioner of Pierce county, Nebraska, is one of the most prominent men of affairs in that portion of his state. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his county and state, has served in various offices of trust, and has invariably per formed his duties faithfully and well, thereby gaining the highest esteem of all Our subject was born on March 18, 1855, near the village of Horsens, province of Jutland, Den mark, a son of James and Anna (Paulson) Nelson. The elder Nelson learned years afterward that as a soldier in the Danish army, he had opposed his venerable friend, Christian Hecht, of Plainview, a German soldier, in the battle "of Idstedt. In the latter fifties, James Nelson, with his family, embarked at Keil on the "Humbolt," an emigrant ship bound for the United States, and after a stormy voyage of six weeks landed in New York. Their first permanent location was made at Omaha, where Neil attended his first school. Mr. Nelson was one of a band of Mormon proselytes on their way to Salt Lake City, Utah, but not un til reaching Florence, six miles north of Omaha, did he learn that polygamy was one of the tenets of the Mormon faith. He left the colony here, and returned to Omaha, where he secured employment at his trade of wagonmaker, and followed that work until 1868. Moving to Dakota, he spent a short time in looking over the state before re turning to Nebraska to buy a farm near Pilger, Stanton county. Here he prospered wonderfully, soon being able to add a half-section to his origi nal quarter. He lived on that homestead until Compendium of History, reminiscence and biography. 689 1902, when he died at the advanced age of seven ty-seven years. Our subject attended the country schools as a boy, eagerly seeking after knowledge, soon becoming sufficiently proficient in the English lan guage to enable him to teach, which profession he followed for several years. In 1881 he went to Plainview where he had secured a position as manager for William Ragan in the grain and lumber business, and took charge of their office at Creighton, when that station was opened for business, selling the first lumber and unloading the first car of it to arrive there. The business was sold to Holbrook & Frees, our subject being retained as manager, until the following year, when in partnership with F. E. Baxter, he opened a hardware store in Plainview. Eighteen months later his father purchased Mr. Baxter's interest and changed the firm name to N. M. Nelson & Company. Several years afterwards Neil pur chased his father's interest and became sole owner. He sold the hardware business in 1902 and the implement business in the fall of 1903, prior to assuming the duties of county treasurer. Mr. Nelson has been a lifelong republican. He served many years on the town board as district treasurer, and for eight years as justice of the peace, in one election receiving every vote cast except his own. In 1888 he was elected to the state convention to nominate delegates to the na tional convention. In 1902 he was elected to rep resent the nineteenth district in the state legis lature, and the following years was elected coun ty treasurer, being the first republican to succeed to the office. He was re-elected the following term. He settled in Pierce in 1904, and in 1908 was elected county commissioner. In every in stance he has filled the office to which he was elected, with excellent judgment, gaining the con fidence and esteem of the entire country by his upright character and honest dealings. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Masonic lodge in Pierce, a prominent Knight of Pythias, Odd Fellow and Workman, and, taking it altogether, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of the entire state of Nebraska. Mr. Nelson was married at Plainview, Decem ber 24, 1882, to Miss Lydia A. Howell, who is a native of Peoria, Illinois, and to them have been born seven children, six of whom are now living, namely: Charlotte, wife of L. C. Tonner, deputy county treasurer; Chester A., in the auto business in Pierce; Edith, wife of C. W. Ulrich, residing in Montana; Benjamin, Leonard, and Bernardine, all following honorable careers in Pierce county. JUDGE JOHN L. MARTIN. (Deceased.) The gentleman above named was for many years one of the leading citizens of Merrick county, and to his efforts were due much of the prosperity enjoyed in that region. He was a 23 man of strong character and during his lifetime enjoyed the esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact, and his memory is cherished by a host of warm friends throughout the coun try. John L. Martin, deceased, son of John and Catherine (Lutz) Martin was born in Pennsyl vania, May 12, 1813, and was second in the family of eight children, all of whom are deceased. He received his schooling in the home state and later went with 'his parents to Ohio. While living there he was married to Miss Rebecca Casky who was born in Ireland. Seven children were born to this union : Henry, deceased, survived by a wife and several children ; Impertus, died when young ; Mary J., who is married to D. Callanan, lives in Laramie, Wyoming; Sarah, married to James Vieregg; Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, Grand Island, Nebraska; Charles, and John, who resides in Ne braska. Mrs. Martin died in 1872, in Nebraska. Judge Martin was one of the original forty- niners who went to seek gold in California, where he remained three- years, when he returned to Ohio and engaged in blacksmithing. In 1860, our subject came to Nebraska, locating in Schuy ler, where he worked at his trade two years, then coming to what was known as Platte county, later surveyed and organized as Merrick, Mr. Martin being one of the organizers. Here he home steaded land and purchased considerable railroad land. On February 26, 1874, Mr. Martin was married to Elmira Cunningham who was born in Ontario, Canada, but at the time a resident of Polk county, Nebraska. Judge and Mrs. Martin had four chil dren born to them : James G. Blaine Martin, who lives on the home place; Roscoe Conklin Martin, who resides in Omaha; and George Edmunds Martin, who is residing at home ; and Mabel May, wife of Mert Beanblossom, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Judge Martin was very closely identified with all the interests of his county. He was the first teachers' examiner in the county, justice of the peace nine years, served his county as judge two terms, and also practiced law, and was instru mental in organizing school districts. He was also a surveyor and did a good deal of work in that line. He was one of the most prominent men of his locality standing for all pertaining to the upbuilding of his state and county, and was widely and favorably known. He died March 15, 1893. Mrs. Martin is still living on the old home stead, surrounded by a large circle of friends. Her father, Stephen Cunningham, died in 1888 in Polk county, Nebraska, and her mother died in 1904 in the same county. She has one brother re siding in Polk county, Nebraska ; one in the state of Washington; another in Ontario, Canada, and still another ,who resides near Kearney, Nebraska. She has a sister residing in Underwood, Iowa; one in Ontario, Canada, and another in Rolla, North Dakota. 690 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. MARTIN CHRISTENSEN. There is no more contented and happy a couple in Spencer than the venerable Martin Christensen and his good wife who are, now living, retired from all activities of busy farm life, in a cozy cottage nestling on the hillslo.pe in the east part of Spencer. As their name would indicate, Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are natives of Denmark, his birth oc curring in Langelong Island, May 9, 1842. He married in Denmark November 3, 1865, Mrs. Christensen being at the time Miss Minnie- Ban- sen. They emigrated to America in 1871, sailing first from Copenhagen to Keil, thence by land to Hamburg, whence they crossed the North Sea to Hull. By rail they proceeded to Liverpool and from there began the real voyage to America. They landed in New York in May and came direct to Cedar Falls, Iowa, which they reached on the 24th of the month. In the vicinity of the town they rented four years, and then Mr. Christensen took the contract of feeding cattle on a large farm near by, and lived here until their coming to Nebraska in 1880. They settled on Turkey creek in Holt county, reaching their claim on the 27 th of April at one o'clock in the afternoon. He pre-empted a quarter section and filed on a home stead, making a half section of fine land. In 1901 he bought an additional quarter. For twenty- nine years this industrious couple lived on their farm retiring to their present cottage home the first of September, 1909. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Christen sen remained in the old country as long as the parents of either lived; they having given a prom ise to Mother Hansen that they would remain, before she gave her consent to their union and her blessing. Of their seven children, four are living. They are: Christian, a bridge builder of Spencer; Carrie, wife of Rudolph Jeppsen; Laura, wife of Sherry Leslie; and Charlie. The three younger ones are in Gregory, South Dakota, on claims. Mr. Christensen is an independent in politics with a leaning towards the republicans. For gen erations their ancestors have been of the Lutheran faith. During the first years of life in the west, Mr. Christensen occupied a log house. Deer and ante lope were plentiful, as many as nine being seen at one time, and wild turkeys were still to be found in the canyons. Indians were to be seen in large numbers on the reservation north of the Ni obrara, and frequently crossed to the south side to trade, giving their clothes at times for chick ens or pork, and returning to camp with nothing but a blanket and breech-clout. Above his cottage in Spencer, Mr. Christensen has a fine spring which is run into reservoirs and piped into the house. Cheerful and happy, Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are found to be good neighbors and friends, a de sirable acquisition to the citizenship of any town. JULIUS G. WAGNER. Among the prosperous farmers of Staunton county, Nebraska, who have grown up in this local ity, we may mention the name of Julius G. Wag ner, owner of a most valuable estate in section one, township twenty-two, range two. Mr. Wagner was born in 1867, and enjoys the distinction of Demg one of the first white children born in this county. His father was a German, who came to America in the early days of western settlement, and was a pioneer successively in Wis consin, Iowa and Nebraska. The trip from Wis consin to Council Bluffs was made with a yoke of oxen, but the latter pilgrimage was made by means of horses. The subscriber's mother left Prussia when she was only ten years of age. She came from a family who enjoyed some distinc tion, as her father was a carriage-maker who worked for the king. They were married at Watertown, Wisconsin. After coming to Staun ton county, Nebraska, they took up a homestead seven miles from where the town of Staunton is now situated. Their first home here was in a dug out, and it served the family as a dwelling place for several years. Having never known what life would be in one of the thickly settled and sheltered portions of the country, Mr. Wagner grew up in an atmos phere of self-reliance and endurance and hardy courage, and he has proven himself worthy of his early training. Although still in the prime. of life, he may be counted among the oldest settlers of the region. He remembers many interesting details of the life of the pioneers which could not help being more interesting in retrospection than when it was endured. For a long, time tneir nearest neighbors in Nebraska were more than ten miles away, and Omaha was their nearest market and postoffice. In 1889, Mr. Wagner was married to Miss Mattie Starliper. But one child has been bom to them, Pehi A. LEWIS SHOEMAKER. Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county who have spent many years in this lo cality, is the subject of this personal review, Lewis E. Shoemaker, owner of a valuable estate in Verdigris township. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of Nebraska as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of that section, and after many years; hard labor in building up his business is now prepared to en joy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. He still personally superintends his farm, and takes an active part in all neighbor hood affairs of public welfare. Mr. Shoemaker was born in Ulster county- New York state, February 11, 1858, and his father was also a native of that state, the latter 's par ents coming to America from Holland during their youth. Our subject's paternal grandfather took lSmiM^^0^ i3l$^ ¦3 1 ^ Q VJ 'U VJ 4JI.W- fVNSTORE SCENE 90UTH Of RtSIDEMCe .. '¦: out with the inside boarded up, hiding the dirt bank. Later a log house was their dwelling. Gustav LeBlanc, one of the younger children of his father's family, was born March 15, 1863 764 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. near the village of Joliette, Lower Canada, in a stone house which his father built on the site of the log house in which he himself was born. He remembers something of their trip to the west when he was a lad of six years; he recalls seeing in Omaha — then a small town — log houses with port-holes for defense against the Indians. While living in Saunders county, he had his first pair of boots, red-topped, copper-toed footwear, of which, boy like, he was very proud. He started out for himself at the age of twenty years as a journeyman watchmaker. He had begun to repair guns at the early age of fif teen and later took up watchmaking, at which he became an expert. He spent six or seven years in Denver with an old Switzer, August Courviser, who could make watches from the rough material. After leaving Denver, he worked for a short time in Omaha, and then packing his tools in a grip, bought a horse and cart, and became in truth a journeyman watchmaker, traveling as far south as central Kansas during the winter months and as far as Pierre, South Dakota, in the summer season. In this work he kept to the road until 1897, when fate found for him a helpmeet in the person of a woman of his own race whom he met in his wanderings at Verdel. After marriage, he quit his wandering life, and for several years worked at his trade in Niobrara. Learning of a forty-acre tract of un occupied government land about half way be tween Niobrara and Bloomfield, he filed on it under the homestead law and there erected a small building and opened a store to trade with the Indians. He had become familiar with the Sioux tongue and soon became a great friend of the Indians, who never fail to visit his store when in Bloomfield. He established a postoffice at his store, to which he gave his own name, which will be perpetuated on the map of the state. In 1904, he traded his store and stock for a building in Bloomfield, in which he installed a stock of general merchandise, enlarging the building to seventy feet in length. Selling his store, he opened a jewelry establishment opposite the postoffice, in which he prospered. In the fall of 1909, he erected his present large brick store on Main street, in which he carries a large stock of watches, clocks and jewelry, in addition to a well selected stock of fine china and porcelain, together with a line of Indian curios. Mr. LeBlanc was married in Omaha, Septem ber 25, 1897, to Mrs. William Tucker, who was in maidenhood Armandine Verdel, giving her maiden name to the new town established when the Ponca reservation was opened to settlement. She was born in Cote de Nord, a village in France, and is a daughter of Leon Verdel, who, after liv ing for a time in England and Wales, came to America in 1885. Armandine was married in Cardiff, Wales, to William Tucker, who died soon after settling in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. LeBlanc have an adopted daughter, Elsa Jose phine, a child of unusual brightness of mind, born March 25, 1904. Mr. LeBlanc is an independent republican in political views, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. LeBlanc has always been a great hunter and has a fine collection of fire arms; two Bel gian quail guns of number forty-four and num ber twenty-eight bore ; three fine English fowling pieces, two of them number ten bore; a French combination rifle and shot-gun, besides an old time Henry rifle, used in the early days to kill buffalo ; he also has two fine specimens of small arms, a Remington and a Smith & Wesson revol ver. When a boy he kept the family in game, and when in his teens he formed a member of a party freighting to the Black Hills, his only duty was to keep them in deer or buffalo meat and stand his turn as guard at night. He has been quite a rover, having wandered as far west as eastern Oregon and Washington, into Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and as far south as Texas and Old Mexico. He spent one winter in a logging' camp near Duluth. He was a great favorite in camp because of his music, playing the violin for the amusement of the lumber men in their camps at night. Years after, he revis ited the place with his wife and daughter, find ing many familiar buildings and scenes. At the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. LeBlanc was at the house of a neighbor, Louis Bourk, whom he helped do his chores about the time the storm broke. They made their way to the house and remained there for a week. The storm destroyed many game birds that had been plentiful before. Mr. LeBlanc had killed about twenty prairie chickens the previous evening. After the storm hundreds of grouse and quail were to be found along under brush and trees. The crows that survived had a feast for months on the dead birds, which by in stinct they could locate under the snow. The city of Wahoo, when Mr. LeBlanc first knew it, consisted of a mill, nothing more. In the early days venison and buffalo meat were on sale in the markets of the small western towns. Grasshoppers devoured their crops three years, though their potato patch and pea vines were saved. For long periods their only food was corn bread and pork, with a little sorghum mo lasses. Prairie fires were destructive when the country was open, and on one occasion when Mr. LeBlanc was out hunting and a fire came raging across the prairie, he was saved by getting into a lake and lying down in the water. He has seen flames fifty feet high when the wind was brisk and the grass tall and dry. As a boy he under stood the art of snaring, and many a fine meal of snow birds kept the family from hunger. Rattle snakes were numerous, some of them attaining a length of five or six feet. Mr. LeBlanc is a collector of Indian relics having a fine line of specimens of their ancient COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 765 and modern handiwork; his hunting suit of buckskin, made for him by a squaw, is a fine specimen of aboriginal skill. Mr. LeBlanc is an energetic business man who has won his success by honest dealing; he has the full confidence of his red brothers, as well as his neighbors of the paler skin. JOSEPH ST. LOUIS. (Deceased.) For over twenty years this gentleman was closely identified with the development of Boone county, Nebraska. He is a pioneer farmer, and his career as such is well worthy of a conspicu ous place on these pages devoted to the men whose courage and ability have made the great west possible, and a fact. Joseph St. Louis was born in Plattsburg, New Jersey, on September 10, 1832, and grew to man hood in Clinton county. In his twenty-second year he moved to Oswego county, New York, and remained there for four years, then went to Iowa. In the spring of 1880, he came into Nebraska, settling in Lancaster county, and after spending about two years in that vicinity, came into Boone county. He filed on a homestead on section twenty, township twenty-two, range seven, and later added one hundred and sixty acres which he purchased outright. There he went through all the early experiences of the pioneer in Ne braska, and by constant industry and faithful labor, succeeded in building up a comfortable home and productive farm. Mr. St. Louis died on the homestead, Decem ber 3, 1905, survived by his wife and four chil dren. He was married November 5, 1857, in Oswego county, New York, to Miss Aurelia Marshall, and to them six children were born, four of whom are now living, named as follows: Emma Jane, wife of David White, they living in New York state, and parents of three children; Ann Eliza, wife of William Ebright, parents of three children, residing in Omaha; Henry H., who is a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church at Bloomfield, Nebraska, father of six children; and Joseph M., who with his wife and two children are living on the old Van Camp farm. Mrs. St. Louis resides with the latter, and the entire family are held in high esteem by all in the community. E. W. WEBB. Among the prosperous citizens of Antelope county, Nebraska, who have spent many years in this locality is E. W. Webb. In fact, it is some twenty-six years since Mr. Webb cast his lot in this part of the state. Mr. Webb is a native of Canada, being born in what is known as Stanstead Plains, Canada, April 5, 1846, and here he lived until six months of age, when his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wiscon sin. His father, John G. Webb, was an officer in the English army, and held the rank of lieutenant. He descended from a family of soldiers, his people having served in the British army as far back as our subject has knowledge of. Our subject's mother was a native of Scotland. Mr. Webb's family moved from Wisconsin in 1851 to Illinois. On August 1, 1862, he enlisted in the civil war, and after receiving his discharge on July 13, 1865, he went back to Ogle county, Illinois, and from there to Minnesota, and then to Nebraska and then to Iowa, where he remained nine years. During the war Mr. Webb enlisted in Company B, Ninety-second Illinois Regular Mounted In fantry, and was down through the south with General Sherman, in Tennessee, Georgia, Ala bama, Louisiana, and North and South Carolina. He marched to the sea in General Atkinson's brigade under General Sherman. April 1, 1884, Mr. Webb came to Nebraska, taking up a pre-emption claim in section ten, township twenty-three, range eight, and on this land built a sod house, as was the usual style of dwelling in those days. He sold this place and bought land in section fourteen, township twenty- three, range eight, which he has highly improved, and now owns six hundred and forty acres of fine land, stockraising being his principal occu pation. He has a fine orchard and grove of twenty-five acres, and the farm is known as Pleasant Home Ranch. He is interested in several head of very fine Duroc Jersey hogs; also in a very fine herd of high grade Pole Angus cattle. In 1874, Mr. Webb was united in marriage to Miss Alice Cooling, and five children were born to this union, named as follows: Maggie, wife of E. E. Hall; John, who is also mar ried; Effie, who is the wife of Gus Hall, has two boys, they live in Colorado; Albert, married Maud Jeffries; and Matie, who is the wife of Doctor Bartlett, of Spaulding, Greeley county, Nebraska, has one boy. In 1887, Mrs. Webb died, deeply mourned by her husband, family, relatives and many kind friends. In 1907 Mr. Webb again married, the bride being Mrs. Marie Murre'tts, who came to Nebraska in 1870, and is one of the oldest settlers in this sec tion of Antelope county. DAVID COLLIER. David Collier is a successful farmer of Custer county and member of a family that has been prominent in central Nebraska for nearly thirty years. He is the fourth of the six living chil dren of John and Janet (Todd) Collier and was born in Scotland August 1, 1869. The parents are given extensive mention in connection with the sketch of John Collier, junior, which may be found in this work. David Collier was about ten years of age when his parents came to America, sailing from Glasgow to New York in 766 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the "Nevada," the voyage lasting eleven days. They located near Lincoln, Nebraska, and there David completed his education. He came to Cus ter county in the spring of 1883, remaining with his father until his marriage, December 22, 1897, to Miss Nellie May Slingsby, the affair being a double wedding and taking place on the old Collier homestead, Mr. Collier's sister, Elizabeth, becoming the wife of John Garness at the same time. The Slingsby family were among the pio neers of Custer county and prominent in all affairs of interest to the community. After marriage Mr. Collier brought his wife to their home on the northwest quarter of sec tion twenty-nine, township seventeen, range sev enteen, 'where they began housekeeping in a soddy the following summer, and lived in this for eleven years, when a neat, modern cottage home was erected. They now have four hundred acres of well improved land and have a well equipped stock and grain farm. Mr. Collier is a wide-awake, hustling farmer, progressive in his ideas and methods, and making the most of his chances for success. He is actively interested in any public movement that is calculated to ad vance the common good of the community or county, and is highly respected as a good and useful citizen. He and his wife have three chil dren, namely: Mary Janet, Alfred David and Alvin Field. Mr. Collier and his two brothers are neighbors, and all are extensive feeders and shippers of live stock. They are self-made men, and considered as among the more substantial men of the county, who perform their duties in a quiet way, and keep constantly in mind the general welfare of the state, where most of their lives have been spent, and for which all have a patriotic senti ment. Mr. Collier was reared in the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a republican, but votes independently of party lines if he prefers another candidate. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen. An early experience of Mr. Collier, when he was a boy, is well worthy of mention. He herded cattle for eight years, and one day, while with the herd, he came suddenly upon two mountain .lions, riding to within fifty feet of them. When he realized what the strange animals were, he backed his horse away from them a distance, and then gave them wide berth, having no firearms with him. His story was doubted by many until others saw the beasts in the vicinity, and con firmed his story of their presence near. D1MIC H. RATHBUN. Dimic II. Rathbun, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Valley county, Nebraska, owns a good farm of three hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, township nineteen,' range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, and is a pro gressive and industrious member of the commun ity. Mr. Rathbun was born in Steuben county, New York, August 29, 1852, and was second of eight children in the family of Hiram and Louise (Sherer) Rathbun, who had five sons and three daughters. He was the eldest son, and was raised on a farm. Mr. Rathbun is practically a self-made and self-educated man, going out for himself in his twenty-first year. He had bought a farm in Steuben county, and farming and stock- raising was his occupation. In March, 1877, Mr. Rathbun gave his farm in Steuben county to his parents, and came by train to Grand Island, Nebraska, having but one dollar left on his arrival. From there he footed it up to the Loup river valley country, taking up a homestead in the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen, and he has made this his home until this date, being the only original homesteader in Springdale township to remain on his first tract of land. There are probably only two others that reside on the old homestead farm north of the river so far as the Valley county line extends north and east. Mr. Rathbun landed in Valley county with out means, being obliged to freight from Grand Island to secure funds for living expenses, and broke prairie for others even before he turned a sod on his own land. He now has one of the best farms in the county, there being, as stated before, three hundred and sixty acres in his resi dence farm. He also has other valuable farms in Valley county, he and his sons owning upwards of seven hundred acres. He is a successful and prosperous man, and has had much to do with the development of the county. When a new bridge, road or other improvement is desired, Mr. Rath bun is usually on the committee, and seldom fails to secure what is desired. He has always given of his time and means toward the betterment of all conditions along progressive lines. Mr. Rathbun was married to Miss Cornelia E. Drake, January 19, 1879, in Ord, Nebraska Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun had known each other in Steuben county, New York, and Mr. Rathbun held down his homestead for nearly two years as a bachelor, and when he had succeeded in improving it, the homestead awaited the coming of the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun have seven children: Claude D., Mott A., who is married and living on an adjoining farm; Chan L., Myrtle, wife of Guy Waterbury, has one child, and resides in Benson, Nebraska; Ora, wife of Orin Kelson, lives in Mira Valley, in south Ord; Melvin, is farming in Mira Valley, and Cash. They are a fine family, and stand high in social and educational circles. They are widely known as pioneer settlers, and have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. They wor ship in the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Rathbun is independent in politics and fraternizes with the American Nobles and the Ancient Order DUG-OUT AND SODDY 'RATHBUN HOMESTEAD," RESIDENCE OF D. H. RATHBUN. "ASH VALLEY FARM," RESIDENCE OF GARDNER HOUSEL. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 767 of United Workmen, and is also a member, with his wife, of the Degree of Honor. Mr. Rathbun and family passed through the adverse years of Valley county, losing all their crops during the drouth of 1894, and two years hail ruined their prospects. However, by energy and thrift they have accumulated considerable of this world's goods. For several years they lived in a log front dugout, with a dirt roof, near which was later built a house covered with boards, tar paper and sod. This was later replaced by their present substantial residence, of which we giye a view elsewhere in this work, with its sur rounding barns and outbuildings. Mr. Rathbun's hog house, recently constructed after his own plans, is something unique in farm buildings. The floor is of clay, held in place by wire fencing, preventing its being torn up by the swine, and at the same time avoiding the chill of granitoid, while the ventilation and movable partitions make it one of the most convenient farm buildings the writer of this sketch ever saw. Mr. Rathbun has often seen from his cabin door on the homestead, elk and deer come out in the open and play on the bank of the Loup river. He was one of the posse to follow the famous Doc Middleton on one of his raids into the Loup coun try, but losing the trail they could not again lo cate the outlaw. The Rathbun family are extensive shippers of stock, Mr. Rathbun often shipping two hun dred and fifty head from their little station, Sumpter, while his sons ship twice as many more. He has at all times a goodly number of young stock on the place, raising many and purchasing more. GARDNER HOUSEL. Gardner Housel and wife are among the very earliest pioneers of central Nebraska and have been residents of Custer county since 1879, a period of more than thirty years. Mr. Housel was born in New Jersey, September 18, 1847, fifth of the twelve children of Furman and Margaret (Carpenter) Housel. He has a brother, Phillip, in Hamilton county; a sister, Mrs. Sarah Beet, living in the same county ; one brother in Colo rado, one in Wisconsin and one in Washington city; others of the children are now deceased. Both parents were born in New Jersey and the mother was of German descent. The father died in Wisconsin in 1892 and the mother in 1895. In early childhood Mr. Housel accompanied his parents to Dane county, Wisconsin, and there reached manhood, receiving his education in the country schools. He was reared on a farm and when he reached young manhood began farming on his own account. In the spring of 1870, he went to Nebraska in search of land on which he would care to settle, and homesteaded eighty acres between Sutton and Aurora, in Hamilton county, where he lived about nine years. Mr. Housel was married in Otoe county, Ne braska, December 2, 1872, to Miss Jennie Cook, a native of New York City, who eame with her parents, Lawson and Agnes (Jenkenson) Cook, to that county in 1857. Both parents were natives of Eggermount, Cumberland county, England, but did not know each other until meeting in New York. The mother was born in 1813 and came to America in 1838, and was running a small hotel. The father came about the same time, and a few years later was boarding at this hotel, and in 1841 married his hostess. Eight children have been born to Mr. Housel and wife, namely : Frank B., a farmer of Custer county, has four children; William A., a dentist of Ansley, also has four children; Charles Lawson, a physician of Ansley, has three children ; Margaret A., wife of N. B. Sheldon, of Custer county, has two children; three daughters and one son are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Housel lived on the home place in Hamilton county until 1879, when they came to Custer county and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-two, township fifteen, range eighteen, which has since been the home place. It is well improved and equipped with everything necessary to carry on successful grain and stock farming. Mr. Housel has set out nine acres with fruit trees, a source of much pleasure to the family. He makes a specialty of polled Angus cattle, which he has raised ex tensively for the past twenty-five years. He is a prosperous and successful business manager and owns eight hundred acres of land in one body. He is an enterprising and useful citizen, interested in the welfare and progress of the county and state. In an early day he was instrumental in organizing a school district at his home in Ham ilton county, and later performed the same valu able public service in Custer county, in both in stances serving as a member of the school board. Mr. and Mrs. Housel have passed through many varied phases in the history of Nebraska, and found it necessary to meet pioneer conditions and trials. Their first three years were spent in a dugout, and the frame house which succeeded it was the first of its kind in the county. The lumber was hauled from Kearney, fifty miles distant; thir teen trips being necessary for it and other sup plies. Additions were added from time to time, and in 1912 a fine concrete block house was erected on the place. We are pleased to call at tention to an engraving of all these on another page of this volume. Mr. Housel killed many deer and buffalo, hunting in the main herd of them about Christ mas in 1873. Grasshoppers destroyed his wheat and rye the following year, but the corn made a partial crop after the pests left. The blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, was disastrous to their stock. They had just bought some cattle from Mrs. Housel 's home folk, and lost all but one cow and calf Mrs. Housel kept in the kitchen during 768 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. fne storm. The winter of the deep snow, 1880 and 1881, was severe on the settlers ; the last snow of the season fell May 22, 1881. Mrs. Housel was herding their cattle on the prairies at the time and well remembers the circumstance. In the sudden and severe blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Housel was returning with a load of straw ; the wind was of such force that he got home with only the small amount on which he was lying. The two older boys were at school and remained at a neighbor's all night. Mr. Housel is independent in politics, and with his family, is a member of the Christian church. W. R. BARNETT. Among the leading and substantial agricul turists of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this review occupies a promi nent place. Mr. Barnett was until recently the owner of a valuable estate in township twenty- seven, range three, but has moved from this well improved farm to the city of Lincoln. Mr. Barnett is a native of Missouri, having been born in Barton county, that state, February 23, 1869, and is the son of James and Jane (Knowles) Barnett. Our subject's father served four and a half years in the civil war on the union side, in Company K, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the Siege of Vicksburg. Mr. Barnett, in his childhood, moved with his parents to Appanoose county, Iowa, where he spent most of his boyhood days, securing what education he has in the district school. In 1879, the family moved to Saunders county, Nebraska, south of Fremont. In 1894, Mr. Barnett was united in marriage to Miss Mary Simpson, to which union three children have been born: Clair C, Harold J. and Anna. In 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Barnett came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where >they purchased three hundred and twenty acres in section eight, town ship twenty-seven, range three, near the station of Breslau. This he sold in 1910 and moved to Lincoln that his children might enjoy the ad vantages of the state agricultural schools. In religious faith, Mr. Barnett adheres to the Presbyterian church, and in politics votes the republican ticket. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and is highly respected by all who know him. WARD W. BARNES. Ward W. Barnes, who for the past many years has been identified with the farming and business interests of Howard county, has also taken an active part in the political and official life of that region. While pursuing his career he has done his full share in helping to build up the vicinity and has become prosperous and successful, now being among the popular men of his county. Mr. Barnes was born in Allegany county, New York, June 30, 1854. At the age of three years he accompanied his parents west, they lo cating in northern Illinois, where they lived for about six years. They also lived in Warren county, Illinois, for a number of years, and in 1873 removed to Iowa, settling on a farm in Ringgold county. During the third year of their residence in that state our subject started in life for himself, beginning farming on his own ac count, also worked out by the month. He was married on the twentieth day of March, 1881, to Miss Mattie Shaffer, of Ringgold county, Iowa, and the following year they came on to Valley county, Nebraska, remaining one year. In the spring of 1883, they moved to Greeley county, settled on a rented farm, spent a short time there, and then took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Custer county, the family taking possession of their new home in the following spring. They remained there but one year then relinquished on the claim and returned to Gree ley county, living there for one year. Their next move was into Howard county, where Mr. Barnes worked rented land for about ten years, then purchased one hundred and sixty acres situated in sections twenty and twenty-nine, township six teen, range twelve, which tract was mostly under cultivation, and for which he paid three thousand two hundred dollars. He remained on the farm up to 1906, then sold out for eight thousand dol lars, showing the phenomenal rise in land values during that time, although, of course, he had added various improvements to the place. In the spring of 1906 he purchased a ten-acre tract just at the edge of Cotesfield, and built thereon a comfortable residence, which he still makes his home. Mr. Barnes is an active public-spirited citizen, a populist in politics, and has served officially in Elba precinct from 1898 to 1905, inclusive, as assessor during most of that time. In the fall of 1906 he was elected county commissioner and re-elected in 1909, which office he is still fining. During his residence in Greeley county he held the office of treasurer of the county, also was a member of the Union district school board. Mr. Barnes' first wife died on May 10, 1894, and two years later he was married to Miss Mary Cook, of Howard county. There were seven chil dren born of the first union, named as follows: Etta. Earl and Goldie, all married and settled in comfortable homes in Howard county; Mary and Mabel, are employed as long distance telephone operators in the St. Paul offices of the telephone company, while Claude and Reuben are both farming near Cotesfield. The four children re sulting from Mr. Barnes' second marriage are: Lester, Edmond, Emil and Armel May, all living at home. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 769 ANDREW PIERSON. Andrew Pierson, one of the prosperous farm ers of Sherman county, is one of the old settlers of that locality, and can recount many interest ing experiences and incidents of his early life in Nebraska. He is the proprietor of a fine, well improved stock farm of about five hundred and twenty acres, and is reckoned among the pro gressive farmers of the community. Mr. Pierson was born near Maryholm, Sweden, on January 8, 1850, and he was the third in a family of four children, only three of whom are now living. The parents never left the old coun try and the father died there in 1854, the mother in 1880. Mr. Pierson passed his boyhood and youth in the old country, and received his edu cation there. He came to America in 1871, sailing from Copenhagen to Hull, England, and embarked at Liverpool for Quebec, whence he traveled by rail and river to New York. He located in New Jersey, working in the ore mines at Oxford for a time, and later went to Shugenants, Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines two years. After a visit to his native land, Mr. Pierson came west in the fall of 1877, and engaged in farm labor in Burt county, Ne braska. In 1881, he came to Sherman county, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section two, township sixteen, range sixteen, which has been his home ever since ; as he prospered he purchased adjoining land in sections one and two, until acquiring the acreage above mentioned. On the thirty-first of August, 1893. Mr. Pier son was married in Loup City, to Tilda Neilson, also a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1893 with Mr. Pierson on his return from a visit to the home land. Five children have been born to them, named respectively: Carl A., Selma, Alma, Albin, Arthur, deceased, and Arthur, the second of that name, all at' home. Henning Pier son, a son of Mrs. Pierson, is married, and lives in Sherman county. For thirty years our subscriber has been iden tified with the agricultural interests of the lo cality and he has aided materially in transform ing this region into a thriving farming district. He has always been interested in educational matters and for twelve years served as treasurer of the school district, number twenty-seven. During his first year in the west Mr. Pierson batched in a small dugout with a sod front; he later erected a more commodious sod house, Which was the family residence until 1888. Mr. Pierson was reared in the Lutheran church. In politics he is a republican. PETER ETLING. In compiling a list of the prominent pioneers of Madison county, Nebraska, we mention Peter Etling as being one of the true old-timers, he hav ing located here in the fall of 1881, and since that time being intimately identified with the growth and progress of the region. He has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his community, aiding by every means in his power the develop ment of the agricultural and commercial re sources of his part of the state, and has inci dentally, through thrift, good management and economy, succeeded in accumulating a goodly portion of this world's goods to protect himself and family from discomfort in old age. Mr. Etling is a native of Ohio, born in Holmes county, November 18, 1843. His parents were born and reared in Prussia, they coming to America about 1842. The vessel in which they made the trip was a sailboat, and, like many other emigrants, experienced considerable hard ships during the voyage, which consumed thirty- eight days. Often the sea was very rough and the little boat was in danger of being swamped by the great waves which swept over her, but a safe landing was finally made, and the passengers scattered to their various destinations, Mr. and Mrs. Etling going directly to Ohio, where they now live. Peter was educated in his native county, at tending the country schools. He followed farm ing during his young manhood years, and achieved a certain measure of success, but became dissatis fied with conditions in the east, so, in company with his wife and children, came west, arriving in Madison county in April, 1881. The following year he bought the Albert Berklin homestead and began farming. Their dwelling during the first year was a rough dugout, then a comfortable frame house was erected, and improvements added as fast as they were able. He had the usual experiences relative to loss of crops on account of the hot winds, storms, etc., and in the blizzard of 1888 was among those who suffered the loss of stock. However, in spite of all these setbacks, he continued to prosper, and became the owner of a finely improved tract of land con sisting of two hundred and forty acres, all now under cultivation except what is needed for graz ing for his stock, of which he has considerable, owning several head of thoroughbred Belgian horses, Poland China hogs and Hereford cattle, all registered stock. In 1869, Mr. Etling was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Emmig, and to them have come seven children, six of whom are now living, all settled in their own homes, except Mrs. Schind ler, and doing their full share as worthy citizens of their respective communities. They are named as follows: Carrie, now Mrs. H. W. Decker; Sarah, Mrs. Peter Emmrick; Mary, who is the wife of Joseph Schindler; and Katie, Anna and John F., the latter three are unmarried. Mr. Etling is a republican, and while he has not cared to take a leading part in- the affairs of his immediate section, he is always on hand to 770 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. assist in promoting the best interests of the county, and is one of the substantial and trust worthy men of his community. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the German Luth eran church. WALTER M. HENDERSON. Walter M. Henderson was one of the very early settlers of Custer county and a member of a pioneer family. During his early years there he had many trying experiences, and passed through the years of severe storms, and the years of drouth, when crops could not be raised. He is one of the few men to retain possession of their original homesteads, a man of forceful character, self-made in every way. He is a native of Har rison county, Missouri, born January 21, 1861, second of three children of John F. and Mary J. (Williams) Henderson. The father was born in Paterson, New Jersey, August 7, 1828, and the mother in Muskingum county, Ohio, February 14, 1831. They were married in Ohio and during their early married life removed to Iowa, and before 186l had removed from Decatur county, Iowa, to Missouri. While their son, Walter, was still in his infancy they returned to Iowa, remain ing there until about 1868, when they returned to Missouri. The father was a cooper by trade and these removals were made as his business pros pects seemed to dictate. They lived in Missouri until November, 1877, at which time the father and mother, with their two sons, Walter M. and Franklin E., came with a team and wagon over the prairie schooner route to Lillian Creek, Custer county. The father secured a homestead on section thirteen, township nineteen, range twenty, which remained the home farm until the title was proved. The sons were also original homesteaders in Custer county. On December 22, 1881, Walter M. Henderson was united in marriage, at New Helena, Custer county, with Emma G. Greenwood, daughter of George B. and Roenna Greenwood, of an early Nebraska family. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood brought their family to the county in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were married by Judge Matthews, of New Helena, the first justice of the peace of Custer county. In 1882, Mr. Henderson filed an entry on the farm which has since remained the home place, on the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, township nineteen, range seventeen, and a timber claim of eighty acres in the same section, making two hundred and forty acres altogether. Mr. Henderson hauled logs for the first cabin north of the river, from Cedar canyon. He erected a house on the homestead for himself and one on the eighty-acre timber claim for his parents, where they remained until the death of the mother on December 29, 1887, after which the father came to live with his son, Walter M. The father was injured by a falling tree on February 27, 1879, losing his right arm and receiving in jury to his hip, from which he never fully re covered. In youth Mr. Henderson received a common school education, and early began to help with the work on his father's farm. From his eighteenth year he had the care and responsibility of his parents and faithfully performed these duties. In early days he freighted with an ox team from Lillian Creek to Grand Island and at times was on the road for ten days in making a round trip, camping out wherever night overtook him. At this time there was no house between what is now Walworth postoffice and the village of Comstock. He says the companions of these trips were Texas cattle, jack rabbits, coyotes, and the whisperings of the winds. He is one of the successful farmers of his part of the county and also has a creamery business at Comstock. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the parents of four children, three of whom now survive : Walter L., married, and living five miles south of Comstock, has three children; the second child died in infancy; Elmer F., married and living on part of the old homestead, has two children; and Ethel Belle, at home. All were born on the home farm, and educated in the local schools. FRED KOEBKE. Fred Koebke is one of the older residents of Wayne county, Nebraska, and since coming to that region has been actively interested in every measure for the public welfare. He has con tributed his full share to the betterment of con ditions, and as a private citizen has proven him self public-spirited and enterprising. He is a native of Germany and was born Jan uary 3, 1862, a son of Ernest and Myra Koebke, of Pommerania, Germany. The parents spent their entire lives in Germany, where the father was engaged in farming. Mr. Koebke was one of eight children, and remained with his parents until some time after reaching his majority. He received the usual education to be had in the public schools of his native place, and was reared to the work of farming, and served three years in the German army. He was an ambitious young man, and the reports that reached him of opportunities to be had by young men of small capital in America fired his enthusiasm, so that he left home in 1888, sailing from Hamburg to the city of New York. He started west at once, reached Washington county, Nebraska, in the fall, and after spending the winter there, removed to Wayne county, where he obtained work and in 1890 purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section seventeen, township twenty-seven, range three, which is his present home. There were no im provements on this land, but he began to develop his farm and add to its value, until he now has one of the pleasant homes in the community, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 771 where he carries on a general line of farming and raises considerable stock of various kinds. He is well known as a man of industry and de termination, and is regarded as an intelligent and progressive farmer. He follows modern methods of carrying on his work, has improved machinery to help him in it, and is one of the influential citi zens of the county. He has made many friends and enjoys the respect and esteem of all. His house was erected about 1895. CALVIN B. HARTWELL. (Deceased.) The gentleman whose name heads this per sonal history, now deceased, during his life time, held a. high position among the leading citizens of Merrick county, Nebraska. Calvin B. Hartwell was born on a plantation in Virginia in the year 1810, and while he was still an infant his parents moved to Massachu setts, where he lived until about his twenty-sev enth year. Mr. Hartwell was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Ragsdale, a native of Indiana, in the year 1837, at Washington, Indiana. After mar riage, Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell migrated to Hills- boro, Illinois, where they made their home until 1849. Pour children were born in Illinois: Lucy A., Thomas J., Caroline S., and Mary Elizabeth. In 1849 the family moved to Worth county, Mis souri, where they resided until June, 1862. The Hartwell family arrived in Douglas county, Nebraska, in June, 1862, the family con sisting of father, mother and six children, two boys and four girls; five children were born in Missouri, namely: John C, Laura J., Hannah R., Malina Alice and Amos E. The children who came with the parents were the six youngest, the three eldest having married and made homes of their own. The family lived at Bridgeport on the Military road, and Mr. Hartwell was con nected with a tavern, or inn, so called in those days. In the latter part of March, 1865, the family came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where they were original homesteaders of that county on section twenty-eight, township fifteen, range four, and this remained the residence until the time of Mr. Hartwell 's death, on February 25, 1878. Mr. Hartwell was an educated man, being a graduate of Harvard, and always took an active interest in the upbuilding of his home county and state, and several times was called upon to serve Merrick county as commissioner. After Mr. Hartwell's death, the family made the farm their home until 1882. At this time the children had married, excepting Amos E. and Malina Alice, who were on the farm with their mother. In 1882 the family became separated, and Mrs. Hartwell went to live with her son. She now resides in Clarks with her daughter, Mrs. Hans Kokjer, and is in her ninety-first year. Mrs. Hartwell has had a busy life and passed through pioneer days in several states, and is a woman loved by all. Amos E. Hartwell, youngest son of the above mentioned, was born in Worth county, Missouri, March 27, 1860, and when he grew to his eighteenth year started out in life for himself, this being the year of his father's death. Mr. Hartwell had good schooling and always sought higher education. In his twenty-first year he taught the district school, after which he attended the Nebraska University from 1882 to 1884 ; then engaged in stock business one year, when he. be came interested in a general mercantile store in Clarks, Nebraska, until 1889. On May 4, 1887, in Clarks, Nebraska, Mr. Hartwell was married to Miss Ruth A. Richard son, a native of New York state, and who became a resident of Hall county, Nebraska, in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell have seven children living: Edgar E., Merwyn A., Mary A., Laura E., Gladys E., Robert R., and Carl B., all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. Hartwell, after 1889, followed farming and stock raising until 1904, since which year he has handled live stock for the market. He is a successful and highly esteemed man, and the Hartwell family has always been widely known in this section of Nebraska, and have been prom inent in business, social and educational circles. HENRY H. DATHER. A leading old timer of northeastern Nebraska is found in the gentleman above mentioned, he having come to Pierce county about 1890, when that region was just beginning to be settled by many who had come to this new country to build up homes and fortunes through industry and per severance, and who by dint of good management and often times much privation, have accumu lated a competence to last them through their declining years. Mr. Dather resides in section three, township thirty- two, range eight, where he has a comfortable home and is held in high es teem by a host of warm friends and good neigh bors. Mr. Dather is a native of Iowa, being born in Bremer county, that state, in 1865, a son of Henry and Salina (Jackson) Dather, the father being a native of Germany, and the mother being born in the state of Ohio. Henry Dather, our subject's father, came from Germany when he was a small boy with his father. His father, our subject's grandfather, having served in the Ger man army in the war between Turkey and Ger many, experienced many hardships, so he de cided to come to America with his family where his sons would never have to go through the hardships and trials he had gone through in his native land; and such is the brief history of the Dather family's advent to American soil. In 1891 Henry H. Dather left his native state, Iowa, to make a fortune for himself. He came to 772 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Plainview, Pierce county, Nebraska, remaining there for one year, when, believing he could be come more prosperous in Knox county, in the same state, he removed to that locality, and in September, 1892, he took up a homestead in sec tion three, township thirty-two, range eight, which old homestead farm has remained the re siding place of Mr. Dather and family .to this day. He built a good frame house at once on this land and ' ' batched it ' ' for about five years, when he married. Mr. Dather was united in marriage in 1897 to Miss Ella Jones, and Mr. and Mrs. Dather are the parents of a fine family of six children, named as follows: George, Mary, Henry, Salina and Mar garet, and a baby son. E. M. ARNOLD. E. M. Arnold, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Stanton county, Nebraska, has been a resident of that locality for a number of years. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the fore most farmers and stock men of the community. Mr. Arnold is a native of Washington county, Iowa, and was born in 1866, the son of William and Rebecca Jane Arnold. The family is an old one, and distinguished in many ways. His grand father came from Wales, while the grandmother was of Scotch descent. The family first emi grated to this country in the early part of the eighteenth century, according to the records. The great great grandfather came to Virginia, and was an officer in the war of 1812. The sub scriber's father eame to Iowa in 1841, and took up a homestead there, when this was the frontier. An uncle also took up a homestead here, and still resides in this same county and township, having lived here for seventy years. He was a carpenter by tra'de, and built the first church in Washing ton county, also the last Methodist church, up to date. Mr. Arnold himself came to Stanton county, Nebraska, in June, 1884. He lived here three years, then moved to Daws county, and took up a homestead, building a sod house as his home there. Later he returned to Stanton county, and bought his present home. He has improved the farm in many ways since buying it, adding new buildings, building fences, planting groves and fruit, until now, as has been said, it is one of the most valuable farms in the county. In 1889, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage to Miss Ida Lowry, and four children have been born to them. They are: Jay Edward, Pearl Myra, Newton and Blanche. In politics, Mr. Arnold is a staunch republi can, and takes an active interest in public affairs. His name is always foremost in the aid of every measure of tending to the development and build ing of the financial and social interests of the community. C. H. BLIGH. A typical pioneer of Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named. Mr. Bligh has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part of the growth and develop ment of this region, building up for himself a sub stantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Antelope county. Mr. Bligh was born July 7, 1841, and is a na tive of Madison county, New York state. From there he went to Berkshire county, Massachu setts, and while residing there the war broke out and he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry, under Generals Burn- side and Foster, Captain Trafton commanding. He took part in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newburn, Kingston, and Little Washington, North Carolina. He re-enlisted at Norfolk, Vir ginia, in December, 1863, then took part in the battles of Cold Harbor and Petersburg; his com mand then returned to North Carolina, where he was captured March 8, 1865, at the second battle of Kingston. He was sent to the confederate prison at Salsbury, then to Danville, and to Libby prison. He was released from Libby prison the night before Richmond fell. After the war Mr. Bligh went back to Massachusetts, remaining there for some time, then in February, 1867, moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he lived for two years, then to McHenry county, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1879, when he came to Nebraska. On February 9, 1864, Mr. Bligh was married to Miss Sarah J. Bowdish, and they are the parents of three children: Ella M., Etta, deceased, and William. In 1879, our subject with his family started for the west where they thought a young man had better opportunities to get a start in life. They drove from Illinois to Nebraska in a covered wagon and was four weeks on the road. Mr. Bligh took up a homestead in section thirty-four, township twenty-eight, range seven, and built a frame house thereon, living in the wagon until the house was built. They still live in this same house, but have added to it considerably until now the family have a comfortable and beautiful home which is called "Clover Lawn." In the early pioneer days, Mr. Bligh and his family suffered many discouraging experiences. Their entire crops were destroyed by the hot winds in the drouth of 1894; they fought prairie fires to save their home and possessions ; in 1880 and 1881 they burned hay and corn for fuel in the winters which were very severe. Antelope and deer were plentiful when Mr. Bligh first came to this part of the state, and the nearest market place was at Niobrara, as that town had water facilities. The next summer after Mr. Bligh came to Nebraska, the railroad was built to Neligh January 12, 1888, our subject's son, William, was at school during the blizzard of that year,' and "MORNINGSIDE FARM," RESIDENCE OF FRANK DOBESH. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 773 starting home, became lost for a short time, but got through safely. This son, William B., is now a blacksmith in Royal, owning a shop, and is a prosperous young man. Mr. Bligh was the first postmaster at Royal, the postoffice being at his home which is one and three-fourths miles north of where the village of Royal now stands. He was appointed in July, 1880, and held office until 1890. For the first three months the sale of stamps, etc., only re turned the government twenty-five cents, and at no time did his earnings as postmaster exceed one dollar per week. In those early days his home was used as a tavern for travelers. Sometimes as many as ten people slept in one room on the floor. WILLIAM FIELD SLINGSBY. (Deceased.) William Field Slingsby, deceased, was one of the earliest settlers of Custer county, and was highly esteemed as a man of high character and integrity, ready at all times to do his share in promoting the general welfare of his county or state. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, August 16, 1837, third of the five children of his parents. When he was about ten years of age the family came to America, and first located in Indiana, but a short time later removed to Wis consin, near Oshkosh, where the father and mother died. Mr. Slingsby was thus left practically on his own resources at an early age and had his own way to make in the world. He was married Jan uary 21, 1875, to Mary A. Smith, their union tak ing place at Waukau, Wisconsin. In October, 1878, he came to Custer county, Nebraska, which was then opening up, to look at land, and took up a homestead on section thirty-two, and a timber claim on section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range seventeen. In the spring of 1879 he brought his wife and their two children there, shipping their belongings to Grand Island, whence they drove across the country by team; They lived on the homestead until 1894, when he sold his farm. He then moved his improvements to his timber claim on the southwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range seventeen, which remained his home until his death, May 5, 1905. His widow survived him until February 7, 1909. There are five children surviving: Nellie May, wife of David Collier, of Custer county, has three children; Lulu Elizabeth, wife of John Mills, lives on Clear creek, Custer county, they have three children; Albert, William and Mabel, at home. William married, February 1, 1911, Miss Alma Casteel, a native of Custer county and daughter of Alfred, and Susan (Gordon) Casteel. Albert and William Slingsby are young men of business ability and industry and are man aging' the horne farm. They were born and reared in Custer county and are successful in their operations, shipping from two to four ear- loads of feeders each year. Their sister, Mabel, lives with them and looks after the household. The family is widely known and highly respected and they are popular and well liked socially. Politically they are democrats and both belong to the Odd Fellows, While Albert is also a Modern Woodman. FRANK DOBESH. Prank Dobesh, a prominent and well-known citizen of Custer county, is one of the self-made pioneers of central Nebraska, and has reached success in life through earnest effort and untiring energy. He belongs to a family that is highly respected in the region, and especially well known among the Bohemian people there. He is the third of thirteen children born to Thomas and Josephine (Job) Dobesh, who were born, reared and married in Moravia, a part of Bohemia, and came to America with six of their children in 1871. The family is mentioned at length in con nection with the sketch of Anton P. Dobesh, con tained in this work. Prank Dobesh was born in the village of Rouchovany, Moravia, October 19, 1862, and was in his ninth year when brought by his parents to Saunders county, Nebraska. The family sailed from Bremen to Baltimore in the "Columbia," spending fourteen days at sea. Mr. Dobesh came into Custer county in the spring of 1881, his next older brother having al ready taken up a homestead there, and secured a homestead on the northeast quarter of section twelve, township fourteen, range nineteen; this place has been his home since that time, a period of more than thirty years. He passed through the -usual hardships and discomforts incident to pioneer life and how owns thirteen hundred acres of desirable stock and farm land. He also owns other farm land and has large cattle in terests, shipping one or two carloads annually. He and his family occupy one of the most com fortable homes in Custer county, surrounded by a grove of trees and having a fine orchard. They are highly regarded as one of the pioneer families and have a large number of friends. Mr. Dobesh has been instrumental in forwarding the progress and welfare of his county and state and is re garded as an upright, substantial citizen. On February 3, 1885, Mr. Dobesh married Mary," daughter of John and Mary (Dibelka) Jelinek, whose family came in 1869 from Bohemia to Omaha, where they resided ten months and then took up a homestead in Saunders county. Mr. and Mrs. Jelinek still live in that county; Mrs." Dobesh is the only one of their children now surviving. She was four years of age at the time her parents came to America. Five children have been born to Mr. Dobesh and wife: Mary, wife of Joseph Orchard, lives on section three, town ship fourteen, range eighteen, and they have one child, Vivian; Charley, Arthur, Gracie and Emil, all live at home. The children were all born on the homestead. 774 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. When Mr. Dobesh first settled on his land he "batched it" for a year in a dugout with a sod roof and sod front. After marriage they lived for a year in a "soddy" and then built a small frame House ; in the fall of 1898 he built his pres ent fine dwelling of eight large rooms. We show a full page view of the dwelling surrounded by the barn and other out-buildings. It is one of the best situations in this part of the county. In 1894, the dry year, Mr. Dobesh harvested ten or eleven tons of fodder, but no corn ; this, however, was more than most of them raised. Mr. Dobesh is a republican in politics. REINHOLD REIMERS. Reinhold Reimers, who died in 1910, was an able representative of the farming community of Pierce township, and was an old time resident of the county of that name. He developed a fine farm, and was a man of energetic labors, who by strict integrity became a highly esteemed and respected citizen of that section of Pierce county. Mr. Reimers was a native of Holstein, Ger many, born January 26, 1850. His father died shortly after he was born, and the mother, with her children, came to America in 1868 in the emi grant ship "The Saxonis," which afterwards foundered at sea. They had a stormy passage, being on the water a, long time and experiencing terrific storms, the passengers at times feeling that none would ever reach land alive. On landing in New York our subject's family at once went to Clinton county, Iowa, joining his brothers who had located there previously, and he immediately went to work on a farm there, saving his earnings until he was able to purchase eighty acres of land in Crawford county, where he was married and started farming on his own account. The land was entirely unimproved, but he put up buildings and worked faithfully to get it in productive shape, after nine years bei able to sell it for a good sum, he then went to Ida county and bought one hundred and sixty acres, remaining there up to 1891, when he came to Nebraska. He purchased a half section on Willow creek in Pierce county and later added another two hundred and fifty-eight acres bought from the Elk Valley Stock Farm to his original homestead and on this extensive place he raised enormous crops of corn and other grains, also running a large number of cattle and other stock. Mr. and Mrs. Reimers had fourteen children, eleven of whom are living, namely: Dora, John, Emma, Henry, Anna, Fred, Ida, all married ex cepting Fred, who was his father's chief helper on the farm, while the four younger ones, Tena, Bertha, Emil and Albert, are also on the home stead. Mr. Reimers was married twice. Mr. Reimers was a liberal in politics, formerly being a republican, but admiring the sterling qualities of W. J. Bryan, voted for him when a candidate. In local politics, he voted for the man regardless of party. With his family, he was an active member of the Lutheran church in Pierce. PRANK GEERSEN. (Deceased.) A striking example of what may be accom plished by the exercise of industry, persever ance and good management is found in the life of the gentleman here named. He came to How ard county without means, and was recognized as one of the substantial citizens of the region at the time of his death, June 13, 1910. Prank Geersen was born in Denmark, July 9, 1838, and was the second child in order of birth in the family of Peter and Kara Geersen. He spent his boyhood in his native land, follow ing farming there up to 1866, then came to America, locating in Indianapolis, Indiana, spend ing about two years in that vicinity, from there going into Missouri and later east to New Jersey. He traveled through many states and saw a great deal of the country, finally coming to Hall county, Nebraska, arriving there in April, 1870. After a year in that vicinity, he came to Howard county and filed on a homestead on section thirty, township thirteen, range eleven, situated on Oak creek, where he was about the first actual homesteader to take up land in the county. He proved up on the tract, and after adding quite a good many improve ments, sold the place in 1882 and purchased the Mogensen farm, on section twenty-one, con taining about one hundred and sixty acres, this having been his residence continuously from that time until his death. Mr. Geersen remembered well the very first days of the settlement of Howard county, he be ing one of the pioneers that had to ford the Loup river with team and wagon in getting his sup plies from the nearest trading station, which was then Grand Island. He watched the region grow from tlie days of sod shanties and gen uine frontier hardships to its present cultivated state with its fine farms, good homes and pros perous condition generally. During the early years Mr. Geersen worked at his trade as a black smith, which he learned in the old country, and vvhich often stood him in good stead in building up his own farm. On March 12, 1873, at Grand Island, Ne braska, Mr. Geersen was united in marriage to Gertrude Jensen, she being a native of Norway, coming to America in the previous year. They had six children, one being deceased, the five living named as follows: Peter, Annie, and Mary, who are married and with their families are settled in comfortable homes, while George and Julia are at home and assist their mother in carrying on the farm. Louie died when seven months old. Mr. Geersen never held public office, although COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 775 always active in everything pertaining to the betterment of his county and state, and he aided materially in the upbuilding of his immediate locality. EARL L. HOLCOMB. Earl L. Holcomb, among the younger farmers of Valley county, Nebraska, was born at Kewa- nee, Illinois, January 25, 1882, the elder of two children born to Charles Judson and Hannah (Lewis) Holcomb, their other child being Mary P. Holcomb. The father brought his wife and son to Polk county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1884, settling on a farm there. Mr. Holcomb died in that county May 15, 1906, and his widow and their only daughter still reside in Osceola, Nebraska. Charles J. Holcomb was born in Broome county, New York, May 8, 1850, and his wife was a native of Illinois. They were mar ried in Henry county in the latter state in the fall of 1878, their marriage taking place at Coal Valley, November 2. After coming to Nebraska he was active in the affairs of his county and state and became widely and favorably known. He was a man of rugged character and true worth, kindly and genial in manner and having the gift of making and keeping warm friend ships. He served five years as a member of the state board of agriculture, was for a time presi dent of the county agricultural association, and served as county treasurer of Polk county from 1902 to 1905, inclusive. He was a successful farmer and stockman. Earl L. Holcomb was brought to Nebraska in infancy, received his education there, and was reared to farm work. He remained on the home farm in Polk county until his twentieth year, then started in life for himself. He was mar ried at Fremont, Nebraska, December 29, 1902, to Miss Lillie Sawyer, who was born in Jackson county, Iowa, a daughter of John W. Sawyer, of Arcadia. They now reside on the southwest quarter of section eleven, township seventeen, range sixteen, where they have a well equipped farm and a comfortable home. They have lived in Valley county since December 1, 1906, and have made many friends in their vicinity. He is an energetic and successful farmer and progres sive in his methods and ideas. He is interested in the public welfare and ready to promote any movement for the general good. He is a populist in politics and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. CHARLES L. GIBBS. Charles L. Gibbs, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section six, township twenty -three, range one, is well known throughout Madison county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist. Mr. Gibbs is a native-born Nebraskan, his birth occurring on a farm in Madison county, August 13, 1879; he is a son of Carrie and Lyman Gibbs. The father was a native of Massachusetts, but came to New York state with his parents when he was two years of age; he died January 20, 1887, in Nebraska. The mother was born in Michigan, the daughter of Timothy and Celia Peters. She now lives on the old home place. They were married March 12, 1866, at Hudson, Michigan, and were the parents of six children: Minnie, deceased; James W., Fannie, deceased; Harrison, Luella and Charles. Our subject's father served in the Civil war enlisting in Company D, Twelfth Illinois Volun- His regiment was sent first to Missouri, and, dur ing service, participated in sixteen battles and skirmishes. At Harper's Ferry he was wounded and his horse fell on him, he having a very narrow and his horse fell on him, he having a very narrow escape from death. Our subject's Uncle William also served in the Civil war, participated in many bathes and skirmishes, and was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison. Our subject's father at two years of age came with his parents from Massachusetts to New York state, as before stated, and remained in New York fourteen years, when the family migrated to Michigan. In 1876 he came to Nebraska, locating in Madison county, where he bought a homestead right, on which land he remained only a year, when he took up the homestead claim where our subject now resides. In the early years of residence on the western frontier, many discouragements and hardships were experienced by the early settler, and not the least source of anxiety and calamity were the grasshoppers, which ate the crops that the family had raised, this being repeated for five suc cessive years. This made a struggle for existence which was very discouraging. Those days of gloom have passed, however, and prosperity and plenty are evident on every hand where once fail ure and danger held sway. Mr. Gibbs and his brothers now own six hundred and forty acres of fine land, and are highly respected and substantial citizens of thei^ county. WILLIAM F. DUNBAR. William F. Dunbar is one of the enterprising farmers of Custer county who believe in modern methods and by using them attain suc cess. He has spent all his life in Nebraska and well remembers when this part of the state was nothing but a vast prairie. He was born in the town of Dunbar, Otoe county, Nebraska, November 11, 1864, the seventh child of John and Anna E. (Watson) Dunbar, both natives of Ireland. The father, of Scotch and Irish descent, was born in 1820 and came to the United States with his par ents when he was about nine years of age. The family first settled in the state .of .New York, but 776 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. about 1832 moved to Canada. The mother accom panied her parents to Canada in 1830, and they lo cated near Stratford, Ontario. John Dunbar and wife were married in Canada about 1850, and in 1857 they brought their three children with them and located in Otoe county. They came to Chicago and on to St. Louis by rail, took a boat from there to St. Joseph, then made the trip overland to Nebraska City. They were among the very earliest arrivals in Otoe county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died in August, 1903, in his eighty-third year, and the mother in May, 1903, in her seventy-third year. They came to Otoe county when Nebraska City was on the steamboat route of the Missouri river, and when freighting was carried on between there and Denver. They passed away in the vil lage of Dunbar, which had been named after the family. Of their six sons and six daughters, eleven now survive, all, except one daughter, Dora Wilson, wife of Denver Wilson, who lives in Iowa, being residents of Nebraska. One son and three daughters live in Dunbar, one daughter lives in Lincoln, one son in Lincoln, three sons in Custer county, besides William Thomas, Merritt and Alfred. William Dunbar made his home in Otoe county until removing to Custer county, March 1, 1902. He purchased the Higgins original homestead farm on the northwest quarter of sec tion twenty-two, township eighteen, range seven teen, and the southeast quarter of section twenty- one. He has a fine half-section farm, where he has erected a handsome, modern home, with steam heat, bath, and modern conveniences and appliances. From it, there is a fine view down the valley. It is one of the finest farm residences in the county, and is surrounded by a grove of trees and a fine orchard. Mr. Dunbar has been developing and equipping his land into a modern small stock and grain farm, being himself a prac tical farmer of long years of experience. He is an extensive feeder and shipper, and one of the successful men of central Nebraska. On March 12, 1888, Mr. Dunbar was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Elizabeth Lat ter, daughter of William and Anna Marie Latter, their marriage taking place near Dunbar, Otoe county. Mrs. Dunbar is a native of Germany, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1882. They settled near Alton, and the parents lived in that state until 1892, when they came to Otoe county. The mother died, April 1, 1909, in Curtis, and the father still resides there. Mrs. Dunbar has one brother and three sisters living, one brother in Wisconsin, one sister at Curtis, one in Kansas, and one in St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar have six children : Charlotte, wife of Robert H. Stone, lives in Comstock, Nebraska; Mamie Elizabeth, Wilda Beulah, William Vernon, Vesta Leona and John Frederick, all born in Otoe county, except John, who was born in Lin coln. The family have many friends, and are well regarded in various circles, being representa tive of their community's best interests. CAPTAIN CHARLES WORKER. It is not necessary to introduce the gentlemen above named to the people of Pierce county, as he has been a resident of this region since its earliest settlement, and has become widely known as a man of active public spirit, who has always given his best efforts to aid in the development of the interests of his county. Mr. Worker was born in the village of Ailsoe, Bedfordshire, England, November 5, 1829, a son of Philip and Mary (Kemp) Worker, both natives of England, living in Bedfordshire until death. They were of a long-lived race: Mr. Worker's grandmother attained the extreme age of one hundred and seven years, and an uncle lived to be one hundred and five. Our subject lived in his native country until the age of nineteen, having learned the butchers' trade in London, and, while under his father's roof, worked as a gardener. Embarking at Lon don on the sailship "Wisconsin," he landed in New York, after a voyage of nine weeks. Going to Syracuse, he was for a time employed at the butchers' trade, and later at farming, making Syracuse his home for twenty-five years. In 1862, Mr. Worker left a wife and four little ones, and enlisted in the army to help preserve the country of his adoption. He served the last three years of the war in Company D, One Hun dred and Twenty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the following bat tles: Antietam, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the second battle of Fredericks burg Heights, Deep Run, Rappahannock, Mine Run, the Battle of the Wilderness, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Petersburg, Port Stevens, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and Fisher Hill. He was with Grant in the battles around Richmond and Petersburg, and fought until Lee surrendered, and participated in the Grand Re view at Washington at the close of the war. March 1, 1863, he advanced over one hundred and thirty-three in line, and was promoted to be quartermaster's sargeant, which he held until the close of the war. Captain Worker carries four wounds as marks of service rendered to his adopted country. After the war, he farmed near Syracuse until 1872, when he removed to Clinton county, Iowa, and eleven years later came to Pierce county, Nebraska. Here he took up a homestead in sec tion thirty-two, township twenty-five, range three, bringing lumber for his buildings all the way from Clinton, Iowa, occupying three cars with his lumber, cattle and household goods. Prom Wisner, the terminus of the railroad, he hauled the lumber and other belongings by oxen COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 777 to his claim, and for several years hauled his produce to Wisner, the nearest market place. He took a timber claim in section thirty-three, township twenty-five, range three, which he has improved until it has become known as one of the finest in this part of the country. There is a fifteen-acre grove of large trees on the place, all set out by Captain Worker's own hand. He originally had six hundred and forty acres, but finding it too much to handle — he does all his own work — he has disposed of much of his original holdings. Mr. Worker was married in 1857 to Miss Fan nie Welsh, this union being blessed with four children, who are named as follows: Lillian, Mary", Cornelia and Maggie. Mary is married to Le Roy Munger, Maggie to Abner Munger, and Lillian is the wife of William Coltman. Mr. Worker is the proud grandparent of ten grand children. Our subject went through all the hardships of the early settlers when he first came to Nebraska, experiencing the blizzard of 1888, at which time he lost many of his cattle. He also lost his entire crops in the hailstorm of 1892, and harvested little during the' years of successive drouth. Many times he fought prairie fires to save his home. Mr. Worker votes the republican ticket, and has served as county commissioner for six years. His personal history vouches for the high esteem in which he is held in his community. JOHN M. MILLER. One of the highest tributes to be paid a citizen is to say that he is a leading old settler. During the many years of his residence in a community, he has been placed in communication with many of the inhabitants of his home neighborhood, and his career has been open to their criticisms one way or the other. The gentleman above named is classed among the pioneers of Merrick county, Nebraska, and as a resident of Central City, former agriculturist of enterprise and integrity, he has passed favorable criticism, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. John M. Miller, son of Elijah and Lydia (Leonard) Miller, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, December 14, 1838, and was the second in a family of seven children, three brothers and one sister of whom reside in Ohio, the others being deceased, as are also the parents. Our subject received his education in the home state, and later engaged in farming. On February 22, 1862, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Alcinda Inbody, also of Ohio. Mrs. Miller's parents are deceased, and she has five brothers living, three in Ohio, one in Okla homa and another in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had ten children, nine of whom are now living: Lovina, wife of James M. Pitt, has two children, and resides in Seattle, Washington; Almeda, wife of F. H. Brown, has had five chil dren, four of whom are living, and lives in Port land, Oregon; Clarinda, who was married to Dud ley Miller, died October 13, 1886, aged twenty years; Joseph S., married, has one child, and lives in the state of Washington ; James T., mar ried, has one child, and lives in Twin Falls, Ida ho; William B., married, and lives in Merrick county, Nebraska; Noah N., resides at home; Hayden B., married, has two children, and lives in the state of Washington, he is now a widower, his wife having died in December, 1908 ; Louis M., married, has one child, and also resides in the state of Washington; and Fred H., who is mar ried, has two children, and lives on the home stead farm. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Miller came with his wife and family to Nebraska, locating in Merrick county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty-four, township fif teen, range six, west, which remained the home place until 1899, when they retired from farm life, and moved to Central City, purchasing a good home, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are among the earlier settlers of the county, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. Miller has served as treasurer of his school dis trict, that of number thirty-six, for some years. He has been prosperous and successful, and owns two hundred and forty acres of farm and stock land, as well as city property. On February 25, 1864, Mr. Miller enlisted in Company D, Fifty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infan try, serving until the close of the .war, receiving an honorable discharge in September, 1865, in Columbus, Ohio. He was on provost duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi, from tbe time of his en listment to his discharge. The first three years after Mr. Miller and his family came to Nebraska, the grasshoppers were exceedingly numerous, particularly the second year, when they ate every form of vegetation. When he first arrived here, he built a one-room board house, twelve by fourteen feet in size. They had two beds and a trundle bed, a stove, a home-made table, three chairs, and a bench and cupboard made from a dry goods box. This was all they had for the first seven years. Times were very hard, and for months at a time the family had no meat to eat. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty-two years, and Mr. Miller is a member of Buford Post, number twenty-three, Grand Army of the Re public, of Central City, and also a blue lodge Mason. He is a republican. THEODORE KNECHT. Theodore Knecht is a native of the prairie state. He was born at Pontiac, Illinois, Novem ber 25, 1877, a son of George and Adaline (Henry) 778 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Knecht, both of whom first saw the light in Germany. The father came to America at the age of sixteen, while the mother was but five years of age when her parents came. They lived some years in Detroit, Michigan, prior to their coming to Illinois, and in the various towns where he resided, Mr. Knecht was employed at his trade of baker most of the time, but followed farming to some extent. Shortly after the birth of Theodore, the fam ily moved to Chenoa, and from' there to Ord, Nebraska, some time before the railroad reached that point. At Ord, the. father opened a baker shop, and later opened a hotel, which he operated exclusively, having sold the bakery business. In 1892, he traded his hotel for a farm, and on this he lived until retiring from business in 1908, since which time he has resided in Ord. There are three sons in the family. Peter has a farm near Ord; John was employed for a time with Theodore, and then moved to Colome, Tripp county, South Dakota, where he is now connected with the Bi-Metalic Bank, arid Theodore. Theodore Knecht began for himself at the age of twenty-one. He secured a place in the lumber establishment of W. L. Phillip, and two years later entered the employ of Lloyd & Burk, serv ing this firm for an equal period. On May 19, 1902, he came to Spencer to take charge of the yards of the William Knotter Company, and has proved to be a competent and agreeable manager. He is well liked by the public, and has the fu'i confidence of his employer. Mr. Knecht was married in Spencer, July 3, 1903, to Miss Matilda Weidneck, daughter of Gustav Weidneck. Two children have been born to them, namely: Eldon and Raymond. Mr. Knecht and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran churches, contributing to the support of each. Mr. Knecht is a republi can in politics. For five or six years the family lived in a sod house on the farm south of Ord, and found it a most comfortable dwelling. Mr. Knecht fully deserves the success in life he enjoys, and is well worthy the confidence his employer and his patrons place in him. BERT E. MOREHEAD. Bert Morehead, son of William W. and Susan (Talbott) Morehead, was born in Nora, Illinois, August 6, 1876, and was eighth in a family of eight children. He came with his parents to Boone county, Nebraska, in 1884, where he received most of his education. On September 9, 1903, Mr. Morehead was married to Miss Elva H. Galyean, also of Boone county, and daughter of Jesse and Kathrine (Stoner) Galyean. Mr. and Mrs. Morehead have had one child, Thelma, who is deceased, having passed away in 1908. Mr. Morehead is a rising young man, and is employed in the general merchandise business with the Albion Mercantile Company at Albion, Nebraska. He comes from one of Boone county's pioneer families, and is widely and favorably known. A biographical sketch of our subject's father, William W. Morehead, is as follows: Rev. William W. Morehead was born in Per- rysville, Indiana, October 14, 1836, and was the son of Purgeson and Sally (Benefield) Morehead, and, with them, came at an early age to the state of Illinois, where they engaged in farming. On March 13, 1856, Mr. Morehead was joined in wedlock to Miss Susan D. Talbott, of Pennsyl vania, and in the winter of 1884, they came to Boone county, Nebraska, where Mr. Morehead took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, six miles southwest of Albion. Mr. More- head never made his home on this claim, but from the time he came to Nebraska until his death he lived in Albion, with the exception of preaching one year, 1890, at Newman Grove, and the follow ing nine months at Bartlett, Wheeler county. In 1892, he returned to Albion, where he died a week later, on September 29, survived by his widow and five children, three children having died. Mr. and Mrs. Morehead had eight children born to them, a fine family of five being spared them, and whose histories follow: Savanas B., who is married and has one daughter, lives in Albion, and fills creditably the office of clerk of the district court; Helen V., married to F. E. Mansfield, has four daughters, and lives in Boone county; Eby M., is married, has two children, and resides in Fremont, Nebraska ; Armilda O., died July 26, 1881 ; Etta R., who is married to C. M. Cotterman, lives in the Philippine Islands, where her husband is director of posts, they have had three children, one of whom, Nellie G., died in 1889; and Bert E., who is married, and lives in Albion, and who is the original of this bio graphical writing. At the age of thirty years, William W. More- head entered the ministry of the Methodist Epis copal church, in which field of work he continued until the time of his death. His life helpmeet survives him, and is living in the old home in Albion, surrounded by a large circle of friends. MILES WARD. It would be impossible to give a complete his tory of northeastern Nebraska without including a sketch of the life of Miles Ward, who is one of the most prominent of the old settlers. Mr. Ward has been a resident of Antelope county since March, 1884, and has lived continuously on the original place secured by him five years after his first coming here. It is located in section thirty- two, township twenty-five, range seven, where he has a pleasant home and valuable property, which is known as "Bonnie View." COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 779 Mr. Ward is a native of Canada born near Kingston, December 20, 1844. His father, Mar- ceen Ward, was also bora near the same place in Canada, April 2, 1823, of English parentage. Rachel (Babcock) Ward was also born in Canada, January 8, 1825, and was of French descent. In 1852, the family came to Illinois, traveling from Buffalo to Detroit by boat, then by rail to Chicago, and settled down to farming in Illinois. Our subject there received a good common-school edu cation, and helped his father on the farm. In 1872, he came to Iowa, remaining there but a short time. On December 18, 1866, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Addie Johnson, who was born September 2, 1844. This union was blessed with six children, named as follows: Seremus, who married Miss Verna Bear, has four children, resides in Elgin township; Lois, wife of Albert White, has seven children, resides in Texas ; Ada, wife of Henry Hamdorf, has one child, lives in Ord township ; Sylvester, married Miss May Bear ; Clarence, married Alice Elin, has one. child; and Florence, who is still at home. In 1884, Mr. Ward, with his family, came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and here he rented land for five years, watching his opportunity to buy cheap land. He bought out a timber claim in section thirty-two, township twenty-five, range seven, and, as before stated, is still living on this land. Mr. Ward has two hundred acres of good land, on which are fifteen acres of fine trees, making the best forest grove in that section of Antelope county. Mr. Ward owned considerable land at one time, but has given each one of his children one hundred and sixty acres of good land, well improved, which goes to show the genial, big-hearted man he is. He is loved and respected by all. On the day of the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Ward went to the school house to assist in getting the children of the neigh borhood, as well as his own, to their homes, and experienced great difficulties in accomplishing this heroic piece of work, which was eventually done, much to the credit of those who partici pated. In 1894, Mr. Ward lost his entire crop by drouth. In his early days in Antelope, Mr. Ward experienced all of the hardships and dis couragements of the early pioneers, but by dili gence and hard work, is now able to reap the harvest of rest that is due him. JOHN B. THORN. Among the progressive and prominent farmers of this section of Nebraska may be mentioned the above named gentleman, who has been a resident of this state since 1886. He is reckoned among the early settlers, although still but a comparatively young man, and is esteemed as one of the substantial citizens of the community. John B. Thorn was born in Henry county, Ohio, on the fifteenth of January, 1871, and was the second of the four children in the family of Garner and Augusta (Morris) Thorn. He was born on a farm, and remained there during his childhood years, receiving the usual district school advantages. In 1885, the Thorn family came to Otoe county, Nebraska, where they remained for a few months only. In the fall of that year, the mother took up a homestead claim in Custer county, and the following year they all moved to that farm, where John, although but a boy of fifteen, actually began his work as a pioneer homesteader. Although the first few years involved many hardships, the young pioneer persevered, and was soon able to add many improvements to the farm, which was his home until 1900. In 1898, Mr. Thorn was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Spencer. Immediately following the marriage, the young couple took up their residence on the old homestead, but in two years' time were able to move upon their own nearby farm, which Mr. Thorn had purchased a few years before. Mr. and Mrs. Thorn have seven children: Mary Belle, Margaret Evaline, Helen Hayward, Opal Gertrude, Edson A., Blanche Ann and Dorothy Louise. Seven years later, in 1907, Mr. Thorn and his family moved to their present home, which is pleasantly located on the southwest quarter of section seven, township fifteen and range seven teen. He has added many important improve ments to the place, including a neat frame dwell ing, since it has become his home, and it is now a well-equipped grain and stock farm. The Thorn family are old and well-known settlers, and have had considerable to do with the settlement and development of this section. As for Mr. Thorn himself, he is noted as one of the most progressive stock men to be found in this locality. In politics he is a republican. EUGENE E. TRACY. Eugene E. Tracy has had the interesting experience of witnessing the development of Sher man county, Nebraska, from raw land to a fine farming country of comfortable homes and mod ern improvements, and during this time has been actively identified with the cause of progress and advancement. Mr. Tracy was born in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county, New York, February 4, 1862, and accompanied his father to Sherman county in 1879, having received his edu cation in his native place. He is a son of Lyman J. and Augusta D. (Whitlock) Tracy. The father was born in the state of New York in 1834, and was married in 1857. His wife died in New York in 1874, and in April, 1879, the family, consisting of the father and seven children, came to Sher- 780 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. man county, where Mr. Tracy purchased an im proved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-six, township sixteen, range fif teen, and also took up a tree claim adjoining, thus securing the entire southern half of section twenty-six. He continued to improve and culti vate this farm until 1889, when he returned to his native state, at the time of his marriage to Mary R. Whited, who had been his houskeeper in his Nebraska home. He then resumed his resi dence in the Empire state. His children were as follows: David A., of Maryland; Chester J., of Loup City; Eugene E., the immediate subject of this article; William T., of New York state; Ida, now Mrs. H. E. Brewer, of Salt Lake City, Utah ; Minnie, now Mrs. J. Q. Pray, of Sherman county ; Lucius W., of Rock Palls, Illinois. Eugene E. Tracy has lived on the original farm purchased by his father, since coming west as a boy, and passed through the usual exper iences of the pioneers. We are pleased to present for inspection a view of the home place on an other page of this work. Land that formerly sold at two dollars and a half per acre is now worth from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty dollars, and this is but one instance that indicates the great change that has taken place. Mr. Tracy has held many township offices, having served as clerk, assessor, justice of the peace, and for a number of years has served as director of school district number ten, the school building being located on the Tracy farm. Mr. Tracy was married March 3, 1903, to Elizabeth Kay, at the home of her parents, David and Caroline Kay, on section ten, near the Tracy home. The Kays, of whom we elsewhere write more at length, were among the early settlers of the region, and Mrs. Tracy, as well as her hus band, has been through the hardships and priva tions incident to pioneer life. Both are well known in the community, where they have many friends, and are highly esteemed. They have one child, Viola Marie. Mr. Tracy, with his family, is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. When the Tracy family first came to Ne braska, hundreds of deer and antelope were to be seen in the country. Mr. Tracy was once mow ing when deer started up from the tall grass and frightened his team. At another time two fawns were seen in the canyons near the house. One of these a sheep dog caught, and Mr. Tracy tied it with his handkerchief, and started on to find the other one. This proving to be a fruitless chase, he returned for the first one, and found it gone, thus losing both of them. ISAAC P. VAN OSDOL. For nearly forty years the above mentioned gentleman has been a resident of Nebraska, and since 1890 he has lived in Valley county, being the proprietor of a valuable farm, comprising more than three hundred acres, in section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range thirteen. He is a pro- pressive and enterprising citizen and farmer, and a man of sterling integrity. Mr. Van Osdol was born on March 4, 1856, in Switzerland county, Indiana. His father, James M. Van Osdol, was of Dutch descent, but a native-born Kentuckian. He died in 1896 in Shelby county, Missouri. The mother, Eliza Ferris Van Osdol, was of Irish ancestry, born in Kentucky. In May, 1856, while an infant, Mr. Van Osdol was taken to Shelby- county, Missouri, by his parents, in which state he spent his childhood-, receiving the usual school advantages in the local schools. In the spring of 1874, he came to Otoe county, Nebraska, where he was engaged in farm labor for six years, and then, in 1880, went to Norden county, Kansas, where he remained three years, long enough to prove up on one hundred and twenty acres. He then returned to Nebraska, and farmed on rented land in Adams county for three years, and from 1887 to 1890 farmed in Norden county, Kansas. In the fall of 1890, he came to Valley county, where he had worked in ,1886, and has been a resident of that locality ever since, renting three years on Davis creek. He then leased a school section west of his present home, where he lived from the fall of 1893 until the fall of 1899. In 1898, Mr. Van Osdol purchased three hundred and twenty acres of -fine land, the east half of section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range thirteen, which was known as the Ashland farm, on which he moved in 1899. The farm was valuable even in those days, when raw, unimproved land, and is worth far more now, owing to the general advance in the price of land, and also to the amount of im provements he has made. A beautiful, modern home, heated by the hot-water system, was built in 1907, a large barn having been built each of the two preceding years, and all are in good con dition. A view of this modern farm place, with its beautiful view of hill and valley, is to be found adorning another page of our work. On March 13, 1892, Mr. Van Osdol was mar ried at Harrisonville, Missouri, to Miss Hattie Terrell, a native of Ohio. Her father, Albert S. Terrell, was born in Johnson, Trumbull county, Ohio, while the mother, Mary (McCool) Terreil, was a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania. They moved to Missouri in 1881, and Miss Ter rell had been for some years a teacher in the public schools of Missouri and Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Van Osdol are the parents of four chil dren : Carl E., who finished a course in the Lin coln Business College in 1912; Otto Wayne, who is a student of the Agricultural College at Lin coln; Royce D., still at home, and an infant, de ceased. The family is well and favorably known "ASHLAND FARM," RESIDENCE OF ISAAC F. VAN OSDOL. RESIDENCE OF E. E. TRACY. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 781 in this part of the country. Mr. Van Osdol has always displayed a commendable interest in local public affairs, and has served as school treasurer of his district for several years. He is now one of the directors, and has gained well-merited recognition as a worthy citizen. The family has had the pioneer privilege of living in a sod house, occupying a dwelling of that construction while cultivating the school land, and their first home on Ashland Farm was built of sod, with a straw stable to shelter their stock. Mr. Van Osdol was out in the blizzard of October, 1880, and also that of January 12, 1888. In the latter, some of his cattle were snowed under two days and three nights, and all but three sur vived. In the fearful year of drouth, 1894, Mr. Van Osdol raised three hundred bushels of wheat, probably the most bountiful harvest in all this region. He well remembers the cloudburst and flood of June, 1896, when everything in the low lands was swept away. BALTHASER VOLK. The gentleman above mentioned is counted among the oldest settlers in the state of Nebraska, locating in Plattsmouth, Cass county, in 1885, where he resided until coming to Pierce county in 1891, and has taken a foremost part in the development of this region. He has built up a good home and farm in section six, township twenty-seven, range one, where he owns six hun dred and forty acres of land, six acres being planted to trees. Mr. Volk was born in Pekin, Illinois, January 26, 1859, where he grew to manhood and obtained a good schooling. Mr. Volk's father, Nicholas Volk, was born in 1819 in Hesse-Damstadt, Ger many. He was a carpenter by trade, as well as a cabinet-maker, and served his native country the usual period in the army. The mother, Mag gie (Urish) Volk, was also a native of Hesse- Damstadt, born about 1827, the family emigrat ing to America some three years later. She died at the age of eighty-three years. Our subject's parents were married in Tazewell county, Illinois, where they lived on a farm. Mr. Volk was united in holy matrimony in 1884 to Miss Lizzie Hill, and they are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: John, Sophie, Anna, Edward, Jesse, William and Elmer. Mrs. Volk's parents are old settlers in Illinois, coming from Germany in the early days. Mr. Volk is widely known throughout this section of the country as a man who is always ready and willing to do for the better interests of his part of the state. He is a hard-working and industrious citizen, well liked by all who know him. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS STEWART. (Deceased.) On July 7, 1903, there passed from this life in St. Paul precinct, Howard county, Nebraska, Frederick Augustus Stewart, a man who in a peculiarly personal way linked the earlier part of the past century with the present, as a leading citizen of affairs. He had given the greater part of his career to the upbuilding of his region, and took especial pride in the advancement and bet terment of the interests of his county and state. The subject of this sketch was born in Herki mer county, New York, May 16, 1827. Lie made that state his home until he was twenty-seven years of age, and was married there in 1854 to Lucretia Brown, also a native of New York. Shortly after their marriage, they settled in McHenry county, Illinois, where Mr. Stewart en gaged in farming and stock-raising. Illinois at this time was in its early stages of civilization, and our subject and his wife were among the earliest pioneers in their section. After a num ber of years there, they moved into Wisconsin, which was just across the- line from McHenry county, Illinois, and remained there up to 1877, when they moved to Rock Island county, Illinois. They remained until 1881, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Stewart came into Howard county, where for one year they rented, and then purchased some land. His farm was situated on section nineteen, township fourteen, range ten, and was a good farming section, which he built up in splendid shape, making of it .a very productive farm, and he accumulated a nice little fortune since locating here, at the time of his death, in July, 1903, owning two hundred and eighty acres of good land, fitted up with good buildings and improvements of all kinds. At one time Mr. Stewart owned about nine hundred acres. Mr. Stewart was survived by his wife and four children, three sons and one daughter, namely : Charles H., Jacob 0., Fred E. and Francis E., all married, except Charles H., who, with his mother, now resides in St. Paul. The entire family are prominent among Nebraska old-timers, and have been closely identified with the growth and development of their section of the state. WILLIAM HERMAN ROOD. William Herman Rood, born in Rock county, Wisconsin, December 20, 1848, was the third child in the family of Charles P. Rood and Mari anne Rood. Like his brothers, he grew up on the farm, receiving the usual advantages of the country boy in those days. In company with his father, he enlisted on November 22, 1864, in Company G, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, both being mustered out at Washing ton, July 27, 1865. Mr. Rood, his father, and 782 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. brother, Hosea, all returned to Wisconsin to gether, another brother, George B., being mustered out in the following September. As related in the preceding sketch of Charles R. Rood, Herman Rood, with his brother-in-law and a friend, took up a homestead in the Loup river valley in the fall of 1871, returning soon after to Wisconsin. In November, 1872, Mr. Rood, with Elder Babcock and family, came by rail to Grand Island, proceeding from thence to the Loup valley home by team. Mr. Rood re mained here for the winter, but in March, 1873, in company with Heman Babcock, he went to Omaha to work for the city. He remained there but a short time, spending the latter part of that summer in the Minnesota harvest fields. He then returned to Wisconsin, and in May, 1874, Mr. Rood and his sister, Emma, came overland, driv- /ing some live stock. Mr. Rood purchased land in the Loup river valley in 1879, and on April 7 of the following year was married to Miss Linda Pierce, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Pierce, in Springdale township. Since that time, with the exception of a year in Grand Island and some months in Wyoming, the North Loup Valley has been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rood. Mr. Rood has held many different official positions, and at different times has been con nected with the mercantile business of North Loup. He is a prominent lodge man, and in many ways has been closely identified with the devel opment and growth of this portion of Nebraska. In past years he has followed the carpenter trade in connection with the management of his farm. He is at present postmaster of North Loup, hav ing been appointed on October 10, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Rood have one child, S. Inez, now married to Otto R. Hill, a farmer living in the locality. Mr. Rood and family are widely known, hav ing a large circle of friends, and are highly esteemed by all who know them. In politics he is republican, is a member of the Masonic order, the Order of the Eastern Star, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Grand Army of the Republic. WALTER G. ROOD. Walter G. Rood, born near Dakota, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1864, was the youngest of nine chil dren born to Charles P. and Marianne T. Rood. With his father and mother, he came to Valley county, Nebraska, on July 4, 1875, and resided on the farm there until January, 1888. The old home on the farm was then burned down, and Mr. Rood and his mother removed to North Loup. He still managed the farm until 1893, and then in August wishing to supply the deficiencies of his early education, which was somewhat lim ited, went to a college in Milton, Wisconsin, for two years. In 1895, Mr. Rood taught school in West Halloek, Illinois, and for the following five years followed this profession, the last two years being spent in the city schools of North Loup. In April, 1899, Mr. Rood purchased "The Loyalist," the North Loup city newspaper, pub lished weekly, and since that time has been edit ing this progressive publication. He still resides with his mother at that city. Mr. Rood is a young man of splendid character, especially prominent in educational and religious lines. He is actively interested in the Sabbath school of the Seventh- day Baptists, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a republican in politics, and gives to that party the hearty sup port of his ably-edited journal. AUGUST RAASCH. Among the popular residents of Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, none is better known or universally esteemed than the gentleman above named. He has for many years been devoted to the interests and upbuilding of his community. Mr. Raasch was born in Koenigsberg, Ger many, September 2, 1842, and when he was two years of age, his parents left Germany for Amer ica, locating in Tonawana, New York. In the spring of 1845, they moved to Wisconsin, taking up government land near Ixonia, Jefferson county. There Mr. Raasch was raised on a small farm, and received his early schooling. When seven teen years of age, he worked out for eight dollars a month three years, and out of this small pay saved money. On September 2, 1862, Mr. Raasch enlisted in Company B, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, to go out under General Siegel, and on September 17, the regiment was mustered in. The army experience of Mr. Raasch is a story taken from the heart of the great war — a story of great battles — the tale of a wounded prisoner — escape — recapture — and many long months in hospitals. May 2, 1863, his regiment participated in the great battle of Chancellorsville, a desper ate battle of three days. After this battle, some minor engagements occurred; then came that great battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, where Mr. Raasch received a gunshot wound in his left side, and after extreme hardships in field hospit als, both in rebel and union camps, he was taken to Baltimore, and after months in the hospital there, Mr. Raasch and others were taken to the hospital on David's Island, New York, and later on was transferred to the Harvey General Hospit al at Madison, Wisconsin. In this hospital Mr. Raasch remained from June, 1864, to March 25, 1865, at which time he received his discharge, and returned to the Wisconsin farm. In July, ,1866, Mr. Raasch 's parents, with COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 783 others at Ixonia, joined the German colony of about forty families that came to what was to be Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, and with this colony came August Raasch, driving a team, as this colony came overland by ox team. He had not intended to remain in Norfolk, but on account of the wounds received in war, he was almost com pelled to remain in Norfolk to receive proper nursing, and today, after more than forty years has passed, he does not regret his continued resi dence in Madison county. When that Wisconsin colony eame to Norfolk, the country had not even been surveyed into quarter sections. The regular survey was made in the fall of 1866; then those Madison county pioneers drew lots, and settled on their home steads. Mr. Raasch 's first land location was near his father's, but on account of considerable bluffs on this quarter, he gave his father the choice land on their half section, and himself took up the quarter where he resides today, one mile west of Norfolk, where he has a fine and well- equipped farm. On June 19, 1868, Mr. Raasch was appointed postmaster of Norfolk, being the first appointee. He held the office nine months, when he turned it over to Postmaster Marsh. It was on July 3, 1868, at ten o'clock in the morning, when a mail carrier arrived for the first time in Norfolk. Mr. Raasch was elected assessor in 1872, which office he held and creditably filled two years. Prior to 1870, Mr. Raasch assisted in organizing Madison county, and was one of the first county commissioners for the Norfolk dis trict. On June 6, 1872, Mr. Raasch was married to Miss Maria Rohrke, and from this union eleven children were born: Sarah L., wife of L. Dom- mer, has four children, and resides in Madison county; Obed, married, and living in Madison county, has three children; Agnes, who is hold ing down a homestead in South Dakota; Ella, a teacher in the German Lutheran school; Martin, in the Lutheran ministry in the state of Wash ington; William, a farmer in Madison county; Ernest, lives with his father on the home farm; and Leona, Hattie, Darius and Hugo, who reside under the parental roof. August Raasch has done much in the church affairs of his community. For twenty-seven years he has been a director or deacon in the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran church, and for over twenty years has been the treasurer of this church. He has also held office in his school district. He is a self-made successful man, and his family is of high standing in their community along social, educational and church lines. He is an inde pendent democrat. HAMILTON B. GLAZIER. Hamilton B. Glazier belongs to one of Custer county's best known families, and is himself an original homesteader there. He was born in Winona county, Minnesota, November 9, 1862, son of Isaac Glazier, one of the very early settlers of Custer county. Isaac Glazier was born in Warren county, New York, December 25, 1819, and was reared on his father's farm. On April 9, 1858, he married Emily M. Bollen in Illinois. She was born in the state of New York, May 12, 1831. Before 1860, Mr. Glazier had removed to Olm sted county, Minnesota, and later lived in Wabash county, that state, leaving the latter place May 12, 1879, and proceeding with a " prairie schoon er" to Custer county, Nebraska. With him came his wife and their five children: Daniel, Lois Louisa, Hamilton B., Effie Inez and Albert. He took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section four, township eighteen, range seven teen, and also secured a timber claim. His wife died on the homestead, January 6, 1886, and he passed away there in May, 1890. Their daugh ter, Effie Inez, died on the farm in August, 1887, and their son, Daniel, in 1895. Hamilton B., Lois Louisa and Albert Glazier still reside on their father's old homestead farm, and Daniel was also an original homesteader. Hamilton B. and his sister, Lois, now own the home place, and in early years were themselves original homesteaders. The old farm, which com prises one of the choice half -section estates of the county, is well located, and has a fine grove of trees. There are several fine belts of timber, which were set out by members of the family during the early years of their residence there, and which add greatly to the appearance and value of the place. The members of the family who still live there derive a good income from the grain and stock farming they carry on, and have a pleasant home. They have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and are well regarded by all as representative of the best interests of the community. A. A. SMITH. A. A. Smith is one of the older residents of Wayne county, Nebraska, where he has become a successful and prosperous grain and stock farmer. He represents the best interests of his com munity, and is known throughout the county as one of the important factors in securing the pres ent agricultural and commercial prosperity that is so beneficial to all its inhabitants. When he located in his present home, he had few neigh bors, but he has witnessed a marvelous change in conditions during the past quarter of a century. Mr. Smith is a native of tbe Keystone state, born November 12, 1864, and is a son of Daniel 784 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and Lucetta Smith, both born in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of eight children, of whom A. A. Smith is the first. Mr. Smith spent his childhood and early youth in his native state. He came west in 1877 with his parents, spending about nine years in Kansas, where he assisted his father on the farm. In 1886, he came to Wayne county, and for five years rented land. In 1891, he purchased his present farm from the I. Davenport estate. The land at that time was in a raw state, no improve ments having been made. Mr. Smith began to develop his land, and now has one of the valua ble estates in the county. He has erected all the buildings, which add to the beauty and value of the place, and now has a beautiful home, with modern comforts and conveniences, and enjoys the fruits of hard work and careful management. He is an intelligent and progressive farmer, stands well with his neighbors, and has many friends throughout the county, where he is well known. Mr. Smith was married in 1885 to Miss Sarah Clark, who was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and is a daughter of S. M. and Elizabeth Clark, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respectively. Four children have blessed this union, namely: Alma, Lucy, Ernest and Alfred Clark. Mr. Smith's home is pleasantly situated on section eight, township twenty-seven, range three. CHARLES A. SWEET. Charles A. Sweet, the genial postmaster at Creighton, has long been one of the leading citi zens of that thriving city. He is a descendant of colonial ancestors who settled in northern New York prior to the revolutionary war. A mater nal ancestor was descended from the Scottish nobility. The great-great-grandmother, Cather ine (Campbell) Hunter, who eame to the colonies with her daughter, Polly, was a cousin of General Fraser, the British general, who was killed in battle near Saratoga during the French and Indian war. Both these ladies were with Miss Jane McRae but a short time before her massacre by the redskins, and were taken by their captors before General Fraser, who tried to persuade his kinswomen to return to Scotland. Mrs. Hunter's father, Archibald Campbell, emigrated to Amer ica on account of having embraced the Episcopal faith, which made him unpopular with his rela tives in the old country, thus leaving his brother, Lord Lovett, to inherit the title and estates, which his descendants enjoy to this day. Charles A. Sweet was born at Glenn's Palls, Warren county, New York, on August 19, 1848. He was only thirteen years of age at the outbreak of the Civil war, and was eager to enlist, but too young to be taken into the army. However, after two years, he became a member of Company K, Second New York Regiment of Veteran 's Cavalry, acting as bugler, and remained with the company for two years, having been a prisoner of war for a few days less than nine months. His regiment embarked at New York, and was transported by sea to Greenesbury Point, going from there to New Orleans, where they joined General Wilson's command at Alma. During his service in the army, Mr. Sweet participated in twenty-seven engagements, fourteen of which amounted to severe battles, including those at Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, Cane Rivsr Crossing, Franklin, St. Francisville and Bayou Sara. His capture was effected at Pause River, Louisiana, on October 16, 1864, while on Bank's Red River expedition, and his place of imprison ment was at Alexander and at Shreveport, Louis iana. He was at Camp Ford, Texas, for a time, and from there was released, and allowed to join his regiment. Many of the prisoners were offered their freedom if they would swear allegiance to the confederacy and bear arms in that cause, but very few availed themselves of the opportunity. The winter following his return from the war, Mr. Sweet spent in a lumber camp in the moun tains in northern New York, employed as a cook, also familiarly called "cook's scorcher." After work was over in the spring, he boarded a boat on the Erie canal, and emigrated to Buffalo, com ing to Milwaukee in the fall of that year. There he entered the employ of a firm dealing in oys ters, fish, game and poultry, remaining with them for ten years. He quit his position with the com pany to accept a position as policeman, and for two years walked a beat in the Cream City, then became a guard in a prison near the city. Later he was employed in a roundhouse at Chicago, in the employ of the Chicago and Northwestern railway company. In the spring of 1883, he came west, stopping at Egan, South Dakota, where he worked as a carpenter for two years. Mr. Sweet came to Knox county, Nebraska, in May, 1885, following the carpenter's trade for two years, then associated himself with J. L. Packard as buyer in his stock and grain business. While in the employ of this gentleman, Mr. Sweet accomplished an unusual feat that not only proved his responsibility, but his fortitude and integrity as well, as follows: On the day of the destructive blizzard, January 12, 1888, with the aid of his dog, he made his way home at noon, and later returned to feed his stock, and see that everything was all right. On being ready to leave the house, he called the dog, but the animal re fused to accompany him. It was only by feeling his way from building to building that he finally arrived at the yards, and there dug from a mound heaped up a drove of a dozen or more hogs that had been completely buried under the snow. He drove them to shelter, and then went on his way, having risked his very life in the interests of his COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 785 employer, as it was simply taking his life in his hands to venture out in that storm, as any of the old-timers who passed through it will testify. In 1893, Mr. Sweet assumed the management of the first creamery in Creighton, putting in a separator and all modern machinery, and manu factured a high grade of butter, for which he found ready sale. At different times he ran the business up to 1898, then accepted a position in the Horton lumber yard, continuing in that work until his appointment as postmaster in February, 1902. He filled the office with credit, and was re-appointed the following term, also in 1910, being now in his third term of office. Mr. Sweet was married in Chicago on Septem ber 21, 1870, to Sarah Hayes, who is a native of Montpelier, Vermont. They have had two chil dren, both of whom died in infancy. An adopted daughter, Laura, is her father's chief assistant in the postoffice. She is a musican of fine abilty, and is possessed of a beautiful high soprano voice, which is well worthy of cultivation. Mr. Sweet is a staunch republican, and his first vote was cast for Lincoln at the time when he was a boy of sixteen years in the army. When a boy of twelve, he remembers well marching with his father in a Lincoln rally in 1860. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and Mrs. Sweet has served as state president of the Women's Relief Corps. Mr. Sweet is also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and Royal Highlanders. The family all attend the Episcopal church, and are among the popuplar members of society in their community. WILLIAM P. SASSE. Prominent among the old setlers of Stanton county is the name of William F. Sasse, who has made this region his home for so many years, and done his share in developing the agricultural resources of this section of the country. He lives in his beautiful home on section seven, town ship twenty-two, range three, where he has built up a most valuable estate through his habits of industry and good management. Mr. Sasse is a native of Brandenburg, Ger many, and was born in 1862, the son of August and Henrietta Sasse. The father was a fisherman by trade. In 1869, when our subscriber was a small child, the parents decided to come to Amer ica, "the Promised Land," which they thought might be better suited to help along the poor man than the older countries of Europe. They came to Cuming county, Nebraska, in 1869, but a few months later removed to Stanton county. So it is in the latter county that the subscriber really attained his thinking years, and where he secured his education. He can tell most interesting stories concerning a settler's life on the plains. At that time, Fremont was the nearest • market place, and this was many miles away from his 26 home. Grasshoppers and prairie fires together conspired to make the life of the settler a burden. In 1898, Mr. Sasse was united in marriage to Miss Albertina Mantel, and three children have been born to them. They are named as follows: Francis Amelia, Hilda Irene and Albert Edward. All were born here on the old homestead. Mr. Sasse has always taken a commendable interest in the politics of his adopted country, and especially is interested in all local affairs of a public nature: He is a man of industrious habits, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact. W. A. SHEPHERD. W. A. Shepherd, of Antelope county, Nebras ka, is numbered among the oldest settlers and leading "old-timers" of northeastern Nebraska, having landed here July 3, 1871. Mr. Shepherd is a prominent citizen of this locality, respected and esteemed by his fellow men. Mr. Shepherd is a native of England, and was born in Yorkshire county, May 20, 1844. His father, Thomas Shepherd, was a farmer In Eng land, and his uncle, William Hall, had the distinc tion of being a body guard for Lord Wellington. Mr. Shepherd left his native land for America by way of Liverpool to New York, embarking on the sailboat "Old Gike," and was seven weeks on the water, when, after landing in New York in 1850, he started for the west, locating in Grant county, Wisconsin. In 1871, Mr. Shepherd started for the far west in a covered wagon to make a fortune for him: self, and to procure cheap land. The trip was a memorable one, and many difficulties were encountered. In coming across Iowa at a place near Pomeroy, Calhoun county, they encountered two sloughs, one called "Purgatory" and the other called "Hell," where they had great diffi culty in crossing, and several times they had to fasten log chains to the wagon to pull them out of the mud. On arriving in Antelope county, Nebraska, he took up a pre-emption claim on section four, township twenty-three, range six, which has remained the home place until the present time, and where our subject still lives. Here Mr. Shepherd has gone through many vicis situdes and hardships of the early days, suffer ing losses through storms of every description, drouths, grasshoppers and prairie fires. The nearest market in those days was Columbus, which was seventy miles distant. For three years the grasshoppers ate all the crops. In the memor able blizzard of 1873, called the Easter storm, the snow drifted in the house to such an extent that it had to be shoveled out, so that our sub ject and his family could move about, and some of his neighbors eame to find a place to stay through the storm, and snow had to be taken out to make the house fit to sleep in. Many 786 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. prairie fires were fought in that period, from which the family had narrow escapes. In 1894, the year of the great- drouth, the crops were a failure, being destroyed by the hot winds. Mr. Shepherd was united in marriage, October 21, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth Lory, and Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of three children, named as the following: Garnet, Grace and Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd and family are enjoying the respect and esteem of their com munity, and are surrounded by a' host of acquaint ances and warm friends. HALSEY A. DOANE. One of the most prominent, successful and influential farmers and stockmen of central Nebraska is the above named gentleman, who can truly claim to be one of its pioneers. Since coming into the state, when but three years old, he has resided in many different counties, and is familiar with the resources of each. Mr. Doane was born on March 28, 1863, and was the second of five sons born to George W. and Lucinda (Wheeler) Doane. They moved from Madison county, Wisconsin, (the subscrib er's birthplace) to Otoe county, Nebraska, in 1866, so that most of his life has been spent in the state. Nebraska was then but a territory, and there were few settlers in this county. The father took up a homestead here, but soon after moved to the northeastern part of the state, making his home in Knox and Cedar counties until his death in 1909. The mother died in Cedar county, December 5, 1906. The principal subject of this sketch grew up to his younger manhood years in Otoe county, living on the old homestead farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went to Knox county, later, in the fall of 1907, coming to Cus ter county, where he purchased land in section eight, township fifteen, range seventeen. He at present controls about six hundred acres, having .leased one hundred and sixty acres in section sixteen. He has made many improvements, and now is the proprietor of a well-equipped grain and stock farm, and is an extensive feeder and shipper, having usually more than one hundred and eighty head of cattle to feed. Mr. Doane was married to Miss Sylvia M. Jones, daughter of George and Hannah (Maple) Jones, in Knox county, September 8, 1886. The Jones family, consisting of father and nine chil dren, came to Knox county two years previous to the above date. The father was one of the original homesteaders of Knox county. The mother had died in Iowa a number of years before they moved to Nebraska, but the father lived until 'December 12, 1908. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Doane: Hope, Anna, Ivan G. and Ii. Irwin, all of whom are living, and at home. Mr. Doane may truly be called a self-made young man, and has the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He is one of the true pio neers, and has had much to do with the growth and development of agricultural interests in central and eastern Nebraska. In politics Mr. Doane is republican, and is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Mason City, having trans ferred his membership from Knox county. Mr. Doane lived in a log house in Otoe county, and in a "soddy" for some years in Knox. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, com ing into the fields to feed on the settlers' corn. Mr. Doane was in Cedar county during 1894, the year of drouth, raising but two bushels of corn to the acre, but was fortunate in harvesting a crop of wheat that ran fifteen bushels to the acre in that favored locality. ERWIN DODGE. Through exceptionally good management and persistent efforts, the gentleman here named has succeeded in building up a well-developed fariri and comfortable home, and is enabled to enjoy the comforts of life. Erwin Dodge, retired farmer, son of Amos and Sarah (Ritubusch) Dodge, was born in Lamoille county, Vermont, two miles from Johnson village, September 30, 1846. He is the eldest of five children, and has one brother residing in McHenry county, Illinois, one sister in Park Ridge, Illinois, and one sister living in Clay -county, Nebraska. One sister is deceased, as are the father and mother, both of whom were born in Vermont, and died in Illinois. Mr. Dodge lived in Vermont until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came west to McHenry county, Illinois, engaging in farm labor there three years. Then, after living for two years in the old home state, he came with a brother again to McHenry county in 1872, and they were followed by the parents a year later. The father had made a previous trip to this part of the country in the early fifties, and determined to settle there, having sold his farm for that pur pose, but on returning, home for his family, the vessel he was in experienced so severe a storm on the lakes that he vowed that if he ever got to land, he would never risk his life on the water again. And he did not ; his next trip was by rail. In 1884, Mr. Dodge came to what is now Loup county, Nebraska, and with his brother, William Dodge, pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on Gracie creek, and also timber-claimed one hundred and sixty acres, starting a ranch there 'at the time. In 1886, he purchased three hundred and eighty-two acres of good land, half a mile northeast of Elyria, running down to the banks of the North Loup, one of the best situated farms in the county. In the spring of 1910, Mr. Dodge rented his farm for two years, and moved to Elyria, building a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 787 good home there. In 1912, together with his sons, he again engaged in farming and cattle- raising, still maintaining his house in town. A view of his large farm residence, with its barns and ' sheds, together with a sketch of the town house, is to be found on another page of our work. Mr. Dodge has enjoyed genuine pioneer life in a "soddy," living for two years in a house of that construction on the ranch in Loup county. Deer were plentiful in those times. Mr. Dodge killed one while living there, and his brother one winter killed seven in one week. Mr. Dodge suffered the loss of his entire crop during the drouth of 1894, and lost all of his hay and about half of his corn in the severe hailstorm of 1893. On December 23, 1886, Mr. Dodge was mar ried to Mrs. Alice Adamson, of Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. Dodge have had five children born to them: Perry A., died in 1907; Jackson 0. ; William E. ; Angie A., died in 1898, and Lotta A., all the surviving children residing at ¦ home. Mr. Dodge is a successful man of affairs, owning three hundred and eighty-two acres of stock and farm land, as well as good town prop erty. He has passed through much of Valley county history, and during his residence here, has become one of the most popular and substan tial citizens of his community. He has served as treasurer of school districts numbers two and sixty-three for several years. LEONARD SCHMITZ. (Deceased.) Leonard Schmitz, during his lifetime a prom inent land-owner of Pierce county, Nebraska, was a native of Prussia, and was born December 15, 1847, a son of Nicholas Schmitz, who came to America in 1860. He first settled in Dubuque county, Iowa, where he was a prosperous farmer. Here Leonard grew to manhood, and was married at Sherrill's Mound, that county, January 19, 1875, to Miss Louisa Link. Mrs. Schmitz was a native of the village of Balltown, Dubuque coun ty, Iowa, born June 16, 1855, a daughter of An drew and Regina (Laite) Link, natives of Witten berg and Baden, Germany, respectively. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz lived in Dubuque county about eighteen months, mov ing to Sac county, Iowa, in October, 1876. Here Mr. Schmitz opened a furniture store at the new town of Odebolt, and continued in business there nine or ten years. About 1886 he came to Nebras ka, and a year later purchased a farm on the north line of Pierce county, six miles from Os mond, Nebraska, but did not move onto it until the year following. During the two years prior to his taking possession of his land, he lived with his family in Creighton, Norfolk and New man's Grove, and was at the latter- place during the well-known blizz'ard of January 12, 1888, when a child and man in the vicinity lost their. lives in the storm. Later he added to his pos sessions, until, at the time of his death, he owned five or six good farms in the visinity of Osmond, which are cultivated by tenants. In 1904, he bought a quarter section at the northwest corner of Osmond, and built a large two-story residence, with modern improvements, and moved into the new dwelling in February following. It was not ordained he should long occupy the new home, his death occurring on May 20, 1905. In politics Mr. Schmitz was a democrat, and, with his family, a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Schmitz, as a young man, served three years in the Sixth Iowa Infantry during the war, seeing, service on the frontier along the Missouri river, his command going as far north and west as Fort Pierce and Fort Sully. The exposure during this campaign injured his health to an extent that he was never quite well again. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz twelve children were born, whose names are as follows: Dionoicious, deceased, was at the time of his death cashier of a bank in Bristow, and so highly were his services appreciated that he was given a bonus above his salary; Mary, married Lawrence Brown, an extensive land-owner in Gregory and Tripp counties; Frank; Leonard, junior, who occupies the home farm ; Julia, a graduate of the Wayne Normal School; Edward, Fred and Ben, deceased; Frederick, graduate of a commercial college at Omaha; Benedict, who, with George, attended St. Francis' Seminary at Milwaukee; and Clara C, the youngest of the family. When Mr. Schmitz settled with his family in Pierce county, the country was open for miles in every direction. Indians occasionally roamed through the country, and, while living in Creigh ton, their house was over-run one night by refu gees from a supposed Indian massacre — a hoax, as it afterward proved to be, caused by some young men returning from a charivari full of hilarity and "good cheer." Three seasons, known as the "dry years," proved disastrous to the crops, and caused the north fork of the Elkhorn river to run dry. Fish in the pools along the creek were plentiful dur ing those years. Mr. Schmitz was of the thrifty type of citizen that is the bulwark of our institutions. The country could ill spare him in his prime. IVER C. NIELSEN. The history of the settling of America has been one of startling successes from the landing of Columbus up until the present day, and untold prosperity has been the lot of thousands of ambi tious men. The great western states have fur nished some splendid examples of this wonderful success, and among this number is the man whose name heads this review. 788 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY Iver C. Nielsen was born in Howard county, Nebraska, July 28, 1874, and was the fifth child in a family of seven, born to Niels and Mary Ann Enevoldsen, who were among the early set tlers of Nebraska, the father dying on the home stead in Howard county in the fall of 1907, while the mother and four children still survive. Iver grew up in his home vicinity, following farming as a boy, living with his parents up to his eighteenth year. He purchased land and begun farming on his own account when he was twenty-two years of age, locating on section eighteen, township thir teen, range eleven, where he owned eighty acres, which he operated until 1904, when he sold, and bought his present place in section fifteen, town ship thirteen, range eleven, where he now owns one hundred and forty-eight acres of finely-im proved land, on which he has built a handsome residence, and all good, substantial barns, sheds and other farm buildings necessary for stock. His farm is situated on the table land, just adja cent to the Loup river bottom land, lying about two miles southwest of the town of Dannebrog. This was originally the old Schlytern farm and homestead, and our subject now has one of the best equipped and most productive places in his vicinity. Mr. Nielsen was married on June 1, 1898, in Howard county, to Jennie S. Nelson, who was born in Sweden, but came to America with her parents when a very small child, the family being one of Howard county's pioneer settlers. Before her marriage, Mrs. Nielsen was a teacher in the public schools of Howard county, and was well known and a popular member of the younger social set of the locality. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have one daughter, Esther. RUFUS J. COLLINS. Rufus J. Collins, son of John C. and Fanny (Godfrey) Collins, was bom in Allegheny county, New York, November 2, 1842, and was fifth in a family of six children. He now has two brothers residing in New York state, one brother and one sister in Nebraska, and one brother is deceased, his death occurring October 8, 1889. The parents came to Nebraska, where they passed their de clining years, the mother dying November 8, 1874, and the father September 2, 1886. Mr. Collins received his education in the schools of his home state, and on August 15, 1862, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thir tieth New York Infantry. One year later he was transferred to the First New York Dragoons Cavalry, serving until close of war. He received his discharge, June 30, 1865, at Clouds Mill, Vir ginia. Decisive engagements participated in were Sheridan's Raid, May 12, 1864; Cold Har bor, Virginia, May 31 and June 1, 1864; Win chester, September 19, 1864; _ Cedar Creek, October 17 to 19, 1864; Trevilian Station, June 11 and 12, 1864, in which engagement Mr. Collins was wounded in the cheek by a piece of shell; Old Church, May 30, 1864 ; Hawes Shop, May 28, 1864; in the memorable battle at Appomattox Court House, when General Lee surrendered, April 9, 1865, and many other engagements, par ticipating in all in sixty-five engagements, but, through illness at the time, missed participating in the grand review. After the war, Mr. Collins returned to New York, and the following December went to Wis consin, engaging in farming first in Marquette and later in Waushara county. On June 2, 1867, Mr. Collins was married to Miss Elizabeth L. Root, a native of New York. Miss Root had been a teacher in Wisconsin schools for a number of years. In June, 1872, Mr. Collins eame to Valley county, Nebraska, filing on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the northwest quarter of section fourteen, township nineteen, range fourteen. He then returned to Wisconsin for his family, coming overland with ox team, camping by the wayside for seven weeks, and, with his wife and one son, moved on to the homestead in June of 1873. Mrs. Collins died, April 17, 1906, in Ord, survived by her husband and one son, Emmett. Mr. Collins is one of the earliest settlers of the county, and is widely and favorably known as a prosperous man of affairs. He owns good city property aside from his farm, and also has land interests in Kansas. He is a man interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county. In 1910, the son, Emmett, built a modern, eight-room residence on the old home stead, which is wired for electric lights, and heated by the hot-water system. Mr. Collins is independent of party lines in polities, is a member of the Odd Fellows, and a comrade of the Grand Army. Mr. Collins' first residence in Nebraska was a log dugout with a sod roof, in which he lived five years. The lumber for his first frame dwell ing was hauled from Grand Island, a distance of sixty-five miles. He experienced all the hard times of the early settlement of Nebraska, losing all his crops in 1874 by the grasshopper swarms, and by drouth in 1894. Two years hail destroyed every growing thing on his place. During the three-day blizzard of April, 1873, Mr. Collins had occasion to brave the storm each day. Deer and elk were plentiful in the early days, and Mr. Collins secured two elk and his father five — four of them with two shots. Such were the days of the early settlement in strong contrast with the present time. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 789 SAMUEL P. TYRREL. Prominent among the old settlers and agri culturists of Madison county, Nebraska, stands the name of Samuel P. Tyrrel. He is accorded a high place because of his sterling qualities and upright dealings with his fellow men. He has done much toward the bettering of condi tions in his home state and county, and is highly respected in his community. No one is more public-spirited than he, and his progressive atti tude relative to matters of local nature bring him to the front in the affairs of the locality where he resides. Mr. Tyrrel resides in section twenty, township twenty-two, range one, where he has a pleasant home and valuable estate. Mr. Tyrrel is a native of Massachusetts, being born in that state in July, 1844, and his parents, Franklin and Anna Maria (Parks) Tyrrel, are also natives of New England. Our subject was reared and educated in his native state, and upon attaining his majority, he left the state of his nativity, settling in Wisconsin in 1865, and remaining there until 1871, when he drove to Madison county, Nebraska, and after bis arrival here, took up a homestead claim, and on this built a sod house, living in this house, "batching it," for one year. In the early days, Mr. Tyrrel experienced many hardships and discouragements. The grasshoppers took all the crops the first three years. Many times he had to fight prairie fires to save his home and possessions, and in 1894 he lost all his crops by the hot winds that pre vailed during the drouth of that year. Colum bus and Wisner were the market places, and deer and antelope were plentiful in those days. Mr. Tyrrel was, united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Lou R. Stevenson, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Howe) Stevenson. Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrel are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Minnie, Percy, Walter and Claud. They are highly respected in their community, and enjoy the good will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. BENJAMIN L. NICHOLAS. Benjamin L. Nicholas is one of the original homesteaders of Custer county, Nebraska, still residing on his original farm. He passed through the experiences of those who were living in the county during the years of drouth and hard times, and by close economy and native thrift, managed to make a good start as a farmer and ranchman, being now one of the most prosperous men of the region. He was born on an estate known as Holloway, near Narbeth, Pembroke shire, Wales, March 10, 1856, being eleventh in the order of birth of the eighteen children of Thomas and Martha (Lewis) Nicholas, who had nine sons and nine daughters. His parents are deceased, but he has two brothers and four sisters living in Wales. Mr. Nicholas grew to manhood on a farm in his native country, and there mar ried, February 28, 1881, Miss Margaret Beynon, a native of Merthyr, Tydville, in Glamorganshire, where Mr. Nicholas served on the police force for six years. Her parents were John and Ann (Williams) Beynon, who died in their native country. In April of the same year, the young couple came to America, sailing from Liverpool for New York in the ' ' Boothnia, ' ' landing after a voyage of nine days. They are the only members of the Nicholas or Beynon families to leave Wales for the United States. Mrs. Nicholas has two brothers living, one in England, the Rev. D. J. Beynon, of the Congregational church, and one in Wales, but her parents are deceased. Mr. Nicholas and wife first settled in Potta wattamie county, Kansas, remaining on an eighty- acre farm on Buckshot creek until April, 1884, when they came to Custer county with their two children, taking a pre-emption claim on the south east quarter of section eight, township thirteen, range eighteen, where they have made their home since. They now own a well-improved and equipped gram and stock farm of eight hundred acres, having a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Nicholas has been very suc cessful in raising cattle and hogs, as well as small grain. He is established in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and he and his wife have always taken an active interest in church and school. They assisted in the organization of the first church and Sunday school in their vicin ity, and Mr. Nicholas has served some time on the school board, being at the present time treas urer of district number two hundred and forty- four. In 1891 to 1894 he served as a member of the county board of supervisors, and has served one term since then. He and his family are among the best-known pioneers of the county, and are highly respected by all. Nine children have been born to Mr. Nicholas and wife: Martha Anne, born in Kansas, is the wife of Edwin Burrows, an enterprising merchant of Mason City, and they have three children; Mary Theodosia, also born in Kansas, is the wife of Nels Peterson, of Mason City, and has two children; Margaret Brittania, born in Custer county, is the wife of Carlton Bunnell, living near Detroit, Minnesota, and has one child; Sarah Jane, a teacher of music, is taking the musical course at the Grand Island Baptist Col lege; Alice Ursula, taught two years, and is now attending the State Normal at Kearney; Gwendolyn Irene, Elizabeth Marian, John T. and William L. were all born on the home farm Pour of the daughters have taught school, and most of them are graduates of the Mason City High School. 790 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Their first home was a "soddy," only twelve by fourteen feet, with a leather latch to the door. For nineteen years the family lived in a "soddy," and in 1903 built a comfortable frame cottage. Kearney was their market place in the early days, and when they first traveled that trail, there was no bridge on the South Loup. It required four days to make the trip of forty-five miles. January 12, 1888, Mr. Nicholas and his eldest daughter were out in the blizzard for a time. A lantern had to be used to get to the stables to feed the stock. Practically nothing was raised in 1894, the dry year, and was for all the settlers a period of great suffering. Mr. Nicholas has attained two degrees in Masonry, and is a member of the Modern Wood men of America. In politics he is independent. LEWIS BECKMAN. Among the public-spirited German-American citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, none have been more intimately associated with the best interests of their community than Lewis Beck- man, who is one of the most successful farmers and stockmen of the county. He was born in Colberg-Munde, Germany, November 14, 1847, and is a son of Frederick and Carolina Beckman, who spent their entire lives in that country. He received a public school edu cation in his native place, and at the age of four teen years, left home, and spent seven years sail ing before the mast. He visited many countries, and had many interesting experiences, and in this way gained self-confidence and independence. About 1869, he came to the United States, land ing first in Pensacola, Florida, the vessel on which he sailed being wrecked there. He spent a few months in Pensacola, and then sailed for Boston, his life as a sailor ending there. Later he was in Rhode Island, Chicago, Kansas, and from the latter place back to Mt. Morris, Illinois, where he was married. He then went to Iowa, where he rented in lama county for five years. He then moved to Franklin county, and there bought and operated an eighty-acre farm for eight years. Mr. Beckman came to Wayne county in 1888. He rented for three years, and then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section nine, township twenty-seven, range three, where he erected a shanty, fourteen by twenty feet in dimensions. He immediately set out to improve and develop his farm, and now has a beautiful home, with all possible comforts and conveniences, and uses improved machinery and modern appli ances in carrying on his work. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres in Wayne county, and has given his children considerable land he had acquired in South Dakota. Mr. Beckman was married, February 27, 1876, to Miss Augusta Shieder, who was born in Germany in 1851, a daughter of Frederick and Carolina Shieder. She came to the United States with her mother, sister and brother in 1867. Prior to this, two brothers had come to the United States, and earned money to send for them. Twelve children were born to Mr. Beck man and wife, of whom the following nine are now living: Charles, William, Carrie, Mary, George and an infant son are deceased. Walter, Harry, Jennie, Fred and John. Emma, Both Mr. Beckman and his wife have many friends throughout Wayne county, where they are well known and highly regarded. He has always given his support to measures for the public good, and has been actively interested in securing educational advantages for the children of the community. JAMES W. YOCKEY. James W. Yockey is one of the most prominent citizens of Comstock, Nebraska, the owner of a well-equipped stock and grain farm, and having various business interests in Custer county, where he was an early settler. He is well known as one of the organizers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Comstock, of which he is vice president and director. This bank was organized for home interests, in October, 1909, and has steadily progressed in prosperity and growth. Mr. Yockey was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1859, eldest child of Oliver and Anna (Dougherty) Yockey, who had three sons and four daughters. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were mar ried. The father served in the Civil war; at its close returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and shortly afterward moved to Lincoln, Illinois, liv ing there until he came with his family to John son county, Nebraska, in 1881. Those who came to Nebraska with their parents were their son, Charles P., and three daughters, Hattie, Clara and Grace. He, had carried on farming in Illinois, and in the spring of 1881 rented a farm in John son county, later- buying land there. The par ents now live in Adams, Gage county, Nebraska. Their son, Charles F., lives at Fort Morgan, Colo rado; Clara, Mrs. Gus Nealy, resides in Sterling, Nebraska; Grace, Mrs. Chandler, lives in Lin coln ; Katie, Mrs. Prank Fritz, lives near Topeka, Kansas ; Hattie, Mrs. James Burnham, lives in St. Joe, Missouri, and James W., the eldest son, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Yockey was married at Elkhart, Illinois, November 22, 1878, to Ida May, daughter of Luther and Emeline Wood, and in February, 1884, with their two children, Bertha and Charles, they came to Johnson county. They rented a farm there three years, then moved to a farm a mile and a half from Adams, Gage county. After five years of farm life, Mr. Yockey sold his land interests, and moved into the town of Adams, engaging in mercantile business under the firm COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 791 name of Barnhouse & Yockey. After spending a year in business, he traded his interest for a farm of" three hundred and twenty acres in Custer county, although he did not locate on it. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Gage county for a time, then again became a merchant in Adams, but soon afterward resumed farming. He made a specialty of buying, feeding and ship ping stock until December, 1902, when he located near Comstock for a permanent residence. He there engaged in the implement business, but retained possession of a farm, where he had large stock interests. He owns about eight hundred acres of choice land near Comstock, and has a well-equipped livery and feed barn. He has a nice home, and is actively engaged in managing and looking after his varied interests in the vicin ity. He is well known for his public spirit, and for' his strict integrity in all business dealings. He is a keen business man, and has made a suc cess of his different lines of investment. Five children were born to Mr. Yockey and wife, of whom four now survive : Bertha, Mrs. George N. Bryson, living on a farm near Com stock, has two children; Charlie, in business with his father ; Dottie, deceased ; Harvey, connected with his father in' business ; Levi, at home. The three last-named were born in Nebraska. JOHN DWINELL. John Dwinell, an agriculturist and stockman of prominence in Knox county, Nebraska, resides in Jefferson township, and is one of those sub stantial citizens whose sterling qualities have added so materially to the wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Dwinell is a native of Wisconsin, his birth occurring in 1859, and he is a son of James Madi son and Almira (Simons) Dwinell, who were natives of Vermont and New Jersey, respectively. From Wisconsin, Mr. Dwinell, with his parents, went to Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1872 came to Cass county, Nebraska, where they bought land for six dollars per acre. Here the family endured many hardships and dangers. They suffered the loss, of their crops for three successive years through the grasshopper pests which infested this region in the early years, and in various other ways experienced losses and failures of crops. Mr. Dwinell was united in marriage in 1878 to Miss Ellen Irons. Mr. and Mrs. Dwinell are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows: Maud, who is the wife of P. Garnsey; Alma, wife of Gregg Caulfield; Addie, now Mrs. Ross Doll; Bertha, and Pearl. In 1881, Mr. Dwinell, with his family, came to Knox county, Nebraska, driving the entire dis tance from Cass county, and took up a homestead, on which they built a house, twelve by eighteen feet. Here the family suffered losses through the hailstorm of 1901, and in various other ways, but Mr. Dwinell has succeeded in developing a good farm, on which he is engaged in mixed farming and stock raising. He now owns eleven hundred and twenty acres of fine land, and his place is well improved with good buildings and a fine residence. He also has a fine grove and orchard. JEREMIAH REED. Jeremiah Reed, owner of. a finely-equipped farm in Ashland precinct, is one of the esteemed and respected citizens of Boone county. He has always been an energetic and progressive agri culturist, and well merits his present comforta ble surroundings and many friends. Mr. Reed was born in Washington county, Illinois, on March 4, 1857, the youngest of five children in his father's family. Both parents are now deceased, the mother dying when our subject was but six years of age. The only mem bers of the family now living are himself and one brother, H. W. Reed, who resides in Albion, and a half sister, Mrs. James P. Browder. After reaching manhood, Mr. Reed left Illi nois, and settled in Iowa, and in the fall of 1878, in company with friends, Bert Nurton, Joe Allen and Sidney Wilton, came overland to Boone county, Nebraska. They traveled with a single team, and purchased a farm here, built a shanty, and, after a short stay, returned to Iowa, wliere, on January 1 of the following year, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Alice Conat, at the home of her grandfather in Delaware county. After a month's visit there, the young couple started back to their new home, and started in to develop a good farm, remaining on their original place up to 1880, when Mr. Reed homesteaded on northeast quarter of section twenty-eight, town ship twenty-one, range seven, and this has been their home since that time, with the exception of about six years, which were spent in Colorado. Mr. Reed has been very successful in his chosen work, and is called one of the well-to-do men of his vicinity, having a finely-equipped farm, and raising considerable stock and grain each year. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of the fol lowing children: Pearl, Prank and Flossie, all married and living in different parts of Colorado, and Florence and Vernon C, at home. While our subject has never been active in politics, he has ever taken a deep interest in the general affairs of his county and state, and has earnestly striven at all times, in his quiet way, to aid in promoting the general welfare. P. B. STEWART. P. B. Stewart, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope eounty, Nebraska has been a resident of that locality for a number of years. He is prominently known throughout the county as one of the foremost farmers and 792 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. stockmen, and, after many years of hard labor, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life. Mr. Stewart was born in Scotland, August 16, 1844, at Kirriemuir, Forfarshire province, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm. His father, Robert Stewart, died fourteen years ago, at the age of seventy years. When our subject came to this country, he went to Glasgow, and sailed direct to New York. He at once started for the west, and settled in McHenry county, Illinois, where he remained thirteen years, rent ing a farm. After Mr. Stewart was nicely located in America, he sent for his sweetheart to eome here, and in 1872 he was married to Miss Mary Sterling. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart eight chil dren have been born, as follows: John, who is married to Ida A. Ragland, and has seven chil dren; Mary, wife of Mr. Chalfoint, and has two children ; Nellie, wife of George Fosburg, has one child; James, who is married to Nettie Couch, now lives in Holt county, Nebraska, and has one child; Flossie, Peter, George and Katie and Gene, deceased. In 1884, Mr. Stewart came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and there took up a homestead in sec tion thirty-four, township twenty-seven, range seven, on which he built a good frame house. During the drouth in every section of this coun try, our subject had good crops, and sold them at high prices. Although fortunate in that respect, our subject had other hardships in the early days, among other experiences fighting prairie fires to save his home and property, and in 1895 a terrific hailstorm caused a heavy loss. Mr. Stewart now owns four hundred and eighty acres of good Nebraska land, and is a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock man. JOHN A. PISCUS, Jr. John A. Fiscus, Jr., one of the younger self- made men of central Nebraska, began life for himself at an early age, and has been successful as a farmer and stockman. He is known as a man of strict integrity and public spirit, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. Mr. Fiscus was born near Aledo, Mercer county, Illi nois, July 17, 1870, fifth child of John and Eliza (Latham) Fiscus, who had four sons and four daughters. Both parents were natives of Indi ana, where they were reared. He was born and reared on a farm, receiving the usual district school advantages given a farmer's son. The mother died in Mercer county, June 30, 1880, and in September, 1884, the father, having remar ried, brought his family to Furnas county, Ne braska, making the trip with a team and wagon, camping along the wayside in a tent for seven weeks. The eldest son had preceded him to Nebraska, and was living in Clay county. From this time, the son, John, began to look out for himself, and, being a boy of ambition and self- reliance, was able to provide for himself with but little assistance. The father was born March 15, 1833. He lived at Ansley until February, 1911, when he returned to Freedom, Indiana, to spend his remaining days. The mother was born Febru ary 10, 1833. They were married in Boone county, Iowa, October 18, 1855, and moved to Illinois in 1869. Six of the children of this fam ily now survive, namely: Mrs. Lottie Bivens, of Mercer county, Illinois; Mary, wife of George Brown, lives in Oklahoma ; Jane married William McCulley, and lives in Mercer county, Illinois; John A., of this sketch; Delia married Nearest Sperry, and lives in Missouri; Elisha J. is mar ried, and lives in Yarmouth, Iowa. John A. Fiscus first came to Custer county in 1888. He was married at Grand Island, Nebras ka, September 6, 1895, to Lizzie Ochsner, daugh ter of Chris and Catherine (Engelhardt)- Ochsner, old settlers in Nebraska. They are Germans, who moved from Bavaria to the village of Worms, in Russia, when Christian was twelve years of age. Here he married, and lived until July, 1874, when, with his family and his parents, he sailed from Hamburg to New York on the "Schiller," the voyage lasting over ten .days. They came direct to Sutton, Nebraska, reaching their des tination September 6, and have since resided there. Mr. Fiscus brought his family to Custer county in 1897, and they live on the Lee farm, on section thirty-one, township sixteen, range eighteen, a tract comprising two hundred and eighty acres of farm and grazing land. He and his wife have five children: Edna Olefa, Ella Elizabeth, Edgar A., May Irene and Delia -Loene. The first two were born in Clay county, and the last three in Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Fiscus are well regarded in the community, and have many friends. Mr. Fiscus is a populist in poli ties, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. CHARLES N. KLINGLER. Charles N. Klingler, who resides in section twelve, township seventeen, range thirteen, Valley county, Nebraska, was born in Boone county, Indiana, December 2, 1862, and is a son of Frederick and Murency (Sullivan) Klingler. He is the youngest of six children, and has one brother residing in Lebanon, Indiana, and one sister in Zionsville, Indiana, the others being deceased. The father was of German descent, and was born June 19, 1815, a native of Indiana, in which state he passed away at Zionsville on April, 20, 1867. The mother a native of Indi ana, was of Irish descent, and died in Zionsville, June 23, 1879. Mr. Klingler received his educa- "CEDAR HILL FARM," RESIDENCE OF CHARLES N. KLINGLER. ^.v/- •¦ --ii^y- RESIDENCE OF CHARLES DEDLOW, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 793" tion in the local schools, and grew to manhood on the farm. On April 6, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine M. Adams, who was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. Her father, Samuel D. Adams, of Scotch-Irish parentage, is a descendant from the same ancestors as John Quincy Adams. He lives in Carmel, Indiana. Her mother, Nancy (McDuffy) Adams, of Irish descent, died in 1866 in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Klingler have had no children, but have one adopted son, Clifford H. He is married, has one son, and lives in North Loup, Nebraska. In September, 1884, Mr. Klingler came to Thayer county, Nebraska, remaining one and a half years; then went to Sherman county, Kansas, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, but early in 1887 returned to Nebraska, going to Furnas county. Owing to failure of crops while living here, Mr. Klingler worked for the Burlington and Missouri railroad company for about three years. In November of 1890, Mr. Klingler eame to Valley county, having only his team, together with a cow and a calf, and a debt for money bor rowed to make his way here. By 1903 he was able to purchase eighty acres of land in section twelve, township seventeen, range thirteen, which is still the home place, a well-improved grain farm. We are pleased to call attention to the home and surrounding buildings on one of our illustrated pages. Mr. Klingler has served on his school board for a number of years. He is one of the younger men among the pioneers of his locality, and is widely and favorably known. Mr. and Mrs. Klingler are both prominent in lodge circles. Mr. Klingler has for seventeen years held membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also an Odd Fellow and Rebekah. Mrs. Klingler is a member of the De gree of Honor, and at different times has held all the offices of the organization. She is at pres ent writing noble grand of the Rebekahs. She was reared in the Christian church, while Mr. Klingler grew up in the Methodist faith. He is republican in politics. Mr. Klingler has given much attention to popcorn as a crop, the Loup valley being well adapted to raising this product. He thoroughly understands its culture, and has made it one of his most profitable crops. CHARLES DEDLOW. Nebraska has much to be grateful for in the achievements of its hardy pioneer settlers, who dared to penetrate into what were then dry and desert regions to make good homes and fertile farms. Such a one is our subject, Charles Ded low, who resides on the northwest quarter of section one, township twenty-seven, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska. He is one of the pros- 26% perous farmers of that region, where he has lived for the past forty years. Charles Dedlow was born, November 8, 1850, in the province of Mechlenburg-Sterlitz, Ger many, and is the son of Frederick and Fredrika (Green) Dedlow, who made Nebraska their home during their later years. The father died in 1901 at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother in 1906 at the age of eighty-five years. Our sub ject received part of his schooling in Germany, and then came with his parents to America, em barking at Hamburg the latter part of October on a sailing vessel. They were nine weeks and three days making the voyage to New York City. After coming to the United States, the Dedlow family settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, early in January, 1867, where they rented a farm, and lived four years. In June, 1871, the parents moved to Pierce county, Nebraska, settling on the northeast quarter of section ten, towriship twenty- seven, range four — the' first settlers on Dry creek which has remained the home place. They drove from Wisconsin to Pierce county, being from April to June on the way. They first built a log house, hauling the logs from Knox county, and lived in this house four years, then building a frame house. Charles Dedlow came to Nebraska in March, 1872, and took up a tree claim on the northwest quarter of section one, township twenty-seven, range four, on which he now lives. A fine view of his place appears elsewhere in this work. There are over thirteen acres of fine trees on this land. Later he acquired the northeast quarter, having three hundred and twenty acres of unusu ally fine land. In migrating to Nebraska, Mr. Dedlow came as far as Wisner by rail, thence by stage to Norfolk, and walked from Norfolk to the claim. In the early days, our subject and family experienced many hardships and privations, for four years having nothing but hay for fuel, as was the lot of most of the early settlers. Among other exper iences, hail in 1896 destroyed all his crops. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and their flesh was all the meat settlers had at times. Mr. Dedlow was married, October 27, 1878, to Miss Bridget Elizabeth Connervey, whose par ents, James and Kate (Sherridan) Connervey, came from Ireland. The mother died, February 13, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years, and the father died, March 28, 1911, at the age of eighty- five years. To Mr. and Mrs. Dedlow fourteen children have been born: Mattie; Edward, who married Clara Stockman; Emma; Anastasia, who died in 1900 ; Gertrude, who died March 21, 1910 ; Minnie; Louis, who died June 2,4, 1894; Agnes' William, Viola, Charles, Lawrence, Clarence and Walter. Mr. Dedlow and family are Catholic in relig ious faith, and in politics Mr. Dedlow votes the democratic ticket. He served as county com- 794 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. missioner since 1906, his present term expiring in 1912. He is well and favorably known, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Creighton. After the memorable blizzard of April 12, 13 and 14, 1873, Mr. Dedlow, who was working for Herman Mavis, near Pierce, caught prairie chick ens with his hands, their eyes being closed with snow and ice. Several Indians laid in a straw stack near for two or three days. Mr. Dedlow lost crops in 1874, 1875 and 1876 by grasshoppers. Just before the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he had turned the cattle out. He went after them, drove them to shelter, and found his way back to the house, a feat accomplished by few. FRED KNAAK. In reviewing the history of Pierce county, Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place is accorded the gentleman above named. Mr. Knaak is a pioneer settler, coining here with his parents in 1880, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in his region. He is a prosperous agriculturist, and has built up a comfortable home and fine farm near Foster, where he enjoys a peaceful and contented life. Mr. Knaak was born in the village of Naugard, province of Pommerania, Germany, May 19, 1868, and is the son of Fred and Augusta (Rehfeld) Knaak, both natives of Germany, where the father followed the occupation of farmer. His elder son, Herman Knaak, served in the German army from 1876 to 1880. On coming to America, the family sailed on the steamship "Herder," and, after landing in the United States, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land in section fourteen, township twenty-seven, range four. Here they lived in a sod house six years, when the father took up a timber claim in section twenty-two, township twenty-seven, range four, and planted ten acres to trees. Our subject received his education in the dis trict schools of Pierce county, and grew up to his young manhood on the farm. On March 29, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Kieck- hefer, also a native of the village of Naugard, who came to this country in 1881 with her par ents, who took up a homestead in Pierce county, Nebraska, in section six, township twenty-seven, range three. Her father, Henry Kieckhefer, and brother, Robert, were lost in the blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, when they started after the cattle, and, drifting with the storm, were frozen before they could find shelter. Their bodies lay on the prairies from Thursday night until Sunday, when searching parties found them in the snow. In religious faith Mr. Knaak, with his wife, is a member of the German Lutheran church, and is a democrat, always voting that ticket. His home is on section five, township twenty-six, range three, where he has a good dwelling and farm buildings, and enjoys the respect and good will of all who know him. HENRY ROE. (Deceased.) Henry Roe, deceased, for many years prior to his death, was known as a prosperous farmer and worthy citizen. He became one of the pio neer settlers of Howard county, and his farm in Warsaw precinct is one of the valuable estates in that locality. During the last few years of his life, he made St. Paul his home, retired from active labors, and his wife and children now occu py the residence there. Mr. Roe died, February 11, 1908. Mr. Roe was born in Pilbery county, Ireland, on June 28, 1834. In 1850, he emigrated to Cana da with his parents and seven brothers and sis ters. He soon afterwards settled in Huron county, Ontario, beginning work on his own account, following farming for a number of years. He was married there to Mary Duke, and to them were born three children, the wife and mother dying four years after her marriage to our subject. Their son, David, is now living in Howard county, and is the father of thirteen children. In 1863, Mr. Roe was married the second time, to Mary A. McCracken, in Canada. Mrs. Roe was a native of that country, the eldest in a family of eight, and she became the mother of seven chil dren, five born in Canada. In 1872, the family came to Nebraska, locating in Howard county, where Mr. Roe pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, and lived on it for six months, then home steaded on section fourteen, township fourteen, range eleven. This he proved up on, and later purchased railroad land in the same vicinity, and by dint of industry and thrift, succeeded in becoming a prosperous farmer and stockman. He went through many disappointments and hardships in getting started, but always stood for the best interests of his county and state, and his name will occupy an important place in the history of the region. Mr. Roe was a republican, and was prominent in his party. During the early years, he served as justice of the peace, also was moderator of his school district for a number of years. Mr. Roe was survived by a wife and four chil dren by the second marriage, the latter named as follows: Susanna, wife of J. H. Morris, par ents of two children, they residing in St. Paul; Samuel W., who, with his family, reside on the original homestead; John B., pastor of the Meth odist Episcopal church at Ponca, Nebraska, father of one child ; and Ella May, wife of William Har vey, parents of two children, also residing in St. Paul. Mrs. Mary A. Roe, widow of our subject, makes St. Paul her home. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 795 are living with her. She is a very estimable lady, enjoys the friendship of a large circle of people, and is surrounded by her children, who are a source of comfort to her, they all being settled in nice homes of their own within a radius of thirty miles of St. Paul. JOHN L. WARD. John L. Ward, a Nebraskan, born and bred, is a typical westerner. He is an intelligent and progressive citizen of Valley county, and classed among the successful farmers of this locality. He is a young man of firm characteristics, and his high standing as a worthy citizen is well merited. Mr. Ward was born in Valley county, Nebraska, November 21, 1882, a son of Asahel and Amanda (Honnold) Ward. He is youngest of three children, and has a sister residing in Lloward county, Nebraska, and another living in Ord, where the parents are also living at the present time. Our subject received his education in the local schools, graduating in 1904 from Ord high school. On August 15, 1909, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Dora Milligan, who is also a native-born Nebraskan. They have one daugh ter, Alice. Mrs. Ward's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Milligan, reside in Valley county, together with six other daughters and seven sons. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have made their home in Ord since January 1, 1911, and they have a tract of eighty acres in Garfield county. Mr. Ward is still a young man, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home state and county. He is held in high esteem in his community, and has served as justice of the peace for two years, filling that office creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the people. Mr. Ward is now in business as a landscape photog rapher. He is district deputy of the Tribe of Ben Hur, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors of America, and is, with his wife, a member of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. E. C. BROBERG. To the men of perseverance and stalwart de termination, who emigrated west many years ago, and particularly those settling in the state of Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural or commercial region, practically all the prosperity there is due. Prominent, among the pioneers of Madison county, and one who has been intimately identified with its growth and progress, incidentally gaining also an enviable reputation as a worthy citizen, may be mentioned E. C. Broberg, now a prosperous and successful farmer, proprietor of the estate known as the Hopefield Farm, in section eighteen, township twenty-one, range three. Mr. Broberg is a native of Sweden, born in Skona on January 3, 1871. He is a son of N. M. and E. L. Broberg, all the family coming to the United States in 1880. Their first stop was made at Chicago, Illinois, where they remained for six years, our subject working as a clerk. He then came on to Nebraska, locating in Madison county, where he purchased the Cooper homestead of James Stuart. He added many improvements to this property, engaged in the grain and stock- raising business, and eventually built up a very fine farm of the place. In 1908, he erected a comfortable and handsome dwelling, also other substantial outbuildings, fences, etc., and is hoav the owner of one of the most valuable estates in the township, his farm consisting of one hundred acres of fine farming land. Mr. Broberg makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Duroc- Jersey hogs, of which he has about one hundred head. Mr. Broberg was married at Elgin, January 19, 1896, to Miss A. Swanson, who lived in Elgin. Mr. and Mrs. Broberg have four children, named as follows: Alfred, Walter, Lloyd and Gladys, all bright and sturdy youngsters. Since locating in Madison county, Mr. Bro berg has taken a deep interest in affairs of his community, and has in every way possible assisted in promoting its welfare. ANTON P. DOBESH. Anton P. Dobesh, one of the most widely- known men of Custer county, Nebraska, belongs to a representative family, and one that is highly respected wherever known. He is a man of busi ness ability and energy, being progressive in his ideas, and actively interested in all measures cal culated to advance the general, welfare and pros perity. He was born in the village of Roucho- vany, Moravia, a part of Bohemia, January 13, 1861, next to the eldest of thirteen children born to Tomas and Josephine (Job) Dobesh. The par ents were born, reared and married in Moravia, and came to the United States in the spring of 1871, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore, in the "Columbia" it is believed, and spent nineteen days on the water. With their six children, they first located on a homestead in Saunders county, Nebraska, which the father secured, and there several children were born. There were, in all, seven sons and six daughters in the family. One daughter, Annie, now Mrs. Pelan, lives on the old home farm, two sons and one daughter live in Cus ter county, and one son and two daughters live in Butler county, Nebraska. Tbe mother of these children died in Saunders county in 1884, and the father, now in his eighty-fourth year, has retired from farm life, and resides in Weston, Saunders county. He is highly respected as an upright and reliable citizen, and has a large number of friends. 796 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Anton P. Dobesh accompanied his parents to America when he was about ten years of age, and as a youth helped with the work on the farm in Saunders county, receiving a common-school education. In the spring of 1879, he eame up into Custer county for the purpose of looking the country over, thinking to locate there. In due time he took up a homestead and timber claim on section eighteen, township fourteen, range eighteen, his nearest neighbor being four miles distant, and his nearest trading point Kearney. He is one of the few original homesteaders to retain possession of his original farm through out the years up to the present time, and has been closely identified with the progress and de velopment of the region. He has made a specialty of stock-raising, and ships several carloads of cattle to market each year. He is a self-made man, and has passed through the various periods of hardship and privation that have been the lot of the old settlers in Custer county, developing his land into a fine stock and grain farm, which is well equipped and improved. He makes a spec ialty of Durham-bred cattle, and during the last few years has raised a large amount of grain. He owns two thousand acres of rich farming land, and is one of the most successful men of central Nebraska. Mr. < Dobesh married in Saunders county, March *19, 1882, Mary Tomsicek, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Novacek) Tomsicek, who came to America in the spring of 1878, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Dobesh have five living children: Anton K, who is married, and lives in Custer county, has two children; Prank, Josephine, Tomas and Mary, all at home. These children were all born on the homestead, and attended local schools. Mr. Dobesh was reared in the Catholic faith, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a staunch republi can, and at one time was one of the only two members of his party in the precinct.. The hard times of the early nineties' bore severely on the settlers, several years of drouth or hail succeeding each other with little inter mission. In 1894, Mr. Dobesh harvested but a little fodder, and two years later lost everything by hail. Kearney was their nearest market in the early years of settlement here, the trip there and back requiring three or four days' travel. Deer and antelope were to be seen on the prairies in great numbers, but soon disappeared. DR. THOMAS M. THOMSON. Dr. Thomas M. Thomson, one of the best known and most successful dentists of Howard county, Nebraska, has his home office in Danne brog, where he has been established for the past several years. Mr. Thomson was born in Denmark on Decem ber 3, 1872. He received his education in his native country, obtaining his diploma as a doctor of dentistry from one of the celebrated colleges there, and also qualified as a registered pharma cist. In 1899, Mr. Thomson came to America with the intention of making this country his perman ent residence, and picked out Nebraska as his location, going at first to Lincoln. There he entered the office of a well-known practitioner as assistant dentist, remaining for one year, then passed the examination required before the state board, and came to Dannebrog. On September 25, 1901, our subject was united in marriage to Johanna C. Mortensen, of Danne brog, and they made this their home up to 1904, at which time they went to Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Thomson entering the dental department of the University of Illinois, from which she graduated in 1907. During this period, Mr. Thomson held the position of bookkeeper for a large Chicago house and imm'ediately after his wife had complet ed her studies, they returned to Dannebrog, and opened an office, and have since followed their profession in partnership, now enjoying a large and lucrative practice. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Thomson was a teacher in the public schools of Nebraska, and for some time taught in. the government Indian schools at Genoa, Nebraska. They have built and furnished one of the handsomest homes in the city, in which they live, and enjoy the friendship and esteem of all with whom they come in con tact in a business or social way. GEORGE A. CLARK. George A. Clark is one of the oldest settlers in Merrick county and vicinity, and for many years has been one of the leading and prosperous agriculturists of this section. He came here dur ing the early days of its settlement, and has be come closely identified with the best interests of the community, where he has passed so many years of his career. Mr. Clark is a son of Benjamin and Maria (Baxter) Clark, was born in Rochester, New York state, July 24, 1840, and was second of ten children, two brothers of whom, Oliver W. and William M., live in Central City, and the others being deceased, as are also the parents. In infancy Mr. Clark went with his people to Pennsyl vania, living there until 1854, when the family moved to Illinois, where they followed farming. On September 28, 1861, Mr. Clark enlisted in Company E, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer In fantry, serving until close of war, receiving his honorable discharge in December, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Clark participated in numerous battles, among which are the following named : At Winchester, under General Shields ; COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 797 he participated in recovering the retreat of General McClelland at Harrison's Landing, and was also in siege of Charleston, South Carolina. After a furlough, he re-enlisted, and went into Virginia, and was at Drury 's Bluff under General Butler ; he was at Richmond and Petersburg, and participated in the charge on Port Gregg, and witnessed Lee's surrender. He participated in the grand review before Lincoln at Fredericks burg, Virginia, and after the war he returned to Illinois, engaging in farming and the mercantile business. On October 31, 1867, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Florence A. Strickler, of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had two children born to them: Carroll E., married, has two children, and resides in Central City, Nebraska; and Lela B., wife of G. A. Rose, has six children, and -also lives in Central City. In April, 1871, Mr. Clark came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres in section eight, township fourteen, range six, which remained the home place until 1893, when he retired from the farm, moved into Central City, and purchased a good home, where they now reside. In 1903, Mr. Clark engaged in the hardware business, which he sold three years later. Mr. Clark has been active in the upbuilding of his community, and in the early days helped to organize school district number eighteen, and served as director of same a number of years. He has also served on the city school board for •six years. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to pioneer life. They have been prosperous and successful, and are widely and favorably known. B. Y. HIGH. One of northeastern Nebraska's most success ful merchants, Bert Y. High, has been a resident of the state since 1876. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Read ing, March 2, 1858. His parents, Reuben and Esther (Yoder) High, were both of old Pennsyl vania families. The great grandfather was a Hessian, and settled in the Keystone state prob ably after the Revolutionary war. Mr. High was reared in Reading until eighteen years of age, when he came west to benefit his health, his family fearing tuberculosis. It was his intention to remain in the west only a short time, but the climate and the people and western institutions were too strong a lure for him. He did not return for even a visit until after five years, and never has he desired to return to remain. Reaching Omaha, August 1, 1876, he remained a few days at the old Canfield House — later the Bailey — opposite Union Pacific headquarters, and then went to West Point, and was employed in farm work until spring. Joining a wagon train to the Black Hills, he enjoyed life in the open for the rest of the season. There being but a few wagons in their party, not enough to go through the Indian country alone, they joined others they found in camp, near where Valentine now stands, waiting for recruits. Several more wagons com ing on from the east in a few days making a train of twelve to fourteen wagons, enough to cope with hostile bands. There were five or six in the party starting from West Point, and their wagon being heavily loaded, only one was allowed to ride and drive, all taking turns at walking. Their team consisted of four yoke of oxen, and as the progress was slow, they were about forty days on the way to Deadwood, where they remained two or three months. Though there were but two teams of them, they returned by way of the old trail to Sidney, pass ing through the country of roving bands of Indians, who, fortunately, did them no violence. From Sidney they descended the Lodgepole creek to the Platte river, which they followed down to the city of North Platte, where they sold their outfit, -and returned to West Point by rail. Shortly afterward, Mr. High secured a clerkship in a store in Columbus, and remained for two years, becoming familiar with merchandising, which was to be his life work. In 1879, he came to Knox county, and secured employment in the store of H. E. Bonesteel at Niobrara, remaining with the establishment, of which he later became manager, for twenty-four years. In 1903, having saved enough to go into business for himself, Mr. High came to Bloom field, and opened a general store — dry goods, groceries and hardware — in which he has made a signal success. His genial disposition has made him agreeable alike to salesmen and customers, and whether one desires to buy or sell, he meets with the same cordial courtesy. Mr. High was first married in Niobrara, Ne braska, in 1881, to Miss Mary Diez, who was bom in Germany, whence her father, Winzel Diez, emigrated to the states, and settled in Knox county, Nebraska. Two children were born to them: Lottie, wife of William McLaren, of Lin coln, and Ralph, associated with his father in the store. The first Mrs. High died in 1892. He was married a second time in Creighton, to Miss Irene Henderson, a daughter of Walter Henderson, born in Princeton, Illinois. Mr. Hen derson, now deceased, was for a number of years county attorney of Knox county. Of this second marriage, one daughter was born : Alice. Mr. High is a democrat in political views. He is high up in Masonic circles, holding member ship in the blue lodge, chapter council and com mandery at Bloomfield. He is also a member of the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 798 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. High was witness to the devastation wrought by the grasshoppers in 1876 and 1877, making it hard to secure his pay for work done on the farm near West Point. He located in Nio brara prior to the great flood, and was present when the old. town was moved to the new site, on higher ground. Although the water rose to nearly the height of the counters in the store, Mr. High and others remained at their posts. He has witnessed the development of Knox county from an open country to a fenced and highly cultivated farming region. In the early days, a journey from one point to another could, be made in nearly a straight line. Mr. High has traveled as far west as the Pacific coast, going to Portland at the time of the exposition there, visiting Salt Lake, Denver and other western towns on the trip. None with the same opportunities has made a greater success than Mr. High. He knows the business of merchandising to its smallest details, and knows the art of selling and buying equally well. He speaks Indian, the Sioux tongue, fluently, and enjoys a large trade with the abori- ginee, as well as with the later comers to Nebraska soil. AUGUST TIEDTKE. For more than thirty years the above-named gentleman has been closely identified with the growth and development of Stanton county, Ne braska, and is well known as a prosperous farmer and good citizen. His estate is located very pleasantly in section two, township twenty-two, range three, east, and is in every way a well- improved piece of land. Mr. Tiedtke was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1846, and is the son of Matthew and Carrie Tiedtke. The father was a small farmer, and our subscriber remained at home, helping his parents, until he was considerably past his ma jority. In 1872, he left his native land for America, coming over on a slow-sailing vessel, as was the custom, and coming to New Jersey. Immediately after landing in New York City, he remained in this state for over a year. He then went to Michi gan, and stayed there for three years. Prom Michigan, Mr. Tiedtke came direct to Stanton county, Nebraska, in 1877, one of the years when the grasshoppers proved to be such a menace to the farmers. He came to Fremont first, and from there started to walk to hunt work. He hunted for work for four weeks before he finally "landed" the elusive job, by which time he had become foot-sore and weary indeed. He worked for a time, and then bought eighty acres of fine land, which formed the nucleus of the immense estate, of which he is now proprie tor. By dint of hard work, and by the exercise of considerable thrift and good management, he succeeded in improving the original eighty, and also from time to time was enabled to add adjoin ing lands, until now he is the owner of more than five hundred acres of as fine farming land as one would wish to see. In 1880, Mr. Tiedtke was united in marriage with Gusta Sasse, and later on, in 1896, some time after the death of his first wife, he was mar ried to Miss Amelia Corneak. Five children have been born to him: Otto, Hattie and Ida, of his first family, and Edward and Arthur, of the sec ond marriage. W. H. CORMENY. W. H. Cormeny, one of the best known resi dents of Antelope county, Nebraska, has spent many years of his life in the pursuit of farming and has met with pronounced success in his chosen work, and owns a fine farm in the northeast quarter of section ten, township twenty-four, range seven. He has resided there during the past thirty-two years, and is classed, among the prominent old settlers of that region. Mr. Cor meny is a worthy citizen and a good neighbor, and richly deserves all the success which has come to him. Mr. Cormeny was born in 1853, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the home of ex-President James Buchanan, where our subject's father, Samuel, ran a hotel, for thirty years. Mr. Cor meny is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Stew art) Cormeny, the father being a native of New York state, and the mother a native of Pennsyl vania. His grandfather was a native of Germany. Our subject's oldest brother, G. W., served in the Civil war, enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, and par ticipated in several battles all through the south. In 1872, Mr. Cormeny came west, where oppor tunities were greater, and settled in Omaha, where he remained six years. While in Omaha, he was employed as a printer in the office of the "Morn ing Herald," and later in the office of the "Bee." He then bought a team, and drove to Antelope county, Nebraska, where he took up the home stead he now lives on, which is in northeast quar ter, section ten, township twenty-four, range seven, and known as the Pleasant Grove Farm. Mr. Cormeny first built a sod house on this land, which he lived in, and "batched" it for six years. July 4, 1888, Mr. Cormeny was united in mar riage to Miss Plorence Simmons. Mr. and Mrs. Cormeny are the parents of a family of three children, whose names are as follows : Alice, married to John Udey, and has one child; Cora, wife of Mr. E. Curtright, and daughter, May. Mr. and Mrs. Cormeny and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Cormeny is a popular and respected citi zen, as his record shows him to be. He has FORMER FRAME RFS/OE/VCF /A/ GERANi SODDY RESIDENCE IflTS "WILLOW BANK FARM," RESIDENCE OF JOHN S. WHEELER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 799 always taken an active part in public affairs, and has served his constituents and fellow townspeo ple faithfully and well in the different capacities of county supervisor of the seventh district for four years, has held every township office, and at the present writing is serving as township clerk. BURKHARDT J. KAELIN. The Kaelin family has long been held in high esteem in Custer county, and Burkhardt Kaelin, whose name heads this sketch, is a self-made man, who began life on his own account in early youth. He was born in Switzerland, April 26, 1865, the eldest child of Joseph and Mary Kaelin, who had two sons and three daughters. The father and mother, with their three children — Burkhardt, George and Lizzie — came to America in the spring of 1872, sailing from Havre, France, and first located in New York City, where the father was employed as a finisher and adjuster of the assembled machines by the Singer Manu facturing Company. They then moved to New Jersey, where they spent a few years, and in 1877 removed to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, locating two miles east of Elizabeth, where the father engaged in carpentry. In September, 1886, Burkhardt Kaelin came from Illinois to Custer county, Nebraska. He had worked at farming since his thirteenth year, and, upon coming west, took up a homestead on the east half of the southeast quarter of section one, township fifteen, range eighteen, of Custer coun ty. In 1892, he purchased a farm in section eleven of the same township, and, two years later, moved onto the tract. The home place is located on the northeast quarter of the section. He has three hundred and twenty acres of land in his farm. He has lived on this place since purchasing it, and, with the exception of two years spent in Otoe county, he has been a resident of Custer county since 1886, and is known as one of the younger homesteaders, who have made a perman ent home in central Nebraska. He is a progress ive and useful citizen, and has made a success of his farming. He has a well-improved and equipped farm, with a large number of cattle and hogs, and raises a large amount of grain. A very complete system of waterworks is one of the notable features of the place. He has a comfort able home, and has many warm friends in his community. He passed through many hardships and trials in his early years there, and has been successful only through perseverance and untir ing industry. Mr. Kaelin was married at Ansley, Nebraska, November 20, 1890, to Miss Blanche Reed, daugh ter of Stephanas and Ann Elizabeth (Morris) Reed. Her father came to Otoe county, Nebraska, about 1867, and was there married in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Reed live in Syracuse, Nebraska, although they still own their original homestead, which is now operated by a son. Mr. Kaelin and wife have two children, Reed B. and Vera Marie. Mr. Kaelin's father came to Custer county in the spring of 1889, and lives on his farm, three miles north of Ansley. The mother died in Janu ary, 1908. Of their children, besides Burkhardt : George lives on section thirty-two, township six teen, range eighteen; Lizzie (Mrs. Joe Dittmar) lives in Custer county; Sophia (Mrs. John Gonge) lives on her father's place in Custer county; Mary (Mrs. John Lanum) lives on a farm north west of Ansley. On coming to Custer county to join an uncle, who had preceded him, Mr, Kaelin did not know the railroad had been extended to Broken Bow, so purchased a ticket to Kearney, the supposed nearest point. Of his remaining five dollars, the most was paid for his stage ride to Broken Bow. After paying for his supper and lodging, he had barely enough left for a ticket to Ansley, having to go without breakfast, and reached Ansley with a lone nickel in his pocket. He secured work the first day, making hay in the vicinity, and has never been without money since. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Kaelin was on the way to town, and had just passed his present farm when the storm struck. A bachelor owned the place then, to which he returned, and remained through the night with the hospitable owner, and next day resumed his journey, and returned home. Mr. Kaelin and family lived in sod houses until 1904, their first "soddy" beirig only ten by twelve feet in size, but big enough for comfort at the time. Mrs. Kaelin, a native of Nebraska, was born in a dugout, but the family, a few months after, moved into a more preten tious dwelling. JOHN S. WHEELER. John S. Wheeler, one of the older residents of Valley county, Nebraska, is well known through out that section, and is held in high esteem by his associates. He has acquired a valuable prop erty through his industry and thrift, and has always done his "full share in the bettering of conditions in his community. Mr. Wheeler resides on section thirteen, township - twenty, range fifteen, where he and his family are sur rounded in their pleasant home by a host of good friends and acquaintances. John S. Wheeler, son of Chauncy and Kath erine (Krantz) Wheeler, was born in Sullivan county, New York, March 19, 1854, the fourth in a family of six children. He has one sister residing in the state of New York, and a brother in Missouri. The parents are both deceased, their deaths having occurred in New York. The father attained tbe venerable age of eighty-six years, and probably would have reached the century mark had not an accident suddenly ended his career, he having been killed in a runaway in 800 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1906. The mother died in 1871. The grand father, Sylvester Wheeler, attained the age of ninety years, and his father, Amos Wheeler, died at the age of ninety-seven. Mr. Wheeler received his education in his home schools, and later learned the printers' trade in the office of the Register at Liberty, New York. In June of 1878, he came to Valley county, Nebraska, walking the entire distance from Grand Island to St. Paul, where he worked for six weeks. He then came into Valley county, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-six, township nineteen, range sixteen, which was the home place for twenty-five years. On July 22, 1884, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Ida Wheeler, of the state of New York, where her father, Ferdinand Wheel er, is still living at the venerable age of eighty- seven years. He was a forty-niner, having made the trip to California by way of Cape Horn. After four years, he returned by way of the Isthmus from San Juan to Lake Nicaragua by pack train, and by water to Greytown, whence he sailed for New York, the entire trip consuming twenty-two days. He relates that rosewood and mahogany were used for building purposes as hard woods are used here today. Her mother died, November 2, 1906, she having also lived in New York the entire seventy-eight years of her life. The maternal grandmother, Frasier, came with her parents to Sullivan county from Ireland in 1808, making a home in what was then a wil derness. Ferdinand Wheeler's grandmother, Comstock, attained the great age of one hundred and two years. M(r. and Mrs. Wheeler have had six children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are : Arthur C, Lloyd F., Ferdinand B. and Merton C, all of whom reside at home. In 1905, Mr. Wheeler purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirteen, town ship twenty, range fifteen, which is now the home place, a well-improved stock and grain farm. He has passed through all the discouragements and trying experiences of frontier life, but has never lost faith in Nebraska resources and soil, and has been well repaid for his perseverance and faith. A view of "Willow Bank," the family residence, is shown on another page. For the first five years on his homestead, Mr. Wheeler lived in a "soddy," through the roof of which water dripped for days after a shower. Many a time he slept in a bed soaked with rain. It was in this "soddy" he and a man named Pierson lived the winter of the deep snow, and for six weeks were without flour, subsisting on corn they ground. Nor could they have procured flour had they been able to get to Ord, for the supply there had become exhausted before the roads could be opened and provisions freighted through. For the first few years, he worked during the sum mer at St. Paul to earn enough to live six months through the winter on his claim. He freighted from the Loup valley to Grand Island, making the trip in a week's time. He was employed in the grading of the railroad between Grand Island and St. Paul, a welcome opportunity to earn enough to sustain him until he could make final proof on his land. At the time of the blizzard of October, 1880, Mr. Wheeler was in the river bot toms, getting wood, and made his way home by leading his team, and feeling his way between the ridges of the road with his foot. His children were at school when the fearful blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, came on, and in bringing them home he also brought nearly all the other children with him, keeping them over night. In the cyclone of September, 1882, Mr. Wheeler lost his barn and a stack of grain, and in the drouth of 1894, lost all his crops. Deer were plentiful during the early years, sometimes running through the dooryard, and game birds were more plentiful than domestic fowl are now. Mr. Wheeler is a prosperous man of affairs, and has always been interested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state, and has creditably filled several offices. In 1893 and 1894, he served as supervisor for his township, was treasurer of his school district, number thirty-five, for sixteen years, and is now treasurer of school district number sixty-three. He is a populist in political faith, but votes for whom he considers the most reliable man, regardless of party name. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Ord. CHRISTIAN LERUM. Christian Lerum, retired farmer of Plain- view, Pierce county, Nebraska, and a highly esteemed old settler, first eame to this state in 1872, reaching Plainview July 6, previous to which time he had spent some years in Wiscon sin. His birth occurred near Bergen, Norway, November 16, 1851. His parents, Christian and Annie Lerum, died when the boy was quite young. In company with an older brother and sister, he emigrated to America in 1860, embarking at Bergen in a sailship, the "Norgen." After a voyage of about five weeks, they landed at Que bec, and came directly west to . Dane county, Wisconsin, and shortly after to Buffalo county, Nebraska. Here the boy, Christian, worked at whatever his hands found to do, and as he grew older, secured work on farms, in the lumber woods, and rafting on the river, going as far south as Keokuk. In the spring of 1872, he left Wisconsin for the west, driving through with oxen, and reach ing Plainview the sixth of July, after some six or seven weeks on the road. For the first two years he carried the mail between Norfolk and Niobrara, making "the round trip once a week. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 801 It was oh one of these trips that Mr. Lerum had a hair-raising experience with the Indians. They had been reported as hostile, and a large party of them were camping on Dry creek. Mr. Lerum, on the way to Niobrara with the mail, took a south road along the bluffs to avoid passing so large a camp of the redskins. Imagine his feel ings when he saw eight or ten of them mount their ponies, and come dashing across the bottom lands, surround him — and ask him for tobacco ! Another uncomfortable experience was when a large mountain lion followed him for a distance, some twelve miles south of Niobrara. Although he was well armed, he was not looking for trouble, and was well content to let the creature alone if it did not come near enough to make an attack. Mr. Lerum was married in Pierce county, Nebraska, to Miss Margaret Alexander, daughter of William and Anna (McWilliams) Alexander, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Soon after marriage, Mr. Lerum filed on a home stead, and, later on, a timber claim, south of Plainview, on which he resided until 1906, when he retired from active farm work, and moved to town, where he owns a comfortable home. To Mr. and Mrs. Lerum eight children were born, five of whom are living, named as follows: Ellen, wife of Doctor Nye, of Plainview ; William, farming in South Dakota; Christian, junior; Lillian, and Edward. Mr. Lerum was reared in the Lutheran faith, and is a republican. He served as assessor in 1874, and one time, while returning from per forming that duty near where Osmond now stands, he had a narrow escape from prairie fire. Seeing a badger on the prairie, he killed it, and had taken off the hide, when, on looking up, he dis covered a prairie fire little over a furlong away. Mounting his horse, he ran him at top speed some six miles before he could get around the end of the blaze and escape to safety. The worst bliz zard Mr. Lerum ever witnessed was that of April 14, 15 and 16, 1873, during which he remained in Pierce, abandoning his trip with the mail for that length of time. But frequently dur ing his service as mail carrier and in later years, he was out in many violent winter storms. A snow during the winter of 1873 drifted so deeply over Bozzell creek that it formed a snow bridge firm enough for Mr. Lerum to cross while the water was running deep and swift below. Horses sometimes tramped down the snow that sifted into the hay-covered stables until it raised them up enough to get out through the roof. Cattle drift ing with storms were sometimes found in the spring, twenty miles away, where they perished. Mr. Lerum has a large fund of incidents of the hardships of early settlers, and, on the other hand, can tell of their many pleasures when the country was new. Every one was helpful, and lent a helping hand. Their simple pleasures when life was young surpassed the more preten tious entertainments of a later day. GEORGE PAULMAN. George Paulman, one of the best known pio neers of Howard county, Nebraska, was among the early settlers in that now thriving region. Mr. Paulman was a native of Germany, born in the province of Hanover, Amt Einbeck, on April 3, 1843. There he spent his boyhood, follow ing farming as soon as he was old enough to work, and at the age of twenty-three years he took passage on a ship for America. After land ing in New York, he found that his entire capital was a few clothes and one dollar and eighty-five cents in money. He managed to secure employ ment, and earn enough to pay his way to Wiscon sin, where he got a job as a farm hand, remaining in that state for seven years. On March 7, 1868, he was married there to Dora Madge, also a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when a young girl. Husband and wife worked together in Wisconsin up to 1874, and there three children were born to them. At that time they decided to try their luck in Ne braska, so gathered together their possessions, and started out by team to drive through the country to their new home. While on this journey, a sad misfortune overtook them in the death of one of their children, Clara, a little daughter, and on arriving in Omaha, laid their little one to rest. On reaching their destination, Mr. Paulman filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section four, township thirteen, range twelve, erected a rude dwelling, and started to develop a farm. They made this their home for thirty-one years, going through hardship and privation in building up their property, but by dint of industry and constant labor he has become one of the most ' successful men of his locality. Lie has from time to time added to his original homestead until he now owns eight hundred acres of fine farm land. This he has fitted with good buildings, and all kinds of modern farm machinery, etc., and a large herd of different kind of stock. In addition to his farm interests, Mr. Paulman owns an. entire block of town property and two substantial store buildings and one lot in Boelus. In 1904, he retired from active farm work, set tling in Boelus, where he enjoyed a comfortable home, and was regarded by all as one of its most dependable and substantial citizens. On Septem ber 15, 1909, he went to San Jose, California, where he bought a nice residence, worth four thousand dollars, and now makes this his home. Mr. Paulman 's family consists of himself, wife and twelve children, two having died a number of years back. Those living are named as fol lows: Albert, Anna, Charles, Lydia, Bertha, 802 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mary, Emma, William, Henry and Arthur, all of whom are married, and settled in comfortable homes, excepting the last three mentioned, who reside with our subject. Since locating in this region, Mr. Paulman has taken an active interest in all affairs of his township and county, serving as road overseer in the early days, and for eight years was moder ator of district number twenty-five, holding the same position on the Boelus school board during 1896 and 1897. He is a gentleman of superior intelligence, well informed on every topic of the day, having read widely and kept in close touch with current events. In 1881, be became an ordained Methodist Episcopal minister, and worked as a circuit rider, preaching throughout six counties. For a long time he delivered three sermons every Sunday, always preaching in the German language. Mr. Paulman is, and always has been, an earnest worker for the cause of religion, aiding in spreading the gospel wherever his services were needed, and also for twenty years was superintendent of the Sabbath school. PAUL HERMAN FIEBIG. One of the oldest settlers in Sherman county is Paul Herman Fiebig, who came here in 1874, at a time when he was the fourth settler to make his home on Upper Oak creek, where he had laken up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He has labored long and faithfully, and has endured hardships and privations unnum bered, and has sustained many unexpected and severe losses. However, instead of making him wish to give up the seemingly hopeless struggle, it has only served to increase his determination to succeed, and to make him redouble his efforts. Mr. Fiebig was born on the twenty-second of February, 1841, in the village of Poischwitz, the Prussian province of Silesia. He received his early education in his native land, and took up the trade of cigar-making when but fifteen years of age. He came to America in 1859, sailing from the Haven of Bremen for New Orleans on the "Bremen,'' the voyage lasting seven weeks. With some friends, he came up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Evansville, Indiana, where he followed his trade at first, later taking up farm ing. In the fall of 1861, Mr. Fiebig enlisted in Company K, of the Thirty-second Indiana Volun teer Infantry, and served the full three years, receiving his discharge in Indianapolis in the fall of 1864. During his term of enlistment, he was in many minor engagements, besides taking part in the following important battles: Murfrees- boro, Nashville, Liberty Gap, Resaca, Perryville, Chickamauga, Shilo, Atlanta, Stone River, Mission Ridge, Corinth and Altoona Hill. In his case, one unusual thing is the fact that during the time he was in the army, he was on duty every day, and was never sick, wounded or taken pris oner. After the war was over, Mr. Fiebig returned to Indiana, and on February 23, the following year, he married Miss Paulina Kuehns, a native of the same village in Germany, in which Mr. Fiebig was born. While yet a little girl, she came to this country in 1859 with her parents, on the same ship that brought Mr. Fiebig. In March of 1874, Mr. Fiebig, with his wife and four children, came to Sherman county, Nebraska, where he took up a quarter section on section twenty, township fourteen, range sixteen, which was the home of the family until 1904, when he sold out, and removed to Loup City. He has purchased a comfortable home here in the city, and is now enjoying his well-arned ease. He has always taken a deep interest in the schools of the community, and for sixteen years was moderator of school district number thirty-one. During the early years on the farm, the fam ily met with many and serious misfortunes. The first two seasons, the crops were all taken by grasshoppers. During the latter part of the eighties, they lost all crops, barn and outbuild ings in a terrible prairie fire. The only thing they did save this time was the sod house in which they were living. For two winters they were forced to make their main article of diet common field corn and a little wheat, which was ground in the coffee mill. A little wild meat was the only addition to their scanty fare. Another terrible misfortune which befell the family was in 1881, when five of the children died within ten days from diphtheria. Out of the fourteen children born to them, only six children are now living: Agnes, married George Deinin- ger, of Howard county; Albert; Gustaf ; Bertha; Berthold, in Oregon, and Emma, wife of John George. The family are well known in the community, and enjoy the respect of all with whom they have come in contact. Mr. Fiebig was reared in the Evangelical church. He is a republican in politics, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the An cient Order of United Workmen. NICHOLAS KENT. Nicholas Kent, a prominent old-timer of eastern Nebraska, resides on section six, town ship twenty-three, range one, Madison county, where he has built up a good home and farm, and is well known throughout the locality as a lead ing citizen and successful farmer. Mr. Kent has done his full share toward the betterment of con ditions, and has always taken an active part along all lines pertaining to the growth and pros perity of his home state and county. Mr. Kent is a native of Ireland, his, birth occurring there in the year 1851. He is a son of COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 803 Peter and Catherine Kent, also natives of Ireland. Our subject received his education in his native land, where he grew to young manhood. In 1871, Mr. Kent left his mother country for America, embarking at Queenstown on a steam ship for New York. After reaching the United States, he located in New Jersey, where he remained two years, then went to Massachusetts, residing there one year. He then moved to the state of Wisconsin, residing there for a period of six years, then coming to Sioux City, where he made his home for some ten years. In 1882, Mr. Kent came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim in section six, township twenty-three, range one, which still remains the homestead. On this land he built a good frame house, and immediately began to make improvements on the place. Like so many of the old settlers in the western country, Mr. Kent braved severe hardships and discouragements in those early days, when the prairie was about all unbroken soil, and there were but a few settlers to be found for miles around. Deer and antelope were seen in large herds, grazing on the open prairie. As late as 1894, Mr. Kent suffered losses through the hot winds that scorched all vegetation during the terrible drouth of that year. But those times have passed to history, and today prosperity and con tentment reign supreme where once privation and suffering held sway. In 1882, Mr. Kent was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kent, and they are the parents of eight children. ALBERT ROHDE. Albert Rohde, who has been a resident of Cus ter county, Nebraska, for nearly a quarter of a century, has won his success in life through the exercise of perseverance and patience, as he is self-educated and has made his own way in the world from an early age. He found it difficult to make a start in life, but once he had begun to prosper, redoubled his efforts, and now is consid ered one of the successful young German pioneers of the county. He was born in the village of Guentershagen, Pommerania, Germany, January 19, 1866, the fifth child born to Christlieb and Harrietta (Reckow) Rohde, who had five sons and two daughters. Two of the sons, Fred and Her man, came to America in 1881, settling in Grand Island, sending for their parents the following year. They were soon afterward joined by the rest of the family, and the boys began working for neighboring farmers by the day. The father secured a homestead, in April, 1884, comprising the southeast quarter of section thirty-four, town ship thirteen, range eighteen, and at the same time his son Fred, secured a homestead, which gave the family a home farm. The father died on his farm on February 14, 1910, being then in his eighty-third year, and the mother makes her home with her son Albert, whose name heads this article. Four sons now live in Custer county and one at Buffalo. One daughter, Amelia, now Mrs. Frederick Paske, lives in Wisconsin, and another, Lizzie, now Mrs. Cass Milige, lives in Coffeyville, Kansas. Albert Rohde was sixteen years of age at the time the family came to America, sailing from Bremen to Baltimore on the " Strausburg, " the voyage lasting sixteen days, and was well grown and rugged. He worked for farmers in Hall and Howard counties for several years, and was a hard-working, industrious young man, and was ambitious to have a home of bis own. He located permanently in Custer county in January, 1887, when he purchased the southeast quarter of sec tion three, township thirteen, range eighteen, and developed and improved a farm. On March 7, 1888, at Grand Island, Nebraska, Mr. Rohde married Minnie Schoman, and the young couple began housekeeping on his farm. Both worked at home and in the employ of others, in order to make the payments which became due on the farm. Mr. Rohde has worked away from home for many years, beginning as a farm laborer when in his twelfth year. By his energy and thrift he has become the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of desirable land in Custer county, besides a farm of two hundred and six teen acres in Dade county, Missouri. As he did not have an opportunity to secure a homestead, he has paid cash for all his land, his first purchase being made while still in his minority. He paid for breaking this land in labor, not having a team of his own. To add to his misfortunes, a prairie fire swept away his hay and straw roofed stable the first year he was on the place. Since 1885 he has passed through the various periods of Custer county history, being closely identified with the affairs of the neighborhood, where he is highly esteemed as an upright and honorable citizen. He passed through the hard times of the years 1893 and 1894, and is deserving of credit for the manner in which he has improved and equipped his home farm. Thirty bushels of wheat were his entire crop in 1894, and one bushel of potatoes he dug was later frozen and spoiled. Mr. Rohde lived in a "soddy" for twenty-three years, erect ing a large, modern house in 1910. He also has other substantial buildings, and he and his wife veritably dug success from their land. Mr. Rohde worked for nineteen long years to pay for four hundred acres of his land, and is now the owner of much land which was formerly in the posses sion of bis early employers, when he was working by the day. He is actively engaged in the man agement of his farm, and in this work bas the as sistance of two sons. The last deer killed in the region was brought down on Mr. Rohde 's place bv Daniel Posten. 804 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. and Mrs. Rohde had six children, all born on the home place : Vina, Herman, Frank, Ro land, Mary and Dora. Mrs. Rohde passed away, sincerely mourned by her family and large circle of friends, on March 10, 1911. MV. Rohde has been independent in politics since 1889. He is a member of the Evangelical church, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. DOCTOR E. M. BARNES. Doctor E. M. Barnes, a native of Nebraska, is linked to the earliest history of the state through his grandfather, Reverend W. D. Gage, who first became identified with the state in 'January, 1853, when he crossed the river from northwestern Mis souri, and visited Old Fort Kearney, now Ne braska City, and held divine services there. He was a native of the state of New York, and at the age of twenty-one was converted to the Christian faith by a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Four years later he entered the New York Conference, and for twenty-six years filled a pulpit in the conferences of New York, Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri. In October, 1854, he was appointed to the Ne braska City Mission, the first appointment made by his denomination in the state. The first church was of course a primitive structure and quite small. Before the close of his mission there, Mr. Gage had raised a subscription of two thousand and four hundred dollars for a brick edifice, quite large for that day. He served as chaplain to the first legislature, and was honored by the naming of a county after him. Mr. Gage was born about 1803, and died at Weeping Water, November 20, 1885, full of years and honors. He was married January 1, 1833, to Miss Sarah Schoonmaker, who died in 1862; of their seven children three only were living at the time of the mother's death. A son who had frequently crossed the river to hunt or visit in their old haunts in Missouri disappeared the winter he was seventeen. Whether he was killed by the Indians or broke through the ice and was carried under, the family never knew. The mother of our subject, Doctor Barnes, who was Martha Gage, was eldest of the three surviv ing sisters. She was born about 1843, in Illinois, during .her father's pastorate there, and was mar ried while the family was residing at Rock Bluff, a settlement now long since abandoned, in Cass county, near Nebraska City. Our subject's father, John Wesley Barnes, was born at Bowling Green, Kentucky, March 21, 1835. He came of a long line of American ancestors, the first of whom, Stephen Barnes, born in 1604, came to Massachusetts colony in 1630. The successive sons were as follows : Kitchner, born 1642; James, bora 1696; Thomas, born 1734, served in the Revolutionary war in a Virginia Company, his father having re moved to the Old Dominion some years prior to that conflict; Stephen, born 1765; Nathaniel H., born 1803, married a Miss Wright and was the father of John Wesley Barnes. The latter came out to Maysville, Missouri, about 1855, and for a time taught school there and then engaged in farming. When the Burlington railroad built across the Missouri river, Mr. Barnes was employed by them to secure the right of way, and later in their land department until 1901 ; he was in their employ all these years except for a short time about 1876 vvhich he spent in Utah in the service of the Fed eral government in the land department. He also represented Cass and Douglas counties in the leg islature five terms the ninth and thirteen sessions, inclusive. He made his home in Plattsmouth for years, removing to York about 1885. Here he be came interested in banking and was president of the Citizens' State Bank, which was wrecked by the cashier speculating on the Chicago Board of Trade, sweeping away the accumulations of years. His courage was not broken, however, and he went to work with renewed energy in the service of the Burlington, from which he retired, as before stated, in 1901. His death occurred in January, two years later, and the mother's in November, 1906. Of their children, E. M. Barnes is the seventh in a family of eight children. He was born at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, September 2, 1876, and attended the public schools there and at York. The wrecking of the bank of which his father was president cut short his education and threw him upon his own resources at the age of seventeen. Securing' a position in the Burlington freight houses at Denver, he worked industriously for three years and then went to Chicago and matri culated in the Chicago Polyclinic, a night school, reading medicine the while in the -office of his brother, Doctor C. D. Barnes, who was a practi tioner in the city. He returned to Nebraska and took the scientific course in the State University, and then finished his medical education in the Lincoln Medical College in 1903, coming imme diately to Plainview where he has built up a large and lucrative practice. During the summers in Lincoln, Doctor Barnes was employed in checking up the fee accounts of the district clerks, and in this way became acquainted with every county seat and large town in the state ; few citizens have seen as much of Nebraska as he. Doctor Barnes was married at Seward, Ne braska, May 18, 1898, to Miss Margaret Hender son, of that place, and the next day enlisted in Company H, Second Nebraska Volunteers for ser vice in the Spanish-American war. He was trans ferred to the First Division, Third Corps Hos pital service and was first stationed at Chicka- mauga Park, later being transferred to Fort Mc- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 805 Pherson Hospital at Atlanta, where he served un til the close of the war, returning to Lincoln to finish his medical course. Mrs. Barnes is a daughter of Captain John S. and Josephine (Handrick) Henderson. Captain Henderson served through the Civil war in a com pany of Illinois cavalry, and after the close of hos tilities returned to Maguam, Knox county, and in vested in lands; these he sold in 1875 to 'a good advantage ; he then invested in large tracts of land near Seward, which rising rapidly in value, soon made him independent. He for a time owned the lower mills at Seward but sold and kept his wealth invested in lands. He died in November, 1908; the mother still lives at Seward. Doctor Barnes is a trustee of the Congrega tional church, of which Mrs. Barnes is a member. He fraternizes with the Knights of Pythias, Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, A. 0. 0. P., the Elks, and the Royal Highlander lodges. He is also a member of the American Medical society, as weH as those of the state, the Elkhorn Valley and Pierce county. Doctor Barnes was candidate in the second election under city government and was defeated on the "dry" ticket by six votes; his friends ran him in the next electon, April, 1909, and he was elected by a majority of sixty-five, showing the growth of temperance sentiment and the Doctor's popularity. Doctor Barnes takes great pleasure in the pub lic library, for the installation of which he secured subscriptions for three hundred and fifty dollars. It has since been taken over by the city and is proving to be a very popular institution, the read ing room having a goodly crowd of patrons every afternoon and evening. JOE G. DAVIS. Among the leading old timers in Merrick coun ty, Nebraska, Mr. Davis is given a first place, hav ing resided in the above named county and state for the past thirty-five years or more, on section twenty-nine, township fifteen, range eight, west, which is still his home. He is known as a man of industry and a citizen of true worth. Joe G. Davis, farmer, son of William and Han nah (Logan) Davis, was born in Nobles county, Ohio, October 11, 1845, and was third in a family of eight children ; he has one sister residing in Mis souri; one brother in North Dakota; and three brothers and two sisters in Nebraska; bis parents are deceased. Mr. Davis received his education in the home schools, and later engaged in farming. In May of 1864 Mr. Davis enlisted in Company G, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until close of war, receiving his discharge at Co lumbus. Ohio, in August of 1865. He was all through the siege of Savannah, and many minor engagements. After the war, our subject re turned to Ohio, then went to Missouri, where he followed farming for two years. April 25, 1871, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elmina Barr of Muskingum county, Ohio, and to this union have been born four children : Maud L., deceased Janu ary 21, 1910, survived by her husband, L. F. Wind- bigler, and three children : Oatie, wife of H. L. Stockton, has three children, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska ; Carrie G., wife of O. R. Skinner, has three children and resides in Clarks, Nebraska; and Mary E., who is married to 0. Linderman, has one child, and resides in Palmer, Nebraska. In March, 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Davis came to Merrick county, Nebraska, purchasing eighty acres of railroad land in section twenty-nine, township fifteen, range eight, west, which is still the home place, as before stated. They enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Davis has served as treasurer of his school district number thirty-six for many years, and during his many years of residence in Nebraska, has always taken an active interest in everything that pertained to the advancement of the locality in which he lived. WILLIAM F. KLOKE. Comparatively few of the citizens of whom we write are ' ' to the manor born ; ' ' most of them had their nativity beyond the boundaries of the state or beyond the borders of the country. Not so with William F. Kloke, a prosperous merchant of Spen cer. Though of foreign parentage, he is Nebraska born, having been ushered into this breathing world at West Point, December 23, 1872. His father, John Kloke, was born in the pro vince of Westphalia, Germany, November 21, 1837, and with his parents emigrated to America in 1854. The grandfather, Nicholas Kloke, settled in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Michigan, and here John grew to maturity. He began for himself, working in the copper mines of the Lake Superior district. He was married in Ontonogon, Michigan, to Elizabeth Salm, who was born on the Rhine, province of Prussia, in June, 1 845 ; her parents emigrated to the New World the same year the Klokes came and settled in the same county. Mr. and Mrs. John Kloke came to Nebraska in 1869 and suffered the poverty brough on the early settlers by the grasshopper pests through the seven ties. The railroad was built nio further than Omaha and they drove from there to St. Charles, where settlement was made. It is notable that here is located the oldest Catholic church in this part of Nebraska, if not in the entire state. Dur ing his residence here, Mr. Kloke served as treas urer of Cuming county, being one of the first to fill that office after the organization of the county. After enduring the losses caused by the grasshop pers for two or three years, Mr. Kloke aban doned his homestead, returned to Wisconsin in 1874, and entered the mercantile business at Cleve land. Prom there he moved to Green Bay and owned a saloon for a few years, returning to Ne braska in 1885. At West Point, he opened 806 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. a hardware and implement store and two years later transferred his business to Howels. In 1889, he filed on a homestead in Wheeler county, thirty-five miles south of O'Neill. This he soon after relinquished and, coming to Boyd county in 1890, filed on a homestead three miles south of Spencer. Here he lived and pros pered, retiring from active labor in 1902 to take up his residence in Spencer. In 1906, how ever, he felt the need of activity and with a col ony from Spencer filed on a homestead claim near Wall, in Pennington county, South Dakota, and has made this bis residence since. William P. Kloke began life for himself in No vember, 1897, on a farm five miles west of Spencer, and was engaged in that vocation until 1902, when he spent the season on the road for the Deering Harvester Company under the management of L. A. Fisher. August 31, 1903, in partnership with P. J. Handley, he opened a general store in Spencer, and a year later, on September 10, took over the entire business himself and has since increased his business to a flattering degree. One pleasing fea ture of business relations in Spencer is the comity that exists between the merchants of the town, ex changing courtesies like the friends they should be, instead of showing enemities. Mr. Kloke was married in Spencer to Miss Cecelia Griffin, who was born in Shullsburg, LaFayette county, Wisconsin. Two children have been born to them, namely, Cecelia and Helen. Mr. Kloke is a democrat, a member of the Cath olic church, and of the Knights of Columbus. Ou the organization of the county, Mr. Kloke was elected the- first clerk of the district court and served four years. Mr. Kloke was out with his brother in the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, and has been witness to the devastation of the severe hailstorms that have swept over this section of the west. Like all dwellers of the open country, he has helped fight prairie fires before the land was broken up as it is in the present day. Mr. Kloke is a good type of the western man- upright, alert and helpful to those in distress. DAVID CRAIG David Craig, numbered among the pioneers of Boone county, Nebraska,, has built up a substantial fortune by many years of faithful effort and good. business acumen. He was formerly proprietor of two hundred acras of farm land situated west of Albion, and was engaged principally in the stock business for many years, making a specialty of the breeding of thoroughbred Poland China hogs, ot which he had some fine specimens. His residence is in Albion. Mr Craig was bom on March 2, 1866, and is a son of Samuel C. and Margaret J. Craig, old resi dents of Delaware county, New York. They had a family of seven children of whom our subject was the eldest, and the entire family settled in- Boone county in 1879, one son dying here. Here the father filed on a homestead and carried on the farm with the help of his children. In 1887 David Craig purchased eighty acres on section nineteen, township twenty, range seven, where he resided up to 1898, at which time he pur chased ten acres joining Albion on the south, to which place he moved, and there kept his stock of Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle which were raised on his farm previously mentioned. He became well-known as a thorough judge of Poland China hogs. In December, 1909, Mr. Craig moved to Albion, which has since been hisihome. Mr. Craig has been successful in his different ventures, and become possessed of two hundred acres of farm land which he has since sold. Be sides this he owned a handsome home in Albion, which he has now disposed of. Mr. Craig was married on September 3, 1901, to Miss Jennie I. Reed, of Iowa, and she died April 25, 1910, since Which time Mr. Craig has made his home with his mother. Samuel C. Craig, father of our subject, was a native of Ireland, born on May 17, 1836, and came to America when he was four years of age, in company with his parents, and two brothers and three sisters, the family locating in Delaware county, New York. He grew up there, and was married in December, 1864, to Margaret Mitchell. Samuel O. Craig died in Boone county, Nebraska, in 1895, survived by his wife, who still resides in Albion, and six children. Samuel Craig home steaded in Boone county during the very early days of its settlement, taking up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty, town ship twenty, range seven, and that was his home farm until his death. He became one of the prosperous and success ful agriculturists of his section, and was active in local affairs, helping establish and keep up the schools, and serving for fifteen years as director of his district. He was also Justice of the Peace for many years. Pour daughters of Samuel Craig survive him, also two sons. The daughters are Mrs. D. R. Jordon, Mrs. Leslie Edwards, Mrs. Frank Cremer, and Mrs. H. M. Nichols, all living in Nebraska, and the sons are the subject of this sketch, and John, who lives at Fullerton, Nebraska. OLIVER F. EGGLESTON. O. F. Eggleston, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section three, township twenty- three, range six, is well-known throughout Ante lope county as a progressive and successful agri culturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. He is one of the oldest settlers in Antelope county, having located here in June, 1874. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY7. 807 Mr. Eggleston is a native of Lee county, Iowa, born November 14, 1849. His father, Hezika Eggleston, was born in Ohio, and lived to attain the age of seventy-seven years, .his death occurring in 1897; our subject's mother, Mary (Barb) Eg gleston, was also a native of Ohio, and her parents -were of German descent; Mr. Eggleston 's brother, Norman, served for four years in the Civil war. In 1874 Mr. Eggleston emigrated from Iowa to Nebraska, he having heard such glowing accounts of this great western country, and particularly of Nebraska ; and the cheap lands there, and what better chances there were in this new country for a young man to get a start in life, so came west ward and settled in Antelope county on a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty, township twenty-three, range six, and here he has succeeded in developing a good farm. He is now engaged in mixed farming and stock rais ing, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land. Mr. Eggleston is of the opinion that the average man here is much better off financially than in Iowa, as the land here costs less and crops grow just as well with less labor, one man taking care of one hundred acres as easily as he could fifty in Iowa. Since locating in Antelope county, Mr. Eggleston has had fair success every year, with the exception of 1894, when his crops were destroyed by drouth, and that year every one experienced more or less failure ; but after the ad vent of the better years he was more fortunate, and has accumulated a nice property, fie devotes a good deal of attention to fine stock and now has about seventy-eight head of full-blooded Here ford cattle, and twenty-four head of high grade Percheron horses. On December 28, 1880, Mr. Eggleston was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Horn, whose family were among the oldest settlers of Antelope county, coming here in 1871. She was a native of Norfolk, England. When Miss Horn's parents first came to this county, the Indians were quite hostile, on one occasion stealing all their goods, and did a great deal of damage in other ways. Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston are parents of eight chil dren, named as follows: Bradford, deceased in infancy; Herbert, Olive, Edith, Freeman, Clif ford, Fern, and Aleda. WILLIAM H. PENSE. William H. Pense, a highly respected farmer of Custer county, was one of the pioneers of cen tral Nebraska and has done his full share in as sisting in the development of the region. He has been a resident of Custer county since 1879 and retains possession of the homestead he secured in that year, and on which he makes his home. He was born in Henderson county, Illinois, September 9, 1855, a son of Hiram J. and Nancy (Moffat) Pense. He was the second of three children, born and reared on a farm in his native state. In No vember, 1872, he accompanied the rest of the family to Nebraska and they located in Clay coun ty, and there the father died in 1893, the mother having died when William was a small boy. His brother George lives at Sheridan, Wyoming, and his sister, Mary, wife of Dan Mealey, lives in Mc Lean county, Illinois. In 1879 Mr. Pense secured a homestead on the southwest quarter of section twelve, township six teen, range eighteen, and with the exception of some time during the dry years in Nebraska (when he worked at the carpenter's trade in Iowa) , and a few years spent in Box Butte county, Nebraska, he has since resided on this place. Mr. Pense was married in Custer county, July 3, 1881, to Miss Ezettie Sloan, a native of Illinois, who came with' her mother to Nebraska, in 1880. She is the only child of John and Nancy (Gam mon) Sloan, the latter from a Virginia family. Nine children have been born to Mr. Pense and wife, eight of whom survive : Gertrude, deceased, was born in the homestead; Edna, born in Custer county, is the wife of John McGowan, of Wyo ming, and they have four children; Nancy, born in Custer county, is the wife of George McGowan, and they live in Ansley ; Twila, born in Box Butte county, is the wife of John Barrett, of Lincoln, and they have two children ; Clara, born in Custer county, and Ernest, born in Clay county, are at home; Lyla and Ruth, born in Iowa, and Glenn, born in Custer county, are also at home. Mr. Pense takes an active interest in public affairs, and is now serving as director on the school board of district number sixteen. He and Ms wife are well-known in the county, and have a wide circle of friends. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Pense is a worker in the prohibition party. One of their earliest hardships was during the blizzard of April, 1873, when they all lay in bed the three days to keep from freezing. To save their horses all were brought into the house, where one died. When the storm abated, Mr. Pense and his brother crawled through a window to get hay for fuel. They had bad no fire for three days because the horses had to be tied near the stove. During the dry year, 1894, they raised no corn on seventy-five acres planted ; twenty, acres seeded to wheat produced ten bushels, and nine bushels of potatoes, were the total crop raised in a large field. PRANK STRELOW. Among the representative farmers and stock men of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in its advancement and development, a prominent place is accorded Frank Strelow, who resides on his farm in the southwest quarter of section twenty-nine, and the southeast quarter of section thirty, township twenty-seven, range two, one of the best improved places in that part of the county, where he is a stock raiser and 808 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BiOGRAPHY. farmer. He is a gentleman of energetic character and well merits his success and high standing. Mr. Strelow was born in the village of Brauns- berg, province of Pommerania, Germany, June 26, 1867, and is the son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Timm) Strelow, who were married in 1860. The father was born in 1835, and was a laborer in the old country; the mother, who was born in 1836, died in November, 1910. In April, 1882, the el der Strelow sailed with his family from the Haven of Bremen, Germany, on the steamer "Straus- berg," and upon reaching the New World after a voyage of fourteen days, set his face westward. Reaching Pierce county, Nebraska, he first set tled near Hadar, where he rented a farm five years, and then bought the land where he now lives with his son Frank, of this sketch. In 1892 Frank Strelow was married to Miss Louise Koehn, a daughter of August and Maria (Rodek) Koehn, who was born in Pierce county. She passed away in 1898, leaving four children, Elsa, Hattie, Arthur, and Julius. Mr. Strelow was married to Miss Amanda Fisher, November 1, 1904. She is a native of Pierce county, and a daughter of John and Au gusta (Rohloff) Fisher. Three children were born of this marriage, named as follows: Alma, Edna and Amanda. Mr. Strelow is a democrat and always votes a straight ticket, and is a member of the German Lutheran church. He is one of the substantial men of his locality, and is highly respected. His father is known as one of the prominent old-timers of his locality. Mr. Strelow served his county as assessor for a term, filling the office with honor and credit. Mr. Strelow 's farm is notable in illustrating the contrast of the old world with the new. Nearby his fine ten-room house, a modern dwell ing of most pleasing architecture, is one of the primitive barns of the place which is covered by a thatched roof, the work of the elder Strelow, such as covers many of the farm buildings of the old world; this served well to exclude the snow and rain until within recent years it has been al lowed to fall into a state of dilapidation. A view of this fine farmstead with all its buildings is shown elsewhere in this work. AUGUST BENSON. Among the Swedish- American citizens who have attained prominence in Nebraska and have become successful business men, August Benson, of Val ley county, deserves special mention. He is well known as one of the earlier settlers of the_ coun ty and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his state and county, being one of the most highly respected men in his community. Mr. Benson is one of the stockholders in the Far mers' Live Stock Association, with headquarters in Arcadia, and is also a stockholder in the Ar cadia Creamery Company, besides being an ex tensive land owner. He was born near Conkasa, Ilorod parish, Sweden, February 24, 1855, the eldest of the three, children born to his parents, who spent their entire lives in Sweden. He reach ed young manhood in his native country and in 1873 eame to America, crossing the North Sea from Guttenburg to Hull, and embarked at Liverpool in a White Star liner for New York, landing after a voyage of nine days. He came west to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where for a time he worked on the railroads and in lumber mills. Mr. Benson's marriage occurred at Stephen's Point, Wisconsin, December 5, 1879, when he was united with Miss Mary Peterson, who was born in Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1891 he brought his wife and two children to Valley coun ty, purchasing one hundred and sixty" acres of land on section thirty-two, township eighteen, range seventeen, .which had been taken as a home stead by his uncle, John Benson, and this place on which he erected all the improvements, has re mained the Benson home through many years to the present time. At the time of his coming here there was not a fence between his place and Ord — all was open country over which deer, ,antelppe, and elk in countless numbers ranged. He is a prosperous and successful man of affairs and now owns a well improved and fully equipped stock farm of seven hundred and twenty acres of land. A view of the fine country home with its accom panying barns and outbuildings is to be found on one of our illustrated pages. He has served twelve years as treasurer of school dis trict number fifty-nine, and in other ways has proved his public spirit and helpfulness in local interests. Of the twelve children born to Mr. Benson and wife, but six now survive, namely : John, living in Sargent, Nebraska, has one child ; Gustaf , Palmer, Alfred, Martin and Oscar, all at home. Mr. Benson is independent of party lines in the political world, and fraternally is a member of the Ancient Order United Workmen. During the first eight years on his farm, the family occupied a sod house in true pioneer style. Many were the discouragements of those days. Drouth burned their crops during 1890 and 1894; hail destroyed all small grain for three sea sons and one year chinch bugs took all before them. But with all their early misfortunes they have persevered and prospered to an extent that few in the old country ever do. JACOB WEYHRICH. In the person of Jacob Weyhrich, mentioned above, we have another of the sturdy sons of Ger many who left their native land in their young manhood and came to America to carve out for themselves a name and fortune in the land of lib erty and freedom. Mr. Weyhrich resides on sec- smmmk^^B m ~ijEEm£== RESIDENCE OF FRANK STRELOW. RESIDENCE OF AUGUST BENSON. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 809 tion eight, township twenty-seven, range one, Pierce county, Nebraska, coming here in 1893, and has always done bis full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives.Mr. Weyhrich was born in the village of Wes- sau, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1832, and is the son of Philip and Lizzie (Stair) Weyhrich. His father was born in 1793, in Germany, and died in 1867; and the mother was born in 1806 in southern England, and died in 1853. There were three brothers and one sister in his father's family, and our subject received his education in his native land, in early life working on a farm as a laborer in the vicinity of his home. In his young manhood, he served in. the German army from 1852 to 1856, inclusive. When Mr. Weyhrich was twenty-five years of age, in 1857, he left the fatherland and came to America with his father. After landing in New York City, they came west to Pekin, Illinois, where they rented a farm and remained there until 1893, when our subject came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he bought land and has made a beautiful home. In 1901, Mr. Weyhrich lost all his crops by hail. Mr. Weyhrich was united in marriage in 1857 to Miss Mary Keblar, and they are the parents of nine children: Phillip, who was married to Miss Ida Eidman in March, 1895, and has three chil dren, Dick, George, and Albert; Louis, deceased; George, married to Miss Lizzie Shaffer, has seven children, Harry, Etta, Anton, George, Emma, Sadie, and Dora; and Lizzie, John, Peter, Katie, Eva, and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Weyhrich and family have the respect and esteem of all who know them. In re ligious faith, they worship at the German Lu theran church. Mr. Weyhrich is a democrat. CHARLES ROBERTS. Charles Roberts, successful farmer and busi ness man of St. Libory, Howard county, is one of the highly respected pioneers of that region. He has gone through all the early experiences of frontier life, and during his residence in Nebraska has aided materially in the development of the country. He has an interesting family, and all are popular members of the social life of their community, having many warm friends who de clare their home is one of the pleasant spots in the neighborhood. Mr. Roberts is a - native of Hollenstein, Ger many, born October 9, 1837. He was the third child in a; family of seven, and is the only mem ber of his family ever to leave their home country. Father, mother, and three sisters are dead, the remainder of the family still living in Germany. At the age of twenty Charles left home and came to America alone, his first location after landing here being at Moline, Illinois, where he secured employment in a saw mill. There he worked for six months, then began as a farm hand, on the Wesley Kane farm, and remained for three years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company M, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and followed a soldier's fortune for four years and nine months. He, saw hard service, taking part in a number of hard fought actions, the most prominent being the bat tles of Fort Donaldson, Pittsburg Landing and Fort Henry. He was also in numerous skirmishes, most of the time under General Grant's command, and, with the exception of about two months which he spent in the hospital, saw active service during his entire enlistment. He was mustered out at Houston, Texas, in June, 1866. After returning from the war Mir. Roberts went to work in the John Deere Plow shops at Mo line, Illinois, remaining there for several years, and in 1871 came to Howard county, Nebraska, took up a homestead on section thirty-two, town ship thirteen, range nine, and proved up on one hundred and sixty acres. He has prospered since that time, meeting at times with discouragement and misfortune, but never giving up hope, and by energy and thrift has become owner of twelve hundred acres of choice land lying in Hall and Howard counties. He is regarded as one of the wealthiest men of the region. His home is on his original farm, on which he has built a handsome dwelling, with all improvements and substantial farm buildings of every kind. Mr. Roberts was married at Moline, Illinois, December 4, 1867, to Katie Wiese, she being a na tive of that place, and her father one of the first settlers in Rock Island county. To them have been born six children, namely : Edward, single ; Lillie, wife of Robert Kutcher, living in Hall county; Rose, Harvey, Maggie and Alvin, all at home, and they comprise a very interesting and charming family circle. Our subject is active in local affairs, and is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post in Grand Island. JAMES H. EYERLY. James H. Eyerly born in Marion county, Iowa. November 11, 1862, was the youngest of ten chil dren in the family of Samuel and Polly Shearer Eyerly. The family moved to Jasper county, Iowa, the year following the birth of James, and six years later, when little James was only seven years old, the father died. The mother and family then moved to Madison county, Iowa, at which place the mother died in the summer of 1902. The children scattered as they went out in life for themselves and only two of them reside in Ne braska, namely: James H. (the subject of this sketch) and D. H. Eyerly. The latter resides near Hershey, Lincoln county, being one of the solid men of that community. 810 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. James H. Eyerly practically started life for himself when he was only fifteen years old, work ing three years at wage work, then beginning to farm for himself. In August, 1884, he married Miss Laura May Ford, a native of Iowa, the daughter of Mr.' and Mrs. I. S. Ford, of Madison county, Iowa. In March, 1886, Mr. and Mrs. Eyerly and their infant daughter, Edna Leriore, came to Sherman county, Nebraska, where Mr. Eyerly leased a sec tion of land, making this county his home until the spring of 1890. He was eminently successful as a farmer^ and stockman and at that time moved to his farm inValley county which he had purchased prior to that date. In common with many others, Mr. Eyerly passed through the hard years of 1890 and 1894, and although he had done well in his first Nebraska years, his accumulations were needed to carry him self and family through these trying years. As a final result of the panic of 1894, he was forced to start, all over again. It was slow work, but so well did he succeed that by 1905, he was known as one of the most prosperous farmers in Valley county. At that date, Mr. Eyerly and family moved to North Loup to take active management of the New Arlington hotel, with livery and sale barn con nected, which property Mr. Eyerly had purchased some little time before. He still runs the hotel and is also largely interested in the real estate business. Another line to which he gives consider able time and attention, is that of buying and sell ing horses. Mr. Eyerly is in every respect a hustler, wide awake and energetic, whose absolute integrity has won for him a host of friends. Lie is a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Eyerly have six children : Edna, Ada Lenore, Elwin F. Edith Fern, James Bryan and Opal Vivian. IRA G. WESTERVELT. (Deceased.) Among the men who helped in the develop ment and success of the northeastern part of Ne braska the gentlemen above named occupied a pro minent place. He became a prominent citizen of Norfolk, Madison county, Nebraska, where he was universally respected and esteemed by his fellow men. Ira G. Westervelt was born in Franklin county, Ohio, December 28, 1832, and was the tenth of thirteen children. He received his education in the home state, and later engaged in farming. On February 8, 1860, Mr. Westervelt was joined in holy matrimony to Miss Amelia A. Grin- nell. also of Ohio, and they became the parents of .eleven children, Whose names we give as follows : William II. , deceased, survived by his wife and five children who live in the state of Washington; Edith, married H. T. McLane, who have one child, and live in Spencer, Iowa; Kate, married to H. H. Sachtjen, have two • children, and live near Hoskins, Nebraska; Lavina, married to Reverend E. T. George, have two children, and live in Neligh, Nebraska; John, married, has four children and lives in Meadow Grove, Nebraska; Alma, married" to L. C. Hepperley, have six chil dren and reside in Norfolk; Lucinda, married to William Martin, four children and live in Port land, Oregon; Robert, died in infancy, in 1874; Jessie H., married to Swython R. Reynolds, have three children, and live in Denver, Colorado; Jeffery, married, has six children, and lives in Tilden, Nebraska; and Irene A., who died in infancy, in 1880. In 1868, Mr. Westervelt went to Illinois, again engaged in farming and remained there until the spring of 1883, when he came to Norfolk, Nebras ka, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, one mile east of Norfolk, where he farmed and raised stock, and lived here for fifteen years, during which time he purchased one hundred and twenty acres adjoining the original one hundred and sixty. . About 1899, Mr. Westervelt retired from the farm and moved in to Norfolk, where he lived at the time of his death. Mr. Westervelt served as po lice judge for four years in Norfolk, and also served fifteen years on the city school board. He died January 24, 1909, at his home on Madison avenue, survived by his widow and eight children. Mrs. Westervelt still lives in Norfolk, and in 1909 built a fine home, where she now lives surrounded by a large circle of friends. CHARLES L. KARNES. Charles L. Karnes, an old and respected citizen of Custer county, is honored as a veteran of the civil war, in which he won an honorable record. He was born in Alleghany county, Virginia, seven miles from Covington, the county seat, August 1, 1834, seventh child of the four sons and five daugh ters born to Jacob and Sarah (Keyser) Karnes, both natives of Virginia, the former of Alleghany county, the latter of Bath county; both died in their native state. Lie was born and reared on a farm., and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, living on the farm where he was born until coming to Custer county in September, 1884. He was married in his native state March 25, 1855, to Nancy Andrews, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Oliver) Andrews, and they remained in Virginia until bringing their ten children with them to Nebraska. During this time, Mr. Karnes spent two and one-half years in active service during the Civil war, in "Stonewall" Jackson's brigade of Virginia artillery. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Karnes took a home stead in the southwest quarter of section eighteen COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 811 township nineteen, range twenty-one, the house standing on the northwest corner of the tract, ' where they have since lived. Mr. Karnes also filed on a timber claim, to which he has since added ¦by purchase, until now he owns four hundred and twenty-five acres of fine hill land. Twelve children were born to Mr. Karnes and wife, of whom eight now survive, as follows: Mollie, now Mrs. Hazel Williams, of Broken Bow, Custer county, has thirteen children ; Lewis, mar ried and living in California, has two children; Harry, married and living in Idaho, has two chil dren; Belle, wife of Scott Cooper, lives in Okla homa and has five children ; John, married and liv ing in Iowa, has five children; Charles, married and living in Nebraska ; Michael born in Virginia, January 19, 1874, was married in Custer county, November 7, 1899, to Mary, daughter of Alonzo and Adelia Ward, lives on the home farm and has four children: Dorothy, Walter, Roy and Harry; Georgiana, wife of Albert Lindley, of Custer county, has eight children. Mr. Karnes has thirty-nine grandchildren and twenty-fitve great grandchildren. Mrs. Karnes died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mollie Williams, August 29, 1905, in her seventy-first year, deeply mourned by her family and many friends. Mr. Karnes is well-known and prominent in many circles and has always been an active man. He has helped materially in furthering the development and up building of his county and state, and is regarded as a public-spirited, useful citizen. He and his wife reared a fine family to honorable maturity and have a large number of descendants to revere them and their noble lives. Notwithstanding the drouth of 1894, Mr. Karnes raised a fair crop of corn on his upland farm. After reserving enough corn for his own use he sold five hundred bushels to his neighbors in the valley. The sandy loam which constitutes the soil of his farm retains moisture longer than the heavy soil of the lower ground. Mr. Karnes lived in a "soddy" from the time of settling on the place until 1906, when his pres ent frame dwelling was erected. While building the "soddy" antelope were to be seen in the val leys most every day, so primitive was the country at that time that the poles of an Indian wigwam were still standing in a canyon on an adjoining tract of land. Mr. Karnes was originally a democrat, but of late years votes for whom he considers the best man, regardless of party affiliations. He is a member of the Methodist church, and has been since his sixteenth year. HON. JOHN H. BUHRMAN. John H. Buhrman, a leading and progressive farmer and worthy citizen of Howard county, Ne braska, enjoys a wide reputation as a prominent man in the business aud official life, of his state. Mr. Buhrman was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, July 30, 1864, and was the youngest mem ber in a family of four girls and two boys. Llis boyhood was spent in Illinois, where he received a common school education. In 1881 his father, Theodore Buhrman, and John's sister's husband, Conrad Evers, emigrated to Nebraska, purchasing land here, and later the mother and balance of the family joined them, their homestead being located on section twenty-nine, township thirteen, range nineteen. The father and mother made their home with Mrs. Evers, where the former died in 1897, and the latter on January 30, 1911. Our subject purchased a tract of land in the same neighborhood, which he improved in good shape, gradually increasing his acreage, and has now be come possessor of a large farm, fitted with good buildings, etc. He is engaged extensively in stock and grain raising, also is one of the large stock buyers and shippers of his township. Mr. Buhrman was married to Miss Elizabeth Horak, at St. Libory, on February 26, 1889, whose parents, Vincent and Elizabeth Horak, were among the pioneer settlers of Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Buhrman have a family of nine chil dren, all living at home, and forming an interest ing family circle. They are named as follows: Mary, Anna, Theodore, Louis, Edward, Katie, Ju lia, Clements, and Gertrude. Mr. Buhrman has been active in the affairs of his county and township, serving as County As sessor for one term, and proving a most capable and efficient official. In the fall of 1908, at the urgent solicitation of his numerous friends, he be came a candidate on the Fusion ticket for state senator to represent Hall and Howard counties, and obtained the election , by a large majority. He has been an able representative of his district, and has the highest esteem of all who know him. He is a man of clear and logical views in all mat ters, a thorough business man, and born to be a leader in anything he may undertake. In the fall of 1910, Mr. Buhrman was re-elected to the state senate. STURLEY T. STEVENS. The Stevens family is one of the older ones in Custer county, and its members are well known throughout the region for their interest in public affairs and their willingness to help the cause of progress along all lines. Sturley T. Stevens was born in Alleghany, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1867, a son of William Miller and Sarah Ann (Nesbitt) Stevens. An account of the father and family is included in the sketch of William Nesbitt Stevens, which appears in this work. Mr. Stevens accompanied his father to Saline county, Nebraska, in 1879, and on to Custer county in 1883. He received the educational advantages his parents were able to give him, and remained with his father on the homestead until November 812 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1899, at which time he came to the new town of Comstock, being its first postmaster. His appoint ment bore the date of November 24, 1899, and he held the office until 1911, when his brother received the appointment. In connection with caring for the duties of his official position, Mr. Stevens engaged in selling cigars, confec tionery and tobacco. In 1901 his brother came to work with him as assistant postmaster, remaining until he received the appointment himself. In the spring of 1901, Mr. Stevens became sales man for the Deering Harvester Company, and trav eled in their employ until October 1, 1904. De cember 1, of that year, he engaged in the hardware business in Comstock and handled the McCormick binder. In 1905 he purchased his competitor's stock of hardware and conducted the only hard ware business in Comstock. In 1907 he sold out this business and engaged in the real estate, insur ance and loan business, having an office in the Citizens' bank building. He is one of the wide awake, successful business men of the county and has been especially successful in his last venture, having interests in Custer and adjoining counties, On February 23, 1898, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Mabel Cleavland, daughter of Elias and Alma Cleavland, of Wescott, pioneers of Custer county. Mrs. Stevens is a native of Maine and came with her parents to Custer county in 1883. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, Hazel Verna and Marian Alma. The family are well known in Comstock and prominent in social and other circles. Mr. Stevens is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. ANTON BENDA. To the men of perseverance and unflinching determination who came to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped in agriculture and commerce, the present state of prosperity is due. Among the early settlers of Knox county who have been inti mately identified with its development, and have gained an enviable reputation as citizens, may be mentioned Anton Benda, a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of his locality. Mr. Benda resides in section five, township thirty-one, range six. Mr. Benda is a native of Illinois, his birth oc curring in Chicago in the year 1866. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Neskoda Benda, both na tives of Bohemia. They left their native land in 1865, embarking on a sail boat from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. After reach ing America they started westward, locating in Chicago, Illinois, where they lived for some seven years ; in 1872 migrating still farther west, coming by way of Sioux City, Iowa, and settling in Knox county, Nebraska. They came up the river on a steamboat to Niobrara; from there they pro ceeded to Bazile Mills, where they remained for a few days. From there the family werit to the place where they now live and bought this farm from Mr. John Barta. There was a dugout on the place when they bought it, in which the family resided a short time, then building a log house. Thirty-eight years is a long span of years to look backward to, and so many changes and such steady advancements have taken place, that the experiences of those first pioneer days seem al most incredible to all but those sturdy sons of Nebraska soil who went through the hardships, dangers, and discouragements on the western frontier in the first days of its settlement. When our subject and parents first settled in this sec tion, the nearest market places were at Yankton, South Dakota, and Norfolk, Nebraska, both places being several miles distant, and the only means of travel to these markets being by ox team. During the first three years of location here, the grass hoppers destroyed the entire crops, which was a very discouraging outlook to the, family. In 1885, Mr. Benda was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tichy, and they are the parents of nine children, namely : Mary, Joseph, Louis, John, Emma, Anna, Helen, Rosa, and Minnie. LOUIS ARMBRUSTER. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Stanton county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Louis Armbruster, wiio is a native of the state, and a resident of this county for many years, where he has been en gaged in agricultural pursuits. He bias done his full share toward the development of the better interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. He has a com fortable home and is the owner of a good farm pleasantly located in section twenty-four. Mr. Armbruster, the son of Sigund and Kate Armbruster, was born in Cumine county, Ne braska, in 1873. The father was a native of Baden, and the mother of Luxembourg, Germany. The father, who is about sixty-six years old, came to America when he was just of age. He worked in different parts of Iowa for some years, then came to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged in farm ing. It was here that the father and mother were married. They then came to Cuming county, Nebraska, and took up a claim, building a frame bouse for their dwelling. It was here that the subscriber was bom and he grew up in the pioneer surroundings of that time, Which are very different from the country as it is now. Deer and antelope were frequently seen in those days. Prairie fires, also, were of frequent occurrence in the summer, and formed a great menace to the early settlers. Many times they were forced to fight fire for hours in order to save their homes. Their nearest market was Fremont, many miles away. In 1897, the subscriber was united in marriage COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BlOGRAPtlY. 813 to Miss Julia Schulte. They are the parents of seven children, named as follows: William, Kate, Anna, Sigman, Ange, Albert, and Clarence. Mr. Armbruster has served for six years as a director of schools in the district of his home, and has in other ways promoted the welfare of his community. AARON HOLLENBECK. Aaron Hollenbeck, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Antelope county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality for the past forty years. He is prominently known throughout the western part of the state as one of the foremost- farmers and stockmen in Ne braska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his business is now prepared to enjoy his life in peace and comfort surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Hollenbeck was born in Knox, Albany county, New York, October 30, 1834; his father, Aaron Hollenbeck, Sr., was also a native of New York and was born in 1800 and died about 1863. Mr. Hollenbeck is of Dutch descent his ancestors coming from Holland in colonial days. His ma ternal grandfather was a soldier and served his adopted country in the Revolutionary war, and his paternal grandfather in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject, Mary (Schermerhorn) Hol lenbeck, was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1805. Mr. Hollenbeck 's father, with his family went to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1849, and two years later, moved to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where they lived on a farm for three years, going then to Minnesota, where they remained three years. In 1857 they moved to Poweshiek county, Iowa, then in 1857 or two years later, to S^ory county, Iowa, where they remained four years, going to Crawford county, Iowa, in 1861, thence to Nebraska in 1870. ' On October 7, 1860, Mr. Hollenbeck was mar ried to Miss Anna Bales. Four children were born to them, as follows: John, who when last heard from was living in Washington ; James, who makes his home in Oklahoma and the southwest; Alma, who lives on a farm in Cushing county, Oklahoma, and Jess, who now lives in Topeka, Kansas. In 1895 Mrs. Hollenbeck departed this life, survived by her husband and children. Later, Mr. Hollenbeck was married to Mrs. Linton An derson, who had three children. In maidenhood she was Ada Belle, daughter of Elias and Sallie Stevens. She was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, and came to Nebraska with Mr. Anderson in 1871. In June, 1869, Mr. Hollenbeck came to Ne braska from Denison, Iowa, and took up the home stead he now lives on. He then returned to Iowa. but came back in the fall and built a log house, which still stands on his farm. At this time he returned again to Iowa and in May, 1870, came to Nebraska, bringing his family, locating on the homestead in Antelope county. The trip was made overland driving oxen; traveling by wagon was a tedious and slow process in those days; bridges were lacking and roads were not graded and improved as they are today. Mr. Hollenbeck was compelled to ferry across some of the streams ; in crossing Logan creek, which was done in a ferry made of a wagon box, considerable trouble was experienced. Life of the early settlers was full of danger and hardships from many sources. Their first loss was from the grasshoppers, when for three years, 1874-5 and 6, their crops. were completely destroyed by these pests, and many times Mr. Hollenbeck and family fought prairie fires in order to save home and property. One prairie fire of unusual severity will never be forgotten by the old timers, and it is now known as the "Big fire of 1878," with hail in the summer, together with the grasshoppers and prairie fires and the blizzards in the winter, the life of the pio neer was indeed strenuous. Mr. Hollenbeck weathered the terrible blizzard of November, 1873, in a cabin on Yellowbanks, twelve miles from Norfolk, where he had gone to mill. It re quired two days to cover the distance. The first day, only three miles were traveled between day light and seven o'clock in the evening and the last- nine miles were not completed on the second day until eight o'clock in the evening. Before Mr. Hollenbeck came there were Indian scares, too, to add to the troubles of the settlers; as a rule the Indians caused more trouble by begging and stealing than from any other cause. Hard work and industry have changed the conditions of pioneer days. Mr. Hollenbeck now owns in addition to the farm, one hundred and sixty acres, seventy-five acres of which is in fine timber along tbe Elkhorn river. LEWIS R. DOUSE. Lewis R. Douse is one of the best known men in Custer county, where he and his wife were among the pioneers. He was born in Sherborn, Massachusetts, October 20, 1845, elder child of William and Caroline (Ware) Douse, who had one son and one daughter. The father was born in Sherbom, September 3, 1815, he being a de scendant of Laurence Douse, who emigrated from Broughton county, Haute, England, to America, prior to 1642, and settled in Charlestown about 1649, and the mother was born September 3, 1820. Mr. Douse was reared in a small village and lived at home on his father's farm until his twenty-third year, when he came west to seek his fortune, July 16, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Sixtieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer In fantry, under Captain Robert H. Chamberlain. He was mustered out in November, 1864, returned to his home in Massachusetts, and worked on a farm and in a shoe factory for about three years. In March, 1868, he removed to Grinnell, Iowa, and engaged in farming near there. 814 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Douse was married at Lynnville, a village near Grinnell, to Sarah M., daughter of Samuel and Caroline Wagner, of Ohio. In June, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Douse, with their son, William, and their daughter, Eliza Caroline, left their Iowa home, in company with the father of Mrs. Douse, Samuel Wagner, with his wife and five children, 'for Nebraska. The trip was made with a prairie schooner and they reached Custer county in July. They stopped for a time at Harvard, and went on to Loup City, making no land on try until Feb ruary, 1874. Mr. Douse was the first permanent settler in Custer county, but although he settled on his land before 1874, he was the second to make land entry, being preceded by Frank Ohme, who filed on his homestead in January, 1874. Mr. Douse secured lot three, section twenty-six, town ship eighteen, range seventeen, situated in the middle Loup valley and on the Loup river. He erected a house on the bluff overlooking the river and commanding a fine view of the valley and river. This homestead shanty was built from slabs that were hauled from Loup City, twenty- five miles distant, but this residence, is now re placed with a modern home, with pleasant sur roundings, and the family have one of the pret tiest farm homes in their part of the county. Mr. Douse is one of the substantial and highly re spected citizens of his community and the family are held in high respect and esteem by their many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Douse are especially wall known by the older settlers and others who passed through Custer county in early days. Eight children were born to Mr. Douse and wife, of whom seven now survive : William, born in Iowa, married and Uving northwest of the home farm, has three children: Eliza; Alice, the first white child born in Custer county, boirn February 22, 1875, is the wife of Charles Sims, of Oklahoma, and they have three children: Lewis is married and lives on the home farm ; Lawrence, married and living west of the home place, has two chil dren; Elmer and Ethel at home; Nellie, deceased. All except the two eldest children were born on the home farm. Mr. Douse and wife believe in the advantages of education and have given their children the best Opportunities they were able in this direction. All of them have taught school more or less and the family is one of refinement and culture. Their home is a pleasant one to visit and they have a wide circle of friends and ac quaintances. They have one adopted daughter, now ten years of age. Mr. Douse and his three half -brothers are the only survivors of his father's family. The Wag ner family were also original homesteaders of Cus ter county, but Mrs. Douse is the only member of her family now living in Custer county. Her par ents are deceased ; her brother Samuel lives in Sherman county; her brother William, in Cherry county; one brother lives in Iowa, another in North Dakota, and one sister in Kansas. CHRISTIAN ANDERSON. Christian Anderson, an enterprising and pros perous farmer of Howard county, owns a valuable estate in Posen precinct. He located on this land during the very early settlement of the region, and himself and wife well remember -the gradual com ing of other families to their section, and giving aid and encouragement to all newcomers. From that time on, they have been prominent in devel oping and helping build up that part of Nebraska. Mr. Anderson was born in Denmark on Sep tember 23, 1835, and made that country his home until he was thirty years old, when he emigrated to America. His first location was Omaha, Ne braska, where he remained for several months, and from there went to Iowa. He returned to Omaha in the spring of 1866, when in company with a young man with whom be was acquainted, he walked to Grand Island. Upon arriving at the latter place, Mr. Anderson secured a job haul ing wood and ties for the Union Pacific Railway Company, following the work for a short time. He next went to Julesburg, Colorado, and for about four months worked for the government building a fort. He bought a farm in Merrick county, in 1867, which he carried on up to 1872, then sold out and went into tbe western states for about one year. At this time, he came back to Howard county, arriving in the vicinity in May, 1873. The following month he was married in St. Paul, to Mrs. Gurie Johnson. This was about the first marriage in Howard county, the ceremony being performed by Judge Nick Paul. Mrs. Johnson was a widow with two children, Ola Grothan, now a doctor residing in St. Paul, Nebraska, and Annie, married and living in Julesburg, Colorado. Mr. Anderson immediately started farming on a homestead owned by 'his wife and remained on the place for six years, then purchased one hun dred and sixty acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri Railway, situated on section one, town ship fourteen, range twelve, joining Farwell. Here they have resided ever since, engaged in mixed farming and stock raising, succeeding in building up a nice property, and being considered among the leading citizens of their community. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have passed through every phase of pioneer life, and now at their advanced age, he being seventy-five -and Mrs. Anderson eighty, they are happy and contented, taking a lively interest in all neighborhood affairs, and enjoy a boRt of friends, esteemed by all who know them. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson will be found on another page of this volume. CHRISTIN H. JOHNSON. The life of Christin H. Johnson is an excellent example of what energy, industry and honesty may accomplish out of the most adverse circum stances. Prom a poor, unassisted emigrant boy, to CHRISTIAN ANDERSON. MRS. CHRISTIAN ANDERSON. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 815 a successful man of affluence, form the extremes of this excellent citizen of Plainview, Nebraska. Born in the little village of Storehedige, eight miles from Copenhagen, Denmark, June 4, 1849, his life from the start was one of struggle. Left an orphan at tlie age of six by the death of his father, he had to do his own share in helping the mother support the family. At the age of seven he was employed by a farmer to herd the geese along the highway. Pall ing asleep one day, his charges wandered into a rye field, for which the farmer gave him a beat ing. His mother counseled him to continue at his post, as the fault was on Ms side. When old enough he learned the shoemaker's trade at which he worked until emigrating to America, receiving sixteen dollars a year for his services, a wage much less than prevails in that country now. While at his bench one day, am acquaintance re turned from the New World came into the shop: Our boy noticing how much better he was dressed than when he went away, expressed a wish that he too might go to America. The friend sug gested that he come, and finding the boy had no money for 'his passage, paid it for him, one hun dred and ten dollars. Sailing from Copenhagen, to Hamburg, Germany, the two crossed tbe North Sea to Hull, England, and in April, 1868, em barked at Liverpool for Quebec, which they reached in sixteen days, having been three days on the way from the Danish capital to the English coast. His friend secured work for him on a farm near Story City, Iowa, where the first year he paid the debt and had ten dollars surplus, with which he felt himself rich. The second year Mr. Johnson worked near Marshalltown, Iowa, and in the year following his time was divided between Kansas City and Law rence, Kansas. Returning to Marshalltown, he se cured work as a gardener for a time, and then con ducted a billiard hall and bowling alley. After this he bought and sold cattle with great success, had married, and owned forty acres of land near town. • In the fall of 1881, he sold his business there, loaded his household goods and some thirty head of fine cattle and several teams of horses into cars, and shipped them to Nebraska, reaching Pierce county in November. Settling on a tract of land seven miles southwest of Plainview, he built a small dwelling, and a sod barn a hundred feet long to house this large herd of stock; not being- acclimated, many of the animals died. He was compelled to sell some to buy feed for the others. and so came orit in the soring with much less than he had in the fall. The winters were severe; hi> had to haul hay from Willow creek and frequently when the roads were bad he had to throw off part of the load from time to time, until by the time he reached home he had left little more than enough to feed for that day. At one time he hauled bundles of hay on a hand sled from a neighbor's, to keep the stock from starving. Snow drifted so deeply at times that he had to dig a stairway eight or ten steps deep, to get to his well, and he fre quently dug a hole through the roof of the stable to water and feed his stock, the doorways being drifted full and closed. Misfortune seemed to pursue him. Intending to raise some hogs, he bought a young one, which was continually breaking out and straying; when being driven home with the stock after one of these escapes, it laid down and died. A horse which Mr. Johnson bought with his last hundred dollars died a few days after he bought it, leaving him with a load of wood miles from home. These are but samples of hardships to be endured, and many were the tears shed by the young wife in the lonely prairie home. They longed to return to Iowa, but were too proud to go back with less than they had brought away. But times changed, crops improved, Mr. Johnson began dealing in cattle and got on in the world. He first filed on a homestead and later on a tim ber claim, to which he added from time to time. He now has three ouarter-sections in one plat in Ante lope county, six miles west of Plainview, another quarter west of that, and fifty acres adjoining the town of Brunswick, where he and his sons own the bank. In 1889 Mr. Johnson traded a farm for a stock of goods in Plainview and for four years con ducted a general store. In 1893 he bought a stock of clothing and confined his efforts to that line un til 1906, when he sold to his sons and retired from active business life. With his sons he in 1908 purchased tlie Bank of Brunswick, of which he is vice president, the sons being president and cash ier. Their deposits amount to one hundred and thirty thousand dollars and are increasing each year. Mr. Johnson purchased the hotel at Plain- view, enlarged and refurnished it, fitted it with a modern equipment, and secured a tenant who has made it the best hotel in northeastern Nebraska, if the word of traveling men is any criterion. Mr. Johnson is the son of Herman and Mary (Christen) Sorensen, whose name by a peculiar Scandinavian custom, is not the same as his own. An elder brother preceded him to this country sev eral years, and with four companions was attacked by Indians on the plains and scalped, only one escaping to send the sad news to the parents at home. The second year in America Mr. Johnson sent for his twin brother, followed the next year by his brother Charles ; later the mother and sister were sent for, coming in 1873, and all have pros pered and done well. Mr. Johnson and his twin brother were married the same day, August 27, 1875, the former to Miss Mary Nelson; a native of Denmark, born in the province of Jutland, near the village of Skibstedt. Her parents were Christian and Mattie Marie (Jensen) Nelson, the mother dying when Mrs. Johnson was but eleven months old. The father came with his family to America in 1871, settling 816 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. first at Marshalltown, Iowa, but soon bought a farm near New Sharon, and in 1883 bought in An telope county, Nebraska, to be near his daughter. One brother remained at Marshalltown, and the other went to Colorado, and did not see his kin for thirty-eight years, when he visited them at Plain- view. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four living chil dren: Mary, who is married to Doctor Harry Malarian, a prominent practitioner of Sioux City, Iowa: Margaret, wife of Charles Watson, a pros perous stock dealer of Brunswick, Antelope county; Albert L., married to Alice Drayton, and William L., married Lorinda Wauser, the two sons being engaged in banking in Brunswick. Mr. Johnson owes much of his success in busi ness to his sterling honesty, his word and credit being good from his earliest business career. Good judgment was a factor in his success, and to this add his genial happy disposition, and you have the secret by which any man may succeed. Mr. Johnson is republican and has served on the town council. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, as well as of the Odd Pel- lows, and Pythian lodges, and with Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Rebekah degree and the Order of the Eastern Star. They were reared in the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Johnson now com munes with the Congregational denomination at Plainview. When they came to the west, all was open pra irie without a tree in sight. They have seen the sap lings they planted grow to trees fifty to sixty inches in circumference, and the hills and valleys dotted with fine shady groves. In 1910 they re visited their native country, but returned thankful that fate had cast their lot on the fertile Nebraska plains. JOE PEARSON. The gentleman above mentioned has resided in Howard county, since 1883, during which time he has become thoroughly familiar to all, and takes a leading place as an energetic agriculturist and public-spirited citizen. He is the owner of a valu able farm, and makes his home on section thirty- one, in Elba precinct. Joe Pearson was born in Sweden on April 24, 1866, tbe third in a family of three boys and one girl born to Peter and Elna Munson. Joe grew up in his birthplace, receiving an unusually good edu cation, and in his seventeenth year came to America, accompanied by his father, mother and one sister. After landing in New York, they came straight on to Nebraska, arriving at St. Paul on the 27th day of March, 1883, where they joined a brother of our subject, John Pearson, he having settled in Elba, in 1879, where he was successfully engaged in the lumber trade. The father rented land in partnership with Joe. They continued to gether until the latter was twenty-eight years of age, at wbich time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-one, township sixteen, range eleven, settling permanently on it in 1899. Here he has made money, and now has one of the finest and best equipped grain and stock farms in the vicinity. He has erected good build ings, planted trees, etc., and has one of the best growing orchards in his precinct. Mr. Pearson also owns eighty acres of land lying to the east of his home farm, and altogether has a very valuable estate. On September 7, 1893, Mr. Pierson was united in marriage at St. Paul, to Miss Christina Lassen, and to them were born seven children, five of whom are now living, named as follows : John H., Lrilly M., Harry, May, and Victor, who form a most in teresting family group. Oscar Wilhelm and Elna are deceased. They have a very pleasant home, and are among the popular members of society in their community. Mr. Pearson is a member of the school board of district number forty-eight. He has seen all the changes that have come to Howard county since its early settlement, and has become prosperous and also gained a high reputation as a worthy citizen. EPHRAIM A. FOWLER. Ephriam A. Fowler is one of the younger men among the pioneers Pf Valley county and is a large landowner, having twelve hundred acres in Valley and Custer counties, leasing eight hundred acres additional. He is an active and successful man of affairs, an excellent business manager, and he has been prominent in public matters in his commu nity. Mr. Fowler was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 20, 1872, the eldest of three children of Alonzo and Amelia (Durham) Fowler, the latter a daughter of William and Di- antha (Jones) Durham. A sketch of the father and rather extensive mention of the family ap pear in this work. Mr. Fowler has a brother in Idaho and a sister deceased. His father now re sides in Valley county and his mother died in Hall county in 1881. In October, 1878, Mr. Fowler accompanied his parents to Hall county, Nebraska, and about four years later came to Valley county, where he* fin ished his education and grew to manhood on a farm. On July 27, 1892, he married Clara Har ris, a native of Huntsville, Illinois, who died April 8, 1906, leaving seven children: Orville, Myrtle, Lloyd, Elgin, Alvin, Letty, and Goldie. The last- named child died July 28, 1906, and three other children died in infancy. Mr. Fowler served several years as moderator of school district number four, and has always furthered the cause of education and other worthy causes. For a number of years after attaining his ma jority, Mr. Fowler rented land, and in 1902 he purchased a six hundred and forty acre farm on COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 817 section nineteen, township fifteen, range seven teen, which he has almost doubled since, making a fine stock farm, well improved and containing substantial buildings. This has since been the home place, and he has become one of the largest land owners of central Nebraska. On November 23, 1909, Mr. Fowler married Jessie Coe, a native of Fremont county, Iowa, a daughter of Charles and Jennie (Clark) Coe. Mr. Fowler is a democrat in politics and a mem ber of the Royal Highlanders and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Fowler was farming for himself in 1904, the dry year, renting part of his father's land, from which he gathered six hundred bushels of corn, much more than was usually raised that year. Hail damaged or destroyed his crops four different years since he has been doing for him self, but in spite of all misfortunes he has pros pered far beyond the average man. WILLIAM HORSHAM. The gentleman above mentioned, who resides on section eighteen, township twenty-two, range one, west, is counted among the oldest settlers of Madison county, Nebraska, where he has riiade his home since locating here in 1870, and has taken a foremost part in the development of his region. He has helped to build up a good home and farm where he now resides, which as before stated, is in section eighteen, township twenty-two, range one, west. Mr. Horsham was born in Canada, May 17, 1861, a son of John and Caroline (Courtney) Horsham, who came to Canada in 1853 from Eng land on a sail boat, embarking at South Hampton and landing in Quebec after a voyage of forty- nine days. The father was a miller by trade, and after settling in Canada he worked in a mill at Waterford. In 1868, our subject, with his parents, came to Linn county, Iowa, where they remained two years. In 1870 they started by ox team for Stan ton county, Nebraska, and after reaching their destination the father took up a homestead in sec tion fourteen, township twenty-one, range two, on which they built a sod house, the family living in this seven years. Our subject's father also took a tree claim on Union creek. In 1889 Mr. Horsham bought his present farm, and has steadily improved same, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, on which are five acres of fine orchard and forest trees. The family experienced many hardships in those early days, burning hay, corn and corn stalks for fuel; and the grasshoppers destroyed all the crops the first four years of the family's residence in Nebraska, which fact alone was enough to discourage the bravest heart, but they persevered through all. At that time Columbus 27 and Wisner were the nearest market places, sev eral miles distant. Mr. Horsham was united in marriage in 1893 to Miss Clara Burglan, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Maud, Harry, Emily, and William. Mr. and Mrs. Horsham and family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and in their home are surrounded by many friends and acquaintances. ROBERT FARLEY. Robert Farley has witnessed the western em pire's growth from the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains and has had many exciting and interesting experiences during his years in various parts of the west. He is one of the early settlers of Custer county and has been identified with its various interests since 1878. Mr. Parley was born in Platte county Missouri, February 14, 1844, next to the oldest child of Josiah and Nancy (Mason) Farley, who had five sons and three daughters. The father was a native of Ten nessee and the mother of Kentucky. He died in Kansas in 1857 and she in Missouri in 1872. The1 only two of the family who survive are Robert and James both living near Milburn postoffice, Custer county. About the time he reached his eighteenth year, Mr. Farley started out in life for himself, and in the fall of 1862 took a position as teamster in a freighting outfit from Leavenworth, Kansas, across the plains to Denver, driving ox teams. In the winter of 1862-63 he returned home by the "overland trail" and in the spring of 1863 drove an ox team from Leavenworth to Fort Union, New Mexico, with government freight. Return ing to Fort Leavenworth early in the fall of the same year, he soon afterward made a trip with freight for the government post at Denver. He continued in the freighting business until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Platte coun ty, Missouri, and remained there until 1868. He then went to Texas and engaged in driving Texas cattle up the trail to various government posts, several of these trips being made to Spotted Tail agency in South Dakota. He continued on the cattle trail until 1877, then returned to Kansas, and engaged in the cattle business with the Smith & Tee outfit in Russell county. He came to Cus ter county with this cattle outfit in, October, 1878, and located a ranch on the Middle Loup river. In 1880 Mr. Farley took a homestead on the south west quarter df section ten, township twenty, range twenty-one, Which has been his farm and ranch since then. He was the first man in the neighborhood to take up a homestead, another man being located some four or five miles south of him. All his supplies were freighted in front Kearney, North Loup and Ord. He had been in the saddle as cattleman most of the time for fif teen years and has .seen Custer county progress 818 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. from the ranch and cattle days to its present state of development and prosperity. He is one of the most widely-known among the early settlers and has been closely identified with various public movements. During the first administration of President Cleveland, Jeanette postoffice was es tablished in Mr. Farley's house and he was its first postmaster, serving until the removal of the office. Prior to 1890 he had served five or six years as county supervisor. He has also served as notary public and deputy county assessor and for a number of years was justice of the peace. He is known as a progressive and enterprising citizen and has been active in Custer county's af fairs since 1878. In politics he is a staunch dem ocrat, and a member of the grange. He was identified with the "Church of God" while it maintained an organization at New Helena. On March 30, 1880, Mr. Parley was married at Grand Island, by County Judge Harrison, to Mrs. Ellen (Sweet) Carpenter, a native of Illi nois, who was reared in Iowa and came to Ne braska in 1878. Mrs. Farley died at the home ranch- April 6, 1901, a pioneer woman who had passed through the various periods of Custer county's history from its cattle days, and who had endeared herself to a large circle of friends. She had borne her husband six children, two of whom died in infancy ; four now survive, namely : Nina, wife of F. R. Snyder, who lives hi Blaine county, two and one-half miles northwest of Mil- burn , postoffice, has six children ; Mary, wife of John T. Huffman, living on the old Farley home stead, has three children; Gertie D., wife of M. S. Dailey, living south of Milburn postoffice, has six children; Ellen Frances, wife of John Barton, lives on a Kincaid homestead in Blaine county, and has two children. There is one adopted son, Arthur Parley, living two and one-half miles northeast of Anselmo, has three children. Mr. Farley has one stepdaughter, Rosa, now Mrs. J. T. Leep, living near Milburn postoffice, has five children. Mrs. Leep has one daughter married, who has a daughter, making the last-named Mr. Farley's great grandchild. He has twenty -five grandchildren. CHARLES MILLER. Charles Miller, a leading farmer and stockman of Wayne county, Nebraska, who has been influ ential in promoting the general welfare and pro gress of his community, has been a resident of the state for nearly thirty years, and has spent most of this time on his present farm. He is a native of Germany, born in Mecklen burg, February 8, 1856, and his parents died when he was a small boy, leaving four children. He was 'educated in his native country. He left his home and native land in 1871, and sailed from Hamburg for New York. He first went to St. Joseph county, Michigan, when he joined an un cle, and where he made his home for several years. In 1875 he came to Sarpy county, Nebraska, and remained one year, working in a grist mill and on a farm, and then returned to Michigan. In 1883 he again located in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he engaged in farming. Six years later he came to Wayne county and bought the French farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This land was almost wholly unimproved, and he set about the development of a farm. He has brought his land to a high state of cultivation and erected a very comfortable house and other buildings. He carries on general farming and pays considerable attention to raising stock. He has added two forty acres to his first purchase, and now owns two hundred and forty acres. Mr. Miller was married at Three Rivers, Michi gan, in 1881, to Miss Caroline Wagner, who was born in Mecklenburg, and the daughter of Carl and Christina Wagner, natives of Mecklenburg, who came to the United States when Mrs. Miller was six years old. Mr. Miller and wife are par ents of nine children, six of whom are living, namely: Elizabeth, Carl, Mary, Bertha, Otto and Mable. Those who died were John, William, and August. Mr. Miller is actively identified with the agri cultural interests of his county and state, and is accounted one of the intelligent and enterprising farmers of his locality. He has always been a friend to educational advancement and other measures beneficial to the general prosperity, and both he and his wife have made many warm friends in the community. He has worked hard in improving and cultivating his farm and is now enjoying the results of his early struggles and in dustry. His home is most pleasantly situated on section two, township twenty-seven, range three. DAVID H. BURKE. David H. Burke was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York, June 28, 1861, and is eldest of eight children in the family of William and Mary Burke. Mr. Burke lived in his native state until he became a lad of sixteen years of age, receiving his early schooling there ; and in May of 1877 came with his parents to Merrick county, Nebraska. With the exception of five years in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad, in 1880 to 1885, inclusive, Mr. Burke has followed farm ing and stock raising, in which business he has made a great success. Mr. Burke was united in marriage October 24, 1884, to Miss Mary J. Farrell, the ceremony taking place in Central City, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have three children living. The family now reside on their fine stock farm which is located about one and a half miles west of Central City. They have a fine home and en joy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and neighbors. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 819 C. D. LOEBEL. CD. Loebel, the veteran merchant of Creigh ton, has been a resident of Nebraska since the summer of 1872, when his parents came into the state, lbcating on a homestead in Cuming county. Mr. Loebel is a native of Bavaria, born in the village of Altdorf, on December 17, 1859. In the spring of 1872 the family took passage from Antwerp to Hull, crossed England by rail, and sailed in the steamer "Batavia" from Liverpool, landing in New York after a voyage of ten days. This ship was lost on the return trip and all cm board perished. The Loebel family settled in Cuming county on a homestead, and our subject assisted his father in the farm work until he reached his majority. In 1880 he moved to Creighton and opened a furniture store which he carried on for nine months, then engaged in the general merchandise business. He built up a splendid trade through his native courtesy, square dealings, and close attention to business, and has prospered in a very marked degree.* He has al ways kept fine stock of goods, complete in every line, and has been assisted in the work by his sons, who will continue in the business when their father decides to give up the active management. Mr. Loebel has witnessed four severe blizzards since coming to the west, including those of the winters of 1873, 1880, 1883, and 1888. In the first of these his father was caught out on the prairie, and for about seven hours buffeted with the. icy blasts before he succeeded in reaching shelter, with the family of a settler, where he was obliged to remain for three days, his family fear ful that he had been lost in the storm. Our sub ject himself had a very unpleasant experience in a blinding snowstorm, when he started out at one time with the thought that he could find his way without difficulty from his house to 'a well after a bricket of water. In the swirling snow he was carried past the well and found himself in a grove which was some distance from the dwelling, and only after considerable hustling was able to get his bearings and find his way back home. The family went through prairie fires, drouths, etc., and has seen every phase of frontier life. • Mr. Loebel was married in Creighton, on Jan uary 25/1885, to Miss, Wilhelmina Lindermann, who is a native of Prussia, coming to America with her parents in 1861 and settling in Knox county, Nebraska, where her father died in 1893. Mrs. Loebel 's death occurred February 13, 1911. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loebel, namely: Anna, Paul, Chris, William, and Wil fred, all of whom with the exception of the last mentioned, have passed through the Creighton schools. Paul and Chris are musicians of more than ordinary ability, and are members of the Creighton band. The former has an unsual tal ent for drawing, and his pen work, in which he has had no special instruction whatever, is equal to that of many who have spent considerable time in the art schools. In politics Mr. Loebel has always supported the democratic party in general issues, but in local affairs votes for the best man nominated, regard less of party. The family worship at the Lu theran church, and are liberal contributors to all branches of church work. AUGUSTUS G. MANSFIELD. (Deceased.) Augustus G. Mansfield and family, of wife and eight children, came to Boone county, Nebraska, from McHenry county, Illinois, September 16, 1880, to their home on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, township twenty, range six, purchased some years prior, which remained his home farm until time of his death, November 2, 1906, in his seventy-ninth year. About one hun dred acres of this farm is now platted and is a part of the residence portion of Albion, within the corporation limits of that city, which is the county seat of Boone county. Mr. Mansfield was active in all things pertaining to the welfare of his county and state', and also along church and temperance lines. Mrs. Augustus Mansfield died December 19, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield were survived by six sons and three daughters; five boys reside in Boone county and one in Illinois; one daughter lives in Texas and two, Mrs. S. Z. Williamson and Mrs. F. J. Pierce, reside in Boone county. The Mansfield family were widely, and favorably known. Mr. Mansfield was born in England and came to America when fourteen years of age, and Mrs. Mansfield was a native of New Yrork state. Edwin T. Mansfield came with his parents to Boone county in 1880, and Boone county has been his home to this date. Mr. Mansfield was married November 3, 1887, to Miss Eva Garrett at the home of her parents one mile south of Albion. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield have six children: Lulu; Ona and Ora, twins'; Irma, Alice, and Ethel, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Mansfield was in the implement business in Albion for a number of years and also followed farming and stock-raising. He is now residing on the original home place in Albion, and owns about six hundred acres of choice farm land. C. L. BRIDGE. C. L. Bridge, one of the old settlers of the re gion where he chose his residence in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable" property in section thirty-one, township twenty-seven, range seven, Antelope county, Nebraska. He has done his full share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is. well and favorably known throughout this part of the state." 820 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Bridge is a native of Clinton, Massachu setts, born on a farm in 1853, and he is the son of Charles H., and Rebecca (Prouty) Bridge, the father being born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, April 6, 1810, and died in 1865. Our subject's mother was born November 13, 1816, and died in 1892. Her ancestors came from England as far back as 1620. Prom Massachusetts our subject moved to New Hampshire and in 1872, came to Antelope county and opened up a small store (in partnership witii Mr. Smith who now is in business and resides in Clearwater,) in what is now known as French township, where he remained a little over a year, then went to Holt county. During the blizzard of 1873 on Easter Sunday Mr. Bridge was living in the log house where he kept store. On several occasions Mr. Bridge tried to go to the stable where they had their horses but was driven back. After the secorid or third day they managed to get to the horses by tunneling through snow. They found one horse dead and one nearly so, the snow had blown into the barn and the horses had trampled it down until their backs were up against the roof. Mr. Bridge and Mr. Smith had to take off the roof which was of logs and straw, to get the live horse out of the stable. They then brought the horse into the store it being the only place avail able and tied him to the counter until the storm was over and they had again built a roof over the barn. In 1874-75, the grasshoppers destroyed all of Mr. Bridge's crops, and did great damage to all vegetation. Mr. Bridge went from Antelope county to Holt county, Nebraska, where he took up a home stead in section twelve, township twenty-six, range nine, on which he built a log house. His home was situated on the bank of Elk Horn river, and in those early days wild game, such as deer, antelope, elk, and wild turkey was plentiful, and the settlers also had a great many scares from the Indians in those times. In 1880 he returned to Antelope county and took up a tree claim in section five, township twenty-six, range, eight, where he re mained until 1900, when he bought land where he now lives in section thirty-one, township twenty- seven, range seven. This was originally the home stead of Jesse Myers. October 22, 1873, Mr. Bridge was married to Miss Mahala Chafin. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are the parents of ten children: Henry, Nellie, Charles, Jessie, Mary, Alfred, Fred, Rufus, James, and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge and family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, arid they have a host of friends. MERITT A. JOHNSON. Meritt A. Johnson, a prominent and successful farmer of C118*61" county, belongs to an old and honored family in the region of his present home. He was born in Jasper county, Iowa,- March 18, 1865, son of Reuben and Selina (Cisson) Johnson, who had six sons and two daughters, of whom he was the fourth born. In the summer of 1884 the father came to Custer county, where the son Meritt had located the previous year, and the former secured some school land on section thirty- six, township seventeen, range eighteen. The rest of the family came in the fall of that year and they lived on the farm until the father's death April 11, 1902. The mother died in Lincoln, De cember 20, 1903. They were survived by six chil dren, four of whom reside in Nebraska, namely: Cordelia, Mrs. Bion Glover, of Custer county; Ellen, a teacher in the public schools; Albert C, of Lincoln ; and Meritt A., of this sketch. One son lives in Chicago and one in Florida. The father was a prominent citizen and served for a time as a member of the county board of Custer county. Mr. Johnson was reared on a farm and lived in Jasper county until the spring of 1883, when he located in Valley county, and the following Janu ary came to Custer county. He pre-empted and filed on a timber claim in Morrell county which he later sold. He bought his present place in 1893 and owns a fine grain and stock farm the south half of the southwest quarter of section twenty-four, town ship seventeen, range eighteen, which he has im proved and developed, by his own efforts ; he has three hundred and twenty acres under lease situ ated a mile north. He has been actively interested in the development and welfare of the community and is regarded as a public-spirited, desirable citizen. He was married March 26, 1890, to Mary A. Richt- myer, a native of Seward county and daughter of Marcus and Hannah (Hosford) Richtmyer, early settlers of the county, who lived on their farm in township seventeen, range eighteen. They came to Nebraska from Wisconsin about 1868, the father being a native of Schoharrie county, New York, and a veteran of the civil war. They first secured a homestead in Seward county and about 1884 came to Custer county. The mother, a native of New York; born near Jewett, died December 29, 1901, and the father September 17, 1910. Mr. Johnson and wife had five children, four of whom now survive, namely: Reuben Clair, Mary Kate, Harold Marcus and Doris Cordelia. The family is widely known and has a high standing in the community, its members being identified with the best interests of the county and state. Mr. Johnson is republican in national ques tions but in local elections votes for the man re gardless of party lines. While "batching it" on his pre-emption claim Mr. Johnson lived in a "dug-out." The family have lived in a sod house on two different occasions but now occupy a neat modern dwelling. At the time of his migration to Morrell county — then a part of Cheyenne, he camped by the way the journey occupying three weeks. On one stretch of the road it was twenty-six miles between water. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, ^r^T "PLUM VALLEY FARM," RESIDENCE OF ARTHUR J. ANDERSON. RESIDENCE OF FRITZ H. KUEHL. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 821 Mir. Johnson, who was two miles away from home, found his way through the fearful blinding storm safely. FRITZ H. KUEHL. Fritz H. Kuehl, who is proprietor qf 'a fine estate in section thirty-two, is one of the promi nent and successful ranchmen of Valley county, Nebraska. He has made this region his home for some twenty-four years, and has been a resident of eastern Nebraska for the -past thirty-two years. Mr. Kuehl is a native of the village of Rens- burg, province of Holstein, Germany, and was born September 6, 1860, the youngest of five chil dren in the family of Paul and Lottie (Mohr) Kuehl, who had four sons and one daughter. In January, 1880, Mr. Kuehl, in company with two others, came to America, first locating in Doug las county, Nebraska, near Omaha. Mr. Kuehl was a farm boy in the old country, and upon com ing to the United States was employed at farm labor the first year, then worked one year as a sec tion hand at Millard on the Union Pacific railroad. He resumed farming in Douglas county, coining thence to Valley county in the spring of 1886, pur chasing the southwest quarter of section thirty- two, township nineteen, range fourteen, and this has since been his home. The place is well adapted to grain and stock raising, and Mr. Kuehl makes a specialty of pure bred Shorthorn cattle. He now owns a farm of fbur hundred acres; a half -section in Ord township and an eighty-acre tract in Enterprise township. In 1905 he built a modern ten-room house, elegantly fur nished, a large barn, and numerous well-kept out buildings. We call attention to an excellent view of this country home, surrounded by its groves and orchard and its blooming shrubs and flower beds. Mrs. Kuehl is a lover of birds and flowers, and her success in floriculture is in evidence to one who may have the pleasure of visiting her home. Mr. Kuehl has gained his present standing and prop erty through hard work and economy, and is one of the most prosperous and successful younger men of VaUey county, having successfully passed through the hardships and privations of the early years of development. For six months he lived in a sod dugout found on the place when purchased. He lost all his crops by drouth in 1894, and two years later hail beat every growing thing into the ground. There were a few deer and antelope in the county when he came, and he has seen wagon loads of them brought into Ord from the sand- flats. > Mr. Kuehl was married to Miss Anna Sieh, November 23, 1881, in Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Kuehl was born in Germany, daughter of Juergen and Lena Sieh ; she came to Nebraska in January of 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehl had four children. whose names are as follows: Anna, wife of John Conner, has one child, Willard Robert Conner, and they reside on the Conner farm across the road from Mr. Kuehl; Mary, Fritz, and Sophie; the younger children live under the parental roof. Mrs. Kuehl died January 27, 1895. In February, 1906, Mr. Kuehl was married to Mrs. Henry Reithardt, who in maidenhood was Sophie Kuehl, a native of Holstein and distantly related to her present husband. Mr. Kuehl is a democrat in politics, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and, with Mrs. Kuehl, of the Degree of Honor. ARTHUR J. ANDERSON. Among the younger members of the farming community, the above gentlemen is well and favor ably known. Although stiU a young man, he is also regarded as one of the original settlers, hav ing come to Custer county at an early period, when he was very young. He is the owner of a fine stock farm of about two hundred acres or so, and is one of the most progressive and successful farmers of the locality. Mr. Anderson, the son of David and Katherine (Wolf) Anderson, was born in Red ,Oak, Iowa, on the 18th of December, 1875. He was the eldest of three children, all of whom are still living. His father was of English birth, but had spent prac- ticaUy all of his life in America. He was for years in the ministry of the Evangelical church, and was esteemed by all as a man of high integrity and sterling character. He died on April 21, 1903, on his Custer county farm. The mother, who was of German descent, died in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1883. In early childhood, in fact when he was only about four years old, Mr. Anderson came with his parents to Hamilton county, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the local schools. As he grew older, he engaged in farm ing. In 1892, he came to Custer county, and seven years later, in 1899, on March 22, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kimball, a na tive of Stockbridge, Wisconsin, who came to this state in the summer of 1883. For some years, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson lived on rented farms, but in 1904, he purchased a two hundred acre stock farm in section nineteen, town ship sixteen, range seventeen. Since his purchase he has made many improvements to the place, so that now it is one of the finest equipped stock farms in the region. A beautiful modern house was built in 1909, which the subscriber and his family now occupy. We are pleased to call at tention to a view of the home with its pleasing surroundings, adorning another page of this work. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, all of whom are living, and at home. They are named as follows: Leo W., David A., Harold W., and Bernard R. \ Mr. Anderson, at present serving as director of his school, district number one hundred and 822 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. nine, is independent in politics, and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is still a young man, has been successful in all of his undertakings so far, and it would not be an idle prophecy to predict a very bright future be fore him. Mr. Anderson's recollection of his early years in Nebraska includes his uncomfortable experi ences in the blizzard of January 12, 1888. He was at school, and his father coining for him, they started home. In some way a gust of wind car ried his hat away in the storm beyond recovery. In his exposed condition his ears, cheeks, and nose were severely frozen, giving him a painful re minder of the storm for many weeks after it had passed. Their first residence on coming to Nebraska was a dug-out, which was later replaced by a frame dwelling ; during the earliest years sun flower stalks at times were their only fuel. WILLIAM JILG. William Jilg an enterprising real estate dealer of Osmond, Nebraska, has. seen much more of the state of Nebraska than the average citizen. He was born in the village of Oberwildgrub, Austrian Silesia, January 1, 1863. His parents, Adolph and, Caroline (Patch) Jilg, were natives of the same region. The father, who was a; musician of no little 'skill, oame'.to the United States in 1874 and for two years toured the east, principally in Penn sylvania, as a member of the famous "Little Ger man Band." He was a member, of the band at Madison, Nebraska, until quite a recent date. Returning to Austria at the end of 1875, he re mained, there farming, his usual vocation, until the autumn of 1878, when he sailed from Ham burg, Germany, about the middle of September, in the steamer " Gibraltar." Mr. Jilg landed in New York with two of his sons, one of whom was William, two weeks later; and on the sixth of Oc tober reached Columbus, Nebraska. The mother with her daughter and youngest son joined the father five years later. The father and the sons first rented a farm twenty miles northwest from Columbus, on Look ing Glass creek. A year later they moved to Madison county, and the father has continued his residence there since. He is living retired at Madison at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife, six years older, is still in good health, giving promise of many years more of Hfe. William Jilg worked for his father until four teen years of age, when he began learning the cabinet-maker's trade. He later began for him self, -working' out as a farm hand until his mar riage in 1885. Renting for a few years in Madi- .-son county, he bought a quarter section northwest \ of .Madison, ¦ built a house, and until 1891 was cul tivating his own land. That year he sold his stock of implements, rented the land and moved to the town of Madison, and was in the implement business there from 1891 to 1893, inclusive. He was otherwise engaged there through 1894, and the year following lived on his farm. Returning to Madison he resided there until the spring of 1899 when he leased his mother's ranch in Rock county, twelve miles south of Newport, and lived there two years. He next occupied the Doolittle ranch south of Atkinson, in Holt county, three years; then purchased a quarter section seven miles northwest of O'Neill, later adding a half section to his possession. Three years later he traded the half section for a store building and stock of groceries in Osmond, where he was in business for a time. Returning to his quarter section in Holt county, he resided there until De cember 19, 1909, when he sold and came to Os mond and resolved to remain here the rest of his life, having roamed around over the west a num ber of years. Two seasons he traveled as an ex pert for the Champion Reaper Company and one season for the McOormack Company, and in this way visited all sections of Nebraska. On returning to Osmond the last time he engaged in the real estate business until 1910, when he became local representative of the Kirchbraun & Sons Cream ery Company. Mr. Jilg was married in Madison, Nebraska, April 7, 1885, to Miss Mary Fresch, a native of Ba varia, whence her parents, Joseph and Catherine (Geip) Fresch, migrated tb America in 1873, and settled in Madison county, Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Jilg eight children were born, one child dying in infancy. Those living are named as follows : William J., who is in the dray business in Osmond ; Edward, a farmer ; John, in charge of the Kirchbraun Company at Pierce; Ida, Adolph, Leo and Nora. Mr. Jilg is a republican, and a member of the Catholic church. Mr. Jilg reached Nebraska in time to see the last flights of the grasshoppers while engaged at farm work in Polk county. His father-in-law, who was in the state some years earlier, lost his crops several seasons by the pests. During the early years of his housekeeping, Mr. Jilg burned hay, corn, and "prairie chips" for fuel. They were on one occasion, in the track of a severe hailstorm 'that broke every window in the house and bent in some of the sash and win dow casing. Western storms can at times be in credibly severe. His crops were damaged three years by hail. ISAAC WARD. Isaac Ward, subject of the above biographical sketch, was born in Westmoreland county, Vir ginia, March 30, 1858, and was eldest in a family of six children. He was raised in Payette and Green counties, Pennsylvania, coming to Howard COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 823 county, Nebraska, in May, 1878, where he worked for James McCracken and other farmers for six months, and in the year 1879 he took up a tree claim of one hundred twenty acres. On October 25, 1879, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Flora .McCracken, in St, Paul, Nebraska. The McCracken family came to St. Paul in 1872. One1 brother lives in St. Paul, one on a Howard county farm, and a sister, Mrs. Henry Roe, resides in St. Paul. Mrs. Ward's parents are deceased and the rest of the family are scattered. They were one of the very first families to settle in Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Ward lived on the north-west quarter of section fourteen, township fifteen, range eleven, for seven years, then moved to Colorado and engaged in ranching remaining eleven years. In the spring of 1898 they returned to Howard county and purchased the old E. L. Peck farm on the North Loup river bottom, on section eighteen, township fourteen, range ten, where they now own two hundred acres of choice land, a good house, and well-equipped farm. They also own a town residence in St. Paul, Nebraska, and expect to make that place their home in the near future. Mr. Ward is owner of the hardware business of that name in St. Paul, of which his son, William R. Ward, is manager. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have seven children four boys and three girls — a family of education and good attainments: Walter I., who is married and lives on a Howard county farm ; Almeda, married to Charlies H. Kelley, is living in Alberta, Canada ; Mamie A., married to Otto A. Peterson, lives in South Dakota; William R., manager of the Ward Hardware Company, St. Paul; Oliver Leslie, col lege student; and Harry R., and Effie M., who re side under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are widely known and have many friends and acquaintances in Howard county. Mr. Ward is a self-made man, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished by industry, good management and honest dealings. He is a man of intellgence and capability and has acquired an enviable reputation both socially and in a business way. CHARLIE D. WIGENT. The above named gentleman is one of the old settlers in this part of the state of Nebraska, and has been closely identified with the development and growth of this locality, aiding materially in the upbuilding of the community in which he chose his home. Mr. Wigent resides on section four, township nineteen, range thirteen, where he has a fine grain and stock farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Charlie D. Wigent was born in Berrien county, Michigan, August 7, 1861, and was the youngest of six children in the family of John and Rachel (Mink) Wigent, who bad four sons and two daughters. The Wigent family came to Valley county, Nebraska, in 1877, the father being one of the original homesteaders of Valley county. ' Mr. Wigent, subject of this sketch, took a pre emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres on Turtle Creek, Valley county, in 1882. In 1894, the dry year in Nebraska, Mr. Wigent, having heard the claims made by residents of Missouri and Minnesota, took his team and wagon and made a flying trip to look at the country, but soon re turned to Valley county, saying that Valley county was good enough for him. Mr. Wigent 's brother David and himself, and a nephew, Lysle Craig, who lives on Davis creek, are the only ones of the family living in Valley county. Mr. Wigent was married to Miss Annie Kasel, December 1, 1894, in Ord, Nebraska, soon after his return from Dakota, satisfied to marry and settle down in Valley county. Mrs. Wigent is a daughter of James and Mary Kasel. Mr. and Mrs. Wigent have had eight children, seven of whom are living: Fredrick, Ernest, Pearl, Rachel, Ralph, deceased, Edith, Blanche, and an infant, Merilla". Mr. and Mrs. Wigent and family have many friends, and are among the leading old families of Valley county. AL. DOVER. Among the prominent old settlers of eastern Nebraska, we mention the name of Al. Dover as being one of the best known from the fact that he has spent all but six years of his life in this region, and during that time he and his father have de voted their best efforts to aiding in the develop ment of the natural resources of Madison county, helping to build up the community in which they chose their home. Our subject now resides on sec tion four, township twenty-two, range one, which has remained the home place since the family came to Madison county. Mr. Dover is a native of Wales, his birth oc curring November 26, 1865, and he is a son of James and Jane (Nicholson) Dover. In 1854, Mr. Dover's father came to America, settling in Massa chusetts, there remained three years and worked at his (trade, which was that of Morocco leather dresser, which trade he had learned in Wales. He returned to Wales and later came back to America with his family, sailing from Liverpool to New York. After -reaching American soil, Mr. Dover started for the west, locating in Delaware county, Iowa, where he remained eight years; he then brought his family to Madison county, Nebraska, coming by the prairie schooner route. After arriving at his destination, he took up a homestead and tree claim four miles northeast of Madison, on which he put up a sod house, the family living in this six years, when it was suc ceeded by a good frame house. In the early days of residence here, the family experienced the many hardships and discouragments incident to the early 824 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. seventies, among other disasters, the destruction of all the crops by grasshoppers during the first few years in Nebraska. Columbus and Wisner several miles distant were the nearest market places then. In 1889 Mr. Dover our subject, was united in marriage to Miss Nattie Twing, and Mr. and Mrs. Dover are the parents of one child, a daughter, Edna. Mr. Dover is a highly and respected citizen of his community, and owns eighty acres of good land, six acres of which is cultivated to trees. MOSES F. SMITH. Moses F. Smith, one of the pioneer settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, owns over one thousand acres of Nebraska land — three hundred and twenty acres of this within the county— after selling six hundred and eighty acres in 1911 ; he is known as one of its most successful men in this section. He was born near Hebron in Pleasants county. West Virginia, April 18, 1862, next to the oldest child of Jacoh and Eliza (Cornell) Smith, who had six sons. The parents were natives of West Virginia also, where the mother died in the spring of 1876 and the father still lives on the old home farm. Pour of their children are living: Moses P. ; Arthur P., an attorney at law, at Weleetka, Oklahoma, lived for a time in Custer county ; Okey J., on the old home place with his father; Oscar M-, owns a farm near the old homestead. The first-named is the only one of his immediate family to locate permanently in Nebraska. In 1884 Mr. Smith left home and went to Dan ville, Indiana, to attend college, having received his early education in the public schools. In June, 1884, he came west by rail to Kearney, Nebraska. He proceeded from Kearney with a team into Cus ter county and pre-empted the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, township nineteen, range twenty-two, in February, 1885, and this has con tinuously been his home since that time. He has added to his holdings from time to time and is a successful and prosperous -^an, of quiet force and energy in the conduct of his affairs. Besides his property in Custer county, he owns over eight hun dred acres of land near Ogallala, Keith county. He is well known throughout the region where he has spent so many years and is a member of the Inde pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Or der of United Workmen. He is a communicant of the United Brethren church. On September 23, 1886, Mr. Smith married Miss Sarah A. Pierpont, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Wells) Pierpont, a native of West Vir ginia, whence her parents came to Custer county in 1878, and were original homesteaders. Mrs. Smith is the tenth of the eleven children born to her parents and has one brother and two sisters living in Nebraska: Orlando, of Minatare, Scotts- bluff county, Nebraska; Jane, now Mrs, C, D, Smith, of Merna ; Emma, now Mrs. R. R. Robinson of Custer county. Mr.. Smith and his wife are both much interested in the welfare and upbuilding of their county, in which they have been active, and both are among the pioneer settlers there. Mr. Smith has held various township offices in years past. They have had four children, namely: Ansley, at home ; Opal, wife of Roy Stanford, liv ing one mile north of Merria ; Ethel, wife of John D. Bowley, living one mile south of New Helena, has two children, Loretta and Florence; Mabel Rita, at home. All were born on the home farm. The- family experienced all the deprivations of the early days of development. During the dry year, 1894, they raised nothing in the fields but had a fine garden, owing to irrigation. The drouth of that year caused them another hard ship ; one after another three children were taken down with typhoid and finally the mother suc cumbed after nursing her little ones. During the latter part of their infliction Mr. Smith sat up to attend them until four o'clock after teaching school all day. This vocation, although the salary was small as compared to the present day, tided them over the year of drouth. In girlhood and during married life, Mrs. Smith has lived for thirty years in sod houses. In 1912 they built a fine modern dwelling on a farm adjoining the one on which they had lived many years and which was sold in 1911. When her father first settled in the west Mrs. Smith saw deer and antelope in herds like sheep. Buffalo bones and deer's horns lay thick on the prairies while buffalo wallows were thick in the valleys. WILLIAM FLINT. William Flint, a prosperous agriculturist and business man of Cotesfield, Howard county, is a well-known pioneer of that region. His pleasant home is located on section nineteen, township six teen, range eleven, comprising eighty acres of well- tilled land with good buildings and improvements of all kinds. Mr. Flint is a native of Sheffield, England, born October 4, 1873. There were ten children in his father's family, he being the third in order of birth. He is a son of Edward R. and Mary Flint, who are old settlers in Nebraska, and now live at North Loup, in Greeley county, while a brother aril five sisters are living in different sections of the country. Our subject came to America with his parents when he was one year old, the father filing on a homestead near Cotesfield, Nebraska, and the family was one of the first to settle in that section of Howard county. After experiencing some hardships during two years, they went to Michigan, where they remained up to 1885, then came back to Cotesfield. The parents made that their home for about twenty years, then moving into Greeley county, while William has made this COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 825 region his home continuously for the past twenty- six years. His home farm is fully equipped for stock and grain raising, and he is among the prominent and successful men of his locality. Mr. Flint was married in Cotesfield, October 20, 1897, to Miss Fidelia Parker, who was the youngest child in the family of John M. and Elizabeth Parker, old settlers in Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Flint have two children, Alta Eliza beth and Elsie Blanch, who are bright and charm ing young misses. For several years prior to her marriage, Mrs. Flint was a teacher in the Howard county schools, and has a host of friends, both herself and hus band being prominent socially. JONAS S. ROTH. Jonas S. Roth is a pioneer homesteader of Cus ter county and one who has been largely success ful as a farmer and stockman. He has a fine farm, well equipped for stock and small grain, with a large, comfortable home and good outbuild ings, surrounded by a fine grove of trees which he set out himself. He also has a fine growth of nat ural timber which grew along Dry or Wagner creek. Mr. Roth was born near Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, September 23, 1850, eighth in or der of birth of the children of Thomas and Esther (Griest) Roth, who had nine sons and four daugh ters. He has six brothers and three sisters now surviving, none of whom, however, live in Ne braska. The father was a farmer and removed with his family to Edgar county, Illinois, in 1857. He first rented a farm there and later purchased land of his own. Mr. Roth lived on the home farm in Edgar county with his parents until his marrige, being the last son to leave home. On December 1, 1874, he married Virginia Eubank, whose family is de scribed in connection with the sketch of E. D. Eubank, which appears in this work. The young couple located on a farm in Edgar county, where they lived until the fall of 1879. They then left with their three sons for Custer county, making the trip via the prairie schooner route and reaching their destination in November. They moved into the Jim Oxford cedar log house which stood on the west bank of the middle Loup river, near the present Comstock bridge, where they spent the winter. Mrs. Roth's brother, Richard Eubank, came with his wife at the same time, the two fami lies coming with covered wagons. In May of the next year Mr. Roth entered his homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twelve, township eighteen, range eighteen, erecting his house on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and also took a tree claim in section twelve of that town. He still owns and occupies the original homestead and tree claim and has three 27% hundred and sixty acres of land in the home place, having acquired forty acres of the section by pur chase. He had had continuous residence on the farm except for five years, from 1891 to 1896, which he spent in Saline county, Missouri. He has been connected with the passing events of the neighborhood, and although of a quiet disposition, has always done his part along educational and other progressive lines. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have eight children: Clif ford, married and living in Comstock, has two chil dren; Edgar, married and living on a farm two miles east of the home place, has three children; William, married and living four miles north of Comstock, has two children; Dora, wife of Pearl Walton, of Graham county, Kansas, has two chil dren; Mary, wife of Charles Mattox, lives on a farm adjoining the home place and has two chil dren; Nellie, wife of Earl Anderson, lives on the home farm ; Halley, wife of Lloyd Bennett, of Dry Valley, has one child; and Fred, at home. HERMAN GROELING. Herman Groeling, a prominent farmer and stockman living on section twenty-five, township thirty, range eight, is well known throughout Knox county as a progressive and successful agri culturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has to do. Mr. Groeling owns the Walnut Merchan dise store, and is also postmaster at that place, having held the office for twenty-seven years. Mr. Groeling is a native of Germany, having been born in Pommerania Province in 1848, and is the son of Christ and Juliana (Schmidt) Groel ing. His father was a school teacher, as were his ancestors as far back as our subject knows. In 1853 Mr. Groeling, with his parents, left Germany for America, embarking on a sailboat at Hamburg for New York, they having heard the glowing ac counts of the opportunities afforded in the New World to get land for almost nothing, and a bet ter chance to riiake a start in life. After landing in the United States, they proceeded to the state of Wisconsin where they settled and remained four years ; and from thence going to Burlington, Iowa, living there eleven years. They moved then to Page county, Iowa, residing there four years. Our sub ject drove to Nebraska in 1871 where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land a pre-emp tion claim, close to Winnetoon, and there built a log house. In 1873 his future wife came from Iowa to Nebraska and they were married at Yankton, South Dakota. Mrs. Greeting's maiden name was Mary Louise Bosse. In 1873, they took up a home stead in section twenty-four, township thirty, range eight, Knox county, north of their present location. In the early days, misfortune in almost every form visited this portion of Nebraska; dur ing the years of 1874-75-76, the grasshoppers made their memorable raids,destroying all the crops ; and 826 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the destructive blizzard of 1888 did its share in creating havoc in that section, Mr. Groeling losing some cattle ; and in 1894 the crops were again a failure. Deer and antelope were plentiful when our subject first came to Nebraska, and could fre quently be seen grazing on the prairies. Mr. Groeling now owns twenty-two hundred acres of good land, situated on the Verdigris creek, which affords a good supply of water. The ranch is well improved with good buildings and a fine residence, and Mr. Groeling has a fine orchard and grove. Mr. Groeling is of the opinion that the average man here is much better off financially than in Iowa, as the land here is cheaper and crops grow just as well with less attention, one man taking care of one hundred acres here as easily as he could fifty acres in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Groeling are the parents of eight children, namely : Anna, now the wife of Mr. J. F. Butterfield; Myrtle, wife of L. D. Forney; Lydia, Gusta, now Mrs. Tikalsky ; Hilda ; Lewis ; Bethold, who is married to Miss Josephine Mott; and Her man. Mr. and Mrs. Groeling and family are one of the most respected and highly esteemed families of their community, and enjoy the friendship of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. JAMES P. PORTER. James P. Porter is widely known as a pioneer of Nebraska and one of the few original home steaders in his neighborhood. He has passed through the years of hardship and privation, drouth and grasshoppers, and the trials of life on the frontier, having won a good reputation and standing in his part of the county and reached a period of prosperity and success. Mr. Porter was born in Effiingham county, Illinois, October 18, 1847, the seventh born child of the six sons and four daughters of James and Mary (Parkhurst) Porter. One son, George Porter, came to Custer county in 1899 and lives near Mullen. The parents are deceased and the only members of the family who now survive are four sons. _ Mr. Porter was educated in his native county, reared to farm work, and lived" in Effingham county until the fall of 1882. He was there mar ried March 8, 1865, to Mary A. Parkhurst. In September, 1882, Mr. Porter brought a team and covered wagon to Custer county, being accompa nied by two children. His wife and one child came by train to Grand Island and thence the family came together to the homestead on the northeast quarter of section thirty, township eighteen, range nineteen, making the trip with a wagon. This homestead has since been the home place and has been developed to a fine state of productiveness. Mrs. Porter's mother, two brothers and two sisters, were residents of Ne braska prior to 1882, and one brother, David, and a sister, Phoebe, now live in Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have seven children who survive : William P., married and living near Ar nold, has five children; Laura, wife of C. W. Gal- pin, of Broken Bow, has two children; Calvin 0., married and living near Berwyn, has two chil dren; Samuel A., born in Custer county, is mar ried and lives at Lincoln; Charles W., the young est child, born in Custer county, is at home ; Alma and Elma, twins, born in Custer county. Alma is the wife of Percy Carlahd, living near Berwyn, and they have one child; Elma is the wife of Jule Smets and they live near her parents. The family have always stood for the best interests of their county and state and have shown themselves the friends of progress in various forms. They have a wide circle of friends and are prominent in many circles. A. E. DERRY. A. E. Derry, a prominent farmer and old set tler of Antelope county, Nebraska, resides on his fine farm in section eleven, township twenty-three, range six. He is the owner of two hundred and forty acres df good land, which he has accumu lated by dint of his honest industry and persistent labor, supplemented by good management and integrity. Mr. Derry is a native born Nebraskan, his birth occurring April 28, 1859. His father, George Derry, is a typical pioneer of Nebraska, his settlement in the state dating from 1857, set tling in Dodge county. He came here from Eng land, of which country he is a native, having been born in London, (Lanchestershire) in 1823. He grew to manhood in his native land and followed the occupation of bridle maker. He is now living in Decatur county, Iowa, where he is well-known and highly esteemed and respected. Our subject's mother, Louisa (Weldon) Derry, was also born in England, her birth occurring in the year of 1821. Mr. George Derry, our subject's father, in 1857, left his native land and came to America where he could get land cheaper and where there were more opportunities for a man to support his family; he settled in Dodge county, Nebraska, where he took up a pre-emption and homestead claim, and built a log house, the roof being made of cornstalks. Here the family went through about every hardship and danger it was possible to encounter, suffering losses through every con ceivable cause ; this is not to be wondered at, as at that time this section of the country was almost unknown as a habitation for a white man ; they had many scares from the red skins which then in habited the western country; grasshoppers made their visit to Nebraska in 1873-74-75; the blizzards of 1869 and 1873 did a great deal of damage to those early settlers in that part of the state. In 1873 our subject came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and lived here with his mother until 1885 when he bought where he now lives. In COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 827 1886 Mr. Derry was married to Miss Melvina Black, and Mr. and Mrs. Derry are the parents of four children, named as the following: Zaida E., George W., Sanford M., and Melvin A. Mr. Derry during his long residence in this section has become well-known as a man of in tegrity, and has always done his full share for the betterment of conditions in his locality; he was elected by his constituents to the office of county commissioner, which office he satisfactorily filled for three years, taking oath in the year of 1900. At the present time he is town clerk and has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs. JAMES II. KERR. James H. Kerr and his estimable wife are prominent in social, educational and religious cir cles in Custer county, and are highly regarded as being identified with the best interests of the region where both have spent so large a part of their lives. Mr. Kerr is a native of Winnebago county, Illinois, born September, 18, 1855, the ninth of the twelve children of Charles and Anna (Larkin) Kerr, and one of four sons. The father was a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and the mother of Somersetshire, England, and they were married in Cana(ia, coming to the United States about 1834. They came across the lakes on the boat "Erie" on her last- trip, just prior to her burning on the return trip to Canada. They were pioneers of Illinois and all their children were born "in the United States. The father died in Roscoe, Illinois, in 1872, the mother having passed away some time prior. Mr. Kerr lived in Winnebago county until his eighteenth year, and received his education in the public schools. He then moved to Cook county, in the same state, which was then the home of his guardian, and when he attaine"d his majority started out in life on his own account. He was married at Blue Island, Illinois, March 13, 1879, to Miss Alice Ursula Lewis, daughter of Thomas and Margaret E. (Jones) Lewis, pioneers of Illi nois. Thomas Lewis was a native of Swansea, Wales, and came to America with his father and family in 1839, and married Margaret Jones in 1850. Both Mr. Kerr and his wife are the only members of their respective families who are liv ing in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr began housekeeping on a farm in Cook county, Mr. Kerr having been reared to farm work, and this place, which was near the city of Chicago, was largely devoted to raising- hay. In April, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Kerr removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, and lived on a ranch there until December, 1885, when they came to Custer county. They took a pre-emption on the north east quarter of section twenty-one, township thir teen, range eighteen, and lived there about a year, then took up a homestead comprising the north west quarter of section seventeen, township four teen, range eighteen, where they lived until lo cating in Ansley in August, 1893, and since that time have lived in Ansley. In that year they made a trip to the World's Pair in Chicago. Mr. Kerr is engaged in the grocery and hardware business in Ansley, and they have a modern home in the town. He is one of the most successful anrl popular merchants in the county and has done his full share in promoting the development and pro gress of the central part of the state. Besides his property in Ansley, Mr. Kerr still owns a farm near the town. During the trans-Mississippi ex position, Mrs. Kerr was a member of the board of the bureau of education, from the sixth congres sional district. Mrs. Kerr was one of the earlier educators of Custer county and taught in the public schools of Ansley, Mason and other towns of the county. She is a woman of rare attain ments and culture and is always ready to give her time and attention to all causes calculated to advance the higher development and uplifting of her town, county and state, along all lines of progress. She and her husband have a taste for good literature and have one of the finest private libraries in their part of the state. Mr. Kerr is a member of the Masonic order, which he joined several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, have had four children, three of whom are now living: Howard, born in Cook county, now living in Twin Palls, Idaho, has one child; Margaret, wife of William A. Wol ford, born in 0 'Brien county, Iowa, living in Ans ley; Alice Ursula, born in O'Brien county, Iowa, married Oscar M. Carter, lives in Cashmere, Washington, and has two children: Grace May, born in Custer county, died March 26, 1902. DR. ROBERT C. TALBOT. One of the best known men of Custer county is Dr. Robert C. Talbot, who was the first physi cian to locate in that part of the state. He has long been closely identified with the progress and upbuilding of the community and is a large land owner. He was born in Kentucky March 16, 1848, third of the ten children of Willis and Nancy (McCoun) Talbot, both natives of the same state. He has one brother in Sherman county, Nebraska, Dr. Nicholas Talbot, who resides in Austin. The father died in Indiana in the early eighties and the mother died there about 1899. Willis Talbot brought his family to Indiana and there Robert C. Talbot grew from infancy to young manhood. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the country schools. Later he attended college in Danville, Indiana, and then took a course in Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1869, after which he entered upon the practice of Ins profession at Sylvania, Indiana. 828 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. On December 25, 1869, Mr. Talbot was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Warrick, a native of Indiana, their union taking place at Pittsboro. Her father, Edward H. Warrick, was born in Delaware and died in Indiana in 1864, and her mother, whose maiden name was Ruth Whiteman, was born in West Virginia and died in Burt county, Nebraska, in 1907. Mrs. Talbot has one brother in Indiana; one brother and two sisters in Burt county, Nebraska; one brother in Wash ington county, Nebraska ; a sister in Boise, Idaho. and a sister in Trinidad, Colorado. In the fall of 1879 Dr. Talbot brought his wife and two sons to Custer county and homesteaded on one hun dred and sixty acres of land, also secured a tim ber claim adjoining, of the same size, and pre empted one hundred and sixty acres, making alto gether a fine grain and stock farm, which is well stocked and equipped. A few years after his ar rival he was elected county treasurer and he was instrumental in organizing the school district, the first three terms of school being held in his home, pending the erection of a sod school house. About 1885 the family came to Broken Bow, where they have a pleasant home and five acres of land in the Rainer addition, and this has since been their home. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Talbot, as follows : Dr. Willis E., who is in the practice of his profession in Broken Bow, is married and has two children : Victor Claris, mar ried and living on the family homestead, has four children: Nannie, wife of Horace P. Ken nedy, of Broken Bow, has two children. Dr. Talbot has nine hundred and sixty acres of land in Custer county, as well as large in terests in other Nebraska counties, and is promi nent in public affairs. He and his wife have many friends and they are well-known in social circles. All the male . members of the Talbot family have military records : Dr. Talbot is a civil war veteran. He enlisted in Company H, of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers, and was retired toward the end of hostilities on account of broken health. Dr. Willis E. Talbot served in the Spanish American war, in tbe hospital corps of the First Nebraska Infantry, in service in the Philippine Is lands. He was promoted from hospital steward to second assistant, then to first assistant surgeon of the regiment and later appointed Major and surgeon of the First Regiment, Nebraska National Guard, under Colonel Talbot. Colonel V. C. Talbot served in the Spanish- American war as First Lieutenant of Company "M;" he was later advanced by promotion to Captain of Company G, and on his return from the Philippine Islands campaign, was made Colo nel of the First Regiment of the Nebraska Na tional Guard. On one of the illustrated pages will be found portraits of Major W. C. Talbot, Col. V. C. Tal bot and Dr. R. C. Talbot. WILLIAM ALEXANDER. William Alexander, one of the pioneers of Pierce county, Nebraska, is a native of Scotland, born near Ayr, the chief town of Ayrshire, Sep tember 15, 1828. His parents, Robert and Mar garet (Cowan) Alexander, natives of the same shire, died after a few years in Wisconsin, where they had joined their son in June, 1863. Mr. Alexander learned the carpenter's trade in his native country, where he was employed at that work until his emigration to America in the fall of 1851. Securing passage at Glasgow, he took ship at Greenoch in an old sailing vessel, and after a voyage of six weeks landed in New York; going to Philadelphia he found work at his trade and some six months later moved on to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained there about two years. From here he migrated to Marquette county, Wisconsin, and engaged in his vocation, buying the meanwhile a tract of one hundred and twenty acres which he farmed with hired help, being employed in build ing most of the time. In 1873 he determined to follow the stream of settlers to the west and, selling his farm, started May 9 for Nebraska with a yoke of oxen and drove through Iowa as far as Waterloo. Here the roads became impassable , their progress being only three quarters of a mile the last day. Se curing a car at the first station west of Waterloo, Mr. Alexander with his family came by rail to Sioux City, whence the roads to the west were smooth and dry. Reaching Plainview the middle of June, Mr. Alexander took a pre-emption claim one mile south of Plainview and began the life of a farmer in the west, working at his trade when there was building to be done. After a two years' struggle against grasshopper pests, losing all his crops dur ing that time, Mr. Alexander packed his family in wagons and started back to Wisconsin. On reaching La Mars, Iowa, they sojourned for a few weeks to welcome an addition to the family, Mr. Alexander securing work at his trade the while, and then proceeded on their way to the old home in the Badger state. Here they resided about four years until conditions had improved in the west, and a longing for the prairies came over them, as they had been homesick for the older state on their first advent to Nebraska. In the spring of 1879 their possessions were again loaded into the ox wagons and for the third time they took the trail between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, reaching Plainview in June. Mr. Alexander filed on a timber claim four miles south of Plainview, where they prospered and ac cumulated land to the extent of eight hundred acres. This Mr. Alexander sold in 1894, bought MAJOR W. C. TALBOT. DR. R. C. TALBOT. COL. V. C. TALBOT. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 829 a home in town and continued contracting and building for ten years, retiring from active life in 1904, and he and his venerable wife are passing their declining years in comfort, with their chil dren all doing well in life. Mr. Alexander was married at Montello, Wis consin, October 26, 1855, to Miss Ann McWil- liams, a native of Belfast, Ireland, born Septem ber 12, 1838, a daughter of William and Mary (Kearnes) McWilliams, who came to America and settled in Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Alexander eleven children were born, ten of whom survive: Margaret, wife of Mr. Christian Lerum, a sketch of whom appears in this work ; Jane, married David Miller, and makes her home with her aged parents, of whom she takes the tenderest care; Roderick, farming four miles south of Plainview; Sarah, now Mrs. Albert Borden, lives in Washington; Robert, has a ranch near Bloomfield, Nebraska; William lives on a farm three miles south of Plainview; John, a stock dealer of Plainview; Mary, de ceased, was the wife of Gus Kemnitz ; Rachel, mar ried Sam Johnson, a baker of Plainview ; Alice, is the wife of William Dutcher, who is farming a mile west of Plainview; and Gilbert, the young est, has remained with his father, and was his mainstay while on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander were reared in the Presbyterian faith. In politics, Mr. Alexander is republican. The family endured many of the hardships of pioneer days. Besides the pest of grasshoppers and the alarms of prairie fires, bUzzards, caused them much suffering and many times Mr. Alex ander has slept out in winter storms with little shelter but a blanket stretched over poles; at times he has weathered a three days' storm in this way. Their fuel was secured along Verdigris creek, and the trip out and back with a load of wood usually consumed two or three days. On one of these trips Mr. Alexander and his com panions found themselves reduced to the last match, and this a wet one. Mr. Alexander took it, put it within his clothes until the heat of his body had dried it somewhat, and then finally suc ceeded in striking a light and making a fire to warm them through the night and cook their food. Mr. Alexander has had a long and useful life of many vicissitudes, but is now in peace and plenty surrounded by his family and friends in the evening of his well spent life. GEORGE KILPATRICK. (And Family.) George Kilpatrick, for many years a promi nent citizen of Howard county, now deceased, was an early settler in that region and became one of the successful and leading men of his locality. Mr. Kilpatrick was born in Scotland, June 9, 1826, and grew to manhood in that country, com ing to America in 1847, his first location being in Michigan. He was married at Woodland, that state, on May 13, 1854, to Phoebe Wilson, and they spent the following twenty-five years in dif ferent states. Mr. Kilpatrick came into Lloward county in 1879, landing here in October, and immediately afterwards purchased six hundred acres of land. Of this original homestead five hundred acres are still owned by the family. They went through all the pioneer experiences met by the early set tlers in the region, and succeeded in building up a splendid farm and comfortable home, Mr. Kil patrick finally becoming one of the foremost men of his section in local and county affairs. He was an ordained minister in the United Brethren church, serving as such while living in Michigan, for about fen years, and after locating in Nebraska connected himself with the church here and con tinued his work along those lines. He traveled on the circuit for many years prior to his demise, visiting in turn Cedar Creek, Cotesfield, Peck JJistrict, Woodriver, Alda and Dannebrog, which is known as the Grand Island Circuit. In his death, which occurred on August 26, 1881, the en tire community suffered a deep loss, as he was an earnest christian of splendid character. He was survived by his widow and four sons, the former now living in a cozy home near that of her son, Robert's, a bright and cheerful woman, much loved by all for her lovable and charitable nature. She is now in her seventy- sixth year, and still active. Her sons are as follows : Robert, born in Berry county, Michigan, March 3, 1855. He has spent his entire career as a farmer, has been successful and gained the esteem and respect of all by his integrity and straightforward character. Lie has been married twice, his second marriage occurring in Cotes field, on June 24, 1904, when he was wedded to Minnie Evans. They have two children: Isabelle, and Phoebe Melvina. Mr. and Mtrs. Kilpatrick have a pleasant home and are among the leaders in educational and social affairs in their com munity. Joseph H. Kilpatrick, the second son, was born in Woodland, Michigan, February 23, 1863. He was a lad of sixteen when he arrived in Howard county with his parents, and remained at home until he was thirty-six, although he had done con siderable for himself in a business way for a number of years previous to that time. In 1899 he purchased a small tract of land on which he erected farm buildings, and is owner of one hun dred and twenty acres on sections seven and twelve, township sixteen, range twelve, situated but half a mile north of the village of Cotesfield. With the exception of about ten months, when with his wife he visited the parents of the latter in Snohomish, Washington, Howard county, has been our subject's home since 1879. He is rec- 830 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ognized as one of the prominent pioneers, is a worthy representative of an honorable family, and has" an enviable reputation as an individual of fine character and integrity. Mr. Kilpatrick was married to Maud Ethel Seymour in York, Nebraska, in 1899, at the home of her parents, who are well known old settlers in that vicinity. They have one daughter, Dorothy, now a charming young girl. Abraham Lincoln Kilpatrick, the third son, was also born in Woodland, Michigan, May 16, 1865, and accompanied the balance of his family to Howard county in 1879. He has made this vi cinity his home since that time, living at home until he was twenty-one years of age. Several years after the death of his father, the estate was divided among the heirs, Abraham receiving his share of one hundred and twenty acres, which lies on section twelve, township sixteen, range twelve. He has made of this a highly improved farm, hav ing splendid buildings of all kinds, is known equally well with his brothers as a prominent man of the section, and is now successful and prosperous. A. L. Kilpatrick was married on January 18, 1889, to Addie Josephine Newhall, who was reared in Howard county. Mrs. Kilpatrick died. in 1897. They had two children, Frank and Harry, the former now deceased, while the latter still lives at home. July 27, 1900, Mr. Kilpatrick was married the second time, to Margaret May Smith, also of Howard county, and she died the following year, leaving one child, Henry, who makes his home with his grandparents in Wheeler county, Nebraska. Mr. Kilpatrick was married again in 1903, to Mary Francis Kafka, in Howard county, and of this union three children resulted, Joseph, now deceased, Francis and Leslie, bright youngsters whose presence makes the home a pleasant one. Mr. Kilpatrick has always taken an active in terest in local and county affairs. He has served as director of the school board in district number forty-eight, for three years, and is also active in church work in his locality. He is a capable and clear-headed business man, and was appointed administrator of his father's estate. Stephen D. Kilpatrick, the youngest son of Mrs. Kilpatrick, was also born in Woodland, Michigan, April 2, 1868. On the division of his father's estate, Stephen received one hundred and twenty acres in section twelve of Cotesfield precinct. This place he operated up to 1911, in that year going with his family to St. Cloud, Florida, where he has purchased land and in tends making his home for the future. December 24, 1895, Mr. Kilpatrick was mar ried at St. Paul, to Miss Harriet E. Seymour, and they have two children, Eber and Ivan. Stephen D. Kilpatrick has been prominent in republican politics, and has filled various school and precinct offices here. He still owns eighty acres of the old homestead. DAVID WIGENT. David Wigent, an old-timer of Valley county, Nebraska, lives on his fine farm which is situated in section four, township nineteen, range thirteen. He was born on a farm in Berrien county, Michi gan, August 17, 1859, and was fifth in a family of six children born to John and Rachel (Meek) Wigent, they having four sons and two daughters. Our subject received the usual school advantages in his native county, where he grew to his young manhood; and in December of 1877 the AVigent family came to Valley county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land. The father died in Valley county about 1889 ; and the mother sur vived him but three years, her death occurring in Jerico Springs, Missouri. Pour of the children are living, two of whom, David and Charles, re side in Valley county ; David lives on his farm in the northeast quarter of section four, town ship nineteen, range thirteen, and Charles lives in the southwest quarter of section four, town ship eighteen, range thirteen; Henry Wigent lives in Jerico Springs Missouri, where the mother died in 1892; Marrilla Wigent, now married to R. J. Bronson. also resides in Missouri, near Lockwood. David Wigent, the principal subject of this sketch, took up a homestead in Valley county in 1880, twelve miles northwest of Ord, living on this homestead about eight years. In 1892 Mr. Wigent went to Missouri and - lived there until 1901, returning to Valley county in the fall of that year, purchasing his present farm home on sec tion four, township nineteen, range thirteen, which is now a fine farm, well equipped in every way. Mr. Wigent is one of the original home steaders who has always had strong faith in old Valley county. Mr. Wignet was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Pacas in Valley county, Nebraska, April 22, 1884. Miss Pacas is a native of Moravia, Ger many, but comes of an old Valley county family. Mr. and Mrs. Wigent have four children, namely: William, Minnie, Prank, and Bessie. They have many friends by whom they are surrounded in their pleasant home. Mr. Wigent has in various ways assisted in building up Valley county. He is a self-made man, and has made a success by bis own energy and thrift and many sterling qualities. He is in- pendent in politics. Mr. Wigent lived in a sod house on the original homestead and for three years on his present place before a modern frame dwelling was built. Deer and antelope had not been driven further toward the mountains when Mr. Wigent came, and he has seen them running wild since settling in Valley county. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 831 WILLIAM FILSINGER. Prominent among Madison county's old set tlers is William Filsinger, who since the fall of the year 1884 has made this region his home, and in every manner possible aided in the develop ment and progress of the agricultural resources of this section of the country. He resides in sec tion eight, township twenty-one, range three, where he has built up a valuable estate by strict attention to his duties, thrift and perseverance, and also occupies a foremost place in the history of that part of Nebraska. Mr. Filsinger is a native of Baden, Germany, and was reared on a farm. He was born Novem ber 18, 1872, his birthplace being near the Rhine, river, and was the oldest child in the family of Christ and Barbara Filsinger, the former serv ing in the French and German war in 1870, and having a creditable record as a soldier, of which his son is very proud. The entire family left the old country for America, taking passage on an emigrant ship at Hamburg and landing in New York after an eventful voyage. They immediately struck out for the westerri states, and landed in Madison county, Nebraska, in 1884. Our subject at this time was twelve years of age, and he begun working out on farms in the vicinity of his home, continuing up to 1896, at which time his father purchased the farm where he now lives. This has been improved with sub stantial buildings of all kinds, and is in a high state of cultivation at the present time, well stocked with cattle, horses, etc., and is one of the best grain producing properties in the region. May 31, 1899, Mr. Filsinger was united in marriage to Miss Emma Nutsman, and to them have been born the following children: William, junior, Christ, Henry, Ellen, and Alma, all sturdy young people and growing up to be of immense help to their parents. Mr. Filsinger is active in local affairs, and with his family take a lively interest in neighbor hood matters appertaining to the schools and so cial doings. NATHAN A. SMITH. Nathan A. Smith, who owns a section of land in Custer county, is one of the best known and most popular citizens of his region and has held various township and county offices. He was born in Effingham county, Illinois, March 24, 1860, next to the youngest child of John and Mary (Devore) Smith, who had three sons and a daugh ter. He was reared on his father's farm and lived in his native place until August, 1883, when he came to Custer county, reaching Grand Island by train and making the rest of the journey with a horse. He secured a homestead on the north east quarter of section twenty-nine, township eighteen, range nineteen, and in the fall of the same year returned to Illinois. On January 10, 1884, Mr. Smith was married to Nancy A. Blackwell, daughter of Thomas and Martha Blackwell, who was born in Kentucky. A brother and two sisters of Mrs. Smith at one time resided in Nebraska. Her brother now lives in Oregon; one sister, Mrs. Frank Woofers, lives in Custer county, and the other sister, Mrs. Henry Metzger, lives in Madison county. In May, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Smith came to their Custer county homestead, where they have since continued to reside, with the exception of four years (1894-97, inclusive) they spent in Broken Bow. He passed through the adverse years of the early part of his residence on the farm and became a successful pioneer farmer, one of the few to retain possession of their original home steads. He was the only member of his imme diate family to come to Nebraska, and has a fa ther and two brothers, in Illinois. He has been actively interested in the welfare and develop ment of his county and state and is recognized as a citizen of public spirit. He served as a mem ber of the county board of supervisors in 1892- 1893; and was deputy register of deeds for the county from 1894 to 1898, and has been prominent in township affairs, having served as township treasurer and as a member of the school board, besides other local offices. Mr. Smith and his wife have four children, all born on the homestead: Thomas, married and liv ing in Custer county; Mary, wife of Sylvester Smith, of Custer county, has one child; Lacy and Tony are at home. Mr. Smith is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. NELS E. ERICKSON. Nels E. Erickson is one of the leading farmers of his part of Wayne county, and is a representa tive farmer of his locality. He is well known, and, while not one of the oldest settlers, has many friends. Most of the improvements on his farm have been the result of his own efforts. Mr. Erickson has always performed his part in promoting the general welfare, and has won a high standing as an upright and reliable citizen. He is a native of Sweden, born March 25, 1854, a son of Eric and Anna Samuelson, who were farmers, and spent their entire lives in Sweden. Mr. Erickson was educated in his native country, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1880, he left Sweden,. sailing from Gotten- burg for Liverpool, and thence to New York City. Soon afterwards he went west to Illinois, and spent five years in that state. About 1885, he came to Nebraska, and purchased of Charles Johnson his present farm on section two, town ship twenty-seven, range three, and began to make additional improvements on the same. He has a fine five-acre grove and orchard, which 832 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. greatly enhances the value and beauty of his estate, and has erected various buildings, which were needed for caring for his grain, stock and tools. He uses improved machinery, and is much interested in modern methods and ideas. He carries on general farming, and pays especial attention to the raising of various kinds of stock. In 1887, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Selma Magnuson, who was born in Sweden, a daughter of Peter J. and Tilda Mag nuson, natives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1886. Pour children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, of whom three now survive, namely: Anna Matilda, Ruth Leniea and Raymond. Delia died in childhood. Mr. Erickson and his wife have many friends throughout the- county, where both are well known. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. NOAH HEATER. One of the highest tributes to be paid to a citizen is to say that he is a leading old settler, and the gentleman named here is certainly entitled to this honor, richly deserving a foremost place in the list, having lived in Merrick county, Ne braska, since 1871. Noah Heater was born in Pike county, Penn sylvania, in 1837, and was fourth child in the family of Anthony and Mary (Hoover) Heater, who had six children, four sons and two daugh ters. Our subject wa sraised on a farm, receiving the ordinary advantages of those days. In 1858, he left Pike county, going to Bureau county, Illinois, where he engaged iri farming. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Heater was joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah L. Huffaker, and three children were born of this union : Annie, who is married, has seven children, and lives in Kan sas City, Missouri ; Israel, who is married, has two children, and lives in Illinois; and Mary, who is married, and living in the Panama zone district, has three children. Mrs. Heater died in 1866 in the state of Illinois. On July 11, 1868, Mr. Heater was married to Mrs. Eva Kieser, and in May, 1871, Mr. and Mrs. Heater and their one child, and also the three children of Mr. Heater, came to Merrick county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead about three miles northwest of Clarks, and here they lived until June, 1903, when Mr. and Mrs. Heater moved to the town of Clarks, where they had purchased a comfortable home. Mr. Heater and his second wife have five chil dren: Lottie, who is married to Mr. Charles Cosner, lives in Clarks, Nebraska, and has one child ; Alta, who is married to Mr. Dell Brown, has one child, and lives in Idaho ; and Sophia, who is married, has one child, and also lives in Idaho ; and Lily and Robert, deceased. Mrs. Heater died at her home in Clarks, Janu ary 3, 1910, and Mr. Heater continues to reside in Clarks. Mr. Heater was one of the first settlers of this portion of Nebraska, and has passed through the different phases of pioneer life. He is a quiet man, not so active in political or public life as some have aspired to be, but always doing his share toward the advancement of his home county and state. JOHN ANDERSEN. John Andersen was one of a worthy family that came from the province of Sehleswig, in the northwest part of the German empire, in 1880. They settled in Benton county, Iowa, and followed various lines of employment there until coming to Holt county in 1881. Here John Andersen farmed, about seven miles north of Atkinson, but two dry years, in which all his crops were spoiled, drove him back to western Iowa, where he was employed at farm labor during the year 1888. He then returned to Holt county, Nebraska, where he followed farming for, the next three years, and then filed on a homestead claim in Boyd county, seven miles southwest from Naper, on which he resided ten years. He opened a saloon in Naper, and was in business here until 1909, when he sold his place, and opened a shoe store, to which he has added a stock of dry goods. He is also buyer for a creamery at Lincoln. Mr. Andersen was born in the village of Huesby, near the city of Sehleswig, in the prov ince of that name, in the German empire, August 18, 1864. He is a son of Andreas and Margarita (Will) Andersen, who, with their family, includ ing our subject, came to America in 1880. Andreas Andersen had been a soldier in the old country, serving as a lieutenant in the revolution of 1848 to 1852, and participating in twenty-eight engagements without receiving a wound. The family sailed from Hamburg to Hull, spent three days in London, and then proceeded to Liver pool, expecting to ship from there, but the steamers were loaded to their capacity. Returning to London, they embarked, and, after twelve days at sea, landed in New York, whence they migrated to Luzerne, Benton county, Iowa, where they resided until coming to Nebraska, as before stated. Mr. Andersen was married in Holt county in July, 1889, to Miss Cecelia Jansen, a native of Benton county, Iowa, a daughter of John Jansen. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ander sen, named as follows: Etta, wife of Henry Smith, who is farming east of Naper; August, now clerking, and has finished two terms in the Grand Island Business College ; and Herman, a graduate of the ninth grade in the Naper schools, class of 1910, and who is associated with his father in the store. Five younger children are: Alfred, Otto, Edwin, Vena and Vere. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 833 Mr. Andersen has witnessed many of the severe storms that have swept the west: The blizzard of January 12, 1888; the cyclone of 1900, when a brother's two children and a neigh boring family were killed ; and severe hailstorms, such as are unknown in the east. During the early days, when fuel was scarce, they burned hay, corn, stalks and "chips" that are found scattered over the prairies. Mr. Andersen is a republican in politics. He was reared in the Lutheran church, and contrib uted to the building of two churches, one in Na per, and one, one and one-half miles west. He is a member of the Sons of Herman lodge, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Encamp ment. He is a popular, - substantial citizen, and is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him. JACOB LOUIS. (Deceased.) Jacob Louis was for many years, prior to his death, a leading farmer and prosperous citizen of Platte county, Nebraska. His family still reside in this locality, and are well and favorably known throughout the community. Jacob Louis was born in Germany, September 2, 1834, and in 1852 emigrated .to Ohio, and in the spring of 1856 he came to Omaha, Nebraska, where he formed the friendship of several other young Germans, and also became acquainted with a young man by the name of Rausch, who lived in Omaha; and in March, 1856, Fred Gottschalk, Adam Denck, Mike Smith, Rausch and our subject walked from Omaha, and came into the Platte valley, and founded the town of Columbus. Mr. Louis purchased, one hundred and sixty acres of land, and this farm still remains in the Louis family, and lies adjoining the corporation limits of Columbus, on the east. Mr. Louis, after a resi dence in the Platte valley for four or five years, returned to Ohio, and on April 2, 1865, was mar ried to Miss Katherine Engel, in Middletown, Ohio, and soon after, Mr. and Mrs. Louis came to Nebraska, taking up their home on the farm, which Mr. Louis had purchased in 1856. Mr. Louis was a sturdy pioneer settler, of quiet, industrious habits, and this original farm remained his home place until his death. Mr. Louis was a well-known pioneer settler, always giving of his time and means to the upbuilding of his home town and county. He passed through the pioneer days of Platte valley, and was a suc cessful farmer, and held the esteem and respect of all who knew him. Mr. Louis died at the home place, October 6, 1909, in his seventy-fifth year, survived by his wife and four children. Mrs. Louis continues to live on the farm, and with her lives her two sons, Charles Carl and Jacob Louis, eldest and youngest of the children. George Louis was married to Miss Isis Tripp, and lives on one of the Louis farms, four miles east of Columbus; they have five children: Ruth, George, Katherine, Edward and Carl. Katherine Louis, the only living daughter, is married to William Stevenson, and they live on their farm, near the George Louis place; they have two daughters, Dorothy and Katherine Elsie. All the Louis children were born on the old farm, and the family are one of the few old pio neer families still residing on the "home place." Mrs. Louis is still active in the management of her home, and is a delightful woman to meet, having a vivid remembrance of people and early settlers' life, and now, in the closing years of her life, enjoys a review of the old days. She has had a busy life, and is widely known. Her sons, Carl and Jacob, who live with her on the old farm, are men of sterling character, and are industrious, good citizens. Too much credit cannot be given the old pioneer family, they having passed through the hard times of the earlier period when they feared the Indians, suffered drouths and many other hardships, and are now enjoying success and prosperity. GEORGE ROBINSON. George Robinson, an early settler of Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the most highly re spected and esteemed citizens of his community. He has a pleasant and comfortable home and val uable estate in Sherman precinct, and has gained his entire prosperity through industrious effort and honest dealings, supplemented by thrift and good management. Mr. Robinson has been an important factor in the evolution of Antelope county, Nebraska, and now resides in section fourteen, township twenty-eight, range eight, where he and his family are loved and respected by all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Robinson was born in Jackson county, Iowa, November 11, 1863, and when a young man, went to South Dakota, where he was employed by Missouri Southern railroad, where he remained four years, and from thence went to Adams county, Iowa, staying there one year. In 1883, Mr. Robinson came to Antelope county, Nebras ka, where he took up a homestead in section twenty-four, township twenty-eight, range eight, on which he built a dugout, living in that one year and a half, when he built a frame house, and later he took as a tree claim the northwest quar ter of section twenty-four, township twenty-eight, range eight. In 1895, our subject sold all of his property, and moved to Berry county, Missouri, living there four years, when, in 1899, he returned to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought his present farm, which, as before stated, is located in section fourteen, township twenty-eight, range eight. Mr. Robinson was united in marriage, Septem- 834 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ber 20, 1885, to Miss Irma Sherman, and Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of eight children, named as follows : Jessie ; Roy, who is married to Miss Ella Harvey; Harry; Charles; Victor, deceased in 1894 ; George ; William, and Edith. They are a fine family, and are highly respected and well thought of in their community, and have a host of warm friends and neighbors. Mr. Robinson's father, William Robinson, was a native of West Virginia, and his parents came from Scotland. Our subject's mother, Armina (Scherman) Robinson, was born in 1843, in Penn sylvania. Mr. Robinson's father came to Ne braska in 1864, and was in the government freighting service, and hauled supplies to all the government forts between Omaha, Denver, and Butte, Montana. Mr. Robinson is a well-known stock raiser, and he enjoys a wide acquaintance all through this section of the state, and is highly respected by all with whom he-has to do. JAMES EDWIN HURLBURT. Although comparatively a young man, James Edwin Hurlburt is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county, and he is a citizen who is repre sentative of the best interests of his community. He belongs to a family that has passed through the early pioneer days of Nebraska, and he has a fine stock and grain farm in Custer county, which he operates with gratifying success. Mr. Hurl burt was born in McDonough county, Illinois, August 4, 1870, son of Alanson P. and -Eunice (Robinson) Hurlburt, who were natives of Phila delphia and Ohio, respectively, he born in 1839 and she in 1832. They were married in Illinois about 1867, and had three children born in that state, James E. being one of a pair of twins. Inj 1875, the family moved to a farm near Nevinville, Adams county, Iowa, and in the "early spring of 1883, they came by team to Blaine county, Ne braska, camping for three weeks along the way. Here they spent several years on a homestead, but in 1890, they removed to Custer county. The father died on his farm in February, 1903, and the mother died there, October 14, 1906. They were survived by their two sons, Samuel D. and dames E. The former is married, and lives in Sherman county. Mr. Hurlburt was educated in the country schools, and reared on a farm, and he took up a homestead in the east half of the northwest quar ter of section thirteen, township seventeen, range eighteen, in the fall of 1891, this later being the home of his parents. He was married at Broken Bow, Custer county, November 28, 1892, to Miss Minnie M., daughter of David and Matilda (Cas teel) Hutchens, who came from Cass county, Illi nois, to Seward county, Nebraska, in 1880. The Hutches family spent one year in Seward and one year in Hamilton county before coming to Custer county, where they secured a homestead. The parents and the four surviving children now live in the state. Mrs. Hurlburt was one of seven children, but she and her sister, Mrs. Irving Slier- beck, are the only ones who live in Custer county. Three of the children are now deceased. Two brothers, James and Eliphalet, live in McPherson county. Six children have been born to Mr. Hurlburt and wife, as follows : Goldie, Ruby, Julia, Esther, Fannie and Edwin, all at home. Both Mr. Hurl burt and his wife are of pioneer stock, and are widely and favorably known in the county. They have a well-developed and equipped farm, and a comfortable farm home. In national elections he is republican, but locally is independent of party lines. Mr. Hurlburt has had some experience as a hunter of big game, having killed eight deer in Blaine county. He bas suffered from the drouth of 1894, and on the sixteenth of July, 1893, hail ruined his entire crop. But the harships of the early days are but a memory, which success and prosperity are fast relegating to oblivion. EDGAR MINER. Edgar Miner is one of the upright and reliable citizens of Custer county, who have won success in life after a hard struggle with the hardships and difficulties of pioneer existence. He is a man of retiring disposition, but well known for his willingness to aid the cause of progress and devel opment along lines beneficial to the community. He is well known among the early settlers, many of whom he helped locate when he came to the county, and is one of the few who have always retained possession of their original homesteads. He was born in the state of New York, October 14, 1847, fifth child of Simeon and Almira (Larra- bee) Miner, who had three sons and seven daugh ters. Both parents were natives of New York, where they were married. Mr. Miner spent his boyhood on a farm, and when eighteen years of age, left his native state, and went to see an uncle who lived in Warren county, Illinois. This practically marked the tini.; when he went out in the world for himself. After spending three years- in Warren county, he returned to New York for three years, and in October, 1871, married Anna Rodgers,' of that state. Soon after their marriage, they' removed to Warren county, where they made their home until 1874, when they moved to Union county Iowa, and in 1880 to Custer county. He ]lad gone overland from Iowa to Custer county in the fall of 1879, but returned to Iowa without selecting a location, and in the following spring took a home stead and timber claim on the west half of section thirty-five, township seventeen, range nineteen He erected a frame house, the first built in that locality, hauling the lumber from Grand Island EDGAR MINER. "SUNNY-SIDE FARM," RESIDENCE OF CHAS. A. MILLER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 835 a distance of eighty miles. Mrs. Miner died on the homestead, February 26, 1884. On June 12, 1886, at Ord, Nebraska, Mr. Miner was united in marriage with Miss Annie Palmer, daughter of Prank Palmer. Her mother and step father, Mr. and Mrs. L. Miner, came to Custer county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Miner continued to make their home on the old farm until coining to their pleas ant residence in Comstock in the spring of 1909. They have always done their part along all lines of progress, and owe their success in life to their own efforts. For a number of years he was direc tor of school board number six, and held various township offices. He and his wife have five chil dren : Clarence, married, and living on the home farm ; Mabel, wife of R. L. Douse, living on a Custer county homestead, has two children; Leslie, Chester and Elizabeth. All were born ^on the homestead farm, and educated in local schools. A portrait of Mr. Miner will be found on another page of this volume. JAMES B. MILLER. (Deceased.) The gentleman whose name heads this per sonal history, now deceased, during his lifetime, held a high position among the leSding citizens of Valley county, Nebraska. He was engaged in agriculture many years in that section of the country, made a good success at the work, and, while building up a good home and ranch for his family, also aided in large measure in the devel opment and growth of his locality. James B. Miller, decased, son of Dudley and Aminta (Wood) Miller, was born in Ontario county, New York, August 7, 1831. He was sev enth in a family of eight children, all of whom are deceased, as are also the parents, the father passing away on February 14, and the mother on February 17, of 1844, their deaths occurring near Laporte, Indiana. In 1839, the family had moved to Indiana, where Mr. Miller grew to manhood, when, in 1854, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Kate Sullivan, a native of Ireland. She died in 1871, survived by her husband and seven children : Frances, wife of Ed. Bressley, they haying five children, and re side in Valley county; Emily, who is married to William Schoenemann, and lives in Indiana; Ad- die, wife of Benjamin Bridgford, has one child, and lives in Colorado ; Dudley, who is married, and lives in Burwell, Nebraska, and has five children ; Mira, wife of William Meridith, lives in Manito ba; Charles, now deceased; and Elmina, who is married to John Wittsche, and lives in Burwell, Nebraska. In 1872, Mr. Miller was married to Amanda Williams, of Laporte county, Indiana, and of this union one son was born, Silas, who is married, has two children, and resides in Michi gan. On February 20, 1879, iri Laporte, Indiana, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Charlotte Ames, of that county. She is a daughter of Charles and Cynthia (Truell) Ames, natives of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, respectively. The father is descended from Pe'rigine, the first child of European parentage born in America. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a second cousin of William Cullen Bryant, who boarded at his home for a time. In coming west in 1836, he made the entire journey by water, small schoon ers being the only vessels at that time plying the lakes. On sound, river, canal and lakes, the journey extended over fifty days before it ended at Michigan City, Indiana, after a severe storm on Lake Michigan. In 1880, Mr. Miller came to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land four miles north of Ord, where he lived for twenty-one years. In 1901, he moved to Ord, but in 1907, moved on a farm four miles north of Ord, which he had purchased some years before. Mr. Miller died, January 2.5, 1908, on his home farm, survived by Mrs. Miller and one child, Charles A., who is married, and has a son and daughter. He is living on the home place. Edith died in 1887. Mr. Miller was a progressive man of affairs, closely identified with the inter ests of his county and was widely and favorably known. Mrs. Miller is living on the home farm with her son, surrounded by a large circle of friends. Mr. Miller was a democrat until 1856, when he voted for Fremont, and continued to support condidates of the republican party until the latter years of his life, when he became inde pendent of the party lash. He was a member of the Methodist church, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The first five years in Nebraska, the family lived, in a sod house, but, better situated than most of the early settlers, their rooms were floored with lumber instead of the bare earth. On coming to their Nebraska home, they left the railroad at Grand Island, driving across the coun try from there. Mr. Miller drove in advance in a wagon, while Mrs. Miller followed with the chil dren in a covered buggy, to which was tethered the cow. Condensed milk was carried for use of the baby on the long trip from New England on the train. One of Mrs. Miller 's early experiences in the country may be of interest. Returning from a neighbor's, accompanied by her son and a young girl, the dog started up an animal unknown to them. While the dog held it at bay, Mrs. Miller hurried to the house for the axe and a spade, which she threw at the beast, killing it. She learned later that her game was a badger. CHARLES A. MILLER. The gentleman above named, numbered among the leading citizens of eastern Nebraska, resides on his fine farm in section thirty-four, township 836 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. nineteen, range fourteen. Mr. Miller just missed being a native son of Nebraska, his parents mov ing to that state when he was but two months old. Charles A. Miller, son of James B. and Char lotte (Ames) Miller, was born, February 29, 1880, in Laporte county, Indiana. That same year his parents came to Valley county, Nebraska, the father being one of the homesteaders of that county. After receiving his education in the local schools, Mr. Miller, the subject of this sketch, engaged in farming. On April 17, 1901, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Pearl E. Coonrod, who was born in Iowa. Her parents, Albert M. and Eunice (Denison) Coonrod, are now residents of Nebras ka. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children, Don ald A. and Olive Gertrude. In 1906, Mr. Miller and family moved to Ord, Nebraska, where Mr. Miller engaged in the livery business for about" a year, but sold, and removed to the home farm of three hundred and twenty acres in section thirty-four, township nineteen, range fourteen, where he and his family still live. A view of the well-built, modern house, large barn, built in 1911, and numerous outbuildings is to be seen on another page of this volume. Mr. Miller is a young man of affairs, enjoying the prospect of a bright future. He is a member of the Methodist church, a democrat in politics, and fraternizes with the American Order of Pro tection. Mr. Miller remembers the family's sod-house days, although he was a very small lad when they moved into the new frame dwelling. He recalls seeing three deer at one time. One winter was spent in a hunting expedition around Swan lake, in Holt county, but aside from that diversion, he has given his entire attention to the farm. A sketch of Mr. Miller's father appears on another page of this review. FREDERICK L. LAGESCHULTE. Frederick L. Lageschulte, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Pierce county, Ne braska, has been a resident of that locality since 1894. He is prominently known throughout the eastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen in Nebraska. After many years of hard labor in building up his farm, Mr. Lageschulte is now prepared to enjoy the remain ing years of his life in peace and comfort, sur rounded by a host of good friends. Mr. Lageschulte was born in Barrington, Illi nois, December 26, 1871, and is the son of Fred A. and Lizzie (Meinas) Lageschulte, the oldest in a family of four children, three brothers and one sister. The sister, Mrs. S. T. Zuer, is a missionary in China. Our subject's father is a native of Germany, born in 1844, and emigrating to Amer ica in 1858. The grandfather had a dyeing and cleaning works in the old country, and on coming to the new world, sailed from Hamburg, spending nine weeks in a stormy voyage to Baltimore. They settled at Barrington, Illinois, and while residing there, our subject's father enlisted in the army, in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty- sixth Illinois Infantry, in 1864, and did guard duty on a supply train in Sherman 's march to the sea, participating in the grand review at the close of the war. Mr. Lageschulte, our subject, came to Nebras ka in 1894, and bought^ the land where he now lives, the east half of section sixteen, township twenty-seven, range one. In 1897, our subject was married to Miss Lydia Wiseman, of Barrington, a daughter of Frederick and Hannah (Lislartka) Wiseman. To this union two children have been born : Helta and Verdall, and our subject and family worship at the United Evangelical church. Mr. Lageschulte 's maternal Grandfather Meinas, was in Chicago in 1836, when there were but forty houses in the place, and owned eighty acres -in what is now Lake View. The land he bought at Barrington was secured from the gov ernment at a dollar and a quarter p.er acre, but little of it was broken; the rest was raw prairie land, without a tree or shrub. HANS N. LAURITSEN. Hans N. Lauritsen, a prosperous farmer and stockman, residing on the south half of section eight, of Cleveland precinct, is the owner of a fine estate, known as the Union Stock Farm, which comprises one thousand acres, improved with a handsome residence, and every equipment for the conducting of a model farm. Mr. Lauritsen is one of the largest land-owners in his section of the country, being proprietor of over two thous and acres of choice Howard county land. Mr. Lauritsen was born in Denmark on the fourteenth of February, 1849, and was the fourth in a family of seven children born to Laurits and Kara Clausen. He grew up in his native land, and at the age of twenty-one, decided to seek his fortune in the new world, landing in America in November, having come all alone across the great sea, and locating at the first in Ottawa county, Ohio. There he spent about five and a half years, then came to Howard county, Nebraska, landing here in April, 1876. He took up some land, and farmed for many years, going through all the pio neer experiences, homesteading on section four, township thirteen, range eleven, where he suc ceeded in building up a comfortable home and good farm. In 1897, our subject came to his present loca tion, which is admirably adapted to grain and stock raising, and this he has put in the best possible condition, erecting fine buildings of all kinds, planted trees, and has every convenience for the operation of a model farm. Mr. Lauritsen was married in Ottawa county, Ohio, in 1871, to Jensine Trenkner, who was a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 837 native of Germany, coming to America in the year of her marriage, and they have had ten children, eight of whom are now living, named as follows : Johannah, wife of Amil Larsen, they the parents of two children, and occupying a farm adjoining Mrs. Larsen 's father's estate; Emma, wife of Niels Petersen, they living in Rock Springs, par ents of three children ; Charles, married, farming his own place on section ten, Dannebrog precinct, in -Howard county ; Thomas, occupying the old homestead ; Eddie, on his own farm in the vicinity of his father's home ; Mollie, wife of Peter Peter sen, farming in Howard county; Willie and George, both living at home, and assisting their father. The two children who died were Louie W., he dying when twenty-six years old, and Sadie, who died at four years of age. After Mr. Lauritsen had been in this country some time, he was joined by his father, mother and one sister. The mother died in 1893, and the father two years later, both passing away at the home of our subject. Mr. Lauritsen is active in alHocal, county and state affairs, and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his section. JOHN LUDWIG HENRY LENZ. John Ludwig Henry Lenz, a man of sturdy German stock, and a citizen who has contributed his share toward the upbuilding and progress of Valley county, has made his own way in the world. He was born in the village of Bromsted, province of Lenneberg-Segelberg, Germany, February 27, 1859, and was the oldest of the six children born to Henry Lenz and wife, who were parents of three sons and three daughters. He was reared like other farmers' sons of his coun try, and received a parochial school education. In 1880, being then in his twenty-first year, he came to the United States in search of an oppor tunity to advance his position in life, sailing from Hamburg, November 20, and landed in New York seven days later. He soon after came to Cass county, Nebraska, where he was employed by the month at farm work. In October, 1883, he came to Valley county, and filed on a hometsead on section three, township seventeen, range sixteen. Returning to Cass county, he spent the winter there, and in the following spring returned to the homestead, and has since made his home there. He has improved the farm in many ways, and has developed an excellent property, being now owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land. He has shown himself an able and enterprising farmer, and has won a good standing in his community. He is the only one of his family to come to Amer ica. Mr. Lenz was married at Ord, Nebraska, May 4, 1884, to Emelia Peters, daughter of Peter and Lena (Shoemaker) Peters. The Peters family were among the early settlers of Cass county, locating there in 1860. Mr. Peters came to the United States in 1855, located in Cook county, Illinois, and in 1857 there married Lena Shoe maker. Mrs. Lenz was born in Cass county, and was the fifth of seven children. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lenz, namely: William, married, and living east of the home farm, has one child; the other five, Henry, Fred, Katie, George and Louis, are all at home. The reader's attention is called to a sketch of D. 0. Franzen, whose wife is a sister of Mrs. Lenz. Mr. Lenz and family lived for twelve or thir teen years in a sod house in genuine pioneer style. Deer and antelope were to be seen in large num bers on the open prairies. In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Lenz was out in it most of the day, helping neighbors save their stock. In politics he is a democrat, and was reared in the Lutheran church. HIRAM WARNER. Of the leading old settlers and public-spirited citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, the gentle man above mentioned deserves a foremost place. Mr. Warner resides on section seventeen, town ship twenty-three, range one, where he has a pleasant home, and is surrounded by a host of kind neighbors and loving friends. He bas aided in no slight degree in the development of the com mercial resources of this region, and has done his full share in building up the country. Mr. Warner was born in New York state, his birth occurring August 5, 1839, and is a son of Hiram and Catherine (Miner) Warner, who were natives of Connecticut. At the age of six years, our subject, with his parents, moved to Tazewell county, Illinois, where he received his education, and grew to manhood's estate. In 1862, Mr. Warner enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Infantry, and served in the Civil war until 1865 under General Smith. The battles participated in were the Siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hill, Spanish Fort, and many other skirmishes and engagements. Mr. Warner was wounded while on the way with a small band of soldiers to get provisions, one-half mile from the camp, being surprised by some sharpshooters. Mr. Warner's brother also served his country in the civil war, and, doing active duty, was taken prisoner, and confined at Ander- sonville prison. He weighed one hundred and seventy pounds at the time of his capture, and at the close of war, when he was released from prison, he weighed but sixty-nine pounds, a loss in weight of one hundred and one pounds. In 1887, Mr. Warner came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he originated the town of War- nersville, building a creamery, a store, a canning factory and lumber yard. He has always been an active factor in the advancement of all the best interests of his home state and county, and, as 838 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY, such, is widely and favorably known. Mr. Warner was united in marriage, August 16, 1862, to Miss Rosalthe L. Amsbury, of French and English descent, and a native of West Vir ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of two children, Edward and Guy. Mr. Warner comes from quite an illustrious family. His grandfather, on the maternal side, M. 0. Mynor, served in the revolutionary war. His paternal grandfather, Henry Warner, was a brother of Seth Warner, whose name went down in the history of the commonwealth. Mr. Warner is a republican. EDMOND HAUMONT. Edmond Haumont, a prominent and successful farmer and stockman of Custer county, is a native of Belgium, born March 9, 1858, the second born of the six children of Joseph and Marian (Howlet) Haumont. Both parents are deceased, the father passing away in January, 1872, and the mother in October, 1899. Mr. Haumont lived in his na tive country until coining to America in the spring of 1877, when he came direct to the neigh borhood of Wood river, Hall county, Nebraska, where he joined his brother, Jules, a sketch of whom also appears in this work. In the fall of 1877, Mr. Haumont went into Iowa, and worked in the coal mines at Moingona and also near Des Moines. He worked for a time on the Northwestern railroad, and in the fall of 1879, returned to Hall county, and went on to Custer county, taking a homestead on the north east quarter of section three, township eighteen, range nineteen, but he and his family now reside on his wife's tree claim on the southeast quarter of section thirty-four, township seventeen, range nineteen. He was married in Grand Island, September 15, 1879, to Mary Severyns, and in the following spring. (March 27) came to his home stead in Custer county. Joseph Severyns came to America in April, 1875, and in July of that year he was joined at Moingona, Iowa, by Tom Severyns, Mary Sever yns and Jules Haumont, who had just reached America. Joseph and Tom Severyns came to the Wood river district, in Hall county, in 1875, and took up timber claims, returning to Iowa to work in tbe mines and on the railroad. In 1879, Joseph, Tom and Mary Severyns came to Custer county, and took homesteads, Mary securing a timber claim as well. When they came to Custer county, Jules and Edmond Haumont came with them, the journey being made with a covered wagon, and they were the first settlers on the tableland just off Clear creek valley. Tom Severyns returned to Belgium in 1886, and still resides there. Joseph Severyns lived in Custer county until 1893, then moved to California, where his death occurred in April, 1901. Mrs. Edmond Haumont proved up on her homestead, and (as mentioned above) Mr. and Mrs. Haumont, with their family, live on her timber claim. Mrs. Haumont is a woman of strength of character and determination, and is a pioneer settler of the county. Mr. Haumont was appointed postmaster of the post-office at Elton, October 10, 1881, being sworn in by County Judge Armour, and holding office until April, 1899. The present incumbent is Albert Kleeb, who married a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hau mont. Both Mr. Haumont and his wife passed through the severe trials and hardships of pioneer life, and well remember the days when grain was sometimes ground in a coffee mill to make bread for the family. They lived some time in a sod shanty, and had to pass through years when the crops were ruined by drouth or a scourge of grasshoppers, but have been triumphant over all difficulties, and have come to a time of prosperity and success. They have twelve hundred acres of choice land, with a fine home and comfortable surroundings. The family have been prominent and progressive along educational lines and the general progress of Custer county, and are well known for their public spirit. Mr. Haumont and wife have had three chil dren, of whom but two survive : Paul J. and Sylvia. The former was born on the homestead in 1880, lives in Custer county, and was married to Eva Bokingham, and they have three children. Sylvia was born on the homestead farm, October 10, 1882, is now the wife of Albert Kleeb, post master at Elton, and they live on the original Joseph Severyns homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Kleeb have three children. WILLIAM H. BALIMAN. William H. Baliman, a prosperous and much- respected farmer of Howard county, well deserves the abundant success that has come to him as a reward of industry, economy and thrift. Mr. Baliman was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, on February 17, 1844. When an infant, three months old, his parents moved to Dupage county, northern Illinois, where he grew up, and was educated, attending the common schools. May 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with his regiment for over three years, engaging in the following principal battles: Chickasaw Bayou, fought on December 27, 28 and 29, 1862; the engagement at Arkansas Post, Januarv 11, 1863 ; Jackson, Mississippi, May 4, 1863, and July 10 to 17, 1863; Siege of Vicks burg, which engagement was begun on May 18, and lasted until July 4, 1863; also was in the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863; Mission Ridge, fought on November 25, 1863, wdiere there were more prisoners taken than there were men in the regiment ; Ringgold Gap, Georg ia, November 27, 1863, and Madison, Alabama, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 839 May 18, 1864. Besides these encounters, Mr. Baliman participated in many minor skirmishes, and, strange to say, passed through all these battles without even receiving a scratch. At the close of the war, Mr. Baliman returned to his home in Illinois, and clerked in a store for about two years, from there coming to Omaha, where he became interested in tbe mercantile business, and remained for four years. He then came into Howard county, landing here in the spring of 1871, and filed on a homestead on section twelve, township fourteen, range eleven, which he proved up on, and out of which he developed a good farm. He built his first house, which was a frame structure, on the table-land, and there passed through all the old Nebraska times. Many and exciting were the encounters he had with the different tribes of Indians, who infested that region, and he also went through the grasshopper raids, drouths, etc., but through all these trying times, never once thought of abandoning his claim. He has been well repaid for his sufferings and discouragements, in the possession of the ele gant farm he now owns, which consists of two hundred and forty acres of choice land, and com prising one of the most valuable estates of How ard county. Mr. Baliman is one of the very first settlers in his locality, widely known for his aid in build ing up the region, and is a man Who has always. stood for the best interests of the county along educational and commercial lines. Mr. Baliman was married on May 18, 1869, to Miss Mary LaClair, at the home of her parents in Naperville, Illinois, her father and mother dying there some years ago. Our subject was the second. member in a family of fourteen children, but six of whom are now living, one brother now in Chi cago, Illinois, another in Omaha, and the balance in different parts of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Baliman are the parents of four children, one of whom is dead, the other three named as follows : Will E., of St. Libory; Ada M., wife of W. B. Connor, of City Point, Wisconsin, and Alfred L., on the home farm. Carrie J. died October 15, 1 905. She was the wife of D. A. Geil. The fam ily are prominently known throughout their sec tion of the state, and are among the worthy and substantial residents of their respective localities. SAMUEL LEROY GLOVER. Samuel Leroy Glover is well known through out central Nebraska as a successful farmer and ranchman, having large interests in Custer county. He owns a large tract of land, well developed and equipped in every respect, and one of the most charming homes in the county. He was born in Otsego county, New York, July 4, 1832, third child of Ezra Jarvis and Hannah (Mudge) Glov er, and the only one of his family now surviving. His parents were natives of New York, and mar ried in Otsego county, and three sons and three daughters were born to them. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and at different times the family lived in various small villages in the coun ties of Otsego, Tioga and Chemung, and also lived for a short time in Bradford county, Pennsyl vania, but returned to Owego, Tioga county, where the death of the father occurred in 1844. After his death, the widow returned with the children to Otsego county. After the death of his father, Samuel L. Glover lived with an uncle for about a year, then went with his mother and the other two surviving chil dren, Henry and Mary, to the neighborhood of Hope factory, three miles south of Cooperstown. The three children were sent to work in the fac tory. Later they removed to Oneida county, and the two boys worked in a woolen mill. The latter factory paid cash to their employes instead of requiring them to trade out their earnings at the company store, and about 1850, the family were able to move to western Pennsylvania, where they had purchased a small farm. Samuel remained there until twenty years of age, then left home to go out in the world for himself. He went to work in a country store and post-office. Although his father had lived in several different places he always located in a village where his children could have educational advantages, and Samuel was an apt and ambitious pupil, making the best of his opportunities. After spending about a year as clerk in the store, he began teach ing in the local school during the winter months, and in the spring resumed work as clerk. On October 18, 1854, in Erie county, Pennsyl vania, Mr. Glover was united in marriage with Martha Jane, daughter of John M. T. and Mary (Greenlee) Dunn. They lived in Erie county after marriage, and Mr. Glover worked in a store until the spring of 1855. They then moved to Erie City, where he engaged in the retail grocery trade about .one year, then moved to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he rented a farm from the spring of 1857 until the spring of 1861, when they removed to Livingston county, Illinois, and car ried on a farm Mr. Glover owned, until their removal to Custer county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1886. During the previous fall, Mr. Glover had made a trip to Butler county, Nebraska, where his brother, Henry, and his son, Henry Bion, were living, and the latter came overland with him into Custer county, where he purchased land. In the spring, Mr. Glover brought his wife and three children to their new home on the ranch, which had been purchased in the fall. During the win ter of 1885 and 1886, the sons, Bion and Percy, and daughter, Deett, remained on the home farm. They have steadily prospered, and the firm of Glover & Sons have a fine herd of cattle, and over six hundred and forty acres of land in the home farm. They have a modern home, well- 840 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. kept lawn, and trees and flowers. Although he and his wife have been married fifty-seven years, both are active and in robust health. The sons practically manage the farm work, and Mrs. Glover has her daughter, Mrs. Potter, to help in the home. They have six children: Deett, Mrs. J. W. McRae, of Harlan county, has two children ; Mary Emily, Mrs. Potter, living with her par ents; Grace, wife of E. V. Sparks, of eastern Colorado ; Henry Bion, interested with his father in the farm and stock business, lives on section thirty-five, township eighteen, range eighteen, and is married; Percy D., married, and living on his fine Custer county farm, has fifteen children ; Sid ney L., married, and living on section twenty- four, Westerville township. They are a repre sentative family, and active in furthering the best interests of tbe community. Mrs. Glover is the only surviving member of her famity, as Mr. Glover is of his. LEONARD WEIGAND. Leonard and Theresa (Meyer) Weigand, of whom a sketch appears on another page of this review, parents of Prank Weigand, of Bloom field, were natives of Germany. The father was born in the village of Genetzheim, kingdom of Bavaria, January 6, 1824. He learned the cabinet maker's trade, and was employed in a number of cities in Germany in his young manhood. He was residing in Berlin at the time of his emigra tion to America with his wife and son, Prank. Embarking at Bremen in a sailing vessel the last day of September, 1854, they landed in New York, November 11, and proceeded to Cleveland, where the father found work at his trade. In 1858, hearing glowing accounts of the opportunities in the west from F. L. Meyer, his brother-in-law, Mr. Weigand disposed of his household effects, and started for Nebraska. The {railroad at that time extended only to Fort Dodge, Iowa, whence they traveled by stage to Sioux City. Here Mrs. Weigand 's brother met them with an ox wagon, and, crossing the Mis souri river, March 17, slowly carried them to his squatter holding on what is now known as Ames creek, near St. James, Cedar county, the land not yet at that time having been thrown open to settlement. Here they lived together until the Pike's Peak exodus, when Mr. Meyer joined the gold-seekers, leaving his claim to Mr. Weigand. When the land was thrown open to settlement, Mr. Weigand was deprived of his claim through a perversion of law, and had to seek further for land, on which he could file. For a time, the family lived near St. James, and finally, in March of 1862, Leonard Weigand selected a quarter section, thirteen miles north of where Bloomfield now stands, and fifteen miles southeast of Santee Agency, and filed on it under the homestead law. When he began, he had thir teen head of cattle and fourteen cents in money — a small beginning, truly. When he retired a few years ago, he had accumulated one thousand acres of fine land, besides a large holding of per sonal property. In 1904,. be began spending his winters in the west, and, two years later, became a permanent resident of Oakland, California, the climate there agreeing with him. Far along in the eighties, Mr. Weigand is hale and hearty, with a light springy step, such as a man half his age might envy. His mind is bright and active, and he takes a keen interest in current events and the political conditions. The post-office of Wei gand was established through his influence, and the village of Weigand, in the northern' part of Knox county, was named for him. His good wife died, June 15, 1901, at the age of seventy-one years, five months and sixteen days. His first dwelling on the homestead claim was a dugout, with an entrance between two log cribs, built into the bank, where the dwelling was made. The only window was a small sash in the roof, op the south slope. Indians were plentiful, and at times a dozen of their tepees were set up around Mr. Weigand 's home place, and the red brother made himself useful in helping gather corn, dig potatoes, and in many other ways. During the first years, the nearest neighbor was an old baeh- elor, six miles distant, and beyond that there were no neighbors for many miles. VICTOR VAN CAMP. This gentleman is practically a native Nebras kan, having settled here with his parents when but four years of age, and his entire career since boyhood has been spent in this region. He is a man of fine mind and superior education, is prom inent in local affairs, and has served Boone county in various capacities for the past several years. Victor Van Camp was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, on October 4, 1867, being the eldest child in the family of Garrett and Laura Van Camp, who had, beside our subject, one daughter. When Victor was but four years of age, his par ents came to Boone county, the father being a pioneer homesteader of the county. Our subject obtained his early education in the country schools, afterwards attending the Neligh Acad emy for four years. He also spent one year in the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and then returned to Boone county, where he embarked in the farming and stock-raising business on his own account. He has done con siderable for his locality in the way of helping build up the schools, etc., and is a leading citizen in local and county politics. During 1906 and 1907, he served as deputy sheriff of Boone county, and was deputy county clerk during the follow ing four years. Mr. Van Camp was married on June 1, 1898, to Miss Mabel Pierce, who is a native of Minne sota, but has spent practically her entire life in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 841 Boone county, her parents being early settlers here. Mr. and Mrs. Van Camp have four children, all at home, and named as follows: Myrtice, Pierce, Laura and Eunice. The family have a pleasant home, and are among the popular mem bers of society in their community. Mr. Van Camp is a member of the school board of Albion. PRESTON SARLES. Preston Saries, retired farmer of Spencer, •has been a resident of Nebraska, since March, 1886, when he settled in Dixon county, and lived for six years on a rented farm. He came to Boyd county in May, 1892, filed on a homestead four miles north of Spencer, and bought a quarter section, which cornered with his homestead, and 1 here he developed a highly productive farm. He resided here for about fifteen years, and, renting to his son-in-law, retired from active farming. He sojourned nearly two years in Colorado, help ing his son, Walter, secure an eighty-acre tract of fruit land under the Gunnison ditch in Delta county., He then returned to Spencer in Febru ary, 1909, and since that time has lived a quiet life here. Mr. Saries was born in Floyd county, Indiana, November 30, 1852. His parents, Henry and Susan (MeCutcheon) Saries, lived their entire lives on a farm in the state of Indiana, where they were born. He started out in life for himself at the age of twenty-two, and the year following, he married, and lived for a year or two on a rented farm. Later he bought forty acres in Crawford county, on which he lived until coming west at the time stated above. Mr. Saries was first married in August, 1875, to Martha E. Jenkins, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Samuel Jenkins. Three children were born to them : Walter, who lives on a fruit farm in Delta county, Colorado ; Cora, wife of William Wilkerson, a bridge-builder and house-mover of Spencer; and Homer, who has remained under the parental roof. Mr. Saries was married a second time in Dixon county, Nebraska, in December, 1889, the bride being Martha Jane Goodson, a native of Crawford county, . Indiana, and daughter of Jasper Good- son. Three children have blessed this union, namely: Lula, who is married to Frank Wilker son, who holds a lease on the homestead; Leora, who, with her husband, Eby Ross, lives in Mont rose county, Colorado. The first six years of life on his homestead, Mr. Saries and family occupied a sod house, and, like all other settlers, found it a most comfortable dwelling, more so than the new frame residence that was its successor. Mr. Saries had the oppor tunity to feel the edge of the blizzard of January 12, 1888. His children were at school, three- quarters of a mile distant, and he and the hired man found their way to the school house, and got the children safely home, though the man with Mr: Saries' brother's children missed the house, and ran into a granary before finding their way into the house, which they occupied jointly. He has fought prairie fires, both in Dixon county and in Boyd county, and knows something of the peril the early settlers encountered in changing the open prairies into fertile farms. Mr. Saries is a republican in politics, and is a member of the Spencer clan of Royal Highlan ders. In September, 1909, the Independent Lumber Company of Spencer, was . organized, and Mr. Saries became a stockholder. In the spring of 1910, he was elected vice president, and holds this office at the present time. THEODORE FRISCHKORN. Theodore Frischkorn, a self-made man and successful farmer of Custer county, Nebraska, came to the county with but a dollar or two in money, his chief asset being his ainbition to suc ceed, which was reinforced by energy and phys ical strength. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1852, the second of four children born to Adam and Christina Frischkorn, three of whose children were sons. His parents, of German birth, came to Pennsylvania in youth. One son, John, came to Custer county about 1884, and another son came to the sta.te with Theodore. In April, 1877, Theodore Frischkorn and his brother, Joseph, left Pennsylvania, and went to Iowa, where they spent one year, removing the following April, with two young teams and wag ons, from Iowa to Nebraska, crossing the river on the transfer at Omaha. After spending a short time in Grand Island, they came on to Custer county, and secured a homestead on section eight een, township seventeen, range eighteen, Theo dore securing the south half of the northeast quarter and the north half of the southeast quar ter. He is one of the very few homesteaders to retain possession of his original homestead, and he still occupies the sod shanty he erected when he first came here, at a time when the region was very sparsely settled, there being but one cattle ranch between his homestead and Broken Bow. He has lived in his present home continuously since 1878, and has passed through the years of drouth and other hardships. He is now one of the most prominent stockmen in the central part of the state, and is a progressive and well-read man. He also secured a timber claim in the same section, and has now four hundred acres of land in the home farm, besides three hundred and twenty acres adjoining on the southwest, making a farm of seven hundred and twenty acres, which is one of the best in central Nebraska, and which he devotes to grain and stock raising. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Dry valley. With all his large interests, and the time 842 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. necessary to look after his estate, he manages to keep abreast of the times and the progress of events in the world outside. He has been actively interested in public affairs in his county, and in early days served some time as justice of the peace. He has his farm well fenced, and has quite a growth of timber, which he set out himself, and which adds much to the value and appearance of his place. Mr. Frischkorn 's brother, Joseph, who came with him to Nebraska, now lives in Washington county, Colorado; where he was a pioneer set tler. VINCENT J. STEDRY. Vincent J. Stedry has for many years been influential in advancing the cause of progress in Custer county and central Nebraska, and is accounted a public-spirited, useful citizen. He was born in Bohemia, May 5, 1846, a son of Joseph and Mary Stedry, who had four sons and four daughters, he being the fourth-born child. The parents came to the United States with their six children in 1854, and first settled in Baltimore, Maryland. The father served during the Civil war as musician in the Third Regiment, Maryland Volunteer Infantry. After serving two years, he received an honorable discharge on account of physical disability. The Stedry family resided in Baltimore until about 1870, then moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, and the father died there in 1883. The mother died in California in 1909. Vincent Stedry came to Saline county, Ne braska, in 1879, and his first work was when he was employed as clerk in the post-office at Crete. He had received a good common school educa tion, and took a college course, attending the University of Wisconsin before he came west, and he taught in the public schools of Saline county about eleven years, and while a resident of the eounty, served some time as deputy registrar of deeds and in other positions in the .court house, in connection with his school work. He was there, married on September 3, 1883, to Annie Karten. In 1884, Mr. Stedry took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section three, township sixteen, range twenty-one, returned to Saline 'county, and lived there during the years 1885 and 1886; and then came back to his homestead, which has been his residence continuously ever since. He now owns a. section, but the orig inal sod shanty on the old homestead continued to be his home, and he is one of the few settlers in his neighborhood who continue to live on their original homesteads. During the past year, he has been connected with county work, and in 1899 served, under Governor Poynter, as state oil inspector. He often acts as interpreter for his fellow countrymen, newly arrived in America, and is one of the best known and most popular men in his county. He has always been especially interested in educational measures, and is known as one of the most progressive farmers in his part of the state. Three children were born to Mr. Stedry and wife: Vincent, Ruby and Oliver, all at home. Mrs. Stedry died on the home farm, September 30, 1909, having been a faithful wife and mother, and deeply mourned by her many friends. An interestirig picture of the Stedry family will be found on another page. FREDERICK DEDLOW. Frederick Dedlow is one .of the thrifty Ger man citizens who have come to Nebraska by way of Wisconsin. He was born in the village of Ihlenfeld, Mechlinberg-Sterlitz, September 27, 1842, and lived here until he was in his twenty- second year. Sailing with his sister from Ham burg on the "Teutonia," in 1864, he landed in New York, after a voyage of eighteen days. Pro ceeding directly to Wisconsin, he found work in Jefferson county, where he labored at what ever his hand found to do — sometimes on farms, sometimes hauling to the railroad, but always industrious, always busy, until 1871, when he migrated to Nebraska, and settled on a home stead, one mile east and south of Plainview, later filing on a timber claim. Mr. Dedlow is a son of Frederick and Fred- ricka (Grehn) Dedlow, who followed to America with the rest of his family in the fall of 1866. With his sons, Frederick, Charles, John and William, he settled on the north side of Dry creek, the first to build homes in this part of the county. They were followed a few weeks later by the Dean, Starr and Rose families, who came together. Mr. Dedlow was married in Wisconsin to Miss Minnie Lindahl, daughter of John Lindahl, also from Mechlinberg-Sterlitz. To Mr. and Mrs. Ded low three children were born: August, who is farming south of Plainview; William, who has never left the parental roof ; and Clara, who mar ried M. G. Bley, and occupies the old homestead. southeast of Plainview. Mr. Dedlow leans more to democracy than to other parties, but in local elections casts his bal lot for the man more than for political affiliations. He, with his family, is an earnest member of the Lutheran church. Like the early settlers in Nebraska, the Ded- lows lost their crops through the grasshopper pests which raided Nebraska four or five years, and one season by hailstorm that battered the crops into the ground. They suffered severely from the blizzards, but lost no stock, but William and Clara, with the teacher and others, had to remain over night in the school house during the blizzard of January 12, 1888, when, in other districts, children perished. In the early days, Norfolk was the nearest point where a few scanty sup plies could be secured, and Wisner or Yankton VINCENT J. STEDRY AND MRS. VINCENT J. STEDRY. MISS RUBY STEDRY. SOD HOUSE HQME, OF VINCENT J. STEDRY, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 843 the nearest place where grain or produce could be marketed. These long drives frequently took a week to make the round trip. The deer had left the country at the time of his coming, but Mr. Dedlow has seen herds of antelope on the prairies here as numerous as a flock of sheep. But those hard times are only a memory, though all concede every one was as happy and light-hearted then as now. In August, 1903, Mr. Dedlow retired from farming, and moved to town, where he lives in comfort on the fruits of a well- spent life, enjoying the respect of all who know him. Industry and thrift have their reward. E. J. HILL. (Deceased.) E. J. Hill, who was one of the early settlers of Howard county, Nebraska, was born in Kings county, Ireland, on March 10, 1838, and, when one year of age, emigrated to America with his parents. They settled at Patterson, New Jersey, remaining there for about three years, then went to Canada, and made that country their home up to 1881, at that time returning to Patterson. Mr. Hill came west about 1881, locating in Howard county, where he purchased two hun dred and forty acres of choice land, situated on the table lands .west of the then village of St. Paul, known as "Canada Hill," and started farm ing, but shortly after, sold one hundred and sixty acres. There, with his family, he passed through all the pioneer times in building up bis home and farm, and he was one of those who contributed largely to the making of the great state of Ne braska. He was never afraid of work, has en dured the toil of the early days, and thrift, in dustry and integrity spell his career. On July 14, 1863, Mr. Hill was united in mar riage to Alice J. Horner, the ceremony taking place in Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Hill is a native of Algonac, Michigan, although her girlhood was spent in Canada, her mother dying when she was a small child, and being taken by her grand parents to raise, they living in the province of Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had four children: Alvin L., married, and living at Ord, Nebraska; Charlotte A., wife of W. J. Crow, they living iri Howard county; Willam J., also married, and living near the homestead; and Ella May, wife of Peter A. Harvey. Mr. Hill was always active in local 'affairs, doing everything possible to further the best interests of his community. In 1908, he retired from active farm work, taking up his residence in St. Paul, and his death occurred there on May 5, 1909, his demise being keenly felt by the entire community, by whom he was highly esteemed and respected as a worthy and public-spirited citizen. WILLIAM PORTER CRANDALL. William Porter Crandall, who for the past forty years and more has been closely identified with the development of the agricultural resources of the west, has been a resident of Valley county for about half that time. He is the owner of a large, well-improved farm, comprising the east half of section seven, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of that locality. Through his long residence here, he has gained the respect and esteem of the entire community in which he makes his home. Mr, Crandall was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on August 3, 1843, to William and Ann (Babcock) Crandall. He was the fifth in a family of nine children. It is a sad fact that out of this large family, only four are left. One brother lives in Kansas, and two sisters in North Loup. When ten years of age, our subject, with his parents, went to Waushara county, Wisconsin, where he spent the years of his young manhood. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Fifty- second Wisconsin Infantry, receiving an honora ble discharge in August of the following year, at Madison, Wisconsin. One brother was lost during the progress of the Civil war while in the army. After the war was over, Mr. Crandall returned to his Wisconsin home, and engaged in farming. In the following year, the family removed to Lynn county, Missouri, which remained the home of the father and mother until their death, which occurred in 1889 and 1877, respectively. On April 14, 1869, Mr. Crandall married Miss Rachel Harris, a native of Lynn county, Missouri, and daughter of Alfred Harris. They made their home in this state for ten years, then, in 1879, removed to Kansas, where they took up a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Rooks county. Their sojourn in Kansas lasted until 1891, when they wisely determined to come to Nebras ka, and in the spring of that year, they located north of North Loup, Valley county. They lived here for three years, then for six years near Ord. In 1900, Mr. Crandall purchased a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in the east half of section seven, township seventeen, range thir teen. The farm was in good condition when pur chased, but Mr. Crandall has since made extensive improvements, so that now it is one of the best in the county. In 1909, he further improved the place by building an elegant modern house, and here he is living at present, taking his ease after a life of strenuous toil. A large barn was erected in 1911, completing a most excellent set of farm buildings. Only two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crandall. Alfred H. is now married, and lives in Valley county. He is also well known as a successful farmer, and is now moderator of 844 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY- school district number three. The other child, Devillo Lee, is still at home. In every way Mr. Crandall and his family have been closely identified with the development of this section of the mighty west, and they are widely and favorably known. Drouth in 1894 destroyed all the crops on Mr. Crandall 's place, and hail made complete ruin in 1893, 1896 and again in 1901. These were but a few of the discouragements of the early days. During the years in Kansas, Mr. Crandall lived in a sod house, but since coming to Nebraska has occupied a frame dwelling. JOHN W. RISK. John W. Risk, retired farmer and business man, is one of the well known and most highly esteemed citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, where he has been a resident for the past forty- one years or more. Mr. Risk was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 28, 1838, and was fifth of seven chil dren in the family of George and Isabella Risk, who had five sons and two daughters. Mr. Risk grew up to his young manhood years on the farm, receiving such advantages as local district schools, etc. On October 1, 1861, Mr. Risk enlisted in Com pany A, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under James A. Garfield, who was then colonel of this regiment. Mr. Risk was in the company known as "Garfield's Pets," and was in numerous engagements and battles. He was at the capture of Arkansas Post on the Arkansas river in the winter of 1862, then down the Mississippi to Vicksburg in the spring of 1863, and was through the Siege of Vicksburg and many prior skirmishes. Mr. Risk has a war record to which he can point with much gratification and pride. Mr. Risk received his honorable discharge at Camp Chase, Ohio, in October, 1864, after which he returned to the old home place in Ohio, and in the fall of 1865, went to Lansing, Michigan, and engaged in the grocery business for about six months, selling out and going to Montana. After a short stay, he went down the Missouri river to Mount. Pleasant, Iowa, and for one year was an attendant in the state insane asylum. He then went up the Missouri river until near Omaha, where he followed lumbering, and on April 10, 1869, came to Madison county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead on the southeast quarter of sec tion one, township twenty-three, range three, the southeast part of the town of Battle Creek being located on part of this homestead. Mr. Risk was continuously in the farm and stock business until about 1905, when he retired from active farm work. He is a successful man, and has passed through the pioneer years of Madi son county. For twenty years, Mr. Risk has been a director of the Battle Creek Valley Bank, and has landed interests in Battle Creek and vicinity. He has many friends, and has led an honorable and active life. On November 13, 1878, Mr. Risk was married to Miss Catherine Carabine at West Point, Cum ing county, Nebraska. The Carabine family came to Madison county in the spring of 1869, settling near Norfolk, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Risk have eight children: John E., who resides in Battle Creek; Bernard, who is married, and has one child, lives at Redlands, California; Clara, mar ried to Mr. Miller, lives in Omaha, Nebraska; Prank, a resident of Douglas, Wyoming; Josie, formerly a teacher in the public schools in Madi son county, now the wife of G. Jenkins, banker at Humbolt, Nebraska; and Lottie, Howard and Lucile, who live at home. The Risk family is prominent along social and educational lines, and enjoys an acquaintance of numerous friends. Mr. Risk was* one of the adventurous young men, who, in 1859, became interested in the Pike 's Peak excitement in Colorado, going overland through Kansas, but .returning down the Platte river through Nebraska. He walked from Leav enworth, Kansas, to Denver. Mr. Risk is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, joining the lodge at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in the year 1866, He is a Roman Catholic, and a republican. PRANK COZAD. Mr. and Mrs. Prank Cozad are members of pioneer families that have long been well known in central Nebraska, and they own a pleasant home and well-equipped farm on section fifteen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, being of the few who have remained on their original homesteads. Mr. Cozad was born in Vinton county, Ohio, December 5, 1848, the youngest of the nine children born to Joseph and Mary (Davis) Cozad. One child died in infancy, after which there were five sons and three daughters. The father died before the birth of Prank Cozad, and his mother died when he was a small boy. He is not sure how many of his brothers and sis ters now survive, but knows of the deaths of four, besides the one who died in infancy, Mr. Cozad lived near his birthplace until March, 1863, then enlisted at Bourneville, Ross county, in the Twenty-fourth Ohio Independent Battery, Light Artillery, in which he served until June, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge at Camp Deni son, Ohio, at the close of the war. In July of the same year, he enlisted in the regular army for three years, and at the close of his period of enlistment, spent one year as a private citizen, and in August, 1870, re-enlisted for five years, being discharged at the end of this time. He spent nearly the entire eight years of army life on the frontier, one year in Kansas and the COMPENDIUM. OF HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 845 remainder of the time iri the Dakotas. His final discharge bears date of August 1, 1874, signed by Captain John Hartley, of Company B, Twenty- second Regiment of Infantry. He thus has' the distinction of having three honorable discharges from the United States army, and naturally gath ered a detailed knowledge of frontier life, and had many interesting experiences during his service. He was with the first expedition sent by the government to survey Yellowstone Park in 1873, and the engineers laying out the North ern Pacific railroad. He had many chances to see and study the Indians in their natural, wild life, participating in battles with them at the mouth of the Tongue river and along the Big Horn. After his discharge, in August, 1874, Mr. Cozad moved to Montgomery county, Iowa, and in December of the same year, came to Custer county, Nebraska, then known as territorial land. He was married in Montgomery county, De cember 28, 1874, to Miss Louise Wieland, daugh ter of Daniel and Christine Wieland, and the young people came to Cozad, Dawson county, Nebraska, after their marriage. In 1876, he made a permanent settlement in the region now organ ized as Custer county. They secured a home stead on the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, ¦ in July, 1879, which has since remained the home farm. He later purchased the southwest, quarter of section fourteen. They spent a few years on the South Loup, near Callaway, when they first came to the region. Mr. and Mrs. Cozad have passed through the days of pioneer times and hardships to a time of prosperity and compara tive ease. They have four children: William H., who met an accidental death in his twenty- second year, April 28, 1899 ; Mary Caroline, wife of William Kiell, living six miles northeast of Merna, has two daughters; Nora Ellen, wife of Henry Williams, living six miles north of Merna, has three children; Bert E., married, and living on the southwest quarter of section fourteen,, township nineteen, range twenty-one, has two children. The family is well known in various circles, and has a high standing in the commun ity. Mr. Cozad was formerly a republican in polities, but of late years casts his ballot inde pendently of party lines. In 1895, he united with the Christian church, and took an active interest in the Sunday school. Mr. Cozad will never forget an experience in one of the early blizzards while in the service in Dakota. He and a comrade were carrying the mail from one post to another, and spent the night in the deserted shack of a French trapper. Their provisions exhausted, they were compelled to remain here for over a day and a half without food, until the storm abated. During the night, Mr. Cozad dreamed of steaming viands, only to awake hungrier than ever, and find it was a taunt ing dream. * THEODOR LONGE. Theodor Longe, whose home is most pleasantly located on section thirty-one, township twenty- six, range five, Wayne county, is a native of Ger many. He was born in 1871, a son of Frank and Augusta Longe, who immigrated to America in 1875. They took passage on a sailing vessel from Hamburg to New York City, and went from the latter place to Iowa, where they spent two years. They spent the next year at West Point, Nebras ka, and about 1878, came to Wayne county, and bought land in the eastern part of the county. The father immediately began to improve and develop his farm, and constructed a dugout, which he later replaced with a comfortable frame dwelling. They were successful from the start, and except for the hailstorms and the memorable drouth of 1894, met with no severe setbacks. The father first bought eighty acres of land for two hundred and forty dollars, and added to it until he had two hundred acres, and he still lives on the place, which is owned by his youngest son. Mrs. Frank Longe died in May, 1898. Theodor Longe received the usual education given to a pioneer 's son, and made the most of his opportunities in this line. He was reared to farm work, and has always followed this occupation, being well fitted to meet conditions as they exist in his region. Theodor Longe started renting land when eighteen years old, and continued doing so until 1896. That year he bought eighty acres near the old townsite of Laporte, and made that place his home for three years, when he sold, and the same day bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. A few improvements have been made on the place, but the buildings were in a run down condition. Mr. Longe had added to the house, built a good barn and other buildings, and has the farm well fenced. He is a stock and grain farmer, and has worked hard to improve his farm, and bring it to a state of productiveness and pros perity. He has a comfortable home, and works for the improvement of the educational facilites in the community, as well as for all other meas ures calculated to advance the general welfare. Mr. Longe married Miss Lizzie Brudigam in 1895, and they have been the parents of seven children, namely: Johanna, Clarence, August, Bertha, Dora and Arthur. Elsie died when eleven years old. Mrs. Longe is a native of Germany, and is a daughter of Max and Marie Brudigam, who were born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States. They first went to Iowa, and later moved to Wayne county, Nebraska, and here Mr. Brudigam died in January, 1902. 846 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCE'NCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. and Mrs. Longe are highly esteemed by all, and are widely known in the county, where he is considered one of the most progressive and intelligent of farmers. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Longe is a republican in national affairs. Locally he votes for the men he considers best qualified for office. ISAAC PLACE. Isaac Place, who holds an enviable place in the farming community in the vicinity of section twenty, township fifteen, range eight, in Merrick county, Nebraska, has done his full share in the development of eastern Nebraska since coming here, and has become widely known as a prosper ous agriculturist and a gentleman of sterling character. Isaac PlacC, son of Sidney and Rhoda (Dufur) Place, was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, April 7, 1842, and was seventh in a family of nine children. He has one sister residing in Illinois, and a brother in Missouri, the others being de ceased, as are also the parents, their deaths occur ring in Illinois. Our subject received his educa tion in the home schools, and later engaged in farming. On October 19, 1861, Mr. Place enlisted in Company K, Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and has a long war record to his credit, serving until 1865, when, in September of that yeair, he received his honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Place first enlisted for three years, and before expiration of his first term of enlistment, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years more, or during the war. The principal battles engaged in were at Port Donaldson, Pleasant Hill, Louis iana; Nashville, Tennessee, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. After the war, he returned to Illinois, again engaging in farming. On April 18, 1866, Mr. Place was married to Miss Jane Taylor, of 'Ohio, and later of Illinois, and to this union have been born four children : Franklin, deceased in infancy, in Illinois; John, has three sons, and resides in Palmer, Nebraska; Melissa E., residing at home; Janie, wife of J. R. Burke, has one child, arid resides in Palmer. In the fall of 1873, Mr. Place came with his wife and two children to Merrick county, Ne braska, where he pre-empted and timber-claimed one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty, township fifteen, range eight, west, which is still the home place. In 1881, he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Loup county, Nebras ka, where he lived long enough to prove up. Mr. Place has enjoyed prosperity, and owns two hun dred and forty acres of land, one hundred and fifteen acres of which is under cultivation, ten and a half acres in timber, and he also owns good city properties. Mr. and Mrs. Place are among the earliest settlers of the county, and have passed through all the discouragements and trying experiences of frontier life, among other hardships having been hailed out in the years 1883 and 1884 in Loup county. They also passed through the days of the "Grasshopper Raid." Mr. Place is> a man of affairs, and is widely and favorably known. FRANK HAJEK. The gentleman whose name heads this personal sketch occupies a foremost place among the early settlers of northeastern Nebraska, and has been engaged in farming in this region during all of his maturity. He is widely known through out the country, is recognized as a gentleman of active public spirit and worthy citizenship, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has to do in a business or social way. Mr. Hajek resides in section eight, township thirty-one, range six, where he now operates his father's farm of two hundred and forty acres, which farm contains fifty acres 6f fine trees. Mr. Hajek is American born, his birth occur ring in Chicago, Illinois, in 1866, and he is a son of John and Mary (Tomek) Hajek, both natives of Bohemia, the father following farming in his native land. In 1866, the family decided to come to America, the land of plenty and good oppor tunities, and embarked on a sailboat, sailing from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. After landing in the United States, they went direct to Chicago, Illinois, where they remained for four years. In 1870, our subject's father and family came to Knox county, Nebraska, traveling by way of Sioux City, and coming up the Missouri river to Niobrara, but stopped first at Yankton and the old Indian mill. Here they took up a homestead in section eight, township thirty-one, range six, which still remains the homestead farm of the Hajek family. On the homestead they first put up a dugout, as that was the popular mode of building a dwelling in those first days of western settlement. Later a sod house was erected, this house being later supplanted by a beautiful resi dence, which now stands on the ground formerly occupied by the pioneer's dugout. When the Hajek family came to Knox county, Nebraska, the locality was but a vast area of unbroken prairie lands, whose soil had scarcely known the imprint of a white man's foot, the territory being peopled by numerous bands of Indians, who had roamed the open prairies fear less and unfettered. Therefore, the white man's advent to what they considered their God-giving domain was not hailed with any great joy on their part. The family experienced many frights and much anxiety through this source, and never knew what moment the Indians were going to commit depredations. Another in convenience the family had to endure was the long distance to market places, which journeys COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 847 had to be accomplished by ox team. For three consecutive years, the grasshopper pests were the destruction of every spear of vegetation, thus heaping upon the family almost more trials than could be endured. Our subject grew to manhood on the old home stead farm, receiving the usual advantages to be had in those days. In 1891, he went to Boyd county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead for himself, on this land building a sod house. He remained here only a few years, however, as he experienced many discouragements while there. The drouth of 1894 did its share of dam age, the hot winds of that year burning every spear of green to be seen anywhere, and in the years of 1904 and 1905, Mr. Hajek lost all the crops through the severe hailstorms of that time. Becoming dissatisfied with conditions, he returned to Knox county, Nebraska, where he now operates his father's farm of two hundred and forty acres of land, as before stated. In 1892, Mr. Hajek was married to Miss Mary Kulhavy, and they are the parents of two fine children, namely: Emma and Clara.- They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. FRITZ W. SCLIULTZE. Fritz W. Schultze, the proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Stanton county, has been a resident of this locality for about forty-one years, and is known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers and stockmen. He came at such an early time that he knows by experience all the hardships and privations of a pioneer's life, as well as the pleasanter portions of it. Mr. Schultze is a native of Germany, having been born at Brandenburg, Kingsburg, in 1867, the son of Carl and Wilhelmina Schultze. When he was two years old, his parents took the great step of forsaking the old country for the new. They came to America via Hamburg and New York, coming at once to the golden west. They took up a homestead on section nineteen, town ship twenty-three, range three, where our sub scriber now lives, and built a log house, their first home in America. - During the first few years here, the family suffered many losses and discouragements. Their nearest market was at Fremont, which was many miles, making it very hard to get their produce to market, or to bring home supplies. Then the grasshoppers took their crops for several years in succession. They persevered, however, despite the serious obstacles which confronted them, and now are reaping the benefits of their years of toil. In 1893, Mr. Schultze was united in marriage to Miss Ida Goetsch, also of Stanton county. They are the parents of three children: Walter, Oscar and Reinhart, all of whom are at home. Mr. Schultze is a gentleman of intelligence and enterprise, and has acquired the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. For a period of twelve years, he has served as a director of the school district, and in other ways assisted in the affairs of his community. WILLIAM H. OELSLIGLE. William H. Oelsligle, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in section one, township twenty- three, range five, Antelope county, Nebraska, is well known throughout this section of the state, having been one of the very first settlers of the county in which he resides, coming here over forty years ago. Mr. Oelsligle 's father was a native of Ger many, in which country he was born in 1830. Here he grew to his young manhood, when, in 1850, he left his native land, and started out for the new world. After landing in New York, his father crossed the country to Illinois, remaining there until 1870, then came to Antelope county, Nebraska. Our subject's mother is also a native of Germany, and before her marriage her name was Miss Ludovika Brazda. N William H. Oelsligle was born in Chicago, Illinois, October 6, 1851. He came, in 1871, to Antelope county, Nebraska, to where his father had preceded him. In 1876, he took a homestead in Madison county, Nebraska, where he lived for seven years, and then came to Antelope county, and settled where he now-lives. In those first days of settlement in Antelope county, oue subject and his parents underwent more hardships and disappointments than falls to the lot of the average farmer. Over forty years of progression have passed over this section of the country since the Oelsligle family settled here, and the well-to-do young farmer of today has little realization of the early experiences of those brave sons of the western frontier times. In 1872, 1873 and 1874, the family suffered great losses through the grasshopper raids of those years. In 1890 and 1894, the crops were a total failure in this section of the country, and in 1903, the hailstorm of that year killed the crops. Ante lope and deer were plentiful in thoes days, and were frequently seen around the farm. Mr. Oelsligle is a highly-respected and esteemed citizen of his community, and, with his brothers, owns about two thousand acres of good land. ELBERT H. GAINES. Elbert H. Gaines, conspicuously mentioned as the republican candidate for the office of county treasurer of Custer county, in the election of November 7, 1911, is a native of Cambridge, 848 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Illinois, born January 10, 1852, the younger of the two children of Sylvester H. and Priscilla (Andrews) Gaines, whose only daughter died at the age of five years. Both parents died in Cam bridge, the father April 1, 1870, and the mother July 18, 1865, both being natives of New York state. The father was a merchant in Cambridge, and an early settler in that part of the state. After receiving an education in the common schools of his native place, Elbert H. Gaines entered mercantile life, and when in his twen tieth year, engaged in the lumber business on his own account. November 14, 1886, he left Illinois, and came to Custer county, arriving there during - the three days' blizzard, so that he had an early experience of Nebraska's storms. He located in Ansley, and, in company wiih Dan Hagan, there engaged in mercantile business under the firm name of Gaines & Hagan. In 1900", he purchased the interest of his partner, and since then the firm has been E. H. Gaines. He deals in grocer ies, hardware and various kindred lines, being one of the leading merchants of the county. He had been engaged with Mr. Hagan in various business enterprises, and has always enjoyed the respect and esteem of his business associates, as well as the general public. He is one of the pioneer business men of his region, and is a pat riotic supporter of the best interests of his county and state. } Mr. ¦ Gaines was married at Menlo, Iowa, October 4, 1876, to Fannie B. Paige, and they have three children: Elbert P., born in Cam bridge, Illinois, February 21, 1886, married Clara Varney at Ansley, Nebraska, June 18, 1907, and they have one child; Fred B. of Chicago, and S. Loine, at home. Mr. Gaines and family are prom inent in social and educational circles, and he has belonged to the Masonic order the past twenty years. Although he has never been particularly active in poUtical affairs, he has been much inter ested in the success of the republican party. He has refused various offices of honor at the hands of his party, but in earlier years served some time as a member of the town board and the board of education. He has always been progressive along all lines, and is considered a man of intelligence and excellent business ability, and is a man with many friends. CHRISTOPHER TATGE. Christopher Tatge, a retired agriculturist of prominence in Allen precinct, Pierce county, Ne braska, resides on the farm he has extensively im proved in section nine, township twenty-seven, range one, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Agriculture forms the basis of the wealth of the world. It is, therefore, of great importance that the class of people who in habit the great farming regions of the country should represent those elements of sterling worth so prominently displayed "by the majority of the early settlers and their descendants. Mr. Tatge was born, March 1, 1830, in Reppin, a village of the electorate of Hesse-Cassel, Ger many. He was reared in his native land, and in 1849, becoming dissatisfied with the limited field that surrounded him, he started for the new world, sailing from Bremen in the "Wieland," a sailship, commanded by Captain Henkle. He landed in New York, after a voyage of twenty- eight days. Coming west to Chicago, where he remained three weeks, he secured work on the farm of Mr. Menkler, a noted horticulturist, in Kendall county, where he was employed six years, learning thoroughly the science and art of horticulture. He removed to Benton county, Iowa, in 1855, practicing his profession until the spring of 1887, when, owing to the opportunities offered in central Nebraska, he came to Pierce county, and still lives on the original homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. To this he added until, before dividing with his children, he acquired one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of the best Nebraska land. Phillip Tatge, the father of our subject, was a native of Germany, and participated in the his torical events that took place early in the nine teenth century. He was a descendant of one of the French Huganot families, driven from France by religious persecution, after the revocation of the edict of 1685. The family escaped from France under cover of darkness, and many were the hardships and privations they underwent during those trying times. With such ancestors and amid such surroundings, Phillip Tatge was born and reared, and it is but natural he should prove to be a brave soldier. He served under Napoleon, the greatest general the world has ever known, from 1804 to 1816, participating in the retreat from Moscow, swimming an icy river in making his escape. He was wounded in the elbow by a ball at Leipsig, and later was engaged in the historic battle of Waterloo against Lord Welling ton. The incidents connected with his career as a soldier would fill a volume. He was one of a band of twenty-seven tried and true men selec ted by Napoleon as a special guard while in Russia. Of the twenty-seven, only seven returned, Phillip Tatge being one of these. Tremendous hardships were endured by this faithful band, and at one time they were so closely pressed that they were compelled to swim the river Bernesine. After his return home at the close of these years of terrible war, he was appointed highway over seer, which position he held for many years, prov ing himself to be efficient in peace, as well as in war. Phillip Tatge died when Christopher was but seven years old. His mother, Charlotte (Mun) Tatge, died seven years later, leaving the boy to make his way alone. RESIDENCE OF DANIEL E. MATHER. * - 'ifFff^^at RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER TATGE. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 849 Christopher Tatge was married in Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, in 1853, to Sophia Cole man, and they are the parents of eight children, as follows: Charles; John, who married Miss Lydia Budy, who died May 4, 1911, leaving six children; Martha, now the wife of C. E. Manzer, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume; Edward, married to Jessie Norton; Lizzie, married to William Peterson; William, who married Louise Totten, they having two children; Anna, now the wife of Fred Wendle, and the mother of four children; and George, who married Miss Teena Manzer, eight children have blessed this union. In all, there are thirty- nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchil dren. Our subject has made a special study of agri culture and horticulture, and is one of the most experienced fruit men in Nebraska. He has forty acres of fruit and other trees on his farm, and it is knfiwn far and wide as the Pierce County Fruit Farm. In his orchard are apple trees, the seed of which Mr. Tatge imported from Arabia. He also has an especially fine variety, a winter snow-apple tree, possibly the only one in central Nebraska. In his researches, Mr. Tatge discovered the secret of preventing insects from destroying fruit trees, and also a process of preventing insects from destroying fruits two of the greatest obstacles. fruit growers, in all climes, have to contend with. He has secured a patent on the process, which he intends . to give to the govern ment for the public good. Secretary Wil son, of the president's cabinet, a friend of Mr. Tatge, is to have the process investigated, and extend the knowledge to the rest of the country, that all may benefit by the discovery7. Mr. Tatge originated the Randolph and the Tatge plum, the latter one of the greatest orchard trees on the Pacific coast. He has originated some fifty varieties of apples as well, all of them dis tinct, and of excellent quality. Mr. Tatge is a member of the Christian Union church, and is known and respected as one of the men who" have done much to transform Nebraska from a pioneer country into one of the greatest states in the union. A view of Mr. Tatge 's old homestead residence, with its large barn and other buildings, besides a part of his extensive orchard, are to be seen on another page of this volume. DANIEL E. MATHER. Daniel Mather, who has for many years been identified with the advancement and prosperity of central Nebraska, now has a fine grain and stock farm of two hundred and forty acres of well-improved and valuable land in Valley county. Mr. Mather was born in Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, December 25, 1862, a son of Daniel and Mary (Bennett) Mather, who had three sons and two daghters, Daniel being their fourth child. 28 He is descended from Reverend Richard Mather through his son, Timothy, a brother of Cotton Mather, who is famous in colonial history, the family coming to the new world in 1635. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native state, educated in the public schools, including the high school at Monroe, Iowa, and lived there until he reached the age of twenty-four years. He has two half-brothers living in Nebraska, Harvey and Benjamin Mather, the former in Chase county and the latter in Omaha. The mother of Mr. Mather died in Jasper county, December 23, 1867, after which Daniel and his brothers were reared in the family of an uncle, Daniel Mather. The father re-married, and reared a second family of four children. He brought the second family to Saline county, Nebraska, in 1880, having secured a homestead there two years before, and remained on the original homestead there until the fall of 1906, when he removed to Colorado, where he died in Denver, December 13, 1908. On February 16, 1887, Daniel E. Mather mar ried Augusta R. McGregor, their union taking place in Jasper county. She is a daughter of David and Jane (Fish) McGregor, the former of whom lives in Belleville, Kansas, and the latter died in Stillwater, Oklahoma, March 22, 1909. Ten of the McGregor children now survive, Mrs. Mather being the only one now a resident of Ne braska. Her brother, Everett, eame to Nebraska, the same year as her husband, but moved away in the spring of 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Mather now have two sons, Clarence Ray, who enlisted for a four years' term in the navy in February, 1911, and Alvesta Claude, who is still with his father on the farm. They have an adopted daughter, named May. March 6, 1887, Mr. Mather and wife came to Valley county, making the trip by rail to their new home. He had come the fall of the preceding year, and purchased a farm near Arcadia, which he occupied two years, then sold, and rented in Sherman and Valley counties until moving to his present home in 1902. When he moved to this land, not a sod had been turned. Mr. Mather has, put every dollar's worth of improvement on the place — the house, the barn, granary, sheds and other buildings, completing his equipment with a double silo in the summer of 1911. There is run ning water in the house and barn, with good pressure for the cistern high up on the hill. Or chard, vineyard and garden add to the comforts of the home. We have the pleasure of presenting a view of this fine country home in our illustrated pages. Mr. Mather has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, and is a progressive farmer, having advanced ideas, and taking an active interest in public affairs. He is prominent in social, educational and political circles. For the past ten or twelve years he has been a member of the town board, and the school board /most of the time. 850 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE ^Nb BIOGRAPHY. In the fall of 1910, Mr. Mather was the nom inee of the republican party for the office of rep resentative to the state legislature, but, owing to the fact that a three-cornered fight was pend ing-, he withdrew his name, and gave his support to his republican opponent to insure the election Of a man favorable to the temperance cause, as the campaign at that time in Nebraska was practically between the ' ' wets " and " drys. ' ' He is a man of high principle, with very pronounced ideas of right and wrong, and determined in his Support of any cause he espouses. In politics he now works with the people's independent party. He is a member of the Congregational church, and affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Matter was born in a log house, and attended school in a school house of that prim itive construction. On coming to the west, he had the pioneer privilege of living eight years in a "soddy," an experience no early settler should miss. For a time he used corn for fuel, when that cereal was selling for nine cents a bushel. The dry year, 1894, he raised but ninety- six bushels of wheat and one hundred and four bushels of corn on his entire farm. The oft-men tioned blizzard of January 12, 1888, found Mr. Mather in town, and, although the storm was suffocating, he made his way home. JOHN A. HOLMES. A leading old-timer of Pierce county, Nebras ka, is found in the gentleman above mentioned, he having come to this portion of the state about 1881, when the region was just beginning to be settled by those who had come to this country to build up homes and fortunes through industry and perseverance, and who, by dint of good man agement and oftentimes much privation, have accumulated a competence to last them through their later years. Mr. Holmes resides on the southwest quarter of section five, township twenty-six, range three, where he has a comforta ble home, and is held in high esteem by a host of warm friends and good neighbors. He also has a fo.rty-acre tract a few miles northwest of the home place. Mr. Holmes was born in Tama county, Iowa, August 7, 1865, and is the son of George W., senior, and Mary (Moats) Holmes. Our subject's father was born in Illinois in 1835, and died De cember 19, 1908, aged seventy-three years. The mother died in August, 1905, at the age of sixty- nine years. In the sixties, Mr. Holmes moved to Tama county, Iowa, and later, with his family, drove to Dickinson county, where they took up a homestead in 1870, and resided until 1880. In that year they came to Pierce county, Nebraska, and here the father took up a tree claim in section five, township twenty-six, range three, on which our subject now lives, and on which were planted twelve acres of trees. Later he secured one hun dred and sixty acres under the pre-emption law, and on this tract the family lived in a sod house for two years in true pioneer style. Like other pioneers in the days of earliest settlement, the family burned twisted hay , for several years before coal could be secured at prices people could afford to pay. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and furnished the settlers a supply of wholesome meat at a time when food was scarce. Mr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Lorena Bigger, April 20, 1895. Mrs. Holmes is a native of Ohio, a daughter of David Bigger. Of this union have been born three children: Isa, Willard and Esther. Mr. Holmes is a member, of the Modern Woodmen and Odd Fellows lodges, and votes the democratic ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and family are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them. DELLMOND A. GEIL. Dellmond A. Geil, a young man of much promise, was for a number of years one of the public-spirited citizens and popular business men of St. Paul, Nebraska. He was born in Hocking county, Ohio, September 14, 1872, living there until in his eighth year, then, with his parents, went to Iowa, settling in Norwalk, where they lived for three years. From there they moved to Hayes county, Nebraska, the father following ranching for several years. Mr. Geil received his early education in the common schools of Nebraska, later spending three years at York College, and also went to the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, for one year. He had a distinct leaning toward the church, and in the spring of 1897, began preaching, coming to Howard county, where he was given the pastorate of the First United Brethren church at Elba, and carried on this work for five years, during part of the time later was a teacher in the schools of Howard cbunty. In 1900, Mr. Geil purchased the leading St. Paul newspaper, which is now known as "The Phonograph Press," and edited this paper for one year. While located in St. Paul, Mr. Geil devoted much of his time to public affairs, taking an active part in local and county politics, and in 1902 was appointed deputy county treasurer, which office he held during the following four years, and in the fall of 1905, was elected treas urer of Howard county, taking charge of the office in January, 1906, and filled the position successfully, proving a very popular and capable man for the place. He was also a member of the demorcatic state executive committee. In January, 1910 he went to Roswell, New Mexico, and four months later settled in Wichita, Kansas, his present home. He is interested in the Kansas COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 851 Magazine, being the secretary and treasurer of the company. Mr. Geil was married in November, 1899, to Carrie J. Baliman, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W H. Baliman, who lived just west of St. Paul. They' have a family of two children, Lela D. and Marion A., both now •attending school. Mrs. Geil died on September 14, 1904, as a result of an accidental explosion, and her death was deeply mourned by her de voted family and a large circle of friends. It was made especially pathetic because of the un fortunate accident. Mr. Geil was married again in 1905, to Miss Zetta S. Springer, of Leon, Iowa, the ceremony taking place at Kansas City, Mo., and to this union two children have been born, Dellmond A. Jr., and Mildred L. Mr. Geil and his wife occupy a high position in the social life of the community in which they reside, and the former is regarded by his fellow men as a young man of high capabilities who has a brilliant future before him. CASH M. ROUTH. Cash M. Routh has for the past quarter of a ' century been influential in the development of Nebraska in various lines, and he and his wife now have a very comfortable home in Valley county, where he has developed an excellent farm. Mr. Routh was born in Warren county, Illinois, Sep tember 9, 1861, sixth child of David and Eliza (Collins) Routh, who were parents of seven sons and four daughters. Both parents were natives of Indiana, the father born in Floyd county, in 1827. He was a pioneer settler of Illinois and Missouri and died in the latter state October 16, 1910. The mother died in the same state, January 21, 1892. The family located in Nodaway county, Missouri, in the, spring of 1882. Of their eleven children the following seven no,w survive : Elza is married and living in Norfolk, Nebraska; Cash W. , of this sketch, the only other member of the family in Nebraska; three daughters, Mrs. Harvey Church ill, Mrs. Charles Umphrey and Mrs. Ed Mclntire, all of Missouri; John, of Oklahoma; Edward, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Mr. Routh was reared on a farm, accompanied his parents to Missouri in boyhood, and lived at home until he attained his majority. He was mar ried in Nodaway county, September 11, 1882, to Miss Minnie Weddel, daughter of Joseph M.' and Julia (Bugby) Weddel, and one of their three chil dren. Both parents are deceased. Their son Alfred' E. lives in Valley county and their daugh ter Cora B., (Mrs. -Dade 'M. Quigley), lives in Hayes county. In September, 1885, Mr. 'Routh and wife came to Jefferson county, Nebraska where they rented a farm for a time and later, bought land. In September, 1895, Mr. Routh became connected with -the Omaha Van and Storage Company and lived lor about ten years at Omaha. In 1905 he purchased the northwest quarter of section four teen, township seventeen, range sixteen, Valley county, to which place he moved in March, 1907, intending it as a permanent residence. He devoted his place to grain cultivation and stock raising and is recognized as an upright, desirable citizen. He and his wife have won many friends in their new home. Mr. Routh well remembers the blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, when he tried in vain to get his cat tle into shelter; however they drifted in a plum thicket in a canyon and none were lost. Mr. Routh is republican in politics and a mem ber of the Modern Woodmen of America. JOHN F. NEIDIG. John F. Neidig, whose biography forms an in teresting page in the history of the early, settle ment of Nebraska, is a resident of township, twen ty-two, range one, where he lives on section twen ty-nine, Madison county, and is widely known and highly esteemed. He has developed a fine farm and home there, and is one of the energetic and pro gressive farmers, well meriting his, success and en viable reputation. Mr. Neidig has lived in his pres ent home ever since his arrival in Madison county, which was in 1876. Mr: Neidig is a native of Saxony province, Ger many, in which country he was born June 2, 1843, a son of Barbara and Nicholas Neidig. The father served in the war under Napoleon against Well ington, in 181 5, and could relate many interesting reminiscences of that eventful time. Our subject's grandfather is a native of sunny Spain, but later , became a resident of the German Empire, where he was employed in an organ manufactory. John. F. Neidig, subject of this writing, came with his parents to America in 1844, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to New York on the sailboat "Isaac Newton," and the family were on the sea eighteen weeks. They remained in New York ten years, and then moved to Kankakee, Illinois, wherg they lived for twenty-two years. u In 1876, our subject started for the west to make his fortune, making final settlement in Madi son county, where he bought land. Mr. Neidig improved his land he had purchased from the railroad, putting up gopd buildings,.etc, and now has a beautiful home. In tbe early days of settlement here, Mr. Neidig suffered many hard ships and losses through the different causes inci dental to those times, and as late as .1894 lostyaU his crops by the hot winds that prevailed during the drouth of that season. ,' . In 1865, Mr. Neidig was united. in marriage to Miss Anna Seiger, and they. were the parents of seven children. - . In 1891, Mr. Neidig was again united, in mar riage, the bride being Miss Maggie Dorr. Mr. and Mrs. Neidig reside in their beautiful home, whe;re they are surrounded by a host of good friends a^i'd acquaintances, ; M COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. FREDERICK C. EMBREE. Frederick C. Embree is one of the best known men of Custer county and has passed through many stages of Nebraska history. He has long been closely identified with the best interests and devel opment of the county and had miany interesting ex periences of frontier life. In early days he did freighting between Kearney and Merna and in this way had an opportunity to study the possibilities of various parts of the state. He has always had faith in the future prospects of Nebraska and be lieves there will be wonderful opportunities for his children there. He was born in Washington county, Iowa, August 23, 1864, and has spent most of his life in Nebraska. He is a son of Noah Embree, who is mentioned at length in the suc ceeding paragraph of this article. Noah Embree was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, February 22, 1833, a son of Jesse Embree, who was a native of Preble county, Ohio, and came to Illinois as a young man. He was married in Vermillion county to Mary Hollingsworth, and both he and his wife were of Quaker parentage, although the Embree family came from England to America and were originally of French descent. Jesse Embree carried on a farm in Illinois until 1840, then moved to Washington county, Iowa, where he became owner of five hundred acres of land. He added to his holdings from time to time and became well known for his prosperity and suc cess. His wife died in 1851 and he in 1858. He had six children. Noah Embree remained on the home farm until after his father's death, receiving his education in the public schools and becoming well acquainted with farm methods. After the death of his father he carried on the farm until the spring of 1870, then disposed of his interests in Iowa and went by wagon to Nemaha county, Kan sas. Not being pleased with the outlook there, he went on to Otoe county, Nebraska. Mr. Embree was married in Keokuk, Iowa, June 17, 1858, to Miss Margaret Lyon. She was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, July 25, 1841, a daughter of Frank and Rachel (Harris) Lyon. The mother was a native of Illinois, and the father of New York, but the family soon after removed to Nashville, Tennessee. Six hundred acres of the town site rightfully belongs to them — the papers left for record were neglected and the title thus lost. Noah Embree lived in Otoe county until 1893, then came with his wife and daughter to Custer county, where he purchased the Penn ranch near Callaway; five sons had preceded him and were then veil established in Custer county. Mrs. Em bree died on this place June 21, 1898, and Mr. Embree remained there until 1907, when he came to live with his son Frederick, in Merna, where he died March 24, 1909. He and his wife had eight children, two of whom died in infancy; he was survived by five sons and a i daughter : Allen L., lives in Sunnyside, Washington ; Oliver H., in Ful lerton, California; Frederick C, in Merna; Jehu W., presiding elder in the Methodist Episcopal church, of the Nebraska City Dis trict, is located at University Place, Lincoln, Nebraska, where his children attend the school; Noah M-, is in Athens, Georgia, and Mjary married "George A. Shaw, and died in Seattle, Washington, July 6, 1910. The father was a man of strong character, active along busi ness, educational and religious lines and highly respected by all. In advising his young sons he displayed his usual good judgment and acumen by telling them when they saw him smoke or chew tobacco, they could do the same; when they saw him use liquor they could also do it, and that they would be privileged to swear when they heard him do so. Frederick C. Embree came with his parents to Otoe county in 1870, receiving his education in the schools near his father's home there. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and was married in Nebraska City, April 9, 1884, to Miss Altana Myers, a native of Sheffield, ffiinois, who came to Nebraska with her parents in the fall of 1882. The father, Samuel Myers, was bom in Newark, New Jersey ; the mother in the state of New York. She died in Bedford, Iowa, while the family was living there. The father after living successively in Nebraska, Oregon, Iowa, and Nebraska again, now lives in Portland, Oregon, with his two daughters. Upon his marriage Mr. Embree came overland to Ortello Valley and engaged in farming and stock, raising there. During the dry years, in the early nineties, when crops were total failures, he gave his attention to stock raising, making a spe cialty of fine cattle and horses. From time to time purchased more land in Ortello Valley until his ranch farm comprised eight hundred and forty acres. In March, 1905, he purchased two hun dred and twenty-two acres of land adjoining the city limits of Merna, and developed it into a well improved stock and grain farm, a beautiful place, having about three hundred cedar trees and known as Cedar View Stock Farm. He is a successful pioneer of Nebraska, being of the younger men' who have passed through so many years of life in Nebraska. He has traveled rather extensively but prefers life in Nebraska to a residence in any other state. He is well-known in the stock mar kets and has often topped the market with his cattle, being an enthusiast on the business of stock raising. He and his wife have a fine family and all are well-known in social, educational and reli gious circles. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of Merna, also in the Farmers' Elevator Company there, and is a member of the Masonic order, being treasurer of the local lodge. Eight children have been born to Mr. Embree and wife: Jesse S., a graduate of the Palmer School of Chiropracty, at Davenport^ Iowa, is now successfully practicing his profession at Fremont, Nebraska; Ernest N., Wilbur M., Maud and Ma- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 853 bel (twins), arid Mattie, reside at home; a son and daughter, twins, died in infancy. Mr. Embree was formerly a republican, but of late years supports whom he considers the most capable man, no matter on what ticket his name appears. During the years the populist party was active, Mr. Embree was delegated by his county to represent them ( in the state convention to nominate delegates to the National convention. With his wife, Mr. Embree is a member of the United Brethren church; he fraternizes with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Workmen, and the Woodmen ; and the Rebekahs and Royal Neighbors, as does Mrs. Embree. ' LOUIE C. MADSEN. Louie C. Madsen, an intelligent and prosperous young man of superior attainments in a business way, is also one of the substantial citizens of Cotesfield, Nebraska, where he and his family are favorably known throughout, the entire com munity. ' Mr. Madsen is a native born Nebraskan, first seeing the light in Howard county, the event of his birth occurring on February 7, 1882. He re ceived his early education in the public schools here, in 1901, taking a course in the Fremont Nor mal and Business College, where he received a good insight in the manner of conducting busi ness, and after leaving the school spent four years in Elba employed in a clerical position with a well- known firm. He also worked in Dannebrog as bookkeeper with the State Bank of Dannebrog, and eventually was appointed assistant cashier for that institution, remaining with them up to May, 1907, at which time he severed his connec tion with the bank and came to Cotesfield to ac- cept the position of cashier of the First State Bank of Cotesfield, which he has filled with satis faction to all concerned, still holding that posi tion. He is a young man of more than ordinary ability and good business acumen, and has before him the prospect of a prosperous and brilliant business career. Mr. Madsen was married on September 18, 1907, to Miss Carrie Lyhne, at the home of her parents in Dannebrog. Mr. and Mrs. Lyhne are well known as one of Howard county's pioneer families, and Mrs. Madsen was reared and edu cated here. Our subject has one daughter, Lu cille Genevieve, a charming little miss, and the pride of her parents' hearts. BENJAMIN D. ALLEN. Benjamin D. Allen, an old settler of Custer •: county, is a successful merchant of Comstock, and j well known in the community as a singer. He ¦ was born in Pike county, Illinois, August 26, 1847, i next to the eldest child of Alfred B. and Emily i (Askew) Allen, and the only one of the family to i locate in Nebraska. His father was a native of , Kentucky, and his mother of Illinois, and both are now deceased. He has five brothers and one sister surviving. He was born and reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits all his life until recently. In the fall of 1872, Mr. Allen was one of a party of nineteen, men, women and children, who left Pike county with prairie schooners, and came to Grand Island, Nebraska, where they spent the winter months. The following spring Mr. Allen entered the employ of Christopher Ridell, to go with a crew of men to St. Paul, Howard county, with a steam saw-mill outfit. Although it was a new line of work for him he soon learned its es sential features and became a head sawyer on the big saw. They operated at various points along the Loup river for about two years, and in the spring of 1875 Mr. Allen left this occupation and took a rre-emption claim on the northeast quarter of section eighty township eighteen, range seventeen. Custer county, as well, as a timber claim, being one of the very first settlers and an original home steader in the locality. He was successful as a farmer and stock raiser, and although he had to fight the hardships and privations of the pioneer, he remained on the farm during the dry years and by energy and economy reached prosperity and success. He added to his . land holdings and re tained possession of his original land entry. He did his full share toward advancing the growth and upbuilding of the region and always had at heart its best interests. He was the man who vol unteered to carry the news to Port Hartstuff at the time an Indian uprising was feared, in 1876, riding an old gray horse belonging to Mr. Hig gins, and armed with a horse pistol. Captain Munson, at tbe fort, sent back word to the settlers that they should inform him immediately of any trouble, and while waiting for the troops fight for In the fall of 1873 Mr. Allen returned to Illi nois and married Melissa Curfman, daughter of Joseph and Eliza Curfman, and soon afterward brought her back to Nebraska with him. He gives- much of the credit of his success in life to his wife, who is a woman of energy and a high order of in telligence, highly esteemed by her many friends. Mr. Allen is locally well known as "Ben Allen, the singer," and for twenty-nine years has been a chorister. March 1, 1911, he left the farm and came to Comstock to reside, engaging in general mercantile business, as a member of the firm of Dvorak & Allen. They are among the leading merchants of that part of the county and have a thriving business. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have seven children : Jen nie, wife of D. R. Lee, of Arcadia, has three chil dren ; Roe, married and living on the home farm, has three children; Ellittie, wife of George Rue- mer, has two children ; Alma, wife of Bert Decker, of Berwyn, Nebraska, has three children; Mott, married and living on section nine, township 854 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND -BIOGRAPHY. eighteen, range seventeen , has three children ; Bertha, at home; and Celia, wife of William Zablondil, of Comstock, has one child. J. W. LADD. The subject of this sketch, although still a young man, has been a witness of all the hardships of pioneer days in the west. He was born in Illi nois on July 16, 1872, and is a son of John Ladd, a native of Pennsylvania, who left that state in his early years and resided in Illinois for a num ber of years. There he met and married Ara- minta Warner, who was born and reared in Illi nois. About 1879 the family came into Nebraska, first settlement being made in Washington coun ty, near Blair, where they remained up to 1884, then eame on to Knox county. John Ladd se cured a homestead about eight miles northwest of Creighton, and made that his home until 1901, when he moved to South Dakota, and located in Hot Springs, where he now resides. Our subject started out for himself a£ the age of nineteen years, renting a tract of land which he farmed up to 1902. He then came to Creigh ton for residence, engaging in the livery business which he carried on for two years, and then opened a meat market, in which he has developed a profitable trade through fair dealing and strict attention to his business. -Mr. Ladd has seen considerable of the progress that has come to the locality since his advent here. He has witnessed the settlers filling up the coun try, the farms and roads have been marked by fences, and he feels that he has been a part and parcel of this growth. On July 16, 1904, Mr. Ladd was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Raynor Johnson, who is a native of Sweden. Mr. Ladd is an independent in politics. He is a member of the Independent Order Odd Fel- ows, also of the Woodmen of the World, and takes a leading part in the affairs of his town. GARRETT VAN CAMP. Garrett Van Camp, who for the past many years has been successfully pursuing agriculture in Boone county, is a gentleman of energetic spirit and capable mind, He has a pleasant home, in section eleven, of Oakland precinct, and there enjoys the fruits of a well-spent career. Mr. Van Camp was born in Waukesha county, ' Wisconsin, on September 14, 1846, the youngest of two children in the family of Hiram and Sal- lie Van Camp, the former a native of New York state, aud the latter of Pennsylvania. The father of Hiram Van Camp, whose given name was Moses, was a Major in the Revolutionary war, the family being a famous New England family that took part in its early history. Our subject grew up in Sauk county, Wiscon sin, from his eighth year, remaining there until he was twenty-one. He received a common school education, and started for himself when he was seventeen, obtaining work in the lumber camps, and did rafting and logging and river driving for two years. -,.-. In .1864 and 1865 he was in the government service, connected with the United States troops, his enlistment running for six months at a time and these troops being known as Uncle Sam's gov ernment men. His term of service was at Du- Vall's Bluff and Little Rock, Arkansas. He returned to Sauk county after his service in the army: and on the fourth day of October, 1866, was married to Laura Randall, who was a native of Wisconsin. After his marriage he set tled on a farm and began hop growing, following the work for three years, then moved with his wife aud son Victor, to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he engaged in grain and stock farming. He was very successful, but decided to go further west, so in company with W. M. Randall, and J. B. Barnes, came to Boone county, Nebraska. These three men were brothers-in-law, and had been schoolmates and friends for years. They home steaded on adjoining claims upon their arrival here, and these original homesteads are still owned by their families, although Mr. Bames and Mr. Raridall are deceased. Mr. Van Camp's claim was on section eleven, township twenty-one, range seven, and this is his home at the present time having developed it into a finely equipped farm consisting of four hundred and twenty acres. He has a beautiful modern residence, and plenty of shade and fruit trees, all planted by his own hands. He remembers distinctly the early days, who from hardships and small means has come into success and prosperity, always being identi fied with the best interests of his county, and is an honored member of the Boone county's pioneer association. Lie has acted as Road Supervisor of his district for many years. Mrs. Van Camp died in October, 1879. By this marriage there were two children, Victor and Eva. Mr. Van Camp was married the second time, on December 3. 1883, to Laura Whipple, who was a daughter of Ira Whipple, a prominent pioneer of Boone county. Two children were born of their union, Elgie, who married Erwin Hunter, living in Boone county, and has one child; and Floy, who lives at home. The second Mrs. Van Camp died in February, 1900. Mr. Van Camp and his sons together control about eight hundred acres of fine land in the place known as the Van Camp Farm, and are classed among the wealthy and progressive citizens of their locality. GEORGE COOLEY. In compiling a list of the representative farmers and ranchmen of Antelope county Nebraska, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 855 a prominent place is accorded the name of George Cooley, who owns a fine sheep, ranch and a good farm, and resides in a comfortable home in sec tion twenty-nine, township twenty-six, range seven. For many years past Mr. Cooley has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Blaine pre cinct, and has done his full share as an old settler towards the development of the better interests of his community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Cooley is a native of Athens county, Ohio, where he was born February 29, 1848. He is a son of George W., and Lucinda (Baker) Cooley. Our subject's father was born in the same county, July 4, 1811, and died March 17, 1889. The grandfather was a native of England, and his mother of Ireland. Mr. Cooley 's father wanted to enlist in the ranks at the outbreak of the civil war, but was not eligible, so he engaged as a teamster and traveled through Kentucky and other i parts of the south. At one time his team was killed by a stroke of lightning and he was stunned by the shock for a half day ; he was discharged for disability. The mother was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, her parents being of Pennsylvania German stock, the mother a Virginian, where the family were slaveholders in the early days. On October 11, 1867, Mr. Cooley was united in marriage to Miss Emeritta McGill. They are the -parents of three children : John, Sarah, and Fred. John is married to Miss Irene DePiel and has lived iri Alberta, Canada, since March, 1910. On October 20, 1881, Mr. Cooley with his fam ily, left Ohio, going to Topeka, Kansas, where they remained six months, and thence drove to Antelope county, reaching there February 23, 1882. They took up a homestead and timber claim in section twenty-eight, first building a small frame house in which they lived for a short time, later erecting a good house which is their present residence. Mr. Cooley can relate many interesting inci dents connected with pioneer life. During a hail storm the fifth of July, 1883, Mr. Cooley was in a gulch with his team, the small trees being the only protection from the pelting of the terriffic hail storm. He lost all his crops in a similar storm the fifteenth of July the year following. During the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, he was out all afternoon getting his cattle under shelter. Prairie fires were a source of great danger in those times and the hardships endured by the early set tlers were almost beyond the understanding of the present generation. While the hardships were great, there was a bright side to the pioneer life. Wild game was plentiful; deer and antelope roamed the country over and occasionally a big grey -.coif would be seen. ' Mr. Cooley is prominent among the old set tlers and is respected as a irian who has done his full share in developing the country in which he lives. He has always taken an interest in public- affairs; politically, he is an independent re publican. ARTHUR N. GRIERSON. Arthur N. Grierson was one of the original homesteaders of Custer county and belongs to a family that has been influential in furthering the best interests of central Nebraska. He is a na tive of Whiteside county, Illinois, born July 13, 1865, the fourth of the seven children in the family of Alex and Ann (Dunn) Grierson, the fa ther being also an original homesteader in Cus ter county. He built the first mill at Westerville. freighting the lumber from Kearney ; the dam was built of cedar logs from Cedar and Wagsall's can yons. For five years the father bought grain at Filmore and Exeter. Nebraska. Both parents were born in Scotland and the father now resides in Elgin, Illinois, where the mother's death oc eurred July 10, 1904. They have a son in Iowa, another in New York state and one in Oregon, and their three daughters live in Grand Island (Ne braska), Illinois, and California, respectively. Mr. Grierson reached manhood in his native state and there attended the common schools. When he was nineteen years of age he came to Custer county, joining his father and brother who had preceded him by three years. Later he se cured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in what was commonly called Lee Park district. On February 28, 1889, he was married in Myrtle township to Miss Frances Cooper, a na tive of St. Charles county, Missouri, who had been a teacher in the schools of Nebraska. Their home for the first years was on the homestead farm, but in 1906 Mr. Grierson purchased a farm of the same size on section thirty-one, township sixteen, range eighteen, near Ansley, where the family have since resided. He has continued to improve and develop his land and now has a well-equipped stock farm, with a comfortable residence and other suitable builidngs. Three children have been born to him and his wife: Nellie M., a teacher of Ansley public schools; Lois E. and Francis M., at home. Mr. Grierson is one of the younger men among the homesteaders and both his parents and those of his wife were among the pioneers of Custer county, where the Griersons lived some thirteen years. He is an industrious and enterprising far mer and a public-spirited citizen, always ready to give of his means and influence to further any worthy cause and help in promoting the welfare of the community. His wife is a daughter of Rev. C. S. and Frances Emily (See) Cooper, the former a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and the latter of Missouri. Both parents, with two of their daughters, reside in Agency City, Iowa. Mr. Cooper was for forty-five years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and the first lo cal elder and ordained minister of the church in Custer county. He is now district superintendent 856 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of the anti-saloon league of Agency City, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Grierson lived in a "soddy" most of their married life; in 1909 they moved into their commodious frame dwelling, which makes a fine appearance in that part of the town ship. An uncle of Mrs. Grierson was married the day of the fearful blizzard of January, 1888 ; Mrs. Grierson was attending school at Westerville at the time. Mr. Grierson happened to be in the barn feeding and found his way to the house by following the clothes-line. Grand Island was their market place in those days, and k long, weary journey it was, freighting up the valley from that point. Mr. Grierson is a republican in pontical views, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. HENRY D. KASSON. Henry D. Kasson was born in Forkston town ship, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1841. He came to Nebraska in February, 1873, and took a homestead in the southwestern part of the state, and lived there for eight years. On ac count of dry and hot winds, he then sold his land and bought land in Valley county, Nebraska. On October 20, 1881, he was married to Louise M. Weber, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Kasson has a long and creditable war record. The following is a record of his army service : He was enrolled as a soldier on the twenty-sixth day of October, 1861, in Company B, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers. Engagements: Lee's Mills, Virginia, April 29, 1862; Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862; Ohickahominy, Virginia, May 19, 1862 ; Reconoissance to Seven Pines, Vir ginia, May 24, 25, and 26, 1862; Fair Oaks, Vir ginia, May 31, 1862; Railroad and Bottom's Bridge, Virginia, June 27, 28, and 29, 1862 ; White Oak Swamp Bridge, Virginia. June 30, 1862; Carter's Hill, Virginia, July 2, 1862; Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, commencing August 17th to December 31, 1862 ; James Island, South Carolina, Julv 16, 1863 ; Siege of Fort Wagner, Morris Is land, South Carolina, July 20 to September 7, 1863; promoted corporal September 7, 1863; Siege of Charleston, South Carolina, September 7, 1863. Discharged at Morris Island, South Carolina, Jan uary 1, 1864, by reason of re-enlistment as a vet eran; re-enlisted January 1, 1864, to serve three years or during the war ; Siege of Charleston com mencing September 7, 1863; promoted sergeant January 28, 1864; Siege of Charleston continued until February 18, 1865, tbe rebels evacuating tbe city. The Fifty-second Regiment immediately took possession of Charleston, South Carolina, March 17, 1865. The Fifty-second Regiment immediately marched on board of the transport boat called New York, sailed to Morehead, North Carolina, landed March 21, 1865 ; marched to Newbern, North Caro lina, March 22, 1865; marched from Newbern, North Carolina, April 3, 1865, for Goldsborough, North Carolina; reached Goldsborough, North Carolina, April 7, 1865. The Fifty-second Regi ment assigned to the First Brigade, Second Divis ion of the Twenty-third army corps, commanded by General Scofield. On April thirteenth they had marched to and taken possession of Raleigh, North Carolina. From Raleigh marched to Salisbury, North Carolina, reaching that place May 11, 1865. The First Brigade was detained at Salisbury, North Carolina, to do provost duty. The Fifty- second Regiment was mustered out of service at Salisbury, North Carolina, July 12, 1865; left Salisbury. July 13, 1865, for Harrisburg, Pennsyl vania. Discharged at Harrisburg, July 21, 1865. A view of Mr. Kasson 's place is presented on another page. MARION G. HAYS. Among the natives of IUinois who have located in Nebraska and become prominent in the upbuild ing and development of the latter state may be mentioned Marion G. Hays, of Custer county, a self-made man, who came to the state without capital and has won a high degree of success. He was born in Lexington, McLean county, Illinois, August 25, 1850, the elder of the two sons of Henry and Almarine (Henline) Hays, the father a native of Virginia and the mother, of Kentucky. His brother, Frank S., came to Custer county about 1890 and lives on a farm which he owns. Marion G. Hays was reared on an Illinois farm, where he resided until coming to Custer county in 1883. He has been practically winning his own way in the world since his fourteenth year, as his father died when he was about eight years of age. His mother, who remarried, died in Illinois in 1908, although for some years prior to her death she lived with her sons in Nebraska. She reached her eighty-sixth year. On June 30, 1869, Mr. Hays was united m mar riage with Miss Martha Bivens, of McLean county, daughter of William and Catherine (Wells) Biv ens and second of their five children. In the fall of 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Hays, with their daughter, Esther and son Frank, came to Custer county and homesteaded on one hundred and eighty-nine acres of land on section five, township sixteen, range eighteen, and they are among the few original homesteaders who live on their farms thus gained. Mr. Hays is one of the pioneers of his part of the county and now has one of the best homes there. He has improved and developed his farm, equip ping it with everything necessary to carry it on successfully, and has been actively engaged in stock raising until a few years ago, when he re tired from active life. He has won his success through the efforts of himself and wife and they have passed through the various phases of the _u=L Isasasisfest "WALNUT GROVE RANCH," RESIDENCE OF HENRY D. KASSON. •t usF-seafcO-i^ RESIDENCE OF MARION G. HAYS. COMPENDIUM OF. HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 857 history of their region. - In early years he worked at freighting in order to support his family, mak ing the trip between Westerville and Grand Is land. On these journeys he carried a "grub box," which Mrs. Llays always fiUed with good, palatable food. Each freighter carried his own blankets and slept on the floor of the house at the end of the' day's journey. They always cooked their own meals on their host's stove', the family remaining in bed until the freighters had eaten and gone. In Grand Island they slept in a hay mow and dined sumptuously at a restaurant. Mr. Hays has been a member of the Masonic order since he reached his majority in Illinois, and transferred to Ansley on coming west. He is prominent in social and fraternal circles, being a member of the Royal Highlanders, as well as the Masonic order. In politics he is a democrat. But two children were born to Mr. Hays and wife; their daughter died in Broken Bow, April 8, 1889, she at that time being a teacher in the public schools, and a young woman of high char acter and refinement, who had many friends. The son, Frank M., has a fine farm consisting of a half- section of land adjoining his father's place on the south. He was born in McLean county and brought to Nebraska in childhood. He is a promi nent farmer and stockman, as well as an enterpris ing and useful citizen. Lie was married at Wes terville, Custer county, March 9, 1899, to Alice Baker, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson Ba ker, of Custer county, and their union has been blessed by three children: Harry, Vernon, and Esther. Deer and antelope were plentiful in 1883 in the vicinity of Mr. Hays' farm. He killed three October 25 of that year ; the snow being knee deep to a horse, it was easy to trail and bring down a deer, which were dragged home tied to the horses tails. Wolves were easily run down and kiUed when, the snow was deep. January 12, 1888, the day of the blizzard, found Mr. Hays, like many others, on his way to a sale. When the storm broke he mounted his horse, stopped at the school house and instructed his children to remain in town* and let the faithful animal take him home, which it did at breakneck speedi With one eye covered with ice, the horse found the way through the blinding snow to the door of the barn, more by instinct than sight. In 1894, the dry year, only a few oats were harvested, which the hungry pigs devoured the day it was cut. Mr. Hays and family lived in a dugout on their claim some ten years before building a large "soddy." Their stable, cow shed, hog house and other outbuildings were all built of sod, as well. A neat, frame cottage now replaces the primitive dwelling, and a big red barn has displaced the sod shed. A view of the present home, with a sketch of the old "soddy," are to be found on another page of this work. 28% FREDERICK L. WANSER. Frederick L. Wanser, youngest child of Wil- Ham Wanser, was born at Peoria, Illinois, June 26, 1864, and spent the first years of his life, in and near Peoria, and in Livingston county. When the family migrated to Nebraska in the fall of 1871, he came with his mother by rail to West Point, where the family resided for three years and then settled on a homestead two miles north west from Plainview. Here he grew to manhood in the open country, developing all the sterling, self-reliant traits of the west. In 1888, with his father, he engaged in the drug busness in Plainview and continued in that until 1894, when they disposed of their store, the son entering the real estate business in which he has engaged since that time. Mr. Wanser was married in Creighton, Ne braska, December 10, 1890, to Miss Mary A. Roth- weU, who was born about forty miles from Provi dence, Rhode Island, a daughter of James and Jane (Griffith) Rothwell, the former dying at Creighton, at the age of seventy years, the latter dying January 9, 1911, in his eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Wanser did not come west with her parents, remaining until 1882 to complete her education in the Ashaway High School. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wanser: Elsa, a gradu ate of Plainview High School class of 1910, and since a teacher of the Pierce county schools; and Sterling, and Byron. Mr. Wanser well remembers in coming to Pierce county meeting earlier settlers getting away, among them the venerable William Alex ander who had been discouraged by the raids of grasshoppers for the past few years, but who later , returned to his Nebraska homestead. Such inci dents were not calculated to give newcomers much enthusiasm about the prospects of the west. But the present marvelous development has justi fied their faith in what was then the far west. Mr. Wanser has experienced the many exciting phases of pioneer life, such as prairie fires, and blizzards. In the memorable storm of 1888 he was on the hay flats a mile from home, but made his way safely home through the icy mist. The barns were so completely filled and covered with snow that for six weeks the horses could not be removed, water and feed being carried to them through the window. Mrs. Wanser, then resid ing in Creighton, remembers the citizens coming to the rescue of the children at the village school and taking them home in relays until all were safe beneath the family roof. She was teaching in the schools there at the time, . and had taught at Ba zile and East Branch prior to that time. Mr. Wanser is a republican, and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. When Mr. Wanser came to the vicinity of Plainview there was but one tree anywhere on the plain, a small cottonwood two and a quarter miles northwest of town that was little, if any, over fif- 858 Compendium op history, re miniscence and biography. teen feet in height. He assisted William B. Chil vers in planting the ash sprouts that now form his extensive ash grove and also the cottonwood now forming the beautiful forty-acre grove on his tim ber claim. During the first years in Nebraska, Mr. Wan ser has seen as many as seventy-five antelope in a herd and as many as thirty deer in one day. One of his most uncomfortable experiences of pioneer days was on a deer hunt. With a companion, on a wagon they were following a herd of deer to the south of the settlement, and finding progress too slow, unhitched and followed on horseback. The deer they killed was too heavy to carry on a horse so they were compelled to return some miles for the wagon and go back for their game. On reach ing home that night about nine o'clock, he found his heels and toes frozen so severely that it was many months before they ceased to give him pain. The early church services were something unique, reminding one of Puritan days. Mrs. Wanser relates of Mr. Wanser 's attending ser vices of one of the pioneer preachers that lasted from early morning until late in the afternoon with no intermission for refreshments, and adds that he is much less devout now-a-days. It is good for men to have passed through the trials and hardships of pioneer days ; it gives them a greater appreciation of the comforts and bene fits of the present day in this western land of plenty. ALBERT LEUTHAEUSER. Albert Leuthaeuser, one of the younger mem bers of the- farming community of St. Libory pre cinct, is a gentleman of progressive ideas and a worthy citizen of his section, his every act stand ing for the best interests of his county and state. He is in many respects a thoroughly self-made man, and is a true representative of a family, well-known for their education and refinement. Mr. Leuthaeuser is a native of Nebraska, born in Merrick county, January 22, 1876. He is the eldest in a family of four sons born to his parents, Rev. August and Metta (Damman) Leuthaeuser, two of his brothers now residing in this state and the other in Montana. His father and mother are now residents of Concord, Dixon county, Ne braska, where the former is pastor of the Evan gelical Dutheran church. The family were pio neers in Merrick county, moving from there to Stanton county when Albert was about one year of age, and when he was five they went to Norfolk, remaining another five years. From there they came to Saunders county, which locality they made their home for fifteen years. Our subject started for himself when he was in his twentieth year. At that time he was married to Mary Koch, who was a native of Germany, coming to Saunders county with her parents when she was a small child. The young couple settled on a farm in Saunders county and began in the stock business, Albert buying stock for shipment as well as having quite a herd on his farm, and raising some grain, and other farm produce. In 1904 he purchased the old Martin Jensen farm which is situated in section ten, and fourteen, township thirteen, range nine, and consists of two hundred acres of fine land. The farm is improved with fine build ings of all kinds, equipped with every convenience for modern farming, and is one of the show places of the neighborhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Leuthaeuser have been born six children, namely: Helena M. W., Martha E. M., Esther H. A., Ruth E. A., Martin A. C, and Walter, and they form one of the most interesting family groups to be met with in many a day. They have a happy and congenial home, and are well , liked by all who know them. DANIEL COOLEY BAILEY. (Deceased.) Prior to his demise the gentleman whose name heads this personal history resided on his estate on section ten, township nineteen, range fourteen, Valley county, Nebraska, and was well known throughout this locality as a successful and pros perous agriculturist, ever active in all pertaining to the upbuilding of his home state and county, and always taking a keen interest in all lines of advancement. Daniel Cooley Bailey was born November 15, 1820, in Canada, where his parents who were New Yorkers, were visiting at the time. On April 6, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Suzan Alzina Dale, and Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were blessed with four children, whose names are as follows: Mary, George, Harry, of whom a bio graphical writing appears on another page of this review ; and Prank. Mr. Bailey and family moved from New York state to Wapaca county, Wisconsin, in 1855 or 1856, and came on west to Valley county, Ne braska, in 1872; they drove overland from Wis consin and reached the site of their homestead September 3, 1872, after camping five weeks on the way. Mr. Bailey was one of the first county commissioners of Valley county, and in the years that followed he was one of the active upbuilders of Valley county. The Bailey home was the scene of many of the first incidents that went to make up the growth and development of Valley county, before that county was organized. Here was held the first church service and the first commission ers' meeting. This was before Fort HartseU was established, when all was a wilderness to the north and west. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were good christian peo ple and were honored with the respect and esteem of all Who met or knew them. They were widely known for their goodness of heart, and the Bailey home was always hospitably open. Mr. Bailey COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 859 died May 10, 1907, and his good wife, Mrs. Alzina Bailey, passed away October 26, 1908. They will ever remain dear in the memory of those who knew them, and at -their death they were deeply mourned by a host of sorrowing friends and relatives. A log dug-out was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Cooley from the time of their coming until 1893. We show a view of this primitive dwelling on another page. JOE BROSH. In reviewing the early history of Nebraska, those who have actually experienced the glorious successes of that golden state may perhaps look upon this sketch as inadequately portraying the incidents connected with its growth and upbuild ing, but in the memory of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who is one of those typ ical pioneers and representative westerners, each event of success and failure through which he has passed stands out vividly and will remain so dur ing the entire course of his life. Mr. Brosh was born in Michigan, in 1872. He is a son of Frank and Lizzie Brosh, both natives of Bohemia, who came to the United States during the early part of their married life and settled in the eastern states. They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, the trip consuming several weeks, its passengers suffering the usual discomforts and hardships on the journey, but finally landing in safety, although there were times when all felt they might not again see land. However, they reached port in New York, and Mr. and Mrs. Brosh went directly to Michigan, where they set tled on a homestead which they occupied for many years, their first dwelling being a/log house and their furnishings of the most primitive sort. Their children were born and reared there, the fa ther working for the most part in the lumber camps, where also our subject was employed as soon as he became old enough to shift for himself. In 1882 Mr. Brosh emigrated west, arriving in Madison county, in the spring, where he bought a tract of land from Mat Clouse, which he rapidly improved, engaging in the stock and grain rais ing business, and through thrift and perserverance was soon counted among the prosperous and suc cessful men of his section. He has a good farm and a comfortable home in Kalamazoo township, where he is highly esteemed by his fellowmen, and during his residence here he has given freely of his time and money in promoting the good of the community. > Mr. Brosh was married January 2, 1891, to Miss Mary Dorweck, who is a native of Wisconsin, and to them have been born four children, as fol lows: Mary, Rosie, Adolph, and Frank, CHARLES EDWARD ROSS. Charles Edward Ross has been a resident of Custer county since he was brought there by his parents in 1874, in early childhood. He was born in Jasper county,, Iowa, December 18, 1869, and was the youngest child of Jacob TI. and Cather ine (Baker) Ross. Jacob H. Ross brought his wife, with their two sons and four daughters, from Iowa to Custer county in the summer of 1874, taking a pre-emption on the northeast quarter of section seventeen, township nineteen, range twenty-one, later taking up the land as a home stead. His son Wesley came to the county some years later. The Ross family were among the first settlers on Victoria creek and have been closely identified with the development and upbuilding of their part of the county since they came there. Mrs. Ross died on the homestead farm September 1 4, 1900. The only members of the family now liv ing in the county are Mrs. George Carr, of Bro ken Bow; Robert D. and Charles Edward. Wes ley Ross, also a pioneer settler of Custer county, now resides in Oregon; Eliza, Mrs. Thomas Pros- ser, lives in Missouri; Annie, Mrs. George E. Carr. is mentioned above ; Lizzie, Mrs. Judson Hawks, lives at Norwood, Colorado, Robert D. Ross and family live in the county; Mrs. Tina Cooper lives in Oklahoma. Robert D. Ross was born in Iowa and came to Custer county with his parents in 1874. He married Miss Ida Belle Merchant, daughter of an early settler, and they have four sons and two daughters. Charles E. Ross was in his fifth year when brought by his parents to Custer county, where he grew to manhood. He has since then lived on his father's homestead, which he now owns and operates. He married Rebecca Wells in Bro ken Bow June 24, 1894. (She is a native of Can ada, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Brad ford) Wells. Her family came to custer county from LaSalle county, Illinois, about 1891. Her father died February 13, 1893,„ and her mother January 21, 1908, the former in Custer county, and the latter in Omaha. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross: Raymond L., Leonia Fay and Thelma Irene. The Ross family are one of the most prominent in Custer county and have a high standing iri various circles. The old home place is one of the landmarks of the re gion, but now has modern improvements and con veniences. It is very pleasantly located and sur rounded by trees set out by Mr. Ross, some of which are three feet through. He well remem bers his early boyhood days when his family, like others in the neighborhood, had to, endure many hardships and privations. He is a prosperous and successful farmer and stockman and is recog nized as a progressive, useful citizen. In politics he is independent of party lines, voting for the candidate he considers best fitted for the office. 860 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. FRED BICHEL. Among the early settlers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have been largely instrumental in the growth of the commercial interests of that re gion, a prominent place is given the gentleman whose name heads this article. For about forty years, he has been a resident of the United States, and has always been found ready to further the interests of the community where he has, made his home for twenty-seven years. He lives on section thirty-five, Hunter precinct, where he has built up a valuable estate through his industry and good management. Mr. Bichel is a native of Germany, and was born in the Province of Sehleswig, Holstein, De cember 15, 1852. He was the son of Fred and Katie Bichel, the father being the proprietor of a tailor shop and clothing store in a small village. Our subscriber received his school education in Ger many, and afterwards helped his parents, until 1871. About this time, ' Mr. Bichel decided that America offered a better chance for an energetic young man than was to be had in the old country. So in that year, he left his native land on the steamship "Westphalia," which plied between Hamburg and New York City. He came at once to the west, and for thirteen years remained in Mills county, Iowa, when he rented land. In 1881 he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he had the year before bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which has been his home ever since He has made many improvements to the placewhich have greatly enhanced its value. His pioneer days were not without discouragements, as he suffered the usual hardships and discomforts, with a few ex tra losses to make the measure even. January 12, 1888, he lost considerable stock in the severe blizzard. Every obstacle encountered, and every loss met, 'has only made him the more determined to succeed. He has persevered in the face of mis fortune, and has now attained his reward in a com fortable, pleasant home, where he can spend a peaceful old age surrounded by friends and family. lie owns now two hundred and forty acres of land. November 10, 1881, Mr. Bichel married Bertha Cristen, who was born in the same province in Germany as Mr. Bichel, and with her sister came to the United States the year of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bichel are the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living. Those living- are Ernest, Annie, Adolph, Clara, Frieda, Helen. Albert and Carl. The others died in infancy. Mir. and Mrs. Bichel are members of the Ger man Lutheran church at Wayne, and Mr. Bichel is a republican. JOSEPH PHELPS. Joseph Phelps, whose biography forms an in teresting page, in the history of the early period of Nebraska, is a resident of Merrick county, Ne braska, where he has resided for the past forty- two years. His present home is one mile east of Central City, where he resided thirty-three years. His original homestead is situated two miles west of the same city. Joseph Phelps was born in Pennsylvania March 22, 1840, and was third of four children in the family of Bela and Henrietta (-Swerly; Phelps, who had three sons and one daughter. Bela Phelps and wife were natives of New York state. About 1843 the Phelps family moved to Henry county, Illinois, where later they were known as pioneers of that county, and where our subject, Joseph L. Phelps, grew up to his young manhood days. The mother Pf Mr. Phelps died in Henry county, Illinois, shortly after her arrival there. Mr. Phelps enlisted in Company C, Ninth Illi nois Cavalry, September 10, 1861, and went through Missouri and Arkansas with Curtis' army in the spring of 1862. He received arms at Pilot Knob, Missouri, and the first stop was at Jackson- port, Arkansas, where he was posted during the months of May and June patrolling Caiche Swamps and White river country, going into the first engagement at this point; then engaging in battle at Orchard Ridge July 7th, then on to He lena, Arkansas, arriving there July 14th, where the regiment remained three or four months and during this time had numerous small engagements and skirmishes; and then to Memphis, Tennessee, where they first established post at Germantown, and patrolled the railroad during the summer months, having numerous skirmishes with the rebel forces, and went out on several expeditions. Dur ing the months above mentioned Mr. Phelps was with General Washburn destroying the track of the Mississippi and Tennessee railroad, and was with the overland force of General McClernand's White river expedition; and on the skirmish line out of Germantown during the months of June, July, and August, going into Tennessee on scout duty in August. Mr. Phelps was in active service during the war and has an honorable war record. He was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in November, 1864, when he returned to Geneseo, that state, and went back to the farm. On January 14, 1867, Mr. Phelps was joined in wedlock to Miss Amelia Bake.r, at Geneseo, Illi nois, at the home of her sister. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps have had three children born to them one of whom is living: Ida, who is married to John Willho-ft, has five children and lives five miles north of Central City, Nebraska. In June, 1868, Mr. Phelps came overland from Henry county, Illinois, to Lone Tree, Nebraska, where they pre-empted land and later on, upon passage of the homestead act, took up a homestead which is still owned by our subject and is located two miles west of Central City. Mrs. Phelps joined her husband in the fall of 1868. In the winter of 1868-9, Mr. Phelps and his COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY 861 wife were on Prairie Island south of Lone Tree sta tion, for the purpose of getting out wood, when they had a narrow escape from death by the In dians. At this time only Indians occupied this island who had' been of a friendly nature. But just prior to their removal to. the Pawnee reser vation at Genoa the Indians had gone out on a hunting trip, had stolen some stock, and seven or eight had been killed by the soldiers, and this caused a disturbance amongst the tribe1 on Prairie Island, which fact Mt. and Mrs. Phelps did not learn of until almost too late. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are of the few old set tlers now residing in Merrick county who still own the original homestead. They came to Ne braska before its statehood days, having passed through the different phases of early settler life, remembering the Indian days and enduring the hardships of the pioneer, assisting in building up a growing country. They have many friends, and hold the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps now reside in their pleas ant home on their one hundred and sixty acre farm one mile east of Central City which was originally homesteaded by Elnathan Phelps, who was killed on his land during the cycione of 1871, which picked him up and threw him in a cotton wood tree, where he was found -dead. This man was not a relative of our subject. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Phelps' father and step mother came to visit him and in the spring of 1884, his half-brothers, James and William, came to Merrick county to reside, when the old folks then went to live with their son James, and about 1888 James moved to Seward county, Nebraska. William, of whom a personal sketch appears on an other page of this volume remained in Merrick county, where he still resides. Thus ends the biography of a long and useful life, ripe in years and deeds, and we trust Mr. Phelps' life be prolonged many years to come. JACK MOTT. Of the residents of Spencer, few have lived longer in the town than her well-known citi zen, Jack Mott, who has resided here continuously since his arrival in 1892, excepting a few months when he was absent disposing of a stock of goods he had secured in a trade, followed by a three months' visit in Oklahoma, Other than this short time, his legal residence has been in the city on the hill. Mr. Mott was born in Waukegan, Illinois, May 8, 1859, a son of Elias E. and Kiziah (Cady) Mott. The parents, at the ages of eighty-six and sixty- seven, reside in Canby, Oregon. They are both natives of the state of New York. They cele brated their golden wedding in 1908, on May 11, a pleasure that is vouchsafed to few couples. From Waukegan they moved to" Rockford, Iowa, in the spring of 1860, landing there May 16; they lived there until the fall of 1864, and then moved to a farm five miles south of town. In 1869 they sold and moved to another farm on Coldwater creek, nineteen miles from Rockford. where they resided eleven years, when they traded for a farm fifteen miles further away, near Clarks- ville. During this time the father took a trip to California, but finding no place to suit him bet ter, returned. After eight years on this farm they sold and lived for a year in Butler Center, and then bought a farm near on which they resided for a year before selling and returning to Clarks- ville. Here he bought twenty acres on which he resided but a short time before migrating to Oregon, December 25, 1890, and has made that his abiding place ever since. From boyhood, Jack Mott was energetic and self-reliant, and while yet in his teens engaged in trapping, earning enough that way one winter to buy a span of colts and several other animals, and the following winter enough to buy forty acres of good land. This he later traded for a fifty-one acre tract adjoining his father's place. By trad ing in this way, in which he was very shrewd, he had accumulated property valued at four thousand dollars by the time he was married, at the age of twenty- seven. Remaining under the parental roof until his marriage, Mr. Mott then set up a home for himself and farmed for two years, en gaging in carpentry at times. Through success ive drouths Mr. Mott lost everything he owned but a team and wagon, a cow and a few pigs. He moved to Clarksville. and although he was the thirteenth to enter the business of draying in the town, he made it profitable from the start and be gan trading in property. He soon had a good home, and at the end of three and one-half years had again accumulated quite a valuable selection of property in town lots and buildings. A large - frame house that stood on ground the owner de sired to improve with a much larger one, Mr. Mott bought for almost nothing and removed to a whole block he purchased for the purpose. Thus, at a comparatively small outlay he had a very valua ble piece of property. In February, 1892, Mr. Mott sold his Clarks ville place and came to Boyd county, settling in Spencer when there were only a few here ahead of him. Here he has resided since, excepting about eight months in 1906, when he spent five months at Union disposing of a stock for which he had traded : after which he spent three months visiting in Oklahoma. When Mr. Mott first came to Spencer he had but six hundred dollars with which he bought a restaurant and built a house. The restaurant de veloped into a hotel which Mr. Mott later traded for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near town. After tbe drouth, when tbe outlook for farming was very gloomy in this part of Ne braska, Mr. Mott after living on the land thirteen months, mortgaged his farm for one thousand 862 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and two hundred dollars, sold his equity for six hundred dollars, and sought other investment. He secured one hundred and seven lots in town at a very low figure, which he held until they could be sold for five times their cost price, thus realiz ing a heavy increase in his capital. Among other property, he secured in a trade forty acres near Springfield, Missouri, which is valued at thirty- five dollars per acre, and although oportunity to sell is offered, he prefers to hold. Besides carpen try, Mr. Mott understands plastering and paper- hanging, at both of which trades he finds employ ment the greater part of the year. Contracts take him into a far field, sometimes as far as Gregory, South Dakota. Mr. Mott was married at Greene, Iowa, May 29, 1886, to Miss Effie Davis, a native of Iowa, a daughter of Moses and Nancy J. (Hall) Davis. Three children constitute their family. They are : Letty, wife of Alfred Allen, of Spencer; William, who is employed with his father; and Amy. Wil liam, who graduated from high school in the class of 1910, is the first to complete the entire course in the Spencer schools. So high was his grade that he is accredited to any state institution with a hundred credits to his account, besides free tuition. Mr. Mott is generally democratic in politics, though he has at times voted the prohibition ticket. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows since 1889. Mr. Mott has encountered many severe bliz zards without flinching, and has fought prairie fires in Iowa as well as in Nebraska. He has been an extensive traveler, his migrations extending as far as Oklahoma and Texas to the south and to Oregon on the west. Many of his trips have been made on his bicycle, and in this way he has been enabled to see the country more intimately than he could have done had he gone by rail. Mr. Mott is an entertaining talker, remember ing the detail of the many incidents he interest ingly relates, and has a good memory for dates and circumstances. He stands well in his community, deserving the highly commendatory reputation his neighbors and colleagues accord him. PAUL SCHULTZE. It would be impossible to give a sketch of the early history of the northeastern part of Nebraska, without including considerable of the Schultze family, one of whom, Fritz, is the subject of a sketch apearing elsewhere in this volume. His brother Paul, the subject of this article, is equally prominent and well known here, and has contrib uted in an equal measure to the prosperity now en joyed by the people of this community. Like his brother, Mr. Paul Schultze was born in Germany, in 1862. When the family emigrated to America, in 1869, he was old enough to remem ber a few incidents of the trip over, while Fritz was a mere infant at the time. As has been related in a preceding sketch, the > family came at once to Stanton county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead on section nine teen. Their first dwelling was a dug-out, which served as a home for the family for about fifteen years. Our subscriber can tell many interesting stories of those pioneer days, which now seem to be so far back of us. Hardships innumerable have been contended with, and there were many of the early settlers who gave up and went back to. their comfortable homes in the east. Those of the val iant heart and courage, those who possessed in domitable perseverance, have long since received their reward. ' In 1890, Mr. Schultze was united in marriage to Miss Martha Newman, of which union three children have been bora. They are named as fol lows: Minnie, Sarah, and William. The name of Schultze has, since the maturing of the state of Nebraska, been coupled with the progressive affairs in the communities in which they have lived. JOHN HAMILTON. To those men of perseverance and strong de termination who came to Nebraska when it was un developed as an agricultural and commercial re gion, the present prosperity is due. Prominent among the early settlers of Antelope county who have been closely identified with its progress and who has gained an enviable reputation as a citi zen, may be mentioned John Hamilton, a prosper ous and successful farmer of Royal township. Mr. Hamilton is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born in September, 1856, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Williams) Hamil ton. Mr. Hamilton's father served in the Civil war, enlisting in Company — , Forty-seventh In diana Infantry, and participated in the battle of Lookout mountain, and marched through Ala bama, Tennessee, New Orleans, North Carolina, and South Carolina; and also participated in the battle of Gettysburg, Richmond, and Antietam. In June, 1867, Mr. Hamilton moved to Illinois, where he remained twelve years, then going to Cass county, Nebraska, driving the entire dis tance, where he rented a farm for four years. He then came to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a pre-emption claim, in section eighteen, town ship twenty-four, range seven, where he resided seven years, then taking up a, homestead of eighty acres in section twenty-one, township twenty- seven, range seven, where he still resides and has a well-improved farm called the "Happy Holler." November 26, 1884, Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Sarah Stockton, and eight children blessed this union : Charles, Stella, Daniel, Elsie, Murvin, Stacey, William, and Willis, the last two being twins. In 1892 Mrs. Hamilton died, survived by her husband and children. MRS. LUCIAN McCANDLESS. LUCIAN McCANDLESS. SOD HOUSE OF LUCIAN McCANDLESS, BUILT ON THE HOMESTEAD IN CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA, IN 1882. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 863 Mr. Hamilton has experienced all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life. At times everything seemed to go against him. At one time the hot winds destroyed his crops and at other times the drouth caused heavy losses. In 1889, while Mr. Hamilton was attending a funeral, a prairie fire broke out, doing immense damage. Fortunately for Mr. Hamilton, however, he es caped without loss. March 19, 1896, Mr. Hamil ton again married, this time to Almyra Ashford. this marriage taking place in Missouri, where Miss Ashford and her parents resided and were old settlers in that state. They later sold out and moved to Oklahoma, but returned to Missouri after one year. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton live in their pleasant home and enjoy the respect and friendship of a great many friends. Politically, Mr. Hamilton is independent. He is a member of the United Brethren church, Ancient Order of United Work men, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. JACOB WALTER. Jacob Walter, a substantial and representative citizen of Custer county, who has lived on his homestead there since 1 883, is a native of Harrison county, Indiana, born July 31, 1860, the eleventh child of John and Catherine Walter, and the youngest of their six sons. He has two sisters, now living in Custer county, Mrs. George McRae, and Mrs. Walter Bence, whose husbands belong to pioneer families of the region, but of the others his brothers and sisters are scattered in various states, Kentucky, Iowa, California, and Indiana. The parents are deceased. Mr. Walter was reared on a farm in Indiana and received the usual edu cational advantages of a farmer's son. About his twenty-second year he went to Kentucky and spent a year there and in May, 1883, he came to Custer county, with his brother-in-law, George McRae, and family. Upon coming to, Custer county took a home stead comprising the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township seventeen, range nineteen, which has been his home continuously since that time. He now has two hundred and forty acres of larid in this section, besides one hundred and sixty acres in another section. He has a well-equipped and improved grain and stock farm and is one of the original homesteaders of his part of the county. He has served in various local offices, such as a member of the township board, school board, and in other capacities. He is a man of sterling worth, much interested in the welfare and development of his county and state, and is popular among his many friends. On April 14, 1904, Mr. Walter married Min nie Cudmore, daughter of William and Sarah Cud- more, their union being celebrated at Broken Bow. Three children have blessed their union: Ada Bernice, John Clarice, and Cecil Gertrude. Mrs. Walter was born in 1873 and has one sister living in Custer county, Mrs. Peter Pederson, whose hus band is one of the pioneers of the region. Her parents came to the county in an early day and were prominent among the pioneers. LUCIAN McCANDLESS. Lucian McCandless, a prosperous and business man of Broken Bow, Nebraska, is one of the ear liest settlers in his part of the state. He was bora in McDonough county, Illinois, June 25, 1854, next to the youngest of the four children of Sam- nel H. and Delia (Reed) McCandless, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch extraction, and the mother a native of New York. He died in Illinois in January, 1861, and she died in York, Nebraska, in 1900. One son, William R., now lives in York, Nebraska, and two daughters are deceased. Mr. McCandless grew to manhood on his fa ther's farm in Illinois and obtained his ele mentary education in the public schools, later 'at tending Macomb academy. He engaged in farm ing for himself as a young man, and in February, 1874, seeking for larger opportunities for secur ing a home bf his own, located in York county, Nebraska, where he purchased railroad land. On September 12, 1878, Mr. McCandless married Amanda Emma Gandy, at the home of her parents in York county. She was born in Davis county, Iowa, a daughter of Amos W. and Mary E. (Phelps) Gandy, and came to York county in .1870. In the spring of 1882 Mr. McCandless brought his wife and son to Custer county, taking a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land ad joining the city limits of Broken Bow, which had just been laid out. Mr. McCandless erected the first dwelling Jiouse in the town, a little sod build ing, so characteristic of early Nebraska. After spending a few months in town they moved to the homestead, which has since been their residence. He also pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining and there has a well improved and developed stock and grain farm. Being an early' settler there he has passed through the vari ous stages of the upbuilding and settling of the re gion, and in connection with improving his own for tunes has helped materiaUy in the general progress. Except for forty-five acres of land which he has sold in city lots he still owns his original claims. He and his wife are prominent in religious, educa tional and social circles, and he has taken a credi table interest in public matters. In 1893-94 he served as county supervisor and he has also served on the Broken Bow school boards and as justice of the peace. He and his wife have had eight children : Harper Leroy at home ; Teddy, who died in infancy; William L., living at home, is a banker at Berwyn: Raymond B., is a student in Wesleyan university at Lincoln, Nebraska; Amos died in 1896 ; Harry P„ Mary Bell and Charles 864 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. W., at home. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. McCand less will be found elsewhere in this work. JOHN REHDER. John Render, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section twenty-nine, township twen ty-seven, range one, is well-known in Pierce county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful farmer and agriculturist. Mr. Rehder is a native of Germany, being bora in the village of Etlock, Holstein province, De cember 2, 1853, and after growing to manhood was a farm laborer, doing what his hands found to do. He is the son of Hans and Anna (Diaron) Rehder; his father was born in 1828, attaining the age of ninety years, and his mother was born in 1838, and died in 1883 in the 'fatherland. Mr. Rehder emigrated to America in 1884, embarking at Hamburg on the "Harmonia," landing nine days later in New York. He came to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he lived one year, then went to Davenport, Iowa, living there for a period of eighteen months. He farmed at Grand Island for two years, then moved to Rushville, Sheridan county, where he bought the relinquish ment to a homestead claim, living nart of the time here in a sod house. Later he sold this land, and settled in Pierce county, Nebraska, and bought the southwest quarter of section six, township twenty-six, range two, six miles from Pierce; a tenant now cultivates this farm for him. Mr. Rehder was first married in 1883, to Miss Anna Teterman, and to this union eight children have been born ; Lena, married William Schendler, and has two children, Willie and Herman ; Emma, now Mrs. William Marscha; Anna, Tille, married Ernst Peterson; Peter, Bertha, Minnie, and Herman. Mr. Rehder 's first wife died in 1901, and in 1907 he was again married, this time to the widow of Henry Dehlert, whom she married in Minden, Iowa. They came to Nebraska in 1885, purchasing the first eighty acres at seven dollars, the second at twelve dollars, and the second quar ter section at twenty-five dollars — land now worth nearly a hundred dollars per acre. Mrs. Rehder, Anna Merseu in maidenhood, was born in the vil lage of Heide, province of Holstein, Germany, and came to America in 1883. Of her first marriage six children were bora, five of whom are hving: Herman, Elsa, Emma, William and Walter. Of the second marriage one child was born, named Emil. Mr. Rehder has always taken an active interest in affairs in his locality, and aided every move ment for the betterment of conditions in his com munity. In religious faith, he is a member of the German Lutheran church, and has affiliated with the Sons of Lierman since 1899. MILTON HUDSON. This gentleman is owner of a fine farm in the North Loup Valley, which is fully equipped with good buildings and improvements. He engages in mixed farming and stock raising, and outside of his home farm, is possessed of other lands located in the vicinity, all of which forms a very valuable estate. Milton Hudson was born in Madison county, Kentucky, July 27, 1853, and is the eldest child of David and Mary Terril Hudson, the family living in that state for many years. When our subject was eighteen years of age, he started out for himself, going to Clay county, Mis souri, where he spent a number of years, being married there in 1878, to Lulu Wills, Whose par ents were pioneers in the region. Mr. Hudson, with his wife and one child, came into Howard county, Nebraska, in October, 1883, and here a daughter was born, Lulu, who is now the wife of Earl W. Barns, they living in Ray mond, Nebraska. Mrs. Hudson and the elder daughter, Pearl by name, are deceased, the former dying in 1885, and Pearl three years later. In the year of his wife's death, Mr. Hudson purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-two, township sixteen, range eleven. He worked faithfully, and succeeded in making of it one of the finest farms in the region, still mak ing it his home place, although he owns one hun dred and sixty acres in section twenty-six, Fair- dale precinct, Howard county. His place is equipped with substantial buildings of all kinds, and he is considered one of the wealthy and pro gressive men of his section. In 1 887, Mr. Hudson was married to Miss Lulu Dale, in Macon City, Missouri. Mrs. Hudson is of a prominent old Missouri family, and a lady of much charm. They are the parents of two chil dren, Oscar and Fay, both living at home. During his early residence in Howard county, Mr. Hudson was prominently connected with the upbuilding of his locality, helping establish the local schools, etc., and has passed through all the ups and downs of pioneer life in Nebraska. GEORGE EBERHART. George Eberhart who is proprietor of a fine estate in section six, township nineteen, range four teen, is one of the prominent and successful ranch men of Valley county, Nebraska. He has made this region his home for over fourteen years past, and is well known throughout the locality as a progressive and up-to-date farmer and one of the well-to-do citizens of the community in which he resides. Mr. Eberhart was born in La Salle county, Illinois, June 18, 1871, and was second of nine chil dren in the family of Chris and Albertina (Ploutz) Eberhart, who had six sons and three COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 865 daughters; our subject was born and raised on a farm in Pottawatomie county, Iowa, where his par ents 'had moved about 1887. Mr. Eberhart came from Pottawaomie county, Tow'a; to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1896, where he first settled in Mira valley, Valley county,' and followed farming and stock raising. He is now one of the largest stock men in VaUey county, and has a fine lot of cattle. Mr. Eberhart was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Lee in Mira Valley, Valley county, Nebras ka, September 10, 1894. She is a daughter of Henry. and Martha (Hornicle) Lee, who migrated from Iowa to Valley county some twenty years ago. Mr. Eberhart came from Iowa to be married in Valley county, Nebraska, and returned to Iowa, after marriage, to his farm, but in 1896 moved from Iowa to Mira Valley and bought a quarter- section of land. In 1905 Mr. Eberhart bought the east half of section six, township eighteen, range thirteen; where he has a fine stock farm of three hundred and twenty acres, with a large, commo dious dwelling, big barn and necessary outbuild ings. Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart have five children, namely: Alice, Nellie, Esther, Bessie and George, junior. Mr. Eberhart is one of the younger and newer settlers in Valley county, but is a progres sive man along all lines, and closely identified with the interests of Valley county. Mr. Eberhart 's brother Ben joined him about 1904, and now owns and lives on the southwest quarter, of section six, township eighteen, range thirteen, and is married and has one child. The other members of the Eberhart family live in Iowa. SAMUEL KENT. Samuel Kent, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section one, township twenty-three, range two, is well known throughout Madison ¦county as a progressive and successful agricultur ist, highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Kent is a native of county Wexford, Ire land, born February 2, 1833, and is a son of Richard and Bridget (Kinshella) Kent, both na tives of Ireland ; the mother was born in April of 1810, and lived to be ninety-three years of age. • Mr. Kent when but twenty-one years of age left his native land for the new world, embarking at New Ross, Ireland, on a sailboat and was on the sea five weeks. After crossing the ocean he first landed in Quebec, Canada, remaining in Canada for six years ; in 1860 he moved to Michigan, resid ing there ten years. In 1870, Mr. Kent, with his family, started for the west, coming by railroad to Des Moines, Iowa. Here our subject left his family and came to Ne braska to find a location for a home to bring his family to. He came overland from Omaha to Nor folk on the mail stage, and after reaching Nor folk he took up a homestead claim, where he now resides, in section one, township twenty-three, range two, as before stated. After locating his claim he returned by stage to Omaha, and from there went to Des Moines, Iowa, to get his family. He returned to Madison county with his family and they took possession of their new home ; at first a sod house fourteen by fourteen feet was put up, and the famiy lived in this seven years. Mr. Kent also took up a timber claim seven miles southwest of the homestead. Columbus was their market place in those early days. Forty years of steady improvement have passed over this section of the country since Mr. Kent first landed in Madison county, and one who has not been a witness of the marvelous changes that have taken place would not recognize this portion of the west as the same locality as that of forty years ago. When Mr. Kent first came to the western frontier, the wild, unbroken prairie had not known the touch of cultivation, nor scarcely felt the pressure of a white man's foot. The pioneer settler had to break the virgin soil by very primitive means and much hard labor. After our subject had broken and cultivated his land and had the crops well started, the grasshoppers came in hordes and de stroyed every vestige; this happened the first five seasons of his residence. But Mr. Kent braved all these hardships and discouragements and has reaped a rich reward for his perseverance and thrift — he now owns eight hundred and eighty acres of the finest land in Madison county. Mr. Kent was married July 14, 1858, to Miss Mary Doyle, also a native of Ireland, and Mr. and Mrs. Kent are the parents of ten children, namely -. Richard, Samuel, John, James, May, Annie, Ellen, Maggie, Katie, and Matilda. This is a fine family, possessing the respect and esteem of all who know them. They are members of the Roman Catholic church. On January 12, 1888, during the blizzard, two of Mr. Kent's children Samuel and John, were at school.- Samuel left John at a neighbor's house and started home, and was nearly lost in the storm, only finding his way home by chance. Mr. Kent is affiliated with the democratic party, and he is surrounded in his pleasant home by a host of kind neighbors and good friends. v ISAAC M. CRIST. Among the earliest settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, were the Crist family, and Isaac M. Crist is a native of that county. Lie is one of the younger generation of farmers to operate in his region and is successful to a gratifying degree. He is one of the ten children of Seth and Eliza (Masterson) Crist, and was born June 12, 1880. He grew up amid pioneer conditions and attended the early schools of his native county. After leav ing school he engaged in farming. On March 3, 1909, Mr. Crist married Miss Maud Roach, who was born in Hamilton county, 866 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Nebraska. The Roach family were early settlers of Hamilton county and Mrs. Crist 's father, Milton Roach, was born in Iowa and now lives in Custer, as does her mother, Mrs. Ora '(Smith) Roach. She has three brothers and one sister in the county. Two daughters have blessed the union of Mr. Crist and wife, Audrey and Naoma. Mr. Crist is an enterprising and energetic farmer and follows modern ideas in carrying on his work. He is well known and popular in his community, where he has spent his entire life, and has made his influence felt in public affairs. Mr. Crist cultivated his grandmother's farm six' years, consecutively, and had occupied it a year prior to that time. In the spring of 1911 he leased for two years the farm of his father-in-law in section thir ty-two, township seventeen, range seventeen, and is interested in farming and stock raising. He is a representative of a prominent family that has long had a good standing in Custer county, and has every reason to be proud of his name and ances tors. In political views he. favors the democrats and populists, and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. KNUT HENRICKSON. Among the many self-made men of, Nebraska, Knut Henrickson, a prosperous farmer of Cedar county, is a notable example. He came to the county with no capital and with a wife and family to support, took up a homestead and improved and developed it until he now has a valuable estate. He is a native of Sweden, born in Skaane in 1838 and reared on his father's farm. His parents were Hans Henrickson (Henry Hanson) and Christina (Hanson) Henrickson, who spent their lives in Sweden. After being educated in the schools of his native land, Mr. Henrickson engaged in farming and eventually married there. In 1880, however, he decided to seek for larger opportunities for him self and his children, and sailed from Gottenburg to New York, whence he at once set out for the west. He went first to Yankton and Mrs. Hen-! rickson 's brother came soon afterwards. They later came to St. Helena and on to their present home on section twenty-eight, township thirty, range one, west, of Cedar county, which has since been the home place. Upon locating in Cedar county Mr. Henrickson took up a homestead, but at first had not one cent to pay for food. The first year they turned the soil with a spade, as they had neither plow nor team. The second year Mr. Henrickson went to St. Helena and worked for money to buy a team and his wife worked for her brother in the field at fifty cents per day, to earn money to help pay her brother three dollars per acre to break ground on the Henrickson homestead. The first few years were ones of hard work to enable them to get a start, but they persevered and kept up their cour age until better days came. Many times Mr. Hen rickson had to walk to St. James and carry home a sack of flour to the family, as he had no team with which to haul it. However, by dint of much hard work and patience he was able to make a good* be ginning towards the development of his farm and erected suitable buildings and secured good agri cultural implements to help him in his work. Mr. Henrickson 's marriage occurred in Swe den, in 1866, when he was united with Anna Pars, and they are the parents of the following seven children : Mary, now Mrs. William Case ; Henry, Bettie, wife of August Erickson; Alfred, Emma, married to Samuel Case; Lewis, and Bertha, mar ried to Clarence Cressie. EVERETT J. CRAWFORD. Everett J. Crawford, of Comstock, Nebraska, is well known as a banker and successful business man, having helped in the organization of the Farmers & Merchants bank there. He belongs to a pioneer family and was born in Westerville, Aug ust 16, 1885, junior son of Nathaniel J. and Sarah Emma (Woodfill) Crawford, the former a native of Bangor, Maine, and the latter of Indiana. The father was born April 17, 1841, and when but a small boy was taken by his parents 'from Maine to Jefferson county, Indiana, where he reached man hood's estate. He enlisted in Company A, Fifty- fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three months, and re-enlisted in Company L, First Regiment Indiana Heavy Artil lery for three years. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, having served for about sixteen months as a non-commissioned officer. At the close of the war Nathaniel J. Crawford became a machinist, working at his trade in Chi cago, Denver, and other cities. He came from Denver to Nebraska and took a homestead on Clear creek in Custer county, in 1879. This farm was on the southwest quarter of section one, township six teen, range eighteen, and he set at work to im prove it, developing a valuable estate there. He was identified with the early growth and pros perity of the region and a man known for his strict integrity in business transactions. On February 22, 1882, Mr. Crawford married Sarah Emma, daughter of John G. and Jane (Storms) Woodfill, fourth of their eight children in order of birth. She came to Custer county in September, 1879, making her home with an uncle until the time of her marriage. Her parents are deceased and the only surviving members of the family are herself and her brother Conrad A., of California. Mrs. Crawford is a pioneer of Custer county, having a practical knowledge of early days and frontier life. She has been active along all lines of progress and is highly esteemed in vari ous circles. Mr. Crawford had many hardships to meet in his first years on the homestead, having to COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 867 go to Kearney or Grand Island for supplies, and, with the exception of a year spent in Westerville, lived there until the fall of 1909, when he located in Comstock, where his death occurred February 18, 1910, survived by his widow and three chil dren: Fred B., the elder son, born on the home stead farm March 23, 1883, a prominent young man of Custer county, married Miss Ena Welsh, April 6, 1910, and they live on the old Crawford homestead; Everett J. ; and Miss Twilla, a teacher in the public schools of Comstock. Mrs. Comstock now lives with her son, E. J., at Comstock. Everett J. Crawford finished the common school course, spent one year in Broken Bow busi ness college and one term in Wesleyan university in Lincoln, graduating from the commercial de partment in 1908. In the fall of that year he took a position in the First National bank at Ansley, and in 1909 helped to organize the bank of which he has been cashier since October, 1909, being also a director. He is one of the best known young busi ness men in the county, of recognized integrity and ability. The bank with which he is connected is a sound financial institution, with a capital and surplus of fifteen thousand dollars. Vencel Krikac is president and J. W. Yockey vice-president.Since its organization it has shown a healthful and en couraging growth. It is a home bank, owned by local men, the more conservative farmers and busi ness men of Custer county. At the close of the business done October 7, 1909, the first day's busi ness, they had deposits to the amount of eight hun dred and fifty-two dollars, and on October 7, 1910, deposits of fifty-six thousand dollars, each succeed ing month showing an increase in business. On May 4, 1910, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage with Martha M., daughter of James and Josephine Hiser, born and reared in Custer county, where her parents were early settlers. Mrs. Craw ford died at her home in Comstock May 15, 1911, survived by her husband and infant daughter, Marion Martha. Mrs. Crawford was greatly loved by her friends for her beautiful character and fine qualities of mind and heart. Her loss was a great shock to her family and all who knew her. She graduated from Ansley high school in May, 1901, and in 1902 from the Ursuline conservatory of music at York, being highly talented as a musician. FRED BOLTER. Located very pleasantly in section twenty- three, township thirty, range eight, Knox county, Nebraska, is to be found the genial and enterpris ing young man, Mr. Fred Bolter. Mr. Bolter is well known throughout this community, being a native born son of Nebraska, and his parents hav ing been of the very first settlers of Knox county. Mr. Bolter, as before stated, is a native of Ne braska, being born in Knox county, February 4, 1882. He is the son of Ernest and Mary Bolter, both natives of Germany. They left Germany in the early seventies to come to America, sailing from Hamburg to New York City. After landing in the United States they came directly to Knox county, Nebraska, having heard of the cheap land to be procured by the homestead act that had been put into effect, whereby a man could obtain land just for the meer proving up on it. Upon coming to Knox county, our subject's parents took up a homestead on section twenty-two, township thirty, range eight, on which they built a frame house; they also took a tree claim. Here the family ex perienced the many hardships that were endured by the few very early settlers, the hardships and dangers being much greater in the first days of set tlement than later on when the country was becom ing gradually more populated. Our subject grew up on the home farm, and well remembers the many experiences of those days on the old home stead. Mr. Bolter was united in marriage May 15, 1906, to Miss Edith Butterfield, and Mr. and Mrs. Bolter are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Roy, Leonard, and Vera. Mr. and Mrs. Bolter and family are surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all in the community in which they reside. JAMES FLETCHER BROWDER. James Fletcher Browder, born in Jackson county, Illinois, on September 6, 1848, is a son of David and Margaret Browder, the former being the father of eighteen children, James F. being the seventeenth in order of birth, and of this large f amlily but himself and , one' brother are now liv ing. The father died in 1855 and his widow fol lowed him seven years later. After his father's death our subject went to Kentucky with relatives, remaining there for about three years, following farm work as an occupation, finally returning to Illinois, and in 1864 he went to Iowa and spent about two years. He again re- ' turned to Illinois, and in 1869 went to Iowa, from there to Kansas in 1871, where he spent one year, and then returned to Iowa. In the fall of 1873 he came to Boone county and homesteaded a quarter section about four and a half miles southeast of Albion, later selling his relinquishment. In 1878 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres two miles west of his original homestead, and made that his home" for about eighteen months, then pur chased one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land lying two miles west of Loretta. In 1883 he went back to Iowa and became connected with the Diamond Creamery Company, remaining for one and a half years, then returned to Boone county and engaged in farming and stock raising, continu ing in the business up to 1901, at which time he settled in Loretta, where he built a comfortable home and resided until tbe spring of 1910, when he began renting the farm which he now occupies two miles west of Loretta. 868 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Browder was married on February 1, 1877, to Miss Anna Watson, of Washington county, Illi nois. They have a family of three children, Wil liam 0. and Arthur E., living at home, while Wini fred M., now the wife of W. M. Bradbury, lives in '¦ Grand Island, Nebraska. PETER M. SODERSTEN. Prominent among Antelope county old settlers is P. M Sodersten, who since the fall of 1884 has made this region his home and who has done his share in the developing of the 'agricultural re sources of this section of the country. Mr. Soder sten lives in section two, township twenty-five, range eight. Mr. Sodersten is a native of province of Dalarne, Sweden, born August 18, 1857. and after growing to manhood followed the occupation of sailor. His father, Olaf So dersten, was a farmer in Sweden. Our sub ject left his native land to come to America in 1882 where he could get cheap land, sailing from Gut- tenberg by steamship. After landing he first came to Will county, Illinois, where he lived and worked on a farm for two years, then in 1884 going to Holt county, Nebraska, northeast of Atkinson on Brush creek, residing there five years. He came to Antelope county in 1890, where he proved up on a timber claim and then bought one hundred and sixty acres south of it. making three hundred and twenty acres of land. Prom 1890 to 1893, Mr. Sod ersten worked on the railroad at Clearwater, then i!n April, 1893, he went to O'Neill, where he was section foreman until November 6, 1900, he then moved to Clearwater, where he was section fore man until April, 1901. Mr. Sodersten was married April 18, 1888, to MUss Harriet Smith and to them have been born (¦even children, as follows: Anna, (deceased) : Vida Charles Magnus, Mary, Olaf (deceased) ; Bessie Caroline, and Perry (deceased). Mrs. Sod ersten came to Antelope county in October, 1871, with her parents from Iowa. She was born in Texas, April 7, 1859, and in May, 1871, her par ents took up a homestead south of Oakdale, Ante lope county, Nebraska. Her father was a native of New York, and her mother also of New York but the ancestors of Mrs. Sodersten came from the Isle of Wight. In the early days Mrs. Sodersten with her parents fought the prairie fires to save their home and grain, and experienced other hard ships incidental to those times. Mrs. Sodersten was one of the first to attend school in the first school district organized in Antelope county, Nebraska. GEORGE W. GREENWALT. George W. Greenwalt is one of the pioneer homesteaders of Custer county, Nebraska, and has witnessed the development of the country around his home from the time he located there, nearly thirty years ago, until the present time, and during tliis period the region of sod shanties, where the land was mostly devoted to the cattle ranch busi ness, has changed to a region of fertile farms and comfortable farm homes. He was one of those who found it necessary at times, in the early days, to use a coffee mill to grind a little grain for making bread, and when he came he had almost no cash to invest, but made his start in life by his own efforts and did his full share, at the same time, to assist in the general development and improvement. He is a native of Dayton, Henry county, Illinois, born January 18, 1862, next to the youngest child of John and Caroline (Goodman) Greenwalt, who were parents of four daughters and two sons. Mr. Greenwalt was the older of the two sons in the family, and the brother, Daniel, resides in Kimberley, South Africa. An elder sister of Mr. Greenwalt, Mrs. A. R. Doolittle, lives in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Greenwalt lived in his native state until his eighteenth year, and June 20, 1880, came direct from Henry county to Custer county, Ne braska, and began working on a ranch in order to learn the cattle business, the country at that time being given over to large ranches. He became an expert cattleman and also rode the Wyoming range in the. same capacity. He has traveled extensively and crossed the continent four times, and is well in formed on a variety of subjects. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Greenwalt took up his oresent homestead on the southwest quarter of section eight, township seventeen, range nine teen, and has since lived continuously on this place. He has developed and improved his estate and now has four hundred acres in this property, de voting considerable attention to stock raising and handling a large herd of cattle. He has been ac tively instrumental in promoting the welfare and development of his part of the county and has served in various offices of public trust. During the years 1901-1905 he served as county commis sioner. He is unmarried and realizes to the full extent the difficulties of holding a homestead un der adverse circumstances and pioneer conditions. He is one of the able and enterprising business men who have done so much for the region and has given freely of his time and influence for the bet terment of his county and state. HENRY PFANSTIEL. For over eighteen years the citizens of Pierce county have had in their midst a worthy citizen in the person of the gentleman above named. He, has been identified with the development and growth of this section of the state of Nebraska, and has succeeded in building up a good home and an enviable reputation for himself, being highly esteemed by his fellowmen. Mr. Pfanstiel was born in the village of Oberel- len, Saxony, Germany, Augus't 28, 1858, and is" a son of Fredrick Pfanstief, who was a farmer in 'EVERGREEN FARM," RESIDENCE OF HENRY PFANSTIEL. SC/SOQL.O'STf/CT >;., ;o RESIDENCE OF JAMES M. JOHN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 869 the old country, and Katrina Braun, al»o a native of Germany. ' When starting for America, Mr. Pfanstiel sailed from Bremen to New York in the ship "Hapsburg," which was ten or twelve days mak ing the voyage. Since his arrival here, he resided in SchuylkiU county, Pennsylvania, three months, and in Chicago one month, going thence to Scott county, Iowa, where he was employed at farm labor four years. He worked in Sac county, Iowa, for one year, and then rented land for five years. He came to Pierce county in the spring of 1893, having bought land in section ten, township twen ty-eight, range two, the fall before. This he im proved at the time, and in 1903 built a large barn and the year following, a fine seven-room house, together with other necessary buildings. A view of his home place, surrounded by beautiful ever green and forest trees, is to be found in this vol ume. He purchased a quarter-section in section fifteen, just across the road from his home place, in 1897, and has it improved with a good set of farm buildings, occupied by a tenant. At the time, of his coming, this part of the state was all open prairie, without a building, a fence, or a single tree. All these have been added by the hands of those who came into the wilderness and remained to make it one of the most highly culti vated regions of the country. Mr. Pfanstiel was united in marriage February 24, 1888, to Miss Elizabeth Grantt, a native of Clinton county, Iowa, daughter of Henry Grantt. They now have a family of seven children, named as follows: Alvina, Adelia, Clara, Mary, Herman, Carl and Harry. Mr. Pfanstiel and family are members of the German Lutheran church, and he is independent in politics, casting hisNvote for the best man. Our subject went to his old home in Germany on a visit in 1903, remaining three months, when he returned to his family and home of adoption, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his early in dustry and thrift. JAMES M. JOHN. The John family were among the early settlers of Nebraska and the subject of this sketch and his venerable father, Samuel R. John, have long been identified with the development of the central part of the state. James M,. John was born in Cedar county near Iowa City, Iowa, January 15, 1860. The father, Samuel R. John, was born in Oar- roll county, Ohio. June 14, 1830, the fifth of six children born to Abner and Hannah John. He vyas married August 25, 1853, to Eliza Auten they "be coming the parents of five sons and three daugh ters, our subject being the third child. In 1855 Samuel R. John and wife moved to Cedar county, Iowa, and ten years later, to Sullivan county, In diana. In 1874 they located near Loup City, Sher man county, Nebraska. 'They secured a homestead there, which they occupied until 1892, when they came to Valley county. They were among the pio neers of the section and made the trip by wagon from Sullivan county, Indiana, camping by the wayside during the five weeks necessary for the trip. - The children of Samuel R. John and wife were as follows : Hannah Mary, married Willis Cadwell, of Polk county, Nebraska, and they have three chil dren: Joseph, of Custer county, is married and has three children; James M., of this sketch; William D.; deceased; David W., of Custer county, is mar- . ried and has five children ; Alvaretta, wife of Wil liam Leinenger of Sherman county, has seven chil dren;- Charles, of Valley county, is married and has four children; Ann May, wife of Fred Gould, of Custer county, has four children. In early life Samuel R. John followed the trade of carpenter in Indiana, but since he first located in Iowa has fol lowed farming as an occupation. He was success ful in this line and became prominent as a stock man. His wife died on the farm occupied by the son, James M., February 26, 1909, deeply mourned as a loving wife and devoted mother, and highly regarded by all as an earnest christian and a pio neer settler of the region. Mr. John lives with his son James and is now in his eighty-first year. He has been well-known as a pioneer in several states, has had many interesting experiences. He has done his part toward promoting the progress and upbuilding of every community where he has lived and has been especially active and helpful along the lines of education, morality and religion. He has the respect and regard of aU who have been associated with him. James M. John accompanied his parents to Sherman county in 1874 and in his twenty-second year started in life for himself, becoming a farm hand. In 1884 he came to Valley county and se cured a homestead on section three, township sev- ¦ enteen, range sixteen, where he has since resided. He had one hundred and sixty acres at first and now has a well equipped farm of three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. He has al ways been interested in stock and has been especi ally successful in this line of farming. He is one of the best known farmers and stockmen of cen tral Nebraska and is recognized as an able business man. August 27, 1884, Mr. John married Clara A. Winter, a native of Illinois, daughter of Wayne and Clarilla L. (Jones) Winter of Polk, Nebraska: tbe mother died when Mrs. John was about eight years of age. The Jones family were early resi dents of Iowa. Eleven children' were born to Mr. John and wife, all on the homestead farm, as fob lows: Anna May. wife of Claude Gould, of Arca dia, Nebraska, has two children; Charles M. R., and Edward L., at home; Eliza, married Ed Slocum and lives south of the John farm ; Flossie, Ida, Laura, Golden, Amelia, Fern and Lawrence M., all at home. Mr. John and wife have reared a large family and have a pleasant home, sur- 870 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. rounded by their many friends and enjoying the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. John can well remember his bachelor days in a small sod house; after marriage he built a more commodious "soddy" in which they lived for about twelve years, and then built a frame house. Their present large dwelling was erected in 1908. We call attention to an engraving of their farm house adorning one of our illustrative pages. Both Mr. and Mrs. John have passed through the usual trials and hardships of tlie pioneer. The first and second year grasshoppers devoured their crops, three years drouth "burned vegetation before it reached maturity, and hail beat their crops into the grourid four different seasons; one ,year a cyclone moved their farm house seven feet. Fear of an Indian uprising drove them from home one entire season, but they returned after danger of an attack was oastT In the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. John returned home at five o'clock in the morning, just as soon as the storm had some what abated. Mr. John has seen elk, deer, and an telope, on the prairies, and his rifle secured some of them, supplying the family with fresh meat. In politics Mr. John is a republican. JASPER L. DENNIS. Jasper L. Dennis lacked but little of being a native son of Nebraska, being under school age when his parents moved to the state in 1873. He was born at Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, Oc tober 25, 1868, and is a son of Lewis and Isabel (Woods) Dennis, natives of Illinois. Our subject's father, Lewis Dennis, served three years in the Twenty-seventh Illinois Volun teer Regiment during the Civil war, receiving a wound at Chattanooga and another at Lookout Mountain, which for a time laid him up in the hospital camps ; and as soon as he was able to get out he served as company cook until he could take his place in the ranks again. He returned to Illinois and soon moved to Jones county, Iowa. In Iowa he followed farm ing, as he did in Cedar county, after reaching Ne braska. He migrated with his family, together with two or three neighbors, by wagon in the fall of 1873, settling on a homestead tract back from Ponca, Nebraska, where but two or three neigh bors had preceded him. His first dwelling, a dirt- covered dug-out faced with boards, was more elaborate than the usual dug-out of the early set tlers. His first stable was of slough grass covered with the same material. When he prospered suf ficiently to build a good house and barn the lum ber was hauled from Sioux City, Iowa, fifty miles away. His first ground was broken with oxen, of which he had several yoke, but his traveling was done with a span of mules, the first in that region. In going to St. James on the Missouri river, for wood, his neighbors with their ox wagons started two hours in advance, he being able to make the twenty miles to the river in that much less time. The Dennis family were here in time to suffer by the grasshopper raids, losing all their crops sev eral years, and part of their crops other seasons. At times when their supply of wood ran low, the family burned hay and the heavy weeds that grew among the slough grass. Many deer and ante lope were to be seen in the country and now and then a stray buffalo. The big grey wolf was ac- casionally heard, his cry being deeper and louder than the coyotes, but he was seldom to be seen. J. L. Dennis began farming for himself on rented land about the time he attained his ma jority. After his marriage he rented the old home place and continued there until about 1895. - He secured a place with the Peavey Elevator Com pany and represented them at Hardington, Ne braska, Delhi, Minnesota, and Magnet, Nebraska. He was stationed at Laurel, Nebraska, in the em ploy of the Sidnum Grain Company until 1900, when he was sent to Osmond. The year following they sold to the Anchor Grain Company and Mr. Dennis was retained in charge and continued in their employ until May 1, 1911, when he ac cepted a position with the Osmond Farmers'- Grain and Live Stock Association. Mr. Dennis was married in Coleridge, Cedar county, Nebraska, December 15, 1892, to Miss Vin- nie Durrin, a native of Manchester, Delaware county, Iowa, and a daughter of Professor R. and Mary (Hoakum) Durrin. The father retired from teaching and engaged in the marble business, liv ing at Wayne, Nebraska, at the time of his death, March 22, 1911. To Mr. and Mrs. Dennis one daughter and three sons have been born: Eva, Cecil, Meril, and Harold. Mr. Dennis has been exposed to two of the early blizzards of Nebraska. In that of January, 1888, he was on the way to the Paragon Mills at Hardington; and in that of October, 1881, he and his father were at the barn when the storm broke, and so thick was the snow in the air the father thought it unsafe to return to the house, so the two spent the night in the hay mow as far down in the hay as possible, the boy between his father and a large Newfoundland dog, where he was kept com fortable and warm throughout the night. He had a thrilling experience in a prairie fire; with his brother he was driving some eighteen or twenty head of cattle when a prairie fire was started by the "Black-hillers" as prospectors for that camp were called. So fast came the fire that they bad barely time to burn out a small place for them selves before the rushing flames overtook them — they saved themselves, but lost all their cattle. Hail frequently wrought havoc with their crops, sometimes leaving them not a leaf. Mr. Dennis' schooling was in a sod house with rough benches ranged around the wall. The terms were short and teachers not so well versed in newer methods COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 871 but they grounded their pupils well in mathe matics and the other two "R's." The early comers suffered hardships hardly credible to-day and such as would appal the pres ent generation. Recollections of these early inci dents remain fresh in Mr. Dennis' mind, and he relates them readily and well. Mr. Dennis joined the Modern Woodmen of America at Coleridge, and was made a Mason in the Osmond lodge of that order. JOHN WELSH. John Welsh, a prosperous and much respected farmer of St. Paul precinct, whose well developed farm adds greatly to the prosperity of the locality, is a man of untiring energy, and classed among the substantial agriculturists of Howard county. He has made this region his home for the better part of thirty-isix years, coming to the county in 1873, although some of this time was spent in travel through the other western states. Mr. Welsh is a native of Huron county, Can ada, born January 23, 1860, and was the fifth child in a family of nine. When he was a lad of eleven, his parents settled in Sanilac county, Michigan, remaining there for about three years, at which time himself, mother, two brothers and two sisters joined the father in Howard county, Nebraska, he having made settlement here in April, 1873, and they following in October of the same year. They were located on a homestead and timber claim, situated in section thirty, town ship fifteen, range eleven, and farmed the place for three years, then purchased some land on sec tion thirteen, township fourteen, range twenty- four. Mr. Welsh continued on this place until his death, which occurred May 1, 1880, and at that time was owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres, all well-improved and valuable land. He had become one of the Avell-known and highly re spected citizens of his locality through his in tegrity and sterling character, and his death was a severe loss to the community. His wife survived him for many years, she dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carrie Praim, on April 16, 1907, leaving six children to mourn her loss, all of whom live in Howard county except one daughter, who is in Michigan. Our subject has made Howard county his home place since first coming ihere in 1873, with the ex ception of short absences at different times. His farm is situated on section nineteen, township fif teen, range ten, and is fully improved and equipped with every kind of modern buildings and machinery. - Mr. Welsh has held different local offices, serv ing as road overseer for a number of years, also has been director of his school district for several years. On September 14, 1881, Mr. Welsh was united in marriage to Miss Edith C. Haggart, the event occurring at St. Libory, Howard county. Mrs. Welsh is a native of New York state, coming into Howard county with her parents in 1873, the family being among the first settlers in the Sand Hills country. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Welsh, named as follows : Ura Edith, who is the wife of Austin Jacobs, living in St. Paul; James D., married and living in the north ern part of Howard county; William E., Daniel Everett, Charles Arch, Mabel Elizabeth, Leola Myrtle, Anna May and John Burton, the last mentioned seven children all living at home, and all together form a most interesting family group, their home being one of the pleasantest a weary traveler could wish to find, and where each comer is made to feel cordially welcome. RICHARD FLYNN. (Deceased.) Richard Flynn, son of Richard and Elizabeth Flynn, was born February 13, 1856, in Warren county, Ohio ; he was youngest of three children, none of whom are now living. February 13, 1876, Mr. Flynn enlisted in the United States regular army for western service in Company D, Fourth Infantry, serving ten years ; during which time he was promoted to first ser geant. He was wounded in the battle with Sioux Indians at Rosebud creek June 9, 1876; he also engaged with the Sioux at Tongue river in the above named month and year; and he was in an other engagement at Slim Buttes, September 9, 1876; Mr. Flynn received his discharge February 13, 1886. On September 22, 1878, Mr. Flynn was united in marriage to Marilla Frederick, daughter of Wolfgang and Emma (MeCart) Frederick; Miss Frederick was born in Richland county, Wiscon sin. The first four years of her married life were spent at Port Laramie, and the next four at Fort Omaha. After his discharge from the army Mr. Flynn located in Valley county, Nebraska, where he lived until the time of his death, April 18, 1895, survived by his wife and ten children ; Eliza beth M., wife of Ed Knapp, lives in Valley county, Nebraska, and has three children; Frank, who is married, has two children, and lives in Valley county; Richard P., -also married and living in Valley county, has one child; Daisy, married May 7, 1911, to Roscoe Arnold, of Valley county, and Maisy, teacher in Valley county schools, twins; Bessie, died December 18, 1901, and Clifford, and Wesley and Leslie, twin boys; and Rachel L. all of the latter reside at home. In the spring of 1902 Mrs. Flynn purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twelve, township nineteen, range fourteen, which is now the family home. Mrs. Flynn is recog nized as the first white woman on the Upper Loup, having come with her father to this section in 1872, and the family are widely and favorably known. 872 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mrs. Plynn's father, Wolfgang Frederick, was born in Germany, October 26, 1826. In 1843 he came to America, locating in Wisconsin, where he had one sister living. He was married to Miss Emma McCart, of Wisconsin. Early in 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Wisconsin cavalry, serv ing all through the war. After the war he re turned to Wisconsin, living there until 1872 when Mr. Frederick, with bis daughter MariUa, came to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hun dred and sixty acres of land in section twelve, township nineteen, range fourteen, where he lived a number of years ; then going to the National Sol diers' Home in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he lived until the time of his death, October 31, 1906, survived by his daughter, Mrs. Marilla Flynn. Mrs. Frederick died in Minnesota, October 8, 1908. Mr. Flynn was reared a Catholic. In politics hew.sa populist, and was a member of the Mod ern Woodmen of America. JOHN H. DeGROOT. John H. DeGroot, retired farmer, son of High and Henrietta (Bierman) DeGroot, was born in Germany, October 14, 1849, and was the eldest of nine children, two of whom are deceased. He has one brother in the state of Kansas, and five sisters in the state of Illinois. His father died in 1895, and his mother in 1906. In 1869, Mr. DeGroot came to America, locat ing in Illinois, and followed the occupation of farming and carpentering. He was married Feb ruary 20, 1875, to Miss Anna H. Eokman, also a native of Germany, whose father died in 1905, in the state of Illinois, and mother died in 1880, also in Illinois, and who has two sisters living and one sister and one brother deceased. Mr. and Mrs. DeGroot have had thirteen chil dren, whose names are as follows: Henry J., who resides in the state of South Dakota ; Albert J., married and lives in Madison county, Nebraska; Henrietta J., married to Miron Wakely, they have two children, and live in Madison county; Theo dore J., married and living in Buffalo county, Ne braska; Tadia J., who lives at home; Antone J., married and lives in Madison county; Anna J., who lives at home ; Jennie J., married to James Grant, and lives in Emerick, Nebraska; Lena J., deceased in 1906 ; John J., lives at home ; Hannah J., also at home; Fred. Dewey, at home; Willie M., deceased, in 1901. In the spring of 1883, our subject came to Ne braska, locating in Platte county, where he pur chased forty acres of land eight miles northeast of Platte Center, later on, buying another forty acres adjoining. After seven years' residence in Platte county, Mr. DeGroot sold his interests and mloyed to Madison county, and purchased a half section of land in the north half of section seventeen, town ship twenty-two, range one, west, which was the home place until July 28, 1904, when Mr. DeGroot retired from the farm and moved to Madison, where he purchased a good home. There he re mained until August 5, 1910, when he moved to Corning, Tehama county, California. Mr. DeGroot has been energetic, therefore pros perous and successful, and owns eight hundred acres of land, mostly in Madison county, nearly all of which is under cultivation, with good build ings and equipments. Our subject served nine years on the school board of district number forty- seven. Mr. and Mrs. DeGroot are among the early settlers of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. Mr. DeGroot is a man alive to all inter ests of his state and county, and is a prosperous man of affairs. GEORGE B. CRIST. George B. Crist belongs to a family that has long been prominent in Custer county, Nebraska, and several members of it are given mention else where in this work. George B. Crist was born in Putnam county, Ohio, September 22, 1851, the old est of eight children born to John W. and Sarah (HuU) Crist. He has a brother, Levi Crist, now living near Kirk, Colorado, the others of the family are deceased. His father, who was of Ger man descent, was born in Ohio and served iri Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry during the Civil war, having come to the state as early as 1856, settling at Desoto in Washington county. He died in Arkansas in 1899. The mother, also a native of Ohio, and of Irish descent, died in Washington county, Nebraska, in 1866. As an infant, George B. Crist accompanied his parents to Iowa, where the family lived until 1856, then came on to Nebraska, locating in Washington county. When the father enlisted in 1864 the family was liying in Iowa for a time. After the war they all returned to Nebraska, where George B. grew to manhood and received his education. He then engaged in farming and in 1883 moved to Custer county and homesteaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-seven, township sixteen, range seventeen, which is still his home. On January 7, 1886, Mr. Crist married Ella Gentry, who was born- in Dekalb county, Missouri, a daughter of A. J. and Mary J. (Cowan) Gentry, who in 1863 came to Sarpy county, Nebraska. Mr. Crist and wife have four sons, all at home, namely : John A., Charles C, Francis M., and George R. G. Mrs. Crist 's father, was born in Indiana, and died in Custer county, in 1895. The mother, was born in Knox county, Tennessee, and died in Custer county in 1906. Mrs. Crist has four broth ers and one sister in Nebraska, one sister in Cali fornia, and one sister in Oregon. Being one of the very early settlers of Nebraska, Mir. Crist has passed through iall the trials which made the lot of the pioneer so hard, and his sue- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 873 cess came as the result of untiring energy and in dustry, coupled with a brave disregard of discour agements. In politics he is a democrat. He and his wife are able to enjoy their present prosperity with a keen sense of its worth and the feeling that it is well earned. HANS HAMMER. Among the representative farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, who have become substantial citizens by persistent efforts and integrity, a prom inent place is accorded to the gentleman named above. He has been a resident of the state for many years and has a valuable farm located on section four, township twenty-five, range five. Mr. Hammer is a German by birth, having been born in 1850 in the Province of Holstein. His parents were John and Dora Hammer. The sub scriber received his education in Germany, and re mained at home, helping his parents on the little farm, until 1870. Just at this time, he determined to join the tide of emigration which was pouring towards the United States to find, if possible, the land of op portunity. He came by way of Hamburg and New York, going directly to the state of Iowa. He started farming in that state and remained there for about twenty years. In 1890, he came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of eighty acres, in section five, where he lived until he bought his present home, about 1901. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land. Mr. Hammer was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wolf in October, 1885. They are the par ents of nine children, named as follows: Mary, Pernand, Lillie, Ed, Harry, Tena, Rudolph and Ray, (twins) ; and Lena. CLAUS FREDERICK HOLTORF. . Claus Frederick Holtorf. one of the old set tlers in Merrick county, Nebraska, is well-known throughout the community in which he resides as a prosperous and successful man and a citizen of true worth. He has always taken a deep interest in the development of the locality in which he has chosen to reside, and is widely known and univers ally respected and esteemed. Claus Frederick Holtorf, is a son of Carson and Weapke (Nottlemann) Holtorf, and was born in Holstein, Germany, December 5, 1841. He was eld est of ten children, and has one brother and a sis ter in Germany; one brother in Central City. the others being deceased. The mother died in 1899, and the father in 1861. Mr. Hol torf received his education in his native country, and there learned the brickmaker's trade, and came to America, June 9, 1865. locating in Indiana, where he followed the occupation of molding brick for about two arid one- half years, then going to Illinois for a short time, also spending some time in Iowa. In the spring of 1867, he went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he still followed his occupation of brick-making. On July 6, 1867, Mr. Holtorf was married to Miss Catherine Riemers, also a native of Germany, who came to America in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf have had eight children born to them, seven of whom are living: Adolph Frederick, who resides in Merrick county, Nebraska; Rosa G., wife of T. Neuhofel, has seven children and re sides in Merrick county; Minnie F., wife of George Grage, has six children, and lives in Merrick county; John H., married, has one child, and re sides in Central City; Marx C, married, has three children, and lives on the old homestead ; Wilhelm C, who resides in Merrick county; Molly, widow of George Stuart, has one child and lives in Mer rick county. Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf made their first home in Davenport, Iowa, for nearly three years, then went to Tama City, Tama county, Iowa,, where Mr. Holtorf established a brick yard. In the spring of 1878, our subject came with his family over land to Merrick county, Nebraska, bringing with them thirty-seven head of cattle and five horses, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in section ten, township fourteen, range six, which remained the home place until 1905. Through the years they were prosperous and successful, and added to their land holdings until they now own five hundred and sixty acres, all within five miles of Central City, a well improved stock farm and one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. In 1905 Mr. Holtorf retired from the farm and moved to Central City, and purchased a good home where they now live. He was director of his school district number twenty-one for twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf were among the early set- tiers of the- county. They are widely and favor ably known. In 1889 Mr. Holtorf visited his home country; in 1893 he made the trip again, and in 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf spent six, months in Germany. Mr. Holtorf is a progressive man of affairs, interested in all pertaining to the welfare of state and county. PRANK WEIGAND. Pew living in Nebraska to-day can give remi niscences of as early a date as Frank Weigand. retired, of Bloomfield, who has been a resident of the commonwealth since 1858, a time when there was but a narrow fringe of civilization along the eastern border of the state. Frank Weigand, son of Leonard and Theresa (Meyer) Weigand, was born in Berlin, now the capital of the German Empire, October 18, 1853, and his first birthday occurred while the family was at sea on their voyage to America. He was the eldest of nine children born to his parents. 874 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Being the mainstay, he remained with his father until twenty-five years of age before starting out for himself. At this time he married and filed on a home stead in the canyon known as the Devil's Njest, where he still owns two hundred acres, sixty acres of which are adapted to cultivation and the rest covered with a fine grove of hardwood timber. At the same time, he filed on a timber claim twelve miles north of Bloomfield, to which he moved in the spring of 1881. After proving up on his home- tead, Mr. Weigand moved to a tract of his fath er's land near the river. When the great flood of March 30, 1881, came rolling down the valley, a wall of water thirty feet high. Mr. and Mrs. Weigand, who had been warned barely in time, escaped to the hills and looking back saw their log dwelling cave in, and their corn crib, from which they had just emerged, swept down the raging- torrent. Oak trees two feet in diameter were broken off like twigs, and the noise of crushing ice and falling trees was terrible. In stock and grain Mr. Weigand lost over five hundred dollars, a considerable loss for him at that time. It was after this flood that he settled on his timber claim on the high ground, moving the dwelling from his homestead, and from that day began to prosper. He now owns eight hundred and eighty acres in the northern part of Knox county, where he raised horses, cattle, and hogs. On retiring from active farm work, in the spring of 1909, Mr. Weigand purchased a comfortable cottage home in the heart of town, only a block from the banks, stores, and postoffice. Mr. Weigand was married December 25, 1878, to Miss Lena Olsen, a native of the village of Lilla- hamer, Norway. As a girl, she came alone to the New World, followed later by her brother, and finally the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Peterson. Sailing from Christina in the "Kingsvaal," after a voyage of three weeks she landed in New York, and came direct to Yankton, South Dakota, where she had friends. Work was offered her at the Santee Agency, and here she learned to speak the Sioux language fluently, even before she had mas tered the English tongue. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weigand, namely: Rosa, wife of James Buchanan, a Virginian, and a rela tive of the former president, who is a professional ball player engaged on the Cripple Creek nine; and during the winter seasons a member of the Cripple Creek fire department; George Leonard, is married and lives at Chanute, Kansas, where for six years he has been private secretary to the division superintendent of the Santa Fe railroad; Frederick is engaged in farming on the old home place twelve miles north of, Bloomfield; Laurence, after sojourning in Wyoming several years, is now employed in one of the Bloomfield banks; Rudolph is farming with his brother Fred in Knox county; Myrtle, the youngest, is a student in the Bloomfield grammar school. Mr. Weigand is independent in politics, voting for his choice of men in national as well as state and county elections. He is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Weigand has endured many hardships in the frontier. In 1873 or 1874 he lost his way in the open country during a blizzard and drove in it for fifteen miles before finding shelter in a distant neighbor's house; his finding the surveyor's stake and remembering the number, and recognizing a new board fence he had seen some weeks before, were his only guides to safety. On January 12, 1888, he was four miles from home getting timber on his homestead land. Though the storm was blinding, often freezing his eyes shut, he was able to follow the tracks his sleigh made in going to the timber, but he had to keep his eyes continu ously on the ground. Mrs. Weigand had gone to the barn to look after a sick horse when the storm broke, hiding the house in the frozen mist; she returned safely by following a fence to within a few feet of her door, but the house could not be seen at even a few feet distant. When Mr. Weigand got back, he ran into cattle that had sought the shelter of his house. These he drove into the lot and saved them, finding them to be his brother-in-law 's. When the Weigands first came, buffalo, deer, and antelope, were plentiful, as were the fur- bearing animals, beaver, otter, mink, foxes, musk- rats, and others, but they have long since been hunted out. The family lived bountifully on wild meat, game birds being as plentiful as sparrows are now. In 1862 there was an alarm of an In dian uprising, and all the settlers sought refuge at St. James. Here they constructed earth works around the court house, Frank carrying water to the men at work. After a fortnight in arms the settlers returned to their homes, but for a long time great uneasiness was felt in the sparsely set tled community. As a boy, Mr. Weigand played with the Wiseman children at St. James, the ones that were later massacred by the Indians, a bit of well-known local history in Cedar county. Yankton in those days was the nearest market and consisted of two or three houses and stores. The elder Weigand 's home was a "halfway" house he keeping travelers journeying between Yankton and Bazile Mills or other settlements in that vicinity. The river was the great public highway in those days and steamboats were numerous. Old Captain Leech, from Sioux City, once visited the Weigand home, and recalled that he drove the stage between Port Dodge and Sioux City, the day the Weigands came into the west. Mr. Weigand is almost entirely self-taught, having less than three years in school. He at tended one and one-half years at the German par ochial school in Council Bluffs, and a few short terms in district schools; he taught himself Eng lish from papers and books. None stand higher COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 875 in the community than Mr. Weigand and his family, and few remain of the hardy pioneers who came into the Nebraska wilderness nearly sixty years ago and were instrumental in making it one of the garden spots of a galaxy of states. JOHN M. CARSEN. One of the prominent farmers of Stanton county, Nebraska, is the gentleman named above, who has for about twenty years, been a resident of this section of the country. He is a gentleman of untiring energy and perseverance, and has done much to bring the community to its present high stage of development. He has a fine farm and comfortable home pleasantly located in section twenty-one. » Mr. Carsen is native-born American, first see ing the light in Washington county, Virginia, in 1855. His parents were William and Margaret Carsen, the father being a native of the state of , North Carolina, while the grandfather came direct from Ireland. The greater part of the subscriber's life was spent in the east. He did not come to Nebraska until 1891, when he bought bis present farm in Stanton county, where he has been located ever since. He has made extensive improvements upon the farm since purchasing it, and it is now a very valuable estate. Coming as late as he did, Mr. Carsen can hard ly be classed as one of the old settlers of the coun ty, yet he has done much in the way of assist ing in its development. In 1876, the subscriber was united in marriage to Setha Wells, and twelve children have been born to them. In 1910, he was again married, to Mrs. Marshall. Mr. Carsen has been called to serve in a pub lic capacity in the community in which he resides, having been elected school director and treasurer, which position he now holds. JOSEPH W. BURKHEAD. The present solid prosperity enjoyed in Ante lope county, Nebraska, may be attributed largely to her pioneers. In the early days of her settle ment when the only welcome tendered the stranger who settled there was a wilderness filled with wild beasts and Indians, little to encourage and much to discourage came to his lot, but those sturdy men who went to their new home with a determination to succeed and worked persistently and honestly, are now the prosperous and honored residents of their locality. The early settlers aided in bring ing that wilderness to a high state of cultivation and civilization, and great credit is due them for their labor and influence. Mr. Burkhead is a native of Benton county, Iowa, born June 21, 1866, His father, George Burkhead, was born in' the state of Ohio, in 1840, and died in 1896 ; his mother, before marriage, was Miss Sarah Kessling. Mr. Burkhead came to Antelope county on December 4, 1884, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, on section thirteen, township twenty-three, range six, which he has improved to a great extent, and it is now a fine farm. Mr. Burkhead was united in holy matrimony December 9, 1888, to Miss Elleanora Austin, born in 1872 in Green county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhead are the parents of three fine children, whose names are as follows: Ora, Alva, arid Elsie, who is married to C. C. Jackson. Mrs. Burkhead was a native of Green county, Wisconsin, born in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhead and family are highly esteemed and respected by all in their community, and enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. JOSEPH E. BRADBURN. Joseph E. Bradburn and wife belong to two of the oldest families of Custer county, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Bradburn is a native of Schuyler county, Mis souri, born July 20, 1859, the eldest child of Mart and Ruth (Montgomery) Bradburn, who were parents of five sons and one daughter. The mother died in Missouri and the father brought two chil dren to Custer county in 1884, being one of the original homesteaders there. He died January 21, 1898, and of his children who survive, Joseph E. and Mrs. George Myers, of Broken Bow, are the only ones living in Custer county. Three sons live in Washington. Mr. Bradburn lived in Missouri until attain ing his eighteenth year, then moved to York coun ty, Nebraska, and a year later went to Fort Lup- ton, .Colorado, where he remained three years, and then removed to the state of Washington, and worked in the lumber woods there for a time. June 23, 1884, he secured a homestead in north half of the northeast quarter of section twenty- eight and the south half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-three, township eighteen, range nineteen, where he engaged in farming and stock- raising. After living there ten years he pur chased a farm near Merna, and in the spring of 1897 he and his family moved to their present farm on the northwest quarter of section seven, township seventeen, range nineteen, where he has a fine grain and stock farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He came to the county first in the early cattle days, but has in the last few years devoted much of his attention to grain and hog raising. He is a successful farmer and has a well-equipped and improved farm. In the earlier days of his residence he served as supervisor for two terms. On April 28, 1884, Mr. Bradburn married Mary 876 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. J. Lawton, daughter of Jacob and Mary Lawton, the ceremony taking place in Bloomfield, Iowa. Her parents were original homesteaders of Custer county, where they located in 1887. Both died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bradburn, the father passing away in February, 1898, and the mother in August, 1907. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bradburn, of whom six sur vive: Grace, Jessie, Wilbur, Ernest, Twila, and Marion, all members of the home cir cle, and Clyde, deceased. The oldest daugh ter, Grace, is a graduate of the Baptist col lege at' Grand Island and in 1911 accepted a position as instructor of science in the Shelton (Nebraska) high school. All the children were born in Custer county. The Bradburns are one of the best known families of their locality and have the respect and regard of a large number of friends. JOHN B. SCHMITZ. John B. Schmitz was a very early settler of Custer county and has always been, much inter ested in the development and upbuilding of cen tral Nebraska. He was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, January 16, 1847, and is next to the youngest of the four children born to Henry and Gertrude (Krumhultz) Schmitz. He has two brothers in Wisconsin and one brother is deceased. The parents, natives of Germany, came to America in 1845, locating in Wisconsin, where the father died in 1852 and the mother in 1866. They were farming people and John B. Schmitz was reared to agricultural operations. He received his edu cation in tbe country schools and as a young man engaeed in farming on his own account. On March 15, 1869, at Brookfield, Wisconsin, Mr. Schmitz was united in marriage with Ann Wardrobe, a native of Scotland, who came to Amer ica in 1857. They continued to reside in Wisconsin for one vear, and in 1870 moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, until 1880, then with their five children, came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, remaining there four years, then came on to Custer county. Mr. Schmitz secured a homestead of one hundred and. sixty acres of land on section thirty-three, township eighteen, range twenty-three, Which is still the home place. He set at work at once to improve his land and bring it under cultivation, and now has a, well-eauiipped and productive es tate. In 1909 he erected a fine modern farm resi dence, which is one of the best in the neighborhood. In 1904 he homesteaded three-quarters of a section of land on sections eight and nine, township eighteen, ransre twentv-three, which he has brousrht to a hie-h state of cultivation. He has been active in local affairs, has been director of school district number one hundred and uinetv-five, and is rec- osmi^ed as a public-spirited, enterprising citizen. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Schmitz. namely: Anna M., wife of Jule Ford. lives in Rock county, Nebraska ; Isabel B., wife of Lew Fish, of Illinois, has four children; Agnes P., wife of William Smith, of West Table, has one child; Gertrude C, wife of Riley Rice, of West Ta ble, has two children; Walter E., of Custer county; Elizabeth J., Bryan Leonard, of Davenport, Iowa; William C, of Custer county; John J., married and living on West Table, has one child; Laura A., wife of Carl Whitney, of West Table, has three children; Henry G. and Irene, . now Mrs. Homer Beardsley resides in West Table. Mr. Schmitz had the usual experiences of frontier life during his early days in Custer county, and being one of the early settlers there, is well known. He has many friends and is representative of the best interests of his community. A picture of Mr. Schmitz and family will be found on an other page of this volume. GEORGE W. HOLMES. George W. Holmes, whose name is familiar to nearly all the residents of Pierce county, is a worthy representative of the younger progressive farmer of northeastern Nebraska. His father was one of the earliest settlers in this county, coming with his family in 1880, and lived here until his death. Mr. Holmes resides in section eight, town ship twenty-six, range three, where he has a nice home with excellent barns and outbuilding's, and is higly respected and esteemed by his fellowmen and neighbors. Mr. Holmes is a native of Dickinson county, Nebraska, born June 23, 1876, and is the son of George W., senior, and Mary (Sanford) Holmes, the father being born in Illinois in 1835. He died December 19, 1908, aged seventy-three years, and the mother died in August, 1905, aged sixty-nine years. The elder Holmes moved to Tama county, Iowa, in the early sixties, and later, with his fam ily, drove through to Dickinson county, Nebraska, where he , took up a homestead in 1870, residing there until 1880, at which time they came to Pierce county, Nebraska, and took up a tree claim in sec tion eight, township twenty-six, range three, and pre-empted a quarter section, on which he erected a sod house; here they burned hay three or four years until coal could be conveniently procured. On July 4, 1900, Mr. Holmes, our subject, was married to Miss Maggie Kerr, a native of Scotland. whose parents, John and Jenette Kerr, came to America about 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes six children have been born, whose names are as fol lows: Jeanette, Mary, Delilah, Bessie and Ber- nice, twins, and George Daniel. Mr. Holmes is prominent among the old fam ilies who were the early settlers of northeastern Ne braska, and has aided in the development and growth of this section. He is well and favorably known as a worthy citizen. He is a democrat, vot ing a straight ticket for that party. He is a "mem ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and is also affiliated with the Odd Fellows. JOHN B. SCHMITZ AND FAMILY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 877 Mr. Holmes has cause to remember the blizzard of January 12, 1888. His brother came for him on a horse, and by following after a faithful old dog that came with him, they found their way home, chilled to the bone. While a boy, lie had a bitter experience while herding cattle on the prairie. A cyclonic storm, accompanied by hail, overtook him and pelted his body and arms until they were black and blue, and for several days were so sore he could hardly move them. JAMES P. SCOTT. The above gentleman is not only widely known throughout Howard county, but also in the entire central part of Nebraska having made his home in different sections since the early settlement of the state. His old homestead, which he has since sold, was one of the best improved and most fully equipped in Fairdale precinct, and is situated on the main road running north and west, all the travel to and from Grand Island being done on this liighway. During the early days all grain, lumber and supplies of every kind were hauled over this same trail it being the most direct route through the county to the western country. Both Mr. Scott and his estimable wife are known far and near as the most generous and hospitable of people and have hundreds of friends in every walk of life. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage a party consisting of about forty fami lies descended upon them with congratulations and words of good cheer bringing also many beautiful and suitable gifts to show the love and esteem in which they were held. James P. Scott was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on April 5, 1844, and made that locality his home until he was eighteen years of age. He was the eldest in a family of three, and the only son, now the only surviving member of his immediate family. His parents Michael and Mary (McClimans) Scott were homesteaders in Howard county, the mother's death occurring here in September, 1901, and her husband following her in December of the same year. In October, 1862, Mr. Scott settled in Henry county, Illinois, remained about one year, then moved to Rock Island county, that state, where he farmed up to 1869, at that time coming to Ne braska, his first location being in Colfax county. He spent one year on a farm near Columbus, then came on to Howard county, accompanied by his father, mother, a sister and her husband, who had joined him in Columbus a short time previously. The father filed on a claim on section twelve, town ship eleven, range fifteen, which was our subject's home place until March, 1910. James also took up a homestead on the North Loup river bottom, near his father's location. Here he has passed through all the different Nebraska times, the lumber for his first dwelling being hauled by himself from Grand Island, in 1883, and as early as 1876 he had gone to the same place for lumber to build a granary. They experienced the Indian scares, had consider able bad luck in raising crops resulting from drouths, etc., but through all the discouragements incident to those days, never gave up hope but stock to the homestead until things begun to grow better, and has been well repaid for his patience and labor. Since taking up Howard county as a perma nent residence, Mr. Scott has been prominent in public affairs, serving as county commissioner dur ing 1894-95 and '96. He has also helped in every way possible to promote the general welfare, build up the schools, etc., and for a number of years, was director and moderator of district number fifty. Mr. Scott was married in Greeley county, Ne braska, on March 18, 1882, to Charlotte Beck, who is a native of Pennsylvania and eame to Greeley county with her parents, John and Wilhelmina (Beharne) Beck, three brothers and four sisters, in 1881, one sister remaining in Pennsylvania. Her father and mother are both deceased, the former having passed away January 19, 1891, and the lat ter March 8, 1902. Their remaining children are settled in different sections of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have had four children, three now living, as follows: Albert M., Harry G, married and living on- a farm in Logan precinct, Howard county ; and Grace W., who is living with her par- ' ents. Mr. Scott was numbered among the prosper ous and successful farmers of his section. In February, 1910, Mr. Scott sold his farm and bought a house in Elba, to which he and his wife and daughter moved March 14, 1910, and where they intend making their future home. ALFRED E. WEDDEL. Alfred E. Weddel, a self-made man, of upright character and recognized as a progressive and use ful citizen of Valley county, although a newcomer . to that region, has become identified with its best interests. Mr. Weddel was born in Mercer county, Illinois, February 23, 1861, the eldest of three chil dren born to Joseph and Julia (Bugbee)' Weddel, who had one son and two daughters. The father was born in Indiana in 1829 and the mother, a na tive of Ohio, was born in 1841. Soon after the close of the war Mr. Weddel moved with his fam ily to Boone county, Iowa, and a year later to Har rison county, Missouri, where he lived three years and then settled in Nodaway county where he re sided until 1887 when he came to Jefferson county, Nebraska, in October of that year. He and his son Alfred purchased an eighty-acre farm there and also had, property in Steele City where they first resided. The mother died January 6, 1892, and the father April 6, 1906, having made his home with his son after the mother's demise. All three children are now living, Alfred and Minnie in Valley county, and Cora, now Mrs. D. M. Quigley, of Hayes county, Nebraska. 878 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. When Alfred E. Weddel was about five years of age his parents moved from Illinois to Iowa, and about one year later located in Missouri. He was reared on a farm there and attended a district school, remaining on the home farm until his mar riage and in close touch with the father until the time of the latter 's death. The farm in Missouri and also the one in Nebraska were owned jointly by the two men. Alfred Weddel was married in Hopkins, Missouri, March 12, 1881, to Miss Hattie WaHace, who died in Nodaway county, September 11, 1887. Three children were born of this union, namely: Lora, wife of Persy Doe, of Omaha: Bessie, deceased; Charles, at home. Mr. Weddel brought his three children to Nebraska at the time his parents came and lived in Jefferson county until February 19, 1908, when he took possession of his grain and stock farm of one hundred and sixty acres, comprising the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township seventeen, range sixteen, Valley county. ' He has ,greatly increased the value and productiveness of his farm since coming here and is recognized as a man of ability and energy. Until his father's death he remained on the home place and assisted in managing it, shouldering much of the responsibility of carrying on the work. From his early youth he had grown up to habits of self-reliance and was of great help and comfort to his father in attaining success as a farmer. On January 1, 1893, Mr. Weddel was married at Steele City, Nebraska, to Miss Carrie Witte- kind, daughter of Nicholas and Temperance (Kuhns) Wittekind being the sixth of their eight children, and the fifth now surviving. Her father, a native of Germany, died October 11, 1893, and her mother, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, died in 1891. Mrs. Weddel and her sister, Mrs. John Swett, of Jefferson county, are the only- ones of the family which came to the state in 1885, now in Nebraska. Two children have been born to Mr. Weddel and wife, Harold D. and Cecil A., both at home. The family worship with the Bap tists ; in political views Mr. Weddel is independent- of party lines and fraternizes with the Modern Woodmen of America. In Missouri the Weddel family occupied a log house and at, that time a few deer were, to be seen in the state. 0. S. CHRISTIAN. 0. S. Christian who lives on section thirty- three, township twenty-two, range one, west, Madi son county, Nebraska, is among the men who came to the state in tbe early seventies, and has lived for the past thirty-six years in Madison county, where he is known as a substantial citizen and a progressive agriculturist. He has passed through all the early Nebraska times, and has done much in the way of helping in the advancement of his region, incidentally building up for himself a com fortable home and good farm. Mr. Christian is a native of the state of Indi ana, born in Owen county, and was reared and eduated there; he is a son of Daniel and Mary (Criss) Christian the parents dying when our sub ject was a young lad, his father in I860 when the lad was but ten years of age, and the mother in 1858 when he was eight years old. Mr. Christian was born on a farm, and his associations from the first being with agricultural interests, it is natural, therefore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find success in life's endeavors in the till ing of the soil. In 1874 Mr. Christian came west to farm for himself, settling in Nebraska, and in 1892 came to Madison county, where he bought the John Payne homestead and improved same. In those early days he suffered many losses and hardships, as did so many of the hardy sons of the western fron tier, and as late as 1894 lost all his crops for that year through the hot winds, which were caused by the long drouth. Mr. Christian was united in marriage in 1875 to Miss Mary Scott, and Mr. and Mrs. Christian have had seven children born to them, named as follows : Lula, wife of Mr. William McVitty, has two children; Ernest, Ethel, Daisy, Everett, Alvin, and Morris. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. ANDREW SHERBECK. Andrew Sherbeck, now living retired from farm life at Ansley, Nebraska, has been successful in his operations through energy and industry, and has always taken an active interest in public' af fairs in his adopted country. He is' a native of Sweden, born February 23, 1847, fifth in the fam ily of eight children born to his parents. His father died about 1875 and his mother about 1890, both in Sweden, and of their children who survive, those besides Andrew are : one son in Illinois, two daughters in Kansas, and one daughter in North Dakota. In 1870 Andrew Sherbeck came to America, having received his education in his native coun try. He proceeded to Illinois and worked on a farm there nine years, then removed to Iowa, where he purchased his first farm, of eighty acres of land. On February 22, 1883, he was married in the town of Servence, Donovan county, Kansas, to Rosetta Marple, who was born in Sheffield, Illi nois, and they began housekeeping on his Iowa farm. However, he was ambitious for larger op portunities than were offered in that state, and in the spring of 1889 brought his wife and two chil dren to Nebraska, which has since been their home. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Custer county and lived there for many years, developing a good farm and engaging in the stock business extensively. He had keen business insight and good judgment in his management of his COMPENDIUM OF HlSTORt, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 879 estate and was able to add to his land until now he owns seven hundred acres of farm and stock land. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank, of Ansley, and interested in vari ous other business projects. He has always been fond of travel and has gone over much of the United States, and is one of the best-known men in the county. In 1906 he retired from his farm and moved to Ansley, where he owns considerable pro perty. Four children have been born to Mr. Sherbeck and wife, namely : Albert I., married and living on the old home farm, has three children ; Bertha J., at home ; Lola E., deceased, and Edith M., at home. The family are prominent socially and have many friends. JAMES W. KIDDER. (Deceased.) James W. Kidder, deceased, has left a good record as a prominent old settler of Madison coun ty, Nebraska, where he settled in April, 1870. Through all the pioneer struggles he did his part in the uplifting and upbuilding of his county, and won the respect and confidence of his community. Mr. Kidder was born in Enosburg, Vermont, October 14, 1823, and was a graduate from the theological seminary in Bangor, Maine, in 1855, entering the ministry at Perry, Maine. On December 4, 1855, Mr. Kidder was joined in holy matrimony to Miss Mary Stevens, of Maehias Port, Maine, who for four years had been a teacher in the public schools of her home state. In April, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Kidder came to Norfolk, Nebraska, where they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section twenty- one, township twenty-four, range six, west, and organized the first English speaking church in Norfolk, of the Congregational denomination, in 1870, holding services in private houses until such time as they could afford to build, and each mem ber carrying his own chair to services with him. Reverend Kidder was prosperous and success ful, and later purchased eighty acres of school land. He was pastor of Norfolk church nine years, and was then transferred to missionary work in Madison and Antelope counties. In 1882 he re tired from the ministry and lived on the home stead until July, 1908, when they sold the home stead and moved to Norfolk, and purchased a good home. Reverend Kidder died October 13, 1908, and is survived by his widow and four children, the chil dren being named as follows: Hattie, who is mar- married to Andrew McGinnis, and who has one daughter by a former marriage; Henry M., mar ried and lives in Scribner, Nebraska, has two chil dren; Mary L., who was married to P. C Ste wart and has one son, is a widow, her husband hav ing died in March, 1907 ; and Laura A., a teacher in the Fremont, Nebraska, city schools. Mrs. Kidder is living in the Norfolk home sur rounded by a large circle of friends. She is one of Madison county's pioneers and is widely arid favorably known. She was the first school teacher in Norfolk, where she taught for three years, hav ing mostly German pupils, who came to learn to speak English. During the three years of the grasshopper siege, when assistance came from the east, Mrs. Kidder acted as distributor. In closing the personal history of this worthy couple, we feel a sense of great admiration and re spect for the two brave, honest-hearted people who have been so instrumental in the progression of their community. WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK. William H. Comstock, a prominent and well known citizen of Custer county, has been local agent of the Lincoln Land company there ever since the town of Comstock was located, and in early years placed many of the original home steaders on their land in that part of the county. He has been actively identified with the growth and upbuilding of the region and has experienced the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He was born in Gorham, Ontario county, New York, February 29, 1836, seventh of the nine children of Jonathan and Phoebe (Christian) Com stock, who were parents of six sons and three daughters. The parents were born in New York, as were all their children. Five of the sons served in the civil war, and one, Truman, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, his body never being re covered. The father was a veteran of the war of 1812. Mr. Comstock lived on the New York farm until .reaching maturity, then removed to Wisconsin, where several of his brothers had located, having previously spent some time in Michigan. On Oc tober 16, 1859, in Columbia county, Wisconsin, he was united in marriage with Sarahett West. daughter of John H. and Melissa (Barrett) West, •who was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, sec ond of ten children. The West family located in Wisconsin in 1839, the parents being natives of New York. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Com stock began their married life on a farm in Wis consin and lived there until the war. In November, 1861, Mr. Comstock enlisted in ¦Company E, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, under Col. C. C. Washburn, and was discharged in Feb ruary, 1863, on account of disability. In March, 1865, he re-enlisted, serving to the close of the war as a member of Company G, First Minnesota Vol unteer Infantry. After his first discharge he moved with his family from Wisconsin to Minne sota, and at the close of the war returned to his home in Faribault county, in the latter state. He is known far and wide by the title of "Captain" Comstock. 880 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Comstock and wife continued to live in Minnesota until March, 1874, when he came with his family, including an adopted daughter, to Kountz county, Nebraska, driving through with a team and wagon and stopping through the winter in Iowa. The region where they settled is now a part of Custer county and Mr. Comstock took up a homestead on the northwest quarter of section nine, township eighteen, range seventeen, having very few white neighbors at that time. The little inland town of Wescott was established near them on section sixteen of the same township, in 1887. A postoffice was established at Douglas Grove in •the spring of 1874 and that and New Helena were the first offices established in the county. Mr. Corn- stock was the first postmaster. In 1887 he moved to his present home site on the southeast corner of section nine, township eighteen, range seven teen, quite a town having sprung up by this time. He engaged in the hardware and implement busi ness there and was also postmaster of Wescott un til 1899, serving twenty-five years. The name was changed to Wescott some time after 1887. In 1899 the town of Comstock was laid out and Captain Comstock purchased the first lot. The town of Wescott then gradually went out of existence, the merchants there either going out of business or moving to Comstock, the last one making his change in December, 1900. The postoffice in the former town was discontinued and Mr. Comstock moved his store building to the town of Comstock. He is widely known in central Nebraska and in past years served as justice of the peace and as sisted in the organization of school district num ber one, serving as director until 1911. In 1876. at the time of the Indian scare, Port Garber was erected in the valley and volunteers were called for. Mr. Comstock assumed command and al though no Indians appeared to fight, he has since retained the title by virtue of his activity and ser vice at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock stiU reside on the old home on section nine, having spent fifty-two years of wedded life, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on this place. Mrs. Comstock is revered and esteemed as a pioneer who has shown many acts of kindness and helpfulness to her neighbors and associates. She is dearly loved by her friends and always ready to give good cheer and comfort to all who come to the Comstock home the latch-string of which is always out. She has nursed the sick, fed the hungry and helped the poor and friendless in times past and has always done her share to advance the general good. FRANK TICHY. The gentleman whose name heads this personal history is one of the foremost citizens of township thirty-one, range six, where on section ten, he has developed a fine farm and enjoys a comfortable and pleasant home, surrounded by many warm friends and congenial neighbors. He has been a resident of Knox county for the past forty years, and although he has had a struggle to get along at times, has always stuck to his original plan of carving out for himself a name and fortune for his later years, and has succeeded in this determina tion in spite of many discouragements and failures. Mr. Tichy was born in Bohemia, November 30, 1856, and is a son of Prank and Mary (Noveak) Tichy. In 1867, he left his native land for the new world, sailing from Bremen, Germany, to Quebec on a sailboat, being nine weeks on the sea. After landing on this side of the water, he pro ceeded to Chicago, Illinois, which was the meeca for so many of his countrymen at that time, remaining there four years, when he came west to Nebraska, locating in Knox county. He came by way of Sioux City and was on the road two weeks, the trip costing three hundred dollars. After ar riving in Knox county Mr. Tichy took up the homestead where he now lives and also a tree claim, and built a log house. His father, who had come with his son to America, came west also when he did, and took up a homestead one mile distant from his son's, and also built a log house. Life on the western frontier in those first days of settle ment was full of experiences and hardships almost beyond belief, were they not vouched for by those who had actually experienced them, the most se vere hardships coming through the elements of wind and hail. In strong contrast to the latter, the prairie fires did the greatest havoc, Mr. Tichy 's stock, clothes and other possessions being con sumed ; and saddest of all to relate is the fact that his wife lost her brother and mother in one of the raging prairie fires, they having lost their lives in the fiery flames that could not be quenched in time to stay its terrible work of destruction. The grasshoppers did their share toward discouraging the earlier settlers of that region, having for three consecutive years utterly destroyed every spear of vegetation and in the blizzard of 1888, Mr. Tichy lost all of his stock. In those days the nearest market places were at Norfolk, Nebraska, and Yankton, South Dakota, and the mode of travel was by means of ox teams, which made long jour neys very tedious and slow; oxen were also used for work teams, horses being an almost unknown possession of the farmer of pioneer days. Indians inhabited this western prairie when the first set tlers made their entry into the region and did not take the intrusion of the white man into their as yet unmolested territory in a very friendly spirit ; therefore, they were almost constantly a source of uneasiness and trouble from the beginning of the white man's settlement in this part of the country. Antelope and deer were plentiful during the first years, but the pioneer settler did, not possess means with which to buy guns and ammunition to bag the game. Mr. Tichy was married in 1879 to Miss Mary COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 881 Dvorak and they are the parents of five children : Sophie Eleanor, Leon, Albin, Liddie and Charles Otto. Three of their children are dead — Louis, Sophie, first, and. Charles. They are a fine family, and live in their pleasant home surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. GEORGE R. PATTERSON. George R. Patterson, one of the original home steaders of Boone county, Nebraska, is now retired from active labor, and makes his home in Prim rose surrounded by warm friends. During the many years spent in that part of the state Mr. Pat terson has gained an extensive acquaintance and is held in the highest esteem on account of his kindheartedness and active helpfulness in all mat ters pertaining to the good of the masses. Mr. Patterson is a native of Ireland. He was the fourth child in a family of five boys and four girls born to George and Isabella Patterson, and the entire family with the exception of the two eld est sons, who came to America earlier, landed in the United States in April, 1872. They came di rect to Nebraska, locating in Boone county, where the father and two sons, Osborne and George R., homesteaded on section four, township nineteen, range eight, and another son, Adam, later took a timber claim on the same section, thus having an entire section in the family. One son, Robert A. Patterson, homesteaded in Greeley county. Of this large family, but three are now living in Boone county, our subject, Osborne, and Mrs. James Kinner. Mrs. Mary Patterson Roberts resides in Custer county, Mrs. Hannah P. Johnson in Texas, and Robert A. Patterson in Kansas. Mr. Patterson has made Boone county his home since coming to America, with the exception of a short time in Dodge county, and still owns the orig inal homestead, although he makes his home in Primrose, with his son, Adam Patterson. He has always been active, and has made a success of life, having spent his entire career as a farmer and stock raiser. He is connected with the Primrose State bank, and is considered one of the wealthy men of his county. Mr. Patterson was married at Fremont, Nebras ka, in 1875, to Miss Eliza Jane Nibblack, and to them have been born nine children, seven of whom are living, as follows : Eliza Jane, Isabelle, Adam, Mary A., Rachel, George R. and Hannah. Mrs. Patterson died on the homestead, September 26, 1905. ROBERT ANDERSON. Among those who came to Nebraska in the early days and have built up a good home and farm through thrift and industry, is the gentleman above named. Mr. Anderson resides on section thirty, township twenty-six, range seven, Antelope county, and is one of the successful and prosper- 29 ous citizens of his community. Mr. Anderson is one of the few old settlers who have retained the original homestead farm, and has lived in his present location since 1837. Mr. Anderson is a prominent farmer and stock raiser, and is well known throughout Antelope county as a progres sive and successful agriculturist, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Anderson is a native of County of Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born in 1853. He grew to the age of eighteen years in his native land, theu in 1871 he left his home and friends and struck out for the new world, sailing from Londonderry, Ire land and landing in New York after a voyage of eleven days. On his arrival in America, Mr. An derson came to La Salle county, Illinois, where he remained for six years, first working out as a farm hand, later renting ground and farmed for himself. He then emigrated to Nebraska in 1877, because there was cheaper land the the chances for a poor main to gain a competence were better. Locating in Antelope county, Nebraska, on a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres he succeeded in devel oping a good farm, engaged in mixed farming and stock raising; he now owns about three hundred and twenty acres of land on which is growing a fine grove of fifteen acres. Since locating here, Mr. Anderson has had fair success every year, with the exception of 1894 when his crops were all burned out by the hot winds of that year and in 1895 lost all his crops by hail. Mr. Anderson was married in La Salle county, Illinois, March 17, 1874 to Miss Mary J. McKay and to this union two children have been born, William and Hugh. Interesting and varied are the incidents of pioneer life that Mr. Anderson can relate. In the early days deer and antelope roamed the country over and could be found within a few rods from the door, herding with cattle in many cases. Oc casionally big grey wolves were to be seen along the streams. Many were the hardships the early settlers were compelled to undergo. At that time prairie fires were a source of constant danger, and this continued until the country was settled up and a large part of the area under plow. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Anderson is one of the substantial citizens of Nebraska; he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work men. In polities he is independent. HONORABLE JAMES D. REAM. Honorable James D. Ream was the first settler in the locality in wdiich he now lives, four and one- half miles northwest of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and he has lived in the state from the days of the sod shanty until the present time, when he has a com fortable, modern home and a large and well equip ped grain and stock farm. He is identified with the socialist party in local politics and has held 882 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. many offices of honor and trust. Mr. Ream was born near New Castle, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1852, next to the youngest of the four children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Simpson) Ream, who had two sons and two daughters. The mother died when James D. was but three years of age and the father afterward married again. The grandfather John Ream, with his four sons and sons-in-law and their families, and an unmarried daughter, re moved from Pennsylvania to Mahaska county, Iowa, in the spring of 1855, and in the fall of that year the son Benjamin and his four children fol lowed the other members of the family to Iowa. Benjamin Ream married as his second wife, Charlotte Strang, in Mahaska county, Iowa, their union taking place about 1857, and of this union two children were born. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Iowa Infantry, and became second lieutenant of his company. He was mortally wounded in the battle at Belmont, Missouri, (Gen. Grant's first battle), and died at Cairo, Illinois, seven days later. One son, John T., and a daughter, Mrs. A. E. Foster, own brother and sister of James D., and a half brother and a half-sister, Samuel and Louisa, reside in Oska- loosa, Iowa. James D. Ream resided at his father's home in Mahaska county until the spring of 1873, receiving a common school education and being reared to farm work. Their farm was located near a little town named Rochester. In 1873 he spent several months traveling through the western states; and, in 1878, he came from Iowa to Ne braska, making the trip with a team and wagon and settling first at Stromsburg, Polk county, and in January, 1880, he removed thence to Custer county, making this trip on horseback. He made a homestead location on the southeast quarter of section twelve, township seventeen, range twenty-one, and up to the present time this home stead has been his continuous residence. At the time of his coming he was accompanied by Charles II. Jeffords, now living in ' Broken Bow, who also became a homesteader and a pioneer settler, and in the spring of 1880 they erected the first brick kiln in the region and burned the first brick made in Custer county. During the early part of 1883 Mr. Ream made a trip back to Iowa and was there married, in Feb ruary of that year, to Miss Anna E. Seevers, daughter of Benjamin F., and Elizabeth (Forney) Seevers, their union taking place at the Seevers home iri Mahaska county. She was the third born of six children, and was a native of Iowa. The young couple began housekeeping in Custer county and for nearly thirty years have been associated with the progress and development of their com munity, along social, educational and other bene ficial lines. Their house is surrounded by beauti ful shade and ornamental trees and a fine lawn, being one of the best kept homes in the^ county, and they have an orchard that would be a credit to any eastern state. Mr. Ream and wife have two sons, Fred H. and Glen C, and orie daughter, Loy G. , The sons, who are married and engaged in mercantile business in Broken Bow, are regarded as among the most enterprising and progressive business men of their county, where they were born and reared. Having always engaged in agricultural pur suits, Mr. Ream has always been much interested in the study of the newest theories and methods regarding this branch of industry, and has fav ored popular education along these lines in the public schools. He belongs to several societies for the advancement of agricultural and horticultural interests, was an organizer of the Custer county Agricultural Society, of which he served one year as vice-president and eight years as president, and for several years was a member of the state board of agriculture. In 1889 he helped organize the first fanners' institute held in Broken Bow, which was the first meeting of its kind held in central Ne braska, and for the past twenty years has been president of the local institute organization. A successful institute has been held at Broken Bow each year since 1889. Although never active in par tisan politics, Mr. Ream was elected in 1900, by the populist party, a member of the lower house of the Nebraska legislature, representing Custer and Logan counties in that body, and during this session was instrumental in promoting the inter ests of the school of agriculture at the state farm. In his early days in the county Mr. Ream- served as justice of the peace and also as a member of the county board. He is one of the best known and most popular men in his county and has a multi tude of friends. Mr- Ream is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was an earnest worker in the reorganization of the Grange in Nebraska and in 1911 was elected Master of the state organi zation. JOHN G. BECHER. John G. Becher, deceased, was the son of Francis G. and Mary (Rickley) Becher, and was born in Columbus, Nebraska, February 5, 1863. He was the eldest of four chldren, one brother and two sisters, wdio reside in Omaha. The parents are deceased. John G. Becher received his education in the Columbus schools, and later became interested in mercantile business. In the fall of 1899, our sub ject was elected county treasurer and served in that office until January 1905 and prior to this he had served four years as deputy under H. S. Elli ott. In 1903, Mr. Becher was elected mayor of Columbus, Nebraska. In 1906, Mr. Becher be came the junior member of the real estate firm of Elliott, Speice & Company, and at the organiza tion of the Equitable Loan, Building and Savings Association, was made treasurer of that concern. Mr. Becher was prominently identified with sev- JOHN G. BECHER (DECEASED) COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 883 eral local societies. He was a charter member of the Orpheum society, an honorary member of the Bissel Hose company, of the city fire department, and was also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World, Sons of Herman, Ancent Order of United Workmen, Mod ern Brotherhood of America, and the Royal High landers lodges. His father was the first Union Paci fic telegraph operator in Columbus. Mr. Becher was prominent in business and political circles of his community, and was widely and favorably known as a man alive to all pertaining to the welfare of his county and state. A protrait of him will be found on another page. On November 5, 1888, Mr. Becher was married to Miss Susan Wake, who also was born in Col umbus. Mr. and Mrs. Becher have had ten chil dren, eight of whom are living, and whose names are as follows : Prank, who is married and has one child, and who lives in Primrose, Nebraska; Charles, who lives at home; Marguerite, Estella, Henry, Lester, Katherine- and Lottie who is mar ried to Orville H. Washburn, they reside in Col umbus ; Paul and Geraldine died in infancy. Mr. Becher died on November 19, 1909, in Col umbus, Nebraska, his home town, where he was well known and most highly respected. Mrs. Becher, widow of John G. Becher, comes from a prominent pioneer family of Platte county, Nebraska, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wake, who are lving at the advanced ages of eighty-four and seventy-four years, respectively, in Columbus, ,and have lived in Platte county for over forty years, Mr. Wake serving as sheriff and constable of his county in the early days. Mrs. Becher has one sister, Mrs. C. A. Allenberger, who is a resident of Columbus ; one brother, Prank who is postmaster at Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska; one- brother Charles in St. Edward, Nebraska, and another brother Thomas in Seward, Nebraska. WINFIELD S. WANSER. Winfield S. Wanser third son of William and Mary Antha (Seeley) Wanser, was born in Peoria, Illinois, June 24, 1861. His early years were spent in Peoria and Livingston counties, Illinois, and in the latter he attended school a few years before coming to the west. Reaching West Point, Nebraska, in October, 1871, his parents were residents of that county un til 1875, when they removed to Pierce county which has been tbe family residence ever since. Settling on a farm two miles northwest of town, Mr. Wanser grew to manhood in the open prairies. In 1905, he took up a homestead claim near Ly man, South Dakota, and resided there for three years when he returned to Plainview and has since engaged in the s real estate business there. In March, 1911, he bought a farm near Guyman, Oklahoma and divides his time between there and the old home. In politics Mr. Wanser is republican, Mr. Wanser was married in Plainview, January 10, 1884, to Miss Loretta Homan, a daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Burdette) Hoffman. Two chil dren were born to them: William, now in the drug business at Guyman, Oklahoma; and Edna, wife of Albert Finson, engaged in the grain business at Omaha. Our subject's venerable mother makes her home with his family and at her advanced age has a mind as bright and clear as others of half her age. It is a pleasure for her to know that fifteen grand children nay her homage in her declining years. Our subject's father, William. Wanser, now de ceased, was one of the earliest and most highly re spected pioneers of Pierce county, Nebraska, and was a native of Amityville, Long Island, boni March 6, 182d. His parents, William and Ann (Powell) Wanser, passed their entire lives on Long Island. Our subject's father, William Wanser, was married July 3, 1844, in New York City, to Miss Mary Antha Seeley, who was born in that metropolis June 30, 1827. Her parents, Ezra and Phoebe (Pierson) Seeley, were natives of Connec ticut and New York City, respectively. In 1846, Mr. 'Wanser and his wife's parents moved to Peoria, Illinois , where the two men were employed at their trade, that of carpentry; and later the eld er man was located in Pekin while Mr. Wanser was away in the ;army. He first enlisted at Peoria, August 3, 1861, in Company C, Forty-seventh Illi nois Volunteer Infantry and, serving his term of enlistment, became a veteran in Company K, One Hundred and Eighth Regiment, serving until Jan uary, 1866. During this period he served under Grant in the army of the west participating in the engagements around Forts Donelson and Henry, Shiloh, Corinth, and Iuka, Spanish Fort, Selma, and the siege of Vicksburg. After his discharge at Springfield he returned to Peoria and rented a farm in that county for three years, and later in 1868 removed to a farm some twelve miles west of Fairbury in Livingston , county, where he remained until coming to Ne braska in the spring of 1871. With his eldest son he drove across the country bringing their stock, while the rest of the famly came by rail. Selecting land two miles north and west of Plainview, he followed farming until 1888, when he removed to town, and- with his son, Frederick, engaged in the drug business six years and later engaged in the poultry business until the time of his death. OE seven children born to our subject's father and mother, six attained majority, their names be ing as follows : Pamelia, married Nathan Peterson of Orchard, Nebraska; William, died at the age of twenty-seven years; Adelia, married Edwin Hogue; Albert Edson, is farming on a homestead three miles northwest of Plainview; Nellie, wife of Edward Taylor of Draper, South Dakota ; Winfield S., in real estate business in Plainview and Okla homa. Our subject's father, William Wunser, was a 884 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RE'MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. staunch republican since that party was first or ganized, and prior to that had been a Whig. He was a man of sterling worth and one who left his impress on the business and social world of his chosen habitation. L. A. PARKER. Lemuel A. Parker a progressive and intelligent young farmer of Howard county is owner of a fine estate in Cotesfield precinct which he has built up in the finest possible shape, having one of the most beautiful and fully equipped modern dwelling in his part of the county. Mr. Parker was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, on December 29, 1868, and the first four years of his life was spent there, then came with his father, mother and balance of the children, to Howard county. Here the family settled on a tract of land and they went through all the early Nebraska times in establishing a home, Lemuel re maining at home with his parents durng their life time, the father dying in December 1895, and the mother in November, 1904. Mr. Parker has kept the homestead as his home farm, although he has accumulated other proper ties adjoining ,and his holdings comprise in all two hundred and sixty-three acres of the choicest Loup Valley land. It is improved with good buildings of all kinds, and is one of the model stock and grain farms in that section of the state. Mr. Parker was married June 21, 1899, in St. Paul, to Miss Inez Hill, a daughter of one of Howard county's pioneer families. They have had two sons, Glenn Earl, who died November 7, 1910, aged nine years, and Harold Hill. The family have a beautiful home and enjoy the society of a large circle of friends. Mr. Parker is a man of friendly and sociable disposition, and although he had the misfortune to lose his hearing some years1 ago, he can still enjoy conversing with his family and friends by the aid. of an ear trumpet, which is such a source of blessing to so many afflicted in a like manner. JOHN H. LUKE. John TI. Luke who resides in Ord, Valley county, Nebraska, is one of the oldest and best known old settlers of that region. He' was born in New Britian, Connecticut, March 18, 1851, and was the eldest of four children in the family of Hugh M. and Mabel (Hildebrand) Luke, who had four sons. So far as Mr. Luke knows, he is the only member of tbe family now living. The Luke fam ily moved to New York City in 1852, and John Luke lived there until his seventeenth year. In September, 1868, Mr. Luke enlisted in the United States army as drummer, serving at Gov ernor's Island, New York, until August, 1869, when he went to, Fort Vancouver, Washington, be ing assigned to ' his company there; but joined, Company A, Twenty-third, United States Infan try at Camp Three Forks, Idaho, on the Owyhee river. Mr. Luke went from there to Fort Boise, Idaho, receiving his discharge here in July of 18,71. He re-enlisted in October 26, 1871, in the same company and regiment. In July, 1872, his regi ment was ordered to Arizona, and to Fort Omaha. Nebraska, in September, 1874; in April, 1875, the company was ordered to Fort Hartstuff in Valley county, Nebraska, which fort was abandoned about 1883; Mr. Luke is the only one in Valley county that served at Port Hartstuff. In aU he served eight years in the regular army under the com mand of Captain John J. Coppinger, afterward General John J. Coppinger, who was quite promi nent in army circles in after years. Mr. Luke re ceived his final discharge on October 26, 1876, after which he remained in Valley county, Ne braska, which has since been his home. On November 9, 1876, Mr. Luke was married to Miss Mattie Stewart at her mother's farm south west of North Loup, Elder Oscar Babcock offici ating. Miss Stewart was a native of Milton Junc tion, Wisconsin, and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Barker) Stewart, natives of the state of New York. Mr. Luke was an original homesteader in Val ley county, in 1877. He farmed some and then took up railroad work, and for some months he -had charge of construction work. Mr. Luke had con siderable experience in frontier work on our new western roads until 1883, returning at that time to Valley county^ Which has since been his home. Mr. Luke for two years was in the lumber yard at North Loup, and for twenty years was Connected with the lumber yards of Ord through changes of Ownership, etc., all through the years; as Mr. Luke tells it, when the lumber yard changed hands he was sold with the yard, being one of its permanent employees; and the lumber business of Ord Waein a great measure handled by Mr. Luke. He. has been closely identified with the growth and de velopment of Valley county and the North -Loup valley. Mr. Luke now has charge of the Valley county court house, being constable of Ord and Ord town ship, and is fiUing this office creditably to hismeslf and satisfactory to his constituents. In the early days Fort Hartsuff of which' we wrote in the first part of this sketch was built by the government ; in 1874 during the days: of \ the grasshopper raids when , all the crops we're de stroyed by these pests, the, farmers of Valley .coun ty were given work on the fort at one dollar a day and rations, excepting skilled mechanics, who re- cived more. II. WEDEKIND. In the "person of this gentleman, whotis a widely known and highly esteemed member of the fanning community of Madison county, Nebraska, we find COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 885 a progressive agriculturist and successful business man who has won a foremost olace among his fel lowmen arid enjoys the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in eontact. Mr. Wedekind is a native of Saxe Province, Germany, born April 21, 1856, where he grew to manhood, following the occupation of a miner in that country from 1870 until 1882, in which year he embarked from Hamburg on an emigrant ship bound for America. Immediately after landing he struck out for the west, arriving in Sarpy county, Nebraska in 1883-, where he remained and rented, also working as a farm laborer up to February 15, 1892, at which time he moved to Madison county. Here he bought the Bryer homestead, and dur ing the first two years succeeded in improving the place to some extent, (having fair success with his ventures, but in 1894 his crops were totally de stroyed by the hot wind storms which swept the region. Other years he suffered loss from various causes familiar to nearly all of the early settlers in that section, but he persevered through it all and finally, was able to raise good crops of , grain, etc., and also engaged in stock raising, so that he was on the high road to prosperity, adding to his origi nal farm many acres, and is now the possessor of rne of the valuable estates in his county, owning four hundred and eighty acres. January 1, 1888, Mr. Wedekind was united in marriage in Sarpy county, to Miss Helen New- Yoke, and to them have been born the following children: Gustave, Henry, Emma, Anna, Otto, Iberg, , Wilder and Arthur, all fine sturdy descend ants of worthy parents, and of great help to them in carrying on the farm. They have a very com fortable home, and are popular members of the so cial life of their community. GEORGE NELMES. George Nelmes was one of the very early set tlers of Custer county, Nebraska, and has been very successfulas a farmer and stock raiser, having now retired from active life. He was born in Herefordshire, England, July 9, 1842, a son of Nathaniel and Martha (Sebon) Nelmes, being the third of their eight children. Both parents died in England, and, besides George, their only surviv ing child is a daughter now residing in Des Moines, Iowra. Mr. Nelmes received his1 education and reached maturity in his native country and later engaged in farming. In' 1866, he married Mary Morgan, also a native of England, who died in 1881, being survived by her husband and the following six children : Elizabeth died in 1892 ; James, married and living two and one-half miles south of Ansley, has two children; Pearl, wife of E. L. Ceveland, of Callaway, Nebraska, has three children; Martha, wife, of Sidney Belcher, of York, Nebraska, has three children; Lulu, wife of Walter Baker, of Westerville, Nebraska, has four children; Ger trude, wife of Frank Buckner, living near Wester ville, has three children. In 1887 Mr. Nelmes brought, his family to America and spent seven months in Wisconsin, after which he came to Nebraska, rented land in Custer county for several years, and then pur chased one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he later added two hundred and forty acres, and he has spent ten years on this place. In the winter of 1909 he retired from the farm and moved to Ansley, where he purchased a good home. He is a self-made man and won his way to success through many difficulties. He owns four hundred acres of fine farming land, and is recognized as a public-spirited, desirable citizen. Mr. Nelmes was married (second) on November 1, 1894, to Mrs. Mary Edwards, also of English birth, who came to America in that year. One son has been born to this union, Edward, who is at home. Mrs. Nelmes had four children by her for mer marriage: George, of Custer county, married and has one child; Ernest, in Wyoming; and two sons who are married and live in England. The parents of Mrs. Nelmes died in England, and she has three brothers in that country and one brother in Chicago, Illinois. R. LONGE. Among the younger farmers of Wayne county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the above named gentleman, who is one of the most success ful and progressive in this section. He has been a resident .of this county for nearly thirty years, and during his long residence has made many friends,and has also gained an enviable reputa tion as a public-spirited citizen. Mr. Longe was born in Iowa, in 1875, and was the son of Frank and Gusta Longe. His parents were of German birth, and left their native .coun try in 1871, coming at once to Iowa. They re mained here until 1880, when they removed to Cuming County and rented land until 1883. They moved again at this date, this time locating in Wayne county, where the elder Longe bought a farm of eighty acres from the railroad, paying three dollars per acre. Later he added to his first purchase until he owned two hundred acres. Our subscriber was a child of eight years when the family moved to Wayne county, and has lived practically all his life on the one place, as he now occupies the same farm that his father bought in those early days. The farm has been considerably imroved since those days, however. The sod- house which sheltered tbe family for the first few years of their sojourn in this state has long since been replaced by a substantial and comfortable frame house. All necessary buildings have beeii added to the place from time to time, the fields are well cultivated, and tbe farm presents a pleasing picture of thrift. A noticeable feature which at- 886 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tracts attention even when afar off, is the fine grove and orchard which were planted some years ago and are now in their prime. In 1898; Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Kay and of this union six children have been born, named as follows : Clara, Alvana, Mata, William, Otto and Harry. Mir. and Mrs. Longe are members of the Ger man Lutheran church and he is a republican. He has been for ten years moderator of his school dis trict. JOHN P. CAMPBELL. John P. Campbell 6f Palmer, Nebraska, form erly a resident of section eight, township fourteen, range eight, Merrick county, is a well known pio neer of eastern Nebraska, settling in this part of the state in 1874 . He was born in Porter county, Indiana, on April 2, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Frame) Campbell. He was sixth in a family of seven children, one brother of whom resides in Nebraska, as does also a sister; two sis ters reside in Indiana; and one brother and one sister are deceased, as are also the parents; the father died January 20, 1884, and the mother died in March, 1895, both in Indiana. Our subject re ceived his education in the bome schools, and later engaged in farming. On February 22, 1865, Mr. Campbell ' was united in marriage to Mss Matilda Penrose, of Knox county, Ohio, and later of Indiana. In the spring of 1874, Mr. Campbell with his wife and four children came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in section eight, township fourteen, range eight, west, where he lived for five years; then purchased one hun dred and sixty acres adjoining the homestead, and moving on to the same, building a good house, and adding other improvements. Mir. and Mrs. Camp bell have had nine children: Elmer, who is mar ried, has seven children and resides in Burwell, Nebraska; Etta, wife of William Bice, has two children and lives in Merrick county ; Nancy, wife of Peter Petersen, has six children and resides in BurweU; Mary, wife of John Coolridge lives in Merrick county and has one child; Clara, wife of James Klye has four children and resides in Mer rick county; Andrew, married, has two children and resides in Wolbach, Nebraska; Laura, wife of Edward Terry, has five children and lives in Scotia, Nebraska; Myrtle, who resides at home; and Delbert who is married and lives on the home farm. Mr. Campbell has been prosperous and success ful, and from time to time has purchased land, and now owns four hundred acres of fine stock and grain land. He was instrumental in organizing his school district number forty-one, and served as director of same for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are among the earliest settlers of the county, and have passed through all the dis couragements and trying experiences incidental to frontier life, and are widely and favorably known. JOHN G SCHERER. John G. Scherer, manager of the Wm. Krotter Company's lumber yard at Butte, Nebraska, has been a citizen of this part of the west since the late fall of 1884, when his father, Andrew Scherer, ar rived in Fort Randall to take the position of post tailor at the fort. The father was a native of Hesse Darmstadt as was his wife, whose maiden name was Gertrude Bosel; they sailing from Ant werp in June, 1883. On landing in the United States, they came direct to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, remaining there until fall, then coming to Fort Randall, as above stated. That was their home for the following five years. At the time of the opening of Ponca reservation for settle ment, in 1890, Andrew Scherer secured a claim east of Spencer, Nebraska, where for ten or twelve years he was actively engaged in farming, finally retiring from active labors in' 1902, He now resides in Spencer, has a comfortable home and is enjoy ing the fruits of his many years of hard work and perserverance. Our subject was born in the village of Aben- heim, District of Worms, Hesse Dormstadt, Ger many, on April 24, 1869, and there as a boy at tended the parochial schools until coming to America, from then on his education being sadly neglected, except what was gained through reading and observation. He subsequently became fa miliar with the Indians at the fort, learned their language and slept in their tepees with them many a night, being a general favorite, and this friend ship has endured through all his life. He re mained with his parents until the age of twenty- three, then filed on a homestead situated three miles northwest of Bristow, residing on it the re quired five years, after which he sold the land and moved to Tripp county, South Dakota. There he herded cattle for the contractor who furnished beef to the Indians for three seasons, returning to Boyd county in 1900. He bought a farm near Butte, which he tilled for four years, then gave up the work and took charge of the Krotter lumber yard and implement house. Since his installation as manager of the concern, its patronage has been ex tended considerably, due to his business sagacity and enterprise, their trade being drawn from the entire northern part , of Nebraska and southern Dakota. Mr. Scherer was married at Spencer,, on June 8, 1893, to Miss Clara M. Kloke, and to them have been born seven children, named as follows : Irene, with the telephone company here, and Arlie, in the same employment at Fairfax, South Dakota ; while Gus, Albert, Gertrude, Fritz and Andrew are still in school. Mr. Scherer and his family are devout mem bers of the Catholic church, and all are well liked COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 887 throughout their community. He is a republican in polities, and fraternizes with the Modern Wood men of America; also holds memberships in the Des Moines Bankers' Accident Association and the Business Men's Accident Company of Des Moines, Iowa. DAVID WHITTEN. David Whitten, one of the oldest settlers of Midland precinct, has the honor to be one of the highly intelligent and worthy citizens of Boone county, and as such has gained a host of friends during his residence in the region. He has made a life study of farming and stock raising, and has been more than successful along both lines, now being classed among the wealthy and progressive residents of his section. Mr. Whitten was born in Ireland, and grew up there, coming to America about 1857. David was the«third in a family of ten children born to Moses and Catherine Whitten, all coming to America at different times, our subject being the first to emi grate, he starting out for the new world alone at the age of sixteen years. His first location was in Ulster county, New York, where he remained for a couple of years, di viding his time between there and the state of Georgia, working in New York state during the summers, and in winter going south. In 1863 he came west, locating in Henry coun ty, Illinois, and obtained employment on a farm there. In July of that year, he was married to Mary B. Hall, who is a native of England, coming to this country with her parents when a small child. Three children were born to them in Illi nois, and in the fall of 1871 the entire family started for the far west, travelling overland by wagon and team the entire distance, and having for their destination Boone county, Nebraska, which they reached safely after a long and tedious journey fraught with many interesting incidents. Mr. Whitten filed on homestead rights in section twenty-six, township twenty-one, range six, and since the time of locating here, that place has been his constant home. His family was the first to set tle in this portion of Boone county, and "Whit- ten's Valley" is a familiar name to all living any where near to that region. Mr. Whitten has made a life work of farming and stock raising, as stated before, and has met with splendid success in both lines. With his fam ily he has passed through all the pioneer days of Nebraska, and often endured hardship and priva tions that are the lot of the early settler in a new country. He has always been active in promoting the general welfare of his community, and had done much to aid in the development and advance ment of his county and state. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten have had ten -children, nine of whom are now living, named as follows: Mary Jane, who married Henry Moyer, they liv ing in Boone county; Hannah, wife of John Nie- man and residing in Clay county; George, who lives on the home farm ; William, May, a teacher ; David F., who married Adeline Belgum, on Sep tember 10, 1908 ; Edward Leroy, Arthur, and Ella Althea. The Whitten family are among the pro minent members of the social life of their com munity, and are held in the highest esteem as being almost the only remaining, family of really old- timers in their immediate neighborhood. PETER SHRODER. Many a pioneer has come to the western plains with nothing but a strong heart and willing hands, and from a start of nothing has carved out for himself a fortune and home, and is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his career in com fort and plenty surrounded by his family and a host of warm friends, esteemed and respected by all. Mr. Shroder was born in St. Megalis Donn, Holstein province, Germany, in November 28, 1853, and was brought up by Henry Peterson. After our subject grew to manhood he served in the Ger man army three years. In 1885 Mr. Shroder came to America, starting from< Hamburg, sailing direct to New York, bringing his family with him. After landing in the United States, our subject and family stopped for a few days in Keystone, Iowa, then going to Douglas county, and in 1881 to Washington county, Nebraska. Here they went through about all the hardships and drawbacks in cident to those times, among other experiences be ing hailed out in 1898 ; and in the blizzard of 1888, our subject with his family became lost in the storm, barely escaping with their lives. In 1903 Mr. Shroder sold his Washington county home and came to Antelope county, where he owned a beau tiful improved farm of two hundred and forty acres, with eight acres of good orchard and grove trees. Mr. Shroder was united in marriage in 1877 to Miss Dora Kruger. Fifteen children have blessed this union, being named as follows: Peter (de ceased), Ernest, Annie, Bertha, John, Henry, Dora, Minnie (deceased), Olga, Lena, Emma, Hans, Nannie, Elma, and Ella. For some time Mr. Shroder lived on section fifteen, township twenty-seven, range six, but re cently he sold this place and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section thirty-five, township twenty-eight, range six. This is a splen did farm, highly improved, and a comfortable home, with modern improvements. Mr. Shroder and his family are highly re spected in the community in which they live. WILLIAM H. MAUK. William H. Mauk has been a resident of Cus ter county since coming there in 1881. His father had preceded, in 1880, and the family has been 888 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. very influential in promoting the general welfare and progress. He was born in Pennsylvania, Oc tober 20, 1858, the eldest of the seven children of Jacob F. and Catherine Mauk, the father a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Jacob F. Mauk was born in Au gust, 1836, and came to America in 1851, settling first in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he was married in 1857 to Catherine Shireman. The Shireman family had been living in Pennsyl vania since the Revolutionary war. In 1863 Mr. Mauk enlisted in Company C, Third heavy ar tillery, serving until the close of the war. He was one of the guards detailed to guard Jefferson Davis after his capture. Jacob F. Mauk was a mechanic in early man hood but after the war removed with his family to a farm in McLean county, Illinois. They lived there until October, 1880, when they removed to Custer county, Nebraska, and took up a home stead, on section ten, township sixteen, range twenty, there being five children in the family when they made this change. The trip was made with teams and covered wagons, and when they reached their destination they lived for some time in a sod Shanty. Mr. Mauk lived on his homestead farm until 1897, then moved to Broken Bow and made that his home until his death, August 6, 1910, his wife having died on the farm in 1886. He was one of the honored pioneers of the county, and the family was widely known. Of the seven children born to Jacob F. Mauk and wife four sur vive them: William H., Frank E., Mrs. C. T. Wright and Mrs. Carl Burdick. William H. Mauk, the principal subject of this article, came with his parients to Illinois, and there grew to manhood. He made a trip through several of the western states in, 1877, using a team and wagon for transportation. He visited the Black Hills, Wyoming, and Colorado, and while at the first named place worked as stock tender for the Black Hills Stage Company. When his father moved to Custer county he left this occupa tion and came to join the family, taking up a homestead and tree claim on his own account, on sections fourteen and fifteen of township sixteen, range nineteen, in May, 1881. He is one of the very few men coming to the county and securing a homestead at so early a date as 1881 who retains the ownership of homestead and timber claim. After residing on his homestead farm for a period of twenty-four years, he moved to his one hundred and seventy-seven acre farm near Broken Bow. He owns other land as well and is a successful and progressive farmer and stockman. He has a well- equipped stock and grain farm and has always stood for the best interests of his community. He has given his time and means toward the develop ment of his county and state and is regarded as a public-spirited citizen. In early days he experi enced the same trials and privations as his neigh bors, and triumphed over all difficulties. He has served on the township board and in his earlier years in the county was justice of the peace in his district. Mr. Mauk was married (first) in March, 1884, and of this union four children were born: Ed ward, Hattie, Esther, and Oscar, all of whom have received excellent educational advantages. Edward is unmarried and is a -homesteader of Brown county, Nebraska; Hattie J. is a member of the faculty and corresponding secretary of Lin coln business college; Esther graduated from the high school of Broken Bow with the class of 1911, arid Oscar is a student in the high school. In 1905 Mr. Mauk left his farm and located in Broken Bow, so as to afford his children better educational facilities, and that place has since been his home. He was married (second) August 15, 1905, to Miss Katie Bushman, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Mauk have a modern comfortable home, and are well-known in social and educational circles. Mr. Mauk is a member of Masonic orders, and he with his wife, belongs to the Eastern Star. ADAM P. HANNAWALD. (Deceased.) The date Adam F. Hannawald, an early settler of Custer county, and well-known as a man of strict integrity and high character, did much to influence the early development of Custer county and central Nebraska, and his death was deeply deplored by his many friends. He was a veteran of the civil war and throughout his life was known as a patriotic, useful citizen. He was born in Utica county, New York, September 28, 1836, a son of Adam and Dorothy (Shingler) Hannawald, and the oldest of their six children. He has a brother in Denver, Colorado, and another brother, Martin, in Bridgeport, Nebraska. Mr. Hannawald grew to manhood on a farm in New York and re ceived his education in local schools, later engag ing in farming on his own account. He was mar ried in Madison county, New York, January 29, 1859, to Anthy L. Owen, also a native of that state. On August 7, 1862, Mr. Hannawald en listed in Company B, One Hundredth and Fifty- seventh New York Infantry, and owing to physical disability was discharged on February 8, 1863, and then returned to his home, and resumed farm ing in his native state. In 1865 Mr. Hannawald brought his family to Oshtemo, Michigan, living there until coming to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1883. In 1885 the family came to Custer county and pre-empted one hundred and sixty-four acres of land on section two, township seventeen, range twenty-two, where Mr. Hannawald died February 10, 1898, survived by his widow and four children: Frank, of Cus ter county, a sketch of whom also appears in this work, has three children; Stella married Merlin Valleau, of Lansing, Michigan, and they have nine ADAM HANNAWALD, (DECEASED.) MRS. ANTHY HANNAWALD. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 889 children; Ettie M., wife of L. J. Read, of Merna, has two children; Nettie, wife of Archie Meek, lives in AnselmQ, Custer county. Mrs. Hanna wald lives in Merna, but retains ownership of the old homestead. She has resided there some years, owns a pleasant home, and is in close touch with her children and her many, friends, thus insuring a large degree of happiness in her later life. The family are highly respected and esteemed, being among the earlier ones of central Nebraska, where they have been identified with various measures affecting the general welfare and prosperity. Por traits of Mr. and Mrs. Hannawald wiU be found on another page. WILLIAM BUSS. A typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named. He has lived many years in Nebraska, and has been, a part of the growth and development of this region, building up for himself a substantial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Pierce county. William Buss was born in Wisconsin, March 9, 1868, and is the son of August and Wilmena (Krouse) Buss, both natives of the province of Pomerania, Germany, who emigrated to America. After landing in New York, the elder Buss went to Wisconsin where he rented a farm, on which he was living during the Civil war. He enlisted and served a short time, in a Wisconsin regiment, then returned to his Wisconsin farm. In the spring of 1871, the family came to Ne braska, settling in Stanton county, driving across Iowa by team, they having the only horses in the train of wagons, the rest having oxen. The claim on which they made settlement was situated one mile from the Wayne county line and three miles from Madison county line. The nearest market place was at Wisner, sixty miles away. On this claim they first built a sod house and later one of adobe, in which they lived for seven years. During their residence there they ex perienced many hardships and privations, losing all their crops by the grasshopper raids of 1873 and 1874 ; and also in the blizzards of 1873 and 1888, for fuel they had at times to burn corn stalks and sunflowers. Our subject came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1893, and bought where he now lives, in sec tion twenty-two, township twenty-six, range three, and has a fine farm well improved; he owns four hundred acres in Pierce county, and three hundred and twenty acres elsewhere in the state. Mr. Buss was married in 1893 to Miss Bertha May. They have had eight children: Martha, (deceased), Louis, Albert, Ernest, Arthur, Paul, William and Gustave. Mr. Buss is a member of the German Lutheran 29% church and in politics affiliates with the democra tic party. PAUL SORENSEN. Paul Sorensen a prosperous and progressive farmer of Howard county, is owner of a valuable estate in section thirty-two, township fourteen, range eleven, who through thrift and energy, aided by a natural business capacity, has gathered about him an ample sufficiency of this world's goods, and is guaranteed immunity from want in his old age. Mr. Sorensen was born on September 1, 1849, in Denmark, and was the fourth child in the family of Soren and Kara Erickson, who had seven children, four boys and three girls. The mother died in her native land in 1867. Larke and Celia Sorensen, brother and sister of Paul, came to America in the following year, settling in Chicago, where they remained until 1871, and then came to Howard county, Ne braska, being among the very first settlers. In 1869, Paul also came over, stopping in Chicago, where he spent a few months, and then went to Minnesota, remaining one year. He then re turned to Chicago and was in the city during the famous fire of 1871, which he remembers very distinctly, and can tell some interesting incidents connected with the castastrophe. During 1870, the father of our subject, two brothers, Christ, and Hans and two daughters, Hannah and Annie, also emigrated to this country, the whole family now being here, most of them settled in Howard county, Nebraska, all of the male members having filed on homesteads. In 1872 Paul joined the rest of his family in that region, and immediately took up a claim of eighty acres on sections thirty-two, township fourteen, range eleven, which he has made his home ever since. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. He has a com fortable residence, and he also has an orchard, etc. In 1879, Mr. Sorensen was married at St. Paul, Nebraska, to Sine Jensen, and they have had eleven children, nine of whom are living, named as follows: Emanuel, Ethiel, Walter, Ella, An nie, Holger, Eddie, Violet and Soren, all being intelligent young people who have been a great help to their parents in building up the home. ROBERT FRANKLIN ROWE. Although not one of the earliest settlers of Valley county, Nebraska, Robert Franklin Rowe is one of that county's most highly respected and well known citizens. He has been most success ful in agricultural operations there and has been able to retire from active life and enjoy the com forts earned v by his early industry and good management. Mr. Rowe is of New England de- 890 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. scent and both his parents were natives of the state of New York. He was born in Oswego county, New York, October 21, 1853, second of the three children born to Robert G. and Emeline (House) Rowe, being the only one of the family now living. The father died at Beloit, Wiscon sin, November 27, 1897, at the age of eighty-three years, and the mother died at Marengo, Illinois, in 1891, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Rowe accompained his parents to Dupage county, Illinois, when he was ten years ,of age, received his education in local schools there and after reaching manhood engaged in farming. On February 1, 1882, he was married, at Marengo, Illinois, to Miss Susan M. Stanford, who was of English birth and came to the United States in early childhood. Her parents, George and Susan Stanford, settled in Illinois on emigrating to America. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Rowe brought his wife, and one child to Valley county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the south east quarter of section thirty-one, township seventeen, range sixteen, which was his home for many years. Mrs. Rowe died there May 6, 1904, survived by her husband and three children: ' George R., now married and living in Valley county; C. Stanford, and Richard F., at home. On March 8, 1907, Mr. Rowe married Miss Mary Strathdee, their union taking place at Ord, Nebraska. She was born at Wilmington, Illinois, of Scotch-Irish parentage. The Strathdee family located in Valley county in 1885. The father, George Strathdee, was born in the parish of Ayrshire, Scotland, came to America iri 1850, and died in Arcadia in May, 1910. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Hurley, was born in Ire land and now lives at Arcadia. Two children were born of Mr. Rowe 's second marriage, Curtis A. and Robert G. Mr. Rowe is one of the most progressive men in the county and stands for the, best interests of its citizens. He is always ready to support the cause of progress and advancement and has many warm friends. He now lives in a comfort able home in Arcadia and has retired from the farm. He was an extensive stock raiser and made a specialty of Poland China hogs. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine farm land in Valley and Sherman counties, which he has de veloped and improved. For several years he served as school director of district number eleven. Mr. Rowe experienced the life of a pioneer in a dugout residence in southern Nebraska and in Kansas. In 1894, the year of drouth, he harvested thirty bushels of wheat from forty- five acres and did better then than many of his neighbors. He is a member of the Congregational church and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a progressive republican, though independent of party lines in all but national questions. OTTO BORCHERS. Otto Borchers, a leading old-timer in Ne braska, resides on his well improved farm situated in section five, township twenty-three, range two, Madison county. Mr. Borchers is a typical pioneer, has lived many years in this section of the country, and has been a part of the growth and development of the region, building up for himself a substantial home. Mr. Borchers is a native of Germany, where his birth occurred August 29, 1838, in Hanover, province of Prussia; he is a son of John and Katie (Borcelman) Borchers, both also natives of Germany, where the father- followed the oc cupation of farming. In 1863, Mr. Borchers came to America, em barking on a sailboat bound from Hamburg to New York, and was nine weeks and three days on the sea. After reaching the United States, he proceeded westward, locating in Minnesota where he remained seven years; here he worked as farm hand. In 1869 Mr. Borchers went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and from there came to Fremont, Nebraska, where he went by stage coach overland to Madi son county, locating on his present homestead, where he built a good log house, living in this ten years. During the first years of residence on the western frontier, our subject experienced many hardships and privations; during the first five years the grasshoppers that came every sea son and destroyed the vegetation were a great source of anxiety and disappointment. Mr. Borchers was united in marriage in 1869 to Miss Mary Olday, a native of Hanover, Prus sia, and a daughter of John Olday. Mr. and Mrs. Borchers are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Katie, who is the wife of Henry Teke, and resides in Madison county; Adelia; John, who married Miss Mary Clyde, they residing in Madison county; Mary. who is the wife of Fred Preuner, lives in Madison county; Carl and Metta. Mrs. Borchers died January 19, 1900, deeply mourned by family and friends. They are a fine family, and, are all active in forwarding the best interests of their home state and county, and are held in high esteem by all who know them. They are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Borchers affiliates with the democratic party. JOHN SIMPSON. Among Custer county's early settlers, and a man who is widely and favorably known, is John Simpson, now living retired from active life, at COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 891 Ansley, Nebraska. Mr. Simpson is a native of Woolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, born in 1839, and grew up on the farm where his father was employed — the large estate of a lord. Later he worked at mining in his native shire. He is a son of William James and Anna (Wooley) Simpson, also natives of England. He was mar ried in his native country, in 1867, to Miss Eliza beth Harris, also of English birth, and about 1869 or 1870 he brought his wife and one son to America. They located sixteen miles from Cleve land, in Cayhuga county, Ohio, where he car ried on farming until 1879, when he removed to Hall county, Nebraska, and one year later, home steaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township sixteen, range eighteen, Custer county, which for many years was the home -place. He became a successful farmer and was much interested in local affairs, helping to organize school district number six teen. He is a good example of what may be ac complished by energy and thrift, and is a self- made man. He now owns three hundred and forty acres of fine farming and stock raising land, including a quarter section in Montana and twenty acres of fruit land in Oregon, and since 1897 has lived retired from active life, enjoying the fruit of his early toil. He has erected a coin- fortable home in Ansley and the family is well known socially. To Mr. Simpson and wife eleven children were born, of whom eight are now living, namely: William J., married and living in Montana, has seven children; Anna E., who married Louis Duxstad and has one child, lives at Ansley with her father; Alice M. married Newton braper, lives in Missouri, and they have seven children; Clyde J., at home ; Frederick E. is married and lives four miles northeast of Ansley; Alma J. married William Burdick, of Custer county, county, and they have two children; Lottie M. married James Van Zant, of Westerville, Custer county, and they have two children; Leah E., at home ; Rose H., who died in 1908, is survived by her husband, Lemuel Clay, and one child; and Albert E. and Minnie N. are deceased. Mr. Simp son is a man of stability and integrity and is considered a useful, public-spirited citizen, In politics he is independent of party lines. While in England he was a communicant of the estab lished church. In Ansley he became identified with the Christian church. LORENZ ALBERTSEN. In compiling a list of the self-made men of Wayne county, Nebraska, who bave become well- to-do, progressive farmers, and who have aided materially in the development of the agricultural interests of this region, a prominent place is ac corded the narne of Lorenz Albertsen. For many years this gentleman has been located on section twenty-eight on his valuable estate, and his agri cultural operations have been extremely suc cessful. He is known as one of the prominent substantial citizens of that locality and well merits his high standing. Mr. Albertsen is a native of Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, where he was born in 1840. His parents, Hans and Mary Albertsen, were farmers of that locality, and he obtained from them an intimate knowledge of intensive farm ing, which is one thing that has made the Euro pean farmer so successful as a general rule, even under what are considered very poor conditions in our favored land. Lorenz Albertsen saw military service in the war between Denmark and Germany in 1863 and 1864, and after tbe war was over could not set tle down contentedly in the narrow community where he had spent his previous years. About March 1, 1865, he left his native land, and eame to America to seek his fortune un this land of golden opportunity. He eame first to DavenporJ, Iowa, where he remained about two years and a half. He continued his wanderings in 1868, when he went to California and remained about a year and eight months. He then returned to Nebraska and settled down in Saunders county on section sixteen, township sixteen, range seven, where he remained until 1889, when he came to Wayne county, and bought the farm where he now lives. His years in Nebraska as a settler were not entirely pleasant and encouraging. The grass hoppers took all of his crops for several years while he was in Saunders county, and the prairie fires in summer, and severe blizzards in winter were also elements to be reckoned with. How ever, he persevered in his attempt to make a home for himself and his family, and after years of toil is now enjoying the rewards of his labor. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is the amount he purchased on coming to Wayne county. He has built his present com fortable home, barns and other out buildings. He has fatted a number of cattle and hogs, but of late has given of hard work, and is taking life easier in his old ge. In 1879, Mr. Albertsen was united in marriage to Miss Ebbie Schultz, and of this union have been born nine children, named respectively: John, Henry, George, Albert, Minnie (now Mrs. Fred Adams), William, Arthur, Elsie, Emma and Fred. Mr. Albertsen is a democrat. JAMES SMITH. James Smith a prominent and well known farmer of Custer county, with the exception of a few years spent in Loup county, has been con tinuously a resident of Custer county since 1878. He was born in Philadelphia September 6, 1853, the youngest child of James and Louise (John- 892 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHYr. son) Smith. The father was born in New Jersey in January, 1800, spent his early years in that state and Pennsylvania, and was married in Philadelphia. Twelve children were born of their union. James Smith, senior, was a master sailor and spent sixteen years on the ocean in com mand of his own vessel. For five or six years he was engaged in mercantile business in Phila delphia and for twelve years he worked in the the ship building yards of that city. His first wife died in 1862, and he was married to his second wife in 1865. At the close of the Civil war he took his family to West Virginia, and in 1870 he and his wife and four children, with his eldest son, came to Hall county, Nebraska, locat ing on a farm. In August, 1878, he took up a homestead in Custer county, comprising the north half of the northeast quarter and the north half of the northwest quarter of section four, town ship fourteen, range seventeen, which remained the home farm until the time of his death, in September, 1904. He was always an active man and retained his faculties to a wonderful extent in his latter years, at the time of his death lack ing but a few months of one hundred and four years of age. James Smith, junior, worked a few years in the ship yards of Philadelphia and came to Hall county with his father in 1870, and on to Custer county in 1878. He took up a homestead com prising the northwest quarter of section three, township fourteen, range seventeen, and the south half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-four, township fifteen, range seventeen. His half-brother, Joseph Smith," lives on the old homestead of their father, so that the homesteads originally taken by James Smith, senior, and James Smith, junior, still remain the property of the family. In 1904 Mr. Smith took a Kincaid homestead in Loup county and made that his home place until it was proved up. Thus he is a pioneer homesteader of both Custer and Loup counties. On December 20, 1886, Mr. Smith married Annie L. Buckley, and thirteen children were born of this union, twelve of whom are now living: James R., Elmer E., Nora Annie, Maggie Ellen, Louise May, George P., Alfred W, Bernard L., Dale H., Vena, Martha Pearl and Orville. All were born on the home farm in Custer county except Martha Pearl, who was born in Loup county. The Smiths are among Custer county's best known pioneer families and are held in high regard by their many friends and acquaintances. Although a man of retiring disposition and habits, Mr. Smith has always been active along all lines connected with the general progress and pros perity. He has been successful in farming and stock raising, his occupation for more than forty years, and now owns a well improved and equip- peu tarm in his home place, besides four hundred acres of land in Loup county. WILLIAM VAN CAMP. One of the oldest citizens of Knox county, is the venerable William Van Camp, now retired and residing in Winnetoon, having come to the county in 1872. At that time Yankton was the nearest railroad terminus, and on arriving there one Saturday, Mr. Van Camp learned that the next stage was due to leave the following Tues day, so in order to save hotel bills as well as stage fare, he started to walk the fifty miles to Bazile Mills, arriving there in good shape, although a trifle weary and footsore. There he batched it with a friend, Oscar Norton, who owned the half section of land on which Winneton now stands, remaining for a short time, then taking possession of a homestead lying three miles south of where Verdigris has since been located. He proved up on the land, and also took a timber claim adjoining, all of which he improved in splendid shape, and made it his home until his retirement in i905. On arriving in the vicinity he learned that there was not a teacher for the schools, so he promised the settlers that he could procure one for them, and sent for his "wife whom he had left in Wisconsin and she came on and took charge of the district school, being one of the very first teachers in the southern part of the county. Mr. Van Camp is a descendant of the old Knickerbockers, who settled on the Hudson river in New York state during Holland's reign over the region. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, on January 16, 1828, his childhood being spent in that locality. When he was seven years old his parents moved to Jefferson county, New York, the father purchasing three hundred and sixty acres of land, which at that time was an unusually large tract in that region. This was devoted to dairying, which they carried on for many years. Mr. Van Camp 's father died in 1856, at the age of fifty years, while his widow reached the ripe old age of ninety, and of their five sons and three daughters, our subject is the last, He was married in Jefferson county, on December 6, 1854, to Harriet Winne who passed away on the home farm in April, 1903, leaving two children, Charles, who is engaged in the elevator business at Winnetoon, and Clara, wife of Willis Brown of Creighton. In 1875 Mr. Van Camp came with his wife to Wood county, Wisconsin, and was there en gaged in the lumber business, working in saw mills and at times rafting the product down the rivers. On coming to Nebraska he at once en gaged in farming, and was successful in raising good crops of wheat and corn when others failed completely, and after the grasshopper raids had driven many out of the locality, he raised good crops on the land which they had abandoned. Most of the grain raised he soil to settlers for seed, and some went to the Bazile Mills. During these times hunting was a common sport in the COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 893 county, and Mr. Van Camp saw antelope quite often from his farm. During his early manhood Mr. Van Camp was a Whig in politics, but in 1856 changed to a republican when that party was organized. Since that time he has given the party his hearty sup port, and has always taken an active part in it,s affairs, both state and national. Mr. Van Camp has been a member of the Masonic lodge since about his twenty-first year, joining the order while living in Jefferson county, New York state. H. A. SCHERER. One of the most valuable estates in Stanton county, Nebraska, is the one owned by H. A. Scherer, located in section thirty-five, township twenty-three, range three. Mr. Scherer is one of the most prosperous farmers of this part of the state, and has been a continuous resident of this county for a long term of years. Mr. Scherer was born iri 1860, at Frankfort- on-the-Main, Germany. His father, Henry Soberer. was a farmer and overseer of a factory where fur hats were manufactured. When our subscri ber was a child of three years, they left their native land and came to Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1869. At this time, they came to Stanton county, took up a homestead, and prepared to mfake it their permanent home. A dugout was built in which they lived for two years. Later when they determined to build a frame house, they had to haul the lumber from Omaha, paying forty dollars per thousand feet. For a while they had a hard time to make a living, as the grasshoppers destroyed their crops for several years in suc cession. Finally, things began to brighten some what, and they began to add one improvement after another to the farm, so that now it is one of the well-known estates of the county. Prom time to time, as circumstances seemed to warrant, Mr. Scherer has added to his landed possessions until now he is the proprietor of six hundred and eighty acres of the finest land to be seen for miies around. In 1884, Mr. Scherer was married to Miss Kate Haley, Six children have been born to them, all of whom are living. They are named as fol lows: Frank, Max, Earl, Mary, Minnie, and Alfa. Mr. and Mrs. Scherer are both well-known socially, and are favorably regarded by every one "with whom they have come in contact. HIRAM H. HOYT. Prominent among Antelope county's worthy citizens is the gentleman above mentioned, as he has been largely instrumental in bringing about the present financial and commercial prosperity. Mr. Hoyt is a progressive farmer and is well ¦ known throughout Antelope county as a success ful agriculturist, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Hoyt is a native of New York, and is the son of Henry and Abagail (Rosco) Hoyt, both natives of New York. Our subject grew to man hood in his native state, when he decided to go west to Iowa, he having found he could get land cheaper in the west, and thinking it a better place 'for a young man to get a start in life. After residing four years in Sioux county, Iowa, our subject came to Antelope county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1882 and took up a homestead claim in section eight, township twenty-four, range eight, on which he built a good frame house. Mr. Hoyt was married in 1868 to Miss Louisa June, and Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Anna L., who is married to Mr. Nathan Prosser; Andrew J. ; Oliver H., married Miss Hannah Smith; and Mary A., wife of Irvin W. Wilson. Mr. Hoyt sold his homestead and bought eighty acres of land on which was a. small house to which a goodly addition was built in the fall of 1910. He and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of the community in which they dwell. GEORGE 0. WATERS. George 0. Waters, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, has for many years been prominent in connection with the work he has done in the interests of agriculture and horticulture in his county and state. He has in many ways been conspicuous in furthering the development and progress of central Nebraska and has given freely of his time and means in this cause, being especially in- . terested in educational measures. He has been a resident of the county from the days when the coffee mill was often used to grind grain for making bread until the present day, and was one of the earlier settlers of Custer county. Mr. Waters was born in Preble county, Ohio, May 30, 1849, the second born child of Isham and Rachel (Cassat) Waters, who had four sons and two daughters. The father was a native of Ken tucky and the mother of Ohio. In 1852 the Waters family moved from Ohio to Clinton county, Indiana, going onto a heavily timbered farm. In those days Indiana was but sparsely settled and the father helped very materially in the development of his part of the state, where he was one of the pioneers. He enlisted in Com pany I, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and remained in the service about fifteen months, receiving an honorable discharge on ac count of physical disability. He then returned to Indiana and in the spring of 1865 went with his family, which consisted of his wife and their five children, to Clark county, Missouri. The entire family of Isham Waters, at one time or another, came to Nebraska and became a 894 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. resident o fthe state. The parents came to Cus ter county and there the father died, the mother passing away in Otoe county. Besides George 0., there are three sons and two daughters now sur viving, but the only two who have retained their residence in the state to the present time are George and his sister Mrs. John Saner, of Ne braska City. George 0. Waters remained with his father on the home farm until September 10, 1867, when he enlisted in the United States army at Keokuk, Iowa, and later he was assigned to Company F, Thirtieth United States Infantry, and in the spring of 1869 to Company H, of the Fourth In fantry, the fourth and thirtieth regiments being consolidated at that time. He was discharged at the end of his term of enlistment, in September, 1870. He had served at Fort Sedgwick, Colora do, and Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming, also at Fort Steele, and received his discharge at Fort Fetterman. He had been engaged in frontier service among the Indians during his term. After his discharge he returned to the home farm in Missouri and he was married on Christmas day, 1870, to Elvira Storey, daughter of Greenberry and Amie Ann (Carman) Storey, a native of Mis souri and her parents natives of Kentucky. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Waters lived on the Missouri farm until the spring of 1879, a period of more than eight years. On April 21 Mr. Waters left Missouri and moved with his family to Custer county, Ne braska, arriving there May 12, 1879. They came with a team and covered wagon and secured a homestead seven miles north of Westerville on the northwest quarter of section thirty-four, township eighteen, range eighteen, where they lived until the spring of 1888. At that time Mr. Waters moved to Broken Bow and for four years served as deputy clerk of the district court. In December, 1889, Mr. Waters and his family moved to their new home one mile east of Broken Bow, known as Willowbrook farm, and located on section thirty-three, township seventeen, range twenty, which is still the family home. Nine children have been born in the family, six of whom now survive, the first four born in Mis souri: Harry L., deceased; William W., Charles F. ; Edward L., deceased ; Robert E., George H., Clark S., Elvira May, and an infant who is de ceased. William W., a young business man of Broken Bow, is married'and has three children; Charles P., in business in Eddyville, Nebraska, has two children; Robert E., married and living on a farm near Westerville, Custer county, has three children ; George H. and Clark S., unmarried and living at home ; Elvira is the wife of Bert Oxford and lives in South Dakota. The family is among those of the early ones that are well known and popular in Custer county, and Mrs. Waters, as well as her husband, has always stood for the best interests of the county and state. Her parents are now deceased. Her father came to Missouri in pioneer days in that state and spent the remainder of his life there. .The homestead in Missouri is still in the possession of the Storey family. During the past year Mr. Waters has been a member of the county board and he had previously held various township offices. He has also served as a member of the school board of Broken Bow. He was one of the organizers of the Custer county agricultural society and served several terms as its president. He is an enter prising and progressive farmer and has won suc cess in his ventures. He , has a comfortable, modern home, surrounded by a nice lawn and shade trees. When the family first came to this place the land was covered with corn stalks. It is now in a high state of cultivation and improve ment and reflects credit upon its owner. Mr. Waters is prominent in the Knights of Pythias order, being a member of the lodge at Broken Bow. GEQRGE FRANKLIN WHITE. Among the younger members of the farming community of Valley county, Nebraska, none are better known or command a higher place as a pro gressive farmer and stockman than the gentle man named above. He has one of the finest farms, in the county and has met with marked success in both farming and stock-raising. Mr. White was born in Wisconsin on the fourth of March, 1867. He was the tenth in a family of twelve children born to William F. and Catharine (Clark) White; seven, of these children are still living. The father was of English and Irish descent, a native of Massachusetts and died in this county four years ago. The mother who was Mr. C. R. White's second wife, was of Ger man extraction ; she died in 1896. When Frank White, as he is usually known, was only three years of age, the family came to Nebraska, settling first in Otoe county and later in York county, so that he has been a resident of the state ever since he could remember. He received his education in the loCal schools of the latter county, and assisted his father about the farm when not in school. In 1890, he came to Valley county, and en gaged in farming for himself. On August 27, of the year following, he was married to Miss Clara Coleman in David City-, Nebraska. She is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Taylor) Coleman. Seven years after coming to the county, Mr. White purchased a quarter section in section twenty-eight, township thirteen, range seventeen, where he built a comfortable home which he still occupies. A view of the residence, with its picturesque surroundings, is shown on another page. In 1909, he bought another quarter section adjoining his other property. In addition to "HILLSIDE FARM," PROPERTY OF JOSEPH GIDDINGS. ^mm$mm^^§z ^SMUt pt ^§i^% Utefe & ^Wk m h*M "Jh "ASH.GROYS FARM," RESie^NCS OF QBOS.GE F. WHirE, COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 895 raising the usual crops, Mr. White has given a great deal of attention to stock-raising, and in this departure he has met with signal success. He has always taken a commendable interest in local public affairs, and has served the commun ity in many an'd various capacities. For twelve years he was justice of the peace, while he was moderator of his school district, number forty- three, for a number of years. JJe has also held various township offices. In fact, he has been in many ways an important factor in the progress of the community. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White, four of whom are living: Vain, died in infancy, while Paul J., Myrtle E., Earl L. and Ellen M. are all at home. - Both Mr. and Mrs. White are deeply interested in the educational and religious life of the com munity. They are members of the Friends church, and for nearly five years they conducted a Sabbath school in the neighborhood, of which Mr. White was superintendent until failing health compelled him to abandon his post. He is a prohibitionist in political views, and both are members of the Women's Christian Temper ance Union. They have enjoyed the pioneer privilege of living in a sod house from time to time, and occupied one on their present place until 1903, when the dwelling shown in our illustration was built. They endured the losses consequent to grasshopper raids, chinch bugs, hail and drouth. In 1894 their entire harvest consisted of less than twenty bushels of wheat, and fifty bushels from an eight-acre field of rye. Corn bread and water constituted their only food at times. A few deer and antelope were on the prairies when they first came, but these soon disappeared. JOSEPH M. GIDDINGS. Joseph M. Giddings is well known throughout Custer county as an energetic, successful farmer and stockman. He was born at Hebron, McHenry county, Illinois, September 4, 1841, second child of George and Harriet E. (Montague) Giddings, who had two daughters and four sons.- The Gid dings family left Illinois in the spring of 1846, and moved , to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, being pioneers of that region. The father pur chased a large tract of land there, and the family lived in that county many years, the subject of this sketch being educated there. Two daughters and one son of the family still live in Wisconsin, the daughters in Winnebago county and the son at Pond du Lac. Joseph Giddings was the only one of the family to come to Nebraska, which he did in 1878, driving through by team. Starting on the first of March, accompanied by Frank Kimball, he did noti reach his destination before the second of May, the roads being in such a fearful condi tion. He went to York county, raised two crops there, and in the spring of 1879, took up a home stead on the northwest quarter of section seven, township sixteen, range seventeen, in Custer county, where he resided until 1911, when he became a citizen of Ansley. In the early days, Mr. Giddings experienced the same hardships and adversities as other pio neer settlers. Grand Island was their nearest trading point, and it was a trying thing to make the four-day trip, which he did many times with an ox team. He well remembers the dry years, the years of panic, and the times when they used a coffee mill to grind corn and wheat meal for their bread. He had always been in pioneer surroundings since he could remember, as he' was a small boy when the family moved to Wisconsin, and he has a vivid recollection of going with his father, driving a yoke of steers, to the small trad ing post called Chicago, seventy-five miles distant from their home. Mr. Giddings did not attend the sale in the neighborhood, January 12, 1888, the day of the worst blizzard in many years, but Ira, bis son, then a lad, was present. Messrs. Willard and Frank Kimball, neighbors, were present, however, and took the boy home with them, where he remained over night. Mr. Gid dings can never forget the three-days' blizzard of October 15, 16 and 17, 1880, which began the winter of the deep snow. His well drifted full of snow, and was never used again, for in melt ing, it caused the well to cave in. They used melted snow for family use and stock uutil spring, and then had to haul water until fall The man who had been engaged to bore a well for them in June did not come until November. This well has been in use ever since that time. The Giddings' first residence was a dugout in the bank west of their present home, the spot hidden by a plum thicket. This was followed by a sod house, and by a second one, in which the family lived until 1908, when the present neat frame dwelling was built. Mr. Giddings was married in Winnebago county, March 1, 1871, to Miss Julia Sperry, a daughter of Rais and Sarah (Lilly) Sperry, both natives of Ohio. Her father and a brother came to Custer county about 1881, settling on the Mitchell farm in Myrtle township, of which her brother owns one hundred and sixty acres at this time. Mr. and Mrs. Giddings have two chil dren : Lilly, wife of Sylvester Lee, lives at Ronan, Missoula county, Montana, has eight children, and Ira R., the youngest, took over the manage ment of the farm in 1911, when the parents pur chased a comfortable cottage in Ansley, and retired from active life. Mr. Giddings has an excellent record as a soldier. He enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in September 4, 1861, and was discharged at Montgomery, Alabama, September 4, 1865, having been in the service four years. His regiment was 896 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. on guard duty on the Iron Mountain railroad. below St. Louis, for a number of months, then went to the front. Their first important battle was at the Siege of Vicksburg, and they afterward went down to New Orleans, and on to Berwick Bay. Here, at Brazier City, Mr. Giddings was. taken ill, after four days of continuous picke'. duty in the rain. He was sent to the hospital rejoined his regiment when able, and, with it, par ticipated in many engagements, becoming a veteran. After his discharge, he returned to his Wisconsin home. Mr. Giddings is a republican in politics, and has been a delegate to every county convention but three since coming to the county, and was a member of the first board organized to frame the herd law. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. AUGUST J. HOEHNE. August J. Hoehne, of Osmond, Nebraska, is a native son of this state, and has seen the many phases of progression during his Ufetime. He has. contributed his share of energy and qualifica tions to the upbuilding of the state, and is now a dealer in implements in Osmond, Nebraska. He was born in Cuming couty, November 26. 1865. His parents, John and Caroline (Briet- krcutz) Hoehne, natives of the kingdom of Prussia, came to America in 1859, lived four years in Wisconsin, and then came west to Cum ing county in 1863. They settled on a homestead, and also filed on a pre-emption claim, on both of which they proved up and received clear title. Their first house was of logs, and their first stable, or shelter, for stock was of straw, with a roof of same. Later a more substantial barn of logs was erected, and eventually a com modious dwelling and a better barn. The first school house was made of mud, pressed down between parallel frame work of willows, and later was covered with siding on the outside, and was plastered on the inside, making a very pre sentable building, which answered its purpose for thirty years. They were there in time to suffer all the grasshopper raids, losing all their crops two or three years, and much of them sev eral other years. Mr. Hoehne 's father died, October 25, 1877, and he remained with his widowed mother until he was twenty-six years of age, when he started out for himself, opening an implement house in Wisner which he conducted profitably for three years, weathering the panic of 1893. Receiving a flattering offer from the Deering Binder Com pany, he was their salesman and collector for three years, and represented the McCormick com pany the two years following, covering territory throughout Iowa and Nebraska. He again entered the implement business, opening an establishment in West Point in 1900, and on October 25, 1902. transferred his interests to Osmond, disposing of his business in the summer of 1910, and retiring from business. Here he built a large two-story dwelling, one of the most pretentious in town, of a very pleasing style of architecture, which was his residence while living in the town. Mr. Hoehne was married in Osmond, Nebras ka, October 23, 1907, to Miss Nellie Farrow, a native of Washington, Illinois, daughter of Benjamin and Louise J. (Good) Farrow, Avho eame to Nebraska in 1884, and settled on a farm, six miles east of where Osmond now stands. Pierce was their trading point and nearest town. One daughter, Harriet, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoehne. Mr. Hoehne is a democrat, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been initiated into the Masonic order. Mr. Hoehne has vivid recollections of the early days, when he first knew Nebraska — the grasshopper raids, blizzards and prairie fires. A half brother, caught in a blaze of burning grass, was so severely burned on the face and hands that for a time it was feared he would be perman ently disfigured. One year, when preparing a Marsh harvester to begin cutting the ripened grain, the machinist, who was at work, looked up, and noticing a cloud in the northwest, remarked : ' ' You will cut no grain today; see that cloud?" Within a short time the cloud approached, and descended a cloud of grasshoppers, which before night left no grain to cut; nor was there any corn left in the fields. So numerous were they that the sound of their eating and of falling leaves could be distinctly heard at quite a distance from the fields. It seems odd in these days of high prices to hear that a little over thirty years ago grain was hauled a hundred miles to Omaha, where twenty- five cents was the best price paid for it, the trip sometimes requiring ten days or two weeks. During the blizzard of 1881, Mr. Hoehne, as a boy, was herding sheep for a man in Wayne county. Owing to having only partly finshed sheds, half of the sheep were lost. In the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, he was living with his mother on the home farm, but found no necessity for going out into it. Children of the present day have little con ception of what their father's and grandfathers endured in the pioneer, days of the west. PRANK J. TAYLOR. Frank J. Taylor, a successful and leading attorney of Howard county, is a prominent man of affairs in his section of the state. He was elected county attorney in the fall of 1892, and held that office for six years. In 1903, he received the nomination and was elected to the same office, serving for one term, and again re-elected in 1908, holding the office at tbe present time. He has also held the office of city attorney for four one- year terms, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 897 Mr. Taylor is a native of Ashton, Illinois, born February 12, 1866, and is the eldest of five chil dren in the family of John P. and Susan Taylor. The Tayolrs lived in Ashton up to 1879, at that time coming to Sherman county, Nebraska, where our subject received his early education, and later attended the St. Paul high school, after which he entered the law office of Darnell & Kendall in that city, and in June, 1890, was admitted to the bar of Nebraska. He also took a law course at the University of Michigan, graduating with his class in 1891, returning to St. Paul, and forming a part nership with A. A. Kendall. Together they built up a large general practice, and after a short time, Mr. Taylor opened an office by himself, and has continued practice up to the present time. During his career in this section, Mr. Taylor / has gained a high reputation as a public official and good business man, and has built up a nice property, having a handsome residence and con siderable interests in different enterprises in the county. , Mr. Taylor was married, June 27, 1895, to Miss Byrdie E. West, at the home of her parents in St. Paul, where she was born and reared. They have two children, Harold and Burdette. Mrs. Taylor's parents, G. W. and Emma (Johnson) West, came to Howard county in 1871. Mr. West was among the first settlers in Howard county, and had one of the first store buildings opened in St. Paul, In 1907, Mr. Taylor assisted in the organiza tion of the First State Bank of Dannebrog, and the First State Bank of Farwell, Nebraska, and in 1908, was one of the purchasers of the Cushing State Bank. In 1909, with others, Mr. Taylor purchased the Citizens National Bank of St. Paul, and is now president of each of these institu tions, all of which are situated in Howard county, Nebraska. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Tay lor is extensively interested in Nebraska farm lands, being the owner of twenty-four hundred acres, all in the vicinity of St. Paul. OSCAR W. ENGER. Oscar W. Enger was born in the city of Chris- . tiana, Norway, August 30, 1856, and was the youngest of three sons in the family of Hans Peter and Christina Maria (Ebling) Enger. The father died in 1858, and the mother later married Rasmus Hansen, and to them one son was born, Emil Hansen. In the fall of 1868, the family came to the United States, saling from Christiana to Hull, England, and embarking at Liverpool in the "Minnesota," which landed in New York, after three weeks of stormy weather. The family consisted of Rasmus Hansen and wife and son, Emil, and Fred and Oscar Enger. The eldest Enger boy, Christ, was a sailor, and away from home at the time, but' joined the fam ily in Nebraska a year later. The family settled in Dodge county, Nebraska, in October of 1868, renting a farm, and in the same fall, Mr. Hansen homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in Cuming county, and in the spring of 1869, began improving the homestead, on which the family moved the following winter. In the fall of 1869, Mr. Hansen died, and Mrs. Hansen and the family remained on the home stead until proving up on the claim. Mrs. Hansen remarried, and died in 1881. Oscar Enger remained with his mother until the spring of 1874, and then went to Fremont, and worked for one of the wealthy business men on his country place in the edge of town. In 1878, he went back to Cuming county and the old homestead, and began farming for himself. He farmed and raised stock for three years, then sold his interest in the homestead, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of farm land in Colfax county, twelve miles northeast of Schuy ler, living on that farm until September, 1892. He then sold this land, and bought a farm in York county, which he kept but a short time, and purchased land in Hamilton county. In the spring of 1895, Mr. Enger sold his Ham ilton county farm, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section nineteen, town ship twenty, range thirteen, in Valley county. This was a raw tract of land when it came into his possession, but Mr. Enger has greatly im proved same with a commodious dwelling, good buildings, groves and orchard. Mr. Enger was married to Miss Martha Watt in York county, July 30, 1892. Miss Watt was born in Nebraska, and is a daughter of Jepp M. and Hancena Watt. Mr. and Mrs. Enger have four sons living: Henry J., Clarence, Raymond and Ivan, all of whom reside under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Enger and family are one of the well known families of Valley county. Mr. Enger has in past years held township offices, and is active in leading toward the uplift ing of his county and state along progressive lines, and has had something to do with the advancement of the several counties mentioned. Mr. Enger 's half brother, Emil Hansen, resides in Valley county; Christian in Luke county, and Fred in Blair, Washington county, all of Ne braska. Emil Hansen, half brother of Mr. Enger, was born in Norway, February 4, 1866, and is a son of Rasmus and. Christina Maria (Enger) Hansen, both of whom were natives of Norway. Mr. Hansen when but two years of age came with his parents to America, settling in Nebraska, growing to his manhood days. On February 14, 1886, at Schuyler, Nebraska, he was married to Miss Matilda Johnson, and1 Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are the parents of three living children: Earl E., Arthur R., and Vernon L. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen and family reside on their home farm located on 898 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the northeast quarter of section twenty-five, town ship twenty, range fourteen, and own in all twelve thousand and eighty acres of farm and grazing land. Mr. Enger, subject of this sketch, is a self- made man, and is now one of the prominent and successful farmers and stock men of Valley county. He has suffered many hardships and depriva tions in the development of the west. He lost nearly all his crop by drouth in 1893, and ex perienced worse losses the year following. Dur ing the early years when developing his home stead, Mr. Enger lived for a time in a "soddy." Deer and antelope were to be seen here during the early days and game birds were to be seen in myriads. Mr. Enger happened to be on the train be tween Fremont and Schuyler at the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, and so severe was the storm that the train was all after noon making the distance between the two towns. CARL PRAUNER. Carl Prauner, whose settlement in north eastern Nebraska, took place when this- region had barely been opened up to the emigrants who were looking for a fertile part of the country to locate and build up good homes, is now well known as a prosperous farmer and worthy citi zen. Mr. Prauner was born in Germany, March 24, 1850, and was sixth of seven children in the family of Martin and Mary Prauner, who had four sons and three daughters. In company with his elder brother, John Prauner, he came to America June 1, 1869, and upon arriving in the United States traveled westward, locating in the central part of Madison county, Nebraska, where they took up adjoining homesteads. Mrs. Rosa Ketteman, a sister, had come to America in the spring of 1868 with her husband, who died in Madison county in the fall of 1868. Mrs. Ketteman later on married again and is now living in Madison county, her name being Mrs. Rosa Lucht. So far as Mr. Prauner knows, brother John, sister Rosa, and himself, were the only members of the Prauner family who came to America. John and Carl Prauner are pioneer homestead settlers in Madison county, and are now living in their pleasant home in Battle Creek, Madison county, Nebraska. Mr. Prauner was married' to Miss Mary Eyl at the home of her parents in Madison county, May 9, 1875. The Eyl family were old pioneers of Madison county, of whom the parents and a sister are deceased; four brothers of Mrs. Prau ner are living, two of whom reside in Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Prauner have had fourteen children, thirteen of whom are living: Fred, who is married, has three children and lives in Madison county ; Katie, wife of Charles Hagerman has five children; Annie, wife of Fred Bierman, has three children, Charles, married, has one child; Mary, wife of Jake Knapp, has three chil dren; all the aforementioned reside in Madison county; and Henry, Lena, Minnie, Rosa,. George, Gustave, Lizzie, and August, who are living under the parental roof. The Prauner family are well known in Madison county where they all reside and are well liked by their neighbors, and occupy a high position in their community as worthy citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Prauner have fourteen grandchildren. Carl Prauner, although living in Battle Creek so as to give the children the best educational advantages, still finds time to direct the work ings of his several farms and keep in active touch with his farm and stock interests. Mr. Prauner is a prominent member of the German Lutheran church of which he has been a trustee for many years. WILLIAM GLEASON. Among the best known residents of Custer county is William Gleason, now living retired from active life, at Ansley, and who is a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Gleason was born at Read ing, Hillsdale county, Michigan, September 13, 1836, son of Eleazer and Betsey (Berry) Glea son, the second of a family of ten children and the first white child born at Reading, the sur rounding country at that time being inhabited by Indians. He now has a brother and a sister in Michigan and two brothers in Oregon. The father was a native of New York and died about 1893, at Reading. The mother, also a native of New York, died on the homestead in Michigan, in March, 1896. Mr. Gleason was reared on a farm, received his education in the local schools, and then took up farming as an occupation. March 21, 1861, he was married at Allen, Michigan, to Esther Russell, a native of the state of New York, and soon afterward they removed to Illinois, from which state he enlisted in August, 1862, in Com pany H, One Hundred and Fifteen Illinois In fantry. He served until the close of the war and received his final discharge at Camp Butler in the summer of 1865. He participated in many important engagements, including those at Chicka- mauga, Resaca, Nashville, Dalton, and minor skirmishes and struggles. After the war Mr. Gleason and wife lived a few years in Michigan, then removed to Iowa, where they remained ten years, he engaging in grain and agricultural implement business. In June, 1884, Mr. Gleason brought his wife and four children to Nebraska, and they secured a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Loup precinct, Custer county, which was the COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 899 family home until 1903, at which time he retired from active life. They then located at Ansley, where he purchased a good residence and ten acres of land, which they still occupy. In public affairs Mr. Gleason takes an active interest, and he served five years as assessor, and during most of the time since he came to the state has held various offices on the school board of district number sixty-seven. He is a promoter of every measure calculated for the general good, and is considered a substantial, reliable citizen. Both he and his wife have a wide circle of friends and they have reared their children to patriotic views regarding their adopted state. They have four children, namely : Marcus, living at home ; Fannie married A. Stuckey, of Ansley, and they have four children; Betty, married F. A. Betts, of Oregon, and they have ten children; Mary is the wife of S. C. Bruner, of David City, Nebraska, and they have one child. Mrs. Gleason 's parents were both born in New York and died in Michi gan. She has a sister and three brothers in Michi gan, a sister in Oklahoma and"a brother in Ne braska. DAVID A. CALVIN. The Calvin family is familiar to all who have lived in Howard county and the surrounding country, and the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is widely known as one of the very earliest pioneers of that part of Ne braska. He has seen every change which has come to his vicinity, and in its progress has been an important factor, doing fully as much in bring ing about its present prosperity as any other one man in the county. David A. Calvin was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1837, and made that locality his home until he was seventeen years of age. There were eight children in his parents, family, he being next to the youngest, and of this large family but himself and one sis ter survive. He left home in 1854, going into Illinois, where he followed farm work for about seven years, and was married there to Miss Mary Jones, in Adams county, she being a native of Indiana, their mar riage occurring on New Year's Day, 1861. Two children were born to them in Illinois, and in the spring of 1865 the little family moved to Iowa, settling in Polk county and spending about seven years in the state. They then started by wagon train to Nebraska, and while on this trip were overtaken by the terrible April storm, which will be remembered by many of the old-timers in Iowa and Nebraska. However, they finally landed in Howard county after a tiresome and tedious journey, and Mr. Calvin filed on a homestead in section thirty, township eleven, range twelve, and still has this homestead in his possession. There he went through every form of pioneer existence, meeting with discouragements and failures of every description, but stuck to the home and farm, and finally succeeded in making pf it a valuable property, constantly adding to its acreage until he became proprietor of a large tract, all of which he has improved with good buildings, well stocked, etc. Some little time ago Mr. Calvin retired from active farm work, and settled in St. Paul, where he enjoys a comfortable home and the family have many warm friends. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have had nine children, the four youngest being native Nebraskans. One child was lost by death, while the remaining eight are as follows : George, Mary Olive, Emeline, , James Wilbert, Richard E., Lois, Curtis and John, all married and living in different parts of Ne braska, excepting Emeline, who is in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. JAMES G. HOLDEN. In many ways, truth is stranger than fiction, and the lives of many of the old settlers of the west contain many incidents, which if related, would be even more entertaining than any form of fiction. This is especially true of the above, whose life in the mining regions of Montana in the days when' the country was new, is replete with many startling incidents. While here he was at times prospecting with such men as Wm. A. Clark, Jim Whitlatch, although none of them had any cash to spare at that time. He was secretary of the organization known as the Vigi lance Committee when it formally disbanded in Montana. He is also a Civil war veteran, having served on detached duty away from his regiment as scout and courier, most of the time, and was in the engagements in and about Decatur, Nash ville, Knoxville, and at Port Donaldson. Later on, he came to Nebraska in the early days of its settleriient and lived and saved and suffered as others did. James G. Holden was born in Canada on the second of April, 1844, and was the youngest of the four children born to James and Chloe M. (Wood) Holden. The father died in Canada in the spring of 1852 and the mother came to Chicago with her fatherless children, joining her two brothers who lived in Ogle county. Soon after, James was ' taken back to Canada and kept there two years at school. In 1858, the mother married a Wis consin man, and thenceforth made her home in Rock county, Wisconsin, where James joined her in the fall of 1860. On September 21st, of the year following he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infnatry and was mustered out in November 1864, at which time he was chief clerk in the quartermaster's department at Decatur, Alabama He remained here for about a year after being mustered out and then returned to Wisconsin He remained here only about six months and 900 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY GEORGE P. MOTT. then went to Omaha by wagon, from there taking the overland route via the Bozeman cut-off to Montana, with a bunch of horses and mules from Alabama. He arrived in Helena, Montana, in July, 1866, and soon established connections with the firm of Holter Bros., becoming the general manager and bookkeeper of their Helena office. He re mained with them for three years, in the mean time engaging in several mining operations which were not successful. However, his education and ability secured a ready recognition among the business men of the time. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Holden returned to Wisconsin, and on July 12th, he was married to Miss Josephine Bradt in Rock county. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Holden spent some months in travel, taking a trip among the prin cipal cities of the United States. In the following spring, Mr. Holden alone came to Merrick county, Nebraska, and took up a hometsead in the north west quarter, section fourteen, township fifteen, range four, being joined by Mrs. Holden in August of the same year. Mr. Holden has held many positions of trust and has amply fulfilled all official obligations. He was elected county clerk in the fall of 1877 and served four years, and immediately took the office of county treasurer. Just at this time he became associated with D. Martin and J. W. Sparks, and with them, organized the Platte Val ley Bank, with David Martin as president, J. W. Sparks, vice president, and James Holden as cashier and manager. He severed connection with the bank in 1888, and opened up an abstract and real estate and in surance office, and he has continued in that line of business to, the present date. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holden, six of whom are living. The eldest daughter, Hattie E., lives in California ; the two \ elder sons, Paul and James G., junior, are both in ' the state of Washington; Philip is at home, in ' business with his father, while Dora D. and Floyd, j the two youngest are still at home. Mr. Holden and family are prominent figures in the social life of the locality and are widely and favorably known. A history of the state of Nebraska would not be complete without including a sketch of George F. Mott,. who has made this region his home for some thirty years, and in that time has always done his share in the development of the agricultural resources of this section of the country. Mr. Mott was born in Ohio, in 1848 ; his birth place being a farm house, and his associations, from the first, being with agricultural interests, it is natural, therefore, that he should find suc cess in life's endeavor in the tilling of the soil. His father, F. S. Mott, was born in Baden, Ger many in 1804, and passed away to the great be yond in 1888. His mother, Mary (Dentz) Mott. who was also born in Baden, her birth having occurred in 1823, is now living in Boone, Iowa. Our subject's father was a shoemaker, which oc cupation he followed in his native country. He came to America on a sailboat being twelve weeks on the sea. Their first home was in Ohio ; afterwards the family went to Wisconsin, and still later to Boone, Iowa, where F. S. Mott died. A part of the time after coming to America, F. S. Mott worked at his trade, but most of his life in America was spent in farming. Mr. Mott, our subject, in the fall of 1880, came to. Knox county, Nebraska, from Iowa. where he had lived fifteen years, and took up a homestead in section nine, township , thirty. range eight, on which land he built a frame house fourteen by twenty feet. Here in the early days misfortune seemed to pursue Mr. Mott in a relentless mannec, as he suffered losses of every description through drouths, prairie fires, and storms of every variety. In 1884 Mr. Mott was burned out by the prairie fires that raged that year; in the meinorable blizzard of 1888 he lost several head of cattle; in 1893 his crops were destroyed by the hailstorm of that season ; and in 1894 the drouth and hot winds burned the crops, making a total failure of them. But Mr. Mott still kept faith in the ultimate success of this region, and has been well rewarded for his faith fulness and perseverance. He now owns nine hundred and twenty acres of some of the finest land in this section of the county, which he has improved greatly. He has twenty acres of fine trees. February 9, 1876, Mr. Mott was united in- mar riage to Miss Josephine Weaver, who was born in Bohemia, and came to the United States with her brother-in-law and sister in 1871. They are the parents of fourteen children: Frank S., who is married to Miss Minnie Mohr; George J., whose wife was Miss Ida Knight; Mary, wife of John Hansen; Josephine, who is now the wife of Mr. Berthold Groeling; James, married to Julia Jelinek; Lillie, who is the wife of Walter Bra- mon, and William, Julia, Edna, and Peter. All those married are in homes of their own, and the last four are living with their parents. Josephine, Laura, Hattie and Minnie are dead. WILLIAM A. HAVENS. William A. Havens, one of the younger pio neers of Boone county, is now a prosperous ag riculturist and stockman in Ashland precinct, where he has made his home for the past eight years. He has devoted his entire attention to this calling, and through industry and good management has acquired a valuable estate and gained the highest esteem of his^ fellowmen by COMPENDIUM OF LIISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 901 his upright character and honesty of purpose in all things. Mr. Havens is a son of Walter and Nancy Havens, who were searly settlers in Iowa, where he was born, December 5, 1869. He spent the first eight years of his life in Delaware county, Iowa, then came to Boone county with his grandfather, W. W. Havens, the latter settling on a farm. .He was married here on February 20, 1901, to Miss Eda Dodge, of Loretto. The year following his marriage he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land on section twenty- seven, township twenty-one, range seven, and this has remained the home place up to the present time. He has made of this place a good home and well developed farm and is classed among the leading younger pioneers of his section. Mr. and Mrs. Havens have had four children, Donald, who died in 1904, Arthur Lee, Florence and William Dale, who are all bright and charm ing young people. Mrs. Havens is one of a family of seven children, all now scattered in dif ferent parts of the country. Her mother lives in Loretto, her father having been dead many years. GEORGE W. RICE. Located very pleasantly in section one, town ship twenty-seven, range eight, is to be found the gentleman whose name introduces this biogra phical sketch. Mr. Rice has been identified with the history of Antelope county from a very early date and his contributions to the welfare of this section of the state have been such as to merit the highest praise. Mr. Rice has the sterling qualities that go to make a substantial citizen. He is a man of industrious habits, persistence, honesty of purpose, and force of character. Mr. Rice was born in Jasper county, Iowa, March 9, 1869, his birth place being a farm house, and his associations from the first being with agricultural interests. It is natural, there fore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find success in life's endeavors in the till ing of the soil. Our subject's father, Austin Rice, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1834, his father coming from England when he was a young man; our subject's mother's maiden name was Clara Clark, born in 1840 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Rice's parents came to Nebraska in 1882, settling south of Clearwater in Stanton town ship, Antelope county, where they took up a homestead on which they built a sod house and resided there eight years. Our subject then moved near Royal' where he rented for nine years. He then bought a tree claim from S. A. Boyd, the claim consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section one, township twenty-seven, range eight. Later Mr. Rice sold this homestead and bought the southwest quarter of section^ one, township' twenty-seven, range eight, which is well improved and is now the residing place of our subject. He devotes a good deal of attention to fine hogs and now owns about seventy-five full blooded Duroc Jersey hogs, subject to registration, mostly sired by Red Chief "I Am," some from "Nebraska Bell," and " Fail or 's Model." In 1892 Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ludwick, and Mr. and Mrs. Rice are tbe parents of six children, named as follows : 'Clarence, Alva, Floyd, Roy, Austin and Lewis. They are a fine family and are highly esteemed and respected by all in the community. Mr. Rice relates many interesting reminis cences concerning early days in Antelope county. He and his two brothers were at school when the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, came up. They started for home which was one and a half miles distant. His brothers were not able to continue so stopped at a neighbor's house, about eighty rods from the school; but he continued on his way home, keeping the road by watching closely some tracks that had been made by hand sleds that they took to school with them and thus he managed to get home safely. WILLIAM T. HICKENBOTTOM. William T. Hickenbottom has been a resident of Nebraska since 1873, and during that period has witnessed the wonderful changes and develop ment of the state. He passed through all the trying incidents and privations of pioneer exis tence, and has always been identified with the best interests of his state. He was born in Jefi ferson county, Iowa, April 2, 1851, the third child of Stephen and Caroline (Taylor) Hicken bottom, who were parents of four sons and eight daughters. The father was a farmer and stock raiser, and Mr. Hickenbottom was reared on a farm. His parents are now deceased, his mother having died at his home January 30, 1911. His brothers, James and Rollo, live in Custer county, where they are prominent as farmers and stock men, and threes of his sisters, Mrs. Sarah Moore, Mrs. /Chris Jensen, and Mrs. Jane Eastman, live in Custer county. Two sisters live in Fairfield, Iowa, one in Washington, and one in Oregon. In February, 1873, William T. Hickenbottom left his home in Jefferson county, Iowa, and came by horseback on the "overland trail" to York county, Nebraska, taking a homestead five miles west of the town of York, which was his home for nine years. He was one of the early settlers of that county and passed through the trying siege of the grasshoppers and other tribulations of pio neer life. He was there married to Ellen J. Doud, and of this union three children were born : James W., Rose Ann, and one child, who died in infancy. In 1882 Mr. Hickenbottom came with his wife and two children to Custer county, and he took a pre-emption and timber claim, building 902 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. his home on the former, which was located on sec tion six, township sixteen, range seventeen, which remained the home place until he came to his present home in Broken Bow, in September, 1909. Mrs. Hickenbottom died on the home farm in 1885, survived by her husband and two children. On January 15, 1889, Mr. Hickenbottom was married in Jefferson county, Iowa, to Ellen May Griffith, a native of Iowa, and in the spring of 1889 they came to their Custer county home. They have had four children, of .whom three sur vive : Carrie, Abbie, and Leota, at home. Mr. Hickenbottom 's two oldest children, James W., and Rose Ann, by his first marriage, both live on the Kincaid homestead in Cherry county, Ne braska. He is married and has three children, and she is the wife of Durfee Hyatt, and has one child. Mr. Hickenbottom came first to Nebraska with a span of horses and little else besides a bridle and saddle, and through his own efforts has become one of the successful farmers and stock men of central Nebraska, owning over twelve hundred acres of well improved and devel oped land. Both he and his wife are well-known and popular in social circles and are highly re garded by their many friends. Mrs. Hickenbot tom 's parents, John and Sarah Griffith, reside in Keokuk county, Iowa. Her sister, Mrs. Byron Brewer, lives in Rock county, Nebraska, and her brother, Emery Griffith, lives nine miles south of Broken Bow. She also has three brothers and one sister living in Iowa. HALL B. SCHNERINGER. One of the best known citizens of Custer county is Hall B. Schneringer, who has always been close ly identified with the cause of progress and ad vancement along all lines. He was born in Jeffer son county, Iowa, September 1, 1849, eldest of the four children of Frederick and Rachel (Van Home) Schneringer. The other children are : Mark, of Callaway; Frederick, of Lincoln; Mrs. Strong Billings] ey, of Belleville, Kansas. The fa ther was born in Germany and the mother in Ohio. He served in the German army, and came to Amer ica when a young man, locating first in Maine. He died in 1872 and his wife in 1860, both in Iowa. She was of Irish descent. Mr. Schneringer grew to manhood on the farm in Iowa and received a common school education, later engaging in farming. On August 20, 1868, at St. Louis, Missouri, he was united in marriage with Miss Missouri J. Mendenhall, a native of that state, and they made their first home on the old homestead in Iowa. In February, 1877, they came to York county, Nebraska, and lived there three years, coming with their four children to Custer county in the spring of 1880. They took a home stead and tree claim aggregating three hundred and twenty acres of land on section eight, town ship fifteen, range twenty-three, which remained the home place for a period of thirty-one years. On January 8, 1905, Mrs. Schneringer died on the home farm, survived by her husband and eight children: Charles G. and Jennie, twins, the for mer living in Perkins county, and the latter, the wife of James Baldwin, of Forest Grove, Oregon, has two children ; William E., of Custer county, is married and has three children; Mark lives in Custer county; Rachel Bell, wife of Lawrence Rotten, of Lincoln, has three children; Arthur, living near Cozad, Dawson county, Nebraska, has one child; Roy, of Callaway; Ada May, married, and living in Oregon. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Schneringer was instru mental in organizing school district number three, which was supported for a time by private funds, and for several years he served on its board. In 1887 he was elected county supervisor, served three years, and was again elected in 1904, serving two years. He has also served as justice of the peace and at present is assessor of Delight precinct. In March, 1910, he retired from the farm and purchased his present comfortable home in Callaway. He was a progressive and energetic farmer and stockman and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well-improved and equipped farm land. He is highly regarded as a public-spirited and useful citizen and has a large number of friends. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. On October 5, 1905, Mr. Schneringer married Mrs. Mary (Hougland) Rhodes, a native of In diana, and a daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Tur- beville) Hougland. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Schneringer appear on another page of this work. JESSE G. BARNETT. Jesse G. Barnett, whose fine farm in Pierce county is a credit to his locality, is a man of un tiring energy, and is classed among the wealthy and substantial agriculturists of that county. Although not an old settler of Pierce county, he has lived in eastern Nebraska some years, and en joys the esteem and respect of many. Jesse J. Barnett was bom September 6, 1867, in Barton county, Missouri, and is the son of James and Jane (Knowles) Barnett, of Irish de scent. His father was a Union soldier in the Civil war, serving four years and a half in Com pany K, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; among the engagements in which he participated was the siege of Vicksburg. He settled in Mis souri soon after the war, and here and in Ap panoose county, Iowa, reared his children. He came to Saunders county -in 1882, where he rented a farm for a time. He later owned land, retiring in 1905 to make his home in Fremont. Jesse J. Barnett began for himself in 1890, renting two years, and then bought a farm in Saunders county, opposite Fremont. In 1907 he bought the southwest quarter of section ten, and the southeast quarter of section nine, township HALL B. SCHNERINGER. MRS. HALL B. SCHNERINGER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 903 twenty-seven, range three, in Pierce county, which was improved with good buildings. He has since added much to the number of trees growing on the place when purchased. This farm is now his resid ing place. Mr. Barnett was married in Fremont to Miss Maggie Larson, a native of Morgan county, near Jacksonville, Illinois. She is a daughter of Chris tian and Hanna (Peterson) Larson, who emigrated from Denmark about 1870. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnett, whose names are as follows : Earl, Hazel, Leo, Delbert and Floyd. Mr. Barnett was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has always cast his vote for the republican ticket. He takes an active interest in neighborhood affairs, and is liked and respected by all who have the pleasure of knowing him. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, he was out in the storm for some time, looking after cattle, but "his father's farm being surrounded by a large grove, he suffered little inconvenience. During the drouth of 1894, they gathered but ten bushels of corn per acre — much more, however, than other families secured. ALFRED L. BALIMAN. The above named gentleman is a young man, widely known and highly respected for his sterl ing character and industrious habits. He is a successful and prosperous agriculturist and stockman of Howard county, where he has spent his entire life. Alfred L. Baliman was born on March 5, 1879, on the original Baliman homestead in sec tion twelve, township fourteen, range eleven, his parents having settled in this county in the month of April, 1871. He received his early education in the district schools, afterwards attending the St. Paul high school, and for three years was a student at the St. Paul College, being the first pupil enrolled in the college. After leaving school, he engaged in different lines of work, spending nearly all of his time in St. Paul, where he accomplished a large measure of success, but finally returned to the farm, and for the past number ' of years has given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. At the present time he is the owner of a fine property, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, and in connection with this place he operates his father's home stead of two hundred and forty acres. He engages in mixed farming and stock raising, having a thoroughly equipped farm, and is rapidly becom ing one of the foremost members of the younger agriculturists of his vicinity. Mr. Baliman was married at Loup City, Ne braska, on October 15, 1902, to Miss Pearl Dad- dow, who is a native of Iowa, and came to Nebraska with her parents when a very young child, her father, Samuel Daddow, being one of a family of six brothers who located in Sherman county as pioneers, and remained to see that region develop from a practically barren plain to a productive farming country and thriving business center. Mr. and Mrs. Baliman have one child, Percy La Clair, who is a bright and interesting youngster. The family have a very pleasant home, and a host of warm friends in the community. Mr. Baliman is treasurer of school district number eight. HENRY H. WAGGONER. Among the most prominent citizens of Arcadia, Nebraska, is Henry H. Waggoner, who has for many years been identified with the interests and development of Valley county as business man and farmer. He is one of the older residents, and during the many years that have passed since he first eame to the county, he has done much toward the upbuilding of the town of Arcadia and the welfare of the surrounding country. He is a native of Freedom, Ohio, born October 22, 1847, a son of Samuel and Louisa (Ferguson) Waggoner, being the eldest, of their three chil dren — two sons and one daughter. The Waggoner family migrated to Davenport, Iowa, in Npvem- ber, 1864, and in the following spring removed to a farm near Rock Island, Illinois. In 1867, the father sold his farm near Rock Island, and located in Mercer county, Illinois, where he died in November, 1868. His widow passed away at Perry, Iowa, in February, 1902. Their only daughter, Louisa, married Abraham Maus, and they live six and one-half miles southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. The son, George, has inter ests in Iowa and Oklahoma. Henry H. Waggoner accompanied his par ents on their various removals until they came to Rock Island, Illinois, and when about eighteen years of age, started out for himself. He learned the trade of harness-maker at Davenport, Iowa. where he lived some time. He was married in that city, at the home of her parents, February 9, 1869, to Ella Forney, and they lived in Daven port until 1877. In that year they moved to Muscatine county, Iowa, and spent four years on a farm. In May, 1881, in company with his wife and two children, Mr. Waggoner located in Lan caster county, Nebraska, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He spent seven years there, and in the fall of 1888 moved to Arcadia, where he established a harness shop, and secured a homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-three, township seventeen, range sixteen, which was within the corporate limits. He con ducted his harness shop for seven years, and at the same time operated and developed his land, and conducted his business until May, 1908. He then came to his present farm on the southeast quarter of section ten, township seventeen, range: 904 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. sixteen. He is a successful man, and owns con siderable land. He is actively interested in pub lic affairs, and is well known in Valley county. Two children were born to Mr. Waggoner and wife, Belle and Florence. Belle is the wife of Frone Ring, of Calhoun county, Iowa, and they have four children. Florence married (first) A. J. Benitt, and they had two children, both of whom are living. She and her second hus band, Frank Roach, live in North Dakota ; a son was born to them, August 8, 1911, and named Franklin Waggoner Roach. Mrs. Waggoner died in Arcadia, May 6, 1906, and Mr. Waggoner mar ried (second), April 24, 1907, Mrs. Martha Dun- kin. Mr. Waggoner is a republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Royal Highlanders. H. C. TWING. H. C. Twing, one of the pioneers of north eastern Nebraska, is known throughout Madison county, where he has lived for the past twenty- seven years, as a prosperous and energetic agri culturist. He has been closely identified with the .development of this region since his coming in 1883, and his name will occupy a place in the making of history in this part of the country. He resides on section thirty-six, township twenty- two, range one, west, where he owns a good home and land. Mr. Twing is a native of Fon du Lac, Wis consin., born May 1, 1844, and is a son of Marcus and Eliza (Clark) Twing, both of whom were born in the state of Ohio. He is a descendant of Italy, his ancestry dating back to the year 1600, when the original Italian Twing left his native soil, and emigrated to England, and then came to the United States of America. Our subject's great grandfather, Calvin Twing, served in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Twing remained in his native state until reaching the age of twenty-four years, when, in 1868, he moved to Boone county, Iowa, where ho lived several years. In 1883, he came to Madison county, Nebraska, where be bought railroad land and put up a dugout. This farm was west of Battle Creek, and remained the home of Mr, Twing until 1890. In 1891, he bought the Harry Heath homestead, his present home, and improved same. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine land, two and a half acres of which are given to trees and orchard. In 1874, Mr. Twing was united in marriage to Miss Susan Flower, and they are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Nettie, Lizzie, Norah, Edward, Agnes and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Twing and family are highly respected in their community, and enjoy the good will and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. JAMES A. FISK. James A. Pisk, one of Custer county's earlier settlers, is well known as a successful man of affairs, and has been- able to retire from active life with a well-earned competency. Mr. Pisk is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born November 27, 1849, son of James and Betsey (Pool) Pisk, the only one of their three children now living. Both parents were natives of New York, where the father died in 1849, and the mother died in Wis consin in 1893. At the age of ten years, James A. Pisk accompained his mother to Wisconsin, where he completed his education in the public schools. Upon reaching manhood, he engaged in farming and lumber business. November 13, 1887, Mr. Pisk married Mrs. Viola (Wood) Gaylord, a native of Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1889, they removed to Custer county, where they have since resided. They pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Westerville, and, after living for a time on each of several farms, purchased a stock aud grain farm of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles from Ansley, their home for several years. Since 1905, they have lived in Ansley, where Mr. Fisk purchased twenty acres of land adjoining the city limits, and he has retired from active work. He took an intelligent interest in local affairs while living on his farm, and served some time as clerk of school district number ninety- six, also promoting every measure for the good of the community. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisk : Alberta M., who married Sidney Hughes, lives at Alliance, Nebraska, and Etta L., at home. By her former marriage, Mrs. Pisk has two children: Grace A., wife of W. D. Bonner, lives in Canada, and has one child ; and Floyd Gaylord, of Seattle, is married, and has one child. Mrs. Fisk has always been actively interested in educational matters. She formerly served as treasurer of school district number ninety-six, and is now a teacher in the Ansley schools. Her father, Hiram Wood, a native of Connecticut, served in the Civil war, and died in Iowa ,nr 1880. Her mother, whose maiden name was Priscilla Hugoboom, was born in New York, and died in Wisconsin. Mrs. Fisk has three brothers and a sister living in Wis consin, and a brother in Idaho, and two of her brothers served in the Civil war. She is a woman of culture and taste, takes an intelligent interest in all matters affecting the future and well-being of the region, where she has spent so large a part of her life, and is one of the most efficient teach ers in the county. K. H. MEYER. Among the old settlers of Wayne county, there are none who are more prominent than the gentle man whose* name heads this article. He has been COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 905 for many years a resident of the county, and has been among those who have labored long and faithfully to bring about its present prosperity and wealth. He has always had the better inter ests of the community at heart, has remained through discouragements and disappointments, and now enjoys a comfortable home, after many years of persistent labor. Mr. Meyer was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1852, and was the son of John Meyer. Both his parents died when he was only six years old, and he was brought up by his aunt. His child hood was spent in Germany, but as soon as he was able to shift for himself, he went to sea, and for years was a sailor. He also served two years and eight months in the German navy, most of the time being spent on the coast of China. In 1881, he abandoned his sea-faring life, and leaving his ship at Baltimore, came west to Mills county, Iowa, where he remained for three years. He then came to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and proceeded to improve it. The farm is now a picture of thrift and good manage ment, with all necessary buildings, fences, and its well-cultivated fields. He has an unusually fine, thrifty orchard of two acres, all the trees having been planted by himself. Mr. Meyer now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land. In 1888, , Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmena Hagen, an old-time sweet heart, of Germany. After his years of roving and hard work, Mr. Meyer had succeeded in mak ing a good start in the west, and at once sent for his former sweetheart. They are the parents of five children: Fred and Willie, twins; Emil, Emma and Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Meyers and family are members of the German Lutheran church. GEORGE A. ROPER. Among the representative pioneer families of Custer county, that of George A. Roper deserves a prominent place. Mr. Roper is one of the orig inal homesteaders of the county, and one of those who have justified their faith in the future devel opment of central Nebraska. He was born in Oakland county, Michigan, October 28,1856, fourth child of Thomas and Charlotta (Appleton) Roper, who were parents of four sons and six daughters. The parents, natives of England, came to the United States with their two eldest children about 1851, and eight of their children were born in this country. The father and mother reside in Wayne county, Michigan, both eighty-four years of age, having been married sixty-four years. Six of their children are living: Andrew J., George A. and Mrs. James Rutner live in Custer county, and William in Dawson county, Nebraska, while Mrs. Anton VanDyke and Mrs. Lottie Reed live in Michigan. Pour children are deceased. Mr. Roper was born and reared on a farm in his native state, and was married in Livings ton county, Michigan, December 31, 1880, to Miss Mary Compton, and in 1882 they moved with their one child, Emil, to Jefferson county, Kansas. In January, 1884, they came to Custer county, Nebraska. George Roper, with his brothers, Andrew and William, James Rutner and Michael Praney, came with horses from Kansas to Kear ney, their families and a car of household goods coming by rail to that city. The men each took up a homestead in Nebraska. George A. Roper took up the south half of the northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-five, township fourteen, range nine teen and he and his family still reside on the old homestead farm, which now contains four hundred acres of well-improved and equipped farm land. They have a comfortable home, and are exten sively engaged in raising grain and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Roper have had five children : Emil, at home; Arthur W., married, and living in Blaine county, Nebraska, occupies a Kincaid homestead; Gladys, wife of W. C. Wheeler, of Custer county, has one child ; Thomas C. and Thyra live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Roper passed through the early years of pioneer hardships and privations, and doubly appreciate their present success and pros perity. They have a wide circle of firm friends, and are well regarded by all who know them. Mr. Roper is independent in politics, a mem ber of the Christian .church, and fraternizes with the Modern Woodmen of America. The first ten years in Nebraska were spent in a soddy, and in 1893 their present frame dwelling was erected- Cornstalks were used for fuel for a time, and later a hay-burner was installed. The dry year, 1894, was one of hardship, two hats full of potatoes being their entire crop. RAYMOND HAMPL. Of those whb for four decades have found success and a home in Nebraska, Raymond Hampl, of Spencer, is one. A native of Bohemia, his birth occurred near the famous town of Pilsen, January 7, 1854. His father, Leopold Hampl, was a miller, and Ray mond learned the trade, and worked with his father until his twentieth year, when the family set sail for the new world. Embarking at Bremen in the fall of 1872 on the German vessel "Berlin," they landed in Baltimore, and came direct to Mil waukee. The elder Hampl brought with him some six thousand dollars, an amount few immigrants possess, which kept them from want while find ing a location. Raymond Hampl and his brother found work in a trunk factory through the win ter, and in the spring of 1874, all came to Nebras ka, reaching West Point in May. The father rented a house in town for immediate use, and later bought a farm, five miles west of town, 906 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. where he died in 1877. The mother, who was Mary Triner in maidenhood, is now living at Clarkson, Nebraska. In 1877, Mr. Hampl married, and set up for himself, renting a farm for one year, and then returned to his trade for a livelihood, working in the mill near Schuyler for three years. Western Kansas was attracting settlers at that time, and Mr. Hampl joined the exodus to that region. He filed on a homestead in Trego county, built a house, and began the cultivation of his land. A succession of dry years followed, in which the farmer failed to recover even his seed, and disaster followed the settler year after year. Relinqiushing his homestead rights, Mr. Hampl returned to Nebraska, and was associated with his father-in-law for a period of one year. The two succeeding years he was employed by the Becker & Wright Company, grain and lumber dealers, in Schuyler, running the engine of the elevator. Buying a store in Schuyler, Mr. Hampl succeeded in losing upwards of three hundred dollars in six months, and, having no great amount of cash to lose, sold the business, and went to Linwood, intending to open a saloon, but after erecting a building, he could get no license. Hav ing tied up all his money in the property, he saw only disaster staring him in the face, and, to re trieve, he got a government license, and sold wet goods on the quiet until he could get a good ten ant for the place, and a year later sold it. Returning to Schuyler, he bought land, ' two miles south of town, paying eleven dollars an acre, and, after residing on the tract three years, he sold it for twenty-five dollars an acre, and came to Boyd county, locating at Spencer in 1893. Two dry years followed, and his crops were a failure. He later relinquished, and bought a half section of fine farming land, one mile west of town, on which he has good tenant farmers. The property is worth, with cattle and machinery, upwards of ten thousand dollars. He owns a com fortable home in Spencer, where he has resided since 1901. Mr. Hampl was married at West Point, Nebraska, October 2, 1877, to Miss Anna Henzl. Their three living children are: Lillie, wife of Otto Johnson, a traveling man, of Ord, Nebraska ; August, a merchant of Spencer; and Stella, still under the parental roof-. Mr. Hampl was residing near West Point during the years of the grasshopper pests, arid saw crops, ready for the harvest, ruined in a day. Wheat was cut off just below the heads, which dropped to the ground, and corn was devoured, leaving but the blackened, leafless stalks. One season they destroyed a coat belonging to Mr. Hampl, which he had left in the field while at work. Nothing was safe from their ravages. One year nine hundred bushels of wheat was all that was saved from one hundred and twenty acres that an hour before gave promise of as fine a crop as one could wish to see. This was kept to feed their teams, as the price was low, and corn not to be had. Mr. Hampl knows the life of the pioneer, having been on the frontier much of his life. The first three years in Boyd county, Mr. Hampl lived in a sod house, and found it a comfortable dwelling. His barns and other outbuildings were constructed of the same material. He is now, while still in the prime of life, taking life easy, and enjoying the fruits of his early toil and privations. The west is kind to those who endure her hardships and persevere to the end. Mr. Hampl is a republican in politics, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. HENRY ARMBRUST. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Stanton county, Nebraska, who have aided materially in its development and advancement, a prominent place is accorded Henry Armbrust, who resides on his well-improved estate in section thirty-one. He has been a resi dent of this county for over twenty years, and for twelve years before that, was a resident of Douglas county, still in this state. He has an extensive acquaintance, and is held in the high est esteem by all. Mr. Armbrust is a native of the province of Holstein, Germany, where he was born in 1862. His parents were John and Opel Armbrust, the father being a farmer. The mother died when Mr. Armbrust was but an infant. The subscriber remained at home until 1876, when he came to America by way of Hamburg. After arriving in New York, he came direct to Douglas county, Nebraska. He remained here for a considerable length of time, most of this period being spent on a rented farm. In 1888, he removed to Stanton county, where he bought a farm, which he still occupies. He has made the best of his opportunities and observation, and has met with great success as an agriculturalist. He has steadily added to the improvements on his farm, until now it is a picture of thrift and good management. He has a very fine orchard and grove of about four acres, whose thrifty growth attracts the attention of all passers-by. In 1882, Mr. Armbrust was united in marriage to Miss Anna Roder, of Douglas county, who is also a native of Germany. They are the parents of six children, named as follows: Celia (Mrs. Charles Benson), William, John, Fred, Henry and Anan. OLIVER M. HAYS. Oliver M. Hays, whose name heads this arti cle, is one of the leading agriculturists of Ante lope county, now residing on section fourteen, township twenty-four, range seven. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 907 Mr. Hays was born in Harrison county, Indi ana, September 9, 1856. He is of English descent, his great grandfather having been born in Eng land, but Mr. Hays' father was a native of Indi ana, and was one of the staunch citizens of that state, having been a member of the Home Guards during the Civil war, and participating in the defense- of Mocksport at the time Morgan made his famous raid through that portion of Indiana. He married Miss Milessa Jacobs, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1835. In 1869, the elder Hays emigrated to Washington county, Iowa, taking his family with him, and making the trip in a wagon. This was at the close of the war, and methods of transportation were crude and undeveloped. There were but few railroads through the middle west, and then there was another side to the matter, as money was not plentiful in those days. The country was recovering from the most expensive and bitterly-fought war known in history, and the natural resources were exhausted. It was in 1884 that 0. M. Hays made his start that now connects him with the history of Ne braska. In that year he went to Wheeler county, Nebraska, where he entered a homestead claim on section thirteen, township twenty-four, range nine. In 1885, he moved to Antelope county, and took a pre-emption claim on section seventeen, township twenty-four, range eighf. Mr. Hays was married on December 30, 1880, to Mattie Bales, and they are the parents of seven children, as follows: Nettie Grace, married Thomas Wilson, and has three children; Blanche, May, married A. H. Hatfield, has one child; Maud; Flossie; Oliver; Bertie Lawrence, and Floyd Allen. After his family arrived in Nebraska, Mr. Hays relinquished his claim in Wheeler county, and bought the farm on which he now resides. Mr. Hays takes great pride in his chosen work, in which he has been very successful. ' No one realizes better than he that the wealth of the world is based on agriculture. The earth pro duces real wealth. Mining, manufacturing and all other industries depend on the energy of man to develop them. Man depends on earth for his energy — yes, for his very existence. So that the agriculturist is the one on whose success depends the world. Mines may produce tons of gold and precious metals; factories may turn out endless quantities of finished products ; learned men may discover hidden planets, and define the mysteries of the solar system ; professors may work on the problem of squaring the circle — but all of these would be useless and obsolete but for the product of the soil. The man who takes part in bringing this wealth from the soil is the man who does more to advance civilization than all others, be cause he is the one who makes it possible. With out him, progress and civilization would cease. Without the agriculturist, industry would end, railroads would be without value, and commerce would be a matter of history. Mr. Hays is one of the leading men in his community, favoring all forms of public improve ment, and taking an active interest in all educa tional matters. His farm is one of the best and most productive in northeastern Nebraska, and his plan of diversified farming has proven a suc cess. His farm is well watered, and has a splen did orchard of bearing fruit trees, also a beautiful grove of forest trees on it. The buildings are modern and complete. JAMES E. WOOD. James E. Wood and wife, who live in their nicely-situated, modern home, three-quarters of a mile east of Broken Bow, and also have a farm on Clear creek, enjoy the esteem of a large number of friends, and both are among the early settlers of the county. Mr. Wood and his wife have been living there since 1879, and his wife was brought there by her parents. Mr. Wood was born in Page county, Iowa, May 14, 1860, the third born of the seven children of Daniel and Anvasine Wood. Daniel Wood was born in Indiana, and became a resident of Iowa as a young man. He was there married to Anvasine Mansfield, Febru ary 21, 1856, their union taking place in Page county. She was born in Indiana. After mar riage, they moved to Douglas county, Ne braska, and took up (squatters') early land priv ileges on the Elkhorn river in 1857, but owing to the country being so wild, and the Indians so hostile at that time, they remained in the terri tory but a year. At that time, Omaha was a little frontier town, containing a few houses, and surrounded by a sparsely settled region. Not caring to live in such an unsettled wilderness, they returned to Iowa, the trip back being made in the same manner as the one to Nebraska, with a team and covered wagon, and they had the usual experiences to be met by emigrants over the old "overland trail." Their oldest child, Clara, was a small infant when the move was made from Iowa, and their first son, Charles P., was born in Nebraska during their first year of pioneer life there. In 1861, Mr. Wood enlisted in Company K, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served three years in the Civil war. He received an honorable discharge at the end of that time, and then returned to his home in Iowa. In October, 1873, Daniel Wood, with his wife and their four children — Clara, Charles P., James E. and Minnie — emigrated to Nebraska, making the trip by team and covered wagon, following the same old overland trail the parents had fol lowed before, and pointing out to the children many of their former camping grounds, and tell ing them incidents of the first trip. He showed them the location of his first Nebraska ranch. 908 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. He then made a homestead entry, northeast of Aurora, on Lincoln creek, in Hamilton county, and this remained the home place until 1888. By this time the children had all gone to homes of their own, and the father spent the winter of 1887 and 1888 in Custer county with his son, James E., then went on to Cherry county, arid took up a homestead there, where his wife's death occurred, June 5, 1888. He remained there but a short time, then returned to Custer county, where he re-married, and lived for several years. In 1895, he moved to his present home in Kansas. James E. Wood came to Hamilton county with his parents in 1873, and lived on the homestead farm there until 1879, when he and his father came with horses to Custer county, the latter taking up land, which several years later became the home of his son, James. He has had continu ous residence in Custer county since 1883, and in the spring of 1884, began to improve his land for a permanent residence. This farm is on section thirty-two, township seventeen, range nineteen. He is one of the younger men who have held residence there so many years, and has helped materially in the improvement and devel opment of his part of the county. He passed through the trying years of drouth and grass hoppers, hard times and other tribulations of the pioneer, and is accounted one of the most able and progressive farmers of the county, although he has but a small amount of land in his present home place. Mr. Wood was married in Custer county, March 5, 1889, to Miss Margaret Hastings, daugh ter of Julius and Isabelle Hastings. The Hast ings family came to Lincoln, Nebraska, from Freeport, Illinois, in 1871, and resided for a tmie in Grand Island before coming to Custer county in the fall of 1879. Mr. Hastings had come there in the spring of that year, and brought his family in the fall, making a permanent residence on their homestead, which was the first taken in his neigh borhood. He died on the old home farm, east of Broken Bow, in January, 1890, and his widow died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wood, in Broken Bow, in August, 1904, being survived by three sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have eighty acres of land in their farm, and are near enough to the city of Broken Bow .to enjoy the conveniences of town life, with all the advantages of living in the country. They have no children. Mr. Wood has a brother and two sisters living: Charles, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Clara Allen, of York, Nebraska, and Minnie, Mrs. Fremont Chessman, of Denver, Colorado. JAMES T. PREY. James T. Frey, who was born in Valley county, Nebraska, September 27, 1888, and resides in sec tion fourteen, township twenty, range fourteen, is a son of Christian L. and Annie (Truelson) Frey, both of whom are natives of Denmark. Christian L. Frey, father of James T., was born in tlie village of Haderslau, province of Sehleswig, Denmark, February 10, 1845; he is a son of Jo hannes and Maria (Lorensen) Frey. He came to the United States in 1871, sailing from Hamburg to New York, making the passage in eighteen days. He first settled in Warrensburg, Missouri ; and while there five young men, all Danes, made the acquaintance of each other and decided to come to the North Loup Valley in Nebraska; these young men were Niels Anderson, Peter Mortensen, Jeppe Smith, George Moeller, and Christian Frey. Anderson, Mqrtensen, and Smith, came to Grand Island, Nebraska, purchasing two ox teams, a wagon, two breaking plowrs, and a camp outfit, etc., and came overland by way of Howard county to the North Loup Valley. They were joined later on by George Moeller in the North Loup Valley and the four homesteaded in section eight, township nine teen, range fourteen ; several weeks later Mr. Frey, who had been detained in Missouri awaiting mail from Denmark, joined them and took up a home stead on the southwest quarter of section six, township nineteen, range fourteen, and he made the fifth of the original Danish colony; the ox teams, plows, etc., were joint property, and the five men lived in joint habitation, having built a dug-out shanty on the Mortensen claim ; but in the fall of the year the men began to improve. their own homesteads and to separate, each for himself. Their joint dug-out shanty on the Mortensen claim is known in Valley county history as probably the first claim shanty erected, andrit was the scene of many varied incidents, the first school was held and first criminal suit was prosecuted in this shanty. All of these five men were energetic young men and did much toward the development of Valley county. Falle Miller also joined this little colony of Danes shortly after their first location. . In 1880 Mr. Frey returned to Denmark and was married to Miss Annie Truelsen, a daughter of Jens and Maren Truelsen, and they soon came to their Valley county home in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Frey have had five children, four of whom are living: Mary, wife of Ed Anderson, who lives in Fremont, Nebraska; Katie, and Ereka, both of whom are teachers in Nebraska schools; and James T., who holds a position in one of the large stores in Ord. In 1905 Christian Frey sold the old home farm and he and Mrs. Frey went on a visit to the old home in Denmark, expecting on returning to live in California; after visiting a sister of Mrs. Frey a few weeks and making side trips out from San Francisco to view the country, his children and his friends in Valley county proved to have too strong a hold on him and be soon returned to the old Nebraska county. Mr. and Mrs. Frey and family passed through the early Valley county "PLEASANT VALLEY FARM," RESIDENCE OF THOMAS C. BERRY. ^SjBB ^ RESIDENCE ON THE JAMES FREY FARM. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 909 days, and Mr. Frey has recollection of the Indian days which were days of adverse times; he also can remember when their plow shares were carried on foot to Dannebrog, fifty miles away, to be sharpened. THOMAS C. BERRY. Thomas C. Berry, proprietor of Pleasant Val ley Farm, is one of the original homesteaders of Custer county, who still owns his first home, and he is a pioneer stock farmer of the region, passing through the year of disheartening drouth and other crucial periods. He is one of the most suc cessful agriculturists in his part of the state and in the spring of 1911 erected a fine farm residence on his place which is modern in every respect, hav ing water, furnace and gas, for the comfort and convenience of the family. A view of this espe cially improved home, with its large barns and other buildings adorns one of our illustrative , pages. Mr. Berry was born in Clinton, Oneida county, New York, September 23, 1858, the fifth of the nine children born to Thomas and Ellen (Rohen) Berry, and one of four sons. The father was a native of Ireland and was married in London, England, coming to America with his wife in 1850. They spent several years in New York and in 1869 located in Janesville, Wisconsin, removing two years later to Dallas county, Iowa. The father was a. shoemaker by trade and. lived several years in Dallas Center. The sons located on a farm near Dallas Center and in 1876 the father and family .moved., to- Greene county, Iowa, the mother and;;. father being now 'deceased. Four sons and , two daughters still survive, but Thomas C. is the only one to Nebraska. Mr. Berry grew to young manhood on a farm, and was educated in the public schools, but also learned the trade of carpenter. He was married - at Jefferson, 'the county seat of Greene county, Iowa, February 19, 1882, to Elizabeth Soy, a daughter of William, and Mary (Fennesy) Soy, all natives of Illinois. With their two little sons, Mr. and Mrs. Berry came to Custer county, arriving there October 5, 1887, and taking a homestead comprising the northeast quarter of section twenty- five, township seventeen, range eighteen, and this lhas since been the family home, where for twenty- two years they occupied a sod house prior to building their present commodious dwelling. Mr. Berry now owns a four hundred acre farm,, the north half of section twenty-five, and eighty acres ; in section twenty-four, which is well improved and developed, being equipped for its successful operation and containing suitable and substantial buildings. Mr. Berry and wife have nine children Hving, all except the first two born in Custer county, viz. : Charles 'and Thomas W., born in Iowa, the former unmarried, and the latter, who lives at Alliance, is married and has one child; Mabel, wife of Curtis Tucker, living in Nebraska, has one child; Ella, Maggie, Lawrence, George, Prank and Philbert, all at home. Mr. Berry and family are widely known, and have a large circle of friends. In na tional politics he is a republican, but in local elec tions votes for the best man. Among the hardships of the early days, in 1893 a thousand-dollar crop was destroyed in the brief space of five minutes, and the meadow looked like a plowed field. During this terrible storm the family sought shelter in a cave. In 1894 the drouth left them nothing in their fields, but pros perity has smiled on them since. During the bliz zard of January 12. 1888, Mrs. Berry was alone on the place, Mr. Berry being absent working at the Algurnal mills to support the family during those hard times. A. B..SCHOENAUER. A. B. Schoenauer, a dealer in live stock, now residing in Plainview, Nebraska, first came to this state in the spring of 1884, crossing the Missouri river at Blair on the railroad ferry. He rented a tract northeast of Plainview, be longing to his father-in-law, for a year. In 1885 he homesteaded a quarter-section along the north border of the county and for twenty years was in dustriously employed in cultivating his land to the best advantage, and engaged largely in stock rais ing and feeding. He seldom sold grain and usu ally purchased more, feeding it to young stock he had raised and purchased. Our subject early established a reputation for sterling honesty,, and his credit was so good at the banks that he could secure anything in reason over his sole name- He was in this way enabled to carry through deals and increase more rapidly his accumulations than men of less sterling repu tation. His first large sale was of forty-four steers and seventy-five hogs for an amount exactly equaling the price of a piece of land he had bought. Never since his coming has he gone backward, each closing year has found him with a greater store of worldly goods than the year before. In 1904, thinking that twenty years' industry entitled him and his wife to less laborious exist ence, Mr. Schoenauer rented the farm and moved to Plainview. Here he continued to keep his busi ness faculties from rusting by buying and ship ping stock to the Omaha and Chicago markets. In November, 1908, he purchased the "Plainview News," and securing a competent man to edit and manage the plant, has since been owner and pubJ lisher of that well-equipped journal. Mr. Schoenauer was born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 4, 1858. About 1860 his father moved with his family to Whitley county, Indiana, and later to Huntington county, where Mr. Schoe nauer resided until coming west. He has made his way since the age of fifteen years., His father, 9io COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Frederick Schoenauer, was a native of Switzer land, while the mother, in maidenhood Sarah Fabra, was born in Ohio, of Pennsylvania ancestry. Mr. Schoenauer was married in Indiana to Miss Eva Brandenburg, daughter of Eliphalet Branden burg. To Mr. and. Mrs. Schoenauer three children were born: Arlen, Viles, who is in his father's printing office ; and Eber. Our subject has been a life-long democrat, and is affiliated with the Inde pendent Order Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias lodges. He was elected mayor of Plain- view in the spring of 1910, and re-elected the year following, as candidate of the citizens' independ ent ticket, a party of liberal views. Mr. Schoenauer has weathered the many winter storms that have swept the western plains since his coming. During the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, some of his cattle drifted in the storm to a neighbor's. Going after them, he found them safe and then made the return journey, fac ing the storm and safely reaching home. His first residence was a log house standing on the land he homesteaded, it having been abandoned by an early settler who had become discouraged and moved away. He was living on his homestead at the time of the ludicrous ' ' Indian scare, ' ' when some hilarious participants in a charivari fired off their revolvers in the early hours of the morning, and started a stampede of the settlers to town, wrapped in blankets, spreading the report of Indian depreda tions as they came. Our subject and a neighbor, Mr. Hendershot, were out of the line of retreat and did not hear of the supposed uprising until the next day. During the early days game was plentiful and getting credit for a fowling piece at the store of N. M. Nelson, Mr. Schoenauer kept his family sup plied with game, and made payment for the arms at the time agreed upon, keeping his credit good. In those days money was scarce, and during a harvest Mr. Schoenauer offered to bind wheat for a neighbor for seventy-five cents a day, but his offer was not accepted because the neighbor had no money with which to pay. The second year Mr. Schoenauer planted sixty-four acres of corn, twenty acres of oats and a small tract of wheat, cultivating1 and harvesting all himself without help. Corn in the early days sold for fourteen cents in cash or sixteen cents in trade. Two small horses was all he had with which to carry on his farm at first, a third one being purchased later. Most of the early settlers had oxen only. At times he did not have enough cash to buy a postage stamp. Our subject usually kept his crops over until spring, as prices were better and by such management prospered more rapidly than others who were not sufficiently forehanded to tide them selves over the winter season. Mr. Schoenauer and his helpmeet richly de serve the competency they have won; their trials were many and severe in the early days on the frontier, days to which it is good to look back, and it is good to know those many hardships will never have to be endured again. JOHN P. TAYLOR. John P. Taylor, a leading old settler and promi nent public spirited citizen of St. Paul, Nebraska. is also one of the wealthiest and most influential men of Howard county. He has made this region his home since the early days of its civilzation, and his services to the vicinity have been invaluable and of such a character as to make him one of the uni versally esteemed and admired by his fellow associates. Mr. Taylor was bom in Vigo county, Indiana, June 17, 1838, and was the fourth in order of birth of five children born to James and Nancy Taylor, the family making that vicinity their home until our subject was eleven years of age. His mother died there when he was a small child, and the father with his little family moved into Ogle county, Illinois, in 1849, traveling by wagon the entire distance from the old home to the new. In the latter place John received his education, and in his twentieth year he left the home farm and in company with a party of seventeen men from that vicinity, started for the gold fields of California, going by the overland Utah route, trav eling by wagon train and ox team. Upon arriving in Nebraska territory, they joined a larger party bound for the Eldorado, organized a wagon train comprising about twenty-five outfits, and begun their perilous journey through the plains of the west. There were about one hundred persons in the party, which gave the greatest possible safety from bands of Indians and the usual dangers sur rounding such a trip in the early days. They selected a captain of the train upon whom rested the responsibilities of leadership. _ During the journey they encountered many exciting incidents, meeting hostile parties of Indians, although there were no serious consequences suffered. Upon reaching Utah, they entered camp and remained for three weeks, many of the men secur ing employment in the harvest fields and earning quite a. little sum of money in this way. They reached the mining camps of California in Octo ber, 1858, and after two years spent in that lo cality during which time Mr. Taylor went through varied experiences and had some measure of suc cess, he returned to the home farm in Illinois, ar riving just in time to cast his maiden vote for Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In fantry, saw active service for one year, then re ceived an honorable discharge on account of dis ability, and returned home. During his career is a soldier, he took part in the battles of Shttoh, Pittsburg Landing, and other minor encounters, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 9li After returning to Ogle county, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage on October 13, 1863, to Susan K. Bridge. Mrs. Taylor was a native of .Illinois, her parents being pioneers in the state. The young couple remained there for a short time after their marriage, going to Ashton, Lee county, Illinois, where Mr. Taylor engaged in grain and stock buying, following this occupation up to April, 1879, when they came to Sherman county, Ne braska, where our subject filed on homestead rights. He farmed there up to 1905, at which time the family settled in St. Paul, where Mr. Taylor has successfully carried on an extensive stock busi ness, being widely known as a prominent man of affairs and enjoying the esteem and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had seven children, five now living, as follows: Frank J., Edward G., Mittie B., wife of A. M. Conklin; Charles T., and Eva M., all married and living in Howard county, except Edward G., who is in the grain and milling business in Loup City. WILLIAM J. HATHER. William J. Hather, born in Dubuque county, Iowa, January 22, 1865, was sixth of ten children in the family of George T. and Sarah Jane (Car- , ter) Hather. William lived in Dubuque county until April, 1885, when he followed his parents to Valley county, Nebraska. Upon reaching this county, Mr. Hather first worked for Peter M'ortenseri on his farm, and there sowed thenty acres to clover and timothy the first, he believes, ever sowed in Valley county. After renting one year Mr. Hather purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section three, town ship nineteen, range thirteen, and began farming for himself; in 1892 he purchased an adjoining quarter section, making his farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Hather made a success of his farming and stock raising, and as the years went by his place became one of the best improved grain and stock farms in this section of Nebraska. Recently Mr. Hather sold one-half of this farm and purchased a one-hundred and fifty-acre tract just across the river one mile north of Ord, known as the Cedar Lawn Stock Farm; this is now one of the best equipped stock farms in Nebraska ; there is .a fine eleven-room brick residence, with bath and steam heat, good buildings of all kinds, and what is prob ably the most ornamental lawn in Cedar county. Mr. Hather, with his own hand, trimmed the two dozen fine cedars in Italian garden style, a most ornamental surrounding from which, the place takes its name. Mr. Hather is engaged in raising, shipping, and exporting registered Clydesdale horses, short horn cattle, and Poland China swine, and is rec ognized as one of the most prominent stock men in Nebraska. So excellent and famous are his thorough-bred swine that orders were secured from South America in 1910. He is a self-made man, coming into Valley county with only a pair )f colts and ten dollars in cash. Mr. Hather was united in marriage July 4, 1889, to Miss Nellie Vincent, in Valley county, Nebraska, a daughter of Horace C, and Alice (Graves) Vincent, who came from Michigan to Valley county in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hather have four children, namely: Alice, Pern, Charlie, and Wendall, all of whom reside at home. Mr. Hather evidently likes to have the boys with him, as his stock farm is known as the W. J. Hather & Sons Stock Farm. He is a member of the Methodist church, a democrat in politics, and a laborer of the Ancient Order United Workmen. FRANK WHITE. It would be impossible to give a sketch of the history of northeastern Nebraska without includ ing a review of the life of the gentleman whose name heads this article. Mr. White settled in the region during the earliest pioneer times, and to his influence and aid is due much of the prosperity enjoyed at the present time. He has helped build the schools, and assisted in every way possible to promote the best interests of the community in which he has resided for so many years. Prank White was born in Will county, Illinois, and first saw the light on October 21, 1856. His father, Joseph White, was a native of Massachu setts, and married Laura Smith, who was born and reared in Vermont, both of English descent. Our subject was reared in the vicinity of his nativity, following farming during his young man hood. In 1872 the entire family came to Madison county, Nebraska, traveling by rail to Columbus, and from there were obliged to drive to their des tination, a distance of twenty-five miles, meeting with numerous incidents on the journey. Shortly after arriving in Madison county, Mr. White filed on a homestead, and rapidly improved the land, which was merely a wild tract at the time he acquired it. In the early years of pio neering, he experienced all the hardships and set backs familiar to those who came west when the country was in its primitive state, but he perse vered through all, finally being richly rewarded for his efforts in the possession of a productive farm, improved with every modern tool for culti vation, with substantial buildings, etc. In 1873, Mr. White suffered the loss of his entire crop by grasshoppers, and in 1894 everything was again destroyed by the hot winds which swept the region. There were also prairie fires to battle with, and many times has our subject helped fight the flames for days at a time, when there seemed scarcely any hope of saving their homes and property. Mr. White was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Rega Knapp, who is a native of Will county, Illinois, and to them have been born fourteen chil dren: William, Clara, George, Frank, Emma, Os- 912 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ear, Rose, Matilda, Roy, Pearl, Phillip, Edward, Cora, and Alfred. FRANK ASHWORTH. (Deceased.) For many years prior to the death of Mr. Ash- worth, he was a leading citizen and successful farmer of Custer county, Nebraska. He came to this county in 1880, and by dint of persistent in dustry and good management, became the owner of a fine estate. He was a man of excellent char acter and enjoyed the confidence of the people of this community to a marked degree. Mr. Ashworth was born in Iowa, on the four teenth day of August, 1852, and was the eldest of ten children born to Jasper and Sophia (Miller) Ashworth. His father was a veteran of the Civil war and died in Iowa in February, 1890. The mother is still living. Mr. Ashworth grew to mari- hood on the Iowa homestead and received his ele mentary education in the local school. Later he attended a college in Chicago for a couple of years. On December 25, 1888, in Marion county, Iowa, he was married to Miss Matilda Buckley, a native of West Virginia. They lived for two years in Iowa, and then in December of 1880, came to Cus ter county, Nebraska, where he took up a home stead of a auarter-section, with an adjoining quarter-section of timber land, about four miles east of Ansley. He lived on this homestead for twenty years. Mr. Ashworth was closely identified with the development of this section and always lent his influence to every measure which had for its aim the ultimate progress of the community along all lines. He was instrumental in organizing his school dis trict and served as director for many years. He passed away on the first of October, 1902, on the farm which had been his home for so many years, and was survived by his wife and five children. Of the children, Ralph, Grant, Eva May and Carl, are still at home; Ora is now married to Willard Moody and lives in Custer county. The eldest, son, Walter, died in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American war. He was a member of the Twenty-sixth Oregon Infantry. After her husband's death, Mrs. Ashworth moved on a farm nearby, which he had purchased some little time before, and lived here until 1909, when she left the farm, and moved to the town of Ansley, where she built the comfortable home which the family now occupy. She still lives there, surrounded by loving children and a host of friends, and enjoys the respect and admiration of ¦the entire community. Her own mother, Martha Blaine Buckley, is still living in Duel county, Nebraska. DAVID HERNER. In selecting land on which to build a perma nent home, much is to be considered. The task is less difficult in a country Where civilization has endured for some time, and where the results of man's labor can be justly estimated, but in a new country, where climate and soil are both untried, the task is more serious. To decide unwisely means many years of toil practically wasted, while a wise judgment brings a reward far beyond the expectation of the early settler. AU honor is due \ the pioneers of our country, for its present pros perity is largely the result of their labors. One of the most prominent pioneers of Wayne county, Nebraska, is David Herner, who owns a pleasant home in section nineteen. He was born in Canada in 1854, the son of Samuel and Mary Herner. He obtained most of his education in Canada, and in 1866, came to Illinois, with his parents, where he remained for eleven years. In December, 1876, David Herner came to Wayne county, Nebraska, where he purchased the homestead of J. R. Russell, consisting of one hun dred and sixty acres. His experience during the first few years was rather disheartening, as he was called upon to suffer many hardships. Prairie fires formed a peril which was ever threatening the settler during the summer, while in winter there were the terrific blizzards, which were a source of much loss and suffering. By dint of sheer pluck and perseverance, however, our subscriber refused to be beaten by the elements, and remained year after year, each season a little less hard than those preceding until now, after a residence in this county of more than thirty years, he is in a position to take his ease after his years of toil. Since coming to Wayne county Mr. Herner has added to his first purchase of land, and now owns two hundred and forty acres. In November, 1910, he began building one of the finest and best equipped homes in the county. It is two stories high, heated by furnace, lighted by acetylene gas, and has a bath-room— in fact, it is modern in every respect. It is now completed, and occupied by the family. Mr. Herner 's work was made much harder dur ing the first few years of his life on the homestead, owing to the fact that he had to do his own work both in and out of the house, as he was "batching it" at the time. In 1882, he was united in mar riage to Miss Mary Park, of Dixon county, and they have had but one child, Nellie, who is at home. In politics Mr. Herner is a democrat, although not active in politics — never caring for office. ANDREW JACKSON HUXFORD. The gentleman whose life history is here pre sented is widely known as one of the oldest settlers and most influential citizens of Merrick county, Ne braska. Mr. Huxford is the son of Charles and Margaret (Green) Huxford, and was born in In diana, near Terre Haute, January 18, 1834. He was fifth of ten children, and has one brother, John, living in Indiana, the others being deceased, as are also the parents, the father having died in 1867, and the mother in 1874, both passing away COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 913 in Indiana. Our subject was educated in his home state, and later engaged in farming and teaching. On April 20, 1854, Mr. Huxford was united in marriage to Miss Dilemma Burton, also of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Huxford have had ten children, seven of whom are living: William, mar ried, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; Josephine, wife of Eugene McDonald, has one child and resides in Idaho ; Margaret, wife of J. M. Persinger, has seven children and lives in Central City; Alice, deceased in 1868; Roselia, wife of Edward Dorshimer, has two children and lives in Central City; Charles, married, has one daughter, and resides in Central City ; Anna, wife of Robert Morrison, has five children, and lives in Merrick county; Clarence died in infancy, as did also Perry ; and Dora, who resides at home. M^s. Huxford died February 23, 1908. In the early days of 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Hux ford arid family moved to Illinois where they farmed for eleven years, and during the winter seasons Mr. Huxford taught school. In February, 1871, they came to what was then known as Lone Tree, Merrick county, Nebraska, later the town name being changed to Central City. Here they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in sec tion eighteen, township thirteen, range seven, which remained the home ml ace until 1899 when Mr. Huxford retired from the farm -and moved to Cen tral City purchasing a good home where they now reside. Mr. Huxford has been prosperous and suc cessful, and at one time owned nearly one thou sand acres, all in Merrick county. He has served as director of his school district number forty- eight tor about twenty years. Mr. Huxford is one of the early pioneers of his county, and passed through all the trying experi ences and hardships of frontier life. In 1873 our subject shipped the first car load of corn out of Merrick county to North Platte, Nebraska. In 1872, he helped to build the First Baptist church, in Merrick county, and in 1875 was instrumental in organizing a Methodist church in Central City, of which he is a member. In politics he is a strong democrat. W. S. TRENHAILE. Though of English birth, Mr. W. S. Trenhaile of Bloomfield is American bred, having lived in the states since his eighth year. He was bom in Cornwall, December 19, 1839, the second in a fam ily of seven sons and seven daughters. His parents, George and Mary (Stevens) Trenhaile, were na tives of the same county where the father was a farmer. The father emigrated with his family to Amer ica in 1847 sailing from Falmouth in the full rig ged ship "Roslyn Castle," commanded by Captain Sadler. After a voyage of six or seven weeks, they landed in Quebec, and proceeded thence by lake to Milwaukee, whence they traveled by wagon to 30 Dodgeville, in Iowa county, Wisconsin. Here the father bought a tract of land, engaging in farming during the winter seasons, and when work was slack on the farm he worked in the lead and zinc mines in the southwest part of Wisconsin. In the fall of 1873 he joined his son, W. S., who had pre ceded him in 1872 and settled in Saunders county, Nebraska. Here the parents died in January of 1878 — the mother on Sunday, January 6, and the father the next day, both being interred at the same time. As nearly as Mr. Trenhaile can recollect the father was sixty-five and the mother about sixty- three years of age. W. S. Thenhaile followed farming in Wisconsin until the spring of 1860 when he joined a party of gold seekers bound for Pike's Peak, passing up the Platte valley through Nebraska. Returning in the fall after but indifferent luck in the mining coun try, he remained under the parental roof until 1864, when, in company with his father and broth er he again crossed the plains, passed over the mountains and joined in the search for gold in California. The father soon returned to Wiscon sin, while the son remained a year in the golden state at the famous mining camp, Grass VaUey, from where he, with six others, traveled on horse back to Montana and was employed in the mines there for eighteen months, twelve at Virginia City, and from March to September in 1866, in Helena. Horses for the journey were purchased at Marys- ville, California, the day of Lincoln's funeral. On his homeward journey, Mr. Trenhaile took a boat on the Missouri river at Fort Benton for Sioux City, and proceeded thence by stage to New Jeff erson, the western terminus of the railway at that time.- The construction train was the only means of transportation until they reached Boone. An account of these tribulations of travel sound queer in these days when railroads traverse nearly every section of our land. On reaching Wisconsin again, Mr. Trenhaile. married and followed farming there until his mi gration to Nebraska in 1872, when he drove through, camping by the wayside on the journey of about three weeks. He bought a farm in Saunders county and later eighty acres where the town of Cedar Bluffs now stands, and lived on his quarter section most of the time until 1880 when he moved to Fremont. In 1875 he rented the farm and went into the Black Hills, the lure of gold having drawn him to where many were making rich strikes in the yellow metal; but finding the opportunities less than he had anticipated and the Indians hostile, he shortly after returned and lived in Fremont until he could again gain possession of his farm. In 1880 he went into the grocery business in Fremont, but about four months later sold out and opened a shoe store with a partner who continued the busi ness when Mr. Trenhaile withdrew two years later. In 1882 he purchased a section of land five miles north of Bloomfield, and two years later moved on to the place stocked it with cattle and un- 914 compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. til 1892 led the life of a ranchman. At that time his nearest trading point was at Yankton, twenty- five mles away. When Bloomfield was platted and sold, Mr. Trenhaile purchased lots on the hill in the east part of town, and planted the first trees in this section of the city. Besides his present large two-story house, built in 1903, Mr. Trenhaile has owned several other pieces of city property and now owns a few building lots. Mr. Trenhaile was first married at Mineral Point Wisconsin, in 1869, to Miss Margaret Cur- now, whose parents emigrated from Cornwall. Two children were born to them, but both are de ceased. Mrs. Trenhaile died in 1901. Mr. Trenhaile 's second marriage took place at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, to Miss Mary J. Mar tin, whose parents emigrated from Cornwall dur ing her infancy. She was an intimate friend and schoolmate of the first wife. Mr. Trenhaile was living on the ranch at the time of the well known blizzard of January 12, 1888, and although he had two hundred head of cattle out in it, he got all of them into shelter and lost none, while some neighbors lost nearly all they had. Of his original section Mr. Trenhaile has sold four hundred and eighty acres, and later pur chased a half section in Sherman county, Kansas. In politics he is a democrat, and is a membei of tbe Methodist Episcopal church. , In 1 9j01 Mr. Trenhaile made a tour of the west, visiting Portland, Seattle, and Lake Cheland, be sides many points of interest in British Columbia, both on the coast and the Selkirk Rockies, return ing by way of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 1909 he visited points in the south, including Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville, in Texas, and Metamoras in Old Mexico. Mr. Trenhaile is hale and hearty, of strong vi tality and rugged health, with his mind unim paired by the strenuous life he has led. By busi ness energy and thrift he is now enabled to take life easy in one of the finest and most elegantly fur nished dwellings iri his home town. LINAS W. BARBER. Linas W. Barber one of the leading old-time residents of Boone county, Nebraska, is a highly respected farmer of Boone precinct. Since locating here in 1872, he has worked faithfully, and has suc ceeded in accumulating a nice property, now own ing a finely developed farm and enjoying a pleas ant home and all the comforts of rural life. The place of Mr. Barber's birth was in St. Law rence county, New York, and the date July 2, 1843. His father and mother were Lahira and Annis Bar ber, he being the seventh member in a family of ten children. When Linas was a small boy, his parents removed to Kane county, Illinois, and there he grew up, receiving a common school edu cation, and remaining on the home farm until he was of age. He then went into Brown county, Wisconsin, and spending his time for several years between Wisconsin and Illinois, finally coming to Boone county, Nebraska in 1872. He made the entire trip from Wisconsin by wagon team, and landed in the vicinity in June, immediately filing on a homestead on section six, township nineteen, range five, west. He was almost the first white man to make settle ment in that portion of the county, and is one of the few genuine old-timers left here, wdio have seen all of the changes that have come to the place. He has resided during all of this time on his original claim, which he has converted from a wild barren tract to a fertile farm, supplied with every con venience in the way of buildings and equipment for the operation of a model grain and stock farm. Mr. Barber was married in Green Bay City, Wisconsin, on October 29, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Lindsay, who was a native of Michigan, and of Scotch descent. To them have been bom seven children, four daughters and three sons, named as follows : Arthur and Prank, married and living in Duluth, Minnesota; Anna, William, Florence and Minola, at home, and Lois, wife of Fred Foltz, they living north of Albion. The family are well known 'throughout their section of the county, and have many warm friends and acquaintances, who enjoy the hospitality of their pleasant home. GEORGE BURGHARDT. In the person of Mr. George Burghardt, who has a comfortable home in Logan township, we have one of the prominent old timers of Knox county, Nebraska. He has made this his perma nent home since 1880, and during this time has been a part of its growth and progress, and a his tory of the county would be incomplete without a review of his career. Mr. Burghardt is a native of Bohemia, Ger many, and was born in 1864. He remained with his parents until his sixteenth year, then struck out for himself, having determined on coming to America, from which country such glowing ac counts had come to him of the wonderful oppor tunities to be had. He embarked at Bremen and landed in Baltimore, stopping in that city only long enough to get his ticket to the west. He reached Nebraska in October, 1879. For seven years he worked in a packing house and on farms, and then bought one hundred and sixty acres in section eight, township twenty-nine, range seven, and moved to the place with his wife and one child. He built a shack fourteen by twelve feet, and saved all that he could earn to improve his place planting trees, and getting some of the land under cultivation in the meantime. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, raising good crops of grain, hay and oth er commodities, besides having considerable live stock on the place. He has five acres of trees which he planted himself and has built a good home, barn, and other outbuildings, his farm being one of the MR. AND MRS. JACOB B. KLUMP. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 915 best improved in the township. Mr. Burghardt was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kurka in June, 1887, and three children came to bless their home: Lena, Rose and Mary, all charming girls. Mrs. Burghardt died August 4, 1903. HERMAN J. MARTEN. Herman J. Marten, who owns a well equipped stock and grain farm of over nine hundred acres of land on section twenty-five, township seventeen, range twenty-two, and adjoining sections, is prominent in local affairs and always ready to for ward the cause of progress in his county and state. He is a native of Germany, next to the youngest child of Frederick and Dorothy (Luet- zow) Marten, and their only son, his birth occur ring September 9, 1864. The parents had four chil dren, and in June, 1868, they brought them to America, locating first at Petersburg, Menard county, Illinois. They lived in that county until the fall of 1862, when the father and son came to Custer county, Nebraska, to look over the country in search of a place to locate. The father secured a tree claim and they returned to Illinois, but the following spring the son, Herman, returned to Custer comity to live, taking up a homestead when he reached his majority. The father and mother, with one daughter, came to Custer county in tbe spring of 1884, and the former took up a home stead which was the home of the parents the re mainder of their lives. The father died in Sep tember, 1895, and the mother in September, 1900. One daughter, Mrs. Amelia Saf ranek, and her fam ily, came to Custer county in 1890, to make their home with her parents, and they now live on the old homestead farm three miles west of Merna. The younger daughter was married to August Hoffman, of Menard county, Illinois, in 1890, their marriage taking place in Custer county. After their mar riage they went to Illinois to live. Herman Marten has made Custer county his home continuously since the spring of 1883 and is now one of the most prosperous farmers and stock men of his part of the state. He passed through many trying experiences during his early years there, but has been an energetic and pro gressive manager, and now has a fine farm to show for his efforts and thrift. He is a man of stability and worth, arid though much interested in local affairs, has never sought public office or honors. He is a member of the school board of district number seventy-four, and in years past has held various township offices, and is recognized as a public-spirited citizen. Mr. Marten was married in Petersburg, Illi nois, March 4, 1908, to Miss Katie Juergens, and they have two children, Frederick and Dorothy Johanna, JACOB B. KLUMP. Jacob B. Klump, of Broken Bow, Nebraska. now retired from active life, is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county, and is the owner of two thousand and two hundred acres of good farm land, most of it within the county. He has passed through the various periods of central Nebraska's history for the past thirty years, and is a pros perous and successful man of affairs. Mr. Klump was bora in Wurtemberg Germany, December 24, 1834, fifth of the thirteen children of John M. and Frieda (Wolf) Klump. One son, Charles, lives fourteen miles north of Callaway ; a daughter, Mrs Sophia Schaad, lives at Evanston, Illinois; one daughter, Mrs. Mary Finkbinder, lives in Ger many, and several of the children are deceased. Both parents were born in Germany, the father died in 1849, and the mother in 1867. When about nineteen years of age Jacob B Klump and his sisters, Sophia and Katherine, came to America and located in Illinois. He worked at farming for several years and on Sep tember 4, 1861, enlisted in Company G, Thirty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He received his final discharge at Springfield, Illinois, December 16, 1865, having been promoted October 12, 1864, to rank of cor poral, and on May 1, 1865, to that of sergeant. He had participated in sixteen different engagements and was slightly wounded several times, and for six months had carried the flag of the regiment. Mr. Klump was married February 29, 1864, while home on a furlough, to Miss Jane Parkinson, their union taking place at Freeport. She was born in Jo Daviess county, being the first white child bom in Ward's Grove precinct. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Klump brought his wife and their nine children to Nebraska, having in April of that year filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Custer county, and a timber claim of the same size adjoining, on section twelve, township seventeen, range twenty- three. The family lived in York county about one year before locating on the homestead, and Mrs. Klump died there on December 3, 1906, having been a good wife and mother and mourned by a wide circle of sincere friends. She left nine chil dren, namely: Sophia E., wife of F. A. Bertram, of Missouri, has five children ; Herman R., of Ring gold, Nebraska, has three children; Julia, wife of James Halliwell, of Custer county, has two chil dren ; William F., of McPherson county ; Mae is a teacher in Montana ; Ruby, wife of Fred Hack- barth, of Lincoln county, has four children ; Hardy lives in Custer county, he served two years in Spanish- American war in Philippine Islands cam paign in Company M, First Nebraska Infantry. Olive is a teacher, of Idaho; August E. lives in Lincoln county. For many years Mr. Klump served as a mem ber of the school board in his school district, which he was instrumental in organizing. He served as 916 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. justice of the peace in Illinois and also in Nebras ka and for the past two years has been county sup ervisor iri Custer county. He was married (second) on October 5, 1907, in Kearney, Nebraska, to Mrs. Mary Koch, a native of Wurtemlberg, Germany, who came to America in 1881. Her maiden name was Deininger and her. first husband, John Koch, was burned to death on April 17, 1899, while fight ing prairie fire on West Table, Custer county. Thomas Morrison and another man, who were working with him, were also burned to death, Mr. Klump lived on his homestead farm until April, 191Q,. when he came to Broken Row and pur chased a nice residence, which has since been his home. He is one of the best known .men in the eounty and is highly regarded as an enterprising, public-spirited citizen. Protraits of Mr. and Mrs. Kiump are presented on another page of this volume. GEORGE VINSON. Located very pleasantly in section twenty-nine, township twenty -six, range three, is to be found the somewhat notable gentleman whose name intro duces this biographical writing. He has been identified with the history of PierCe county, Ne braska, from a very early date, and his contribu tions to the making of northeastern Nebraska, while they have largely consisted of those unobtrusive ways and habits of which little mention is ordi narily made., have been such industrious habits, such persistent and Invariable honesty of purpose and force of character, and such an earnest desire •to live the best American life, that he is widely known as one of the leading and influential early settlers of the county. George Vinson was born in 1842, in the -village of Mervinstaw, County Cornwall, England, and was one of the youngest of a family of eight chil dren. When he was eight years of age his father died, and the mother then brought her eight chil dren to America. They started from Plymouth, go ing by sailboat to Quebec, being on the water six weeks. After landing, they proceeded to Montreal, from there to Winnebago county, Illinois, and a few years later to Freeport, Illinois, the mother having in the meanwhile married J. C. Burge. While residing here, our subject enlisted Decem ber 5 1861, in Company B, one of the five compan ies from Freeport in the Forty-sixth Illinois Volun teers. During active service In the battle of Jack son, Mississippi, Mr. Vinson was seriously wounded and sent to a hospital. He participated in the bat tles at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Shiloh, where he sustained a bayonet wound in the arm, siege of Corinth, and down the Mississippi river. While at Holly Springs, the army was cut off from supplies, and the soldiers relished "hard tack" and "mule's corn, ' ' as maize was called, as we, would a piece of cake ; our subject also engaged in battles at Mem phis, Tennessee, and from thence to La Grange, then Vicksburg, and Jacksori, Mississippi: at the latter place he was shot in the' jaw," of which wound he still carries the scar. His regiment1 then went to New Orleans to Fort 'Blackley. Mr! Vinson's two brothers, Johri arid Thomas, also served in the civil war. John was killed by Morgan's band of raiders, and Thomas, who was in Company A, in the same regiment with our subject, now lives in Knoxville, Iowa. After the war our subject returned to. Illinois, then in 1866 moved to Iowa, where he followed farming in Berton and "Marion counties. He moved to Madison county, Nebraska, where he lived two years, then in 1886, came to Pierce county, where he horiiesteaded land in . section twenty-one, town ship twenty-six, range four: He owns three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty jeight, and one hundred and sixty-six acres in section twenty-nine. Mr. Vinson was married in 1865 tolls Sarah, ¦Simmons of Maryland and to this union 'nine ehil- 1 dren have been born : Maggie, married Chris La France; of Burt county, and has two-' children; Charles, married1 Miss Basser, and has one -child; Anna, married Lute - Jenkins ; Eliza; v> married Thomas Daniels; Emma; married Ed Jones*;. John, married Maude ¦ Crawf ord, and has orie child ; George, married Eriima Reimers, and has two chil dren; Cora, married William Andrew Buckley; and Maude married James Clark. ¦> I >¦.:¦-¦ '-¦¦: Mr. and Mrs. Vinson and family enjoy the high est respect and esteem of the people of their 'eonn- munity. Mr. Vinson owns four hundred and eighty "acres -of land, five acres being put to trees. He is a, member of the Grand Army. ' ¦¦¦•-' WILLIAM M. WAGGONER ' " '( Wm. M. Waggoner, whose fine f arm ¦', of; , f our hundred acres in Howard county is a credit to his locality, is a man of .broad mind and one.,. of 'the prosperous agriculturists of Fairdale precinct. He has always personally superintended the manage ment of his estate, and to his earlier career of in dustry and thrift is due the possession of his Pre,s- : ent fine property. At one time he owned consider- . ably more land than at present. . .„ ?,. Mr. Waggoner was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1842,. being' the' eld est in a family of eight— five hoys bnd' three girls. His parents John and Sarah (MfcCrackeh) Wag goner, are both dead, although they lived to a" ripe old age. William made his native state, his home up to his twenty-third year, at that time going. 'to Iowa, where he located in Jasper county with his bride of a few weeks, and begun farming. He- re mained there for about six years, then came to Ne braska settling on a homestead in Howard county, on section two; township fifteen, range eleven, on May 29, 1872. He went through all. the early pip-, neer experience's, during the settlement pf the sec tion being among the first to establish a hbme here. and'by dint of economy and perseverance sue- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 917 ceeded in developing, a good farm. His home place is situated on the North Loup river, and is. one of - the best equipped and most productive tracts in the section, He has carried on diversified farming and stock raising, meeting with decided success in both lines.- On March 8, 1866, Mr. Waggoner was united in marriage to Margaret J. Wakefield, who is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Center county, al though her .girlhood was spent iri our subject's home 'vicinity. She is a woman pf VCry lovable char acter, patient and uncomplaining, although for many years she has been an invalid. Mr. arid Mrs. Waggoner have five living children, namely : John A., married arid living in New Orleans, Louisiana, fatner of one child ; Ella, wife of Wm. Hinkley, having two children, and residing in Howard couri - ty, this state; George W., married and living in Louisiana ; Prank W.~ of Elba, and Henderson G., who was married to Annie C. Hutshell, in 1902, and is engaged in farming near his father's homestead. Mr. Waggoner has always been prominent in neighborhood and county affairs, and for a number of' y^ears has' been actively identified with educa tional mattert in his district. He and Mrs. Wag goner have been for years members of the United Brethren church at Elba. In politics. Mr. Waggon er i& a republican. ' ' '" At the present time (1911), Mr. Waggoner is brie of" two' of the settlers Who came to this section q'f| 'Howard county during, or before, ¦' 1872. v ADAM SMITH. Of the prominent and leading old settlers of eastern Nebraska, none are held in higher esteem by their fellow citizens than Adam. Smith, retired farmer, who resides in Ord. Mr. Smith has been closely identified with' the best interests of his home cojihfy^arid! state sinCe 1883, g^'jAdai^ "Smith, - son of George arid Catherine Smith!, was born in Newport, "Kentucky, Novem- bsr';|8, 1835„ and was ninth in a family of ten chil dren!' He , has .a sister, Mary, now Mijs. George ^JiiUippe, residing in Bicknell, Indiana, the others b^irig deceased,, as are also the parents, the father Passing away in February of 1866, and the mother inj. February of 1867, surviving her husband just ppe, .year, their deaths occurring in Indiana. , ':' ,'When but two years of age Mir. Smith went with' his parents to Vincennes, Indiana, where he received his education and grew to manhood. On September 23, 1858, he was married to Miss Cath erine Blancit of E dwardspbrt, ' Indiana. Miss Blaricit was a native of Alabama. Of this union two children were born, namely: Rosa B., wife of Perry Pierson, has two children, arid lives in Val ley county, Nebraska; and George E., who is mar ried, has two children, andJives in Howard county, Nebraska. M.rs. Smith died on the home farm, Feb ruary 19, 1893, survived by her husband and chil dren, and deeply mourned by - all. • On July 31, 1861, Mr. Smith enlisted in Com* pany B, Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving all through the war, and received his hon orable discharge January 26, 1866, at Vicksburg; Mississippi. The decisive battles engaged in were the siege of Vicksburg, siege of Mobile, and Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and many minor engagements and skirmishes. Mr,. Smith, in 1862, was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant. He was com missioned lieutenant in August, 1865, but as hos tilities had ceased; he was never mustered in as an officer. After the war, he returned to Indiana, engaging extensively in the stock business, owning, one of the finest stock farms in the state. In April of 1883 Mr. Smith came with his wife and two children to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hun dred and sixty acres of land twelve miles west of Ord ; he also timber claimed one hundred and sixty ty acres and purchased another one hundred and sixty acres of Burlington! and Missouri , railroad land. After living for two years on the homestead, he moved on the timber claim, where he remained until 1896. In September of 1894, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rachel Polk of Indiana. In 1896 they moved to Ord, where Mr. Smith purchased a good home, where he still lives. Mrs. Smith died April 9, 1905, at her home in Ord. Mr. Smith has been prosperous and successful, and at one time owned thirteen hundred acres of land, but sold out in 1903. In November of 1895 he was elected sheriff of his county, serving in that office four years. On July 3, 1907, Mr. Smith was united in mar riage to Mrs. Anna R. Purmann, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are living in the old Ord home, enjoying the respect and esteem of their many friends. Mr. Smith is a progressive man, and. has trav eled widely, and notwithstanding his mature years is still active and interested in all the affairs of the times. GOTTFRIED WOLSKI. Oottfried Wolski, long familiar to the people of Madison county, Nebraska, where his fortunes have been cast for many years, is a striking repre sentative of those sterling qualities and manly vir tues that peculiarly marked the pidrieer settlers of .Nebraska. His career demonstrates the value of ^persistent and well directed effort, and the compe tence which he has acquired stands for hard and , faithful work. Mr. Wolski is a native of Germany, born Oc tober 9, 1842, in the province of Prussia, and is a son of Gottlieb and Anna Wolski, both natives of Germany. Our subject's father was a herder in the old country, and after growing to manhood, as well as during his school years, the lad helped his father, remaining at home until he was twenty-four years of age. 918 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In 1872 Mr. Wolski left the fatherland for America, embarking at Bremen on the sailboat "Columbus," and after a voyage of twelve weeks, landed in New York. After reaching the new world, he proceeded directly to Michigan where he lived about six years, coming to Madison county; Nebraska, in 1878. After reaching Madison county, Mr. Wolski took up a homestead claim of eighty acres in sec tion eight, township twenty-three, range two, and on this land built a log house and made steady im provements. Mr. Wolski now owns two hundred and eighty-two acres of fine land and on this has two acres of trees. In those first days of hardships and dangers on the western frontier, our subject and family en dured all the vicissitudes and experiences of that period. Many times they fought the raging prairie fires that would sweep down upon them at times without any warning, and quick work had to be done to save their lives and possessions; this was only one of the dangers to be met and overcome in those pioneer days, and Mr. Wolski can relate fnany incidents of western frontier life. Mr. Wolski was united in marriage in October, 1866, to Miss Minnie Kissner, a native of Prussia, and a daughter of Louisa Kissner. Mr. and Mrs. Wolski are the parents of fourteen children, five of whom are living: Carl, August, Mary, Bertha, and Eddie. They are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Wolski is a republican. JOSEPH W. CASSEL. One of the prominent citizens of Ansley is the gentleman named above who came to Nebraska at a time when the country was new and settlers were few. He is known as a successful man of affairs, a progressive farmer and enterprising business man. Joseph W.Cassel, the eldest of seven children in the family of Jacob and Jane (Noland) Cassel, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on July 4, 1843. All of the children are still living and all reside in Dunn county, Wisconsin, except Joseph. The fath er, who was a native of Holland, died in Wiscon sin, and the mother passed away in Iowa. When nine years of age, the subscriber went with his par ents to Iowa, where he grew np to manhood on the farm and received his education in the local schools. On January 4, 1862, in Clayton county, Iowa, Mr. Cassel was married to Miss Mary White, a native of Bangor, Maine. Ten years later, with his wife and four children, Mr. Cassel came to Pill- more county, Nebraska, and pre-empted a quarter- section of land. After three or four years' resi dence there, he removed to Thayer county, later going to the town of Carlton, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. In the winter of 1877-78, he went to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and homesteaded a quarter-sec tion about forty miles from Kearney. At the same time,he also purchased another quarter-section on Deer creek. In 1883, Mr. Cassel and family went to Cali-- fornia, where he bought land and engaged in ranch ing for two years. At the expiration of this time, he returned to Buffalo county, Nebraska, and a little later, went to Sioux county. From here the family went to Fall River county, South Dakota, after several years, moving again io Flathead coun ty, Montana, where he remained for eight years. Mr. Cassel came to Custer county, Nebraska, in 1909. He purchased ten lots in the city of Ansley, and built a comfortable modern home, where the famity now lives. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cassel, named as follows: William Walter, Abbie J., now Mrs. John Harse ; George Y., Jacob P., and Mary E., now Mrs. Edward Wool- folk, who resides in Wyoming. JOHN 0 'DONNELL. John 0 'Donnell who resides in section thirteen, township thirty, range four, Knox county, Nebras ka, has been identified with the history of Knox county from a very early date. Mr. 0 'Donnell was born in Withville county, Virginia, in 1855. His birth place being a farm house, and his associations from the first being with agricultural interests, it is natural, therefore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find suc cess in life 's endeavors in the tilling of the soil. Mr. O'Donnell's father, Michael, was born in Ireland, and was thirty years of age when he came to Amer ica. Our subject's mother, Ellen (Hefferandi 0 'Donnell, was born in Tipparary, Ireland., They were married in the United States. In 1880 Mr. 0 'Donnell came to Knox county, Nebraska , where he took up a homestead in section thirteen, township thirty, range four, and also took a tree claim in section twenty-four, same township and range. He first built a sod house, and lived in this "soddy" for seven years, it proving to be a very comfortable dwelling place. Mr. O.'Donnell went through many hardships in the first days of his settlement on the western frontier, but those times have passed to history, and he now enjoys the prosperity and conveniences of modern farm life. Mr. 0 'Donnell now owns eight hundred acres of fine land, and is a prosperous and substantial citizen in his community, where he is known and respected by a host of friends and business associates. Mr. 0 'Donnell was united in marriage in 1875 to Miss Mary Morgan, and Mr. and Mrs. 0 'Donnell are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows : John M., who is married to Miss Endie Morgan, they having one child ; and Mary, Charles, and Joe. Mr. and Mrs. 0 'Donnell and family live -in their comfortable home, where, they are surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 919 WILLIAM P. CAMPBELL. Among the prosperous farmers and early set tlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, the subject of this review, William P. Campbell, occuDies a high position. He resides on section four, township fourteen, range eight, where he has a fine farm and comfortable home, and enjoys the esteem and re spect of all who know him. William P. Campbell was born in Porter county, Indiana, February 27, 1837, a son of Sam uel and Elizaheth (Frame) Campbell, and was fifth in a family of seven children. His parents are now deceased, the father having died January 20, 1884, and the mother, March 18, 1895, both in In diana. Oiir subject received his education in the home schools, and later engaged in farming. On January 1, 1862, Mr. Campbell was united in mar riage to Miss Plorissa Curtis, also of Indiana. In October, 1864, Mr. Campbell, enlisted in Com pany C, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and served until close of war, receiving his discharge in Chicago, Illinois, in June of 1865, the time having been spent in Tennessee on guard duty. After the war, our subject came with his wife and six children to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section four, township fourteen, range eigh^ which is still the home place. Mr. Campbell has been prosperous and successful, and owns four hundred and seventy-three acres of land, devoted to stock and grain. He was instrumental in or ganizing his school district number forty-nine, and served as moderator of same for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had eleven chil dren born to them : Silas, who is married, has three children and lives in Oregon; Leander, married, has one son, and resides in Merrick county; Sa- bina, wife of Clarence Newlon, has two children, and they reside on a farm in Howard county, Ne braska : Mahala, deceased, in 1907, survived by her husband, Sherman Cox; Prior, married, has four children, and lives in Merrick .county ; Homer, mar ried, has two children, and also resides in Merrick county; Orlando, married, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; Robert, married, lives in Merrick county, and has three children; Walter also married,- residing in Merrick county; Pran- cina, wife of Arthur Nicholas, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; and Ruby, who re sides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are among the earliest settlers of the county and passed through all the experiences and hardships incidental to pioneer life. E. C. PHILLIPS. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history, is entitled to a foremost place. He is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his home county and state. Mr. Phillips is a native of Iowa, his birth hav ing occurred July 3, 1868. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Hurley) Phillips. iThe father, a native of Illinois, was born in the year 1838, and died in California in 1906. The mother is a native of Indiana, and was born May 9, 1838. Our sub ject's father was a soldier in the Civil war, enlist ing in Company I, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and served all through the war. He was in the Thirteenth Army Corps, and the first winter was at New Madrid, Missouri. Prom there he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was there from the be ginning to the end of the siege. He then went to Port Hudson, then New Orleans, Brownsville, Texas, Fort Barancus, Alabama; Pensacola, Ala bama, and Mobile. From the latter place, he went back to Houston, Texas, where the regiment was discharged, and later mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. In the fall of 1879, Peter Phillips, with the family, drove from Iowa to Nemaha county, Ne braska, and remained until the following spring. They then came to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead on sections thirty-one and twenty-eight, township thirty-one, range eight, and also took a pre-emption claim on section thirty, township thirty-one, range eight. He disposed of his Knox county property, and in 1894 went to California. The following faU he returned to Knox county for a short time, and then went back to California, where he stayed until his death. E. C. Phillips has made a scientific study of ag riculture, and in his experiments has found that the rotation of crops brings the best results. He is now engaged in mixed farming, along which line he has the best success. In 1893 E. C. Phillips bought the northeast quarter of section six, town ship thirty, range eight, where he lived until 1906, when he sold and purchased two hundred acres where he now lives, in section thirty-two, township thirty-one, range eight. In 1898 Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Rhoda Thayer, and they are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Alice, Elsie, Delbert, Mildred, and Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and family enjoy the friendship and es teem of a host of friends and acquaintances, and Mr. Phillips is a worthy, substantial citizen, and is so considered in his community. SOLOMON DAVID DENNEY. The gentleman whose name heads this article is one of the prosperous and influential pioneer far mers of Stanton county. He has been a resident of this county for nearly thirty years, and is known throughout the locality as a man of energetic habits and sterling worth. He has a very pleasant home located on section twenty-nine, township twenty-four, and has gath ered about his the cqmforts and many of the luxu ries of life and is reaping the reward of his many vears of earnest labor. 920 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Denney is a native of West Virginia, and was born in 1861, the son of James and Sussian Denney. His mother, who was of German descent, was born in Ohio ; his father of Scotch-Irish de scent, was a native of Pennsylvania. The subscri bers' early years were spent in his native state, but in 1873, the family moved to Illinois, and it was here that he spent the years of his youth, residing in Piatt county, near the town of Ivesdale. In 1883, just a year or two after Mr. Denney attained his majority, he came to Stantbn county, Nebraska, and rented land, which he worked for himself. In a short time, he had the opportunity to buy land cheaply and purchased the farm which has been his home since that date. He has made extensive improvements, adding fences, buildings, planting trees, etc., and it is now as thrifty a place as can be seen in a day's journey. Mr. Denney was united in marriage to Miss Malissa Burtwhistle in 1886. Six children have come to bless their home who bear the following names: James, Alva, Earl, Emory, Mary, and Eunice. Mr. and Mrs. Denney are well-known through out the county, and enjoy the respect and esteem of many friends. In 1894 to 1897, he served as a member of the board of county commissioners, although a repub lican, he was elected to the place by a splendid plurality, overcoming democratic opposition, which had hitherto carried the elections. He is also a member of the administrative board as trustee of the Pilger Methodist Episcopal church. JOSEPH ROTTER. Joseph Rotter, who resides on section twelve, township twenty-three, range five, in Antelope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old-timers in this section who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Rotter was born in Austria, September 23, 1843, and after attaining his manhood yea/rs was united in marriage in Braumseifen, Maehren prov ince in February, 1868, to Miss Caroline Peshka Baker, also of Austria. In 1878 Mr. Rotter, with his family, left his native land for America, where land could be had cheaper, and where a young man with a family to support could have a better oppor tunity to get a start in life. After landing in New York in the fall of 1878, Mr. Rotter set his face westward, settling in Butler county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1879, where he remained six months, then eame to Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead, on which he built a sod house, in which he lived for seven years ; he later built a frame house, and two days after it was blown down; he then rebuilt, and in July of 1895 this house was destroyed, and Mr. Rotter again built up a fine home. The family experienced many hardships in those early days and suffered priva tions and losses through all sorts of misfortunes; in 1894 the crops were almost a total failure from drouth, but they saved three hundred bushels of wheat, and in the years 1901 and 1902, the severe hailstorms destroyed the growing crops. But they have held on tenaciously and have prospered. Mr. Rotter now owns four hundred and eighty acres, and his sons own one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. Mr. Rotter is the father of a family of ten chil dren, whose names are as follows: Prank, Joe, John; Ernest, Theresa, Josie,- Bertie, Carrie, Amelia, and Otilda. Theresa is now Mrs. M. Gieh- ler; she ha* three boys. Josie, who is now Mrs. J. Beck, has three boys, three girls. Mr. Rotter and family enjoy the highest re spect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and ac quaintances, with whom they are surrounded in their pleasant home. Mr. Rotter is a substantial citizen, and is known in his community for his many good qualities. Mr. Rotter is a ,good demo crat and a staunch Roman Catholic. In January 12, 1888, during the day of the se vere blizzard, Mr. Rotter's children were at school. Prank his oldest boy and himself, went to bring them home facing the storm all the way and could keep the course only by following some grass that grew in the center of the road, they eventually got the children home safely. ROBERT R. DUNCAN. Robert R, Duncan, cashier and active manager of the Home Bank of Merna, Nebraska, is one of the most prominent business men of Custer county, where he has lived since 1888, with the exception of two years. Mr. Duncan was born in Buffalo, New York, February 17, 1857, the seventh child of James and Christine (Ross) Duncan, who were parents of six sons and six daughters. In April, 1857, the Duncan family moved to Ashkum, Iro quois county, Illinois, and located on an Illinois farm. Both parents were natives of Scotland and at the time of coming to Illinois they had five chil dren. They lived in Iroquois county a number of years and the sons and daughters one by one left the home circle and started out in life for them selves, forming new ties and going to homes of their own. The mother died in 1885 and the fa ther in March, 1908, the latter being then in his eighty-seventh year. The last child to leave the old home in Illinois was Robert R. Duncan. He received his education and early business experiences in Illinois, and lived with his parents until coming to Custer county in the spring of 1888. He engaged in the hardware business in the new town of Merna, with a Mr. Kelly, the firm name being Kelly & Duncan. Mr. Duncan remained in this business until 1903, then returned to Illinois, intending to remain there permanently, but felt the fascination of his old pioneer life in Nebraska too strongly to be sat- HOME OF E. D. APPLEGATE. "CAT CREEK RANCH," RESIDENCE OF ULYSSES G. BROWN. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 921 isfied in the east, and came back to Merna in June, 1905, soon after which he helped in the organiza tion of the Home Bank of Merna, since which time he has held his present position in this institution. The officers of this institution are all old time busi ness men of Custer county and of recognized in tegrity and ability: N. Jacquot, former president, died in June, 1911 ; J. S. Francis, president ; Mr. Kellenberger, vice president, and Robert R. Dun can, cashier and manager. This is one of the most important' organizations of Custer county and has been influential in the development and upbuilding of the region. The bank now occupies a fine mod ern building, well adapted to the use for which it was erected, and containing suitable safety vaults, etc., for insuring the proper care of capital and de- positis, securities, and other valuables entrusted to the care of the institution. Mr. Duncan was married in Ashkum, Illinois, May 5, 1890, to Agnes McDonald, a daughter of Aleck and Catherine McDonald, natives of Scot land, but early settlers of Illinois. Both Mr. Duncan and his wife are the only ones of their im mediate families who live in Nebraska. Her father died in Illinois in 1904, at the age of seventy-five years, and her mother died in 1909, aged eighty- eight years. Mr. Duncan is president of the Merna school board and is actively interested in progress along all lines. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the In dependent Order Odd Fellows orders. E. D. APPLEGATE. For over a quarter of a century Mr. E. D. Ap- plegate has been identified with the agricultural interests of Antelope county, Nebraska, and he has aided materially in transforming this locality from its wild natural state into a thriving farming district. He is a gentleman of energy and perse verance, and has met with deserved success in his labors, now being classed among the leading citi zens of his community. Mr. Applegate is a native of Harrison county, Indiana, where he was born January 30, 1855; he is the son of Robert and Marinda (Jacobs) Apple- gate. His mother died April 7, 1878. His father was born in 1823 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and died January 7, 1869. Our subject's grandfather came from Holland. His mother was a native of Indiana. Our subject was but fourteen years of age when his father died. Mr. Applegate was united in marriage Feb ruary 8, 1881, to Miss Louisa Hays. Mr. and Mrs. Applegate are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Mattie M., who is now Mrs. Moore, and resides in Clearwater; Dolly E., who is married and lives in Clearwater township; Evert, William, and Hazel. Mr. Applegate moved to Washington county, Iowa, in 1874, remaining there ten years; then after his marriage, came to Clearwater, Antelope county, Nebraska, October 9, 1884, where he took 30 % up a homestead and tree claim in section seven, township twenty-four, range eight, which is his present location. Here he and his family reside and enjoy the respect and esteem, and friendship of all in their community. Mr. Applegate has built two sod houses on the old homestead farm, but later built a beautiful home which he and his family now occupy, a picture of which appears on another page of this volume. ULYSSES GHANT BROWN. Among the younger pioneers of Custer county, Nebraska, may be mentioned Ulysses Grant Brown, a native of Switzerland county, Indiana, born May 31, 1871. He is a son of John G. and Martha Ann (Tucker) Brown, the former a native of Ohio county, Indiana, born August 10, 1840. They were married at Bear Branch, Ohio county, August 24, 1862, and of this union four sons and seven daughters were born. In the fall of 1872 John G. Brown removed with his family to Danville, Illi nois, and in the fall of 1883 to Polk county, Ne braska, coming to Custer county two years later. In the latter part of 1885 he secured a homestead on section fourteen, township fourteen, range nine teen, Loup township, Custer county, where he re sided until his death, which occurred August 20, 1904. He was survived by his widow and nine children, all of whom are now living. With the exception of two daughters, one in the state of Washington and one in Council Bluffs, Iowa, all the children reside in Nebraska. Mrs. Brown makes her home in Garden county, Nebraska, where two of her sons reside. In 1872 Ulysses G. Brown accompanied his par ents to Vermillion county, Illinois, in the fall of 1883 to Polk county, and two years later to Custer county. In 1893 he secured a homestead on the south half of the south half of section fourteen, township fourteen, range nineteen, thus becoming one of the original homesteaders of Custer county. Since early manhood he has been identified with the farming and stock-growing interests of his part of the state and is considered a progressive man along all lines. He was but fourteen years of age when he came to the county and has spent most of his life within the state. He is actively interested in local affairs and gives his support to various public project for the advancement of the general prosperity. His father was an influential citizen and served two terms (1898 to 1902) as county coroner. On Christmas day, 1895, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Anna, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Kline) Fortik, natives of Bohemia, original homesteaders of Custer county, where they located in the fall of 1886. The Fortik family came to the United States in 1878 and first located in Saline county, Nebraska. Mrs. Brown is the second in order of birth' of nine children, and has five brothers and one sister surviving. Her parents 922 Compendium op history, reminiscence and biOgrAPhy. still reside in Custer county. Mr. Brown and wife have three children, all born on the homestead: Guy Floyd, July 21, 1897 ; Mary Ruth, March 25, 1900; Charles William, August 22, 1907. Mr. Brown is independent in politics and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has enjoyed the privileges of pioneer life, living in a " soddy ' ' since coming to Nebraska, un til 1909, when he erected a substantial concrete block cottage on a well selected location. A few- years later a well-built barn was added to the im provements of the place, which is known as Cat Creek ranch, of which we show an engraving on one of our illustrated pages. WILLIAM 0. TROTTER. William O. Trotter, manager of the Atlas Grain Company's elevator at Osmond, has known life in at least four of the states in the Mississippi valley. He was born in the north part of Wayne county, Illinois, March 17, 1864. His parents, Shirley and Elizabeth (Reed) Trotter, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively, were of Scotch- Irish descent, their ancestors having settled in co lonial times in the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains. For a few years during the early sev enties, his parents lived west of the Mississippi, farming for a season in Buchanan county, Missouri, near St. Joseph, followed by a season in Clay epunty, Arkansas, near Cherokee Bay, and another in Ripley county, Missouri, before returning to Wayne county, Illinois, where Mir. Trotter resided until coming to Nebraska in May, 1884, to join a brother who had preceded him to Brown county in the fall of 1882. Here Mr. Trotter pre-empted an eighty-acre tract three miles north of Long Pine and a year or two later traded his equity in it for forty acres near town. For a year or two he "batched" it on rented land, a part of the time that, 'of his future father-in-law. After marriage in 1888, he lived in part of the house with Mrs. Trotter's parents and rented the farm for three years. He then bought the relinquishment to a quarter-section three and one-half miles west of Long Pine, on which he lived nine years. Owing to the ill health of Mrs. Trotter they sold the place and came to Osmond in 1900, intending to buy land, but in vested the proceeds of the sale of their Brown county farm in three or four houses and lots in the town, in which they have at all times a good class of tenants, and' keep their tenements in an excel lent state of repair. Mr. Trotter was first employed as a carpenter at Osmond, and later was for four years engaged by the W. O. Snyder Lumber Company, of O'Neill and continued with their successors, the Saberson Brothers, of Allen, Nebraska. During this time Mr. Trotter frequently acted as helper for the manager of the Atlas Grain Company, familariz- ing himself with the business, and at the same time establishing a reputation for efficiency and integ rity. On the promotion of the local manager to the auditorship, Mr. Trotter was recommended" for the vacant place early in A.ugnst, 1907, and except for a few weeks' interim, owing to a misunderstanding in the general office, he has been in continuous charge ever since. The affairs of the company have prospered under the management of Mr. Trotter and his books and accounts are always ready at a minute's notice for the examination of the auditor. He has familiarized himself with all phases of the grain, business, and makes himself agreeable to the producers of the surrounding country. Mr. Trotter was married near Long Pine, to Miss Addie B. Stockwell, who was born in Iowa, February 27, 1867. She is a daughter of Francis E. and Eliza (Hale) StockweU,who settled in Brown county, Nebraska, in 1879 ; they were natives oft Vermont, where they were married, and came west1 in 1865 or 1866, living in Webster county, Iowa, un til migrating to Nebraska, as stated before. When first settling on their claim, the nearest railway ter minus was Neligh, eighty-five miles distant, and here they had to drive across the open prairies to market and trade. Charles 0. Trotter, brother of the subject of this sketch came to Nebraska in the spring of 1892 and lived for a few years near Long Pine. In 1903 . he removed to Wisconsin, where he' lived for three years,and returned to Nebraska, settling in Osmond in August, 1906. He married Miss' Winifred May t Stockwell, sister of Mrs. W. O. Trotter, September 2, 1893. They have a family of five sons, Loren, William, Albert, Charles and Elmer. Returning to Wisconsin in 1910, with his father-in-law, they purchased land in Rusk county where they intend to make their permanent home. W. O. Trotter is a republican, though as a pro test against corrupt party machine politics he voted for Weaver and twice for Bryan in the last cam paigns of the nineteenth century. During the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Trotter was "keeping batch" on the Sprouse farm north of Long Pine, and prudently kept to the house until the storm was spent. Antelope and deer were plentiful there when he first came to the west and he had the excitement of catching the first an telope he ever saw. His brother and a neighbor had been running it on their horses ; exhausted, it threw itself down in the yard of his ranch when he ran to it and held it down until the others came and finished the chase. Charles O. Trotter, our subject's brother, had a series of exciting incidents when living north o'f Ainsworth in the summer of 1899. On the evening of July fourth, every window in his house was broken by a torrential hailstorm that came up from the southwest, destroying every blade of his crops; and the next day about the same hour a cyclone from the northwest crossed the track of the hail storm on his place and left nothing of his housei but the foundations. Some of the papers from his COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 923 shelving were found on the farm of his brother, William 0. Trotter, seven miles away. Those early experiences are interesting topics of conversation now, but were sources of extreme hardship at the time they transpired. JORGEN CHRISTENSEN. Jorgen Christensen, one of the prominent pio neers of Howard county, Nebraska, has a fine farm in Dannebrog precinct, and is a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of his community. He is a pros perous and successful farmer and stockman, and only another of those sturdy immigrants who came from their native land and by dint of thrift and perseverance have built up for themselves comfort able homes and become respected by their fellow men. Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark on Sep tember 28, 1846. He is a son of Christen and Annie Jorgensen, and the third child in order of birth in their family of eight, both parents now be ing dead. In 1873, our subject, one brother, and two sisters, eame to America, coming directly to Nebraska, and landing in Dannebrog, Howard county, on June 27. Jorgen homesteaded on sec tion four, township thirteen, range eleven, about two years after settling here, and still owns this eighty-acre tract which is the home farm. Later on, he acquired one hundred and sixty acres on the Loup River bottoms ,which he still owns. In all he owns about half a section of choice Howard coun ty land, which is improved in first-class shape, and he is regarded as one of the wealthy residents of his section. Mr. Christensen was married in Grand Island on. October 14, 1878, to Annie Sorensen, and they have eight children, who are named as follows : Niels C., Metta, Jens P., Christen L., Frederick, Annie, Viggo and Elmer, the first two mentioned married and settled in Nebraska, while the rest are living at home with their parents. Mr. Christensen has always been active in local affairs, doing his full share in the upbuilding of his 'community. He has served as road overseer in his township, also for many years was moderator of district number seventeen. HORACE M. DAVIS. Horace M. Davis, editor and proprietor of the Ord Weekly Journal, and prominent in educational and political circles in that part of the state, is said to be the first white child born in Greeley county or in the North Loup valley north of St. Paul, in Howard county. He was born September 14, 1873, the oldest of three children born to Man- sell and Mary Davis, who came to Greeley county in 1872. A sketch of Mansell Davis appears else where in this work. In early boyhood Horace M. Davis received the advantages of a district school education, later attended high school at North Loup, from which he graduated with the class of 1891, and then began teaching in the Pish creek, (Greeley county) school. Later he taught in his home district number three and in the fall of 1892 went to Milton (Wisconsin) college, where he studied one school year. Then, returning to Ne braska, he taught school one year in Manderson village, after which he spent another year in Milton college and taught one year in the public schools of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He spent the summer of 1 894 in Colorado and upon his return to Nebraska accepted the position of principal of the Elba vil lage school in Howard county, which he held one year, and during the school year of 1895-1896 taught the North Loup school. For several years Mr. Davis devpted his vacation time to study and in 1897 became an A. B. graduate of the Lincoln Normal school. In the fall of that year he became principal of the Ord high school which post he held during 1897-1S99. He had been for several years connected with institute work in different counties during the summer months, and in the fall of 1899 he was elected clerk of the district court of Valley county, which office he ably and creditably filled a four-year term. In October, 1900, Mr. Davis entered upon his journalistic career, purchasing the Ord Weekly Journal, of which he remained editor and proprie tor until November, 1901, when he sold his interest in the paper and began traveling as special agent for a fire insurance company. In 1902 he pur chased an interest in a real estate and insurance business in Ord, remainig in that business until January 1, 1905, when he again purchased the Ord Weekly Journal, of which he has since been the owner. He has a well established paper and a well equipped plant for its production and issue. He is a democrat in politics and is much interested in questions affecting the public welfare and prosper ity. Since 1906 Mr. Davis has been press agent for the Redpath Chautauqua system, and during the years 1909-1910 served as secretary of the Nebras ka state senate. He is a member of numerous or ders and lodges and is a progressive young man all along the line, having been closely identified with the North Loup valley and its interests since reach ing manhood, and being a patriotic son of Nebraska. July 17, 1901, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Besse Fackler, at tbe home of her father, Samuel Fackler,. in Ord. Two children have blessed this union, Mansell and Keith. GAY HALVERSTEIN. Among the old settlers and prominent residents of Norfolk, Nebraska, the name of Gay Halverstein deserves a foremost place. Mr. Halverstein is well known all over the northeastern part of Nebraska as an upright public-spirited citizen. Gay Halverstein, an engineer on the Northwest ern railroad, was, born in Norway, November 12, 1851, and was the second in a family of five chil- 924 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND- BIOGRAPHY. dren, two brothers residing in South Dakota, and two sisters in Norway. Both parents are deceased. In the spring of 1869, Mr. Halverstein came with his elder brother to America, the brother lo cating in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mr. Hal verstein coming on to Nebraska, where he worked at railroading for the Northwestern railroad com pany. In the summer of 1871, he located at Wis ner, and the same year hoimesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land near Battle Creek, Ne braska, relinquishing the same a couple of years later. In 1879, when the Northwestern railroad pushed on to Norfolk, Mr. Halverstein located in that city where he has resided through the years, and since his residence in America has been identi fied with the Northwestern railroad. _ On February 20, 1882, Mr. Halverstein was joined in wedlock to Miss Jennie Long, of the state of Illinois, and they are the parents of three chil dren, who are named as foUows : Lester B., resides at home ; Verne L., deceased July 4, 1893 ; and Ruth, who lives at home. Mrs. Halverstein 's parents are deceased, and she has one brother and one sister in the state of Illinois, one brother in Iowa, and one sister in Missouri. Our subject, Mr. Halverstein, has served several terms on Norfolk city council. ' In 1898, he pur chased a fine home where they now live, always showing the desire to assist in the advancement of ; his home community. Mr. Halverstein is a pioneer railroad man of Nebraska, and has passed through all the experiences of frontier Hfe, and is one of the well known and successful men of this locality. HENRY E. ZIMMERMAN. One of the most prominent citizens of Ansley Nebraska, is the above named gentleman, who has for many years been a resident of Custer county. For more than a quarter of a century he has been closely identified with the agricultural interests of this section, and has won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. .Zimmerman was born in the village of Wel- lersburg, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, on Octo ber 9, 1851, and was the third of eight children bom to Louis F. and Elizabeth (HMdseider) Zim merman. Of this large family, only three of the chil dren have passed away in all this lapse of years. Both parents were of German birth ; the father, a native of Anhalt-Katen, died in Pennsylvania in 1881, while the mother, who came to America at the age of sixteen, passed away in Custer county, Ne braska, in December, 1906. Our subscriber went with his parents to Mahas ka county, Iowa, in early childhood, and it was here that he grew to manhood years, receiving his education in the local schools. Later, he engaged in brick making and stone cutting in Oskaloosa. It it a notable fact that he moulded and burned the first brick used in Broken Bow, firing the kiln with dead cedar branches and hay. In the spring of 1879, he came to Custer coun ty, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, near the town of Mason, and this re mained the home place for about thirteen years. At the same time he also took up a timber claim, com prising another nearby quarter-section. In the year following, 1880, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Anola J. Amsberry, a native of Marion county, Iowa. Her parents, Louis Norton and Jane (Coffman) Amsberry, were natives of West Virginia. The father died in 1876, and Mrs. Zimmerman came to Custer county, with her mother, four brothers and little sister, in 1879, an older brother having preceded them. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are the parerits of seven chil dren: Louis Ray, now married and living near Berwyn; Thomas E., married and living near Ansley ; Addie E., now Mrs. Garfield P. Eggleston living near Ansley; Lottie J., now Mrs. Aaron Staab, residing near Ansley; Frona, now Mrs. J. W .Parkhurst, of Omaha ; Mabel J., now Mrs. Ray Lewis, living near her parents' home, and Flora, still at home. Mr. Zimmerman has always engaged extensive ly in diversified farming, and has also paid consid erable attention' to stock raising. In 1906 the fam ily moved to the town of Ansley, where he built a comfortable home. After four years of town life, however, they returned to the farm just outside the northern city limits, where they now live. They have a well improved and well equipped farm of one hundred and thirty acres. Mr. Zimmerman has always been much inter ested in educational affairs, and was instrumental in organizing his school district, number thirty, and for some years served continuously, either as di rector or treasurer. At the time he sold his farm near Mason, he purchased a half -section (near Ber wyn, and lived there about six months. This was just before his removal to Ansley, which was made almost entirely because of the better educatiorial advantages in the latter place. - Mr. Zimmerman never killed deer or antelope in the early days, being a farmer instead of a hunt er, but when Jacob Cover, a noted pioneer, brought down big game, he usually came for Mr. Zimmer man to haul it home for him. For a short time Mr. Zimmerman and family lived in a dugout, and for some years after in a "soddy," before erecting a frame dwelling. At the time of the blizzard of Oc tober, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Zimmernian were visiting her mother and were compelled to remain until the third day, their stock: enduring without feed and water for two and a half days ; they had eaten the mangers and hay roof of the barn during the time. Mr. .Zimmerman and family are members of the Baptist church. In politics he is independent, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY.- 925 NIELS M. MADSEN. The gentleman named above, a prominent early settler of Dannebrog township, is well known and highly esteemed because of his industrious habits, by which he has built up a comfortable home and acquired a valuable estate. His farm is on section thirty-three, one and a half miles northwest "of Dan nebrog. He is a leading citizen in local and school affairs. Niels M. Madsen was born in Denmark, on May 11, 1837, and grew up in that country. His young manhood was spent in farming, and after the man ner of the people of his class and county. He was a hard worker and saved considerably from his la bors and was thus enabled at last to come to America, from which place had came to him glow ing accounts of the opportunities afforded the emi grant to accumulate a competence. He left his na tive land in 1878, spent two years in New Jersey and in 1880 proceeded westward locating in How ard county, Nebraska. In coming to this country he was accompanied by his wife, who was formerly Johannah Larson, they having been married in 1876, and together they began the work of estab lishing a horiie for themselves. Mr. Madsen filed on a homestead on arriving here, and this was their continuous residence until the spring of 1910 when he moved to Dannebrog village. He has added to his original -farm considerably, and has improved all his land, also has fine farm buildings and equip ment of every sort. Mr. and Mrs. Madsen are the parents of five children, four now living, as follows: Mads Mad sen, who is married and iives with his family in California; Niels Madsen, also residing in that state; Louis' C. Madsen, married and living in Cotesfield, engaged in the banking business, and Theodore Madsen, who is at home with our subject, assisting in the operation of the home farm. JOHN M. KYES. One of the best known and most prosperous re: tired farmers to be found in Merrick county, is Mr. John M, Kyes, of Central City. He is also to be numbered among the oldest settlers, having come to Merrick county in August, 1862. On Christmas day, two years later, he married. Miss Viola Parker of New York state, and they enjoy the distinction of being the first couple married in that county. ¦: Mr. Kyes, born in Oswego county, New York, ori February 4, 1839. was the eldest of three chil dren born to Russel and Nancy Colgrove Kyes. Mr. Kyes grew up to manhood in New York state and remained there until about 1855, when he went to Iowa. He remained there until the spring of 1860, when he again joined in the never-ceasing west ward movement, going this time to Denver; Colo^ rado. He reinained here two years, prospecting for a time, afterwards driving on a stage line. When he first came to Merrick county, Mr; Kyes drove for the Western Stage company for about two years. A short time after his marriage, Mr. Kyes and wife moved to a farm south of Chap man Station, which was their home for several years. About 1871, he took up a homestead of eighty acres on Prairie Creek, later purchasing three hundred and twenty acres adjoining. For many years, this place was the ' ' old home place, ' ' but in 1900, Mr. Kyes decided to retire from ac tive -management of the farm, and removed to Cen tral City, where he purchased a comfortable home, where he still resides. Mr. Kyes was instrumental in organizing his school district number twenty-three, and for four years served as treasurer of" same. In many ways, Mr. and Mrs. Kyes have materially aided the pro gress of education in this locality. As his been said before, they are among the earlier settlers oC Mer rick county, and like all, have lived through the many discouragements incident to pioneer life on the Nebraska prairies. Indian troubles did not dis may them, neither did drouth, blizzards nor grass hopper plagues cause them to lose their courage. They are now enjoying their well-earned rest, after a life of toil. Mr. and Mrs. Kyes have had ten children, seven of whom are living. The names of those still liv ing are as follows: Mary L., Ella M., now Mrs. Eugene Wiekham, of Furnas county, Anna, now Mrs. Willard Halsey of Nance county, Nebraska; Allie, now Mrs. Benjamin Lance of Chapman, Ne braska; Russel J., and John H., and Jessie. The last two named are twins. On account of their long residence in Merrick county, Mr. and Mrs. Kyes have had the oppor tunity to gain many friends, and the family is widely and f avorbly known. WILLIAM DERIG. The Dominion of Canada has contributed a ; high class of citizens to the state of Nebraska, and ; coming of a race that for centuries has held law 1 and order the essential foundation of state, they ; are always found earnestly supporting the au- | thority and recognized representatives of the I people. William Derig, successful farmer and mail car- I rier, is of these. He was born in the city of St. ! Johns, New Brunswick, May 22, 1859. In 1865 i his father emigrated to the United States, and lo- i cated in Kane county, Illinois, near Geneva and St. ! Charles. In 1870 he removed to Wisconsin, and ' here, in the great woods, William Derig grew to ! manhood, following lumbering in its various phases i until coming to Nebraska in 1889. For fourteen j years he was engaged in felling timber, ¦ rafting, | dealing in logs, running saw mills, and in all other j branches in the lumber industry. During these | days, many were the dangers and discomforts of j rafting. In the Wisconsin river were many rapids and falls, and to successfully ride them required 926 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. skill, strength, and fortitude. Of these, the Jen nie Bull, and the Big and Little Bull Palls were notable. Occasionally ladies were ambitious of dis tinguishing themselves by going with a raft over the falls, usually resulting in a soaking and a ruffled temper. One winter, when about fifteen, Mr. Derig was engaged in rafting on this stream, and for a period of over thirty days did not know the feeling of dry clothing, being soaked more or less with the icy water for that length of time. In March, 1889, Mr. Derig came to Holt county, Nebraska, and bought land near the Niobrara, near Chelsea, in Holt county, where he lived until the opening of the reservation in Boyd county to white settlement. In September, 1891, he filed on a homestead two miles south of Butte, on which he proved up and then sold, investing the proceeds in a quarter section adjoining the county seat to the south. The land is beautifully situated and com prises within its boundaries two of the buttes from which the town takes its name. It is fertile, and although Mr. Derig had not been familiar with farming operations prior to coming west, he has become a successful farmer and stock raiser. Since 1896, he has been in the rural mail service, travel ing two hundred miles per week, which makes his aggregate mileage in the service upwards of one hundred and fifty thousand miles. Mr. Derig is a son of James and Hannah (Mc- Govern) Derig, the father, a native of Ireland, who came to Canada when sixteen years old at tained the age of eighty-eight years; while the mother, born in Canada, attained the same unusual span of life. Mr. Derig was married in Wausau, Wisconsin, July 28, 1882, to Miss Jennie 0 'Neal, who was also a Canadian by birth, a daughter of Phelam and Ann O'Neal. Pour children were born to them, three of whom are living. They are : Geraldine, who is the wife of Ross Carmichael and lives five miles southwest of Butte ; and Geneveve and Wil- netta. Mr. Derig fraternizes with the Masons, the Mod ern Woodmen, and the Brotherhood of American Yoemen, and, with his wife, is a member of the Or der of the Eastern Star. Like most early settlers, Mr. Derig has experi enced life in a sod house, his first dwelling in Boyd county; and, like others, he found it a most com fortable habitation, but later built a good frame house. He burned corn but one winter, although prices for farm products were very low. He sold one thousand two hundred bushels of wheat one season at twenty-eight cents per bushel, and the purchaser probably made little at that. The com ing of the railroads made conditions better, and now, with the modern methods and fast trains, they take the products of the Nebraska farmer to the seaport and to the markets of the world with facility and ease. i Like Mr. Derig, those who came early to the west and endured the privations of the frontier have prospered far beyond those who have re mained in more physical comfort in the east. JAMES N. BAKER. (Deceased.) James N. Baker, son of Hiram and Martha (Gatty) Baker, was born in Virgil, New York, Julv 22, 1834. In February, 1857, Mr. Baker was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Martha Brown, also ,bf New York state, who for many years had been a teacher there. Directly after their marriage they went to Iowa, engaging in farming until 1878 when they came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and timber-claimed one hundred and sity acres adjoining, on timber creek. This place remained the home until 1879 when Mr. Baker retired from farm life and moved to Cedar Rapids, purchasing a good home where he lived until the time of his death December 31, 1 906, survived by his wife and six children : Mabel IL, who is married to D. C. Stafford, and lives in Omaha; Frank N., is married, has three children and resides in Lincoln, Nebraska ; M. S., is married, has .six children and lives in Lincoln; Mary M., is married to C. L. Judd, has one son, and resides in Cedar Rapids ; Mattie J., is married to K. 0. Hess, has three children and lives in Riverton, Iowa ; and William H., who is married, has two children, and lives in the state of Wyoming. Mr. Baker was one of the earlier settlers, alive to the best interests of his county and state, and helpful in many ways in his community. In the early days he was for many years a member of his school board, the Baker school bearing his name. Mrs. Baker is still living in the Cedar Rapids home surrounded by a large circle of friends. ANDY HOPKINS. Perseverance and integrity are the stepping stones by which many men have reached success, but of the early settlers in the west these chai-ac- teristies were required in a greater measure than usually falls to the men of a more settled region. Andy Hopkins, an agriculturist of prominence in Antelope couny, Nebraska, resides in Blaine pre cinct, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Hopkins is a native of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, born August 22, 1865, and is the son of Amos and Thankfull (Otiska) Hopkins, the father being a native of New York, and the mother of Pennsylvania. From Wisconsin, our subject with his parents moved to Illinois, where they re mained six months, and in 1868, they came to Ne braska where they could get land cheaper. Mr. Hopkins' brother had previously taken up a home stead, it being the first homestead taken up in An- MR. AND MRS. OLE JOHNSON. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 927 telope county, and Mr. Hopkins with his parents lived with this brother during the winter, wheD they took up a homestead in section five, township twenty-six, range five, (Bernett township) on which they built a log house, and lived here ten years. Their home was the stopping place for many coming to Nebraska in the early days, and it was known as the Half Way House. April 16, 1884, Mr. Hopkins was married to Miss Minnie Nelson fourteen children have been born to them, as follows: Emma, Clyde, Andy, Hazel, Ernest, Harry, Edith, Ivan, Myrtle, Viola, and Harold. John deceased in 1902; Josie, de ceased in 1892 and Willard, 1897. Mr. Hopkinns had many hardships in starting out for himself, and among other experiences went through the hailstorm of 1895, losing his entire crops, and in 1894 the hot winds killed all of his crops. In 1907, Mr. Hopkins bought his present home of two hundred and forty acres, and it is a well improved farm and known as the Frisbec hornet ead. Here our subject and his family reside and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. ALBERT R. DOWNING, M. D. Dr. Albert R. Downing, of Merna, is one of the best known physicians of Custer county and has one of the largest practices in his profession in central Nebraska. He is a native of Camp Point, Illinois, born July 27, 1861, third of the children of William and Mary (Bates) Downing, who were parents of three sons and two daughters. One brother of Dr. Downing, Joseph, is also a physi cian and surgeon, and lives at Rising City, Nebraska. Dr. Downing was educated in the common schools of Camp Point, and in his seventeenth year began a college course at Lincoln, Illinois, remain ing there two years, after which he spent one year in college at Valparaiso, Indiana. He later stud ied medicine at Quincy and graduated from the Quincy (Illinoi) Medical College March 10, 1886, after which he located in Waco, Nebraska, for the practice of his profession. In 1895 he left Waco and came to Merna, and is now the oldest practi tioner of that town. He has built up a splendid practice through his ability and standing in his profession, and this extends over a large field. Dr. Downing was married in Waco, April 11, 1888, to Miss Emma Stickler, daughter of Joseph W. and Nancy Stickyer, pioneer residents of Waco, who came to Nebraska in 1876, and two children have been born of their union, William, born in the town of Henderson, York county, now sixteen years of age, and Howard, who has reached the age of fourteen years, both young men of promise. Dr. Downing and his wife are well and favorably known in educational and social circles and he is a member of the state and county medical societies, in which he has taken a prominent part. He served some years ago as county physician of Custer coun ty. Mrs. Downing 's mother and two of her sisters reside in York; her brother George B., is now pas tor of the Presbyterian church of Ansley, Nebras ka, and another brother, T. J. Strickler, is presi dent of the state conference of the Methodist Pro testant church and lives in Kansas City. OLE JOHNSON. Ole Johnson, now living retired from active life in Broken Bow, Nebraska, has long been a resident of Custer county and was the first settler in Round Valley, where i for many years he was a successful grain and stock farmer. Mr. Johnson is a native of Norway, born January 15, 1845, the eldest of sev en children. He has two brothers in Wisconsin, a sister in Wisconsin, and others of the family still live in Norway. When nine years of age Mr. John son came to America with relatives, who located in Dane county, Wisconsin. He received his educa tion in the public schools of that state and on Jan uary 20, 1863, at Winona, Minnesota, enlisted in Company D, Third Minnesota Infantry, in which he served to the close of the war, and received his discharge at Port Snelling, September 2, 1865. The most important battles in which he participated were the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Lit tle Rock, Arkansas. He also took part iri many minor engagements and skirmishes and won a creditable record. At the close of the war Mr. Johnson engaged in farming in Minnesota, and he was married at Faribault, that state, May 20, 1870, to Carrie Chel- son, also of Norwegian birth, who had been brought to America an infant and reared- in the state of Wisconsin. She now has two brothers and two sis ters in Minnesota, and another sister, Mrs. John A. Taylor, lives in Berwyn, Nebraska. In June. 1880, Mr. Johnson came with his wife and four children to Custer county and took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-seven, township nineteen, range nineteen, in Round VaUey, later securing a home stead of the same size adjoining. He lived on this place, improving it and adding to his holdings from time to time, until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land which is well improved and. equipped and considered one of the best farms in the neighborhood. He was an energetic and suc cessful operator and in 1 908 was able to retire from farm life and move to Broken Bow, where he pur chased a comfortable residence. He helped to organ ize school district number sity-six and served on the board of same. He is a progressive citizen, intelli gently interested in local issues and events, and closely identified with the development of his town, county and state. He is a self-made man in the strict sense of the word and is held in general re spect and esteem by all who know him. He has passed through a most interesting period of Ne braska's history and has made the most of his op-, portunities along various lines. 928 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Johnson and wife have had nine children, namely : Peter C, of Round Valley, has three chil dren; Julius C, also of Round Valley, has four children; Henry G., is at home; Clemmie, wife of Adolph Ellingson, of Round Valley, has six chil dren; Annie, , wife of Edward Oleson, of Round Valley, has five children; Minnie, wife of Ole Chelson, lives in Broken Bow ; Clara and Steven 0. are at home; one son died in infancy. A picture of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson will be found on another page. CHARLES ALDEN MUNGER. Charles A. Munger, a progressive and enter prising farmer of Pierce county, Nebraska, is one of the very earliest settlers of this regon. He re sides on his pleasant farm in section thirty, town ship twenty-seven, range four, where he has suc ceeded in building up one of the valuable estates of the locality, and is considered one of the substan tial agriculturists of the community. Mr. Munger -was born November 10, 1854, in Rock Island county, Wisconsin, and is the son of George and Mary (Farns worth) Munger, the father being born in New York, and died in 1894 at the advanced age of eighty-two years; and the mother was born in Vermont January 18, 1824, and lives with our subject. Charles A. Munger lived in Wisconsin twenty- five years. He came to Pierce county, Nebraska, coming by rail to Norfolk and driving from there to where he located a farm September 4, 1879, mov ing on the place in February, 1880. He had the house framed ready to put together in Wisconsin, and erected it himself. His family came in May, ¦1880. . Mr. Munger has gone through all the hard ships and privations endured by the early pioneers of this western country in its first days of settle ment, among other experiences his crops being de stroyed by hail in 1890. He got only fifty bushels of corn from one hundred acres. In the hailstorm of June 10, 1880, his house was blown eight feet off its foundation. Mr. Munger was luckily at home at the time of the blizzard of October, 1880. A daughter was at school during the blizzard of Jan uary 12, 1888, and remained all night. For two or three years after coming to Nebraska, the family burned hay, but burned but little corn. Mr. Mun ger hauled some wood from Bazile creek and some from the Elkhorn river, each twenty miles from home. Mr. Munger was united in marriage to Miss Laura Lane, November 7, 1875, and to this union have been born five children, whose names are as follows : Winnie, who lives in Pierce county, mar ried Gilbert Staley and has five children ; Minnie, who lives in Antelope county, married William Crippen and has one child ; Pearl, who lives in An telope county, married Frank Young and has two children; Vernon ad Alta. Mr. Munger has three hundred and twenty acres of good land, half of which is in Antelope county. He is a member of the Woodmen lodge, and is in dependent in politics. He and his family are high ly esteemed and respected in the community in which they live. CARL L. PETERSEN. Carl L. Petersen, widely and favorably known as an active public spirited citizen of Howard coun ty, Nebraska, is a man of broad experience, and one of the prominent early settlers of that section. For the past ten years he has been retired from active work, making his home in Dannebrog, where for three years he held the office of marshal of the town. Mr. Petersen was born in the town of Nestved, Denmark, on July 12, 1841. At the age of twenty he entered the Danish army, becoming a member of the Seventh Regiment Infantry, Company three, and served up to'August 12, 1864. He was married in his native country in 1868 to Christina Jensen. and the following year they came to America. After landing in this country they went direct ly to Wisconsin and remained for about two years, then came to Nebraska, locating in Grand Island, where Mr. Petersen engaged in the mercantile busi ness which he carried on for about a year, then re moved his interests to Dannebrog and operated his store at this place up to 1884, when he quit and purchased a farm near Dannebrog. This he de voted to grain and stock raising and was very suc cessful for fifteen years, building up a good home. About 1900 he again moved into Dannebrog, and has made his permanent home here since that time. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have had a family of five children four girls and one boy namely: Marie. Amy, Sophie, Elvira and Waldmier, the last men tioned being deceased. Mr. Petersen, while living on the farm, was con nected with the school board of district number sev enteen, and held the position of postmaster at Dan nebrog during 1882, 1883 and 1884. In this way he became familiar with all who lived in the vicin ity and is one of the best known men of his county. CHARLES S. BURDICK. Charles S. Burdick, a substantial farmer and worthy citizen of Valley county, Nebraska, resides on section, two, towsnhip nineteen, range fourteen. He and his father before him are pioneers of this locality and have materially assisted in its develop ment and advancement. Charles S. Burdick was born in Erie county, New York, July 28, 1878, and was second of four children in the family of Rouse and Eliza Burdick, who had four sons: George, Charles, Ray, and a son who died in infancy. Rouse Burdick, wife and sons, George and Charles, came to Valley county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1882 and homesteaded the southeast quar- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. 929 ter of section two, township nineteen, range four teen, and Charles Burdick, the subject of this sketch owns and resides on this original home farm. Mr. Rouse Burdick died in Ord in December, 1894, survived by a widow and two children, Charles and Ray, both of whom live in Valley county. Mrs. Bur dick, our subject's mother, remained a widow for some time, and then remarried and now resides in Ord, Valley county, and is now Mrs. S. G. Du- mound ; of this second marriage one child was born. Charles S. Burdick, the principal subject of this sketch, grew up in Valley county from his fourth year, and the old homestead farm was his home during all the years of his residence here. He is a farm boy, receiving the usual educational advan tages, and is now one of the successful young men of Valley county, having a fine grain and stock farm, and he makes a specialty of a good breed of hogs. Mr. Burdick was married to Miss Lily Parks in Ord, January 1, 1 899 ; Miss Parks is of an old Val ley county family, and was born in Valley county. A sketch of the Parks family appears on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Burdick reside on their farm, and are well known among the younger people of Valley county, and enjoy the re spect and esteem of a large circle of friends. They are progressive young people along all lines, giving their encouragement to all educational and pro gressive propositions. Mr. Burdick is a good citizen, and is active in everything pertaining to the progression of his home county and state. ANDREW NAHRSTEDT. To the men of perseverance and stalwart de termination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and commercial re gion, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Madison county who have been intimately identified with its develop ment and have gained enviable reputations as citi zens, may be mentioned Andrew Nahrstedt. He re sides on section thirteen, township twenty-two, range one, west, where he and his family are sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquaint ances. Mr. Nahrstedt is a native of Canada, born Aug ust 9, 1872, the son of Henry and Caroline (Bur- meister) Nahrstedt ; his father dying in 1875, when our subject was but a small boy. In 1876, he and his mother came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they took up a home stead and a pre-emption claim and built a frame house. Here the little family endured many hard ships and privations; many times fought prairie fires to save their lives and home ; and as late as 1894 the entire crops were destroyed by the hot winds that prevailed during the drouth of that year. In the first days of settlement Columbus was the nearest market place. Antelope and deer were plentiful in those days and were frequently seen brousing around. Mr. Nahrstedt bought his pres ent farm in 1895-, and has lived there continuously since, and is well and favorably known in his com munity. Mr. Nahrstedt was united in marriage in 1894. to Miss Sarah Anderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Nahrstedt are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Archie, Clarence, Harold, tola Roy and Waldo. They are a fine family and enjoy the highest respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. CHARLES J. MYTTON. Charles J. Mytton, a substantial and successful fruit grower, farmer, gardener and stock raiser, of Custer county, Nebraska, has taken an active part in public affairs in his community. He was born near Welshpool, in Shropshire, England, March 4, 1856, the only child of Charles and Mary (Evans). Mytton. He was educated in local schools and learned the trade of shoemaker. In October, 1871, he came to America, in company with Thomas Mor ris, who has always lived with him since that time. SaiUng from Liverpool, October 2, in the "Colo rado," they landed at Castle Garden, New York, fifteen days later. They located first at Blackstone, in Livingston county, Illinois, and were partners in a shoemaking establishment there for ten years. After his marriage in 1879, Mr. Mytton lived in Illinois until 1881 and then moved to Missouri. where he engaged in farming in Harrison county, near New Hampton, until 1886, the date of his com ing, with his wife and two children, to Custer coun ty. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the northwest quarter of section twelve, township sixteen, range eighteen, which is still the home place, and is known as the Walnut Grove Stock Farm. He has developed his farm and improved it, until he has a well equipped stock farm, and makes a specialty of raising thorough bred hogs. He has of late years given much atten tion to fruit growing and gardening. He has in his orchards two thousand apple trees, two hundred cherry trees, and one hundred plum trees. Of small fruits, he has eight hundred currant bushes, two hundred raspberry bushes, and two hundred grape vines. About twenty acres are given over each year to vegetables, for which he finds a ready market in all the surrounding towns. Mr. Mytton is a public spirited and representative citizen, and displays great interest in the prosperity and wel fare of his community. For several years he has served as a member of the school board of district number sixteen. On April 22, 1879, Mr. Mytton was married to Miss Eleanor Fitzgerald, a native of County Kerry, Ireland. Her parents, Morris and Bridget (Con- nell) Fitzgerald, came to America in 1862 and set tled at Ottawa, Illinois, later moving to Blackstone, where the daughter was married. Her father, 930 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Morris Fitzgerald, was born in Ireland, and after coming to America enlisted in the union army from lUinois, and was killed in the Civil war. Her mother was born in Ireland and died in Dale. Ne braska, October 17, 1889. Mrs. Mytton has a half- brother, Joseph Wilson, who lives in Custer county. Mr. Mytton 's father, who was a native of Eng land, died there in 1900, and his mother, a native of Wales, now lives in England. Mr. and Mrs. Mytton have had ten children, as follows : Delia, wife of Walter Lawrence, of Broken Bow, has two children; Mary, a teacher in Custer county, is a graduate of Boylis Business College, of Omaha, and of the Zenarian Penman College, of Columbus, Ohio; Margaret and Elizabeth, twins, both teachers in Custer county schools; Alice C. and Eleanor M., both teachers; William, George D. and Anna S., at home. One daughter died in infancy. The entire family worship in the Cath olic church. Mr. Mytton is a member of the Mod ern Woodmen of America. Thomas Morris, who came to America with Mr. Mytton, is an inmate of the household, the two men having been together constantly since leaving their native land in 1871. Mr. Morris, still hale and hearty, has reached the extreme old age of one hundred and seventeen years ; he was born in Ber- rew, Montgomeryshire, Wales, January 15, 1794, and has lived in three centuries. In the autumn of 1911 a neighbor with a motor car came and gave him his first ride in a self-propelled vehicle. In his youth the usual means of locomotion was walking. Mr. Mytton was living north of Ansley in 1888, and on the-day of the famous January blizzard was on his way to town with a load of corn. He made his way in with it, and remained over night. The dog that usually accompanied him became sepa rated from his master and found his way home, causing great uneasiness until Mr. Mytton re turned. A most terrifying experience of Mr. Myt ton occurred while living in Missouri. A cyclone overtook him, which at times tossed him thirty to forty feet. He finally reached a place of safety, but was severely frightened and shaken up ; the storm was so severe it tore great trees up by the roots. Mr. Mytton and family have lived in primitive style in dugout and "soddy" before* being able to build a frame house, but managed to find some comfort withal. FRED C. MARSHALL. Bohemia has furnished Knox county a large proportion of its enterprising citizens, and several townships are made up practically of this happy, light-hearted, and industrious race. Like a long line of ancestors who cultivated a taste for music and art, Mr. Marshall is a violinist of more than local note. He heads an orchestra' that is called upon to furnish music throughout the entire lo cality in which he lives, and is well-known to every person in Knox and the surrounding counties. Among the earliest of the Bohemian settlers in Nebraska, was Ignatz Marshall, senior, and his family of five boys. He was a fine musician, and trained his sons and a son-in-law thoroughly in the art of string music, espe cially the violin, so that even in the days of the greatest hardship that came to the family, music filled a large place in their lives and enabled them to enjoy many hours of happiness. He Was born in Bohemia, grew up and was married there, and came to America in 1867, the family set tling in Chicago. After two years spent in the latter place, they came on to Nebraska, father and sons securing tracts of land in the Niobrara Val ley, Pishelville, where they suffered every form of pioneer hardship and privation, including scares from Indian uprisings, drouths, floods, grasshopper raids, etc. There were four sons in the family that came on to Knox county with their parents, Ignatz, junior, Frank, Louis, and Emil. Charles Marshall, who was the father of our subject, Fred C. Marshall, was born in Bohemia in 1854, and after coming to America with his parents, he remained in Chicago when they came on west. He was there at tlie time of the great fire, joining his relatives here the following spring, when he filed on a tract of land in the same locality. In 1886 Charles Marshall moved to Niobrara and -opened a general store, which he operated up to the time of his death, which occurred on Decem ber 10, 1903, and in his demise the people of the community lost one of their popular citizens. His wife was Mary Lundak, also a native of Bohemia, who came to the United States in 1867. She now resides in Niobrara. Of their children, Fred C. is the second in order of birth, he first seeing the light on June 25, 1880, at Pishelville. The first seven years of his life were spent on the farm, when the family moved to town, where he attended the city schools, and during his hours from school assisted his father in the store. After his gradu ation from high school, in 1896, he secured a teach er's certificate, and for four years taught in the country schools, and for one year was employed in a store at Plainview. He was offered the princi- palship of the Verdigris schools, accepted the same, and spent two years and a-half at that point. In 1903 he was elected county superintendent of schools, and served for four years in that capacity. During 1908 he farmed near Verdigris, and on February 1, 1909, took charge of the Niobrara Tribune, which he had purchased a short time pre vious. This paper he is making a "live wire" in Knox county journalism, and is eminently fitted to efficiently fill the editorial chair. Mr. Marshall was married at Norfolk, on June 6, 1906, to Miss Frances Viele, daughter of A. H. and Kate (Noyes) Viele, old residents of Blair, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY; REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY 931 Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have one daughter, Beatrice. In 1910 Mir. Marshall, in company with other well-known men of his locality, promoted the im provement, of the Niobrara Island Park, an island in the Niobrara river, which they are fitting up as a summer resort, he being the first to erect a cot tage on the camp. This is a beautifully located spot, and promises to be one of the noted summer ing places in this part of the west, having been do nated to the town of Niobrara by the government for park purposes when the Sioux Indian treaty of 1889 was made, and contains nearly seven hun dred acres. Mr. Marshall is a republican and is active in local affairs. He is a member of a number of fra ternal orders, including that of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Bohemian Benevolent Association, and with his family is a regular attendant of the Epis copal church. HENRY VAN HOOSEN. Henry Van Hoosen has made a good record as a citizen of eastern Nebraska, where he settled in 1870. Through all the pioneer struggles he has done his part in the upbuilding of the general in terests of the community and has won the respect and confidence of his friends and neighbors. Henry Van Hoosen, is a son of William and Celinda (Woodward) Van Hoosen, and was born in Sparta, Livingston county, New York, August 15, 1835. He was third in a family of ten chil dren. He has two brothers living in Polk county, Nebraska ; and one sister residing in- California. The mother died in 1874, in California, and the father in Merrick eounty, about 1893. In 1845, Mr. Van Hoosen went with his parents to Illinois, where Mr. Van Hoosen received the greater part of his education. The family were living within three miles of Nauvoo, a Mormon settlement, at the time of anti-Mormon uprising, which lasted several weeks before government troops were called upon to quell the trouble. On July 2, 1862, Mr. Van Hoosen was 'united in marriage to Miss Mary Moore, of Michigan, and later of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Van Hoosen have had ten children, seven of whom are living: Ro- sella, who married Cyrenus Fiandt, who died, and she later married Robert Phelps, and they live in North Yakima, Washington ; William, a carpenter, married, and has one son, also lives in North Ya kima, Washington; Ellsworth, deceased in 1873; George, deceased, June 21, 1880; John, a farmer, married, has one daughter, and resides on the home farm in Merrick county; Charles, a railroad engineer, married, has two children, and lives in Sterling, Colorado; Edward, a merchant, who is married, has two children, and resides in Scott's Bluff, Nebraska ; Louis, deceased in infancy ; Lilly, married William Powell, has two children, and re sides in Angora, Nebraska ; Margaret, wife of Har vey Moore, lives in North Yakima, Washington. In the spring of 1868, Mr. Van Hoosen made a trip to Nebraska, looking for location and filed on a homestead of sixty-five acres in Saunders county, seven miles southeast of Wauhoo. Two years later Mr. Van Hoosen brought his family overland from Illinois to his homestead farm spend ing three weeks on the journey. After twelve years ' residence there they sold the homestead and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section nineteen, township (thirteen, range six, west, in Merrick county, mostly under cultivation, where they lived until 1905, when Mr. Van Hoosen re tired from the farm and moved to Central City and purchased a good home, where they now re side. Our subject served as director of his school district number forty- eight for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Van Hoosen are among the ear liest settlers of this portion of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. They have passed through all the trying experiences and hardships of pioneer days. Mrs. Van Hoosen 's father died in June, 1886, and the mother in August, 1902. She has one brother residing in Kansas, four brothers in Illi nois, two sisters in Illinois, and another brother in Iowa. CARL A. ANDERSON. Carl A. Anderson, editor of "The Weekly Ga zette," at Wausa, is a Nebraska boy to the manor born. His parents, August and Christine Ander son, were natives of Kylingared parish, Elfborgs district, Sweden; the father's birth occurred No vember 9, 1834, a'nd the mother 's the sixth day of April, 1838. They were married in Sweden, on February 22, 1866, and soon after set sail for the new world. Crossing the iNorth sea from Stock holm, to Hull, they proceeded by rail to Liverpool, where they went on board a sail ship and reached the coast of Nova Scotia after a tiresome journey of little over twenty-one days. The ship was not allowed to harbor, but was kept on anchor out at sea on account of cholera breaking out on board, and they were kept in quarantine there for several days. The mother contracted the disease and for a time her life hung in a balance, but was merci fully spared. This was only the first of their trou bles. On arriving at Jamestown, New York, they discovered that some one reporting them dead on board the ship and given a watery grave had ob tained possession of their trunk and belongings and decamped, thus leaving them with nothing but the clothes they wore and two or three dollars in money. The father worked on a farm in New York state for some three months, after Which he and his young wife removed to Bishop's Hill, New York, and later to Geneseo, Illinois. Here they lived until 1867, when they came to Nebraska, and settled in Saunders county, taking up a homestead about fourteen miles south of Fremont. Trouble seemed to follow the travelers. While the mother came by passenger train, Mr. Anderson came 932 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. through with their furniture, and the train in which his car was made up was wrecked. By quickly jumping through a window of the car, the father's life was saved. After settling in their Nebraska home, hardships and misfortunes relent lessly pursued them ; grasshoppers devastated their crops for three years in the seventies, leav ing hard times and want in their wake; prairie fires frequently came racing down onto them, and one time got so far beyond their control that the sills of their house took fire, but was fortunately extinguished before any great damage was done. Deer and antelope were to be seen in the country when the senior Mr. An derson settled with his family in Nebraska, some times coming into the door yard. The eighty-acre homestead was sold after a few years, and a tract of one hundred and sixty acres purchased. The mother's illness for three years during the eighties set the family back to such extent that popular subscription was gathered by the neighbors to de fray a part of the doctor bills, but her partial re covery made the family happy again and new hopes of the future were entertained. During these three years, Carl, was cared for by neighbors and came near being adopted by one of those fami lies. Through dire. and brighter years the family continued their residence in this same place until in January of 1893, when two of the sons came to Wausa, being followed here in March of the same year by the father and mother, the latter making this their home until death. The father passed away November 13, 1896, the mother October 6, 1.909. Their five children are: J. Albert, farmer and stock raiser, living north of Wausa; Frank Edwin, editor of "Omaha Posten," at Omaha, Ne braska, a weekly Swedish newspaper devoted to the interests of the Swedish Americans; Theodore, a merchant of Wausa; Cecelia Gertrude, wife of Charles S. Erickson, farming one mile north of Wausa ; and Carl August,the subject of this sketch. Carl August Anderson was born at Mead, Saunders county, Nebraska, August 25, 1879, and lived there until May 30, 1893, when he joined the family in Knox county. Mr. Anderson 'attended the common schools of Saunders county and later the schools of Wausa. In 1895 he began learning the printers' trade and kept at the case for eight months, when he returned to the farm and worked a year and a half. He next worked a couple of years in Wausa. learning harness making, and then clerked for sixteen months at Wakefield, Nebraska. On January 1, 1901, he bought a half interest in the "Wausa Gazette" of Mr. J. E. Baggstrom, who had established the journal in partnership with Frank Edwin Anderson, now editor of the "Omaha Posten." The brothers were associated in the publication of the "Gazette" until January 1, 1904, when Carl purchased the entire interest in the paper, and his brother moved to Omaha to take up a wider field of journalism. He edits a live country paper full of news and a goodly amount of display advertising. His job work ranks well to the front as compared with work turned out by country shops, and he enjoys a liberal patronage as his products of "the art preservative" well merits. Mr. Anderson was appointed postmaster of Wausau, January 1, 1908, and is serving his first term to the satisfaction of all those receiving mail at that office. Mr. Anderson was married at Mead, Nebraska, August 31, 1904, to Miss Olga Elenore Monteen,,'- a Nebraska girl. She is a daughter of Gust and Ingrid (Berg) Monteen, both hailing Sweden as the place of their nativity. Mr. and Mrs. Ander son are the parents of two children, Rupert Cedric and Gordon Vladimir. In politics Mr. Anderson is a staunch republi can, and through the "Gazette" gives healthy support to the party candidates. Like many of his people, he is. a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and is putting in some earnest work in promoting this good cause, having acted as leader of the local choir for the past eight years, and also been associated with any other musical organi zation within the church. WILLIAM WEITZEL. William Weitzel, son of Godfrey and Marie Weitzel, was born in Bergen, Germany, July 29, 1 840, and was fourth in a family of twelve chil- _ dren, three brothers of whom reside in America, and three in Germany, the others being deceased. The parents are also deceased, having died in Ger many, the father in 1896, and the mother in 1859. In 1852, in company with an elder brother, Ju lius, Mr. Weitzel came to America, going to Lan caster county, Pennsylvania, where he made his home with his uncle, Jacob Weitzel, for four years, during which time he worked on a neighboring farm for one year for five dollars a month and at the end of the year his savings amounted to forty dollars. In 1856 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in the grocery business one year, and in 1858 went to Marshall county, Illi nois, where he and his brother were engaged in the retail grocery business until 1866, and in Jan uary, 1866, he went to Chicago. In Chicago, on September 9, 1867, Mr. Weitzel was married to Miss Emma M. Mayer, who was a native of Marshall county, Illinois. They are the parents of two children ; Frederick ML, who is mar ried, has two children, and lives in Albion, Ne braska; and William O, who lives in San Fran cisco, California. On October 16, 1871, Mr. Weitzel came to Boone county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and eighty-six acres in- sections one and two, township twenty, range seven, where he lived until 1886. On August 20, 1882,' he was ap pointed deputy county clerk, serving until Jan uary 1, 18'88, when he was elected county clerk, in which office he served until 1894. He also COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 933 served his county as superintendent of public in struction four years, served as justice of the peace two years, and. as assessor four years, and has been a director of the Albion National Bank since 1890,: and since 1899 has been treasurer pf Albion school board. In May, 1864, Mr. Weitzel enlisted in Company F,0ne Hundred and Thirty-ninth Volunteer In fantry of Illinois, serving until close of the war, and received his honorable discharge November 1, 1864. Mr. Weitzel is now living in Albion, where he has a fine home, and is conducting an abstract and insurance business. JAMES W. VOORHIES. James W. Voorhies, an agriculturist of promi nence in Antelope county, Nebraska, resides in Royal township and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so materially to the wealth and growth of Nebraska. Agriculture forms the basis of wealth in all countries of the world, and it is therefore of great importance that the class of people who inhabit the great farming regions should represent those elements of sterling worth so prominently displayed by the majority of the early settlers of the west and their descendants. Mr. Voorhies is a worthy citizen and a good neigh bor, and richly deserves all the success which has come to him. Mr. Voorhies was born in Tama county, Iowa, July 16, 1855, and lived in that vicinity until he came to Nebraska in March, 1887, receiving his education in the country schools of Iowa. Mr. Voorhies' father, G. W. Voorhies, was born in 1830' in New York, arid is a descendant from HoUand; and our subject's mother was born in 1832, also in the state of New York, her maiden name being Calista J. Dingee. On April 4, 1883, Mr. Voorhies was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Ferguson, and Mr. and Mrs. Voorhies are the parents of eight children. whose names are as follows: Wilber R., Anna E., George S., Mary C, Alfred W., C. Walter, Laura M., and Lucy M. In the year of 1887 Mr. Voorhies with his family came to Nebraska and bought a relinquish ment on a timber claim from Mr. A. E. Jones, and there started to make a fortune for himself, and has succeeded to a fair degree after various diffi- culties and discouragements. On June 23, 1889, they suffered losses through the hail storm of that date, and reaped only about one-third of their crops, August 11, 1895. Again on August 23, 1900, they experienced another severe hail storm which killed almost , all of our subject's young- fruit trees, as he had a fine orchard started. The year of 1894 was the year of the great drouth, and is "vividly remembered by all who were here at that time, as all suffered alike. Mr. Voorhies relates that on July 28 of that year the thermometer reg isters one hundred and ten degrees in the shade, andthe wind at the time was blowing a hurricane. On July fourth of that year a great prairie fire started and swept over miles of this country. This shows how dry the grass was at that time, as it would be almost impossible at the present day for such a fire to gain a start. In those early days they had no wood to burn, and they were i compelled to burn corn and hay to keep warm. But those days are passed, and Mr. Voorhies now possesses a fine property of three hundred and twenty acres of land which is a well- improved farm, and has seven acres of shade trees, and also fruit trees. WESLEY M. VANNICE. Wesley M. Vannice was one of the pioneer set tlers of Custer county, and is one of the very few who came in an early day to occupy their original homesteads through all the years. He was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, July 1, 1847, the youngest child of Abraham a'nd Elizabeth (Domiree) Vannice, who had five sons and four daughters. He was reared on the farm where he was born and received the ordinary common school education usually received by a farmer's son of the locality. He remained on this farm until his enlistment August 13, 1863, in Company M, Eighth Iowa Volunteer cavalry, in which he served two years to a day, receiving his discharge August 13, 1865. He was with Sherman during the famous march to the sea, and also served under General Thomas. At the time of his muster out, at Macon, Georgia, he was chief cavalryman under General Wilson. Mr. Vannice participated in the battles of Kenesaw mountain, Dalton, and various other engagements,, while serving under General Sher man, and while under Thomas was before Nash ville, and in the two battles of Franklin, twenty miles from Nashville ; with General Wilson he took part in the Wilson raid during the spring of 1865, going through Alabama and on to Macon, and he served with Sherman from Chattanooga to Atlanta. At the close of the war Mr. Vannice returned to his old home in Iowa and went back on the farm, which was located near Burlington. In 1881 he engaged in general mercantile business at North- field,, Iowa, and became postmaster there, and in the fall of 1884 he came to Custer county, taking a homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-five, township seventeen, range twenty-one,, which place is his present home. He has passed through the various experiences of pioneers in the county since he located on this place and has de veloped and improved his land until he has a val uable estate. He was married in Kossuth, Iowa, November 19, 1874, to Sarah J. Myers, daughter of Joseph and Catherine Myers, and when he came to Nebraska he was accompanied by his wife, their two children, and a nephew of his wife's. Five 934 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. children have been born to Mr. Vannice and wife : Avalo P., married and living in Broken Bow, has one child; Ross W.. deceased; Ashbel W., a preacher of the United Brethren church, is un married and lives at home ; Chester, deceased, and Merlin C. The first two were born in Iowa and the other three on the homestead farm. Mr. Van- nice and his wife have been active along educa tional and social lines and have done their share to advance the general progress and welfare of their county and state. He has held various town ship offices. The parents of Mr. Va"nnice are both deceased ; his sister, Mrs. Leah Hukill, lives in Mediapolis, Iowa, and his other sister, Mrs. Emily Zerber, lives at Grand Junction, Colorado. JAMES BAXTER. For over forty ye&rs the gentleman above named has been identified with the agricultural in terests of Howard county, Nebraska, and has aided materially in transforming this locality from its wild natural state into a thriving farming dis trict. Mr. Baxter is a gentleman of unusual perse verance and energy, who has met with deserved success in his labors, now being classed among the leading citizens of his community. James Baxter was born in the county of Cum berland, England, on the first day" of December, 1837, and was the second child in a family of four, he beirig the only boy. His parents died in Eng land, and two sisters still live there, while the third also is dead. Our subject made England his home until his thirty-second year, then cam-} to America, landing in New York in August, 1869. He went directly to Kalamazoo, Michigan, accom panied by' Mr. Alex Lamb, who came from Eng land with him. There Mr. Baxter engaged in the stock business, as he had followed farming and stock buying for many years in England, and he remained in Michigan until March, 1871, at Which time he went to Dubuque county, Iowa, spending a few weeks with old friends, James and George Irvine, sketches of both of whom will be found in this book. Mr. Baxter's first sight of Howard county was in the latter part of March, 1871, when he arrived here in company with the Irvine boys and Alex Lamb. This narty of men were among the first — if not actually the first resident settlers of the county, and Mr. Baxter still relates in a very in teresting and amusing manner their early experi ences here, particularly of their crossing on the Loup river, as there was at that time no way of crossing the stream except by fording it and taking your chances of striking the best spot for so doing. They had an ox team and load of supplies, and in trying to get to the opposite side were forced into the deep channel of the river; when part way across they were obliged to turn the oxen loose, and, taking their load in small quantities, after making four or five trips, managed to get it all safely over. They then floated the wagon box and front and hind wheels of the wagon over sepa rately. So far as is known, tois is the first fording of the river made in Howard county by white men. In April, Mr. Baxter homesteaded on northwest quarter section twenty-five, township twelve, range fourteen, and this la*nd is still in his pos session. He has seen every change that has come to the locality, doing his full share in bringing about the prosperity now enjoyed there, and inci dentally has built up for himself a comfortable for tune, at the present time being proprietor of nine hundred acres of choice land which is divided into several fully equipped farms. Mr. Baxter has himself retired from active management of the farm, his sons relieving him of the burden, while he with his wife and three unmarried children, reside in a pleasant home in Farwell. Mr. Baxter was married at Grand Island, Ne braska, on December 26, 1873, to Christina Irvine. Mrs. Baxter is a native of Scotland, coming to the United States in 1872, in order to join her broth ers George and James Irvine, mentioned above. Eight children have been ' born to Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, named as follows: Jane, wife of Frank Dodd, they living in Alberta, Canada, and having a family of seven children; Thomas and James A., both married and farming in Howard county, the latter working the original Baxter homestead; Archie W., Albert H. and Mary Ethel, living at home. One son. and a daughter died during baby hood. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter will be found on another page. \ Mr, Baxter has always been prominent in local affairs, holding different precinct offices. In 1885 he was appointed county clerk to fill an unexpired term, and for thirty-five years served as justice of tbe peace in Kelso precinct. GEORGE H. HECHT. George Hecht, the eldest living son of venerable Chris Hecht, was born at Joliet, Illinois, Septem ber 22, 1859, and was reared here and in Kan kakee county, spending most of his youth on the farm. When the family moved to Grant Park, Illi nois, George learned the carpenters' trade, and during the two years prior to their migration to Nebraska, he was employed by the Pullman Car Company at Pullman, Illinois. His first work was roofing the water tower at an elevation of two hun dred and thirty-five feet from the ground, from which Michigan City, Indiana, forty-five miles distant, was visible on clear days. A few weeks after the return of the father from purchasing the Nebraska farm, in August, 1894, George came to Pierce county, Nebraska, to look after it until the coming of the family the foUow- ing spring, and he has since been a resident of Ne braska. During the years of his residence on the farm, he was employed at the carpenters' trade JAMES BAXTER. MRS. JAMES BAXTER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. from time to time when farm work was not press ing. In 1903, the family moved to own and Mr. Hecht, with his brother Charles, engaged in farm implement business, dealing in buggies and auto-^ mobiles in addition to the usual stock; in the spring of 1911 Mr. Hecht bought his brother's in terest and is sole owner and proprietor of the business. Mr. Hecht was married at Pullman, Illinois, April 10, 1882, to Miss Ada A. Russell, a native of Utica, Oneida county, New Yrirk, a daughter of Si mon and Eliza A. (Blake) Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Hecht have had six children born to them, five of whom are living: Clarence C, engaged with his father in business, was married to Miss Cora HoopsJ of Seward, Nebraska ; their daughter, Mar jory L., was the first great-grandchild, and formed one of a group of four generations of the family. George P., is an auto expert mechanician in charge of his father's auto department; Alice, who gradu ated in the Plainview high school, married Ed ward Hadik, who is now farming in Knox county ; Leseter, and Russell, who are attending the Plain- view schools. ' Mr. Hecht has, like his father, been a republi can since attaining the franchise, and east his first vote for MeKinley, who, like his father's first can didate, suffered the assassin's ball. Mr. Hecht, with his family is a member of the Congregational church, and he is also a member of the Masonic order, of which he served as Worshipful Master ten years, and is now treasurer of the Chapter of the Eastern Star. He is affiliated also with the Independent Order Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America lodges. Mr. Hecht has seen the development of Ne braska from the open, unsettled country to the highly developed, prosperous community it now is. In the early days, feathered game was plenti ful, and once in the spring of 1885, he came in sight of four deer when on a hunting trip east of his home, but none of the party came close enough to get' a shot at the large game. Prairie wolves were plentiful and at times made depredations on the settlers' young stock. The dangers 'of blizzards and prairie fires kept the settlers on the alert, but withal they enjoyed life as much as do the young folks now; every one was helpful, hopeful, and considerate. JAMES FRANKLIN IRVINE. = James Franklin Irvine, one of the well-to-do younger members of the farming community of Howard county, is a gentleman of energetic habits, who has been most successful and prosperous in his chosen work. He was born in the county in which he now resides, first seeing the light on March 23, 1878. James F. Irvine is the eldest son of George Ir vine, who was one of the first settlers and whose home was the first building erected in the settle ment of Howard county. He now resides in Kelso precinct on Oak creek, where he owns a valuable estate. Our subject grew up on the home farm, receiving his early education in the local district schools, later attending the Grand Island Busi ness College, from which he was graduated in 1898. After leaving school he engaged in farming on his own account, purchasing the old Oak creek farm, containing about three hundred and twenty acres. This land was owned by his uncle, James Irvine, and was a well improved tract. He worked this place up to 1906, adding to its value ,in many ways, and disposed of it at a very good profit. He then purchased one hundred acres situated on the North Loup river, lying about miles northwest of St. Paul, in section seventeen, township fifteen, range eleven, and has made of this a fine property. having the place equipped with every convenience for conducting a model farm, and all the land is under cultivation. He is progressive in his methods and a thoroughly practical farmer. Mr. Irvine was married on March 28, 1900, at Nysted, Nebraska, to Sophia Caroline Mortensen, the Rev. Peterson officiating. Mrs. Irvine comes of a prominent pioneer family in Howard county, her father, Rasmus Mortensen, having settled in this part of the state in 1873. Mr. Mortensen was born at Odense, Finland, and there married Jose phine Magdeline Larson, who was born in Salken- berg, Swenden. They came to America in 1873, and immediately emigrated to Howard county, Ne braska, where Mr. Mortensen bought the Paul An derson homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. This was their home place until Mr. Mortensen 's death, November 20, 1897. Mrs. Mortensen con tinued to live on the farm in Warsaw precinct un til 1900, when she moved to Dannebrog, which has since been her home. Four children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Irvine: Eari Clayton, Ethel Viola, George Lee, and Ray Franklin. Mr. Irvine takes a commendable interest in local affairs, and in 1902 was elected county assessor. ALONZO SHEPARD. Among the early settlers of the state may be mentioned the above gentleman, who has, since 1890, lived in the city of North Loup, although still superintending his large estates, situated in Greeley and VaUey counties. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens in this part of the state. Mr. Shepard was born at Canton, in the Old Bay state, February 22, 1836, the fourth in a family of five children born to George and Almira (Bailey) Shepard, natives of Canton and Scitu- ate, Massachusetts, respectively. Of these five children, only two besides the subscriber still sur vive. One brother lives in Illinois and one sister is a resident of Nebraska. When Mr. Shepard was only six years old, the 936 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. family moved to Warren township, Lake county, Illinois, and here near Littleport, now Waukegan, he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. On August 14, 1866, he was married to Miss Cordelia Raydure, a native of Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Staf ford and Desolate (Quigley) Raydure. An inter esting bit of family history may be told in connec tion with the mother's peculiar name. The grand mother, Rosa Mushrush, came with her brother Michael from Germany, and settled near Mead ville, where each secured seven hundred acres of land. Here she married, soon after Which her husband, Mr. Quigley, disappeared. During this period in her grief she so frequently exclaimed, ' ' I am so lonely and desolate!" and when twins were born, she named them Mlary Lonely and Nancy Desolate. When of school age she took them on horseback through the trackless wilderness a hun dred miles, to Pittsburg, while she and their Uncle Michael walked, and left them at a convent until they were fifteen years of age, not seeing them dur ing these years. On their return home, Desolate taught school eleven years, until her marriage at the age of twenty-six, on her birthday, April 1. She died in April, 1890, at the age of eighty-five. In the year following his marriage, Mr. Shep ard removed to Omaha, Nebraska, and for a time followed the carpenter's trade. However, in less than a year they again moved, this time going to Platte county, where Mr. Shepard pre-empted a quarter-section at Duncan, part of their old farm now being within the limits of the town. They remained here for five years. While in this county Mr. Shepard held his first public office, being ap pointed postmaster of Jackson, now Duncan, un der the Grant administration, and serving one term. In 1872, Mr. Shepard and family moved to Greeley county, and took up another quarter- section, under the homestead act, near North Loup. This homestead remained the family home until 1890, when Mr. Shepard retired from active labor and moved into the city of North Loup, where he has since built a comfortable home. He owns now considerably more than two hundred acres of well- improved land as well as his home, comprising four acres, in North Loup. For years he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has met with great success. Mr. Shepard has lived in the state for forty- five years and has become familiar to many in that section and takes a foremost place among them as an energetic farmer and public spirited citizen. He has experienced all the trials and hardships of a pioneer's life in the west. He has always taken a hearty interest in the development of the com munity and has aided materially in the advance ment of public enterprises. While living in Greeley county, Mr. Shepard served the public as coumty commissioner, elected on the republican ticket, his term of office lasting two years, he hav ing resigned on removal from this county. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard have two daughters, one of them, Maud Amber, is a teacher and the other, Marion, is still at home. In social and educational lines, the family have attained considerable promi nence. Mrs. Shepard is a member of the Metho dist Episcopal church. Like most of the pioneers of the west the Shep ard family lived in a dug-out, this one having a log front and a sod roof. A year later he built a two-story log house with a basement, a most pre tentious house in those days. The logs from which it was built were hauled from Cedar Canyon, near Burwell, some thirty miles distant, covered with siding and plastered inside, it is still in use, a very comfortable dwelling. OTTO F. LINSTADT. Otto P. Linstadt, one of the old settlers of the region where he now resides, occupies a good home and valuable property in section thirty-three, township twenty-two, range two; he has always done his full share in the developing of his region and is well-known as a progressive and energetic citizen. He and his family live in their comforta ble home, where they are surrounded by a large circle of friends and good neighbors. Mr. Linstadt is a native of Pomerania, Ger many, where his birth occurred November 2, 1871 : he is a son of Carl and Caroline (Langish) Lin stadt, who were also natives of Germany. In 1875, when but a small child, our subject left Ger many with his parents, embarking on a steamship at Bremen, which was bound for New York. After landing in the United States the family came to Nebraska, coming by way of Columbus to Madison county, where they took up a homestead in Kalamazoo township. The family much pre ferred the sod house for a dwelling, and lived in three different ' ' soddys ' ' during their residence on the homestead ; this style of house was comfortable all the year round, being cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Columbus was the nearest market place in the pioneer days, a distance of thirty-five miles having to be traveled by ox team to haul grain to market, the journey there and back consuming three days. Many hardships and discouragements had to he met and overcome in the early days on the west ern frontier; the first few years the grasshopper pests that infested this region were the greatest source of anxiety they destroying every spear of crops, which made it very hard for the new settler just starting life in the west; prairie fires played their part in the havoc wrought, and at one time one of these treacherous fires burned everything, including the season's hay and grain, but the sod house in which the family lived was not destroyed. In 1894 the hot winds of that year destroyed all that season's crops, burning out the ground, this condition being a result of the terrible drouth that COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 93? prevailed then throughout that section of the country. Mr. Linstadt was united in marriage in 1902 to Miss Anna Huber, a native of Fairview, Ne braska, and Mr. and Mrs. Linstadt are the parents of four children, namely: Walter, Lenora, Wil lard, and Harold. They are a fine family and en joy the respect and esteem of all who know them. In 1906 Mr. Linstadt bought his present farm, which is known as the Joe Wangel hom'estead. He has steadily improved the place since his purchase, and now has a Jine farm and good home on same, where he and his family are surrounded by a host of good friends and neighbors. Mr. Linstadt owns "Rock," one of the finest Percheron stallions in that part of the country. CHARLES C. COOPER. Charles C. Cooper is recognized as one of the substantial business men bf Ansley, Nebraska, and is one of the younger men among the early set tlers of Custer county. He is a native of Putnam county, IUinois, born March 19, 1876, one of a family of six children and third in the order of birth. His father was of English descent, born in Pennsylvania, and died in Burt, Iowa, in 1907. The mother, of Scotch descent, was bora in Michi gan, and now lives at Algona, Iowa. Of their children, besides Charles O, there is a son living in Chicago, a daughter in Los Angeles, a son in Sioux City, a daughter in Neligh, Nebraska, and one son is deceased. In childhood Charles C. Cooper was brought by his parents to Iowa, receiving his education in the country schools. About 1890 he came to Custer county and afterward attended Omaha business college, graduating in 1904. He worked in a bank two years after leaving school and then took up dealing in real estate, which has since been his oc cupation. He is a wide-awake, enterprising busi ness man, and has won a good standing in the com munity. Mr. Cooper was married on June 28, 1905, at* the home of the bride's parents in Ansley, to Miss Mary Sharpless, a native of IUinois, who had been a teacher in Nebraska, to wbich state She eame with her family in 1885. She is a daughter of James F. and Martha (Fyffe) Sharpless, and a sketch of her father, who is' now deceased, may be found in this work. 'One child was born of this union, Emma Laura. In 1907 Mr. Cooper erected a fine, modern residence, where he and his family have since resided. He and his wife are well known socially and have a large number of friends. WILLIAM DAMME. and is one of those substantial citizens whose in tegrity, industry, thrift, and other sterling vir tues have added so much to the material wealth of the state. Agriculture forms the basis of wealth in most sections of the western United States, and it is therefore of great importance that the people who inhabit the great farming regions should dis play these elements of sterling worth which are so noticeable in the character of our subscriber. Mr. Dammle is a native bf Missouri, where he was born September 18, 1855. His parents, Wil liam and Lottie Damme, were both natives of West phalia, Germany. They emigrated to America when young — William Damme, senior, coming with his parents, and Mrs. Damme, with some cousins. They were married in Missouri. Their sailing vessel was six months on the way. The father owned and operated a farm in Franklin county, Missouri, on which he lived at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, who still lives on the old place. She made a trio back to Germany in 1910, after ,having lived in America sixty years. The childhood of Mr. Damme was spent in Mis souri, where he obtained his education. He helped his parents about their farm during his spare time, thus early being aqcustomed to the life of a farmer. In 1881, he started for himself, coming to Otoe county, Nebraska, and settling on a rented farm. Five years later, he came to Wayne county, and bought the old Merriman homestead of one hun dred and sixty acres, rwhioh has been his home ever since. He has improved the farm considerably from time to timie, as his means permitted, and now has a comfortable home, and one of the finest farms in the community. One noticeable improve ment is the fine orchard and grove which form a striking feature in the landscape. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of land. In 1883, Mr. Damme was married to Miss Al- bertena Schutt, of Missouri. They are the par- erits of fifteen children, named as follows : Ed, Min nie, William, Mertha, deceased, Fred, Mary, John, Herman, Clara, H. Henry, deceased, Lottie, Jo hanna, deceased, Carl, Benjamin, Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Dammle are members of the Ger man Lutheran church, and Mr. Damme is a repub lican in politics. William Damme, a prominent farmer of Wayne county, resides in his comfortable home on section five, township twenty-five, range two. He is well-known throughout this portion of the country, WARREN BURKMAN. Prominent among the residents of Palmer, Ne braska, is the gentleman above named who has lived in Merrick county for over •thirty- two years or more, and in this section of Nebraska since 1877, and has been closely identified with the de velopment and civilization of this part of the state. Warren Burkman, retired farmer, son of Elias and Amelia (Aldrich) Burkman was born in Me dina, Ohio, August 1, 1847, and was eldest in a family of six children ; he has one sister residing in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska, one in Omaha, an- 938 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. other in Idaho, one brother in Idaho, and another in Palmer ; the father died in 1882, at Palmer, and the mother in 1879, at Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Elias Burkman came to Boone county, Nebraska, from northern Iowa, in 1872, where Mr. Burkman took up a claim of one hun dred and sixty acres near the town of Cedar Rapids. This continued to be his home until Mrs. Burkman.'s death, when he sold and afterward made his home with his son, Warren. When a small child, our subject went with his parents to Scott county, Iowa, remaining but two years, then returning to Ohio for a year; and in 1859 the family went again to Iowa, and in 1860 moved to Illinois. On March 6, 1867, Mr. Burkman was married to Miss Elma Folsom, of Wisconsin, and made their first home in Hancock county, Iowa. In July of 1877, Mr. Burkman came with his wife and three children to Boone county, Ne braska, one year later going to Nance county ; com ing on into Merrick county, in 1879, where he pur chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec tion twenty^two, township fifteen, range eight, which remained the home for twenty-eight acres. In 1909 Mr. Burkman retired from the farm and moved to Palmer, Nebraska, where he purchased a fine home where they now live. He has been a prosperous man of affairs, and at one time owned two hundred and forty acres in Merrick and Nance counties. This he sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns. He served as director of his school district number thirty-one for six years. Mr. and Mrs. Burkman have had five children : Genevieve, wife of David Baird, resides in Clarks, Nebraska ; Prank, who is married, has eight daugh ters, and one son, and lives in Merrick county; Bert, also married and residing in Merrick county; Clifford, married, has one son, and lives in Merrick county ; and Pearl, who is the wife of Charlie Yar- mon, of Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. Burkman are among the earlier settlers of the county, have passed through much of the early history of their locality, and are widely and favorably known. DETLEP HAFNER. Detlef Hafner, an agriculturist of prominence in Knox county, resides in Morton township, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy, have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Ne braska. Mr. Hafner is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the province of Holstein, in the year 1856. He is a son of John and Mary (Lange) Hafner, who were both natives of Germany. The father served his native country in the war between Germany and Denmark. In 1881, Mr. Hafner, with his parents, left the fatherland to come to the new world, where there were better opportunities for a man to get a start in life. After landing in the United States, the family proceeded directly westward, locating in Omaha, Nebraska, where they remained five years. Our subject then came to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1886, where he bought school land, which he greatly improved during the years, and has stead ily added to his land holdings until now he owns six hundred and forty acres of fine land. Mr. Hafner has experienced the many hard ships and discouragements that the early settlers of the western frontier had to endure, and among other incidents, the memorable blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888, proved about as destructive as any, our subject losing nearly all bis stock in the icy, biting blast, and whirlwind of ice dust. In 1893, Mr. Hafner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellieason, and Mr, and Mrs. Hafner are the parents of four children, named as follows : Henry, Ernest George and Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Hafner and family are highly esteemed and respected in their community, and live in their pleasant home, which is located in sec tion sixteen, township thirty, range three, where they are surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. In politics, Mr. Hafner is a repub lican, and he and his family belong to the German Lutheran church. ' J. OSMAN TRINE. Prominent among the old settlers of Nebraska, is J. Osman Trine, who, since the fall of 1868, has made tlie northeastern part of the state his home, and has done his share in the developing of the ag ricultural resources of this section of the country. Mr. Trine lives on section thirty-one, township twenty-two, range one, east, in Stanton county, where he built up a valuable property through his industry and good management. Mr. Trine is a native of Iowa, his birth occur ring in the year 1858; he is a son of William and Rachel (Stewart) Trine, both of whom claim Ohio as their native state, and of Welch and German de scent respectively. Mr. Trine 's father came to Iowa in the year 1852, coming by boat to near Brighton, Iowa, where he remained until 1868. In the same year the fam ily came to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father took up a homestead. His brother, our subject's uncle, had preceded them, and was living on the ranch known at that time as the Walter Craig ranch, and E. Clark ranch, who owned town ship twenty-one, range one, east. Our subject's father and family first lived in a dugout, and later a "soddy" was built, which made a comfortable house both in summer and win ter. In those early days of western frontier life, the family endured many hardships and dis couragements, among some of them being the grass hopper pests which infested this region during the years of 1871, 1872 and 1873 and destroyed every spear of vegetation, and many times our subject and his father fought prairie fires to save their lives and possessions. Their nearest market place in COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY*. 939 those days was at Columbus, many miles distant. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those times, and were frequently seen. - In 1882, Mr. Trine, our subject, bought his present farm and has steadily improved same un til now he has a beautiful home and five hundred acres of fine land, ten acres of which are given to trees. Mr. Trine was united in marriage, in the year of 1882, to Mliss Jessie Read, and Mr. and Mrs. Trine are the parents of six children, namely: Rettie, Floyd, Sterling, Ruth, now Mrs. Adam Young ; Ralph, and Sarah. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. WILLIAM SCHLECHT. William Schlecht who resides in section twenty- three, township twenty-five, range eight, in Ante lope county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old timers in this section who has always done his full share in the betterment of conditions throughout the community in which he lives. Mr. Schlecht is indeed an old settler of northeastern Nebraska, having lived in this part of the state for the past forty-eight years. Mr. Schlecht's home in the lo cation above mentioned shows thrift and pros perity. When coming to Antelope county in 1901, he bought the Ernest Michel homestead, and now owns eight hundred acres of good land and has forty acres of fine orchard and grove trees. Mr. Schlecht is a native of Manitowoc, Wiscon sin,, where he was born January 20, 1860. His father Ernesoh Schlecht was born in Saxony pro vince, Germany, November 25, 1839. He served in the army of his native land for three years before coming to America. He arrived in New York with very little money, in fact after paying for lodging he had but twenty-five cents left. Fortunately, however, he succeeded in locating friends from the old country, and in this way secured employment and later went to Manitowoc. He died July 3. 1909 in Cuming county, Nebraska. The mother of our subject, Amelia Reffell, was born in Pommer province, Germany in 1844. Mr. Schlecht's par ents came to America in a sailboat and were six months making the voyage. Troubleous times beset them almost from the start. While his mother was on the sea, an epidemic of cholera broke out and in this epidemic she lost her brother-inJaw and her nephew. On arriving at New York, more trouble was in store and they were quarantined on account of small pox, for some time. After reaching New York they proceeded to Wisconsin where they bought land and resided until 1862, when the family, including our subject, moved to Cuming county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead claim, on which they built a dugout. In coming here they drove an ox team from Wisconsin, and were six weeks on the way. When they came to Cuming county there were only fifteen settlers liv ing there, and during the first winter there, three people froze to death. In those early days of the first pioneers words are almost inadequate to ex press the experiences and hardships endured by the handful of people who braved the unknown dangers and struggles that were before them. Among some of the dangers and disappointments endured were scares caused by the Indians who in fested the unpopulated western country at that time, loss of crops by grasshopper raids and hot winds and they also fought prairie fires to save their property and lives. August 20, 1885, Mr. Schlecht was united in holy matrimony to Miss Tillie Loeue, and Mr. and Mrs. Schlecht are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Ernest, who is married to Miss Vera Johnson ; William ; Matie, who is the wife of Mr. Ferdinand Rankie; Henry and Laura. In 1901 Mr. Schlecht came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought land, and now resides on the Ernest Michel homestead, and as before stated, owns eight hundred acres of land, and forty acres of fine trees. His home is known as the Clearwater Stock Farm, stock-raising being Mr. Schlecht's principal business, and in which he takes a great interest, and he is particularly interested in rais ing Duroc Jersey hogs of which he has a nice herd. FRANK L. BEALS. Frank L. Beals is one of the younger men of Custer county who are prominent in financial and business circles, and he is recognized as a man of sterling qualities and business ability and integri ty. He is now manager of the Farmers' Bank of Merna, one of the leading institutions of Custer county, with a paid up capital of fifteen thousand dollars, and whose charter was granted January 19, 1909. The president of the company is B. P. Cox, the vice president E. B. Daley and the cashier Frank L. Beals, who is also the active manager. The bank was organized by pioneer settlers of the county and its officers have lived in the county for many years. The company owns a modern bank building and has a well equipped room for the transactions which are carried on there. This is considered one of the solid financial institutions of central Nebraska and has already won a wide repu tation for modern methods and sound business principles. Mr. Beals was bora in Wayne county, Iowa, -March 4, 1873, and came to Custer county with his parents in 1887. He was the third born of the five children in the family of Isaac and Mary (Kellen- berger) Beals, the father a native of Vermillion county, Illinois, and the mother of Kentucky. The parents, with their four children, came to Nebras ka in the spring of 1887 and Isaac Beals was one of the early settlers of Custer county, securing a title to the southwest quarter of section twelve. township eighteen, range twenty-three, which was his home until the time of his death in December, 1894. He was survived by his widow and the fol lowing children : Frank L., of this sketch ; Anna, 940 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mrs. A. D. Hunt, ,of Custer county, and Nellie, Mrs. Edwin Hewett ,of Spokane; Washington. Frank L. Beals lived on the farm in Custer county until 1906, when he located in Anselmo, and in January, 1909, he t came to Merna and assumed his present business connection. He was married in Anselmo December 20 1908, to Jessie Parkison, and one child has been born of this union, Ruth Helen. Mr. Beals and his wife are prominent in social circles and he is a member of1 the Masonic order. Both are highly regarded by their many friends and are always ready to do their share to promote the general welfare and prosperity of their county and state. JAMES L, PETET. James L. Petet stands at the head of a family that has long been held, in high respect in Custer county, and, has passed through various stages of the ¦ development ¦ of the region. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, September 30, 1839, , the eldest child of Lewis and Nancy Petet, and their only son. His parents died when he was about seven years of age and he and his sisters were taken to. the home of their grandparents in Iowa. He lived on his grandfather's farm, until his thir teenth year, then went out to, work for others. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Petet enlisted in Com pany B, Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service until the spring of 1864. He partici pated iu many engagements, airiong them the fol lowing: Kirksville, Missouri, August 20, 1861; Shelbyville, September 2, 1861 ¦ Bine Mills, Septem ber 17, 1861 ; , Shiloh, Tennessee ; Metamora, Mis sissippi ; Greenville, Vicksburg) Jackson and Can ton,, Mississippi; Atlanta and Ezra Chapel, Geor gia j Corinth, and the siege of Atlanta. He re ceived honorable discharge as a veteran and was mustered out at Davenport, towa. At the siege of Jackson, Mississippi, the Third Iowa was practi cally annihilated and the remnant of the regiment was attached to the second. His father had fought in the. Mexican war and his death occurred on the Gulf of Mexico, while returning from service. After, his discharge Mr. Petet returned to Mar ion county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. On June [26, 1864, he married Martha L., daugh ter of Elias and Sarah M. Puller. Her family were the first white , settlers in Marion county, Iowa. They located on the Des Moines river and for some time their nearest neighbors were Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Petet spent the first few years of their married life pn a rented farm, then purchased land jn Marion county, on which they lived until the fall of 1880, when , they came to Custer county, Nebraska, with a bunch of cattle for Mr. E. 'P. Savage., Mr. Petet took up a homestead in Custer county in the fall of 1883, returned to Douglas county, and the following spring came to live on it, driving through from Douglas county with teams and wag ons. After proving his title to the homestead he took a pre-emption and lived upon it about six years. He continued to cary onf arming and rais ing stock in the county until the spring of 1906, when he removed with his -family to the town of Comstock. , Mr. Petet and wife have been residents of Cus ter county since the fall of 1883, and they have the respect and esteem of a large number of friends. He is a public-spirited, enterprising citizen and in terested in all that pertains to the general welfare and , prosperity. As he says, himself, he has. at times been "at the top," and at other times, "down and, out at the heel." He was left on or phan at a tender age and early learned the lesson of self-dependence. He is the only one of his famr ily now surviving. Mrs. Petet 's mother made her home for several years with the family and died at the Petet home June 22, 1911/ being in her eighty-ninth year. Mr. Petet and wife are active and vigprbus and greatly enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by their descendants and friends in the eventide of their lives. Ten children have blessed their union, of whom nine now survive; Lewis A., bf New Mexico, is married arid has four children; Janies C., of Missouri, is married and has four children; Alice, wife bf John Hiveley, bf Hooper, Nebraska, has five children ; Belle, wife of William Brbwn, oi Comstock, has eight children ; Bert, of Custer cprinty, has four children ; George, also of Custer county, has three children; Benja min, of West Comstock, has four children: Gussie; wife of Henry Eggers1, of Chase county, Nebraska, has two children ; Nancy, now Mrs. James Adams, lives in Comstock, and Amie, who is deceased. There are thirty-four grandchildren arid nine great grandchildren in the family, and at a family reunion recently held in Comstock (1911) five gen erations were represented. An interesting picture of the Petet family will be found' on another page bf this work. CLAUS HINRICHSEN. ,In listing the self-made men of Pierce county, Nebraska, who have become well-to-do agricultur alists and have aided materially in the development of the farming interests of this region, a ,promir nent place is accorded Claus Hinrichsen. For many years, this gentleman has followed this, line bf work, in the northeast quarter of. section nine, township twenty-eight, ; range three,,, and hasf!met with pronounced success, is now known as one ojf the substantial citizens and well merits his, high standing. Mr. Hinrichsen was born in the province .of Sehleswig, Holstein, Germany, October 8, 1860,four years before it was ceded to that country by Den mark at the end of a war, and spent his boyhood days in his native province, receiving a common school education. He is a son of Henry and, Mary 5(Mauderer) Hinrichsen. „ The father died in 1869, and in 1874, Mr. Hinrichsen, with his mother, came to America, sailing from Hamburg, to New York. MR. AND MRS. J. L. PETTET. FIVE GENERATIONS OF THE PETTET FAMILY. RESIDENCE OF CLAUS HINRICHSEN. Compendium of" history, reminiscence and biography. M on the steamship "Simbria." Later the mother married Claus Hinrichsen, a brother of Henry. Our subject spent the first five years in Daven port, Iowa, and then moved to Ida county, Iowa, in i 1880, and from there in 1882 to Crawford county, twb years later he came to Pierce county, Nebras- 1 ka, where he bought the land he now occupied. He first came to the farm in 1885, driving through from Iowa ; he broke the prairie during his sojourn here and returned to Iowa to bring 'his family the next year. Lie planted four acres of trees on this land. • Mr. Hinrichsen has experienced the drawbacks incidental to the early settlement,' burning hay and cornstalks for a time. Drouths killed his corn in 1894 and most of his small grain ; he lost his en tire crops by the hail of 1900, there being a storm iri June that killed his small grain and another in August, that ruined his corn, * " ' Mr. Hinrichsen was married in Denison, ilowa, 'December 11, 1885, to Miss Christina Royeris, a native bf Germany. Her parents, Henry and Mlona 1 ( Joharisen) .Bq^ens, emigrated to America in 1880 and settled at Denison," QrawfordWunty, Iowa. Mr. and" Mrs. HiririchSeri are the pa1 rents of nine living children, who are named as follows : Henry, Mary, Alfred, Lewis, Alvina, Carl, Claus, Hans, and •Hilda. ' John, Edward and Herman died. 1 ' Mr! Hinrichsen is of the German-Lutheran faith, and in politics he is a republican. We take pleasure in calling attention to a view of1 Mr. Hiilrichsen's fine farm residence and other buildings on a page in this work. V.t.'i )':¦¦¦'. ROLAND R. HETRICK. Roland Hetrack is a prominent farmer, and stockman living on section thirty-two, township . tweptysi^: raiige three, and is well-known th^pugh- J.biit! Tierce county, Nebraska) as a progressive and successful agriculturist, ..highly esteemed by all with whom he has to do. Mr. Hetrick is a native of Jefferson county, PeVriisylvariia, born January 28, 1865, and is a son of Eli and, Mary (Schoffner) Hetrick. His father was crippled when; a boy by a log rolling over him. His mother was of German descent, her parents eriiigrating to Pennsylvania. Our subject grew up Iri Pennsylvania on a farm, and came to Washing ton . county, Nebraska, with his parents, in 1872, ; where they lived two years, moving to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1874, driving across the coun try with oxen. In Madison county they took up a .homestead, and1 also a tree claim.1 '¦ * -' Here the family experienced all the vicissitudes of the early- pioneer, and their nearest market place was at Columbus, forty miles away. They i lost all their drops during the grasshopper raids' of -H&73 y 1874, and 1«75; and the blizzard bf 1873 was very hard on them, as they were starting up in a -"iiewLwvtntryp; arid ifwere vnot prepared for hard stimesv' ; Por^fiuel they burned hay, corn, cornstalks, ..(and, even the, stems of sunflowers several years; -\ Mr. Hetrick performed an act bf mercy tlie night of the fearful blizzard of Janriary 12, 1888. The children in school some hundred rods distant were, of course, without food. Mr. Hetrick car ried a lot of biscuit his mother made for them, through the storm, to appease their hunger, and then safely returned to his home. , Oh May 13, 1891, Mr., Hetrick was 'married to !Mss Lena Witzel, a native of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick are the .parents of fouf children, George, Maggie, Myra, arid Minnie. Our subject came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in, 1902, and bought three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, one hundred and sixty acres of which lies in section thirty. This he has improved until now he has a beautiful place with twelve acres of good orchard and elevbri acres^ of grove. Mr. Hetrick is independent in politics. LEWIS C. MADSEN. Lewis C. Madsen, who owns a fine estate in sec tion twenty-two, township thirteen, range twelve, of Howard county, was born in Denmark, on De cember 15, 1840. Mr. Madsen is a son of Hans and Annie Madseri,' the twelfth in a family of fourteen chil dren, six of whom are now living, all haying set- , tied in the United States, but the mother and ". father spent their entire lives in their' native country. Lewis was the first of his family to come to America, and was instruniental in bringing the 'balance of the' children over, three brothers and three sisters becofriing identified with different lo calities here. Our subject lan,ded iiji New York City from Denmark. in May, 1865. He first went to Wis- i cpnsin, where he followed farming, factory work, ,, and lumbering, up to 1872, at that trine coming into Nebraska, and setting in Howard county. Upon landing in this section, he immediately took up a homestead on section twelve, township thir teen, range eleven, situated, .jusfj half a mile from Dannebrog,- built; up a good honiei, and still owns the original farm, although his residence is now on section twenty -two. He is proprietor of. five hundred and forty acres of land, eighty acres of which is in Cleveland, three ; hundred acres in Dannebrog, one hundred and sixty acres in Loup , Fork precincts. He has been very successful in his enterprises, for manV years being closely iden tified with the growth and progress of his locality. Since settling in America, he has made three visits to Denmark. , Mr. Madsen was married April 13, 1871, to Christina Jensen, the event taking place in Wis-' consiiu Mrs. Madsen was also, born and raised > in Denmark. They have four living children: Hans P. L. Lilliari, Christopher Mi. E., and Bernhardt. F. The first two are married* and Christopher and Bernhardt live on the homestead. All were born 942 COMPENDIUM OP HtSTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. and reared in Howard county, and the entire fam ily is well known and numbered among the pros perous and highly esteemed residents of the region. CHARLES F. BEUSHAUSEN. The Beushausen family is one of the best known in Sherman county, where they were among the early pioneers, and they have done their full share in promoting the general welfare and prosperity of their section. Charles F. Beushausen was reared in the county, spending his boyhood and youth on his father's homestead. He was born in New Yrirk City, August 24, 1876, and is a son of August and Matilda (Beck) Beushausen, both natives of Germany, the father born March 5, 1840, and the mother January 19, 1832. The father came to the United States in 1868, remaining in New York un til 1879, and there was married October 6, 1869, Mrs. Beck having come to New York in 1854. Of this union four children were born, all in Newr York City, namely: August, now living in Colo rado; Julius living seven miles southeast of Loup City, in Sherman couty; Emil, of Utah, and Charles of this writing. Mr. and Mrs. Beushausen brought their children to Nebraska in 1879, he coming in March and securing a homestead on sec tion eight, township fifteen, range fourteen, Sher man county, and preparing the place for their re ception the middle of August. The parents lived on this and other farms until 1907, then moved into their comfortable residence in Loup City, which they have since occupied. The father was an industrious and ambitious farmer and stockman, winning a very fair degree of success, and he and his wife, who did her share in improving their home and bore her share of hardships in the early days, are now enjoying the fruits of their toil. They reared their family amid pioneer conditions and were active in furthering the development of their county. Mr. Beushausen has always enjoyed the highest respect and regard of his neighbors from his uprightness and integrity in all his dealings, and is one of the well known men of the county. Charles P. Beushausen was about three years of age when he was brought to Sherman county, where he received his education, enjoying the ad vantages of the usual training to be obtained in the district school. He had a natural taste for study, made the most of his , opportunities, and taught four winters after leaving school. He remained at home until his twenty-fourth year and then con nected himself with a hardware store at Ord, and one year later engaged in conducting the E. G. Taylor grain elevator at Ashton, which he contin ued until the fall of 1905, when he was elected on the Independent democratic ticket to the office of clerk > of Sherman county, being reelected two years later. Upon his retirement from office he en tered upon his work as editor and proprietor of the Sherman County Times-Independent which he had purchased in 1909 and had for a few months con ducted. This is the first paper published within the limits of the county, being established at Loup City in 1875, under the name of the Loup City News. Mr. Beushausen is one of the most prominent among the younger men of Sherman county and has been a ieader in political circles. He has been active and enthusiastic in furthering the interests of his party and since attaining his majority has shown great ability in promoting educational meas ures and other movements that have tended to the general welfare and prosperity. September 21, 1 904, he married Miss Nellie Hawk, and they have one child, Maynard Ray. FRED TEATKE. Fred Teatke, residing on section two, township twenty-three, range two, Madison county, Nebras ka, is one of the leading citizens and old- timers of northeastern Nebraska, coming here many years ago when this portion of the state was not very fully developed as an agricultural and commercial region. Mir. Teatke has done his full share in- furth ering the best interests, along all lines, of his home state and county, and is now, in his later years, en joying the rich reward of high esteem and respect of all his fellow citizens, and also the prosperity and comfort which he justly deserves after a long and useful life well spent. Mr. Teatke is a native of Germany, born Octo ber 20, 1835, a son of Martis and Hattie Teatke, both notives of West Prussia province, Germany. Our subject received his schooling in his native land where he remained at home and helped his parents until 1878, in that year coming to America. He embarked at Bremen on the sailboat ' ' Neagora, ' ' and was on the sea seven weeks. After arriving in the United States, Mr. Teatke located in New Jersey where he remained almost one year; from there he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he lived four years, working at whatever his hands found to do. In 1883 Mr. Teatke came to Nebraska, locating in Wisner, and there, as in Detroit, worked at day labor, living there for four years. In 1887, he came to Madison county, Nebraska, and bought the Shafer homestead, which has remained the home stead farm to the present time; on this land Mr. Teatke built a. good frame house and has steadily improved the farm, now owning one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. Mr. Teatke was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Hattie Remmer, a native of West Prussia, and a daughter of Fred Remmer. Mr. and Mrs. Teatke are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Augusta, Carrie, Edward, Fred. August, and William. They are a fine family and are well and favorably known throughout this por tion of the county. Mr. Teatke, as before stated, is a highly re spected citizen of Madison county, and in his home is surrounded by a host of good friends and neigh- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 943 bors, and he is beloved by all who know him. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and a demo crat. JAMES FINLEY SHARPLESS. (Deceased.) The late James Finley- Sharpless, who spent many years on the farm in Custer county, Nebras ka, where his death occurred, was one of the most highly respected and public-spirited citizens of that region. He and 'his wife were both liberally educated and interested in every measure for the well-being and development of the county and state. They were early settlers of Custer county, where they won many friends. Mr. Sharpless was well known in Grand Army and Masonic circles and at the time of his death had large holdings of land, as well as city property. He was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and was descended from a family of English Quakers who settled in Pennsyl vania as early as 1682 and became prominent in the affairs of that region in early days. He was born March 19, 1842, being the eldest of seven chil dren of Nathan and Hester (Listen) Sharpless, and was the only survivor of the family with the ex ception of one sister, Mrs. Estella Henderson, of Columbus, Ohio. After attending the common schools of his na tive state Mr. Sharpless attended a medical school in Chicago, and although he never followed the profession of medicine he was for some time en gaged in conducting a drug store. In 1864 he en listed in the Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and served until the close of the war. His marriage occurred at Magnolia, Illinois, on March 17, 1875, when he was united with Miss Martha M. Fyffe, a native of that state and a daughter of Townsend and Zilla (Boyle) Fyffe, both natives of Kentucky and of Scotch descent. Both died at Magnolia, Illinois. After marriage Mr. Sharpless spent several years in Texas, where he was engaged in stock business on a large scale, then he returned to Illi nois and engaged in stock raising near Tonica. In 1881 he brought his family to Iowa and four years later came on to Nebraska. They lived four years in Kearney in order to secure educational advan tages for their children. In 1885 he purchased a two hundred and forty acre farm one-half mile south of Ansley in Custer county, and afterward located on it and conducted it until his death, which occurred September 3, 1908. His loss was deeply deplored by his many friends and felt as a keen loss to the community in which he had lived so many years. He was a man of liberal views and had many endearing qualities, so that to know him was to have a wrarm regard for him. His wife had died August 13, 1903, and one son, Milam, had also died. Two daughters survived their parents. namely: Mrs. Mary S. Cooper, of Ansley, wife of Charles C. Cooper, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and Miss Emma I. Sharpless, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Sharpless was highly regarded as a busi ness man and a citizen and was one of the class of men who care for their own interests in an able manner and at the same time further to a large de gree the welfare and prosperity of their com munity. ,i LUDWIG P. KERBEL. Ludwig P. Kerbel, formerly the genial host of Hotel Klug of Spencer, is almost a native born Ne braskan, all but a few months of his life having been spent in the state, his first birthday anniver sary being celebrated at North Bend, where the family settled on coming to the state. Ludwig Kerbel was bora in the village of Kluboky, Bohemia, August 1, 1880, a son of Joseph and Anna (Menick) Kerbel, the mother a native of the village bf Otratiee in Moravia, while the fath er's native village was the same as the son's. The family came to America in 1881, saning from Bremen in the ill fated "Elba," which found ered at sea with all on board in 1889. They landed in New York on the fourth of July, and received a noisy welcome on the nation's Independence day. The elder Kerbel came directly to the west and settled at North Bend, working two years at the carpenter's and then filing on a homestead at the northeast corner of Custer county, taking up a pre emption and timber claim at the same time. The dry years of 1894 and 1895, together with chinch bugs, hail and other storms, completely disgusted him with this part of the country, so he abandoned his holdings to his sons and sought other fields of industry. He went to Madison county where he rented land for five years, and has since lived re tired in South Omaha. The Kerbel family consisted of five sons and three daughters; Mr. Kerbel bas two brothers in Spencer and one on the old home farm in Custer county. In Custer county Mr. Kerbel with his brothers and sisters had to go five miles to school. They were fortunately at home during the great blizzard of January 12, 1888. They lived in a sod house while in this part of the country, and fre quently fought prairie fires. As an instance of tbe edurance of the early set tlers, we make note of the fact that when times were so hard in Custer county the father walked to Omaha, two hundred and fifty miles distant, to find work through the winter in the smelter works to keep his family in bread. But of such metal was made tbe hardy pioneers. Ludwig, our subject, began for himself at the age of, sixteen, clerking in a store at Madison for five years. Going to Plattsmouth, he secured work as fireman in the yards there for the Burlington and Missouri River railroad. He was next engaged in the saloon business for one year at Battle Creek* coming to Spencer in. May of 1906, continuing hisi former vocation for two years. He clerked one- year in the William P. Kloke store, and on July 22, 1909, took charge of the Klug Hotel which h$ 944 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. conducted in a manner pleasing to the traveling public and profitable to himself. Mr. Kerbel was married in Plattsmouth May 6, 1902, to Miss Anna Krabochail a native bf Penn sylvania, daughter of Jacob Krabochail, who came to Nebraska about 1888. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerbel: Hattie, Stazie, and Leonard. Mr. Kerbel is republican in politics, a member of the Catholic church and of the W. 0. W., and Z. C. B. J. Mr. Kerbel is at present living in South Omaha Where he is conducting a saloon in the Albright district. JAMES BAIRD. (Deceased.) James Baird during his lifetime was one of the most respected and highly esteemed citizens of Mer- rieh county, -Nebraska, and was a prominent factor in the upbuilding of his home county. At the time of his demise he was residing in Clarks, Nebras ka, and at his death was deeply mourned by hosts of friends and relatives. Mr. Baird was a native of the state of Illinois, his birth occurring in Randolph county, January 28, 1838, and he was a son of Hugh and Martha Baird who were natives of Randolph county, Illi nois; he was fourth in the family of ten children, and has a sister residing in Illinois, one brother in Central City, Nebraska, another in southern Illi nois, the others being deceased, as are also the par ents. Mr. Baird grew to manhood days in his na tive state, receivirig the usual education, later en gaging in farming. On December 2, 1858, Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jane Hunter, also a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Baird were tlie parents of ten children, whose names are as fol lows: Alexander P., deceased in infancy; Martha E., wife of L. Swartz, has four children and re sides in Montana ; Hugh A., married and has six children, and lives in Kansas ; Henry C, also mar ried, and lives in Tacoma, Washington; Nellie M., a teacher in Trinidad, Colorado ; James K., married and lives in Kennett, California, has three chil dren ; Anna, wife of George Boughner, has five chil dren, and lives in North Carolina; Prudence A., is the wife of Mr. Lawson, they having four chil dren and reside in Grand Island ; Flora J., lives in Trinidad, Colorado; and Bertha M., wife of Charlie Pearce and a resident of Inlesburg, Colo rado. Iri the fall of 1861 Mr. Baird elisted in Com pany C, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, Corps Seven- tee, serving until the close of the war, and in the fall of 1865. at Sprigfield, Illinois, receiving his honorable discharge. He participated in the fol lowing engagemets : Belmont, Fort Donalson, Fort Henry, Britton Lane, Siege of Vicksburg, and At lanta. After the war he returned to Illinois, and in 1871 drove overland with his family to Merrick county, Nebraska, where |he homesteaded one hun dred and sixty acres of land three miles west of Clarks, which remained the home place until 1894, when Mr. Baird retired from the farm and moved to Clarks where he purchased a good home, Mr. Baird engaging in Ihe draying business until the time of his death, June 25, 1906. He was survived by his wife and nine children. Mrs. Baird still lives in the old home at Clarks, surrounded by a large circle of friends. Mr. Baird was a progressive man of affairs, in terested in all pertaining to the welfare of his state and county and was widely and favorably known. He served on the board of his school district for a number of years. JOSEPH F. WIRTH. Joseph F. Wirth, a prominent farmer and stock man, living on section twenty-six, townsip thirty- two, range eight, is well known throughout Knox county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist highly, esteemed by all who know him. Mtr. Wirth has the distinction of being a na tive born son of the county and state in which he now resides, and where he has lived since his birth. He is a young man of energy, and possesses sterling qualities of character which give fair pro mise to enable our subject to emulate his father. Mr. Wirth is a native of Knox county, Nebras ka, as before stated, his birth occurring in the year 1883, and he is the son of Joseph and Vincin (Jiskra) Wirth, both being natives of Bohemia. In 1870, the father left his native land and came to America, and after landing in the United States proceeded to Knox county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim on section twenty-six, town ship thirty-two, range eight, which still remains the old homestead farm where our subject now lives. On this land they built, a sod house and later a log house, which remained the dwelling of the family for several years, when it was replaced by a frame house. Here the family experiened more than the usual drawbacks and hardships endured by all old set tlers, having come to this section of the west when it was but a virgin prairie, peopled by bands of In dians who roamed the plains, scarcely knowing what a white man was, and resenting his interfer ence in their free and easy life. Our subject's par ents experienced many scares and dangers from the redskins, but as time wore on, the Indians became more reconciled to their white brother, and being also to a certain extent, held under government re straint, became less a menace to the. peace of the sturdy settlers of this early period. The grasshopr per pests did their share to discourage the tiller of the soil, on several occasions destroying the en tire season's crops. Prairie fires, have also played a tragic part in the events of early Nebraska history, and the family of our subject fought this danger many times to save their homes and lives. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 945 In 1907 Joseph F. Wirth was united in marri age to- Miss Anna Hercik. They have three chil dren—Otto, Mary and Rosie. Mr. and Mrs. Wirth now reside in their beau tiful residence on the old homestead of two hun dred and eighty acres of fine land, weU improved, on which are fifteen acres of trees ; he also has fif teen fine springs of water on the -land. Mr. Wirth has charge of and farms this two hundred and eighty acres of land which makes him a busy man of affairs. THOMAS LONG. In compiling a list of the pioneers of Stanton county Nebraska, who have aided materially in making of that region a thriving agricultural dis trict, a prominent place must be accorded the gen tleman whose name heads this personal history. For twenty-eight years, Mr. Long has been closely identified with the history and development of this locality, and his labors to this end are well known to all that reside in that community. Mir. Long lives on section nineteen township twenty-two, range one, east, where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of old-time friends and acquaintances. \ Mr. Long is a native of New York state, his birth occurring in the year of 1853, and he is a son of John and Julia (Gleason) Long. Our subject was raised on a farm, and bas stuck to farming and stock-raising all his life, and is now amply repaid for his efforts in this direction, as he is the owner of a fine farm which will insure him comfort for the remainder of his days. Prom New York state, our subjcet went with his parents to Illinois, where they remained until 1882: then Mr. Long, our subject, eame to Stan ton county, Nebraska, where he bought one hun dred and sixty acres of land. He now owns six hun dred and forty acres of fine land, on which he has eight acres of fine orchard and grove trees. Mr. Long has not gained his present prosperity without enduring the usual amount of worry and hardships that have had to be borne by the earliset settler of this region ; on January 12, 1888, he lost considerable cattle in the terrible storm that wreaked such havoc to all in that locality. In the year 1876, Mr. Long was united in mar riage to Miss Maggie Carroll, and Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of nine children, whose names are as follows: John, Anna, now Mrs. Edward Ackerman, of Stanton; Patrick, Thomas, Jr., Leo, Eugene and Jerome, twins; Loretta, and Leonard. Mr. and Mrs. Long and family live in their pleasant home, where they have a host of good friends and many acquaintances, a:id where Mr. Long is well known as -a prosperous and substan tial citizen. J. S. YAGER. J. S. Yager an agriculturist of prominence in Antelope county, Nebraska, resides in section 31 twenty-four, township twenty-three, range six, and is one of those substantial citizens whose in tegrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Yager is a native of Selkirk, Ontario, Can ada, born August 14, 1857, and in 1875 went to Michigan where he remained five years. Mr. Yager's father, John Yager, was born in 1818, fa Canada, and came to the United States in the early days ; his mother, Mary (Stewart) Yager, was born in Canada in 1821, and was of Scotch descent. Mr. Yager's brother Josephus came to Nebraska in 1876 and took a homestead in Antelope county, on which he built a sod house ; he died later, and the claim was left to our subject. In 1880 Mr. Yager came to Antelope county to take possession of the homestead farm, and while Mr. Yager has traveled quite extensivey through the south and in Canada, this pace has aways been his home since his coming here in 1880. From 1880 to 1882 Mr. Yager drove tlie mail route from Central City to Niobrara, a dis tance of two hundred miles, making two trips a week and several times met with roving bands of Indians, mostly Poncas but suffered no rough treat ment from them. He was among the last to drive such routes. In 1889 Mr. Yager was united in marriage to Miss Rosilda Jeffries, and in 1901, Mrs. Jeffries died, sincerely mourned by her husband and many friends and relatives. In 1903 Mr. Yager again married, his bride being Miss Nellie Carey, who was born in Seneca, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Yager are the parents of two fine children, named as fol lows : Clare and Artamissa. Mr. and Mrs. Yager and children enjoy the highest, respect and esteem of all who know them, and they have many friends and acquaintances in this section of the county. FRANK O. HANNAWALD. Frank O. Hannawald, a successful farmer and stock man of Custer county, Nebraska, belongs to one of the old families of the region and is highly respected as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. He was born near Oneida, New York, July 15, 1860, and was the first born of the six children of Adam and Anthy (Owen) Hannawald, also na tives of New York. A sketch of the father also( ap pears in this work, in which the family is given further mention. In 1865 the parents removed to a farm near Mattawan, Michigan, and they lived in that state until the fall of 1883, when they came to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and located on a farm near Aurora. The father brought with them the following four children: Prank, Etta, Nettie, and Flossie. Stella, Mrs. Merlin Valleau, re mained in Michigan, but she and her husband came to Hamilton county in 1884. Iri the spring of 1885 the family came to Custer county, where in March of that year the father secured a homestead. He lived on this farm, which was located three miles 946 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. west of Merna, until his death February 10, 1898. He was survived by his widow and, four children, Flossie having died after the family came to Custer county. The mother lives in Merna but still owns the homestead. In 1884 Prank Hannawald secured a homestead on section seven, township seventeen, range twen ty-one, Custer eounty,and he now has three hun- • dred and twenty acres in his home farm, which is well improved and equipped for raising stock and grain. He has a comfortable, modern residence, surrounded by trees, with an orchard and other improvements, and has other substantial buildings. He has made his home on the original homestead all these years and is one of the best known men in the county, belonging to an old and honored fam ily. He passed through various years of drouth and hard times in his earlier years there and has well earned his present era of prosperity. He has given much time to the furthering of the progress and development of his county and state and he and his wife, who have a wide circle of friends, are active in social and educational circles. Mr. Hannawald 's marriage occurred in Aurora, Nebraska, on Christmas day, 1885, when he was united with Lilly Wilkins, daughter of James H. and Martha Wilkins, an old family of Hamilton county. Three children have been born of this un ion: Mabel, wife of Claude Leisure, of Portland, Oregon, has two children a son and a daughter; Beryle, wife of Fred Wright, living two miles south of Merna, has one child, a son ; Velva, at home. Mrs. Hannawald has one brother, William Wilkins, liv ing in Custer county, and her parents reside at Aurora. JOSHUA H. EVANS. Joshua H. Evans, a prominent citizen of Calla"way, Nebraska, is a veteran of the Civil war, and highly respected in his community. He was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, June 12, 1847, fourth child of Ransom and Anna (Morris) Evans, who had three sons and four daughters. The father was a native of Tennessee, and the mother of Alabama, and they were married in Indiana. The family moved to Effingham county, Illinois, about 1845, but later returned to Indiaria, and in 1848 again came to Illinois, locating on a farm. The father died in that state, January 1, 1862, and the mother, January 18, 1863. At that time all their seven children survived them. Those now surviving are: Joshua H. ; Robert, of Illi nois; Ruhama, Mrs. James Rentfrow, of Okla homa; Mrs. Jane McGee, living in Clay county, Illinois; Mrs. Amanda McNelly, of Clay county, Illinois. Most of Mr. Evans7 childhood was spent in Effingham county, Illinois, and he there received a common-school education. February 26, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, December 26, 1865. He served in the Atlanta campaign, being in the brigade of Colonel Wilder, under General Sher man, and participated in many important battles. He was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee, but escaped the same day. In the fall of 1864, his company came back to Louisville, Kentucky, and on Christmas day started for Eastport, Mississippi, via Nashville, then went on to Selma, Alabama, taking part in a battle at the latter place. In the battle of Selma, he was wounded by a ball that sruck his gun and exploded, the shock knocking him down, and rendering him uncon scious- for some time, so that he was numbered among the slain. Upon recovering consciousness, he returned to his command. After this battle, they went to Montgomery, Alabama, and on to Columbus. They were out of communication with the north, and did not hear of the surrender of- Lee, or the assassination of President Lincoln, until they reached Macon, Georgia. After his discharge, Mr. Evans returned to Effingham county, and during the summer of 1867, worked on a farm, after which he learned the blacksmith trade, following the same until 1904. He has practically made his own way in the world since he was thirteen years of age, and early learned the lesson of self-reliance. He was married in Effingham county, December 2, 1869, to Samantha J. Gibson, daughter of John and Fanny Gibson. He brought his family to Iowa in 1881, and thence to North Platte, Nebraska, September 20, 1886. He there engaged in work at his trade, and on April 26, 1887, came to Calla way, making the trip with horses from Cozad to their destination. He engaged in blacksmithing at Callaway, and continued in active business life until 1904, on January 29, of that year, receiving the appointment of postmaster at Callaway, which official position he has since held. He is one of the oldest settlers of Callaway, still mak ing that town his home, and has been closely identified with its growth and development, being well known in the surrounding country. He has served as a member of the village board, and of the school board. A portrait of Mr. Evans will be found on another page. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have two children, Launa L. and Henry C, the former the wife of George H. LaFleur, of Callaway, was born in Illinois, and she and her husband have four children. Henry C, married, and living in Callaway, is in business at the old stand, where his father worked from 1886 to 1904, and built up a good trade, which has since been successfully cared for by the son. WILBUR G. SQUIRES. Wilbur G. Squires, formerly editor of the "Verdigris Citizen," was at that time one of the youngest men in the state occupying an editorial chair. He was born near Plainview Nebraska June 1, 1888. JOSHUA H, EVANS. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 947 His parents, Wilbur and Eva A. (Smith) Squires, were natives of Tioga county, Pennsyl vania, where they made their home, and engaged I in farming until their migration to Nebraska in | 1884. They lived for a short time in Antelope county until a suitable location could be found, i and then settled ten miles southeast of Plainview, where the elder Squires filed on a homestead, , proved up on it, and resided there until 1902, when he retired from active farming, and bought a comfortable home in Plainview, where he is taking a well-earned rest. Of the children born to them, two survive : A daughter, Marilla, now the wife of Franklin Larson, a prosperous farmer, living south of Plainview, and a son, W. G: Mr. Squires was reared on the home farm, near Plainview, attending the district schools and at Plainview, where he graduated in 1907, and later took up a six months' course in the Wayne Normal. Having a love for journalism, where he might make use of his aptitude for Avriting, Mr. Squires became an apprentice in the office of the "Plain- view Republican'' in 1907, and two years later, having an opportunity to purchase the "Verdi gris Citizen,'' he becariie proprieor and editor of that journal, which he put on a paying basis. On the first of January, 1911, he removed to Winner, South Dakota, where he took charge of the "Advocate," and is there meeting with well- deserved success, Mr. Squires is a musician of considerable ability. He is independent in polities, and con ducts his paper along that line. He affiliates with the Odd Fellows, having joined the local lodge of that order. The great blizzard of January 12, 1888, occurred before Mr. Squires' birth, but he has heard tales of its severity around the family fire side. The cattle had been turned into the pasture that morning, and the father started to get them back to shelter on the appearance of the approaching storm. The blast overtook him before his task was accomplished, and the cattle had to be abandoned to their fate, while he found difficulty in .making his way back to the barn, and later to the house, losing about half his stock that was out in the storm. A neighbor and his son, who persisted in bringing in their stock, both perished in the icy blast — the most disastrous blizzard that has swept the state since settlements began. FRED KRUSE. Fred Kruse, another of those sturdy and intrepid sons of old Germany, braved the pangs of homesickness, and encountered hardships in coming to the United States as a young man, but, in spite of all, has remained to reap a well-de served reward in the possession of a comfortable competence, gained by dint of thrift and persever ance. His home is on section nine, township thirteen, range twelve, of Howard county. Our subject is a son of Hans Kruse, the young est of three children, and was born in Germany, April 13, 1843. He remained in his native coun try until his twenty-fourth year, then came to the United States, landing in this country on Juno 15, 1867, his first location being in Green county, Iowa, where he obtained employment on the railroad. He was married there tbe following year to Katrina Fehlhaber, and together they came to Hall county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1869, remaining there for about eighteen months, when they came into Howard county, where they were among the very earliest settlers. Mr. Kruse took up a pre-emption claim on section four, township thirteen, range ten, and sold his rights a short time afterwards. In the spring of 1878, he pur chased land of the Union Pacific railroad, con sisting of two hundred and forty acres, in section nine, which has been his home ever since. During his career in the early years here, he passed through all the different phases of Nebraska times, and, while building up a valua ble estate, has become well known to all for his help in developing his section of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Kruse have had five children, four of whom are living, named as follows: Charles Henry, who was born in Hall county in 1871, was married in Howard county on March 10, 1898, to Annie M. Berck, at the home of her parents. Charles Henry Kruse and his family of five children live on the home farm. The other children of our subject are Charles Freder ick, Lida and Emma, all of whom are married, and settled in different parts of Nebraska. Mr. Kruse is an active member of the German Methodist church, and both himself and wife are prominent in educational and social circles of their communitv. JOHN E. DRAKE. One of the leading old settlers and citizens of Valley county, Nebraska, is the subject of this sketch, John E. Drake, a well-known resident in toAvnship nineteen, range thirteen, living on sec tion fourteen. Mr. Drake has lived in Valley county since 1876, coming here when the country was but a raw, unbroken prairie, inhabited by Indians and wild game. John Elliott Drake, usually known as Elliott Drake, was born in Steuben county, New York, June 12, 1855, and was third of eight children in the family of James P. and Susanah (Sargeant) Drake, who had six sons and two daughters. Mr. Drake was a farm boy, and lived on the farm in Steuben county until his twenty-first year. In May of 1876, Mr. Drake came to Valley county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded land in the northwest quarter of section twenty-two, 948 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. township nineteen, range thirteen, in Springdale township. He remained on this homestead until 1892, and now lfves on section fourteen, town ship nineteen, range thirteen, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of farm and grazing land. Mr. Drake is one pf the first settlers of Springdale township, and for many years has been closely identified with Valley county, and Valley county has been his continuous home, with the exception of two years spent in Oklahoma from the fall of 1894 to the fall of 1896, whither he went on a prospecting tour in the spring of 1892. Mr. Drake was married to Miss Jennie Ever- son, October 2, 1879, in Ord, Nebraska. Miss Everson was a native of Wisconsin, and her step father, William Lasure, and family came to Val ley county in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have six children, five of whom are living : Luin, who is married, has three children, and lives in Valley county; Cecil, also married, and living in Valley county, has one child; Earl, and Lita, reside at home; Inos, deceased in 1876; and Glenn, who resides under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have a wide acquaintance and many friends. They have passed through the different Nebraska years, and are of the pio neer families that stayed with it, and now enjoy the success of the pioneers that held down the adverse Valley county years. Mr. Drake 's father and mother, brother George and sister Delia came to Valley county in the spring of 1879, where the father took up a home stead, but moved to Missouri in 1894, and, while residing there, died. The mother returned to VaUey county, surviving her husband but two years, she passing away in 1896. Our subject's sister, Cornelia, had come to Valley county prior to the family's arrival, and had been united in marriage to D. H.' Rathbun, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this review. Of the Drake family now residing in Nebraska are Mrs. D. H. Rathbun, Mrs. David Strong and Elliott Drake, all living in Valley county. A brother, George, lives in Kansas; Ellsworth resides in Rockford, Illinois; Asa, in Steuben county, New York; Melvin and Bodwell, also of Steuben county, New York. , Mr. Drake remembers well the blizzard of January 12, 1888. His supply of fuel in the house ran low, and, being too cold to cut wood outside, a quantity was brought into the room, and there sawed into suitable size to keep the fire going until the storm abated. PAUL RENNER. Paul Renner, known throughout Madison county, Nebraska, as a man of good citizenship and untiring energy, is a resident of section ten, township twenty-two, range two, west, where he owns a beautiful home, good orchard and grove and engages in mixed farming. He has been identified with the upbuilding of that locality for the past twenty-eight years, and, while acquir ing his property, has gained for himself an envia ble reputation. Mr. Renner is a native of Germany, his birth occurring at Wurtemberg, May 21, I860, and is a son of Fred and Caroline Renner. Mr. Renner, our subject, received his education and grew to his manhood in his native country. In 1882, he came to America, traveling1 by way of Switzerland to France, and from thence to England, embarking at Liverpool on the steamship " Germainique. " Mr. Renner came to America by this route to escape military service. The laws of Germany- require every able-bodied man to serve a certain period in the army. Mr. Renner, not having the military temperament, could not see the philoso phy of spending a part of the best years of his life in army service, and to avoid trouble along this line, came over the above-mentioned route to America. After landing in New York City, Mr. Renner started for the west, locating in Madison county, Nebraska, in 1886, where for the first few years he worked out until he could get a farm for him self. He then bought what is known as the John son homestead, and has steadily improved same, until now he has, as before stated, a beautiful home, a good farm, and orchard and grove, and is engaged in mixed farming. Mr. Renner has experienced his full share of hardships and dis couragements during his residence here, and as late as 1894, lost all his crops by the hot winds that were prevalent during the long drouth of that season. Mr. Renner was united in marriage in 1885 to Miss Mary Hettinger, and Mr. and Mrs. Ren ner are the parents ,of ten children, whose names are as follbws: Emil, Clara, Paul, Fred, Otto, Charles, Robert, Emma, John and Albert. ALBERT SHAFER. Albert Shafer, a retired farmer, living at Ansley, Nebraska, has been a resident of Custer county for many years, and has passed through the early days of pioneer trials and privations. He won success as a farmer and a stockman, and has well earned his years pf leisure and repose. He was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, April 15, 1868, son of Joseph and Katherine (Gleiss) Shafer, both natives of Germany. The father came to America some time during the forties and died in Missouri, and the mother, who came to America in 1844, now lives in Ansley. Albert Shafer is the youngest of eight children, and has a sister, Mrs. Josephine Mottinger, living in Broken Bow; another, Mrs. Mary Headington, lives in Iowa; Mrs. Nettie Woodard, another sister lives in Omaha ; Mrs. Lavina Perry, another sister, lives in St. Joseph, Missouri. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 949 In early childhood, Mr. Shafer accompanied his parents to Missouri, and he secured most of his education in the public schools of that state, growing to young manhood on his father's farm. In 1884, the family located in Custer county, and the mother secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section thirty, township seven teen, range eighteen, now the home of her son, Albert. Mr. Shafer was married in Custer county on September 1, 1889, to Roberta Buckner, a native of Kentucky, who came with her parents to the county in 1887. She is a daughter of Robert W. and Rebecca (Bolton) Buckner, natives of Ken tucky, and now residents of Broken Bow. The father served in the Civil war, and came to Ne braska in 1887. Mrs. Shaffer has a brother, Thomas L., in Broken Bow; another brother, Frank, in Custer county; a brother, Lawrence, in Moultrie county, Illinois; a sister, Mrs. Flora Alberts, of Ansley; her sister, Mrs. Etta Emer son, lives in Westerville, and her other sister is Miss Stella Buckner. After his marriage, Mr. Shafer located on the Shafer homestead, which is now his property, and it was his home many years. Three children were born to him and his wife, namely: Gertrude L., Fred L. and Merl I.,, all at home. Mr. Shafer owns a well-improved and equipped stock and grain farm of two hundred and eighty acres, and has a very pleasant home in Ansley. He retired from active life in March, 1911, after which the family have resided in Ansley, where they have many friends. Mr. Shafer has purchased prop erty' in the city of Broken Bow, and will make that place his future home. NELS DULLERUD. Among the prosperous citizens of Wayne county, Nebraska, may be mentioned the above gentleman, who carries on a diversified system of agriculture in a most successful manner, with results which richly reward his thrift and indus try. He is the proprietor of a fine farm on sec tion ten, township twenty-five, range four, and has accumulated his property and good name by his persistent and honest labors. Mr. Dullerud is a native of the state of Wis consin, where he. was born February 27, 1856. His parents, Ole and Olena Dullerud, were natives of Norway, who came to America in 1855. They came by way of Christiana and Quebec, the voyage taking seven weeks. They came to Wis consin and bought the farm where Nels Dullerud was born. His early childhood was spent there on the farm, but in 1868, the family moved to Monona > county, Iowa. Here the father bought a farm a mile and half from the Missouri river, which was eventually all washed away by that stream. The father died in Iowa in 1870. The balance of the family remained there until 1889, when they came to Wayne county, Nebraska. They at once bought the farm which has been occupied by the subscriber ever since. He has added many extensive improvements to the place since it was purchased, chief among which are the fine orchard and grove which are now in their prime. Coming so late as they did, the family escaped many of the hardships which beset the very early settler, but even so, the life of the farmer was not what it is today, when markets are very close, and when the telephone and rural delivery brings the farmers very close to the life of the city. Our subscriber has always taken a most com mendable interest in public affairs, and is counted among the prominent and influential citizens of the county who can be relied upon to support any measure which will aid in the betterment of existing conditions. ALBERT TUNKS. In presenting to the public a history of Ne braska, the list would not be complete without having mentioned the name of this gentleman. Mr. Tunks is one of the leading old settlers and prominent agriculturists of eastern Nebraska, having spent the last forty years and more in this part of the state. Albert Tunks, son of William Z. and Paulina (Winchester) Tunks, was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, January 9, 1847, and was second in a family of five children. He has one sister living in Freeport, Illinois, another in Davis, Illinois, the other children being deceased, as are also the parents, the father's death occurring in 1888, and the mother's in 1849, both in Illi nois. Our subject received his education in his home state, and later engaged in farming. On April 21, 1871, Mr. Tunks was united in marriage to Miss Bell Martin, also of Illinois. Mrs. Tunks parents are deceased, and she has one brother in Kansas, and a sister residing in Clarks, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Tunks have had four children, three of whom are living: Edith, wife of H. C. McGrath, has five children and lives in North Bend, Nebraska; Elmer, died in infancy in 1875; Ethel, wife of Clare Betts, has two children and lives in Merrick county; and Glen B., a student at state university at Lin coln. In May of 1871, Mr. Tunks and wife came overland to Merrick county, Nebraska, being three weeks on the way, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section thirty-four, township fifteen, range six, west, where they re sided for ten years, when they sold out, and pur chased three hundred and sixty acres eleven miles northeast of Central City. Here they resided until 1893 when Mr. Tunks retired from the farm and moved to Central City, where he purchased 950 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. twenty acres just outside of the city limits and built a good home, where they now live. In the early days Mr. Tunks helped to organize school district number twenty-one. He has served on Central City school board. He also spent one year in the army, enlisting in January, 1865, in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illi nois Volunteer Infantry, and received his dis charge at Springeld, Illinois, in January of 1866. He took part in a number of skirmishes, doing mostly provost duty in Georgia, his military service having all been in that state. Mr. Tunks has been prosperous and successful, and has pased through all the trying experiences and hardships incidental to frontier life. He is a man of affairs, and is interested in all per taining to the welfare of state and county. Mr. and Mrs. Tunks are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Tunks is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Grand Army of Republic. He is a republican in politics. J. B. McCOY. Of the native sons of Nebraska who have re mained within her borders and prospered, J. B. McCoy of the "Crofton Journal," is not the least conspicuous. He was born on his father's farm, twelve miles west of Creighton, February 26, 1880. He is a son of Hugh and Catherine (Gaskell) McCoy, who came to Nebraska in 1879 and settled in Knox county. Hugh McCoy lived on the farm west of Creighton until 1893, when he retired and moved to town. A stock company had been formed to start a paper in Creighton, and Mr. McCoy was selected to run it; later he bought the entire plant and was for nine years the editor and publisher of the "News." The mother died August 6, 1910, the body being taken back to Creighton for interment. J. B. McCoy attended school until eighteen years of age, when he began to learn the printers ' trade in the "News' office at Creighton, then under his father's management. From here he went to Utah and worked for a time on the "Ogden Standard" and then returned to Creigh ton. Afterwards he found work on the "Coon Rapids Reporter" of Coon Rapids, Iowa, remain ing one year. Returning to Knox county, he was employed in the office of the "Monitor" under W. H. Needham, at Bloomfield, and later went to Monowi and was again in the employ of his father in the lumber business. Later he established the "Monowi News," which he published for a time, and then returned to Bloomfield and filled his old place on the "Monitor" until coming to Crofton in October, 1908, when he bought the "Journal," a paper supporting the republican party's candi dates. He issues a live country paper and re ceives his due share of -job work, for which his office is amply equipped. The columns of the "Journal" are filled with well written, live news, and the advertising pages are well patronized by the business men of the community. Mr. McCoy was married in Bloomfield, De cember 25, 1904, to Miss Ada Elnora Needham, daughter of Mr. W." H. Needham, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, a daugh ter named Naomi. Mr. McCoy is republican in political faith, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, the elder McCoy and a neighbor were caught out in the storm; by good fortune their team, in wandering around, ran into the wind mill on a distant farm and aroused the owner, with whom the wanderers spent the night. The mother happened to be away from home, too, when the storm struck, making a social visit at a nearby farm. The man of the house by fol lowing a wire fence and a half mile line of trees ' brought her safely home and then made his own way back to shelter. The boy and a hired man, seeing the storm approaching, got all their cattle safely into the shed so that none were lost; but a herd of forty to fifty hogs fattened and ready for the market were frozen or smothered in th'e blinding drifting snow. Antelope were still to be seen in Knox county when Mr. McCoy was a boy, and so tame were some of them that they came near the house. Mr. McCoy is a musician of more than ordi nary merit, and is leader and manager of the Mc Coy orchestra; Mrs. McCoy is an able assistant presiding at the piano. Mr McCoy has had a love for music since childhood, and began the study of the violin at the age of seventeen. That he has made a success of it is evidenced by the almost continuous engagement of the organiza tion over which he presides. H. C. HAFNER. Prominent among the residents of Knox county, Nebraska, is the gentleman above named, who has lived in this locality since the year 1886, and has built up a pleasant home and enviable reputation as a worthy citizen, esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Hafner resides in Morton township, on section sixteen, township thirty, range three. Mr. Hafner is a native of Germany, he having been born in the province of Holstein in the year 1864. He is the son of John and Mary (Lange) Hafner, both natives of Germany. Our subject's father served the land of his nativity in the war of 1848 between Germany and Denmark. Our subject remained at home with his parents, re ceiving his education in his native land, and also helping his father on the farm. Mr. Hafner, with his parents, left his native COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 951 land in 1881 to come to America, where the op portunities to get a start in life were much bet ter. They sailed from Hamburg by way of Hull and Liverpool to New York, where they remained one week. The family then went to the western country, settling in Omaha, Nebraska, where they lived five years. Later our subject came to Knox county, Nebraska, where he bought land in the southeast quarter of section twenty-one, town ship thirty, range three, which he greatly im proved, and on which he built a good home for him self. He later sold to his brother John, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this review, and bought where he now lives. He again im proved his farm, and now has a good home, and engages in mixed farming; also raising fine stock. Mr. Hafner, as before stated, is a worthy citi zen, and highly esteemed in his locality and county. He has served his constituents in the capacity of county commisioner, having credit ably filled that office from 1898 to 1900. In poli tics he is a republican. Mr. Hafner has gone through the many dis couraging experiences of loss of crops and stock through wind, hail, etc., and in the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, he lost a part of his stock in the terriffic wind and sleet. But those pioneer days have passed to history and remain but a memory, and Mr. Hafner is now enjoying the prosperity and comfort of a modern Nebraska land owner, and has accumulated ten hundred and forty acres of choice land. In 1891, Mr. Hafner was united in marriage to Miss Emma Elliegson, and they are the parents of five children, namely: John, Ida, Charles, Albert and Helen. JACOB HENDERSON. Jacob Henderson was born in Norway, Oc tober 31, 1862, and was youngest of eight .chil dren in the family of Hender and Thora Satre, who have seven sons and one daughter. In the fall of 1879, father, mother, and brothers, Ole and Iver Satre, and our subject came to America, and in September, 1879, came to Boone county, Ne braska, where the father took up a homestead in the spring of 1880 ; during the winter of 1 879, our subject worked on a farm receiving his keep for his labor. After a residence of seven or eight years in Boone county, the parents returned to Norway, where they resided until the. time' of their death. Mr. Henderson and brother, Iver Satre, are now the only members of the family living in America, the brother now residing in Boone county. In the spring of 1880, Mr. Henderson eame into Madison county, going to work for Richard Ballard on his farm. Mr. Henderson at this time could not speak the English language and went to work amongst English speaking people in order to become acquainted with the language. In the winter of 1880, he worked on the farm of Levi Jenkins and attended the local schools, and for three successive winters atteneded school, doing farm work in the summer months. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Henderson came to Madison, going to work for Henry Becker in the furniture and undertaking business, in which he continued until 1888, and during Mr. Becker's absence, at times, had charge of the business. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Becker sold his business to A. B. Richardson, with whom our subject con tinued until the spring of 1890; this business changed hands several times during the next few years, Mr. Becker coming back into the firm later on. In the spring of 1890, Mr. Henderson went to David City and engaged in the same business for about eight months, returning to Madison during the holidays of the same year, and in March of 1891 went to work for the Union Pacific railroad in the bridge and building de partment, where he remained a little over two years. In the spring of 1892, he returned to Madi son and again became connected with Henry Becker, who had repurchased all interests in his old business, which was the pioneer furniture and undertaking house of Madison. Mr. Henderson was a member of Company P, First Nebraska National Guard, and April 27, 1898, this company joined the regiment at Lin coln, Nebraska, and went from there to the Philip pines, boarding train out of Lincoln May 16, 1898, for San Francisco ; and on June 15 went on board vessel for the Philippines via Honolulu, arriving in Manila Bay on July 16, and landing on the twentieth, at Camp Dewey, six miles south of Manila. Mr. Henderson went out as Second Lieutenant of Company P, Nebraska National Guards and remained in the Philippines until March 25, 1899, when he came home on a fur lough on account of illness, having spent three months in the hospital; and June 1, 1899, while on his furlough, was mustered out at Lincoln, Nebraska, as -First Lieutenant of Company B, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, he having received promotion while in the government hospital at Manila. Mr. Henderson, in the spring of 1899 returned to Madison and in October of that year again went into the employ of Mr. Becker. In 1901 Mr. Becker disposed of his business to J. A. Edinger, with whom Mr. Henderson continued until July 1, 1902. Mr. Henderson then pur chased the business from Mr. Edinger, and has continued it to this date. He has a large store and is known as one of the foremost business men of Madison county. On June 10, 1906, Mr. Henderson was married to Mrs. Winifred Loomer at Madison, Nebraska, and they have two children: Thomas H., and Thora Marie. Mr. Henderson is a Self-made man, having bor- 952 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. rowed his passage money upon leaving Norway for America. He is a wide-a-wake business man, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and Ben Hur orders, and also the Commercial Club of Madison. SAMPSON GIVEN. Sampson Given, a progressive and prosperous pioneer farmer and stock man, is practically a self-made man, and since 1883 has been actively identified with the upbuilding and development of the county and state. He was born in West Virginia, March 17, 1857, next to the oldest of nine children of Robert and Mahulda (Jordan) Given, who were farmers there. A sketch of the father appears in this work. Mr. Given came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, with his parents, in 1878, and in the spring of 1883 he left the home farm there and came to Custer county. He took up a homestead comprising the southeast quarter of section twenty-eight, township eighteen, range twenty-one. and also a timber claim on section thirty-two. He now resides on the homestead secured by his father, comprising the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight, just west of his original homestead, which he also still owns. He has a well improved and equipped estate and a fine orchard, and in connection with his farm is engaged in the dairy business. September 25, 1886, Mr. Given married Auta Read, daughter of Sylvester and Mary (Davis) Read, pioneers of Custer county. The Read family came from Clarke county, Iowa, to Custer county in 1883. Ten children have been born to Mr. Given and wife, of whom six now survive : Edith, wife of Abram R. Horton, living on a farm six miles west of Merna, has two daughters, Inez, and a baby sister ; Maplet, at home ; Esther, wife of J. Leroy Stratton, living in Julesburg, Colo rado; Thurston, at home; Johnnie, deceased; Edna, Edwin and Edgar, triplets, all deceased; Mansel and Jay, at home. The family are well known in social and educational circles and lend their influence for the betterment and welfare of the community. They have many friends, among whom they are highly esteemed. Mr. Given was out nearly the entire day of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, looking after his stock; few ventured beyond their doors in such a storm. He is a democrat in politics and fraternally a member of the Odd Fellows, the Royal Highland ers, and the Modern Brotherhood of America. JABEZ I. BOWMAN. The Bowman family were among the very early settlers of Nebraska, where they located in 1862, when Jabez I. Bowman was about four years of age. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, November 20, 1858, seventh born of the ten children of Albert and Mary (Covault) Bow man, and one of four sons. The parents moved from Iowa to Denver, Colorado, in the spring of 1862 and in the fall of that year moved to Platts mouth, Cass county, Nebraska, where the father engaged in the trade of harness maker. He was an enterprising business man and had also learned the trades of carpenter and tinner. Later he se cured a homestead three and one-quarter miles northeast of Greenwood, Cass county, and the family lived for some time on this farm. The parents afterward moved to Broken Bow, Custer county, where they died. One daughter, Mrs. E. V Phillips, and one son, C. W. Bowman, live in Broken Bow; Mrs. Rhoda Carnes lives in Greenwood, Nebraska, and Mrs. Elizabeth E. Rus sell lives in Broken Bow. Jabez I. Bowman lived on his father's home stead until his marriage, January 2, 1881, to Sarah, daughter of Columbus and Phoebe Jenkins, which took place in Louisville, Cass county. Mrs. Bowman was born in Iowa and came to Nebraska with her parents about 1868. They were among the pioneer families of Cass county and Mr. Jenkins was a veteran of the civil war. After his marriage Mr. Bowman moved to a rented farm in Cass county and in the fall of 1883 came to Custer county, securing a home stead where, in the following spring the family located. They occupied this place several years and he had improved and developed it to a con siderable degree, then they sold out and since then Mr. Bowman has operated various farms in the vicinity. At the present time he is carrying on the old Caywood farm, which is the property of his sister, Mrs. Eliza V. Phillips, before men tioned. He is an energetic and industrious farmer and an excellent business manager and he and his family stand well in the community, where they enjoy the. regard "of a large number of friends. Six children were born to him and his wife, namely: Elmer Dexter; Albert Col umbus, dceased; Claude Lester and Clyde Leroy, twins, the latter deceased; Jabie Leeson and Willis Talbot. All were born in Nebraska except Jabie, who was born in Harrison county, Iowa. Both Mr. Bowman and his wife have passed through the years of hardship and privation in cident to pioneer life, and both have always held themselves in readiness to do anything they could to advance the interests and welfare of the county and state. Mrs. Bowman's parents are both dceased, and the only one of the Jenkins family living in Nebraska is her brother Ben- jamine of Havelock, the others being residents of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are both mem bers of the fraternal order, the Yoemen of America. A family group picture of the Bow man family is presented on another page. J. I. BOWMAN AND FAMILY GROUP. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 953 0. JOHNSON. 0. Johnson, the subject of this personal his tory, was an early settler of this portion of the state, and watched its development and growth, lending his aid in the upbuilding of the com munity, and was highly estemed by all who knew him. . Mr. Johnson was born in 1857, in the state of Indiana, and later in life moved to Chicago, Illi nois, and in 1883, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded land in section twen ty-seven, township twenty-seven, range four, and on this land built a frame house, and planted ten acres in trees. Here he resided some little time, and then bought land in section thirty, township twenty-seven, range four, where he lived until January 21, 1911, on which day, while laboring under a period pf temporary aberration, he killed himself and wife. In the early days,, Mr. John son had his full share of hardships and losses experienced by those sturdy people who braved unknown experiences in the pioneer days. He lost numerous cattle in the blizzard of 1888, and in 1895, lost his entire crops in the hailstorm. Mr. Johnson was united in matrimony in 1888 to Miss Anna North, who was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had ten children born to them : Nellie, wife of Charles Brockesb ; Mary, who is married to Charles LaBord ; Lilliam, How ard, Charles, John James, LeRoy, Clifford and Leonard. They are a fine family. Mr. Johnson's two brothers enlisted in 1860, and served the union cause in the civil war, Olaf being wounded. Mr. Johnson was one of the leading citizens of his locality, and aided materially in the up building of his community. He owned four hun dred acres of land in Pierce county, and one hun dred and sixty acres in Antelope county. His homestead was a well-improved and desirable property. He was a member or the Methodist Episcopal church, and was also affiliated with the Order of Odd Fellows. In political faith he voted the republican ticket. FREDERICK W. VOGT. (Deceased.) Frederick W. Vogt was well known as one of the oldest settlers of Howard county, and a popu lar resident of Fairdale precinct. He was born September 24, 1846, in Coshocton county, Ohio, and died July 29, 1910, at Elba, Nebraska. Mr. Vogt was the ninth in a family of ten children, of whom but two brothers and three sisters are now living, father and mother also being deceased. He lived in Ohio until he was fourteen years of age, at that time going to Defi ance county, that state, where he followed farm work up to his twenty-first year. At that time he emigrated to Mills county, Iowa, and remained for three years, previously spending one year in Illinois, hi 1872, he came to Howard county, Nebraska, landing in the region in March of that year, and soon afterwards filed on a homestead, and proved up on the same. This was his home for a number of years, and during those early days, he passed through the usual pioneer exper iences, meeting with many discouragements in getting his home started. He later removed to section two, township fifteen, range eleven, which was their home farm until they moved to Elba, in October, 1909. He owned about two hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, all lying along the North Loup river, consisting of good bottom land, and on which he raises fine crops of grain. He had the place improved with good buildings of all kinds, well stocked, and. was recognized as a successful agriculturist. Mr. Vogt was married, December 29, 1872, at Silver City, Iowa, to Lulu Mothershed, who is a native of Clay county, Missouri, and who is now the only remaining member of her family. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt had nine children, seven now living, named as follows: E. L., who is county superintendent of schools in Howard county; Ernest William, married, and living near Elba; Frank A., residing in the same vicinity; Arthur N., farming on a homestead, adjoining his father's place; Thomas J., Samuel II. . and Lizzie Maud, living with their mother in Elba. They are very popular in the locality, having many friends, and the esteem of all with whom they came in con tact in a business or social way. Mr. Vogt was always active in local politics and educational interests, lending his best efforts to promote the general welfare. He was one of the prominent pioneers of Howard county, and as such was well know to hundreds throughout this country, and during his entire residence in this section, nothing but of good of him has ever been known. He was everyone's friend, and, indeed, to know him was to be his friend. His funeral was held at the United Brethren church, Rev. Mason conducting the services, but the church was not near large enough to hold the immense crowd who were present to pay their last respects to a departed friend and neighbor. The remains were laid to rest in the Fairdale cemetery, and he sleeps beside two of his chil dren, who died some years ago. The floral offer ings from loving relatives and friends were many and beautiful, and the entire community tendered heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. JOEL P. LANUM. Among the best-known men of Custer county, Nebraska, is Joel F. Lanum, now a prominent business man of Ansley, who has passed through the most important years of Nebraska's history. He is a native of Morrow county, Ohio, born March 20, 1851, eldest of six children born to Dennis and Phebe (Brown) Lanum, of Irish and 954 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. English descent, respectively. The father was born in Virginia, and the mother in Ohio, and both died in the latter state, he in July, 1896, and she, August 17, 1865. One daughter, Mrs1. Mary Bell, lives in Ohio, and four children are now deceased. Mr. Lanum grew to manhood on a farm in bis native state, and later engaged in farming on his own account: In 1868, he located on a farm in Macon county, Illinois, and he was married in that county, at the home of the bride's parents, to Miss Esther Ann Davis, a native of Pennsyl vania. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Arnold) Davis, natives of Pennsylvania, and the father of German descent. He died in Janu ary, 1901, and Mrs. Davis in 1897, both in Custer county. The Davis family came to Custer county in 1880, and secured a homestead. They are given further mention in connection with the sketch of John Davis, which appears in this work. Mrs. Lanum 's brothers and one sister are as follows: John Davis, of Ansley ; William Davis, of Broken Bow; Mrs. Hattie Arnold, of Custer county; George, of Wisconsin. Mr. • and Mrs. Lanum made their first home on their Illinois farm, and in the fall of 1881, he came west, looking for a suitable location for his family, securing a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, comprising tbe southeast quarter of section ten, township sixteen, range eighteen, which was the home place for a number of years. He secured a tree claiin of the same size, also, in Custer county, and developed a fine farm. He took an active interest in local affairs, and for many years served on the school board. In the early days of his residence in the state, he carried on freighting between Grand Island and Wester ville, a distance of eighty miles. In 1898, he left the farm, and moved to Ansley, where he erected a modern home for the family, and he has since conducted a large feed barn and livery. He is an enterprising and able business manager, and has been successful in his various investments. The family stand well in the community, and have many friends. Nine children have been born to Mr. Lanum and wife, as follows: Mrs. Mary B. Arnold, of Ansley; Rufus, of Custer county, has six chil dren; J. Dennis, of San Francisco, has five chil dren; Franklin, who lives near Ansley, has two children; John G., of Custer county, has one child; Perry of Ansley, has one child; William Kem, married, and living in Ravenna; Mrs. Lulu E. Gooch, of Ansley, has one child ; Judson C, at home. Mr. Lanum is known as a prosperous and energetic man of affairs, and besides several other desirable properties, owns three hundred and twenty acres of well-improved and equipped stock and grain farm land. OSCAR REEVES. Prominent among Madison county's old set tlers is Oscar Reeves, who has made this region his home many years, and during that time has always done his full share in aidirig in the devel opment of the agricultural resources of this sec tion of the country. Mr. Reeves lives on section twenty-one, township twenty-two, range three, where he has a fine home and valuable estate, and where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Reeves is a native of old Virginia, in which state his birth occurred, August 3, 1875. He is a son of J. C. and Cynthia (Cox) Reeves, who were natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respec tively. In 1876, our subject's father came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead in section twenty-one, School Craft, township range three, and immediately began to improve same, which was done under very great difficul ties and many discouragements. The first few years of residence here, the grass hopper pests, which devastated that region, de stroyed every spear of crops to be found for miles around. After their visits, the ground would be bare, with scarcely stubble enough to tell there had been anything growing there before. Prairie fires were another source of anxiety and danger in the pioneer days, and many times our subject's father and family were compelled to fight the treacherous flames that would come rushing on them almost unawares, the family often just bare ly saving their homes and lives. Deer and ante lope were plentiful in those days, and the family often saw them in herds, grazing on the open prairies. As late as 1894, which, by the way, was about the last calamity to visit this section of country, our subject lost the entire crops by the hot winds that burned all vegetation to a crisp, the winds being due to the terrible drouth which prevailed in that year. Mr. Reeves was united in marriage, February 22, 1900, to Miss Beatrice Clerk, a native of Ne braska, and a daughter of James and Sally (Casey) Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves became the parents of three fine children, named as follows: Howard, who died March 30, 1908; Cleava, who died April 20, 1908, and Norah, who died May 10, 1908, all dying of scarlet fever. DENTON V. JOYNER. Denton V. Joyner, a prominent citizen of Broken Bow, is one of Custer county's early set tlers, and has been identified with various business interests there. He has been actively interested in public affairs, and has held office as deputy under several county treasurers. He is, perhaps best known for his good work in the newspaper field, and has also been prominent as an educator Mr. Joyner was born in Taylor, New York July COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 955 8, 1857, the elder of two sons born to John J. and Dorcas D. (Cole) Joyner. His brother, Grove 0., also lives in Broken Bow. Mr. Joyner grew to manhood in his. native state, and received his ele mentary education in local schools. Later he attended Cincinnatus Academy, and was for a time a student in the . state normal school at Cortland, New Y'ork. On March 12, 1879, Mr. Joyner was married at Cincinnatus, New York, to Miss Emma A. Rob- bins, a native of New Yrork, where she had been a teacher before her marriage. Mr. Joyner him self had taught several years in the New York schools in early manhood, and in 1878 entered the journalistic field, editing the Cincinnatus "Register." In May, 1880, Mr. Joyner brought his wife and their daughter to Nebraska, remain ing in St. Paul, Howard county, until the spring of 1881. In 1880, in company with his father, he- made a trip into Custer county, and both took a filing on land, the son securing one hundred and sixty acres on the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, township eighteen, range twenty-two, and in the following spring, moved to his place, but six months later returned to St. Paul, where he served for a time as deputy county clerk. In 1887, Mr. Joyner was appointed deputy county treasurer, and later again entered the newspaper field by editing the "Republican" of Broken Bow. He served two years as clerk in the United States land office, and for seven and one-half years was manager of the central ele vator. He has served as deputy under three county treasurers: W. C. Bedwell, Walter A. George and John E. Cavanee, giving valuable service in this connection. He is one of the best known men in the county, and in early days passed through the experiences of frontier life, meeting all discouragements bravely and unfal teringly. He has been identified with the best interests of his county ahd state, and is recog nized as one of the county's most public-spirited citizens. Three children have been born to Mr. Joyner and wife: Winnifred L., in Lincoln; Harold R., married, and living in Broken Bow, has one child ; one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Joyner is a daughter of Horace and Lucretia (Matthews) Robbins. Her father, a native of Greene, New York, was of Puritan stock, and died in his native state in 1889. The mother, also a native of that state, is of Scotch extraction, and is now living at her birthplace, Cincinnatus. One daughter lives in New York. E. A. HARRSCH. E. A. Harrsch, an enterprising and prosper ous farmer of Knox county, Nebraska, owns one of the fine and valuable estates in the county. He is one of the pioneers of this region, , classed among the leading old settlers of his locality, who has watched the growth and progress of this part of the state of Nebraska from its early set tlement. Mr. Harrsch resides on section thirty- five, township thirty-one, range eight, and has a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Harrsch is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in that country in 1849, and is the son of Adolph Harrsch, who was also a native of Germany, being born in Wurtemberg in 1802. When but a small boy, our subject, with his par ents, came to America, and remained until he reached the age of nine years. His parents and family, including our subject, then went back to Germany, where they remained ten years. When Mr. Harrsch had attained the age of eighteen years, he migrated a second time to the United States. In 1869, Mr. Harrsch joined Company D, Twenty-second United States Infantry, at Fort Randall, and served five years. In 1873, Mr. Harrsch came to Knox county, Nebraska, and the following year, took up a home stead in section thirty-five, township thirty-one, range eight, on which land he built a log house. When this homestead was taken, he was still in the regular army, on detached service, and did not set tle on the claim until after he was discharged. He received his discharge in November, 1874. Mr. Harrsch had a discouraging time the first year of his residence on the homestead, the grass hoppers destroying his entire crops. Several years after locating on the place, he took a tree claim. Mr. Harrsch is now located as before stated, in section thirty-five, township thirty-one, range eight, where he, has one of the finest farms in the country, with a good spring of water right at his door. He has had discouragements and crop failures since locating here, among other exper iences having been hailed out in 1892, and the crops were a failure again in 1894, but through, it all he has prospered, and now owns four hun dred and sixty acres of fine land, and forty acres of trees, this being the largest acreage of trees in this part of the county. In 1882, Mr. Harrsch was united in marriage to Miss Anna Gesnitzer, and Mr. and Mrs. Harrsch are the parents of nine children, nameiy : Herman, Anna, Ernest, Richard, Hans, Robert (deceased), Adolph, Margaret and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Harrsch and family are highly respected in their community, and Mr. Harrsch is a popular citizen, having served bis constitu ents satisfactorily in the office of co,unty • super visor from 1888' to 1892. WILLIAM T. KIRK. William T. Kirk, now living a retired life at Plainview, Nebraska, has been a resident of this state for upwards, of forty years. His long and useful life has been spent mostly in the west on the frontier country, of which he has become thoroughly a part. 956 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Kirk is a native of Mason county, Ken tucky, born on November 30, 1845. He is a son of Washington and Amanda (Welles) Kirk, both reared in Mason county, of Scotch descent, although their ancestors had been residents of America since colonial. days. William grew up in his native county, and was married there. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he was engaged in farming, and at the call to arms enlisted in Company G, Sixteen Ken tucky Regiment, on the northern side, serving for three years with his company. He then re-enlisted under the same command, and saw hard service until the close of the war, being discharged on August 5, 1865. The first two years of his army experience was through Kentucky and Tennes see, and the remainder took him farther south, being under the command of General Schofield, in Sherman's army, in Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama. He participated in the march to the sea, and before the close of the war, was sent back to Tennessee under Thomas to hold Hood in check. Upon returning from the war, he continued to live in Mason county until coming to Nebraska, about 1871. The family came by train to Byeton, Missouri, thence by stage to Rulo, Nebraska, and there Mr. Kirk and his family made their home for one year, then rented a farm near the town, farming for six years. He disposed of his farm, and purchased a home in Rulo, engaging in the meat business, which he carried on for three years, at that time moving to Antelope county, arriving in the latter vicinity in the spring of 1881, locating on a farm, twelve miles west of Plainview. Two years later he filed on a home stead near by, occupying the place for seven years, then sold out, and retired to Plainview. He has been engaged in the meat and butcher business several times during his earlier residence in Plainview, in partnership with a son, but most of the time has lived a quiet life. He purchased an entire block in Peed's addition to the town erected a comfortable home, and there himself and his good wife enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries, free from care, and possess ing many warm friends in the community. Mrs. Kirk's maiden name was Mary B. Gait, daughter of Edward L. and Mary (Prather) Gait, old residents of Mason county, Kentucky, whose ancestry goes away back into the colonial times. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk have had .the following children, all living:, named as follows: Writer L., editor of the Creighton News, of whom a more extended sketch is found elsewhere in this work; Charles G., a soldier during the Spanish war in the third Nebraska regiment, is now farming; George W., now engaged in the real estate busi ness at Plainview; Joseph W., the youngest son, is employed as foreman on a section of the North western railway. He is owner of a fine farm in Burt county, which he has rented. Politically Mr. Kirk is an independent repub lican, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. FRANK 0. SEGER. Frank 0. Seger, residing in section, twenty- eight, township thirty, range two, of Knox county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its growth from the time of its early settlement. Mr. Seger is a native of Sweden, having been born in Linckoping province, in the year 1856, and is the son of A. P. and Johanna (Satterstedt) Seger, the mother passing to the great beyond when our subject was but a small boy. Mr. Seger received his education in Sweden, growing to his young manhood days there, and served his native country as a soldier in her army for seven years. In 1881, Mr. Seger left his native land tor America, sailing from Guttenberg, by way of Hull and Liverpool to New York, on a steamship. After landing on American shores, he first went to New Windsor, Illinois, where he remained two years, and then went to Moline, Illinois, where he worked five years in the plow factory. In 1888, Mr. Seger came to Knox county, Nebraska, and for fourteen years rented land in Dowling town ship, and in 1902, he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now has a well-improved place and fine home. Like so many of the earlier settlers of this region, Mr. Seger has experienced many hardships and dis couragements in getting a footing in the western country, but perservered in his faith of Nebraska soil and resources. His efforts and perseverance have been crowded with success, as he is now in a position to enjoy life in peace and comfort. Mr. Seger, since his first coming to Nebraska, has been a popular man in his community, which is due, most likely, to his many sterling qualities as a man, and his pleasing, friendly manner. He has held about all the township offices in his community, and has been assessor for eleven years. He is a republican in politics. Mr. Seger was united in marriage in 1877 to Miss Hulda Anderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Seger are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: David; Charles; Esther, who is the wife of Charles Berg; Elsie, Edith, Ernest and Oscar. Mr. and Mrs. Seger and family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Wausa. LOUIS N. POLTZ. This gentleman is among the best known resi dents of Boone county, his successful farming operations being the outcome of many years of faithful labor and judicious management. Mr. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 957 Foltz is one of the early settlers of Manchester precinct, and his elegant farm of two hundred and forty acres, situated one and a half miles north of Albion, is one of the best equipped for stock and grain raising in the locality. Louis N. Foltz was born near Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, on June 29, 1848, and had the good luck to be the seventh son of seVen sons in the family of Jacob and Nancy Foltz, the former a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Washington county, Maryland. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native county, and later attended the State Normal School of Pennsyl vania, also the normal school in Lebanon, Ohio. In his nineteenth year, he taught school several months, and after attending college for a short time, began teaching in Maryland, and contin ued for six years, afterwards teaching in Ohio for eight years. Mr. Foltz was married to Miss Mary C. Ben- choff in Washington county, Maryland, on the twenty-ninth day of December, 1874. A son was born to them there, and in 1884, the family came to Boone county, Nebraska. Mr. Foltz purchased railroad land on section fifteen, township twenty, range six, and this has been his home since that time, he now being owner of a fine farm of two hundred ,and forty acres. Here the family have gone through all the changes that have come to Boone county, often experiencing disappointment in the failure of crops, etc., but have finally be come i prosperous and successful. Mr. Foltz has been identified with the educa tional progress of his adopted county and state since locating here, being, during a large part of that time, engaged in teaching in the schools in addition to carrying on his farming operations. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz have two children: C. Fred Foltz, born February 4, 1876, who married Lois Barber, lives on the farm adjoining his fath er's place. They have three children, Catherine, Lucille and Frederick Donald. A daughter of our subject, Lulu B., married Dr. L. T. White on June 2, 1909, and they live in California. ROBERT S. M. FOX. Another well-known and highly esteemed old settler of northeast Nebraska is found in the per son of the gentleman whose name heads this arti cle. He has made this region his home since February, 1883, coming to Antelope county from Seward county in December, 1885, and during the time he has resided here, he has acquired a splendid property and a competence for himself, and in doing so, he has aided materially in the development and advancement of the commun ity. Mr. Fox is a native of Indiana, where he was born, October 4, 1838, a son of Jonas and Nancy Fox. Of five children born to his parents, he is the only one now living. His parents and grandparents died within a period of three months, and when Mr. Fox was a small child, he was taken by friends to Cass county, Michigan. It was in 1839 that he went to Cass county, Mich igan, and he remained there until 1861. At this time the Civil war broke out, and Mr. Fox promptly enlisted, joining Company A, Twelfth Michigan Infantry. He served through the entire war, and was under General Sherman until Sherman made his historical "March to the Sea." His first battle was at Pittsburg Landing, after wards participating in battles at Jackson, Mis sissippi; Vicksburg, Shiloh and Middleboro, Tennessee, besides a campaign with heavy marching in the southwest. He enlisted October 2, 1861, and received an honorable discharge, November 7, 1865, making for himself a credita ble war record of four years ' duration. In March, 1866, Mr. Fox went to Knox county, Illinois, where he resided for four years. Mr. Fox was united in marriage, February 21, 1864, to Miss Emma Drew. Mr. and Mrs. Fox are the parents of three children, named as fol lows: Prank; Linifred, who is married to Miss Harriet Gatenby; they have two children, Mary and Robert. May, the other daughter, resides at home. Mr. Pox settled in Antelope county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead in section two, township twenty-four, range seven, on which he built a sod house, and lived there two years; then re moved to near Neligh, where he rented land, living there nine years, and later bought the land where he now lives, which is located in section thirty-six, township twenty-six, range six. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land, and is surrounded in his pleasant home by a host of kind and loving friends and neighbors. Mr. Fox has always been a prominent and popular man in his community, and during the year 1892, was elected to the office of county commissioner, which office he creditably filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Fox also served as town clerk while living in Elgin township. ELLIS W. GIVEN. The Given family is one of the oldest in Custer county, and its members have always been identi fied with the best interests of their county and state. Ellis W. Given was born in West Virginia February 10, 1866, seventh of the ninth children of Robert and Mahulda (Jordan) Given. A sketch of the father appears in this work. He was an original homesteader in Custer county and a highly-respected and prominent citizen of the county until his death, April 3, 1899. The family moved from West Virginia to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1867, coming to Fillmore county, Nebraska, in 1878, and about six years later located in Custer county, where many of 958 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. its members have been well known in various movements for the progress and development of central Nebraska. In his eighteenth year, Ellis W. Given accom panied his parents to Custer county, having prev iously removed with them to Illinois, and later to Fillmore county. He turned his attention to farming, and is one of the prosperous young men of his part of the state. He is a pioneer, and has made his own way, through energy and ability, in his line of work. He now lives on one of the best farms in Custer county, a short distance north of Merna, on the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township eighteen, range twenty- one, where he has a large, modern home of eight rooms and bath, besides numerous closets. The house was erected in the fall of 1907, and was occupied in December of that year, Christmas dinner being the first meal in the new house. On Christmas day, 1895, Mr. Given married Kate Jacquot, a native of Illinois, born near Saunemin, Livingston county. She is a daughter of Nicholas and Josephine (Mitchell) Jacquot, pioneers of Custer county. Both parents are natives of Paris, Prance. The father, when about seventeen years of age, came to America about 1860, and the next year enlisting in a regiment of Illinois cavalry, served through the entire war. Mr. Given and wife have an interesting family of three children, all born in Custer county: Brooks, Ardetta and Robert. The fam ily is active in various public movements, and well known in social and educational circles. Mr. Given was in the fields at the time of the coming of the famous blizzard of January 12, 1888, but soon made his way to the house, where he remained until the storm was spent. Mr. and Mrs. Given are members of the Meth odist Episcopal church. In politics he is a dem ocrat, and is a member of the Royal Highlanders. RALPH C. CANNON. Ralph C. Cannon, one of the younger men among the early settlers of Custer county, is well and favorably known, and a progressive and suc cessful farmer. He is a native of Nebraska, born at Union, December 9, 1877, son of Samuel L. and Lottie T. (Young) Cannon, natives of Mis souri and Iowa, respectively, and now living in Broken Bow. He was the third of their five children, and has a brother, Elmer, living in Cus ter county ; two brothers, Cleon and Joseph, living in Broken Bow, and one sister in that city. In his early childhood, the family lived for one year in California, and thence he was brought by his parents to Custer county, and there reached ma turity. He was educated in the local schools, and, after reaching his majority, purchased land, and engaged in farming on his own account. On December 25, 1902, Mr. Cannon was mar ried in Custer county, at the home of her parents, to Miss Daisy Thornton, a native of Iowa, who came to the county with her parents in 1884. She is a daughter of William and Flora (Goode) Thornton, who came to Custer county in 1884. The father, a native of Scotland, who came to America in 1863, died March 24, 1902, and his widow still resides on the old home farm in Cus ter county. Besides Mrs. Cannon, there are two sons, Walter and Frank, and five daughters in the county. Mrs. Cannon was a teacher in the public schools before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon now live on his father's homestead, on section thirty-one, township seventeen, range eighteen, of which we are pleased to show a view on one of the illustrated pages. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon have four children, three • of whom survive : Mildred, died in 1907 ; Grace Mabel, Ralph Dean and Samuel Leland. Mr. Cannori is a patriotic son of Nebraska, where his entire life has been spent, and has a good standing in his community, where he is recognized as an , enterprising and public-spirited citizen, interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare, and ready to do his part to advance any worthy cause. He and his wife have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Cannon and his brothers were at school the day of the January blizzard of 1888, their father coming for them, and conducted them safely home. Mrs. Cannon, then a little girl, was returning from a visit in Iowa with an uncle. They reached Lincoln, and remained there until the storm was over. In politics Mr. Cannon is a republican. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. DWIGHT PIERCE. (Deceased.) Among those who materially aided in the development, of the state may be mentioned the Pierce family. They have been in Nebraska since 1878, and consequently took part in the common struggle with the wilderness and the forces of nature, which ended with the triumph of progress and civilization. Two generations of this family have nobly aided their country in time of war. The elder Pierce, now deceased, was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in February, 1865, in Company H, Forty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, serving seven months. Falling ill from exposure, he returned home on a hospital boat after the close of the war. The son, George, was a member of Company B, Second Nebraska' Vol unteers, in the Spanish-American war. He con tracted fever at Camp Chickamauga, and, after transfer to the hospital at Omaha, was a 'conva- lascent there several months before being strong enough to return home. Dwight Pierce, the principal subject of this sketch, was born in Cortland county, New York on February 11, 1832, a son of Seril and Betsey (Peckham) Pierce. Pie remained here until he RESIDENCE OF RALPH C. CANNON. "RIVERVIEW FARM," RESIDENCE OF L. D. PIERCE. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 959 was about eight years of age, when the family moved to Cattaraugus county, New York. He learned the trade of blacksmith here, and in 1851 returned to Cortland county. Pour years later, he joined the movement to the west, and went to Rock county, Wisconsin. On January 27, 1857, he was married in Clin ton, Rock county, Wisconsin, to Miss Sarah E. Northway, a native of Cardif, Onondaga county, New York, a resident of this vicinity. Her par ents, Dyer and Abagail (Kirk) Northway, lived in Syracuse until about 1850, when they moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, when Sarah was about twelve years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce made their home in Wisconsin for many years, but in May, 1878, Mr. Pierce chartered a car through to Grand Island, Nebraska, and loaded in their household goods, farming implements, teams and stock, and, with his son, Louis, started for the west. The remainder of the family joined him in June, on the farm he purchased, in Springdale township, on the north side of Loup river. Here he resided, giving his time and attention to the cultivation of his farm, and the raising of fine stock, up to the time of his death, which occurred on the twenty-second of January, 1906. The old farm is still in the hands of the Pierce family, being now -the residence of the son, Louis D. Pierce, with whom the mother makes her home. Mr. Pierce was an ardent republican, and was a local leader in his party, and, although he would never accept political preferment, he was always a prominent worker for the party's candidates and cause. State and national officials always sought his counsel in local matters, and his influ ence helped other men into coveted public office. The younger son, 0eorge> was married in North Loup, Valley county, on the thirteenth of April, 1904, to Miss Nora Miller. He was a resi dent of Valley county from 1888 to the time of his death in November, 1908, with the exception of a year spent in California. His wife and two children, Merrill and Mona, are residents, of Ord. The older son, Louis D., was born in Peek county, Wisconsin, on November 10, 1861. He lived in Wisconsin until he was seventeen, when he made the memorable trip to Valley county with his father. He was married in New York state on December 26, 1888, to Miss Mary Curtis, a daughter of Luther and Wrexaville (French) Curtis, both of whom died in New York. Mr. Pierce and his bride made their home in Nebraska until 1891, when they removed to New York, residing in that state until 1909, when they again came to Valley county. They now live on the old farm in section twenty-six, township nineteen, range thirteen, of which we show a sketch on another page. The dwelling, perched on a hill, gives a commanding view of the North Loup and the valley, and is known as River View Farm. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have three children, Luther D., Dorothy Curtis and Abigail Northway. Mr. Pierce joined a party of Burlington sur veyors while they were employed in Valley county, and spent a year with them, from the spring of 1887 until the spring of 1888, locating the lines of the road in the Black Hills. The first five years in Nebraska, the Pierce family lived in a large log dugout, which was known far and wide as the best furnished and best kept dwelling of the kind in all the Loup country. This is also a subject of illustration in our work. There were many deer in the valley when the family first settled here, herds of them sometimes being seen from the door. MARTIN H. LEAMEY. Martin H. Leamey, one of the leading mem bers of the Pierce county bar, first came to Plain- view, Nebraska, early in August, 1887, to become superintendent of the Plainview schools, which were under his efficient management for two years, after which, for two years more, he con tinued to teach in the county. He then, in April, 1891, became cashier of the Bank of Plainview, and remained in that position until December, 1894. At that time, he went to Omaha, and entered the law school there, became connected with the law office of Brome & Burnett, and was admitted to the practice of law in Nebraska, January 25, 1895, and opened an office in Plain- view in November of that year. Prom January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1899, he served as county attorney. In December, 1899, he* removed to Blair, Nebraska, and two years later to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he remained in practice four years. He next located in Clark county, South Dakota, and in 1906, returned to Pierce county, since which time he has been giving strict attention to his growing practice at Plain- view. On March 1, 1910, he removed to Pierce, succeeding to the practice of W. W. Quincy when the latter removed to western Nebraska, adding that clientage to his own. Mr. Leamey was born at Gardener, Massachu setts, November 10, 1860. He is a graduate of the high school at Petersham, Massachusetts, and Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. He also took a course at Campbell Normal University at Holton, Kansas, and the Western Normal at Shenandoah, Iowa. He taught one year each at Princeton and Petersham, Massachusetts, before coming west. His parents, Michael and Honora (Harty) Leamey, were na tives of Ireland. Mr. Leamey was married in Plainview, Ne braska, December 23, 1897, to Miss Emma Wal- radt, a native of Cass county, Nebraska, daughter of George and Laura (Stocking) Walradt, natives of Cherryville, New York, and Lansing, Michi- 960 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY, gan, respectively. The grandfather, Moses Stock ing, was one of the earliest pioneers of Nebraska. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leamey, whose names are as follows: Mary, Harold, Florence and Manota. Mr. Leamey is an independent republican in politics, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge at Plainview. Our subject was teaching in Nebraska during the severe blizzard of January 12, 1888, and was prudent enough to keep the, children at the school house all night. Though they might be hungry, they were kept safe and warm. There was in tense suffering and many deaths all over the west in this storm, because of the lack of forethought to remain indoors. young people, the two eldest daughters being teachers in the public schools of Howard county. The family have a pleasant home and a large circle of friends in their community. NIELS JENSEN. Prominent among the self-made men of How ard county, Nebraska, is the gentleman above named, who is a prosperous farmer and stock man of Dannebrog precinct. His farm is situated on section thirty-three, and is improved with a good residence, farm buildings of all kinds, and other improvements that go to make up a model country place. " Niels Jensen is a native of Denmark. He was born February 1, 1842, and spent his boyhood there. His parents spent their entire lives in their native land, dying there quite a number of years ago. In 1872, our subject came to America, his first location being in Racine, Wisconsin, where his brother, Johan Jensen, had settled a short time before, and he spent six years in that locality, working as teamster, etc. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Jensen and his wife came into Howard county, Nebraska, where the former purchased eighty acres of railroad land. He erected a rude shanty, and began to develop a farm, which for quite a long time was very up hill work, as there were no conveniences in the way of machinery, the seasons were often dry, and crops would not do well, and they saw much hardship and privation before they were able to make any headway, barely being able to make a living for themselves. However, as conditions became more favorable, Mr. Jensen was able to' accumulate considerable property, occupying the original homestead since first coming here, besides purchasing other land, all of which he has put in first-class shape. He now owns two hundred acres, all in Dannebrog precinct. Mr. Jensen was married at Racine, Wisconsin. to Carrie Rasmussen, and of this union one child was born, both mother and child now being dead. In June, 1882, our subject was married the second time to Dorothy Caroline Jorgensen, and to them have been born six children, namely. Kornerup, Harriett, Elinor, Joshua, Ebbe and Adelaide. They are all bright and intelligent WILLIAM H. H. RAMSEY. William H. H. Ramsey, retired farmer, who resides in Ord, Nebraska, where he has a pleasant home, and is surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances, is a son of John P. and Eliza (Garison) Ramsey, and was born in Bergen county, New Jersey, February 13, 1840. He was fourth in a family of eight children, and has one brother living in Pennsylvania, two brothers and three sisters in New Jersey, and one sister is deceased. The parents were of German descent, the father having died in 1883, and the mother passed away one year later, in 1884, both deaths occurring in New Jersey. Mr. Ramsey grew to manhood on the farm in his native state, and when seventeen years of age, was bound out for three years to leara masonry, and followed his trade thereafter for a number of tyears. On August 2, 1861, he married Sarah L. Williams, who was born in Rockland county, New York state. On April 26, 1864, Mr. Ramsey enlisted in Company A, Fifth New Jersey Infantry, serving until close of war. He received his honorable discharge, November 28, 1865, in New York City, with a creditable war record of his year's service. He participated in the battle at Cold Harbor, where he was wounded and unfitted for field service. Later he did duty at Castle Garden, New York, and was then made warden in the hospital at Fort Schuyler, New York. After the war, he returned to his home in New Jersey,. working at. his trade until a few years later, when he moved to La Grange, Michigan, engaging in mercantile business for nearly six years. In the fall of 1877, Mr. Ramsey came with his wife and six children to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, also pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres adjoin ing, which remained the home place for over thirty years. This farm was located on the north west quarter of section thirteen, township nine teen, range sixteen. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, namely: Mary, wife of J. H. Capron, they having two children, and reside in Ord ; William, who is married, lives in Ord, and has two children ; Truxton, married, has three children, and lives in Idaho ; Margaret, who is the wife of J. A. Wentworth, resides in Ord, and has four children; Angeline, wife of Ernest Orcutt, has one child, and lives in Ord; John, who is married, also has one child, and resides in Ord; Edna, wife of Charles Jackson, lives in South Dakota; one daughter, Eliza, died in infancy. The Ramseys are among the early settlers of Valley county, and are widely and favorably known. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 961 Mrs. Ramsey's father, Truxton Williams, lives in Rockland county, New York, at the ad vanced age of ninety-one years. Her mother, Angeline (Springsteen) Williams, died in 1897, in New York state. Mrs. Ramsey has one brother residing in Jersey City, New Jersey, and another brother and one sister are residents of New York state. Mr. Ramsey is a prosperous, successful man of affairs, owns a fine four-hundred-and-eighty-acre stock farm in Noble township, Valley county, this being a well-improved and equipped farm. He also owns considerable western land in Colorado and Idaho. In 1904, Mr. Ramsey retired from the farm, and moved to Ord, where he built a good home, where they now live, although they make their summer home in Idaho, near the Hot Springs. JOHN M. GILTNER. Wherritt. Mr. and Mrs. Giltner are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows: Mayme, Martha, Josie and Bessie. Mr. Giltner is one of the substantial citizens of northeastern Nebraska, and is always keenly interested in all pertaining to the best interests of his home state and county. He is a democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Among the men who have helped in the devel opment and success of northeastern Nebraska, the gentleman above named occupies a prominent place. He has built up a pleasant home and good property of five hundred and sixty acres in Madi son county, where he resides on section five, town ship twenty-two, range two, west. For the past twenty-seven years, Mr. Giltner has been closely identified with the development of Madison county, and his labors to this end are well known to all in his community. Mr. Giltner is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, his birth occurring March 1, 1854. He is a son of Martin and Martha (Penn) Giltner, who were also natives of old Kentucky. Mr. Giltner comes from a good family, both on the maternal and paternal side. Henry Giltner, our subject's great-uncle, was the first Presbyterian minister to hold services in Nebraska. On the maternal side, Mr. Giltner can trace his ancestry back to William Penn, a fact of which he is justly proud. In April of 1883, Mr. Giltner came to Nebraska from Marysville, Missouri, making his entry into the state by mule team, he having driven the entire journey by this means. After arriving in Nebraska, he purchased the Alden Dudley home stead. He has steadily improved this land, until now he has a good farm and home, where he is surrounded by many good friends. During his several years of residence in Madi son county, Mr. Giltner has experienced the many hardships that beset the early settler in this re gion, and as late as 1894, the crops, as ' well as all vegetation of every description, were de stroyed and burned by the hot winds that were the result of the terrible drouth that prevailed during that season. November 2, 1880, Mr. Giltner was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Wherritt, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Sidney and Annie . FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS GREER, M. D. Dr. Plavius Josephus Greer is an early Ne braskan, and one who has passed through the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life. He is one of the best known men in Custer county, and has long been identified with its progress and devel opment. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, October 22, 1841, youngest of the nine children of George and Sarah (Lee) Greer. The father was bora in Maryland, of German ancestry, and the mother was born in Ohio, of Irish extraction. Both died in York county, Nebraska, the father in 1895 and the mother in 1877. But three niembers of the family now survive: Miss Mary Greer, of Callaway; W. II. Greer, of Forest Grove, Oregon, and Dr. Greer. Dr. Greer was reared on. a farm in Ohio, receiving his elementary education in the public schools. Later he was a student in Harlem Springs, Ohio, and still later studied medicine. He was married at Springfield, Ohio, May 5, 1863, to Sabina J. Noble, a native of Carroll county, and daughter of David and Sarah (Pow ell) Noble, the father a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and of Irish extraction, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania, of German ex traction. Both died in Carroll county, he in March, 1875, and she about 1883. Mrs. Greer has a sister and two brothers in Carroll county, and her brother, Barzilla, is living on the home farm, which was obtained by his parents from the gov ernment in 1832. Dr. and Mrs. Greer established their first home in their native county, where they lived until April, 1866, when they went to Rome, Iowa, and there he opened up his first office for the practice of his profession. In May, 1871, he made a trip into Nebraska, looking for a suitable location, traveling from Lincoln to Seward on the first train that passed over the Burlington railroad there. He filed an entry on one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he entered as a pre emption. This place was located ten miles north west of York, on Lincoln creek. Soon afterward, he returned to Iowa, and, although he made sub sequent trips to York county, it was not until January 31, 1873, that he came with his wife and children to establish a home there. In the spring of 1874, he moved into York where he opened a drug store, and engaged iii medical practice. He remained in York until 1889, and. later lived in Madison and Gage coun- 962 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ties for short periods. In the spring of 1885, the family moved to southwestern Kansas, but in 1888, returned to York county, Nebraska. They came on to Callaway, Custer county, in June, 1890, and Dr. Greer has since continued his prac tice there, although his interests have been broad and varied. He has been engaged in the drug business much of the time, and has also been interested in the stock business and real estate. He served several years on the town board of York, and, later on the board at Callaway, and is a well-known and popular citizen. He stands well in his profession, and has many friends in various circles. Six children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Greer : James A., married and living in Perkins county, has four children; Cora, who died in August, 1888 ; Harley E., married, and living in Perkins county, Nebraska, has three children; George N., married, and living in Callaway, has two children; Lydia K., wife of R. R. Barnard, of Callaway; Sadie G., wife of William P. Zum- brunn, of Kansas City, Missouri. PRANK P. RORK. Among the highly respected residents of How ard county, Nebraska, who has always worked for the best interests of his county and state, and by his energy and push has helped build up the section to the thriving and productive region it nas now become, we mention the name of Frank F. Rork as a leader. He has succeeded in accum ulating a nice property for himself, having a fine two hundred and forty acre farm, which he occu pies as a homestead, his residence being on sec tion thirty of St. Libory precinct. Mr. Rork also owned a half section of land, five' miles north of his home place, which he sold in 1910. Frank F. Rork is a native of Union City, Penn sylvania, born October 16, 1865, and was the youngest of his father's family of three children. His father, Patrick Rork, was a pioneer of How ard county, coming here in 1879, and purchasing homestead privileges on section thirty, township thirteen, range nine. After getting settled on the place, he sent for his wife, son and two daughters, and together they began the work of establishing a permanent home, going through the hardships and privations incidental to the life on the fron tier in those years, but ever having in mind the hope of at last attaining success through energy and thrift, which has come to them in a large measure. They stuck to their claim, and gradually built up a good and comfortable home, the father dying on the homestead in 1890, and his wife surviving him for five years. One daughter is married, and now lives in Hall county, while the other, also married, resides in Loup county. Our subject has spent his entire life here practically, receiving his education in the local schools. He has fol lowed farming constantly, after his father's death assuming entire charge of the home farm, on which he still lives. Mr. Rork was married in St. Libory on April 30, 1895, to Miss Kate O'Neill, who is a native of Wisconsin, and came to Howard county with her parents, Hugh and Mary O'Neill, in 1894. They have an interesting family of nine children, all at home, named as follows: Frank, Raymond, George, William, John, Mary, Leonard, Elizabeth and Robert. Their home is one of the pleasantest ever visited, and is a hospitable spot to all who are fortunate enough to be among their acquaintances. During 1892, 1893 and 1894, Mr. Rork held the office of county commissioner, and has also held minor local office, being a populist in politics. FRED W. PILGER. Among the early settlers of southeastern Ne braska, who have been instrumental in the growth of the agricultural and financial interests of that region, a prominent place is given the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review. He has always been found ready to further the interests of the community where he chose his home, and has gained a wide and enviable repu tation as a worthy citizen and substantial agri culturist, having built up a fine farm and home in section nineteen, township twenty-seven, range four, Pierce county, his present location. Mr. Pilger was born, August 20, 1850, in Washington county, Wisconsin, and is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Young) Pilger, natives of Germany, who were married in Wisconsin. In 1868, Mr. Pilger went from Wisconsin to Omaha, remaining there a year and a half, going thence to Franklin county, Nebraska, where he' filed on a homestead in the Republican River valley. Bloomington, the county seat, was located adjoining his farm. There were but four teen settlers in the county at the time of his com ing. He resided here seventeen years, and in the fall of 1888, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, which his since been his home. .He rented for sev eral years in Pierce and Antelope counties, and bought his present place in 1895. He now owns two hundred acres of land. In Franklin county, Mr. Pilger lived in a dugout for five years, and then built a frame house. Kearney was the nearest market place, fifty miles distant, and for the first two years he had to make the jourriey to market and back by ox team. He "batched it" for nearly six years before finding a helpmeet to share his possessions and occupy the new frame house. April 19, 1875, Mr. Pilger was married to Miss Alice Lamb. Eight children have been born to them: Frank, who married Mabel Searle, and has two children, served three terms as county superintendent of schools of Pierce county; Le COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 963 Roy, who married Myrtle Abey, has four chil dren, and farms in Holt county; Lottie, married Edward Samuelson, and lives near Wayne; Carl, who married Bertha Vosberg, and has two chil dren, occupies the home with his father; Veta, married Burrell Wright, of Dixon; Fred, runs the Holt County Bank at Dorsey; Luella is a teacher of Pierce county; and Fern. Mr. Pilger endured his full share of the hard ships and privations of the pioneer days, and, among other calamities, he suffered the entire loss of his crops for two years by drouth, and two years by grasshoppers. He was fortunate in heing at home at the time of the bad blizzards. His son, Frank, was a mile from home on the day of the blizzard of January 12, 1888. He drove the cattle into a grove for water at noon, and was at home at dinner when the storm broke. Prairie fire once came near burning his residence. He plowed a fire guard, but the fire jumped over it, being extinguished, however, before, reaching the house. The town of Pilger, named for our sub ject 's father, who settled in Stanton county in 1873, is located on his farm. Mr. Pilger is independent in politics, always casting his vote for the man, regardless of the party. E. L. PISCHEL. A prominent old settler is found in the person of the gentleman herein mentioned. Mr. Pischel has been closely identified with the history of the development and groAvth of Knox county, and the irajroundine- country, for forty years or more. during which time he has built up a godd estate and home, and, incidentally, gained a good repu tation as a worthy citizen and a progressive agri culturist. Mr. Pischel is a prominent man in his community, and is postmaster of Pischelville post-office, to which office he was appointed by President Harrison in 1884. He also owns the Pischelville merchandise store, and resides on sec tion twenty-six, township thirty-two, range eight, where he has lived since settling in Nebraska. Mr. Pischel is, indeed, an old-timer in every sense of the word, he having come here when but ten years of age. Mr. Pischel is a native of Bohemia, his birth occurring in the year of 1860, and he grew to the age of six years in his native land. In 1866, Mr. Pischel, with his parents, Anton and Maria Pischel, came to America, the father, like so many of the sturdy sons of foreign climes, having heard the promising accounts of the new world, where fortunes were to be gained, and land was cheap. They sailed from Bremen and landed in New York in 1866. After reaching the United States, the family came direct to Chicago, where they remained four years, the father plying his occupation of merchant tailor. From Chicago the family came to Sioux City, and took a boat up the river to Knox county, Nebraska, where they settled, taking up a homestead in section tAventy-six, township thirty-two, range eight, on which land they built a log house, and, later, our subject took up a tree claim. Here the family lived the life of the early pioneer, but perhaps suffering hardships and losses to a greater degree than most people, as their advent to Nebraska oc curred much earlier than that of the average old settler. Ox teams were the means of transporting to and from market in those times. In the first years of settlement, the grasshoppers destroyed every spear of the crops, which was not a very encour aging beginning. The Indians were a constant source of anxiety on the part of the very earliest settlers of, this region, including our subject and the family, and were on the verge of outbreaks on several occasions. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and could frequntly be seen browsing in the vicinity. In 1894, there was another total failure of crops, but which did not affect the family to such a great extent as in the first years of their settlement here. Mr. Pischel, as before stated, is a very prom inent man in his section, and among the honors he has had conferred upon him, he served his constituency as county treasurer, being elected to that office in 1887, and also creditably held the office pf county commissioner. In 1884, Mr. Pischel was united in marriage to Miss Theressa Deitz, and Mr. and Mrs. Pischel are the parents of eleven children. GEORGE W. HOWE. George W. Howe first set foot bn Nebraska soil on .entering Omaha in 1856 from Council Bluffs, to spend a week or ten days in the Ne braska metropolis, which at that time was merely a small frontier town. Two years elapsed before his next visit, at which time he came to Fort Ran dall, which was then in the territory of Nebraska, later being transferred to Dakota, and eventually becoming a part of the state of Nebraska. The greater part of Mr. Howe 's career has been spent on the frontier, and he has had considerable deal ings with Indians during earlier years. This is noticed in his manner of speech, which is slow and deliberate, and is a characteristic of their race. Mr. Howe is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, born October 15, 1835. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and followed that occupation during his lifetime. George lived in his native county until his sixteenth year, when the family came west, settling in Payette county, Iowa, where an elder brother had filed on a home stead claim. When he was but eleven years of age, our subject began to support himself by working on a farm, and on arriving in Iowa, he obtained employment in a saw mill, which' he followed for about two years, then migrated to 964 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Minnesota, that state being opened at that time for settlement. He remained there during the winter, spending his summers on the farm in Iowa. As above stated, he came to Nebraska in 1858 for settlement, taking a claim in the north east corner of Holt county, and so far as is known, was the first settler to prove up in that section of the state, his first proofs being made in 1871. He remained in the region of Fort Randall, part of the time in Dakota, and the balance in Nebras ka, and also spent nearly one year in Montana. In 1864, Mr. Howe married a member of the Ponca tribe, and secured an allotment of two hundred and eighty acres in the Missouri river bottoms, a part of the Ponca reservatios in Boyd county, and each of his ten living children have since received an allotment of land. Mr. Howe's wife was a Miss Lucile Le Claire, whose father was a French fur trader, and their children are named as follows: Elizabeth, wife of Albert Frasier, who at one time was a missionary in the band ruled by Sitting Bull; Hannah, now Mrs. Charles Frasier, cousin of Albert, and en gaged in missionary work in Tripp county; Ed ward Howe, farming in Boyd county ; Alice, mar ried, and living on the Ponca reservation; Ar nold, with his sister in Tripp county; Ida, wife of Edgar Burton, a farmer of Bridgeport; Ben, of Verdel ; and George J., living at home, a grad uate of the Genoa Indian School, and local repre sentative of the Mutual Life Insurance Company; John is next in order, and Rebecca, the youngest, is the wife of Daniel Ducker, and lives in Com stock, Nebraska. Since his marriage, Mr. Howe has takeri a prominent part in Indian affairs, and is well versed in their mode of living, and the legends connected with the different tribes. At one time he was able to speak fluently in the Ponca and Sioux tongues. He was # wagon master of the expedition under Inspector Kimball, when, in 1877, the Poncas were removed to Indian terri tory. At the time of the famous massacre at New Ulm, Minnesota, he was at Independence, Iowa, on a visit, and it was shortly after this time that the Santees were removed to Knox county, following their surrender. One of Mr. Howe's earliest recollections is a band of one hundred and fifty buffaloes on the reservation, and another of seeing a pair of them j between Yankton and Bon Homme. He was | hunting with a party of Indians near the conflu ence of the Big and Little Elkhorn, when the first settlers came through that section, seeking a location, and at this point Norfolk later sprang into being. The travelers were considerably frightened, but a white man among the band of Indians reassured them, and put them at their ease. Wild game was plentiful at that time, and the first to fall a victim to his gun was an ante lope, which crossed Mr. Howe's path on a hunt ing trip through the country, where Bazile Mills is now located. For a time Mr. Howe held a license to trade with the Indians, and made use of the privilege to some extent. Mr. Howe was a member of the Odd Fellows while living in Iowa, but later, on account of nearly all his time being spent on the plains, he allowed his membership to lapse. JOHN W. DOVER. Many sons from English soil have given of their energy and strength of purpose in helping to build up what was some few years ago a barren and wild waste of prairie, and have endured almost incredible hardships and dangers in sc doing. John W. Dover, the subject of this biographical writing, is one of those mentioned above, and after thirty-six years of varied experiences on the western frontier, is now amply repaid for his endurance and faithfulness to the state and county, where he chose his home many years ago. Mr. Dover resides on his fine farm, which is located in section twenty-four, township twenty- two, range one, west, Madison county, where he and his family enjoy the respect and esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Dover is a native of England, born in 1852 in Westershire, a son of James and Jane (Nicholson) Dover, also natives of England. The father was a Morocco leather dresser by occupa tion, and had plied that trade all through the years of his residence in his native land. Mr. Dover and his parents left their native country in the year 1865, sailing by way of Liver pool to New York, on the steamship "Jeremiah Tompson," and after reaching America, they proceeded to Delaware county, Iowa, where they located, and remained for ten years. In 1875, the family moved to Madison county, Nebraska, taking up a homestead in section twenty-six, township twenty- two, range one,_ west, and on this land built a good frame house. Our subject worked one year on the Craig & Clark ranch, when he first came to Nebraska. In the earliest days of settlement in Madison county, the Dover family went through many hardships and dangers. In the blizzard of 1888, our subject lost considerable cattle in the terrible storm of snow and sleet, a storm that will ever live in the memories of those who witnessed it, and as late as 1894, Mr. Dover suffered losses through the hot winds, which were occasioned by the terrible drouth that devastated the coun try. The nearest market places in the pioneer days were Columbus and Wisner, both being several miles distant. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those times, and could frequently be seen brousing around. Mr. Dover was united in marriage in 1881 to RESIDENCE AND FAMILY OF L. MICK. Compendium op history, reminiscence and biography. Miss Susie Manning, and Mr. and Mrs. Dover are the parents of eleven children, whose names are as follows : Eva, Pearl, James, Grace, May, John, Myrtle, Susie, Roy, Lena and Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Dover and family are highly respected in their community, and Mr. Dover is well known throughout this section of the state as a substantial and progressive citizen, a credit to his home county. JOSEPH SITTLER. Joseph Sittler, who has a well-improved stock and grain farm in Custer county, is oiie of the pioneers of central Nebraska, having the respect and regard of a wide circle of sincere friends. He has long been identified with the upbuilding and development of his part of the state, and is recognized as an upright, qseful citizen. He is a native of Wheaton, Illinois, his father having been a resident of Dupage county for a period of sixty years. Mr. Sittler was born, November 17, 1857, the fifth child of Oswald and Mary (Vogel) Sittler, who were parents of five sons and four daughters. He lived on a farm a mile and a half from Wheaton until reaching his twen ty-first year, and received his education in the excellent public schools of his native state. The father still lives on the home farm, and there are three sons and four daughters now surviving, all being residents of Illinois, except Joseph, and one son who lives in Iowa, the former being the only one of the family to come to Nebraska. On July 3, 1878, Mr. Sittler came to Harvard, Clay county, Nebraska, making the trip alone. He first worked on a farm in that county, and, after remaining there six months, spent fourteen months in Douglas county. On April 17, 1880, he came to Custer county from Harvard, making part of the trip in company with Jacob Perice, who left him at Lee Park. Mr. Sittler came to the northwestern part of the county, Broken Bow at that time not being laid out as a town. He was one of the first settlers in the neighborhood, the other five being: William Corcoran, Andrew Sommer, Al Thomas, David Kinleyside and John Jacquot. Mr; Sittler secured a homestead on the northeast quarter of section twenty-five, town ship eighteen, range twenty-two, and also a tim ber claim on the northeast quarter of section one, township seventeen, range twenty-two. There was then only one log cabin in that immed iate neighborhood, and the inland post-office was established at New Helena about that time, the mail coming from Loup City. For some time, their nearest trading points were Plum Creek (now Lexington^and Kearney. The early settlers in the northwestern part of Custer county did their trading at Grand Island, Hall county, pro curing lumber and various household supplies. Mr. Sittler was married, May 1, 1884, on the Sommer homestead, to Amanda Read, the cere mony being performed by Judge Sommer, justice of the peace. Mrs. Sittler belongs to a pioneer family. Mr. and Mrs. Sittler lived on the home stead farm until 1888, and they have lived all their married life in Custer county. They have nine children living: Chauncey J., married, and resides in Merna; Cora Emma, Oswald H., Alma Leila, Adelbert W., Mabel Effie, Arthur E., Inez Mary and Clinton D., all natives of the county. The family now reside on the west half of section nine, township seventeen, range twenty-one, where they have a well-equipped farm and sub stantial buildings. Mr. Sittler is one of the best known men in the county, and in years past has served as justice of the peace, and filled various other local offices. LEWIS MICK. Lewis Mick, a prominent farmer, living on section thirty-three, township twenty-two, range two, east, is well known throughout this section as a progressive and successful citizen, who has done his full share toward the development of the community. He is highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do, and well merits the high station which he holds. Mr. Mick is a native of West Prussia, and was born in 1865, the son of Benhart and Chris tina Mick. He received his education in his na tive land, and remained at home, helping his parents, until 1881. He had by that time come to the conclusion that America offered more oppor tunities to the average young man than were to be found any place else, so he came across the ocean to New Yrirk, and immediately made his way to the state of Michigan, where he remained for a little over a year. His next move was to Colfax county, Nebras ka, where he worked for various farmers for wages until 1889. This was quite an important year for him in more ways than one. It was then that he was married to Miss Amelia Tiply, who has been a worthy helpmeet for him. Then, too, it was that same year that he came to Stanton county, and bought the farm which has been the family home ever since. He has added many improvements to the place since buying it, so that its value has been much enhanced thereby. He now has a comfortable and cozy home, very pleasantly located. Mr. and Mrs. Mick are the parents of three children: Christina, Hattie and Edward. They are prominent among the old settlers. In these days of peace and of correct organi zation of the judiciary and other departments of the state, one reads as a chapter in a novel such narratives of happenings which befell the early settlers of the then new state of Nebraska. Mr. Mick has passed through much expert ience in his pioneer days, which would make good material for such chapters; His association with 966 Compendium of -history, reminiscence and biography. the cattle ranches of the west was a school that instructed men in the fundamental principle of "Live and let live" — if proven worthy — and of swift justice meted out to a culprit should he be found unworthy. He was, for a period of years, foreman on the Blow Ridge ranch, which was owned by W. T. Blodgett, of New Ytork, and while in this capacity he formed the acquaintance of the woman who is now his wife, and who also assisted in the ranch work, she in the domestic economy branch of the service. He also had to do with the Marshall Field ranch and the Wichert ranch. On October 8, 1896, he was returning home from a trip, on which he had sold a load of hogs in the market, and while in the vicinity of the Wichert ranch, he was attacked and beaten by two ruffians, and while in an unconscious condi tion was robbed by them of his money and per sonal belongings. Neighbors assisted him to his home, and while he was lying in a subconscious condition, he could see, as does a clairvoyant, the actions of the robbers as they sat in a room of a deserted building, and divided the booty, and hid it in the recess of a chimney corner. So vividly impressed was he, that upon gaining strength, he started for the county seat to notify the authori ties, and on the way met the sheriff, who returned with him, and, guided by the strange vision, he went direct to the hiding place, recovered the loot, and turned the robbers over to the officers of the law, and so positive was the evidence in the court trial, that the malefactors were given penitentiary sentences. A picture Of the family, as well as the family residence, appears on another page of this vol ume. THEODORE SYNOVEC. Among the prosperous young farmers of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal review deserves much praise for his strict attention to duty and perse verance in establishing a comfortable home and valuable property. Mr. Synovec is still a young man, but has already gained an enviable reputa tion as a wdrthy and substantial citizen of his community, and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Synovec is a native Nebraskan, born in Saline county, November 9, 1877, on the home stead of his parents, Frank and Antonia (Kru- mueller) Synovec, who were farmers by occupa tion, and emigrated to Saline county, Nebraska, in the early seventies, driving from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frank Synovec, our subject's father, was born in Bohemia in 1840, coming to America in 1866, escaping service in the Austrian army. He learned the machinists' trade in his native country, and was employed in a large brewery in Milwaukee to keep their machinery in order. He came to Pierce county in 1883, and died here in 1898. The mother, also a native of Bohemia, makes her home with her son. Our subject's par ents came to America in a sailboat from Hamburg, Germany, to New York, being nine weeks on the sea. When settling in Saline county, the father built a • sod house on the homestead, and later erected a log house. After living on this claim for some time, he sold his farm, and eame to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1883, and bought school land, where our subject now lives. This is now a well-improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, five acres being set to trees. Theo dore Synovec owns a quarter-section eight miles northeast of Valentine-, in Cherry county. Mr. Synovec is a highly respected young man in bis locality, and enjoys the friendship and good wishes of a host of friends. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge. JOSEPH WICHMAN. Joseph Wichman, for the past many years one of the leading farmers and stockmen of How ard county, now retired from active labors, occu pies, with his family, a comfortable home in the thriving little city of Farwell. Our subject and his good wife have the distinction , of being the oldest married couple in the county, the former being ninety-five, while the latter is ten years his junior, and at this advanced age both are still enjoying good health, and take an active interest in the affairs of their community, numbering their friends by the hundreds, respected and loved by all. Mr. Wichman was born in Hanover, Germany, on June 14, 1816. He grew up there, served in the army, as compelled to do by that country's laws, and was married in his home city on Octo ber 28, 1850, to Miss Sophia Dalieori, who was born there on April 13, 1826.- Two years after their marriage, they came to America, arriving in New York City on February 21. They brought with them one son, Ernest, born in Germany, and seven children were born here, five of whom are now living, as follows: Ernest, William, Joseph, junior, Annie and August, all married and settled in comfortable homes. Mr. and Mrs. Wichman haye twenty grandchildren and five great grand children. The family lived in New York state for two years after coming to America, making Dunkirk their home, where our subject was engaged in the butcher business, also following the mason's trade. In 1855, they went to Madison, Wiscon sin, where he worked in different capacities for nineteen years, being one of the pioneer business men of that city. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Wichman came to Omaha, and obtained work on the Fifteenth Street Federal Court building afterwards doing other work, and then, came on Compendium of History, reminiscence and biography. 967" to Howard county, arriving here in June of the same year. He immediately filed on homestead rights in section twenty-eight, township fourteen, range twelve, and then returned to Omaha to again do mason work, remaining about a year. In the spring of 1874, he came back to Howard county for permanent residence, occupying his original homestead up to October, 1905, when he and his wife moved into Parwell, where they own a comfortable home, and are surrounded by their children and many friends to cheer their declin ing years. Mr. and Mrs. Wichman have in their possess ion a bible printed in the German language, which was made especially for Nurenberg, the home town of Martin Luther. This book was published in the year 1545, and is six by eleven by seventeen inches in size, being the most valued possession of both Mr. and Mrs. Wichman. JOHN SCOTT. John Scott has lived on his Custer county (Nebraska) homestead since 1880, and is one of the best known men in the region, where he was one of the earliest settlers. He is a successful and prosperous farmer, well known for his energy and enterprise in furthering the best interests of his community, and has many friends, tie was born in Ancrum, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Janu ary 30, 1856, eldest of the five children of George and Margaret (Purvis) Scott. He has a brother, David, living in Ansley, a sketch of whom also appears in this work; a brother, George, in Wis consin; one brother, deceased; one sister, Mrs. Jennie Jones, of Wisconsin. Both parents were natives of Scotland, where the mother died in 1866. The father eame to America in 1867, sail ing from Glasgow to New York in the "Colum bia, ' ' the voyage lasting fourteen days. He settled in Wisconsin, and was for many years engaged in the livery business at Janesville. He died in Columbiana county in 1904. When about eleven years of age, Mr. Scott accompained his father and the other children to America, and he grew to manhood on a farm in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he lived with an uncle for eight years, and was educated in the local schools. In the spring of 1879, he came to Howard county, Nebraska, and purchased eighty acres of land near St. Paul, living there one year, then in April, 1880, secured a homestead of one hun dred and sixty acres of land on section ten, town ship seventeen, range eighteen, of Custer county, which is still the home place. Mr. Scott is one of the prominent men of his part of the state, and, having purchased the northwest quarter of section ten in 1904, now has a fine stock farm of three hundred and twenty acres of well- equipped and desirable land, where, in .1906, he erected a handsome, modern residence. Mr. Scott was married in Howard county, December 10, 1882, to Miss Hannah M. Garniss, a native of Canada and daughter of Henry and Ellen (Drury) Garniss, natives of England. The father died in Custer county in 1899, and the mother now lives in Ansley. One son, John Garniss, lives in Custer county, and a daughter, Harriet, wife of David Sqott, lives in Ansley. The Garniss family have lived in Nebraska since they came to Howard county in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have had eight children, Scott, George H., William G., John D., Lee R., Margaret Ethel and Jewel T., at home, and one son, Elmer, who died in 1894. George H. married Addie Burham, and is farming northwest of his father; Lee is married to Marie Micheson and farms with his father. He has come into prominence of late as a professional wrestler, and under the tutelege of "Parmer' Burns gives promise of becoming a champion at the game. Mr. and Mrs. Scott- have passed through the trials and vicissitudes of early days, and are highly regarded by their many friends. Mr. Scott suffered, with other settlers, by the drouth of 1894, and in the fall of that year, in order to meet family expenses, secured work with the Union Water company of Denver, near Fort Logan. Hail ruined his crops in 1891, and again in 1895, making it a period of great hardship and discouragement. Mr. Scott came to. the county before big game was exterminated and killed many deer and antelope ; on October 25, 1883, he killed two deer within a short space of time. The family occupied a "soddy" until 1906, which he erected a comfortable frame dwell ing. Mr. Scott well remembers the blizzard of October 15 to 17, 1880, but was not out in it, having a sufferer from typhoid fever at that time.. In the well known blizzard of 1888, along with most of tbe men of the county, he was at the Hickenbottom sale, and remained away until morning. Mrs. Scott went out to get water and fuel, and in returning drifted past the house. Mr. Scott stood in the door shouting to her, or she would have been lost in the storm. In politics Mr. Scott is a republican, and serves his party as township central committee man. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. JOSEPH FINKRAL. Joseph Finkral, a prominent farmer and stock7 man of Madison county, Nebraska, is well known for his progressive and advanced methods of carrying on his work, and is highly successful. He is a native of Bohemia, born December 7 1835, a son of John and Mary Finkral, farmers of that country, the former dying in 1867, and the latter in 1888. Mr. Finkral was one of' four children, and was educated in his native country. 968 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. In 1866 he left there and came to America in search of wider opportunities. After living seventeen years in Iowa, where he spent six years working on the railroad, in -1883 he came to Ne braska. He purchased improved land in Madison county, where he has since resided. He passed through the usual vicissitudes and hardships of the early settlers there, and has brought his place to a high state of productiveness. In 1894 he lost his crops through hot winds and in 1902 lost them through hailstorms. On January 12, 1888, the day of the big bliz zard, Mr. Finkral lost several head of cows that were frozen to death. June 13, 1866, Mr. Finkral was united in mar riage with. Mary Witt, their marriage taking place in Baltimore, Maryland. They had come to America in the same ship. Three children have been born of this union: Anna, Joe and James. Mr. Finkral's home is. on section twenty-eight, township twenty-two, range three, and he is known throughout Madison county as a public- spirited citizen, being highly esteemed by all. He is interested in all that affects the welfare of his community and county and has made many friends in his adopted country. MARK E. SCHNERINGER. Mark E. Schneringer, a prominent and well known citizen of Callaway, is an early Nebraskan, and in 1883 became the first teacher of district number three, near Callaway. He was born in Lockridge, Iowa, November 5, 1858, youngest of the four children of Frederick and Rachel (Van Horne) Schneringer. In March, 1875, when six teen years of age, he came with his brother Frederick to York county, Nebraska, and together they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of railrad land, where they carried on farming five years. Then Mark sold his interest in the farm in York county, coming to Callaway, secur ing a homestead west of where the village now stands, in section nine, township fifteen, range twenty-three. Mr. Schneringer was married in Callaway June 6, 1888, to Gertie Prazier, a native of West Virginia, who came with her parents to Custer county in 1887. In the spring of 1888, Mr. Schneringer moved to Callaway and for ten years was engaged in- livery business there. In 1899 he was elected county treasurer, serving two years in office, and for the two years succeeding held the position of cashier of the Callaway State bank. He again entered mercantile life, and still conducts his business in that line, carrying hard ware, furniture and undertaking supplies. In 1905 he erected a substantial business block, and he is one of the representatives and highly respected business men of the town. He has been closely identified with public affairs and is popular with his fellow citizens. He served five years as county supervisor and fifteen years as a member of the city board. He was instrumental in or ganizing the Callaway school district number one hundred and eighty, a sub-division of district number three, of which he was the first teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Schneringer have seven children : Elmer E. and Walter S., of Cozad, the former married; Herman, serving in the United States navy; Raymond, Earl, Warren and Eva, at home. JOHN MILLNITZ. Among the prosperous citizens of Pierce eouty, Nebraska, is Mr. John Millnitz, who has spent many years in this locality. Mr. Millnitz was born in Stettin province, Germany in 1874, but although Germany is his birthplace he spent only one year of his life there, his parents coming to this country in 1875. When they came to America, Mr. Millnitz 's parents settle in the state of Wisconsin and from there, in 1876, came to Pierce county, Nebraska, where they settled between Pierce and Hadar, Nebraska, and lived there about three years. In 1879, the father took up a homestead in the north east quarter, section twenty-nine, township twenty-eight, range four, Pierce county, Ne braska, and here our subject spent most of his childhood. Later, Mr. Millnitz' father took up a tree claim, which is located in the northwest quarter of section twenty-one, township twenty- eight, range four, Pierce county, Nebraska, where our subject now resides and which he now owns. Mr. Millnitz' father was August Millnitz, who was born in Germany and served his time in that country's army in the wars between Germany and Prance and between Germany and Austria. Our subject's parents and their family ex perienced almost more than their share of the losses and hardships encountered by the pioneers of Nebraska. Their nearest market place was Norfolk, Nebraska, and they hauled lumber from Yrankton, South Dakota, to build their first house, and went to Columbus, Nebraska, to mill. They got along fairly well until 1890 when ten acres of their trees were damaged by prairie fire, which fire also destroyed their hay. In the year 1896, they suffered the most serious loss when their entire crop was beaten to the ground and des troyed by the memorable hail storm of that year. They also went through the blizzard of 1888. In the early days deer and antelope were plenty. Mr. John Millnitz, our subject, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rehfeld in 1900, and they are the parents of five bright children, named as follows: Richard, John, Martin, Fred and Helen, all of whom attend the district school. Our subject was educated in public schools and also spent two years in the Plainview normal conege. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics votes the democratic ticket. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 969 LIENRY C. NEWMAN. Among the prominent and successful farmers and stockmen of Custer county may be named Henry C. Newman, who has been closely identi fied with the growth and development of his com munity along various lines. He is a native of Brown county, Wisconsin, born May 15, 1852, elder of the two children of Darius and Sybil (Childs) Newman, the other being a daughter, who died at the age of nine years. The father left his Wisconsin home in 1856 for Minnesota, and it is supposed his death occurred on this journey. The mother died in Wisconsin, Febru ary 25, 1901, in her seventy-sixth year, and Henry C. Newman is the only surviving member of the family. A half-brother, William Gear, came to Custer county in 1880, took up a pre-emption, but left the state five years later. A cousin of Mr. Newman, John W. Childs, came with him to Custer county, where he secured a homestead and lived on it until 1892, when he removed to Oregen. / Mr. Newman's parents moved to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, when he was but two years of age, and there he received his education, liv ing on a farm in that county until leaving for Custer county, April 12, 1879. On April 22 of that year he filed an entry on a homestead on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, township eighteen, range thirteen. He and his cousin hired horses at Kearney and rode into Custer county, being located on Elk creek by Captain Aker. On March 17, 1887, Mr. Newman married Barlara Illingworth, a native of England, born in Southport, two miles from Liverpool whose place of residence was then Chicago, their union taking place in Kearney. Mrs. Newman is a daughter of Rhodes and Ann (Minnikin) Illing worth, who sailed from Liverpool for New York on the "Old Virginia" in the spring of 1871, landing after a voyage of fourteen days. They went direct to Chicago, and lost all their be longings in the great fire in October of that year. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have had five children, of whom the following four now survive: Rhodes Ollie, Darius, John, Hugh Charles and Ada Ann, all at home with their parents, and all educated in local schools. Ada, after studying two years at the Grand Island Baptist college, entered the Weslyan University at Lincoln in the class of 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Newman lived on the homestead until 1899, when they moved to their new farm home on section twenty-six, township fourteen, range eighteen. There are three hundred and twenty acres in this farm, all well improved and developed, forty acres in section twenty-three, forty acres in section twenty-four, one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-five, and one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-six. It is well stocked and equipped, and shows evi dence of the thrift and progressive spirit of the owner. The sons have eighty acres additional in section thirty-five. Mr. and Mrs. Newman and family are among the best known and oldest pioneers of their part of the state, where they are well known and highly esteemed. Mr. New man well remembers the early ranch days of the central part of the state, and passed through the various years of drouths, hard times and the plagues of grasshoppers. He suffered from the drouths of 1890 and 1894. In the spring of 1891, the wife of a neighbor, a long time friends, of fered Mr. Newman a bushel of seed potatoes if he would let her shave' off his mustache, and was called to make good. As seed potatoes Jhat year were worth five dollars per bushel, it was de cidedly the cheapest shave Mr;- Newman can re call. Mr. Newman came to the state thinking it would remain a cattle country, and still handles considerable stock, although devoting much at- ention also to raising grain. He served as a member of the county board in 1886 and 1887, was supervisor two years and for nineteen years director of the school board. He is much interested in the cause of education and progress, and is an enterprising citizen. He has a fine herd of Durham cows, and also keeps thoroughbred. Duroc hogs. MELL LAWRENCE. Though but lately joining the editorial army that is waging war on corruption in our civic and political life, Mr. Mell Lawrence, editor and pub lisher of the "Crofton Progress," is making his influence felt. His father, the venerable Roswell Lawrence, living retire on his farm near Harting ton, was born about 1834, a native of the state of New York; he came to Nebraska in 1870, settling in the open country a mile northwest of where Harington is now located, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of good land. His mother, Parmelia Countryman in maidenhood, died in 1898 at the age of fifty-seven years. Mell Lawrence was sixth in a family of twelve children born to his parents; his advent to this world dates from December 10, 1868, at West Branch, near Rome, New York state. He was reared near Hartington, and graduated from the city schools in 1886. He entered the teachers' profession, and for twenty-two years was one of the progressive educators of Cedar, Knox, and Wayne counties. In 1892, when a stock company was organized at Creighton to establish the "Peoples News," an organ of the populisf party, Mr. Lawrence, who has all his life been an advocate of the prin ciples of that party, was selected as editor and manager, and for two years was at the helm, until the paper was sold to Mr. Hugh McCoy in 1894. After four years as principal of the Crof- 970 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ton schools, Mr., Lawrence decided to enter journalism again, established the "Crofton Progress,'' and issued the first number April 15, 1909. Since that time the journal has had a phenominal success, the advertising increasing to such an extent that, without enlargement, the reading matter will be severely crowded. Mr. Lawrence, still a believer in the reform princi ples of the populist party, advocates the cause of the candidates who seem most nearly to coin cide with those views. In connection with jour nalism, he has engaged successfully in the land business since establishing his paper in 1909. Mr. Lawrence was married in Niobrara, May 4, 1892, to Miss Clara Weigand, a member of one of the oldest families of the county, her father, Leonard Weigand, having settled in the north part of Knox county in 1858; a more extended account will be found in the sketch of his son, Prank Weigand, of Bloomfield. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, Myrtle, a graduate of the Crofton schools, class of 1908, and now a successful teacher of Knox county. Mr. Lawrence is noble grand of the local Odd Fellows' Lodge, secretary of the Woodmen of the World, venerable counsel of the Modern Wood men of America, great sachem of the I. 0. R. M., a member of the Royal Arcanum of America, and of the Bankers' Union of the World. With Mrs. Lawrence, he has been initiated into the mysteries of the Rebekah degree. Mr. Lawrence was teaching at the time of the disasterous blizzard of January 12, 1888, with twenty-seven children under his charge; these he kept at schol, district number thirty-eight, Cedar county, and thereby saved their lives. Their supply of coal lasted until nine o'clock next day, when all dispersed and safely made their way home. After two days school was resumed, when the supply of fuel was replem- ished. To this day the appearance of a severe storm causes his nerves to annoy him. and should any of his family be out, he cannot rest until he knows them to be in shetler. Seven years be fore, in the blizzard of October, 1880, the father drove fifteen miles through the blizzard and made his way home. At the time Mr. Lawrence's parents settled in Nebraska, the country was all open, and deer and antelope grazed over the hills, and even an oc casional timber wolf was to be seen. The wonder ful development of the country from a wilder ness to a highly developed farms has occurred within the short space of one life, and Mr. Lawrence has been a witness of it all. JUDGE JOHN W. RILEY. John W. Riley, now retired, was for over thirty-five years a leading agriculturist and stock man of Boone county, Nebraska, and is probably one of the best known pioneers in that part of Nebraska. He was also a pioneer hardware and. implement merchant of Albion, carrying on a successful business in that line for a number of years. With his family he now enjoys a fint residence, where he is surrounded by all the com forts and many of the luxuries of modern life. Mr. Riley was born in Farnley, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England, on February 16, 1830, and is a son of Samuel and Jane Riley. He came ta( America when but sixteen years of age, his first location being in Norwich, Connecticut, where he was engaged in the woolen mills for about two years, then went to Rockville, and there followed there followed the same work. He was married there in 1853, to Miss Jane Wardel, who was also a native of England and came to the United States in 1841 with her parents. One son was born to them in the east, and the family then came to Iowa, where Mr. Riley engaged in farming, remaining there up to 1872, when the entire family drove overland with ox teams and wagons to Boone county, Nebraska, being five weeks on the road. The father homesteaded ones hundred and sixty acres on section thirty-five, township twenty, range six, situated two and a half miles south east of Albion,, and he still owns this place, although he retired from active management of it in 1905, the farm now being operated by his sons. During the late seventies and early eighties Mr. Riley served as County Judge of Boone county. His father died in 1872, and the mother in 1884. He still has two brothers and three sisters in England. Judge and Mrs. Riley celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary at Los Angeles, in 1903, and received the congratulations and good wishes of a host of friends and relatives. They have had ten children, seven, of whom are living, named as follows: Jane, F. W. Riley, Samuei, Anna, Hattie, Elizabeth L., and Millie, all of whom are married with the exception of the last mentioned who remains at home. O. C. WINGETT. O. C. Wingett, a prominent farmer and stock man residing on section twenty-three, township twenty-seven, range eight, Antelope county, Ne braska, is known throughout that locality as a progressive and successful agriculturist, highly estemed by all who know him. Mr. O. C. Wingett' was born in Athens county, Ohio, May 22, 1847. In 1854 the family moved to Wisconsin and then back to Ohio and when our subject was a lad of about thirteen years he moved with his parents to Missouri. In 1872 our subject took up land in Miller county, Missouri, building a log house and lived there about two years. He then moved to Minnesota where he lived for ten years, then came to Nebraska. In 1902 he c,ame to Antelope county. Mr. Wingetts' father, C. H. Wingett, was a native of Green COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 971; county, Pennsylvania, born in 1817; and the mother, Phoebe (Wingett) Wingett, was born in 1818, also in Green county, Pennsylvania, and died when our subject was a young man. In 1864, Mr. Wingett enlisted in the Civil war in , Company A, Missouri Infantry, under Captain Richardson and Colonel Hickcok. The father also enlisted, joining the home guard. Mr. Wingett was united in marriage May 4, 1870 to Miss Mary Norris, her father being a native of Scotland, and coming from that country when he was twenty-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Wingett have had twelve children born to them, named as follows: Dora, Elbert, who is married to Miss Daisy Lamb, they having four children; Jasper, married to Miss Annie Mills, has three children ; Brainard, married to Ollie Eg gleston, has one child ; Warren, who is married to Miss May Lyons, and has one child; Erma, wife of W. D. Knibbs, has two children; Sadie, wife of F. P. Holm, has three children ; Maggie ; Orpha ; Minnie, who is married to Chas. Welburn and has four children; May married to H. L. Delaney has one child. After Mr. Wingett 's company disbanded from the army, he went to Kansas, where he rented a farm for one year, and from there went to Min nesota, remaining there ten years where he lived on a farm. In 1889, Mr. Wingett came to Ne braska, settling in Cedar county, and remained there fourteen years. Then in i903, he came to Antelope county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land of Alva Baker, which is his present residing place, and where Mr. Win gett and his family now enjoy the respect and high esteem of all who know them. Mr. Winget is a member of the Grange. He is also a member of the United Brethern church. REZIN R. ROBINSON. Rezin R. Robinson and family are pioneers of Custer county, and for the past thirty-three years have taken their part in the development of central Nebraska, being esteemed and respected by a large circle of riends. Mr. Robinson has always been ready to contribute time and money in the cause of progress and is regarded as a public-spirited, desirable citizen. He was born in West Virginia, September 4, 1838, youngest of the children of John and Leah Robinson, who were parents of two sons and two daughters. Both parents were natives of West Virginia, and died in Clarksburg, that state. Three of their children now survive: Edward, of West Vir ginia; Mrs. Lida Hoff, of Clarksburg; Rezin R. of Nebraska. Mr. Robinson was reared on the farm where he was born and has spent his entire life in farm ing and stock raising. He was married in Taylors- town, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1866, to Altha Snyder, also a native of West Virginia. Four children were born of this union, namely: Cora May, deceased; Harvey H., married and living one mile west of his father's homestead; Truman G., married and living in Colorado ; Okey N., married and living one mile east of his father's homestead, has four children. The mother of these children died in West Virginia in 1877. Mr. Robinson was married in February, 1878, to Mrs. Franklin Purpount, whose first husband lived but three months, a daughter born of this marriage named Cora Elizabeth is now/ Mrs. William Doman. In maidenhood Mrs. Robinson was Emma W. Snyder but was of no kin to his first wife. About one year later, Mr. Robinson and his wife, with the three children of his first mar riage left their West Virginia home and came to Nebraska. They spent a short time, in Kearney, while their first child was born, and in the spring of 1880 came to the new homestead farm on section thirty-one, township nineteen, range twenty-one, where in March Mr. Robinson had erected a sod shant and stable. He now owns over five hundred acres. The pioneer homestead farm has been the family home throughout the years since the spring of 1880, and has been devel oped into a productive and well improved estate. Ten children were born of the second marriage, of whom five now survive, namely : Rosa Gay, wife of George Keller, of South Dakota, has two chil dren ; Irvin, unmarried and living at home ; Verna, wife of Elmer Gladson, of Merna Ressie and Lloyd at home. GEORGE H. BENN, Sr. Among the prominent citizens and representa tive farmers and stockmen of Valley county, Ne braska, George H. Benn occupies a foremost place, as he spent many years of his life in this section, and has built up a good home and enviable repu tation as an energetic worker and good business man. He resides in section eight, township nine teen, range fourteen, and is highly estemed by all who know him. . George H. Benn, son of George and Katherine (Stuedlje) Benn, was born in the village of Haby, Sehleswig, then a Danish province, February 11, 1846, and was third in a family of eight chil dren, all of whom, excepting our subject, are re siding in Sehleswig, where the parents lived and died. George received his education in the schools of his native land, and later engaged in milling. At the age of twenty-one years he was called to service in the standing army of Ger- ' many, serving four years, participating in the Franco-Prussian war, taking part in twelve bat tles, among them the decisive engagements of Metz, Orleans, Lehman and Gravelette. He ,re- ceived his discharge in June of 1871, and again engaged in milling.. In the fall of 1884, Mr. Benn came to America, sailing from Hamburg in tbe ' ' Westphalia, ' ' and 972 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. landed, after a voyage of twelve days, in New York. He remained in Carroll county, Illinois, from September until April following, then came to Valley county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Michigan township, where he lived for seventeen years. He then sold his property, and in .1902 purchased the southeast quarter of section eight, township nineteen, range fourteen, and has made of it a well improved stock and grain farm. The log cabin of the original home stead has been replaced by a neat frame cottage, surrounded by substantial barns and outbuild ings. A view of them ,on another page gives a better impression of this place than can be done in mere words. On March 18, 1885, Mr. Benn was mar ried to Miss Katherine Sieh, a native of the village of Schacht, province of Holstein, Ger many. She came to America in 1884, sailing from Hamburg to New York in the ''Rhetia," landing after a stormy passage of eighteen days. Her father died in Germany in October of 1865, and her mother is still living in the fatherland at the advanced age of eighty-three years; a sister of Mrs. Benn's is also residing there. With her younger son, Mrs. Benn spent five weeks in the summer of 1910' in the fatherland, sailing each way between New York and Cux haven in the steamer "President Lincoln." Mr. and Mrs. Benn have had two children born to them, namely: Henry G., and George H., who reside at home. Mr. Benn is a successful man of affairs, in terested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state; he is of the Lutheran faith and in politics is a democrat. He has served as treasurer of his s,chool district, number fifty- four, for a number of years. ROBERT J. POX. Another prominent citizen bf this section of Nebraska is Mr. Robert J. Fox, now a resident of Myrtle precinct, but one of the early settlers. He comes of a large family, most all of the mem bers of which have been or are residents of the state. He came early enough to experience some of the hardships of. the pioneer's life and now after many years of hard and unceasing toil, is preparing to take his ease. Mr. Fox was born in Luzerne county, ,Pen- nsylvania, on September 25, 1858, and was the second of seven children born to Michael and Elizabeth (Summers) Fox. The subscriber was bom on a farm, and re mained on the farm in Pennsylvania, receiving his education in the little district school, and working on a farm during his spare time. When he was nineteen years old, just a year or two after the death of his father, he came to Nebraska. His aunt, Mrs. George Walker, an early settler of Fillmore county, Nebraska, came back to Pennsylvania on a visit, and when she returned, our subscriber came west with her. He arrived at the Fillmore county farm in February, 1877, and worked there for three years. He was mar ried here also to Miss Alice Burnett, daughter of John and Lucinda (Watkins) Burnett, two of the early settlers of the county. Mr. Fox was born in Cedar county, Iowa. Her parents were natives of Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Fox remained for five years in this county, and in 1886, with his family, consisting of his wife and little son, Clyde, came to Custer county to take up their residence here. Mr. Fox himself had been here in the fall of 1882, and taken up a tree claim, and he now took out pre-emption papers on the timber claim in section twenty, township sixteen, range seventeen, making the place his home for several years. In 1901, Mr. Fox exercised his homestead privileges, and, after purchasing the relinquishment, filed on a homestead on the northeast quarter of section nineteen, township sixteen, range seventeen, on which he proved up, and he has lived here ever since. Since his occupancy, he has added many improvements, so that now the farm, numbering about four hundred and eighty acres, is one of the best-equipped stock and grain farms in this section of the country. In the management of both of these branches of agriculture, Mr. Pox is equally proficient. The place is known as Pleasant View Stock Farm, and is illustrated on another page of our work, making one of the finest hill views in the volume. As has been said before, most of Mr. Fox's people have become residents of the state. His sister, Maggie, now Mrs. Frank Phillips, came to Custer county in 1885, and is now living near Alliance. His mother took up a homestead in 1890 in Cheyenne county, Nebraska, and her death occurred eight years later, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Phillips. A brother, Thomas Fox, was an early settler, and is now living near Ansley. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have been blessed with eight children, six of whom are living. The two eldest, born in Fillmore county, died in infancy. The children are named as follows:' Clyde O, Mable, Charles E., Robert G., Gladys, Ralph, Lawrence and Myrtle. The family is well known in social and educational circles, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Fox is independent in politics in local elections, supporting the democratic candidates in national affairs. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. During the dry year, Mr. Fox, more fortunate than his neighbors, raised a few potatoes and seventy-five bushels of wheat, and. thus did not need aid from the public. His first residence on the timber claim was a "soddy," in which he lived a number of years. The lumber for this was hauled from Kearney, sixty miles distant. RESIDENCE OF GEORGE BENN. Wfe.,- 'PLEASANT VIEW STQCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF ROBERT J. FOX. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 973 On the return trip with his lumber, Mr. Fox brought a number of boxes of crackers as freight. It was a rainy season, and six times he was com pelled to pile the crackers under his wagon, and protect them by unloading part of the lumber to shield them from the storm. The day of the bliz zard of January 12, 1888, he started to a sale, leaving his wife at a near neighbor's. The storm overtook him, and through it he made his way home to" care for the stock, but Mrs. Fox remained at the neighbor's until the next day. W. W. AHRENS. Although not a resident of Nebraska in the early days, Mr. Ahrens has experienced the same conditions in a neighboring state, and is thor oughly familiar with the life of the pioneer. He is a son of Christian and Amelia (Sehroeder) Ahrens, both natives of Germany, and was born near Belle Plaine, Iowa, on October 12, 1857. His father served in the German army in its conflict with Denmark, coming to America about 1850. He settled in Illinois, where he was mar ried, and soon afterwards, with his bride, settled in Benton county, Iowa, working as a carpenter through that country, and being in great demand in putting the finishing touches to the rude log houses and other buildings being erected by the settlers there. His own log house was the first to be built in the town of Belle Plaine, and in it was held the first prayer meeting of that region, different religions gathering together for wor ship, himself and wife being members of the Evangelical faith. His first farm was a tract of forty acres, through which the Northwestern railway later built their road, and from this source he made considerable money, by the sale of the land, and by furnishing the gang of em ployees with food, etc. Their nearest supply sta tion at that time was Muscatine, and later Iowa City, when the railroad had extended its line to the latter point. Our subject had his first sight of a locomotive when the first train was run through that section, and considered it a most wonderful thing, as formerly the only mode of transportation was by ox team. Mr. Ahrens grew to manhood in this, locality, remaining under the parental roof until his mar riage, which took place in 1881, then mbved to a farm near Sac City, and for seven years followed farming there. At the end of this time, he settled in Everly, and opened an insurance and real estate office, continuing the business for eight years, then went to Curlew, and established him self in the mercantile trade, conducting a store up to 1904. In March of that year, he located in Osmond, Nebraska, engaging in the real estate and insurance business. He remained but a short time,, then, observing that Plainview offered greater advantages in that line of work, settled in the latter place, and he has since been one of the town's hustling business men. His offices are located in the building of the Citizen's State Bank of Plainview, and his patronage extends over a large section of that part of Nebraska. Mr. Ahrens was married at Buckeye, Iowa, now almost a deserted village, located a few miles west of Belle Plaine, the event occurring on April 27, 1881. His wife's maiden name was Anna Peterson, who is a native of Germany, and a daughter of William and Margueretta Peterson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens, namely -. William G. and Edward C, both of whom have been engaged in the meat business for several years; Wallace E., has a Kinkaid homestead in Blaine county, and Margaret, a popular teacher in the Plainview schools. The family occupies a comfortable home here, and are among the highly esteemed residents pf their city. Mr. Ahrens had been a democrat always until the silver question was made the paramount issue of the party, and since then he has been affiliated with the republicans. He. and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America lodges of Plainview. He is a most con genial and companionable gentleman, possessing the usual western cordiality in an unusual degree, has been successful in business, and is now pre pared to enjoy the balance of his life in peace. and plenty. PETER CLAUSEN. Among the enterprising and prosperous busi ness men of Howard county, Nebraska, none is better known or more universally esteemed and respected -than the subject of this review. Mr. Clausen has devoted many, years of his life to the pursuit of agriculture in this region, being an old settler of the locality, and he has also interested himself in the financial enterprises of the section, making a pronounced success in each business venture he has engaged in. He has been a potent factor in producing the present prosperity en joyed in his locality. His home is in Loup Pork precinct. Peter Clausen was born in Germany on Janu ary 7, 1849. He is a son of Claus and Christina Clausen, and was the second in order of birth, of their four children. He grew up in his native country, coming to America in 1869, landing here in March, and going directly to Clinton county, Iowa. He was a mason by trade, and followed that work in Iowa for two years, then came to Nebraska, going first to Grand Island, where he worked at his trade for a short time. In May, 1872, Mr. Clausen came into Howard county, and homesteaded in section eight, township thirteen, range twelve, making this his home -farm ever since. He now owns three hundred and twenty 974 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. acres, all choice land and under thorough culti vation, engaging extensively in stock raising. The place is supplied with all good buildings, etc. In developing this farm, Mr. Clausen has passed through all the early times of Nebraska, and has aided materially in producing the pres ent prosperity of the section. He has his farm equipped with every improvement in the way of buildings, machinery, etc., and has planted a fine orchard, besides many shade trees. The balance of the Clausen family came to America from Germany, arriving here in 1870, spending one year in Iowa, then coming directly to Nebraska, settling in Hall county, where most of them reside, the father and mother now being dead. Mr. Clausen was married at Grand Island, Nebraska, on the nineteenth of October, 1878, to Christian Rieft, she coming to America on the same ship which brought her future husband over. To them have been born five children, four of whom are now living, as follows: Emma Christina, wife of Joseph Nitsch, they living in Sherman county; Mary Margaret, wife of Mads Hansen, living in Howard county, parents of three children; Henry O, married, and living in Sherman county; and George F., at home. FABIUS D. MILLS. Fabius D. Mills and his good wife have reared a large family to honorable man and woman hood, and have the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the vicinity of their home in Custer county. They are among the oldest settlers of the region, and have always given their earnest efforts toward the support of every measure calculated to advance the wel- "fare and interests of the public. Mr. Mills was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, December 10, 1845, seventh in a family of ten children, born to John and Betty (Urmson) Mills. Besides him, the other children who survive are as follows: Mrs. Panthea Taylor, of- Crawford coMty, Wis consin ; Fergus, of Wauzeka, Wisconsin ; Mrs. Rosie Smethurst, of Madison. Both parents were born in Lancashire, England, and died in Craw ford county, Wisconsin, the father on January 18, 1873, at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother in 1900, at the age of ninety years. They were' married in England in 1831, and ten years later, came to America, settling in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mills received his primary education in the public schools, and later attended Sharon Academy in Pennsylvania. In April, 1858, the1 family moved to a farm in Crawford county, Wisconsin, and Fabius D. eventually engaged in farming on his own account. He taught school for a number of years, and served two years as superintendent of the schools of Crawford county. He was there married on March 31, 1869, to Miss Louise Copsey, a native of Primrose, Wisconsin, who had taught for a time in the schools of that state. She is a daughter of John and Susan (Green) Copsey, the former a native of York shire, England, and the latter of Herkimer county, New York. He died in Wisconsin about 1903, and she now lives in Mt. Sterling, that state. Besides Mrs. Mills, there are three daugh ters and three sons living in Wisconsin, one daughter in Wyoming, one daughter in Colorado, and one son, Alonzo Copsey, living in Lincoln, Nebraska. In October, 1878, Mr. Mills brought his wife and their four children to Custer county, Ne braska, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-seven, township seventeen, range eighteen, which is still the home place, and also a tree claim of the same size. The farm is called White Lodge Parm,and is one of great fertility. Some idea of its productiveness may be gained from an eight-acre tract that in 1911 produced twenty- four hundred bushels of potatoes, thirteen of which filled a half -bushel measure. He has served in various public offices, was county supervisor during 1884 and 1885, justice of the peace for sixteen years, and notary public for twelve years. He is a true friend of progress, and since coming to the state has been closely identified with the upbuilding of his region. He is recognized as a public-spirited man, and uses his influence for the betterment of all. He is now devoting his time and efforts toward collecting funds for a railway, which is projected from Loup City, Sherman county, to Tryon, McPherson county, and it is expected the road will be constructed in the very near future. This will be of great benefit to shippers, and will greatly advance land values, Mr. Mills has a well-improved and equipped farm, and devotes considerable attention to raising alfalfa. Seventeen children have been born in this family, as follows: John O, living two miles northwest of Westerville, has three children; Douglas E., living near Huxley, has eight chil dren; Ella TI., wife of John H. Robins, living near Rushville, Nebraska, has five children; Blanche and Arthur W., died in infancy, she in 1873 and he in 1875 ; Aristides, died in 1889 ; Bessie, wife of Dennis Leman, of Beaver, Wyoming, has five children; Edna L., wife of Andrew Allen, of Custer county, has one child- Milton, died in 1887; Mabel, wife of Dr. A. J. McArthur, of Weissert, has one child; Charles C, is married,, and lives near Huxley, Nebraska; Roscoe O, lives in Custer county; Alice, wife of Myron Goddard, of Custer county, has one child ; Frank lin D., Bayard, Sylvia and Edward R., at home. Mr. Mills lived in a "soddy" until 1888, and he replaced the first frame house with the pres ent dwelling, known as White Lodge. January COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 975 12, 1888, the day pf the last great blizzard, Mr. Mills had come from Broken Bow to Ansley, and started to drive out home, but the storm was so severe that after facing it four miles, he and some friends were compelled to return to town, and remain until morning. In the early nineties, they experienced the most discouragaing period of their life in the west ; 1890 and 1894 were years of drouth, while 1891 and 1893 were years of severe hailstorms, 1892 vouchsafing them the only good crop year in the five. Mr. Mills is a democrat in politics, and, with his wife, is a member of the Westerville Method ist church. However, he is a believer in the Catholic church, though not a member. Fratern ally he is an Odd Fellow. A. R. OSBORN. Among the representative citizens, whose in tegrity and industry have had a lrage share in the development and advancement of Madison county, Nebraska, may be mentioned A. R. Osborn, a prominent farmer of Schoolcraft pre- .cinct. Mr. Osborn is highly esteemed in his com munity, where he has a large number of friends. He is a native of Virginia, born October 28, 1852, to Enoch and Rena Osborn, natives of Virginia. His father was a Confederate soldier in the Civil war. Mr. Osborn was reared and educated in his native state, and came to Madison county in 1877, and secured the homestead where he now lives. At that time the nearest market was Columbus, and he was many times obliged to fight prairie fires to save his home and farm buildings. Deer were plentiful in the early days, and helped pro vide the settler with meat. They burned hay for fuel during the first few years, as coal was scarce and high in price. In the year 1894, Mr. Osborn lost his crops through the hot winds, but he per severed in spite of hardships and vicissitudes, and developed and improved his place, adding to his land as he was able to do so, until he now owns four hundred and forty acres of fine farm land. He devotes it to mixed farming, and raises considerable stock. In 1885, Mr. Osborn was united in marriage with Miss Sadie Duffee, who died on May 20, 1890, leaving two children, Richard and Ivy. In 1895, he married Miss Ellen Cox, and they became the parents of six children : Troy, Vergie, Ruth, Zenna, Allen and Dean. Mr. Osborn 's home is located on section fifteen, township twenty-two, range three, and he is rec ognized as an intelligent, energetic farmer, who well deserves the large measure of success he has attained. WILSON W. POTTS. Wilson W. Potts and his wife have been resi dents of Custer county since 1879, but had lived in the state of Nebraska several years prior to that time. They have passed through the most important period of the history of their region, and have always been identified with its best interests. Mr. Potts owns five hundred and sixty- seven acres of fine farm land, besides other desir able properties, and is a successful business man. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, May 25, 1850, next .to the youngest, of the eight children born to Jonathan and and Mary (Wilson) Potts, natives of Ohio. The father died in Knox county, Illinois, in the fifties, and the mother in Butler county, Nebraka, during the eighties. Several of the children are deceased, and, besides Wilson W., those surviving are : Two daughters in Illi nois, and one daughter, Mrs. Lethan Jones, living in Ulysses, Nebraska; one son, Noah, served in the Union army during the Civil war, and was held for some time in Libby and Andersonville prisons. Mr. Potts reached young manhood on his father's farm in Illinois, receiving his education in the local schools, and when he was about seven teen years of age, he went to Kansas. He worked there for several years at farming, and then spent a short time in Butler county, Nebraska. Return ing to Illinois in 1872, he spent about a year there, and in the fall of 1873, come back to Butler county, and secured a homestead of eighty acres near David City, where he remained for five years. He was married in David City in August, 1878, to Nancy A. Dinwiddie, a native of Wiscon sin, and a daughter of Robert and Susanna (Bradley) Dinwiddie, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Maryland. Mr. Dinwiddie was born in 1801, and died in 1884, and his wife, born in 1808, died in 1874, both passing away in Wiscon sin. They have a daughter living in Wisconsin, and one in South Dakota, and six sons are de ceased, four of whom served in the Civil vjar. Before her marriage, Mrs. Potts was a teacher in the public schools of Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. In 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Potts came to Custer county, and secured a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and pre-empted a like amount of land, which he improved and devel oped into a fine stock and grain farm, and in the fall of 1899, he was able to retire from the farm, and erected a modern residence in Broken Bow, where he and his family have since resided, al though he retains possession of his farm land. While living in Butler county, he was instrumen tal in organizing a school district in his commun ity; and served for some time on the board of same. He has always been interested in the wel fare and progress of his county and state, and is one of the best known men in his part of Ne braska. On April 29, 1898, he enlisted from Lin coln in Company N, First Nebraska Infantry, and served in the Spanish-American war, partici pating in the capture of Manila and other engage- 976 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ments and skirmishes. Two children have been born to Mr. Potts and wife, namely: Maud, wife of Charles Luce, of Broken Bow, and Madge J., a student in the Lin coln University, taking a course in medicine. Mr. Potts is a member of the Masonic fraternity, hav ing taken the initiatory degrees in 1877. C. C. BASTIAN. For more than thirty years the above-named gentleman has been a resident of Wayne county, during which time he has been closely identified with every movement which had for its aim the development and growth of the community, or the betterment of its existing conditions. He is one of the most prosperous and prominent farm ers and stock-raisers of his section of the state, and is the proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in the county. Mr. Bastian is a native of New York, where he was born in 1854. His parents, Philip and Bertha Bastian, were both natives of Germany, and both came over to this country when they were small children. When the subscriber was still an infant, in 1855, his parents came to Taze well county,' Illinois, and it was in this state that he received his education in the local district schools. Philip Bastian died in Tazewell county, Illinois, March 1, 1900, and his widow is still living there on the old home farm. In 1876, Mr. Bastian came to Wayne county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. He passed through many hard ships during those . early days. He lived in a dugout for two years, but at the end of this time, was able to build a small frame house. Grass hoppers took most of his crops for the first few years, thus making it a difficult proposition to exist in the new country. Many times he was threatened- by prairie fires, which he had to fight for hours before his dwelling was out of danger. During the winter of 1880 and 1881, there was so much snow that it was impossible for him to , go to the timber after wood, and so they burned weeds and cornstalks to furnish warmth and heat for cooking. The days of those hardships have long since passed away, however, and Mr. Bastian now is taking life very easily in his com fortable home. In 1876, Mr. Bastian was married to Miss Elizabeth Schreck, and of this union seven chil dren have been born, whose names are as follows: Albert, Anna, Ottilie, Adam, 'Lennard, Martin and Antony. Mr. and Mrs. Bastian are members of the German Lutheran church, which the entire family attend. Mr. Bastian is a democrat. He served as assessor of Plum Creek precinct one term, was road overseer several years, and has been a member of the school board most of the time since he came to Nebraska. He has usually served as a member of the election board. ROBERT ADAMS. (Deceased.) The gentleman whose name heads this per sonal history was identfied with the agricultural interests of eastern Nebraska for about a quarter of a century, and was well known as a prosperous and successful citizen. Robert Adams, deceased, son of David and Matilda Adams, was born in Ohio, December 22, 1835, and was fourth in a family of nine children. He has one brother, J. D. Adams, residing in ( Palmer; one sister in Illinois. The parents are deceased, having died in Illinois. Our subject received his education mainly in Ohio schools, later going with his parents to Bureau county, Illinois. On February 7, 1865, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Amanda J. Sill, of Pennsyl vania, and later of Illinois. In the fall of 1873, Mr. Adams came with his wife and three children to Merrick county, Nebraska, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in section fourteen, township fifteen, range seven, west, which remained the home place until time of his death, August 20, 1897. Mr. Adams was sur vived by his wife and eight children: Nora, wife of Marshall Prutsman, has two children, and re sides in Illinois; Howard G., married, has one son, and lives in Idaho ; Nellie, wife of 0. E. Burton, has two children, and lives in Merrick county; Birdie, deceased ih infancy; Eva, wife of P. E. Wymer, has one son, and resides in Merrick county; Luella, wife of R. W. Woicatt, has one daughter and lives in Merrick county; Alvin, who resides in Idaho; and Blanche, who was married to G. M. Grimes, has one son, and resides in Central City (Mr. Grimes died in 1907, in Iowa) ; and Elmer S., who is married, and lives in Idaho. In 1905, Mrs. Adams left the homestead, and moved to Central City, and built a good home, where she now lives, surrounded by a large circle of friends. She still owns her homestead. Mr. Adams has been a member of the Metho dist church for many years, and, indeed, helped to organize the first church in his locality, and was steward of the same. He was a member of the United Brethren church in the early days. Mrs. Adams has one brother in Lincoln, Ne braska; one in Newport, Nebraska; two sisters in Oklahoma, and one sister in Missouri. Her father died in 1892, at Joplin, Missouri, and her mother in 1874, in Bloomington, Illinois. When Mr. and Mrs. Adams and their three children eame to Nebraska, the trip was made in a covered wagon, camping out along the way. They were accompanied by two of Mr. Adams' brothers, John D. and George W. Adams. When COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 977 Mr. Adams and family first located on their claim, they built a small log house, one room below and one above, and lived in it about seven years, when it burned, and the present frame house was built. In April following their arrival, the famous snow storm of that time occurred, and for the next three years, grasshoppers destroyed nearly all the crops. JOSEPH KURKA. Joseph Kurka, who has recently moved from his fine estate in section four, township thirty- two, range seven, Knox county, to a comfortable home in Verdigris, is one of the very earliest set tlers of northeastern Nebraska. He has spent the past forty years of his career in this country, going through the pioneer days, and braving many hardships and privations in carving out a name and fortune for himself. He is now one of the foremost men of his section — prosperous, and a gentleman of firm characteristics, whose high standing in his community is well merited. Mr. Kurka is a native of Bohemia, his birth occurring in 1853, in Sac village. He was the son of Wenzel and Matilda (Myer) Kurka. Our subject, with his parents, came to America in 1870, sailing from Bremen on a steamship, and landing in New York. Prom there the family proceeded westward, and finally settled in Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a home stead in section four, township thirty-two, range seven, on which they built a log house. Later our subject took up a homestead in section thirty- one, township thirty-one, range seven, building a log house thereon, and also took up a tree claim. Here in the early days the family endured more than the usual hardships and privations related by the average old-timer, as the early date of their settlement in this region, when it was almost unknown to settlement, necessitated enduring dangers and discouragements not experienced by the later pioneer settler. The Indians were a menace to the peace and comfort of the early comer, often killing and carrying away cattle. Prairie fires also did their share in creating havoc among the handful of brave sons of the western prairies, and our subject had to fight this danger many times to save lives, homes and property. Deer and antelope were plentiful in the early days, and were frequently seen grazing on the prairies. Mr. Kurka was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Theressa Mady, and they are the parents of nine children, namely: Carl, who is married to Miss Barba Brant; Matilda, wife of Wenzel Dietz; Mary, wife of John Wright; Emma, now Mrs. Herb Baurf; Frank, whose wife was Miss Rosa Marshal; Rosa, wife of Victor Shryer; Bertha, wife of Rudolph Taucho ; Julia, now Mrs. J. Sucup; and Earnest, who married Albina Shryer. Mr. Kurka now owns one thousand acres of 32 good land, which estate is well improved, and a home, of which our subject may well be proud. As before stated, Mr. Kurka is a well known and prominent citizen of his community, and deserv ing of the success he has attained. FRITZ SCHNELL. Fritz Schnell, who owns and operates one hun dred and sixty acres of land on section twenty- one, township thirty, range three, Knox county, Nebraska, is one of the substantial farmers and esteemed citizens of his community. He is a pioneer of his county, and has devoted his entire career to farming and ranching, making a success of the business. Mr. Schnell is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in the province of Holstine in 1855, and is a son of Fritz and Mary (Hanson) Schnell Our subject's father served his fatherland during the war of 1848 between Germany and Denmark. Mr. Schnell remained at home with his par ents, until 1872, when he and a brother, William, came to America, sailing from Hamburg, coming by way of Liverpool to Glasgow, an thence to New York. After landing in the new world, Mr. went direct to Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for three years. He then removed to Dodge county, Nebraska, remaining there until 1887. Mr. Schnell then came to Knox county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of the Gilman ranch, and since his possession of the same, has greatly improved his farm. Like so many of the first settlers in this reg ion, Mr. Schnell has experienced many hardships and disappointments and crop failures. In the terrible blizzard of January 12, 1888, which will never be forgotten by those who were unfortun ate to experience it, Mr. Schnell lost nearly all his stock. Mr. Schnell was united in marriage in 1882 to Miss Mary Dickman, and Mr. and Mrs. Schnell are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Fritz, Auna and Clara. They are a fine family, and enjoy the regard and good will of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In politcs Mr. Schnell is a democrat, and he and his family attend the German Lutheran church. ' } _ JOHN PETERSON. T,he gentleman above mentioned is classed among the substantial and practical agriculturists of Antelope county, Nebraska, and is proprietor of a valuable estate of three hundred and sixty acres, which is located in section thirty-six, town ship twenty-six, range six. He has been 'a resi dent of northeastern Nebraska for the past thirty years, ten years of which he has passed in Ante lope county, and during his residence here, he and his family have acquired a host of friends enjoying the respect and esteem of all who know 978 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". them. He settled in Platte county in 1880, then moved to Boone county, and came to Antelope county in 1901. Mr. Peterson is a native of Sweden, being born in Foncliepene village, near Guttenburg, Febru ary 18, 1857. He is the son of Gustave and Char lotte Peterson, the father being born in 1837, and, after reaching manhood, followed the occupation of farming on a large farm in Sweden. In April, 1880, Mr. Peterson left his native country to come to America, and to the west, where he could get cheaper land.. He came by the way of Hull, from there to Liverpool, England, taking passage on the steamship "Indiana." Mr. Peterson came to Antelope county, Ne braska, in 1901, from Boone county, where he had resided for some twenty years. Mr. Peterson took up a homestead on section ten, township twenty, range five, and there built a sod house. Here Mr. Peterson went through all the hard ships and drawbacks incidental to the tiller of the soil in the early days, and during the dry year of 1894, lost his entire crops by the hot winds, which prevailed at that time. Mr. Peter son now owns three hundred and sixty acres of good land, and two acres of orchard trees. Mr. Peterson married Miss Gusa Johnson, who was born in Guttenburg, Sweden, March 29, 1857. They are the parents of ten children as follows: Charles, who married Miss Jessie Dodds, and who has three children, now lives in Brunswick, Ne braska; Oscar; Henry, who married Miss Pearl Allen, is now a resident of Clearwater township, they have three children, all boys; Anna, now Mrs. Gus Forsett, lives in Holt county, Nebraska ; Edward, Grant, Edith, William, Wilhelmina and Cecilia. E. M. DODGE. ; (Deceased.) E. M. Dodge belonged to an old family of Custer county. He was a native of Fulton, Illi-. nois, born January 9, 1859. He received his edu cation in his native state, and there attained his majority. In company with his parents and sis ter, he made the trip from Indiana to Fillmore county, Nebraska, in the fall of 1883. They made this journey in typical emigrant style, with- a covered wagon and horses, and were six weeks on the way. They engaged in farming in Fill more county, and in the summer of 1886, Miles- Dodge came on up into Custer county. The fol lowing summer his parents also came to the county, where they spent the remained of their lives. One of their daughters, Mrs. Cosner, lives in Merna, and another, Mrs. Samuel Trot, in Anselmo, Nebraska. Mr. Dodge was married, February 21, 1887, to Maggie, daughter of Joseph B. and Emma (Bristow) Smith, old settlers of Fillmore and Custer counties. A sketch of Mr. Smith appears in this work, with extensive inention of his fam ily, which has been prominent in many circles in central Nebraska. Five children were born to Mr. Dodge and wife: Glenn, living in Seattle; Jessie, Kenneth, Bertie and Marvel, all at home. Mr. Dodge was a representative citizen, and was identified with the progress and upbuilding if his community. CHRISTIAN H. AHRENDT. Christian H. Ahrendt, of Callaway, Nebraska, is a self-made man, and successful in life through energy and economy. He and his wife came to Custer county wholly without financial resources, but possessed of ambition to get ahead, and a willingness to work hard. He" was born in Ger many, May 22, 1849, third in the family of eight children born to Henry and Minnie (Butefur) Ahrendt, natives of that country. He has two sisters in New York, two in Colorado, one brother in New York, one in San Francisco, and another in Germany. The father came to America in 1876, locating in New York, where he died in 1884. The mother died in Germany in May, 1877. Mr. Ahrendt grew to manhood on a farm in his native country, and there received his educa tion, fitting himself for the profession of teacher. On December 21, 1877, at Mieklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, he married Wilhelmina Wallenburg, also of German birth, who was for several years a kindergarten teacher. In December, 1883, they came with their two children to America, locating in Buffalo county, Nebraska, and in February, 1885, came 'to Custer county, and secured a home stead bf one hundred and sixty acres of land in section ten, township fourteen, range twenty- three. Later they pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres. In 1891, they purchased three hun dred and twenty acres of land in section thirteen, township fifteen, range twenty-three, which has since been the home place. They were among the earlier settlers of the county, and have passed through an important stage of its history. They met many discouragements in their early years on the farm, reaching the Custer county home stead with but thirty-five cents in money. They were full of courage, however, and lived for a time in a dugout, and later in a sod house. In the fall of 1911, they retired from the farm, and eame to Callaway, where Mr. Ahrendt erected a comfortable and modern residence, their pres ent home. A family group portrait will be found on another page of this volume. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ahrendt, of whom three now survive: Anna Mary, wife of Phil K. Hoffman, has two children ¦ Hulda Christina, wife of George A. Huff, of Kansas, has three children; Otto P., married to Miss Nora Weaver, September 10, 1911. Mrs Ahrendt 's father died in 1904 in Brown countv CHRISTIAN H. AHRENDT AND FAMILY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 979 Nebraska, and her mother lives in Brown county. She has one sister and three brothers in Nebraska, and one brother in Kansas. Mrs. Ahrendt was always accustomed to the usages and ways of a large city until coming to the western states of America, and her resource fulness was a dominant factor in the success which they have attained. Both were trained to the work of teachers in the fatherland, and it gave them the advantage over the average emi grant of their time, in that it sharpened their wit so that they readily improvised methods of pro cedure to meet and overcome emergencies of all kinds. A notable instance may be mentioned of their first night's experience on their Custer county homestead. Overtaken by a blizzard as they arrived at their destination on a day in January, a few household effects and one pig con stituted the entire worldly possession of the fam ily, which at that time numbered two infants, besides themselves. Experience alone can tell what it means to successfully cope with the feroc ity of such a storm. The warmth from an enfold ing feather bed as it lay on the ground protected the infants, while father and mother did the work of excavating in the side of a bluff that made the temporary habitation, using such material of their furniture as would constitute shelter. The one small stove that burned cornstalks for fuel, and the protecting bodies of the parents, supplied warmth during this night of storm, which made the dugout tenable. Later in the spring, a sod house was built, the sod being turned by a neigh bor, who was more fortunate in the possession of a tearii of horses, Mrs. Ahrendt carrying the sods and the husband doing the actual construction. Close attention is given to the influences that up lift, in the Ahrendt family, and we herewith quote the language of a document awarded to one of its members : ' ' Diploma of Honor, award ed to Hulda Ahrendt for excellence in deport ment and recitations, and for regularity of atten dance in the Grammar Department School, during the term ending June seventh, 1895. Given at Callaway, State of Nebraska, this seventh day of June, 1895. Signed— Belle L. Cole, Teacher." FRED SCHWARZ. Persistent industry has placed this gentleman among the prosperous agriculturists of eastern Nebraska. Fred Schwarz, formerly of Osmond, first came to Nebraska with his parents in 1871. He was born in Hancock, Michigan, November 2, 1864. His father, Hy Schwarz, came from Upper Hessia, Germany, and was employed in the mines of Michigan, where he died when Fred was a small lad. The mother, who was Elizabeth Faubel, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, married George Schwarz, a brother of her first husband, and, with him, migrated to Nebraska in 1871. They came by rail to Fremont, Nebraska, and thence by ox team to a farm, three miles north of Wisner, Nebraska. Here Fred grew to man hood, and remained with his parents until his twenty-second year, when his step-father gave him a team of colts. He rented a farm near home some three years, and then bought a quarter-sec tion, eight miles northwest of Norfolk, which he cultivated two years, and then sold. Moving back to Wisner, he purchased a quarter-section near town, and for ten years farmed near the home of his childhood. In March, 1902, he came to Osmond, and bought a farm, north of town, on which he lived two years, then sold, and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres to the west of Osmond, and within the corporate limits. Here he raised stock, feeding all the grain he culti vated, and so managed that he needed little hired help, except in the rush season in the middle of summer. On February 22, 1911, he moved to the old place on which he was reared, which he pur chased of his step-father, paying one hundred and tweny-five dollars per acre. The farm contains two hundred acres. Mr. Shwarz was married at Wisner, February 27, 1890, to Miss Henrietta Brandes, who was born March 4, 1872, near Scribner, Nebraska, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Di>belstem) Brandes, natives of Hanover and Holstein, Ger many, respectively. They eame to America in 1871, and settled eventually near Wisner, Ne braska, where the father still lives. The mother died, March 9, 1908. Mr. Schwarz is a democrat in politics, but has no lodge affiliations. Mr. Schwarz well remem bers the deep snow of the winter of 1881 and 1882. A drift formed at their corncrib nine feet high, until chickens, pigs and other stock could walk up the drift and help themselves. In con trast, the family were often called upon to fight prairie fires. Game was plentiful in the country when Mr. Schwarz first came — so much so, that he has seen twenty to thirty deer in a herd. His step-father killed but one, however, the only venison they had. Times were so hard during the early years that there was no money to buy ammunition, to say nothing of a rifle in which to use it. A few wild turkeys were seen from time to time in those days. The first years they lived in a dugout, and for one year lived in the house of an uncle, whose wife had died. They returned to the dugout, and later built a good residence. When Fred was fourteen, he hired out at ten dollars per month, and bound grain on a harves ter with a school ma'am. Mr. Schwarz was not out in the , notable blizzard of 1888, but Mrs. Schwarz was kept in the school house all night. She started to go home, contrary to warnings, and got outside the door, which opened to the north. The blast struck her, and threw her 980 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. against the coal house, whence she made her way with difficulty back to the school room, where she was content to remain the rest of the night. Hardships were endured in those early days that would appall the younger generation of to day But those times are past. Railroads bring to our doors, lumber, coal and provisions, and carry out grain and stock and produce. The isolation of the earliest settlers is a thing of the past. PETER S. PETERSEN. feter S. Petersen was born, September 13, 1861, in Jylland, Denmark, on a farm near the city of Thisted, and attended school about three years in Denmark. He came to America in 1872 with his parents, two brothers and one sister, and lived in Chicago, Illinois, about two months, where, shortly after, his mother and youngest brother, one year old, died. He left Chicago with the rest of the family on his eleventh birthday, and arrived at Dannebrog, Nebraska, September 16, 1872, where, two days later, his father filed on a homestead six miles west of Dannebrog, and which is now owned by his son, a brother of P. S. Petersen. Peter was sent out to earn his own living among strangers at the age, and worked a year for a bachelor farmer, about seven miles north east of Grand Island. From that time until the spring of 1883, he was at home about half the time, the other half working for neighboring farmers. His schooling was very limited. From the time he arrived in America he did not attend over six months, divided into three terms of about two months each. In the spring of 1883, he went west, and worked on the section for the Union Pacific railroad in eastern Wyoming, returning late in the fall, and for the next three years worked on a farm near his home. In the spring of 1887, he went to Wyoming again, worked on the railroad two months, and on a ranch near Cheyenne about eight months, then returned to Dannebrog, where he worked a year in the lum ber yeard. In the spring of 1889, he began in a general store as clerk, and the next fall went to Grand Island, and worked a few months in one of the larger stores there. Again he went to Wyoming, and was employed on the same ranch as formerly until July 1, 1890, when he returned to Dannebrog, resumed his old position in the same store he had worked in first. That same fall his employer moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Peter was connected with another firm in Danne brog for a few months, then went to Rock Springs, and worked about eight months for the merchant whom he had first clerked for in Dannebrog. Returning in the fall, he was associated for a year with the firm he was with before going to Rock Springs. He resigned this position, and took a position as clerk for C. C. Hansen, who at that time owned a general store and bank in Dannebrog, being in the store a couple of months, and February 1, 1893, went to work in the bank as cashier and bookkeeper. October 5, 1893, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Kristiane S. Kjeldsen, who came to America from Jylland, Denmark,, in 1888. They have seven children, four boys and three girls, the oldest born July 31, 1894. About the middle of December, 1897, he resigned his position in the bank, and moved to St. Paul, where the family resided three and a half years, during which time he was deputy county clerk two years, and book keeper in a wholesale grocery house one year and a half. This position he resigned in the spring of 1901, and returned to Dannebrog. Here he worked for his old employers in a general store for four years, then left them, going to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he spent four months, leaving his family in Dannebrog. While in Rock- Springs he worked for the same man he had worked for there in 1891. He returned to Danne brog in September, and on October 1, 1905, bought the "Dannebrog News," a weekly newspaper, of J. M. Erickson. November 20, of the same year, he succeeded Mr. Erickson as postmaster »+ Dan nebrog. Before going to St. Paul in 1897, Mr. Petersen had been village treasurer, and had served for some time as a member of the village board, to which position he was again elected for two years in 1908. He was clerk of the local camp of the Modern Woodmen' of America for several years. While in Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1891, he joined a lodge of the Danish Brotherhood as charter member, and the next year, with per mission from the supreme officers, organized and installed a lodge at Dannebrog. Most of the time since, he has held the office either of treasurer, secretary, president or ex-president of this lodge, in 1902 was its delegate to the convention at Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Petersen was candidate for county clerk in 1899, on the republican ticket, and again in 1901, but the country was so strongly populist that he was defeated, together with the rest, of his ticket. WILLIAM IL SCHULTZ. For a quarter of a century, William H. Schultz has been a resident of Valley county, Nebraska, and during this time has acquired a fine property as a result of his industry and good management. He is widely known in this locality, and is one of the prominent men of his community. Mr. Schultz was the second of four children born to John D. and Martha (Phillips) Schultz, natives of New York and Maryland, respectively. The mother died in 1866, when our subscriber was but ten years of age. Mr.' Schultz was born in Ogle county, Illinois, January 10, 1856. In Sep tember, 1869, Mr. Schultz and his father went to COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 981 Marshall county, Iowa, to live, and there the latter died, April 1, 1879. William Schultz grew to manhood on the farm in Iowa, and received his education in the local schools of that state. In the spring of 1887, he first came to Nebraska with a brother, having a sub-contract for a mile of the Burlington and Missouri grade in Wheeler county, another mile in Greeley county, and a third in Blaine county. Later on in the year, he came to Valley county, and remained a year or two, expecting the rail road to extend its line west. In 1889, he pur chased eighty acres in section eight, township seventeen, range thirteen, which was his home until March, 1911, when he moved to a residence on forty acres of land adjoining North Loup, purchased in the spring of 1910. On January 10, 1894, Mr. Schultz married Jennie B. Preston, a native of Jones county, Iowa. Her parents, Robert and Lorena (Bryan) Pres ton, natives of Ohio and Illinois, came to Nebras ka during the early eighties. After a winter in Council Bluffs, they came on to Valley county, and settled four miles southwest of North Loup. Here they built a sod house, and for a number of years lived in true pioneer style. Three chil dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultz : Ruby E., Olive M. and William H, junior. From time to time, Mr. Schultz has added to his original land, until now he has a fine estate of oVer five hundred acres. Besides the usual farm crops, he has for some years devoted con siderable attention to stock raising. He is a successful business man, and for some years has served as treasurer of school district number three. He has also been called upon to serve the township in other capacities upon several occas ions. Mr. Schultz is one of the younger men among the early settlers, and is held in the highest esteem as a farmer and citizen. He is independent in politics, voting for the man and not the party. Mrs. Schultz is a member of the Friends' church. CHARLES CLINTON SCHULTZ. Among the prominent farmers and stockmen of Valley county may be mentioned the above gentleman. He has been a resident of the county for many years, and is now the proprietor of a fine stock farm of over four hundred acres, located in sections sixteen and seventeen, town ship seventeen, range thirteen. He has made a specialy of raising thoroughbred Poland China hogs, and animals bred on his farm have made a name for themselves in that locality. Mr. Schultz was born in Ogle county, Illinois, on the fourth of March, 1858, and was the third of four children born to John D. and Marth (Phillips) Schultz. When ten years of age, he went with his parents to Marshall county, Iowa, in which state he received his education. Later he taught for some time in that state. On the twenty-first of June, 1882, Mr. Schultz married Miss Lizzie Preston, a native of Bureau county, Illinois. ' For a few years the family lived in Iowa, and during 1885 to 1887, Mr. Schultz was in Nebraska, doing contract work for the Burling ton and Missouri railroad. In 1888, he brought his family, consisting of his wife and two chil dren, to Greeley county, Nebraska, where they lived for about a year and a half. In 1890, he finally settled permanently in Valley county, where he purchased a quarter- section of fine land, which is still in his possession. Through shrewd management, and the exorcise of thrift and industry, Mr. Schultz has been en abled to add to his original purchase, until he now has one of the largest and finest stock farms in the country. His success has been well de served. He has been a resident of the county since his first arrival, with the exception of possi bly two years, when he was located in Central City, engaged in promoting the interest of the Friends' College at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are the parents of five children : Lou F., Gertie May (Mrs. L. D. NStew- art, of Valley county), Charles C, a student at the Central College at Central City; Florence T., and Martha C, both of whom are at home. The family have taken an important part in the social life of the community, being members of the Friends' church. Mr. Schultz is a republican in politics. Mr. Schultz is one of the most prosperous and influential men of the community, and his friends are only limited by the number of his acquaint ances. He has always been intensely interested in local public affairs, and has served the public well. He was at one time township clerk. During the dry year of 1894, his entire crop consisted of sixty bushels of corn on sixty acres, and fifty bushels of corn on twelve acres. .In 1907, he lost all his crops by hail. HERMAN SAARE. Herman Saare, one of the early settlers and prosperous retired merchants and business men of eastern Nebraska, resides in his pleasant home in Newman Grove, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Saare was born in Prussia, March 4, 1844, coining to the United States with his parents in 1854, settling in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. Lie was second of four children in the family of Ferdinand and Wilhelmine Saare who came to America in 1854 with their family of two sons and one daughter, another son being in the United States. Herman Saare, the subject of this sketch, lived in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, until about hh fifteenth year, then went to Sauk county, Wiscon- 982 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. sin, with his parents and family. He enlisted in Company G, Forty-second Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1864. At the close of the war, he was mustered out in Madi son, Wisconsin, returning to Sauk county and the farm. July 17, 1869, Mr. Saare was married to Miss Louise Mollin at her home in Dane county, Wis consin. With his wife and one son, he came to Nebraska in June, 1872, settling in the town of Aspinwall, Nemaha county, and engaged in the general mercantile business. They remained there until 1877, when they returned to Baraboo, Wisconsin, going into the mercantile business in that city, and in January, 1880, came to Barada, Richardson county, Nebraska, where he was one of the firm of H. Saare & Company, and remained there five years. He moved to Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska, in 1885, and engaged in the general mercantile business with G. A. Mollin, and in March, 1887, came to Newman Grove, Mad ison county, again going into the mercantile bus iness. Here he has remained, and has been retired from active business since January 20, 1906. Mr. Saare is a successful man of affairs, and is widely known. He has a comfortable home in Newman Grove, extensive land and property interests in Madison and adjoining counties, as well as inter ests in other states. Mr. and Mrs. Saar.e have four children living : Louise, wife of J. L. Barnes, has three children, and lives in Kansas ; Augusta, wife of C. C. Crow- ell, junior, has four children, and resides in Oma ha; Alfred, resides in the state of Washington, and has two children; and Pauline, who lives at home. JUDGE JOSIAH A. ARMOUR. Judge Josiah A. Armour was the first lawyer to establish a practice within the limits of Custer county, Nebraska, and is one of the best known men of that region. He is a native of Macoupin county, Illinois, fourth of the nine children of Josiah and Eliza (Rhoads) Armour, natives of Kentucky. He was born July 14, 1854. The father was of German and Scotch descent, and the mother of German and English, and he died at Medora, Illinois, while she survives him, and lives at Medora, being eighty-two years of age. Several of their children are deceased, and those now surviving are : Josiah A. ; Mrs. Melissa Chandler, of Ansley ; Charles B., of Ansley ; Mrs. Julia Huffman, of Gering; Mrs. Delia M. Duty, of Medora, Illinois. Mr. Armour received his elementary educa tion in the country schools of Illinois, and grew to young manhood on a farm. Later he attended Shurtleff College for six years, and graduated therefrom in 1878. The following year he read law with General I. A. Rinaker, and afterwards attended Washington University, where he took a law course. In June, 1880, he located in Edgar, Clay county, Nebraska, and entered upon the practice of his profession. In September, 1881, he removed to Westerville, Custer county, where he remained until the spring of 1887, and then moved to Ansley. He was married in Westerville, March 19, 1882, to Miss Etta Varney, a native of New York state, and a daughter of Edgar and Amelia (Tiffany) Varney, both also natives of that state. The father was born near Saratoga Springs, and served in a New York regiment during the Civil war. He brought his family to Custer county in an early day, and his death occurred in September, 1908, in Ansley, where his widow still resides. Their children are: T. T., S. P. and J. H., living in Ansley; Mrs. Clara Gaines, of Ansley; C. E., of Callaway; Mrs. Millie Brega, of Callaway; Mrs. Lavina Wilkison, of Grand Island, and Mrs. Armour. In 1884, Mr. Armour secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in the south east quarter of section fourteen, township eigh teen, range eighteen, and' also secured a timber claim of the same size. In the fall of 1897, he was elected county judge, and, through successive re-elections, served eight consecutive years, dur ing which time he lived in Broken Bow. He is one of the oldest settlers of his part of the state, and has had an extensive law practice since com ing west. He is a prosperous and successful business man and has secured some nice proper ties in the county. He is actively identified with the best interests , of his county and state, and is held in high regard and respect by all who know him, having a high standing in his profession. For four successive years he served as worshipful master of the Masonic lodge in Ansley, and is well known in Masonic circles in his part of the state. Four children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Armour, namely: Ray, of Great Falls, Montana, married Miss Gertrude Hall, of Brokeri Bow, and they have one child ; Effie L, died March 2, 1888 ; Roscoe A., is a student in the Chicago Dental School ; Avis A., is now attending school. WILEY E. VAN PELT. Wiley E. Van Pelt, the hustling real estate dealer of Bloomfield, has been in Nebraska a shorter time than many, but he accomplishes more in one year than do many in from three to five years. He is a native of Shenandoah, Iowa, born September 9, 1875. His parents, Evan d'. and Melissa (Broyhill) Van Pelt, are natives of Illinois, the father of Pulton, and the mother of descent Tazewell county. The family is of Holland descent, but the immigrant ancestor came in Colonial days, long before the Revolu tionary war. The senior Van Pelt moved to Shenandoah in 1873, living part of the time in the city, and part of the time on his farm. Wiley E. Van Pelt COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 983 attended the Shenandoah schools, and graduated from the Normal Business College there at the age of seventeen, when he began life for himself, selling goods on the road, and continued as a salesman until settling in Crofton in the spring of 1896. He had sojourned in Bloomfield in 1892 for a short time, and then returned to his Iowa home. In Crofton, Mr. Van Pelt engaged in the mer cantile business in the spring of 1897, and contin ued in business there until 1901, when he sold out, and gave his entire time to real estate and insur ance, at which he had been engaged from time to time before. He bought and shipped stock at times, when the conditions seemed favorable, and in his land deals frequently accepts a stock of goods in exchange. In this way he has owned stores in Norfolk, Bloomfield and Lynch. As a versatile man of general business, his equal is hard to find. He makes trades at which others might hesitate, and by his -unusual business abil ity, turns to profit what others might dispose of at a loss. Mr. Van Pelt was married in Hartington, Nebraska, November 9, 1901, to Miss Clara Strand, a native of Knox county. Her parents, Charles H. and Martha (Aaberg) Strang, are natives of Norway. The mother came to America! about 1873, and the father a year or two earlier. They were married in Knox county, where they have since continued to dwell. Our subject and wife have two children to bless their home, Byron and Melba. Mr. Van Pelt is a staunch democrat in politics, and in 1910 stood for the legislature as his party's candidate, his first venture into practical political life. He is a member of the Masonic order, hold ing membership in the blue lodge and chapter in. Bloomfield. Mr. Van Pelt was on his father's farm near Shenandoah at the time of the severe blizzard of January 12, 1888. Their home was surrounded by a fine large" grove, in which the high wind was not felt. Mr. Van Pelt and elder brother started to get the stock in at the time the storm broke. When they came to the corner of the grove, they realized that a storm of unusual severity was on, and the temperature was low, and the younger boy was compelled to return to the house, while the elder succeeded in getting the cattle and horses into shelter for the night. Mr. Van Pelt has traveled extensively in the west, as far east as Chicago, into the mountains of Montana, and to the southward as far as the plains of Texas. He is full of vitality, energy and acumen. He is quick in judging values, and equally as quick in estimating the measure of his man. His affable disposition makes him many staunch friends in social as well as political activities. CHRISTIAN HECHT. Christian Hecht, one of the venerable pioneers of Pierce county, Nebraska, who has retired from active life, and is now living in Pierce, first came to Nebraska in August, 1884, and purchased of W. S. Mosier the relinquishment of a homestead and tree claim, a half section, six miles northeast of Plainview. He resided on the land, skillfully cultivating it until February, 1903, when he removed to Plainview to take his ease for the remainder of his life, which promises to be ex tended to the century mark, and which he expects to attain. Mr. Hecht is a native of the dukedom of Hol stein, Germany, born in the village of Cleve, August 26, 1830. His parents, John Frederick and Ida (Sivers) Hecht, were also natives of Holstein, where the mother died. The father was a general contractor and builder, doing carpentry as well as mason work, and also was a machinist, and intended his son, Chris, for the same career. After working for a time with the father, the boy decided that he preferred an occupation that would not take him so much from home, and induced his father to apprentice him to a cabinet maker, where he finished his apprenticeship just prior to emigrating to America. He served four years for only his board, his father having to clothe him, and prior to completing his appren ticeship, he was called out in the reserves in 1850, during the war between Germany and Denmark. He learned in later years that a friend, Mr. James Nelson, had fought in the battle of Idstedt, on the opposite side. After serving out the remaining two months of his apprenticeship, Mr. Hecht had an opportunity to come to the new world in company with his future father-in-law and his family. Embarking, April 1, at Hamburg, Germany, in an old two-mast sailing vessel, the "Alter Peter," so small that but a hundred passengers could be accommo dated, they landed, after a voyage of six weeks, at the port of New York, and journeyed direct to Joliet, Illinois, where Mr. Hecht secured work at his trade, within a year repaying his passage money, which was advariced by Mr. Deerson. He then married a daughter of Mr. Deerson, and established a family of his own. For ten years he worked at his trade in Joliet before moving to Momence, the same state, where he worked for three years. In 1866, he bought a farm in Kankakee county, a tract of Illinois Central railroad land. Here he lived with his family until 1881, when he sold the farm at sixty dollars per acre, having paid eight dollars per acre. After leaving the farm, he opened a hardware and implement store in Grant Park, where he continued in business until coming west, as related before. After purchas ing his land, in August, 1884, Mr. Hecht returned to Illinois, disposed of his property, and in the spring came west, and took possession of his Ne- 984 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, KE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. braska property, in due time proving up on the homestead quarter-section, and also on his timber claim. Mr. Hecht was married in Joliet, Illinois, May 23, 1853, to Miss Margaret Deerson, daughter of Peter N. and Helma (Miller) Deerson, all natives of Holstein, Germany. Mrs. Hecht passed away in Nebraska, January 13, 1894. Of eight children born to her, three died in infancy. Those attain ing majority are : John P., who married Jessie F. Stocking, both of whom have passed, away leaving four children ; Serena, married, and living in Canada; George, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere ; Alice, deceased, who married Albert Herbert, of Grant Park ; Herman J., county treas urer, whose career is related on another page ; and Charles C, who is a traveling salesman, with headquarters at Lincoln, Nebraska. John Frederick Hecht followed his son, Chris, to America in 1854, bringing his remaining son and two daughters, all of whom lived creditable lives in Will county, Illinois, where all passed away, leaving Chris, the eldest and the last of his generation, well and hearty, with prospect of rounding out a hundred years. He was reared in the Lutheran church, but of late years has been an attendant and supporter of the Congregational church. For fifty years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Joliet, Illinois. * Prom his advent to the American republic, he has adhered to the principles of the republican party, and would have cast his first vote for their first candidate, Fremont, had he been long enough on American shores. His first vote, however, was for the great emancipator, the first successful candidate of that dominant party. No one holds a higher place in the hearts of the citizens of Pierce county, old and young, than our subject. He richly deserves the comforts he now enjoys, and is a sterling example to the young, an inspiration to emulate his thrift, energy and honesty, if they would win substaritial suc cess in life, and leave a revered memory on pass ing to the great beyond. N. P. CARLSON. N. P. Carlson, one of the first settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in section twenty-one, township thirty, range two, where he is surrounded by a host of warm friends and acquaintances. Mr. Carlson has done his full share in the upbuilding of his home county and state, and is a highly esteemed and respected citizen of this section. Mr. Carlson is a native of Sweden, having first seen the light in the year 1854, and is a son of Carl and Helen Nelson. He received his edu cation in his native land, and also helped his father on the farm. When he reached the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Carlson decided to come to the new world, of which he had heard so much, and of the cheap land to be obtained for almost the asking. In 1879, he left Sweden to come to America, embarking on the steamship "State of Nebraska, ' ' and landed in New York City. After reaching the United States, he went direct to Iowa, where he lived five years. Mr. Carlson's advent to the state of Nebraska dates from 1886, when he came to Antelope county, living there seven years on a , timber claim, which he had taken up shortly after com ing from Sweden. In 1893 he, with his family, came to Knox county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, which he has steadily improved, until now he has a fine home and good improved farm. Mr. Carlson was united in marriage in 1884 to Miss Mathilda Sophia Anderson, a native of Swed°n, and Mr. and Mrs. Carlson are the par ents of a family of five fine children, whose names are as follows: Nels Clarence, Inez Sophia, Leonard (now decased), Carl Algot, Arvid Ru dolph. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson and family enjoy the respect and high esteem of all who know them, and Mr. Carlson, as before stated, is held in high , regard in the community in which he dwells, and is known as one of the substantial citizens of his region. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land in Knox county, and eighty acres in Lincoln county, Nebraska., He is a republican, and he and his family belong to the Swedish Lutheran church at Wausa. J. E. BAGGSTROM. The hardy Norseman has always been a desira ble citizen in the settlement of the new world, and the settlement of Swedes in and around Wausa, Nebraska, is but another example of their sterling worth. Of this progressive race is John E. Baggstrom, manager of the Union Telephone Company of Wausa. The father, Eric Baggstrom, was a na tive of the village of Ofvanoker, Belsingland province, Sweden, born in 1844. He was a farmer in Scandinavia, and followed that vocation on taking up his residence in the new world. Emi grating about 1867, he crossed the North sea from Guttenburg to Hull, then traversed England by rail to Liverpool, and there embarked in the steamer "City of Baltimore" for New Yrirk and after a voyage of eleven days, landed in the western metropolis. On landing, he came west to Boone, Iowa, where there was a colony of his countrymen, and after cultivating rented land for a year, he' took up the carpenters' trade and cabinet-making, pur chasing the county right for manufacturing a folding bed, one of the first of that convenient household furniture to be invented, and for a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY," REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 985 time found the manufacture of them quite profit able. His first finished product was traded for a cabinet organ and five hogs. The proceeds 'of this craft he invested in land near Stratford, and moved to this locality, where he lived until he sold his eighty acres, and moved to Nebraska in 1885. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from a homesteader, five miles northwest of where Wausa now stands, and lived here until 1907, when he sold, and retired from active life. He spent two years, from 1889 to 1891, contract ing and building in San Francisco. When he came to Nebraska, the townsite of Wausa was an open prairie, and in making hay one season, he put up a stack where the Methodist Episcopal church now stands. His industry is unabated, and, although retired from farming, he takes occasional jobs at carpentry and joinery to keep his hands from being idle. Eric Baggstrom was married in Sweden to Miss Ellen Olson, a native of the same village and province where" he was born. Of their family of five children, two sur vive, the son and a daughter, Emma, who has remained dutifully beneath the parental roof. J. E. Baggstrom was born within a mile of Stratford, Iowa, January 10, 1870. He attended school in Iowa, and one year after coming to Nebraska. He attended the Lutheran College at Wauhoo, completing the course in fourteen months — three months the first year, four the second, and seven the third — teaching school be tween times in order to pay his way. Few, if any, ever completed the course in so few months, but it required burning much of the midnight oil. He made an especial study of grammar, which was not a favorite study with him, and became so proficient that he devised a primary grammar for use in his own schools, making the study clear and interesting to young minds. He also devised a chart of universal history, for which the college professors offered him a price for use in their institution. Mr. Baggstrom intends to complete these useful works in time, and place them in the schools of the country. He is the author, too, of a table for instantly computing the price of various pieces of lumber, saving, by this tabulation, hourse of time in computing the amount of a large bill of timber. i In September, 1898, in company with Mr. F. E. Anderson, Mr. Baggstrom established the "Wausa Gazette," with the prediction of its of its predecessor that it would be short-lived. But the earliest journal has long since been discontinued, while the "Gazette" is one of the most flourishing country, papers in this section of Nebraska. Mr. Baggstrom sold his interest in the paper, January 1, 1901, and re entered the teaching profession, taking the school at Winnetoon, where they had difficulty in secur ing a competent teacher, and for one year he 32% taught the grammar department of the Wausa school. Mr. Baggstrom had learned building from his father when living in San Francisco, and, after disposing of the "Gazette," engaged in building for five years. In the winter of 1906, he became manager for Lundberg Brothers, of their Wausa yards, and had charge of the same until the spring of 1911, when he took charge of the Union Telephone Company, whose home office is at Wausa. He has acquired a good knowledge of architecture, and has planned many of the public and private buildings of Wausa and vicinity. Mr. Baggstrom was married in Wausa, May 6, 1903, to Miss Nilla Anderson, a native of Sweden. Her parents, Andrew and Nilla Ander son never emigrated to America. The father died in the old country, and the mother, with one daughter, are all of a family of fourteen that are left there, and they may follow to the new world soon. Those here came one at a time, each help ing those left behind to emigrate. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baggstrom, named Carl O. T., Lillie A., Mildred G. and Vivian L. Mr. Baggstrom is a republican in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church. He is now township treasurer, and was township clerk for many years. When the township, in which his father settled, was divided, Mr. Baggstrom had the honor to' select the name for the new division, and named it Columbia. Wausa was named for Wasa, one of the Swedish kings, and at Mr. Baggstrom 's suggestion, the spelling was changed to conform to the English pronounciation. At the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Baggstrom was attending confirma tion school in Sioux City, working in a meat mar ket out of school hours to pay his board. He happened to be at the market at the time of the storm, and on his way to his employer's house, took the middle of the street. He lost his bear ings somewhat in the blinding storm, walked off a bridge, and fell into the bed of tbe stream, and was covered with snow in floundering out of it. While he was making his way laboriously back to .his boarding place, his father was having a more serious experience at home, and is probably the only man who passed the night out doors and came through alive. When the storm came up, he was within a mile and a half of home, and in sight of it. In the blinding blast he lost his way, and abandoned his sleigh within sixty rods of the house, where it was afterward found, and after wandering on for four miles more, lay down under a bank, and let the snow cover him, which with his buffalo coat, kept him from freezing. At daybreay, weak and stiff, he made his way to a neighbor's, five miles away, where he was given succor, and later returned home to relieve the worry of his wife and daughter, who had sup posed him to be lost. When he moved to Cali- 986 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. fornia, he gave the coat to the neighbor as a re minder of the occasion when a friend was sorely in need. Although he had but a small herd of cattle, he lost all of them in this storm. The family knew hard times in the early days. For two years in Iowa, they had no bread but that made from corn meal. They lived several years in a dugout after coming west, before being able to build a better house. At this writing, May, 1911, Mr. Erie Baggstrom is planning to soon go on a trip to his native country. OLE OLSON. In the gentleman above named, we have another one of the sturdy sons of Norwuy who left his na tive land and came to this country to help in the steady march of progress, and incidentally to build up for himself a home and fortune. Mr. Olson re sides on his pleasant farm on section thirty -two, township twenty-two, range three, where he has succeeded in building up one of the valuable es tates of the locality, and is considered one of the substantial agriculturists of the community. Mr. Olson is a native of Norway, in which coun try he was born October 12, 1844, a, son of Omon and Julia (Catal) Olson, who were natives of Christiana, Norway, the father dying when our subject was but six years of age. In 1853, Mr. Olson, our subject, with his mother, left their native land for America, sailing from Christiana on the sailboat "Inga," being eight weeks on the sea. They landed in Quebec, Canada, and from there came on to LaSalle, Illi nois, settling there, where they remained twenty- two years ; during his residence here Mr. Olson was married, of which we will write further on in this sketch. In 1882 Mr. Olson came to Madison county, Ne braska, where he bought out a tree claim and home stead right, first building a frame house on this land. Mr. Olson has had his share of discourage ment and losses since his residence here, and as late as 1894 suffered the loss of his entire season's crops by the hot winds that were a result of tlie terrible drouth of that year, and which burned out the crops for miles in extent ; but he has persevered, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of choice land, on which he has twenty acres of fine trees. Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Craw, October 14, 1871, Miss Craw being a native of Norway, and a daughter of Helge and Anna Craw, who were also natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of the following named children : Emma, deceased ; Anna, John, deceased when small ; John, Andrew Alloy, Ulysses, Hilmer, and Clara. They are a well known family, and en- Joy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances. ROBERT GIVEN (Deceased.) Robert Given, an honored and respected pioneer of Custer county, Nebraska, had the sincere respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, by whom his death was deeply deplored. He had been recog nized as a public-spirited and substantial citizen and represented the best intrests of his county and state during his long life there. He and his wife whose maiden name was Mahulda (Jordan) Given, came from West Virginia to Whiteside county, Illi nois, in 1867. In 1878 they came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, with an emegrant car containing horses, cows, and household goods, and bought land there from the railroad company. In the fall of 1884, Mr. Given, with his wife , their sons, Ellis, and Ewell, and their daughter, Debora,. came into Custer county, and took up a homestead comprising southwest quarter of section twenty- eight, township eighteen, range twenty-one. Their son, Sampson, had preceeded them a year, filing on a homestead and timber claim near where Merna is now situated. They were among the early settlers of the region and among the best known families in Custer county. Mrs. Given died Jan uary 19, 1809, and her husband died April 3 of the same year, at 'the home of his son, Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Given were survived by the fol lowing named children, five of whom reside in Ne braska : Kate, now Mrs. J. S. Kennard, of Fillmore county; William, of Lincoln; Sampson and Ellis Given, and Debora, now Mrs. James Anderson, of Custer cbunty. EweU lives in Wyoming. Sketches of Sampson and Ellis appear elsewhere in this work. HARVEY MARICLE. (Deceased). Harvey Maricle, a former venerable resident of Boone county, Nebraska, was born in Greenbriar county, West Virginia, on , January 5, 1827, and died September 14, 1910, on the home place. He was the sixth in a family of eleven children born to Jacob and Sarah Maricle, who were of German de scent but natives of America, the former born in Pennsylvania and the mother in West Virginia. When our subject was about eight years of age, the family left West Virginia and settled in- Smith county, Tennessee, remaining for two years, then moved to White county, Illinois, where Harvey Maricle grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-two, he strated in life for himself, locating at Grayville, in the northeast cor ner of White county, and followed his trade of wood-work and wagon-making, later taking up the work of a carpenter and builder. He made that his home up to the spring of 1860, at that time going to Wabash county, that state, and settled on a farm. On May 5, 1857, Mr. Maricle was married in Gibson county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah Amira HARVEY MARICLE, DECEASED, AND WIFE. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 987 Knowles, who was born and raised in that county. Four children were born to them, a daughter dying in infancy, and three sons, Leonard Fletcher, Ro- zander C. and Carson WaUace, still living, are well known residents of Boone county; the two former married, and the last mentioned living with his mother. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Maricle appear on another page. Mr. Maricle came to Boone county, Nebraska in May 1871. He filed on a homestead on section eighteen, township nineteen, range five, also took a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres in section seven, and proved up on both. His first dweUing was built from lumber hauled from Columbus, nearly all the work being done by him self, and as soon as it was .completed, he returned to Illinois and brought his wife and children back with him, they arriving in July. The first preach ing service in the county was held in this new home. There they went through pioneer experiences, be ing among the very first settlers in that portion of the county, and the original homestead was Mr. Maricle 's home until his death, and is now occupied by his widow and son. He improved the farm in fine shape, having good buildings of all kinds, and conveniences in the way bf machinery, etc. There is a nice grove, and plenty of fruit and other trees, good fences, and everything to make it one of the valuable estates in that region. Mir. Maricle was one of the original appointees to organize the county of Boone, this being in 1871, and at that time was county commissioner, the meeting at which the organization was perfected, being held at Mr. Maricle 's home. He also served as postmaster at Boone, holding the position for about twenty years, the postoffice being located at his home for seven years, then moved to Boone, when the Union Pacific railroad was built, it being the third postal station estabnshed in the county. At the age of thirty-two, Mr. Maricle was con verted and joined the Presbyterian church, and lived a christian life ever after. i HARRY FULLEN. Few men living in Nebraska today can recall the primitive conditions of so early a day as Mr. Harry Fullen, formerly of Osmond, but now a resi dent of Grand Island. His birth occurred on April 11, 1861, in Burt county, Nebraska, and at that time the narrow rim of settlements extended but a few iniles west from the Missouri river. As a boy he has seen a thousand Indians in a body moving to or from the reservations north of Omaha. In these migrations the ponies were packed with the tent covering, with the lodge poles fastened above and trailing out behind, and frequently a platform was lashed to these beyond the reach of the pony's tail, and on this was places babies, and occasionally a dog or some other goods, the balance bf the band walking except the chief, or lord and master of the tribe, for whom the best ponies were reserved. Mr. Fullen also well remembers stories of their lives, and at one time there must have been a fierce battle in the vicinity, for in an ash grove near his boyhood home were found skulls and bones in large num bers. In this spot some of the reckless young men of the locality were wont to assemble and shoot at the skulls for the drinks to be had at Chris Weiser's, a German who kept a store and groggery at the landing where goods for Tekamah were put ashore. At this early date oxen were the only draught animals in the vicinity, and our subject's success in ; driving them was not an astonishing thing, going j their own sweet way without heed to his wishes. The market for the produce of their farm was some distance away, and at times when the river was frozen over their drsesed hogs were hauled as far as Red Oak, Iowa, before purchasers could be found, although Omaha was their usual market, which was fifty iniles away. The trip took several days to accomplish, and it was necessary for the farmers to go in parties of several people, as there was a band of desperadoes which infested the trail along the Missouri river and would hold up the returning settler and rob him of his money and goods. Therefore, when one was ready to go to market, all the neighbors were caUed on and a "killing bee" was held, slaughtering from forty to fifty hogse, and a hundred or more turkeys and as many chickens, the occasion being made a frolic. Mr. Fullen 's early years were spent in a log ' house, as well as his first schooling, slabs at that time being used for seats, but later on after he had i prospered on his farm near Tekamah, he ordered ¦ from St. Louis a ready framed building requiring | only to be put together and raised. Mr. Fullen 's father, James Fullen, was born about 1833, in County Tyrone, Ireland. His ma- : ternal uncles were all sea captains who had visited ; every part of the world on their various voyages, ; and when four years of age, his father, Barney Fullen, with his family, emigrated to the United : States, embarking at Belfast in an old sailing ves- [ sel. They were buffeted by the storms and high 1 seas for six months before sighting the coast of America, and on landing, went directly to Essex i county, New York, where he was reared, and at an early age apprenticed to the carpenter's trade. In 1856 he settled in Henry county, Iowa, where he married and resided until coming to Nebraska, as stated above. Mr. Fullen, father of our subect was married in Mt. Pleasant, 1859, to Rebecca J. Haywood, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, she is now deceased, her death occurred in August, 1910, and is buried in the family lot at Tekamah, Nebraska, a beautiful plat beside that of the father overlooking the Mis souri valley viewing many scenes of their pioneer days. Of her seven children, Harry, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. He was married Septem ber 19, 1900, to Louise M. Junge, a daughter of M. F. and Catherine Junge, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fullen are members of the Pres- 988 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. byterian church, and haVe hosts bf friends 'in their comunity. He is a member of the Modern Wood men of America, and Masonic order. Politically he is a democrat. Mr. Fullen has travelled much through the west, having made three trips to Old Mexico. He is very observing, has a good memory, and the gift of relating his experiences in an interesting manner, thus being a most entertaining and congenial com panion. He is extensively interested in real estate and banking in the northern part of Pierce county, and is counted among the successful and prominent business men of the state. M. P. JUNGE. (Deceased.) One of the early settlers of Pierce county, who has filled an important place in the community, was Michael F. Junge, who died on August 29," 1896. He was a man of much broader education and wider experience than the usual emigrant seeking oppor tunities in the great republic, and he was consid ered one of the foremost citizens of his locality dur ing his residence in Nebraska. Mr. Junge was born in the village of Elmshorn, Province of Holstein, Germany, on January 22, 1833. His father, Diedrich Ferdinand Junge, died when our subect was a small boy. His mother, Helecia (Bartels) Junge, was a woman of strong character and gave her children each a good edu cation to fit themselves for' the battle of life. As a boy, Mr. Junge had a longing for the sea, and to cure him of this the mother sent him on a voyage to Greenland. This, instead of curing him, was exaetly to his liking, and he made two more voy ages to the same ports, so his mother became recon ciled and sent him to the schools of navigation at Flensburg and Hamburg, from both of which he graduated, later taking an academic course at other colleges, becoming proficient in Greek, Latin, Span ish, French and English. He held a Master's cer tificate, but usually served as first mate. During eighteen years spent on the high seas he visited Africa, the Orient, doubled Cape Horn three times and in 1851 called at San Francisco and witnessed the wild rush of those seeking gold during the ex citement in that country. Returning from a voyage to South America in the Santa Maria on one trip, the vessel sank in the roadstead of Bremen Haven, but managed to keep afloat until shallow water was reached and all were saved. It was known that this ship was unseaw-orthy, and the captain feared that she might go down before sighting land. He being sick in his berth *at the time, Mr. Junge carried him on deck and succeeded in getting him in one of the ship's boats when the Santa Maria sank in the water. Her cargo of coffee salvaged from the wreck, was on sale for a umber of years in that re gion. On coming to America M]r. Junge sailed the great lakes for four years, and for two years was in the service of the Federal government on the Mississippi river, his technical knowledge making him a valuable man in the service. In 1868 he re" turned to his native la'nd and for four years was in the commission business in Altona with his brother. He then came back to America, settling at Belle Plaine, Iowa, where he engaged in the ag ricultural business, remaining there for thirteen years. During this time he had purchased a tract of land near Osmond, and in 1886 came to Pierce county for permanent residence, occupying his original homestead until his death. Mr Junge was married at Belle Plaine, Iowa, in January, 1873, to Katherine Charlotte Nagel, a native of the village of Buchholz, Holstein, Ger many, coming to America with her parents in 1852 in a sailing vessel. They were landed at New Or leans after a voyage of six weeks, and from thence went to St. Louis where the family spent one win ter ; when navigation opened in the spring, coming by boat to Davenport, Iowa, where the father has made his home ever since. Mrs. Junge is at pres ent living at Big Springs, Nebraska. The Junge family has been prominently known in the north ern provinces of Germany for generations, W. Junge, an ancestor, having built the first Lutheran church in that region after the Reformatiop. They have always been a family high in culture and education, foremost in business and social circles in their native country. FRANCIS CROWE. Francis Crowe, an old and prominent resident of St. Paul, enjoys a pleasant home in that beau tiful city. He has spent many years in Howard county, during which time he has succeeded in ac cumulating a valuable estate consisting of five hun dred acres of choice farm lands besides other in terests here, and is known as one of the wealthy- men of that region. Our subject is a native of Canada, born Octo ber 20, 1837, and was the eldest child in a family of eight. He grew up in that country, during his young manhood following farming and stock rais ing, and was married there January 31, 1858, to Alice Crowe, five children resulting from their un ion, three of whom died in infancy, and the mother died in Canada in 1868. In the following year he married Bessie Crowe, and ten children were born of this marriage, seven now living, namely: Alice, Belle, Charlie, Viola, wife of E. W. Docker, they living in Black Buke, Wyoming; Ida, wife of Allen McPherry, Wallace ML and Bruce, the three last mentioned living at home, while the others are mar ried all residing in Howard county. Mr. Crowe came into Howard county with his family in 1878, landing here in October. He had been through the country two years previously and at that time purchased a piece of land, after wards returning to Canada where he remained un til coming back to Nebraska with his family. They went through the usual pibneer experiences in get ting their farm started but stuck to it through good, bad and indifferent times and gradually sue- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 989 ceeded in improving the place in good shape, erect ing substantial buildings and cultivating more land each year until Mr. Crowe now has one of the valu able estates in the locality, consisting of about five hundred acres, all choice farm land which he has stocked up in fine shape, and while he still takes an active part in the management of his farming in terests, he makes St. Paul his residence, sur rounded by many friends, the family being among the prominent citizens of their community. Two children of Mr. Crowe's first marriage are living, William Henry Crowe, now in South McAllister, Oklahoma, and George Crowe, a well known resident of South Omaha, Nebraska. HARRISON E. DAVIS. Harrison E. Davis, the only son bf George W. and Zilpha Williams Davis, was born in Lewis county, New- York, on May 15, 1855. Both father and mother were of New England stock, the mother being a descendant of Roger Williams. In the fall of 1865, the Davis family went to Minnesota where the son, Harrison E., the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the farm, later engaging in farming for himself. On December 31, 1874, Mr. Davis married Eliza Boyd, who was born in Pennsylvania. In 1878, Mr. Davis, with his wife and one daughter, came to Valley county, Nebraska, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres from the Burlington and Missouri railroad, section twenty-three, township eighteen, range thirteen, just north of North Loup. The fol lowing year Mr. Davis took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near Ord, but later sold his right and returned to his first farm, which re mained the "old home place" for many years. Mr. Davis was always interested in the progress of the county along educational lines and was in strumental in organizing two school districts and for ten years served as treasurer of district num ber forty-two. In the fall of 1903, Mr. Davis left the farm, moving to North Loup in order to engage in the furniture and undertaking business. He is pros perous and successful, owning good city properties and splendid interests. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis: Fanny S., H. Eugene, who lived at Leoo, • China, for three years where he was a missionary, returning to the states in 1910 to recover health lost in that malarious country ; George E., David A., Orson E., J. Stennett and Ross 0. One child, Orville, died in infancy. Mr. Davis and his family are widely and fav orably known and for many years have been active members of the Seventh Day Baptist church. A. F. REEVES. A. F. Reeves, for the past twenty-one years a prominent representative of the farming com munity of Madison county, Nebraska, has a pleas ant home in section eighteen, township twenty-two, range two, west. He is one of the worthy citizens of that region, and his success and good name are well merited. Mr. Reeves is a , native of North Carolina, his birth occurring September 13, 1852, and is a son of Jesse and Nancy Reeves, both of Virginia birth. Our subject's father enlisted in 1861, in Company E, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Artillery in the Confederate army, and was killed in battle with guerillas the last year of the war. Mr. Reeves,' grandfather Came to America from England, thus making our subject a descendant of that country. Mr. Reeves came to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1882, and bought the McCutchen farm, which was not then very highly improved ; he has steadily improved this land until now he owns one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land and engages in mixed farming, at which he has made a success. Mr. Reeves was united in marriage April 12, 1887, to Miss Maggie Warden, and Mr. and Mrs. Reeves are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Joe, David, Betty, Will, John and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves and family have the re spect and esteem of all who know them, and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. DANIEL BARRETT. Daniel Barrett, of Broken Bow, is an early set tler of Custer county and has always been closely identified with the progress and upbuilding of his part of the state. He is an energetic and successful man of affairs and owns a fine stock and grain farm of nearly five hundred acres, which he has improved, developed and equipped by his own ef forts. He also owns some desirable city property and in 1904 purchased the pleasant home in Bro ken Bow where the family have since resided. Mr. Barrett was born in Warren, IHinois, March 17, 1854, a son of Hercules and Susan (Hawkeye) Bar rett, natives of England. The parents came to America in 1848, locating in Wisconsin, but later removed to Cass county, Iowa, where both died, he in 1887 and she in 1885. Their ehildren who now survive are : Henry lives seven miles west of Merna in Custer county; a daughter lives in Jackson county, Iowa, one in Omaha, and one in Cass coun ty, Iowa; one daughter lives in Spokane, Wash ington. In early childhood Mr. Barrett went with his parents to Cass county, Iowa, where he received his education and grew to manhood, later engaging in farming there. He was married in Montgomery county, Iowa, to Esther Electa Booth, a native of New York state, a daughter of C. W. and Nancy (MicNinch) Booth, also natives of that state and now living seven miles east of Broken Bow, hav ing come to Custer county in an early day. Mr. Booth served in the civil war. Mrs. Barrett has three sisters and five brothers living in Custer 990 COMPENDHIM OP HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. county, namely: Mrs. Cora Hethley, Mrs. Grace Coulter, Mrs. Lizzie Shoup, Ed, Joseph, Ernest, William and George. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett made their first home in Iowa and in March, 1887, brought their one child, a son, with them to Custer county and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section three, township sixteen, range twenty-two, which was their home for a number of years. For several years Mr. Bar rett served as a member of the school board of dis trict number one hundred and forty-eight, and he has always been ready to forward any worthy cause in the community. Mr. Barrett and wife have had four children, as follows : Charles, is married and lives in Dunning, Nebraska ; Orlonzo died June 28, 1888 ;' Bertha E. lives at home, and Eugene died March 11, 1901. The family are well regarded and have a wide cir cle of friends and acquaintances. LEOPOLD EGE. Leopold Ege, one of the old settlers of this re gion, where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable property in sec tion twenty-three, township thirty-one, range four, Knox county, Nebraska, where he is' well known and respected by all with whom he has to do. He has done his share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known through out this part of the state. Mr. Ege is a native of Germany, in which coun try he was born in 1842, where he spent the earlier portion of his life. In 1881, when he was thirty- nine years of age, Mr. Ege left his native land, with his wife and five children, and came to America, the land of plenty and golden opportunities. He set sail from Havre, Prance, to where he and his family had journeyed overland by rail, on the steamship "Labrador," and landed in New York from where they immediately started for the west, going as far as Sioux county, Iowa, where they remained over four years. He then came to Knox county, Nebraska, in 1886, where he took up a homestead in the location where he is now living. In the first days of his settlement in Knox county, Mr. Ege experienced many hardships and discouragements. In the memorable blizzard of 1888, he lost all the stock he possessed except one cow, and suffered many other losses and struggles. Mr. Ege was united in holy matrimony in 1870 to Miss Rachel Pefferly, and Mr. and Mrs. Ege are the parents of ten children, whose names are as follows : Lizzie and Rachel, both of whom are de ceased, the former dying in Sheldon, Iowa, and the latter in Knox county ; Caroline, died in Germany ; Charles, who lives in Canada; Chris, of Montana; John of Washta, Iowa; Annie, wife of Thomas Vourn, of Knox county; Bertha, wife of Theodore Schaefer, of Knox county; Alice, of Washta, Iowa; and Carrie, who lives at home. In addition to their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Ege have taken a boy, Charles Woods, to raise, he having been with them since he was four months old. Mr. and Mrs. Ege and family are highly es teemed and respected in their community, and re side in their pleasant home where they are sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquain tances. ROBERT RUHLOW. Eobert Ruhlow, a retired agriculturist of prom inence in Pierce county, Nebraska, is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the ma terial wealth and growth of Nebraska. Agricul ture forms the basis of wealth in that part of the country, as indeed in most sections of the United States. It is therefore of great importance that the class of people who inhabit the great farming re gions of the country should represent those ele ments of sterling worth so prominently displayed by the majority of the early settlers and their des cendants. Mr. Ruhlow was born March 4, 1864, near Wat- ertown, Wisconsin. His father William Ruhlow, was born in the province of Pomerania, Germany, in 1830, where after growing to manhood he fol lowed the occupation of wagon maker. He emi grated to America in 1849, sailing from Hamburg to Havre, France, on a small sailboat, and there embarked in a sailing vessel and landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks. After landing, the family came west to Wisconsin, where the father took up forty acres of timber land. In 1867, Mr. Ruhlow, with his family, migrated to Madison county, Nebraska, coming by ox team with a party of Wisconsin people bound for the far west. He took up a homestead claim in Madi son county, living for a time in a dugout, and later built a log house, for which they hauled the logs from the Elkhorn river. The family went to farm ing their land and managed to get along very com fortably, hauling their supplies i from Columbus, Omaha and Sioux City. At this time this portion of the country was almost a wilderness, and deer, elk, and antelope were plentiful. There were but few settlers here, and Indians were camped all over the country. The pioneers experienced many hard times and frights from the red skins, but never had any great trouble through them. The grasshop pers destroyed all their crops in 1873, 1875 and 1879, and in the blizzards of 1869, 1870, 1873, 1880 and 1888 caused them much suffering. Robert Ruhlow was out in the bUzzard of October 1880, attempting to save their stock. In 1886 Mr. Ruhlow, with his father, took a tree claim in Pierce county, Nebraska, in section thirty, township twenty-six, range three, which is now a well improved farm and the residence of our sub ject until February, 1911, when he retired from farming and became a resident of Pierce. Mr. Ruhlow was married in 1887 to Mjss Bertha COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 991 Barf knecht, and they have nine children: Mabel, who died when a small child ; Albert, Alvina, wife of Anton Bokemper, has one child; and Julius, Nettie, Liddia, Edna, Walter, and Ruth. Mr. Ruhlow bought his father's interest in the land he lived on for so many years, and owns three hundred and twenty acres, twenty acres of it cov ered with a grove of large trees, their own planting. Mr. Ruhlow worships at the German Lutheran church, and is a member of the Wood men lodge. He is a democrat and served as school treasurer. ' JOHN CHINDVALL. To the men of perseverance and strong deter mination who went to Nebraska when it was yet undeveloped as an agricultural and commercial re gion, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Such a one is Mr. John Chindvall, who resides in section four, township thirty, range two, Knox county, where he owns a good farm of two hun dred and forty acres, which is well improved. Mr. Chindvall is a native of Sweden, his birth occurring in the province of Osterjotland, October 3, 1870. He is a son of August and Hattie (Lotman) Chindvall, both natives of Sweden. He grew to the age of twelve years in his native land, where he received his early education, and in 1882 came to America with his parents, embarking on a steamship, sailing from Guttenberg and landing in New York City. After landing in the United , States, our subject and his parents traveled west ward, locating in Burt county, Nebraska, where the family lived seven years, and where our subject grew to his maturity. In 1890, Mr. Chindvall came to Knox county, Nebraska, where his father had previously pur chased two hundred and forty acres of fine land, which John lived on until purchasing his present home. Mr. Chindvall 's parents followed him to Knox county in 1892 and occupied the old farm un til the father's death, and two years later the mother moved to Wausa where she now resides. In 1902 John Chindvall purchased his present farm of two hundred and forty acres and has since re sided on, and operated, it. He has made many im provements — among others having been the build ing of a large house — one large barn, granary, log house, corn crib, etc. He has all but forty acres under cultivation, the forty being used for pasture. He raises considerable cattle and hogs. Tn politics he is a republican, and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church at Wausa. Mr. Chindvall is one of those sturdy sons of Sweden who have proven their sterling worth in the upbuilding and making of Nebraska state, and he well deserves the credit which the citizens of his locality have accorded him. He is a man of many good qualities, and is honest and upright in all his dealings with mankind. JOHN HAFNER. John Hafner, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county , Nebraska, has been a resident of 'that locality for a number of years. He is prominently known throughout the northeastern part of the state as one of the fore most farmers and stockmen in Nebraska, and aftei' many years ' hard labor in building up his business, is now prepared to enjoy life in peace and com fort, surrounded by a host of good friends and ac quaintances. He resides on section twenty-one, township thirty, range three, where he attends to his farm and business. Mr. Hafner is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in 1 861 ; he is the son of John and Mary (Lana) Hafner, and is the third in a family of four children. His father served in the German army in the war between Denmark and Germany in 1848. Mr. Hafner grew to his manhood days in his na tive land, and in 1881, with his parents, came to America, and after landing in New York City, where they remained a week, they proceeded west ward, locating in Omaha, where they lived five years. In 1886, Mr. Hafner came to Knox county, Ne braska, buying one hundred and sixty acres of fine land from his brother Henry, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this review. Mr. Hafner bas been thrifty and industrious during his residence here, and has steadily increased his property until now he owns two hundred and six ty-six acres of good land, five acres of which are set to trees. He formerly owned four hundred acres, but recently traded one hundred and sixty acres for. city property 'in Bloomfield. Mr. Hafner was united in marriage in 1900 to Miss Minnie Menkens, and Mr. and Mrs. Hefner are the parents of two fine children, whose names are Christ and Edward. Mrs. Hafner is also a na tive of Germany, from which country she came to America some twenty-nine years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hafner and family reside in their pleasant home in the location above named, where they are highly esteemed and enjoy the respect and friendship of a host of friends and acquaintances. JOSHUA BARNES., Among the prosperiousiand enterprising farm ers of Madison county, Nebraska, none is better known or more highly respected than the subject of this review, who resides, on section twenty-six, township twenty-three, range two. Mr. Barnes has devoted many years of his life to the pursuit of agriculture in this region, and has been a potent factor in producing the present prosperity en joyed in his locality. Mr. Barnes is a native of Lankshire, England, his birth occurring in the year of 1847 ; he is a son of Henry and Jane Barnes, also natives of Eng land. Mr, Barnes, our subject, received his educa- 992 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tion and grew to manhood in his 'native land, and after attaining his majority worked out in Man chester, England, working at whatever he found to do. In 1879 Mr. Barnes, with his family, came to America, of which country and of the cheap lands to be had, he had heard so much. The family em barked on a steamer at Liverpool, and were ten days on the water. After arriving in the United States, they went to Ford county, Illinois, where they remained three years. In 1882 Mr. Barnes and family came to Madi son county, Nebraska, where he took up a home stead in section twenty-six, township twenty-three, range two, which remains the homestead farm. Their first dwelling was a sod house in which the family lived comfortably for eight years. During those first years of residence on the western, fron tier, the Barneses, as well as the few other families who came here at an early period, suffered many hardships and discouragements. Mr. Barnes lost part of his stock in the terrible blizzard of January 12, 1888. This storm will ever remain vivid in the memory of Mrs. Barnes, whose husband was work ing away from home at the time to get money with which to support his family. She was left alone with several small children, and the storm was so severe she could not get out to aret fuel for the stove ; she chopped up the chairs and table to make fuel to keep the children and herself from freezing to death. Prairie fires were another source of dan ger and had to be fought many times to save life and property. As late as 1894 our subject lost ail that season's crops through the hot winds that pre vailed, on account of the terrible drouth of that year. Mr. Barnes was united in marriage March 25, 1875, to Miss Mary Womsley, who is also a native of England, and a daughter of David and Sarah Womsley. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are the parents of eight children, four of whom are living: James, Samuel, Elizabeth Emma, Wilbert, and Mary Alice ; Sarah, Jane, Womsley, Adda and Harry are deceased. They are a fine family and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them and have a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Barnes is a member of the Episcopal church, and is a republican. JOSEPH B. SMITH. Joseph B. 'Smith is one of the best known men of Custer county, where he was one of the early settlers. He was born and reared on his father's farm in Washington county, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being April 6, 1848, and he is next to the youngest child of Dennis and Sophia (Carwin) Smith, also natives of that state. The parents are deceased, and there are three sons and one daughter now surviving, all of whom except Joseph live in their native county. The Smith fam ily has been in America for several generations back, the great-great grandfather of Joseph Smith having been with Washington at Valley Forge dur ing the Revolutionary war. The grandfather served in the Black Hawk war. A brother of Joseph, James Smith, served in the civil war as a member of the eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infan try, enlisting in 1861. A nephew of Joseph B., Alonzo Smith, served in the Spanish- American war, being sent to the Philippine Islands. An un cle, Peter Smith, served during the civil war as, a member of the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cav alry, and four cousins also served in that war. It will thus be seen that Mr. Smith is of good old American stock and descended from a family of patriots. March 9, 1864, Joseph B. Smith enlisted in Company. A, Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, being mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, in August, 1865. He received an honorable discharge at Har risburg, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1865, having served under General Sheridan and participated in numerous skirmishes and engagements. At the close of the war he returned to his home and went back on his father's farm. In March, 1877, he came to Fillmore county, Nebraska, making the trip by rail, and in the spring of 1883 he eame to Custer county and took up 'a homestead comprising the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven, town ship eighteen, range twenty-one. He returned to Fillmore county, put in a crop there, , and in the fall came to his newly acquired land. Mr. Smith was married in Greene county, Penn sylvania, June 9, 1869, to Emma Bristor, and at the time of coming to Nebraska brought his wife and one child. They lived on their farm they had first acquired in Custer county until 1895 and in March of that year removed to a farm two and one- half miles east of Merna. They now reside in Merna, where he is engaged in grocery business. He engaged in business about 1901, conducting a liv ery stable and running a mail route until 1909, when he started his present business. He has built up a good trade and has the confidence and esteem of his customers and associates and is recognized as an upright, enterprising business man. He is , one of the earliest residents of the county and has been identified with its development and progress, having passed through the years of privation and hardship during the early years. His sister Pris cilla accompanied him when he came to Fillmore county. He now has a very pleasant home in Merna, and is a Royal Highlander and is Com mander of Samuel Rice post Grand Army of the Republic. He has seen central Nebraska grow from its wild state to a region of prosperity and pro gress. Mrs. Smith, wdio was an estimable woman, of high character and noble purpose, and had many sincere friends, passed away at her home in Mer na, May 10, 1910. The only daughter, Maggie, is the wife of W. M. Dodge and they reside east of Merna. There are five children in the Dodge fam ily. A sketch of Mr. Dodge appears in this work. RESIDENCE OF D. B. GORDAN. "SPRING VIEW STOCK FARM," RESIDENCE OF DAVID E. STRONG. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 993 DAVID BENJAMIN GORDAN. Among the very early settlers of Nebraska were the members of the Gordan family, David B. Gor dan having lived in the state since he was two years of age. He is one of tlie self-made men of his part of the state, and now owns a well developed farm in Custer county, west of Arcadia. He is rec ognized as one of the substantial men of his locali ty and has earned his possessions by his own efforts. Mr. Gordan was born in Fulton county, Illinois, April 10, 1867, fifth in a family of seven children born to John, and Mary (Bivins) Gordan. The father a native of Germany came to America in childhood growing to manhood in the state of Penn sylvania, where he was married. He enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment, serving two years in the civil war. In 1870 he came to Milford, Nebraska, and died in York county, that state, in 1891. The mother a native of Illinois and of Scotch and Ger man parentage, died in Ouster county, Nebraska, in 1904. Of their children besides David B. the follow' ing may be related: Mrs. Susan Casteel and Mrs. Lily Dascher live in Custer county; Mrs. Hattie Hulshizer lives in Brown county, Nebraska ; Mlrs. Ida Francis lives in Grant county, same state ; one son is deceased ; Lorenzo D. , lives at Schuyler, Nebraska. When he was two, years old Mr. Gordan accom panied the rest of the family to Milford and two years later they removed to Seward county, where the father secured a homestead and lived on it nineteen years. Later he moved to Gresham, York county. David B. Gordan has always followed farming and in 1898 purchased two hundred acres of land on section twenty-three, township seven teen, range seventeen, Custer county ; which is still the home place. He has four hundred acres in sec tions fourteen and fifteen devoted to grain and cat tle. He has devoted this place largely to stock raising," in which he has meet with gratifying suc cess, and in the year 1909 he erected a handsome residence at a cost of five thousand dollars. We give an excellent view of this model country home on another page of this work, to which we invite attention as one of the best in this section of Ne braska. A complete system of water supply and gas illumination is installed in both house and barn. ' September 2, 1889, Mr. Gordan was married,, in Custer county to Anna Abresch who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, daughter of William and Anna Abresch. Her father, a native of Germany, served in the German army and later came to America, locating in Milwaukee, where iris death occurred in 1879. His wife is now livri g in Seward county, Nebraska and she has one son, Charles, also living there. Mr. Gordan has always had much patriotic love for Nebraska, the only home he can remember, and has taken an active interest in pub lic affairs. He is serving his ninth year as moder ator of school district number eleven and has pro moted the cause of education and every other good cause which he considers for the best interests of the people. In politics he is republican. Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. Gordan and wife, namely: Louis W., Clifford H., married Kate Echer of Schuyler ; Esther, married Victor Malm, Lloyd, Theodore, Myrtle, Charles, and Alven. Mr. Gordan passed through many try ing experiences in his early years in the state and since he began farming on his own account has met with various reverses and discouragements. In the year 1892 he lost 'all his crops by hail and during the next four years his crops were a failure by reason of drouth, or hail which destroyed or in jured 'five successive crops. Four years the grass hoppers totally or partially devoured his grain and growing corn, one year being numerous enough to stop the trains by making slippery tracks where ground beneath the wheels. When the family came to the state, antelope were to be seen by the thou sands ; Mr. Gordan, senior, killed many of them, as well as deer and buffalo to supply the family' in meat. He, together with an elder son and son-in- law, had just returned from hunting west of Grand Island when the three days' blizzard of April 12 to 14, 1873, broke over the country! Mr. Gordan of this sketch just missed being out in the well- known blizzard of January 12, 1888. He used a clothesline to find his way to the barn and return in feeding his stock. For thirty-five years, since the age of ten, Mr. Gordan followed threshing; in that time he owned several horsepowers, ten new engines, fourteen separators, and seventeen corn shellers. His policy was to. sell while still in good condition and buy new, thus avoiding breakage and expensive repairs. In 1911 he retired from the business having spent enough years in the trying vocation. DAVID E. STRONG. David E. Strong occupies a foremost place among the energetic and prosperous farmers and ranchmen of Valley county, Nebraska, where he owns a good farm in section twenty-two, township nineteeri, range thirteen. He has developed this farm by energetic labors, supplemented by honest dealings, and is one of the highly esteemed men of his community. Mr. Strong has passed through all the early Nebraska times, and is widely known throughout the eastern part of the state as having done much toward the upbuilding of the agricul tural and commercial interests of the region. Mr. Strong was born in Winnebago county, Illi nois, August 28, 1858, and was fifth of eight chil dren in the family of Ephriam P. and Marion D. (Diltz) Strong, who had five sons and three daugh ters. ' The Strong family were residents of several counties in Illinois, but at the time David E. came to Nebraska, the family were making their home in Winnebago county. The father made two trips across the plains to California, and about 1865 he started on his third overland trip, and from that time was never heard from; the mother died in 994 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. July of 1884, in Illinois ; three sons and one daugh ter are living: David E., lives in Valley county: Joseph in Hamilton county ; Frank went to south ern Illinois and nothing has been heard from him since; Charles lives in Rockford, Illinois; and Martha, who married Seger Rouse, resides in Rock ford, Illinois. David E. went out for himself at an early age. coming to Hamilton county, Nebraska, in 1878, and to Valley county in 1879. As soon as he became of age he took up a homestead in Valley county, on section two, township nineteen, range thirteen, and also timber-claimed, proving up on same. Mr. Strong. is one of the younger old settlers of Valley county, and has had much to do with the building up of same. He now lives on a forty-acre tract in section twenty-two, township nineteen, range thirteen, where he has a fine, well-improved farm, including one hundred and sixty acres near by in section twenty -one, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a carpenter by trade, and followed that vocation from 1895 until 1910, the sons being large enough to run the farm. Mr. Strong built most of the large barns and fine dwellings in this part of the valley during the years he was a builder. He is a self-made man, having supported himself since his twelfth year, with the usual varied western experience. On April 16, 1884, Mr. Strong was married to Miss Florence D. Drake, in Ord, Nebraska, Miss Drake, a daughter of James T. and Susanna (Sargent) Drake, is a native of New York state, and comes of an old Valley county family. Mr. and Mrs. Strong have three children : Marion, Guy M., and Hazel Blanche. They are a family having the respect and esteem of many friends and acquain tances. -During his first years in Nebraska Mr. Strong rented land in Hamilton county, where he raised corn, and broke his own land and seeded to wheat, hauling his grain to Grand Island, over sixty miles distant. Part of the time he freighted between Grand Island and Central City into the Loup coun try. There were a few deer in Valley county at that time, and a few elk in Hamilton. At one time, while livirig on his homestead, a drove of over three thousand Texas cattle trailing across the country to the Sioux reservation, were herded near him in the valley of Noble townshio. Mr. Strong has in past years been closely iden tified with the growth and development -of Valley county, and has served the people creditably as township assessor. He is a member of the Metho dist church, and affiliates with the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen. He is independent in politics. We show a sketch of Mr. Strong's original sod house on his homestead in contrast with his present commodious home and farm buildings, all of which are bf his own construction. EUGENE A. KINKAID. Eugene A. Kinkaid, one of the best known pion eers of Pierce county, Nebraska, is a prosperous agriculturist of the southwest quarter of section fourteen, township twenty-six, range four, where he has spent the past thirty-eight years of his life. He has followed farming nearly all his life, and despite many discouragements during his early residence in this section, has acquired a thoroughly improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres and become one of the well-to-do men of this lo cality. Mr. Kinkaid was born July 12, 1860, in Scott county, Iowa, and is a son of Skiles W. and Mary (Mboney) Kinkaid, both natives of Pennsylvania, who were married in Davenport, Iowa, in 1857. Our subject's father came to Iowa in the early forties, and enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, serv ing in the army of the west. In 1868, Mr. Kinkaid with his parents moved from Scott county, Iowa, to Freeborn county, Min nesota, where they lived about four years near Albert Lea, and in 1872 came by ox team to Pierce county, Nebraska, where the father homesteaded land in section twenty-two, township twenty-six, range four. Here the family experienced their full share of hardships and inconveniences common to those early days, the nearest railroad market place being at Wisner, the end of the railroad, sixty miles away. They lost their entire crops in the grasshopper raids oi 1873, 1874 and 1875, and at the time of the blizzard of April 12, 13 and 14, 1873, they were building a house, which was partly completed at the time ; the frame was up but the roof was not on, and their only shelter was canvas nailed on the studding. The storm was so bad they could not get out from under the canvas for three days, and they were almost frozen. A storm in the fall drove their cattle to the Elkhorn river, where nearly all per ished. When searching for them the father found a vacant house, which he rented. for the winter, and during that time cut trees and made lumber to fin ish the house they had started. The family had come back to their claim but a few weeks before this severe storm, and were illy prepared to withstand it. They had a serious time fighting prairie fires in the early days, a constant menace to their build ings and crops. For several years hay was their only fuel. Elk, deer and antelope were plentiful then, and also a few buffalo were to be seen from time to time. On October 4, 1888, Mr. Kinkaid was united in matrimony to Mfiss Blanche Wetherby, a native of Whiteside county, Illinois, daughter of Lafayette and Elizabeth (Hatheway) Wetherby. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinkaid four children have been born : Alice, Ethel, Carroll and Mattie. In the spring of 1888, Mr. Kinkaid homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of section fourteen, township twenty-six, range four, and has one hun- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 995 dred and sixty acres in section twenty-two, and another quarter section in section fifteen, making four hundred and eighty acres in all. Mr. Kinkaid is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and votes the repub lican ticket. NIELS J. STEFFENSEN. In the gentleman above mentioned we have one of the worthy citizens of Howard county, Nebras ka, who for many years past has been active in all affairs of local benefit, aiding in the establishment and building up of the schools, furthering the com mercial and farming interests of his section, etc. He is well known as a successful farmer and stock man. He resides on section twenty-eight, of War saw precinct, which is his original homestead taken in the pioneer days, and this he has improved in such shape that he has one of the best equipped estates in the region. Niels J. Steffensen is a native of Denmark, born on August 20, 1847, and is the second child in the family of Steffen and Mary Nielson, who were the parents of four. The father died in Denmark, and the mother is still living there at the age of eighty-nine years, and is still in good health. Niels came to America in the spring of 1873, locating in Howard county, where he settled on a tract of land and begun to develop a farm. He met with many discouragements during the first few years, going through all the hardships incident to pioneer life on the frontier^ but gradually suc ceeded in raising good crops and adding improve ments to his place. He engaged to quite an extent in the stock raising business, getting together quite a herd of cattle, and during later years has ac quired considerable land in Howard county, be sides some in Sherman county. He is progressive and up-to-date in, his methods of farming, and every part of his estate bespeaks thrift and good management. Mr. Steffensen was married in Denmark in 1871, to Katrina Petersen, who came to America with him and passed through the same experiences as her husband, and to her faithful help is due in a great measure his success. They have a family of eight children, namely: Jens P., Mary, Soren, Emma, Annie, Stenie, Elsie, and Sarah, all mar ried and settled in comfortable homes with the ex ception of Soren, who lives with his parents on the homestead. The family is greatly respected throughout their vicinity, and have a wide ac quaintance. DAVID P. SCOTT. David P. S3ott is a member of a family that has long been prominent in Custer county, and he has been closely identified with the best interests of Ansley, of wnieh city he has been serving as marshal since 1905. He is also city water cominis- ioner and is one of the best known men in the com munity. He has a comfortable home in Ansley and enjoys the respect of 'a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Scott was born in Scotland, January 2, 1859, second of the five children of George and Margaret (Purvis) Scott, also natives of that country. The family is given more extensine men tion in connection with the sketch of John Scott, which may be found in this work. The father came to America in 1867 and David Scott grew to man hood in Wisconsin, where he then engaged in farming on his own account. In 1868 he went to Colorado and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land near Holyoke, remaining there three years, following which he worked some years for the. Denver Union Water Works Company. On June 5, 1895, Mr. Scott was married at the Garniss home in Custer county, to Miss Harriet Garniss, a native of Canada, who came to Ne braska with her parents in an early day. They came first to Howard county and later to Custer county. The family is mentioned at considerable length in connection with the sketch of 'John Gar niss, to be found in this work. In 1898 Mr. Scott and his wife, with their two children, came to Cus ter county and spent three years on a farm there, then lived three years in Troy, Idaho, where Mr. Scott did teaming. In 1904 they came back to Nebraska and since that time they have lived in Ansley. Five children have been born to them, viz. : Gladys E., Hazel J., Henry P., George T., and Belva H., all at home. Mr. Scott is favorably regarded as a useful, enterprising citizen, and he and his wife are well-known in Custer county, where both have spent much of their lives. Mr. Scott is affiliated with Modern Woodmen of Amer ica, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Royal Neighbors of America. E. T. McGEHEE. E. T. McGehee, of Madison county, Nebraska, has, by dint of general industry, reliable character and straightforward business methods, built up for himself a name and standing second to none in this part of Nebraska. He is still in the maturity of his powers, and commands a host of friends wherever he is known. Mr. McGehee is one of the very oldest settlers in this region, having come here to reside some forty-nine years ago; he now lives in section six, township twenty-one, range one, where he and his family are loved and respected by all.Mr. McGehee is a native of Iowa county, Wis- ' consin, born April 8, 1850, and is a son of Hender son and Sarah McGehee, both natives of Ten nessee. In 1871 our subjects left his home and came to Madison county, Nebraska, coming by ox team, being four weeks on the way. He took up a home stead in Platte county, Nebraska, nine miles south 996 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY of Madison City, and after locating on the home stead, built a dug-out and lived in this five years ; he then built a frame house, hauling the lumber for this house from Columbus, many miles distant. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and occasionally a few elk were to be seen; in 1873, 1874. and 1875, the grasshoppers destroyed all" the crops, which made it very hard sailing for the early settler. In 1893 Mr. McGehee bought the Adair and Martin homestead, his present ' farm, which he im proved, and where he now has a beautiful home. While living on this farm, in 1894, he lost all his crops by the hot winds that prevailed during that season. Mr. McGehee now owns about thirteen hundred and seven acres of fine land, all of which is well improved. In 1876 Mr. McGehee was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Leach, and Mr. and Mrs. McGehee are the parents of seven children, whose names arc as follows: Ralph, Edna, Florence, Ruth, Aria, Mary, and Elberta. They are a prominent family, and, as before stated, are highly respected and es teemed by all who know them, and their friends are many. JUDGE JOHN S. BENJAMIN. Judge John S. Benjamin is one of the oldest settlers of Custer county and one of the best known citizens in his part of Nebraska, where his name stands for progress. He is honored and respected as a veteran of the civil war, and has a wide circle of personal friends. Heiwas born in Ithaca, New York, March 15, 1839, being fourth in a family of six children and "a son of Selah T. and Mary (Townley) Benjamin, natives of New York, where both died, he in 1876 and she in 1853. Several of their children are deceased and besides Judge Ben jamin, the only other one 'now surviving is Harri son IT., of Ithaca. Judge Benjamin grew to manhood in his native state and there received his education, later learn ing the trade of cigar-maker. On September 10, 1861, he enlisted from Ithaca in Company E, Sixty- fourth New York volunteer infantry, serving until the close of the war. He was discharged at Elmira in May, 1865, having participated in the following important engagements : Gettysburg, Antietam^ Spottsylvania Court House, Fredericksburg, Wild erness, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Malvern Hill, White Oak Swamp, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run and Petersburg. Virginia. He was wounded at Fredericksburg, and at Petersburg was taken pris oner and held in Andersonville prison ten months. He held the rank of second lieutenant, and later that of first lieutenant, and finally that of captain of his companv. He won a good record for faith ful service and after tbe close of the war returned to New York, and there engaged in the cigar busi ness on his own account, which he continued until 1868. In that year he removed to Marshall, Michi gan, and there on March 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Delia Murphy, a native of Michigan, and daughter of Michael and Ann (Calhoun) Murphy, her father born in Cork, Ireland., and her mother in St. John's, New Brunswick. Both par ents died i in Marshall, Michigan, the father in 1869, and the mother in 1862. One daughter lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, and a son in Indian- a^olis, Indiana. In December, 1881, Mr. Benjamin brought his wife and two children to Grand Island, Nebraska, and in the folio wing, March they came to a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range twenty, adjoining the city limits of Broken Bow. This has since then been the home place, and for many years the family occuoied a sod house that was characteristic of the time and locality. In 1883 he was appointed, county judge and served about a year and a half, after which he was elected to the office and held it a number of years. He was for some time Commander of Washburn Post, G. A. R., of Broken Bow. He and his wife have witnessed the steady growth of Broken. Bow from the time it consisted of one house and the postoffice, and have done their share towards forwarding its development and welfare. Judge and Mrs. Benjamin have two children, Eva, wife of Llarry Townley, of Ravenna, Ne braska, and John S., Jr., who is now in the the atrical profession. The latter enlisted in 1898 as musician in Company M, First Nebraska volunteer infantry, for service in the Soanish- American war, and soon i afterward entered active service, partici pating in the capture of Manila. He received his discharge at San Francisco, udge Benjamin is a member of the Knights of Pythias. DANIEL McMANIGAL. It would be impossible to tell the history of northeastern Nebraska without mentioning the name of Daniel McManigal, so closely has his life been interwoven with the life of that section. For many years he has been a resident of Wayne county, and before that time,ihad been prominent among the first settlers of this part of the state. His deep interest in public affairs was evinced when he served his country during the Civil war. He was a brave" and loyal soldier, and has proven himself a true, public-spirited citizen. He is one of the most successful farmers bf the locality, and is the proprietor of five hundred and sixty acres of fine land. Mr. McManigal was born in Ohio, November 14, 1832, his father and mother, James and Lo- vina (Wilds) MicManigal, both having come from the old country some years previous. The father M'as bora iri Ireland, and the mother in Scotland. The childhood and youth of our subscriber was spent in Ohio, where he obtained his education. When the call for volunteers was sent forth in 1861, our subscriber was among the first to enlist compendium of history, reminiscence and biography. 997 in Company C, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer In- •fantry. After abbut two years and three months, he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment. He served during the whole four years, the latter part of which he was under General Sherman. He also participated in the grand review at Washing ton, following the close of the war. Engagements in which Mr. McManigal took part were: Fort Henry, Shiloh, Gettysburg, Corinth, Holly Springs, Kingston, Resacca, and Dallas. He was wounded eleven times. After the war. Mr. McManigal returned to Ohio and worked at the Junior Furnace Iron Works until coming to tbe west. In 1873, he came to Washington county, Nebraska, where he bought, eighty acres of land. He remained here until 1881, when he came to Wayne county, and bought the farm of four hundred acres, which has been his home since that date. His original purchase has been improved and added to, until now he has one of the finest estates in the county. In 1865, Mr. McManigal was united in mar riage to Miss Jane Belcher, of Ohio. Five chil dren have been born to them: Lucy, wife of S. K. West, who live in Tripp county, South Dakota; Eddie P.. on a farm nine miles from Bonesteel, South Dakota; S. F., who died in 1899, leaving a widow and two children who live in Tripp county. South Dakota ; Ellis, who died in 1897, leaving a widow- and an unborn child, who now live in Cum ing county, Nebraska, and M. B., a resident of Happy, Texas. ' Mr. McManigal is a republican, casting bis first vote for John C. Freriiont. , ALBERT SCUDDER. Albert Scudder, deceased, who during his life time made an enviable record as a farmer and stockman, the result of his own toil and economy. was born in Ontario county, New York state, March 31 , 1844, and was the only son of James and Betsie (Perkins) Scudder, who were married in Ontario county, New York, about 1820. The father died in 1848.' On March 31, 1856, our subject's mother married Melvin J. Keith at the home of her mother in Michigan, and of this union four chil dren were born, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Keith died at her home in Dover, Bureau county. Illinois, September 27, 1908, being close to eighty- six years of age. Mr. Scudder had gone to Michi gan with his mother, and after her marriage to Mr. Keith, went with them to Illinois in 1856. Mr. Scudder was a farmer boy. In his seven teenth year, in 1861, enlisted in Company C, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, being Orderly for Gerieral John Palmer for three years, serving in all three years, nine months, and ten days, par ticipating in a number of the principal battles and engagements of the war. lie was captured and confined in prisons of Atlanta, Georgia, Charles ton, South Carolina, and at Andersonville and was continuously in prison for fourteen months. This so impaired his health that he came out of the war much broken in health, and hesuffered the effects of his army prison experience the remainder of his life. He had an honorable war record. It is a matter of history that he was one of a small detach ment of men on reconnoitering duty along the Con federate lines at time of the capture of himself and comrades, and our subject was the only one of the seven who emerged from the prison alive. Mr. Scudder received his honorable discharge at the close of war, on May 11, 1865, returning then to Illinois. On April 1, 1868, Mr. Scudder was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Smith, in Bureau county, Illinois, where they resided until 1872, when they came to Merrick county, Nebraska, locating in Mead Township, where they resided on their farm ranch until moving into Central City in 1897. Mr. Scudder was largely interested in ranching and stock; he was a pioneer settler of Merrick county, passing through1 the hardships of early idays. Lie was a quiet, forceful man, always giving of his time and energy for the best interests of home, church, educational, and political issues. After coming to Central City from the ranch, Mr. Scudder became an active business man, en gaging in the grocery trade, and continued in same until time of his death, January 7, 1905. He was survived by his wife and five children : Frank lin Lee Scudder; Melvin G., Mrs. Ada (Scudder) Wilson; Mrs. Blanche (Scudder) Osborn; and Charles Scudder. Mrs. Scudder resides in Central City sur rounded by her children and grandchildren, also many loving friends. The children were all born in Merrick county except the eldest; and all mar ried except Charles, iand all reside in that county. V. J. PROKOP. One of the leading qld settlers of Knox county, Nebraska, is the gentleman whose name heads this review. His labors in this section have aided ma terially the development of the region, and his name will, occupy a prominent place in history as one of those intimately identified with its growth and progress. He has gained an enviable reputa tion through his honesty and integrity, and , is highly respected and esteemed by all. He resides on section thirty-four, township thirty-one, range, seven, where he has a pleasant home. ' Mr. Prokop is a native of Bohemia, his birth occurring in 1865, and he is the son of Joseph and Mary (Marcan) Prokop, who were also natives of Bohemia. In 1883 Mr. Prokop, with his parents, came to America, and after reaching the United States, the father took up a homestead claim two miles west of Verdigris, and' o'n this land they built a good frame house; later they also took a tree claim. The family experienced the usual hard ships and privations incident to those 'early times. Iri 1888, during the memorable blizzard of, that year, they lost many cattle in the storm ; in 1894 998 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. the crops were a total failure, and the family suf fered many other drawbacks and discouragements. Mr. Prokop was united in marriage in 1890 to Miss Elizabeth Kovnovsky, and Mr. and Mrs. Prokop are the parents of four children, whose names are as follows : Joseph, John, Mary, and Helen, and they are a fine family who enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Prokop now owns five hundred and twenty acres of fine land, ten acres of which are set to trees, and the home farm is known as the Martin Kee homestead. MARTIN NIELSEN. The gentleman above 'named is a brother of Niels and Ode Nielsen, whose sketches appears on another page of this volume, and he is equally well known and respected, having spent the past many years as a resident of Howard county. He is pro prietor of a well-developed farm in Warsaw pre cinct, and there enjoys a comfortable home and the friendship of all with whom he has had to do. Martin Nielsen was born in Denmark on Sep tember 2, 1855, and made that his home up to his eighteenth year, then started for the new world to join two brothers, Niels and Ole, who had come here several years previously, they locating in Howard county in 1871. Our subject spent a few weeks with them, then settled in Hall county and remained for about one year, returning to Howard county in June, 1874, and began farming. After several months he secured employment at Fort Hardstuff in digging the fort wells, at which work he 'continued up to the first of the following year. In February he went into Cheyenne county to work for the Union Pacific, continuing in their service for over a year, then foUowed ranching, etc., for a time. In the summer of 1878 Mr. Nielsen came back to Howard county and settled on land on section twenty-one, township fourteen, ,range eleven, which he had previously purchased in 1876, and which has remained his home place up to this time. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of choice farming land situated along the Turkey creek, and has put up substantial farm buildings of aU kinds, including a fine modern residence and barn, and has one of the best equipped farms in the section. He has passed through all the various phases of Nebraska early settlement, and located here just . before the terriffic storm which swept the region in April, 1873, which every old-timer well re members. Mr. Nielsen was married on October 18, 1883. to Miss Karen Marie Nielsen, who came into How ard county in 1883. Her father and mother al ways lived in their native country, but she has four brothers and one sister, who came to the United States from Denmark during the earlier years, and now reside in Howard county, with the exception of the sister who is now deceased. Pour children have been born to our subject: Peter, Francis G., William and Froda, all bright and intelligent young people, the eldest, Peter, now married and farming in Howard county while the others are living with their parents on the home farm. Mr. Nielsen has been connected with numerous precinct offices ever since locating in the county, and is one of the active and prominent men of affairs in his locality. CARL ASMUS. (Deceased.) Carl Asmus, deceased, was born in Germany, near Berlin, on October 22, 1838. He received his education in his home country, and came to America, in 1868, when he located in the state of Utah for about a year, following the occupation of railroading. In 1869, he came to Nebraska, lo cating near West Point, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of Jand. On February 2, 1871, Mr. Asmus was married to Miss Louisa Koch who was also born in Ger many, arid came to America in 1869 with her par ents. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Asmus moved to Norfolk, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred August 1, 1903. Mr. Asmus was one of Norfolk's pioneer mer chants, conducting a store until 1901, when, owing to- poor health, he retired from business life. He served as a member of the Norfolk city council for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Asmus, have had six children four of whom are living, whose names are as fol lows: Elsie, married to Lewis Koenigstein, who have one child and live in Norfolk ; Max, also mar ried, lives in Portland, Oregon; Hugo, married, and living in Kansas City, Missouri; and Fritz, who holds the position of assistant cashier of the Norfolk National Bnak. Mr. and Mrs. Asmus are amorig the early pio neers of Nebraska, and are widely and favorably known. Mrs. Asmus lives in Norfolk, where she owns one of the prettiest homes of the city, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends. Her father died in West Point, Nebraska, about 1890, and her mother in March 14, 1907, in Norfolk, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Asmus has three brothers in West Point, Nebraska, one sister in the state of Texas, and two sisters in Nebraska. HENRY SWEENEY. (Deceased.) The late Henry Sweeney, of Custer county, im proved and developed a fine farm, erected a mod ern and comfortable residence and set out fine trees on the estate now occupied by his widow, and conducted by two of their sons. He was born in Ireland in 1830. The family moved to England when he was a small boy, and in 1848, when in his HON. D. M. AMSBERRY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 999 eighteenth year, he came to America and spe"nt sev eral years in the states of New York and New Jersey. His parents followed him to the United States some years after his coming and spent their remaining years in New Jersey. In 1863 he went to Illinois to see a brother who had enlisted in the union army, and remained in that state about seventeen years. On May 12, 1863, Mr. Sweeney was married in Will county, Illinois, to Bridget Harvey, a native of Ireland, born in 1840, who came to the United States in 1857, and joined an older sister in Chi cago. None of her immediate family ever came to Nebraska except Mrs. Sweeney, the other members who survive being residents of Chicago. In 1880 Mr. Sweeney brought his wife and their eight children to Butler county where two more children were born to them. Thomas, Katie, Harry, George, Alice, Ambrose, Arthur, and Annie, were born in Illinois, and William and Edward, were born in Butler county. In 1887 they came to Custer county and Mr. Swreeney located on school section sixteen, township eighteen, range twenty-two, where he spent the remainder of his life, bringing it to a high state of productiveness. He died there in 1907, deeply mourned by his many friends and acquaintances. He was weU-known as an upright, honest citizen, and had a high standing in the community. Mrs. Sweeney still lives on 'the home farm and her two sons, Edward and William, assist her in its . management. They are young men of energy and ability and substantial citizens. Eight chil dren now survive, all. of them living in Nebraska, except Harry. They are: Katie, wife of Owen Gray, of Butler county, has three children; George, of Custer county, has five children; Ambrose is married and lives in Custer county ; Arthur is married and lives in the county; Annie, wife of James McCarty, of Custer county, has four chil dren ; Harry, of Wyoming, has one child ; William and Edward, on the home farm. AMONG TPIE EARLY SETTLERS OP CUS TER COUNTY, NEBRASKA, WERE THE AMSBERRYS. The Amsberrys of Custer county are the de scendants of William A. Amsberry and Polly Ev erett, who entered into marriage relations, in the state of New York, in 1821. William A. Ams berry 's parents were of English descent, having emigrated to the United States in the early set tlement of New England. William A. was a sol dier in the war with Mexico, for which service he received his pay in government land warrants, which he subsequently laid on land in the state of Iowa, where he made his home in his old age. Soon after their marriage they left the stone and wood topped hills of New York and located in Mason county, Virginia, between two hills on a branch of the Little Sixteen, which meant a little stream of water coursing its way down the valley, over the pebbles and rocks, sixteen miles from the mouth of the Kanawah river. Polly Everett Amsberry was the daughter of Francis and Sally Franklin Everett, the latter a cousin of Benjamin Franklin, the noted statesman and philosopher. It was here in this humble home on the Little Sixteen that these people gave to the world Wil liam Franklin, Francis Everett, Lewis Norton, Al- mira, Horace Allen, and Matthew James Amsberry. William A. Amsberry was a tanner and shoe maker by trade. He prepared his own tan-bark and tanned the raw material from which he manu factured the boots, shoes and leggins for the rugged woodmen, their wives and children of that day. Here he built a home and cleared out a small farm, on which employment for the children was fur nished as they grew up. He was a musician and composer and gained wide popularity, as well as notoriety by his clever compositions of music, which he sang and played on the violin. William F. Amsberry, the oldest of the children was the first to drift from the old plantation of the Virginia home. He with his young bride, Har riett A. Brown, moved to Marion county, Iowa, and located near the Des Moines river, near Knox ville, on government land for which they paid $1.25 per acre. They gave to the world Mary Jane Beatrice, Darius Mathew, Medora H., Boyd F., Marsena L., Kittie B., and twin boys who died in infancy. Lewis Norton and his bride, Jane Coffman, in a few months followed and located on land adjoining his brother William F. They gave to the world Florentine, Lewis Allen, Mary, Wnliam Zacha riah, James Green, Nola, Norton, Charley, Ada- line and Lyman B. Almira Amsberry, with her husband, William Beard, came soon after and located six miles down the river from her brothers, William and Norton. Their children were Albert David D., Mary E., El len J., and Jabus Everett. William Beard, the husband and father, lost his life as a soldier in the Civil war. Some years after, the wife and mother married Pearly Troby. The second family of children were Ruth, Sophie, Allen and Puss. These children are married and have families. Ruth married James Runyan, Jr. ; Ellen married Perry Dady; Sophie married Leonard Dady; Puss mar ried Will Sharper. Francis Everett Amsberry and his wife, Lucy Beard, remained on the old Virginia plantation until after the Amsberry settlement was made in Custer county, Nebraska. Their children are Mar garet, Sally, John A., Martha, James M-, Laura, Frank E., Myra, William, Ella and Floyd. All are married but Martha, and have families, and all live in Custer county except Floyd and family. The two older children of William and Har riet Amsberry, Beatrice, now Mrs. H. T. ' Coffman, and Darius M. Amsberry, were the first to move to Nebraska to seek homes on the wild domain. iooo COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Darius and H. T. Coffman went to Nebraska in the fall of 1873 and located near Grand Island, in Hall county. Both Beatrice and Darius, before emigrating to the west spent a series of terms in Central University, a Baptist school at Pella, Iowa.. In the spring of 1874, John A. Amsberry came to the state and first located in Valley county, near Ord. Beatrice Amsberry, with her ' husband lo cated on a homestead near Grand Island. Darius resumed his occupation as teacher in district num ber one, in Grand Island, where he taught five years in succession. On learning of the organization of the new county of Custer, John and Darius located home steads, in sections thirty and thirty-one, township fifteen, range seventeen, near where Mason City now stands. This was the nucleus of the Ams berry settlement in Custer county. Prior to this settlement Darius M. had gone back to Iowa, in the spring of 1875, where he married Miss Evaline Greenlee, of Corydon, Iowa, on April eighth, the daughter of Sylvester and Esther Barnett Green lee, pioneers of Wayne county, who had emigrated from Mason county, West Virginia. The children of this family are Minnie May, William S., Ama R., Lorin W., Jessie, who died in infancy j Lillie H. Minnie May married W. J. Clay, and they are liv ing on a farm of their own near Broken Bow; Wil liam S. is married, and is express agent at Dead- wood, South Dakota ; Ama R. married Carl Poote, and is living on a ranch of their own of several hundred acres, near Dunning, in Blaine county; Lorin W. is married living in Broken Bow and is a printer by trade ; Lillie H. is living with her par ents in Broken Bow. After a year or more John A. Amsberry, grow ing tired of a bachelor life, returned to Iowa and married Miss Mary Buckley, daughter of Prank and Martha Buckley, who were former residents of West Virginia. Their children are Zadee, Prank. and Nellie. Zadee married Ray Duke, a druggist in Mason City, Nebraska. Prank is engaged with his father on the original homestead, with several hundred acres added, in 'farming and raising thoroughbred Poll Angus cattle, both farming and cattle raising are carried on extensively. Nellie is living with her parents. > When John and Darius located in Custer county there was but one neighbor in five miles, and not more than a half dozen settlers within a radius of fifteen miles, and less than two hundred in the county, which embraced a territory of forty - eight by fifty-four 'miles. Their buildings were constructed of sod, but little lumber being used, as their nearest railroad point where lumber could be bought was at Kearney or Grand Island, sixty miles distant. On account of the great distance from a railroad, groceries ceased to be a necessity in large assortment and quantity, but they were not without provisions as the canyons abounded in wild plums, grapes, currants and gooseberries in their season. This wild fruit was gathered in large quantities in the fall, which provided sauce the year round. This with the sorghum made from home grown cane met all the needs in the line of food. Elk, deer, antelope, prairie chickens and jack-rabbits were plenty at first and from this source a supply of fresh meat could be obtained without much loss of time as they were at hand and were not very wild. The only time the colony was hard pressed for provisions was the winter of 1880 and 1881, when the snow was so deep from No vember, 1880. to April, 1881, that it was impossible to go to market or the grist mill, thirty miles dis tant, to secure bread stuff. Those who had not laid in a large supply of flour in the fall, for weeks had to parch corn and grind it on their coffee mills for all the bread they ate. After Darius M. Amsberry had proved up on his homestead, in 1884, moved to Broken Bow, having been elected county superintendent of schools in the fall of 1882. He was elected for three consecutive terms, from 1882 to 1888. During this period the country had its greatest growth in population,and he organized in that time one hundred sixty-five school districts. In 1887 he purchased the Custer County Republican, the pioneer paper of the town of Broken Bow. The Re publican was started with the platting of the town, June, 1882, by B. H. Miller.At the close of his third term as county superintendent, January, 1888, he assumed personal busness and editorial manage ment of the paper and continued active in it its management until August, 1906, when, having been appointed Receiver of the United States land office at Broken Bow, by President Theodore Roose^- vent, in July of that year for a term of four years. he turned the active management of the paper over to his foreman, Charles K. Bassett, as practically all of his time was required in the government office, in disposing of the government land in his district under the Kinkaid law of six hundred and forty acre homesteads. At the expiration of this term he was re-appointed to the same office by President William Howard Taft. He continued the supervision of the publication of the Re publican, however, until July 1, 1911, when he sold the plant to Norman Parks. He still resides in Broken Bow, where he has one of the best homes of the city, besides business property, as well as valuable property joining the city. Soon after finding valuable government land in Custer county these two pioneers, John and Darius Amsberry proceeded to notify their relations and friends of the splendid opening for free homes. It, was not long until the valleys aud hills around about were settled with Amsberrys and relatives. Among the first were Darius' father, mother and family; Zach Ambserry and bride, his mother, "Aunt Jane," widow of Norton Amsberry, and her family, Almira Amsberry, Troby and her family. Francis E. Amsberry and family, .Beatrice Ams berry Coffman, husband and family, Florintine Amsberry Mossman, husband and family, Rose Amsberry Greenlee, husband and family, Laura Ambserry Fisher, husband and family. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1001 Medora H. Amsberry, who filed on a homestead where Mason City now stands, married George W. Runyan and they are now residing in Mason City, having retired from their valuable farm near town. They gave to the world, Ira, Ada, Blanch, Merle, William and Willis, twins, and Glenn. Ira married Fraces Rumery who following the example of their ancestors have filed on government land,' under the Kinkaid act, on which they are residing. Ada married Buff Watson and is living on her father's farm near Mason. Blanch married Henry Rumery, wdio has taken a section of government land. Merle, who for several" years has been a student in Grand Island Baptist College, as well as Williiim, Willis and Glenn are still single, and all but Glenn have homesteads. The children of Beatrice Amsberry Coffman are Mary, Harry, Hariet, Paul and Kittie. Harriet, Kittie and their father are dead and Paul is living on the home place near Mason with his mother, who after the death of her husband, moved from her city home back to the farm.' Mary married James Kelley and they, with Harry are living on home steads in Box Butte county. Harry married Rosa Runyan, daughter of Dug and Mary Jane Runyan. Boyd F. Ariisberry married Mollie Coffman. They gave to the world Elmer, Mary, Augustus. Hiram and Harry. Mary married Pratt Bliss. They are living in Seattle, Washington. Elmer and family and Augustus are living in Vancouver. British Columbia. Hiram and wife live in Ana- cortes, Washington, from which place he operates as postal mail clerk Harry is still in school and at home with his parents. Marsena L. Amsberry is married and has a val uable farm near 'Ansley on which he resides. His children living are Maple, Roily, Ora, Lavern, Violet and Ethel. Maple married John Mitchie and they live on their own farm adjoining her father. The other children are all at home with their parents. Kittie Amsberry maried M. L. Whitaker, who is in the mercantile business at Canton, Nebraska, and have a section of land near, which the children work. They gave to the world Ray, Howard, Clif ford, Mamie, Edith, Helen and Herbert, all of whom are at home. Zach Amsberry still owns his homestead, which with time ha« become valuable, from which he and -" i f e crioys the fruits thereof - in extensive travel for health and recreation. Their children are Alma and Fannie, and are both married. Nola Amsberry married Henry Zimmerman and now reside in Ansley, near where they have a valuable farm. They gave to the world, Ray, Ada- line, Thomas, Lottie, Fronia and Flora, all of whom are married, but Flora. Norton, Charley and Lyman are married and live in tbe vicinity. Aunt Jane is still living and makes her home with her youngest son Lyman on the farm. The Amsberrys of Custer are generally promi nent members of the Baptist church and active in all lines of Christian work, as well as all matters of public interest. A portrait of D. M. Amsberry is, presented on another page of this volume. JACOB JUYLAN. One of the many sons of Old England, who have found a home in the vicinity of Plainview and added to the material wealth and social stability of the community, was the venerable Jacob Julyan, who, at the time of his death in 1910, was one of the oldest men in his county. Mr. Julyan was born in the village of Thurn- gay, Cornwall, in 1830, and was a son of John and Elizabeth Julyan, who were natives of the same shire and passed their entire lives in their native land. Jacob learned the blacksmith's trade at his father's forge and followed the work during his younger years. He was married at an early age to Elizabeth Allen, and three children were born to them, all settled in the west here. Mrs. Julyan died in England, and our subject was married to Jane Cock, a native of Cornwall also, and of this marriage five children were born, three now living, namely: Jessie, who is the wife of Frank Peed, of Knox county ; Eva, wife of George Roan, a ranch man of Cherry county; and Charles who lived with his parents at the time of their death. Mrs. Julyan also died in 1910. In 1876, Mr. Julyan was influenced by the let ters from a friend who had come to America and settled in Nebraska, to leave the old country, so he sailed in June of that year, accompanied by his two eldest sons, taking passage on the "Baltic," -from Liverpool. ' They arrived at Belleview, Sarpy county, Nebraska, early in July, and the father immediately obtained work at his trade, also tried farming, but owing to the hard times brought on by the grasshopper raids in that country, was ob liged to giye up blacksmithing altogether. He was joined by his wife and the rest of his children in June 1877, and as conditioris in Sarpy county be came worse, Mr. Julyan left his family there and sought work in other fields, finally obtaining em ployment at Ward, a mining camp in Nevada, where he remained for four years, his family re maining at Belleview all of this time In 1884 Mr. Julyan came to Pierce county pur chasing a farm six miles northeast of Plainview. Here he experienced every form of pioneer life. At the time of the blizzard which struck their locality in 1888, two of the younger children were at school and unable to reach home. As soon as the storm abated sufficiently to permit travel, which was to ward morning o,f the following day, Mr. Julyan and a hired, man took a well-filled bucket of lunch, and bv keeping close to a wire fence as a guide, made their wray to the schoolhouse. Before reaching there, however, he stopped at a neighbor's home. where he found his children safe and sound, so con- 1002 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. tinued on his way, and at the schoolhouse found the teacher and a number of the pupils huddled togeth er to keep warm and in a state bordering on star vation from their long fast and worn with the anxiety occasioned by the terrific storm. These and many others were the hardships that confronted them during those years. For several years they were obliged to use hay and corn for fuel when they were unable to get any other commodity as coal was very high and scarce. Their only Indian scare wras the memorable false alarm, when a crowd of young men returning from a charivari shot off their guns and raced through the town making everybody think that a band of the redskins were on the warpath. In 1902, Mr. Julyan left the farm and pur chased a comfortable home in Plainview where he spent the remaining years of his life in peace and plenty, surrounded by the comforts of life. In politics Mr. Julyan is an Independent, al ways supporting the best man on the ticket, regard less of party. Both our subject and his wife were reared in the Episcopal church, but since settling in the west they attended other houses of worship, more frequently the Methodist church and the Friends' services. TELMAN N. BENNETT. Telman N. Bennett, probably as well known as any citizen lof Lloward county, for his extensive business interests in the past, also his thorough ap preciation of the needs of his community and his conscientious labors to meet, them, is a resident of the city of St. Paul. At the present time Mr. Ben nett is acting in the capacity of eastern represen tative of a prominent business house in the west, and is successfully covering a large territory," known among the commercial travelers far and near as one of the brightest and most successful men in his line of work . Mr. Bennett was born in Steuben county, New York state, on November 18, 1847, and was the third in a family of four children. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Potter county, Pennsylvania, his brother George still liv ing there, although both parents, one sister and a brother are deceased. Pelman received his educa tion in the public schools, later took a course at the Ulysses Academy, in that county, and at the age of sixteen years, begun teaching school during the summer months, attending college through the win ter season. He continued his labors at a teacher for some six or seven terms, also at various times followed farming in his home vicinity. In 1868 Mr. Bennett was married here to Sarah Freeman, daughter of Jerry Freeman, a well known resident of Potter county, Pennsylvania. To them were born one daughter and a son, and Mrs. Bennett died in St. Paul, in January, 1880, the daughter also being deceased, while Atlas J. Ben nett, the son, is married and now makes his home in Amarillo, Texas. Our subject came into Howard- county in 1872, and located a pre-emption and homestead in the northwestern part of the county, situated on the Loup River bottom, making that his home up to 1879, when he came to St. Paul and took up his permanent residence. Here he went into|the gen eral merchandise business and continued in the trade for a number of years, being numbered among the pioneer merchants of the place. He has been interested in various enterprises, at one time hauling lumber from Central City for about the first residence built in St. Paul. In 1891 he begun his career as a traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house and has followed this ever since, be ing connected with different firms in this time, and at present acting as eastern representative of the Thomas Devlin Tannery Company, of Areata, California. In October, 1882, Mir. Bennett married Miss Ida Kenney, daughter of Samuel Kenney, a leading pioneer of Howard county, the event taking place at the home of the bride's parents. After three short years of happy married life Mrs. Bennett de parted this life, deeply mourned by all, as she was a. lady of charming personality, and greatly ad mired by those who knew her. Mfcr. Bennett mar ried again, in 1887. taking as wife Miss Frances Tripp and they are the parents of two children. Fred and Lois, both now living at home. The fam ily are among the leading members of the social life of their city, taking an active interest in educa tional and church affairs in St. Paul. GEORGE STRATHDEE. (Deceased.) The late George Strathdee was one of the early- settlers of Valley county, where he was a successful farmer and stock raiser. He spent the last years of his life at Arcadia. He was honored as a vet eran of the civil war, and was highly esteemed for his many good qualities. Mr. Strathdee was born in Glasgow, Scotland, December 12, 1835, reached maturity in his native country and there enjoyed excellent educational advantages. As a young man he came to America and located at Wilmington, Illinois, where he secured a position as bookkeeper and later served as constable and sheriff of Will county. On February 7, 1867, he was married, at Wilmington, to Mrs. Mary (Hurley) Forbes, a na tive of County Limerick, Ireland, who 'came to America with her parents when about fifteen years of age. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Strathdee brought his wife and five children to, Valley county and there homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres af land at Lee Park, later purchasing eighty acres of land. He lived there until 1906, when he sold the farm and retired from hard work, purchasing a com fortable home at Arcadia where his death occurred May 2, 1910. He was survived 'by his widow and four children: George, married and living in Ar cadia, has two children; Fred, of Arcadia, whose COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, RE MINISCENCE . AND BIOGRAPHY. 1003 wife died in September 1908; Mary, wife of Robert P. Rowe, of Arcadia, a sketch of whom ap pears in this work, has two children; and Albert, married and living in Arcadia. Another son, Al fred, twin brother of Albert, died in September. 1902. Mrs. Strathdee has two sons by a former marriage, Charles and William Forbes, both living in Nebraska. She still resides in the home in Ar cadia, surrounded by a large circle of friends. Mr. Strathdee enlisted in Company I, One Hun dredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served throughout the war, and lost his left arm in the bat tle of Mission Ridge. He received his honorable discharge at the close of the war having a record of which his family are proud. All who knew him deplored his decease and he is missed in many cir cles. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic AUGUST JACOBSON. (Deceased.) August Jacobson was well and favorably known .. in the city of Newman Grove, and indeed, through out Boone county, Nebraska ; he was born in Swe den, and comes of a very old and respected family of that country. Mr. Jacobson was a son of Jacob and Margaret Neilson, and was born on May 1, 1846. He was the fifth in a family of six children, all of whom are deceased with the exception of one brother still in Sweden and another Charles Jacobson, who lives in Platte county, Nebraska. Also, both father and mother died in Sweden several years ago. August was married in 1872, to Caroline Anderson, who was born and raised -near his home place, and to gether they came to the United States in the spring of 1873, their first location being in Illinois. There Mr. Jacobson worked at railroading for four years. during which time with care and the strictest econ- onmy, he managed to save up fifteen hundred dol lars and then brought his family to Boone county. Nebraska. He filed on a homestead on section twenty- three, township twenty range five and this was their home place up to 1905, when Mr. Jacob- son retired from the farm and moved to Newman Grove taking up his. residence in a fine dwelling which he had erected there. He stilled owned'and superintended the work on the farm up to the time of his death and owned considerable land adjoin ing his original homestead, part of which he took in the early years as a timber claim, and was classed among the wealthy self-made men bf that region. Himself and wife were among the early pioneers of Nebraska becoming prosperous and successful by dint of faithful attention to duty, and good man agement. Mr. Jacobson served as assessor of Boone county for three years, from 1894 to 1896 inclusive. and was also director of school district number thirty-seven, for twelve years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ja cobson, all living, named as follows: Charles A., Emily M., II. G., Segard A., J. Martin, Alice A- Walter A., Theodore A., all are married except the two last mentioned. Mrs. Jacobson has four sisters and two brothers, three of whom are still living in Sweden. ROBERT J. MILLS. Robert J. Mills is one of the old settlers of Cus ter county, Nebraska, and has been instrumental in furthering the welfare and development of his county and state since locating there in the fall of 1885, a period bf more than a quarter of a century. He is a native of Steubenville, Ohio, born May 10, 1853, son of John and Sarah (Wolfenden) Mills, natives of England. The i father came to America in 1848 and located first at Sharon, Pennsylvania. He died in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1882, and his widow in '1884. Robert J. Mills was next to the oldest of their eight children, the others being: one son in Illinois, three sons in Pennsyl vania: two daughters in ( Pennsylvania, and one daughter deceased. In early child hood Mr. Mills accompanied his parents to Beaver county, Pennsylvania and there he grew to matur ity, receiving his education in the local schools. He later worked in the mines in that state and his mar riage occurred in Beaver county July 11, 1878, when he was united with Miss Catherine Baker, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Richard and Catherine (Thomas) Baker, both natives of western Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Mills brought his wife and three children to Custer county and secured a homestead of one 'hundred and sixty acres of land near Westerville, the home of the family until 1900, when he sold out and purchased two huiilred and eighty acres of 'land on section twenty -nine, town ship seventeen, range eighteen, where he has a well improved and fully equipped stock and grain farm. In 1908 he erected a modern farm residence and he has also provided other substantial and suitable buildings. He has served as director of the school board in district number four for some time and was also supervisor of the county for a period of four years. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mills, namely : Thompson B., of Custer county, has two children ; Lina, wife of J. P. Runer of Ansel mo, Nebraska, has four children ; Carrie, a teacher in Custer county; Edward W. at home; Harry R., also at home ; Bertha, a student at Broken Bow ; Emma J. at home, and a daughter who died in in fancy. Mr. Mills is an enterprising and progress- sive farmer and is recognized as a public-spirited and desirable citizen. He is one of the best known men in his part of 'the county and has a wide cir cle of friends. The Mills lived some nine years in sod houses before building his present pretentious country home. The "soddie" on their first farm was in strong contrast with the substantial homes 1004 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in the east. Their furniture was shipped from Wampum, Pennsylvania, to Grand Island, and was several weeks on the way. In going for them after arrival Mr. Mills was eleven days away from home on the way during which time Mrs. Mills was left alone in the almost empty house but felt no fear, having a faithful family dog, brought with them from the east, to guard her. The day of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Mills started to the Hickenbottom sale at which so many were gathered that day, and giving the the mules they were driving to a homemade sled, their heads, the team took them to Mr. Joseph Gid- ding's, where they remained all night. The early nineties were trying years to the set tlers; Mr. Mills suffered from drouth, in 1890 and 1894, and lost all or part of the crops in 1893 and 1895 by hail. In politics Mr. Mills is a democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fel lows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. BEN. F. STOCKWELL. Pew men living today in the state of Nebraska have memories of its prairies fifty years ago, but oue of these few is Ben F. Stockwell,- now retired, living in Boyd county, in the county seat. Mr. Stockwell first set foot on Nebraska soil in 1861, when he traversed the state on his way to Nevada, where for eighteen months he was employed in the silver mines of Virginia City. He had spent a short time in Utah, Idaho, and Montana, but made !iis longest sojourn in the state of Nevada before returning to his former home at La Grange, Indiana. Mr. Stockwell was born in the village of Alexan der, Licking county, Ohio, September 7, 1838, and when four years old his parents moved to La Grange county, Indiana. He is a son of Ephriam and Margaret (Streeter) Stockwell, the former working as a millwright practically all his life. Ben Stockwell has been self -supporting since he was but nine years of age, working for his board and clothes, neither of which was over-abundant. At the age of twenty, he became one of a threshing crew, and for thirty years followed that emloyment. After his return from the mountains in the year 1862, Mr. Stockwell lived in Indiana until coming to the west. He lived during the winters of 1870- 1871 in Jasper county, Iowa, before making resi dence in Nebraska in June, 1871, when he settled in Cass county, on a farm three miles west of Weeping Water, where he bought railroad land. Here he lived nine years, suffering total losses two years, owing to the grasshopner pest. In 1880 he sold in Cass county, and moving to Lincoln coun ty Kansas, bought two hundred and forty acres six miles east of the city of Lincoln. Here he plied the science and art of farming and stock-raising seven years. Coming to Holt county in the fall of 1877, he bought a relinquishment and filed on a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres seven miles east of Eagle Mills where he resided until 1903. In 1900 Mr. Stockwell retired from active farm ing and became a resident of Butte, where his brother, Dr. Stockwell, had been the leading phy- iscian since the founding of the town. He bought two lots, built a residence, and at once planted trees which are today as large and thrifty as any in town. His place he sold to advantage in 1903, and built his present home, which faces the. school square on the north. Mr. Stockwell was married September 5, 1860, to Miss Jane Rowland, a native of , Huron county, Ohio. Her father, William Rowland, was a native of New Y'ork, who died at the age of eighty-secven ; the mother, Mary Holcomb, lived until attaining her seventy-fifth year. Four children have beeii born to Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell, named as follows : Lydia, wife of S. Anderson, of Henley, South Dakota ; Kate, who is married to George Kirkland, of Atkinson, Holt county ; Emma and her husband, Wilford Standeford, have a elaim near Gregory, South Dakota ; and Charlotte, is married to. Ray Coleman, who is employed at Phoenix, Holt county, Nebraska. , Mr. Stockwell was living ih Holt county at the time of the great blizzard of January 12, 1888, and going from the house to the barn to feed his stock, he lost his way and with difficulty returned to his dcor. The weather looked suspicious to the mother that day, and the children were kept home from school, saving them suffering and distress. Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell never lived in the prim itive sod house, as many settlers were compelled to to, but always lived near enough a town to buy lumber for a frame dwelling. Part of the time while living in Cass county corn was a drug on the market and furnished a cheaper fuel than coal. With a recollection of Nebraska extending over a period of more than fifty years Mr. Stockwell has no cause to regret the impulse that brough him to the state as a settler;' and the state has cause to congratulate itself on acquiring so thrifty and sub stantial citizens as he. N. G. CAMPBELL. A typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska is represented by the gentleman above named. Ho has lived many years in this section of the country and has been a part ofthe growth and development of this region, building up for himself a substan tial home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of our foremost citizens. Mr. Campbell was born in Green county New YTork state July 16 1846; he is the son of William and Mary (Van Steenberg) Campbell both natives of New York state. Our subject's grandfather, on the paternal side, and three uncles, served in the Revolutionary war. N. G. Campbell has an honorable war record to COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1005 his credit, having served his country in the civil war, enlisting in 1862, and receiving his honorable discharge October 7, 1865. He joined Company 1, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, under General Grover, and Captain T. J. Rundell. He was with General Banks on the Red River campaign and then joined Sheridan and went down the Shennandoah Valley to Cedar Creek then joining Sherman in Savannah, Georgia, un der which famous general he served during the campaign in North and South Carolina. Mr. Camp bell participated in the battles of Fort Gisbon, Pleasant Hill, Winchester, Fisher Hill, and Cedar Creek. After receiving his discharge, Mr. Camp bell returned to Green county, New York, and there remained until coming- west. In 1878 Mr. Campbell came to Knox county, Nebraska, to make a fortune for himself and fam ily, coming by way of Yankton, South Dakota, and from there driving to his homestead, where he now lives. He first built a frame house, the first of its kind to be erected in this section of the country. He lived on this place eight years before he owned a team ; then managed to get two calves and raised them until they were old enough to break to use for farm work and to go to market. These served the purpose fairly well for about three years, when in 1888 Mr. Campbell bought his first team of horses. Mr. Campbell also had his experience in the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, which storm will ever remain vividly in the minds bf those who were -unfortunate enough to experience it. In 1 894, the crops were a total failure, being destroyed by the hot winds that prevailed that season during the drouth, our subject barely saving his seed. Dur ing the flood in the spring of 1881 the family lost practically all their household effects and what lit tle they were able to recover was ruined by having been in the water. Thus can be recounted the many hardships, and failures of the early pioneer, and it seems that more than the allotted share came to our subject. But Mr. Campbell has persevered through thick and thin as it were and now is reaping his reward of faithfulness and persistency. He is a substan tial and popular citizen, which fact is attested to by ' the numerous offices he has satisfactorily and effici ently filled. He has been assessor of his precinct for eight years; 'he was postmaster of Herriek for ten years, and he has also served as justice of the peace. Mir. Campbell and his family own about six hundred 'and sixty acres of good land, which makes a fine estate. Mr. Campbell was married in 1869 to Miss Elizabeth Nelson, and Mr. i and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: George; Minnie, wife of Albert, Lee; John; Edgar, who died November 10, 1910, leaving a widow who was Emily Finotti ; Ina, wife of Mr. Will Poulson ; and Rufus, who is married to Miss Delia Bedford. In politics Mr. Campbell is a democrat and be is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Bloomfield. GUENNES GUNDERSON. Scandanavia has given many of her sons to the west, and Knox county, Nebraska, has its share of these sturdy citizens. Among the na tives of Norway who have won for themselves a worthy place in the new world, may be mentioned Guennes Gunderson, the lumberman of Crofton, Nebraska. Mr. Gunderson was born in Norway, June 5, 1863. His father, Hans Gunderson, emigrated to America with his family about the middle of May, 1870; crossing the North sea from Christi ana to Hull, England, the embarked at Liverpool for New York, reaching their destination, Florence, Douglas county, Nebraska, the fifth of June. The family resided in town, the father succeeding in renting land nearby until 1886, when he moved to the far west and filed on a homestead, a timber claim and a pre-emption claim in Kimball county, where he lived for seven years. In 1893 he re turned to the east end of the state, purchased eight acres of land in Washington county, and resides here at the age of seventy-two years. He retains his four hundred and eighty acres of land in Kimball county, which are cultivated under lease. He was married in Norway to Dorothea Hanson, who has shared with him all all the privations of pioneer life in the west. Guennes Gunderson attended the schools of Florence and remained under the parental roof until several years after coming of age. He filed on a homstead in Cheyenne county, and in 1884 came back east for a helpmeet to cheer his lonely home. He was married in Omaha, February 22, 1886, to Miss Mary Blade, whose parents, Gust and Engobar Blade, emigrated from Sweden with their family in 1880 and settled in Nebraska. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson, six of whom are living. They are : Henry, in business in Yankton, South Dakota; Lulu, a successful teacher of Crofton; Clara, Ethel, Gladys and Pearl. Mr. Gunderson has been on his claim near Eckers postoffice in northwest part of Cheyenne county two years at the time of his marriage, and he made this his home four years more. In June of 1890 he came to Knox county, and farmed for two years near Crofton. He next engaged in carpentry and followed that trade until 1905, erecting buildings all over Knox and Cedar counties. He discontinued building to take charge as manager of the lumber yard at Crofton op erated by Blinkiron Brothers, which firm was suc ceeded by Weller Brothers. He has been faithful in his management of his employers' business, winning by his courteous treatment a large share of the patronage of the surrounding country. ' 1006 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Gunderson is a republican in political beliefs. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen, and the Yeomen of Crofton, and of the Eagles at Hart ington ; and with his wife he is a member of the Rebekah degree. The family lived at Florence during the grass hopper years, and suffered severely through their devastation. One notable incident Mr. Gunder son relates, is that as late as March 16, 1881, he drove across the Missouri river at Florence, the last of a number of wagons in the party. Cross ing was made at a later date a little further down the stream. What at the time, seemed to be a provoking delay, is all, probably, that saved the lives of Mr. Gunderson and two of his friends, the day of the drearful buzzard of January 12, 1888. One of the neighbors had a horse he wanted to lead to Hartington; the horse escaped and managed to elude his captors two hours. When they finally did get started, they were but a short distance ahead of the storm, which over took them near the last house between their starting point and town. Here they found shelter and remained for the night. Had they been half or even a quarter of an hour earlier they might have perished in the storm. Hail storms in the west shower down chuncks of ice that are unbelievable further east. In one storm in this region during the fall of 1880, dropped a hailstone that measured upwards of nine inches in circumference. When a hail storm of that character passes over a farm, there is nothing of the crops left. The hail was so deep one spring that enough of it was gathered from a deep ravine to freeze ice cream three weeks after the storm. Deer and antelope were to be seen in the country after the Gunderson family came, and at one time in Cheyenne county, a deer came within forty feet of where Mr. Gunderson was sitting near his own door. Mr. Gunderson has lived at times in a dugout, and in log houses in truely primitive style. CHAUNCEY STEWART, Sr. Chauncey Stewart, Senior, deceased who owned and occupied and extensive farm in sec tion thirty-one St. Paul precinct, was one of the oldest men in his locality, and also among the first pioneers to settle in Howard county. Mr. Steward was born in New York state on December 3, 1818, and made that state his resi dence up to the fall of 1856, at that time going to McHenry county, Illinois. During his young manhood he followed farming as an occupation, and was married in Oswego county, New York in 1850, to Miss Mary A. Southworth. Three children were born to them in New York state, seven others in Illinois and Wisconsin. Mr. Stewart also worked on the Erie Canal for con siderable of the time he lived in New York state. Mr. Stewart and his family made Illinois their home for about twenty-four years, then came to Nebraska, landing in Grand Island in March, 1880, and in the same month came on to Howard county. , He purchased a tract of land on sec tion thirty-one, tqwnship fourteen, range ten, and at the time of his death had three hundred acres in his home place, all of which is highly cultivated and the entire place equipped with good improvements of all kinds. Mrs. Stewart died on the farm on November 24, 1908, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years, leaving a host of sorrowing friends, as she was a woman of the kindliest nature, beloved by all who knew her. She was survived by her ten children, and Mr. Stewart, whose death occurred on November 16, 1909, in his ninety-first year. He enjoyed good health and took a lively interest in the farm affairs up to the time he died although for some years had given up active work. The farm is carried on by his son, Chauncey, junior, who with his family occupies the homestead. Mr. Stewart had two sons living in Howard county, and two daughters, who reside in St. Paul, Mrs. Lucy Brown and Mrs. Lew Warner, while the balance of the children are scattered in different parts of the country. CHAUNCEY STEWART, Jr. Chauncey Stewart, junior, was born in Wis consin on October 22, 1876, and came to Howard county with his parents in 1880. He grew up on the home farm, receiving his education in the local schools, and has been the main help of his father in carrying on the farm since his boy hood. He was married in Dannebrog, on Feb ruary 24, 1909, to Bertha Nielsen, daughter of Hans Nielson, one of the prominent pioneers of Howard county, where she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Steward have one child, Dale, who was born April 6, 1910. Mr. Stewart has been successful, in his farm ing operations, and since assuming entire charge of the old homestead, has made many improve ments, now being considered one of the practical and up-to-date agriculturists and stockmen of his vicinity. He is a young man of sterling worth and integrity, and ejoys the friedship of all with whom he has to do. JAMES HUTCHINSON. James Hutchinson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser living on section nineteen, township twenty-three, range six, is well known through out Antelope county, Nebraska, as a progressive and successful agriculturist, highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Hutchinson is a native of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, born March 27, 1859. His father, William Hutchinson, is a native of Eng- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1007 land, born in Keswick village, Cumberland county; and our subject's mother, who was Miss Alderson, is also a native of England, being born in Newcastle. Prom his native state, out sub ject in 1868 went to Iowa where he remained eleven years ; and in February, 1879 came to Ne braska, driving the entire distance in a covered wagon. He had heard the glowing acounts of this new country, of the land being so cheap and of such good soil, and decided this was the best place for a poor man without a competence to get a" strat. He located in Antelope county where he brought one hnudred and sixty acres of railroad land. On this land he built a frame house fourteen by sixteen, and two years later built an addition of twelve by fourteen to this. He now has a beautiful home, well improved farm and a fine orchard and grove. In those fir^t days of our subject's settlement in this part of the state, many disappointments and failures were experienced. In 1894 Mr. Hutchinson lost all his crops by the drouth. He got one hundred and fifty bushels of wheat off of forty acres of land : he suffered another loss in the memorable hail storm of 1883, losing all small grain and the greater part of his corn crop. On September 15, 1886 Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage to Miss Julia Harmon, and Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Georgie, Clyde, and Iva, the last named died when a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson are surrounded in their beautiful home by a host of warm friends and enjoy the high esteem and respect of all who know them. CHARLES R. MATHEWS. Charles R. Mathews, a leading citizen of his part of Custer county, Nebraska, is one of the oldest settlers in central Nebraska. He was born in Virginia, March 11, 1843, next to the eldest child of Samuel G. and Naomi (Hudson) Mathews, who were parents of three sons and two daugh ters. The parents were natives of Virginia and the history of the Mathews family goes back to colonial times in Virginia, Samuel Mathews who died in 1660, being one of the three elected gov ernors of Viriginia, and he was one of the direct ancestors of the subject of this sketch. The father of Charles R. Mathews died in 1865 and the mother in 1868. One son, Jacob, lives in West Virginia and Mrs. Caroline Daniels also lives in that state. Mr. Mathews lived in his native state until the spring of 1874, and while attending a horti cultural and pomological fair at Richmond saw a fine display of Nebraska products, which gave him an impetus to visit that state. He organized a party of eleven persons to come 'west, which arrived in Omaha, April 4, 1874. The only ones of this number who now live in Custer county are Mr. Mathews and H. B. Andrews. The party came to Kearney, thence to Loup City, Sherman county, and there hired an outfit to explore the unorganized territory in the Middle Loup river valley, being caught during this trip in a severe blizzard. They proceeded up the valley, through drifts of snow, to the mouth of Victora creek and there met some hunters and trappers who expatiated on the beauties of Victoria valley, with its pure cold springs gushing from the banks of the creek and the dense forest of large cedar trees, the place afterward being known as Big Cedar common. After spending several days looking this country over the party returned to Loup City, then a town of one hundred inhabi tants, and sixty miles distant from the place where Mr. Mathews made his homestead location. Among the first settlers on Victoria creek were H. B. Andrews, Edward Nelson and Charles Mathews, and when Mr. Mathews was in Loup City for supplies in May, 1874, he met Oscar A. Smith and George E. Carr and induced them to locate adjoining homesteads along the creek. The next settler in the immediate neighborhood was Ezra A- Casewell, and Thomas Loughran took a homestead several miles further down the creek. In June Jacob Ross, with a family of grown daughters, made a welcome addition to the little community, and in the spring of 1875 Na thaniel H. Dryden and his family, J. R. Forsyth and J. P. Bell, came there. Victoria mineral springs, of pure cold water, are numerous in the vicinity of New Helena, Custer county, and are about the only mineral springs shown on the government map of the state. Some of the cedar log cabins erected there in 1874 and 1875 are still standing, and Mr. Mathews still occupies his, which was built in 1874. The country around his home is abundant with groves of beautiful trees and is a beautiful grain and stock region. Some of the trees which were set out by the early settlers are now three feet -in diameter, but none of the original cedar trees are left. The fine grove on the Mathews place was set out by Mr. Mathews and is used for picnics and outings. The water from the mineral spring on his place has been at times bottled and placed on the market. During the winter of 1874 and 1875 Mr. Mathews circulated a petition to the government asking that a mail route be established from Kearney, via Loup City, Arcadia and Douglas Grove, to New Helena, and the first mail was brought over this route April 15, 1875. Febru ary 9, of that year Mr. Mathews received a com mission as postmaster of New Helena. In 1876 a general uprising took place among the Sioux Indians, causing much uneasiness, and many families went to Loup City for protection, but no serious trouble resulted. In early days the region was known as Kountz county, in honor of the 1668 Compendium of history, ReMiniSCENCE and biogRAPhY. Kountz brothers, of Omaha, but was not then regularly organized. Among the settlers of 1875 and 1876 were Isaac Merchant, W. 0. Boley and Samuel Wagner. In 1878 the little settlement on Victoria creek had good crops and the following summer gave promise of an abundant harvest, over which prospects the settlers were exceedingly happy and held a fourth of July celebration at New Helena, but at that time one of the most severe and -destructive hail storms ever experi enced in the region came up and completely wiped out the crops. As late as 1880 the settlers hauled their seed grain from Central City and Grand Island, a distance of one hundred and twenty and one hundred and thirty miles. Mr. Mathews served as county judge in 1881 and 1883, and still has in his possession the manuscript of the records of his first courts. He has assisted in a variety of ways in the progress and development of Custer county and is one of the most widely known men in central Nebraska. His original homestead, located on the bank of Victoria creek and containing a log cabin sur rounded by a fine grove of trees, is one of the landmarks of the region, being one bf the pioneer' estates that have changed but little in many years. There are fine springs in the neighbor hood of the house and it is in a fine location. This is one of the best farms in the coutry and has a fine orchard, which adds greatly to its charm and value. In early years Mr. Mathews helped locate many of the pioneers and was one of the most prominent men in the valley. He is a demo crat in politcs and is well posted on the leading questions and issues, of the day. Although of a modest and quiet disposition, he has been actively identified with every measure of reform and pro gress which has come to his notice and is highly esteemed for his many fine qualities of mind and heart. gregor McGregor. The blood of the highlands flows in the veins of Gregor McGregor, the veteran blacksmith of Hartington, and his tongue has not forgotten all the gaelic his boyhood's ear heard around the family fireside. His portrait is presented on another page. His father, John McGregor, was born in the state of New York, and the grand father in the highlands of Scotland, a "hiela- man," a the gaels are called on their native hills. The mother, Agnes Lowrie, was born in the low lands of Scotland and came to Canada with her parents. Mr. McGregor was born in Ridgetown, Ontario, August 14, 1849, and ten years later the family moved to Blenheim where later Gregor learned the blacksmiths' trade; in 1869 he came west and for a year found work in the shops at Omaha, In March, 1870, he started for Cedar county, Ne braska, coming by rail to Sioux City, and from Covington, (now South Sioux City), rode as far as Ponca on a freight wagon. From Ponca he started to walk to St. James and covered twenty- two miles the first day, reaching the home of Mr. Me Querry at Lynne creek some time after night fall, where, foot-ore and weary, he spent the night. Continuing the journey next morning, he reached St. James, his destination, an hour or two past noon, March 20, 1870. He at once set up his forge and soon had a thriving business, being the first and for a time the only blacksmith in that part of Nebraska. Work was brought to him for miles around, settlers from far away at Niobrara coming to Hoese's mill with their grist brought the mending needed at the smithy along with them, having that done while waiting their turns at the mill, which sometimes took several days., The first of January following, Mr. McGre gor opened a shop at Jones Mill and remained in that location until in August, when he returned to St. James, bought the shop and for ten years made the sparks fly and the anvil ring in that location. Moving to St. Helena in the fall of 1881 he opened a shop there and , served the com munity with smith work until the establishment of Hartington in September of 1883. He bought lots in town, built a shop, and for two years ran the first smithy in town ; in 1885 he sold his shop and, in partnership with J. M. Lemmon, opened a livery establishment which they ran for ten years. After selling his interest in this business in the fall of 1895, he returned to his boyhood home in Blenheim, remaining nine months work ing at his trade. July 1 he went to Colorado and sojourned there four months, returning to Ne braska and settling in Wayne the latter part of October, where he found work in a shop there. In February of 1897 Mr. McGregor returned to Hartington, opened his present shop and has been at work at his forge here ever since. He is an expert farrier and his shop is crowded at all times with horses waiting to be shod. There are few, if any, in the region to equal him in this difficult branch of the trade. He knows how to handle nervous and fractious horses and put them more at their ease. Mr. McGregor was married in Hartington. December 25, 1873, to Miss Alice Cole, daughter of Gideon and Ann Cole, who came to the state in the spring of 1870. Four children have bene born to Mr. and Mrs. McGregor, namely : Maud, wife of Robert Turner, now residing in Spokane] Washington; Mabel; Roy, a junior partner in a prosperous grocery store in Hartington, and Agnes. Mr. McGregor has passed safely through the many storms that have swept the western plains during the last forty years, and remembers well the few most notable blizzards that have taken toll of so many lives, both human and brute. He was living in St. Helena at the time of the three GREGOR MCGREGOR. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1009 days' blizzard of April, 1873; was living in St. James at the time of the third blizzard of Octo ber, 1880; and when the flood came in the spring following the winter of the deep snow, he helped rescue thirty people who were flooded out on the flats across the river in South Dakota. On Janu ary 12, 1888, the most destructive short time blizzard ever known, came rolling down on them from the north. Mr. McGregor was carrying the mail to Yankton at that time and started on hia trip ; though severe he was able to make his way against the storm while the road lay within the timber, but on emerging into open country be yond the horses refused to go, nor could they be forced to face the blast. He was forced to re turn to the starting point and wait until the, next day when, despite the low temperature — some twenty degrees below zero, he made his usual trip and returned. Pew had the courage to face such a frosty blast. Mr. McGregor has seen the prair ies covered with deer and antelope, and has killed deer on the present site of Coleridge. Mr. McGregor, living in villages, has never dwelt in sod houses or dugouts, but he has at tended "frolics" and danced in them. And those were jolly beyond a doubt; after recounting all their hardships and trials any of the old-timers will tell you that those days were the happiest of their lives. Mr. McGregor is a democrat in polties, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America lodge. GEORGE W. HARPER. This gentleman was at the time of his death one of the oldest men of the state of Nebraska, who spent the greater part of their lives west of the Mississippi, and he had been a resident of Ne braska since 1881. When he first came to Ne braska white settlers were very widely scattered, there being but four houses between Creighton and Plainview, and three from the later place to Pierce. Mr. Harper was born in Huron county, Ohio, October 29, 1833, and was six years old when his years old when his father removed to DeKalb county, Illinois. He grew to manhood in the later vicinity, and in 1885 went to Delaware county, Iowa, where he had purchased a small farm the previous year, which, together with rented land he cultivated for nine years, then moved to Earlville, Iowa. Here he entered in the lumber business, also dealt in machinery, re maining in this place until coming to Nebraska, in 1881. On arriving in Nebraska he located at Bazille Mills, Knox county, and was landlord of the hotel there for four years then served as post master for four years under Cleveland's first ad ministration. After living on, and improving his tree claim, located five miles west of Creighton, for S3 one summer, he moved back to Iowa, locating at Greeley, Deleware county, where he took the management of the Greely House for two years. Returning to Nebraska Mr. Harper took up his residence at Plainview, Pierce county, in 1891, engaging successfully in, the windmill business. He purchased some land, situated in the College addition to the town, helping to survey the site himself, and building in October of 1892, his resi dence being the first on the new addition. Surrounding this house is one of the finest groves in northeastern Nebraska, making of it during the summer, a beautiful shade bower, and one of the prettiest spots imaginable. Here Mr. Harper lived the remainder of his days, his death occuring January 26, 1910. Age seventy-six years and three months. Mr. Harper was, a son of Joseph and Susan Harper, natives of New York and Vermont res pectively, both passing from this life in Illinois a number of years ago. Our subject was married at Earlville, Iowa in September, 1866, to Amelia Jane Box, daughter of Henry Box and Mary Bates Box, both natives of England and married there. They now live at Greeley, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Harper had five children, all living named as follows : Nettie A., wife of Gearge W. Lane, living at Independence, Iowa; Harry Leroy, druggist and ex-member of the Nebraska State Board of Pharmacy Examiners, Beatrice, Nebraska; George Leslie, deputy sheriff at Dead- wood, South Dakota; Joseph Earle, druggist and member of the Nebraska State Board of Phar macy Examiners, Clearwater, Nebraska, and Ralph Dyer, employed by the Homestake Mining Company at Deadwood, South Dakota. Mr. Harper was always a democrat. He Was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Pel- lows, Modern Woodmen of America and I. 0. G. T. lodges, and himself and wife were members of the Rebeckah degree. DAVID ROE. For the past thirty years or more David Doe, a resident of Howard county, Nebraska, has iden tified himself with the farming interests of War saw precinct, and by building up a fine farm and lending his influence for good citizenship, he has become one of the most successful and prominent men of that locality. Mr. Roe is a native of Canada, born Decem ber 17, 1860, and is the second child in a family of three. The other two died while mere babes, leaving our subject the only child of his parents, and he was left 'motherless at the age of three years. His father married again, and with his family came to Howard county in 1872, arriv ing here in March. He filed on a homestead, and David grew to manhood on the farm, at the age of twenty-one taking a claim on his own account, situated on section twenty-six, township four- 1010 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". tene, range eleven. Here he worked faithfully to build up a good home, and has succeeded in im proving the place in first-class shape, now having a commodious residence and all good buildings, fine groves, orchards, etc. His farms comprise in all five hundred and sixty acres, which he devotes to mixed farming and stock raising. ' In the fall of 1909, Mr. Roe rented his farms and bought a fine modern residence and grounds at Dannesborg, to which place he moved in Feb ruary, 1910, and intends making this his future home although he devotes a part of his time to looking after his farming interests. During his residence on his farm Mr. Roe was active in the affairs of his locality, serving as precinct assessor, road overseer, and other of fices in the gift of his precinct, and was also moderator of school district number thirteen. Mr. Roe's wife's maiden name was Eliza Dodd, and to them have been born thirteen children, ten of whom are now living: Mary Elizabeth, wife, of Willard Morley, they living in Greeley county, Nebraska; James H., who lives near Al liance, Nebraska; William D., married and liying at New Raymer, Colorado; Frank A., who died April 20, 1910, survived by a widow; Ernest L., of Superior, Wyoming; Archie L., Arthur R., Lily Ruth, Albert W., Edward S., and Eliza Pearl, the last six living at home. John A. and Myrtle E. died in infancy. The family enjoys a large circle of acquaintances, and are among the popular members of the social set of their com munity. PRANK S. HAYS. Frank S. Hays owns a well equipped and splendidly improved stock and grain farm in Custer county, which has been his home for nearly twenty-five years. He is a successful and progres sive farmer, actively interested in the general welfare of his county and state, and highly res pected as a citizen. He is a native cf McLean county, Illinois, and the youngest child of Henry Almarine (Rayborn) Hays. He has a brother, Marion G., in Custer county. The father was horn in Virginia, of Irish descent, and the mother was a native of Kentucky. Both died in McLean county, the former in 1860, and the later in No vember, 1906. Mr. Hays reached manhood in Illinois and was educated in the public schols, after which he engaged in farming on his own account. In 1 ;-?'() he went to California and worked at farm ing near San Jose, until 1879, when he returned to Illinois. He again secured work in San Jose, California, in the winter of 1880 and spent two years there, after which he spent several years traveling through many of the western states and engaging in various projects, He was married in McLean county, Illinois, at the Dawson home, August 7, 1884, to Miss Minie A. Dawson, a native of Illinois and daughter of J. Marion and Melinda F. (Props) Dawson, the former a native of Illi nois and the latter born in Virginia. The father lives in Nevada, Iowa, the mother died in that state in July, 1896. Mrs. Hayes has three brothers and one sister in Iowa ; two sisters and one brother in Illinois, and one sister, Mrs. Orrin Campbell in Dawson county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Hays made their home in Illi nois for two years and iri February, 1888, came with their only child, a daughter, to Custer county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-eight, township seventeen, range eighteen, which has since been the home place. He now has a well improved and equipped stock and grain farm and is an energetic and suc cessful farmer. He has served as treasurer of school district number four the past fifteen years, and for the past five years has been treasurer of the Odd Fellows lodge at Westerville. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mr. Hays, viz: Lida Constance, at, home; Jes sie A., a student in a commercial college at Broken Bow ; Byron G., a student at Broken Bow ; Marion F., Loren II. , iHazel M., W. Harold and Marie F., at home. Mr. Hays is one of Custer county's early set tlers and owns several valuable pieces of prop erty. He and his wife have passed through the years of trials and privations incident to pioneer life and are well and favorably known in the region. They have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances and are rearing a fine family to do them honor. Mrs. Hays and a neighbor, Mrs. Baker, were at the sale at Mr. Hickenbottom 's the day of the well known blizzard of January 12, 1888, and, facing tlie storm, drove home through the blind ing frozen mist, a feat few men accomplished for even half that distance. To Mrs. Hays fell the task of driving, and she reached home thoroughly chilled but uninjured. In politics Mr. Hays is a democrat and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. PAUL FISCHER. Paul Fischer, who resides on section thirteen, township twenty-one, range two, Madison county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. .He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development and growth from, the time of its earliest settlement, he having been a resident of Madison county for over forty years. Mr. Fischer is a native of Austria, where his birth occurred December 25, 1859; he is a son of John and Anna (Karl) Fischer, both natives of German Austria; the father was a coal miner by occupation in his native land. In 1868, our sub- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1011 ject, with his father, left their native home and came to America; they set sail from Bremen, Germany, and were on the sea eighteen days, then landing in New York. After arriving in the new world, they came to Kankakee county, Illinois, where they remained two years, the father working at whatever his hands found to do to support his family. In 1870 the family, including our subject, came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead, the one our subject now resides on, he being one of the few to still hold to the old, original homestead farm. On this homestead the father built a sod house, in which the family lived for sixteen years, and later a frame house twelve by sixteen feet was put up. Mr. Fischer has improved this place until he has a beautiful home and well (improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres of choice land. Mr. Fischer and his parents came to Ne braska when it was an almost unbroken prairie and scarcely knew the step or voice of a white man ; in those^ days of frontier life, many hard ships and privations were endured through plagues, fires, and drouths. The grasshoppers took all the crops the first few years of their residence in the new country, which was a very discouraging start ; many times the family fought prairie fires to save their lives and property, at one time losing considerable grain in the flames; and as late as 1894, our subject lost his entire . crops by the hot winds that prevailed during the drouth of that season. In the early days, they burned corn stalks, weeds, and anything that could be gotten hold of to use as fuel, as that commodity was scarce and high in price. Mr. Fischer was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Louise Jacobs, a native of Holstein, and Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows : John, Anna and Hattie. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. CHARLES ELMER CANNON. Charles Elmer Cannon belongs to one of the old and prominent families of the older families of Nebraska, of which state he is a native. He is a prosperous and successful farmer and well regarded as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He has passed through the most import ant period of Nebraska's history and has passed his entire life within the limits of the state. He was born in Lincoln, February 4, 1875, son of Samuel L. and Lottie (Young) Cannon, given extensive mention eleswhere in this work. The parents now reside in Broken Bow. Mr. Cannon is second of a family of five children and came with his parents to Custer county in 1884, re ceiving his education there and growing to man hood on his father's farm. When he was old enough he engaged in farming on his own ac count, and on February 4, 1902, was married, at the home of the bride's parents in Custer county to Floyd Leech, a native of Nemaha county, Nebraska, who was a teacher in the public schools before her marriage. She is a daughter of Corydon T. and Anna (Risley) Leech, of whom a more extended account is to be found elsewhere in this work. Pour chil dren have been born of this union: Helen Pay, Phylis Irene, Leonard C. and Winnefred Lottie, all of whom survive. In 1902 Mr. Cannon purchased an improved stock farm of three hunderd and twenty acres of land on section thirty-two, township seventeen, range eighteen, and there has a comfortable and well built farm residence. He and his wife are well known and popular in social circles in the community and have a large circle of friends. The Cannon family is one o fthe oldest in central Nebraska and many of its members have won prominence in various lines. Mr. Cannon is a .republican in polities, and a member of the In dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Camnm was too young to recall the tiiree days' blizzard of October, 1880, which inaugu- ated "the winter of the deep snow," but -remem bers well the short and severe blizzard of Janu ary 12, 1888. With his brothers he was at school at the time of the storm broke. The children were on the way home when the father met them and took them safely home. CALVIN H. YOUNG. Calvin H. Young, accounted one of the most substantial farmers of Howard county, Nebraska, resides on his well-kept and valuable estate in Cotesfield precinct, where he has surrounded himself and family with all of the comforts and many of tbe luxuries of life. , Mr. Young is a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, and was born on January 10, 1842, being the second member in a family of three children born to Jacob and Christina Young, the former a native of the Buckeye state, while the latter was born and reared in Pennsylvania. Calvin grew up on his father's farm, remaining in Ohio until 1855, when he went with his parents into Marshall county, Iowa, settling there in the fall of 1855, where the father located on a farm. Mr. Young enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on October 14, 1861, and served up to the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, the Vicksburg Siege, Corinth, was with Sherman on his march to Atlanta, receiving a severe wound at the latter place on July 22, 1864, and was mustered out on July 25, 1865. After being wounded, he was held at the state headquarters in Davenport, Iowa, and with his regiment received honorable discharge from the service. 1012 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. After the war Mr. Yroung returned to his home in Illinois, his parents having settled in the latter state the year previous. He was married on October 22, 1867, in Pulton county, to Miss Philena Buck, who was a native of Illinois. The young couple spent two years in that vicinity, and in the spring of 1869, emi grated to Kanasas, locating in Jefferson county, Mr. Young engaging in farming. They made that their home for five years, then returned to Illinois, following farming in McDonough county up to the fall of 1881, at that time com ing into Howard county, Nebraska. Here Mr. Young purchased a piece of land from the Balti more and Missouri railway company, situated on section twenty-nine, township sixteen, range eleven which has remained his home up to the present. They went through pioneer experiences here, as in several previous cases, and through this our subject has become a man of wide and varied experience. Mr. Young and his family have worked hard to accumulate a competence, and have been well rewarded for their efforts in the possession of a well improved farm, fully equipped with every convenience in the way of good buildings, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Young have had four children, a daughter, Belle, who married Sidney Tucker, residing on a farm a short distance from our sub ject, while the son, Charlie C, is a widower with one son, they living with the old folks on the homestead. Two sons, Stanley and Frank, died in infancy. During nearly the entire time of his residence in Howard county, Mr. Young has been connected with the educational interests of his locality, at the present time being a member of the board in school district number forty-eight. WILLIAM H. MINTER. William H. Minter, who, as a land owner of Merrick county, Nebraska, has done his share toward the development of the agricultural re sources of that region, is a widely known and universally respected citizen. Mr. Minter was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, August ,29, 1845, and was third of eight children in the family of David and Sarah (Large) Minter, who had four sons and four daughters. He was born on the farm, and lived in his home county until the trine when he joined the army during the civil war, he enlisted. August 8, 1863, in Company D., Ninth Iowa Cavalry, and was in many engagements and skirmishes. He was with General A. J. Smith in Arkansas, and was mustered out at Little Rock, that state, in August, 1866. Mr. Minter was in the service of the government for some months after the close of the' war. Upon being mustered out Mr. Minter returned to Jefferosn county, Iowa, going back to work on the farm. In April, 1868, Mr. Minter came to Nebraska, crossing the river at Sioux City, Iowa, on a flat boat, and lo-r cated in Dakota county, where he took up a home stead, on which old homestead farm Mr. Minter resided until the fall of 1888. Mr. Minter and family came to Merrick county in the fall of 1888 and settled on the farm that had been pur-* chased in the spring of that year, situated about two and a half miles northwest of Central City. In 1874 Mr. Minter was married in Iowa, and lost his wife in 1889. Mr. Minter was again mar ried February 4, 1892, at Central City, Nebraska, to Miss Mary Frances Hedges, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Minter have two children : Ethel Naomi and Robert Boyd. In March, 1903, Mr. ¦Minter and family moved to their new farm of two hundred and forty acres three miles southwest of Central City, which was the old James Hutson home, and is now a fine,' well improved farm. Mr. Minter and family are among the best. known Nebraska families of pioneer days, Mr. Minter having come to Nebraska in the early years, and passed through the experiences of the frontier days. In the fall of 1869 Mr. Minter 's brother, James, and the latter 's brother-in-law came into Dakota county, Nebraska, where they took up homesteads. The brother and brother- in-law were also veterans in the civil war. James Minter purchased the homestead righ from an old civil war comrade -for one old rooster, this land now being worth $150.00 an acre. IGNATZ RENNER. Ignatz Renner, who resides on section thirty- two, township thirty-one, range two, Knox county, Nebraska, is one of the leading old settlers in this section, and has always done his full share m the bettering of conditions throughout the com munity in which he lives. He is a highly esteemed and respected citizen and has always been upright and honest in his dealings with his fellowmen. Mr. Renner is a native of Germany, having been born in Oinspaugh village, Baden province, in the year 1855. He is a son of Joseph and Rosa (Dober) Renner, both of whom are natives of Germany. Mr. Renner lived in the father land until he reached the age of sixteen years, receiving his education there up to this time. In 1871, he left his native land, sailing for Ameri can shores, embarking on the steamship "Brook lyn," and coming by way of Liverpool to New York. When' he arrived in the United States, Mr. Renner proceeded to the western country, lo cating in Sarpy county, Nebraska, where he lived for eight years, at first employed at whatever his hands found to do. He later went to Cuming county, Nebraska, remaining there twenty years. In 1899, Mr. Renner came to Knox county, Ne braska, and bought the land where he now lives; he first lived in a dugout and later built a fine residence in which he and his family are now liv ing. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1013 In 1882, Mr. Renner was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Hader, and Mr. and Mrs. Ren ner are the parents of a fine family of ten chil dren, whose names are as follows : Joe, Annie, Frank, Katie, Matilda, Louisa, Henry, John, Lena and Fred. During his first days iri northeastern Nebraska, Mr. Renner experienced a great many hardships and in conveniences, as did the few first settlers in this region ; and after he became a land owner and tiller of the soil he suffered greatly through the grasshopper pests that infested this western country at times. He had many other discour agements, but through it all, has kept faith in Nebraska soil and resources, and has evidenced his belief in his present prosperous condition in life. He now owns seven hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land, and, as before stated, has one of the finest residences in his lo cality. * BARNIE NIELSEN. Among the successful self-made men of How ard county may be truly noted Barnie Nielsen, whose name heads this personal history. He came to America from his mother country when little more than a boy, and since that time has displayed an unusually enterprising spirit and the exercise of good judgment in a manner that commends him to all as a worthy citizen of his adopted land. He now resides on section twenty-two, township fourteen, range eleven, and is one of the pros perous farmers of his locality. Mr. Nielsen was born in Denmark on October 9, 1868. He was the fourth child in his father's family of seven, and the only one of them to settle in the United States. His parents are now de ceased, having spent their entire lives in Den mark, two brothers and three sisters still living there, while one brother lives in Germany. Barnie grew to the age of fifteen year in his native land, then started out to make his own way in the world, taking passage on an emigrant ship bound for America, arriving here in the spring of 1883. He went at first to Illinois, remained but a few weeks, then came directly into Howard county, landing here on May 14th, secured employment as a farm hand and worked out for about nine years. He had saved his money and lived a very frugal life, and at that time had enough to make a payment on a tract of land which he had select ed on section twenty-two, in Warsaw precinct, which is still his home farm, and which he has built up in splendid shape. Mr. Nielsen was married to Clara Morley, June 9, 1892. Mrs. Nielsen is a daughter of Marshall Morley, one of the first Howard county settlers, and she was born and grew to womanhood on the farm where she now lives. Marshall Morley and his wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Moses, was one of the first settlers of Howard county, to which place he eame from Pennslyvania, al though he had spent a few years in Illinois before locating here. He homesteaded the place now owned by his son-in-law, Barnie Nielsen, and lived on it until selling to Mr. Niel sen, after which he and his wife moved to St. Paul where he died October 3, 1903, and his wife De cember 6, 1908. When Mi-. Morley first settled in this section the country was practically a bar ren plain inhabited mostly by Indians, and for several years ' it was very hard tb make much headway in the matter of improving the land. He succeeded however in accumulating a comfort able property, and also had done his best during his years of residence here to better conditions locally wherever possible. Mr. and Mrs. Barnie Nielsen have five chil dren : Louie Roy, Lee Marshall, Ada Marie, Theo dore Holman and Bertha Clara, all living at home. FREDRICK J. DOVER. Fredrick J. Dover, who lives on section eleven, township twenty-two, range one, west, in Madison county, Nebraska, occupies an enviable position among the old-timers and successful agriculturists of the county. He has lived thirty- nine years in Madison county, and has been part of the growth and development of the region. building up for himself a good home. Mr. Dover is a native of Wales, his birth oc curring in the year 1858 ; he is a son of James and Jane (Nicholson) Dover, both natives of Eng land; our subject's father was a Morocco leather dresser in the old country. In 1854 Mr. Dover's father came to America on a sailboat, and later returned to Wales. In a short time they came back to America, again in a sailboat, and after landing here they went to Iowa, where they settled and remained until 1872 ; then came to Madisori county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead and steadily improved same. The family first settled on Shell creek, but the Indians drove them out, and they then moved to section twenty-six, township twenty-two, range one, west, where they took up the homsetad which is their present home. In tbe earliest days of settlement, the Dover family endured many hardships and discourage ments, which when related, seem almost incred ible to all but those who have actually experienced them. Many times they fought prairie fires to save their lives and property; during the years of 1872, 1873 and 1874 the grasshopper pests destroyed every vestige of vegetation arid crops; Indians were a great source of anxiety, and many times the little family were afraid for their lives, on one occasion, as related above, they being compelled to move on account of them. Deer and antelope were plentiful on the western fron tier in the first days of settlement, and could frequently be seen browsing about. 1014 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Dover was united in marriage in 1891 to Miss Sylvia Groff, and Mr. and Mrs. Dover are the parents of, three children, namely: Ruby, Harold, and Laura. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. OSCAR A. SMITH. Oscar A. Smith was one of the earliest set tlers of his part of Custer county, having lived in or near New Helena since 1874. He has seen the reigon develop from a raw, unsettled country to one of the choice grain and stock reigons of central Nebraska, and has beeri identified in various ways with its progress and upbuilding. Mr. Smith was born in Columbus, Warren county. Pennsylvania, January 9, 1849, the eldest of tbe three sons of William and Roxy (Bordwell) Smith. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of New York, and they were married in the former state. He died in March, 1861, and she in the spring of 1892, both in Penn sylvania. They were survived by two sons, Oscar A. and Walter B., the latter of whom re sides in Narberth, on the outskirts of Philadel phia. In the spring of 1874, in company with George Carr, also of Pennsylvania, Mr. Smith left home and they went as far as Wheeling, West Virginia, by water, going on a raft of sawed hemlock lum ber from the headwaters of the Clarendon, on into the. Allegheny and Ohio rivers to their des tination. When they left home they intended going to Central America, but at Belmont, Ohio, met a friend who advised them to do otherwise, so they gave up this trip and came on west to Nebraska, reaching Grand Island in May, 1874. They came on to Loup City, Sherman county, and there, with Charles R. Mathews (a sketch of whom appears in this work) and two other men who were trappers and hunters, came to Victoria Springs, now known as New Helena, Custer county. Mr. Smith took a homestead on the northeast. quarter of section twenty, township nineteen, range twenty-one, and Mr. Carr and Mr. Mathews took homesteads in adjoining sections, Mr.Mathews having previously made the trip (in April of that year). These men were of the first original homesteaders of this part of Custer county. Mr. Smith still owns his original homestead site and also has other fine land in the vicinity of New Helena. Of the five men who came at that time to the neighborhood Judge Mathews and Mr. Smith are the only two now remaining. During his early years there Mr. Smith worked on his homestead only enough of the time to hold his title and in the intervals worked near Columbus, Piatt county. He has passed through many varied experiences during his years in Ne braska, as he came to New Helena when the Indians were numerous and troublesome and the country was new to the farmer. He has assisted in many ways in the cause of progress and is accounted a public-spirited, upright citizen. For eight years he served as postmaster at New Hel ena and was also a merchant. 'New Helena was one of the early inland trading points and Mr. Smith was a farmer-merchant for years. Mr. Smith was married in Custer county, January 17, 1892, to Margaret Elizabeth Baird, daughter of John F. and Mary (Conn) Baird, who came to Illinois in 1877. Mr. Baird died at Camp Point, Illinois, October 1, 1877, and in the winter of 1888 and 1889 Mrs. Mary C. Baird, with her three children, Mrs. Georgia McGaughey, and William and Margaret Baird, eame to Custer county. Mrs. Baird, a woman of beautiful charac ter and familiarly known in the community as "grandma Baird," died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in New Helena, April 3, 1905. Mrs. Smith is a native of Kentucky aud her parents came from that state to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, all of them born on the home farm: Walter W, bom December 30, 1892 ; Oscar T., born October 17, 1894 ; Victor B., born June 9, 1897, and Laura Conn, born Septem ber 23, 1899. Mr. Smith was formerly a democrat, but of late years, like most "men Of the west, has broken away from party lines and votes for the can didate he considers best, suited to fill the office. Mr. Smith is a Mason and was a charter mem ber of the lodge at Broken Bow, as well as that of Anselmo when organized, of which he is now a member. CORYDON T. LEECH. Among the men who have long been identified with the progress and development of central Nebraska, Corydon T. Leech deserves prominent mention. He has a pleasant farm home and dur ing the past year or two has been identified with the official life of the country, holding various local offices. He was born in Mercer county, Illi nois, March 30, 1848, the fourth born of the eight children of John and Elinor (Robinson) Leech, who had four sons and four daughters. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Maryland, botii now deceased; two of the daughters and three of the sons still survive. Mr. Leech of this sketch is the only one of the family living in Custer county and the other children who live, in Nebraska, are : Leonidas, of Richard son county; Adolphus, of Nemaha county; Eli zabeth, now Mrs. Samuel Seits, also lives in Richardson county. The father died in Illinois in 1883 and the mother brought her daughters Elizabeth and Mary, to Nemaha county in 1886; She died on the farm in that county in June 1898. Mr. Leech was reared on a farm in Illinois and lived with his parents there until his twenty- "LOCUST GROVE FARM," RESIDENCE OF B. H. JOHNSON. 'NORTH VIEW FARM", RESIDENCE OF C, T. LEECH. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1015 " sixth year. He was married in Mercer county, September 3, 1874, to Anna, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Hollowell) Risley. In, March of that year he had made a trip to Nemaha county, Ne braska, and purchased a farm. He then returned to Illinois and immediately after his marriage he and his wife came and located on this farm. They remained in that county until 1883, and then eame to Custer county, where the previous year he had secured a homestead on section twenty- two, township seventeen, range eighteen, and he now resides on the northwest quarter of section thirty-three in the same township, where, he has a fine grain and stock farm. His place is well im proved and equipped with modern machinery and implements for successfully operating same. With the exception of three years. spent in Tulare county, California, Custer county, has been his home since 1883. He and his wife have eight children, viz: Cora, wife of Charles I. Lowder, of Custer county, has five children; Floyd, wife of Charles Elmer Cannon, of Custer county, has three children; Nellie, wife of Harry Avery, of Richardson county, has three children ; Nina, < Don 'R. is principal of the schools at Rosalie, Thurston county; Ralph R., Elsie and Ivan L., who with Ralph, is a student in the Wesleyan University at University place, Nebraska. Mr. Leech and wife have passed through the pioneer years of their region and now have earned a com fortable farm home and a valuable tract of land > by their own efforts. They are prominent in social and educational circles and interested in all that pertains to the general welfare and progress. The family lived in a "soddy'' for ten years prior to 1892. Their large frame house, command ing from its hill top elevation a fine view north and south' across peaceful valleys, has one of the finest situations in the county. We show an engraving of the home and surrounding buildings on one of our illustrative pages. Nothing was raised the dry year, 1894, and hail had destroyed the crop the year before, making it a period of great distress and hardship, but those who had the courage to endure have reaped a rich harvest from Nebraska soil. Mr. Leech . is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Westerville. In politics he is a republican. ( BYRON H. JOHNSON. Byron H. Johnson, who resides in section twenty-three, township eighteen, range thirteen, is a substaritial citizen and old settler of Valley county,' Nebraska, where he has resided for the past forty years, thirty-four of which have been spent on his present home place. He was born in Natic, Rhode Island, July 12, 1847, and was sixth of nine children in the family of Thomas and Anna (Tanner) Johnson, who had seven daughters and two sons. The parents were natives of Rhode Island, also, and the Johnson family originally date back to England, and are one of the very old New England families. The Johnson family, of which our subject is a member, moved from Rhode Island to Green lake county, Wisconsin, making the entire trip by water, sailing Long Island Sound, the Hud son river, the Erie canal to Buffalo, and thence by the great lakes to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, whence they drove by ox team to Berlin in Greenlake county, in 1848, the voyage lasting nearly three months. Mr. Johnson, senior, was one of the first settlers of Greenlake county, Wisconsin. In Rhode Island he was a cotton factory operator and inventor; but in Wisconsin went on a farm. The family moved from Wisconsin to Olmstead county, Minnesota, in 1866. Byron Johnson came to Nebraska from Olm stead county in June, 1871, coming as far as Omaha; he was accompained by his brother Gil bert, and they both went into Kansas looking over the land. Gilbert remained in Kansas and Byron went back to the home farm in Minnesota, which he farmed for a season. They made the western trip with a horse team, and covered many miles over the country in this way. Gilbert Johnson, in April of 1872, came into tbe Loup River Valley country from Nortonville, Kansas, by ox team, and made camp with old "Happy Jack" on Davis creek. "Happy Jack" was an old hunter and trapper and scout. He then started to go to Grand Island with a load of furs and while on this trip met the advance overland emigrant teams of the Waushara county, Wisconsin, contingent. Gilbert Johnson was of the very first original homesteaders of the North Loup valley, and was a resident of Ne braska about ten years. Byron Johnson left the farm home in Min nesota in October of 1872 by team, making the entire trip alone, arrivirig in the Loup Valley No vember 2, 1872, joining his brother Gilbert. This trip was made through a sparsely settled country, and his first abiding place was a little dugout shack. In February, 1873, Mr. Johnson took up a homestead on section twenty-six, township nine teen, range thirteen, and lived on this homestead claim as a bachelor. On the nineteenth day of May, 1880, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Maud Stewart at the home of her parents in Valley county. Her birth occurred in Warren county, New York, near Lake George. She is a daughter of William II. and Melvina (Mudge^i Stewart, natives, respectively of New York and Vermont. The Stewart family came from Towa to Nebraska in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had six children, all born on the home farm: William G., who, is married, has- two children, and lives on the farm adjoining to his parents' home; Alice Gertrude, James A., Herbert L., Dora Maud, and Eva May. Mr. and Mrs. John son and family are widely and favorably known. 1016 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Johnson now lives on the north half of the southeast quarter of section twenty-three, township eighteen, range thirteen, which has been his home place since 1878. He now has two hundred and forty acres in this home farm, which is well equipped, and gives his entire at tention to farming and stock raising. The place is known as Locust Grove farm, and the residence is the subject of one of our illustrations on another page of the work. Mr. Johnson has been closely identified with the political and educational life of Valley county, and has been active along all lines for tbe advancement of his home county and state. He served his constituents of county commis sioner of Valley county in ,1879 and 1880; and as township supervisor in 1881 and 1882. Mr. Johnson has seen much of the early fron tier life of Nebraska, having passed through all the years of vicissitudes, and is now a prominent and successful man. He well remembers the three-day blizzard of April, 1873, and a similar storm of October, 1880. On January 12, 1888, the day being warm, he layed on a straw pile reading a book while herd ing cattle, when, within a minute's time, the cloud of whirling ice dust blotted out the land scape and left every creature shivering in its wake. A log dugout was the family residence for five years, when a better dwelling was erected. Mr. Johnson has seen the prairies when elk and deer were plentiful, having killed two or three of the former and twenty of the latter. At one time he had six deer hanging at his place. Prairie chickens were on the prairies in uncounted num bers, and often stole the settlers grain in the stack. Prairie fires were often a menace while the "big fire" of 1878 was the worst his recollection. LUTHER STONE, (Deceased.) No citizen that New England has given to the west possessed sterling qualities, energy and integrity, in a greater degree than he whose name heads this review. Mr, Stone was born at West Brookfield, Massasschusetts, on September 30, 1849, and he made that locality his home until 1886. His education was obtained at the Peter sham public schools, and a famous academy lo cated there at that time. His parents were Francis and Harriet (Blake) Stone, both des cendants of old colonial families. His great grandfather, Francis Stone was killed in the French and Indian war, while a paternal aunt, Lucy Stone, was one of the early advocates of woman's rights, and celebrated among America's famous women. As a young man, our subject was associated with his father on the latter 's farm, until it be came necessary for some person there to come to Plainview, Nebraska, and take charge of the inter ests of Elisha Webb, in the bank of Plain- view, Nebraska, and the integrity of Mr. Stone at once recommended him for the place. His business ability enabling him to weather the storms in the panic of 1893 without once refus ing to honor each check as it was presented, proves that the confidence of the eastern financiers was not misplaced. He continued his connection with this bank as cashier or president, (until 1896, when he became cashier of the Farmers' State bank, which has since been converted into the First National bank of Plainview, remaining in this position until his death, which occurred on October 21, 1898. While located at Plainview, Mr. Stone erect ed on a four-acre tract, (measured out of a corn field), in the northeast part of the town, what was then probably the largest and most elaborate private residence in the county. It had the first baywindow built in this part of the state. The population of Plainview at this time was less than three hundred, and Mrs. Stone has a vidid recollection of the early days here, remem bering distinctly the blizzard of 1888, and the terrific hailstorm of 1890. Coyotes were plenti ful on the prairies, and she raised one as a pet — the animal escaped once or twice, but always returned to its adopted home. Wild nature was too strong for it, however, and its depredations on sheep herds finally caused it to be killed. Mrs. Stone filed on a homestead claim in South Dakota during her early residence in the west, commuting on it after eight months at a good profit, as she found life on the homestead too lonely. Mr. Stone was married at Bellows Palls, Ver mont, September 29, 1880, to Miss Kate M. Rodgers, a native of Rutland, Mass. Her parents, Albert and Ameline (Blodgett) Rodgers, were also of old colonial families, the former being a de scendant of John Rodgers, one of the several brothers who came over in the Mayflower. Mr. and Mrs. Stone were the parents of six children, five of whom survive, as follows: Bertha, was teacher in Pierce and Knox counties, and later accepted a position as stenographer and book- keper in Scribuer; Clara B., wife of Alfred Ax- ford, a jeweler of Plainview, Lucy, wife of Jesse Broyles, they residing near Stanford, South Da kota ; Francis and Luther Bowman, both of Plain- view. Mr. Stone was a lifelong republican, and a mem ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen both himself and wife being for many years active members of the Baptist church of Plainview REV. WILLIAM H. UNDERWOOD. The gentleman above named is one of the es teemed and beloved men of Howard county, where he has spent the past five years engaged' in the ministry, and none deserves more praise for good COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY. REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1017 citizenship than he. He has helped in a large measure in promoting the general prosperity of the region, and his influence is felt far and wide for the good he has done, tie is now pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of St. Paul, i William H. Underwood was born in Hamil ton, Illinois, June 30, 1860, and is a son of Rev. William and Eliza (Hewitt) Underwood, who were well known early settlers of Illinois. He received his early education in the public schools of Illinois, and in 1877 and 1878 attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois, for two years. During 1879 and 1880 he taught school in his native state, and then started rail roading, following the work for about one year. He returned to school at Bloomington and after a year spent in study began teaching and con tinued about two years. He then took up three hundred acres of land in South Dakota and farmed there for three years, at the same time substituting for various pastors, and organized and helped to build up Sunday schools in that locality. In 1887 he took his first appointment at Castalia, South Dakota, having charge over eight preaching places in the county, and remained one year, then was trans ferred to Alpena, South Dakota. Mr. Underwood was married at Edgerton, South Dakota, on January 15, 1888, to Hannah Marie Johnson, of Yankton, South Dakota, and after two years spent in that vicinity, the young couple located in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Mr. Underwood entered the service of the B. and M. railway company and followed that work for two years. In the fall of 1891 he took up his ministerial duties at Springfield, Nebraska, mak ing that his home for five years, then was trans ferred to Pappillion, Nebraska, remaining one year, then located at Arlington and filled the pulpit there for one year. In May, 1898, at the begining of the Spanish- American war, he was the prime mover in or ganizing Company E, of the Third Nebraska Volunteer Regiment of Infantry, and was commis sioned first lieutenant, later being made chaplain of the regiment, and went to Cuba with the com pany. He was mustered out of service in May, 1899. The third Nebraska, which was com manded by William ' Jennings Bryan, was first en camped at Panama Park, Florida, from which place it was sent to Savannah, Georgia, and then put aboard the transport Michigan, December 31, 1898, and sent to Havana, Cuba, where they re mained three and one half months, then returned to Savannah, afterwards being sent to Augusta, Georgia, and there mustered out May 11, 1899. Since 1898, Mr. Underwood has devoted his entire attention to his pastoral duties, having various Nebraska charges. In 1905 he was ap pointed pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church in St. Paul, Nebraska, and has greatly increased the membership during that time. He 33 Mi' is a man of wide acquaintance, and is loved and looked up to by all. Mr. Underwood's father was a pioneer in the ministry, and he also has two brothers in the service, all being men of superior mental attain ments, broad-minded and charitable, and all have done the utmost in their different localities to better existing conditions and aid their fellow men. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, namely: Clinton B., who was a teacher in the St. Paul schools, and is now in the junior year at the Nebraska State University; Frances, who attended college at Wesleyan Uni versity, and is now a teacher in the Central City schools; Henrietta, Lawrence and Thelma, the three latter at home. ALEXANDER S. ADAMS. In Alexander S. Adams, of Elyria, Nebraska, we have one of the first settlers in Valley county, and a venerable citizen who is beloved and es teemed by all who know him. Mr. Adams resides in his pleasant home in town surrounded by a host of good friends, some of whom have known him through the years. Alexander S. Adams was born in Jefferson county, New York, September 18, 1832, and is the last of his own parent's family. He now has one half-brother and one sister-in-law residing in New York. Mr.' Adams resided in New York state until he reached the age of twenty years, when he went to California, going around Cape Horn, engaging in mining for about eight years, and while he made a goodly amount, living ex penses were high and he brought little back with him after the close of the war. In August of 1862 Mr. Adams enlisted in Com pany A, First California Volunteer Infantry, under General Carleton, receiving his discharge at Fort Union, New Mexico, September 4, 1864; during his enlistment Mr. Adams served on guard duty and Indian service throughout Texas and the Indian territory. After the war he returned to his old home in New York, engaging in farming until his migration to the west. On October 9, 1864, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Carthima Nay, who was born in New York, of Irish descent. In the spring of 1873, he came, with his wife and three children, to Valley county, Nebraska, homesteading land on Turtle creek," in section thirty-four, township twenty, range fifteen, which remained the home place until October of 1909, when he retired from the farm, and moved to Elyria, purchasing a good home, where he now lives. . He has served as county commissioner three years ; school director of district number two over twenty years, which district he was instrumental in organizing, and which was the first district to boast of a "frame 1018 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. school house. He has also served as township treasurer of Elyria township. Mrs. Adams died, Octover 28, 1901, on the old home farm, deeply mourned by many friends and her surviving husband and two children. They were the parents of three children, named as fol lows : Eliza J., wife of Eli Morris, has* ten chil dren, and lives in Valley county; John O, who is married, and resides in Oklahoma, has six children; Hattie A., who died in 1897, is survived by her husband, Harry Miller, and two children. Mr. Adams, in his first Nebraska years, worked at Fort Hartsuf, the United States post, which was situated on the other side of the river, he having to wade the river to and from work. The first five years in Nebraska, Mr. Adams lived in a log dugout. When a frame house was to be built, he hauled the logs for the rough timber to a mill on Jones' canyon, forty miles away, and then hauled the lumber back again over the same road. The finishing lumber was sawed from pine trees, hauled from many miles to the west. Such were some of the difficulties encountered and overcome by the early pioneers. Mr. Adams has passed , through all Nebraska's history, and, dur ing his residence here, has gained the friendship and esteem of all. WILLIAM BATES. William Bates was born in England, March 4, 1848, and was the youngest of sixteen children in the family of Edward and Mary Bates, coming to the United States, landing in Portland, Maine, about February 5, 1867. Mr. Bates received his early education in England, and lived in France for a year prior to his arrival in the United States, after w-hich he first went to work on a farm in Champaign county, Illinois, and in the summer of 1 870, came to Nebraska, but in the fall of that year, .returned to Illinois. In the summer of 1871, Mr. Bates came back to Nebraska, making permanent location in Mad ison county, where he took up a homestead on the south half of the northeast quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section fifteen, township twenty-two, range four, in Emer- ick township, which was his home until June, 1877. In the fall of that year, he went to Battle Creek, Madison county, doing general work until accepting a clerkship in a drug store. In the winter of 1879, upon the advent of the railroad, Mr. Bates started in business for himself, his original capital being about fifty-seven dollars, and continued in the general mercantile business, with increasing stock and business, until 1890, at that time going into real estate, loans and insurance. Mr. Bates was village clerk of Battle Creek four consecutive years, and also occupieidi the office of village treasurer for two years. In the fall of 1897, he was nominated for county judge of Madison county, on the fusion ticket, and has remained in that office until the present date, being elected and re-elected seven successive terms in a republican county, Mr'. Bates having democratic leanings. Mr. Bates is actively iden tified at all times with the political, educational, moral and social life of this portion of Nebraska. On October 20, 1885, Mr. Bates was married to Miss Mary B. Kost, of Battle Creek, at the home of her father, Adam Kost, an old-time pio neer of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have had seven children, five of whom are living: Herbert, employed in the chief dispatcher's office of the Union Pacific railroad at Omaha, and John P., Lawrence A., Charles V. and George Washing ton, residing under the parental roof, and attend ing school. * Judge Bates is a popular official of Madison county, and is the only member of his immediate family that came to America, so far as he knows. HON. SAMUEL L. CANNON. Samuel I/. Cannon, a veteran of the civil war, and one of the very early settlers of Nebraska, has been instrumental in many ways in further ing the interests ' of the state, where he passed through the trying experiences and discourage ments of early frontier life. He never lost faith in the future of the region where he had located, and time has justified his judgment. Mr. Cannon is a native of Jackson county, Missouri, born November 9, 1847, a son of Joseph T. and Phebe (Jordan) Cannon, and was the next to the eldest of their four children. His father was born in Ohio, of Scotch and Irish extraction, and his mother was born in Virginia, of German descent. He died in Cass county, Nebraska, in July, 1883, and his wife in 1871. Joseph T. Cannon served as a member of the first state legislature of Nebraska, being a member of that body during 1869, 1870 and 1871. He had settled in Otoe county, July 5, 1855. He was a minister -of the Methodist church, and was prominent in religious work in Nebraska, after locating there. Samuel L. Cannon has one living brother, William T., of Broken Bow, but the other two children are deceased. In early childhood, Mr. Cannon came with his parents to Nebraska, where he has since resided, except for a short time spent in Colorado when he was a small child. In 1859, the family removed to Colorado, as the father had been appointed by the Kansas-Nebraska conference to open the field in the former state for the Methodist faith. However, his health failed, and he soon after ward returned to Nebraska, and took up his resi dence in Cass county, where he had purchased a farm some time prior. There the subject of this sketch reached manhood, receiving his education in subscription schools, as at that time there had been no public school system established. In COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1019 1863; he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cass county, and began to operate this farm, which was located, near Union. Tn the winter of 1869 and 1870, he moved to Lincoln, where for about five years he was connected with the United States land office. On December 9, 1862, Mr. Cannon enlisted in Company H, Second Nebraska Cavalry, and received his discharge at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, in December, 1863. He took part in several en gagements with the Indians of northern Dakota, where many settlers had been massacred, and crops and homes devastated, about 1863. During much of this time he was on scout duty, and he well remembers seeing wild black bears in the streets of Nebraska City. On February 8, 1872, Mr. Cannon was married in Lincoln to Charlotte Young, a native of Mills county, Iowa, who came to Nebraska with her parents in 1857. In the spring of 1875, he re turned, with his wife and two children, to Cass county and located on the farm, and they lived there several years. They spent the winter of 1883 and 1884 in California, and in the following June secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and a tree claim of the same size adjoining, on section thirty-one, township seventeen, range eighteen, which was their home until 1905, when Mr. Cannon retired from farm life, and located in Broken Bow, although he retains the ownership of his farm land. He has erected a modern home, and is one of the most prominent men in the city. In the fall of 1884, he was elected county supervisor, and served in that capacity several years, and in 1887 was elected to the state legislature, serving one term. He is now a member of the city council. In the early day he was instrumental in organizing a school district in his neighborhood, which was given the number fifty-one, and for many years a member of the board. He has a valuable farm and other desirable property, and is highly re spected for his abality and true worth. Five children were born to Mr. Cannon and wife, namely: Mabel, wife of F. J. Stewart, of Broken Bow ; C. Elmer, of Custer county, a sketch of whom appears in this work; Ralph C, also living in Custer county, a sketch of whom appears in this work; Cleon, of Broken Bow ; and Joseph P.,' at home. Elmer has two children, and Ralph has three. Mr. Cannon is a member of C. C. Washburn post, number ninety- eight, Grand Army of the Republic. GEORGE AND BEN BAYHA. Among the prominent old citizens of Nio- brora, whose careers date back prior to the memorable flood of 1881, are the brothers above named, who have been associated through adver sity and success during the greater part of their lives. They first landed in Niobrara in 1878, when it consisted of but twelve to fifteen build ings, most of these log huts and shanties of the rudest construction, and they immediately secured all the work they could do in their line, which was that of builders. After the flood, they helped move the buildings to the new townsite, and from then on, have erected the greater part of the residences and stores that have gone up in Nio brara. Both brothers were born in Wheeling, West Virginia, George in 1849, and Ben in 1851, and they grew 'to manhood in that city. They learned the carpenter 's trade there, arid in 1870 migrated west, spending three years in Avoca, Iowa, and later living" in other parts of Iowa. There they experienced the grasshopper raids, and Ben re lates a tale of wading for half a mile through a veritable carpet of pests, the ground being so thickly covered with them that it was almost im possible to travel with any degree of speed. They saw a passenger train delayed for over an hour by their settling on the tracks so thickly that they acted like grease between the wheels and rails, and it was only after sanding the tracks and sweeping them off that the locomotive was finally gotten under way and pulled out. George Bayha left Avoca three years previous to Ben, and located at Dakota City, Nebraska, where he remained until joined by Ben. On leaving Dakota City, the brothers em barked at the old city of Covington, on the steamboat "Niobrara," as it left for its first trip of the season. The ice was so thick in the stream that the time consumed in making the journey from that point to Niobrara was seven days, which was a rather expensive venture for the management, who were required to feed the passengers during that time. After settling here, Messrs. Bayha had purchased a shop and dwell ing, which they moved in 1881 to a block of lots which they also bought, in the western part of the new townsite. In their shop they had built a number of flatboats for use in the flood, which had been expected, and when the ice jam up the river broke and let the wall of water and floating ice rush down upon, the town, these boats were taken out, and, by their- use, many of the unfor tunate settlers, whose homes stood on the low grounds, were rescued. At the time of the Bayha-brothers' coming to Niobrara, the country was open to all the west, and Texas steers to the number of seven to eight thousand were at times driven through the local ity and across the river to supply beef to the Indians on the nearby reservations. When Val entine was being built up, the brothers had a con tract for one of the large business blocks, and during the five or six weeks they were working there, saw considearble of cowboy life, witness ing all sorts of carousing, drinking and "shooting up" of the town, and at times it was unsafe to be seen outside when the roysterers were at the 1020 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". floodtide of their hilarity. They also witnessed hail and sand storms, prairie fires and blizzards, and feel that they have passed through every phase of pioneer life in the west. In 1890, George Bayha was elected county treasurer, and Ben became his deputy, both^ serv ing for four years. The latter was appointed agent to the Ponca Indians, and served in that capacity for nine years. On completing his term, he returned to Niobrara for residence, where he has since remained. He was married, in 1894, to Hannah J. J. Cooley, and they have one daugh ter, Louisa R., who will graduate from the high school in 1912. They are members of the Episco pal church, and are popular in social circles of their city. In politcs, the Bayha brothers are democrats. Both are Odd Fellows, and George is a member of the Masonic fraternity. At the present time he is serving as assessor of Knox county. Ben Bayha has held the office of justice of the peace since 1906, and has also been United States commissioner for about two years. FREDERICK K. SPIRES. Among the early settlers of Merrick county, Nebraska, who have been identified with the growth of the financial and social interests of that region, a prominent place is given the gen tleman whose name appears at the head of this review. He has always been found ready to further the interests of the community where he chose his home, and has gained a wide and enviable reputation as a worthy citizen and sub stantial stock man of this section. Frederick K. Spires, son of George and Mary (Kingerley) Spires, was born in Wisbech, Cam bridgeshire, England, April 17, 1862, and was third in a family of five children. He has one sister, Mrs. C. S. Purdy, residing in Clarks, Ne braska; one brother and one sister in England, and another sister, who is deceased. The parents are both living in the old home in England. Mr. Spires received his education in the home schools, and later engaged in railroading. On February 11, 1881, Mr. Spires was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Pentelow, at the home of her parents. In September, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Spires came to America, locating in Auburn, New York, for seven months, then came to Merrick county, Ne braska, engaging in stock business, also farming, and here he has bred thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle exclusively for twenty years. His ranch is known as ' ' Cedar Stock Farm. ' ' In 1907, Mr. Spires moved to Clarks, where he purchased three hundred acres adjoining the city limits, and built a good home, where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Spires have had six children: Richard, deceased, August 2, 1896; George Fred erick, Robert, Joseph, Ada and Clyde Harvey, all of whom reside under the^parental roof. Mr, and Mrs. Spires are among the early settlers of the county. Mr. Spires is a prosperous man of affairs, progressive, and interested in all pertain ing to the interest and welfare of his state and county. He has traveled widely; is a charter member of the local order, Platte Valley, number two hundred and seventy-seven, of Odd Fellows. He is also a charter member of local lodge num ber twelve hundred and twenty, Modern Wood men of America, and also a charter member of Royal Highlanders'. Mrs. Spires' parents live in England, as do also one brother and two sisters. She has one sister residing in Brown county, Nebraska. CHARLES RUDEN. Another of the worthy sons of the Northland, now residing in Nebraska, is Charles Ruden, the popular postmaster of Crofton. He is a native of Knox county, born March 16, 1871. He atten- ed the country schools until old enough to begin in the Hartington schools, which he attended three years, from 1889 to 1891. He was employed in the Union Pacific railway headquarters for two years, in Omaha, and for two years was engaged in the lumber business in Bloomfield. He. then spent one year at Allen, Nebraska, and two years on the road, collecting for the Edwards and Brad ford Lumber Company. Four years were then spent in the implement business at Bloomfield. From the fall of 1900 to 1901, he engaged in farm ing, at which time he was elected county clerk, holding the position six years. During the latter part of his term, he was employed as cashier of the Farmers' State Bank of Crofton. On May 5, 1908, he was appointed- postmaster of Crofton, a position he has been filling to the satisfaction of the community he serves. Mr. Ruden is a son of Ole and Christine Ruden, natives of Sweden. The father came to America in 1867. He lived for two years in Carroll county, IUi nois, and then settled on a homestead of one hun dred and sixty acres, four miles west of where Crof ton now stands. To this he added until he was the owner of four hundred acres of fine Knox county land. He died in the fall of 1902, at the age of sixty-eight. Charles Ruden 's mother is still liv ing, and resides with him and his sister, Mrs. Bleick, who lives at Bloomfield. Charles Ruden was married, May 5, 1897, to Miss Anna Buhrow, a native of Knox county, and daughter of John Buhrow, one of the earliest pio neers of Knox county, of whom we have written more at length elsewhere in this work. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruden: Dewey, Ralph, who met accidental death on the farm; Walter, and Daniel. Mr. Ruden is a staunch republican, and a prominent member of the blue lodge of the Masonic order at Crofton, of the chapter and commandery at Bloomfield, and the Temple of the Mystc Shrine at Omaha. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1021 In the blizzard of October, 1880, Mr. Ruden was at school. His father came for him, and so severe was the storm, they were nearly lost. He and his sister were attending school in Harting ton on January 12, 1888, and again had difficulty in finding their way home. Mr. Ruden has had a taste of pioneer life, a time when the country was open to the mountains of the west. For two years the family lived in a dugout, as did most of the families in those days, and a snug and comfortable dwelling it proved to be. NIELS CHRISTENSEN. Niels Christensen, whose signal success as a farmer in Loup Fork precinct, Howard county, attest both the soundness of his principles and his industrious habits, is one of the sturdy Danes who left their native land to come to this country and carve out for themselves a home and compe tence, and, although passing through all the var ied experiences of the early settler in Nebraska, he has become well-to-do, and also gained the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark on August 15, 1848, and is a son of Christian and Kara Marie Larson, the sixth member in a family of eight children. He grew up there, remaining at home with his parents until he was twenty- four years of age, then came to America, his first stopping place being Chicago, Illinois, where he spent about two years. In April, 1874, he arrived in Howard county, and took up homestead rights on section twenty-four, township thirteen, range twelve, which has been his home ever since. Here he has a fine estate of two hundred and fifty acres, improved with good buildings of all kinds, and engages extensively in the stock and grain raising business. Mr. Christensen was married in Howard coun ty, Maj 21, 1880, to Mary Petersen, a native of Denmark also, who came to America in the same year as our subject. They have a famliy of thir teen children, all living except one son, Christen. The others are named as follows: Theodore, Jens Peter, Mary, Anna, Petrrea, Elmer, Otto, Peter, Christina, Eleonora, Thorwald and Carl. Mary and Anna are married, and, with their families, reside in Howard county. In the past years our subject has 'been a mem ber of the school board in distirct number twenty- eight, and has done much to promote the best interests of his locality. He is now prosperous and successful, and is widely known as a pioneer settler, of Howard county, having raised a fine family, and all are highly respected by their associates. MARTIN CASEY. Martin Casey, for many years a resident of section eighteen, township twenty-two, range three, Madison county, Nebraska, is a prosperous agriculturist, and commands the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a gen tleman of untiring energy, and is possessed of sterling characteristics, and has prospered re markably well in his chosen calling. Mr. Casey was born in Will county, Illinois, in the year 1860, a son of John and Ellen (Green) Casey, both natives of Ireland, who came to America at a very early date in a sailboat, and were on sea six weeks, finally settling in Illinois, where our subject was born, living there some few years. In 1879, our subject, with his parents, came to Madison county, Nebraska, where the father took up the homestead on which our subject now lives. Here he built a sod house, in which they lived many years, and during the first few years of residence on the western frontier, the family endured many hardships and privations, owing to the different causes of loss of crops by grass hoppers, storms, prairie fires, etc., and in the year 1894, the entire season's crops were burned almost to a crisp by the hot winds that were a result of the severe drouth of that year. Our subject and family were compellel to burn weeds and corn stalks for fuel many times, as wood and coal were almost an unheard of commodity. But those days have long since passed into history, and Mr. Casey is now well repaid for his endurance and industry, now owning three hun dred and twenty acres of fine land, which has been steadily improved since being homesteaded. Mr. Casey, since his advent to this portion of the country, has proven himself a progressive and worthy citizen, and as such he is widely known. He has always taken an interest in the growth and best interests of his home county and state, and commands the respect and esteem of all. JULES HAUMONT. Jules Haumont, the present postmaster of Broken Bow, is one of the old settlers of Custer county, and has passed through the various ex periences and trials incident to life in a new country, from the time he erected a sod shanty on his homestead to the present time, when he is owner of a fine, modern residence in the city. He has been identified with many different interests, and is a self-made man, well known in financial circles as a man of proven integrity and business ability. He is a native of Belgium, born Novem ber 3, 1856, the eldest child of Joseph and Marian (Howlet) Haumont, who had three sons and three daughters. The parents were also natives of that country, where their deaths occurred, the father passing away in Ja|^uary, 1872, and the mother in October, 1898, The son, Edmond, came to Amrica 1022 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in the spring of 1877, and joined his brother, Jules, at Wood River, Nebraska, and they came on to Custer county with a team and covered wagon. Another son, Louis Haumont, came to America in 1883, joining his brothers in Custer county, where he also became a homesteader. Jules Llaumont received his education in his native country, and remained with his parents until July 7, 1875, when he sailed for America, landing in Philadelphia, July 25, 1875, and pro ceeding from there to Carroll, Iowa, where he found employment on the Northwestern railroad. Later he went to Moingona, Iowa, and worked in the coal mines. In the spring of 1879, in company with Joe and Mary Severyns (sister and brother), Mr. Haumont came by team to Hall county, Ne braska, stopping in the Wood river district, and in the fall of the year, he came on to Custer county, and secured a homestead on the north west quarter of section thirty-four, township eighteen, range nineteen, in September of that year. He was one of the original homesteaders on the tableland in Clear creek valley, and was at that time the only settler in that part of the county, with the exception of a few who had located in Round valley. He lived on that place until the spring of 1904, developing it into a high state of productiveness. In the fall of 1903, Mr. Haumont was elected county assessor for a term of four years, and after serving his term, entered the Security State Bank of Broken Bow, of which he has been vice president since its organization. In June, 1908, he received the appointment of postmaster of Broken Bow, and left his work in the bank to assume his new duties. He assisted in organizing Berwyn State Bank in 1907, and was its first president, but resigned this office upon his pres ent appointment. He is a republican in political views, and has in former years served on the county board and in various township offices. He has been deeply interested in educational mat ters, and for the past six years has been a mem ber of the school board of the city, being its vice president at the present time. When Mr. Haumont first came to the county, Grand Islarid was his nearest trading point, and he relates how he and his brother, after building up their ' ' soddy, ' ' prepared to put up their cook stove, which they had brought with them, had to put up a sod foundation about five feet high to bring the stove high enough so their pipe would reach through the roof, as pipe was then so high they had purchased but a few lengths. He has passed through many interesting experiences during his residence in Nebraska, and has always made the best of conditions, and adapted himself to circumstances in a manner to insure his ulti mate success. Mr. Haumont was married in Broken Bow, May 16, 1889, to Mary Frischkorn, the ceremony being performed by the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is a daughter of Adam and Christina Frischkorn, natives- of Germany, but early settlers of Custer county. Mrs. Hau mont was born in Pennsylvania. The church known as Wesley Chapel, near Weissert post- office, was the first building in Custer county used exclusively for religious purposes, being a sod edifice, but much admired in early days by those who had built it. Mrs. Haumont was one of those who helped in the organization of the church society, and she and her husband have always been prominent in religious, educational and social circles. They have four children : , Chris tina Julia, wife of Edwin Myers, of Broken Bow ; Mamie Ellen, Frank Joseph, and Edith Lucille, at home. The children were all born on the homestead farm. FRED HILMER. Fred Hilmer, a large land-owner of Howard cnunty, Nebraska, has contributed in a large measure to the success of the farming region in that county, and is widely known and universally respected as an up-to-date agriculturist and worthy citizen. He is a man of large experience, and is possessed of good business judgment and integrity, which traits have placed him among the leaders of his precinct. Mr. Hilmer was born in Germany, on August 9, 1859, and was the youngest member in the family of Henry and Dorita Hilmer, consisting of three boys and two girls. In company with his father, mother, one brother and two sisters, Fred came to America, landing in New York City in June, 1871. They went directly to Wisconsin, settling in Madison, where the two brothers of Mr. Hilmer had located previously, William hav ing come to this country in the spring of 1868, and Henry the fall following. The former eame to Howard county five years later, and filed on a homestead on section thirty-four, township four teen, range twelve, the balance of the family, excepting the mother, who died in Wisconsin in 1870, joining him after a short time, our subject arriving here in the winter of 1874. The father also homesteaded on section six, and remained on that land up to the time of his death, in 1887, it now serving as the home place. After the father's death, the management was assumed by Fred, he operating in all, eleven hundred and twenty acres, the home place being known throughout the country as the Deer Creek Stock Farm, and is one of the valuable estates in How ard county. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Sherman county, and owns a large herd of stock, raising both cattle and hogs for the market, and buying and shipping. All of his property has been accumulated through good management and strict attention to his work, as when the family first landed here they were possessed of small means, and actually became MR. AND MRS. FRED HILMER. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY', REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1023 successful by hard and faithful labor, taking advantage of every opportunity afforded the settler for gaining a competence. On May 14, 1882, Mr. Hilmer was married here, in Howard county to Miss Lena Balliet, she also coming from one of Howard county's pio neer families. Peter Balliet, the father of Mrs. Hilmer, died in 1897, and her mother is still living, making her home in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer have a family of seven children, all living at home, and comprising a. very interesting fam ily group. They are named as follows: Henry, William, Fredie, Alice, Elmer, Lizzie and Eddie. On another page, will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hilmer. Mir. Hilmer has been a member of the school board of district number twenty-five for a great number of years. In May, 1907, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as county commissioner, and in the fall of that year, was elected for the ensuing term. In the fall of 1910, he was, without oppo sition, re-elected, holding that position at the present time (1911). He has never sought public office, and in this instance was put in the position almost against his will, although the county has never had a more faithful or efficient man to fill the office. GEORGE FRIEDERICH. Among the prosperous farmers and early settlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, the subject of this review. George Friederich, occupies a,bigh position. He resides in Willow precinct, where he has a fine farm and comfortable home, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He has spent much of his life in this region, in fact, some thirty years, where he has devoted his energies to the interest and welfare of his locality. - Mr. Friederich was born, November 8, 1861, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and is the son of Theodor and Katherine Elizabeth (Pilger) Friederich. The father of our subject was a native of the province of Nassau, Germany, coming to Amer ica from Baden in the early forties, taking pass age on a sailboat from Hamburg, the voyage lasting some eight weeks. He was a carpenter by occupation, and worked at the trade in New York two or three years before migrating to Wisconsin, where he continued in that vocation, and later farmed for six or seven years. He died at the age of eighty-three years, and the mother died at the age of fifty-nine years. Our subject came from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to Pierce county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1880, driving from Norfolk to his homestead, on which he built a shack, eight by ten feet. Later he took up a tree claim, and he has added to his land until he now has six hundred and forty acres — three quarters in section twenty-two, and one quarter in section twenty-four. Mr. Friederich was united in marriage in 1886 to Miss Martha Klitzke, and to this union eight children have been born : Adolph, Louise, Herbert, Fedora, Elsa, Ada, George and Joseph ine. Mrs. Friederich 's father and mother, William and Amelia (Mix) Klitzke, homesteaded in 1874, in section twenty-two, township twenty- six, range four, driving from Wisner to the claim. Mr. Friederich experienced the hardships and inconveniences common in the early ,days. He burned hay for fuel two or three years, as well as corn when that product was cheap and coal was high. Deer and .antelope were plentiful on the prairies, and were to be seen herding with the cattle at times. Mr. Friederich is a prosperous farmer, arid has a well-improved farm. In 1890 he built a com modious house of nine rooms. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood men of America, and votes the republican ticket. SOREN NIELSEN. A prominent place among the list of prosper ous and energetic farmers of Howard county is accorded the gentleman above, who for many years has been closely identified with the agricul tural interests of Loup Pork precinct, and there conducts a farm. Soren Nielsen is a native of Denmark, born July 5, 1850, and is a son of Niels and Stenie Sorensen, being the eldest of four children born to them. r At the age of twenty-two years, our subject started alone for the new world to make his for tune, arriving here in May, and going first to Wisconsin, where he spent about a year and a half, then coming to Howard county, Nebraska. He immediately filed on pre-emption rights in section two, township thirteen, range twelve, afterwards taking the same land as a homestead of eighty acres. He still lives on the' original claim, which he has built up in good shape, adding to it eighty acres, and now has a fine farm and home, engaging in mixed farming and stock- raising. Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage at Grand island, Nebraska, on August 22, 1876, to Hannah Svirgaarg, and to them have been born six chil dren, named as follows : Stenie, who married Walter Erickson, parents of two children, and living in Elba ; Annie, wife of Ivor Lyehn, having two children, residing in Howard county; Jens, married, having two children, and living in South Dakota; Niels, at home; Hans, now in Kearney, Nebraska; and Mary, living at home. Mrs. Nielsen died on the home farm, February 20, 1889. Mr. Nielsen has been a member of the school board of district number sixty-two for a number of years. He has always been active in the gen eral affairs of his county and state, and stands for the best interests of the people of his region. 1024 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. DANIEL BENSON. (Deceased.) Daniel Benson, deceased, was for many years one of the most prominent and prosperous farm ers in Nebraska. He was one of the early settlers of the state, and his fine farm in Greeley county is evidence of his untiring perseverance, industry and good management. He was one of the best- known men in this section of the state, and com manded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr: Benson was born in Oneida county, New York, on October 31, 1849. He was the second in a family of six children born to Daniel G. and in Illinois in 1861, where he received the usual educational advantages. The civil war was rag ing at this time, however, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his dis charge at Rockford in 1865. He was in many minor engagements, some of them being mere skirmishes. However, during the battle of Chickamauga, he was wounded and taken pris oner. Later on, he was able to take part in the battle of Lookout Mountain. After the war was over, he returned to the Illinois home, and on December 26, the same year, was married to Miss Mary Louisa Shatswell, a native of that state. In 1869, Mr. Benson, with his wife and two little daughters, came to Platte county, Nebraska, where he pre-empted a quarter section near Genoa. The family resided here for about four years, and in 1873, moved to Greeley county, where he homesteaded another quarter section, which remained his home until the time of his death, February 2, 1899. He was survived by his wife and seven children: Minerva (Mrs. J. A. Jeffres), Kate (Mrs. Geo. Jeffres), Ida M. (Mrs. H. S. Conway), Roy E. and Leslie J., who are twins; William W., and Cornelius. Mr. Benson was a man of broad mind, and had a host of friends who mourned his death. He was treas urer of his school district for several years, and was a man of progressive, active public spirit. After Mr. Benson's death, Mrs. Benson left the farm, and moved to North Loup, where she purchased a good home, in which she is still liv ing, surrounded by a loving family and devoted friends. She herself comes from a patriotic family, as her father and three brothers served all through the civil war in the Fifteenth IUinois Infantry. Two of the brothers and her ' father spent about nine months in the infamous Ander sonville prison. Her family history can easily be traced ,back to 1633, when John and Johanna Shatswell came from England, and settled in Massachusetts. The land upon which they settled first when coming to this country, has never been out of the possession of the family, one of their number being the present owner. Mrs. Benson has in her possession a copy of the original coat of arms of the Shatswell family of England. Mrs. Benson can tell many anecdotes of the early settlement of this region, and boasts that her homestead was the scene of the first wedding in Greeley county, in 1874, the coritracting parties being Aaron Bradt and Clara Harlow. Another story sometimes told refers to a terrific storm during the seventies, when little Ida, one of the children, was blown away. Six hours later the child was found unconscious, but, luckily, she suffered no serious or permanent injury. ISAAC W. KING. Isaac W. King, son of Isaac W. and Amanda (Gifford) King, was bom in Saratoga county, New York state, January 17, 1840. He was sec ond in a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living: 'Two sisters in the state of Washing ton, one in Oregon, one in Nebraska, and two brothers reside in Newman Grove, Nebraska, one in Black Hills, Dakota, and another in Canada. The father died, January 28, 1897, and the mother lives in Oregon at the advanced age of eighty- nine years. In-1844, Mr. King went with his parents to Wisconsin, from whence, three years later, the family went to Iowa, and in 1860 again moved, this time to Minnesota, engaging in farming, returning in a couple of years to Iowa. In October of the year 1861, Mr. King enlisted in Company C, of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. In January, 1863, he re-enlisted in the same regiment and company, serving all during the war, and received his honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in January of 1866. The important battles he engaged in were: Fort Henry, Port Donald son ; Shiloh, wounded here, and held prisoner for forty-one days; Jackson, Mississippi; Vicksburg, a siege of forty days; second battle at Jackson; Brandon, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; Selma, Alabama; Corinth, Mississippi; Holly Spring, Mississippi; Red River, and many other minor engagements and skirmishes. After |the war, Mr. King returned to Iowa, and on July 22, 1866, was married to Miss Mary C. Russel, of Iowa, to whom two children were born: William IL, who is married, and has two children, and lives in Madison county, one and a half miles west of Newman Grove; and'Nellie M., married to Albert Patrick and lives in Kearney, Nebraska. • In the fall of 1869, the family came to Ne braska, locating in Stanton county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres, where they lived nine years. Mrs. King died, January 17, 1874, survived by her husband and two children. In 1878, Mr. King sold the homestead, and moved to Madison county, where he purchased four hundred acres of land, nine iniles northeast of Newman Grove, and took up a timber claim o/ one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty four, township twenty-two, range three. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1025 On October 10, 1875, Mr. King was again married, this time to Mrs. Mary E. Keeney, of Wisconsin. In 1898, Mr. King retired from the farm, and moved to Newman Grove, where he built a good home. Here he lived until March 1, 1911, when he moved to Madison, where he still resides. While living in Stanton county, Mr. King served two years, 1870 and 1871, as sheriff of his county, which office he filled faithfully and well. He has also been director and treasurer of school district number seventy-four, and has served on the board many years. Mr. and Mrs. King have had four children horn to them, whose names are: Ruth A., mar ried to George Webb, has six children, and lives in Madison county; Naomi, married Henry Shaf fer, has one child, and lives in Lee, Nebraska; John W., who is married, has three children, arid lives in Madison county ; and one infant, deceased. Mrs. King's maiden name was Mary E. Hall, and she had two children by her former marriage : Alice, now Mrs. Osburn, has four children, and lives in Madison county ; and Mary E., who mar ried Mr. Horricks, is deceased, leaving one child. Mr. King is one of the well-known men of Madison county. He has been prosperous and successful, and respected and highly esteemed by all. ROBERT LEDWICH. Robert Ledwich a well-known and representa tive citizen of Custer county, Nebraska is one of the early settlers of his region and has passed through the various periods of its history. He is a native of Vermont, born October 14, 1843, seventh of the eleven children born to Robert and Bridget (Douth) Ledwich. Some of the children are de ceased ; James is mayor of the city of Broken Bow ; Joseph lives at North Yakima, Washington; two daughters, Mary and Julia, live at Des Moines, Iowa; Catherine, another' daughter lives at Du buque, Iowa. The father of these children was born in Ireland, came to America in 1832, locating first in lower Canada, and later moved to Vermont. His death occurred at Des Moines, in 1870. The mother, also a native of Ireland, died at the same place as her husband, her death, occurring in 1884. In early childhood Mr. Ledwich accompanied his parents to Essex county, New York, and there grew to maturity. He received his education in the public schools and soon after leaving school enlisted for service in the civil war. In April, 1861, he be came private in Company I, Twenty-second New York Infantry but as he had enlisted without his ra-cnt's consent and they strongly disapproved of his action, he was dismissed from the service, being then in his eighteenth year. In September, 1864, he again enlisted, this time in Company A, Second No™ York Cavalry, served until the clo?e rf the war. and received his discharge at Mobile, Alabama, in August, 1865. He had taken part in many im portant engagements, had participated in the Red River campaign with General Banks, and fought at Port Blakesly. At the close of the war Mr. Ledwich returned home and remained in New York until 1868, when he purchased land in i Iowa and there engaged in farming. In 1871 he went to Minnesota and he re mained in that state until 1876, when he and his brother William went prospecting in the Black Hills, spending six years there in the interests of the Home Stake Company. In 1881 he located 'in Des Moines and three years later came to Nebraska and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land. After living on this land several years he secured a homestead iri Broken Bow township, also a timber claim of the same size and adjoining. He was married at Broken Bow, November 24, 1886, to Miss Emma King, a native of Lewis county, New York, who came to Custer county with her parents in 1884. The young couple began housekeeping on the homestead and for about seventeen years lived in the little sod house. Mr. Ledwich made various improvements and developed his farm in various ways, being an enterprising and successful farmer and stock raiser. iSince 1904 Mr. Ledwich has lived in Broken Bow, having retired from farm life in that year. He purchased nine acres of land there, on which he has erected a pleasant and comfortable house, where he and his wife enjoy a peaceful and quiet life. Both have always been much interested in public movements helping along the prosperity and pro gress of their community and are highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Ledwich helped alonf various local measures and served a number of years as treasurer of school district number one hundred and twenty-one. RICHARD H. TRENHAILE. Richard H. Trenhaile while of American birth, is of English parentage. The father, George Tren haile, was born in Cornwall, and there married Miss Mary Stevens, a native of the same place. He was engaged much of the time in farming, but occa sionally worked 'at mining in the tin, copper and zinc mines of that part of the kingdom, until his emigration to the states about the year 1847. Sail ing from Falmouth in the full rigged ship "Roslyn Castle," after a voyage of six or seven weeks, they landed in Quebec. Trans-shipping here the travel ers proceeded 'by the St. Lawrence river, the Wel- land canal and the Great Lakes, to Milwaukee, whence they drove across country in wagons to Iowa county, Wisconsin, and settled near Dodge- ville. Here Mr. Trenhaile engaged in farming as a principal vocation, working in the mines of that region when not busy on his farm. He moved tb Nebraska in the fall of 1874, where he and his good wife died within a day of each other, aud were in terred the same day. The records of the family having been lost there is some uncertainty as to their ages; en their headstones is carved what is 1026 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. presumed to be correct ; on the father's "Died Jan uary 7, 1878, age sixty-two years ;" on the mother's "Died January 6. 1878, aged fifty-five years." Mr. Trenhaile, Senior, followed the rush into California gold fields in 1864. Here he had an unusual experience;, falling into a shaft sixty feet deep he lay unconscious for a time; climbed to the top by bracing his hands and feet on the sides and then waited for some one to assist him over the edge.- Richard II. Trenhaile, thirteenth in a family of seven sons and seven daughters, ten of whom at tained maturity, and nine pf whom married and reared families, was born near Ridgeway, Wiscon sin, July 24, 1857, and grew up on the farm. He was seventeen years of age when the family moved to Nebraska, and he lived on the home farm in Saunders county until a year after his parents' death. He then moved to a farm eight miles from Fremont where he lived for four years, migrating thence to Hand "ounty, South Dakota, in March 1885, and buying a relinquishment to a quarter sec tion of fine farmino- land. In the fall of 1891, Mr. Trenhaile sold his Dakota land and in September moved to Knox county, Nebraska. For two years he rented his brother's farm five miles north of Bloomfield, and in March of 1894 moved to a quar ter section he had purchased three miles further from town, where he lived eleven years. In 1905 he retired from active farm management, purchas ing a fine tract of ten acres west of the corporation line of Bloomfield and built a fine two-story, seven- room dwellirig on an elevated site, one of the finest appearing homes in town. Mr. Trenhaile was married in Wahoo, Nebraska, February 24,. 1880, to Moss Irene Ellen Wallace, who was born near Lone Rock, Sauk county, Wis consin, and was fifth in a family of seven children. Her parents, Phillip and Almeda (Sherman) Wal lace, were natives of Canada and New York respec tively. They were married in Ohio moved to Wis consin about 1854, and to Iowa in 1867, and the father settled in Dodge county, Nebraska, in 1875. The father was born May 1, 1825, and died in Ne braska, January '15, 1883; and the mother died in 1868, while the family was living in Marion county, Iowa. She was thirty-seven years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Trenhaile three children were born: Amos Richard, who runs the home farm, is married to Sadie M. Jaycox and has two children, Harold and Erma ; Ruth is the wife of Delbert Jaycox, living on a farm fourteen miles northwest of Bloomfield, and they have three children, Alice and Ralph, and Nellie Irene is their youngest child. Mr. Trenhaile is independent in politics with democratic leanings. All in the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal 'church. Mr. Trenhaile was fortunate in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, happening to be at the house when the storm struck. He had brought home a load of coal the day before, leaving the sled load near the kitchen door where it was convenient for use during the succeeding frigid days that followed.The Dakota plains were swept by the freezing winds for several days, and a boy whom they knew in the neighborhood was anion p- the unfortunates who perished. Hailstorms -have usually passed Mr. Trenhaile *s farm, only one causing him especially severe damage, forty acres 'of wheat and corn and five of barley being destroyed one season; the wheat was ready for the sickle, and the corn well up and growing nicely ; but there was nothing left - when the storm was gone. There were deer and antelope still in Saunders county when the family moved into that state. Mrs. Trenhaile 's father and brother killed one soon after settling in the west and Mrs. Trenhaile has seen them in herds of six pr seven. Mr. Trenhaile saw deer in 'Knox county in 1884, while on his way to Hand county, South Dakota. One of the heirlooms of the family is an ancient meat platter, decorated in rich blue figures, that has been in the family many generations, the exact age of which is unknown. , Mr. Trenhaile :is now reaping the fruits of a well-spent, industrious life ; he enjoys his comfort able home where a cordial hospitality is extended to his friends, and here has all that a reasonable man could wish. LOUIS L. BUHRMAN. For the past thirty years the gentleman above named has been prominently identified with the farming interests of Howard county, Nebraska. He resides on northwest quarter secton twenty-nine, township thirteen, range nine, where he has lived sevral years, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Louis L. Buhrman was born in St. Libory, St. Clair county, Illinois, April 26, 1857, and was third in a family of six1 children. He lived in Illinois un til first coming to Howard county, Nebraska, Oc tober 20,1880, going back to Illinois in March,1881, when the entire Buhrman family, father, mother, and brother John Henry, came to this region. Three married and one single sister had already come into Nebraska. On September 4, 1883, in St. Libory, Mr. Buhr man was married to Theresa Eller, who was a na tive of Illinois and came from an old pioneer fam ily of Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Burham have eight children lving. Joseph O, Mary Margaret Annie, Elizabeth Mary, Henry J., John E., Conrad and Bernard B. Mr. Buhrman is prominent in the affairs bf his county, and has always been interested in the 'bet terment of all conditions. He was a member of the school board in district number forty-one in past years. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1027 GEORGE G. KOSTER. Among the prominent citizens of Niobrara. Knox county, Nebraska, we mention the gentleman above noted. Mr. Koster is a son of Colonel Herko Koster, who prior to his death was a leading spirit in promoting the grovvth and welfare of this part of rtebraska. (A complete review of his life's work is to be found eisewliere in this volume.) George G. Koster was born in the city of Nio brara on 'September 23, 1881, and he was the first white child born in the place. His education was obtained in the schools of his birthplace, and since he was a small 'boy he has assisted his father in carrying on the different enterprises in which he was engaged, although the greater part of his time has been spent in the hotel business. In 1903 Col onel Koster admitted his son to a partnership in the hotel and shortly afterwards George purchased the establishement and took in with him his brother-in-law, Evan L. Gillham. Together they are doing a very large business, catering to the wants of the public in a very satisfying manner and each year adding new features in the way of improve ments and modern equipment for the comfort of their patrons. Mr. Koster was united in marriage to Florence Reid, on January 15, 1903, the event occurring at Omaha, where the parents of the bride resided. Four children have been born to our subject and his wife, namely : Florence Grace, Herko Amenzo, Ger trude and George Evan. , Mtr. Koster is a member of the Masonic lodge of Niobrara. He belongs to the Blue Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Elks, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Woodmen of the World, and is a popular member of the social and business life of the city. Politically he is a staunch democrat, as was his father before him. LOUIS GUGGENMOS. (Deceased.) Louis Guggenmos, deceased, was an early set tler in Howard county, Nebraska. He was born iii the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on March 28, 1835, and was reared on his father's farm there. He came to America in 1866, locating in Iowa City, Iowa, where he remained for three years, then came on to Nebraska stopping at Omaha for a short time. He wished to thoroughly look over the country be fore deciding upon a permanent location, and with this end in view conceived the idea of traveling through the states on foot, his destination being Pike's Peak, Colorado. In company with another adventurous young man he set out to accomplish his purpose, they going first to Grand Island, where his companion grew faint-hearted and abandoned the trip, our subject continuing alone. He went on to North Platte by train, and at this point re mained for a year working at different things, and also cutting timber for his outfit. Lie finally came to the conclusion that Nebraska was a desirable place to settle, finding it to be ideal for raising Cat tle, so invested his small capital in stock, and lo cated in Howard county in 1871. ' When Mr. Guggenmos landed here he owned thirty-five head of cattle and was the first man to engage in this business in the, county. He chose as his location for a ranch a tract of land lying on the west bank of Loup river, homesteading a claim on section thirty-two, township fourteen, range ten, on which was one of the finest natural groves on the river. He worked hard and gradually increased his holdings as he became more prosperous, until he owned eight hundred acres of good land. In April, 1872, he had the misfortune to be struck by a prairie fire which destroyed his hay, leaving him with seventy-five head of cattle and nothing to carry them on but corn. He came through in fair shape however, without losing a single animal, and this was only one instance of many in which he met with discouragements and loss, but gradually prospered and became num bered among the wealthy men of his section, his success due entirely to his energy and thrift. In March, 1906. Mr. Guggenmos retired if rom active farm life and removed to St. Paul, where he owned a nice home and ten acres of ground, making it one of the beautiful residences in the city. After just three months in this new home Mr. Guggenmos was injured by a vicious horse, causing concussion of the brain, and his death followed almost instantly. His loss 'was a severe one to the community, as he was widely known and esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Guggenmos was a republican politically, although he 'was never active in his party, prefer ring to live a quiet home Ufe. Mr. Guggenmos was married on April 15, 1879, to Barbara Keller, the ceremony taking place in Grand Island. They had a family of Severn chil dren, as follows: Charles, Rose, Cecelia (deceased,) Fred, Delia, Lena, Paul and Benjamin, the two latter living with the mother in St. Paul. Charles and Fred are married and with their families re side in Nebraska, while Rose is a student at the Ne braska State University in Lincoln and Delia a popular teacher in the St. Paul public schools. Mrs. Guggenmos was born in Switzerland, and came to America when seven years of age. The en tire family emigrated here (excepting the father, who died in his native country,) their first location being in Long Island, New York, where they re mained for two years, then they spent three years in New Jersey, coming to Nebraska at the end of that time, or in 1873. In the spring of 1873 the mother purchased eighty acres of land, where Mrs. Guggenmos grew to womanhood the former making her home with her daughter until her death Febru ary 7, 1910. After the death of our subject his widow was appointed administratrix of his estate, and has taken full charge' of affairs since that time, still owning their farm lands and other properties. She with her children are occupying the handsome town residence, and have a large circle of warm friends in, the locality. 1028 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. CHARLES GUGGENMOS. Charles Gugenmos, who is a well known resi dent of St. Paul, Nebraska, and son of Louis Gug genmos, one of the early pioneers of Howard coun ty, was born in St. Paul township, on May 16, 1880, and, his entire life has been spent here. He re ceived his education in the public schools, and as a boy worked on his father's farm. He now is owner of a finely cultivated tract of eighty acres situated on section eight, township fourteen, range ten, and has one of the model farms in his locality His home is now St. Paul, where he is engaged in the hardware business, and is classed among the progressive and up-to-date young merchants of Howard county. Mr. Guggenmos was married on September 19, 1906, to Miss Kate Duffin, of St. Paul. Mrs. Gug enmos was for seven years prior to her marriage a teacher in the public schools of Howard county, and the young couple have many friends in and about St. Paul. They have one child, a daughter Mildred, and enjoy a pleasant home and beautiful surroundings. J. T. FUNK. To the men of perseverance and strong deter mination who came to Nebraska when it was yet un developed as an agricultural and commercial re gion, the present prosperity enjoyed there is due. Among the early settlers of Madison county who have been instrumental in bringing about the growth and prosperity now enjoyed in this region, may be mentioned J. T. Funk, a .prosperous and successful farmer of Battle Creek township, who, has gained an enviable reputation as a citizen. He resides on section thirty-five, township twenty- three, range two, and is surrounded by a host of jrood friends aiid many neighbors and acquain tances. Mr. Funk is a native of the Keystone state, his birth occurring May 20, 1839 ; he is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Mullen) Funk, both also natives of Pennsylvania, tbe father being of German descent. and the mother of Scotch parentage. Our subject lived in his native state until he grew to manhood, receiving the usual school advantages. In 1861, Mr. Funk enlisted in the civil war, joining Company A, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captain J. K. Robinson, and General Gregg commanding. He received his honorable discharge in September of 1864. Mr. Funk engaged in the following battles: Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, bat tle of tbe Wilderness, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Bristoe Station, Hands Slope, and St Mary's Church, and while engaged in the latter battle in 1864, was wounded. He has a creditable war record, and can relate many interesting and true incidents rf thft period of his life. In 1871 Mr. Funk left his native state and came to Madison county, Nebraska, making the journey by rail as far as Sioux, City, Iowa, which was the end of the railroad in the direction our subject wished to go. He then drove overland to his pres ent homestead, which as before stated, is located in section thirty-five, township twenty-three, range two. He built a frame house on this land, hauling the lumber from Columbus, which at that time was the nearest market place and fifty miles distant. In those pioneer days on the western frontier, many hardships and discouragements were en dured by the sturdy sons who came to subdue and settle this raw, unbroken country. The grasshop pers were about the greatest source of anxiety and hardship to be endured, they, for the first eight years of our subject's residence here, destroying every spear of crops planted and raised so carefully to a promising harvest ; after the pests had taken their flight there would be nothing but bare ground where before their alighting were splendid grow ing crops. This was very discouraging to the early settlers in a new country, and it caused much pri vation and worry. Prairie fires were often fought by the family, many times barely escaping loss of life in the seething wall of flames. For fuel in the winter, hay and corn were burned, as wood was a scarce article in those days, and when it could be gotten tbe price was above the reach of the average settler of that region. Mr Funk now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, on which are ten acres of trees, making a fine orchard and grove. Mr. Funk was united in marriage February 15, 1866, to Miss Jane Cunningham, and they are the parents of seven children: Laura, Joseph, deceased; Lloyd, deceased: Bessie, Edward, Victor, aud Jes sie, deceased. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Funk is a republican. JACOB COOL. Jacob Cool is one of the honored pioneers of Custer county and is generally respected as a citi zen of integrity and public spirit. He is a native of Iowa born July 21, 1858, the sixth child in the order of birth of Alfred and Clementine (Gram mar) Cool who had four sons and five daughters. It is thought his parents were natives of Indiana but they were early settlers of Iowa, where they both' died, when tbe son Jacob was a small child, the mother when he was six years old and the father two years later. The boy lived in Iowa until the spring of 1883, received a common school educa tion and going out in the world to earn his living at an'early age. In the early spring of the year just mentioned he saddled a horse, and leading two other horses, started to ride to Nebraska, reaching Custer county in June and taking a pre-emptioii and tree claim. Tn 1885 Mr. Cool secured a, homestead on sec tion six. township sixteen, range twenty-two, being on of the first settlers in the neighborhood. He and several other young men GEORGE A. COPSEY. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1029 had made a trip into Nebraska with a team and wagon in 1879, but he had returned to Iowa during the winter. He was attracted to the state as a healthful place te live at the time he decided to make it his permanent home, with this object in view securing some land. Lie was one of the early bachelors of the county and lived alone several years before his marriage. He now resides on sec tion thirty-two, township seventeen, range twenty- two, but retains ownership of his original home stead and pre-emption claim. Lie owns six hun dred and forty-nine acres of choice land in the county and is one of the more successful farmers and stockmen of his locality, having improved and developed his land to a high state of productive ness. He had to pass through the various years of severe trial, such as years of drouth and panic, which tested men's souls and endurance, and well earned his present prosperity. September 13, 1890, Mr. Cool married Annie May Worth, of Custer county, daughter of David and Mary Worth, who came there in 1883. Mrs. Cool was a native of Iowa and died on the home farm March 16, 1904, survived by her husband and four children and deeply mourned, not only by her sorrowing family, but by a wide circle of friends. She was an early comer to the county and was well known and esteemed for her many fine qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Cool and his sons continue to reside on the home farm. The sons, who were all born on the home farm, are namerd: Ira Truman, Hiram Glenn, Clyde Ray and Golden Porter. The eldest of these, Ira T., a worthy young man, of good character and high ability as a farmer, being now in his twentieth year, assists in the management of the farm, and his efforts and good judgment are a great help to his father in many ways. GEORGE A. COPSEY. One of the pioneer citizens of Nebraska, who have passed through the hardships of frontier life and attained a large measure of success through untiring energy and industry, is George A. Copsey, a native of tbe Empire state and a veteran of the civil war. We present a portrait of him on another page of this volume. Mr. Coosey was born April 11, 1838, fourteenth in a family of seventeen children born to John and Mary (Talbert) Copsey, then residing in Herki mer county, New York. Besides George A. the other children now living are, a daughter in New York state: a daughter in Chicago: a son, Edward Cop sey in York county, Nebraska, and a son, William, of' Grand Island, same state. Both parents were natives of Egland and they. came to America about 1820. The father died in Wisconsin in 1870 and the mother died in Chicago in 1878. In 1854, when sixteen years of age, George A. Copsey removed to Enerlewood, Illinois, where he spent one year, then went to Wisconsin, then a pioneer state, and engaged in farming there He was married in Wisconsin, November 18, 1858, to Katherine Munn, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. In December, 1863, Mir. Copsey en listed in Company C, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, serving until the close of the war and receiving his discharge at Washington, in June, 1865. The de cisive engagements in which he participated were : Coal Harbor, Spottsylvania, Stony Creek Station, Wilderness, Five Forks, and Petersburg. He also took part in many minor engagements and skirmishes. At the close of the war Mr. Copsey returned to his home in Wisconsin and in the fall of 1878 brought his wife and five children to Custer county, homesteading on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-seven, township seventeen range eighteen, where he re sided until 1896, at which time he retired from active life and moved to Ansley, where he bought a good home, which they now occupy. In 1899 he sold his homestead and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of well- improved land which had been equipped as a stock and grain farm, but he has continued to make his home in Ansley. He was instrumental in organizing school district number one, the first in Custer county, and served many years as treasurer of the board. Six children were born to Mr. Copsey and wife : Artemus, who died in 1909, left six children and his widow, living at Westerville ; Ella married Douglas Polkenhorn, of Iowa,, and they have five children ; Harley. of Gretna, (Nebraska, is married and has seven children ; Rose, wife of George Fletcher, of Colorado, has six children; Effie, wife of David Gardner, of' Westerville, has nine chil dren; and Raymond, at home. Mr. Copsey is well and favorably known in his part of the county and has alvvays taken an active interest in local affairs. In his early days in the state, Grand Island," eighty miles distant, was his nearest trading point, and he drove oxen in operating his farm. FERDINAND KOEHLER. Ferdinand Koehler resides in section thirteen, township twenty-six, range two, Pierce county, Nebraska, and is one of the leading old-timers in this section of the state. He came here in 1870, and has always done his full share in the better ment of conditions throughout the community in wdiich he lives. Mr. Koehler was born in the village of Koer- litz, province of Pomerania, Germany, February 20, 1850, and is the son of Christian and Henrietta (Buske) Koehler. The father was born in 1810 and died in 1861, and the mother was born in 1820 and died in August, 1901. In 1854 the family embarked at Hamburg, Germany, on a sailboat, and nine w-eeks later landed in New York, whence they went to Wisconsin and rented a farm near Watertown, living there sixteen, years. 1030 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. The two Koehler boys, Fred and Ferdinand, eame to Norfolk, Nebraska, in 1870, and immedi ately drove to Pierce county, where they pre empted land, Ferdinand on section thirteen, town ship twenty-six, range two, and a year later changed to a homestead entry. On this he built a sod house, living in this two years, and then built a good frame house. Here our subject suffered about all the hardships ever experienced by any of the pioneer settlers. In the grasshopper raids of 1873 and 1874, he lost all his crops, and he also suffered from hailstorms. In the blizzard of 1873 the two brothers were visiting at a friend's, aud were compelled to remain three days. In that of January 12, 1888, in getting the children home froni school, he had to lead them, watching the ground to keep the road. Mr. Koehler wras married September 10, 1872, to Miss Willmena Manske, daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Lempke) Manske, natives of Pome- rania. Of this union twelve children have been born, ten of whom are living : Fred, married Mar tha Schultz;,. and has one child, Isabel ; Mary, mar ried George Koehler; Henry; Emma, wife of Al bert Kipke, has three children, Lydia, Elnier and Rueben ; Herman, married Cieel Flemming, and has three . children, Harry, Alfred and Luella; Martha married Henry Sporleder, and has one child, Erwin; John, Frank, Samuel, Esther; and George and Louis, who are dead. i Mr. Koehler now owns eight hundred acres of choice land, and is highly respected in his com munity^ as is also his family. He worships at the Evangelical church. JENS M. PETERSEN. (Deceased.) Jens M. Petersen was born in Dollerup, Jyl land, Denmark, March 18, 1829; and died March 14, 1908. September 1, 1858, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Dorothea M. Petersen, and six children were born of this union, three boys and three girls. Two of the girls died in Denmark. In the year of 1872 the family emigrated to America, arriving in Chicago, Illinois, about the middle of July, where a month later Mrs. Petersen, and their youngest child died, the latter a boy about one year of age, leaving Mr. Petersen with three children, the eldest of whom was but eleven years of age. September 13, 1872, Mr. Petersen and his children left Chicago for the west, arriv ing in Howard county, Nebraska, September 1 6, and on the nineteenth 'day of that month, Mr. Pe , tersen: took out his first papers on the place which remained bis home until the time of his death. In the fall of 1874 he was married to Karen M. Petersen, a sister of his first wife. Six years later this wife died. There were five children born of this marriage, the youngest being but a few days old when his mother died. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Petersen made a trip to Denmark and there married his third wife, Kjerstine Nielsen. She died in the fall of 1894. After her death Mr. Pe tersen made his home with his son, P. O. Petersen, on the old farm. Mr. Petersen endured the hardships of the early days, experiencing crop failures and such other troubles natural to that time. In the spring of 1875 his house and barn with their contents were destroyed by fire, leaving the family with only the clothes on their backs, several head of stock, a few bushels of wheat, and a sod shanty for a home. In 1883 his entire crop was destroyed by a hail storm. Mr. Petersen wras a firm believer in the Chris- tiali faith and wras a man who seldom complained. lie was a kind man to his family, a good neighbor, honest in all his dealings, and was favorably known in his community. For a number of years Mr. Petersen was the only musician for miles around, and furnished music for all the weddings, entertainments, etc. Seven children and thirty-two grandchildren sur vive his death. CHRISTIAN P. PETERSEN. Christian P. Petersen was born in Denmark, June 18, 1862, and in September, 1872, came, into Howard county, Nebraska, with his father, Jens Petersen, and family. At the age of about twelve years Mr. Petersen went, out for himself and tended cattle three years for Mr. Fred Shullsen in Hall county. When sixteen years of age he 'worked on a farm, then was employed on the Union Pacific railroad in different locations for one season, at Which time he returned to Hall county and followed farming about three years. He next went into Hamilton county and worked as a mason and brick-layer for several" years; then returned to farming. ' On November 1. 1891, Mr. Petersen was mar ried to Miss Karen Irine Anderson at the home of her parents, and to this union have been born five children whose names are as foUows : Carl F., Ed mund W., Jens Elmer, Augusta Lenora, and Al fred Lorenzo. At the time of his marriage Mr. Petersen rented a farm in Hamilton county and lived there four years. Prom there he moved to Merrick county and farmed another- four years, there serving as treasurer of his school district. He came into St. Libory precinct in the spring of 1900, and is now located on the Herman Petersen farm, which is better known as the old Dingworth farm. Mr. Petersen came from a representative family, and has passed through all the pioneer days of Howard county. THOMAS WILSON. Thomas Wilson, who has a pleasant farm home in Custer county, and is well-known as a progres sive and energetic farmer, is one of the early settlers of his part of the state and is favorably regarded as a public-spirited, useful citizen. He COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1031 is a native of Yorkshire, England, born, October 4, 1863, youngest of the three children born to George and Margaret (Carr) Wilson. He has a brother and a sister living in England. The -par ents spent their entire lives in England, where Thos. Wilson was reared arid educated. He came to America in 1881, soon afterward locating in Custer county, where for several years he worked at ranching. About 1890 he went to, Box Butte county, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he ' lived on two years. On January 3, 1892, Mr. Wilson was married in, Custer county, to Miss Mary Sigourney, a na tive of Whiteside county, Illinois, who came to Nebraska with her parents in 1880. She is a daughter of'Orin M. and Abigail (Van Winkle) Sigourney," natives of New York state, and the father of French descent; both parents died in Lincoln, Nebraska. Mrs. Wilson has two sisters in Nebraska, a brother in Oregon, and two "sisters in Washington state. Since their marriage Mr. and, Mrs. Wilson have lived in Custer county and have carried on her father's homestead, which Mr. Wilson purchased in 1902. Three children have been born to them, namely: Maggie, Vallie, and Tom. He is much interested in the development and upbuilding of his community, and he and his wife are interested in everything that is calculated to advance the general welfare. Mr. Wilson is republican in polities; fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. DAVID BREWER David Brewer, a typical pioneer of northeastern Nebraska, who resided in section twenty-eight, township twenty-two, range two, Madison county, but who now lives in Miadison, has lived many years in this section of the. country and has been a part of the growth and development of this region, building up for himself a substantia] home and fortune by his perseverance and thrift. Mr. Brewer is now retired. David Brewer is a native of Massachusetts, where his birth ocurred May 29, 1838 ; he comes of an old Massachusetts family, and is a son of Jonas and Eunice (Smith) ,-Brewer, both claiming their nativity in old Massachusetts, where their grandfathers, Oliver Smith and Jonas Brewer, senior, also were born. In 1843 our subject, , with his family, left Massachusetts, and came to DuPage county, Illinois, where they remained several years. Mr. Brewer was united in marriage in the year 1862, to Miss Evoline Gillett, and seven chil dren blessed this union, whose names are as fol lows .- Jonas, Joseph, James, Arthur, Clara, Elson, and Dick, who died in infancy. After residing in DuPage county, Illinois, for several years, as stated above, Mr. Brewer moved to Iowa, remaining there four years. They then came to Madison county, Nebraska, in 1870, coming by the praririe schooner route with -two other families. After arriving at their destination and securing land, Mr. Brewer first put up a dug out, living in this only a short time, however, when it was replaced by a sod house. He has built two sod houses in his day, and found them very comfortable dwellings, both in summer and winter. Mr. Brewer went through many hardships in those early days at a time when civiUzation was scarcely known on the western frontier; the grass hoppers destroyed eyery vestige of crops and vegetation for miles around, leaving noth ing but bare patches of ground where thriving green stalks had been but a short time be fore; this was very discouraging for the settler in a new country where there was no work nor money to 'be had; fuel was a scarce article in those days, and twisted hay and cornstalks were burned to keep them warm. In strange contrast to the scarcity of fuel, is the fact that prairie fires destroyed everything in their wake, our subject and his family having many times to fight the scorching flames to save their lives and property. In 1890 Mr. Brewer was : again, united in mar riage, the bride being Mrs. J, McGann, and Mr. and MJrs. Brewer have had three children, whose names are as follows : Gertrude, Grace, deceased in infancy ; and David, also died when a baby. ,, , Mr. Brewer resides in his pleasant home where he is surrounded by a host of loving friends and neighbors, and in the evening of his life is Uving in peace and comfort, with the assurance that what he possesses has rightfully come to hira through his persistent efforts of industry and integrity. CHARLES W. BOOTH. Charles W. Booth, a progressive citizen of Cus ter county, Nebraska, is one of the early settlers of his region, and is much interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his county and state. He was born at Centerville, N. Y., June '25,, 1833, being fifth of the ten children born to Alfred J. and Cynthia (Smith) Booth. He has two broth ers now living in Michigan and his other brothers and sisters are deceased. Mir. Booto. was reared and educated in his native state and there engaged in agricultural operations when he reached a suit able age. He was married December 25, 1860, to Miss Nancy McNinch, a native of Livingston county, New York, and reared in that state. . ;.. In August, 1862, Mir. Booth heard the caU of his country and enlisted in Company F, One Hun dred and Thirty sixth New York Infantry, serving until the close of the war. He received his final discharge at Rochester, New York, in June, 1865, having earned an honorable record. The more important battles in which he participated were: 1032 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Lookout Mountain, Missoinary Ridge, Knoxville, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. He also took part in numerous minor engagements and accom panied Sherman on his famous march to the sea. At the close of the war he returned home and in 1868 removed to Michigan, where he lived several years. ' In the early seventies Mr. Booth came to Otoe county, Nebraska, shortly afterward moving to Iowa, and in 1888 he returned to Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Custer county, and a tree claim of the same size near Broken Bow. He sold his farm, which he had developed and improved, in 1900, spent one year at Broken Bow, then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections thirty-three and thirty-four of township seventeen, range nineteen, which has since been the home place. It is a well-improved and equipped stock and grain farm and is in a pleasant location in the county. Mr. Booth has the esteem and friendship of his neighbors and associates and stands well in his community. Nine children were bom to Mr. and Mrs. Booth, as follows: Mrs. Electa i Barrett, of Broken Bow, has two children ; Edwin, married and living in Custer county, has five children; Joseph, also married and living in the county, has three chil dren; Mis. Cora Heffele, of Custer county, has eight children ; William, also of the county, is married and has one child; Ernest, of Custer county, has four children ; Mrs. Grace Coulter, of the county, has two children; Mrs. Lizzie Shoup, also of Custer county, has two children; George has two children. The members of the family are well-known in Custer county for their uprightness and stability of character and their interest in every movement for the general good. There are twenty-eight grandchildren in the family. B. JENKENSON. B. Jenkenson, who resides in Washington town ship, on section two, township thirty, range eight, is numbered among the old settlers of Knox coun ty, Nebraska. He has been engaged successfully in farming for many years past, and while develop ing a comfortable home for himself, has done much to build up his locality, and now enjoys the esteem of a host of people. Mr. Jenkenson is a native of Ohio, where his birth occurred in 1866, and he is the son of Wil liam B. and Irene (Foster) Jenkenson. His fa ther was a native of Ireland and was born in 1819. His mother was born in Ohio in 1828. William B. Jenkenson died in Ohio in 1907, and his wife died in 1909, in the same state. B. Jenkenson camo to Knox county, Nebraska, in the year of 1888, where he took up a homestead claim on section two, township thirty, range eight, and on this land built a frame house. This old homestead still remains the home of Mr. Jenken son, and having passed twenty-three years of his life here, the place seems very dear to him, al though he has had many vicissitudes and hard ships, experiencing the drawbacks of the early settler of this portion of the west. Mr. Jenkenson was united in the holy bonds of matrimony in 1890, to Miss Nora Grim, and Mr. and Mrs. Jenkenson are the parents of 'seven chil dren, whose names are as follows : Joe, William, Helen, John, Cora, Edward, and Earl. Mrs. Jen kenson 's father, Jacob Grim, was one of the first settlers of Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkenson and family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and they have many staunch friends in their com munity. THOMAS M. WILLEMAN. Thomas M. Willeman, Merrick county, Ne braska, takes an honorable place among the early settlers of that section, and has enjoyed those rich rewards which agriculture is ever ready to render to those who engage 1 in its pursuit with foresight and industry. He has had much to do with the early settlement and general improvement of this part of the state. Mir. Willeman was born in Henry county, Ohio, August 7, 1847, and was the fourth of ten children in the family of David and Elizabeth Willeman, who had three sons and seven daughters. Mr. Willeman was brought up on the farm in the Ohio woods, and lived in Henry county, Ohio, until coming to Merrick county, Nebraska, in August, 1872. Here he took up a homestead in the north east one-fourth of section twelve, township four teen, range seven. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Willeman returned to Ohio and was married to Alice Mcintosh in Henry county, Ohio, February, 1874, and in the spring of that year, Mr. and Mrs. Willeman came to the homestead farm in Merrick county, Nebraska, to live, and this has been their home until the present time. Mr. Willeman is one of the few pioneer settlers that still live on the old original homestead farm. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land in this farm and several hundred acres in Merrick county, and also owns other Nebraska land. He is a successful farmer and stockman, and on his home farm he has good buildings and a comfort- fortable home. Mir. and Mrs. Willeman have six children : Roy ; Myley, wife of Joseph Emmert, and living in Mer rick county, Nebraska; Lloyd, married, has one child and resides south of the home farm ; Verdie ; Sidney; and Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Willeman are well-known and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Willeman has passed through all the dif ferent Nebraska periods — from early days and land of small value to fine farms and large land values. He is a successful and prosperous farmer * COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1033 and stockman, making a specialty of shorthoni cattle. He is prominent in his neighborhood. Mr. Willeman enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer In fantry, in February, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge in August cf that same year. ANTON KRIPNER. Ante n Kripner, the subject of this sketch, has followed the vocation of farming nearly all his ^life. and by his thrift, honesty, and integrity, has not only been successful as a tiller of the soil, but has merited the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has formed an acquaintance. Mr. Kripner was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1879, and is the son of- Mike and Rosa Kripner, who are natives of Bohemia. In 1871, Mike Krip ner left his native land and sailed" for America, the land of promise to many thrifty and ambitious young men of foreign climes, and after a long voyage he landed in New York. Upon his ar rival in the United States he came west as far as Chicago, Illinois, where he remained about eight years. In 1S78 Mike Kripner was married, and while Mr. and Mrs. Kripner resided in Chicago, Antcn was born. From Chicago the family pro ceeded farther westward, coming to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead claim in section thirty-three, township thirty-one, range seven, on which they built a log house, and this place has remained the old homestead farm. In 1910, Mr. Anton Kripner was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Annie Thomeseak. Mr. and Mrs. Kripner are highly esteemed and well respected people, and are surrounded by a ¦ host of staunch friends and acquaintances. Feb ruary, 1911; Mr. Kripner purchased a livery in Verdigris, where he and his estimable wife are now residine. FRANCIS L. SISSON. Francis L. Sisson, a well-to-do resident of St. Edward, Nebraska, is widely known and univer sally respected and esteemed in that part of Boone county. Mr. Sisson and his family are among the earliest settlers of that part of Nebraska, and has done a great deal to help bring about the pros perity enjoyed in that region. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the RepubUc, and is very proud of the fact that he has two brothers who served with him one of whom was a captive in Libby prison for some length of time. Mr. Sisson was born in Liberty, Jackson county, Michigan, on May 21, 1836, and was the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine born to Eurastes R. and Lois Sisson, who were old set tlers in Michigan, the family later going to Ne braska, where the father died in 1870, and his wife passing away four years later, her death occurring in Wisconsin, they having located in the latter state when our subject was about seventeen years of age. On September -1, 1861, Mr. Sisson enlisted in the Fifth Wisconsin Battery, light artillery, and took part in the battle of Chaplain Hills, Stone river, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Pump kin Vine, Kenesaw .Mountain, Chattahoochie river, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesborough, Benton- ville, and many other minor engagements and skirmishes. He received an honorable discharge in June, 1865, and was one of those participating in the Grand Review held at Washington in May of that year. After the war Mr. Sisson returned to Wiscon sin and started farming on his own account. He was married there on August 10, 1867, to Emma Hill, of Argyle, who had been a teacher in the Wisconsin schools for a number of years. In 1874 he came with his family to Nebraska, his first loca tion being in Platte county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres on the Boone county line. also took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, making that his home for about six years, then sold out his homestead and moved to St. Ed wards. There he built a good home and has lived ever since, Mr. Sisson following the painter's trade for the past twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson are among the earliest set tlers in their part of Nebraska, and widely and favorably known. The former is an honored member of Kinsman Post, Grand Army of the Re public, and his wife is a member of the Womens' Relief Corps. "Her father and one brother served in the war, also her grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Eight children have been born to our subject and his good wife, namely: Minnie, Lloyd, Luella, and Lester, deceased, the latter killed in the Span ish-American war, on April 23, 1899; Leon, Mat- tie and Mary are married and settled in different parts of Nebraska, while Bertha is at home with her parents. EDWARD RINGER. It would be impossible to give a complete his tory of the state of Nebraska without including a sketch of the life of Edward Ringer, who is one of the most prominent, of the old settlers. Mr. Ringer resides on section twenty-six, township twenty-five, range six, Antelope county, where he has a beautiful home, and is surrounded by his family and a host of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Ringer is a native of Schoenebeck, near Storget, Prussia, Germany, his birth occurring in the year of 1851, he being the youngest of seven children. His father died when our subject was a small boy. After growing to manhood, Mr. Ringer followed the occupation of hack driving, in which he was engaged at Stettin, Germany. In 1871, Mr. Ringer came to America, he, like so many sons of the German Empire, having heard of the grat land of promise in the new world where 1034 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. land could be had for almost nothing, the price of purchase being the time spent in living on it to "prove upon" the claim. He sailed from Ham burg by way of Hull, England, to New York ; and after landing in the United State he at once started for the great west to make a fortune for himself, and upon his arrival in Nebraska took up a homestead and also a pre-emption claim and built a dug out, later on building a log house. When Mr. Ringer first came to this western coun try, it was apparently a barren desert, peopled only with Indians who were camping around on the banks, and who did not hail the white man's ad vent to their hunting grounds with any sign of pleasure. Mr. Ringer was united in marriage October 31, 1879, to Miss Carrie Ellis, and Mr. and Mrs. /Ringer are the parents of six children: William, Walter. Ray, John, Lena, and Elsie. They are a fine family, beloved and respected by aU who know them. Mr. Ringer, having come to this western coun try at so early a period, has seen more hardships and experienced more danger than fell to the lot of the average pioneer of the western frontier ; among other experiences, during the years of 1873- 74-75, the grasshoppers destroyed the crops, mak ing three successive years of crop failures, almost causing a .famine ; other losses occurred through hail, drouths, etc. ; and not the least factor brought to bear on the trials of our subject were the prairie fires which raged for years around this section of the country, and which had to be almost constantly fought. But , through all the years Mr. Ringer endured and stayed on, having implicit faith in the ultimate prosperity of the region ; which belief has come true past all anticipation ; Mr. Ringer is now a prosperous man, and as before stated, owns a beautiful home, with two hundred and forty acres of fine land, and substantial improvements. Mr. Ringer was a horse trader for many years, which accounts for his being so well-known. He is highly respected and esteemed throughout this part of (Nebraska, his business relations and transactions always having been of the most upright and honorable character. CHARLES KNULL. Prominent among Madison county old settlers is Charles Knull, who since the fall of 1887 has made this region his home and done his share in the development of the agricultural resources of this section of the country. Mr. Knull lives in section two, township twenty-two, range two, where he has built up a valuable property through his industry and good management. Mr. Knull is a native of Germany, bora May 5, 1858, and is a son of John and Sofia (Schrader) Knull, natives of Pomerania, Germany. Our .sub ject received his early education in his native country, and grew to a young lad of fourteen years there. In 1872 he, with his parents, came to America, embarking on a steamship from Ham burg, Germany, and landing in New York. After reaching the United States, the family at once proceeded to the west, locating in Wis consin and living there seventeen years, then mov ing to the state of Illinois, remaining there but a short time, as hearing of the splendid opportuni ties to obtain land in Nebraska, they journeyed to the far west, settling in Madison county in 1887, where the father took up a homestead claim in sec tion two, township twenty-two, range two-, which, as before stated, is the home place of our subject at the present time. Mr. , Knull is one of the few who are still living on the original homestead farm, and now has one of the finest farms in the county : he has seven hundred and twenty acres of good land, and on this has twelve acres of fine orchard and grove teees. In the earliest days of settlement on the west ern frontier, the family suffered many hardships and dangers; they were often compelled to burn hay and corn to keep warm in the winter, as fuel was scarce in this region, the distance to haul it being so great, and it commanded such an ex tremely high price it was out of the question to use it. As late as 1894 all the crops were de stroyed by the hot winds that burned to a crisp all manner of vegetation in that locality, owing to the terrible drouth of that season. But through all this, Mr. Knull has prospered and has a well- improved farm, and now lives in a beautiful home, where he is surrounded by 'a host of good friends, and many kind neighbors and acquaintances. In 1882 Mr. Knull was united in marriage to Miss Lena Smith, a native of Germany, and a daughter of William and Sophia (Harder) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Knull are the parets of five children, whose names are as follows : Edward, Alma, Prank, Burnham, arid Mabel. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all in their com munity, where they are well known. JOHN GARNISS. John Garniss is one of the younger men among the early settlers of; Custer county, Nebraska, and lives on the homestead which his father secured in 1882. Mr. Garniss is a native of Canada, born September 10, 1867. third of the five children of Henry and Ellen (Drury) Garniss. He has two sisters in Custer county, Mrs. Hannah Scott, and Mrs. Harriet Scott, the latter living in Ansley, and both are mentioned further in connection with the sketches of her husbands, found elsewhere in this work. Others of 'the children, are deceased. Both parents were born in England and they came to America in 1851, settling in Cheatham, Huron county, Canada. In 1877 the family came to How ard county, Nebraska, and in 1882 located in Cus ter county, where the father died in 1899 ; the mother now resides in Ansley. The father who enenPi< o a o1—1 Bh O Wo z aQen«Pi •AO en « WPh Pn P a zwp?-H enW « COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". 1035 built the first frame house on Dry Creek, secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres af land in sections twro, and three, township .seventeen, range eighteen, and lived there until his death. Mr. Garniss was about ten years of age when his parents brought him to Nebraska, and he ac companied them to Custer county in 1882. In 1888 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section eleven, township seventeen, range eighteen, on which he afterward secured a home stead right, and lived there until 1902, when he purchased his father's homestead, and this has since been his home. He has been actively inter ested in the welfare and development of the com munity and is recognized as a public-spirited, use ful citizen. He helped very materially in the or ganization of school district number one hundred and four, and has for some time past served as moderator of the board. On December 22, 1897, Mr. Garniss was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, J. Collier, at the home of her parents in Custer county. She is the daughter of John and Jennie (Todd) Collier, an early and prominent family of the county. Mr. Garniss and wife have had four children : Jennie, who died in infancy; Henry J., Elizabeth E. and Margaret G. M., at home. Mr. Garniss owns a -four hundred and eighty acre stock and grain farm, well improved and equipped for successful operation, has a modern home and other new buildings, and his success is very gratifying from the fact that it has resulted from his own energetic and well-planned efforts. In polities he supports the democratic candidate in state and national elections. On the pre-emption claim, Mr. Garniss , and family lived in a "soddy" until 1900, when he built a comfortable frame house, to which additions have been made. We show a view of the home and its outbuildings, with the broad outlook across the beautiful valley, elsewhere on another page. Mr. Garniss was at home at the time of that worst of late blizzards, January 12, 1888, but his father and brother were at a sale and were com pelled to remain over night. During the dry year, 1894, nothing but fodder was raised on the place, and hail destroyed the crops in 1895, but since that time prosperity has crowned his efforts. Deer and antelope were plentiful in the country when the family first came, but soon passed on to the west, where settlers were not so thick as in the region here. ' ' PERRY PIERSON. Among the oldest settlers of eastern Nebraska who have taken an active part in the development of that region and have gone through many bitter experiences in building up a home and compe tence, the gentleman above 'named deserves promi nent mention. Perry Pierson was born near Liberty, Sullivan county, New Yrork, December 13, 1857, and was fifth of thirteen children in the family of E. San- ford and. Harriet (Griswold) Pierson, who had eight i sons and five daughters. Mr. Pierson was a farm boy reeciving the ordinary school ad- tages, and in his twentieth year deft the old home farm in the month of March, 1878. Coming to Howard county, Nebraska, he made this his headquarters for several years. He also eame into Valley county in 1878, but not until 1880 did he make Valley county his home, having filed on a timber claim in the winter of 1879. Mr. Pierson farmed and raised stock .in the western part of Valley county from 1881 until the pur chase of his present farm in section twenty, town ship nineteen, range thirteen, where he owns eighty acres of fine farm land well improved. A view of his substantial home and buildings is to be found on another page of this work. Mr. Pierson was married to Miss Rosa B. Smith in Geranium township, Valley county, April 17, 1887. Miss Smith is a native of Indiana, a daugh ter of Adam and Catherine Smith; the family came into Valley county about 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson have two children: Bessie, wife of Lewis HaUoway, lives in Riverdale, Buffalo county, Nebraska ; and Clarence, who resides at home with his parents Mr. Pierson has had much to do with the de velopment of Valley county, it being a raw, un developed county when he first came to this lo cality ; he has passed through the adverse years of the county but now enjoys its prosperity.. In political views he is a supporter of the republican party. Several brothers of Mr. Pierson came into Ne braska in the early years, but Mr. Pierson is now the only member of his family living in the state. During his bachelorhood, Mr. Pierson lived for two or three years in a sod house on his timber claim, ,but built a better residence before his mar riage. Of the many blizzards of the earlier years he has the best recollection of the sudden storm of January 12, 1888; he had hitched the team to a wagon to go to a neighbor's, and returned to the house for a few minutes: on coming out' again his team was not visible at arm's length — nothing could be seen for the gray mist of fine snow. MORGAN DIBBLE. Among the New Yorkers who have given the best years of their lives to the west, may be men tioned Morgan Dibble, now retired 'from active labors and residing in the eastern suburbs of Plain- view. He was born at Summit, Sehoharrie county, New York, on < February 12, 1841. His parents, Ambrose and Armena (Crapser) Dibble, were both natives of the Empire state and spent their entire lives there, the mother dying when our subject was but six years old. He remained in his native state 1036 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. during childhood, and as a youth spent some years in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He later worked for two years in a carriage factory at Pfainville, Connecticut, making parts of the "fifth wheel" for carriages and buggies in a factory there. Mr. Dibble started for the west in 1869, stop ping at Galesburg, Illinois for a time, then crossed ' the Mississippi to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked at his trade some months, beginning farm ing in Scott county along in the latter part of the year. He was married there, and with his wife, joined a party of several families who were migrat ing to Sioux county in 1871. On reaching their destination, he filed on a homestead of eighty acres, and for eleven years cultivated it, improving the place with substantial buildings. In 1882, together with two of his neigh bors, he again loaded his goods into a covered wag on, and set his face toward the west. On March 11. 1882, he reached Clearwater, Antelope county, Nebraka, where he pre-empted a quarter section two and a half miles from the village, and farmed for eighteen months, then locating a more desirable tract near tbe 'town, he sold his original farm and purchased the relinquishment of a tree claim of eighty acres on the edge of the village, planted the required number of trees, and, made that his home up to 1891. He then rented his farm and removed to Randolph, where he remained for two years, finally returning to Clearwater, and from there came to Plainview in 1894. Here he rented the Johnson farm situated about four miles north of the town, cultivated it for one year, and then took the Charles Mullikan farm, remaining on it for a year. In 1897, Mr. Dibble located permanently in Plainview, and 'with his wife bad charge of the commissary department of the Plainview Normal Institute, occupying the lower floor of the build ing. He later purchased a dwelling of George W. Box which was located in the central part of the town, making that his home up to 1907, when he bought his present residence, in the extreme east ern suburbs, which he has made a most comfort able and pleasant home. During their residence in the west, Mr. Dibble and his wife have witnessed many severe storms that have visited the country. The worst winter they ever experienced was that of 1880-1881, while living in Sioux county, when tlie ground was eov ered with snow practically from October to the following May. Fuel was so scarce that corn was used for fires, and the snow came so early that they were obliged to wander over the cornfields and gather the corn that was protruding above the snow, and the last of it was not gathered until the snow had 'melted away in the early summer. One other winter, while Mr. Dibble was twenty miles from home getting a supply of wood, a severe bliz zard came on, and while he made his way home, though warned by friends not to attempt to brave the weather — he suffered intensely and had about all he could do to find his way there. He also suf fered at different times from the grasshopper pests, and while living in Iowa, lost an entire crop by their voracity, and at other times had hard work to keep them from destroying his grain. At times they were so plentiful that they were heaped up in mounds two or three feet deep, but when a favor able wind came they vanished in a few moments, leaving a barren waste behind them. Most of the big game had left the country before Mr. Dibble came to Nebraska but he enjoyed an occasional elk hunt, running the game on horses, and divid ing the prize with hisi friends who participated in the capture. Mr. Dibble was married at Lyons, Iowa, May 5, 1870, to Miss Flora V. Johnson, a native of Thomp- kins county, New Y"ork. They are the parents of seven children, named as follows: Ernest J., in Kansas; June Adelbert, in Plainview; Maude Myrtle ; Etta Edna, wife of George Bresler, of Prosser, Nebraska; Helen J., wife of H. L. Buck-' ingham, postmaster of Plainview; Firman M., on his father 's farm ; and Ina N., married Joseph Oswald, of Keystone, Nebraska. They are all well settled in life. Mr. Dibble has always affiliated with the re publican party, and with Mrs. Dibble, is a member cf the Baptist church. EDWARD L. VOGT. Amog the younger professional men of How ard county, Nebraska, who has risen rapidly in his chosen vocation, the name of Edward L. Vogt takes high rank as an educator and prominent resi dent of the locality. He is at present filling the of fice of county superintendent of public instruc tion, and his work is highly apreciated by the i en tire population of the section over which he has control. Mjr. Vogt was born in Howard county, Febru ary 26, 1874, and comes of a pioneer Nebraska family. He, received his early education in the country schools, later attending the Elba high school, from which he was graduated in 1896. The following year he spent as a student at the Hills dale College, Hillsdale, Michigan, then returned to Howard county and taught school for one year. During 1899-1900 he attended the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru, after which he spent an other year teaching in his home district. In 1901 he received the appointment as principal of the Elba high school which he held for one year, going from there to Nysted where he filled the same posi tion the following year. In 1903 he was appointed principal of the Dannebrog public school, remain ing there for five years. In each and every in- stanc his work has been of , the highest order, and he is known as one of the most brilliant instructors in this part of the state. His entire time is given to the work, and the county has never had so cap- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1037 able a man in charge of its schools as he has proven. Mr. Vogt was elected county superintedent of public instruction in 1907, taking charge of the office January 1, 1908, and was re-elected in No vember, 1909, and is, now filling the position with great satisfaction to all. Politically Mr. Vogt is a democrat. WILLIAM G. FORWOOD. William G. Forwood, a prosperous and success ful farmer -of Custer county, is well and favorably known as a progressive and enterprising citizen, who is interested in the welfare and devlopment of his community. He has a well equipped stock and grain farm, and in 1908 erected a modern resi dence. He has good substantial barns and other buildings and is progressive in iris ideas and methods. He was born in Macoupin county, Illi nois, January 20, 1874, fourth of six children born to Gideon and Melissa (Armour) Forwood, the father a native of Delaware and the mother of Ken tucky and both now living in Macoupin county. Several of the children are deceased, one daughter, Mrs. Anna Haycroft lives near Mason, and two sons live in Illinois. Mr. Forwood reached manhood in his native state and was educated in'the public schools and Shurtleff College. In 1892 be came to Custer county, Nebraska, where his father had come a short time prior, and purchased a half-section of land, which is now the home place of Milliam G. On May 1, 1895, Mr. Forwood was married at the Copsey home in Custer county, to Miss Clara E. Copsey, a native of Wisconsin, who came to Ne braska in 1882 and became a teacher in the public schools. She is a daughter of Alonzo H. and Anna (Wallin) Copsey, early settlers of Custer county, and the latter a native of New York City. The father came near losing his life in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, an Indian pony he was riding bringing him to the house through the blinding storm. The parents now live in Lincoln and bf their children besides Mrs. Forwood, three daughters live in Nebraska, one son, Vernon R., is in the United States Navy, and four sons— Herbert A., Milton F., Harvey and Robert — live in Nebraska. Seven children have been born to Mr. Forwood and wife, six of whom survive, namely: Gideon A., died in April, 1902; Esther M., Anna, Richard, Harry, Mabel M. and Elmer L., at home. In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Forwood purchased his father's farm, comprising three hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-two township sev enteen, range eighteen, and he has since devoted his attention to its improvement and cultivation. Mr. Forwood is one of the younger men among 'the early settlers of Custer county, and he and his wife have a large number of warm friends. He is independent of party lines in local politics, voting for the man he considers best fitted for the .office. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. In Illinois Mr. Forwood was a member of the Bap tist church, but in Nebraska he became identified with the Methodist Episconal church of Wester ville. ¦1. W. REIGLE. Prominent among Madison county old settlers is J. W. Reigle who has, since the fall of 1870, made this region his home and done his full share in developing the agricultural re-ources of this section of the country. Mr. Reigle is a native of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 3, 1849 ; he is a son of Amos T. and Mary (Wingerd) Reigle, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Germany; the mother came to America on a sailboat when she was but a small girl. In 1870, our subject, with his father, came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they could get land cheap, coming to what was known at that time as Bell creek, on the railroad ; from here they drove to where they took their homesteads. Mi-. Reigle 's father took up a [homestead in section eighteen, township twenty-two, range two ; and our subject took a homestead joining on the south. The father first built a frame house 'sixteen by twenty feet, and the son a house of like material twelve by sixteen feet, they hauling the lumber from Col umbus. The father also took up a timber claim. In 1870 Mr. Reigle was united in marriage to Miss Lavinia Wensel, and Mr. and Mrs. Reigle are the parents of six children, whose names are as fol lows: Rose, Thomas, Mjary, John, Ellen, and Henry. Forty years ago, when our subject first came to the western country, Nebraska was an open prairie \rith scarcely anything to be seen for miles except the waving grasses and wide stretch of plains. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those early days, and could be seen in large herds grazing around the country; prairie fires were 'a source of great danger to the first settlers of this region, and many times had to be fought to save their homes and lives. In 1894 our subject lost every vestage of crops by the hot winds that burned all vegeta tion for miles in extent, and during the very first years of residence here, lost all his crops for five seasons by the grasshopper pests that devasted the western country at that time, which was very dis couraging to a stranger just settling in an unculti vated and unsettled country. But those days' have passed to history, and Mr. Reigle can now look back to these incidents as experiences that have helped to build his character and qualities as a worthy citizen and good neighbor. Mr. Reigle was united in marriage a second time, the ceremony taking place in the year 1901. The bride was Miss Christina Larson, a native of 1038 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENC 111 Xl-LmS J-»J.\_fVJ J.I/JC3LX J.X J. . Sweden, and a daughter of Andrew and Ellen (Anderson) Larson, natives of Sweden. Mr. Reigle lives in his comfortable home sur rounded by a host of good friends and neighbors, and is highly respected by all. ALONZO FREEL INGRAHAM. Alonzo Freel Ingraham, now living retired from more active life, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, is a prosperous and successful man of affairs, owning considerable wefl improved land and fine stock and being interested in various business enterprises. He is one of the early settlers of his region and has been an interested witness of the great changes wrought by settlement and progress in central Ne braska since locating there in 1883. , Mr. Ingraham was born in Wood county, West Virginia, October 5, 1857, and is a son of Rufus P. and EMza (Rals ton) Ingraham being second of their eight chil dren. He has two sisters in West Virginia; one sister in Cincinnati, another in Pittsburg; two brothers in Washington county, Ohio, and one in West Virginia. Rufus P. Ingraham, also born in Wood county, was of German and English extra- cation and died in West Virginia in April, 1897. The mother, also born in West Virginia, is of Irish extracation and still lives in the old home in her native state. . - After being educated in the schools of his na tive state, Alonzo F. Ingraham engaged in farming' there. In the 'spring of 1882 he made a trip west in search of a desirable location, made a short stay in Lancaster county, Nebraska, ' coming on to Cus ter county in the following spring. He secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land near Broken Bow, and this place, which was the southeast quarter of section twenty-two, township seventeen, range twenty-one, was the home of the family for many years. He was married in Thomas county, Nebraska, December 5; 1888, to Miss Susan M. Cowles, who was born in Massachusetts, and for sometime taught school in Illinois. She also home steaded in Custer county. Her father, William W. Cowles, was born in Belchertown, Massachusetts, served in the civl war as a member of Company M, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry for four years, and now lives in Peoria, Illinois. The mother, whose maiden name was Lucy C. Wood, was a native of tlie same place as her husband and still survives, living in Illinois, and two daughters are living in that state. Two children were born 'to Mr. Ingra ham and wife: Cordelia E. and Alonzo Fred, both at home. In 1901 Mr. Ingraham left the farm and brought his family to Broken Bow, where he owns seven acres of land and a nice home, their house being modern and fitted with many conveniences and comforts. The family stand well in social circles and have a wide circle of friends. They are interested in various public measures and have tbe welfare of their county and state at heart. Mr. Ingraham is a member of the Royal Highlanders and of the Tribe of Ben Hur. ' , ANDREW PARKER McDONALD. Andrew P. McDonald, popularly known as "Park" McDonald who has a fine estate on section twenty, township twenty-eight, range two, east, Cedar county, is one of the leading citizens of the county and has since its early settlement been one of the lead ing factors in the upbuilding and advancement of the region. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1843, son of Joseph and Nancy McDonald, his grandfath er being a native of Scotland. Mr. McDonald re ceived a common school education and as a young man enlisted for service in the union army, serv ing from 1861 to 1865, under Captain Patterson. He participated in many important engagements and was with Sherman in the march to the sea. In 1881 Mr. McDonald came to Dakota county, Nebraska, and the following year to Cedar county, where he secured the homestead which has since been his home. Lie erected a frame house twelve by sixteen feet, and also took up a tree claim, im proving and developing his land until he has a well equipped farm and substantial buildings. He car ries on general farming and stock raising and ha» met with gratifying success. In the early days he had to contend with the usual hardships and dis couragements bf pioneers and often burned hay and weeds to keep warm, as coal was scarce and ex pensive. In 1869 Mr. McDonald was* united in' marriage with Miss Mary Foltz, and they are parents of ,the following twelve children: Joseph, Thomas, John, James, William, Lizzie, now Mrs. Thomas Wilcox ; Charles, Nannie, now Mrs. Clyde Hoar, of Ard- more, Dakota ; Leona, Edward, Etta and George. JOHN FLYNN. John Plynn, who owns a comfortable home and well-equipped farm on Elk creek, is the only one of the early settlers of his part of Custer county who have held continuous residence there since coming to the county. At the time he came the nearest trading point was Kearney, and he has passed through the various trials and privations incident to pioneer life. His earliest days in the neighborhood were the times of the sod shanty and tbe grinding of corn in a coffee mill. Mr. Flynn was born in Red Mills, Putnam county, New York, August 6, 1851, the eldest child of the seven sons and two daughters born to Michael and Catherine (Leary) Plynn. The parents are deceased but all the children survive, one beirig a resident 'of Cali fornia, one of Nebraska, and the remainder of Iowa. When John Flynn was a small .child his parents removed to Scott county, Iowa, near Dixon, and his father entered a homestead, which he developed and improved into a good farm. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1039 John Plynn remained on the home farm in Iowa until his twenty-sixth year, and was there married, November 27, 1876, to Sarah E., daughter of John and Emily (Eggleston) Omstead, and fifteenth in order of birth of their seventeen children. The Omstead family moved from Canada to Illinois, where Mrs. Flynn was born, in 1857, and ten years later came on into Iowa. Her parents are de ceased, but she has three brothers and one sister surviving. In 1878 Mr. and Mrs. Flynn came with their smaU son, William, to Rush county, Kansas, where they remained one winter, then went on to the Pan Handle of Texas, on the south side of the Canadian river. In the fall of 1883 they came to Custer county, Nebraska, with their 'three childreri. They settled on the southwest quarter of section thirty-five, township thirteen, range eighteen, on which Mr. Flynn filed an entry in the spring of 1884. Of the settlers who had lo cated in the neighborhood prior to Mr. Flynn none now reside there. Mr. Flynn has been closely identified with the growth and development of his portion of Custer county and has been especiaUy helpful along educational lines. In politics he is independent. He helped organize school district number nineteen, serving several years as a mem ber of its board, and helped in building the school house. He has always done his part to advance the best interests of the community and he and the other members of his family are well and fa vorably known and have many friends and ac quaintances. Mr. Flynn and his wife now reside on the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, township thirteen, range 'eighteen, which has been their home since the fall of 1900. Eleven children have been born to Mr. Flynn and wife : William W., born in Iowa, a pioneer of Custer county, married and living on the home stead farm, has' one child; Albertis S., born in Kansas, married and living on a Kincaid home stead in Logan county, has three children; Mary M., born in Texas, wife of Oliver Trumbull, living on a Kincaid homestead in Logan county, has three children; Ervin M., born in Custer county, still resides there, and is married; John R., mar ried and living in Custer county ; Sadie R., wife of Carl Holster, of Custer county, has one child; Lawrence O, Nellie BeUe, Sylvia Irene, and Cyril Leonard, born in Custer county, live at home ; one child is deceased. ' HECTOR DOWNIE. Hector Dow^ner, who resides in section twenty- nine, township thirty-one, range two, where he has a good farm of four hundred acres and a com fortable home, has spent over nineteen years of his life in Knox county. Mr. Downie was born in Scotland, that event- taking place in Campbelltown village, Kentyree township, Argyle county, in 1869. He grew to his young manhood in his native land, and at the age of twenty-two years, in 1890, left Scotland to come to America, embarking on the steamship ' ' Gallia, ' ' coming by way of Liverpool to New York City. After landing on American soil, Mr. Downie worked at whatever his hands found to do; later, in 1892, .coming to Knox county, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from Mr. WilUam Miller. Lie first lived in a dug out two years, then 'built a good frame house, and has steadily improved the farm until it is now one of the best improved places in his section. In 1899, Mr. Downie was united in marriage to Miss Alta Maekey, and Mr. and Mrs. Downie are the parents of five children, whose names are as follows : Aleck, Harold, Etta, LesUe, and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Downie and family enjoy the high esteem and respect of aU who know them, and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host - of good friends and acquaintances. S. A. STARK. Among the many who took up their residence in Nebraska shortly after the memorable flood of 1881, we mention S. A. Stark, a prosperous stock breeder of Niobrara. He arrived in the foUowing June and immediately filed on a homestead situ ated seven miles southeast of the then smaU vil lage, remaining about one year, at which time he sold the relinquishment and rented a place in the northwest part of Niobrara, known throughout the section for its fine grove. He purchased his pres ent place in 1898, consisting of twenty-seven acres of fine land lying just north of town, also secured a lease on one hundred and seventy-five acres ad joining, of which he1 has made a comfortable and pleasant suburban home. His attention is devoted principally to horsebreeding, and he owns some of the finest Perch erons to be found in this part of Nebraska. , Mr. Stark first saw the light on the first day of January, 1859, his birthplace being near Erie, Pennsylvania. His.parents were C. N. and Dora (Turner) Stark, both natives of New York state, the former dying in Pennsylvania in 1898. Our subject lived in his native county until he attained the age of twenty years, then came west to, Black Hawk county, Iowa, joining a brother who had settled in that state several years previous. After two years spent in that vicinity he went to Knox county, Nebraska, which has since been his home, his mother joining him here in 1901, and making that her home up to the time i of her death, which occurred in May, 1909. Of her seven children, four died while the family lived in Pennsylvania. One daughter lives in Black Hawk county, Iowa, and the other son has gone to the extreme west, making his home in Washington state. When Mr. Stark first settled in Knox county, it was a trackless plain, with no fences to obstruct travel in any direction, tand in going from one point to another a course was laid in a straight line, as one might do on the sea or lake. He has 1040 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. always been very fond of sports, riding to the hounds perhaps more than any other man in this part of the country, and many are the jack-rabbits or wolves his pack has brought down. At times when his bounds seemed to be getting the worst of a scrimmage, Mr. Stark had no hesitation in dis mounting and helping finish a wolf with his bare hands. He also has killed quite a number of deer here, and as late as 1890 shot two in the locality, but since then few, if any, have been seeri here. Mr. Stark was married in Niobrara, in June, 1888, to M,rs. T. G. Hulliben, who was Henrietta Paxton. One son, Walter, Was born of their union. He is a graduate of the high school class of 1907, later taking a course in the business college at Waterloo, Iowa. During the early months of 1910 he spent considerable time in California, visiting most of the principal cities in the Golden State, and gaining in this manner a valuable lot of in formation through travel and contact with people whom ihe met. Mr. Stark has been a lifelong republican and active in party politics. He is a total abstainer as regards liquors and tobacco, but like many of our broad-minded westerners, he uses very forcible expletives with ease when occasion demands, and his feelings need, to be relieved. In 1909 he made a visit to his native state for the first time in thirty years, but found himself a stranger in a strange land, as is usual with those returning after many years to the home of their youth, and the names of many of his associates of his boyhood were found on the gravestones in the local cemetery. MOSES WELCH. ' (Deceased.) Moses Welch, deceased, was born in Dorset shire, England, about 1814, and grew up to his manhood years in England, where he was married to Miss Harriet Rollins; and about 1847 Mr. Welch and family of wife and seven children crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, landing in New Orleans, from whence they came by steamboat to St. Douis, where they resided about two and a half years; then going to Madison county, Illinois, residing there three years, and finally purchased a small farm in Mlacoupin county, Illinois ; and in the spring of 1857, breaking up, and leaving home March 3, came by ox team to Florence, Douglas county, Nebraska, Mr. Welch and son, Jonas, left the family at Florence, and came on the old Mormon trail road to what is now Nance county, and located near Jenoa, putting in a thirty or forty-acre crop of corn, buckwheat, potatoes, etc., breaking raw prairie with ox team ; and in the fall of the same year Mr. Welch returned to Florence for his family. They farmed on this land until the fall of 1859 when they gave up the squatter's privilege on this land, as the government had made an In dian reservation of fifteen by thirty miles; and the* Indians were moved from Saunders county to this reservation, young Jonas Welch being one of those assisting in the removal. The Welch family moved to a plat of land called "zig-zag" with other 'families who had also moved off the reserva tion, the Welch family remaining there some three years. 'Moses Welch worked for the government as blacksmith for some seven or eight years, then moved into what was Platte county and is now Col fax county, taking up a homestead in 1868, where he resided until the time of his death, July 12, 1890. Mr. Welch was one of the pioneer settlers of Nebraska, and passed through all experiences of those days, and was a factor in the upbuilding of this new part of United States domain. Mrs. Welch died several years prior to her hus band's death, a woman of the pioneer days, known and esteemed through all those years by the original few and coming many. Three of the Welch family survive and all live in Nebraska: Jonas Welch, a banker of Columbus, Nebraska, Henry Welch, living on the old homestead; and Mrs. Ellen Fulton, living in Campbell, Franklin county, Nebraska. Jonas Welch, now residing in Columbus, Ne braska, is vice president of the Commercial Na tional Bank. Mr. Welch remained with his father until about 1860, when in May of that year he took a trip to Pike's Peak, Colorado, during the gold excitement, but in the fall of same year re turned to the home place, going to work for the government on the Pawnee Indian reservation, and was in government employ ten or twelve years. Mr. Welch was married December 25, 1861, by the Rev. H. J. Hudson, to Miss Margaret Shack- elton, in Genoa, Platte county, the home place of her father and mother. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Welch and family moved to Colfax county, and in partnership with J. P. Becker, built the second water-power, grist mill in Nebraska, and Mr. Welch for seventeen years lived in Colfax county, where he followed farming, stock-raising, etc., and was a member of the firm of Becker & Welch in the grist mill. Mr. Welch disposed of his Colfax county in terests in- 1887 and moved to Columbus, where he purchased an interest in an elevator and was in the grain business a few years. He has had nu merous business interests in Columbus, and has large land interests, owning about one thousand five hundred acres located in Platte, Merrick, and Holt counties. Mr. Welch assisted in organizing the Commercial State Bank, which became a Na tional Bank later, of which Mr. Welch is now vice president. Mr. Welch in past years served as county supervisor in Platte county; in the city council of Columbus; and also on the school board of that city. ' He is active along all business, po litical, educational, and social lines. Mr. and Mrs. Welch have had nine children, seven of whom are living: Theresa Ellen, wife of W. S. Fox, residing in Spaulding, Nebraska; Wil- C. S. EDISON. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1041 liam J., married, has six children and lives on the original pre-emption claim of his father; Henri etta, wife of Harry C. Newman, has two children, and resides in Columbus ; Caroline Elizabeth, wife of George Galley, has four children, and lives on a farm near Columbus ; Charles A., teacher in the public schools at Columbus, is married and has two children; Mrs. Martha A. Watts, teacher in the public schools, resides at home; and Robert Moses, married, has two children, and lives on a farm. Mr. Welch and family enjoy the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, and have a pleasant home. Mr. Welch is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics is a .democrat. He is now the eldest living resident of the original pioneer settlers of Platte county, and has had a varied and busy life since going out for himself, and now over seventy-five years old, is still active in business circles, a man widely known who has had a wonderful frontier and pioneer experience. CHARLES H. ZACHRY. Charles TI. Zaehry, a pioneer rancher, farmer and stockman of Custer county, who has made his own way in the world, has experienced the ups and downs of western life since his sixteenth year, and has reached his present success through energy and economy, in connection with upright dealing in all transactions. He has accumulated land from time to time as he was able to do so and now owns over eight hundred acres in Custer county, besides other land interests. Lie has many friends and has aided very materially in the development of his part of the state, , passing through the well- remembered years of drouth and panic, and meet ing all conditions in such a way as to make the best of his opportunities, and is now classed among the notably successful men of his county. He was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, July 14, 1859, the eldest of the three children of Henry and Mar tha (Robinson) Zaehry, and their only son. His mother died when he was but six years of age and he had to look out for his own interests at an early age. Later his father re-married in Illinois, and now he and his wife reside in Merna, having come to Custer county, in 1908. One daughter, Lulu, wife of Prank Sharp, also lives in Custer county. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Zaehry left home and worked on a farm in St. Clair county, three years at a wage of nine dollars per month. October 25, 1879, he left Illinois, and moved to Ashland, Saunders county, Nebraska. He found employment in that county feeding cattle for a stockman, remaining there until August, 1884, when he came to Custer county, and secured a homestead on the southwest quarter of section six, township seventeen, range twenty-two, which has remained his home since. He is one of the com paratively few who retain possession of their original homesteads, and he now has a well- 34 "quipped farm and gives much attention to the breeding of thorough-bred Shire and Peroheron draft horses. He is a self-made man, starting west with no capital and winning a high degree of prosperity and success. He had only ordinary educational advantages as a boy, but has always kept abreast of the times in so far as was possible, ' rnd i.« now a well-read and intelligent citizen. He has a high standing in the community and his judgment in many matters is highly regarded. Mr. .Zaohry was married in Saunders county, January 1, 1884, to Miss Lilly Bachelor, daughter of Relandcriand Adeline Bachelor, and eight chil dren have been born of this union', of " whom seven survive: Lulu, wife of Ashton C. McGuire, living ¦on the old Klump 'farm in Custer county, has two children, a son and a daughter; William and Ed ward, at home; Nidgal works in Merna; Evans, deceased; Louis, Bertha and Myrtle, at home. All were born on the homestead evept Lnlu, who was born in Saunders county CHARLES S. ELISON. Charles S. Elison, a retired farmer of Ansley, Nebraska, is honored as a veteran of the Civil war, and has been prominent in promoting the progress and advancement of Custer county, for many years. A portrait of him will be found on another page. He was born in Luzerne county, Pennsyl vania, August 3, 1832, a son of Samuel and Cath erine (Stout) Elison, the father of English ex traction ,and a native of New Jersey, and the mother born in Pennsylvania. He died in Sum mit county, Ohio, September 7, 1866, and she died in Pennsylvania, September 20, 1841. Mr. Elison was reared in his native state, re ceived his education in the local schools and worked for a time on the home farm. When about eighteen years of age he went to Philadelphia and learned the trade of painter. In 1855 he enlisted in the United States regular army, and served five years on the frontier. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in the Federal service of the Civil war, in battery K, Fifth United States Artillery, serving until October, 1863, and receiving his discharge at Frederick City, Maryland. He participated in the battles of Antietam, second Bull Run, and Gettys burg, losing a thumb in the last-named. He also took part in various minor engagements. After the war he returned to Pennsylvania, and on March 19, 1864, married Charlotte J. Wolverton, also a native of that state. In 1872 Mr. Elison brought 'his wife and three children to Hall county, Nebraska, and home steaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land near Grand Island, .where they remained about eight years. They then eame on to Custer county, and he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township fifteen, range eighteen, which was the home place many years. In 1880 he laid out forty acres of his farm, 1042 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. land into village lots, erected store buildings and started the town of Algernon, of which he served some time as postmaster, and which grew to be a prosperous and thriving village. However, when the Burlington & Missouri railway was built through the county the inhabitants of that place removed to Ansley or Mason City, iand the life of the village was gone. Mrs. Elison died on the home farm February 8, 1888, survived by her husband and the follow ing seven children : Emma, wife of W. A. Beard, of California, has nine children; Agnes, wife of John Daily, of Custer county, has,three children; 0. Howard, married and living near Mason, ,has three children; Florence is a teacher in Colorado schools ; as also is Alice ; Laura and Bertha, at home. In 1889 Mr. Elison was appointed postmaster of Ansley, in which office he served four years. He has filled various public offices besides, such as justice of the peace, was for three terms county supervisor, was also constable, and helped very materially in organizing school district number thirty. About four years ago he sold his farming interests and retired from business life. He is well known as a successful man of affairs and is recognized as a public spirited, useful citizen who has been closely identified with the best in terests of his community. He has many friends and is highly esteemed. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows, fraternally, for the past forty- six years, and also is one of the early members of Steadman Post, number one hundred and eighty, Department of Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic. RUDOLF BOETGER. Some of American's best citizens claim their nativity in far-off lands across the sea, and their immigration to the home of the stars and stripes has added many strong and sturdy characters to our poulation. Such a one is Rudolf Boetger, who since 1888 has been closely associated with the agricultural interests of Pierce county, Nebraska. He is regarded as a man of sterling qualities by all who know him intimately. Mr. Boetger was born in the village of Wach- endorf, near Hamburg, Germany, March 30, 1861, a son of Claus and Mary (Westfall) Boetger, both natives of Holstein, then a province of Denmark, the father being born August 9, 1818, and follow ing the occupation of farming, in his manhood. The mother was born in 1828. Our subject re ceived his schooling in the old country, and en gaged in farm labor until emigrating to America. In 1888 he left the fatherland, sailing Novem ber 3, from Hamburg to England, and thence to New York in a vessel of the White Star line. After landing, he came to Nebraska, reaching Nor folk the twentieth of November, and found work in the vicinity until spring. For two years he worked by the month, and then rented until the spring of 1902, when he bought three hundred and twenty acres in section thirty-six, township twenty- eight, range two, which he owned until the spring of 1911, selling at that time for over a hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Boetger was married May 6, 1889, to Miss Bertha Fedder, to which union seven children have been born, whose names are as follows: Heinrich, Julius, William, Richard, Emil, George, and Meta. , Mr. Boetger has been in the main successful since coming here, although he has met with loss and disappointments on account of the failure of crops by drought in 1894, and in 1905 had the mis fortune to lose a large portion of his crops by hailstorms which swept the locality. Mr. Boetger is a member of the Modern Wood men of America, and Sons of Herman lodges, and worships in the German Lutheran church. Mr. Boetger has not only watched the develop ment of his county from the early days of its set tlement, but has aided to his utmost the advance ment of the resources of- his locality. JAMBS C. CORNFIELD.. i (Deceased.) The name of James C. Cornfield is a familiar one among the residents of Howard county, Ne braska. Prior to his demise he was recognized as one of the representatives farmers and an old set tler of this section, where he had resided for the past thirty years. Mr. Cornfield was born in Monahan county, Ireland, in August, 1841, and moved into Scotland with his parents when he was four years old. He was married to Miss Bridget McMahan in Scotland, in February 7, 1861, and came to America by himself in May, 1865. He was joined by his wife and two young sons in August, 1866, at Massillon, Ohio. After a residence of two months in Ohio, the family /removed to Illinois, remaining there ten years, coming to Howard ounty, Nebraska, in May of 1876 ; the family then consisted of himself, wife, and six children. Upon coming to Howard county, Mr. Cornfield homesteaded on northwest quarter section ten, township thirteen, range nine, in St.- Libory dis trict, 'being among the first settlers in this portion of Howard county. Mr. Cornfield made this home stead his continual residence until the time of his death, April 25, 1906. Mr. Cornfield was always prominent in his lo cality, was a good citizen and had many friends. lie is survived by his widow and seven children: James, Patrick IL, Annie, who is now Mrs. John O'Hallern; Nellie, John, Lucy, and Bessie, being- married. Mary, who was the wife of Charles Curtis, is now deceased, and a son, Prank, died in infancy. Mrs. Cornfield lives on the old home farm, her, son John and wife, being with her. , John Cornfield, son of James C. Cornfield, was born January 2, 1875, and with the exception of COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1043 about ten years, Howard county, has been his home. In April, 1898, he enlisted in the Second Oregon Regiment in Portland, Oregon, served over a year in the Philippines, and was discharged in August, 1899. On January 12, 1909, at St. Libory, Mr. Corn field, was married to Miss Annie Rock, who was born in Howard county, her father, and family be ing old Howard county pioneers. Mr. Cornfield is a young man of good qualities and" has many friends. Lie is now farming the Cornfield land in St. Libory district. FREDERICK G. HATHER. Frederick G. Hather is a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, his birth occurring the twenty- seventh day of May, 1858, and he was second of the ten children in the family of George T. and Sarah Jane (Carter) Hather, who had four sons and six daughters, Fred being the eldest son. Mr. Hather grew up in Dubuque county until his nineteenth year, then going into Montgomery county, Iowa, where his sister Elizabeth, Mrs. W. A. Anderson, lived. Mr. Hather, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, drove through from Red Oak, Iowa, to Valley county, Nebraska, in March of 1879, where Mr. Anderson took up a homestead. The next spring Mr. Hather also took up a homestead in Valley county, living there until 1894, following farming and stock raising. On March 3, 1882, Mr. Hather was united in marriage to Miss Delia Holman, in Ord, Nebraska. Mrs. Hather is a native of Canada, her iparents, William and Mary (Buel) Holman, coming to Val ley county, Nebraska, in 1881; her father and mother are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hather have six children namely: Lillian, wife of John Summers, they having one child and residing in Valley county; Ernest, who is the eldest child; Myrtle, wife of Frank Kenmont has one child and resides in Los Angeles, California; Mamie, who is the wife of Charles Kear, lives. in Grand Island, Nebraska, lias one daughter; Melvin, and Irene who reside at home. The children were all born in Valley county, and the family are known along social and other lines, and have the respect of many friends. In 1894 Mr. Hather and family left the farm and moved into Ord, where Mr. Hather engaged at his trade of blacksmith and woodworker, arid has remained in this business until this date, having one of the best known shops in Valley county, equipped with all the. latest modern labor-saving machinery. Mr. Llather before leaving the farm, served his township as member of Noble township school board, he having organized the. first school held in Noble township, and serving on its board until coming into the county seat to reside. Mr. Hather has been active along all progressive lines for the betterment of his county and state, always standing for the best interests along educational and moral lines. i He is. a member of the Christian church. In political affiliations he is a populist and fraternizes with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order United Workmen. With Mrs. Hather he is a member of the Rebeccas and the Degree of Honor. GEORGE B. HOVLAND. George B. Hovland, formerly a real estate, loans, and insurance agent, in Newman Grove, Nebraska, was one of the well-known and influen tial citizens of that community. He resided in Madison county for many years, during which time be was engaged in farming for some years with pronounced success, now being owner of con siderable valuable property in the city in which he made his home for so long, and also the surround ing country. Mr. Hjovland was born on the island of Utsire, Norway, on September 20, 1846, and was the second in a family of six childreri, born to Mikkel and Lavina Hovland. He received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen years struck out for himself, going to sea and working on sailing vessels. He came to the United States, on a trader prior to 1870, and was in the Boston harbor and also Philadelphia, returning on these ships to Norway. He left his native land for good in 1870, taking passage on a ship having three hundred passengers aboard, and while in the open ' sea off the coast of Newfoundland the ship came in contact with icebergs, and sprung a leak but by energetic wrork in using the pumps they were successful in landing on a small island on the coast of Canada. After this incident our subject took an active part with the ship's crew, and worked with them the remainder of the trip. They had a severe experience, being compeUed to remain on the island for eleven days, when they were picked up by a small steamer and landed at Quebec. From the latter place Mr. Hovland went by train to Port Huron, Michigan, thence to Mil waukee, Wisconsin, landing in the latter place in May, 1870. From there he went to Dane county, accompanied by Chris Simonson and secured farm w^ork, following the same for several months, then went to Chicago, and obtained a job as a sailor on the great lakes during the summer season. In the fall he took a drove of stock from Wisconsin to Minnesota for Knut Nelson, and after arriving at his destination built the homestead shanty on the farm of Senator Nelson, remaining until the spring of 1873, then returned to his work as a sailor. He left the vessel in June, 1874, at that time going to Madison county, Nebraska, pre empted one hundred and sixty acres on section twenty-four, township twenty-one, range four, and started in as, a pioneer. In those days the people 1044 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. of that vicinity received their mail at Farwell, it coming by way of Columbus, and to avoid going so far after | it, he succeeded in having the postof-- fice established at Newman Grove, in a small store of Gunder Hamre, who was appointed post master. In a few months our subject purchased the store and laid with this the foundation for a growing business, supplying the early settlers who came to this point for their groceries, etc. He became postmaster in 1877, and from the time of first settling here Mr. Hovland did much toward helping the new-comers, relieving hardship and suffering in hard times, furnishing seed, grain, and the necessaries of life to the less fortunate home steaders, he being one of the committee appointed to aid those in need. He continued in the general merchandise business, also bought and sold land, and dealt in the stock. In 1888 he settled on a farm, and two years later, on account of failing health, went to the state of Washington, remain ing for four years, then returned to Nebraska, and was afterwards engaged in different enterprises, finally becoming interested exclusively in the real estate, loan and insurance business. Mr. Hovland was married on April 23, 1876, to Miss Tina ' Simonson who was the eldest daugh ter of Simon Christianson, and to them were born four children; Louis, Annie, Lavina, and George, all married ad living in different parts of the west. Mrs. Hovland died in Newman Grove on November 9, 1886. Our subject has held different local offices, be ing deputy sheriff of Madison , county in the early eighties, and was county surveyor during 1882 and 1883. He has also been for many years con nected with the schools of his locality. THOMAS W. EDWARDS. Thomas W. Edwards, of Custer county, Ne braska, the owner of one thousand acres of farm land, is pre-eminently a self-made man and widely and favorably known in his 'part of the state. In the early years of his residence in Custer county he met and overcame the trying experiences and incidents of pioneer existence and he is a good ex ample of what a man may become through energy and perseverance. He is a native of Hereford shire, England, born August 28, 1843, youngest of the four children born to William and Elizabeth (Farr) Edwards. He has a brother in Australia and the other two children are deceased. The father, a native of Warwickshire, England, died in Wales in April, 1844., The mother, a native of Herefordshire, died- in Wales imthe latter part of the 'eighties. Mr. Edwards reached manhood in his native country and engaged in farming there. He later se cured the position of farm bailiff over a large es tate. He was married in Wales in 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Wheelding, a native of that country, who died in 1880, leaving four children: Elizabeth, wife of Drapper Tappin, of Logan county, Ne braska, has six children; William also lives in Lo gan county; Thomas, of Los Angeles, California, lias one child; Charles is married and living at Broken Bow, Nebraska. In 1881 Mr Edwards came to America, and after spending ^, fow months in Ohio, came to York county, Nebraska, two years later removing to Custer county. In January, 1883, he secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on the northwest quarter of section twenty, tow-nship seventeen, range twenty, where the family resided many years, and which is still in his possession. In 1901 he, retired from farm life and purchased a comfortable home in Broken Bow, which has since been the family residence. He {s a prosperous and successful man of affairs and at one time owned eighteen hundred acres of stock and grain farm land in Custer county ; besides the farm land now in his possession he owns consider able desirable city property. He won the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens and takes a com mendable interest in the affairs of his county and state. On March 28, 1885, Mr. Edwards was married (second) at 'Broken Bow, to Mrs. Jene Hutchison, the ceremony being performed by Judge John S. Benjamin. M|rs., Hutchison, whose maiden name was Anderson, was born in Paesley, Scotland, and came to America in June, 1880. She was the youngest of ten children born to George and Jessie (Thompson) Anderson, the former a native of Carlisle, Scotland, and the latter of Glasgow. The father died in Scotland in August, 1867, and the mother died in her native country in March, 1869. Mrs. Edwards enjoyed excellent education al advantages and has traveled extensively. She is a woman of culture and high character, and has many warm friends. There are no children by the second marriage of Mr. Edwards. They are both identified with the Presbyterian church, Mr. Edwards being the ruling elder of the First Presbyterian church of Broken Bow. Mrs. Edwards' connection with church dates back to early girlhood days.. GEORGE S. GRAVES. The versatility of the westerner is well illus trated in the life of George S. Graves, one of Butte's most prosperous merchants. His is a truly varied career, combining that of ranchman, land lord, judge and merchant, filling each with success, while he is still in the prime of life and capable of enjoying every good -gift that falls to his lot. Mr. Graves was born in Tilskwa, Illinois, on March 28, 1861, where the family, lived until he w;as three and a-half years of age, then removed to Iowa county, Iowa, driving to their new home through the country, and camping out on the trip. They settled on a farm near Marengo, remaining up, to 1868, then again fitted up their old covered COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1045 wagon and set out for a new location, going to Guthrie county arid farming there for fifteen years, at which vtime they came 'to Nebraska. The old "prairie schooner" was again called into service in removing here, the trip being a long and hard one. They arrived in Fort Kearney in April, 1883,, and after a few months at that place, not being entirely satisfied with their surroundings. they again started out, Long Pine, Brown county, being their mecca, landing at that point in the spring cf 1884. Here, the father and two sons filed on homesteads. Our subject lived on his claim for five years, then took up a timber culture and lived on it two years, then moved to the town site of Naper, in Boyd county, there opening a hotel, the building having been built in Brown county, and later pur chased by Mr. Graves, taken apart and hauled in • wagons across the river and through the rough country to its new location, where it was placed on a solid foundation and stood as a landmark for many years, still being in good condition. The postoffice building of the place was obtained in the same manner, and the entire town at that time con sisted of four buildings, Mr. Graves owning three of them. As there was no lime to be had for use in plaster, etc., M)r. Graves followed the western custom in making the country furnish a substitute for the real thing. They secured a supply of the magnesia rock found in the locality, pulverized the , same and mixed it with Buffalo grass in place of hair, and with this material the new hotel was} plas tered throughout, proving a most satisfactory substitute. Mr. Graves was elected county judge in 1894. and re-elected in 1896, serving up to 1899. At the expiration of his term of office, he opened a gen eral store on Main street in Butte, and has been exceptionally successful in his business career. His stock included a complete line of dry goods, clothing and groceries, and has the patronage of many throughout the country, as well as a large town trade. Mr. Graves has lived' through every phase of Nebraska life, experiencing all the discomforts of pioneer existence; enduring hardships, suffering blizzards, drouths, Indian scares, etc., but through it all has never felt like giving up and moving to any other part of the country. To one at the present time riding through the highly developed farming surrounding Butte, dotted with fine big residences, beautiful groves and meadows, it is hard to realize that this wonderful change has been brought about in the short space of a score of years, more or less. Our subject was married in Ainsworth, Decem ber 31, 1885, to Miss Mary Jamison a native born Nebraskan. They have five children, as follows: Oscar A., employed as salesman with Armour & Company, covering the territory through northern Nebraska; while Eva, Everett, Beatrice, and Ber- nice, remain f^t home, the last three still at school. Politically Mr. Graves is an independent. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen, and with his family, attends divine worship at the Congrega tional church. WILLIAM E. DOLL. William E. Doll, devoted to agricultural pur suits, is owner of a fine home on section twenty- six, in Warsaw precinct, where he has made his name and influence felt as a capable and reliable citizen of Howard county. Mr. Doll was born in.Grand Island, Nebraska, May 29, 1867, and grew to the age of six years in that vicinity, then with his parents came into Howard county, settling here about April, 1873. The father homesteaded and William helped de velop the land into a good farm, remaining at home until about twenty-three years old, and then began working on farms, and the railroad. He was married on October 25, 1905, to Stena Sorensen, daughter of J. C. Sorensen, who is an old settler in these parts and has a fine estate near Boelus. There were eight children in the Sorsenson family, Mrs. Doll being the fifth in order of birth. After his marriage Mr. Doll, took the management of the home farm, which is situated on section twenty-six, township fourteen, range eleven, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with good buildings and improvements. A brother of our subject, Carl H. Doll, lives on the farm ad joining the homestead to the west, and is, really a portion of the original home farm. He is mar ried and has a family of four children. Joachim F. Doll, father of our subject, was born in Germany in 1826, and came to America in 1856, locating in Iowa, where be spent about one year, then settled in Hall county, Nebraska. He remained there for fifteen years, built up a good home, and then came on to Howard county, pur chasing some land on sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, township fourteen, range eleven, and after putting up a rough shanty, sent 'for his family and together they worked hard to build up a good home. There were eight children, only the youngest born in Howard county, but all grew up there, and are well-known and highly respected. Mrs.' Doll died in 1886, and her husband survived her until 1898. One son, August, lives in Seattle, Washington, Fred in Grand Island, three daugh ters, Minnie, Sophia, and Carolina, reside in How ard county, and Emma, in Hall county, while Carl H., and William E., are on the home farm. G. E. VAN EVERY. The lives of some flew in even channels, other through diverse, tortuous courses; that of G. E. Van Every, of Butte, being of the former descrip tion, with little divergence from his- chosen career, that of electricity, devoting his entire time, prac tically to its study. However he has considerable 1046 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY knowledge of photography, which proves an inter esting topic of conversation between himself and friends, and many a pleasant hour is spent in viewing his artistic collection and discoursing on the incidents of obtaining them. He has secured negatives of some of nature's wonderful phe nomena in the west that from a scientific view point are 'invaluable. Gordon E. Van Every was born at Youngstown, New York, near the mouth of the Niagara river, on March 12, 1861, and is a son of Peter M. and A1-' mira C. (Haskel) Van Every, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of New York state. Our subject made his home in his native state until he reached the age of about nineteen years, then came to Lincoln, Nebraska, following farming for a time. He was joined by his father in the fall of 1880, who remained for a year with his son, and they secured the contracts, under John Fitzgerald, in the Kenneson cut-off between Holdrege, and Oxford, which occupied his time during the sum mer of 1882. G. E. Van Every secured a position with the Nebraska Bell Telephone Company at Lincoln, and after three months in their office, was sent to Plattsmouth to take charge of the of fice of the company, remaining at that point for about three years. He was then offered a position with the. Western Union Telegraph Company as lineman, and worked for them six months. He then went with the Baltimore & Maryland Railway Company, under B. F. Pimms, in the detective service, filling the same for one year. His next move was to Omaha, where he found work on the traction lines owned by Dr. Mercer, and worked as conductor on the street cars running the first elec tric car to Hanson Park when that line was con verted from mule powrer to electricity. He was afterwards employed by the Omaha Street Rail way Company for four years and a half, finally resigning to' accept a position as conductor, run ning between Omaha and Portland, making three round trips per month. He remained in this posi tion for two years, then became motor inspector for the Thompson-Houston Electric Company at- Pueblo, Colorado, where a street railway was being installed. In the spring of 1894 he returned to " Nebraska for residence, filing on a homestead in Custer county, which he farmed, in addition to ,some leased land adjoining his original tract. Af ter sixteen months of uphill work, fighting against drouths, etc., he became discouraged. He kept at it for some little time longer in the hope that con ditions would change, but in 1897 quit farming and returned to his former occupation as an electrician. Mr. Van Every was the pioneer in installing country telephone lines in that section, purchasing from the Chicago Telephone Company necessary instruments and began putting up lines through the locality. Up to ithis time phones were not for sale and could only be secured by lease, making farm telephones impracticable, but he . organized several lines in Custer county, using barbed wire to carry the current, and becoming so successful in the venture that he soon widened his field of operations by organizing other companies in the northern part of the state. In 1892 he established the Basset and Spring- view line, the Newport, Hammond and Northern, the following year, and in 1904, the Farm & Home Telephone Company, the latter in partner ship with C. M. Thompson, of Newport. His next venture was the Keyapaha county, Butte and Anoka, of which he was president until 1909. In the construction of the various lines, Mr. Van Every did most of the work himself, including erecting the poles, stringing the wires, and install ing the exchanges. He also established the Rose bud line in South Dakota, which was absorbed by the Bell Company in 1906. In 1907 Mr. Van Every opened the Home Bak ery and Restaurant in Butte, in the office adjoining the central exchange of the Independent Telephone, Company. In the management of these various interests he has become prosperous, and is now looked upon as one of the leading business men of his section, taking a deep interest in its progress and lending his aid in promoting every worthy movement. He is a republican in politics. For many years he has been a member of the Mjasonic lodge, serving as Junior Warden in 1910. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen bf America, and with his wife is a member of the Order of Eastern Star, of which he is Worthy Patron, and the Re- bekah Degree of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Van Every was married at Broken Bow, July 31, 1895, to Miss Hattie C. Milburn, whose parents were among the early settlers on the Mid dle Loup, the postoffice of Milburn being named after them. CONRAD EVERS. Among the prosperous and successful farmers of eastern Nebraska, the gentleman above named occupies a leading place. He came to Howard county during the earliest years of its settlement and has remained to see the wild prairie region changed into a thriving agricultural and commer cial center, having the 'pleasure of knowing that a goodly part of this success has been due to his own efforts and good management. Conrad Evers was born in St. Libory, Illinois, March 25, 1847, where he resided until, coming to Howard county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1877. He purchased land and first located on northeast quarter section twenty-one, township thirteen, range nine, living in a sod shanty at the first. Mr. Evers still lives on this farm and owns over five hundred acres of choice land in this vicinity. His land adjoins the little village of St. Libory, Ne braska, which was named for his old residence place in Illinois. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1047 His wife and two children joined Mr. Evers during the summer season of 1877, as he had come out 'some few months in advance of his family. Mr. Evers was married to Miss Elizabeth Buhr man in St. Libory, Illinois, in April, 1869, and they lived in that place for eight years, three of their children being born there, one of whom died before they moved into Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Evers have nine living children and ten grandchil dren, their children being named as follows: Con rad, L., who is married and resides in St. Libory precinct; Theodore, also married and living near Conrad L., Rosa, wife of Joe Turk, lives in St. Libory village; John, married and lives near by; Henry, married ; Mary, wife of Frank Boehle~ both live in St. Libory precinct: Anton, Alphonse, and Elizabeth, remaining at home. Mr. Evers has been quite prominent in his county and is widely known, enjoying the confi dence and esteem bf many friends. He served his county in the capacity of commissioner about the year 1895, and has filled the office of 'school treas urer of the St. Libory precinct for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Buhrman lived with their son-in-law, Mr. Evers, for a number of yeafs, and Mr. Buhrman died June 9, 1897. Mrs. Buhr man died January 30, 1911, being in her eighty- ninth year. JOHN JASPER. Prominent among Antelope county citizens who has made this region his home for many years and has done his share in the development of the agri cultural resources of this county, may be mentioned the name of John Jasper. Mr. Jasper lived in sec tion seventeen, township twenty-three, range six, where he located on first coming to Antelope county. Mr. Jasper is a native of Germany, born in Muenster province, March 17, 1861. His father, B. H. Jasper, was also a native of Germany. In 1 867 Mr. Jasper, the subject of our sketch, came to America by the way of Hamburg, landing in New- York, and from there went to the state of Iowa, remaining there twenty-seven years. In 1896 he came to Antelope county, settling there, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land. He began at once to improve this land, building a good house, and fencing and cross fenc ing the farm. He now owns four hundred acres, and devotes a good deal of attention to stock rais ing. Mr. Jasper was united in marriage in 1889 to Miss Agnes Wilbereing and to this union seven children were born, whose names are as follows : Henry, Mary, Anna, Joe, Agnes, Katie, and Francis. In 1-899 Mrs. Jasper died deeply mourned by her husband and family. Mr. Jasper was again married iri 1905, his bride being Anna Williams, and Mr, and Mrs> Jasper are the parents of four children, named as follows: Gertrude, Christian, John, and Laurence. They are a fine family, and Mr. and Mrs. Jasper enjoy the respect and high regard of all who know them. ISAAC NEWTON SIMMS. Isaac Newton Simms, who has a well located and handsome residence on section ten, township nineteen, range twenty-one, Custer county, has a well equipped and improved stock and grain farm and is highly respected as an able business man and as a public spirited citizen. He has succeeded through perseverance and thrift and in promoting his own interests, and has assisted in tne develop ment and upbuilding of the community. He was born sixteen iniles north of Galesburg, Knox coun ty, Illinois, September 19, 1847. and was the eighth born child of George and Hester (Jones) Simms, parents of seven sons and six daughters. The fath er was a native of North Carolina and the mother of Kentucky. Both the Simms and Jones families had been living in the southern states; for many generations be fore the birth of the individuals mentioned. The grandfather Simms was an early settler near Springfield, Illinois, and the father early located in Knox county, where he was living at the time of the Black Hawk war. He worked several years for Peter Cartwright, the honored pioneer preacher of Illinois. He erected the first log house in Mercer county, was married in Illinois and passed through the experiences of frontier life, being honored by the personal friendship of Abraham Lincoln, of whom he was an ardent admirer, and for whom he gave his services during his first campaign for the office of (president. George Simms died in Illinois in 1865. Isaac N. Simms was reared in his native state and lived there until his twenty-sixth year, re ceiving the usual educational advantages of farm ers' sons and early helping with the work on the home farm. He was married at Knoxville, IUinois, September 19, 1872, to Miss Clarinda Chilson, daughter of William and Harriet (Potter) Chilson, her father a native of New Jersey and her mother of Ohio. Her grandfather Potter erected the first saw and grist mill in Warren county,- Illinois, and his daughter ' (Mrs. Chilson) was in Chicago when there were but, three log houses in the town. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Simms spent one year in -Illinois, and then moved to Kansas, where he lived five years, in Shawnee county, and a like period in Wabaunsee county. In the fall of 1883, he came by prairie schooner, over the "overland trail" to Custer county, with his wife and their two sons, Theodore N. and George. They reached their destination in November and purchased the Temp Merchant homestead on section ten, township nineteen, range twenty-one, which was one of the original homesteads on Victoria creek. Isaac Mer chant had come there with his family in the early 1048 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. seventies, and during the Indian uprising of 1876 a fort of hewed logs was erected on the homestead. these logs were afterward used in erecting the, Simms home. Six or seven acres of trees had been set out by Temp Merchant and Mr. Simms and family also set out trees, so that there is a splendid grove surrounding the house, and water from the springs of Victoria creek is piped over the farm here and there by a good system of water works, so that the home is located in a picturesque spot. The fine flowing springs add to the beauty and charm of the place ; some of the trees are more than three feet in diameter, through which are inter spersed many fine cedars. There is a fine orchard on the estate, some of the apple trees having limbs over thirty feet in length. Mr. and Mrs. Simms have but two children, George is married and living just west of the home farm, and he and his wife have one child; Theo dore, married and living in Colorado, has two chil dren. The reader is referred to the sketch of George W. Simms in this work. The mother of Mr. Simms came to Custer coun ty in 1881 with her married daughter, Hettie, now Mrs. Edward Bishop, and took up a homestead on which she proved up her claim. Her death oc curred in Broken Bow, the interment being in Gates cemetery, when she was in her eighty-seventh year, a woman who had lived in a frontier home most of her life, greatly loved by all who knew her. She left one son, David B., who lives at Ar nold, Custer county, and her daughter, Mrs. Martha G. Herbert, lives in Broken Bow, these be ing the only ones in the county besides Isaac N. Of the thirteen children in the family six sons and one daughter now survive. Mr. Simms is one of the most enterprising of citizens and he and his family have made many friends in the comunity. WILBUR F. BRYANT. Wilbur F. Bryant, a portrait of whom appears on another page, is a man who has seen all phases of life on land and sea, in the oldest centers of civi lization and the outer borders of the western fron tier. He was born in Coos county, New Hampshire March 21, 1851, son of George and Nancy M. (Parker) Bryant, also natives of New England, the former of Irish, the latter of English descent. An uncle, Henry Bryant, was one who fell at the assassination in South Hampton, Virginia, in 1831. When a boy of fourteen he ran away to sea and shipped in a whaler, in which he served three years, becoming an able seaman. He made two other voyages before attaining his majority, visit ing Malaga and Libson on the Iberian peninsula; the Azore Islands, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Tasmania, India, China, and the Spanish Main. On the last voyage, Mr. Bryant, although not yet of age, was made mate by the supercargo, who reduced that official to the ranks. On his return he was a guide in the White Mountains; and at one time while showing the German ambassador and wife over Mt. Lafayette, he gave geological infor mation he had frequently heard, the ambassador surprised to learn he had had little schooling en couraged him to go to college, which advice he followed. He attended Kimball academy and fit ted himself for college ,in two years, and' later at tended Dartmouth college at Hanover, New Hamp shire. He went to Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he was principal of the Academy there for one year. He eame to Nebraska in 1876, reaching Green Island, Cedar county, September 1, of that year. Here he taught for a year and then spent a year on the open range with the cowboys' outfit in the Elkhorn A^alley. Returning to St. Helena, he was appointed postmaster of the town by President Hayes, holding the office for three years. ' He had read law and been admitted to the bar in the mean while, and was elected district 'attorney, serving during 1882 and 1883. Moving to Cuming county, he was elected county judge, serving one term at, West Point; he was then appointed supreme court reporter, holding the office four years under the democratic administration, and one year and three months under republican ; he has also been state in surance commissioner for part of a term. Mr. Bryant was married October 1, 1881, to Miss Kate Saunders, who was born at the old set tlement of Wacapana, a daughter of Stephen P. and Elizabeth Aten Saunders, pioneers in Cedar county who came to the settlement in 1860. They had been teachers in the south prior to the civil war ; and seeing the conflict coming, and holding anti-slavery sentiments, they migrated in 1860 — thus escaping the outbreak of hostilities. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have been blessed with five children, namely: Ita, a teacher in Hartington city schools; Ethel, teaching in Crofton; Eugene, a grain buy er in Pendar; Donovan K, who with George W, the youngest, is in school. Mr. Bryant has been a life-long i democrat of broad and liberal views. He takes a rational view of the negro question in the south, and believes in educating them to a higher level ; realizing that as a race they can never equal the Caucasian, though many of their race have attained to high education and have brilliant minds. Mr. Bryant has been an omnivorous reader; history philosophy, mythol ogy, religious controversy, the languages, all flow readily from his tongue, or pen. He has written much in prose and some in verse, all bearing the stamp of high mentality. Mr. Bryant became a member of the Knights of Columbus some years ago, and at Dartmouth was a member of the K. K. K. fraternity. The , fierce storms that have swept the plains have had their place in the life of Mr. Bryant. He straggled for an hour or more before reaching shel ter the first day of the blizzard of October, 1880. He had difficulty in reaching home January 12, W. F. BRYANT. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1049 1888, while on the bench at West Point; in flound ering through the snow that drifted around one of the buildings, he became exhausted and was almost ready to give up, but thoughts of his family roused him to greater efforts, and he made his way safely home, nearly frozen in his battle with the elements. He made a superhuman effort to rescue a Norwegian family on the roof of their house iri the memorable flood of March and April, 1881 ; seeing their peril he made his way over the waste of ice in wild confusion to their bouse, to find them unwilling to abandon their home. He, with a companion who had followed him and became help less, spent the night in a cabin on somewhat higher ground, but which was threatened with destruction should the gorge of ice above them give away. To amuse them1 he played the fiddle through the night, keeping their minds off the danger. By morning the loose ice was frozen more solid, and he made his way safely back to St. Helena, his home. He has seen deer grazing where Hatington now stands ; has seen the open country stretching away to the mountains, a, waving, grassy plain. From tbe wilderness to a blooming garden, the granary of the country he has seen Nebraska de velop her giant strides. It seems' almost incredible that such changes could take place within the life time of one man. HENRY LONEYr. Henry Loney a native of Indiana, came to Ne braska in 1866 when there were few settlers beyond the bluffs of the Missouri river. He was born in Tippacanoe county, December 26, 1837, a son of Edward and Nancy (Wilson) Loney. His father was born in North Carolina, and when our subject was but five years of age, the father moved to Ohio, and lived there until his marriage, when he removed to Tippacanoe county. He lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and one years, and one month, dying at Wilsonville, Oregon, the twenty-seventh of November, 1905. The mother was a native of Ohio and died about 1844. Mr. Loney i farmed in his native state until his migration to Nebraska in 1866. He rented land the first year one mile south of Wisner, plowing forty acres after his arrival on October 15. The following year he filed on a homestead eight miles north of West Point, the first on the east side of Plum creek. Here for eighteen years he toiled and prospered, and in 1885 he sold his holdings and purchasing the relinquishment of a homestead and timber claim he pre-empted the former and fulfill ing the requirements of the timber statutes re ceived a patent to both tracts. He continued in operation of his farming here until 1901, when he moved to the town of Plainview. In 1910 he re moved to Oregon City, Oregon, arriving at that, place on November 16 and there he still resides. Mr. Loney was first married in Dayton, 34% Indiana, to Nancy Catherine Stoops, to whom three children were born: Charles, living in Re public, Washington; George, farming three miles ^outh of Plainview; Herman, farming near Nio brara. Mr. Loney was married a second time to Mary Brown at West Point and, five children have been born to them : Edward, lives in Orchard,, Nebraska ; Julia, wife of Edward Baxter, resides at Toledo, Washington ; Lily, married Prank Bishop of Plain- view; Oliver, at present living in Washington; Ada, now diving near Oregon City, Oregon. Mr. Loney was married a third time November 29, 1906, in Creighton to Mrs. Rosalia (Oliver) Gernhardt, a native of Rossie, Saint Lawrence county, New York. She is a daughter of Luther and Thankful (Potter) Oliver, natives of Essex county, New York. Of her first marriage four children were born: Cora Belle, who married Mr. CampbelL of Sioux City, Iowa ; Jennie, is the wife of Nathan Reynolds of Creighton ; Carrie, married William Goos of Lyons, Kansas; Oliver, employed at Oelrichs, South Dakota. Mrs. Loney first came to Nebraska in 1886, hav ing lived in Sioux City twenty-four years prior to that time. When she first knew that thriving city there was but one sidewalk in town, that leading down to the river front. While living in Nebraska, Mr. Loney witnessed the worst raids of the grasshopper pest, having lest all his crops five successive years. Each year he was compelled to place a large mortgage on his land to provide sustenance for his family, and each year saw bis crops destroyed in a few hours ; when "the pests did cease, however, the first year's harvest made his way easy and his indebtedness was soon liquidated. One year the family attempted to save the corn crop and garden by burning sulphur around the fields, and had the pests remained but seven days instead of nine all would have been well. The gar den was saved,, however, but the corn crop was de voured before a wind sprung up which carried the" marauders to fresher fields. One year the pests came out of the north in three or four columns like so many lines of smoke. A new neighbor not fa miliar with them could not be convinced that it was anything but smoke until twenty minutes after, when the voracious insects began to alight, and devour every green thing to be seen. Deer and antelope were to be seen when Mr. Loney first settled in Nebraska, and wild turkeys frequently wandered out from the Missouri bottoms, some times running through his dooryard. Mr. Loney and wife were out in one of the early blizzards of Nebraska and had a fortunate escape; they had been sitting up all night with a sick neighbor and Mrs. Loney was uneasy about the older children left at home, having an 'infant in arms with her. After waiting for hours in hopes the storm would subside they started for home. Mr. Loney keeping his eyes on the ground where the 1050 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY whirling snow was less dense, managed to keep the trail to their own door step after suffering for some time in the storm with his wife clinging to his sleeve. In all his trips over the wild prairies he was never lost, not even at night. He had his bap tism of paririe fires the first year of his life in Ne braska, when the farm he had rented was nearly overwhelmed. By strenuous work, with the aid of the owner of the place, who was stopping with a neighbor, everything was saved. An escaped fire from a twenty-five acre field Mr. Loney had plowed around and then burned, came near prov ing his undoing getting beyond control it swept onward towards a neighboring ranch, which by hard labor was saved. Indians of the Omaha tribe were frequent visit ors, camping on Plum creek near Mr. Loney 's place every year in migrating to their summer hunting grounds. Our subject and children visited the Indians many times in their tepees. Their odd trail leading to the Platte country passed through his place and is, to this day, visible for miles even where the land has been for years under cultiva tion. He has seen their peculiar mode of burial on poles high in the air, a custom discontinued long after the settlement of the county. In those pion eer days, Omaha was the nearest marketplace first at which to sell produce and purchase supplies, four days being consumed in the journey from the region of West Point. However, Mr. Loney seldom made the trip, sending by passing neighbors for such things as he needed. The land office was there at the time and the journey had to be made there to file on homestead rights, i Mr. Loney richly deserves the competency he has secured by his years of arduous toil in the pioneer days, the hardships he has endured, and bids fair to attain his father's venerable age of a century and more. WILLIAM HILMER. Of the prominent and leading old settlers of Howard county, Nebraska, none are held in higher esteem by their fellow citizens than William Hilmer, brpther of Fred Hilmer also an influential resident of that section, whose personal history is recorded in this book. He has spent his entire ca reer in the pursuit of farming, and has met with pronounced success in the development of a fine farm situated in Keslo precinct. William Hilmer was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, , on January 14, 1850. He is the third child in the family of Henry and Doritha Hilmer, and was the first of the family to leave his native land and try his fortune in America, com ing here in 1868, his first location being in Wis consin. He was joined there by diis brother, Henry, and after a few years there, when they had saved enough money to send for the balance of the family, mother, father, and three children arrived in Wisconsin and begun farming. Our subject came to Howard county in May, 1873, the others joining him in the fall of that year, William tak ing a homestead upon landing here and the father and two other sons filing on claims later. Henry Hilmer became ill, and died in the hospital at Lin coln: Nebraska, in 1902. The father died on the home place in 1887. Mr. Hilmer has been successful in his farming and stock raising enterprises since coming to How ard county, and now owns a finely improved three hundred and twenty acre farm, thoroughly equip ped with good buildings, etc. He has a handsome dwelling, surrounded by beautiful lawns and a fine grove of trees, and also has a large orchard in good growing condition. The family lives in comfort, and even luxury, and appreciate keenly the change from the earlier years when they were obliged to endure discomfort and hardship. Mr. Hilmer well remembering the time when even the necessaries of life, such as flour and bacon, were considered a luxury. Mr. Hilmer was married in Howard county, April 6, 1878, to Adelheit Weiss, her family being among the early settlers here. Mr. and Mrs. Hil mer have had eight children, all of whom are dead but Albert H., and Harry O, both of whom live on their father 's farm. Albert H. is married to Elsie Groch. Mr. Hilmer is a member of the school board in district number forty-seven, and has been for the past twenty-five years. Lie has also held the office of road supervisor for two years, and is active in all affairs that stand for the best interests of his community. Mr. Hilmer is a member of , the Ger man Lutheran church, and was instrumental in es tablishing the church, of that denomination, which is located on his farm. He has been secretary of the church for sixteen years. ROBERT H. ENGLISH. Robert H. English is one of the well known and successful stock and grain farmers of Custer county who made their start by taking up home stead land. He was born in Collingwood, Canada, February 16, 1858, eldest of the six children of Samuel and Mary (Hickey) English, natives of Ireland. Of the other children, one son, James lives in Mason City and two sons in Wyoming, while others 'are deceased. The father came to Canada as a young man and passed his last days in Mason City, Nebraska, where he died in 1908, and his widow, still lives there. In 1877 Robert II. English came to Sarpy coun ty, Nebraska, where he carried on farming six years, and he was married at Gretna September 17, 1882, to Lillian Miles, a native of Pennsylvania, whose parents, Adam and Elizabeth (Booze) Miles, were early settlers of Sarpy county. Ten children were born of this union, nine of whom survive : Samuel P., of South Dakota ; Angeline, wife of WaUace Pringle, of Portland, Oregon, has COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1051 one child; Llattie, wife of Levi Patrick of Mason City, has three children; William H., James R., Hazel V., Timothy, Charles W. and Albert J., at home. In the spring of 1884 Mr. English brought his wife and one son to Custer county where he took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section three, township fourteen, range seventeen, which is still the home place. He has improved and devel oped his farm, which is well equipped for stock and grain raising. He is one of the earliest settlers of tlie state and has spent nearly thirty years in Cus ter county, where he is widely known and has a large number of friends. He has prospered through energy and enterprise to a gratifying degree and is accounted one of the substantial, public-spirited citizens of the county. In politics he is indepen dent of party ties and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. CHRIST SCHMITT. Christ Schmitt an agriculturist of prominence in Madison county, Nebraska, is one of those sub stantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much to the ma terial wealth and growth of Nebraska. Agricul ture forms the, basis of wealth in that part of _ the country, as indeed in most sections of- the United States. It is therefore of great importance that the class of people who inhabit the great farming re gions of the country should represent those ele ments of sterling worth so prominently displayed by the majority of the early 'settlers and their de scendants. Mr. Schmitt is a native of Germany his birth occurring in the province of Bavaria on the Rhine, May 17, 1844 ; he is a son of Valentine' and Catherine (Kaiser) Schmitt who were also natives of Germany. In 1866, Mr. Schmitt left his native land, em barking on the steamship "Perkrutz," coming by way of Havre, France, to Liverpool, and from thence to New York. After landing in the new world he started for the west, and settled in Will county, Illinois, where he remained five years. In 1871 Mr. Schmitt eame to Madison county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead, the one on which he now resides. On this land he built a frame house sixteen by twenty-two feet, hauling the lumber for its construction by ox team from Columbus, which place was also the nearest market in those early days. Mr. Schmitt endured many hardships and dis couragements in the first, days 'of settlement on the western frontier, and suffered many losses through grasshoppers, blizzards, and prairie fires. ¦ In 1873, 1874 and 1875, the crops and nearly all vegetation were completely destroyed by the grass hopper pests that devastated that region 'in those years ; in 1873, his losses were added to by some of his stock having perished in the blizzard of April 13, 14 and 1 5 ; and many times the family were compelled to fight prairie fires that often swept that region, consuming everything in its path. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those times, and were often seen grazing about through the country. Mir. Schmitt was united in marriage in 1869 to Miss Phceba Gabelman, and they are the parents of twelve children, namely: Katie, Caroline Phoeba, Anna, Christ D., Jacob, George, William, Fred, Maggie, Lizzie, and Martha. They are a fine fam ily, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a large cir cle of friends and acquaintances. WILLIAM W. BARNES. William W. Barnes is one of Nebraska's early settlers and has passed. through the various periods of its history from 1883 to the present time — near ly thirty years. He was born in Parke county, Indiana November 27, 1863, next to the youngest of the six children of Samuel and Catherine (Clarke) Barnes. He has two brothers and a sister in Missouri and one brother in Texas, and one child is deceased. The father, also a native of In diana was of German descent, and his death occur red in Missouri in the fall of 1889. The mother, a native of the same state, died,in Missouri the spring after her husband's decease. At the age of five years William W. Barnes was taken by his parents to Missouri where he received his education and grew to manhood. Mr. Barnes came to Nebraska in 1883 and en gaged in farming, spending the first two years in Hall county. In 1885 he moved to Colfax county, remaining there until 1904. He was married while on a visit to Missouri, in September, 1887, to Miss Lorena Garton a native of Missouri, and returned with his bride to his farm in Colfax county. In 1904 he brought his wife and four children to Custer county and purchased a ranch of one thou sand acres of land near Broken Bow. In 1908 he sold this property and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on section thirty-two, township eighteen range twenty. In 1910 he disposed of two hundred acres of this, and purchased eighty acres across the read from the forty, and now occupies the new tract of land, on wdiich are good buildings, and on which is situated the church. It is a well equipped and highly developed stock and grain farm, and is well located. Mr. Barnes served as director of the school board of district number six ty for several years, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his state. He is widely known and much respected. Five children have been born to Mr. Barnes and wife, namely: Lura A., wife of Ernest Kaolin, of Ord, Nebraska, has two children; Samuel, at home; Eva, wife of Raymond Gates, of Custer county ; Ethel and Mildred at home. Mrs. Barnes is a daughter of Thomas and Emily (Crayton) Garton, now residing in Missouri, where they have 1052 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. spent their married life. The father is a native of that state and of German descent, and the mother, a native of Illinois, is of Irish descent. They have two sons, Frank and Ray, in Nebraska ; two daugh ters in that state besides Mrs. Barnes; a son in New Mexico and one in Colorado, and other chil dren in Missouri. FRED GRECKEL. Located very pleasantly inisection eight, town ship thirty-one, range four, Knox county, Nebras ka, is to be found the well known and somewhat popular gentleman whose name introduces this bio graphical writing. He has been identified with the history of Knox county from an early date, and his contributions to the making of northeastern Ne braska have been many. Mr. Greckel is a quiet, unobtrusive man of industrious habits and poss esses force of character and honesty of purpose. He is known as one of the leading influential early settlers bf the state. Mr. Greckel is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Naugard village, King 'William prov ince, in the year 1853. His birth place being a farm house, his associations from the very first were with agricultural interests; it is natural, therefore, that he should be a farmer, and that he should find success in life's endeavors in the till ing of the soil. , Mr. Greckel left his native land in 1881 for the new world, sailing from Bremen on the steamship ' ' Wayser ' ' for New York ; and after landing in the United States he proceeded westward, going as far as Cuming county, Nebraska where he rented land and remained twelve years. He then moved to Knox county, in 1892, and bought the land where he now resides from Mr. Morris Detz.- When Mr. Greckel first came to Nebraska he, like so many other early settlers of this region, ex perienced many hardships and privations incident to those times, but has successfully weathered that trying period, and now owns a well improved farm and beautiful home and the experiences of those early days remain but a memory. Mr. Greckel was 'united in marriage in 1879 to Miss i Annie Lemke, and Mr. and Mrs. Greckel are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Lena, Mary, Anna, Hattie, Fritz, Otto, and Herman. Mr. and Mr. Greckel and family enjoy the esteem and friendship of a host of friends and acquaintances. JOSEPH D. SAMUELL. Joseph D. Samuell a large ranch owner and successful stock man of Central City, Nebraska, formerly lived in township fourteen, range seven, west, Merrick county, where he was recognized as a prominent member of his community. Joseph D. Samuell, son of Henry L. and Lydia (Blunt) Samuell, was born in Kilbourne, Illinois, August 8, 1864, and was eighth of eleven children. He has a brother, Brooking A, residing in Kil bourne ; a sister, Ella Sutton, also in Kilbourne ; a brother, Hickman B., in Easton, Illinois; and another sister, Kittie Geisler, in Kilbourne. Our subject's father died in 1906, at'Kilbourne, where the mother is now living. On August 21, 1891, Mr. Samuell was united in marriage to Prudence M. Root, of Kilbourne, Illinois, who was a teacher, having been assistant principal in Chandlerville, Illinois, schools. Mr. Samuell received his elementary education in the home schools and later attended the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois, during the years 1883 and 1884; and in 1891 graduated in scientific and normal courses at Northern Illinois normal school iat Dixon, Illinois. In 1891 was elected superintedent of Rock Falls, Illinois, schools, serving one year. In 1892 Mr. Samuell was elected superintendent of Albion, Illinois, schools, serving four years. In 1896, he with his wife and one daughter came to Merrick county, Ne braska, where he had purchased eighty acres and since then from time to time he has added other lands, until he now owns nine hundred and sixty acres all in Merrick county. Mr. and Mrs. Samuell have had three children: Zola, M., attendant at Liberty Ladies College at Liberty, Missouri; and Charles A., and Veda, who reside at home. Mr. Samuel is one of the well known men of his county is a prosperous man of affairs, arid is inter ested in all pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state. He was instrumental in instal ling the Independent telephone in the locality of his farm and in 1902 circulated a petition for rural mail delivery, securing the same in 1904, this being the second route in the county. Mr. Samuell has bred Hereford cattle exclusively for fourteen years, and has the distinction of having the only herd of registered polled Hereford cattle in Nebraska, hav ing over one hundred and sixty head. He insti tuted the Archer Breeders' Association in 1903, which has done much along the line its name in dicates. In October 1910, Mr. Samuell moved with his family to Central City, where they interid making their home, although Mr.» Samuell will still con tinue to devote his attention to his 'extensive farm and stock interests. FRANK NOVACEK. Frank Novacek, who for the past twenty-two years has been one of the foremost residents of Knox county, Nebraska owns a good farm and home in section seven, township thirty, range sev en. He is one of the leading old settlers in this locality, and has always given his best aid in look ing to the interests of the county, and still does his full share in developing its resources and making it a success. Mr. Novacek is a native of Bohemia, 'being COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1053 born in that country in the year 1865, and he is the son of Albert and Anna Novacek. Our subject grew to his second year in his native land, and in 1866, with his parents, came to America, as did so many of the sturdy sons of foreign shores in those early pioneer day. The family, including our sub ject' sailed from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, and after landing in the new world immediately started for Chicago-, stopping there until the fire of 1871. In the fall of that year the family removed to Jones county, Iowa, and in the spring or 1872, returned to Chicago for the summer, 'then back to Jones county, where they lived until 1889. They then came to Knox county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead in section seven, township thirty range seven, which remains the old home farm to this day, and where Mr. Novacek now re sides. He has improved the land until he now has a fine farm and good home, Where he is surrounded by his family and a wide circle of 'friends and acquaintances. In September, 1910, Frank Novacek bought one hundred and fifty acres of improved land in Sparta township, two and a half miles north of Verdigris. He intends putting a son and daughter on the place. In 1891, Mr. Novacek was united in holy mat rimony to Miss Fannie Skliskey, and they are the - parents of four children, whose names are as fol lows: Albert, William, Anna, and Mary, all of whom are living under the parental roof. Mr. and Mr. Albert Novacek are till living and reside on the old homestead. Mr. Kammer has been identified with the his tory of Knox county from an early date, and has always taken an interest in the welfare of his home county and state. JOHN KAMMER. Through eceptionally good management and persistent labors, the gentleman here named has acquired a well developed farm and is enabled to enjoy the comforts of modern farming. He is of a progressive nature, and has a wide epenence in farming. Mr. Kammer 'sipleasant home is located in Herick county township, on section twenty- eight, township thirty-two, range three where he and his family reside, surrounded by a host of good friends and many acquaintances. Mr Kammer was born in I860, and is a native of the state of Iowa. He is a son of William and Hannah (Linney) Kammer, both natives of Ger many coming to America and settling in Clinton county, Iowa state, in 1856. Our subject was born on a farm, and here he remained with his parents, assisting with the work and attending school, re ceiving a good education. In 1894, Mr. Kammer came to Knox county, .Ne braska where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land and improved same until now he has a fine farm and home. Mr. Kammer was united in holy matrimony m 1882 to Miss Ella Stevenson, and Mr. and - Mrs. Kammer .are the parents of two fine children, whose names are as follows : Roy J. and Earl V. FREDRICK SCHILLING. Fredrick Schilling, a well-to-do farmer, ener getic and industrious, a typical representative of the German race, who came to this country to es tablish a home and accumulated a competence for himself, resides on his fine farm in section two, township twenty-two range one, west, Mtodison county, Nebraska. Mr. SchiUing has resided in Madison county for the past thirty-four years, which places him well along in the ranks of the oldest settlers of this region. Since coming here, Mr. Schilling and his father before him have al ways taken a leading part in everything pertain ing to the best interests of their home state and county. Mr. Schilling resides in Union precinct, and he and his > family are surrounded in their pleasant home by a host of good friends and neigh bors. Mr. Schilling is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Prussia province, January 13, 1862; he is a son of Gottlieb and Wilheimena (Prusz) Schilling. Our subject grew to early manhood in his native land, and in 1876, he, with his parents left the old country for the new world, sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to New York in a steamship. After landing in the United States, the family went west, remaining in Omaha, Nebraska, one week. They then came on to Madison county, where they' bought the right to a homestead for two hundred dollars, and built a shanty twelve by sixteen feet, living in this several years. Mr. Schilling later bought his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and has steadily improved same until he now has a good farm and. pleasant home. In those earliest years of settlement on the western frontier, our subject and the family ex perienced many severe hardships and discourage ments and not the least of the dangers to contend with were the prairie, fires that often swept over the 'open prairie leaving havoc in their wake; and many times were our little family compelled to fight this danger to save their lives and homes. Co lumbus, many miles distant, was their nearest market place in those times, and the journey con sumed many days in going to and fro. Mr. Schill ing's father nearly lost his life in the blizzard of January 12, 1888. Mir. Schilling was married in 1892 to Miss Wil- hemena Brummond, and they are the parents of four children: Paul, Mattie, Clara, and Martha. They are a fine family. 1054 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY A. J. LEACH. A. J. Leach, an enterprising and substantial citizen of Oakdale, Antelope county, Nebraska, is/ one of the men of whom the people of Nebraska the surrounding community are justifiably proud. He is a typical pioneer of Nebraska and is promi nently known throughout the state with which he has been identified so many years. Mr. Leach has contributed in every conceivable way to the ad vancement and growth of his home state and coun ty, and among other contributions, wrote the his tory of Antelope county as it was in its very first days of settlement. He has been a part of the growth and development of this region and has built up for himself a substantial home and for tune by his perseverance and thrift, and has come to be one of the foremost citizens of Antelope county. Mr. Leach is a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, born September 19, 1834. .His father, was a native of Vermont, where he was born in 1796, and after growing to manhood served in the war of 1812; he died when the boy was but seven years of age. Both of Mr. Leach's grandfathers served in the revolutionary war, Grandfather Huntington was captured at the battle of Long Island and was in the prison ship at New 'York. His ancestors came from England,- but were bf Scotch descent, on the father's side, having gone to England about the year 1300; they came to America from the north of England in 1629, seven generations ago on the father's side. Mr. Leach's mother who be fore her mariage was Miss Theoda Huntington, was born, in 1800 in Vermont, of English descent. In 1834 the family moved from Ohio to Michi gan, and remained there two years, returning to Ohio in 1836, and then to Michigan in 1842. In 1852, Mr. Leach, with his cousin, bought a pony on which they packed baggage ; they walked to La Salle, Illinois, from there to St. Louis, by way of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, where they bought supplies. Coming up the river by steamer to St. Joe, where they hired out to drive ox teams across the prairie, then started up through Ne braska, then on west to the coast, and to Oregon. They remained there six years and returned by way of Isthmus of Panama to the state of Michigan. In 1867 Mr. Leach came to Omaha, where he resided eleven months, filling the position of clerk in the hardware store of E. J. Cook. In the spring of 1868 went to Dodge county, and then came to Antelope county in the year 1869, and took up a homestead claim in section two and three, town ship twenty-three, range six, in what is now known as Cedar township ; here he built a double log house, each part being sixteen by sixteen. During his residence in this location, Mr. Leach suffered hardships and losses of every description; grass hopper raids, every form of storm, wind, hail ; and one of the most persistent and dangerous obstacles to be met in those days was the prairie fires, which had to be almost constantly fought to preserve home, property, and lives. But these events have long since passed to history, and Mr. Leach now lives to enjoy the peace and prosperity which pre vails in the present day. Mr. Leach was united in marriage December 28, 1858, to Miss Esther E. Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of six children, namely: Miles H., married to Blanche Mallory, who lives in Raymond, Washington, they having two chil dren; Dewett O, of Antelope county, who is mar ried to Miss Nettie Brainard, and has four chil dren; Katie M., also in Antelope county, wife of C. II. Brainard ; Agnes L. who is the wife of Harry Langley, live in Laurel, Nebraska; Carrie E., in Antelope county, wife of V. E. Brainard; and Ger trude, a twin to Agnes, who died when a small child. Mr. Leach is a leader in all public spirited movements, and an organizer of several offices which were created in the first days of Antelope county's settlement. He was the first county su perintendent, serving two consecutive terms ; he also held the offices of county surveyor one term, and county treasurer two terms. He organized the first sixteenth school districts in Antelope court ty. Mr. Leach has the distinction of having paid the first taxes to be exacted in Antelope county, which was in 1871, they being paid to Robert Mar wood, in April. 1872, and he still holds tax receipt number one. Mr. Leach is now retired, residing in a beauti ful home in Oakdale, and enjoys the possession of many acquaintances and staunch friends through out the state of Nebraska, where his high character is recognized by all. WILLIAM R. MATTOX. William R. Mattox living retired from active life in Comstock, Nebraska, is honored as a public- spirited citizen, and as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, August 15, 1848, fourth, in order of birth of the children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gilman) Mattox. Mr. Mattox has three brothers in Illinois and the others of the children are deceased. The father was a native of southern Ohio, served in the Civil war as a member of Company IT, Eighty-fifth In diana Infantry, and 'died in Illinois in 1883. His wife died in that state in 1866. Mr. Mattox grew to young manhood on the In diana farm and received his education in local schools. At the age of fifteen years he enlisted in the same company in which his father served, and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, fought at Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Nashville, besides many minor engagements. He enlisted in Sullivan county January 1, 1864, and was dis charged at Indianapolis iri August, 1865. At the close of the war Mr. Mattox returned to Indiana, MR. AND MRS. W. R. MATTOX. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1055 and soon afterward removed with the rest of tbe family to Coles county, Illinois, where they en gaged in farming. He was there married on Octo ber 4, 1866, to Miss Mary F. LaRue, a native of Illinois. In the fall of 1884 Mr. Mattox brought his wife and six children to Custer county, Nebraska, home steading one hundred and sixty acres of land on section thirty-four, township eighteen, range eighteen, which they occupied many years. He brought the place to a fain state of development and productivenesss and took an active part in local affairs. He assisted very materially in or ganizing the school known as Columbia school, was the first director on the board, and served in that office many years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mattox, seven of whom are now living: Thomas, of Broken Bow, is married and has five children; James W., of Coberg, Nebraska, is married and has seven children; Laura E., wife of William West brook, of Dry Valley, has eleven children ; Charles B., living near Comstock, has two children; Jo seph A., who lives near Broken Bow, is married and has five children; Anna, wife of Fred Neidt, lives near Comstock; Harvey 0., of Comstock, is married and has five children. Mr. Mattox and family were among the very early settlers of the region and passed through many stages of Ne braska's history. He became a. prosperous farm er and stockman and owns a farm of three hun dred and seventy-nine acres, which is well im proved and equipped, located one mile south of Comstock. It contains ten acres of fine timber. .Mr. Mattox is one of the best known men in the community and it was a great grief to his family and friends when his eyesight began failing. On accbunt of this infirmity he retired from farm work in 1909 and purchased the nice home in Comstock, where he now lives. Fortunately, Mr. Mattox now has a new lease on vision through a successsful operation on his eyes, and is now able again to take active part in business affairs. On another page will be found portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mattox. ISAAC A. COLEMAN.' Isaac A. Coleman is a well-known and prosper ous business man of Broken Bow, Nebraska, and is much interested in the welfare and progress of his community, being one of the older settlers of Custer county. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, April 9, 1843, a son of John and Sarah (Lambert) Coleman, and fifth of their nine chil dren. He has two sisters in Wisconsin, and one sister in Kansas City, and others of the children are deceased. The father was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, of German descent, and died in Wisconsin, January 28, 1872, and the mother, a native of Indiana, died in Wisconsin, January 1, 1893. In 1847 Isaac A. Coleman accompanied his parents to Jackson county, Wisconsin, and there reached manhood, being educated in local schools. As a young man he engaged in lumbering, and from the time he was thirteen years of age as sumed most of the responsibility of the family's support, his father being an invalid for many years. On November 8, 1861, Mr. Coleman enlisted at Black River Palls, Wisconsin, in Company G, Tenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and received his discharge at Milwaukee, in November, 1864. Among the im portant battles in which he participated were Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, besides many minor engagements and skirmishes. While guarding railroads in Alabama he was taken pris oner and held five months and fourteen days, most of the time in Libby prison. Later he be came a non-commissioned officer. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Wisconsin and resumed his former occupations. He was married at Black River Falls, May 11, 1869, to Miss Eunice C. Ormsby, a native of Parishville, New York, and in the spring of 1880 he brought his wife and two children to Wayne county, Nebraska. He pur chased land and engaged in farming, but two years later sold his interests there and came to Custer county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land comprising the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, township eighteen, range twenty-two, which was the home place for more than twenty years. He also secured a tim ber claim of the same size. Mr. Coleman has always been interested in edu cational measures and other movements for the good of the community and county, and served many years on the school board in district number (sixty-two, and for two terms was county super visor. In 1903 he retired from farm work and purchased a place in Broken Bow, where he erected a pleasant home. He is regarded as an enterpris ing business man and a public-spirited citizen. He and his wife had three children, namely: Er nest M., in hardware business at Merna, has three children; Alice, wife of L. Van Buskirk, of Wyo ming, has two children; Ethel W., wife of Fred IL Ream, of Broken Bow, has one child. CHARLES W. SCOTT. (Deceased.) Virginia has given many of her sons to the counties of northeastern Nebraska, and one of them who made an honored name for himself was Charles W. Scott, who passed away March 18, 1909. ' Mr. Scott was born in Smyth county, May 8, 1850, a son of Andrew and Minerva (Williams) 1056 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Scott, whose entire lives were spent in the "Old Dominion," and grew to manhood on his father's farm among the Virginia mountains. He wras married in this county to Miss America Grose- close, a native of Virginia, and daughter of James and Amanda (Wolf) Groseclose. After his mar riage he farmed in his native county until his mi gration to the west in March, 1883. The first year lie rented a farm near Foster, Nebraska, and then filed on a homestead seven miles southeast of Plainview, and eight years .later purchased an ad ditional quarter section at Osmond, on which he resided four years. Selling his farms, he moved to Laurel, Nebraska, and kept hotel for four years, when he disposed of his business and retired to Plainview to make his home during his remaining years. But he could not sit idly by, and, until health failed him, he collected and snipped cream to the Kirchbaum Creamery at Omaha. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Scott: Laurel Belle wife of Edward Jefferson. a merchant of Osmond; Rachel, who married Lewis Simpson, a banker of Mitchell, South Da kota ; Earl, who is in partnership with his brother- in-law, Mr. Jefferson, in Osmond; Andrew, Glenn, and Benjamin, who still make their home under the parental roof. During the memorable blizzard of January! 12, 1888, Mjr. Scott braved the storm and saved a dozen of his cattle who were drifting away. One of them, an old family cow, knew the voice of her mistress who was calling to herithrough the blast, and the rest of them followed to shelter, with Mr. Scott in their trail. The excessive hail of 1890 wrought them great damage, beating every stalk of their crops into the ground, and breaking every window in their house as the wind reversed from first one side of the house to another, pelting the large ice balls as if from a small cannon. Mr. Scott had a hundred and five hogs to be fattened for the market, but when his crops were all ruined, leaving nothing for their feed, he had to sell them for any price he could get. During the first two years in Nebraska, Mr. Scott's, family, in common with all early settlers, had no fuel but twisted bunches of hay. Wood was not to be had in many miles around and coal was scarce and too high in price for early comers. For twro years prior to his death, Mr. Scott's health was poor, but he was patient withal. Pie was a citizen of whom all speak in praise when his name is mentioned. He was of the sturdy type of manhood that has succeeded in developing the wil derness into a teeming, productive land. Mr. Scott was a democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and affiliated with the Ancient Order United Workmen. FRANK BARTLE. (Deceased.) mrs. Veronica j. bartle. , Frank Bartle, who died in St. Paul, Nebraska, on October 22, 1902, was one of the most promi nent old-timers of Howard county. He was born in Rochester, Minnesota, December 6, 1855, spent the first few years of his life in that vicinity, then with his mother and two brothers, moved to Wi nona, Minnesota, remaining there until he was nineteen years of age, during which time he was employed as a clerk in a wholesale drug house. Mr. Bartle came to Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1874, his first position being as salesman in the mercantile establishment of Samuel Wolbach and ¦ Co., which was one of the largest and best known firms in that part of the state, with a branch house in St. Paul. He remained in Grand Island up to 1880, then was transferred to the St. Paul house, continuing with the concern for five years, when he started in the general mercantile business on his 'own account and carried on successfully up to the time of his death. In 1887 he had the misfor tune to lose his store by fire and suffered a severe loss, but he immediately erected a modern brick structure of commodious proportions, and put in a complete line of goods, soon building up a larger patronage than ever in the surrounding country. Mr. Bartle also erected a beautiful dwelling for himself and family in St. Paul, which is still occupied by the widow and children. He was in terested in the land business in and about St. Paul, and prominent in every movement started for the betterment of his locality. He was widely known for his upright mode of living, and integrity of character, and no resident of Howard county, has been more sincerely mourned than he. Mr. Bartle was married July 6, 1881, to Ve ronica J. Kavan, the ceremony taking place at the Catholic Cathedral in Omaha, Nebraska, in the presence of a large number of friends. They be came the parents of four children, namely: Frank J. who died March 6, 1893, Emma Marie, wife of Louis Morarec, has one son and resides in St. Paul, while Edward T. and Clara V., are living with their mother in the old homestead. Mr. Bartle 's father died tin 1855, when our subject was but a few days old. His mother lived with him for over twenty years in St. Paul, her death occurring in .1900. The widow of our subject was born Feb ruary 2, 1859, in Germany, and came to America with her parents when eight years of age locating in Iowa City, Iowa, where they spent several years, then settled in Omaha. She was the seventh mem ber in a family of eleven children, seven now liv ing, of whom six reside in Nebraska, and the re maining brother, in California. Mrs. Bartle is a woman of much personal charm, capable, and hav ing marked ability as a business woman. During her husband's lifetime she always took an active part in his affairs, sharing his duties and respon- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORYr, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1057 sibilities, arid at his death assumed full charge of his business affairs, assisted by her son Edward, who at that time was but sixteen years of age. Mrs. Bartle 's mother is still living in Saunders county, at the home of one of her daughters, and at the age of eighty-five years is active and take; a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the farm which she still owns. WILLIAM II. PREDMORE. William H. Predmore, an old and widely known citizen of Custer county, Nebraska, is a large landholder and a prosperous business man. He is a native of Findlay, Ohio, born March 5, 1844, youngest of the ten children born to Moses, and Jane (Cayton) Predmore, the father a native of New Jersey, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Moses Predmore died at Garnavillo, Iowa, in 1862, arid his widow passed away at Point Pleasant in the same state, in 1878. Besides "William II , there is a daughter, Mrs. Caroline Strother, who lives in Iowa, but the other children are all de ceased. In 1849 William II. Predmore accompa nied his parents to Iowa, where he reached ma turity on a farm, being educated in the local schools. Later he engaged in farming on his own account, and, being- reared to habits of persever ance and industry, has been very successful in his chosen occupation. i Mr Predmore was united in marriage with Bertha E. Coslor, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on March 28, 1865. Mrs. Predmore was born in Ger many, a daughter of Jacob and Adeline Coslor, both also natives of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Coslor both died in Iowa, he in 1848 and she im 1856. One son, Augustus, lives at Sargent, Cus ter county, retired from active life. The family came to America in 1846 and first located in 'Cin cinnati, Ohio, later coming west. Mr. Predmore and wife made their first home in Clayton county, Iowa where he eventually purchased land. In the spring of 1874 he brought his wife and their three children to Fremont, Nebraska, living there ten years. They came to Custer county in the sprng of 1884 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Middle Loup river. In 1890 they removed to Broken Bow, where they remained about fifteen years. They then came to their present place, which adjoins the city limits of Broken Bow on the west. He had purchased this farm some years prior and in 1903 erected a fine home there. He has a well-equipped farm and has it in fine condition. ' Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pred more : Adeline M., wife of H. G. Hall, of Sidney, Nebraska, has two children; James W., living five miles west of Broken Bow, is married and has five children; Daniel W., of Custer county, has two children. Mr. Predmore is the owner of eleven hundred and sixty acres of land, all in Custer county, and is well-known as a self -made man. Lie is an enterprising and patriotic citizen and inter ested in all measures for the welfare of his county, and state. He is member of the Masonic order ' and has been so for fortv vears. R. J. RAGAN. in reviewing the history of eastern Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to the welfare of this section of the state must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this num ber is accorded to the gentleman above named, and also to his father, Patrick Ragan, who is one of the leading old settlers of this state. Mr. Ragan resides on section twenty-seven, township twenty- one, range one, Madison county, where he and his father are well and favorably known, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their- friends are many. R. J. Ragan, our subject, is a native-born Ne braskan, his birth having occurred in Piatt county, May 5, 1882, and he is a son of Patrick and Kath erine (Ragan) Ragan, the father being a native of Ireland, where his birth occurred iri County Kerry, in 1849. The son received the usual school advantages in his native state, where he has remained all his life, and as far as he knows, always intends to remain, as taking it all in all, Nebraska has treated him fairly well. Our subject's father, Patrick Ragan, left his native land for the new world in '1861, embarking on a sailboat at Liverpool, and landing in Canada, where he remained one year, and from thence eame to the United States. After arriving in this country, he, came west to Platte county, Nebraska, in , 1869, and, took up a homestead in section four, township twenty, range one, and on this land put up a sod house and lived in this seven years, later building a good 'frame house. In those early days on the frontier, the family experienced many hardships and discouragements ; the virgin' soil of the open prairie had scarcely known the cut of a plow or the touch of cultiva tion, and when the family planted their first crops, the grasshoppers came in hordes and devoured every vestage of vegetation to be found anywhere ; many times they fought the destructive prairie fires that so often crept upon the early settler un aware, and had great difficulty in saving their lives and property. In strange contrast , to the fires which raged round, the settlers found fuel a scarce article and often were compelled to burn twisted hay and cornstalks for cooking and warmth. In those days, Columbus was the nearest market place, the town being thirty-five miles dis tant, and much time 'was consumed in making the journey to and fro. Deer and antelope were plen tiful then, and were seen in herds grazing through out the country. In 1903 Mr. Ragan, senior, came to Madison county, Nebraska, and bought the land where he 1058 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. now resides, and' during his residence here has proved himself to be a substantial and progressive citizen, and with his son enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know them in the community in which they reside. J. D. GABELMAN. J. D. Gabelman, a prominent farmer and stock man living on section seventeen, township twenty- one, range two, is well-known throughout Madison county, as a progressive and successful agricultur ist, highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Gabelman is a native of Will county, Illi nois, where he was born June 11 1857, a son of Jacob and Pheobe (Deed) Gabelman. The father was a miller by trade, and followed that occupa tion in the old country. Our subject's father came to America on a sailboat bound from Bre men to New York, and was on the sea about forty- two days. After landing in the new world, the father stopped at Rochester, New York, and then proceeded to Illinois state, remaining there a few years. In 1872, Mr. Gabelman, with his parents, eame to Nebraska, locating in Madison county, where his father took up a homestead, and on this land built a frame house, fourteen by eighteen feet- Here in the earliest days of settlement on the west ern frontier, the little family suffered many hard ships and privations, as did so many of the brave sons who came to this undeveloped country to brave the unknown dangers and suffering. The grass hoppers took all the crops the first few years the family were in Nebraska, which was very discour aging to them and the few other settlers. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those days, and frequently could be seen grazing about; many times they burned hay arid corn stalks 'for fuel to keep warm by, as wood was too scarce and high in price to think of buying it. In 1877 Mr. Gabelman was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Knapp, and to this -union nine children were born, whose names are as follows: Jacob, Charles, Fred, Frank, William, Alfred, Myra, Pearl, and Elizabeth. They are a fine family and in their comfortable home are sur rounded by a host of good friends and acquaint ances, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them. JOHN P. TACKLEY. .John P. Tackley, a prominent citizen of Custer county, Nebraska, was among the earlier settlers of the state and has passed through various periods of the history of the development of the countrv from a region of wild prairies to farms villages and cities. He was born in Syracuse, New York, October 7, 1845, fourth of the ten children of Peter and Mary Tackley, both natives of Prance, but married in America. Both parents died in New York, the father about 1890 and the mother in 1909. They were farmers and their children were reared to farm life and educated in the local schools. Besides John P. Tackley, there are three sons and a daughter in California, one daughter in Chicago, and two sons and two daughters in New York. After leaving school Mr. Tackley learned the trade bf cooper, which he followed in his native state and later in Toledo, Ohio, where he located in 1881. He was married in. New York, July 26, 1869, to Ellen Delong, a native of that state. In 1883 they removed from Ohio to Custer county, Nebraska, securing a homestead near Anselmo and a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres. They also pre-empted eighty acres of land. In 1895 they sold their farming interests in Custer county, receiving but thirty-five dollars for the timber claim, and returned to Toledo, remaining there about a year and a half. In the spring of 1 897 Mr. Tackley again decided to locate in Custer county and for nine years conducted a store at Gates. In 1907, they came to their present home, at Lillian postoffice, where they have established a general store and enjoy a good custom. Mr. Tack ley has established himself in the good opinion of his neighbors and is a man of business foresight and enterprise. He and his wife are well-known in many circles and enjoy the esteem of a large number of friends. Two children blessed the union of Mr. Tackley and wife: Georgia, wife of William Newcomb, of Custer county, has ten children, and Flora, who married Morton Russell, also of Custer county, and has eight children. Mrs. Tackley's father, Lo renzo, Delong, and his wife, Nancy (Fargo) De- long, were natives of New York, where their en tire lives were spent. Mr. Delong died in 1875 and his wife in 1881. Mrs. Tackley has a brother and two sisters living in New York. She is now serving as postmistress at Lillian, having been ap pointed to this office in 1907. FRANCIS JOLL. The" gentleman above mentioned is counted among tbe oldest settlers of Knox county, Nebraska. Since locating here in 1883, he has taken a foremost part in the development of this region, and has built up a 'good home and farm in section twenty six, township thirty-one, range three. Mr. -Toll is a native of England, his birth occur ring in 1856; and he is a son of John and Ann (Sheer) Joll, both natives of England. The father- was a miner in England. Our subject received his education in his native land, where he grew to his manhood years ; then hearing of the better oppor tunities offered a young man in the new world, he came to America, embarking at Liverpool for New York. After .reaching American shores, he went directly to Colorado, where he worked in a COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1059 mine for six years, then going to LaSalle, Illinois, mining there seven years, until 1883. , In 1883, Mr. Joll came to Knox county, Ne braska, where he took up a homestead in sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, township thirty- one, range seven, which he greatly improved. Later he bought eighty acres of land from J. T. Linsey, which he also improved, and out of which he has made a fine home for himself and family, and where he now lives. Mr. Joll, like so'many of the earlier settlers of this western region, experienced a great many hardships and disappointments in the pioneer days, and as late as 1900 lost all his crops through the hailstorms of that season. But Mr. Joll has stuck to his faith in Nebraska soil and her natural resources, and has been well repaid for his faith fulness. In 1881, Mr. Joll was united in marriage to Miss Mary Taylor, and, Mr. and Mrs. Joll are the parents of three children, whose names are as fol lows : Maude, Ella, and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Joll, and family are highly es teemed and respected by all who know them, and in their pleasant home are surrounded by a host of congenial friends and acquaintances. JOHN GREENWALD. One of the typical pioneers of northeastern Ne braska is the gentleman named above, John Green wald. He is one of the earlier settlers of Wayne county, and can relate many of the pioneer ex periences of the settlers of this locality, who braved the hardships and privations and became perma nent settlers and prosperous farmers. Lie has succeeded in building up a good home and has gained the confidence and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Greenwald is a native of Hesse-Armstadt, Germany, and was born in 1840. His parents, Conrad and Barbara Greenwald, were small farriiers. The subscriber's early years were spent in his native land, where he received his education. In 1862, Mr. Greenwald came to America, as so many thousands of his countrymen have conu since, to seek his fortune in the land of oppor tunity. He went from Baltimore directly to Pennsylvania, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, then to St. Louis, Missouri, and from the latter place to Pekin, Tazewell county, Illinois, where he. remained 'about ten years, working at the trade of blacksmith, which he had learned in his native country. On account of his health, he decided to stop working, at his trade and come farther west. In 1875 he accordingly came to Wayne county, Nebraska, and bought what was known as the "George Graves Place" of three hundred and twenty acres. Since purchasing this homestead, he has made many extensive improvements, not the least of which is the planting of a fine orchard of 'five acres or so, which is now in its prime. He has prospered, in spite of the many discourage ments which fell to his lot during the early years of pioneer life, when grasshoppers, prairie fires, and blizzards all seemed to conspire to make the settler's life a burden. He now has a comfortable home, and a good farm, the very appearance of which indicates thrift and good management. In 1868, Mr. Greenwald was married to Miss Pauline Weiland, of Tazewell. They are the par ents of seven children, upon whom they have be stowed the following names : Lewie, John, Pauline, Lizzie, Annie, Matilda, and Phillip. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwald are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mir. Greenwald is a democrat although not party bound, voting for the men he considers best qualified for office. CHARLES SCHERZBERG. In reviewing the history iof eastern Nebraska, the citizens who have contributed to her welfare must be given special mention, and a prominent place among this number is given to the venerable gentleman above named. Mr. Scherzberg is a pioneer settler, and is perhaps one of the best known men of his locality. ' He was born in Puerstendurhm, Sondershaus- en, Gold Valley, Germany, December 26, 1837. Llis parents were also natives of Germany. In 1858 Mr. Scherzberg came to America, lo cating in Michigan, where he followed the occupa tion of farming; then going into Iowa in 1864, then into South Dakota, where he remained three months, when he returned to Iowa, and was en gaged in railroading for the northwestern railroad. In 1866 Mr. Scherzberg, came to Nebraska to follow railroading, and was one of the locators of Grand Island. He came to Merrick county in 1866. In the summer of 1872, Mr. Scherzberg was married to Miss Lizzie Clumke, who was also born in Germany, and came to America in 1872. Four children were born of this union: Ellen, wife of D. Knightfield, has eight children and lives in Merrick county ; Arthur, who resides in Nebraska ; Carl, married, has five children, and lives in Hall county; and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Scherz berg died February 29, 1880. Mr. Scherzberg has been prosperous and suc cessful and owns two hundred and eighty acres, which is used as a stock and grain farm. He has acted as road supervisor some years, which office he has filled to the entire satisfaction of the people, and with credit to himself. On October 14, '1880, Mr. Scherzberg was mar ried to Augusta Popblke, a native of Prussia. Three children were born of this union: Alfred, who resides in Loup county, Nebraska ; Walter, married, has three children, and lives in Merrick county; and Oscar, who resides at home. Mr. Scherzberg is one of the early settlers of the county, and is widely and favorably known. He lives on section ten, township eleven, range eight; his postoffice address being Grand Island, Nebraska, rural free delivery, number four. 1060 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". JAMES A. LINDSAY. The advent of James A. Lindsay in Knox county, Nebraska, dates from April, 1881, the spring of the great flood, he reaching Yankton previous to the time the waters had begun to rise. Prom there he came to Running Water, and crossed to Niobrara, which has since been his per manent home. Mr. Lindsay was born in Peoria, Illinois, on February 20, 1844. His father, John T. Lindsay, was a native of Pennsylvania, late in life came to Niobrara and died here in 1907. His mother, James A. Lindsay's grandmother, settled in Illi nois, on a farm which she purchased in the early part of the nineteenth century, and this land is now a part of the city of Peoria. John T. Lind say came to Peoria when about nineteen years of age. He read law there and was admitted to the bar, later becoming a partner of the celebrated Robert G. Ingersoll. He became interested in railroad construction work and was made Presi dent of the Peoria, Atlantic & Decatur railroad, but on account of the loss of his hearing was com pelled to give up the work, and after expending thousands of dollars in an effort to regain his hear ing, was unsuccessful, therefore, was forced to dis pose of his various holdings, and finally settled in Knox county, where 'he owned a ranch, and which he lived on for a number of years, but his death occurred at the home of his son, James A. Lind say, in Niobrara. At the outbreak of the Civil war, James A. Lindsay enlisted in Company C, Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry, under the command of Colonel Grier, and served until the close of the war, being- mustered out in July, 1865. During this time he was in thirteen engagements, including the famous battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, and the several skirmishes along the White river. His regiment was sent on the Red River expedition under Banks, thence to New Orleans, and participated in the siege of Mo bile, Mr. Lindsay's regiment being at Spanish Port when the news of Lee's surrender reached them. From the foul water supply around Vicksburg he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, from which he promptly escaped and rejoined his regiment, thus avoiding the danger of contracting the more loathsome diseases of smallpox, measles, etc., which were prevalent in the camp hospital. After his discharge from the army at Spring field, Illinois, Mir. Lindsay went south, and for a time clerked in a commission house in New Orleans. He returned to Peoria in 1870, and for several years was there employed in a clerical ca pacity with a coal company, later settling on a farm near that city, where he remained up to the time of coming to Nebraska. After landing here. himself and brothers, William and John, settled on land belonging to their father. James A. and Wil liam also took claims in Raymond precinct, on which they resided up to 1900, then sold out and removed to Niobrara, which has been their perma nent residence during the -intervening years. James A. Lindsay was married in Peoria, to Miss Helen M. Jewell, a native of that city. To them were born two children, Robert Jewell Lind say, who has been in the employ of Cluett, Pea body & Co., at Detroit, Michigan, for the past twelve years, and Ella, now Mrs. Wm. Hamilton, of Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Lindsay died at Pe oria in 1880. In politics Mr. Lindsay is a staunch democrat- He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has served as Chancellor Commander and Deputy Grand Chancellor of the lodge. He is a Comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic, Lander Post, number one hundred and twenty-five of Niobrara, having the distinction of being one of the youngest members of that organi zation, and is the present Commander, filling that office for a number of years past. ERICK PETERSON. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Knox county, Nebraska, the gentleman above mentioned deserves a foremost place. He has been a resident of Knox county for the past thirty-nine years locating on his pres ent ' land when he firt settled here. His home is situated in section nineteen, township thirty-two, range two. Mr. Peterson is a native of Sweden, his birth occurring in the years of 1839, and he is a son of Peter and Anna ( ) Peterson, both natives of Sweden. Mr. Peterson grew to manhood in his native country, receiving his education in the na tive schools ; he also served the customary two years in Sweden's army, as every able-bodied young man was compelled to do upon reaching his majority. He was married while living in Sweden. In 1871, Mr. Peterson, with his family, left his native land for America, sailing on a steamship from Guttenberg to Hull, England, and from there to New York. Upon landing in the United States, Mr. Peterson at once started for the west, going to Sioux City, Iowa, from where he came overland by stage to Yankton, South Dakota, where he bought a team of oxen and started for his home stead claim in Knox county, Nebraska, which is the present residing place of Mr. Peterson. He also took a tree claim, which is situated one mile and a half south of where he now lives. He first built a log house which served as the family resi dence for sixteen years, but which has been sup planted by a good frame house. Mr. Peterson has had many 'hardships and dis couragements during his many years of residence in this locality. It seems that the grasshoppers had been awaiting the early settler's advent to this counry, as for the first three years of Mr. Pe terson's residence here, the pests destroyed every COMPENDIUM OF" HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1061 vestige of vegetation, which nearly caused a famine in the western country; and in 1893 and 1894 he suffered severe losses through drouth, and in 1896 the hail storm of that year destroyed his crops. But through all the many drawbacks and discouragements. Mr. Peterson has held faith in the natural resources of his home state, and has been well rewarded for his patience and industry. In 1859 • Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Christina Anderson, and they are the parents of eight children, four of whom are, living: Oscar, Hattie, wife of Mr. Elmer Harding; William, and Joe. Mrs. Peterson died November 26, 1905. JOHN P. DETHLEFS. John P. Dethlefs, a sturdy son of Germany, was born May 1, ,1834, and was the third child in Claus and Wibke Dethlefs' family of thirteen — a baker's dozen. He is the only member of this large family now living. The father was owner of a small piece of land, and also operated a flour mill in their native country. Claus Dethlefs was also a first-class surveyor, and followed that busi ness during his lifetime. John received his education in his home vi cinity, remaining at home until he was thirty-six years of age, then came to America to seek his fortune, his first location being in Wisconsin, where he spent a short time, possibly four or five months, and from there came directly to Nebraska, arriving at Omaha along in. the fall of the year. He lived there for about six months, then came on to Howard eOunty and homesteaded on section six, township fourteen, range twelve, also took a pre-emption on section five, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. He was the first white man to take up homestead rights' in this neighbor hood, and passed through the regulation pioneer experiences. He improved his farm as rapidly as he was able, during the first few years meeting with discouragements and hardships, but on the whole was very successful, and he is now one of the extensive and most prosperous farmers in his locality. He still lives on the original homestead, having a large acreage under cultivation, and en gages in mixed farming and stock raising. The place is liberally supplied with good buildings of all kind, and bears evidence of good management and thrift. Mr. Dethlefs was married on July 21, 1876, to Miss Annie Marie Lhotka, who came to America from Bohemia in the previous year. They have had a family of nine children, all living but one, Peter, who died in infancy. The others are named as follows: John P., junior, Annie, William P., Theodore O, Minnie, Matilda, Emma and Ed ward. All are well-known and highly esteemed as industrious and thrifty citizens, and are popular in their community. During his residence in Howard county, Mi\ Dethlefs has held various local offices and has in every case discharged the duties of same in a capable and satisfactory manner. ALEXANDER L. GRAVES. Alexander L. Graves, a prosperous^ and much respected citizen of Madison county, Nebraska, greatly deserves the abundance of success that has come to him as a reward of industry, economy, and thrift. Mr. Graves resides on section twenty-four, township twenty-two, range two, where he has made good improvements in many ways, and has erected good buildings. Mr. Graves is a native of Fulton county, Illi nois, he having been born there in April 24, 1848 ; he is a son of Erastus and Julia (Johnson) Graves, the father being- a native of Vermont state, and the mother, of New York. In 1851 Mr. Graves, with his parents, came to Johnson county, Iowa, where he received his schooling i and grew to man hood, remaining there until 1882. In 1882 Mr. Graves came 'to Madison county, Nebraska, driving the entire distance from Iowa. After reaching Madison county he bought the homestead of Dr. J. Q. Harvey, and built on and improved same. In the first years of his settlement in this region of the western frontier, Mr. Graves endured the many hardships incidental to those times, and as late as the year 1894, he experienced severe losses through failure of crops due to the hot winds that prevailed during the drouth of that season. In 1871, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Graves are the parents of six children, whose names are as follows: Carrie, May, Myrtle, John, Samuel, and Katie. ( Mr. Graves and family occupy a pleasant and comfortable home, and are 'highly esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Graves takes a commendable interest in local affairs, and gives all his time to his home and farming, and the best interests of his home state and county. PETER OLSON. Peter Olson, residing on section seven, town ship thirty-one, range two, Knox county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citizeris of his lo cality, where he has lived for many years. Mr. Olson is a native of Norway, his birth oc curring in the year of 1855, and is a son of Ole and Mary (Nelson) Anderson, our subject taking his father's baptismal name for his surname as is the custom in the Scandinavian country. Mr. Olson grew to manhood in his native land, serving his country as a soldier for two years. When he reached the age of twenty-two years, in 1877, he bade goodbye to his country and friends to come to America, the land of peace and plenty, where a young man had a better chance to get a start in life, and also where land was cheap. His father had died when bur subject was but nine years of age, so he learned to rely on his own resources, more or less, and this fact helped him in fighting his own way in toe world. 1062 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. On coming to the United States, Mr. Olson came direct to Washington county, Nebraska, where he worked at whatever he found to do, remaining here three years. In 1880, he came to Knox county, renting land the first few years. Then he bought the eighty acres of land on which he lives at the present time. At first he built a dugout in which he lived for two years, finding it a very comfort able dwelling both in summer and in winter; this has been replaced by a fine residence of more modern material and design, in which Mr. Olson and family reside, and where our subject and wife enjoy the fruits of their many years of labor. A few years after coining to his present place Mr. Olson bought eighty acres more, and now owns a quarter section in one body. In 1880, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Olson, and Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents' of seven children, whose names are as follows: Christine, Mary, Anna, Ollie, Lillie, Min nie, and Carrie. They are a fine family and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Olson and family belong to the Swedish Lutheran church. FRANK OHME. So far as can be ascertained, the log cabin built on the homestead of Frank Ohme was the first one in Custer county. He also plowed the first furrow and put down the first stock well, which was dug over fifty feet deep. He is well known among the early settlers and has always given his support to the cause of progress. He was born in the village of Angersdorf, near Halle, on tlie Saale, Saxony, February 13, 1844, third of the five sons of Carl and Mary (Menike) Ohme. He was reared on the farm where he was born, and when fourteen years of age left home and went to work in the city of Halle, where he remained over six years, half of the time working in a confectioner 's shop, and the last three years in a restaurant. He then entered the German army, serving three years, and taking part in the Austrian war in 1866. He came to America in 1869, sailing fron^ Hamburg to New York in the "Afmania," landing after a voyage of seventeen days. Locating first in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, he worked for farmers there for a year, and then, on April 3, 1870, came to Douglas county, Ne braska where he worked three years on a farm. March 15, 1873, he was married in Douglas count / to Miss Caroline Walter, a native of Holstein, born in the village of Lemberg, near Ekenfoerdc ; her father died when she was but three weeks old and her grandfather Walter took the baby into his home and rean-d her as one 'of his own. Mrs. Ohme came to America in 1870, sailing from Ham burg to New Y'ork in the "Cymbria.",the voyage extending to fourteen days. After marriage they rented a farm on the line between Douglas and Sarpy counties and lived on it one year. In March, 1 874, they shipped a car of household goods and a team of horses and five head of cattle to Grand Island, and proceeded from there to their home stead on section one, township seventeen, range seventeen, Mr. Ohme having made a trip to Custer county in January of that year for the purpose of looking the country over. In company with a Mr. Lidke they had come to friends of the latter on Wood river and while looking over the country the two young men camped with an old hunter and trapper on an island in Middle Loup river, one mile from his present home. They selected their homesteads, and while on their way back to Sarpy county filed an entry on' them before the clerk of Sherman county. They had made the trip to Custer county during extremely cold weather, and if they had not been actuated by am bition and energy they would not have had courage to select a location during that period. Mr. Ohme was the first man who actually filed an entry on a homestead in the county, although others had set tled there with a view to making it a permanent home. At the time he and his wife came with a team and ' wagon to their new home they supposed they were the first settlers in the neighborhood, but one day in April while he was walking over some land near his home, he saw a man approach ing, who proved to be L. R. Douse, who had settled there in the preceding fall but did not file on a homestead until some days after Mk Ohme had made his entry. Mr. Ohme and family were closely identified with the early progress of the community and made their home on the original homestead until 1902, when they took a trip to their native land, visiting friends and relatives for five months Upon their return to Custer county they built a little home on section twelve, adjoining the old homestead to the south. Mr. Ohme is a man of forceful character and quiet manner, always ready to give his time and influence towards the upbuilding of the neigh borhood. He held the office of school director of district number twenty-two for some time and was one of the original supporters of the Arcadia creamery. He has been successful as a farmer and stock raiser and is now enjoying the fruits of his many years of hard work, being the owner of eleven hundred and fifty acres of choice Custer county land. He has a vivid recollection of the early years of drouth and the times when the family ground their grain for bread in their coffee mill. He and his family have the respect and esteem of their many friends and acquaintances and stand well in the ' community. He was the only one of his fatti er 's family to leave Germany, and but one other member of it now survives, his eldest brother, who lives in Ainmendorf, Germany. He was fortunate in having a home prepared for him before he reached the homestead with his wife, as when he was in Custer county in the winter he made ar rangements with his friend the hunter, Joe Mur phy, of Wood river, to erect a cabin of oak logs on the place, which was duly accomplished. RESlMMCf" IN 187* flKS [3KHT IN CUSTE-P CC, 'ASH GROVE FARM," RESIDENCE OF FRANK OHME. RESIDENCE OF PARISH M. FREEMAN. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1063 Six children were born to Mr. Ohme and wife, of whom four now survive : Emil, married and liv ing on the , northeast quarter of section one, town ship seventeen, range seventeen, has seven chil dren; Emma, wife of Frank Thomas, a home steader of Sioux county, has four children; Otto, of Sioux county, is married and has two children ; Oscar, of section twelve, township seventeen, range seventeen, is married and has one child. All were born on the old homestead except the eldest, who was born in Sarpy county. The family worship in the Lutheran church. Mr. Ohme has been support ing the democratic candidates of late years. The family endured losses by grasshoppers dur ing the years 1874, 1875 and 1876, raising nothing except a little small grain. In 1894, the dry year, they raised practically nothing, and other years hail destroyed part of their crops. Mr. Ohme was never a hunter, giving his entire time to his farm, but deer and other big game were plentiful when he first came. Deer have run through his dooryard. and at times he has seen as many as fifty elk in a herd, near his house. , Their first buildings were covered with thatched roofs such as are in vogue in the old country, and were much more protection than the usual hay and dirt roof of the settler. Later when a more per manent roof was desired, he had to haul the shin gles from Kearney, seventy-five miles distant. He usually made two trips a year to Kearney to do bis trading, and brought back a load of flour, which he sold to other settlers. The trip usually took1 the greater part of a week, and most of the time it was necessary to camp in the open, taking food enough along to last for the round trip. A view of Mr. Ohme's neat cottage residence, Avith its surrounding grove, is to be found else where in this work. PARISH MOSES FREEMAN. Parish Moses Freeman was born in Monroe county, New York, November 23, 1832, son of Amos and Dorcas (Parish) Freeman, who had six sons and six daughters, the father being a native of Connecticut and the mother of New York. Parish M. was the ninth child and the only one of the family now surviving. He was bom and reared on a farm and when about seventeen years old left home to learn the trade of stone mason, at which he worked about six years. He was married November 14, 1850, to ivliss Mary A. Davis, and in the spring of 1855 they removed to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he worked a farm on shares. - He and his wife had one son when they came to Michigan, He enlisted in the fourteenth regiment Michigan Volunteer light artillery, October 21, 1862, serv ing with his company in the army of the Poto mac under McClellan and Grant until their dis charge, July 1, 1865; participating in the prin cipal engagements in wdiich his regiment took part including the thirteen days in the wilder ness and the siege of Petersburg. He was present at Appomattox at the time of the surrender, and in Washington at the time of Lincoln's assassina tion. He participated in the first day's parade of the grand review and received his discharge at Jackson, Michigan. After his discharge he re turned to his farm in Kalamazoo county. In the spring of 1878 Mr. Freeman brought his en tire family, with the exception of his sons Charles and Harlow, to Lancaster county, Nebraska, the trip being made in a prairie schooner, along the overland route in eighteen days. They arrived in Lancaster county about June 10th. Charlie and Harlow had come by train April 14th and had prepared for the family by the time they ar rived. In August of the same year Mr. Free man and his two sons mentioned above went on to Valley and Custer counties and took up home steads, the father filing on the northwest quarter of- section nineteen, township seventeen, range six teen, Valley county; Charlie on the northeast quarter of section twenty-four, township seven teen, range seventeen, Custer county, and Harlow taking a homestead just south of his father in Valley county. The family moved to Valley and Custer counties the following year, reaching the homestead March 3rd. The family iwere original homesteaders and passed through many years of trials and adversities. Their nearest market at first was Grand Island and often they used a coffee mill to grind meal for bread. In those times a dollar looked to them the size of a cart wheel. Mr. Freeman has continuously lived on his homestead farm since first coming there and is now in his seventy-ninth year. The large trees that now surround the house were set out by him self and wife, some of them nearly three feet in diameter. He and his wife were parents of eight children, all of them born in Michigan except the oldest son. To such families as the Freemans central Nebraska owes its present agricultural and mercantile prosperty and the work of the pioneers in developing and improving farm has paved the way for a broader civilization in the state. They suffered from drouth and other adverse condi tions and some years had hardly any crops. The mother died on the old homestead November 22, 1909, in her seventy-sixth year. She was a noble pioneer mother, who had many endearing quali ties and was always ready to do her full duty as wife, mother and friend. Both she and her hus-, band were well known in central Nebraska and won many warm friends in their neighborhood. The oldest child of this family, Charlie Free man, was born in New York state January 6, 1852, and was married in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, November 18, 1874, to Miss Julia A. Hall, daughter of William and Almira Hall, who came to the county with her parents in 1855. As mentioned above, Mr. Freeman took his family to Lancaster county in the spring of 1878, and in August of the same year eame to Custer 1064 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. county. He still resides on his original home stead on the northeast quarter of section twenty- four, township seventeen, range seventeen, and is a representative, public-spirited citizen. He has a well equipped farm and a pleasant home. He and his wife have two children: Hattie E. and Clifford C, both at home. Another son, Harlow Freeman, is menntioned elsewhere in this work. Frankie A., a daughter of Parish M. Freeman, was born in Kalamazoo county, April 2, 1862, married Harry Thompson of Box, Butte county, Nebraska, and they have four children. Edward E. Freeman, born in Kalamazoo county, March 8, 1866, came to Val ley county with his parents in 1878, and Decem ber 25, 1887, married Hattie Brody, daughter of Jesse and Annie Brody. They live on a farm one mile west of Arcadia and have six children : Willis R. Freeman, born in Kalamazoo county, September 14, 1869, was married at Ord, Ne braska, November 24, 1898, to Mary J. Shanks, and they live on his father 's farm and have three children. Emma E., Freddy A. and Alice M. Freeman, all born in Michigan, died in infancy. After supporting the republican party many years Mr. Freeman has of late given his sup port to the democrats; in local elections, he is independent of party lines. He lives in a cemented sod house which has the appearence of a stone or concrete dwelling and nestled among the big trees it presents a pretty picture. We give an illustration of it on another page. Besides killing many deer Mr. Freeman had at one time a pet fawn which grew to be a nuisance. When pursued by dogs it at times would plunge through a window into the house. It was necessary, finally to make way with it. In 1894 practically nothing was raised and, feed being scare, stock was low in price. Mr. Freeman drove eighty hogs to market and got only one cent a pound. During the blizzard of January, 1888, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman visited a sick neighbor one and a half miles away and returned through the storm. ROBERT W. BUCKNER. Robert W. Buckner of Broken Bow, is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county and is one of the few of this class who still own their original homesteads. He has been a resident of Broken Bow for the past dozen years, during which time he has been identified with county survey work. Mr. Buckner was born in Hart county, Kentucky, second of the nine children of Philip and Fanny '(Ragland) Buckner, both natives of Kentucky and the father of German descent. The mother was born in Larue county. was of Scotch descent, and died in her native state in 1905, and the father died there in the eighties. Mr. Buckner grew to manhood on the Ken tucky farm which was owned by his father and received most of his education in subscription schools. On July 1, 1861, he enlisted from Louis ville in Company K, Fifth Kentucky Infantry, serving until September 14, 1864, and being dis charged at Louisville. He participated in many important engagements, including those at Shiloh, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Browns Ferry, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard 's Roost, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta. He also took part in numerous minor engagements and skirmishes. At the close of the war Mr. Buckner returned to Kentucky, and on April 6, 1865, was married to Miss Rebecca Bolton, also a native of Ken tucky. In 1869 they removed to Missouri, lived there four years and then went to Moultrie county, Illinois, where they lived on a farm until 1887. In that year Mr. Buckner came with his wife and six children to Custer eouty, Nebraska, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-four, township seventeen, range nineteen, and improved and developed a fine farm there. This was the home place for many years and Mr. Buckner took an active interest in public affairs in the community, serving five years as director of the school board of district number fifty-one. In the fall of 1900 he left his farm and came to his present home in Broken Bow, where he has many friends and is regarded as a desir able, public-spirited citizen. He is a prosperous and successful man of affairs and besides his farm land owns some fine city property. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Buckner, as follows: Thomas L. is married and lives in Broken Bow; Roberta is the wife of Albert. Shaffer, of Ansley, and they have three children; Lawrence, living in Illinois, has four children ; Flora married Herman Alberts of Ansley, and they have four children; Etta, wife of Fergus Emerson, of Westerville, has five children; Frank, living on the home farm, has three children; Stella lives at home and two children died in infancy. Mrs. Buckner 's father, Robert Bolton, was born in England, served in the war of 1812, and died in Kentucky in 1862. Her mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Lange, was born in New York City of English parents and died in Hart county, Kentucky, April 7, 1880. Mrs. Buckner has two sisters living in Illinois, Mrs. Helen Hodges and Mrs. Sally Burks. JOSEPH E. WITTEN. Joseph E. Witten, formerly editor of the Pierce County Call, a leading newspaper published at Pierce, Nebraska, is a gentleman of excellent business ability. He was recognized as a promi nent citizen of his county, during his residence in that locality. His home is now at Wall, South Dakota. Our subject is a son of James A. Witten, a COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY", REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1065 prominent pioneer of Pierce county, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this book, and was born in Smyth county, Virginia, on October 7, 1888, being but a few months old when his parents emigrated to Nebraska, from the far east. He grew to man- hcod in Pierce county, attending the local schools, afterwards clerking in different stores, and finally secured a position in the office of "The Leader," which was published at Pierce, also worked in the office at Havelock. In 1905 he entered the employ of Mr. Brande, editor and manager of the "Pierce County Call," continu ing the work up to February, 1909, at which time he bought a half interest in the paper, entering into partnership with Mr. Carl Brande, who had previously owned a one-third interest. Their office was 'equipped with a type setting machine, a power press and folder, job presses, motor, and all necessary adjuncts for a complete job office, and received their full share of the town pat ronage. "The Call" is the oldest paper published in the county, and has a circulation extending throughout the entire northeastern part of Ne braska and southeastern part of South Dakota. It is well edited, and during the stir of political campaigns is full of snap and ginger, and alto gether it is one of the best country papers in the state of Nebraska. On August 1, 1910, Mr. Witten sold his interest in "The Call" and on October 1, 1910 removed to Wall, South Dakota, where he purchased the "Wall Record" of E. S. Johnston. The Record is the only paper published at Wall and the shop is well equipped and enjoys a good patronage. Mr. Witten was married in November, 1907, to Catherine Zahn, daughter of Henry and Anna (Nuhr) Zahn, the former born in Germany, and coming to America in 1886. He was an early settler in Iowa, and is now deceased, his wife making her home in Pierce, Nebraska. GEORGE P. ALEXANDER. George P. Alexander, who has spent his en tire career in eastern Nebraska, having been born in Howard county, where he still resides, is one of the leading citizens of that section of the country. George F. Alexander was born in Howard county, Nebraska, June 5, 1872, on the original pre-emption claim of his father on southwest quarter of section seven, township fifteen, range eleven, and was the first male child born in How ard county. Here he received his early educa tion and lived with his father until twenty- seven years of age. Upon reaching young man hood he engaged in farming and stock raising, going into the pump and windmill business at Elba, Nebraska, iri the spring of 1902. In the spring of 1903 he sold out his business and went to Canada, but returned to Howard county in the summer of 1903, and for a short time was en gaged in different occupations, when in the early part of 1904 he moved out on a small place near Elba. In the spring of 1905 he began work in the implement business as assistant for Peter Todsen, and remained in his employ for one and a half years. Mr. Todsen then sold to P. G. Shanstrom, at which time Mr. Alexander took charge of the business as manager. Six months later, Mr. Shanstrom sold to the Lininger im plement Company of Omaha, and from, then to the present time Mr. Alexander has been in the employ of the latter firm as manager of the branch at Elba, which is known as the Elba Implement Company. On the sixth day of March, 1899, Mr. Alex ander was married to Miss Aura B. Whitney at the home of his father, where a double wedding took place, our subject's sister Mary being mar ried to Albert C. Jefferies on the same date. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have five children: Hazel Maggie, William Marion, Mary Emma, Theodore Howard, and Louis Aura. They are an interest ing family and have many friends. Mr. Alexander is an energetic young man, up-to-date and doing his very best all the time. JOHN BUHROW. One of the oldest residents of Knox county, Nebraska, is the venerable John Buhrow, now liv ing retired in Bloomfield. About the time of his advent to the county, in March of 1865, this di vision of the state took its name from the river which flows into the muddy Missouri within its borders, and was known as L' Eau Qui Court county. He settled near the village of Herriek, then known as Frankfort, and built a log house a mile and a half from the river. Here he lived with his family for ten years, and then built a substantial two-story stone house, the first of its kind in the county. Coming through Sioux City he bought seed potatoes at two dollars per bushel, and as soon as he could get a small tract of ground broken he planted these and a small amount of corn. All of this was devoured a little later in the season by a horde of grasshoppers, the forerun ners of the myriads of the pests that swept the west bare eight to ten years later. Scarcity of crops made living high, with little to buy it. A fifty-pound sack of flour cost six dollars in the village of Ponca and a dollar was added by the mail carrier who brought it out. There was but one store in Yankton at that time, where a box of matches sold for twenty-five cents, and calico the same amount per yard, with muslin double that price. All merchandise came by boat from St. Louis, and river traffic was thriving at that time. Mi4. Buhrow first filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and later paid fifty dol lars per acre for one hundred and sixty acres more; to these he added until he was the owner of one thousand acres of fine Knox 'county land, 1066 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. from which he has recently sold two hundred acres. Mr. Buhrow lived on his land for thirty- eight years, moving to Bloomfield and purchasing a comfortable cottage home in 1902. Mr. Buhrow is a native of Pommerania, a pro vince of Prussia, and was born in the village of Pensen, near the city of Demmen, February 11, 1829. Pie was a farmer in the old country until his emigration in 1852. Leaving home on Octo ber 8, he .crossed the North Sea from Hamburg to Hull and proceeding thence to Liverpool, em barked in a sailing vessel for New York, landing December 17. It was a stormy passage and sick ness broke out on tbe vessel to such an extent that but three hundred of the five hundred em barking reached land, two-fifths of their numbers being buried at sea. After two days in the big city, Mr. Buhrow1 took his few belongings under his arm, crossed the river and walked the railroad track into New Jersey where he found work, cutting wood at thirty-five cents a cord for a charcoal burner. In order to keep him when done, the man held back eight dollars of the young imigrant's money, and it has not been collected to this day. At Bloomingdale he found work in a rolling 'mill, for one year. He worked then for a summer on the Erie Canal and then returned to the rolling mill at Bloomingdale for another year. Going to Albany, he found work at the same trade in a suburb of the city, where he remained until 1859, when he and his wife went to St. Louis, Missouri. Here he worked for a time in the mills he understood so well, and then bought a wagon and sold fruit until the outbreak of the war. Mr. Buhrow enlisted in Company H, Fifth Missouri Infantry, and fought under Sigel and Lyon iri the Ozark region of Missouri, participat ing in the engagements of Arcadia, Springfield, and Wilson creek, and later at Fort Pillow. At the expiration of his four months' service he re-enlisted and was on garrison duty around St! Louis until the spring of 1864, when he received his discharge. For a time he again engaged in the rolling mill business, but his health would not permit him to remain there, and in the spring of 1865 he took passage in a river steamer for Frankfort, now Herriek, Nebraska, and has since been a citizen of Knox county, as recountered above. Mr. Buhrow is a son of Fritz Buhrow who died when the boy was but seven, and the mother passed away nine years later. Mr. Buhrow was married in Albany, New York, October 25, 1857, to Miss Lena Lueders, a native of the village of Forben, near the city of Loetz, in Pommrania, the date of her birth being January 6, 1837. She emigrated to America in the fall of 1857, sailing from Plamburg to New York, the voyage extending into the seventh week. She secured work in Troy, and here, she met Mr. Buhrow and was married in the capital of the state. Of their eight children, four sur vive: Bertha, wife of William Zuercher, and Mina, wife of William Muelbrand, both families of whom live on farms near Herriek; Lena, who is married to Sam Thompson of Leadville, Colo rado ; and Anna, the wife of Charles Ruden, post master of Crofton. Mr. Buhrow is a republican in politics, and a member of the German Lutheran church. He was a comrade of the local post of the Grand Army of Republic until depleted numbers caused its abandoment. Mr. Buhrow and his family suffered during the early days by fire and flood, as well as through hunger, cold and exposure. One of their little ones was caught in a prairie fire October 25, 1881, and breathed in the flaming gases in sight of her father, whose hands and wrists to this day bear scars of the burns received in extinguishing the flames from her clothes and hair. Anna, now Mrs. Charles Rujlen of Crofton, was at the house of a neighbor, Mr. Mishke, at the time of the great flood, and was rescued on a raft after cross ing part of the waters on floating ice. At the time of the three days' blizzard of April, 1873, a son and the hired man were in Yankton, where they remained until the storm abated, but the home folks were none the less uneasy until word of their safety was received; they did not know that the wayfarers wore not frozen and buried in a snow-drift. At the time of the blizzard of October 15 to 18, 1880. they suffered little in convenience ; the residence was situated in a creek bottom back a short distance from the bluffs, and being thus protected was not so easily affected by the cold winds. The blizzard of January 12, 1888, in which so many lives were lost in the great northwest, found them in their stone house, built in the summer of 1881 ; and thus housed and protected, with plenty of fuel at hand, howling winds could not affright them. Grasshoppers devastated this region six or seven years, and Mr. Buhrow suffered with the rest, but only two or three years did they lose everything by the devouring pests. So bad were they some seasons, that trees were denuded of hark, as well as leaves, and killed. Deer and an telope were frequently seen in the early days, and two elk passed within sight of Mr. Buhrow one spring ; antelope were frequently seen graz ing with the cattle. For several years wheat bread was seldom seen. Mrs. Buhrow being ill, a supply was se cured from Ponca, as above recounted. Although the usual diet of cornbread was distasteful to her, when the children cried for the wheaten loaves she divided it with them when the father was away from the house; he always punished them for asking when he was at home. For one whole year they lived on cornbread, having little else on the table but that and milk; even the garden COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1067 vegetables failed to mature that year. Their only substitute for coffee was parched rye. But hardships in those days fell lightly upon them. Youth and hope buoyed them up, and the ever present thought of better times coming helped the dreary days to glide swiftly by and leave no impress but in memory. WILLIAM ALEXANDER. William Alexander, who resides on the county poor farm, is one of the enterprising and pros perous agriculturists of Howard county, Ne braska. He is numbered among the very earliest homesteaders of Fairdale precinct, Howard county, which was his home from 1871 until he became , superintendent of the Howard county farm. Mr. Alexander was born in Clinton county, Iowa, October 14, 1849, and received his early education in that state. He was married there December 21, 1869, to Maggie Coottey, who is a native of Kenosha county, Wisconsin, and the fifth member in a family of six. On May 8, 1871, our subject and his wife and one child, in com pany with Thomas Coottey wife and one child, and Nicholas Coottey, started by wagon through the country for Buffalo county, Nebraska. On reaching this state they changed their plans and stopped in Boone county, spending one week there, and not being favorably impressed with the country turned around and started back for Iowa. They journeyed as far as the Indian vil lage Genoa, situated on the Loup river, where they met Major North, a government scout. He persuaded the party to follow up along the Loup river until coming to Lloward county, which they did and reached the present location of the vil lage of Elba. Here the three men of the party located pre-emption rights, proved up by com mutation, and sold. At the time of Mr. Alexander's coming into 'the county there was not an actual white settler on the north side of the Loup river. The south side was sprinkled with soldiers, and shortly afterwards five familes settled on the Loup river bottom lands. In 1874 our subject homesteded on sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, town ship fifteen, range eleven, which is known at the present time as the Moffitt Creek ranch, and is a valuable tract. His first trip to Grand Island for supplies after coming here, was made under strenuous difficulties, necessitating the fording of the Loup river, and after obtaining his goods at the only store the place then afforded, started on his return trip. He had a wagon load of furni ture, provisions, etc., and on arriving at the river, was obliged to ask assistance of the sol diers in crossing, but finally arrived at home safely and with his load intact. Mr. Alexander was the only child of his parents, and never saw his father, as he had died shortly before his birth. His mother came to Howard county after he had settled here, and her death occurred in August, 1899. Both Mrs. Alexander's parents are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have raised a large family, twelve children in all, and eight are now living, namely: William C, who is ex-sheriff of Howard county; George F. who has the honor to be the first white boy born in the county, and now resides in Elba with his family. Nicholas J., Maggie, Alva H., Grover C, Warren H., and Raymond S. All are married excepting the three last mentioned, and all held in high esteem as worthy and enterprising citizens of their respec tive localities. Our subject has had a wide experience in' pioneer life in Nebraska as well as Iowa, and is widely known, in past years filling numerous local precinct offices. He now is active super intendent of the Howard county farm, having been appointed to that position in March, 1907. His home is on the farm which he operates. SAMUEL R. McFARLAND. Samuel R. McFarland who is among the old settlers in northeastern Nebraska, is a man of exceptional ability and superior intelligence, and has made for himself an enviable reputation by his honest and energetic labors, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. Mr. McFarland was born in Clinton county, Indiana, October 31, 1862, and was third of eight children in the family of Alexander and Eliza beth McFarland, both natives of Indiana. Alexander McFarland and family of wife, three sons and two daughters, came to Stanton county, Nebraska, October 11, 1868, taking up a homestead about four miles northwest of Stan ton, ccming overland by team and wagon; a smal' Indiana colony of six or seven families coming in together 'and becoming pioneer settlers of Stanton county. Samuel R. McFarland, subject of this sketch, received his education in the com mon schools of Stanton county, and in his seven teenth year practically went out for himself as a farm boy. » On March 9, 1882, Mr. McFarland was mar ried to Miss Hannah P. Bowman at the home of her parents, Edward and Nancy Bowman, who came to Stanton county in 1880, and both now being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland have three children: Nancy Elizabeth, a teacher in the public schools of Madison, Nebraska ; Clarence PL, who teaches in district schools of Madison county; and Walter R., a stenographer. Mr. McFarland remained on the home farm until 1882, and in the meantime taught three winter terms of school and learned the printers' trade during the summer months. In 1887 in connection with his brother James J., he went into the newspaper business, editing the "Pilger Review," selling same in about six months, and then went to work for his brother on the ' ' Stan- 1068 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. ton Democrat, ' ' and was in the newspaper field of work until 1889, when he owned and operated a dray and transfer line in Stanton; and in 1891 again returned to the newspaper work. In 1893 M'ir. McFarland became connected with a fra ternal insurance company as field representative. In the fall of 1894 he became a resident of Nor folk, Nebraska, and went to work for H. E. Hardy, coal dealer of Norfolk, and remained with Mr. Hardy until 1905. During the years prior to 1905 Mr. McFarland was elected city clerk of Norfolk and re-elected for five successive terms. In the spring of 1905 Mr. McFarland en raged in the real estate, insurance and loan business, and in January of 1906 became deputy county clerk of Madison county under George E. Richardson, and in the fall of 1909 was nominee of the republican party for county clerk of Madison countv, and was elected by a fine major ity. Mr. McFarland is still a young man and since his sixth year has been a resident of Ne braska. He has held positions of responsibilty, and has been at all times an advocate for ad vancement along lines for the betterment of- poli tical, educational, and social issues. The Mc Farland family are all interested in educational and moral questions, and live in a pleasant home in Madison, where they have the respect and warm friendship of a large circle of friends. JOHN O. TAYLOR. John O. Taylor, a widely known and popular citizen of Custer county, Nebraska, has for many years been identified with the various interests and upbuilding of the county and state, and is a prosperous and successful man of affairs. He is now serving- acceptably as postmaster of Berwyn, and owns six hundred acres of fine farming land, most of which is under cultivation. He was born at Columbia, Wisconsin, next to the youngest of peven children born to Ole and Julia Taylor. There are two daughters living in Minnesota and others of the children are deceased. The father was a native of Norway and came to America in 1842. He removed from Wisconsin to Iowa, where the children were reared, and later he removed to Minnesota dying in the northern part of that state in January, 1894. His wife died in Min nesota in 1873. In childhood John 0. Taylor accompained the rest of the family to Minnesota, where he wan educated and grew to manhood on a farm. In 1874 he went west and spent about one year traveling along the Pacific coast, then engaged in the agricultural implement business. He was married in Fillmore county, Minesota, November 28, 1876, to Caroline Chilson, a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, and they made their first home in Minnesota. In the spring of 1879 they brought their little daughter with them to Custer county, and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Round Valley and also secured a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, Mr. Taylor establishing the postoffice in the valley in January, 1880, serving as its first postmaster. In August, 1880, Mr. Taylor secured a home stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the northwest quarter of section seven teen, township sixteen, range nineteen, and there dived about 'six years. In 1886 he came to Berwyn and established a store, selling his busi ness interests in 1893, when he purchased a large stock and grain farm on section seven, town ship sixteen, range nineteen, which is still the home place, although in 1907 Mr. Taylor re purchased his former business location in Berwyn and again engaged in general mercantile busi ness. In December, 1909, he had the misfortune to lose his building and stock by fire, the loss amounting to some ten thousand dollars in all. He rebuilt the following spring and now owns the largest mercantile establishment in the town and carries a large and well selected stock of up-to-date goods. He is well established in the confidence of the community and is respected as a man of business integrity and ability. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs. In 1884 he was elected county supervisor and served one term in this office. In 1896 he served as delegate from the sixth congressional district to the national convention which convened in St. Louis, June 16th, and nominated William Mc- Kinley for president. Pie took the first census of the town of Broken Bow and served as the first assessor of Broken Bow township. He is one of the few who retain the ownership of the original homestead, and he now lives on his farm near Berwyn. Nine children were born to Mr. Taylor and wife: Julia married (first) Edward Bryant, by whom she had three children, and she is now the wife of John Harley, of Custer county; Carl O., a merchant at Merna; Fred I., of Berwyn, is mar ried and has one child; Stephen L. and Gust O, at home; Ella, wife of N. G. Morgan, lives in Montana; Herman E., Nora and Ora, at home. HENRY STAMER. For few men is there a more universal kindly feeling than for the venerable Henry Stamer, now conducting a flour and feed store in Spencer, Nebraska. He was born in the village of Oldenberg, Hol stein province, Germany, August 26, 1836, and lived the first score of years in his native village. In emigrating to America, he embarked at Ham burg in July, 1856 on the sailship "Deutchland" and although the passage was not a stormy one, head winds delayed them and it was fifty-four days before a landing was made in New York. He came directly west to Davenport, crossing from Rock Island on the ferry, the bridge not hav- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1069 ing been constructed at that time. A farmer living ten miles west of town gave him work and here he remained for nine months. The next year and a half he did farm work in Benton county, and bought three yoke of oxen and broke prairie for the settlers two seasons, working with a threshing crew the other months of the year. In the spring of 1861 he sold his oxen, bought aj team of horses and eighty acres of Benton county land, to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres adjoining. He married in the mean while, and for eight years lived on his farm here. In 1869 he sold and moved to Crawford county, bought eighty acres of land and farmed it thoroughly for eight or nine years before mi grating to Adams county, Nebraska, in Janu ary, 1878. He worked at the carpenter's trade on first coming to Nebraska, living in the country southeast of Hastings the while. Later he leased a half section and farmed three years before coming to Boyd county in 1891. Here he filed on a homestead four and a half miles northeast of where Spencer now stands; later he added a quarter section to his holdings and farmed here until 1902, when he retired. For two years he lived with a son until the mother recovered from an attack of rheumatism, and in 1904 moved to town. Four years later he opened a flour and feed store in which he has developed a comfortably large trade. Henry Stamer is a son of Martin and Eliza beth (Suchsdorf) Stamer, both of whom died when the boy was quiet young, the father in 1843, and the mother three years later. Mr. Stamer was married in Iowa, August 26, 1861, to Miss Sophia Doebel, who had been a schoolmate in their childhood. Her father settled in Benton county soon after his immigration in 1857. Of their children, four survive. They are : Elizabeth, wife of Adolph Roseberg of Crawford county, Iowa ; Herman, who is living on a claim in Tripp county, South Dakota; Henry, who makes his home in Clay county, Nebraska and Fredrika, widow of Claus Smith, is on a claim in Tripp county, South Dakota. Mr. Stamer is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church, their congre gation having a house of worship a few miles north of town. At the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Stamer was attending a meeting of the^ board of county commissioners of Adams county, of which he was a member, and had just departed from the poor farm for home when the storm struck. The company with difficulty returned at once to the farm two miles distant and re mained for the night. The fourteen-mile ride home the next day in the cold and deep snow was a trip to be long remembered for its dis comfort and suffering. Mr. Stamer lived four years in a "soddy" on first coming to Boyd county. The small amount of lumber used had to be hauled from O'Neill or Niobrara, nearly fifty miles. There was good timber on his land, so fuel was plenti ful, a condition to be desired in the west. A prairie fire in November, 1892, came near proving fatal to Mr. Stamer. It swept down from the north and came so suddenly there was little chance for escape, and he ran to a small creek and lay down in the water until the flames swept over and the smoke blew away, when he crossed the smouldering, blackened waste to his home. Mr. Stamer was one of the earliest craftsmen of Boyd county, and erected for R. Roller the first house built in Spencer. Though there were many hardships and many privations in the opening of the west, most every pioneer fervently declares that those were the happiest days of his life; though such is the dis position of Mr. Stamer that all are happy days. FRED UEHLING. Mr. Fred Uehling, of Bloomfield, is truly one of the pioneers of the state of Nebraska, having been a resident of the state since the fourth of July, 1864. On that day his father, John Uehl ing, settled in Dodge county, four and a half miles north of where Hooper now stands. Omaha, seventy miles distant, was the nearest trading town and the trip took nearly a week in going and coming. His was one of nine families who migrated across the country from Wisconsin, their calvacade consisting of eleven teams; some owning horses, some oxen. John Uehling was a native of Saxony, as was the mother, Elizabeth Toutfetter. The former died in the spring 1885, at the age of eighty-six, and the latter in July, 1880, at the age of sixty- eight. They came to America in 1852 in a sail- ship, embarking at Hamburg. After a voyage of fourteen weeks, they landed in New York and came direct to Wisconsin, settling in Dodge county in 1852. Here he farmed for twelve years, until migrating to Nebraska. He was in better circumstances than most of his neighbors, having two wagons drawn by a yoke of oxen and team of horses. He had started with four oxen, but traded for horses on the way. The father home steaded a quarter section and bought two hun dred and forty acres additional, and here he lived until his death, as above stated, in the spring of 1885. The son Fred, was running the farm at the time, the father having retired. The mother's death had occurred five years before. while visiting with her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Wagner of Dodge county. Fred Uehuling was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, June 29, 1853; his eleventh birthday was celebrated in Iowa on the way to the west. Mr. Uehling began Ids' own business career farm ing his father's land until 1882, when he moved to Scribner, the father at the time making his 1070 COMPENDIUM OF PIISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. home with another son. In Scribner, Mr. Uehl ing engaged in the furniture and implement busi ness. In 1881 he moved to Oakland, and opened a meat market in which he was engaged for nine years. Under the firm name of Holmquist and Company, he- entered the grain and lumber busi ness in 1892, selling in 1900 to come to Wausa. Here he built a mill and elevator, wbich in 1901 he, traded for a farm in Knox county and moved to Wisner. In the spring of 1902 he came to Bloomfield and opened a lumber yard and also a bank; he erected a business block on the main street, and for a few years engaged in the hardware busi ness. Iri 1909 he traded the stock of goods for a farm, and on May 20, 1909, sold his interest in the bank, retiring to private life. He now gives personal attention to his landed estates and town property keeping them in good repair and oc cupied by thrifty tenants. As a business man and manager, Mr. Uehling is a pronounced suc cess. What he has, was accumulated by his own effort, and invested in a safe and profitable way under his own judgment. Mr. Uehling was married in Dodge county, November 3, 1877,to Miss Marie Kruger, a native of Mechlenburg, Germany, daughter of Joachin Kruger, who, emigrated to America in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Uehling have six children, namely- Ina, vife of W. H. Bosse, of Meadow Grove, Nebraska; Peodor, in business in Omaha; Emil, Fred, Hen rietta, wife of George Bloodhart, a merchant of Bloomfield and Dorothy. Mr. Uehling is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church. He holds mem bership in both the Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. During the first two years of their life in Nebraska, the Uehling family occupied a dugout, building material being scarce as were also money, and provisions. They had a cow, so en joyed milk and butter. A mill on Logan creek ground their scant supply of wheat. The many blizzards that swept the plains are well remem bered. Mr. Uehling was living at Oakland at the time of the blizzard of January 12, 1888. Mrs. Uehling, in attempting to get the children at school was herself lost for a time on her way home. Deer and antelope were plentiful when the family setled in Dodge county, and wild turkeys were still to be found, Mr. Uehling having bagged n>any of them in his hunting days. They have seen hailstorms of the worst kind, one of them having come since the family has been living in their present house ; in the country they have seen hail blown into hollows two feet deep. Mr. Uehling is one of the substantial men of Nebraska, self-made, self-reliant and self-sustain ing. Of such is the best blood of the community and the bulwark of the state. JUDSON KAY. Judson Kay is one of the oldest settlers of Custer county, Nebraska, and helped erect the first house in the city of Broken Bow. He is well known in various circles, and is one of the popular citizens of the region. He is a native of Owen county, Indiaria, born October 1, 1854, next to the youngest of six children in the family of William and Elizabeth (Barnes) Kay. He has a brother, Carey W., in Oklahoma, a sis ter, Mrs. Ann Cosner, living in Indiana, and three of the children are deceased. The father and mother were natives of Pennsylvania, the lat ter born in Beaver county, that state, and both died in Indiana, he in 1880 and she in 1878. The father was of German descent. Mr. Kay reached manhood on his father's farm in Indiana and after receiving an excellent common school education, attended DePauw University, at Greencastle, for two years, after which he took a course in Green university, in Hendricks county, Indiana, in 1873, after which he spent six months studying medicine with Dr. J. A. Osborn, at New Winchester, Indiana. How ever, finding the profession unsuited to his tastes, he withdrew from its study and engaged in farm ing, in which line he has been very successful. On November 1, 1874, at Stilesville, Indiana, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Lud-> low) a native of the state, and they spent several years in Indiana. In September, 1880, Mr. Kay came west in search of a suitable location and joined his brother, Carey W., at what is now Broken Bow, Nebraska, the latter having come to the state in 1879. They eame to Custer county and each took up a homestead, Carey W. filing on one hundred and sixty acres of land in the geographi cal center of the county, and Judson secured the southwest quarter of section eighteen, township sixteen, range nineteen. During the first two weeks the two brothers spent in the county they slept with a Cherokee Indian in a little dog tent, which was pitched on the spot where the Bur lington railroad company has 'located its well in Broken Bow. Mrs. Kay and two daughters fob' lowed the husband and father and secured a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section twelve, township sixteen, range twenty, and Mr. Kay has set eleven acres of land- in various kinds of trees, which have flourished well, and there are now many large trees of splendid- growth, some of them three feet in diameter. In 1886 they moved to the timber claim and Mr. Kay erected tbe first frame house in Muddy Val ley. In 1881 he had helped organize what is now known as school district number twenty -4 our, being first teacher there, and he served eleven years as director. In 1894 Mr. Kay and family came to Broken Bow, in order to secure better educational ad- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1071 vantages for their children, and purchased the comfortable home where, they still live. Mr. Kay is engaged in the stock business and has also built up a good patronage as an auctioneer. He still owns his original homestead, being one of the few who have done so. Three children were born to him and his wife : Clara died in infancy ; Zoe married William Bruce, of Broken Bow, and they have one child; Madge is professor of ma thematics in the state agricultural college at Manhattan, Kansas. Mr. Kay has been closely identified with the progress and growth of his county and has always had great faith in the state's future. He has had many interesting and unique experiences, and is now a successful man of business. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of well improved and well equipped grain and stock farm land and also has city property. He helped erect the first house in Broken Bow, as before mentioned, this being put up on the spot now occupied by the Realty block. He was a member of the first grand jury of Custer county, under Judge Savage, and has been a member of every agricultural society ever organized in the county. For the past twenty years he has been affiliated with the Blue Lodge of the A. F. and A. M. of Broken Bow, and he is also a member of the M. B. A. When a post-office was established in what is now the city, several suggestions had been sent to the government as to what name should be given it, but all had been rejected. Mr. Kay and his family stopped at Wilson Hewett's shop, where the latter was making a plow for Mr. Kay. They espied some wild geese on a creek near by, and Mr. Hewett took his gun and shot at them, killing one. While stopping to pick up the goose, Mr. Hewett found a broken Indian bow, vvhich he carried back to the four men in his shop. suggesting to them that the name of the new postoffice be "Broken Bow." They all felt sure this name would be accepted,' and so it was. The four men, to whom Mr. Hewett brought the bow, were as follows: C. D. Pelham and Jesse Garringer, both now deceased ; C. W. and Judson Kay. The historic bow was preserved many years by the Hewett family* but one rainy morn ing, when no dry kindling could be found with which to start the fire, Miss Hastings (at that time a member of the Hewett household) broke it up, and used it to start the fire. ANTON BUSHELMAN. , Anton B.ushelman, a prominent farmer and old settler of Knox county, Nebraska, resides on his fine farm in section fifteen, township thirty- one, range two. He is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land, which he has accumulated through dint of his honest industry and persis tent labor, supplemented by good management and strict integrity. Mr. Bushelman is a man of successful endeavor, and is one of the substantial citizens and favorably known residents of his locality. Mr. Bushelman is a native of Germany, where his birth occurred in Oldenburg province in 1848. He is a son of Predlian and Catherine (Cherlreng) Bushelman, who are both natives of Germany. Our subject grew to his young manhood in his native country receiving a good education, and later learning the carpenter's trade. He also was a sailor, and cruised along the coasts of both the East and West Indies, and along the coast of Chiria. In 1866, Mr. Bushelman, left the fatherland to come to the new world, of which he had heard such flattering accounts. He embarked on the steamship "Idaho,' sailing by way of Hull and Liverpool to New York. After landing in the United States, Mr. Bushelman set his face west ward, landing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he worked at bis trade of carpentry for six years. He then, in 1872, started for the far west, as Nebraska and surrounding territory was called in those days, going to Yankton, South Dakota, where he bought an ox team, and drove to his homestead in Cedar county, Nebraska. On this land he built a sod house, but did not prove up on his claim, and, after abandoning it, Mr. Bush elman proceeded to Knox county, Nebraska,_ in 1884, and bought the land where he now lives. Here, in the first days of settlement,, our subject went through the many vicissitudes and hard ships incident to the pioneer days of the western frontier. The grasshoppers were the greatest source of discouragement to the new settler in that region, and the first two years of Mr. Bush elman 's residence on his farm were years of fail ure, as the grasshoppers destroyed every spear of vegetation to be seen anywhere around, and these pests were only one of the many sources of discomfort to contend with in those days. At that period, coffee and sugar were luxuries. But those, days have passed to history, and Mr. Bushelman now owns four hundred and forty acres of fine land, well improved, ten acres of which is given to trees, and he and his family en joy all the comforts of modern farm life. Mr. Bushelman was married in 1891 to Miss Gusta Olson, and they are the parents of six chil dren, namely: Anna, Lizzie, Elmer, Margaret, Elsie and Alfred. They are a fine family, and enjoy the, good will and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Bushelman is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Cath olic church, while his family hold membership in the Lutheran church. May 3, 1911, Mr. Bushelman had the misfor tune to have his sleeve catch in the corn shelter, with the result that his left hand and arm were drawn into the machine, necessitating amputa tion four inches below the elbow. 1072 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. J. P. HAMMERBACK. J. P. Hammerback, one of the old settlers of the region where he chose his home in the early days, occupies a good home and valuable prop erty in section nineteen, township thirty-two, range two, Knox county, Nebraska. He has done his full share in the upbuilding of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the state. Mr. Hammerback is a native of Sweden, where he was born in the year 1842, a son of P. E. and Stena Hammerback, both of whom are natives of Sweden. Our subject grew to man hood years in his native land, and in 1870 came to America. Upon his arrival in the new world, he remained in New York City, where he first landed, living there some time, then coming on to Moiine, Illinois, where he was employed in the plow factory. In 1887, Mr. Hammerback came to Knox county, Nebraska, and bought the land where he now lives, which, as before stated, is located in section nineteen, township thirty-two, range two, and which, and through Mr. Hammerback 'a efforts and industry, has reached a high state of improvement and cultivation. Mr. Hammerback was united in marriage in 1868 to Miss Johanna Larson, and Mr. and Mrs. Hammerback have been the parents of five chil dren, three of whom are living : Gust, John and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Hammerback are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them, and- are surrounded in their pleasant home by a host of warm and admiring friends and acquaint ances. JOSEPH SCPILIPF. Joseph Schlipf, one of the early settlers and prosperous farmers of Boone county, Nebraska, is now retired from active labor, and makes his home in Petersburg, where he enjoys a com fortable home and pleasant surroundings. Mr. Schlipf was born in Germany on January 14, 1842. He grew up in that country, and came to America in 1866, locating first in Columbus, Ohio. He remained there for about two years, then moved to near Circleville, Ohio, and later went to Illinois, where he followed farming for several years. In 1882, he came to Nebraska, purchased a quarter section of land from the railroad, situ ated two miles northwest of where Petersburg now stands, and began to develop a farm. Dur ing the first years here, he saw hard times, but gradually became prosperous, and is now propri etor of a fine-improved half section of farm land, also some good town property. In 1900, he retired from active farm life, and settled in Pet ersburg. Mr. Schlipf was united in marriage on Febru ary 16, 1873, to Miss Katherine Diemer, who is also a native of Germany. The ceremony took place in El Paso, Illinois, where they lived for several years prior to coming to Nebraska. To them have been born the following children: George, Mary, Katherine, Josephine and John, all well known in their home vicinity. JOHN G. PICHTER. John G. Pichter, who died January 19, 1911, deeply mourned by friends and family, was one of the leading agriculturists of Madison county, Nebraska, a resident of section twenty-nine, township twenty-two, range three, where he had improved a large farm, and enjoyed the comforts of rural life. He was a man of industrious hab its, and was held in the highest esteem by his associates. He was widely known in his locality as a worthy citizen and progressive farmer, and occupied a pleasant home in School Craft pre cinct. Mr. Pichter was a native of New Jersey, in which state he was bora on August 21, 1845, a son of Gabriel and Elizabeth (Ward) Pichter, who also claimed New Jersey for their native state. Our subject's grandfather on the father's side came from Germany in 1700, making the voyage by sailboat, and, after landing on Ameri can shores, settled in New Jersey. He was an iron worker by occupation when he lived in Ger many, and after coming to the United States, followed blacksmithing. In 1890, Mr. Pichter, our subject, came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought the Jud Pichter homestead, and steadily improved same until he had a good farm and fine home, where, at the time of his death, he and his family were surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Pichter experienced many discourage ments and suffered severe losses during his resi dence on the western frontier, and, among other disappoinments, suffered the loss of ' the entire season's crops in 1894 by the hot winds that destroyed every .spear of vegetation of all kinds. This was due to the terrible drouth that came upon this part of the country during that year. On December 19, 1866, Mr. Pichter was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Gordon, a native of New Jersey, and daughter of Charles and Emma (Case) Gordon, who are natives of New Jersey. To Mr. and Mrs. Pichter were born six fine children: Irene, Joseph, James, John H., Fred and Charles G. The family is well and fav orably known, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. »JU?. JS?-. -A>' . RANCH BUILDINGS OF C. T. ANSON. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1073 GEORGE W. SIMMS. George W. Simms is one of the most promin ent farmers in Custer county among the younger generation. He is a patriotic son of Nebraska, who has, since early youth, been interested in the welfare and prosperity of the state. Pie has lived in Custer county for more than a quarter of a century, and as an educator won a very credita ble reputation. Pie belongs to one of the oldest families of his region, and is a representative of an old southern family that has had a high stand ing in North Carolina for many generations back. He is one of the two children born to Isaac New ton and Clarinda (Chilson) Simms, the father a native of Knox county, Illinois, and the mother of Warren county, Iowa. The family came to Custer county in 1883, and have since resided there. Their ancestors are given mention in con nection with the sketch of the father, which ap pears in this work. They are well known throughout their part of the county as being representative of the best interests of their com munity. Their son, George W., was born in Shaw nee county, Kansas, January 5, 1875, and at the time his parents came to Custer county, he was nine years of age. He received his primary edu cation in Custer county, and attended the agri cultural college of Kansas five terms, also took a course in the Grand Island Business Collage, graduating therefrom in 1893, and starting out in life on his own account when he reached his ma jority. He taught school in 1894 and 1895, and carried on farming a few years. During the year 1897 and 1898, he taught the Dunning school in Blaine county, then until 1902 gave his attention to farming and stock raising. In 1902, he took a position as principal of the Anselmo schools, but at the end of the year, returned to the farm. Mr. Simms was married, December 20, 1905, to Edith B. Ross, daughter of Robert D. and Ida Belle (Merchant) Ross, a native of Custer county. Mr. Ross, who was born in Iowa, came to CusteiJ county with his parents in 1874. Mrs. Ross is a native of Ohio, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Kaylor) Merchant, who came to Custer county in 1874. George W. Simms is one of Custer county's most enterprising and progressive young men, and has, since his majority, been closely identified with the development and improvement of his county and state. In his ninth year he herded stock on the plains of Custer county, and early demonstrated his ability as a business man and farmer. He has always been much interested in educational affairs, and has been the friend of progress in all forms. He now resides on the northeast quarter of section nine, township nine teen, range twenty-one, where he has a well-im proved stock and grain farm, and he owns five hundred acres of choice land in Custer county, besides having other land interests. He and his wife have one child, Paul Delmar. 35 C. T. ANSON. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers and ranchmen of Antelope county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of C. T. Anson. For many years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sherman precinct, and has done his full share as an old settler towards the development of the better interests of the community, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Anson has a comforta ble home on section one, township twenty-eight, range eight, and is the owner of eleven hundred and eighty acres of good land in sections three and four, and also rents twenty-one hundred acres of Mr. B. C. Buxton. • Mr. Anson was born in Union county, Oregon, February 8, 1864. His father, William George Anson, was born in England, coming to America when he was twelve years of age. Our subject's mother, Harriett (Blair) Anson, was born in Ohio, and her father was a native of New Foundland. Mr. Anson came to Antelope county, March 4, 1883, from Buchanan, Iowa. When he landed in this region he had but a few dollars, and as soo|n as possible, Mr. Anson taught school for twenty dollars per month, saving enough from his salary to purchase land, this land being a pre-emption claim, which had been taken up by Mr. Ben Wade, from whom Mr. Anson purchased his land. March 7, 1886, Mr. Anson was united in mar riage to Miss Henrietta Whitmore, and two chil dren were born of this union: William S., who married Gladys Carson, and Octavia. Mrs. Anson died in the year of 1895, deeply mourned by her husband and family, and many kind neighbors and friends. In 1896, Mr. Anson was again mar ried, his bride being Miss Ervie Strope. This union has been blessed with four children, named as follows: Charles, deceased; Hilda, Adeline, and George. In the year of 1888, during the memorable blizzard, Mr. Anson's present wife's grandfather, Mr. Gearey, was lost and frozen to death in the storm. Mr. Anson has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and was elected by his constitu ents to the office of postmaster at Glenalpin, vvhich he held and satisfactorily filled for eight years. Mr. Anson has a beautiful home, and the farm is known as Glenalpin Ranch. This is one of the finest ranches in Nebraska. It is fully equipped with all modern improvements, several new concrete barns having just been completed, all the material for the work having been taken from his own" place, with the exception of the cement. He has at present about six hundred head of cattle, sixty horses and colts, and about three hundred head of Duroe Jersey hogs. A picture of the ranch buildings will be found on another page. 1074 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Anson is a member of the Ancient Order Of United Workmen. Politically he is an inde pendent republican. JOHN N. BRANDENBURG. John N. Brandenburg, of Broken Bow, is one of the earlier settlers of Custer county, and is well regarded as an enterprising and public- spirited citizen, who is actively interested in every measure for the betterment and development of his community. Mr. Brandenburg is a native of Darke county, Ohio, born July 18, 1834, a son of Jacob and Jane (Freel) Brandenburg. He was one of a large family, but he and his brother, William, Of Indiana, are now the only survivors. The father was born in Berks county, Pennsyl vania, of German parentage, and the mother, a native of Greene county, Ohio, was of Scotch- Irish extraction. He died in Ohio about 1854, and the mother died in Indiana in 1861. Mr. Brandenburg grew to manhood on a farm in his native state, received his education princi pally in subscription schools, and when about twenty years of age, went to Indiana and worked at farming. Later he purchased land for him self, and engaged in farming on his own account. On August 26, 1858, he was united in marriage, in Grant county, Indiana, with Miss Prances Allen, a native of that state, and after living more than thirty years pf their wedded life in Indi ana, they came, in January, 1893, to Custer county. He secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land near Merna, and also purchased eighty acres of land adjoining. This was the home place until September, 1909, when Mr. Brandenburg sold his farming interests, and came to Broken Bow, where he erected his pres- . ent modern residence. While living on the farm, he served some time as moderator of the school board of district number seventy-seven, and was actively interested in education and other meas ures for the improvement of the community. Nine children were born to Mr. Brandenburg and wife, namely: Henry A., is married, and lives eight miles northwest of Broken Bow; WiUiam O, of Custer county, whose wife died in 1895, has one child; Thomas E., of Indiana, has six children; Elizabeth, wife of 0. J. Life, of Bridgeport, has three children; Charles M., living near Merna, has five children ; Franklin W., lives east of Merna, and he and his wife have two chil dren; Emma M-, wife of Jesse Small, of Okla homa, has one child; Lucy E., wife of Merritt Gordon, living near Merna, has two children; Clayton P., of Iowa, has two children. Mr. Bran denburg is well and favorably known in the county, and, besides good city property, owns some farming land in Oklahoma. Mrs. Brandenburg's father, John Allen, was a native of Tennessee, and died in Iowa, and her mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Newby was a native of Jackson county, Indiana, and died in Iowa. Mrs. Brandenburg has a sister in Iowa, one in Indiana, and one, Mrs. Esther Mc Cracken, in Broken Bow. PRANK L. SIREK. It is often said that the romance of real life exceeds that of fiction, and this saying is fitly illustrated in the life of the gentleman above mentioned, who makes his home in Plainview, Nebraska. Frank L. Sirek is a native of Ceska Trebova, province of Bohemia, born April 1, 1857. His father was the owner of a number of large bak eries and tenement buildings in the heart of that city. He gave his son every advantage wealth could furnish, educating him in music, science and the liberal arts. He was graduated from the University of Prague, took a long theological course, and was ordained a priest in the Catholic church at Prague, filling a pulpit for two years in the old country. In 1875, Mr. Sirek came to America, remaining for a time in Chicago and Milwaukee, and was assigned by Bishop Hennesy to the church in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. After fulfilling his pastor al duties for a time, he felt the call of the world too strongly, so gave up his charge, abandoned the ministry, and entered, secular life. Returning to the old country, he felt it his mission to preach against the established government and church, tor which he had to flee the country. He came to Omaha in 1885, became editor of a Bohemian paper in partnership with two other men, who attempted to control the policies of the paper, while Mr. Sirek was expected to bear aU the responsibilities for its success, so 'he resigned, and went to Schuyler. After a short stay in the latter place, he came to Pierce, was married there, and removed with his young wife to Wilber, Saline county, clerking in a drug store there for four years. Friends persuaded him to return to Pierce and accept the office of deputy under County Treasurer Carl Kurth, and in three months he had lost all his savings and his salary in the defalcation of his principal. He left the town, and came to Plainview, securing employment with the Chicago Lumber Company, and from 1888 to 1908, continued in the work, losing scarcely a day from duty. In the latter year he retired from active work, and has gathered to gether sufficient of this world's goods to enable him to pass his remaining years in comfort. Mr. Sirek 's wife was Miss Anna Synovec, a native of Gage county, Nebraska, and daughter of Prank Synovec, of Bohemia. He came to America in 1866, embarking at Hamburg in a sailing vessel, enduring a voyage filled with hard ships, lasting nineteen days. His first location was in Milwaukee, where he was an expert ma chinist in a brewery. Later he removed to Ne- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1075 braska, where he engaged in farming for fifteen years. He became a large land owner here, and died on his estate, near Pierce, on May 2, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Sirek are the parents of seven children, who are named as follows: Jennie, is the wife of Prank Tepner, who served as city marshal of Plainview for several years; Libbie, wife of Tony Dominice ; Lumer, the eldest son, lived on a farm west of the town one year, and then resumed his old place in the track depart ment of the Northwestern railroad; he was a foreman of the section while in his eighteenth year, and, so far as known, was the youngest section foreman in the United States; he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, The four younger children, Alice, who graduated from the Plainview high school in 1911 ; Ladimer, Gerald, and Helen, who is still a .baby. Alto gether they form a most interesting family. Mr. Sirek is an independent in politics, cast ing his ballot for tbe man he believes best fitted for the place, regardless of party. In addition to the usual learning of the uni versity, our subject has a reading, writing and speaking command of seven languages : Russian, Bohemian, German, French, English, Latin, and Greek, with a working knowledge of several of the Cerb tongues. Tn music his talent has been highly cultivated, enabling him to play most any instru ment, also write and compose music as readily as others use script. His place should have been at the head of some university or conservatory had not fate cast his lot on the frontier. CHARLES T. KENYON. Charles T. Kenyon, one of the best known farmers of Ploward county, Nebraska, owns a fine stock and grain farm of one thousand and forty acres, lying on the middle Loup river bot tom, also three hundred' and twenty acres situated a short distance to the west of this location, and one hundred and sixty acres in Sherman county. He raises fine crops of grain, also devotes con siderable time and attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle, of which he has one of the finest herds in western Nebraska. Mr. Kenyon is pro gressive and up-to-date in his method of farm ing, and his estate is among the most valuable in Howard county. Mr. Kenyon was born in Chenango county, New York state, June 30, 1839, and is a son of Lucy and Manson Kenyon, the eldest in their family of five boys and one girl : Charles T. and Leland Kenyon, now living in Howard county; George E., of Grand Ledge, Michigan ; and Adel- bert, the latter now living in Kansas. Charles remained in his home locality, follow ing farming, until he was about twenty-one years of age, then went into Michigan, where he spent one year. He next worked for an uncle in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, for two years, then went back to New York state, and was in the mail service for a number of years. He spent consid erable time in traveling through the eastern states, and in 1873, together with his brother, Leland, came into Howard county, landing here on September 12. Both filed on homesteads, Charles' being on section twelve, township four teen, range twelve, and succeeded in building up a comfortable home and producting farm, occupy ing the place for about ten years, when he re moved to section thirty, township thirteen, range eleven, which has been his home farm for about twenty-five years. He has a large part of his land under cultivation, and runs an extensive dairy, from which he derives a large income. Kenyon Siding, which is on a branch line, running from St. Paul to Loup City, of the Union Pacific railway, is located on his farm, making a good means of transportation for marketing stock, etc. In June, 1886, Mr. Kenyon was united in mar riage to Carrie H. Callen, at the home of her par ents in Sherman county. Mrs. Kenyon is a native of Pennsylvania, the Callen family being also pioneers in western Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon have been born three children, one of whom, Pearl, is living at home; one child, Amy, having died at four years of age, and Charles T., whose death occurred July 2, 1909/ During the early years, Mr. Kenyon held var ious offices in his township, serving as assessor of his precinct for a number of years, also was county commissioner for one term. JULIUS C. STAHL. The gentleman whose name heads this review was, until recently, one of the well-to-do and pro gressive agriculturists of Knox county, Nebraska, who had succeeded in building up a valuable farm and home through hard labor and persistent efforts. He is a loyal Nebraskan, enthusiastic in his praise of this part of the state, considering it to be one of the finest farming countries to be found anywhere. Mr. Stahl resided, until recent ly, in section nine, township thirty, range three, where he and his family enjoy the highest esteem and resepct of all in the community. This home was the original homestead farm, on which Mr. Stahl and his bride first settled when coming to Nebraska. ' Mr. Stahl is a native of Ohio, his birth occur ring in 1866, and is a son of Charles and Louise (Dodez) Stahl, who had a family of seven chil dren. Our subject's father was born in Germany in 1821, and at the age of six years, in 1827, he; with his parents, left his native land, embarking on a sailboat for the new world, being three months on the ocean. They landed in Philadel phia, and there our subject's grandfather bought a horse, and took his family in a one-horse cart to what is now Winesburg, Ohio, when that part of the country was known as the far west. There 1076 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY^. was no railroad at that time. Ohio was but a forest, and the family experienced many hard ships. Our subject's grandfather and an old friend, Christian Smith, founded the town of Winesburg, Ohio, making the start by first clear ing away the timber. The grandfather grew in popularity and favor as the new town progressed, and became one of the most highly esteemed and substantial citizens in that part of the country, and at his death, which occurred when our sub ject's father was a young man, he was deeply mourned by all who knew him, and he was known far and wide in the then western country. Our subject's father, in the early forties, Walked to what is now known as Battle Creek, Iowa, where he took up a homestead, and, later, was united in marriage to Miss Louise Dodez, who was of French descent, they becoming the parents of seven i children, of which our subject is the oldest. Our subject, with the other chil dren of the family, grew up on the old homestead farm in Ohio, receiving such advantages as were available there, and lived the life of the usual homesteader. In 1892, Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Malone, also a native of Ohio, and Mr. and Mrs. Stahl are the parents of two children, namely: Edith Columbia and Grace Dexter. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl, immediately after their marriage, started for the west to make a fortune for themselves, continuing their journey until reaching Knox county, Nebraska, settling here, and buying land for five dollars to twelve dollars per acre, which is now worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Stahl has im proved his original farm land to a high state of cultivation, and has built himself and family a beautiful home. He has one of the finest farms in the county, and his land has proven to be a veritable "gold mine," as it were. The Bloom field Oil and Gas Company have been digging for oil, gas and coal, and a small vein of gold has been discovered on the place, making bis land one of the most valuable farms in the county, as before stated. Mr. Stahl has lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, since March 1, 1911, in order to give his children better educational advantages. PETER JEPSON. The present solid prosperity enjoyed in How ard county, Nebraska, may be attributed largely to her pioneers. In the early days of her settle ment, when the only welcome tendered the stran ger who settled there was a wilderness filled with wildbeasts and Indians, little to encourage and much to discourage came to his lot. But those sturdy men who went to their new home with a determination to succeed, and worked persistently and honestly are now the prosperous and hon ored residents of their locality. The subject of this sketch aided in bringing that wilderness to a high state of cultivation and civilization, and great credit is due him for his labor and influ ence. Peter Jespon was born in Denmark, August 26, 1854, and is the only living child of his fath er 's family. His father, mother and self came to America during the month of May, 1873, leaving Copenhagen May 2, and landing in New York City. They at once came to Dannebrog, Howard county, Nebraska, which place they reached oil June 2, 1873, where an uncle of Mr. Jepson's, Mr. S. M. Peterson, was one of the original locat ors of the Danish colony, which came to Howard county in 1872. Here the father homesteaded land one and one-half miles northwest of Danne brog, where the family resided until the year that the railroad was built into Dannebrog, when they moved into the village, and took up their resi dence. Peter Jepson opened up a real estate, loan and insurance office, in which business he re mained one year, and in the fall of 1876, became connected with the International Bank of Danne brog, which was a branch of the First National Bank of St. Paul, Nebraska, Mr. Jepson being assistant cashier and manager for two years. On March 2, 1889, Mr. Jepson and familyl, ac companied by his father and mother, went to California, remaining there thirteen months. Upon returning from California to Dannebrog, Mr. Jepson, in company with C. C. Hansen and Peter Klindt, engaged in the general mercantile business under the firm name of Jepson, Klindt & Company, going into business in April, 1890. At the expiration of two years, the business was purchased by C. C. Hansen, Mr. Jepson, as above stated, then going into the New International Bank of Dannebrog, in active management of the same. In 1893, Mr. Jepson moved to Rockville, Sher man county, and was engaged in the general mer cantile business until February 1, 1900, on which date the Elba State Bank of Elba was organized with the following officers: President, C. C. Hansen; vice president, C. Jepson; cashier and manager, Peter Jepson; assistant cashier, Harry Jepson. Mr. Jepson is also interested in other Howard county enterprises, being treasurer of the Howard County Telephone Company, and treasurer of of Elba village board and Elba school board. Mr. Jepson and son, Lawrence P. Jepson, made purchase of the principal part of the Bank of Lincoln County, Hershey, Nebraska, April 1, 1909: Peter Jepson, president; Lawrence Jep son, vice president. Mr. Jepson is also stock holder and director of First State Bank of Cotes field. Mr. Jepson was married on the Jepson home stead farm, March 5, 1879, to Miss Christina Paul- COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY'. 1077 sen, who was a native of Denmark, and came to America in January, 1879. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jepson : Lawrence P., who is married, and living at Hershey, Nebraska; Anna C, wife of Clarence Buckingham, and living in Elba; Harry O, and Eudora, who reside under the parental roof. Mr. Jepson is recognized as one of the leading men of his county, and takes an active interest in all matters that tend to the advancement of his locality. MORRIS GROSS. Morris Gross, who lives in section twenty- three, township twenty-one, range one, is a well and favorably known citizen of Madison county, Nebraska, where he has spent a large part of his career as an agriculturist. He has passed through all the early Nebraska times, and has done much in the way of helping in the advancement of his region, incidentally building up for himself a comfortable home and good farm. Mr. Gross is a native of Austria-Hungary, his birth occurring February 12, 1845, and he is a son of Leopold and Katie (Kelner) Gross, whi were natives of Austria-Hungary. The father was a farmer and merchant in the old country. Our subject was reared in his native land, receiv ing the usual school advantages, and after grow ing to manhood, served his allotted time in the Austrian army in 1866, receiving his discharge August 12, 1867. In 1867, Mr. Gross left his native land for America, embarking on the steamer "Helvetia," bound from Hamburg to New Yrork, and spent ten days on the sea. After landing on American soil, he proceeded to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1869, when he came to Madi son county, Nebraska, where he took up a home stead and pre-emption claim on which he first built a sod house, and lived in it six months, then put up an adobe house. Later he built a frame house, the lumber for its erection being shipped from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Columbus was the nearest market place at that time, the distance from his home to that point being thirty-five miles. , Mr. Grpss came to the west at the solicitation of two very close friends, the Unger brothers, who, shortly after our subject's arrival, met a very sad death, they becoming lost in the terrible snowstorm of January 16, 1870, and were frozen to death. This event will always remain in the memory of Mr. Gross as the saddest event of his life. Mr. Gross went back to Milwaukee the first foil of his residence in Madison county, where he remained until spring, and after settling in his home, "batched it" for a few years. On February 13, 1874, Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Miss Libby Cooter, and Mr. and Mrs. Gross are the parents of one fine son, Robert. Mrs. Gross' parents came to Madison county in 1872 from Syracuse, New York. In the early days of settlement in Madison county, Mr. Gross endured many hardships and privations, as did so many of the hardy sons of the western frontier. He suffered losses through the grasshopper pests, they having de stroyed all the crops the first few years, which was very discouraging to the families who came to the far west to make a fortune for themselves. Prairie fires were another source of anxiety and worry on the part of our subject and family, they having to fight the seething mass of flames many times to save their lives and homes. Deer and antelope were plentiful in those pioneer days; and could frequently be seen in herds grazing around the country. Mr. Gross has safely weathered frontier life, and is now enabled to enjoy life in peace and plenty, owning about seven hundred and twenty acres of fine land. He owns a beautiful farm, vvhich is widely known as Woodlawn Farm, on which he has a beautiful home. He has a fine orchard and a grove of twelve acres, the trees of which he planted himself. He is a prominent and prosperous citizen, and is justly entitled to the good fortune that has come his way. GEORGE W. MYERS. George W. Myers, a well-known business man of Broken Bow, Nebraska, is recognized as a power for good in his community, anot a citizen who has at heart the best interests of his county and state. He was born in Moultrie county, Illinois, March 13, 1864, and was the youngest of six children. His parents were David and Nancy (White) Myers, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio, and both of German descent. David Myers died in IUinois in 1881, and his widow now resides in Broken Bow. George- W. Myers has a brother, T. W. Myers, in Broken Bow; a brother, David A., in Oklahoma; one sister in Illinois, one sister de ceased. After receiving his education in the country schools of his native county, Mr. Myers engaged in farming in Illinois, having been reared to agri cultural pursuits. In the fall of 1882, he came to Custer county, and secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty, township eighteen, range nineteen, which has been the home place throughout all the years that have since intervened. He also secured a tree claim of the same size, adjoining his home stead. He was married at Weissert, Custer county, on March 18, 1888, to Miss Carrie L. Bradburn, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of Mark and Ruth (Montgomery) Bradburn. Mr. Bradburn, in 1884, settled in Custer county, where his death occurred in January, 1891. His wife, 1078 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. a native of Iowa, died in Missouri in August, 1883. Of their children, besides Mirs. Myers, there is one son, Joseph, now living in Custer county, and three sons live in the state of Wash ington. Mr. Myers has served several years as treas urer of school district number fifty-three. He is one of the younger men among the early settlers of Custer county, and has always been much interested in its development and progress. He has passed through its various phases of history for the past twenty -nine years, and is now a suc cessful man of affairs. He 'is self-made in every respect, and has won the good will and esteem of his fellows. He owns nine hundred and eighty acres of fine farming and stock-growing land, which is well equipped for the purpose to which it is devoted, and since coming to Broken Bow, in March, 1908, has owned a nice home in that city. Since coming to his present location, he has been engaged in the ice business. Three children have been born to Mr. Myers and wife : Vera M., employed in the post-office at Broken Bow ; Vica, died in 1900 ; Lilly B., at home, FRED PPLUEGER. Another prominent farmer and citizen of Wayne county is the above-named gentleman. He is also reckoned among the early settlers of this region, having come to this county in 1884, after a residence of six years in another part of the state. He is the proprietor of six hundred and forty acres of well-improved farm land, probably one of the best farms in the county. Mr. Pflueger is a native of Hanover, Germany, in which city he was born in 1862, the son of Henry and Mary Pflueger. When he was but eleven years old, the family left their native land for the newer country. They came by steamship by way of Bremen and New York. After landing in this country, they came as far west as Cook county, Illinois, where they remained only six months. The voice of the west had reached them, and they obeyed its impulse, first coming to Knox county, Nebraska, where they remained two years. They were not quite satisfied yet, how ever, and in 1876, came to Cuming county, where the father bought a farm, and where he and his wife remained permanently. During all / this time, our subject was with his parents, helping them in their struggle with the forces of nature, which seemed allied against them, at least for a time. However, as the country became more set tled, the family became prosperous. Both par ents died in Cuming county, Nebraska, about 1891. In 1884, Mr. Pflueger was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Bauriedel, and brought his bride to Wayne county, where he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he still owns, and on which they lived until buying the place where they now reside. The farm has been improved from time to time by the addition of necessary buildings, until it is now as fine an ? estate as can be found in the county. Mr. Pflueger feeds and ships about two carloads of cattle per year. His cattle are grade Aberdeen Angus, which he considers the best for beef. In addition to his cattle, he fats about eighty head of hogs per year. Mr. and Mrs. Pflueger are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are still living. The children's names are: Herman, who died when about fourteen years old; Mary, wife of George Roggenbach, of Wayne county; Frank, Carl, Anna, Ella, Anton and Bertha. , Mir. and Mrs. Pflueger and family are mem bers of the German Lutheran church, and they have taken a prominent part in the development of the county during their long residence here, and are esteemed very highly by a large circle bf friends and acquaintances. . HANS P. L. MADSEN. Hans P. L. Madsen, a worthy representative of an old Howard county family, is an industrious and favorably known resident of Cotesfield, where, with his family, he enjoys a comfortable home and the friendship of all in his community. . Mr. Madsen was the first boy born in Danne brog, Nebraska, the date being April 6, 1873. His early education was obtained in the country schools, and he later attended the Trinity Semin ary at Blair, Nebraska, afterwards returning to his father's farm, where he remained for some time, assisting in carrying on the farm work. On June 26, 1895, he was married to Miss Lizzie M. Miller, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride's parents. The young pair lived in that town for one year, then came to Nebraska, and Mr. Madsen worked on his father's farm for one year. In the spring of 1897, he moved with his family to Rawlins, Wyoming, and remained in that state for seven years. For four years of that time, Mr. Madsen was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railway Company, and three years with the Cullen Com mercial Company. In the winter of 1903, they came back to Ne braska, settled on a farm, and were engaged in grain and stock raising for two years, then moved to Boelus, where Mr. Madsen started a livery and draying business, and carried it on for one year. During 1906 and 1907, he was in the mail service, working on the rural free delivery out of Boelus, his route covering twenty-six and a half miles. He was well liked by all on account of his genial nature and accommodating manner, and was missed by his patrons when he finally gave up the work in the spring of 1908 to go to Farwell, where he engaged in the restaurant business, also carry ing a nice line of confectionery, and made that COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY 1079 city his home for one year, coming from there to Cotesfield. He was employed in a responsible position with the Albert Warner mercantile estab lishment until the fall of 1909, then became man ager of the Fairmount Creamery Company at Grand Island, which he is still filling. Mr. and Mrs. Madsen have had seven children, six of whom are living, named as follows- Albert, Wilfred, Esther, Richard, Mildred, and Plans Peter Louis, junior. All are living at home, and the family are happy and congenial, well' liked by all with whom they have to do. DAVID MARTIN. (Deceased.) No old settler ever did more to give Central City, Merrick county, a substantial reputation than David Martin. He was an energetic, up right citizen, and his memory is revered by all who knew him. David Martin was born riear Albany, New York, November 14, 1828, and was second of six children. A brother resides in Chicago, the others being , deceased, as are also the parents. Mr. Martin was educated in his home state, and later was government bridge builder in Minne sota, when that state was still a territory. On June 11, 1864, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Morris, of Illinois. They settled in Illinois, where he was employed by the Burlington railroad as bridge builder fif teen years. In 1869, he came to Omaha, Nebraska, as general bridge and building constructor for the Union Pacific railroad, his division extending from Omaha to Salt Lake City, having nine hun dred men under his supervision. In 1871, he went to Salt Lake City, where for three years he en gaged in mining. In April, 1874, Mr. Martin came to Central City, Nebraska, engaging in the lumber business for seven years, when he sold out, and in 1882 established the Platte Valley Bank in Central City, of which he was sole stockholder, and con ducted the same for ten years, when, owing to unfortunate investments made by the bank cash ier without Mr. Martin's knowledge, the bank failed, but Mr. Martin, out of his private fortune, made good every dollars to the depositors. Mr. Martin died shortly afterwards, on January 26, 1896, in Colorado, after a long and honorable business career in Nebraska. He was prosperous and successful, at one time owning five thousand acres of improved land in Merrick and Hall counties. He was a member of the Masonic and Elk lodges. Mr. and Mrs. Martin had one son, Arthur D., who died, May 25, 1905, in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Martin now resides in Chicago, Illinois. EGGERT KUEHL. Eggert Kuehl, a prominent farmer and stock man, living on section eighteen, township thirty, range six, Knox county, Nebraska, is well known throughout the county as a progressive and suc cessful agricultursts, highly esteemed by all with whom he has had to do. Mr. Kuehl is a native of Schleswig-Holstein province, Germany, where he was born in the year of 1829, and where he grew to young man hood. He served in the German army in the war of 1850 against Denmark. In 1870, Mr. Kuehl left Germany to come to America, the land of golden opportunities, where land was to be had so cheap, sailing from Hamburg on a steam ship. After landing in the United States, he worked on bridge construction at Davenport, Iowa, and worked on steamboats on the Missouri river up to 1872. He then came to Knox county, Nebraska, and took up a homestead, and also a pre-emption and forty-acre timber claim in sec tion eighteen, township thirty, range six, where he built a log house, which was later succeeded by a good frame dwelling. In the early years, Mr. Kuehl suffered all the hardships and disap pointments of most of the early settlers, among other experiences losing all his crops during the years of 1873, 1874 and 1875, and in 1894 he suf fered the loss of his crops through the hot winds which prevailed during the drouth of that year. Mr. Kuehl was united in the bonds of matri mony in 1880 to Mrs. Mary Greenburg, a native of Bohemia, and they are the parents of three children, whose names' are as follows: Hattie and Eggert, deceased, and Edward, a farmer of Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Kuehl and famliy are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them, and they have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the community in which they dwell. HENRY ROHE. Henry Rohe, who resides on section twenty, township thirty-two, range two, Knox county, Nebraska, is regarded as one of the leading citi zens of his locality. -He has always been one of the important factors in the upbuilding of his region, aiding materially in its development from the time of its early settlement. Mr. Rohe is a native of Germany, born in Vachta village, Oldenburg province, in 1872, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Westerhoff) Rohe, both of whom are natives of Germany. When our subject was but a small child, he, with his parents, came to America, landing in the United States in 1883. Upon leaving the father land, the family sailed from Bremen to Baltimore, and after reaching the American port, they started for the west, and located in St. James. Cedar county, Nebraska, where they remained 1080 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY". nine years. Later the family removed to Knox county, Nebraska, where they bought land, and improved same, the farm remaining the home plac of the Rohe family to this day, the son, Henry, our subject, residing there at the present time, where he is engaged in mixed farming. In 1896, Mr. Rohe was united in marriage to Miss Mary Thunker, who is a native of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Rohe are very highly respected and esteemed by all who know them, and thev have, the good wishes and kind regards of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. When Mr. Rohe and his parents first came to Nebraska state, this territory was but a vast stretch of unbroken prairie, with but very few white settlers in the region, and Indians were to be seen occasionally. But the modeler of destin-. ies, Time, has worked a wonderful change in the appearance and conditions of this great western country, and one who had not seen and lived in the early pioneer days, would reluctantly credit the possibility of the conditions that existed in those times, and the great change wrought in so short a time. JOSEPH EWING Among the worthy citizens the Dominion oi Canada has given to the states, may be men tioned Joseph Ewing, of Niobrara. He has spent the greater part of his career in Nebraska, and experienced many of the severe storms that swept the plains in the early days of its settle ment. During the famous blizzard of 1888, he happened to be away from home, but in the win ter of 1884 and 1885, suffered a severe three days storm at Running Water. They were caught on the prairie with their wagons, but managed to get to the town, three miles distant, by abandon ing their loads, and riding the horses as fast as possible. Mr. Ewing was a resident of the United States a number of years before becoming a citi zen, taking out naturalization papers at about the time of the opening of the Indian reserva tion, thinking that he might wish to make a home stead entry. Mr. Ewing was born in Kincardine, province of Ontario, Canada, on May 17, 1857. He was reared at Brantford, not far distant from his birthplace, where his parents moved about 1862. At the age of seventeen, he went to Montcalm county, Michigan, whither a brother had preceded him, and assisted in clearing the latter 's farm, which consisted of considerable land, from which heavy timber had been cut. He remained in the locality at various employment until the autumn of 1884, when he had an opportunity to go west in charge of the stock and household goods of a neighbor, who was removing to South Dakota. the owner traveling with his family on a passen ger train. After a journey covering five days, our subject arrived at his destination with every thing in good shape. He had no definite idea of remaining in the west, coming more to see the country than anything else, but, finding an open ing for his activities, decided to remain, obtain ing employment as a freighter, and following different lines of work for several years, the first winter being spent in freighting supplies from Running Water, South Dakota, to Fort Randall. This was rough work, exposing him to severe weather, at times storms sweeping the plains to such an extent that it made traveling impossible for days at a time. He continued in the freight service for about a year, then came on to Nio brara, securing a position in the store of Bone steel & Turner, and remaining in their employ as one of their most efficient and trusted men, for nine years. In March, 1894, Mr. Ewing was appointed postmaster at Niobrara, under the Cleveland ad ministration, and held this- position four years. He engaged, later, in the restaurant business, in which he was very successful, and conducted, also, a bakery in connection with the former. Mr. Ewing has served as assessor, either by ap pointment or election, for ten years, under a republican administration, which speaks well for his efficiency and integrity, as he has always been a strong democrat. Mr. Ewing 's parents left their native land and settled in Michigan in 1889, where, for the remainder of their lives, they resided with their daughter, both passing to the great beyond in the state of their adoption. On the seventeenth of May, 1890, Mr. Ewing was married to Miss Mary Kukal, a descendant of Bohemian parents, who were early settlers of Knox county, Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were born four children : Cora, who is a graduate of the State Normal School at Kearney, and is now a teacher in the high school at Niobrara; May, now in the high school here, class of 1912 ; Benjamin F. and Leon ard C, also attending the public schools of Nio brara. The family have a pleasant home, and are popular members of the community, and all are regular attendants of the Episcopal church. GEORGE BEATY. George Beaty, a prominent farmer and stock man, living on section fourteen, township twenty- two, range two, is known throughout Madison county as a progressive and successful agricul turist. Mr. Beaty has lived in Madison county for the past twenty-eight years, and has braved the hardships of pioneer life, and, despite losses and discouragements, worked steadily and ear nestly, and is now one of the substantial citizens of his home county. Mr. Beaty is a native of Ireland, and a son of Thomas and Mary (Graham) Beaty, his birth occurring in county Vemonah, in the year 1845. Here he grew to manhood, and in 1874 left his COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1081 native' land for America, of which country he had heard such glowing accounts, where he could get land cheaper. He sailed from Queensfown for New York on the steamship "Great Atlantic," of the White Star line, and, after landing in the United States, he remained four years in Penn sylvania, ' where he worked in the rolling mills. He then came to Delaware county, Iowa, where he lived four years. In 1882, Mr. Beaty came to Madison county, Nebraska, where he bought the Frank Miller homestead of the original homesteader. He built on this land, and has steadily made improvements until now he has a aool, comfortable home and a fine farm. He was one of the few pioneers who were fortunate in losing nothing in the terrible blizzard which wrought such havoc in January, 1888. In 1884, Mr. Beaty was united in marriage to Miss Myra Baxter, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaty are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows : Robert, George and Anna. They are a fine family, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their friends are many. Mr. Beaty was raised on a farm, and it is only natural, therefore, that he should make a success of the agricultural line. He is considered one of the most substantial and able citizens of his com munity, and is always interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his home county and state. PATRICK E. RILEY. Patrick E. Riley, a pioneer of Custer county, Nebraska, who is well known for his progressive ideas and public spirit, is a man of upright char acter and square dealing. He is a native of county Cavan, Ireland, born one-half mile from the city of Cavan, September 11, 1837, fourth born of the children of Edward and Catherine (Smith) . Riley, who had eight sons and two daughters. The parents, with four children, Michael, Matthew, Thomas and Patrick, came to America about 1840, crossing from Dublin to Liverpool, shipping there in a sailing ship for New York, the voyage lasting eleven weeks. The father had made two previous voyages to America, one passage lasting fifteen weeks. They first settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where they lived about a year, and then moved to Clinton county, New York. Patrick E. is the only one of the family now living in Nebraska He has a sister and two brothers living in Plattsburg, New York, one of the brothers, John B. Riley, serving Clinton county as judge. The remaining brother lives in Seattle. Mr. Riley grew to maturity on his father's farm in New York, and for several years after ward was employed as a commercial traveler for a Plattsburg firm. In the spring of 1878, he came 351/2 to Nebraska, arriving on February 21 in Omaha, which was then a small town. Later in the spring, he went to Dawson county, and took a pre-emption claim there, living on it until Janu ary 5, 1881, when he moved to Logan county, where he had a ranch and a bunch of cattle. Pie also took up a homestead there, but disposed of his interests in that county, and in the spring of 1886, eame to Custer county, buying a farm in Dale precinct, since which time he has made his home in the county. There are now thirteen hun dred and twenty acres of land in his estate, and his residence is located on section twenty-eight, township nineteen, range twenty-one. His farm is one of the best stock farms in central Nebraska, and he also pays considerable attention to rais ing grain. He has good, substantial buildings, and fine machinery and equipment on his place, being the friend of progress in every form. He lias been closely identified for many years with the development of his part of the state, and is much esteemed by his many friends. Mr. Riley was married in Broken Bow, Custer county, February 25, 1888, to Tacy Wieland, daughter of Daniel and Christina (Kopp) Wie land. Mr. Wieland, with his wife and child, came to America from Germany about 1854, and spent several years in Pennsylvania, thence moving to Ohio, where Mrs. Riley was born. After the death of her parents, she came to Nebraska from Red Oak, Iowa, April 21, 1886, to join her sister, Mrs. Prank Cozad, in Custer county, so that both Mr. Riley and his wife are pioneers of the state. Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Cozad and a brother, John Wie land, of Callaway, are the only members of the Wieland family residing in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have one child, George L., born at Broken Bow, in Custer county, October 22, 1889, for nine years a student at Creighton University, Omaha, from which he graduated, and then took a two-year medical • course. Mr. Riley was reared a Catholic, while Mrs. Riley's people were Lutheran in the old country, but allied themselves with the Presbyterians soon after coming to America. In the latter eighties, Mr. Riley was employed in section work for the Burlington railroad. At ' the time of his marriage, he was foreman at Lake side, and on bringing his bride to the new town, began housekeeping in a box car, where Mrs. Riley served as first postmaster of the newly estab lished office. Some six months later, a dwelling was constructed for the foreman, and they moved out of their box car home. Seeing little oppor tunity for advancement in railroad work, but great possibilities in agriculture, Mr. Riley rented in that part of the state for four years, and then for one year rented the land which he has since owned, and on which he has resided since that time, adding to his possessions as his means would permit. Mr Riley and his wife enjoy the esteem and 1082 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. confidence of a large circle of friends, and are interested in various public movements. Their farm, on which they have made many improve ments during their fourteen years' residence, is one of the choicest estates in central Nebraska, and that Mr. Riley owns and manages everything concerning it, gives evidence of his good judg ment and energy. FRED KRUSE. Fred Kruse, proprietor of one of the most valuable estates in Knox county, Nebraska, has been a resident of the county for twenty-nine years, and lived on the, original homestead farm, which is located in section thirty-two, township thirty-three, range two, until March, 1911. He is prominently known throughout the north eastern part of the state as one of the foremost farmers and stockmen of Nebraska, and after many years of hard labor in building up his busi ness, is now prepared to enjoy the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort, surrounded by a host of good friends and acquaintances. Mr. Kruse is a native of Germany, his birth occurring in Westphalia, province of Prussia, March 27, 1845. He is a son of August and Fred- ericka (Myers) Kruse, who were both natives of Germany. Our subject received his education and grew to manhood years in his native landf At the age of twenty-five years, he entered the holy state of matrimony. In 1881, Mr. Kruse, with his wife and five children, left his native land for America, the new world, of which so much had been said, and where a man had a better chance to get a start in life. The family embarked on the steamer "Weser, " sailing from Bremen, Germany, to New York City, from where, after landing, they im mediately proceeded westward to procure land under the homestead law that had been passed. They came to Yankton, South Dakota, where they remained over a year from whence they drove to the homestead claim he had .filed on, and which was the residing place of our subject until March 14, 1911, when he went to Crofton to live. On this homestead, Mr. Kruse first built a stone house, later building a good frame house. He now has a well-improved farm, owning six hun dred acres of fine land, all well fenced, and was engaged in mixed farming up to the time he retired. The home where Mr. Kruse now lives in Crofton, he purchased in February, 1911, and since moving to town he has made several im provements, built a barn and chisken house, dug a well, and put out trees. He is also finishing the second-floor interior, the house not having been completed at the time of purchase. He owns two large lots, nearly an acre, and these he is fencing. He has sown alfalfa on the ground, with the exception of his garden patch. He keeps a horse, cow and chickens, and these, with his garden, keep him busy. Mr. Kruse was united in marriage in 1870 to Miss Conredina Schlveter, and Mr. and Mrs. Kruse were the parents of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Fred (deceased), Detrich, Johanna, Matilda (deceased), Paul, Gustav, Christian, Dena (deceased), Carl, Henry and Marie. Carl and Johanna reside on and operate the old homestead. Detrich, Paul, Gustav and Christian are on homesteads in South Dakota. Henry is operating his brother Detrich 's farm in Knox county, and Marie lives with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Kruse and family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them, and are surrounded in their pleasant- home by a host of genial friends and acquaintances. Mr. Kruse is a republican, and he and his wife are members of the German Evangelical church. WILLIAM NESBITT STEVENS. William Nesbitt Stevens, postmaster of the thriving town of Comstock, Nebraska, has in var ious ways been identified with farming and busi ness interests in Custer county, and is well known for his high character and integrity. He was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1858, eldest child of William M. and Sarah A. Stevens. The family was prominent among the early settlers of Custer county, and in many ways assisted in the progress and upbuilding of the region. William Miller Stevens was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1827, eldest child of the six sons and one daughter of Truman B. and Sarah (Miller) Stevens. The father was a native of Vermont, and the mother of Pennsylvania, and they were married in the latter state. Truman Stevens and family lived in a number of different localities in Pennsylvania, and also at times re sided in other states. William M. Stevens spent most of his early years in Pennsylvania, and there married Sarah Ann Nesbitt, February 26, 1 8;i7. At the time of the civil war, he was unable to pass the necessary physical examination to enter the army at the front, so became a member of the home guard. He. and his wife lived in Allegheny until coming to Nebraska in 1879. Five children were born to them in the former place, two of whom died in infancy. In 1879, Mr. Stevens and his wife, with their two children, Sturley and Ann E., made the move from Penn sylvania to Saline county, Nebraska, first locating on a rented farm near Priend, in that county. Their son, William, had preceded them a few months before, having made the trip in August of the same year, and the rest of the family joined him upon their arrival. In April, 1883, Mr. Stevens, with his son, Sturley, and daughter, Ann B,, made a trip to ?$*w W. N. STEVENS. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1083 Custer county, and he secured a homestead on section three, township eighteen, range seventeen. Mrs. Stevens died on this farm in 1895. Mr. Stevens improved and developed his land, and became successful in his operations. In January, 1905, he left the farm, and came to Comstock to reside in his present comfortable home, his daughter, Ann E., making her home with him. Although in his eighty-fifth, year, he is quite active, and a familiar figure in the streets of Comstock. In years past he was active in public affairs, having lived in the county since 1883. William N. Stevens received the advantages of a common-school education, and in his six teenth year joined the office force of a weekly newspaper, which was devoted to the interests of the Presbyterian church, spending about one year in this line of work. In August, 1879, as previously mentioned, he came to Saline county, where his father joined him on Christmas day, and he and his father remained on the farm near Friend until 1883, when the latter removed with his family to Custer county, and William N. re turned to Allegheny. He learned the trade of brick mason there, but in 1884 returned to Ne braska, and took up a homestead in Custer county, where he remained two years and a half, then returned to Allegheny to work at his trade. He remained there until 1893, having by that time become foreman in a brick yard for a large firm of contractors and builders. At the time of the panic of that year, many of the firm's contracts were cancelled, and, finding work scarce, Mr. Stevens came to Custer county again, and engaged in farming. He had the misfortune to lose most of his crops during the dry season of 1894, but continued work on his farm until 1901, in which year he came to Comstock as assistant postmaster of that office. He remained in that position sev eral years, and finally received the appointment as postmaster at Comstock. He purchased a stock of confectionery, cigars and tobacco of his broth er, and, in connection with his official duties, is ' engaged in mercantile business. He is well known' in the community, and has a large num ber of friends. He handles his public duties in a way to bring him credit, and is recognized as an upright and public-spirited citizen. His por trait will be found on another page of this vol ume. On July 9, 1884, Mr. Stevens married Miss Mary I. Warnock, daughter of William and Sarah 'Warnock, of Allegheny, arid eight children have blessed this union, three of whom survive : Naomi Myrtle, Sarah Pansy and Jean Elizabeth, all born in Custer county. native of the western part of Norway, and was born in 1854, a son of Mins and Martha Johnson. In 1870, our subject, with his parents, left his native land for America, sailing from Staunger for Quebec on a sailboat, the voyage lasting seven weeks. They came from Quebec to Wisconsin, remaining there two years, and in 1872, came to Nebraska, driving oxen. They stayed in Cuming county two months, then came to Madison county, where our subject took up a homestead, and first put up a dugout. Later a sod house was built, in which he lived fifteen years, then building a frame house. At the time Mr. Johnson settled in Nebraska, Columbus was his nearest market place. Grass hoppers took all his crops the first few years he lived here. In 1894 he lost his crops by the hot winds, and in 1900 suffered a loss by hail. Through it all, however, he has prospered, although in the early days he was obliged to go to Cuming county and work out to get money to supply the wants of his family. Prairie fires were a menace in those days, and he was obliged many times to fight them to save his home. In 1872, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Julia Olson, and they are the parents of the fol lowing named children: Martha, Olia, Julia, Lena, Amelia, Gussie, Louis, Louie, Olo, Mins, Lendi and Emma. W. S. FISHER. L. M. JOHNSON. Among the leading old settlers and public- spirited citizens of Madison county, Nebraska, is the gentleman above mentioned. Mr. Johnson is a W. S. Fisher, city marshal of Plainview, Nebraska, has been a citizen of that state since September, 1882. He is a native of Henderson county, Illinois, his birth occurring near Raritan, September 26, 1856. His father was Laban Fish er, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. He is now living, retired from active life, in Conway, Iowa. The mother, Harriet (Lovett) Fisher, was a native of the same county, and died in Iowa, January 24, 1900. The family soon removed to South Prairie, in the same county, and here the boy began, at the age of nine years, to do his share of the farm work, handling a one-horse plow in the corn field. The family removed to Taylor county, Iowa, in 1874, and Stanley gave his time to his father until his marriage. In the spring of 1878, Mr. Fisher rented a farm in Taylor county, and for five years was a tenant farmer in that county. Thinking to bet ter himself in the newer country west of the Missouri, he loaded a few of the most neces sary household goods in a covered wagon, and, with his young wife and infant child, started. September 12, overland to their new home. Both consider that the most delightful time of their lives — camping by the wayside, cooking their meals by a wood fire, sleeping in the covered wagon, with the summer air blowing freely over 1084 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. them, was a picnic from beginning to end, while humorous incidents were not lacking. Stopping to inquire the distance to the home of an acquaint ance who had settled in Stanton county, a ranch man inquired of Mr. Fisher, ' ' Where in h are you going?" "To Antelope county," was the reply. "D fool,'' was the laconic reply. He further vouchsafed the information that the en tire country couldn't raise eneough hay to load a cart. This was not a very encouraging outlook. Learning that he was but a few miles from the home of his friend, Lemman, he repaired to his ranch for a night's visit. Preparing to move on the next morning, he was informed that he would do nothing of the kind, but would stay over until Mr. Lemman 's threshing was done. Asking for a sack of oats for feed when he finally left, Mr. Lemman gave him four, insisting, against the protest of Mr. Fisher that it was too much, that he would need more than that in Antelope county This was growing more ominous. They began to have doubts. Arring at the home of a relative when their destination was reached, September 21, they were further discouraged when they found that western fuel was twisted hay. Mr. Fisher suggested that they have their wagon repacked, and return to Iowa, but, discussing the matter further, they decided it were better to suffer some than show the white feather, and they have been loyal Nebraskans ever since. They have suffered from storm and drouth, from prairie fires and pelting hail, but they have neve:.' regretted the fate that impelled them to come to the frontier and grow up with the country. Securing a homestead entry, ten miles west of • Plainview, in Antelope county, Mr. Fisher built a sod house of two rooms, and began to im prove his farm. Life was not so easy in the early days as now. They burned hay for three years, during which time Mr. Fisher bought one dollars and fifty cents worth of coal at fourteen dollars per ton, enough for a few hours' good coal fire. They decided to go into dairying, and milked some eight of ten cows, receiving the check for the first month's cream, but nothing later. They changed to butter-making, but got only six cents a pound for a fine quality of butter. Later, how ever, they received over, four hundred and fifty dollars as the proceeds of the dairy in less than nine months. The blizzard of 1888 gave them great discom fort, and only Mr. Fisher's hardihood and cour age in twice riding out into it saved his forty head of stock. In doing so, he also gathered in some twenty head belonging to neighbors, who re covered them after the storm subsided, and were very grateful for the service. With a hired man he rode over the prairies the next day and re leased many others that were down in drifts, fur ther adding to the gratitude of neighbors wiio could ill afford to lose their stock. Among the pests of the early days, few were afflicted with the pest of fleas, as were the settlers of the neighborhood where Mr. Fisher had made his home. They swarmed in the barn, the sheds and the house, until life was a burden, and for the first time they contemplated moving out. But Mr. Fisher's ingenuity in finding their breeding place and applying a remedy soon rid their ranch of the little torments. They also had trouble with prairie fires, though none in the west equalled1 one witnessed by Mr. Fisher when a boy, living in South Prairie, when the swamps southwest of town, with grasses ten and twelve feet high, burned, the flames reaching higher than a house. Mr. Fisher has prospered, and added another half section to his holdings He remained on the farm until 1902, when he rented the place and came to Plainview and purchased a block in Peed's addition, where he has a commodious home, comfortable and well furnished, in strong contrast to their household equipment when they began life in the west in a "soddy.'' On coming to Plainview, Mr. Fisher, being an expert machinist, engaged in handling farm imple ments, wind mills, traction engines, etc. In May, 1909, he was appointed chief of police of Plain- view, and is efficiently filling his office. Mr. Fisher was married in Bedford, Iowa, Sep tember 5, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Hook, a native of Jefferson county, Iowa. Her parents, Stephen and Sarah (Clark) Hook, were natives of Ohio, the former of Carroll county, and the latter of Vinton county. The mother came to Nebraska in 1881 to join a son living here, and died Decem ber 20, 1895. Mr. and 'Mrs. Fisher are the parents of eight children: Lottie Elva, wife of George Kirk, who has a homestead in South Dakota ; Gertrude, mar ried George Seabury, who farms six miles south west of Plainview ; Claude G, who has completed a course in the Lebanon, Ohio University, and has filed on a homestead in Perkins county, South Dakota; and Prank S. married Miss Hortense Stimpson has a homestead in Perkins county South Dakota. The four youngest, Glenn, Pern L., Clyde and Mary Gladys, are in the public schools. In politics Mr. Fisher is an independet demo crat, and he is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. . Mrs. Fisher is a member of the Rebekahs, and of the Methodist church. Times were hard in Nebraska in the early days^as they were in other states, but those who remained and had confidence in her fecundity have reaped a rich reward. Few localities have prospered as this has done, and no one who is of unbiased mind can cast aspersions on this state of many varied and profitable industries. COMPENDIUM, OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1085 SOREN M. SONDERUP. Soren M. Sonderup was bom in Denmark De cember 16, 1852, and cam -3 to America the latter part of May, 1872. He first located at DeWitt, Illinois, and lived there and at various other places in Illinois and adjoining states until 1876. January 31, 1876, he was married to Mary Jen sen, who was born in Denmark and came to America in infancy with her parents. After his. marriage, Mr. Sonderup started farming, and eon-' tinued until he concluded to come west. In the spring of 1885, together with his wife and four sons, Mr. Sonderup came into Howard county and purchased the southeast quarter of section two, township fifteen, range ten. This one hundred and sixty acres was the first original homestead taken up north of the river, and was purchased by Mr. Sonderup for two thousand dollars, a high price at that time. He engaged in farming and extensive stocky raising, and has made a marked success, now owning over seven hundred acres of fine land. His three sons own over a section of adjoining land, and are all en gaged in farming and stock raising. This' entire farm is known as the Oak Grove Stock and Grain farm. Two brothers and one sister of Mr. Sonderup joined him in Howard county, where one brother still resides; the other brother and sister are de ceased. The parents qf both Mr. and Mrs. Son derup are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Sonderup have had four sons: Fred J., married and has two children, lives ,on a farm adjoining his father's land on the north; Walter P., at home; Hans L., married and has two children, lives on the farm to the south of his father's, and Carl 0., who was accidentally killed by a fall from a horse in 1903. Mr. Sonderup was county commissioner cf Howard county in 1903, 1904 and 1905, and ha-; been a member of the school board in district num ber forty-two for twenty years. He and his family are widely known and are acknowledged leaders ia the community. JOSEPH KILPARTICK. - Joseph Kilpatrick was born in County Ar- madh, Ireland, December 25, 1843, and was the third child in the family of Mathew and Sarah Kilpatrick, who had ten children. Of this fam ily, Joseph Kilpatrick, the subject of this sketch, resides in Madison, Madison county, Nebraska, David lives in Iowa, William in Colorado, and Martha, married to William Antrem, lives in Iowa, they being the surviving members of the family. Robert and Joseph Kilpatrick emigrated to Canada in June, 1864, and Joseph came to the United States in March, 1865, locating in Illinois and going to work for an uricle on his stock farms in Christian and adjoining counties. In the spring of 1868 he movel from Illinois to Iowa, go ing on a farm. • In February, 1879, Mr. Kilpatrick was united in marriage to Miss Addie Bixley, in Mills coun ty, Iowa. Mr. Kilpatrick first came to Madison county, Nebraska, in December, 1881, and purchased a farm, returning to Iowa the latter part of De cember. Tn February, 1882, he returned, bring ing his wife to Madison county for permanent residence, and this county has been his home since that time. , ' Some years ago the took up his residence in Madison, Nebraska. He started out in life with but a few dollars, and now has over one thousand acres of choice land in Madison county, and also land in adjoining counties. He is a forceful man, always assisting to uphold the law, and standing for advancement along educational, moral and religious lines, and is one of the solid men of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Kilpatrick have one child, a daughter now attending college at Bellevue, Ne braska, a Presbyterian institution. JAMES McHENRY. James McHenry, proprietor of the Plainview Roller Mills, has been familiar with Nebraska and the west for a period of upwards of fifty years. Few living today can go so far back into the past, when the' west was an unbroken wilder- nes. Coming to Sioux City in the spring of 1857, when it was but a collection of a few small log huts, he entered the employ of Frost, Stoddard & Company, fur traders to the Dakotas, at a time when the country was closed tp all not having a government perriiit to enter the region. While in their employ he traveled by river and overland as far as Fort Benton, buying furs from the In dians, taking supplies to their depot at Port Ran dall, and bringing back furs purchased from the Indians, principally the Yankton Sioux. The treaty with the Indians permitting whites in the county was signed April 13, 1858, by the Yankton Sioux. The southwest corner of the state was sur veyed preparatory to settlement in 1859* Dakota and Dixons counties, Nebraska, having been sur veyed by Dr. John K. Cook two years before. Mr. McHenry remained in Nebraska until 1861, when, on November 28 of that year, he was appointed chief wagon master under General John A. Logan, in the Third Division of the Thirteenth Army Corps, and later served in the Sixth division under General McArthur, of Chi cago. Receiving his discharge in April, 1865, he returned to the west, and in 1868 learned milling at Vermillionb South Dakota, remaining there un til 1876. In 1877 he. came to Nebraska arid built a sawmill near Jackson, Dakota county, which he 1086 COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. operated three years, and then moved to Wake field, building a grist mill, which he ran until 1884. Having purchased a farm near Emerson, Mr. McHenry cultivated the soil until 1900, when he sold his farm and moved to Plainview, building the mill and elevator which, with his son Thomas. he has been successfully running since that time. He has lately purchased a tract of land in South Dakota, and contemplates again adopting coun try life. Mr. McHenry was born in St. Louis county, Mis souri, in September, 1839, the son t of Mr. and Mrs. James McHenry, Sr., who were both natives of the "Ould Sod." Our subject was reared near St. Louis, remaining there until coming into the west in 1857. He was familiar with Missouri during slavery days, and of southern Illinois when old Cahokia was a place of some importance, and its inhabitants still clung to their quaint old customs of the early French habitat. Mr. McHenry was married at Jackson, Ne braska, in May, 1865, to Mary Francis Jones, who was born in Cataraugus county, New York, a daughter of James of Ellen (Lynch) Jones, both- natives of Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. McHenry eight children were born, five of whom are living. They are: Ella; Kate, who married P. T. Plynn, of Anderson, Iowa; Thomas, who is his father's mainstay in the mill; Rose; and Edward, who is engaged in farming in South Dakota. Mr. McHenry has always adhered to the prin ciples of democracy, being a great admirer of the peerless leader of the party. He is, with all his family, a member of the Catholic church. Pew living men have seen so much of the prim itive west as Mr. McHenry, his knowledge of it extending back to the days when the Indians had full possession of the plains, before the settlers' wagons had pressed a track into the virgin prai rie. He has passed through dangers of fire and flood, and has weathered many a wintry storm, at times being cut off from supplies and food for three days at a time. He has known the solitude of the wilderness when one might travel for weeks and months without seeing the face of a white man or hearing a word of his mother tongue. Pie became proficient in the language of the Sioux, and could parley with them without the aid of an interpreter. He has endured his share of hardships, and has well earned the com petency he enjoys. He is seemingly as rugged as when he first braved the wildernes in his youth. MICHAEL SHONSEY. Michael Shonsey, the subject of this sketch, was born in Montreal, Canada, September 6, 1866, the second of six children. In 1869 the Shonsey family, consisting of the father and mother, two sons and one daughter, moved to Marion county, Ohio. Mr. Shonsey lived in Marion county, Ohio, un til the spring of 1880, when he went to Wyoming and located on the La Bonte, twenty-five miles south of Fort Fetterman. He was foreman for the Guthrie, Hord and Company cow outfit in Wyoming from 1880 until the spring of 1888. Mr. Shonsey first came to Nebraska in 1884 for the Guthrie, Hord and Company interests. In 1888 Mr. Shonsey left the Guthrie, Hord and Company Wyoming outfit, and went across the Platte river to the north side, and became foreman of the Lance Creek Cattle Company, going to the Carey C. Y. outfit at Caspar, Wyoming, as foreman, until the spring of 1891. He then went to Powder river, Johnston county, Wyoming, taking charge of the E. K. outfit of the Western Union Beef Company. located at the "Hole in the Wall," (the Ex-gover nor Baxter outfit,) and was in charge of the E. K. outfit until the spring of 1893. In the spring of 1893, Mr. Shonsey came to Central City, Nebraska, becoming connected with the T. B. Hord Cattle and Grain Company. About 1895. in connection with T. B. Hord, he purchased the Howard Crill ranch, more commonly known as the old Guthrie ranch, and since 1898, Mr. Shonsev has resided on this ranch. The ranch was known as the Wells and Hord Cattle Com pany until October, 1906, and since that time has been known as the Hord and Shonsey Cattle Com pany. There are seventeen hundred acres of deeded land in this ranch, which is located near Clarks, Nebraska, and they maintain an elevator at Clarks. They engage in the farming and grain business, and feed about two thousand head of cattle a year. Mr. Shonsey has been in various ways connected with T. B. Hord in 1876, having eorne to Wyoming with Mr. Hord in 1880 and en gaged in the cattle business. He is a western man of wide experience in cattle, and the old range days. Mr. Shonsey was married to Miss Olive -Sisler in O'Neil, Holt county, Nebraska, January 14, 1900, and four children have been born to them : John Harold, Michael Jerrald, Thomas Benton and Mary Edna Margaret. Mrs. Shonsey died November 11, 1906. November 14, 1907, Mr. Shonsey was married to Hannah L. Harris, at Columbus, Nebraska. J. T. GREEN. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Madison county, Nebraska, , the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is entitled to a foremost place. His home is on section twenty- three, township twenty-three, range four. Mr. Green was born in Michigan in 1875. His father E. B. Green, was born in Ohio, and his mother,' Elizabeth Green, was born in New York. In 1879 our subject with his parents came to Madison county, Nebraska, where they bought railroad land and built a frame house. In 1894 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY 1087 Mr. Green lost all his crops by the hot winds which made it hard for a young man starting to farm for himself. In 1897 Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Emma Denson ; they are the parents of three children, Charles, Alfred and Ernest. CHARLES ROBINSON. Charles Robinson, retired farmer, is the old est of eight children born to Thomas and Sarah Robinson, his birth occurring in Pennsylvania December 15, 1849. Two years later his parents moved to Rock Palls, Illinois, and our subject re sided there until he was twenty-one years of age, receiving his education in Illinois, and later be coming interested in farming. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Robinson came to Fremont, Nebraska, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land, and erigaged in farming alnd stock raising. In the spring of 1872 he located in Boone county, Nebraska, farming and buying and selling stock. He also loaned money. On March 4, 1872, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with Sarah Casell, of Scotland. Six children wer born of this marriage, five of whom are living: Thomas Edward, married and living in Boone county, has one son; Fanny, who mar ried Eck Burnside and has four children lives in - Canada^ Mary, who married Earnest Dufoe, lives in Boone county; Alice, deceased; William, who is married and has one son, lives in Boone coun ty; Ethel, who married George De Lancey and . has one daughter, lives at Fort Morgan, Colo rado. Mrs. Robinson died February 18, 1895. On March 5, 1900 Mr. Robinson was married to Mrs. Mary De Lancy, of Iowa, who had seven children by her first marriage ; Charles, deceased ; Frederick, who is married and has five children, lives in Boone county ; Raymond, at home ; Edith, who married Fred Kayes and has three children, lives in Nance county; Ethel, who married Carl Babbitt and has four children, lives in Alliance, Nebraska; James E., who is married and lives in. Albion, Boone county, Nebraska; George, who is married and has one child, lives in Colorado. Mr. Robinson has one brother living in Gree ley county, Nebraska, two brothers in California, one sister in Belgrade, Nebraska, and one broth er and one sister deceased. His father died in 1901 at the advanced age of one hundred years, and his mother in 1898. The father was one of the King of England 's soldiers', entering the army in March, 1842, and receiving his honorable dis charge in March, 1843. He had the distinction of bringing' water from the River Jordan which was used for the baptism of Queen Victoria in her infancy. , Mr. Robinson is a republican in politics, and in early days served as assesor, and for four years as county commissioner. He was also city clerk at Cedar Rapids. He has been very prosperous and successful, and owned at one time fourteen hun dred acres of land, mostly in Boone county, and the greater part of it under cultivation. He also owns splendid town property. In the spring of 1906 he retired from active business life and moved to Belgrade, where he bought a good home and where he now lives. He is widely known and highly respected and is always interested in the v, elfVre of his state and county. MARTIN BRUBAKER. In compiling a list of the representative farm ers of Madison county, Nebraska, a prominent place is accorded the name of Martin Brubaker. For many years past he has been engaged in ag ricultural pursuits in Norfolk precinct, and has done his full share as 'an old settler toward the development of the better interests of his com munity, enjoying the respect and esteem of all who know him. Mr. Brubaker is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1849, a son of Daniel and Amy (Myers) Brubaker. His great-grandfather came from Germany, and his grandfather lived in Pennsylvania. They came west from Pennsyl vania to Illinois, living there four years, then drove to Fayette county, Iowa, where' they lived two years. In 1870 Mr. Brubaker came to Madi son county, Nebraska, with an ox team, and took up a homestead in Valley township. They first lived in a dugout with one side of logs ; two years later they put shingles on the roof, and later built a good frame house. Mr. Brubaker also took up a timber claim. Fremont, Columbus and Sioux City were the market places at that time. In 1872 and 1873, grasshoppers took all the crops, and they were obliged many times to fight prairie .fires. Deer an antelope were plentiful in those early clays. In 1870 Mr. Brubaker was united in marriage to Mi" Anna Duel, and they are the parents Of four children: Charles, Lee, Ora and Authur. WM. KUMM. Mr. Kumrn, the subject of this sketch, lives on section three, township twenty-eight, range three, Pierce county, Nebraska. He was born in 1853 in Germany, where he was engaged in farming. He came to Westpoint, Nebraska, in 1889 and settled in Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1900, where he bought a section of land, and lost his crops in the same year by hail. He has received a com mon school education. Mr. Kumrn was married in 1872 to Miss A. Gronouf ; they are the parents of the "following named children: Willie, Frank, Otto, Paul, Gus tave, Amel, August, Anna, Emma and Ida. He is a member of the German Lutheran church and votes the democratic ticket. 1088 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. HERMAN W. WINTER. Herman W. Winter was born in Wisconsin on December 9, 1860, and was the fifth of eleven chil dren in the family of William and Wilhelmia Winter, who had seven sons and four daughters. William Winter, with his wife and three children, left Germany about 1852, coming to America. One son, Carl, died on the vessel coming over. Mr. Winter and family and his father, Gottfried Winter, and wife, settled in Wisconsin, following lumbering and farming. William Winter served his adopted country during the civil war, and after the close of the war returned to Wisconsin. In July, 1866, with his wife and five children and his father and mother, Mr. Winter came to Madison county with a German colony. In this colony there were forty families, and they were the original pioneer settlers of Madison county. They came overland by ox train, there being but two horse teams in this train. Mr. Winter en gaged in farming, and was a resident of this county until his death, December 22, 1900. Hi* widow is still living, with her sons, Herman, Carl and Frank, in Madison county. One son and one daughter live in Hayward, Wisconsin. The Win ter family is widely and favorably known, and enjoys the esteem of many friends. Herman W. Winter, the principal subject of this sketch, was reared in Madison county from his fifth year, and lived on the farm until his twenty-first year, receiving the usual local school ing. In his twenty-first year he went into the harness shop of H. P. Preeland to learn the trade, and in November, 1881, he became a partner in the business. He is still engaged in the same busi ness,, and now has two complete and well equipped harness and saddlery stores in Norfolk, enjoying , a large trade. Mr. Winter was married to Miss Matilda Zue- low, March 17, 1885. The Zuelow family came to Madison county in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Winter have had nine children, seven of whom are liv ing : Edmund, a teacher, is married and lives in Michigan ; Linda is a teacher in the public schools iai Hoskins, Nebraska; Martha, Alma, Ruth, Max and Hertha, all at home and attending school. Mr. and Mrs. Winter and family have enjoyed good educational advantages, and are prominent socially in their' community. From 1890 to 1894, Mr. Winter- was a member of the city council of Norfolk, from the first ward. On July 18, 1894, he was appointed county com missioner to fill a vacancy, and in the fall of the same year was elected for three years, and re elected for two succeeding terms, serving, in all, nine years. In 1894 he was also the chief of the Norfolk fire department. In 1908 he was elected to the city council for a two-year term, and erved as president of the council, and in 1910 was state treasurer of the Volunteer Fireman's Asso ciation. He is president of the German church choir, and has been a member of this choir for twenty-six years. Mr. Winter began life in a business way prac tically on his own resources, and has builded up a successful business, being one of Norfolk's most prominent business men. F. SPLITTGERBER. Among the leading old settlers of Pierce county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history Is entitled to a fore most place. Mr. Splittgerber is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the bettering of conditions in his community. He was born in 1857, and is a native of Pomer- ania province, Bridenfeldte village, Germany. His father spent three years in the German army in 1848, in the war with Russia. In 1866, when Mr. Splittgerber was but nine years old, he suf fered the loss of his father, mother, three sisters and one brother within five days, with the chol era. He has two sisters still in Germany, but has not seen them for years. . Our subject remained in his native country until 1881, when he came to America. After land ing in New York he came across the country, lo cating in Pierce county, where he now lives. He worked on a section for several years after com ing to Nebraska, earning enough money to help buy a farm. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land in section twenty-nine, township twenty-seven, range one, on which are five acres of good trees. He suffered a loss from hail in 1905, but has prospered, nevertheless, and has a well improved place. In 1879 Mr. Splittgerber was united in mar riage to Miss E. Strelow, and fourteen children were born to them, nine of whom are still living; Herman, married Miss Winter, and has two chil dren, Victor and Elda ; Prank, married Miss Sog- hom and has one child; Paul, married Miss Kes- ting; Julius, Ether, Martha, Emma, Martin and Harvey. Mr. Spliteerber is a member of the German Lutheran church. FREDERICK BRUNS. (Deceased.) Few of the pioneers of the west have filled so wide a space in the development of the region as has the late Frederick Brans. In public life, as well as in the hearts of his fellow men, Fred Brans, as he was familiarly known, has left an impress that will not soon be forgotten, although he has been gathered to his fathers. His span of life extended from the fifteenth day of August, 1826, when he was born in the kingdom of Hano ver, Germany, to the sixteenth of November, 1908, when he passed away at his home in Nio brara. COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1089 Mr. Bruns spent the first thirty years of his life in his native land, then, in 1856, came to America, the voyage in an old sailship lasting seventy-five days. For two years he was interes ted in a store in Chicago, with his kinsman, Mr. Woesterman, until the latter, in 1858, came to tne we?it. and establishing a trading post at Nio brara, Mr. Bruns joining a brother at St. Louis, with whom he was engaged in business until 1861 , at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Mr. Woesterman, holding out such glowing accounts of the opportunities of the northwest, Mr. Bruns sold out his interests, and came to Niobrara. where the two developed an extensive business in trade with the Indians., having a trading post at Niobrara and a branch at Deadman's Bottoms, above Fort Randall, This partnership lasted ten years, when they divided their holdings of real estate and goods, each conducting the business for himself. Mr. Bruns early fitted himself for business success in the west, acquiring a fluent knowledge of the Sioux and Ponca languages, besides speaking English, German and some French. After the flood of 1881, and the town was all moved to the new location to the west, Mr. Bruns discontinued his store, beinsr the only man remain ing in the old townsite. His customers had all removed, leaving none from whom to draw pat ronage. Having built a substantial brick store, with a dwelling above, the building could not be moved by the primitive methods and equipment attainable in the new country, so he remained, the last left in the deserted village. After dis posing of his mercantile establishment, Mr. Bruns gave his entire attention to his cattle interests, which he had established some years before, and in this he continued in active work until within a few years of his death. He was a man of wonder ful vitality, and retained his physical and mental powers to an advanced age, suffering bodily ail ments only during the last three years of his life. Mr. Bruns prospered in the main after com ing to Nebraska, acquiring some three hundred acres of richest river bottom land, bordering on the Missouri river, and he owned about fifty of the lots in the old town of Niobrara. He came to Niobrara when there were but five or six families there, the Benners, Paxtons, Sturtdens, Hollings and La Mont's. He lived in Niobrara to see most of them pass away. Mr. Bruns was a democrat in politics, and was honored by his fellow citizens with a term , as county commissioner, and a term as treasurer of the county. He was a member of the Indepen dent Order of Odd Fellows. December 26, 1869, Mr. Bruns was married at Frankfort, Nebraska, to Miss Anna Kunz. She- is a native of the village of Waldorf, near Bres lau, in Prussia, and was born March 4, 1850. Her parents, Anton and Helena (Henry) Kunz, lived their entire lives in their native land. Anna Kunz came to America alone, to johi a brother who had preceded her, sailing from Hamburg on the steamer "Tritonia'' in June, landing in New York in time for the fair immigrant to join her brother in Chicago on the fourth of July. They came on to Nebraska in the fall, settling at Prank- fort, and here Mr. Bruns, coming in the course of his trading, first saw and loved the girl who in the last ten days of the year became his wife. Of their five children, four survive: Minnie, who married William Saunders, a prosperous hardware merchant of Winnetoon; Anna is the wife of Sidney Calkins, foreman in the Indian school at Bismarck, North Dakota; Adelia is a bookkeeper, holding a responsible position in an establishment at Vermont, South Dakota; and Helen, with her husband, Carl Henninger, lives at Wagner, South Dakota. The daughters are members of the Episcopal church, while the mother was reared, and still is, in the Catholic faith. Mr. Bruns was a witness of the memorable flood of March, 1881, when all of the village of Niobrara was under water. The rising waters covered but about six inches of their lower floor, their house being on the highest ground in town, and by elevating their piano on blocks, they saved it from the destruction that overtook instru ments in other homes. Mr. Bruns remained on his place, but sent his wife and children to the hills for a period of eight days. Indian scares, were of frequent occurrence. At one time five hundred hostile Sioux, who had escaped from the reservation, were in camp but a few miles across the hills from Niobrara. These the friendly Poncas soon dispersed. A warrior of the latter tribe once paraded through the streets of Niobrara with a Sioux scalp dangling on a pole, but the grewsome sight did not attract the women as it did the men. One of Mrs. Bruns' most terrifying experiences happened to her when returning from a visit to the Pohrman ranch, some miles down the river. When about half way home, she found herself suddenly surrounded by mounted Indians, four of whom pressed their horses close up to her from all four sides, making escape impossible, and holding her almost im movable. A wagon from the mission school, coming along about this time, frightened them off, but so terrifying were the few minutes in which he knew not whether it was life or death, that she was ill for several weeks following. Blizzards played no little part in the lives of this worthy couple. A daughter was born during the last of a three days' blizzard in April, 1873. In the blizzard of April, 1880, Mr. Bruns lost forty head of fine cattle, a serious loss at the time. Hailstorms were occasional visitors, spreading dis aster in their narrow path. -Cyclones have occas ionally visited the region, and on one occasion a storm of this kind unroofed the barn on Mr. Bruns ' place, and demolished the iron tower, from 1090 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. which the telegraph wire spans the Great Muddy river. But when all has been said, the disasters and 'privations recounted, all the early settlers agree that these were the happiest days of their lives. Social inequalities had not crept in, all were cordial and courteous, while hospitality was unbounded, and all seemed to be members of one great family. G. W. SHORT. Continuity of purpose — " stick-to-itiveness, " as it is expressed in more homely language — has led many a man with humble beginning on to success. Such has been the career of G. W. Short, now a wealthy land-owner of Butte, whose landed possessions are extended to two republics, and his interests varied from stock in the north- em country to tropical fruits in the sister repub lic to the south. G. W. Short is a son of J. E. and Annie M. (Scott) Short, and was born in Knox, Indiana, and here learned the tinners' trade. Becoming dissatisfied, he ran away from home, and by the "blind-baggage" route reached Pullman, Illinois, in 188.1. and the first day secured work as chain- man with the engineers who were laying out the town. This work he followed nearly a year, when he went to Bloomington, Wisconsin, and for a year worked at his trade. Seeing in a trade journ al the need of a tinner at Stewart, Holt county, Nebraska, he came west, and secured the position about the first of September, 1883, and worked there until 1891. In 1891, Mr. Short came to Boyd county, and homesteaded a quarter section adjoining the town on the west, but abandoned it to a friend, that he might return to Stewart, where his old father was quite ill. He later paid two thousand dollars for the same quarter section, and the vendor, with the proceeds, went to Alaska, and secured mining claims valued at nearly half a million. On coming to Butte in 1892, Mr. Short secured work as a tinner in a hardware and implement store, which later failed. The bankers of Butte, having confidence in the business ability of Mr. Short, loaned him the money to buy in the stock at the sale, and thus start him in a successful business career. So excellent was his manage ment that when he retired, in 1905, and invested the proceeds in land, he was able to secure title to two ranches on the Niobrara river, of fourteen hundred, and ten hundred and forty acres, respec tively, besides his original quarter section adjoin ing the town of Butte, all well stocked with cattle and horses in thriving condition. , In January, Mr. Short took a trip to Old Mexico, and, while there, was so favorably im pressed with the country that he purchased one hundred and fifty-five acres of fine meadow land, only a mile and a half from the trolley line of Tampico. Ten acres of this he planted to im proved orange trees in June, and is intending to increase the acreage until all is a blooming or chard. Mr. Short is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity at Butte. Mr. Short was in Stewart at the time of the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, but was fortunate in not having to be out in the storm. The worst hailstorm he ever encountered was while at a picnic, west of town, on July 4, 1905, when the falling ice balls stampeded every horse in the crowd, and left the revellers to get home as best they could. One of Mr. Short's early experiences might have proved to be his death warrant. When work was slack in the shop the first year, he secured work with a hay-baling outfit, and the owner, seeing his good marksmanship, took him along on a trip for cattle, north of the Niobrara. They secured four hundred head, drove them to the railroad, where Mr. Short was sent back to the hay outfit, and did not know until later that he had taken a hand in cattle stealing, for which two of the party were strung up, a fate that would have been meted out to him had his parti cipation been known. The leader of the expedi tion drove the cattle to the Platte country, sold them, and departed for Alaska. Mr. Short was promised his wages during the time he was gone, but received none until the hands confiscated the hay press an doutfit, which were sold to pay the wages due them. The well-developed country gives no idea of the wilderness of those early days. Mr. Short was at Butte at the time of the Indian scare following the battle of Wounded Knee, but lost no sleep over it. He was a per sonal friend of Yellow Horse, who was feared by some, and was told by the old chief that should any trouble be brewing, he would warn his pale face friend. Mr. Short has visited Yellow Horse in his tepee when on fishing trips up the Ponca river, at the old chief's invitation, and on such occasions has been shown where the largest, finest fish were to be.caught. On one occasion, when Butte desired to have a novel Independence Day celebration, Mr. Short asked Qellow Horse to bring a band of three hun dred braves to town, and illustrate their cere monial dances, promising them four beeves and all the crackers needed to accompany that amount of meat. Yellow Horse did better than he prom ised; he brought twelve hundred hungry Indians to be fed. Here was a problem — there was not enough provision in the town to supply them, it was thought. However, a purse was made up, more cattle provided, and the Indians went home filled to satiety, but they left their ponies, blank ets and much of their paraphernalia, lost in game ly backing their horses against the white brothers ' studs, which were provided for the occasion. COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1091 However, the red man made no complaint. He is a cheerful loser, and, although there were b'arely enough ponies to get their wagons back to the reservation, they felt that they had had a good time. OTTO R. EPPLER. Otto R. Eppler is a resident of Pierce county, Nebraska. His father was born in Germany in 1840, arid died in 1905, and his mother was born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, about sixty-five years ago. The eider Eppler came to Pierce county some forty years ago from Milwaukee, Wiscon sin, driving from Columbus to the claim with oxen. He homesteaded in section twenty-six, township twenty-five, range one, where our sub ject now resides. The family lived for ten years in the log house which they built immediately upon their arrival, then built a frame house. Grasshoppers took their crops for two years, and in 1873, they lost some cattle in a blizzard. They have also suffered some loss from hail. Otto R. Eppler was1- united in marriage in 1907 to Miss Dora Raasch, whose parents were early settlers in Nebraska, coming to America from Germany. Mr. Eppler 'is a member of the Ger man Lutheran church, and votes the democratic ticket. EDWARD SMITH. Edward Smith is highly regarded as an up right and conscientious citizen of Custer county, and one who is representative of the best inter ests of the county and state. He has the confi dence and esteem of his fellows, and has a fine family, well known in various circles. He was born in Hazelgreen, Grant county, Wisconsin, June 10, 1857, next to the oldest child of David and Elizabeth (Wynn) Smith. His parents were natives of England, where they were" married, soon afterward coming to the United States. They first located in Pennsylvania, but came to Wisconsin prior to 1855. In the latter state, five children were born to them : Eliza Jane, Edward, Martha, Henry and Mary. The father enlisted in Company H, Fiftieth Regiment, Wisconsin Volun teer Infantry, in the latter part of 1862, and was ¦mustered out at the close of the war. He was sent west with his company to Fort Kearney at the time of the Indian uprising, so did not receive his final discharge until those troops were recalled from frontier service. While he was in service, his wife died, and one child, Eliza Jane, also died during the Civil war. After the war, Mr. Smith returned to Wisconsin, and resumed his trade of stone mason, also worked for a time at mining. He died in that state in the spring of 1908. He married a second time, and of that union, four daughters and one son were born to them. The only survivors of his first wife's children are Edward, and his sister, Martha, Mrs. Philip Tre- vine, of Chili, Wisconsin. Mr. Smith spent his boyhood and early youth on a Wisconsin farm, being educated in local schools, and receiving the usual advantages given farmers' sons of the day and region. On Decem ber 26, 1882, he was married in Illinois to Vir ginia Thompson, daughter of Johnston and Isa bella Thompson. In November, 1884, he and his wife came with their one child, via Kearney, to Custer county, taking a homestead comprising the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven, township eighteen, range nineteen, still the home place, where they own at the present time five hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. Mr. Smith has improved and developed his farm in every possible way, and has one of the pleasant homes in his part of the county. He is a man of quiet manner and kindly disposition, devoted to home, family and friends. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Thomas Sylvester, of Dry Valley, Custer county, is married, and has one child; Sarah Ellen, wife of Harry Govier, living on the home farm, has three children; Margaret Isabelle is the wife of Charles Secor, and they reside in Custer county. CARL UECKER. Carl Uecker, an agriculturist of prominence in Madison county, resides in Norfolk precinct, and is one of those substantial citizens whose integrity and industry, thrift and economy have added so much ito the material wealth and growth of Nebraska. Mr. Uecker is a native of Germany, being born in Prussia in 1830, a son of William and Adrieka Uecker. He received his education in Germany, and at the age of twenty-two years, left his native land for America, thinking the newer country would be a better place for a poor man to get a start, as he could get land cheaper. He made the voyage in a sailboat, and was on the water seven weeks. After landing in New York, he went to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1866. With two wagons and two yoke of oxen, he started for Madison county, Nebraska, arriving at West Point on the evening of July 4, 1866, and going from there to Madison county, where he took up the homestead in section four, township twenty- four, range one, which is still his home. The first residence was a log house, in which the family lived four years, at which time a good frame house was built, the lumber being hauled from West Point and Omaha. Mr. Ueeker now owns two hundred and forty acres of well-improved land, twelve acres of which are in trees. In the' early days of our subject's residence in in Nebraska, Columbus, Omaha and West Point were the nearest market places. Grasshoppers 1092 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. took all the crops for about five years, which made it very hard for the early settler, and in 1894, the crops were a total failure in this part of the county. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and prairie fire had to be fought many times to save their crops and homes. In 1854, Mr. Uecker was married to Miss Mary Timmer. HERMAN AHLMAN. Among the old settlers of Pierce county, Ne braska, may be mentioned Herman Ahlman, who came to Pierce county from Germany in 1871. Mr. Ahlman was born in Pomerania province, Germany, in 1848, the son of Adam Ahlman, who was born in 1824, and Wilmena (Manske) Ahl man who died eighteen years ago, at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Ahlman came to America from Bremen on the steamship "Ohio," and, after landing, came on to West Point, Nebraska, from there walking sixty miles to his claim, a pre-emption claim which he had purchased, and built a sod and log house. He suffered many discourage ments during his first years of residence in Ne braska, grasshoppers taking his crops for two years. He well remembers the blizzards of 1873 and 1888. In 1881, Mr. Ahlman was united in marriage to E. Kollerman, and they are the parents of eight children: Clara, who married Oscar Lahman, and has three children ; Johona, Paul, Elma, Alma, Ella, Otto and Laurence. Mr. Ahlman now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land in section seven, township twenty-five, range one, twenty-two acres being in trees. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and votes the democratic ticket. CHARLES B. SPEICE. (Deceased.) Charles Bordman Specie, deceased, was born in Columbus, Nebraska, January 8, 1869, a son of Charles A. and Katherine (Becher) Specie. He was fourth in a family of seven children. Two brothers and one sister reside in Columbus, Ne braska; one brother in Chicago, one brother in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and two sisters in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The parents died in Columbus, the father in July, 1909, and the mother in January, 1909. Mr. Speice received his education in the local schools, and later engaged in railroading, shortly afterwards going to Oklahoma, and taking up a homestead in January of 1894. He remained there for two years, when he returned to Colum bus, Nebraska, and entered the train service of the Union Pacific railroad. On January 1, 1908, he resigned his position as conductor to take charge of the coal business established by his father in the earlier years of Platte county. Mr. Speice was married, October 19, 1898, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Miss Alice M. Elias, who was born in South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Speice had four children, three of whom are living: Letitia A. ; Charles A., who died in infancy, in 1902 ; Bordman Elias, and Gustavis Becher. Mr. Speice died February 9, 1909, in Colum bus, survived by his wife- and three children. He was one of the younger native pioneers, and Was widely and favorably known, enjoying the esteem of all who knew him. He was a member of several fraternal organizations: the Eagles, the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors, the Mannerchoir, and the Sons of Herman. The parents of Mrs. Speice, Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Elias, live in Columbus, and also two brothers and three sisters. One sister resides in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Speice, with her three children, still lives in her Columbus home, surrounded by a large circle of friends. J. MITTELSTAEDT. The subject of ' this sketch, J. Mittelstaedt, was born in 1849, the son of Martin Mittelstaedt, who was born iri 1796, and Dora Pasa Mittel staedt, natives of Prussia. The father served in the Prussian army during the war with France in 1815. In 1869, Mr. Mittelstaedt, left Germany, and came to America. He spent one year in Wiscon sin, being engaged in the fur business in Milwau kee. In 1870, he came to Nebraska, and took up a homestead, and his first home was a dugout, which was replaced by a frame house in 1885. The nearest market was Fremont, one hundred and twenty miles distant. He had no team at first, being obliged to wait until two calves, which he had purchased, became large enough to drive. He bought his first horses in 1876. Mr. Mittel staedt went through many hardships, grasshop pers taking his crops for three successive years. He went through the blizzards of 1873 and 1888, but they did him no damage, as he had at that time nothing to lose. At one time he suffered the loss of his dugout by prairie fire, but within three hour-i had made another. Deer and elk were plentiful in those early days, and he made his living trapping in the winter, and making up the furs for sale. In 1887, Mr. Mittelstaedt was married to Ma tilda, Spreeman, and they are the parents of nine children: Otto, Wildes, Hugo, Clara, Ernest, Helma, Eria, Lillie and Martin. The family re side on the farm in section twenty-five, township twenty-five, range two, Mr. Mittelstaedt having built a fine, modern home in 1900. COMPENDIUM OF. HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1093 Mr. Mittelstaedt is a member of the German Lutheran church, and of the Sons of Herman lodge. H. D. REYNOLDS. H. D. Reynolds, son of Amos and Louisa (Thatcher) Reynolds, was born in Pine Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1838. He was the eldest of nine children, of whom one brother resides in Iowa, one in New York state, two in Nebraska, one sister in Oregon, and one sister, Mrs. Addison Parker, in Nebraska. The father died in New York state in 1860, and the mother May 9, 1909, in Nance county, Nebraska, aged eighty-two years. When a child, Mr. Reynolds went with his parents to New York state, where he received his education, and later engaged in farming. On August 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty- fourth New Y'ork Volunteer Infantry, and, after enduring severe exposures, suffered an attack of typhoid fever, and was dis,- charged in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in February, 1863. In August, 1863, he re-enlisted in Company G, First New York Veteran Cavalry, serving until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in Rochester, New York, in July, 1865. He was engaged in several decisive battles, being with Hunter on the raid to Lynch burg, Pennsylvania, Cedar Creek, New Market, Piedmont, Winchester, Harper's Perry, and was in many minor skirmishes and battles. After the war, Mr. Reynolds returned to New York state, and on December 15, 1868, was mar ried to Charlotte C. Loop, who was born in Penn sylvania, and later moved to New York state. On April 8, 1871, our subject came to Merrick county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, seven miles northeast of what was then known as Lone Tree station, living on same for two years. He then moved to Central City, engaging in the stock and general merchandise business. In 1875, he shipped the first carload of fat hogs ever sent out of Mer rick county. He also ran a meat market for thir teen years. During these years, Mr. Reynolds was prosperous and succesful, owning one thous and acres of land in Merrick county. In 1904, he sold his business interests, and invested in Colora do timber property, and also in mining* proper ties. On October 9, 1909, he filed on a homestead of four hundred and eighty acres, in Garfield county, Nebraska, and will now make that his home. Mr. Reynolds has been a prominent pioneer business man of Merrick county, and is widely and favorably known. FRED PRAHL. The subject of this sketch, Fred Prahl, was born in Latholf, Germany, in 1842, a son of Fritz Prahl, who was born in 1806, and K. Pettem Prahl. Mr. Prahl came to Pierce county, Nebraska, in 1884, from Germany, and bought land, which he has built up and improved, now owning three quarter-sections in section thirty, township twenty-seven, range two, on which is one acre of fine trees. In 1869, Mr. Prahl was married, and he now has three Children: William, Ernest and Fred. He is a member of the Lutheran church. JOHN W. BOVEE. John W. Bovee, son of John and Sarah (Har lan) Bovee, was born in Wayne county, Illinois, August 16, 1843, the third in a family of six chil dren, four of whom survive: Our subject, one brother in Washington county, Nebraska, and one brother and one sister in Wisconsin. The mother died in October, 1887, in Iowa, and the father, April 2, 1902, in Blair, Nebraska. In August, 1862, Mr. Bovee enlisted in Com pany E, Seventh Illinois Infantry, for three years, but after nine months' service, was discharged on account of disability. He participated in the battle at Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862. After the war, Mr. Bovee returned to Illinois, and attended the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington for several years, afterwards engag ing in teaching. Mr. Bovee was married on January 1, 1867, to Margery Critchfield, who was born in Ohio, but later came to Illinois. In the spring of 1867, they went to Missouri, where Bovee entered the minis try of the Methodist Episcopal church. In Octo ber of 1873, they came to West Point, Nebraska, where he was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church for one year, when he was transferred to the church at St. Paul, Nebraska. In June of 1874, Mr. Bovee purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Madison county, Nebraska, adjoining Norfolk on the northwest, and in the spring of 1876, moved on this farm, living there until 1907, when he retired and moved to Norfolk, where he purchased a good home. Mr. and. Mrs. Bovee have had nine children, six of whom are living : Addie, married to Ellis Bradford, lives in Shenandoah, Iowa, and has one child; Henry H., lives in California; William J., lives in Los Angeles, California ; Anna J., married to Louie Rantenberg, lives in Madison county; and Roy A. and Carl, living on the farm near Norfolk. 1094 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. Mr. and Mrs. Bovee are among the early set tlers of Nebraska, and have passed through all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. They are widely and favorably known. JACOB SMITH, (Deceased.) AND JOHN SMITH. Jaeob Smith and family of wife and eight children came to Colfax county, Nebraska, in March, 1868, from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were natives of Germany, and were married in Pennsylvania. Previous to coming to Colfax county, Mr. Smith had purchased land in Colfax county, four and one-half miles southeast of Rich land post-office, and upon coming to the county, the family settled upon their three-hundred-acre ranch. Mr. Smith was one of the early pioneer seettlers of Colfax county, and lived on the orig inal (purchased) homestead farm until the time of his death in the fall of 1880. The death of his wife occurred in the old farm in June, 1907. All of the children are living. Of the sons, John and Charles Smith reside in Colfax county, Jacob Smith lives in Colorado, and William Smith in another state. Of the daughters, Mrs. Catherine Kohler and Mrs. Polly Abort reside in Richland township, Mrs. Jacob Kifer in Schuyler, Mrs. John Mitchell northeast of Schuyler nine miles, and Mrs. Able Freeline lives in Nevada. The Smith family was well known in Colfax county. John Smith was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1859, and was the sixth of the nine children of Jaeob and Sarah Smith. Coming with his father and family to Colfax county in his ninth year,, he grew up on the farm, and went out for himself in 1880. Mr. Smith passed through all the early years of Colfax county, and is a pioneer who bas seen the ups and downs of early settlers. Mr. Smith owns the old home farm, and is also a prosperous and success ful business man, engaged in the hardware and implement business in Benton, having a well- stocked store, and doing a fine business. Mr. Smith is an up-to-date merchant, and at the same time a successful farmer and stockman. He is a progressive citizen, always standing for advance ment along all lines, and in 1904, 1905 and 1906, served as county commissioner for the first dis trict of Colfax county. John Smith was married to Miss Lena Yonkie, July 13, 1884, in Schuyler, Nebraska. The Yonkie family were old pioneers of Colfax county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have eleven children, all of whom were born in Colfax county, and all of whom reside at home. They are named as follows: George, Agnes, Charles, Mable, John, Oliver, Alice, Hazel, Viola, Harold and Donald. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and family are well known, and have the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. JOHN STDRE. John Stdre was born in Bohemia in 1838, the son of Joe Stdre, born in 1800, who was a weaver in Bhoemia. In 1863, our subject, with his par ents, went to Humbolt, from there going to Hul- don, England, where they embarked in the sail boat "Queen Victoria'' for Quebec, Canada, the voyage lasting seven weeks and three days. They later came to Michigan, and in 1872 came to Dodge county, Nebraska. Prom Dodge county, our sub ject came to Fillmore county in 1882, and in 1890 to Pierce county. While in Dodge county, Mr. Stdre homesteaded in section two, township twenty, range six, and built a log house, his near est market being West Point. For three years, grasshoppers took his crops, and in the blizzard 1873, he was almost frozen to death. Since coming to Pierce county in 1890, Mr. Stdre has bought the farm he now lives on, in section thirty- three, township twenty-eight, range two, on which he has a fine orchard. In 1894, which was also the dry year, he was hailed out, his crops being a total failure. « In 1870, Mr. Stdre was married to Anna Paul, and they are the parents of six children : Mary, who married Prank Croper; Joe, who married Jennie Letherball; Charles, who died in 1889; John, who married Kate 'Bassholt; Prank, who married Miss Coupleman ; and Anna, who married Frank Simmon. EVAN L. GILLHAM. Evan L. Gillham, who was born in Madison county, Illinois, May 20, 1875, is a son of Rever end Lewis J. and Sophronia J. (Floyd) Gillham. The father was born in Madison county, Illinois, April 17, 1852, and now lives in Hall's Summit, Kansas, and the mother was born November 9, 1844, also in Madison county, and died January 22, 1901, in Louisburg, Kansas. Mr. Gillham 's paternal grandparents were Samuel P. and Louise (Gillham) Gillham, who were both born in Madison county, Illinois, the former December 22, 1809, and the latter Septem ber 6, 1811. The Gillhams were the first settlers in Madison county, Illinois, the first of the family having come from South Carolina to Madison county in 1795. At one time over five hundred descendants of this family were voters in the county, and they all voted to make Illinois a free .state when it was admitted to the union. James Gillham was the first of the family to come to Illinois, and the reason for his doing so was that in an attack by the Indians, his wife and family were captured, and he started after them, finding his wife and all tbe children, except one daughter, who had been sold to a French family in St. Louis. It took several years after. he was located for the family to redeem her. James Gillham was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and his brother, John, was a captain under General Francis Marion. - COMPENDIUM OP HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1095 The maternal grandparents of our subject were Josiah K. and Elizabeth (Randle) Floyd, both born in North Carolina, the former on May 1, 1819, and the latter February 21, 1820. They both came to Illinois with their parents, and were married in Madison county. Mr. Gillham 's parents were married August 6, 1873, in Madison county, where the father of our subject was a farmer, and where he continued to farm until 1877, when, with his family, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he learned and worked for a number of years at the black smiths' trade, after which he entered the Meth odist Episcopal ministry, and has since served in that capacity in eastern and southeastern Kan sas. Our subject was the first of three children, the others being Ralph R., of Dallas, Texas, and Nita, wife of Chris Williams, of Erie, Kansas. Evan L. Gillham was educated in the public schools of Kanses, and started for himself when about fourteen years of age, working on a farm during the summer, by the month, and attending school during the winter. When he was nineteen years of age, he secured a position with H. L. Stevens, of Lawrence, Kansas, to learn the imple ment business, and worked there three years dur ing the summer season. Pie then went to Paola, Kansas, with the firm of Griffith & Company, in the same business, for three years. In 1900, Mir. Gillham entered the service of the Deering Harvester Company, as salesman and expert, traveling in north central Kansas for nearly two seasons. He was then ordered to South Dakota, and worked out of the Sioux Palls general agency in the same capacity about fourteen months. In the fall of 1902, when the International Harvester Company was formed and the Deering Company was merged into it, Mr. Gillham was retained in the employ of the International Company as a block man, his terri tory covering northeastern Nebraska and Gregory county, South Dakota. Pie served in that capac ity until February, 1911, with the exception of four months in 1904, when he was sent by the company as salesman to Great Britain, his work being principally in Wales. In 1904, our subject, with his present brother- in-law, George G. Koster, purchased from Herko Koster the hotel known by his name, at Niobrara, the firm name being Koster & Gillham, and the business being conducted by them up to the pres ent time under the management of Mr. Koster until February, 1911, since which time Mr. Gill ham has been devoting his attention to the hotel. December 28, 1904, Mr. Gillham was married to Minnie K. Koster, a daughter of Herko Koster. To them one child, Mary, has been born. In politics Mr. Gillham is a republican, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the fourteenth degree, that of the Scottish Rite. He is also a Knight of Pythias. GEORGE E. RICHARDSON. Among the well-known residents of Madison county, Nebraska, may be mentioned George E. Richardson, who was born in Madison county, near Battle Creek, on the old homestead farm, February 28, 1871, and was the second of twelve children in the family of Frederick W. and Emily Richardson, who had six boys and six girls, five sons and five daughters now living. A sketch of Frederick W. Richardson appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject received his schooling in the dis trict schools of Madison county, and attended college one year at Shenandoah, Iowa. In his seventeenth year he taught a country school in Madison county, and then farmed the old farm for two years. At the time his father was county clerk of Madison county, in 1891, 1892 and 1893, he was a copyist in the county clerk's office. In 1894 he worked for the James B. Hume Lumber Company, and during the hard year (1894) and 1895 and 1896, he taught school in Madison county. September 2, 1896, Mr. Richardson was mar ried to Miss Maud M. Plodges, at the home of her parents, William S. and Martha M. Hodges. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges became residents of Madison county in 1880, coming from Michigan. Mr. Hodges died in the spring of 1908, and Mrs. Plodges now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Richard son. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, Miriam Lois and Daniel H., both at home. In the winter of 1896, Mr. Richardson movet. to Norfolk, and worked in the sugar factory, and in March, 1897, -went to Meadow Grove, Madison county, as principal of the public schools. In July he returned to Madison, and became assist ant postmaster under S. J. Arnett, until October, 1898, purchasing at that time the McBride ab stract business. In the fall of 1905,' Mr. Richard son was the nominee of the republican party for county clerk of Madison county, being elected, and re-elected in 1907. Prior to 1905, Mr. Richardson was justice of the peace for four years, and for eight years was secretary of the Madison County Building and Loan Association. He was city treasurer for two terms, and at the present time is a member of the board of education and director of the Building and Loan Association. Mr. Richardson has been actively identified with the business, official, educational and social life of Madison county for many years, and is one of the first of the native-born children of the county. Pie grew up in Madison county, and has many friends. L. K. SPRINGSTEEN. (Deceased.) L. K. Springsteeng who was one of the most respected residents of Pierce county, was born 1096 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. in 1849, a son of J. R. and Hulda (Hurley) Spring steen, on a homestead some twenty miles from Burlington, Iowa, which was their market place. The father was born in 1821 in Hudson, New York, and died in 1905, and the mother was born in 1821, and died in 1886. Our subject's brother, David R. Springsteen, served in the Civil war, in the Nineteenth Iowa, from 1862 to 1864. Mr. Springsteen came to Pierce county from Iowa in 1886, and homesteaded in section nine, township twenty-five, range four, his first dwell ing being a frame house. He suffered the incon veniences usual to the early settler, being obliged, among other things, to burn hay for fuel. In 1878, Mr. Springsteen was married to Miss L. E. Parker, and they are the parents of one daughter, Josa. Mrs. Springsteen's father, Hobson Parker, took up a homestead in sections seventeen and twenty-eight, township twenty- five, range four. He served in the Fortieth Iowa during the Civil war, from 1860 to 1864. A broth er, William Parker, who lost a leg in the war, served in the Tenth Iowa from 1860 to 1864. Mr. Springsteen owned three hundred and twenty acres of land at the time of his death in 1910. He did his full share toward the upbuild ing of his part of the county, and was highly respected in the community. In politics he affil iates with the republican party. WILLIAM DUCHER. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Boyd county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this personal history is entitled to a foremost place. Mr. Ducher is a native of Ger many, born in Thriger village, Prussia, in 1846. His father, Johann Ducher, who was born in Prussia in 1800, was a farmer, and served in the war of 1829 or 1830. His 'mother was born in 1809. The elder brothers of our subject and his twin brother also served in the wars in the old country, with Austria, Prance and Denmark. In 1872, Mr. Ducher left his native land for America, sailing from Hamburg for New York on the steamship West Parian. After landing in New York, he went to Chicago, where he remained twelve years. From 1879 to 1882, he was presi dent of a milk company. In 1883, he'left Chicago, and came to Garfield county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead, and built a good frame house. He remained there until 1890, when he came to Boyd county, Nebraska, and took up one hundred and sixty aCres of fine land, first living in a dugout, and later building a frame house, twelve by twelve feet. Mr. Ducher has a fine orchard of twenty acres. In 1888, our subject had quite an experience in one of the great blizzards, as he had started for a load of corn, and was eighteen hours in the storm. He has suffered many discouragements since coming to Nebraska, his crops being de stroyed by hail in 1893, 1905 and 1907. Mr. Ducher was united in marriage to Miss T. Lange in 1875, and they are the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living : Hulda, Mary, Emma and Edmond. G. O. SCHMITT. G. O. Schmitt, who resides in section seven, township twenty-one, range two, is a riative bf Madison county, Nebraska, born in 1882, a son of Christ and Pleeba Schmitt. The father came to Madison county in 1871 from Illinois, travel ing by railroad to Columbus, and from there driving to his claim. Our subject was born and raised on this homestead, and lived there with his parents until a few years ago, when he started farming for himself. He now has a beautiful, well-improved home. In 1904, Mr. Schmitt was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Rubier, and they are the parents of two children, Lyle and Gladis. E. LIESNER. E. Liesner, who resides in section eight, town ship twenty-six, range four, Pierce county, Ne braska, was born in Pomerania province, Ger many, a son of August and Hannah (Kruger) Liesner. He received his education in his native country, and later engaged in fanning. The elder Liesner served in the German army in 1841, in the war between Germany and Poland. Mr. Liesner came to America in 1885, and bought land. He is now the owner of two hun dred and eighty acres, five acres of which are in trees. ¦ In 1894, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wonkey, of German descent. Mr. Liesner is a communicant of the Catholic church, and votes the democratic ticket. J. W. HARBOTTLE. Prominent among the leading old settlers of Antelope county, Nebraska, the gentleman whose name heads this perosnal history is entitled to a foremost place. His home is on section eighteen, township twenty-three, range seven. Mr. Har- hottle is a man of active public spirit, always lending his aid and influence for the betterment of conditions in his community. Mr. Harbottle was born in Durham county, England, in 1862. His father, John Harbottle, was born in 1842, and his mother, Alice Harbottle, in 1842. His, father was a miner in England. In 1869, our sub ject, with his parents, left England for America, and started for the west, going to Wyoming, where they remained two years. In 1871, they came to Madison county, Nebraska. The parents: took a homestead, three miles northwest of New- COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1097 man's Grove, and there built a dugout, in which i they lived seven years. Columbus was the mar*- i ket place, forty-five miles away. They experineced the grasshopper seasons, and the blizzard of 1873, when they could not get out of tbe house to feed stock for three days. In 1884, our subject took a homestead in Platte county, Nebraska, remained there until 1903, when he sold, and came to An telope county, Nebraska, and bought one- hun dred and sixty acres of land. He now tarms iour hundred and eighty acres of land, with the help of his family. In 1894, he lost all his crops by the hot winds. In 1883, Mr. Plarbottle was mar ried to Ida Bra-gger. They are the parents of the following named children: Gust, Arthur, Roy, Fred, Allen, Pearl and Bertha. MIKE VESELY. The gentleman above named is a pioneer of northeastern Nebraska. He has lived many years in this section of the country, and has been a part of the growth and development of this region. Mr. Vesely is a native of Bohemia, and was born in 1869, a son of Frank and Katie Vesely. He came to America in 1878, and bought land of a Mr. Myers, who was the homesteader. Mr. Vesely now farms six hundred and eighty acres of land, and has twelve acres of trees, his home being on section seven, township thirty-two, range eight. Three sisters of our subject also live in America. CRAWFORD KENNEDYr. Crawford Kennedy, son of Joseph and Mary Kennedy, was born in County Down, in Ireland, August 15, 1856, the youngest of thirteen chil dren. He has one sister living in New Ytork City, one sister in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the others being deceased. One brother, James M. Kennedy, who settled in Nebraska in 1880, died in Genoa in 1908. The father died in the early fifties, and the mother in 1869, both in Ireland. The Kennedys were a prominent family, and one of the most ancient Presbyterian families in North Ireland. In 1871, in company with three sisters, Mr. Kennedy came to America, locating in Jersey City, New Jersey, and being engaged with the Colgate Soap Company until 1877. At that time he came to Boone county, Nebraska, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty- six, township twenty-one, rarige six, which was his home 'place until 1880, when he was appointed deputy county clerk under John Peters, serving two years. From September, 1882, until 1893, Mr. Ken nedy was in the United States postal service, running over the main line of the Chicago North western, then spending four years in the general freight office of the Northwestern railroad at Omaha. From 1901 to 1905, he served as chief clerk in the post-office of the United States senate in Washington. Since 1905, Mr. Kennedy has made his home in Albion, Boone county. Mr. Kennedy has always been an ardent re publican, and for twenty years has been actively connected with the republican state organization. In 1908 he, as representative of the national republican committee, traveled eighteen thousand miles with President Taft, campaigning in twenty- five states. No man in Nebraska enjoys a larger acquaintance among the leading men of the United States than Mr. Kennedy. He is a man of good attainments, of wide experience and travel, a man whose influence is far-reaching. Mr. Ken nedy is interested in various business enterprises in Boone county. WILLIAM BLOCK. Prominent among the old settlers of Knox county may be mentioned William Block, who has made this region his home since the fall of 1885, and who has done his share in the develop ing of the agricultural resources of this section of the country. Mr. Block lives in section four teen, township thirty, range eight, where he has built up a valuable property through his industry and good management. Mr. Block is a native of Germany, and was born in 1852 in Framwalde village, Pomerania, the son of William and Minnie (Pulshun) Block. Our subject learned the brickmakers' trade in the old country. In 1885, he left his native land, and came to America, thinking there were more opportunities to rise in the world in the newer country. Three brothers and two sisters are also living in the United States. Upon coming west, Mr. Block took up a home stead of eighty acres, and built a sod house. When he became settled, and had built up his home, he sent, for his old sweetheart, Maneline Klongband, and they were married in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Block are the parents of four children : , Minnie, Emmett, Agust and William. - Mr. Block met with some discouragements since coming to Nebraska, losing all his crops in the hot winds of 1894, and also being burned out by prairie fires. He has prospered, however, not withstanding these losses, and now owns five hun dred acres of land. JOSHUA MILLER. Located very pleasantly in section ten, town ship twenty-six, range six, is to be found the gentleman whose name heads this biographical writing. His contributions to the making of northern Nebraska, while they have been largely unobtrusive, have been made with such persistent and invariable honesty of purpose and force of 1098 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. character, and such an earnest desire to live the best American life, that he is widely known through Antelope county. Joshua Miller is a native of Iowa, and was born in 1863. His father, James Miller, was born in Ohio, of German descent, and still lives at the age of eighty-eight years. He served in thi; Civil war, enlisting in 1864, and was discharged in 1865. The mother was of Scotch descent. In 1873, our subject went to Armour, Soutn Dakota, and lived there two years, returning to Iowa. He remained one year in Iowa, and then came to Antelope county, Nebraska, and bought land. He has since made this his home, and now owns four hundred acres of good land. He has thirty acres of the finest grove and orchard in this section of the county. The place is known as Cedar Lawn Farm. Mr. Miller was married in 1884 to Miss Grace Seclouse, and they are the parents of nine chil dren: Morgan, who married Zetta Runs; Elva, who married Mr. Helt ; Susie, who married Mr. Bently; William, Herman, Dexter, Murrel, Freda and Bettie. A. W. SUKUP. Located very pleasantly in section thirteen, township twenty-nine, range eight, is to be found the somewhat notable gentleman whose name in troduces this biograhpical writing. He has been identified with the history of Knox county from a very early date. Mr. Sukup is a native of Nebraska, and was born in 1876. His father, James B. Sukup, was a native of Germany, who came to this country, and settled in Minnesota, later locating in Ne braska — first in Niobrara, an then, in 1865, at Norfolk, where he took up a homestead, and built a good sod house. He afterwards came to Knox county, where he took up a tree claim, and built a log house, which was later destroyed, together with the trees on the claim, by prairie fire. This misfortune caused him to lose the claim. The family also suffered many other hardships in those early days, grasshoppers and hot winds destroying their crops. Our subject, A. W. Sukup, was united in mar riage to Mary Chocholousek in 1900, and two children have been bom to them. DELANCY L. CULVER. Delaney L. Culver, a son of A. L. and Abigal Culver, was born in Wisconsin, September 17, 1848, and was fourth in a family of ten children. The mother died in 1862, and the father in 1893. Two brother, Charles and Fred, live in Albion, Iowa, and one sister in California. The father of our subject was a seeker after gold in California in 1849. Mr. Culver received his education in his native state, and engaged in farming. February 15, 1865, he enlisted in Company A, Forty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge, November 25, 1865. On January 15, 1874, Mr. Culver was married to Mary Elizabeth Jones, who was a teacher in the public schools of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have had two children: Hugh L., who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa, married Francis Standerwick, of Boone county, and has two chil dren, both boys; and Maud, who married Frank Letson, and has one daughter, lives in Gordon, Nebraska. The father of Mrs. Jones died in 1906, and her mother lives in Grand Island, Wisconsin, one brother in Oklahoma, and two sisters and two brothers in Wisconsin. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Culver came with his family to Boone county, Nebraska, and home steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in the southwest quarter of (Section five, township nineteen, range five, which remained his home farm until 1902, when he retired from active farm life, and moved to Albion, purchasing a fine home, where he now' lives. 'He has been pros perous and successful, and owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, together with valuable property in Albion. SETH MILLER. Seth Miller, one of the old settlers of Antelope county, occupies a good home and valuable prop erty in section twentyi;wo, township twenty-six, range eight. He has done his share in the up building of his locality, and is well and favorably known throughout this part of the county. Mr. Miller is a native of Iowa, and was born in 1862. His father, Earl G. Miller, was born in the state of New York in 1816, of German descent, and his mother, who was Miss Plawley before her marriage, was born in 1823, of French descent. Our subject lived in his birthplace until he was twenty-eight years of age, receiving his edu cation in the country schools. In 1890, the elder Miller traded his farm in Iowa for the farm on which our subject now resides. Gregory Miller, a brother of our subject, took up a homestead. In 1904, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Adams, and they are the parents of two children, Flosy and Earl. WILLIAM KRUEGER. William Krueger, a native of Germany, and son of August Krueger, was a laborer in Germany, and served in the war of 1871. He came to America from Braman province on the steamship Herman, and 'settled in Madison county, Nebras ka, in 1876. In 1884, he came to Pierce county, and now owns three hundred and twenty acres' COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY, REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY. 1099 of land in section eight, township twenty-six, range three. Mr. Krueger was married in 1896 to Maggie Neneigemfind, and they are the parents of eight children: Christ, Martin, Agnes, Bennie, Theo dore, Nellie and Mable. Mrs. Kruger is of Ger man descent, and they are members of the Ger man Lutheran church. ART STOLP. A typical pioneer of western Nebraska is the gentleman above named. He was born in 1877, and has lived for over thirty years in this section of the country, now residing in section nine, township twenty-eight, range five. His father, Myron Stolp, came to Nebraska from Iowa, and took up the homestead where our subject now lives.- At that time, Wisner was the nearest market place. In 1899, Mr. Stolp was united in marriage to Miss Abby Ewan, and they are the parents of three children: Bessie, Orval and Earl. The parents of Mrs. Stolp were early settlers in Ne braska, and came to America from England. The father was in the army from 1862 to 1864. YALE WESTERN AMERICANA MICROFILMING PROJECT SUPPORTED. BY NEK -pt,' '• 1 ^•f^jff: v' **! '"X ¦*-.->* 'J^ '" B^»^ -H