'»* «.*^ \ -• o^ 'o , . • A * -^.^ % ' 4^ • -^^0^ -ov^ - ^ • n o 5 » 1 • '- * 0'^.»i:;nL'* %. ^0*" ..i*».. "^ 0- .tiii^* 'c^ ♦1*'- Biographical OUVENIR OF THE COUNTIES OF Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan AND Franklin, NEBRASKA. CONTAINING PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE. OF MANY OF THE I'ROMIXEXT AND REPRFSENTATIVE CITIZENS AND SKETCHES OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES OF THESE COUNTIES. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEV & COMPANY, 1890. kloicS PREFACE. ~l TNTIL quite recently, but little attention has been given to the preservation of biography except in so v_y far as it pertained to the preferred classes — persons who had been prominent in governmental aft'airs, or distinguished in their profession or calling, or in some way made conspicuous before the public, requiring that more than usual should be known of the subject. Wiiliin the past decade, however, there has been a grow- ing demand for the preservation of not only biography but»for family genealogy, not altogether for its imme- diate worth, but for its future value and a laudable pride in its perpetuation for coming generations. The expediency of placing in book form biograpliical history and genealogy of the representative public is beyond question, and not many years shall have elapsed before the person who has not taken some steps to preserve his record will be considered as not worth the effort. That the representative public is entitled to the privileges alforded by a work of this kind needs no assertion at our hands, for one of our greatest Americans has said that the history of any country' resolves itself into the biographies of its stout, earnest, progressive and representative citizens. This medium, then, serves more than a single purpose; while it preserves biography and family genealogy it records history that probably would not be preserved in any otlier way. This will, perhaps, be illustrated most strikingly by reference in these sketches to the period of the war of the rebellion. Of the necessity of preserving family records in permanent form, one only needs the experience of a collector of material for a work of this character, as in a majority of cases it is found that nearly all trace of ancestry is lost back of the grandfather and grandmother — even in families where prominence and intelli- gence would seem to guarantee better things. In nearly every instance the material composing tlie sketches in tlii.s volume has Ijeen gathered from those immediately interested, and been submitted through the mails in type-written form for correction and revision. The mechanical part of the book speaks for itself, the material and workmanship being of standard excellence. The Publishkrs. »s^ FIRST PRESIDENT. 19 ^»^^i><^'lSS?<^C^(^,\'\ \\,H-\ic^^c\^v \^c\ ,yyxr,>^y:^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^'^'^'^ '^'^tg^»^r^^^^;il^^,l^,^;.^V,.-l^■VJ,.■.1,.;■,■;J,,;■,.;,^.,^ HE Father of our Country was |1 born in Westmorland Co., Va., ''Feb. 22, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The fainily to which he belonged has not been satisfactorily traced in England. His great-grand- father, John Washington, em- igrated to Virginia about 1657, and became a prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence and John. The former married Mildred Warner and had three children, John, Augustine and Mildred. Augus- tine, the father of George, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine, reached maturity. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred. Augustine Washington, the father of George, died in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, and to George he left the parental residence. George received only such education as the neighborhood schools afforded, save for a short time after he left scliool, when he received private instruction in mathemat'cs. Hig spelling was rather defective. Remarkable stories are told of his great physica. strength and development at an early age. He was an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. When George was 1 4 years old lie had a desire to go to sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, but through the opposition of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two years later he was appointed surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. I u this business he spent three years in a rough frontier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 175 t, though only ig years of age, he was apjxiinted adjutant with the rank of major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for active service against the French and Indians. Soon after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went there to restore his health They soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter who did not long survive him. On her demise the estate of Mount Vernon was given to George, Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was- reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey was to be made without military escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The GEORGE WASHINGTON. trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was then begun against the French and Indians, in which Washington took a most important part. In the memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock were disabled early in the action, and Washington alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, though death was levelin" my companions on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit him. After having been five years in the military service, and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an active and important part. January 17, 1759, he married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy widow of John Parke Custis. When the British Parliament had closed the port ~>i Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- gress of all the colonies was called to m«et at Phila- delphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and responsible office was conferred upon Washington, who was still a memberof the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the fortunes and liberties of the people of this country were so long confided. The war was conducted by him under ever)' possible disadvantage, and wliilehis forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 17S3, Washington, in a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army to to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connection with public lite. In February, 1 7 89, Washington was unanimously elected President. In his presidential career he was subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part of other governments; trials from want of harmony between the different sections of our own country; trials from the impoverished condition of the country, owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and while perhaps this alone kept our government from sinking at the veiy outset, it left him exposed to attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and very annoying. At the expiration of his first term he was unani- mously re-elected. At the end of this term many were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of public life. Later in the year, however, his repose seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to take command of the armies. He chose his sub- ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- ters in the field, which he superintended from his home. In accepting the command he made the reservation that he was not to be in the field until it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations his life was suddenly cut off. December 12, he took a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its final resting place, and interred in the family vault at Mount Vernon. Of the character of Washington it is impossible to speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- miration. The more we see of the operations of our government, and the more deeply we feel the difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- ent and character, which have been able to challenge the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will be as lasting as the existence of man. The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect and well proportioned. His muscular strength was great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. He commanded respect without any appearance of haughtiness, and ever serious without Wing dull. **> '_^';V '''^^ J^/^m7yJ SECO.Vn PHESJDEXT. ■ ^««-'W^:^> t ti 1 1 1 t-fat.».t .jAtAA;^ ^W K i-JG***" \:--^m * m^ ^ -v;' ~»H\ ADAMS, the second President and the first Vice- President of the United States, was bom in Braintree ( now Quincy),Mass., and about ten "^^ miles from Boston, Oct, 19, 1735. His great-grandfather, Henry Adams, emigrated from England about 1 640, with a family of eight * '-- sons, and settled at Braintree. The parents of John were John and Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His father was a fanner of limited means, to which he added the bus- iness of shoemakdng. He gave his eldest son, John, a classical educa- tion at Harvard College. John graduated in 1755. and at once took charge of the school in Worcester. Mass. This he found hut a 'school of affliction," from which he endeavored to gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the study of law. For this purpose he placed himself under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He had thought seriously of the clerical profession but seems to have been turned from this by what he cermed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'" of the operations of which he had been a witness in his native town. He was well fitted for the legal profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percejv tive jKiwers. He gradually gained practice, and in 1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentarj- taxa- *ion turned him from law to politics. He took initial steps toward holdin^, a town meeting, and the resolu- tions he offered on the subject became tcit populai throughout the Province, and were adopted word for word by over fortj- different towns. He nwved to Bos- ton in 176S, and became one of the most courageous and prominent ad\-ocatesof the popular cause, and was chosen a member of the Gener.il Court ^ihe Leg- lislature) in 1770. Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, which met in 1774. Here he distinguished hiraseh by his capacity for business and for del-ate, and ad- \-ocated the movement for indejiendence against th* : majority of the members. In May, 1776, he rocved and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies should assume the duties of self-goveniment. He was a prominent member of the committee of iive appointed June 11, to prej^re a declaration of inde- pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but I on Adams devolved the task of battling it throug i Congress in a three days debate. On the day after the Declaration of Independence was passed, while his soul was yet warm with th; glow of excited feeling, he wane .\ letter to his wife which, as we read it now, seems to h.tve been dictated by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday,"* he says, "the \ greatest question was decided that ever was debated i in -America; and greater, jierhaps, never w.is or wil be decided among men. A resolution was jxissed I without one dissenting colony, ' that these United : States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent states' The day is passed. The fourth of July, 1776, will be a memorable e;>och in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniverearj' festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty Crod. It ought to be solemnired with pomp, shows. 24 JOHN ADAMS. games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other, from this lime forward for ever. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of tiro toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means; and that posterity will tri\imph, although you and I may rue, which I hojje we shall not." In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money from the French Government. This was a severe trial to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, compelled liim to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 1779. In September of the same year he was again chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet might be found willing to listen to such pioposels. He sailed for France in NovemVier, from there he went to Holland, where he negotiated important loans and formed important commercial treaties Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he was advised to go to England to drink the waters of Bath. While in England, still drooping anddesixjnd- ing, he received dispatches from his own government urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through storm, on sea, on horseback and foot, he made the trip. February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face to face the King 0/ England, who had so long re- garded him as a traitor. As England did not condescend to appoint a minister to the United States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- plishing but little, he sought permission to return to .■lis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. When Washington was first chosen President, John Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again at the second election of Washington as President, Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was elected President, though not without much opposition. Serving in this office four years, he was succeeded by Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. ■JVhile Mr. Adams was Vice President the great French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, and it was u[X)n this point which he was at issue with the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- iginated the alienation between these distinguished men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies were with England and Jefferson led the other in sympathy with France. The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling had died away, and he had begun to receive that just appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till after death. No one could look upon his venerable form, and think of what he had done and suffered, and how he had given up all the prime and strenj,th of his life to the public good, without the deepest emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar good fortune to witness the complete success of the institution which he had been so active in creating and sup]X)rting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest station in the gift of the people. The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the signers of that immortal instrument left upon the earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is well known, on that day two of these finished their earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning of the fourth he found hmiself too weak to rise from his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- dependence FOREVER." When the day was ushered in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew what day it was.-" He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and glorious day." The last words he uttered were, "Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- signed his spirit into the hands of his God. The personal appearance and manners of Mr. Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, as his portrait manifests.was intellectual ard expres- sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked the manners and address of Jefferson. iJ^ ^£j%^/y''t77Z, THIRD PRESIDENT. »7 HOMAS JEFFERSON was born April 2, 1743, at Shad- S*well, Albermarle county, Va. His parents were Peter and Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, the former a native of Wales, and the latter born in Lon- don. To them were born six daughters and two sons, of whom Thomas was the elder. When 14 years of age his father died. He received a most liberal education, hav- ing been kept diligently at school from the time he was five years of age. In 1760 he entered William end Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- able in his morals. It is strange, however, under such influences, that he was not ruined. In the sec- ond year of his college course, moved by some un- explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out of the city and back again. He thus attained very high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- ])hy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. Immediately upon leaving college he began the study of law. For the short time he continued in the practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a lawyer. But the times called for greater action. The policy of England had awakened the spirit of resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha .Skelton, a very beauti- ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at .Shadwell, thjre was a majestic swell of land, called MoiUicello, which commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye*^ elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon became the most distinguished resort in our land. In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress, where, though a silent member, his abilities as a writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he was placed ujwn a number of important committees, and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apjx)inted to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 4, 1776 What must have been the feelings of that 28 THOMAS JEFFERSON. man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of America, was also to publish her to tiie world, free, Koverign and independent. It is one of the most re- markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort uf the mind of its author exist, that alone would be sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to Patrick Henry, :,s Governor of Virginia. At one time the British officer, Tarleton, sept a secret expedition to Monticello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five minutes ela[ised after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never very good, was much injured by this excitement, and in the summer of 1783 she died. Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- tentiary to France. Returning to the United States in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned Jan. I, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- dent, and four years later was elected President over Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, and George Clinton, Vice President. The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con- spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an imprincipled ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a military expedition into the Spanish territories on our southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there a new republic. This has been generally supposed was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been generally known what his real plans were, there is no doubt that they were of a far more dangerous character. In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for which Mr. Jefferson had l>een elected, he determined to retire from political life. For a period of nearly forty years, he had been continually before the j)ub- ,ic, and all that time had been employed in offices of the greatest trust and responsibility. Having tluis de- voted the best part of his life to the service of his country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his declining years required, and n\ion the organization of the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole families came in their coaches with their horses, — fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and nurses, — and remained three and even six months. Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a fishionable watering-place. The fourth of July, 1826, being the fifneth anniver- sary of the Declaration of American Independence. great preparations were made in every part of thd Union for its celebration, as tlie nation's jubilee, and the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer. and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- tion, to participate in their testivities. Btit an ill- ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and had been continually increasing, compelled him to decline the invitation. On the second of July, the disease under which he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced state that his medical attendants, entertained nc hojie of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next dny, which was Monday, he asked of those around him, the day of the month, and on being told it was the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha'; he might be permitted to breathe the air of the fiftieth anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - the day which his own name and his own act had rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and animated their desponding countrymen; for half a century they had labored together for tne good of the country; and now hand in hand they depart. In their lives they had been united in tlie same great cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not divided. In person Mr. Jeff'erson was tall and thin, rather above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes were light, his hair originally red, in after life became white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore- head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as well as personal courage; and his command of tem- per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends never recollected to have seen him in a passion. His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and his language was remarkably pure and correct. He was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is discernable the care with which he formed his style upon the best models of antiquity. *34 'tCJ''" /■ (2yo<-^^-^^ ■'i^^ A<-^^^^-^ ^"V FOURTH PRESIDENT. 3^ n^EQES npDISOI]. AMES MADISON, "Father of the Constitution," and fourth President of the United States, was born March i6, 1757, and died at his home in Virginia, June 28, 1836. The name of James Madison is inseparably con- nected with most of the important events in that heroic period of our country during which the founda- tions of this great repubUc were laid. He was the last of the founders of the Constitution of the United States to be called to his eternal reward. The Madison family were among the early emigrants to the New World, landing upon the shores of the Chesa- peake but 15 years after the settle- ment of Jamestown. The father of James Madison was an opulent planter, residing upon a very fine es- tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., Va. The mansion was situated in the midst of scenery highly pictur- esque and romantic, on the west side of South-west Mountain, at the foot of Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and political attachment existed between these illustrious men, from their early youth until death. The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. Here he applied himself to study with the most im- prudent zeal ; allowing himself, for months, but three hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble body, witli a character of utmost purity, and with a mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf ' quent career. Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. This educational course, the spirit of the times in which he lived, and the society with which he asso- ciated, all combined to inspire \\\m with a strong love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of mind, and his frail health leading him to think that his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mmd singularly free from passion and jjrejudice, and with almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed all the arguments for and against revealed religion, until his faith became so established as never to be shaken. In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to frame the constitution of the State. The next year (1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and consequently lost his election ; but those who had witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, and he was appointed to the EACculive Council. Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained member of tlie Council ; and tlieir appreciation of his 32 JAMES MADISON. intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 1780, he was elected a member of the Continental Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of the most conspicuous positions among them. For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- gress, one of its most active and influential members. In the year 1784, his term having e.xpired, he was elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. No man t"elt more deeply than Mr. Madison the utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- tional government, with no power to form treaties which would be binding, or to enforce law. There was not any State more prominent than Virginia in the declaration, that an efficient national government must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison carried a resolution through the General Assembly of Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss this subject. Five States only were re[)resentcd. The convention, however, issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft a Constitution for the United States, to take the place of that Confederate League. The delegates met at the time appointed. F,very State but Rhode Island was represented. George Washington was chosen president of the convention; and the present Consti- tution of the United States was then and there formed. There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- tive in framing this immortal document than the mind and the pen of James Madison. The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was to be presented to the several States for acceptance. But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected we should be left but a conglomeration of independent States, with but little power at home and little respect abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- tion to draw up an address to the people of the United States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, and urging its adoption. There was great opposition to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and went into effect in 1789. Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the avowed leader of the Republican party. While in New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a young widow of remarkable power of fascination, whom he married. She was in person and character queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied so prominent a position in the very peculiar society which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. .Madison. Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under Jefferson, and at the close of his administration was chosen President. At this time the encroach- ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. , British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- ance he selects any number whom he may please to designate as British subjects ; orders them down the ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the battles of England. This right of search and im- pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce the British cabinet to relinquish. I On the iSthof June, 1812, President Madison gave his approval to an act of Congress declaring war against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility of the Federal party to tlie war, the country in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th of March, 18 13, was re-elected by a large majority, and entered upon his second term of office. This is not the place to describe the various adventurss of this war on the land and on the water. Our infan'- navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- pling with the most formidable power which ever swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole coast of the United States under blockade. The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me ditator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- burg, upon Washington. The straggling little city of Washington was thrown into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers in a council of war He met our troops utterly routed, and he could not go back without danger of being captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in Washington were in flames. The war closed after two years of fighting, and on Feb. T3, i8t5, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- son died July 12, 1849. A' 7 -?-Cr^_ FIFTH PRESIDENT. 35 PEQES n]0]]ROE. AMES MONROE, the fifth .Presidentof The United States, was born in Westmoreland Co., Va., April 28, 1758. His early life was passed at the place of nativity. His ancestors had for many years resided in the prov- ince in which he was born. When, at 17 years of age, in the process * of completing his education at William and Mary College, the Co- lonial Congress assembled at Phila- deljilnia to deliberate upon the un- just and manifold oppressions of Great Britian, declared the separa- tion of the Colonies, and promul- gated the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly probable that he would have been one of the signers of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left school and enlisted among the patriots. He joined the army when everything looked hope- less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased from day to day. The invading armies came pouring in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- tending with an enemy whom they had been taught to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through difficulty and danger, the United States owe their political emancipation. The young cadet joined the ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, with a firm determination to live or die with her strife for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled before its foes through New Jersey. In four months after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left shoulder. As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. In 1782, he was elected from King George county, a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive Council. He was thus honored with the confidence of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having at this early period displayed some of that ability and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 36 JAMES MONROE. he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of ihe Congress of the United States. Deeplyas Mr. Monroefelt the imperfettionsof theold Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, thinking, with many others of ^he Republican party, diat it gave too much power to the Central Government, and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member of the United States Senate ; which office he held for four years. Every month the line of distinction be- tween the two great parties wiiich divided the nation, the Federal and the Republican, was growing more distinct. The two prominent iaeas which now sep- arated them were, that the Republican party was in sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a strict construction of the Constitution as to give the Central Government as little power, and the State Governments as much ixjwer, as the Constitution would warrant. The Federalists sym[)athized with England, and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- stitution, which would give as much power to the Central Government as that document could possibly authorize. The leading Federalists and Republicans were alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the good of the nation. Two more honest men or more pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In building up this majestic nation, which is destined to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- bination of their antagonism was needed to create the light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- nounced as almost a demon. Washington was then President. England had es- poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- tween these contending powers. France had helped us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms of Europe were now combined to prevent the French from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse than that wliich we had endured. Col. Monroe, more magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in magnanimity. Washington, who could appreciate such a character, developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining the vast territory then known as the Province of Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- tained from Si)ain. Their united efforts were suc- cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and district of Louisiana were added to the United States. This was probably the largest transfer of real estate which was ever made in all the history of the world. From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- tain from that country some recognition of our rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those odious impressments of our seamen. but Eng- land was unrelenting. He agam returned to Eng- land on the same mission, but could receive no redress. He returned to his home and was again chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned to accept the position of Secretary of State under Madison. While in this office war with England was declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during these trying times, the duties of the War Department were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had been chosen President with but little opposition, and upon March 4, 18 £7, was inaugurated. Four years later he was elected for a second term. Among the important measures of his Presidency were the cession of Florida to the United States; the Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'' This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that time the United States had recognized the independ- ence of the .South American states, and did not wish to have European powers longer attempting to sub- due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt on the part of European powers to extend their sys- tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety," and "that we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing or controlling American governments or provinces in any other light than as a manifestation by European |)Owers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States." This doctrine immediately affected the course of foreign governments, and has become the approved sentiment of the United States. At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired to his home in Virginia, where he lived unlil 1830, when he went to New York to live with his son-in- law. In that city he died, on the 4th of July, 1S31 J. $, At Oyrt^ SIX TH PRESIDENT. 39 >eg-^^ IF '/^ "(9 OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the sixth President of the United ^States, was born in the rural home of his honored father, John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., on the I ith cf July, 1767. His mother, a woman of exalted worth, watched over his childhood during the almost constant ab- sence of his father. When but eight years of age, he stood with his mother on an eminence, listen- ing to the booming of the great bat- tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on upon the smoke and flames billow- ing up from the conflagration of Charlestown. When but eleven years old he took a tearful adieu of his mother, to sail with his fattier for Europe, through a fleet ot hostile British cruisers. The bright, animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted the notice of these distinguished men, and he received from them flattering marks of attention. Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this cour.try, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he applied himself with great diligence, for six months, to Jtudy; then accompained his father to Holland, where he entered, first a school in .Amsterdam, then the University at Leyden. About a year from this time, in i7Si,when the manly boy was but fourteen yea's of age, he was selected liy Mr. Dana, our min- ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. In this school of incessant labor .ind of enobling culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the winter, when in his sixteenth year. Aeain he resumed his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father t: Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance with the most distinguished men on the Continent- examining arclfitectural remains, galleries of paintings and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again became associated with the most illustrious men of all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal themes which can engross the human mind. Afte- a short visit to England he returned to Paris, ana consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, when he returned to America. To a brilliant young man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a residence with his father in London, under such cir- cumstances, must have been extremely attractive but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- ferred to return to America to complete his education in an American college. He wished then to study law, that with an honorable profession, he might be able to obtain an independent support. Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty he studied law for three years. In June, ^794, be- ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- pointed by Washington, resident minister at the Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached London in October, where he was immediately admit- ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with Great Brilian. After thus spending a fortnight ir, London, he proceeded to the Hague. In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal upon arriving in London, he met with despatches directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting him to remain in London until he should receive his instructions. M'hile waiting he was mairied to ar. American lady to whom he had been previously en- gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughte" of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in I ondon ; a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- plishment which eminently fitted her to move in t'ui elevated sphere for whii h she wjvs destined. 40 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- filled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his recall. Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then was elected Senator of the United States for six years, from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his ability and his experience, placed him immediately among the most prominent and influential members of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- sulting our flag. There was no man in America more familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon these points, and no one more resolved to present a firm resistance. In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- idential chair, and he immediately nominated John Quincy Adams minister to St. Petersourg. Resign- ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked at Boston, in August, 1809. While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- dent. He devoted his attention to the language and history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to -the European system of weights, measures, and coins; to the climate and astronomical observations ; while he Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. All through life the Bible constituted an important part of his studies. It was his rule to read five chapters every day. On the 4th of March, t8i7, Mr. Monroe took the Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he sailed in June, 18 19, for the United States. On the 1 8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary of State. Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second term of office, new candidates began to be presented for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty- seven. As there was no choice by the people, the question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he was elected. The friends of all the disappointed candidates now combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in •he past history of our country than the abuse which was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was an administration more pure in principles, more con- scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- try, than that of John Quincy Adams ; and never, per- haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- lously and outrageously assailed. Mr. Adams was, to a very renrarkable degree, ab- stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his own fire and applying himself to work in his library often long before dawn. On the 4th of March, t829, Mr. Adams retired from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- dent. The slavery question now began to assume portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was elected representative to Congress. For seventeen years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of " the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in the House, he announced that he should hold him- self bound to no party. Probably there never was a member more devoted to his duties. He was usually the first in his place in the morning, and the last to leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime in Its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, with expulsion from the House, with assassination ; but no threats could intimidate him, and his final triumph was complete. It has been said of President Adams, that when his body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in his infant years. On the 2rst of February, 1848, he rose on the floor of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- sis, and was caught in the arms of those around liim. For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and said " This is the end of earth ;"then after a moment's pause he added, "/am content" These were the last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent." (S^^.^-Z.^^^^^^c^rr^^^L^^^^^-z^-^- SEVENTH PRESIDENT. 4.3 »M>i>«, c o'-Sj'Si^OTyg*^ ? NDREW JACKSON, the seventh President of the United States, was born in Waxhaw settlement, N. C, March 15, 1767, a few days after his father's death. His parents were poor emigrants from Ireland, and took up their abode in Waxhaw set- tlement, where they lived in deepest poverty. Andrew, or Andy, as he was universally called, grew up a very rough, rude, turbulent boy. His features were coarse, his form un- gainly; and there was but very Kttle in his character, made visible, which was at- tractive. When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of the dauntless boy. The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- ful gashes, — one on tlje hand and the other upon the head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert with the same demand. He also refused, and re- ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite disabled him, and which probably soon after caused his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their mother was successful '.n obtaining their exchanjje. and took her sick boys home. After a long illness Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon left him entirely friendless. Andrew supported himself in various ways, sichas working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, gave more attention to the wild amusements of the times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of which Tennessee was then a part. This involved many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish with the Sharp Knife. In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who supposed herself divorced from her former husband. Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, to find that the conditionsof the divorce had just been definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. Jackson into disfavor. During these years he worked hard at his profes- sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- ially disgraceful. In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then containing neariy eighty thousand inhabitants, the people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. The new State was entitled to but one member ii\ the National House of Representatives. Andre»v Jack-' son was chosen that memlier. Mounting his horse he rode to PhiJedelphiii. where Congress then 1 eld its 44 ANDRE IV JACKSON. sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles. Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his seat. Gen. Washington, whose second term of office was then expiring, delivered his last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson did not approve of the address, and was one of the twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been " wise, firm and patriotic." Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court of his State, which position he held for si.x years. When the war of 181 2 witli Great Britian com- menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who would do credit to a commission if one were con- ferred uixin him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson offeied his services and those of twenty-five hundred volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops were assembled at Nashville. As the British were hourly expected to make an at- tack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was in command, he was ordered to descend the river with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The expedition reached Natchez ; and after a delay of sev- eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, the men were ordered back to their homes. But the energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him golden opinions; and he became the most popular man in the State. It was in this expedition that his toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in which a younger l)rother of Benton's was engaged, he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was lingering niKin a bed of suffering news came that the Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on one of the bends of the Tallapoosa River, near the cen- ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, with an ample suply of arms were assembled. The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as they swam. Nearly everj'one of the nine hundred war- rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam the river and escaped. This ended the war. The power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold •plunge into the wilderness, with its terriffic slaughter, so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants of the bands caiue to the camp, begging for peace. This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he was appointed major-general. Late in August, with an army of two thousand men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson came to Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, and from both ship and shore commenced a furious assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his troops, which numbered about four thousand men, won a signal victory over the British army of about nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he assumed the reins of the government, he met witli the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of her death he never recovered. His administration was one of the most memorable in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, condemned by the other. No man had more bitter enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. ^ 7 //^^^^ ^t EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 47 ^^^ m^^ ARTIN VAN BUREN, the eighth President of the United States, was born at Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1782. He died at the same place, July 24, 1862. His body rests in the cemetery at Kinderhook. Above it is a plain granite shaft fifteen feet high, liearing a simple inscription about halt way up on one face. The lot is unfenced, unbordered or unbounded by shrub or flower. There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in [Xjlitical and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many signal victories, his days passed uneventful in tiiose incidents which give zest to biograjihy. His an- cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- ligence and e.xemplary piety. Aq was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies in his native village, and commenced the study of law. As he bad not a collegiate education, seven years of study in a law-office were re(niired of him k)efore he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with Ji lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After spending six years in an ofifice in his native village. he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his studies for the seventh year. In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- lage. The great conflict between the Federal and Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the many discussions which had been carried on in his father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the cause of State Rights; though aUthat time the Fed- eral party held the supremacy both in his town and State. His success and increasing ruputation led him after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, tht county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years, constantly gaining strength by contending in the. courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned the bar of his State. Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep ovei her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. V^an Buren was an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record of those years is barren in items of public interest. In t8i 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved to Albany, the capital of the State. While he was acknowledged as one of the most piominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 48 MARTIN VAN BL'REN'. the moral courage to avow that true democracy did not require that " universal suffrage " which admits the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of governing the State. In true consistency with his democratic principles, he contended that, while the ]uth leading to the privilege of voting should be open to every man without distinction, no one should be invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue and some property interests in the welfare of the State. In 182 I he was elected a member of the United States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat in the convention to revise the constitution of his native State. His course in this convention secured the approval of men of all parties. No one could doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the interests of all classes in the community. In the Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to Jie Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- .ermined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 'State Rights" view in opposition to what was deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his seat in tlie Senate. Probably no one in the United States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it Andrew Jdckson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- garded throughout the United States as one of the most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how .0 touch the secret sptings of action; how to pull all ;he wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to organize a political army which would, secretly and ste.''Uhily accomplish the most gigantic results. By these powers it is said that he outv/itted Mr. Adams; Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which few thought then could be accomplished. When Andrew Jackson was elected President he apix.inted Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This position he resigned in 183 1, and was immediately appointed Minister to England, where he went the same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned home, apparently untroubled; was nominated Vice President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election of President Jackson; and with smiles for all and frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination as ambassador. His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- ite; and this, probably more than any other cause, secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu tive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. Jackson as President of the United States. He was elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. Jackson as though tlie Constitution had conferred upon him the power to appoint a successor." His administration was filled with exciting events. The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- volve this country in war with England, the agitation of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- cial panic which spread over the country, all were trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- tributed to the management of the Democratic party, and brought the President into such disfavor that he failed of re-election. With the exception of being nominated for the Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848, Mr. Van Buren lived quietlv upon his estate until his death. He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, and living within his income, had now fortunately a competence for his declining years. His unblemished character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he had occupied in the government of our country, se- cured to him not only the homage of his party, but the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics of the country. From this time until his death, on the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old age, probably far more liapj)iness than he had before experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. ^/5f/fe>x-^^ >v.^ NINTH PRESIDENT. 5' Wm^MM ifiilll m411^§l. If ^■'1 '■^ i £ ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- SON, the ninth President of the United States, was born at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. His lather, Benjamin Harri- son, was in comparatively op- ulent circumstances, and was one of the most distinguished men of his day. He was an intimate friend of George Washington, w as early elected a member of the Continental Congress, and was conspicuous among the patriots of Virginia in resisting the encroachments of the British crown. In the celebrated Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- rison and John Hancock were both candidates for the office of speaker. Mr Harrison was subsequently chosen Governor of Virginia, and was twice re-elected. His son, i William Henry, of course enjoyed in childhood all the advantages which wealth and intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- ing received a thorough common-school education, he entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated with honor soon after the death of his father. He then repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of »obert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, ligners of the Declaration of Independence. Jpon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- withstanding the 'emonstrances of his friends, he abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, slaving obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- dent Washington. He was then but ig years old. From that time he passed gradually upward in rank until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This Territory was then entitled to but one member in Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that position. In the spring of 1 800 the North-western Territory was divided by Congress into two portions. The eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil. liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as extensive a realm as any sovereign u]x>n the globe. He was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- vested with powers neady dictatorial over the now rapidly increasing white population. The ability and fidelity with which he discharged these responsible duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- dent Madison. When he began his adminstration there were but three white settlements in that almost boundless region, now crowded with cities and resounding with all the tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof these settlements was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French settlement. The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrisou reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. Abou* s- WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One ot these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching Panther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or "The Prophet." Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- able perseverance in any enterprise m which he might engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, and had long regarded with dread and with hatred the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was an orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which they dwelt. But the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was, in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went from tribe to tribe, assuming that hewas specially sent by the Great Spirit. Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. October 28, 181 2, his army began its march. When near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- campment, he took every precaution against surprise. His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept upon their arms. The troops threw themselves upon the ground for rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his loaded musket by his side, and his ba)onet fixed. The wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all the desperation which superstition and passion most highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the little army. The savages had been amply provided with guns and ammunition by the English. Their war-whoop was acconipained by a shower of bullets. The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- jus yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- fore them, and completely routing tlip foe. Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked to the utmost. The British descending from theCan- adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but with their savage allies, rushing like wolves I'rom the forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- ing, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier was plunged into a state of consternation which even the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. Under these desijairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison was appointed by President Madison commander-in- chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. It would be difficult to place a man in a situation demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; bul General Harrison was found equal to the position, and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- sponsibilities. He won the love of his soldiers by always sharinp with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers, his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. The only fare he could give them was beef roasted before the fire, without bread or salt. In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member ot the National House of Representatives, to represent the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested the attention of all the members. In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate oi Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The same year he was chosen to the United States Senate, In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him forward as a candidate for the Presidency against Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated by the Whigs, with John Tyler lorthe Vice Presidency. The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but his triumph was signal. The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most brilliant with which any President had ever been surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- ness, died on the 4th of k\)X\\ ; just one month after his inauguration as President of the United States. TENTH PRESIDENT. SS I OHN TYLER, the tenth ; Presidentof the United States. He was born in Churles-city Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He was the favored child of af- fluence and high social po- sition. At the early age of twelve, John entered William and Mary College and grad- uated with much honor when but seventeen years old. After graduating, he devoted him- self with great assiduity to the study of law, partly with his father and partly with Edmund Randolph, one of the most distin- guished lawyers of Virginia. At nineteen years of age, ne commenced the practice of law. His success was rapid and aston- ishing. It is said that three months had not elapsed ere there was scarcely a case on the dock- et of the court in which he was not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the unanimous vote or his county. When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national bank, internal imjirovements by the General <^» father, Colonel Taylor, was ^^^J^ a Virginian of note, and a dis- "* ° '^ tinguished patriot and soldier of the Revolution. When Zachary was an infant, his father with his wife and two children, emigrated to Kentucky, where he settled in the pathless wilderness, a few miles from Louisville. In this front- ier home, away from civilization and all its refinements, young Zachary could enjoy but few social and educational advan- tages. When six years of age he attended a common school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, father remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him the commission of lieutenant in the United States army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady from one of the first families of Maryland. Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- land, in r8i2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- ness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe. It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, ".ed by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of whom were sick. Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their approach was first indicated by the murder of two soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor made every possible preparation to meet the antici- pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, waving a white flag, and informed CajJt. Taylor that in the morning their chief would come to have a talk with him. It was evident that their object was merely to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept them at a distance. The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips in the forest around, followed by the discharge of musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the rank of major by brevet. Until the close of the war. Major Taylor was placed in such situations that he saw but litdc more of active service. He was sent far away into the depths of the wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which empries into Green Bay. Here there was but little to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 64 ZACHARY TAYLOR tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in employments so obscure, that his name was unknown beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, iiac' promised they should do. The services rendered heie secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated tc .he rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- mand of the United States troops in Florida. After two years of such wearisome employment amidst the everglades of the peninsula. Gen. Taylor obtained, at his own request, a change of command, and was stationed over the Department of the South- west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, *"rom the world, but faithfully discharging every duty imposed upon him. In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed by the United States. Soon the war with Me.xico was brought ou, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over forces much larger than he commanded. His careless habits of dress and his unaffected (simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, \\\e. sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready.' The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista ;-pread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. 'I'he name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- claring that he was not at all qualified for such an office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen who had been long years in the public service found M.^ir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- pared such few communications as it was needful should be presented to the public. The popularity of the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, — Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good old man found himself in a very uncongenial jwsition, and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found the political conflicts in Washington to be far more trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or Indians. In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of but little over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. His last woids were, "I am not afraid to die. I am ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- mented his death. Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful description of his character: — " With a good store of common sense. Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- quence. The frontiers and small military posts had been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), whom he \vould not, to use his oft repeated phrase, ' touch with a pair of tongs.' "Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In shorf few men have ever had a more comfortan'le, laooi- saving contempt for learning of every kind." z/^x^c^r^ J C^^^^{!U^^ocru) THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 67 ^■ffllLLflHn FILLMnRE."^ ' ' ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- teenth President of the United States, was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on the 7th of Januar)', 1800. His '^^ father was a farmer, and ow- ing to misfortune, in humble cir- cumstances. Of his mother, the daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been said that she [wssessed an intellect of very high order, united with much personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- position, graceful manners and ex- quisite sensibilities. She died in 1 83 1 ; having lived to see her son a young man of distinguished prom- ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high dignity which he finally attained. In consequence of the secluded home and limited means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- vantages for education in his early years. The com- mon schools, which he occasionally attended were very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, and had laid the foundations of an upright character. When fourteen years of age, his father sent him some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some enterprising man had commenced the collection of a village library. This proved an inestimable blessing to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate and the selections which he made were continually more elevating and instructive. He read history, biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- kindled in his heart a desire to be something more than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, educated man. The young clothier had now attained the age of nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing an- pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and attainments that he advised him to abandon his trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The young man replied, that he had no means of hfs own, r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to take him into his own office, and to loan him such money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous offer was accepted. There is in many minds a strange delusion about a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls *nd then enters a law office, who is by no means as 06 MILLARD FILLMORE. well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- tense mental culture. Ill 1S23, when twenty-three years of age, he v/as admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, his practice of course was limited, and there was no opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. His elevation of character, his untiring industry, his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to enter into partnership under highly advantageous circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of tlie State of New York, as a representative from Erie County. Though he had never taken a very active part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, and he found himself in a helpless minority in the Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parlies, that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very unusual degree the respect of his associates. In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in the United States Congress He entered that troubled arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our national history. The great conflict respecting the national bank and the removal of the deposits, was then raging. His term of two years closed ; and he returned to his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- utation and success. After a lapse of two years he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- rience as a representative gave hmi stiength and confidence. The first term of service in Congress to any man can be but little more than an introduction. He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every measure received his impress. Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, he was elected Comptroller of the State. Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But it was necessary to associate with him on the same ticket some man of reputation as a statesman. Under the influence of these considerations, the namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but about one year and four months after his inaugura- tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend with, since the opposition had a majority in both Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt the inadequacyof all measuresof transient conciliation. The population of the free States was so rapidly in- creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- evitable that the power of the Government should soon pass into the hands of the free States. The famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Exjiedition was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- more, having served one term, retired. In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that his sympathies were rather with those who were en- deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. ■^ ^ FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 71 ^&si;'^>*J^^<«lf«p»:^«lP4'%«f"i'Si-^^^^ **FHflNKLIN PIEHEE.^ asip^. RANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth President of the 'United States, was born in Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 23, 1804. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, who, with his own strong arm, hewed out a liome in the wilderness. He was a man of inflexible integrity; of strong, though uncultivated mind, and an uncompromis- ing Democrat. The mother of Franklin Pierce was all that a son could desire, — an intelligent, pru- dent, afffectionate, Christian wom- an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the love of old and young. The boys on the play-ground loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors looked upon him with pride and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact which taught him what was agreealile. Witliout de- veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural devotion to books, he was a good scholar ; in body, in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was one of the most popular young men in the college. The purity of his moral character, the unvarying courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a schol:ir. and genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. There was something very peculiarly winning in his address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his own magnanimous and loving nature. Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the State, and a man of great private worth. The eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the fact- nating yet perilous path of political life. With all the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent tlie town in the State Legislature. Here he served for four yeais. The last two years he was chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected a member of Congress. Without taking an active part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom he was associatad. In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, he was elected to the Senate of the United States; taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced his administration. He was the youngest memberin the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane Means Ap[)leton, a lady of r:ire beauty and accom- plishments, and one admir:il>ly fitted lo adorn every station with wnich her Ivwband was honoicd. Of the 72 FRANKLIN PIERCE. three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with their parents in the grave. In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States ; but the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous professional engagements at home, and the precariuos state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the same time declined the nomination for governor by the Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. He took an important part in this war, proving him- self a brave and true soldier. When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, very frequently taking an active part in political ques- tions, giving his cordial sup[)ort to the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party. The compromise measures met cordially with his approval ; and he strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'' The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- quently regarded him as a man whom they could safely trust in office to carry o^it their plans. On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the Presidency. For four days they continued in session, and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation brought forward his name. There were fourteen more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce was therefore inaugurated President of the United States on the 4th of March, 1853. His administration proved one of the most stormy our country had ever experienced. The controversy be- tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its culminating point. It became evident that there was , an "irrepressible conflict" between them, and that this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution of the Union were borne to the North on every South- ern breeze. Such was the condition of affairs when President Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all the intellectual ability and social worth of President Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- cated those measures of Government which they ap- proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two had died, and his only surviving child had been killed before his eyes by a railroad accident , and his wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left alone in the world, without wife or child. When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to that pro-slaver}' party with which he had ever been allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of men, an honored communicant of tlie Episcopal Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- leviation of suffering and want, and tiiany of his towns people were often gladened by his material bounty. ta?7/^ I'IFTEENTH PRESIDENT. I l| ^.;^t^.^.^igS't^ig^t^t^t^t^<^^^^t^-v- :' -''''^»'^ ': 5g|tj^'^':^ I J mi^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^:M££^^^^^^^^>^^^i^;!^^^ <«« ->-«■ > » » ■^mk- -*~* •-4- -»»^ AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- .teenth President of the United States, was born in a small frontier town, at the foot of the eastern ridge of the AUegha- nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on the 23d of April, 1791. The place where the humble cabin of his father stood was called Stony Batter. It was a wild and ro- mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- tains, with towering summits rising grandly all around. His father was a native of the north of Ireland ; a poor man, who had emigrated in I 1783, with little proi>erty save his own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- cluded home, where James was born, he remained for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual advantages. When James was eight years of age, his father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where his son was placed at school, and commenced a course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among the first scholars in the institution. His application to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with facility. In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with an exuberant flow of animal sinrits. He immediately commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- cessfully defended before the State Senate ore of the judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- crative practice. In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. Daring the vacations of Congress, he occasionally tried some important case. In 1 831, he retired altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- quired an ample fortune. Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The duties of his mission he performed with ability, which gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster. Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- ures proposed by President Jackson, of m.ilvng repri- 76 JAMES BUCHANAN. sals against France, to enforce the payment of our claims against that country; and defended the course of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale removal from office of those who were not the sup- porters of his administration. Upon this question he was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United States mails. As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- cated that they should be respectfully received; and that the reply should be returned, that Congress had no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with slavery under a foreign government as in any of the States where it now e.\ists." Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the account of the course our Government pursued in that movement. Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with the party devoted to 'the perpetuation and extension of slavery, and brouglit all the energies of his mind to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1850, which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with the mission to England. In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- tion nominated Mr. Buchanan forthe Presidency. The political conflict was one of the most severe in which our country has ever engaged. All the friends of slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- reived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 174, and was elected. The ix)pular vote stood 1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On March 4th. 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four vears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and ten. His own friends, those with whom he liad been allied in political principles and action for years, were seeking the destruction of the Government, that they might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in their assumptions. As President of the United States, bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws he could not, without perjury of tlie grossest kind, imite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- lic. He therefore did nothing. The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- trol of the Government were thus taken from their hands, they would secede from the Union, taking with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of the United Slates. Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery party was such, that he had been willing to offerthem far more than they had ventured to claim. All the South had professed to ask of the North was non- intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- operation of the Government to defend and extend the institution. As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He declared that Congress had no power to enforce its laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with his hand upon his sword-hilt, he exclaimed. " The Union must and shall be preserved!" South Carolina seceded in December, i860; nearly three months before the inauguration of President Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Fort Sumpter was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals were seized; our depots of military stores were plun- dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were appropriated by the rebels. The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looktd on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the scepter. The administration of President Buchanan was certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with pleasure. And still more de|)loral)le it is for his fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled Its billows of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came from his lips to indicate his wish that our countrv's banner should triumiih over the flag of the rebellion. He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. <^ ex'^^^D^^^-^T^ SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 79 i ABRAHAM > ^#^ J LINCOLN. > i^i^:^L,'it«a^,,J.U the the in 12, BRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth President of ►United States, was born Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 1809. About the year 1780, a man by the name of Abraham Lincohi left Virginia with his family and moved into the then wildsof Kentucky. Only two years after this emigration, still a young man, while working one day in a **' field, was stealthily approached by an Indian and shot dead. His widow was left in extreme poverty with five little children, three boys and two girls. Thomas, the youngest of the boys, was four years of age at his father's death. This Thomas was the father of Aliraham Lincoln, the President of the United States whose name must henceforth fo^^ever be enrolled with the most prominent in the annals of our world. Of course no record has been kept of the life of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among the ix)orest of the poor. His home was a wretched log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. Education he had none; he could never either read or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a laborer in the fields of others. When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. "All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. " When he was eight years of age, his father sold his cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where two years later his mother died. Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated community around him. He could not have had a better school than this to teach him to put thoughts into words. He also became an eager reader. The books he could obtain were few ; but these he read and re-read until they were almost committed to memory. As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- ried when a child of but fourteen years cW" age, and soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when he announced to his father his intention to leave home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of education, and was intensely earnest to improve his mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin which ardent spirits were causing, and became strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in God's word, " Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;" and a profane expression he was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a single vice. Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give great latisfacticn to his employers. In this adven- ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon his return tiiey placed a store and mill under his care. In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew JaCkson the appointmeiitof Postmaster of New Salem, His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he received he carried there ready to deliver to those he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon made this his business. In 1834 he again became a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back one hundred miles lo Vandaha, then the capital. In 1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. His success with the jury was so great that he was soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, in 1856, he* took an active i)art, and at once became one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most notable part of his history. The issue was on the slavery question, and he took the broad ground of ihe Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- test, but won a far higher prize. The great Republican Convention met at Chicago on the i6th of June, i86o. The delegates and strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- five thousand. An immense building called "The Wigwam," was reared lo accommodate the Conven- tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most orominent. It was generally supposed he would be the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: and as little did he dream that he was to render services to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of the whole civilized world, and which would give him a place in the affections of his countrymen, second only, if second, to that of Washington. Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, constitutionally elected President of the United States. The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was greater than upon any other man ever elected to this high position. In February, 186 1, Mr. Lincoln started for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his way making speeches. The whole journey was frought with much danger. Many of the Southern States had already seceded, and several attempts at assassination were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- more had arranged, upon his arrival lo" get up a row," and ill the confusion to make sure of his death with revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled the plot. A secret and special train was provided to take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an unexpected hour of the night. The train started at half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- cation on the part ot tlie Secessionists with their Con- federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other prominent opponents before the convention he gave important positions. During no other administration have the duties devolving upon the President been so manifold, and the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his trials, bo'h personal and national. Contrary to his own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the most courageous of men. He went directly into the rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It was announced that they would Le present. Gen. Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- ing, with his characteristic kindliness of heart, that it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth entered the box where the President and family were seated, and firtd a bullet into his brains. He died the next morning at seven o'clock. Never before, in the history of the world was a nation plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler. Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was in tears. His was a life which will fitly liecome a model. His name as tlie savior of his country "•i'll live with that of Washington's, ils father; hiso^':ntry- men being unable to decide wlii< h is tKp creaiet. ^K^-^^^^Z^OZ^yi^^ S£ i^ENTEENTH FREiiIDEi\ T. Sj NDREVV JOHNSON, seven- teenth President of the United States. The early life of Andrew Johnson contains but the record of poverty, destitu- tion and friendlessness. He was born December 29, 180S, in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, belonging to the class of the "poor whites " of the South, were in such circumstances, that they could not confer even the slight- est advantages of education ujwn their child. When Andrew was five years of age, his father accidentally lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew was a ragged boy about the streets, supjxjrted by the labor of his mother, who obtained her living with her own hands. He then, having never attended a school one day, and being unable either to read or write, was ap- prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often read from the speeches of distinguished British states- men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more than ordinary native ability, became much interested in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book, but assisted him in learning to combine the letters into words. Under such difficulties he pressed ou ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest and recreatio." to devote such time as he could to reading. He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at Greenville, where he married a young lady who pus sessed some education. Under her instructions he learned to write and cipher. He became prominent in the village debating society, and a favorite with the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- ganized a working man's party, which elected him alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which position he held three years. He now began to take a lively interest in political affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. He became a very active member of the legislature gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Tan Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thos,. of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired mucli readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased his reputation. In 1841, he was elected Stale Senator; in 1843, he was elected a member of Congress, and by successive elections, held that important post for ten years. In 1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and was re-elected in 1855. In all these resi)onsible posi- tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished ibil- 84 ANDREW JOHNSON. ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected United States Senator. Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, and become merged in a population congenial to themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- promise measures, the two essential features of which were, that the white people of the Territories should be permitted to decide for themselves whether they would enslave the colored people or not, and that the free States of the North should return to the South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. Mr. Johnson was neverashamedof his lowly origin: on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- ior was the son of a carpenter." In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i8i«j, ne was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- irn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided ■stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he established the most stringent military rule. His numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 1865, became President. In a speech two days later he said, " The American people must be taught, if they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and must be punished ; that the Government will not always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not only to protect, but to punish. * * The people must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole administration, the history of which is so well known, was in utter icKonsistency with, and the most violent opposition to. the principles laid down in that speech. In his loose policy of reconstruction and general amnesty, he was opposed by Congress; and he char- acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In the beginning of 1868, on account of " high crimes and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three months. A test article of the impeachment was at length submitted to the court for its action. It was certain that as the court voted upon that article so would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against him. The change of one vote from the not guilty side would have sustained the impeachment. The President, for the remainder of his term, was but little regarded. He continued, though impotentl;-, his conflict with Congress. His own party did not think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- alleled since the days of Washington, around the name of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- mortalize his nam.e, and to win the gratitude of a nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home in Gree«ville, Tenn., taking no very active part in politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the e.\-President made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- ing the residence of his child the following day, was stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, with every demonstration of respect ^><^^^::^ EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. LYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth President of the United States, was born on the 29th of April, 1822, of Christian parents, in a humble ^^-™:^; .%^?" home, at Point Pleasant, on the banks of the Ohio. Shortly after his father moved to George- town, Brown Co., O. In this re- mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses received a common-school edu- cation. At the age of seven- teen, in the year 1839, he entered the Military Academy at West Point. Here he was regarded as a solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank as a scholar. In June, T843, he graduated, about the middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating Indians. The war with Me.\ico came. Lieut. Grant was sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that he performed a signal service of daring and skillful horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one side of the anin>al, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. From Monterey he was sent,with the fourth infantry, to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- pultepec. At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- turned with his regiment to New York, and was again sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The discovery of gold in California causing an immense tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. Grant resigned his commission and returned to the States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- tion of a small fanii near St. Louis, Mo. He had but little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though I have served him through one war, I do not feel that I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword and see Uncle Sam through this war too." He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, the capital of the State, where their services were offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Cai>t. Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the volunteer organization that was being formed in the State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th of 88 Ul J:S S. G.I A XT. June, (86i, Capt. Grant received a couKui.sion as Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- unteers. Hij merits as a West Point graduate, who had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- General and was placed in command at Cairo. The rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and stripes were unfurled in its stead. , He entered the service with great determination and immediately began active duty. This was the be- ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was immediately made a Major-General, and the military Jistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him. Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well how to secure the results of victory. He immediately pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. Gen. Grant was ne.xt ordered to co-operate with Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels were routed with great loss. This won for him un- bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials and enter upon tb'' duties of his new office. Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took, cha'rgt of the army to concentrate tiie widel) -dispersed National troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- sembled from all quarte;s for its defence. The whole continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains were burdened with closely packed thousands. His plans were comprehensive and involved a series of campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- render of Lee, April 9, 1865. The war was ended. The Union was saved. The almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered the country brought him conspicuously forward as the Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. May 2 1, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the Presidency, and at the autumn election received a majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 electoral votes. The National Convention of the Republican party which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 electoral votes being cast for him. Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant started upon his famous trip around the world. He visited almost every country of the civilized world, and was everywhere received with such ovations and demonstrations of respect and honor, private as well as public and official, as were never before bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. He was the most prominent candidate before the Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- nomination for President. He went to New York and embarked in the brokerage business under the firm nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to the penitentiary. The Geii^ral was attacked with cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as General of the Army and retired by Congress. The cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of the illustrious General. v) c-^U.-.^iL- o-A? NINETEENTH PRESIDKNI. 9« 'ig^'^'^'^'^'^'ga'^'S&t,;'.r.;jii.;,u;;;i.;.;.>,v^;^ig~7;^.JtV UTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nineteenth President of the United States, was born in Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- most three months after the death of his father, Rutherford Hayes. His ancestry on both the paternal and maternal sides, was of the most honorable char- acter. It can be traced, it is said, as far back as 1280, when Hayes and Rutherford were two Scottish chief- tains, fighting side by side with Baliol, William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Both families belonged to the nobility, owned extensive estates, and had a large following. Misfor- tane ovfcnaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- land in i6iSo, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son George was; born in Windsor, and remained there during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- riage until hJs death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, ?on of Ezekiel aud grandfather of President Hayes, was born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to Vermont at an uiiknown date, settling in Brattleboro, where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- grated thither from Connecticut, they having been among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The father of President Hayes was an industrious frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to undertake. He was a member of the Church, active in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- ducted his business on Christian principles. After the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day. when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived in 1 817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial fever, less than three months before the birth of the son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- reavement, found the support she so much needed in her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the household from the day of its departure from Ver- mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted some time before as an act of charity. Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the RUTHhUFORD B. HAVES: subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he was not expected to live beyond a month or two at most. As the months went by he grew weaker and weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of him, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't wonder if he would really come to something yet." " You reed not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him President of the United States yet." The boy lived, in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. The boy was seven years old before he w-^nt to school. His education, however, was not neglected. He probably learned as much from his mother and fister as he would have done at school. His sports were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being his sister and her associates. These circumstances tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings of others, which are marked traits of his character. His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- proved, and he was making good progress in his studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- paration commenced with a tutor at home; b.it he was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen, and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. Immediately after his graduation he began the study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- mained two years. In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- fession. In 1849 he iiidved to Cincmnati, where his ambi- tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its members suck men as'^hief Justice Salmon P. Chase, Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many others hardly less distinguished in after life. The marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did more than she to reflect honor upon American woman hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into constant association with young men of high char- acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and modesty. In 1S56 he was nominated to the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- cept the nomination. Two years later, the office of city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council elected hinr for the unexpired term. In i86i, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at the zenith of his professional 'if.. His rank at the bar was among the the first. But the news of the attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take -id arms for the defense of his countr}'. His military record was bright and illustrious. In October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle of South Mountain he received a wound, and while faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude that won admiration from all. Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after his recover)', to act as Brigadier-General, and placed in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted Major-General, "forgallant and distinguished Fcrvices during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In the course of his arduous services, four horses were shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, and after his election was importuned to resign his commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I shall never come to Washington until I can come by the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1S66. In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, over Hon. Allen G. Thunnan, a popular Democrat. In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton^ He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a hard long contest was chosen President, and was in augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his full term, not, hcwever, with satisfaction to his party, but his administration was an average op.'* TiVENTIETH PRESIDENT. 95 ... ^ ^'i? AMES A. GARFIELD, twen- tieth President of the United States, was born Nov. 19, 1831, in the woods of Orange, Cuyahoga Co., O His par- ents were Abram and Ehza (Ballou) Garfield, both of New England ancestry and from fami- lies well known in the early his- tory of that section of our coun- try, but had moved to the Western Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- ment. The house in which James A. was born was not unlike the houses of j poor Ohio farmers of that day. It *as about 20 x 30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a .iard working farmer, and he soon had his fields cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. The household comprised the father and mother and .:heir four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 'ames. In May, i823j the father, from a cold con- .racted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At ihis time James was about eighteen months old, and Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can (ell how much James was indebted to his brother's rcil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- itrs live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. Tlie early educational advantages young Garfield enjoyed were very limited, yet he -made the most of them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed mother in he' ^ttnggles to keep the little family to- gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, modest gentleman. The highest ambition of young Garfield until \\t was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the understanding, however, that he should try to obtain some other kind of employment. He walked all the way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city After making many applications for work, and trying to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- mained at this work but a short time when he wen"^ home, and attended the seminary at Chester for about three years, when he entered Hiram and the Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in the meantime, and doing other work. This school was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of which churcli he was then a member. He became janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon " exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which he graduated in 1856, taking one of the liighest hon- ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram College as its President. As above stated, he early united with the Christian or Diciples Church at Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : O- 9« /AMES A. GARFIELD. " President Garfield was more than a man of strong moral and religious convictions. His whole history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In :ny JLidgmenc there is no more interesting feature of his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to the less stately and cultured Christian communions in which they have been reared. Too often it is true that as they step upward in social and political sig- nificance they step upward from one degree to another in some of the many types of fashionable Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the :;hurch of his mother, the church in which he was trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- tarian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. ii, 1858, who proved herself worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and mourned. To them were born seven children, five of whom are still living, four boys and one girl. Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, ;n Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- ceived his commission as Lieut. -Colonel of the Forty- second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Lifantry, Aug. 14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, was placed in command of four regiments of infantry and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the work of driving out of his native State the officer (Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years before, so now he was the youngest General in the army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, in itsoperations around Corinth and its march through Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." The military bJstory of Gen. Garfield closed with his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won the stars of the Major-General. Without an effort on his part Geu Garfield waf elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio had been represented in Congress for si.xty years mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- tered Congress he was the youngest member in that body. Thersj he remained by successive re- elections until he was elected President in 1880. Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since the year 1864 you cannot think of a question whicii has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a tribunel of the American people, in regard to whicfc you will not find, if you wish mstruction, the argu- ment on one side stated, in almost every instance better than by anybody else, in some speech made in the House of Representatives or on the hustings by Mr. Garfield." Ujxin Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the same year, was nominated as the candidate of his party for President at the great Chicago Convention. He was elected in the following November, and on March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- ministration ever opened its existence under brighter auspices than that of President Garfield, and every day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- liminary work of his administration and was prepar- ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. The President tottered and fell, and as he -did so the assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was " the shot that was heard round the world " Never before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty days, all during the hot months of July and August, he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent bearing was teaching the country and the world the noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank of the ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The world wept at his death, as it never had done on the death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- cuted, in one year after he committed the foui deed. TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT. 99 HESTER A. ARTHUR, twenty-first PresH^iu of the United States, was born in Franklin Cour ty, Vermont, on thefifthof Odober, 1830, and is the oldest of a family of two sons and five daughters. His father was the Rev. Dr. William Arthur, aBaptisld'.rgyman, who emigrated to tb.s countr)' from the county Antrim, Ireland, in \\\ his 1 8th year, and died in 1875, in Newtonville, neai Albany, after a long and successful ministry- Young Arthur was educated at Union College, S( henectady, where he excelled in all his studies. Af- ter his graduation he taught school in Vermont for two years, and at the expiration cf that time came to New York, with $500 in his pocket, and entered the office of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as student. After I being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing m the West, and for three months they roamed about in the Western States in search of an eligible site, but in the end returned to New York, where they hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- ful career almost from the start. General Arthur soon afterward raajrpd the daughter of Lieutenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at sea- Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's nonunation to the Vice Presidency, leaving two children. Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior Court of New York City. It was in 185a that Jon-i athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided that they could not be held by the owner under the Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed to represent the People, and they won their case, which then went to the Supreme Court of the United States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward the emancipation of the black race. Another great service was rendered by General Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride on their cars, and the other car companies quickly CHESTER A. ARTHUR. followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer- in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered great service to the Government during the war. At the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if not indeed one of national extent. He always took a leading part in State and city politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 20, 1 87 8, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous National Republican Convention held at Chicago in June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political convention that ever assembled on the continent. It was composed of the Jeading politicians of the Re- publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their respective candidates that were before the conven- tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur for Vice-President. The campaign which followed was one of the most animated known in the history of our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his party made a valiant fight for his election. Finally the election came and the country's choice >vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then came terrible weeks of suffering, — those moments of anxious suspense, when the hearts of all civilized na- tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- able patience that he manifested during those hours and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- fering man has often been called upon to endure, was seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr, Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his credit that his every action displayed only an earnest desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested in deed or look of this man, even though the most honored position in the world was at any moment likely to fall to him. At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- field from further suffering, and the world, as never before in its history over the death of any other man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of the high office, and he took the oath in New York. Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been greatly neglected during the President's long illness, and many important measures were to be immediately decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he did not fail to realize under what circumstances he became President, and knew the feelings of many on this point. Under these trying circumstances President Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of aff'airs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so wisely that but few criticised his administration. He served the nation well and faithfully, until the close of his administration, March 4, t885, and was a popular candidate before his party for a second term. His name was ably presented before the con- vention at Chicago, and was received with great favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity of one of the opposing candidates, he would have been selected as the standard-bearer of his party for another campaign. He retired to private life car- rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory to them and with credit to himself. /a-tJ^t^/" CZ-C^o-C^dyiy^A^ TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. »03 >7M^ xuntx ffte^^efamd. V{ T Ik •V"<^is ^ - ooo TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- LAND, the twenty- second Pres- ident of the United States, was born in 1837, in the obscure town of Caldwell, Essex Co., N. J., and in a little two-and-a- half-story white house which is still standing, characteristically to mark the humble birth-place of one of America's great men in striking con- trast with the Old World, where all men high in office must be high in origin and born in the cradle of wealth. When the subject of this sketch was three years of age, his father, who was a Presbyterian min- ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most straggling of country villages, about five miles from Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. At the last mentioned place young Grover com- menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned way," and presumably distinguished himself after the manner of all village boys, in doing the things he ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the capacity of the village school and expressed a most emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this his father decidedly objected. Academies in those days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to become self-supporting by the quickest possible means, and this at that time in Fayetteyille seemed to be a position in a country store, where his father and the large family on his hands had considerable influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services the first year, and if he [)roved trustworthy he was to receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- menced his career as salesman, and in two years he had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness that his employers desired to retain him for an in- definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- ville, he went with the family in their removal to Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a high school. Here he industriously pursued his studies until the family removed with him to a point on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two years, and although he obtained a good reputation in this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 104 5. GROVE R CLEVhLAA'D. calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as there was some charm in that name for him; but before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to isk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not speak enthusiastically. "What is it you want to do, my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study law," was the reply, "Good gracious!" remarked ihe old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put that into your head? How much money have you got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got II any. After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a year, while he could " look around." One day soon afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Ihem what he wanted. A number of young men were already en- gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for his board and washing. The walk to and from his uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although the first winter was a memorably severe one, his shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had none-— yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. On the first day of his service here, his senior em- ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's where they all begin." A titter ran around the little circle of clerks and students, as they thought that was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; Dut in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for chasing principles through all their metaphysical possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do ;t," was practically his motto. The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two ciminals. Li iSSi he was elected Mayor of the City of Buffalo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms in the administration of the municipal affairs of that city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his performance of duty has generally been considered fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- reted out and magnified during the last Presidential campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for plain speech, and my objection to your action shall be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of a mos' bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme to betray the interests of the people and to worse than squander the people's money." The New York Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, and his administration of the affairs of State was generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if any, were made very public throughout the nation after he was nominated for President of the United States. For this high office he was nominated July ri, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he was elected by the people, by a majority of about a thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- land resigned his office as Governor of New York in January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as the Chief Executive of the United States,' in which capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of Mississippi ; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of Arkansas. The silver question precipitated a controversy be- tween those who were in favor of the continuance of silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his inauguration. ^~*«^~^ «sf #^ Cl/^^ ^2^'7-v-^A'-i-<5''t^^-2^i' TWENTY-THIRD PRESIDENT. 107 nja33^in ^-w^^i^Qno f>^ -o^o-g^^x^.. iENJAMIN HARRISON, the 'uwenty-third President, is the descendant of one of the histoiical families of this country. The head of the family was a Major General Harrison, one of Oliver Cromwell's trusted follow- ers and fighters. In the zenith of Croui- ■well's power it became the duty of this Harrison to participate in the trial of Charles I. and afterward to sign the death warrant of the king. He subse- quently paid for this wilii his life, being hung Oct. 13, IGGO. His descendants came to America, and the next of the family that appears in history is Konja- r.:in Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, and after whom he was narfied. Benjamin Harrison was a member of the Continental Congress during the years i774-5-G, and was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was three times elected Governor of Virginia. Gen "William Henry Harrison, the son of the distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a-€uo- cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- western Territory, was elected President of the United States in 1840. His career was cut short by death within one month after Iiis inauguration. President Harrison was born at North Bend, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. .^0, 1833. His life up to the time of his graduation by the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- try lad of a family of small means. His father was able to give Lira a good education, and notbmg more. He became engaged while at college to tha daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- ter upon the study of the law. He went to Cin cinnati and then read law for two years. At tht expiration of that time young Harrison received tb"; only inheritance of his life ; his aunt dying left hia a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as t fortune, and decided to get married at once, ^^^ SHE HON. DAVID BUT- LER. Closely connected with the early history and the development of Nebraska and associated with it at perhaps the most critical period of its his- tory, the gentleman whose biogra- phy is hero sketched must ever be remembered by the citizens of the State in that association. Chosen by an overwhelming majority in l.sGG to be the first to occupy' the Governor's chair under the new organization ; re-elected with en- thusiasm to the same office in 18G8, and 3'et again honored bj' the confidence of the people in 1 870, he has done perhaps as much as anj' one individual in safely launching the "Ship of State," Nebraska, upon her unparalleled voyage of ever-growing success. Gov. Butler was born in Greene County, Ind., near the town of Linton, Dec. 15, 1829. He is the eldest son of ten children, of whom six survive. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Butler, was a native of Virginia, and removed to Indiana and became one of the earliest pioneers of that Ter- ritory. As the country developed he was promi- nentl}' identifli'd with the various enterprises that helped to that end, and enjoj-ed the greatest confi- dence and respect of all who knew him. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Robinson. The father of our subject was born in the j^ear 1809, was reared upon the pioneer farm of his father, and grew up amid surroundings that would to-day be anything but congenial b^^ reason of the primitive condition. He became an enterprising and prosperous farmer, and also dealt very exten- sively in cattle. He became the husband of Nancy Cliristy, the daughter of Joseph Christy, Esq. Like her father, she was born in North Carolina. The early life and boj'hood of our subject were spent amid agricultural surroundings, and such education as he obtained was received first in a private school, where he was prepared for the pub- lic institution, in both of which he made rapid prog- ress, and drank as deeply as was permitted at the fountain of knowledge. He remained upon the farm until ho was twenty-one years of age, but long before attaining his majority was a thorough, prac- tical farmer, and understood all that was necessary in regard to the management of stock. lu his youth he had given promise of powers and intelli- gence, and though tliej' Lay dormant for nianj^ years, were bound to make themsolvcs known and felt, as had been the case of the Virginian pioneer in In- to whom reference was made above. Upon attaining his majority Mr. Butler began farming on his own account, supplementing the same by trading in cattle, which he drove through to Wisconsin, where they were at a premium, ow- ing to the fact that the country was just being opened up for settlement. He continued tlius engaged until the j'ear 1852, when he embarked in mercantile pursuits, retaining, however, his interest in his cattle trade. These engagements, although somewhat diverse, were not incompatible, and in them he was quite prosperous until the financial 112 DAVID BUTLER. crash of 1857. He was a heavy loser at that time in the f.aihire of the Citizens' Bank .it Gosport, Ind., and also tlirungli tlie inal)ility of many of his creditors to meet their payments from a like cause. He, however, strujiglecl manfully against the relentless tide of difficulty that threatened utter ruin, and finally succeeded in paying dollar for dollar of every liability, witli interest due. Mr. Butler in early j'oulh took an unusual interest in political questions, and proved that he ]>ossessed a grasp of mind and independence of cliaracler by forsaking the Democratic traditi(Mis of his father's house, and casting his first vote for the Republican party at its birtli. In 1856 he was nominated by the Republicans of the Twentieth District in Indiana for the .State Senate. Not having had any [loliti- cal experience, and the ojjpositiou springing a third candidate, he was [lersuaded to withdraw before the election, not, however, without having made a spirited canvass, though a partial one. In the fall of 1851) Mr. Butler removed to Paw- nee City, Neb., and there associated himself with the Hon. W. B. Raper, and witii that gentleman embarked again in business; but even here he re- tained his interest in the cattle trade, and was very shortly gralilied to see his earnest efforts rewardecl, and to be able to fill a laiger place than had been possible before his trials in 1857. This partp.ersliip l.asted until 1801, when Mr. Butler was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature. In 1863 Mr. Butler was elected .State Senator for a term of two years, representing the First District, which comprised the counties of Richardson, Paw- nee, Johnson, Gage, Cla}', Jefferson, and all the un- organized territory lying to the westward. Both in the House and Senate Mr. Butler made his mark, and did good service for his constituents and the .State, and it was as a result of the abilitj' then manifested and recognized, the personal worth and higli character sustained by iiini, that he was nominated and by a large majority vote passed by the hand of the people to the highest chair of office within the gift of the people. Among the services rendered the State by Mr. Butler while in the Legislature may be mentioned the introduction of a bill for the reapportioning of Nebraska, the passage of which he worked very hard to procure, but in Legislative halls as in every other the green-e^'ed monster of jealousy is bound to find admittance. It was so in this case, and to this was due the failure of our subject in spite of his hard work; but upon renewhig the fight in the Senate he was successful, and the bill went through intact. As above noted Mr. Butler was elected Gover- nor in 1866 of the newly admitted State, and dur- ing his term of office managed the affairs of State so wisely and so well as to receive at both the two subsequent elections the expression of a grateful people by re-election to the same high office. AVhile serving hisseeond term as Governor, the Legislature committed to his care the delicate and laborious work of removing the cai)ital from the city of Omaha to a central position in the interior of the State, a part of Nebraska then almost uninhabited. This was successfully accomplished, and a State House, State University and Lunatic Asylum erected with- out the aid of legislative appropriations. The city of Lincoln with its public buildings is a monu- ment of Gov. Butler's financial sagacitj' in the man- agement of affairs of Stale. After retiring from the Governorship Mr. Butler returned to and continued mercantile life, prosecut- ing the interest connected therewith even more extensively than before. He continued to make Pawnee City his headquarters until lisG8, when he removed to Lincoln, the capital, residing there un- til 1874, when he located upon his present farm three miles west of Pawnee City. This beautiful property, which is known as the Uplands Stock Farm, comprises 320 acres, which is supplied with admirably arranged and substantially con- structed buildings, such as would be needed for his purpose. Besides dealing in cattle, he raises and feeds quite •■ large number annually, while every winter considerable attention is paid to the fattening of cattle for the market. At one time he was a breeder of .Short-horn cattle, and his farm was well stocked with thoroughbreds of the most favored breeds of both cattle and hogs. The marriage of Mr. Butler vvas celebrated in January 1860, when he was united with Miss Lydia .Storey, of Bloomington, Ind. The family circle of Gov. Butler com[)rises four children, who bear the names subjoined: Violet E., Seth D., Darias and Paul. At all times our subject h.as taken a most active Interest in the political and general interests of Nebraska, and h.as been unfail- ing in his efforts to advance the same. On the 4th of September, 1888, he was nominated for Governor on the Union Labor ticket as their standard bearer, and stumpeil the State in behalf of the movement. He is a pioniinent member of the I. O. O. F., and is affiliated with Interior Lodge No. 9, at Pawnee City. Gov. Butler is a man of much reserve force, bright, clear intellect, possessing in no small measure the power that is indispensable in directing and managing enter- prises of magnitude. He is at all times a true gen- tleman, strong in friendship, ever genial, affable and courteous, both winning and retaining the ad- miration, respect and friendship of kis fellows. ^mM- \Anrv\cij, ■^x? -*^!(OBERT W, FURNAS.i^ fON. ROBERT WILKIN- SON FURNAS was the second gentleman to re- ceive from the peoiile of the State the high honor of being elected Gover- nor. He was chosen to fill this po- '^f^^f sition in tlie year 1873, and retired ®^^i§^3i? ^^ t,he close of his term, having earned the good-will, respect and admiration of the whole people by reason of his excellent administra- tion. He was born in Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, on the 5th of May, 1 824. His parents were natives of South Carolina, in which State also the grandfather had been born. His great-granilfather was a member of a good old English family, and was born at Stand- ing Stone, in tlie county of Cumberland, England. He was brought up and educated in his native place, and when a 3'oung man was there married, and then started with his wife for the New World. They landed in South Carolina about the year 17G2. Thomas Furnas, the third child of Jolin and Mary Furnas, was born in 1768, six years after the settle- ment of his parents in America, as above noted. William Furnas was the 6fth child and only son of Thomas and Esther Furnas. The chosen occupa- tion of this interesting family for several genera- tions has been that of farming. The chief institu- tion, at that time, of the South, in connection with all labor, especially field work, was that of slaver^', and the members of the early generations of this family were most conscientious members of the Quaker Church, which looked upon it as an abomi- nation. This was the occasion finally of their re- moval to Ohio, which they did in 1804, settling in the Miami Valley. It was in the home tliere estab- lished that the subject of this sketch was born. He is the eldest of a family of three ciiildren, and the only one now living. His twin brother died in in- fancy, and his younger sister at the age of fifteen. In 1832 the parents of our subject were stricken down by the ravages of tiiat dreaded plague, the cholera, which swept over tiie country at that time, taking in its course, old and j'oung, rich and poor, without distinction. In this tr3'ingtime the natural guardians of the life of our subject, the directors of his footsteps, the instructors of his life, were re- moved, and lie was left to struggle and battle in tiie conflict of life unaided by them. Then, when the clouds seemed darkest and thickest, his grand- father stepped forward in order to supplj', at least in sonic measure, the place thus left vacant, and with him he remained until he reached his seven- teenth 3'ear, working on the farm during the sum- mer, and during the winter attending .school. He seized every opportunit}' afforded for the increase of knowledge, and has ever continued to add to his store, and his reputation is that of a well-read, thoroughly educated gentleman. As soon as our subject attained the above-men- tioned age, he went to Covington, Kj'., and there served an apprenticeship to the printing business, in the office of the Lkkiiuj Valley Register, published by Richard C. Laijgdon. It was at that time one 116 ROBERT WILKINSON FURNAS. of the most noted newspapers, and its editor, one of the first newspaper men in the "West or South. Young Furnas remained in this office until 1843, and acquired a large store of practical knowledge of ti-ade, general business, and life, as well as con- siderable information upon all ordinary topics, be- sides the specific attainment desired in the knowl- edge of the business. The benefit of this schooling is perhaps clearly traceable even in tiie present, and the ini mediate past. Leaving Covington lie pro- ceeded to Cincinnati, opened a book and job office, and continued in the printing business at that place for two years with good success. Near the close of tliat time, and in the year 1845, our subject was united in marriage with Mary S. McComas, a native of Ohio, and a most excellent lady, one who has the power and ability to assist him in life, and fitted to grace any position in so- ciety', liowever high. There have been born of this union five children. One of the first public engagements entered into by our subject when he became a voter was when, in company with several other young men, he felt the necessity of education as the means necessary to power in this life in any of its relations. They bound tliemselves to advocate the building of the school-house in Troy, and a lot was reserved for that purpose. Older citizens, perhaps not so welt alive to the progressive spirit of the age, thought it unnecessary, and threw in the way a tliousand ob- jections. The young men were defeated at the poles the first year, but nothing daunted continued the contest, and the next year carried their point by a small majoritj', with the i-esult that a $17,000 school-house was erected, and has stood a monu- ment to the enterprise and foresight of these young men. Upon the success of tlfe above undertaking, Mr. Furnas was elected one of the School Directors, which he continued to be until his removal to Ne- braska, when he resigned. Our subject was only twentj'-three years of age when he became proprietor of the Troy Times, an organ of the Whig party, of which also he was the editor and publisher, and by his trenchant articles did much service in the Taylor campaign. In 1 852 he sold this paper, and was engaged first as Freight and Ticket Agent, afterward as conductor for the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, continuing until 1 856. In March of that year he emigrated to this State, established himself at Brownville, and in July of the same year established the Brownville Advertiser, and entered the arena of political life. He became a very zealous advocate of the agricultural and edu- cational interests of the State, and in the fall of that year was elected to the Territorial Legislature. Here the masterly qualities that have since distin- guished him before the State were made manifest. During his term of ofl3ce, as noted in the foregoing paragraph, our subject originated the school system of the Territory, which was modeled in its general features after the system of Ohio. In the year 1 858 he was re-elected and again took his seat in the Legislature. In 1861 he was elected Chief Clerk, and early in the spring was commissioned Colonel in the United States Regular Army, and received orders from the Secretary' of War to organize the loyal Indians and have them mustered into the serv- ice. He was successful in his mission and raised three regiments. These were fully equii)ped, and Col. Furnas commanded them in the Southern ex- pedition under Gen. Blunt, which took in the bor- ders of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Territory. Resigning his commission after having done splendid work with his command, he returned and went to work to recruit, and established the 2d Nebraska Cavalry, and added fresh glories to the already brilliant record of military achieve- ment. With this command he served under Gen. Sully in the now renowned "Sully expedition" against the Sioux Indians, wherein they were pursued to British Columbia. The next four years our subject was emplo3'ed as Indian Agent for the Omaha and Winnebago Indians, which he resigned to take his place at the helm of the State as already recorded. Among the nianjr honors worn so gracefull}-, and in such manly spirit, are: Regent of the State University, Presi- dent of the State Board of Agriculture, President, of the State Agricultural Society, President of the State Soldiers' Union, Vice President of the National Pomological Association, Past Grand Master of the I. O. O. F., Past Grand High Priest, and Past Grand Commander of the Masonic bodies of the State of Nebraska. uiZd ^a^T^^iu^y- Upillillll -V*). ..o*o-@XiQ..o*o. Sfe-^!- f'lLAS GARBER. This dis tinguished and well-known cit- izen of Nebraska served the State most acceptably as its Governor for the two terms, from 1874 to 1878. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1833. There he passed his boyhood days, attending the common schools and developing into a sturdy and promising young man. At the early age of seven- teen years he was determined to strike out for himself and see what he could do toward making his own living. He was ambitious, yet we very much doubt whether the beard- less 3'oung man who turned his face AVestward in 1850 ever had the remotest idea that he would himself some day be at the head of a great com- monwealth, that would be created still further toward the setting sun. At that time he came into Iowa, which was receiving such Hoods of emigrants from the older settled States. He located in Clay- ton County and engaged in agricultural pursuits, the occupation which has done so much toward de- veloping some of the best men our Nation has produced. His life for some years was uneventful, j'et he was being disciplined and prepared for the honorable and useful positions he was to fill in after years. He took an active interest in all pub- lic matters, and w.as a well-informed, hard-working young man. When the stars and stripes which had so long floated above Ft. Sumter were fired upon and the little garrison compelled to surrender, the patriot- ism of the North was aroused as never before in the history of the country. Thousands of the best rnen of the Nation immediately volunteered their services to aid in suppressing the monstrous rebell- ion, which had replaced the American banner with the stars and bars. Among this vast army of pa- triotic men might have been found Silas Garber. He was mustered into the 3d Missouri Infantry, which was known as the famous Lyon Regiment. He served with this regiment for one year, when he was mustered out and returned to Clayton Countj'. He, however, did not long remain in the quiet of that peaceful section, for we soon again find him at the front. Now he is First Lieutenant of Company D, 27th Iowa Infantrj-, which he raised. His valiant services soon received recogni- tion, and he was promoted to be Captain of the company, which position he faithfully and al)Iy filled until the close of the war. He participated in all the battles of the Red River campaign, and 120 SILAS GARBER. Pleasant Hill., La., the battles of Old Oaks, Miss., Nashville, Tenn., and others under the command of Gen. A. J. Smith. Upon being mustered out of military service Capt. Garber returned to Clayton County, but soon thereafter went to California, where he passed the next four years. He came to Nebraska in the early part of 1870, and found a suitable location in Web- sle*County, where he still resides, being the oldest resident in Red Cloud. He was indeed a pioneer of the Great West, for when he located in Webster County there were but two settlers in the county. Upon locating in Red Cloud and ever since Mr. Garber has taken a most important part in both her business and political affairs. He engaged in farming and merchandising, and is to-day Presi- dent of the Farmers' & Merchants' Banking Com- pany of that city, and also largely identified with its material interests. He was chosen the first Probate Judge of the county, and also represented his district in the Legislature, and served for one year as Register of the United States Land Office at Lincoln. Capt. Garber became popular both with the peo pie and tiie politicians, and was nominated for Governor by the Republican Convention, which assembled at Lincoln Sept. 3, 1874, and was elected by a handsome majority. He served so acceptably that he was renominated by the convention which met Sept. 26, 1876. He was again endorsed at the polls in November, and served until the close of his term in 1878. He then retired to his home at Red Cloud, where he has since resided, a highly- respected and useful citizen. ^^* CyT<4Lo(^CH^^ cyr-^u<>e^ ?-v«iZ££;lSi3«Qj^i^:^d:^ ocx> > .O*0-;C2^/V'S)"°*°" AMES W. DAWES. Tliis gentle- '3: man was elected Governor in the flivw year 1883, and such was his of- ficial deportment lliat he was renominated with enUuisiasm, and re-elected by an apprecia- tive people. He continued to occupy his high position in the service of the State until the year 1887, and during the time gave every evidence that tlie confidence of those who had elected him in his honor, man- hood and ability, was indeed well founded. He was the fifth Governor of the State. Gov. Dawes was born at McConnelsville, Morgan Co., Ohio, on the 8th of January, 1845. He went with his parents when they removed to Wisconsin in 1856. The rudiments and foundation work of his education were received in Ohio, but in the Wiscon- sin schools the major i)art of the work was done, and from them our subject was graduated with a good practical English education, such as would serve in the daily affairs of life. As he advanced in years and was capable of doing more service upon the farm, he attended school only in the winters, devoting the summers to husbandry. In October, 18C4, he was engaged in clerking for G. J. Hansen & Co., who were engaged as general merchants at Kilbourn City, Wis., where he continued until October, 1868, and in these four j^ears gained invaluable experience of men and business, adding materially to his store of information, and, unknown to himself, but none the less really, preparing for days of larger oppor- tunity and more important engagements. The next employment taken up by our subject was that of the study of law, which he began and carried on with his cousin, Julius H. Dawes, Esq., of Fox Lake, Wis., a prominent and successful lawyer. Here our subject devoted everj' atten- tion, and became a careful, persevering and diligent student, so much so that his examination, which de- termined his admission to the bar, was unusually brilliant, and he was accordingly admitted with congratulations upon the 10th of January, 1871, and began the practice of his chosen profession, which, from its being eminently congenial and pe- culiarly well adapted to one of his ability and mental cast, was that in which success in life was more completely assured hiui. Not long after the admission of our subject to the bar another, and if anything more important, event occurred. It was that of his marriage. In- stances are far too common where an error of judg- ment or a misplaced confidence at such time has been fraught with disastrous results to both con- tracting parties; results all the more serious because of the nature and faults of the contract. It was the 128 JAMES W. DAWKS. happiness of Mr. Dawes and the lady of his choice to be mutually compatible in disposition, tastes, desires, and in fact all the varied points where dif- ference of sentiment would in all probability lead, sooner or later, to a breach of confidence or worse. This union, therefore, has brought a more complete happiness, a more perfect felicity, into both lives, and has made the home all that could be desired. This interesting event occurred at Fox Lake, and was celebrated on the 1 1th of Ma3', 1871. Our subject located in Crete, of this State, on the olli uf September, 1871, with the intention of engaging for a time in mercantile pursuits. For some years he continued in this line of business with an ever-growing success and enlarging patron- age. In March of 1877 he transferred his energies from commercial pursuits to the legal profession, opening a law office at Crete, and has .since been one of the leading lights of the Nebraska bar. He became a member of the Nebraska Constitutional Convention of 1875, and the following 3-ear was elected State Senator. During his term of office he won from all golden opinions of his ability and power, and his sojourn in Senatorial halls was, if an^'thing, more pleasant than usual, owing to his genial, affable and courteous manner, which won and retained many much valued friendships, and which was the means of affording him larger oppor- tunities than might have otherwise been possible. His record in this connection is upon the books of the session, and is well known, and does not there- fore call for detailed mention in such a writing as the present; suffice it here to remark that it was such as to ultimatelj- lead to his election to the highest official chair in the State.. From Maj-, 1876, to September, 1882, inclusive, the subject of this sketch continued to hold the po- sition as Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee of Nebraska. The long continuance and the number of consecutive terms embraced within the above dates speak more clearly and emphaticallj' his ability and power than anything that might be said in addition. Mr. Dawes was further honored by being elected delegate to the Republican Na- tional Convention at Chicago, in June of 1880. This it will be remembered was the convention that nominated the noble, but ill-fated. James A. Gar- field. The delegation of which he was a member at this time unanimously named him as a member of the National Republican Committee for Nebraska for a term of four years, which it nas his privilege to serve with e\evy satisfaction to all parties con- cerned for that period. Few men ever felt more the need of education for a jieople who governed themselves than Gov. Dawes. The absolute necessity of universal educa- tion, wide in scope, complete in curiiculuin, ex- haustive in detail, practical in its aim and general utilit}', was evident to him, and he was therefore deeply interested in educational matters, and his sympathies were alwa3-s assured for matters con- nected therewith. He has served in several offices connected with this department, the most important, perhaps, being those of Trustee and Secretary of the Doane College, which is situated at Crete. The duties of these offices have engaged his attention since the ye.ar 1875. The crowning glory of the official life and public service of the subject of our sketch was that which identified him with the chief office of the State. In the year 1882 he was nominated by the Republican party for Governor. His life was well known, his character thoroughly understood, his past services remembered and appreciated, and accordingly he was received with much favor, and elected amid the plaudits of the whole people. He entered upon the duties of his high office in January, 1883, continu- ing to discharge the same throughout the usual pe- riod of two years. At the expiration thereof he was again nominated bj* his party and re-elected by the people, and for a second term continued to discharge his duties as before. Is an}' further proof of his ability, honor, manhood and faithful- ness demanded.' Can any mere verbose compli- mentary eulogium express as much as this, especially when it is reinforced b^' all the accompanjing marks of confidence and regard of the people.' Gov. Dawes will long be remembered, having won a warm place in the hearts and memories of the people, together with his most excellent administration of affairs, which from first to last materially assisted the onward march and development of Nebraska as a State, aVid aided in placing her among the very first of all States of the greatest Republi-c the world has ever known. ^^^ ^ xTQHM M. JTHA YEXR. :f sip ^ssii>^ JOHN M. THAYER. This distinguished gentle- man, whom Nebraska de- lighted to honor b}' the gift of the highest office in its power to bestow, was elected thereto by an overwhelming majority in the autumn of 1886, and bj' his wise administration of afifaiis, his excellent executive ability, has since fully justifled this enthusiastic choice. The place of the nativity of our subject is Bellingham, Norfolk Co., Mass. ; he is the son of Elias and Ruth (Staples) Thayer. The chosen occupation of the father was farming, and in the physical and moral healthful environment of pasto- ral life our suljject was brought up. The smallest part of man is the physical, that can be weighed avoirdupois and measured with a tape line; a far greater and nobler is that of stamp di- vine — the mind, which is the true "standard of the man.'' Having in mind the importance of proper instruction, in order to the proper use of this most wonderful instrument, our subject, after the usual preparator}' instruction, attended the classes at Brown University, from which institution he was graduated in 1S47. The law was the chosen profession of our subject, and at It he worked assiduously un- til the year 1854, still continuing a resident of his native State, and at that time he removed to the State of Nebraska. Omaha, then a rising 3'oung town, with a ne'vly opened and undeveloped tcrrritory all around it, afforded a good field for a young man of education, enterprise, enthusiasm and energj-,to " rise up with the country." In the 3'ear 1855 the political arena was entered. Jlr. Thaj'er became one of four can- didates for Congressional honors; a splendid run for tiie office, however, resulted onlj- in defeat, the suc- cessful candidate being Fenner Ferguson. The fol- lowing year was remarkable as that in which the now "grand old party" was organized. The con- vention was held at Bellevue, and our subject was a candidate for the partj' nomination, but was de- feated by Mr. Dailj-. This experience was repeated in every particular in June of 18G0. He was suc- cessful in receiving the nomination to the Territorial Legislature, and served the session of 1860-61. Our subject entered the service of the United States at the beginning of the Civil War, and re- ceived the commission of Colonel of the 1st Ne- braska Infantry. In the 3-ear 1855 he had been elected by the Territorial Legislature Brigadier General of the Territorial Militia, and afterward promoted to that of Major General of the militia. While in these positions he was frequently led into engagements more or less serious on the frontier, the enemies being the aborigines of that section, who at that time had not entirely ceased their old habits of depredation. The intimate knowledge of our subject concerning the Indians, their surround- ings, their attitude, their feelings, and their chiefs, were all of immense value to him. As a case iu 132 JOHN M. THAYER. point, which we might mention, our subject was ap- pointed by Gfov. Izai-d to act in conjunction with Gov. O. D. Richardson, to inquire into certain out- rages by Pawnees, to meet them in council and ef- fect a treaty with them; in this they were fairly successful. But later events proved the lesson was but poorly learned by tlie Indians. In 1858, with a command of 194 volunteers, our subject went out after the same tribe, certain of their number having murdered, maltreated and robbed the settlers. He captured the entire tribe after a stubbornly con- tested battle, which was fought on the grounds oc- cupied by the town of Battle Creek, which derives its name from that event. As Colonel of the 1st Nebraska Infantry, our subject did good work in behalf of the Union, and it was not long before his superior military powers attracted attention, and he was promoted to be Brigadier General and breveted Major General. At Ft. Donelson and vShiloh he commanded a brigade in such excellent manner as led to the above honor. Through the siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Jackson, Miss., he also commanded a brigade, and for a time a division. The confidence of the com- manders in him was such that at the assault at Chickasaw Bayou, one of the storming columns was confided to his care. In this fight he had his horse shot under him, and .again while leading a charge at Arkansas Post. All the essential features, charac- teristics and trails of the successful soldier were possessed by him, and this being recognized resulted in the Army of tlie Frontier being given him to command. Throughout his service in military life he was a true soldier, a favorite with his men, who were confident tliat he would lead them to success and victory; resiiecteil by his officers, who well knew his sagacity and military genius, largely the result of his long experience on the frontier. In political matters our subject was a Democrat until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He sympatliized with the Free-Soil movement, but be- ing in the Territory he could not vote. In the year 1856 he supported Fremont, and since that time has continued a stanch Republican. Upon the admis- sion of Nebr.aska as a State, Mr. Thayer was elected United States Senator in the election of 1866, and served faithfully until the close of his term. At the expiratioft thereof he was appointed by Gen. Grant the Governor of Wyoming Territory. In this office the qualities that had made him successful in civil life, that had made him a military leader and com- mander, the ability that had been developed for the handling of large bodies of men, the harmonizing of heterogeneous elements, combined to make his Governorship one worthy of note, and, doubtless, was the cause of the confidence expressed by the peo- ple of Nebraska in after daj's. The home of our subject is one that bears in its every -day life and happiness a brightness and com- pleteness that is more to be desired than the amass- ing of riches, the accumulation of power, or the right to sway the scepter of authority. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mar}' T. Allen, a ladj' possessing a disposition, character and intelligence, most beautiful, admirable and clear, one who has been trained to follow closely the Great Exemplar of the true life. She is the daughter of the Rev. John Allen, a clergyman of the Baptist Church, a native of Massachusetts. Gov. Thayer, though not a member of any spe- cial denomination, is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and always has been. His family adhere to the faith of the Baptist Church, of which also his parents were members. In that communion, also, he was trained and brought up, and he has al- ways retained a great desire to help forward every movement of religious nature ; whenever it has been possible to elevate the moral standard of the people, his active sympathies were engaged. One feature of his Governorship has been his evident anxiety that a more general and hearty acquiescence to a higher moral and religious standard should obtain, and whatever enterprises, projects, societies or asso- ciations, looked to this as their aim and object, were at all times sure of his hearty sympathy and suijport. As noted above, our subject stood before the people of Nebraska in the year 1886 as candidate for Governor. He was warmly received, actively and heartily supported, and enthusiastically elected by a majority of 25,000, in which he Aan about 2,000 ahead of his ticket. His administration has revealed the wisdom of this choice, and it is not too much to say that the citizens of Nebraska have at no time had occasion to repent of their choice. mwwm^% ^^mwwx^ BIOGRAPHICAL, WILLIAM M. CRAVEN, the pioneer merchant of Armada, Nebr., was born in Randolph county, N. C, August 12, 1836. His father, L. D. Craven, was born in the same county and state, October 29, 1811. He emigrated to Morgan county, Indiana, in 18.36, Init subsequently removed to (^wen count}-, where he resided until he came to Nebraska in April, 1871. He was a shoemaker during the early part of his life, but found farming a more con- genial occupation. His wife, Levey Spoon, died in November, 1884, a member of the ]\[ethodist church, of which Mr. Ci'aven is also a member. The grandparents on both sides were Carolinians by birth. William M. Craven served an ajiprentice- siiip at carpentering before he had reached tlie age of maturity, and at the age of twenty-one .lie was a contractor and l)uilder, at wjiich occupation he continued until the war ijegan, when he enlisted in May, 1S61. in the Fourteentii Indiana infantry and was sent immediately to the scene of conflict. He participated in the battles of Rich mountain. Cheat mountain, Greenbrier and Winchester. He was in the Army of the Potomac until August, 1862, and then re-enlisted at brigade lieadquarters, this time in the 1st brig- ade, 3d division and 15th corps, and marched with Sherman from Huntsville, Alabama, to the sea, and was mustered out July 9, 1865, at Louisville, Ken- tucky. He came out of his long and hon- orable service without a scar, but not without great suffering from the exposure incident to camp life. During his encamp- ment on Cheat mountain it rained every day, except nine, for three months. After the war he returned to Indiana and resumed his former occupation of con- tracting. He was married August 24, 1865, to Miss Myra Starbuck. They have seven children — Elfie M., Myrtie M.,Met- tie F., Osa L., Charlie E., Josie M. L., and Nevie F. "William M. Craven came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, in the Spring of 1871, and took up a homesteail near Shelton, where he remained until 1876. He then spent nearly three years farming in Arkansas, but he was not pleased witii the country and concluded to return to Ne- braska. Shortly after his return to this county he moved to Buffalo pi'ecinct, where he purchased ten acres of land near the 142 BUFFALO COUNTY. present thriving little town of Armada, and erected a small sod house, in which he kept a little store, in tlie fall of 1881. He started on a capital of $9, but by honest dealing he has prospered until he is now doing a flourisliing business in a neat little store on one of the prominent four corners of Armada. When he commenced busi- ness there was no town thought of, the postoffice then being located three miles east of there. A petition was finally cir- culated and the postoffice was removed to Armada town, and Mr. Craven was made postmaster. He now has twenty acres of land adjoining the town, and has also one hundred and sixty acres in the town- ship. When Mr. Craven first came to the county it was exceedingly wild and sparsely settled. He has seen as many as two thousand Indians in one body going to and coming from their hunting expedi- tions. Wild game, such as buffalo, ante- lope and deer, was plenty almost any- where. His crop was completely destro\'ed three years in succession by the grassiiop- pers and he and his family were subjected to great inconvenience and suffering thereb3^ It was just at this period that he concluded to emigrate to Arkansas. He has been postmaster for five years and has filled various local offices. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges, and is a member of the G. A. R. JOHN H. WILSON, an enterprising boot and shoe merchant at Armada, Nebr.,was born in Woodford county, 111., October 27, 18.57, and is the son of William S., and Mary (Tomb) Wilson. His father was born in Highland county, Ohio, March 10, 1833, but moved to Illi- nois when a J'oung man. He served in the war of the rebellion, enlisting in the fall of 1864, in the Eighth Illinois infan- try, and had served only about eight raontlis, when he was killed in the battle of Fort Gaines, Ala. He had always lived an upright, consistent life, was an active member of the Christian chui'ch and was highly respected by all who knew him. His wife is still living, is also a devoted and conscientious worker in the cause of religion, and is a member in the highest standing in the Christian church. But little is known of the paternal grand- father of the subject of this brief biogra]ih- ical sketch, except that his name was James Wilson, and that he died about 1856. The maternal grandfather is Mattliew W. Tomb, who is a native of Ohio, but who emigrated to Illinois in 1855. He is a leading agriculturist and a prominent man in the community where he resides, has held various local offices and is a respected member of the Christian church. He and his faithful wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Moore, ai'e still living. John H.Wilson isthe eldest of six children, one of whom is now dead, and upon him devolved largely the care and responsi- bility of his mother, with whom he remained until eighteen years of age. He began life for himself at twenty-one as a farmer in Illinois. In the spring of 1885, he immigrated to Buffalo countv, Nebr., and purchased railroad land near Armada, which he successfully cultivated for three 3'ears. In the meantime he purchased eighty acres more land, making in all 240 acres, a good portion of which he now has under special cultivation. His land lies within one and one-half miles of the town BUFFALO COUNTY. 143 of Armada and is also in what is known as the "Wood River valley. In September, 18S8, Mr. Wilson moved to Armada and engaged in the boot and shoe business. He began with a limited amount of capital, and by industry and fair dealing he has succeeded in building up a substantial business, with a rapidly increasing trade. He enjoys the entire confidence of all his patrons and has built up a reputation for selling goods that are " all wool and a yard wide." He was mar- ried January .3, 1883, to Miss De Laura T. Foster, and this union has been blessed with two children — Stanley A. and John F. Mrs. Wilson was born in Marshall county, W. Va., December 4, 1857, and is the daughter of James and Etheline (Well- man) Foster, both natives of that state. Her fatlier died in 1878, but her mother is still living. Her paternal grandfather, James Foster, was born in Ireland, emi- grated to America in an early day, and first settled in Pennsylvania, but later in West Virginia. He died in 1865, at the age of eigiity-four. His wife was a native of Penns\'lvania and died in 1881. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Wilson were Virginians by birth. Mr. Wilson has held various town offices of responsibility and has several times been re-elected assessor for his township. He and his estimable wife are both mem- bers of the Christian church and earnest advocates of temperance. RICHARD DARBYSHIRE, a young and enterprising man of ^Ai'mada, Nebr., was born- in Bur- lington, Iowa, September 16, 1859. His father, Thomas Darbyshire, was born in England and came to America when nine years of age. He lived in Iowa, princi- pally at Burlington. He followed farming mostly, and died in 1884. Richard's mother, who bore the maiden name of Naomi Adams, was a native of Kentucky, as were also her parents. Richard Darby- shire remained with his parents until he was twenty-one and then began farming for himself. After he had farmed a couple of years he began dealing in horses, in which business he had marked success. He came to Nebraska in 1884 and resided near Armada for two years, then bought and sold farms and made considerable money in his various real estate transac- tions. In 1S86, he began driving the stage on the Kearney and Broken Bow line and continued for about eight months, during which he had an interesting experience. He frequently drove sixty miles a day when the thermometer registered from thirty-three to thirty -four degrees below zero, and was often compelled to shovel his way through snow banks and make schedule time in all kinds of weather. He drove for days at a time when hi would be the only team on the roads. The rules of the mail service imposed a heavy fine on mail carriers for being behind time without a most satisfactory excuse, but he was never fined the entire winter, which was one of the severest in the history of the country. The Union Pacific Railway Company was fined frequently for being- late with the mails that winter, but the disagreeable weather was no barrier to young Darbyshire in preventing him from delivering the mails on time. He is now in the livery business at Miller, Nebraska, and has one of the best barns in the county. 144 BUFFALO COUNTY. C HATILES F. PATTERSON was born at Mt. Sterling, Brown county, 111., March 17, 1837, and was the son of Kentucky parents, named John D. and Mary Ann (Smith) Patterson. Charles F. Patterson went to Arkansas when seventeen years old and engaged in the manufacture of staves, which he found a ready market for in New Orleans. After a few j^ears' experi- ence in the great forests of Arkansas, he went to Bonaparte, Iowa, where he was engaged by Isaiah Meek, a lead- ing stockman of Van Buren county, as foreman of his large stock farm. In 1861 he went to California in search of gold, and was there about eighteen months, during which time he was employed in a quartz mill. He then returned to Iowa and accepted his former position as fore- man of the Meek stock farm. In 1878 he came to Nebraska and took a home- stead in Dawson county, just over tlie line from Buffalo county, and there built a sod house and prepared to make such improve- ments as were necessary to render his farm profitable under cultivation. He brought with him from Iowa about 400 head of cattle, which he kept on shares for a few years. The settlement then was sparse, there being no houses between his home and Elm creek, about fifteen miles south. In 1885 he began sellino- cattle for O. W. Mead, of Boston, who was a large owner of live-stock ranches in the West. The cattle were shipped to Mr. Patterson, who disposed of them to feeders in Ne- braska, he acting as Mead's agent for eighteen months, during which time he sold many thousand dollars' worth of cattle. He was the agent, also, of Philip Dater & Co., of Cheyenne, for two years, and Avas also engaged with Tabor & Skin- ner, the former being ex-Gov. Tabor, of Colorado. He traveled all over the West, visiting their ranches and gathering up cattle, which he sold to Nebraska feeders. Charles F. Patterson died of heart ditti- culty, November 12, 1888, after a brief illness of only a few weeks. He was an Odd Fellow, and a gentleman who enjoyed the respect and confidence of his neighbors and fellow-citizens in general. He was married, November 1, 1860, to Miss Lydia C, daughter of Peter and Mary Ann (Lichty) ]\Iiller, and born in Westmore- land county. Pa., September 29, 1836. Her parents were born in Somerset, Pa., her father being the first white male child born in that town. They emigrated to Van Buren count}', Iowa, in 1854, with a family of twelve children, and there most of them now reside, but Peter Miller died in 1875, having been a life-long member of tlie German Baptist church. Tlie child- ren of Charles F. and Lydia Patterson are named as follows: John Wesley, Mary Ann, Maggie J., William Richard and Charles M. They have all had s])lendid opportunities for securing an education, and some are now engaged in teaching. The Patterson homestead consists of 320 acres, well improved, and on which has recently been erected a handsome and substantial brick residence. BENJAMIN F. PEASE is a well-to- do farmer in Armada township, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Ontario county, N. Y., and is the son of Granger and Anna (Fish) Pease, the BUFFALO COUNTY. 145 former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in New York. His parents moved to Michigan in 1839, where his father died in 1858 ; his mother was a Quakeress and passed to the eternal land in 1843. B. F. Pease began to learn tlie cooper trade when he was eighteen, and followed it for five years. He was married Octo- ber 2J:, 1859, to Martha Judd, by whom he had one child — Herbert. She was born in 1838, and was the daughter of Henry and Elvira Judd; tlie former was a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Pease died in 1868, and Mr. Pease was next married, Mav 30, 1872, to Charlotte Odell, by whom he had three children — Charles, Salina and Floyd. Mr. Pease enlisted, August 12, 1861, in the Eigiith Miciiigan infantr}' and served four years. He participated in the battles of Coosaw, S. C; Pulaski, Wilmington, Ga.; and James Island, S. C, where he was taken prisoner, but was exchanged four months afterwards; and was also in the battles of Blue Springs, Ky.; Jackson, Miss., and Knoxville, Tenn. His brigade was under Gen. W. T. Sherman after the siege of Knoxville, but re-organized and joined the Army of the Potomac. He served with his regiment in every engage- ment, from the Wilderness to the evacua- tion of Petersburg, April, 1865 ; re- enlisted January 1, 1864, and was mus- tered out July 30, 1S65, having entered the army as a private and rising to the rank of first lieutenant. He came to- Nebraska in May, 1884, and settled in Armada township, Buffalo county. He took a soldier's homestead, which he now lias well improved, and has increased his acreao:e until his farm now contains 320 acres under a good state of cultivation. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the G. A. R., and a highly respected, citizen in the community. JOHN MEHCEE is one of the substan- tial farmers and stockmen of Armada township, Buffalo county. He was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, August 31, 1845, and is the son of George and Isabel (Locky) Mercer, both of whom are natives of Scotland. His father came to America in 1852, and settled in Canada, his wife and family following in 1861. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a member of the old established Church of Scotland, and died in 1862. Young Mercer identi- fied himself with the Union cause Ijy enlisting in the navy August 18, 1864, anp belonged to a crew on board the Miami which was ordered up the James river and lay at Dutch Gap canal during the winter of 1864-5. He received his discharge at Philadelphia in June, 1865. After the war he went to Watertown, N. Y., where his mother and two brotiiers had moved, and engaged with Smith & Lamb, woolen manufacturers ; he also worked in the large steam woolen mills at Utica, and at Bridgetown, Me. He afterwards came west and worked in woolen factories in Ohio and Michigan, and as he was thor oughlv familiar with almost every depart- ment connected with the manufacture of woolen goods, found no trouble in procur- ing employment at any first-class factory. In the fall of 1873 he concluded to "go west and grow up with the country," and accordingly he turned up in Buffalo county, Nebr., and witliin a reasonably short time 146 BUFFALO COUNTY. he was a proprietor of a No. 1 homestead, located in the rich and fertile valley of the Wood river, of which he was one of the first actual settlers. The country was naturally wild and exceedingh^ dreary to one comino'froni the far East, and it made no other impression on the mintl of young Mercer. He was forty miles from any town, in a country where elk, antelope and deer roamed at will, and along the small streams of which were plenty of beaver and wild-cats. He was fond of hunting, and followed it almost exclusively for three or four winters. It afforded him considerable amusement, and besides it was quite profitable. In fact, there was no other way of making money, and even a bachelor like Mr. Mercer could not live in a wild prairie country without money. He lived in a dug-out, which, in those days, was the only house that guaranteed its occupant absolute shelter from the fre- quent atmospherical disturbances. But even his dug-out did not protect him from the ravages of the grass-hopj^ers in 1874-5-6. He has seen them three inches thick, antl thev didn't seem to smother each other either. A good many settlers got dis- couraged and left, but he concluded to stick by his claim as long as he could live. He would go to the hill, shoot a deer and trade it for flour and such articles of food as he stood in need of, and in that way he managed to get along. In the fall of 1880 a prairie fire swept everything he had, including his hay and grain in the stack, — everything, in fact, except a patch of sod corn. John Mercer was married October 11, 1885, to Pauline, daughter of James and Rachael (Spriggs) Stewart. She was born in Marshall county. 111., February 15, 1854, and has borne him two children — Jolm C, born December 24, 1887, and Edward James, born March 26, 1890. Mr. Mercer belongs to the G-. A. R., and is a repub- lican in whom there is no guile. He has two hundred and forty acres of fertile land and takes great pride in breeding good horses, of which lie is a splendid judge. A ETIIUR F. BURT was born in Delaware county, Ind.. January 18, 1833, and is the son of Dick- erson and Margaret (Killough) Burt, the former of whom was reared in Massachu- setts and the latter in Ohio. Dickei'son Burt first taught school after he came to Ohio, and subseqently graduated from a Cincinnati medical college. He prac- ticed his profession at Muncie, Ind., and also had the honor of being appointed the first postmaster of that town. He was married to Margaret Killough, March 3, 1827, by whom he had four children, and whom he lost by death February 9, 1835. Arthur Burt lived with Cornelius Vaursdell, an old Christain preacher, until he was thirteen, and then started out for himself, and followed railroading for several years. In 1852 he made quite an extensive tour of the country, after which he followed farming in Ross county, Ohio, for several years. He was married Jan- uary 13, 1859, to Elizabeth Campbell. They have seven children — Christena A., Juda Y., John A., Dora L., Rosa E., Liz- zie L, and Mary B. Mr. Burt served in the late war, enlist- ing August 15, 1862, in the One Hundred and Third Illinois infantry. He partici- pated in the struggle at Holly Springs, BUFFALO COUNTY. 147 but being injured on the marcli to Yicks- hwvg, he was afterwards transferred from field service to tlie veteran reserve corps, and put on detached service, being sent to lioclf Island, 111., where he ran the machin- ery connected with the government prison until mustered oat in July, 1S05. lie fol- lowed farming in Illinois for several years after he returned from the war, and went to Missouri in 1ST2, where he spent four years. He came to Armada, Nebr., in May, 1879, and took up a homestead, lie was among the first to settle in tl;e countr}^ south of Armada, and had no neighbors on the south of him nearer than twelve miles. He is independent in politics and is an esteemed and worthy cit- izen. Mr. Burt has recently been ap- pointed inspector for the K. B. & H. R. K., in which position he is giving .full satisfaction. CHARLES M. HOUSTON, editor and proprietor of • the Miller Union, was born at Sidney, low'a, June 8, 1869, and is a son of Harry A. and Jane E. (Irwin) Houston. His father is a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Ohio. His father has been actively engaged in the newspaper busi- ness for more than twenty j'ears, during which time he has published papers in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin. He is a clear and forcible writer, and at one time was a member of the editorial staff of the Kansas State Journal. Charles M. Houston, the subject of this sketch, learned the printing business in tiie home office at Sidney, Iowa, and is tlioroughly familiar with every depart- ment of a well-regulated country news- paper office. He went to Armada, Buffalo county, Nebr., in April, 18S9, and immedi- ately purchased the office of The Armada Watchman, which paper he published until July, 1890, when he removed said paper to the new town of Miller, and changed the name to Miller Union. The paper was started in May, 1888, by W. A. Hale, who conducted it till December, 1888, when it passed into the hands of The Watchman Publishing Company, with R. A. Reed as editor. After the pajier became the property of Mr. Houston, it was materially improved in tone and gen- eral make-up. It was republican in poli- tics, and enjoyed a fair advertising pat- ronage. Young Houston, at the age of nineteen only at that time, made a success in the newspaper field where two pub- lishers had failed before him. He is a chip off the old block, and will make a reputation in the newspaper world equal to that of his father. Early in the spring of 1890, the Union Pacific Railroad Comi)any decided on constructing the Kearney and Black Hills branch, and in speaking of this decision the Miller Union, of August 28, states that "The Hancock Land & Improvement Company owned a section of land to the south and west of old Armada, about a mile through which the railroad was graded. Early in the month of June, the said Hancock Comj)any had their land re-surveyed and platted into a town-site and made the people of Armada the fol- lowing proposition : To all those engaged in business in Armada and owning either business or dwelling houses, the Ilancuck Companv would give them lots in tlie 'new town' (which they had named Mil- ler), and would move their buildings from 148 BUFFALO COUNTY Armada to Miller free of cost to the owners. And to those business men who were not owners of buildings in the vil- lage of Armada who wished to build houses they would, give them warrantee deeds to lots when buildings were erected. ***** 'pjjg people of Armada, seeing the determination of the Hancock people to build up Miller, and knowing of the vast advantages the^' would have over Armada, came to the conclusion that it was about time that the}' were taking steps whereb}' they might become citizens of Miller. Accordinglj', most of the citi- zens of Armada accepted the proposition of the Miller people; and about July 1st the first building was begun in Miller, which was a residence built by L. A. Hazzard on corner of Stephenson avenue and Fifth street. July 17th, the IRller Union made its first appearance and was issued from a barn, which had been hur- riedly erected for a shelter from the weather until better quarters could be secured." At present, besides churches, there are over thirty business firms in the place, including banks, and twenty-one dwell- ing-houses, and others under contract to be built. MASON A. YOUNG, one of the prominent farmers of Cedar township, Butfalo county, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, May 15, 1842. His parents. Mason and Luticie (Leggit) Young, were Pennsylvanians by birth. About 1838 they moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. The senior Young died in 1872, and his estimable wife followed him to the land of rest March 24, 1881. Three children were bom to thejn, one of whom, AVash- ington, is dead, leaving Mason A. and James, the only living representatives of the family. When Mason A. Young was seventeen years of age he enlisted, August 2, 1862, in Company C, One Hundi'ed and Twenty-second Ohio volunteers, and served three j'ears. He participated in the engagements at Brandy Station and Locust Grove, and followed Gen. Grant through the terrible battles of the AVilder- ness. He also fought with might and main at Winchester, Adar Creek and Fisher's Hill, and was mustered out in June, 1865. Soon after the war he met Miss Jennie Butler, whom he married December 3, 1869. She was born in Maryland, February 2G, 1846, and is the daughter of John AVesley and Sarah Ann (Fisher) Butler. Her parents emigrated to Ohio, where her father died in 1853. This union has resulted in the birth of six children, namelj' — John Wilson, born May 19, 1871 ; Annie, born July 13, 1873; Zet- tie E., born December 30, 1875 ; Amy, born March 24, 1877 ; Charles E., born March 29, 1885 ; and Frank, born April 26, 18.87. Their daughter Zettie was the first white child born in Cedar township. Soon after marriage Mr. Young moved to Cedar county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for a few years. In April of 1873 he moved to Buffalo county, Nebr., and settled in Cedar township, taking up a homestead on which he has since continued to reside. The country thereabouts was new and exceedingly wild at that time, there being only two or three families in the entire township. He dug the first well and erected the first frame house that far west in the region known as the BUFFALO COUNTY. 149 Loup country. Fire swept the surround- ing prairie that year and consequently tliere was no grass left to cut for liay. Corn had to l)e hauled from Grand Island, and the high price of everything in the shape of provisions compelled the few scattering settlers to be as economical as possible. The drought and grasshoppers got away with tiie small acreage of crop the first few years, and for a time there was little to encourage the ambitious set- tlers. There were plent}'^ of antelope and deer, and some buffalo were yet to be seen along the Loup. There were Indians in the country in those days, and, while they were generally considered peaceable, Mr. Young made up his mind to always be prepared for any emergency that might arise, and to that end he purchased a six- teen shooter Winchester with five hun- tlred r(jun(ls of ammunition. Mr. Young has one of the best improved farms, and, in fact, is one of the most substantial farmers in Cedar township. Pie is indus- trious and systematic in everything he does and stands high socially and morally in the community. He has been super- visor of his township, and has held various other local offices. He is a member of the G. A. K. and in politics is a stanch republican. ELEAZER W. CARPENTER was born in New Hampshire, June 23^ 1827. Plis parents, Willard and Betsey (Wason) Carpenter, were natives of New Hampshire, .the former having been born in 1789. They were married in 1812 and had two children— Miranda, born in 1820, and Eleazer W., born in 1827; the former died in 1863. The father died in New York in 1841, and the mother died in Wisconsin in 1864. Eleazer W. Carpenter was married November 19, 1854, to Miss Emily M., daughter of John and Hulda (George) Plumer. She was born in New Hampshire, June 25, 1830. Her father was born in 1808, and was the son of Nathaniel Plumer, who was born May 29, 1764. The family of E. W. Car, penter consists of seven children, namely — John W., born May 15, 1856 ; Stephen- born November 16, 1858 ; Hulda, born March 7, 1861 ; Cyril, born September 4, 1863; Marion, born March 31, 1866; Miranda, born October 14, 1868, and Lydia, born May 31, 1871. Mr. Carpenter went with his parents from their native state, in 1840, to New York, where, at the age of sixteen, he hired out by the month to work on a farm. His next move was to Wisconsin in 1S54, where he was married and settled down to farming. He enlisted in September, 1864, in the First regiment, Minnesota heavy artillerv. His regiment was stationed at Chattanooga, Tenn., and performed garrison duty during most of the service. He was mustered out June 17, 1865. In the fall of 1872 he started West to ])rospect for his future home. He arrived at Gibbon, Buffalo county, Nebr., after a long and wearisome journey made with an ox team. He remained here until the following spring ; in the meantime, however, he busied himself looking for a location. He was especially pleased with the land in the Cedar Creek valley, and he finally took up a homestead there. He built a frame house, sod being the ma- terial mostl}'^ employed at this early date. There was scarcely any settlement in this section at that time, and wild "anie was 150 BUFFALO COUNTY. plenty, especially deer and antelope. There were hundreds of wild-cats and beaver along the creek, and hunting and trapping constituted the chief occupation of several of the early settlers. Mr. Car- penter had barely succeedetl in getting his family comfortabh^ housed, when one of the severest storms in the history of the country began raging. It was a blizzard of the most pronounced type and lasted for three days, during which snow fell and drifted to a great depth. Hundreds of cattle and other stock, without siielter, perished. In a sod house near Mr. Car- penter's dwelling-, lived a lady by the name of Mrs. Davis. During the awful storm a part of the roof of the house fell in, and the poor woman, whose husband was away at the time, became alarmed and started out in the blinding storm in the hope, it is supposed, of reaching the home of Mr. Carpenter. Soon after tlie storm ceased it was ascertained that Mrs. Davis was missing ; a diligent search was at once instituted, which soon resulted in the recovery of her remains, frozen stiff on the prairie. Incidents of this kind are not uncommon among the frontiersmen. Mr. Carpenter was also among tlie early pioneers who suffered from the grass- hopper raid. He describes them as appear- ing m the horizon like numerous black clouds, and as striking against his house like descending hail. The first school district in the township was organized in 1874-. and the first term of school was taught by Mrs. Carpenter m one of the rooms of her own house. Mr. Carpenter has served as justice of the peace of his township for eleven years and has been elected supervisor, the most im- portant office in the town. He has also been postmaster of Major's postoffice since Februarv, 1S79. He is republican in poli- tics and is one of the i-ecognized i>arty representatives in Buffalo county. SAMUEL HIGGINS, the first actual settler in the township of Cedar, Buffalo county, was born on the banks of the Penobscot river, in Maine, March 30, 1811. His paternal grandfather made his home on the banks of this beautiful stream jirior to the rev- olutionary war, and his father, William Higgins, was the second white male child born along its wooded banks. William Higgins was an active participant in the war of 1812. He accidentally crossed the picket lines and was captured Ij}^ the Eng- lish, but afterwards escaped. He died in 1838. Samuel Higgins, the subject of this sketch, left his parental home in Maine in 1837, and determined to see some of the country in which he lived. He visited several of the principal states in the Union, remaining for a short time in each. After a few years profitably spent in traveling, he settled on a farm in Gi-ant county, Wis., where he remained for thir- teen years. He was one of the pioneer residents of that territory, and voted for it to become a state. It was on November 10, 1872, when Mr. Higgins came to Buffalo county, Nebr. He built a small shanty in the town of Gibbon, then the count}'^ seat, wliere he left his family while he prospected for a claim. He finally settled on a homestead in Cedar township and also took a timber claim adjoining. His first house consisted B TIFF A L O CO UNTY. 151 of a " dug-out," in which he spent the winter of 1873-4, which was very mild and dr}'. His visitors consisted almost exclusively of Indians, who often called and asked for food or feed for their ponies. He fried pan-cakes once, but the Indians were not satisfied unless he pro- vided coffee to drink. An Indian is a hard customer to please. Occasionally one would call in an exceedingly bad humor and would refuse to extend the hand of friendship. They were always armed to the teeth, and strenuously objected to the whites killing any wild game. On one dark night Indians tried to break in the door of his "dug-out," but were fright- ened away. Mr. Higgins was always careful not to incur the ill-will of the red men, for he was the only white settler in all that region at that time, and he knew it meant sure death to him if he offended an Indian. In the spring of 1873, settlers began to come in and it was not long be- fore quite a settlement was effected. One of the notable incidents of the early settlement was the terrible snowstorm or blizzard in April of 1873. At that time Mr. Higgins' live chattels consisted of two horses, a cow and a calf. The cow was completely snowed under and smothered, wiiile the calf was dug out of the snow four days afterwards alive, but pretty hungry. It was the worst storm in the history of the country', and there has been no blizzard since anywhere equal to it. Mr. Higgins always possessed unbounded faith from the first in the future develop- ment of this country, and although many tried to discourage him, yet he went straight ahead setting out trees and pre- paring to do his share towards improving the country, notwithstanding the fact that he had had thirty acres of corn de- str(jyed for three consecutive years by grasshoppers. His grove of timber is now one of the very finest in the country and consists of Cottonwood, ash, maple and boxelder. Mr. Higgins was married twice. His first wife bore him nine children, and his second, two — one of whom is dead. His farm consists of one hundred and sixt)' acres, and is one of the best improved in the county. He has frequently held various offices of responsibility, but has as often refused to accept office, and was at one time treasurer of the Boones- borough Manufacturing Company, of Boonesborough, Iowa, a position of great trust and responsibility. When the war broke out he offered his services to his country, but was rejected on account of his extreme age. He has been an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for sixty years, and has always taken great interest in religious affairs, and especially in the Sundav"^- school. Mr. Hiffsins has written some very fine essays, but the object and scope of this work are such as to preclude the insertion here of one of his productions. JOSEPH CLAYTON was born in Muskingum country, Ohio, in 1844. His father, Henry Clayton, was also a native of Ohio, and was born in 1808. He moved to Indiana in 1852, and engaged in farming, but when the war broke out was one of the first to enlist. He served three years and lost a foot at the battle of Peach Tree creek. He also bore an honorable record as a soldier in 152 BUFFALO COUNTY. the Mexican war. He married Margaret Young, by whom he had four children — Henry, Martha, Mary and Joseph. After the death of his mother in 1850, Joseph Clayton, then a lad of six years, lived with Thomas Alexander for eight A'ears. When the war began he was one among the first to offer his services, and although ♦but a mere boy, enlisted August 17. 1861, in the First Ohio cavalry, and performed four long years of honorable service. His first experience in a battle was had at West Liberty, Ky. He also participated in the siege of Corinth. His company for some time served as special escort to Gen. ■ Mitchell while at Cincinnati. He was shot in the lung at the terrible battle of Russellville, Ala., on the 3d of July, 1802, and for several months afterwards was closely confined in a hospital. He was mustered out of the service January 20, 1865. After the war he spent a few years at farming in Ohio, from which state lie went to Iowa, where he remained two years. The spring of 1873 found him on a homestead in Cedar township, Buffalo county, Nebr. He was one of the first actual settlers in the township, and there was but one house on the road be- tween his homestead and Kearney, the county seat. He built a good, comfort- able sod house, and proved upon his claim in 1875. The Pawnee Indians frequently passed through the settlement during the first year or so of his residence there, but be never experienced any difficult}' with them. He had more fault to find with the grasshoppers in 187i than with the occasional presence of a few Indians. The former took, without asking, every- thing he had that was green, while the latter usually bego-ed hard for what little they got. Joseph Clayton was married May 8, 1879, to Miss Eosey Ewer. She is the daughter of Rural and Ellen (Wams- ley) Ewer, and was born in Grant county, Wis., March 9, 1859. Her father was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but emigrated to Wisconsin when a small boy. He was a soldier in the late war, and died in the service at Helena, Ark. Her mother was born in England, but when a mere child came to America with her parents. Three bright children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton — Eayniond E., born July 9, 1882 ; and Mary May, born May 5, 1887 ; and Earnest, born March 4, 1890. Mr. Clayton owns a splendid farm in the Cedar Creek valley, and has it well im- proved. He has always had great faith in the future development of this country, and even when the grasshoppers robbed him of his crop he did not become dis- couraged. He always believed exactly the opposite from the man who said, " It is simply a fight between the grass- hoppers and drought on the one hand and the plow on the other, and he believed the former would win." He has held various local offices, and is commander of Cedar Mountain Post, No. 220, Depart- ment of Nebraska, G. A. R. CHARLES R. WATERS first saw the light of day at Springville, Vernon county. Wis., August 4, 18G0. His parents, Henry and Arminda (Harkness) Waters, were natives of Illi- nois, the former having been born in Knox county in 1823. The senior Waters moved to Wisconsin in 1848, where his wife died in 1875. He came to Nebraska in 1876, v BUFFALO COUNTY. lo3 but is now enjoying the pleasures afforded by a residence in California. He was the father of ten children, seven boys and three girls. He served as supervisor of Cedar township, Buffalo county, Nebr., two years. He also served three years in the war. Young Waters accompanied his father to Nebraska in the spring of 1876, and began life for himself about that time. He worked out by the month for a year or so, then engaged in farming for him- self. The country in that portion of Cedar township, Buffalo county, Nebr., was very sparsely settled, there being only a few houses in sight. He pre-empted a claim in 1880 and proved up on it soon after. He now has one hundred and sixty acres well improved, and is a prosperous young farmer. WI L L I A M» H. KILLG OBE came from Bradford county, Pa., to Buffalo county, Nebr., in February, 1872, locating in section 12, township 9, range 1-5, remaining here about four years. In 1876, going into the stock-raising business, he went to what is now Custer coiinty, helping to organize that county and serving as commissioner sevei-al terms. In 1880 he preempted a (juarter-section, and in 188-3 he came to Kearney City, feeding cattle for one year. He then went to the territories of Utah, Idaho and Montana. He remained in ilontana a short time only, although he had intended to make it his home, and left for Iowa and Minnesota; not liking these states, he again returned to Kear- ney, and bought some land on Drover Island, directly opposite old Fort Kear- ney, in Platte river. He there owns five quarter-sections of the finest hay and grazing lands in the state, and on Farm Island four quarter-sections, one hundred and fifty acres of which are under culti- vation, producing corn and oats. He also raises a quantity of stock. When he came West, he had $3,000 ; he now owns fifteen hundred afres of land and a num- ber of town lots, together Avith improve- ments, which he rents out at Kearney. He has upwards of two hundred head of cattle, seventy horses and a large number of hogs. Mr. Killgore was born in Brad- ford county. Pa., in August, 1839, on a farm. His father, John Killgore, a native of New Jersey, went to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the tailoring busi- ness ; but, leaving this, he engaged in farming. He is still residing in Pennsyl- vania at the ripe age of eighty-one years. His wife, LA'dia W. Ilaynes, was a native of New York. To this union were born eleven children, William being the fourth. At the age of thirteen he ran away from home, going to a lumber camp; remain- ing at this a short time, he went into the butchering business, remaining in this sev- eral years; then, returning home, he worked at carpentering. The war break- ing out in 1861, he enlisted in April with Battery E, First Pennsylvania light artil- lery, serving the drst two years as quar- termaster's sergeant. He was then pro- moted to a second, and shortly after to a first, lieutenanc}', serving in all four years and three months. His battery was the first to go into Richmond. He sustained a rupture during one of the numerous battles in which he was engaged, for which he is now drawing a pension. After being mustered out at Philadelphia, 154 BUFFALO COUNTY he returned home and started a saw-mill. In 1867 he married Miss Sophie Dilts, a daughter of Philip Dilts, of New Jerse3^ Her father died in 1876 ; her mother is still living in Pennsylvania. This union has not been blessed by any children. In politics Mr. Killgore is an ardent republi- can, and is also a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States. As a citi- zen he is highly respected. A LEXANDER ST. PETERS was born in Paris, France, December 15, 1807, and is the son of Lewis antl Mary Ann St. Peters. Alexander St. Peters came to Canada with his parents in 1815. They settled at Three Rivers, where the father died, in October, 1839. Young St. Peters began farming for him- self at the age of eighteen. He immi- grated to the United States before becom- ins: of age and settled in Vermont. In 1835, he moved to Massachusetts, where he I'emained about eighteen months, and in 1837 moved to Iowa, settling in Ben- ton county. He purchased a farm there and followed his chosen occupation for several years. In April, 1874, he moved to Nebraska and took up a claim in Cedar township, Buffalo count}'. The country was new then anil settlers were few and far between. "Wild game, especially elk, antelo])e and deer, was quite plenty, and it was not an unusual tiling to see a few Indians passing back and forth to their hunting grounds. Mr. St. Peters built a sod house, barn and other necessary buildings, and has since devoted hmiself diligently to improv- ng his farm, which is, by the way, one of the best in the township. He suffered severely the first year or so from the grasshoppers, and at a time, too. when the destruction of an entire crop meant a great deal to him. He witnessed a great deal of terrible suffering among the set- tiers in those days, man\' of whom came near starving to death. They were in- deed trying times, and the courage of men was put to the severest test. Alexander St. Peters married Mary Ann Hatcot, a a native of Canada and of English descent. She bore him eleven 'children, as follows — Mary Jane (deceased), Franklin (de- ceased ), Silvia, John J., Alba E., Annie, Laura, Charles, Stephen, William E., and Emma B. Both Mr. St. Peters and his estimable wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. St. Peters enlisted in August, 1862, in the Fortieth Iowa infantry, and served seventeen months. He was taken sick during his service, and after being confined in a hospital for some time was discharged. He is a modest, unassuming man and al- M'ays tries to do what is right by his fel- low-man. WH. ANDERSON, one of the representative farmers of Buffalo county, Nebraska, was born in New York City, October 10, 1852. His father, James Anderson, also a native of New York City, was born in 1812, and there he was raised, following the carpenter trade for manj' years. He moved to Lake county, Indiana, however, and remained there a short time ; he then returned to New York ; then moved again to Indiana, and in October, 1862, came to BUFFALO COVXTY. 155 Nebraska, settling on Wood river, near what IS now known as Wood E.iver Sta- tion, remaining three 3'ears. He then went East, living at Woodford county, Illi- nois. Returning to Nebraska in March, 1879, he settled in Center township four miles east of Kearney. Subsequently growing old and infirm, his son, William H., brought him to his own residence, where he died August 8, 1SS6, at the age of sevent^'-four years — a prominent mem- ber of the Evangelical church. His wife, Isabella, was a daughter of William Hodge, a native of Scotland, a blind mu- sician, who came to this countr}'-, settling on Long Island, N. Y. There he died in 1SS4 at the age of ninety-nine. Mi'S. Isabella Anderson is still living. This marriage was blessed with seven children, viz. — Isabella(deceased), Robert (deceased), Jamcb, Mary Ann, David, Alexander and William H. James Anderson, Junior, served in the late war iji the union ranks and now lives at Newton, Kansas. Sarah is the wife of A. B. Cherry ; Mary is the wife of V. B. Smith, of David City, Nebr. David was, for several terms, sheriff of Buffalo count}', Nebr, and died but a few years ago ; Alexander was killed b\' Indiiins at Wood River Station, February 3, 1862, when he was fourteen years of age. William II. Anderson first saw Nebraska in 1802, his parents having moved here when he was but ten 3'ears of age. He was raised mainly in Illinois, to which state he was taken by h is father. He again came to Nebraska in March, 1879, and has lived in Buffalo county ever since. He owns two hundred and sixty-five acres of land lying on the Platte river, in Center township, six miles southeast of Kearney, most of which is in grass. In >873 he married Mary A., daughter of Peter Berg, of El Paso, Illinois. She was born in Pennsyl- vania, near Johnstown, in Cambria county. To this union have been born three chil- dren —Walter, Guy and Estella Ma}'. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Evangelical church, a stanch republican, and has served as township treasurer. He has also served on the school board. His in- tegrit}' and faithfulness while in those po- sitions have fully won him the regard and esteem of his fellow-citizens. SJ. WALDRON, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Buffalo county, Nebr., was born and raised in Macomb county, Mich. His father. Evert J. Waldron, was born and reared in Sara- toga county, N. Y. In 1834 he moved to Macomb county, Mich., where he married Catherine, daughter of Jacob Straup, who had moved to Macomb county the same year with his famih' from Genesee Falls, N. Y., where this lady was born and reared. After his marriage, Evert Wald- ron moved to Michigan, settling in Ma- comb county and actively engaging in farming. There the Avorthy couple still reside, he in his seventy-ninth year. Their union has been blessed with twelve children. Mr. S. J. Waldron came from Macomb count}', Mich., to this state, settling in Buf- falo county, in September, 1872, and enter- ing into a mercantile life at Kearney, which he followed eightyears. He then moved on hisfarm, consisting of the north half of sec- tion 8, township 8, range 15, 100 acres of which he has under thorough cultivation ; the remainder consists of fine hay land. The 156 BUFFALO COUNTY. farm is situated not two miles from Kear- ney, and on account of its situation it is one of tlie finest in the county. Mr. Wald- ron has given it all his attention since 1880, and as a natural result he has been rewarded by fine crops. His homestead is the northwest quarter of section 8, and has undergone the most perfect improve- ments. He has on his farm the first frame building that was erected in the Citj' of Kearney. It is a small box house, now used for a granary. Mr. Waldron has experienced all the vicissitudes of farm life in Nebraska, having undauntedly gone through grasshopper visitations and dry seasons. He enjoys single blessedness, and the respect of his neighbors, who honor him as a genial and upright citizen. MRS. SARAH L. LAYTON came to Nebraska in 1872, locating at Loup City. She remained there one year, and then took up her I'esi- dence where she now resides, consisting of tlie northeast quarter of section 35, township 9, range 15, it being then in the military reservation. Here she lived as a squatter two years before she could file papers for her claim, and seven years before proving it, as the papers were filed in the name of her husband, he havino- died before the claim could be proven She is, in fact, one of the pioneers of the county, there being but a few houses in . Keai'uey Avhen siie came. Time brings its clianges, and she has lived to see the then struggling village of Kearney grow to be a prosperous city — one tiiat is grad- ually assuming a metropolitan air. With her own hands and very little help, she has so improved her farm that it is now. producing excellent crops, and is esti- mated as one of the best in the county, it having always yielded well, excepting only the grasshopper year of 1874. Mrs. Layton is the daughter of Solomon Kin- ner, a native of New York, who is at present residing in Pennsylvania at the advanced age of ninet\' -three, being per- fectly deaf and blind. Mrs. Layton's mother was born in 1813, and is still liv- ing at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Kinner were devoted members of the Methoilist Episcopal church, and were the parents of nine children. Mrs. Layton, the sixth child, was born July, 1845, in Pennsylvania, and passed her childhood there. In 1865 she married Jacob Layton, and the couple went to New Jersey, where they remained four years ; thence they went to Virginia. Not liking the climate, they removed to Nebraska, where her husband died. She has three sons, viz. — Carlos S., Arthur P. and Wal- ter A. Mrs. Layton belongs to the Evan- gelical church. To her as well as to many others is due the gratitude of. the noble sons of Nebraska for the cheering of tlie weary days when the}' toiled to make tiie great country which at the present is before the citizens of this state as an example of what industry can accomplisli. WILBERT S. HORMEL. With tiie many representative and successful farmers of Buffalo county, Nebr., is Wilbert S. Hormel, born in Warren county, Ohio, in March, 1857. His father, Joel Hormel, a native of _Ohio and a carpenteis by trade, married Miss ^?>^,. ,y#fto^^'' '^ F. G. HAMER. BUFFALO COU.VTV. 159 Jane lioffuum, also a native of Oliio. To this union were born two sons — Wilbert S. and Benjamin. Wili)ert passed iiis oarl\' days in Warren county, receiving an education at the common school. In Se))tember, 1874, with his father, became to Nebrasica, settling in Buffalo county on t lie southeast quarter of section 10, town- shi|)9. rangelS. Here he improved the land and lived fifteen years. In 1879 he bought ills father out, and became the sole owner of tiie farm, which he afterwards so successfully managed until the fall of 1888, when he sold this property and bought his present farm. This tract of eighty acres is situated in the south half of the southeast quarter of section 15, town- siiip 9, range 15, consisting of the finest im- proved land in the county. He has built a commodious house, tine barn, granaries and outhouses, also a large windmill' for grinding grain. lie "raises mixed crops, and is giving considerable attention to the dairy business. At the age of twenty-seven, Mr. Ilor- niel married Miss Jennie Willhelmy, a daughter of Theodore Willhelmy, a native of AVisconsin, who came to Nebraska and located on a farm in the neighborhood. Of this union was born three children, vi/,. — Bertha, Francis and Earl S. Politic- ally Mr. Ilormel is an ardent democrat' and his fellow-citizens have honored him by electing him four consecutive terms as school dii'ector. He is also a member of the Farniei's' Alliance. The mother of the sui>ject of this sketch died in 1839, and Joel Ilormel took for his second wife, Miss Anna, daughter of James Ward, of Ohio, and to this union were born seven children, all of whom are residents of Nebi'aska. This ladv died in 1S79. Joel Ilormel served in the late war about three months, and is now making his home in Nebraska. W. S. Hormel, al- though only thirt\' -three years of age, has demonstrated his ability to conduct a farm on strictly business principles. He exhibits good taste in all things, and his wisdom is shown in his selection of the best agricultural implements and the con- venient arrangement of his barns and other outbuildings, and the cheerful and neat appearance of his comfortable dwellino;. FRANCIS G. IIAMER was born in a log cabin, on a farm near Fos- toria, Seneca county, Ohio, Febru- ar}' 20, 1843. The cabin was built of unhewn logs and floored with puncheons, and one of the first important events which he remembers was the building of an adiiition to this cabin. At the age of five years his father car- ried him to school and he began the pur- suit of knowledge seated on a slab, sup- ported by four legs made from a sapling and with no back. His little feet did not reach the floor, and he remembers his position yet as one of discomfort. Before he was ten 3'ears old, his mother died and his father moved to another farm near Delphi, Carroll count}', Ind. The house occupied was a slight improvement on the first cabin. It was built of hewn logs, but the floor was still made of juincheons, and a chimney, built of mud and sticks, permitted the smoke to rise from the tire- place, where huge back-logs roasted in the winter. The school-house was still a cabin, and the seats were rough boards 160 BUFFALO COryTY. without backs, but it contained an innova- tion, being warmed by a wood stove. In these good okl days nearly everybody wore homespun, and lie well remembers his first store coat. In winter the mental instruction was procured at revival meet, ings, spelling schools and debating socie- ties. In summer, the corn-field and har- vest fields furnished occupation, and in- struction was obtained at the quarterly and camp-meetings. It was a Methodist neighborhood, and the arrival of the pre- siding elder was looked forward to with great interest. He could preach a sermon, and from miles about the farmers came in wagons, driving along corduroy roads and wei'e delighted to listen to the man who could instruct and entertain. The spelling school and debating society were every- day aff"airs, and in them young Ilamer learned to spell, and at twelve years of age spelled down the whole school, and went home with more glor}' than he has ever had since, or hopes to obtain. In speaking he had more trouble ; he began to tieclaim at nine and tried to debate at fifteen, and at eighteen years of age, he was participating as best he could with those who had more or less experience on the stump — -men who had been members of the legislature, or practicing lawyers. Before he was sixteen, he attended school at the countv seat, returning to the dis- trict school at home during the winter. Before he was eighteen he began life as a Iloosier school master, and the succeed- ing summer, having borrowed a copy of Blackstone from a lawyer at tlie county seat, he began to prosecute his legal stud- ies, regretting that he could not be admit- ted to practice for three long years, or until he became twentv-one. For three successive winters, including his eight- eenth, nineteenth and twentieth birth- days, he taught school, read law, and attended the debating societies, and during the corresponding summers he farmed and raised corn and wheat and pigs, and tried to accumulate money to pay the expenses of attending a law school. In the spring succeeding his twentieth birth-day, he went to Indianapolis and became a student in the law office of Pen-in & Manlove, and shortly after entered the law school, then under the management of the Hon. Samuel E. Perkins, who was for many years one the supreme judges of Indiana, and a lawyer with a national reputation. He was admitted to practice on his twen- ty-first birth-day, or as soon as was hon- estly practicable. He then relurneti home and began farming and stock-raising, for the purpose of accumulating money to support himself during the first years of his practice as a lawyer. After watching the struggles of young lawyers in a city he doubted his own abilit\' to make a liv- ing at the commencement of his proposed professional career. He still attended the debating society, read law and literature, and occasionally contributed to neighbor- ing newspapers. At twenty -six, he formed a partnership with P. A. Brown, a lawyer of Indianapolis, and together they were, for a short time, engaged in the real estate business in Chicago. December 6, 1869, at Eddyville, Iowa, he was married to Miss K.' A. McCord, of Delphi, Ind. To- gether the young partners came to Lin- coln, Nebr., and began house-kee})ing in the humblest sort of way. One small room was rented for $10 a month, and in this for the time being they lived. Desk room was obtained in a real estate office for $8 BUFFALO COUNTY. 161 per month, ami liere tlie subject of our sketch, at the age of twenty-seven, earned his first money as a lawyer. It was only $2.50, l)ut it gave promise of tlie means of a living. In live months he began to earn enough to support himself and wife. He held his office in Lincoln a little more than two years, but during five months of this time he lived in the country, six miles from the town. During the first nine weeks of his residence in the country he walked to and from his office, making a daily walk of twelve miles. Half-past 7 o'clock usually found him in his office, fresii from the invigorating labor of his six-mile tramp. When his day's labor was at an end, he returned. Some times the trial of a case ran into the night, and on sufU) occasions he did not reach his home until miilnight, or later. On one such occasion, tiie lawsuit ended about 11 o'clock ; the ground was covered with slush and mud, which prevented the usual ra]iid walk, and it was 3 o'clock in the morning when the tired 3'oung law3'ei' arrived at his humble domicile. Shortly after this, he was able to buy a pony and pay cash for it, and the long walks were discontinued. During his i-esidence in Indianajiolis he became acquainteil with Gen. A. II. (Con- nor, at that time, one of the leading citi- zens of the Iloosier state. He knew him to be a sti'ong Iaw3er, and an ekxjuent advocate, and when General Connor found a home in Lincoln, he and the subject of this sketch formed a partnership which lasted through twelve long years, and until Mr. Ilamer's appointment as dis- trict judge. In Ma}', 1S72, Mr. Ilamer removed from Lincoln to the present site of Kearnev. At that time there was no town, only a prospect for one, and Mr. Hamer's first efforts were made in the direction of discovering a claim for him- self and partner. For himself he found a pr«-emption between the present site of the State Industrial School and the city. For General Connor, he found another claim lying a short distance north of the city. The result of this day's discovery was a removal of the firm and its efi"ects from Lincoln to Kearne}', Mr. Hamer coming a short time jn advance of his partner. A small building containing two or three hundred dollars" worth of goods and the ])ostoffice, was at that time, the only business house in Kearney, the pro- prietor being Mr. F. W. Dart. Mr. Ilamer needed an office, and Mr. Dart kindly' in- formed him that there was plenty of room in his store. The building was only 14xil0, but he thought there was jilenty of room for a store, postoffice and law office. A little corner was fenced off by a rough plank, which could be used as a table, and behind this was placed an em])ty nail-keg, covered with a shee]i-skin, and on this seat one of the future judges of Nebraska installed himself, and spreading the statutes out before him, was ready for business with the first law office in Kearney. Immediately upon hisarrival at Kearney, he and Mrs. Hamer began to reside upon, the pre-emption, where sod was broken and Mr. Ilamer personally' iilantcd his first crop of sod corn. The residence was an unpainted siianty. 12.Nir), ceiled with tar jiaper tacked upon tiie studding, and in this the)' lived two winters and two summers. The winters, however, are re- membered more vividly than the summers. In the fall of 1880, Mr. Hamer was nominated as the republican candidate 162 BUFFALO COUXTY. for representative in tiie state legislature. Mr. Hamer was supposed to favor Judge Elmer S. Dundy, who, it was known, would be a candidate before the legislature for United States senator, but other re- publicans favored the election of Senator Paddock to that position. Mr. Hamer was defeated by the joint vote of demo- crats and Paddock republicans. Mr. Simon C. Ayer, independent republican, became the succesful candidate. After the senatorial contest which followed, Paddock and Dundy were both defeated by C. II. YanWyck. As is well known, Senator Paddock since defeated Yan- AVyck and is one of the United States sen- ators from Nebraska. Two years later, Mr. Hamer actively supported his law partner Gen. Connor, who was brought out as a candidate against Mr. Luman R. Moore. Mr. Moore was an excellent and public- spirited man, but he had been nominated as a candidate for state senator by the same faction of rejiublicans that had de- feated Mr. Hamer. Gen. Connor made a vigorous canvass on his own account, thoroughly discussing the arbitrary exer- cise of corporate power before the people and the dangers which menaced tlieir wel- fare, and he was elected over his comj)et- itor b}^ a large majority. A year later, Mr. Hamer was the favorite candidate in the republican state convention of the people of the central and western part of the state for the office of justice of the supreme court. He was beaten by a majority of thirty-five, by M. B. Reese, of Wahoo. On the death of Judge Sam'l L. Savage, Mr. Hamer was appointed in December, 1883, judye of the Tenth judi- cial district, by Gov. Dawes, and he immediately entered upon the discharge of his duties. He was also elected, in the fall of 1884:, running on the republican ticket against Judge Barnd,the democratic nominee. His majority was 1^700, and in the fall of 1887, he was re-elected. This time his competitor was the Hon. Wm. L. Greene, democratic and labor can- didate, and one of the best stump orators in the state. Mr. Hamer'smajority at this election was a little short of .5,000 votes. The task of building up a new town is one of great labor. Upon those who have public spirit and a patriotic love of home, this task always falls. No enterprise for the benefit of his town, county and state has yet been presented that has not re- ceived Air. Hamer's cordial and energetic support. He has given months of his time to enterprises in which he had no per- sonal interest beyond that of the common good of his section, and has repeateilly pledged his future earnings to subscription lists for the benefit of his city. His first efforts of a public nature in Buffalo county were directed toward the defeat of a bill introduced into the state legislature for the pui-])ose of dividing the county. This bill, if it had become a law, would have placed Kearney on the western boundary of Buffalo county, ami would have prevented it from becoming a count}' seat. His next efforts were directed towards the establisliment of a bridge across the Platte river at Kearney. He also participated in the matter of locating the State Industrial School, he was a sub- scriber to the fund which procured the building of the Midway hotel, and was an earnest advocate of the canal and water power. He has helped to erect every church in the city and on all occa- sions has given time and monev for the B UFFA L CO UNTY. 163 public good of his city and section. As a lawyer, Mr. Hamer is careful, pains-tak- ing, laborious and much in earnest. He aspires to a thorough knowledge of the law and facts pertaining to his case rather than to a display of rhetoric. As a judge, he is a persistent and unremitting woi'ker. The Tenth judicial district is the largest in tiie state, and contains fifteen counties, in tliirteen of which courts are held. Until tiie appointment of Judge Church, of North Platte, about one year ago, Judge Ilamer heard all the cases in all this immense territory — a territory about tiiree hundred miles long and about one hun- dred miles wide. He annually disposes of about twenty-five hundred cases. Judge Hamer is of Englisii stock on his father's side. His great-grand fatiier, John Hamer, was born in the state of New York a century and a quarter ago, and his grandfather, William Hamer, was born in the same state and moved to Pennsylvania, where his eldest daughter, Mary, was born, and shortly thereafter he moved to Stark county, Ohio, wiiere ids otiier children were born, including Fran- cis Hamer, the father of the subject of this sketcii. Francis Hamer married Mary Mahan, and removetl from Stark county to Seneca county, Ohio, about the year 18-40, and tliree \^ears later his son, F'rancis G. was born. Francis G. has no brothers or sisters living. A brother and sister died in infancy, and Thomas L., anotiier brother, died in the Union army, at the age of sixteen, in 1864. Francis Hamer, the Judge's fatiier, David Ilamer, his uncle, Oliver Ilamer, liis half brother, and Mrs. Martha Shalienbarger and Mrs. Amanda Alien, half sisters, reside near Delphi, Carroll county, Indiana. The Judge's father is a farmer, as were his grandfather and great-grandfatlier, and the Judge himself is also (piite a farmer. He owns several valuable farms well stocked with fine cattle, horses and hogs, and lias liad crops growing every year but one since he was eighteen. Wliile he has worked hardas a lawN'er and as judge, he lias not forgotten the farm nor left it. JOHN W. KING, M. D., a young, well-read physician of excellent natural ability of Armada, Buffalo county, Nebr., was l)orn near Indian- apolis, Ind., February 10, 1859, and is tiie son of John G. and Martiia (Park) King. The latter was born in A'irginia, September 20, 1831, and is still liv- ing. John G. King was born in Indi- ana, February 28, 1831, and was a farmer. He enlisted in Company G, T\vent3'-sixth Indiana infantry, but only served about thirteen months, when he died in a hospi- tal at Springfield, Mo., August, 1862. He was married to Miss Martlia Park, Sep- tember 21, 1854, by whom he had three children — Bertlia (deceased), John W., and Fannie K. Dr. King was reared on a farm near Indiana]iolis, and provided for his widowed motlier after ids fatlier's death. He attended the normal school at Val])araiso, Ind., for two years, after which he spent two years on the old homestead. He began to read medicine witli Dr. J. G. Gressler of Pduff Creek, Ind., and afterwards attended a course of lectures at Bennett's Medical College, Ciii- cago. He tlien practiced about eighteen montlis at Waverly, Ind., and in Decem- ber, 1882, entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in June, 1883, and then located at WaverW, Ind., where he prac- ticed with excellent success fortwo years. He came to Ai'mada, Nebr.,in June, 1888, where he has since continued the practice of his profession. Dr. King was married to Miss Marv Cheatham. September 22, 1880. She was born June 21, 1856, and was the daughter of William Cheatham, who was a Virginian by birth. She died April 19, 1889, leaving three children — Martha B., Ossie L., and John W. Dr. King is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Modern AVoodmen. and Knights of Pyth- ias. JOHN D. LOEWENSTEIN was born in Bii'mingham, a suburb of Pitts- burgh, Pa., January 23, 1854. His father, Daniel Loewenstein, was born in Ahlen, Hesse Cassel, Germany, where he spent his early da^'s learning the cabinet, making trade, and following this in the old country. In 1852 became to America and, abandoning his trade, engaged in wagon-making. He is still living. Eliza beth, mother of John D., was also born in Ahlen, Hesse Cassel, Germany. To these parents were born six children, viz. — John D., Henry, Amelia (deceased), Frederick, Elizabeth and Mary. In 1855 Mr. Loewenstein, with his parents, moved West, settling in Iowa City, where he passed his youth. March 28, 1873, he went to Denver, Colo., and August 2, 1875, to Georgetown, Colo. In Septem- ber, 1876, he took an overland trip from Georgetown to Dead wood, Dak., and acquired a pretty fair idea of frontier life, and in January, 1877, returned to Iowa City. December 11, 1878, he married Mary Schmidt, daughter of John Schmidt, a native of Iowa. To this marriage have been born six children, viz. — Daniel J., William H., Frank J., Alva A , Christina and Ida May. Mr. Loewenstein settled in Buffalo county, Nebr., April 15, 1878, on the northwest quarter of section 17, town- ship 9, range 15. This land is now under the highest state of cultivation, producing large quantities of grain. He has built a comfortable dwelling house, a large com- modious barn and many other outbuild- ings. In politics he is an ardent demo- crat ; as a farmer, he is progressive, belong- ing to that prudent, thrifty class of Ger- man Americans, who make the best of citizens. His harvest implements are never left standing in the field where last used, but carefully stored under shelter nightly, setting an example that might be profitably followed by many a farmer. JOSEPH A. WATERS is one of the most successful farmers in Buffalo county, Nebr., as his finely improved farm in Center township indicates. He was born April 1, 1847, in Coshocton county, Ohio, and is of Scotch-Irish descent ; his father, Allen Waters, a farmer by occupation, having been born in Scotland, and his mother, Frances (Foster) Waters, in Ireland. There were seven children in the paternal family, Joseph being the fourth. Joseph lived at home in Ohio until about twenty- one years of age, during which time he attended the neighboring school and helped cultivate the farm. In 1807 he BUFFALO COUNTY 165 emigrated west and located in Scotland county, Mo., where for six year^ he en- gaged in farming and worked at the car- penter trade, which trade he still follows at odd intervals. Not being satisfied with his general surroundings in Missouri, he decided to emigrate still further west and take up government land ; accordingly, in the spring of 1873, he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and filed his claim, April 12, under the homestead law, on the quarter section in Center township on which he still resides. The country was ver}' new at that time and settlers were few and far between. There were plenty of deer, elk and antelope and a few remaining Pawnee Indians The first summer was put in principally at work at the carpenter trade. The following year (1874) he put out corn, oats and wheat, but harvested only a few bushels of wheat, the corn and oats having been totall}' destro3'ed by the grasshoppers. The fol- lovving 3^ear he raised a fair croj), but in 1870 again lost nearly everything by the grasshoppers, but he h'as had good average crops ever since. In 1877, he set out trees on his farm, which are now large and thrifty and present an imposing appear- ance in the front of his spacious frame residence. He now has two apple orchards, which have borne fruit for five years — a very rai'e thing in this country — and has had extraordinary success in fruit growing. Mr. Waters was married November 2, 1871, to Lyia A. Turner, by whom he has one child, Eva, who was born Septem- ber 9, ISSU, but lived to be only three weeks old. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are both members of the Methodist church. In politics, Mr. Waters is a republican. JOHN E. LUND (deceased) was a native of Norway, born January 22, 1832, and came to this country in early life, locating at Minneapolis, Minn., where he resided for a number of years, and in 1868 located at Omaha, Nebr., and for four years was engaged as a mechanic in the car-siiops at that place. He was married in April, 18fi9, to Annie M. Erickson, who is a native of Canada and was born October (1, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Lund lived at Omaha until 1874, when, on account of close confine- ment in the shops, his health failed him and they decided to coiue fartlier west and take up government land and farm, in hopes of improving his health. Thev accordingl}^ located in Buffalo countv, Nebr., and filed a claim under the home- stead law on a quarter-section in Center township, four miles east of Kearney. The co'untr}' was comparatively new and verj^ sparsely settled. Wild game was plentiful and along the Platte river there were a good man\' Indians, who frequently called at their house to beg. For the first two years, having no team and being too poor to purchase one, he raised but little produce, and that little was destroyed by grasshoppers. Mr. Lund therefore worked at his trade in town and earned mone}' to keep family, but after the first two years crops were good and he luul abundant suc- cess. Mr. Lund died May 19, 1885, and since that date Mrs. Lund has conducted the farm and has been very successful in her management of its affairs. The union of Mr. and ^Irs. Lund re- sulted in the birth of four children, as follows — Alvin, born February 25, 1870; Earnest, born August 25, 187(i ; Emma, born July 1, 1879; and Albert, born Sep- IOC BUFFALO COUNTY tember 6, 1881. Mrs. Lund is a member of the Evangelical church, and the manner in which she is rearing her family is such as to elicit favorable comment among her neighbors. A NTIIONY SHOVEL, one of the old and respected citizens of Center township, was born September 21, 1830, in Montreal, Canada. He is a son of Mitchel and Catherine (Palmer) Shovel, both of whom were born in Canada, January 8, ISOO, and were of French descent. His paternal grand- father, Mitchel Shovel, was a native of France, but he died in Canada in LSIO. His maternal grandfather was Anthony Palmer, and was a native of France also. He died in Canada in 1848. Anthony Shovel's ])arents died when he was quite young, and he was left to look out for himself at ten years of age. He worked on a farm until he was fourteen, and then served an apprenticeship at the black- smithing. He crossed over to the United States in 1819, and visited many of the large cities in this country, going as far south as New Orleans, and worked at his trade a quarter of a century. He came from Ohio to Nebraska in September, 1871, took up a homestead in Center town- ship, Buffalo county, immediately, and determined to make this his home. The country was very wild, but he had great confidence in its future, and believed he would live to see the time when it would be regarded with great promise. He had many interesting experiences with the Indians, and receiveil many calls from them at his house. September 13, 1855, he married Susan Culpeper, a daughter of William and Susan (Lockhart) Culpeper, and born Julj' 2, 1831. Her father was born in Culpeper county, Va., and died in 1835. Her mother was born in the same county and died in 1831. They have no children of their own, but adopted James A. McMannis, when eight years of age. He has since gone by the name of • James Shovel. They also adopted Maud Ma}' Reed, when five months old. She was born May 0, ISSl, and is now a bright little girl. WILLIAM D. GODBEY is the son of John and Ellen (A'oid) God- bey, and was born at Terre Haute, Ind., May 8, 1830. His father was a native of Virginia and was born in the year 1786. He farmed quite extensively' in Virginia until the vear 1828, when he emiirrated to Indiana, locating near Terre Haute. Here he continued his occupation of farming until the year 1810, when he removed to what was then considered the Western frontier, locating in Des Moines county, Iowa. After a residence there of three years, during which time he farmed, he moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. W. D. Godbey's mother was a native of Indiana and was born in the year 1818. There were eight children in the family, four boys and four girls. William D., the subject of this sketch, was married September 26, 1853, to Ingala Ryan, daughter of Jesse B. and Mahala Ryan, both natives of Barbour county, AV. Va. ; the former was born May 12, 1814, and the latter March 1, 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Evan were married October 3, 1833, and lived on a farm in Barbour county until 1846, when they moved to Union county, Ohio, wliere they resided until 1851, when they moved to Delaware count\% Ind., and two years later to Ma- iuiska county, Iowa. There were six chil- dren in the family — three boys and three girls. Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. WiUiani D. Godbey settled on a farm in Mahaska county, and contmued their residence there for twenty-five years. They emigrated west in 1878, locating in Cass county, Nebr., wliere they resided until March, 1884, when they removed to Buffalo county. Their union has been blessed with fourteen children, as follows — Emery, born August 26, 1854 ; Harriet A. born December 12, 1855; John C, born Api'il 13, 1857; Jesse B., born January 19, 1859 ; Emily A., born November 12, 1861 ; MahalaE., born September 20, 1863 ; Lllyssus S., born November 29, 1865 ; Charlie, born April 30, 1867 ; Olive, born March 30, 1869 ; Cyrus II., born Decem- ber 11, 1870; Nora, born April 1, 1872; William, born January 30, 1875 ; Martha E., born November 12, 1876 ; and Delia J., born June 19, 1880. Mr. Godbey is inde- pendent in politics. H ENRY W. MORSE was born in Richmond, Vermont, February 6, 1845, and is the son of Adam and Mary (Hunter) Morse, natives of Ver- mont. His father was engaged in mer- cantile and farming business until he moved to Stark count}'. 111., in 1863, where he followed farming for several years. In 1880 he moved to Nebraska, where he has since been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. His faithful wife, how- ever, died in 1877. Both were active members of the Baptist church. II. W. Morse, when a lad of sixteen, found em- ployment in a woolen factory in Winooski, Vermont, where he worked until soon after the war broke out. In July, 1862, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second regiment. New York volunteers, and served with credit to his country for three years. He participated in the engagements at Cold Harbor, Fort Darling, Petersburg and Chapin's farm, under the command of the invinciijle Ben. Butler. He also followed the brilliant Gen. Terry through North Carolina and Smithville, where he was discharged June 15, 1865. He returned to New York, but soon departed for the prairies of Illinois. In 1866 he en- tered the Cherokee Nation with a large number of cattle. The year 1867 found him back in Illinois again, where he spent two years. In 1870 he went to Dallas county, Iowa, and from there to Stewart, where heconducted a meat market for some time. In 1872 he landed in Gibbon, Buf- falo county, Nebr., where he resided four years, after which he spent two 3'ears in Wj'oming Territory, in charge of a gang of railroad men. When he first came to Buffalo county he took a timber claim, which he proved up several years after- wards, receiving patent No. 2, signed by President Chester A. Arthur. Henry W. Morse was married on Christ- mas da}', 1872, to Miss Ida, daughter of Lewis and Mary (Diamond) Throop. She was born in Illinois, ^fay 21, 1855. Her father was a New Yorker bv birth and 168 BUFFALO COUNTY. her mother was born in England. Four children were born of this union — Willie A., born August 28, 1875 ; Arthur, boi'n November 28, 1878 ; Lillian, born Novem- ber 28, 1880 ; and May Jane, born March 21, 1883. Mr. Morse is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Center town- ship, Buffalo county, making a speciality of hogs and cattle. He is a republican in politics and has held various local offi- ces. He is, besides, a member of the Ma- sonic order. Odd Fellows' society, G. A. K. and A. O. U. W. JOSEPHUS MOOKE was born in Ohio, in 1851. His early boyhood was spent in a very similar way to that of other boys of that time. His father was Hamilton Moore, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., but who moved to Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, thence to Clay county, Ind., and from there migrated to Dawson count}', Nebr., in 1873 ; he then moved to Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, and here I'emained until 1885, when he returned to Indiana. He died October 15, the following year. Politi- cally, he was a reiniblican. Mrs. (Brisco) Moore, the subject's mother, was a native of Virginia, born in 1820. She moved with her parents to Ohio and was married there in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were both honored members of the Christian church, and to them were born twelve children, viz.— Mary E. (Mrs. Mills), Syl- vanus, Frances Ann (Mrs. Gonnug), Silas, Eliza Jane (Mrs. Tuttle), Josephus, John K., and five that are dead. Josephus, the subject of this sketch, migrated with his ])arents to Nebraska in 1873, settling in Dawson county, and there entering a homestead claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. In 1886 he moved to the village of Elm Creek, where he has since been running a restaurant. Mr. Moore is universally respected by all who know him for his excellent traits of char- acter, being always congenial and hospita- ble. He was married, in 1886, to Miss Ann Shay, a native of Michigan, born in 1870, Mr. Hull, county judge, officiating. Mr. Moore is allied in politics to the repub- licans. NT. BLISS, the subject of this sketch, is one of the progres- sive young men who came west to grow up with the country. He is a son of N. T. and Hannah M. (Collins) Bliss, and was born in Luzerne county. Pa., February 9, 1852. His father was a native of New York, and his mother of Pennsylvania; the former died in 186C, and the latter in 1888. N. T. Bliss is one of a family of eight children, five of whom are now living. Young Bliss attended the common schools, and also spent about eighteen months in a seminary. At six- teen, he became an engineer in the mining- regions of Pennsylvania, but he soon saw that it was almost impossible to lay up mone}' while he continued in this line, and he determined to come west. He arrived in Buffalo county, Nebr., in March, 1878, and homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 20, in Gardner town- ship, built a small house, and began break- ing at once. Mr. Bliss was married August 17, 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Edith M. Bodgers, a native of England. Tlieir home is blessed with three bright chil- BUFFALO COVXTY ino dren, namely — Clarence, born May 10, 1883; Leilah, born March 23, 1885, and Earl E., born January 28, 1889. Mr. Bliss is a rej)ublican in politics, and, while he has not been an aspirant for public office, he has been called upon to fill the office of justice of the peace. lie owns a well improved farm, and takes considera- ble interest in raising blooded cattle, hav- ing now some fine specimens of the im])orted Hereford class. lie came west with limited means, but is now classed among the successful and enterprising farmers of Butfalo county. DAVID INMAN,born November 5, 183C, is one of tlie first settlers of Butfalo county. He is the son of Powers and Mar}' (Durst) Inman, Ijoth natives of Pennsylvania. The former, a meclianic, was born in the year 1801, and departed this life in 1865 ; the latter was born January 5, 1805. There were born to them ten children — three bo\'s and seven girls — our subject being the fourtli child. David Inman lived at home in Meigs count}', Ohio, until he was eighteen years of age, during which time he served an apprenticeship and worked at the carpen- ter's trade, which business he has followed at odd intervals through life. In 1859 he made a trip through Missouri and Kansas with a view of locating in tlie West, but finally returned home and settled down to his trade. September 20, 1861, he responded to his country's call for troops, enlisting in Company K, Eighteenth regiment Oliio volunteers, and served nearh' four \'ears. His regiment left Camp Dennison Novem- ber 5, 1861, and proceeded to Cincinnati. Louisville, Elizabethtown, Bacon Creek, Bowling Green, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., engaging in a numl)er of skir- mishes; from there on to Iluntsviile, Ala. He participated in battles at Hunts- ville, Decatur, Tuscnmbia and Athens, Ala., after which he was confined for two months in tiie hospital at Shelbyville and Talahoma (Tenn.), on account of disabili- ties incurred in marching. He joined his regiment in August, 1862, and took ))art in the siege of Nashville, battle of Stone Piver and numerous minor battles, up to the taking of Stoneman's (iap, soon after which he was taken with erysipelas and confined in hospital at Talahoma and Nasliville, Tenn., until Se]itember, 1S63, when he joined his regiment and took part in the battle of Chickaniauga, tlie siege of Chattanooga, and the battle of Mission Kidge. He was discharged No- vember 9, 1864, and returned to Meigs county, where he followed bridge-build- ing until the spring of 1873, when he immigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., and homesteaded the southeast quarter of sec- tion 28, township 10, range 16, where he still resides. Mr. Inman was one of the first to settle in Divide township, and, on account of the severe droughts and the grasshoppers which prevailed at that time, was unable to raise much grain for tiie first four j'ears. He worked at his trade in Kear- ney' at odd times, and was tluis able to provide for the family wants. Deer, elk and antelope were plentiful in those times, and furnished part of the family meat. Mr. Inman was married April 12, 1865, to Martha Cowdery, a native of Meigs county, Ohio, who- was born April 14, 170 BUFFALO COUNTY. !1845. She is the daughter of George W. and Susan (Sayre) Cowdery, both natives of Meigs county, Ohio ; the former a law- 3'er, was born January 15, 1820; the latter was born February 28, 1817. To Mr. and Mrs. David Inman there have been born nine children, as follows — Minerva A., born January 5, 1866 ; Rob- ert P., born July 23, 1868 ; Harry, born July 7, 1871 ; Stella E., born December 5, 1873 ; Mary E., born April 13, 1876 ; Nora E., born March 14, 1879; George "W., born March 7, 1881 ; Eutli A., born Octo- ber 17, 1883, and David P., born August 22, 1885. JOSEPH FITZ. Among the many fine and prosperous-looking places that greet the eye of a traveler on the main road running north from Kearney, through Divide township, is that of this gentleman. He was born in County Down, Ireland, September 15, 1839. and comes of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Joseph Fitz, a cooper and gunsmith by trade, was a native of Scotland, born in the j'ear 1797 ; and his mother, Ellen (Murphy) Fitz, a native of Ireland, was born in 1808. There were eight chil- dren in the father's family — all boys. His parents were both zealous members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Fitz, the subject proper of this sketch, resided with his father in Ireland until eighteen years of age, coming to this country in July, 1847, and locating at Ledgedale, Wayne county. Pa. Here he resided for thirteen years, during which time he served an apprenticeship and worked at the carpent,er trade, and was overseer of teams for the Moss Tanning Company. In 1860 he removed to Bi\ad- ford county, and worked at carpentering for two years, after which he returned to Ledgedale, and in the spring of 1872, on account of the great demand for carpen- ters, caused b}' the big fire of the fall before, he moved to Chicago. Here he pursued his trade until the spring of 1874, when he concluded to seek his fortune in the then far West. He, accordingly, came to Buffalo count}' that spring, and pur- chased the southeast quarter of section 23, township 10,range 16, his present residence. The same spring he took a timber claim — the southwest quarter of section 14, same township and range. The following fall he bought two car loads of lumber from Chicago, built a small frame house, and broke a portion of his raw land. In 1876 he had thirty acres in corn and fifty acres n wheat, but, on account of drought and grasshoppers, he lost all his corn and har- vested but three bushels of wheat to the acre. There was a general failure in crops that year, and man}' settlei's became dis- couraged and left the country. Mr. Fitz offered the quarter section on which he lived for $400, but could not sell even at that low figure. He has had good average crops ever since, and a palatial residence, together with other valuable improve- ments, show his prosperity and speak for his industrious and economical habits. In the meantime, however, he worked at his trade for ten months in Chicago. He has in all three hundred and twenty acres of the best land in Divide town- ship, and has broken in all one hundred and eighty acres. He has eleven acres of thrifty growing timber, which of itself is a valuable addition to a farm in this BUFFALO ('OCX TV 171 countn', where little timber is to be found. He is also owner of over eighty head of horses and cattle. Mr. Fitz was married April 15, 1867, to Elizabeth Patterson, wlio was born in the city of IJondout, Ulster county, IST. Y., July 9, 1851. Her father, Robert Patter- son, a native of Ireland, was born in 1828, and her mother, Jane (Henry) Patterson, also a native of Ireland, was born in 1830. There were three children in the father's family — one boy and two girls — of which Mrs. Fitz is the eldest. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Fitz has been blessed with a family of children, as follows — Jane, born August 7, 1869 (deceased) ; Robert P., born October 10, 1870; William J., born February 17, 1873; John H., born April 3, 1875 (ileceased); Lilly M., born May 23, 1878 ; Jane E., born Decenaber 9, ISSO. Mr. and Mrs. Fitz- are both members of the Presb^'terian church, and take an active interest in church affairs. The former has been a member of the church since 1877; the latter, since October, 1869. Mr. Fitz affiliates with the republican pai'ty. FRANK RICE, one of the highly ])rosperous and influential farmers of Divide townsliip,Buffalo county, Nel)r., was born in Hamilton county, Oiiio, November 20, 1835. His father, Jesse Rice, was a native of West Virginia, born in the year 1812. At an early age Jesse emigrated with his father's family to Hamilton county, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he fol lowed for some years. Here he met and married, in 1834-, Amassie Erskine, which union was blessed with eight children — five boys and three girls. He moved to Peoria, 111., in 1836, where for the re- mainder of his life he was engaged as a steamboat engineer on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. He died at Peoria in 1874 ; his wife survived him but two years, dying in 1876. Frank Rice, the subject of this sketch, began life on his c^wn account at the age of nineteen, serving an apprenticeship of one year at t^'pe-setting in the office of the Peoria 2lorning JVeics. He became quite proficient in the typographical art and afterwards worked on the Lacon Gazette, a paper published at Lacon, 111. For several years he ran an engine in sev- eral large distilleries at Peoria, and in 1862 moved to Fulton county, 111., where he engaged in the distilling business for live years. In 1867 he emigrated to Linn count}', Iowa, and engaged in milling for one year, then returned to Fulton county, 111., and engaged in farming. In 1869 he moved to Clinton count}% Iowa, where he engaged in the distilling business. He came to Buffalo county, October 31, 1882 and bought four hundred acres of the choicest land in the township, to which he has since added a quarter section, making in all five hundred and sixty acres, on which he now resides. Mr. Rice is one of the most extensive farmers in the count3\ having rai.sed this 3'ear over eight hundred acres of crop — princi]ially corn and fliix. He is one of the largest llax growers in the state, and this year raised and marketed thirty- five hundred bushels of seed. Mr. Rice was married September 2, 1859, to Joanna Kline, wlio was born in Prussia, but, coming to this country at the age of ten j^ears, has little remembrance 172 BUFFALO CnuXTY of her ancestors. She was reared by an English family at Peoria, 111. By her he has two sons — Julian, born May 31, 1860, and Clarence, born December 3, 1868. Mr. Rice is a republican in politics and has served a term of two j'ears as super- visor of his township and has just been re-elected for another term. He is a stronjT high license man and don't believe in sumptuary legislation of any kind. JOHN F. YOUNG is one of the earli- est settlers of Buffalo county, and a man much respected for his honorable and upright course in life. He was born in Union county, 111., May 20, 1843. His father, Alexander Young, a farmer b}' occupation, was a native of Kentucky, and was born April 30, 1803. He died in 1844 at the age of forty-one years. His mother, Margaret (Wilgus) Young, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born October 2, 1809. She is still living, hale and hearty, at eighty years of age. There were eight children in the father's family , as follows — Elizabeth. Sarah A., Hester, Eliot, Nancy, Julia, Mary and John F. The father died when John F., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was a mere babe, and when two years old his mother moved to Logan count}', Oliio, and in this antl Union county John F. spent his boyhood days. He attended the neighboring school and labored on the farm until the war broke out, when he was one of the first to respond to his country's call, enlisting April 25, 1861, in Company F, Eighth Indiana infantrv. He went with his regiment to "West Virginia, where, under Gen. Rosecrans, he participated in the battle of Rich Mountain. At the expiration of his time he was discharged August 6, 1861, at Indi- anapolis. He next enlisted, Se])tember 28, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio, in Company K, First Ohio cavaliy, and was in Gen. Thomas' division until the re-organization of the cavalry into brigades in the fall of 1862, after which he was in the Army of the Cumberland. April 15, 1862, he was taken sick with the typhoid fever at Pitts- burgh landing, and was sent to Camp Dennison hospital. Later, he obtained a thirty-day furlough, and returned home. Joining his regiment the latter part of July, he participated in an engagement at Tallahoma, Tenn., and the battle of Chickamauga in September, at which battle he was wounded in the left fore- arm and sent to the Cumberland hospital at Nashville, where he remained one month and was transferred to the hospital at Covington, Ky., where he was confined until the latter part of February following, when he returned to Nashville and re-en- listed as a veteran, March 11, 1864, in the same company and regiment. Altogether, he participated in battles and skirmishes at Calhoun, Tenn.; Decatur, Ala.; Sfoulton, Ala. ; Kennesaw ilountain. Noonday Creek, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jones- borough, Lovejoy Station, Rome, Dalton and Jaspei', Ga. ; Ebenezer Church, Ala. ; Selma, Ala., Columbus and Alpine, Ga. ; Liberty, Perryville and Franklin, Ky., and Dobson's Ford. Mr. Young was one of a small comi)any of men under Captain Joseph A. O. Yoeman, who, disguised in rebel uniform, was sent from Macon, Ga., in search of, and assisted in the capture BUFFALO COrXTY. 173 of, Jefferson Davis. They were twice taken prisoners by the Union forces but were released on producing papers show- ing their identity. Mr. Young, for his individual service in the capture of Jeff. Davis, received a special bounty from the government of $329.00. He was dis- charged at Hilton Head, S. C, September 13, 1865, and now gets a pension of .$2.00 per month for disabilities incurred in the Avar. He moved, in November, 1806, to Phil- adelphia, Pa., where he labored in the lumljer industry for three years, after which here turned to Ohio, and in Madison and Union counties was engaged in farm- ing until 1S73. In May, 1873, he emi- grated west and located in Buffalo county, Nebr.,takingaclaim in section 22, township 10, range 16. In those days tluit section of the country was very sparseh' settled and wikl game was plentifid. Mr. Young rejjorts having frequently shot elk, ante- lojie and deer. There were very few buffalo remaining, but now and then one was to be seen. In 1S73 he had out ten acres of sod-corn, but, on account of ex- treme drought, got but little for his labor. In 1874 he broke up more land and put out more crops, but, the grasshoppers coming that year, he harvested only a a few bushels of wheat. He lost in like manner his corn in 1875. In 1876 he put out larger crops than ever, but that year llio grasshoppers destroyed every growing tiling, and even ate tlie dry bark from off his bean poles. From seventy acres of wheat, that yeai', he harvested but thii'ty- tliree bushels. The suffering and priva- tion his family had to endure can better be imagined than described. The three following years brought good crops. In 1880, he moved back to Ohio, locating at Marion, where, for six years, he had a fruit and confectionery store. In 1886, he returned to Buffalo county, Nebr., and has since been engaged in farming. He was married April 2, 1864, to Sarah E. King, who was born June 16, 1848, and is the adopted daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kimsey) King; the former was born June 15, 1797, and the latter, June 26, 1797. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Young has been blessed with the birth of eight children, as follows — Anna E., born October 20, 1866 ; Eliot (deceased), born July 26, 1869 ; Margaret, born November 8, 1870; Joanna (tleceased) born February 11, 1873; Nellie C, born August 20, 1875; "William R., born July 11, 1877 ; Bessie M., born June 25, 1881, and John M., born April 7, 18S3. Mr. and Mrs. Young are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have so reared their children in that belief that their home is one which mav trulv be characterized a model home. SAMUEL M. FOIINEY is a prosper- ous farmer in Divide township, Buffalo county, Nebr., much re- spected by his neighbors and acquaint- ances for his honesty and integrity. He was born October 23, 1836, in Somerset county. Pa., His father, Michael Forney, a farmer by occu|iation, was also a native of Somerset county. Pa , and was born in the year 1811. His mother, Rachel (Hor- ner) Forney, was likewise a native of the same county and state, and was born May 5, 1817. There were ten children in the father's famil}', as follows — Mary, Samuel, 174 BUFFALO COUNTY Edmuntl, Sally, David, John, Susan, Cath- arine A., ISTancy, and Amanda. The paternal grandfather, John Forney, a far- mer, carpenter and minister in the Dunkard church, was born in the year 1770, and married Susannah Beachly. Of the other grand parents, little or nothing is known. Samnel M., tlie subject of tliis sketch, resided at home witli his father in Somer- set county until twenty-one years of age, attending school and helping on the farm, and then moved with his father to Olney, Richmond county. 111., where he engaged in farming, which he continued until March, 1881, when he emigrated west and located in Buffalo count}', Nebr., purchas- ing his present farm — a timber claim at that time — in section 24, township 10, range 16, which he afterwards entered as a homestead. Mr. Forney is an industrious farmer and has raised good crops every j'ear since he came. His wheat has aver- aged him from fifteen to twent3'-two bushels per acre, and oats about fort}' five bushels per acre. He now has one hun- dred and twenty acres broken in all. He was married September 18, 1862, to Catharine Kimmel, who was born Decem- ber 9, 1845, and is the daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Tombaugli) Kimmel, both natives of Stark county, Ohio; the former was born in 1820 and the latter in 1825. Tiiere were ten children in her father's family — four boys and six girls— as fol- lows — Johnatlian, Catherine, Mathias, Sarah, Louis, Serena, two that died in in- fanc}"-, Elizabeth and Susan. The union in marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Forney has been blessed with the birth of eight children, as follows — Nancy, born September 10, 1863 ; Rachel (deceased), born December 29, 1864; Susan, born August 15,1866; Lydia, born July 19, 1868; Elizabeth and Edmund (twins), born July 6, 1871 (the former of whom is de- ceased) ; Mar}', born January 20, 187 7, and Martha, born March 15, 1S79. Mr. and Mrs. Forney are l)oth believers in the Dunkard faith, like all their ances- try, as far back as they are able to trace. Mr. Forney was appointed minister in the church in 1859 and for thirty years has filled that appointment, together with his other duties. Politically, he is a re- publican. GEORGE D. ASPINWALL, the subject of this sketch, was born in Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y., August 19, 1849. He is a son of Joel A. Aspinwall, a native of A^ermont but now residing in Jefferson county, Wis- consin. His mother was a native of New York, and bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Rose. She died in Jefferson county. Wis., in March, 1858, at the age of thirty- six. The Asi)inwall family are of Eng- lish extraction, the original ancestor on American soil being the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch. In 1850 Mr. Aspinwall moved with his parents to AVisconsin, where he was reared on his father's farm. He is the eldest of three children, of whom Salmon C. lives in Wisconsin, and Sarah E., wife of Mer- ritt Rose, resides in Jefferson county, N. Y. He received a common school educa- tion and followed farming up to Decem- ber, 1880. He immigrated to Nebraska, and settled in Buffalo county, where he took up a claim in December, 1873. Here he endured the hardships of pioneer life and GEORGE D. ASPINWALL. BUFFALO CO I XT Y tlie deprivations of the famous grasshopper period. He has worked himself up and no one can better appreciate the luxuries and conveniences of life than one of these old- timers who has known what it is to see the fruits of years of toil swept away b}^ such calamities as tlie grasshopper scourge, and know what it is to be in want in a land where money has no purchasing power. In December, 1880, he left the farm and moved to Kearney, where he has since resided. January 1, 1881, he was ajipointed deputy county clerk, the duties of which position he performed the suc- ceeding two 3'ears. He then began busi- ness on his own account as a real estate and loan agent, in which he continued onl}' one }"ear, when he was elected clerk of the district court, his term of office exjiiring in 1SS7. In this position he gave general satisfaction. At the expiration of his term of office he again opened a real estate, loan and abstract office, which he continued to operate till April, 1890, when he was elected secretary and general man- ager of the Midwav Loan and Trust Com- i)anv and cashier of the Kearnev Savings Bank. lie assisted in the oi'ganization of and is a large stock-holder in both of these institutions. He was married, April 4, 1872, to Miss Cecelia I., daughter of Har- vey Ransom, of Jefferson county, Wis. She shared with her husband the hard- siiips of frontier life and proved a help- mate and comfort in times that tried men's souls. No man is better known in Buffalo county than Mr. Aspinwall. His strict adherence to principle, sterling integrity and business ability render him one of Kearney's leading business men and most substantial citizens; always alive to every public movement for the common good, lie is personally popular with all classes. Con- servative without being non-progressive, generous without being extravagant, he ranks among the safe, level-headed men of the community. His home is as unostentatious and simple as his business career has been upright and successful. In his little family circle, tranquil and happy, we leave him to the enjoyment of the peace and plenty, which a lifetime of pa- tient untiring industry has bequeathed him. A" LEXANDEE BRUKER is an early settler of Buffalo county, Nebr., and one of the most prosper- ous fanners in Divide township. He was born June 17, 1812, in Alsace, France, and came to America in 1854, when but twelve years of age. He located at Bur- lington, Iowa, and secured employment at one of the hotels, where lie labored for nearl}' two years. He next procured a position in a job-printing office, which he held for two years. Having been econom- ical in his habits, he saved quite a little sum of money and leased land near Bur- lington for nine years and engaged in rais- ing fruit and making wine. He followed this industry until the war broke out, when, true to the country which he had adopted, he enlisted, in September, 1861, in the First United States lancers. The troops camped near Burlington for two months and then disbanded. He next en- listed, November 11, 1861, in Compan}' H, Eleventh Illinois cavalry, which was made up at Peoria, 111. Under this enlistment, he participated in the battle of Pittsburg 178 BUFFALO COUNTY Landing and the first siege of Corinth, after which, for some time, he was on duty as a scout. On account of weak lungs and liver trouble, he was discharged from further service, July 6, 1862. He grew better of his ailments and in September of tiie same 3'ear, enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fifth Iowa regiment. He was able to continue with his regiment but two weeks, when his health failed him and he was obliged to abandon entirelj' the expe- dition. He returned to Burlington, Iowa, where he followed fanning until he emi- grated west and located in Buffalocounty in October, 1875, filing claims on 160 acres in section 6, township 10, range 16, on which he still resides. The country immediately surrounding him was, at that time, new and very sparsely settled, his nearest neighbor living some three miles distant. The following year he broke a portion of his land and put it into corn. His crop flourished for a time and gave promise of an abundant harvest, but in August the grasshoppers came and devoured it all. He succeeded in smoking them off the first time the\^ came, but three weeks later they came in such abundance that he could do nothing but submit to the inevitable. That summer and fall he was compelled to live on corn bread, barley and wild game — -the latter consisting of deer, elk and jack-rabbits, which were quite plentiful in those days, Mr. Bruker having seen, near ills place, one drove of fifteen elk. He drove his team back to Burlington that fall and spent the winter there, returning in the spring. He has had good average crops since the grasshopper times and now has a well improved farm, with 120 acres broken and neat frame buildings. Mr. Bruker was married June 15, 1881, to Julia Streit, who is a native of Austria, born June 4, 1858, and came to this country, April 11, 1884-. The}' are both members of the Catholic church. In pol- itics, Mr. Bruker is a republican. RN. VOLK. Although but few years a resident of Elm Creek, Mr. Volk has become a valued citizen by the publication of Ths Elm Creel- Sun. His father, John Volk, was a native of New York City, and was born in ISOi. He was a vei-y prosperous man in business, being for years proprietor of an extensive chair manufactory in his native city. In 1840 he moved to New Jersey and there remained till death, which occurred in 1887. He was an active member of the Pi'esbyterian cimi-ch and his death caused a long-felt vacancy. Mr. Volk was a supporter of the whig plat- form, and when that party merged into the republican, he still remained loyal to their principles. In 1826 Mr. Volk was married to Miss Rebecca Bennett, a native of New Jersey, also a member of the Pres- byterian church. For \'ears slie was an untiring and faithful worker and unto her might the Master truthfully' say : "Well done, good and faithful servant." Jlr. and Mrs. Volk shared in tiie choicest bless- ings of earth, for to them were given eleven children, viz. — Henrietta, William, Thomas, Christiana, Abram (died when twenty-three years old), Maria (died when an infant), John, Samuel, Silas, Mary and E. N". E. N. Volk was born in Croton, N. J., in IS-i-i. When two years of age his parents moved to Flemington, N. J., where his father was postmaster. At the BUFFALO COUNTY 170 age of nineteen he went to Trenton, N. J., as compositor on a daily newspaper, and there remained twenty years. He then came West, locating first at Plum Creek, but soon afterwards moved to Elm Creek, Buffalo county, Nebr., where he still resides. His first issue of The Elm Creek Sun was on June 2, 18S6. In 1866, while in Trenton, N. J., Mr. Volk was united in marriage to Miss Maiy E. Krier, of Trenton, by the Rev. John Heisler. Mrs. Mary E. Volk was born in Pennsylvania in 1850, and for j'ears has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Six children have brought sunsiiine into their hearts and home, viz. — Eva (deceased), Bessie, Mary, liichey, George and Robert Newton (died September IS, 1886). Mr. Volk has served four years as clerk of Elm Creek township, and three years as clerk of the village of Elm Creek, Nebr. GEORGE MILBOURN. There are few more worthy of honorable mention in this biographical work tlian the subject of this memoir. Wiiile he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, he has gained the highest regard of his townsmen, and those with whom he is intimately associated. He is the son of Jacob Mil bourn, a native of Virginia, born in 1792. Jacob first moved to Ohio, settling in Carroll county, and thence to Columbiana county. He was for some time foreman of the Davis mills, after which he purchased the Ciiambers- burgh mills. Mr. Milbourn was a whig in politics. He was nuvrried in 1823 to Miss Marie Monohan, a native of Carroll county, Ohio. She was a member of the Quaker society, and continued a devout adheient to the faith until death. Seven children were born to them — Enos, Abigail, Jane, Henry (died in infancy), George, Samuel (deceased) and Washington, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and from there, with his parents, moved to Columbiana county and thence to Stark count}'. He tiiere learned the blacksmith trade. He then moved to Woodford county, HI , and there enlisted in the Union service, in the Eighth Illinois infantry ; was in the en- gagement at Mobile and was mustered out at New Orleans in 1865. In 1872 he located in Nebi'aska, settling in section 26, township 9, range 18, in Elm Creek town- ship, Buffalo countv. He married Susan Phflassheim in 1850, a native of Germany. Mrs. Milbourn has been a member of the Presbyterian church for years. They are the parents of six living children — George F., William F., Abraham L., Addie L., Dora, Rosa Ann, and Emma (died in infancy). George, the subject of this notice, was born in Ohio, in 1831 ; he migrated, with his parents, to Woodford county. 111., in 1861 and there farmed till 1862. Being true to the impulses of a patriotic nature, he enlisted in the Hundred and Twelfth Illinois infantry, in 1862, at Galva, Henry county. 111. He was one hundred and twenty-two times under fire, and was in twenty-two principal engagements and onehundredskirmishes,and passed through thein all without receiving a wound. Following is a list of the engagements in which he participated : Monticello, Ky.; Richmond, Ky.; Calhoun, Philadelphia, Campbell Station, Knoxville, Beard's Sta- tion, Dandridge, Mud Creek and Kelley's 180 BUFFALO COUNTY. Ford, all in Tennessee; Pine Mountain, Ottoy Creek, Atlanta, Eough and Headl- and Jonesboro, all in Georgia ; Columbia, Franklin and JSTashville, all in Tennessee ; Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Wilmington and Goldsboro, all in North Carolina. lie was mustered out at Greensborough, N. C, and thence went to Chicago, and from there to Ohio, and in 1S67 he returned to Illinois. He remained there till 1871, at which date he came to Nebraska, settling on section 26, township 9, 1'ange 18 west, in Elm Creek township, Buffalo count3\ Mr. Milbourn is a supporter of the republican ticket, and is one of the most enthusiastic members of the G. A. R. organization. Mr. Milbourn was united in marriage in 1868 to Miss Martha Moore, a native of White Oak Grove, 111. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and possesses congenial, motherly characteristics, which make her so beloved and admired by all who are intimate!}' associated with her. To Mr. and Mrs. Milbourn have been born thirteen chil- dren — L. M.,James,Lucy, Mary E.,Johnny, Tleson (deceased), Enos, Eddie, Reuben (deceased), Eunice M. (deceased), Allie, Car- rie (deceased), and Lottie Y. HENRY S. STEELE, one of the respected farmers of Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, Nebr., is the only son of James and Caroline Steele, natives of Yirginia. Mr. Steele, having lost his father and mother in early childhood, was thrown upon his own re- sources at a tender age. Without the caressing hand, the admonishino- words and earnest prayers of a loving mother, he was compelled to steer his own bark. He was a native of Yirginia, born in 1840 ; from there he moved to Ohio, settling in Ross county, thence to Fayette county, where he engaged in farming ; thence to Woodford county. III, remaining there seven years ; he then moved to Nebraska, in 1871, settling in Buffalo county. He was here through grasshopper times ; lost all his crops, excepting wheat, for three suc- cessive years ; but, not despairing of better times coming, he still continued to plant, and from 1877 has reaped good harvests. In 1870 Mr. Steele was married to Miss Mary Frances Lucas, a native of Kentucky born in 1851. She is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, but for yeavs has been an invalid, consequently unable to take an active part in cluirch work, but at home lives a life consistent with her profession. Their family consists of six boys anil one girl, viz. — Laura May, born August 26, 1871 ; Charlie Lee, born January 1,1876; Bertie, born March 22, 1881; Elmer and Ellsworth (twins), l)orn July 18, 18S1:; Clifford, born Sept. 30, 1885 ; Wm. Henry, born, Nov. 8, 1889. Mr. Steele enlisted at South Plymouth, Fayette county, Ohio, in Compaii}' A, Fifty-fourth Ohio infantry, under S. B. Yoeman, and was in the following engage- ments: Shiloh, Chickasaw Swamps, Fort Ileinman, Corinth, Yicksburg, Atlanta and Jonesburg, also in a number of skir- mishes. At Shiloh he had the bottom shot out of his canteen ; also had a minie-ball pass through his belt, his musket knocked out of his hand and just escaped a spent cannon-ball. Notwithstanding these nar- row escapes, Mr. Steele passed through over three 3'ears of service without receiv- inir a wound. He was mustered out in 1864 at Cincinnati, Ohio. BUFFALO COUNTY. 181 ROBERT K. POTTER is one of the pioneer settlers of Elm Creek L. township, but this of itself does not entitle him to mention in this compi- lation of memoirs; there are many who shared with him the experiences of pioneer life whose names will not be perpetuated. Ability wisely directed and a magnani- mous nature, make him deserving of h(;norable mention. Mr. Potter is the son of Wellington and Elizabeth (Ailsworth) Potter; the former was born in Luzerne county, Pa., in 1825. In 1881 he came to Nebraska, settling in Elm Creek town- ship, I'ufFalo county, and there remained five year's, then returned to Luzerne county. Pa. He is a niachinest b}^ trade, i)ut of late rears has been ensaijed in farming. Politically, he is a supporter of the repub- lican ticket. He was married in 1850, at Packsville, Luzerne county. Pa., to Miss Elizabeth Ailsworth, a native of the same count}'. They are botii members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them were born four children, viz. — Robert K., Ella (Mrs. Skinner), living in Elm Creek; Edwin W., postmaster of Elm Creek, and Viola (Mrs. Price), living in Kansas. The paternal grandfather of Mr. I'otter was Robert Iv. Potter, a native of Rhode Island; his maternal grandfather, David Ailsworth, was a native of Pennsylvania. Robert K., Jr., the subject of this sketch, was born in Luzerne county. Pa., in 1852. Tie remained at home till 18Gfi, when he encountered the stern realities of life for himself. He remained in Luzerne county till 1878, when he came West. While in Luzerne county he married Miss M. Burnette, a native of Pennsylvania, born in ISSfi. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, not alone in name but in heart, evincing it by a life of good works. To Mr. and Mrs. Potter were born five children, viz. — Libbie, Chandler, Willie, Carrie, and one, the fifth, that died in infancy. In 1881 Mrs. Potter died, and to her death the immortal words of Bryant are appi'opriate. She so lived that when the summons came to join the innumerable caravan which moves to that mysterious realm, by an unfaltering trust, she approached the grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams. Mr. Pot- ter was next married to Miss Mao-ffie Dun- lap, and to them have been born two chil- dren. Mr. Potter has been eminent!}' successful in his business career, his suc- cess being greatly due to shrewdness and the closest attention to business. He is largely interesteil in different branches of business and all come under his immediate supervision. His stock business alone ap- proximates $300,000 annually. He is now but thirty-seven years old, and although he settled in Buffalo county but eleven years ago, with only a few dollars and the advantages of Nebraska for a start, he is now one of the representative business men of the county. Politically, Mr. Potter is a stanch republican, and is now repre- senting Buffalo county in the legislature. GEORGE E. MILLER, a well-to- do farmer of Buffalo county, is the third child of George Miller, Sr., a native of historic Virginia. The father was a man possessing those virtues that commanded the respect of all who formed his acquaintance. He was a car- penter by trade, and also engaged in farm- 182 BUFFALO COUNTY. ing. In politics he was a republican. He moved from Virginia to Mason county, 111., and in 1858 was united in matrimon}' to Miss Isabel Smith, of Warren county, 111., but a native of Virginia. Mrs. Miller was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Miller's home has been filled with the music of five children, viz. — J. C, a farmer in Buffalo county; Ida Bell (Mrs. Smith), in Dawson county ; George E.; Nora (Mrs. Heaton), in Buffalo county, and Susan (Mrs. McNim). George E. Miller was born in Logan county, 111., in 1866. From there he went to York county, Nebr., where he remained two years, thence he removed to Buffalo county, his present home. At the age of fifteen he began life for himself. He started with nothing, and now owns a well-improved quarter section, with all the necessary farming implements. Mr. Miller is a young man, favorably known for thrift, honesty and sobriety. He was mar- ried to Miss Mollie Bartrop in 1888, Judge Glespie officiating. Mrs. Miller is a na- tive of Ohio, born in 1871. To them has been born one child — Marrette, December 5, 1888. Mr. Miller is a republican in politics. J OHN P. AKENDT is the son of Michael and Mary (Ketch) Arendt; the former was a native of France, and there remained till death, which occurred in 1887. He was engaged in farming, taking special interest in rais- ing thorougiibred horses. Mr. Arendt, at the time of liis death, was in very good circumstances. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Ketch, and he and wife were members of the Catholic church. Charity was one of his characteristic graces, of which the following is sufficient proof: A traveler was thrown from his conveyance and had his leg broken ; Mr. Arendt took him to his home and cared for him as he would for his own son, and when he was sufficiently recovered, he went on his way, Mr. Arendt asking no compensation. Their family consisted of two girls and five boys — Michael, living in France ; John, in France ; Cristine, in France ; Michael died in Wisconsin ; Mary, living in Minnesota; llanos, lives in France, and John P., the subject of this memoir, who was born in Fiance in 1832. When fourteen years of age, he came to America, stopping in Milwaukee, Wis.; thence he moved to Kewaunee county. Wis., and there engaged in farming and lumbering. At the breaking out of the war, he was sheriff of Kewaunee county, but, true to the impulses of a patriotic nature, he resigned and enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin infantry volun- teers, Company A, under Capt. Cunning- ham. On a march from Little Rock, Ark., to Mobile, Ala., he was sunstruck. from which he has suffered ever since. He was mustered out at Brownsville, Tex., the 29th of August, 1865. He then returned to Kewaunee county. Wis., and there re- mained until coming to Nebraska in 1872, first locating on section 28, township 9, range 18 west. Elm Creek township, thence moving to Elm Creek village, where he engaged in the mercantile »and lumber business, continuing -in this business till 1876, at which time he retired. Mr. Arendt laid out the present site of Elm Creek, platting eight\' acres. He was its first postmaster and also one of the first BUFFALO COUNTY. i83 commissioners of Buffalo county. He was married, in 1851), to Miss Catlierine Tyler, a native of Buffalo, N. Y. To them were born seven children, viz. — Mary (Mrs. Carey), in Overton, Nebr. ; Annie (Mrs. Bond), in Elm Creek, Nebr. ; Minnie (Mrs. Council), in Boulder, Colo. ; George, now in the employ of the U. P. R. R. Co., as agent at Elm Creek, which posi- tion he has filled creditably tiiree years; Maggie, Eva and Rose. In politics, Mr. Arendt is a democrat, anil lie anil family are identified with the Catholic church. DAVID I. BROWN, a highly re- spected resident of Elm Creek, Buffalo count}', is a native of Highland county, Ohio, and is the tenth in a family of eleven children. His father, Edgar Brown, was a native of Culpeper county, Va., born in 1796, but wiien four years of age, moved with his parents to Highland county, Ohio. Although he attended but three months of school, by economizing time and studying whenev'er opportunity offered itself, he became quite proficient as a civil engineer. He was a preaciier in the Quaker society for a num- ber of years, and in this capacity was popu- larly known throughout Ohio. lie was distinguished as a kind, hospitable and gen- erous man, always ready to helj) the needy. In ])olitics he was a su])porter of the re- publican platform. He was married to Miss Mary Huff (born, 1800, died 1874), a native of North Carolina, who, also, was a member of the Quaker society, and, true to tjuaker characteristics, was prompt to respond to calls for help in times of sick- ness. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, viz. — Sarali (died 1871) ; three of the older died in infancy ; William (died 1870); James (lives in Salem, Henry county, Iowa, engaged in farming and stock-raising); Lydia (lives in Ohio); Clinton (who was a practicing physician, was killed by overwork, dying in 1871:); Elgar (died in 1884, was engaged in farming and teaching, and was princi- pal of the public schools of Rainsborough, and was quite a clever ])oet) ; David I, and Mary (Mrs. Barrerre, who was a graduate of the female seminary of Hillsborough, Ohio, and later became a teacher in that institution). David I., the subject of this sketch, re- mained in Highland county, Ohio, the place of his nativity, till 1858, at which time he migrated to Missouri ; there he engaged in teaching till the breaking out of the war, when he returned to Ohio. He enlisted at Rainsborough in 1863, in the Second Ohio heavy artillery, and was principally on garrison duty, and was mus- tered out at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. While in the service he contracted chronic diarrhoea. Mr. Brown was married, in 1862, to Miss Mare E. Davis, a native of Ohio, Rev. A. Shinn performing the cere- mony. To them have been born six chil- dren, viz.— Carrie, born 1863; Mary J., born 1866 (married March, 1890); Wash- ington E., born 1867; Ella K., born 1869 (died March 4, 1876); William O., born 1871, and Eddy, born 1873. Mrs. Brown was a devout member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, activel}' engaged in all the departments of its woi'k. She departed tiiis life in 1875. Mr. Brown settled in section 4, township 8, range 184 BUFFALO rOFNTY. 18, Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, and tliere remained for a few years, then moved to the village of Elm Creek. Mr. Brown is a republican in politics. He has at various times held different offices in the gift of the people. He was commissioner of Buffalo count\' in 1879- 80 and 1881, and for tliirteen years has been justice of the peace and six years postmaster at Elm Creek. In 1881 Mr. Brown took for his second wife Miss Carrie P. Gile, a native of Iowa, born in 1860, Rev. A. Collins officiating. Mrs. Brown was a successful teacher for two years in Iowa before coming to Nebraska, then taught one vear in Nebraska. To them have been born two children, viz. — Jesse G. (born 1882) and Leslie M. (born 1884)- Mrs. Brown is a native of Allamakee county, Iowa, and is the fourth of a family of seven children, her father and motlier settling there in 1852. Seven children were born to them — Gordon H., born in 1853, burned in a ])rairie fire in Dakota in 1879; Edward S., born in 1865; Wells, born in 1857; Carrie P., born in 1860; Ida M., born in 1862; Pailef S., born in 1864, and William, born in 1867. WILLIAM C. KEEP. Compara- tively speaking, few homes in this broad land retain for gen- erations family faces and kindred. In a few years and the "boys and girls " have left the home of their nativity and wandered into other and distant lands to make for themselves a home and fortune. It must be so, to verify the old saying that " West- ward tlie star of Empire takes its way." Among the vast number tliat has swelled the tide of westward emigration is the subject of this sketch, William C. Keep. He is the son of Joel Keep, a native of Massachusetts, and was born in 1809. Ilis paternal grandfather was Samuel Keep, also a native of Massachusetts ; his maternal grandfather was John Han- drick, a native of Massachusetts, and his maternal grandmother was Dortha ( Gibbs ) Handrick, a native of Vermont. From Connecticut, Joel Keep moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., thence to Pennsylva- nia, where he remained until death, which occurred in 1881, at New Milford, Susque- hanna county. His occupation was fann- ing, but for some time he was engaged in the lumber business. He possessed excel- lent business qualities and iiis honest}' and generosity won the respect of all wlio knew him. In politics he was a republi- can. In 1855, he married Miss Lucj' Ann Handrick, a native of New Milford, Penn. Mrs. Keep was born in 1822, and has born her husband three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom are living, viz. — William C, Edwin A. and Mary F. ( Keep) Very, all living in Dawson count}', Nebr., having come West in April, 1890, and oc- cupied in farming. For many years Mrs. Keep has been an active member and sup- porter of the Presbyterian church. William C. Keep was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1856. In 1879 he immigrated to Nebraska, locating in Elm Creek ; soon after he took a homestead and timber claim in section 24, townshi]) 10, range 19, Dawson county, which he still owns. These form only a part of his possessions. He is a republican in ])olitics, and at present a much esteemed member of the town council. In 1886 he was married, at BUFFALO COUNTY. 185 Elm Creek, to Miss Elizabeth G. Wells, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. G. Hurlbert. Mrs. E. G. ( Wells ) Keep was born in Ilarrisville, Ohio, in 1S68. In 1881 her home was changed to Green Dale, Nebr., where she resided until her WALTER SIIREEYE is a na- tive of Norwicii, England, born January 31, 1850, and is the son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Davy) Shreeve, also natives of England. His maternal grandfather was heir to a large fortune, but lost it all in a chancery suit lasting twenty years. He was a con tractor in mason work by occupation. Tiie subject's father was a laborer, fish- ing, in season, in the English channel off the coast of Yarmouth. He came to New York City in the fall of 1852, and was there robbed of everything, including money, by baggage thieves. After a tei'- rible winter of sickness in New Y'orkCity, he moved to Medina, New Y'ork ; while there, in 1861, the subject's mother died, and in 1864 his father married again, his second wife being Mrs. Susan (Wholston) Greengrass, a native of England. His first wife bore him six children, viz. — Emma (Mrs. William Cobb), lives in Albion, N. Y.; Walter (the subject) ; Nellie (Mrs. Mooney), deceased ; Amanley, a carriage painter, lives in Lincoln, Nebr.; Alva E., lives in Dawes county, Nebr.; Libbie (died in infancy). To Mr. Shreeve's second marriage have been born two children, viz. — Fred and Libbie. Both are married. The former, with father and mother, lives in Marshal county, Dak.; the latter in New York State. Walter Shreeve, the subject of the sketch, when beginning life for himself was first em])loyed on the Erie canal as driver. He tried to enlist in the army as drummer boy in 1862-63, but his father prevented. He left tlie canal at Albany, N. Y., and went to New Y'ork City and shipped on the clipper David C. Crockett, A. M. Burgess, captain. It was freighted and bound for San Francisco, Cal., at which place they arrived in De- cember, 1864:, after one hundred and seven days' voyage, being the quickest trip that year, but one. The " Sea Serpent " of the same line made the trip in one hundred days. In San Francisco he left the clip- per and his pa}', then due, and enlisted in Company B, Third United States artillery, February 17, 1865, stationed at Camp Reynolds, Angel Island, San Francisco harbor. It was ordered to recruit and join the regiment before Richmond, but Ijefore enough men could be raised to till the company the battle was won. Then he was transferred to Battery D, Second United States artillery, and soon after sent to Black Point, San Francisco harbor, Cal., at which place he served the balance of his time, three years. He was discharged at Black Point, San Francisco harbor, Feb. ruary 17, 186S. On the 25th of the same month, he sailed on a " Vanderbilt " steamer for New Y^ork City, by way of the San Juan River and Graytown route through New Guatemala Isthmus; from New York he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1872, landing at the old Kearney Station, with $5.37 cash. Board was S7 per week, but fortunately he found em- ployment the next morning, carrying mail across the Platte river to Dobytown, Fort 186 BUFFALO COUNTY, Kearney and Sydenham, then called by Moses H. Sydenham, Centoria, the center of the United States of America, the future capital of the state and of the United States. After carrying mail a month he filed a soldier's homestead claim on lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, in section 6, township 8, range Is west, in Buffalo county, near the sta- tion of Elm Creek, which claim he was obliged to sell on account of bad luck and sickness. Then he filed a pre-empted claim on the southeast quarter of section 30, township 9, range 18, in the fall of 1883, on which he made final proof May 25, 1885, and on which he still resides. Has been a resident of Elm Creek since 1872, except two years during the Black Hills excitement, which time was mostly spent in tlie employ of the Black Hills transfer company called the Pratt & Fer- ris, or P. & F. Outfit, the largest company hauling freight to the Hills. The years 1881 and 1882 were spent in a trip through Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado for health. He worked most of the winter of 1881 for the Kufus B. Hatch Company in getting out material for the first hotel built at the Mammoth Hot Springs in the National Park, Wyom- ing. A Mr. Ilobart was foreman, a brother of the company's president, Mr. Hobart, of New York City. MRS. MARY BARRON. There is, perhaps, none more worthy of special mention in this work than Mrs. Mary Barron. Her parents were natives of Ireland and devoted mem- bers of the Catholic church, and both were highly esteemed by rich and poor alike, for their kindness and generosit}' to those in need or distress. The father, John Powers, was a thrifty, frugal farmer. Her paternal grandfather, Patrick Powers, was also a native of Ireland and a farmer, and her paternal grandmother, Bridget Cunningham, was likewise a native of the same country. John Powers married, in Ireland, Miss Kittie Kennedy, and died in 1864 at the age of seventy-five years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Powers came to America and remained five years, then returned to Ireland. To iier union with Mr. Powers were born eight children, viz. — Edward (deceased); Patrick and Thomas, who live in Ireland ; John (died at Vicksburg, Miss.,) ; Martin, living in New York City ; Margaret (de- ceased); Bridget, living in Australia; Johana (deceased), and Mar}', the subject of this memoir. In 1863, at the age of seventeen, she came to America from her native country, stopping first in Clinton county, Pa.; there she remained one year, and after atrip west returned to Pennsyl- vania and was married to Mr. William Barron, also a native of Ireland. Mr. Barron was born in 1840 and when twen- ty-three years of age immigrated to Amer- ica, locating in Pennsylvania. Soon after his marriage he moved to Omaha, Nebr., and from there to Elm Creek, where his widow still resides. He was a devoted and consistent member of the Catholic church, and every one who knew him esteemed him highl}' for his kindness of heart antl honorable dealing. Those per- sons who tried to honestly help themselves, always found a good friend and helper in Mr. Barron. For fifteen years he was section boss on the Union Pacific Rail- nUFFALO COUNTY 187 road, but in 1872 he pre-empted and turned it into a timber claim, in '74, what is now a well improved farm. He began life with nothing. In politics, Mr. Barron was a democrat ; was a member of the Order of United Workmen and also tlie Grange. While Mr. Barron was working on the railroad, he narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Indians. One morning upon reaching their place of work, he and a few others with him, discovered that seven Indians, not far away, were endeav- oring to surround him and his companions so as to cut off all chance of escape. The section men immediately started back toward Elm Creek. Mr. Barron had with him his gun and two bullets; one he fired at the Indian in front of him, but did no serious damage ; tlie second bullet did not kill the Indian, for he did not fire to kill, but to scare away, and it did scare. They then made their escape to Elm Creek. FEEDEKICK DAUL is a native of Germany — a country proverbial for the industry, thrift and fru- gality of its people — and was born in the year 1818, in Baden. He is the son of Frank and Urchale (Felming) Daul — the former born in 1775, the latter in 1780. Both were natives of Germany, and mem- bers of the Catholic cliurch from child- hood. Mr. Frank Daul's occupation was farming. Frederick Daul came to Amer- ica at the age of twenty-two, locating lirst in York State. From there he moved to Wisconsin, and in 1873 came to Nebraska, locating on section 31, township 9, range 18 west. Soon after, he went across the line into Dawson county, homesteading on section 2, township 8, range 19, where he now resides. In politics, Mr. Daul is a democrat. While in Wisconsin he served as township assessor for two years ; also held the office of township treasurer. Mr. Daul was twice married. His first wife was Anna Dengal ; the second is Mary Martener, both natives of Germany. Five children were born by the first marriage, viz.— John, living in Buffalo county; Adam, at home ; Anna (Mrs. Nickle), living in Kearney county ; Catharine (Mrs. Mil- bourn), living in Buffalo county ; Maggie (Mrs. Milbourn), living in Dawson county. Wlien Mr. Daul came to Buffalo county there were only fifteen houses in the city of Kearney, and the Indians and buffalo roamed over the prairie. John, the eldest son, was born in 1852, in Washington county, Wisconsin. When twenty-one years of age he came to Ne- braska, settling in Buffalo county. He now resides on section 3, township 9, range 18 west. His farm is well stocked with horses and cattle, and, together with his father, and brother Adam, he owns over 1,000 acres of land. Politically, he is a democrat. In 1880 he married Miss Addie Milbourn, a native of Illinois, but then residing in Buffalo county, Nebraska. Two children have been born to them, viz. — Johnnie, in 1881, and Freddie, in 1884. GEOKGE W. WITMER is the son of Jacob A. and Caroline (Swan- ger) Witmer, the former a native of Blair county. Pa. Jacob A. enlisted at Shippensburgh, in the Third Penn- 188 B UFFA L CO UXTY. sylvania caraliy, Company BT, and was in the engagement at Williamsburgh and An- tietam and in the Seven Days' fight. He was injured in the back by the falling of his horse, when crossing a trench, and this so disabled him that he received his discharge. He next enlisted in the Twelfth Pennsyl- vania, and was in the engagement at Win- chester. He was mustered out at Phila- delphia in 1865. He then returned to Blair county. Pa., Avhere he remained until coming to Nebraska, in 1881, settling in the northern part of Elm Creek town- ship. He was married to Miss Caroline S wanger, a native of Pennsylvania, in 1850. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- coi)al church and was a kind, exemplary christian woman, not known to have an enem\^ She died in 1880, followed by her husband four years later. G. W. "Witmer's paternal grandfather was Jacob Witmer; his paternal grandmother was Catherine Airs man) Witmer ; his maternal grand- fatlier was Peter S wanger ; and his mater- nal grandmother was Mary (Donohue) Swanger, all natives of Pennsylvania. Geo. W. Witmer, our subject, was born in Cum- berland county. Pa., in 1853. In 1865 he moved with his parents to Blair county, and for a number of years was engaged in the plumbing and gasfitting business in Altoona, Pa. At the earnest solicitation of his father, he came to Nebraska in 1882, and settled on section 2, township 9, range 18 west, in Elm Creek township, Buffalo county. Mr. Witmer is favorably known throughout the county as an intelligent, hospitable and prosperous farmer. He was married, in 1877,to Miss Elizai:ieth Lathero, a native of Huntington county. Pa., Rev. Lackey performing the ceremony. To Mr. and Mrs. Witmer two children have been born, viz. — Frankie H., August, 1885, and Carrie E., born December 8, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Witmer is a democrat. JOHN I. ULRICH, an industrious and thrifty farmer of Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, was born on the third of March, 1834, in Prussia, of German parentage. His father, Joseph Ulrich, was a man wiio commanded the highest respect of every one. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and also engaged in farming. For over twenty years he faithfull}' served the public as justice of the peace. He was a good man, and from childhood was a devoted member of the Catholic church. In 1828, at the home of her father, he was married to Miss Mar- garitte Meir, who was born in Prussia, in 1801, and, with her husband, was a very consistent member of the Catliolic church. She was a very kind, tender and loving wife and mother. John I. Ulrich came to America in the summer of 1850, and worked at his trade in Dayton, Ohio, and at Fort Wayne, Ind. When the cholera broke out at the latter place, he went to Green Bay, Wis., and there continued at his trade for sixteen years. In 1873 he joined tlie tide of emi- gration, and settled in Elm Creek, Buffalo count}', on section 6, township 8, range 18 west. He shared the common fate during "grasshopper times," and was left so des- titute that he would \evj quickly have returned had it been possible. But he staid through, and since then has had BUFFALO COUNTY. 189 good crops every \'ear but one. lie has owned 1,340 acres, including the 8S0 acres given to his two elder sons, and upon which he has built two houses, and pro- vided each son with all necessary farming implements. Politically, Mr. Ulrich is in- dependent. In January, 1858, Mr. Ulrich was married to Miss Euphrosina Karcher, a native of Baden, German^^. She was born in 1836, and came to America in 1857, settling in Green Ba}', Wis., and was married at New Franken, Brown county, that state. Both she and her hus- band are devoted members of the Catholic church, and at the present writing. Mr. Ulrich is causing to be built an addition to the church, which has become too small for present use. Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are the parents of eleven children, viz. — Joseph, in Buffalo county; Caroline (Mrs. Riger), in Cali- fornia; August, in Buffalo county; Anna (died 1861); Theresa (Mrs. Swayne), in Dawson county ; one still-born ; Conrad (died 1867) ; and Mary, Ursula, Eva and William, still at home. JOHN DEMUTH was born in Prussia Germany, in 1855. His father, John Demuth, Sr., was in comparatively good circumstances, and was a man liighly respected for his manly virtues. He came to America in 1856, locating first in New York, thence moving to Brown county, Wisconsin. He is a stanch democrat in politics, and has been a devout member of the Catholic church from childhood. His wife was Elizabeth Lieser, before marriage, a native of Ger- many and also a devout member of the Catholic church. To Mr. and Mrs. Demuth have been born four children, viz. — Matthias, lives in Fort Howard, Wis., John ; Elizabeth, lives in Green Bay, Wis., and the youngest died in infancy. John, our subject, immigrated to America in 1867, settling in Brown county, Wisconsin ; thence he came to Nebraska, in 1878, locating on section 10, townsliip 9, range 18 west. Mr. Demuth began life in Nebraska in 1878 with comparatively nothing, but now has three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, well stocked and supplied with all necessary farming implements. His success is due to his giving attention to the details of his business, economizing time as well as money. In 1887 he was married to Miss Anna Nitshe, a native of Austria, born in 1870. They are botii connected with the Catholic church. To them one son has been bora — Willie John, born Decem- ber 27, 1888. GEORGE W. SNYDER was born in Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., in 1849. He is the son of Sidne}'^ W. Snyder, of the same place, and a res ident until 1850, when he moved to Brancii county, Mich., where he resided until 1876, engaged in farming and black- smitliing. From Michigan he moved, with his famil}', consisting of wife and two children, to Buffalo county, Nebr., locating on section 20, township 9, range 18 west. For years S. W. Snyder has been an active member of the Methodist Episco- 190 BUFFALO COUNTY pal church and was a local preacher for about fifteen years. Mr. Snyder is a repub- lican in politics. In 1848 he was married to Miss Susan Gordon, a native of Lyons, and a very exemplary lady. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a quiet but active christian woman. She was born in 1830 and is the mother of four children, viz. — George and Adel- bert, living in Buffalo county, Nebr.; My- ron and Sarah, who both died when young. George Snyder, the subject, was about one year old when his parents moved to Michigan, where they remained until 1876. He began for himself as an engi- neer, when twenty-two years of age. For three vears he had charge of an ensrine in a saw-mill and then, tor four years, was on one of the steamers plying between Chicago and Buffalo. He was once on a vessel that was wrecked near Ashtabula, Ohio, and out of the crew of eight, five were lost. The steamer was out from twelve o'clock at night until three o'clock the next afternoon in cold November weather, and only one-half a mile from shore. Mr. Snyder is a member of the masonic order and, in politics, is a repub- lican. In 1879 he was married to Miss Laura Magden, of Buffalo county, Nebr. She was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 184r2, and lived there till five years of age, then came to Nebraska in 1878 ; has taught school in four states, namely — Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska. She is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and a great worker in the church and Sunday-school. To Mr. and Mrs. Sny- der have been born three ciiildren, viz. — one that died before being named ; Robert, born in 1883, and Gordon, born in 1887, both living at home. DAVID McCOMB was born in Dane county. Wis., in 1858. His father, Robert McComb, was a native of Ireland, was born in 1807 in county Down, and migrated to America, settling in Dane county, Wis. There he engaged in farming until 1872, when he immigrated to Furnas county, Nebr. Here he became very prosperous in stock-raising and speculating, and in 1882, while on a business trip to Wisconsin, he sickened and died. For years he had been an active and energetic member of the Christian church, and his presence and counsel were deeplv missed. He was a good man and very kind to the poor and distressed. He was so devoted to his church that he would often walk six or seven miles to at- tend service. In 1850 he was married to Miss Catherine Patterson, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., where she resided until her marriage. She was born in 1824 and is the mother of ten cluldren,viz. — William, in Furnas county, Nebr., farming and stock-raising ; Maggie ( Mrs. Crooks ), in Kearney, her husband being a carpenter ; James, in Furnas county, farming and stock-raising; John,in Furnas count3',f arm- ing and stock-raising; Robert, living in Wis- consin; Nancy (Mrs. Downing), in Kear- ney, her husband being in the lumber and grain business; Cliarles, in Furnas county, stock-raising; Amazon (Mrs. Banister), in Kearney, her husband being a speculator, and Mary (Mrs. Tuttle), whose husband is in the livery business. In 1875, after three years of traveling, David McComb located in Furnas county, Nebr. In 1883 he moved to Elm Creek, to take the man- agement of the Downing Elevator Com- pany, where he still remains. He is a master workman of the A. O. U. W. In BUFFALO COUNTY. 191 1879, at Wilson ville, Furnas county, he was married to Miss Clara Backus, a native of Iowa and born in 1862. She had been a teacher for some time and was also an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She is the mother of two chil- dren, viz. — Eobert, born in 1882, and Harry, born in 1885. WC. PETTETT, is a native of England and the fourth child of Herbert Pettett, a farmer who formerly resided near Maidstone, Kent county, about fifty miles from London. The father was born in 1830 and in 1871 immigrated with his family to America, locating near Port Byron, liock Island county, 111. There he was one of the most prosperous and energetic farmers of the county. In 1852, under the chime of Marden church bells, he was married to Amy Ann Iloneysett, a native of Sutton, Kent county, England, Rev. Deeds offi- ciating. Mrs. Amy Ann Pettett was born in 1832. She is an active member in the Methodist church in Illinois, and is a woman of great perseverance and energj^; she is very charitable to those that are in need. She i.s the mother of the following cliildren: Harriet, who married Edward (iilbert, a native of England, now living on a farm in Illinois ; Ellen, who married Mr. Genung, living on a farm in Illinois; George, died of consumption when nine- teen years of age ; W. C, A. E., and Al- fred, living in Buffalo county, Nebr., and Anna, who married Mr. Sallows, a native of Illinois, and now living in Illinois. A. E. Pettett was born in England in 1859 and came with his parents to America. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself, having about $1,000 to start with. After five years' farming in Illinois, and with about $1,500, he came to Nebraska, settling on section 5, town- ship 9, range 18 west. He now owns a well improved farm of two hundred acres well stocked. In politics Mr. Pettett is independent. For years Mr. Pettett has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been class leader, also Sunday-school superintendent for several years. At Fairfield in Illinois in 1881 he w^as married to Miss Mary E. Flickinger, a native of Illinois, also an active memberof the Methodist Ei)isc()pal church and also church organist for several years. To them have been born four children, viz. — Charles E., born in 1882 ; Rosa May, born in 1884r ; Anna Bertha, born in 1886 ; Susie Pearl, born in 1889. W. C. Pettett, an older brother and subject of this memoir, was born July 13, 1858, in Marden, Kent county, England, and with his parents immigrated to Port Byron, Roclv Island county. 111. In 1885 he immigrated to Nebraska, locating on section 5, township 9, range 18 west, in Buffalo county. Proper attention to his business has brought to him that suc- cess which always attends honest effort. He now owns a well improved farm of two hundred acres, well stocked. Politic- ally, Mr. Pettett is independent, being a strong alliance man at present. For 3'ears he has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also a trustee and enthusiastic Sunday-school worker. Mr. Pettett was joined in mar- riage to Miss Annie B. McConnell, at the home of her parents, in Scott county,Iowa, 193 BUFFALO COUNTY on February 23, ISSl, by Eev. S. S. Kals- ton. Mrs. Pettett is a native of Allegheny county, Pa. In 1867, when ei^ht years old, she was taken by her parents to Port Byron, Eock Island county, 111., and in the spring of 1878 to Scott county, Iowa, where she was married. In 1889 lier parents, Andrew and Dorcas McOonnell, moved from Iowa to Nebraska, purchasing a farm in Cedar township, Buf- falo county, where they now reside. Mrs. Pettett's ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania ; her great-grand- father, Joseph Worley, being taken cap- tive by tlie Indians. Mrs. Pettett's father, Andrew M. McConnell, was born in the year 1820. He has always been a faith- ful member of the United Presbyterian churcii. His parents are some of the old settlei's of Pennsylvania. His occupation has always been fanning. He was married, in 1857, to Dorcas L. Allen, also a resident of same place. Their occupation was also farming. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Pettett has five brothers and one sister. Joseph F., the oldest, married Miss Delia Edgington, and are living at Malcolm, Poweshiek county, Iowa ; Robert, died when nine- teen months old ; the other boys are living at home ; their names are David A., Albert M. and Clarence A. McConnell; her sister's name was Jennie H. Siie married Joseph Duncan, of Scott county, Iowa. They have since moved to Cedar township, Buffalo county, Nebr. When seventeen years of age, Mrs. Pettett joined the United Presbyterian church, and contin- ued in membership with that cliurch until coming to Nebraska, when she united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Elm Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Pettett are the parents of four children, viz. — Jennie Flor- ence, born January 4, 1883, in Illinois; Albert Finley, born December 1, 1881, in Illinois; William Robert, born March 31, 1887, and Daisy Ellen, born December 20, 1889, at Elm Creek, Nebr. ROSS GAMBLE, the subject of this biographical notice, is one of >_ Kearney's foremost business men and her chief benefactor. He is not an old settler, strictly speaking, but he has been in Kearney long enough and identi- fied with lier interests intimately enough to rank, in point of accomplishments, be- yond many who came even while the "buffalo were here." Mr. Gamble came to this country in 1879, reaching Kearney on the fourth day of July, that year. He has been a resident of the town continu- ously since, and is one of the few men who have made a success of all their busi- ness undertakings since coming here. Having a good record as a business man prior to tliat time, his biography will be of value to many and will be read with inter- est b}' all. Mr. Gamble is a native of Maine, having been born in the village of Linneus, county of Aroostook, that state, August 15, 1831. He is of Scotch extraction, his parents being both natives of Scotland, where they were married. They came to this country, however, when young, where they began life. His father was Alexan- der Gamble, and his mother bore the maiden name of Mary Reed. In 1847, after their marriage, they moved to Rhode Island, and in 1850 to Wisconsin, settling in the vicinity of old Fort Winneberg, then on the outskirts of civilization. The ROSS GAMBLE. HUFF A I. (I COUNTY 195 old fort is no longer remembered, but Portage Cit}^, which has grown up on its site, is a town of some pretentions, and is recognized as the old family seat of this branch of the Gamble famil}' in the West. There the father died in 1876, aged sixty- six, and tlie mother in 1883, also well advanced in years. There the children, of which they had eight, the subject hereof being next to the oldest, grew up, and from that point took their several starts in life. From the dates already given, it will be seen that our subject was sixteen years of age when his parents moved to Wisconsin. Two years later he left home, went into the pinei'ies on the Wisconsin river and began life for himself. He at first went to work as a laborer in the lumber dis- tricts, accumulated some capital, and after- wards went into business for himself. He spent twenty -seven years of the best part of his life in this locality, and engaged in this business. His beo-innino- was humble enough, but his success in the end was complete. He built up one of the largest trades in the Northwest, and at the time he gave up his interest there had acquaint- ances and business connections in every town from Wansaw and Stephen's Point, where he operated to St. Louis, covering an area of several hundred miles, and em- bracingsomeof the largest lumber jobbing points, as well as general business centers, in the countr}'. Mr. Gamble decided to quit the lumber business in 1879 and to change his place of residence. He came, as above stated, to Nebraska that J'ear, and established a ranch twent3--five miles northwest of Kearney, in Buffalo count}', on the South Loup, and stocked it with cattle. A year and a half later he sold this and established another between the Dismal and Middle Loup, to the north- west, which he conducted successfully for four years. In the spring of 1884, he sold out his entire ranching interests and also his lumber interests in Wisconsin, a large part of which he had retained up to that date and purchased of AViley Bros., of Kearney, the Buffalo County Bank. This bank was then a private institution, and he conducted it as such until July, 1886, when having interested others in it, he re-organ- ized it as a national bank, increasing the capital from $60,000 to $100,000. Mr. Gamble became president and still holds that position. The Buffalo County Na- tional Bank is one of the most prosperous institutions of the kind in the cit\' of Kear- ney. It has paid good dividends from the beginning, and has accumulated a surplus of over $50,000, besides some of the best business men of Kearney and Buffalo county are stockholders in it, and its board of directors is composed of men of unquestioned ability and integrity. Mr. Gamble is the recognized head of the institution, and to his jiulgment and good management is due much of the success it has attained. In April, 1889, Mr. Gam- ble, in connection with others, organized the Midway Loan and Trust Company of Kearney, with a capital of $100,000. Of this he was elected treasurer and now holds that position. July following, he, with others, started the Kearney Savings Bank, organizing it under the state laws. It has a capital of $100,000. He is presi- dent of it. The Savings Bank is compara- tively new, but starts out under favorable auspices. It occupies an elegant three- stor}' brick block, on the corner of Cen- tral avenue and Twenty-third street. This 196 BUFFALO COUNTY. is one of the most commodious and strik- ing buildings in tlie city. In its construc- tion Mr. Gamble has taken a lively inter- est and looks with some pride, as he has every reason to do, on the work accom- plished. Besides his interests in these three corporations, Mr. Gamble owns con- siderable realty in Kearney, and some also in Wisconsin, having a line farm in Columbia county, that state, and timber lands on the Wisconsin river. From these facts it is clear that Mr. Gamble's life has been an active and an eminently successful one, far more so than that of the average business man. The secret of his success, if there be any secret in it, is to be found in two qualities which he possesses in a large measure, namely, persevering industry and strict attention to business. He was brought up to hard work and his whole life has been one of constant, unremitting labor. He has es- chewed politics and the fatal allurements of office, and all other distracting pursuits and diversions, and concentrated his whole time and thought on his own personal affairs. And should one step into his office in the bank any time, he can always be found at iiis desk at work, receiving callers, considering applications for loans, answering letters and "ivino- directions al)out the business of the bank. His life is a splendid vindication of the dignity of labor and a most excellent example of the success that crowns attention to details. Yet when this is said the best has not been told of him. Men may make money by fortunate speculation, or they ma}' accu- mulate it bv niggardly practices, living hard themselves and denying help to others, or they may get it by the exercise of the better virtues of industry, persever- ance and reasonable self-denial, and yet their lives fall short of the true standard of manhood and fail to teach any valuable lasting lesson. The proper use of money is the true test of wisdom and the best evidence of manly character. If the sub- ject of this sketch has established a repu- tation for anything in the city of his adoption it is for disinterested public spirit, benevolence, charity. Giving wise- ly, yet with a liberal hand, his wealth has blessed all on whom it has been Ijestowed. The evidences are on every hand. To mention only a few of his contributions to public improvements : he gave for the erection of the Midway hotel, $600 ; to the Kearney Street Railway Company, §700 ; to the pickle factory, §250 ; to the pork packing establishment, $500 ; to the paper mill, $200 ; to the Enterprise news- pa])er, $1,000, and to the First Methodist church, $300. In smaller amounts he has contributed liberally' to numberless other purposes, and to the poor, destitute and ilistressed he always extends a helping hand. Mr. Gamble has a family — a wife anil two sons. He was mai'ried in Jul}', 1862, in Portage City, Wis. His wife was Elizabeth S., daughter of Russell Spicer, and she was born and reared in Portage City. Mr. Gamble's sons are grown, and each has an interest with and occujiics a position of trust under him; Albert T., the elder, being cashier of, and Walter R., teller in, the Buffalo County National Bank. Mr. Gamble and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of -which Mrs. Gamble is a member. He was a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity in for- mer years and took all the degrees con- BUFFALO CorXTY. 107 ferred in this state. Lately, however, he lias not been an active worker. In per- sonal appearance Mr. Gamble is plain and unpretentious. In conversation heissorae- wiiat reserved, unless warmed up on a subject in which he feels a special interest. He is very conservative, and, to one who tloes not know him, his slowness to act might be taken as an evidence of indecis- ion of character, but it is only his habitual way of feeling the ground before he steps. He has made but few false moves in life, and he owes it to the fact that he has al- ways insisted, whatever the pressure, on feeling his way and being assured of the security of his footing. Such men are usually men of positiveness, men of indi- vitluality, men of chai-acter. They are the ones around whom weaker natures gener- allv revolve. They are a recognized force in affairs. They do not say or do brilliant things. They have not taste or talent for shining. They weigh and consider. They see events as they shape themselves with reference to causes. They estimate things at their real value. To the rash they are often stumbling blocks ; to the weak of heart and short of sight they are towers of strength and beacons of light. Men who aspire to be leaders are often found in council with them. Perhaps the highest (luality of intellect ever attributed to them is " level-headedness." But " level-head- edness" in the race of life is much, and this joined to the heart that beats in ten- tier sympathy with the wants of strug- gling humanity, constitutes Heaven's best gift to the race. In these qualities the sub- ject of this brief biographical notice rises to the full stature of man. Mr. Gamble has a beautiful residence on Avenue "A," No. 2108, where he and his family reside. MARION H. SMITH was born in Marion county, Iowa, in 18.59. His father, Joseph Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1834, and moved from there to Indiana, and from there to Iowa, and thence to California, locating in Woodland. He was a wagon-maker by trade, lie married Elizabeth Neal, in 18.54. She was a native of (_)hio, born in 1839, and to this union four children were born — Jennie and Williani, who live in California; ifarion, the subject of this sketch, and Cleo, now living in Indiana. Marion, at the tender age of ten, began to do for himself. The first twelve years of his self-dependenc}' were spent in Missouri and Iowa, and from the latter state he migrated to Nebraska, in 1882, and remained in the state three years, in the employ of S. E. Elack ; then went to Denver, Colo. He spent the summer in Denver, and was there engaged at the stock -yards, at §30 per month. By addi- tional money, earned by doing errands, at the end of three months he had saved about §125. He decided to return home on a visit, but on his way was robbed of his money. He consequently sought work, and was employed by S. II. Black, with whom he remained for six years. He gained the entire confidence of Mr. Black and all with whom he dealt. His word is considered as good as a bankable note. By frugality and good management, Mr. Smith, although young, has amassed a competency for himself and family the remainder of their lives. He owns one hundred and sixty -five acres of excellent land, town property, and a well established business. He married Mary Cox, a native of Missouri, in 1888. She is the daughter of Noah and Louise (Packer) Cox, the former a 198 BUFFALO covNrr. native of Indiana, born in 1887 ; the latter a native of Illinois, born in 1836, To Mr. and Mrs. Smith one child has been born to cheer their home — Cleo, born Decem- ber 17, 1888. Althouo-li Mr. Smith is not enthusiastic in politics, he is immutably a republican. SHERMAN UPTON. The sub- ject of this sketch is in the eighth generation of the Upton line, which is descended from the first Ameican progenitor, Jolin Upton, a Scotch- man by birth, who came to this country abmit the year 1650, and settled at what was then known as Salem Village, but for more than a century past has been known as Danvers, in Massachusetts. The maternal ancestors of his grandfather, Daniel Upton, are in direct descent from that eminent Puritan, Samuel Morse, who came from England in 1637, and settled in Dedham, Mass., and his own maternal ancestors trace back in direct line to John Moss, wlio came from England about the same date, and settled in New Haven Conn., inl63i). Sherman Upton is one of a family of four sons and six daughters, all of whom, with the parents, John B. Upton and Julia Sherman Upton, are now living. John B. Upton was one of a family of seven sons and six daughters, all of whom lived to years of maturity, and eleven were jiresent at the golden wedding of their parents, celebrated Sep- tember 30, 1871. Tiiese venerable grand- parents of our subject lived to celebrate the sixty-sixth anniversar}' of their mar- riage, Sherman Upton was born in Batavia, N. Y., June 9, 1858 ; removed with his parents to Lawrence, Van Buren county, Mich., in 1859; changed residence with the family to Decatur, same count}-, in 1869, and there entered upon tlie earn- est labors of life, attending public school andworkingon a farm during vacations. In 1875 he entered Olivet college, Mich., where he remained two years. The fam- ily changed residence, in 1876, to Big Rapids, Mecosta county, Mich., where our subject joined them on leaving Olivet. He entered Michiyan Agricultural Col- lege in the spring of 1878, and continued the course to graduation in August, 1881. The vacations from tliis course were filled with district school work. While in college his love of art work was much stimulated by the drawings that were given to him to ilo in illustration of scientific works, the most important of these Ijeing drawings of dissected bees, published in a work on bee culture, by Prof. Cook, of that col- lege. He also made great proficiency in character drawing, and, being chosen class prophet, gave the subject in a series of drawings in ink on glass, which, presented by the aid of a stereoptican, gave to his classmates views of the future that, how- ever little they may be realized, will never be forgotten, owing to the numerous sharp hits given to so many personal peculiari- ties. Upon leaving college, portrait work offered inducements, as also did illustrative newspaper work; but trade seeming to promise something more substantial, Ijc abandoned these in 1883, and entered upon a clei'kship in the iiardware trade with an uncle in Vermillion, Dak. He engaged in trade for himself in May, 1887, in Elm Creek, Nebr., following N. O. Calkins in the furniture and implement business. BUFFALO COUNTY, mo Being a man of versatile talent, and liaving a keen sense of the sentiment of human faces, it is no surprise that he has added photographing and portraits to his regular line. Having marked ability in the way of reproducing the peculiar natural l(j()k in the human face, so dear to friends and so hard to be secured, it is desirable that this departure from the regular, monotonous routine of business shall be a success, as it undoubtedly will be when fol- lowed to a finish, and Elm C're(>k can name among lior solid men, this portrait artist of hiu'li rank. JOSH FA BOYD, one of Buffalo county's prosperous fai'mers, was boiMi in 1850, in Woodford county, III. His father, George Boyd, a na- tive of Christian county, K}'., was born in ISKl. In 184:9, he pre-empted land in Wood- ford county. 111., and, being industrious, was soon in good circumstances. For forty 3'eai*s he was a devoted member of the Christian church, being one of its liberal supporters ; also, the temperance cause received his liberal support. Honesty and sobriety were the ruling elements of his life. He was allied with the republican party from the beginning of Lincoln's ad- ministration, and for a number of 3'ears he was supervisor of Cruger township. His ]iarents were Hardy and Mary (Tosian) Boyd, who were born in Virginia, east of the Blue Ridge mountains, on the Potomac river. In ISiO, in Ho|)kinsville, Ky., he was married to Eliza J. Pierce, also a native of the same county and state ; she was born in 1822, and, like her husband, was a member of the Chris- tian church. Mr. Boyd passed from earth, November 14, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd were the parents of nine children, viz. — Lucy Ann (Mrs. Major), Illinois; Joshua, John, of Illinois; Sarah V. (Mrs. Hedges); Alice (Mrs. E. M. Boyd), deceased ; Susie, of Hlinois, deceased ; Charlica (Mrs. Miller); Peter and Belle died in infancy. Joshua Boyd, the subject of this sketch, began life for himself in 1873, and started with fifty acres of land and necessary farming implements. In 1884 he migrated to Elm Creek, Nebr., and located on sec- tion 27, township 9, range IS west. He now owns a quarter section, most of which is under cultivation, valued at $40 per acre. Mr. Boyd is engaged in the stock business, and is the owner of some of that famous stock, La Perch (Bertrand) and was one of tho first to embark in the business in Buffalo county. Mr. Boyd is a republican in politics, also a member of the A. O. U. W. Lodge ; for many years he has been a member of the Christian church, always willing to respond to the calls for charit}^ In 1874, at Eureka, 111., he was married to Miss Calista R. Gould, a native of Virginia, having moved from Bethany, Va., to Eureka, 111., with her parents while young. Her father, Lewis B. Gould, was born in Brattleboro, Vt., in 1820. Her mother was a native of Bethany, Va. Mrs. Boyd is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are the parents of eight children, viz. — Clarence R., Virginia Belle, Vida Ellen, Edward O., Susie M;iy, Mima Olive (living). Jay G. and Claudius J. died in infancy. 200 BUFFALO COUXTY. WILLIAM II. DEMPSTEE, farmer of Garfield town- ship, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Adaras county. 111., in May, 1851, and was reared on a farm. Ilis fatiier, George Dempster, was a native of Ohio, who, when a young man, located in Illinois, and after living there for some 3'ears, married Miss Elizabeth Lewton of that state. Some years after marrving, he came to Nebraska (in 1872), and is now a resident of Hail count}', this state. AVil- liam H. Dempster is the eldest of a family of ten children, all of whom are living in Nebraska, excepting one brother, who is in Minnesota. William H. came to Neb- raska in 1872 with his parents and other members of tiie family, and first located near Hastings, Hall county, where he pre- empted a quarter section of land while yet a single man, but made no improve- ments thereon. In 1876 he married j\Liss Augusta F., daughter of William H. and Mary A. Denman, who came from Illi- nois to Nebraska in 1858. Mr. Denman, a cattle ranchman, was a native of Ohio and died in 1886, at the age of sixty- eight years ; his widow is now about sev- enty-four years old. To the union of W. H. Dempster and wife were born five chil- dren, viz. — Mattie M., Edgar, Evelyn and Ella, all living, and a twin to Ella who died at three months of age. Mr. Demp- ster, after his marriage, resided in Hall county, until fall of 1880, moved to Buf- falo count\', and entered a homestead and also a timber claim, one quarter sec- tion each, on the east half of section 20, township 12, range 14, about two miles from what is now Ravenna, and has ninety acres untler cultivation in mixed crops ; he also is engaged in stock- raising. When he first came to his pre- sent locality there had been but little improvement made, but he has seen rail- roads come in, towns spring up and the prairie put under cultivation and beautified. In the early day trading was done at Gib- bon, and deer and other game was the chief meat supply. Mr. Dempster and wife are members of the Christian church and stand high in the esteem of their neighbors. In politics, Mr. Dempster is a republican, was the first clerk of his townsiiip, and has been road overseer since its organization three years ago. FRITZ STARK, miller of Garfield township, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Holstein, Germany, November 28, 1834. His father, Fried- rich Wilhelm Stark, was superintendent of a large fai-m in the old country ; he mar- ried Luc}' Schall,and by her became tlie father of five children, of whom Fritz is the j'oungest. Fritz Stark came to Amer- ica alone, landing in New York, June Ifi, 1864; from that city he went to Daven- port, Iowa, and for three years followed his trade as miller; from Davenport he came to Nebraska in Februarv, 1867, and until the first day of May of the same year resided at Omaha; thence he went to Grand Island, where he remained until October, 1870 ; then he moved to Fremont and to Council Bluffs, being employed as an elevator hand at the latter i)lace ; he next returned to Grand Island, in April, 1871, and later started a saw-mill on Oak Creek, but the mill was not profitable, and he passed two more years at Grand BUFFALO COUNTY. 201 Island ; he then passed two and a Iialf years in the milling business at Gibbon, and in 1870 located on his present home- stead, it being one-half of section 2, Gar- field township. One quarter section is a liomestead and the other quarter is a tim- l)er claim. He has sixty acres under cul- tivation in mixed crops, has good build- ings and most of his farm fenced in. His i-esidence and barns are large frame structures, surrounded by fine orchards and groves. The farm shows thrift and good management, and is situated oppo- site the town of Nantasket in the valley of Loup liver, with water convenient for his stock. Mr. Stark was married at Grand Island, in 1877, to Miss Wilhelmina Gaden, a native of Germany, and two children bless this union — William and Anna. Mr. Stark has two brothers in this country — John C, a plasterer and mason, living at Grand Island ; and Carl, a farmer, living near Litchfield, Sherman county. Mr. Stark is in politics independ- ent and unfavorable to prohibition. He takes great interest in the develo])ment of his country, and is a true American citizen. OIL SMALLEY is the youngest child of Charles and Uelina Smal- ley, both natives of A''(!rm()nt. (Jliarles Smalley was born in 1815, at Bel- lows Falls. A man of irreproachable character, upright and honorable in all his dealings, he won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. His occupation was farming, but the hard work of the farm did not prevent the development of his kind and generous nature. He be- longed to the republican party. In 1837, at Grafton, Vt., he was married to Miss Delina Davis, who bore him six children, as follows — Charles, born in Vermont, now in the livery business in Kansas City; Emer- line, died in 1885; Mary (Mrs. Zeull), whose husband is a foreman in a cab shop in Springfield, Vt.; David, in a sale stable. Bellows Falls, Vt.; Levi, farming in Kan- sas, and O. H., the subject of this memoir. O. H. Smalley was born in Vermont in 1851. At the age of twenty -one he gave his father §5<)0 of his earnings and then went to Galva, III., there engaging in the livery business, and in this he continued until 1883, when he moved to Elm Creek, Nebr., here enjjaging in farming and stock- raising. At the present writing, O. H. Smalley owns nine hundred and seventy acres of good land and feeds about one hundred head of stock. Mr. Smalley is a supporter of the democrat jilatform, also a member of the Masonic order. In 1875, while at Galva, 111., he was married to Miss Ada Smith, a native of that place, born in 1856. After a course in the Knox- ville seminary she became a teacher and taught three years previous to her mar- riage. To them one child has been born — Jessie, born Januarv 30, 1878. JACOB L. BLUE, M. D., hotel pro- prietor, Nantasket, Nebr., was born in New Market, Middlesex county, N. J., February 24, 1826. . His father, Henry Blue, also a native of New Jerse\', was a manufacturer of shoes at one time, but afterwards became a merchant. He married Miss Mary, danghter of Harmon and Charity Staley, both natives of New Jersey and of German and French descent, 302 BUFFALO COUNTY. respectively'. Harmon Stale\' was a farmer and he and family were highly re- spected in the neighborhood in which they lived. To the union of Henry and Mary Blue were born twelve children — nine girls and three boys — the subject of these lines being the fifth child. Henry Blue died in his native state in 1861. Jacob L. Blue was educated in the common schools of New Jersey, and at the age of fourteen years began learning the trade of millwright, at which he continued four years. He then wen t to an uncle, a practicing physician at New Brunswick, N. J., and with him as preceptor studied medicine, was admitted to practice and became a partner or assistant to his uncle and preceptor. In 1844 he purchased a farm and was married. He followed ag- riculture about three years, then sold and went to Orange, N. J., where he entered mercantile trade, together with building and dealing in real estate. Three years later he sold out all his possessions and moved to Ohio, where for two years he followed farming, and then for a year practied medicine. Again returning to New Jersey, he resumed the real estate business and was appointed marshal of Orange. September 3, 1862, he was enrolled as a private in Company G, Twenty-sixth New Jersey volunteers. For nine months he was on detailed duty as recruiting offi- cer, and after the regiment was fully organ- ized he was appointed librarian. But in a short time tlie regiment became actively engaged, and Mr. Blue was compelled to abandon the library and follow his regi- ment, which had been ordered to Wash- ington, where it was assigned to the Sixth army corps. He was a participant in some of the most memorable battles of Virginia, in which state the greater part of his duty was performed, and he served gallantly until the close of his term of enlist ment. On one occasion, he was detailed to take pontoon boats out of the Rappahan- nock river; the night being very very dark he was caught between two boats and was badly crushed, and from the internal hem- orrhage caused by this accident he has never fully recovered — neither has the government recognized bis claim for a pension. He was treated for his injury in the hospital at Washington, and after re- enlisting was employed in that institution during his convalescence, but was stricken down by typhoid fever, and had therefore to be treated for the complication of two disorders. He recoverd sufficiently, how- ever, to return to his post of duty, but soon after received his discharge. After a brief stay at home he revisited Washington, where he was employed for a month as gardian of public property; resigning, he joined Gen. Grant's engineering corps; but a short time afterwards returned to Wash- ington and was re-instated in his former postion, which he held until the close of the war. After another brief visit to his native state. Dr. Blue bought a farm in Mary- land, on which he resided two years, prac- ticing medicine. He then sold out and returned to New Jersey, where for a year he engaged in merchandising ; then for three years he filled a position in the state asylum, and, after that, passed nine months in the West.. On his return to his native state, he sold out all his effects, raised a colony, and in April, 1876, again started for the West. His first visit to Nebraska was in 1875 ; his second coming, BUFFALO COUNTY 203 as intimated above, was less than a year later. He, his famil}' and colony, number- ing forty-three in all, settled in Buffalo county, in Buckeye valley, which, since its oi'ganization, is known as Valley township. He pre-empted a quarter-section, and, like tiie rest of the colony, began the work of improvement. For three years he fol- lowed farming and the practice of medi- cine, then sold out and went to Burgh, where he practiced medicine and held the offices of postmaster and justice of the peace for three years; and in September, 1882, he moved to Gibbon, where he lived ten months, then settled in Garfield town- ship, where he located his homestead in the northwest quarter of section 22, town- sliip 12, range 1-1. He here, after two years, relinquished the regular practice of his profession — attending only old friends and patients — and devoted iiimself to the ilevelopment of his farm, on wliich he lived five years, proved up his claim and still owns. In the interval, he purchased a iiotel property in Nantasket, and is now making his home in that town. He has been dealing to some extent in real estate tiie past few years, and besides iiis hotel property he owns over twenty-eight town lots and also owns and conducts a flour and feed store. Dr. Blue was first married, in 1844, to Olivia Stetson, daughter of Steplien Stet- son, a hat manufacturer of Orange, N. J. To this union six ciiildren were born and named in the following order : Alonzo, Caroline, Melissa, Susan, Stephen and Mar- tha. The mother and two of the children (Stej)hen and Martha), died in 1866, while the doctor and his family were residing in Maryland. The doctor afterwards mar- ried Miss Alice, daughter of Charles Crampton, of Rockaway, N. J. To this union have been l)orn six children, viz.— Ella (deceased), Lizzie, Amos (deceased), Clarence, Lucinda and Albert. While living in New Jersey, Dr. Blue was a member of the Baptist ciiurch, but on reaching Nebraska, finding no congre- gation of that denomination here, he united with the Presbyterians, and has always since been a faithful member. He has always taken great intei'est in the moral training of the young and has devoted much time to this purpose since he took up his residence in Nebraska. While living in Buckeye valley he estab- lished a union Sabbath-school at Burgh, and has been prime mover in establisliing seven other Sabbath-schools. For three years he has been superintendent of two of these schools, and is director of a day-school. He is now an eider of his church and has also held all the more important offices thereof, including those of treasurer and secretary. In civic matters he has filled the office of justice of the peace; and is at present the deputy postmaster at Nantas- ket, tlie postoffice being in his own store and his son-in-law being the postmaster. Mr. Blue is a member of the society of Ameri- can Mechanics, as well as of the G. A. R., of which last-named body he is chaplain. Mr. Blue has purchased a building in Nan- tasket, which he furnishes for churcli privi- leges, never charging anything for rent. It is needless to make any comment upon the career of so progressive a man as Jacob L. Blue. In politics, Mr. Blue is an active prohi- bitionist, striking hard blows for the cause, wherever he lives. 204 BUFFALO COUNTY DAVID H. HUTCHISON, farmer, was born in Steuben county, N". Y., May 4, 1849, but at the age of six years was taken by his parents to Michigan and thence to Wisconsin, and in the latter state lived until he reached manliood. When about twenty-one he went to Illinois and followed for a living common laboring work in the vicinity of Dixon and Chicago. Fi-om Illinois he went to Iowa, in 1877, and for five years engaged in farming on rented land. In March, 1882, he came to Ne- braska and bought from the railroad com- pany his present farm — the northeast quar- ter of section 7, township 12, range 14 — then all wild and raw. He has now eight}' acres in cultivation, raising mixed crops and graded live stock, including Clydesdale horses. On his first coming here he found no railroad, no town, and was com- jielled to go through all the hardships and inconveniences of pioneer life, but he bravely went to work and improved his homestead and now finds himself com- fortably situated, with his postofRce at Ravenna, one and one-half miles to the southeast, and railroad facilities at the same point. William Hutchison, the father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of the State of New York, was a wagon- maker by trade and was also engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business. He married Miss Esther Sweet, who bore him thirteen children. Of these David H. is the fifth, and beside himself there are three of his brothers living in Buffalo county, Nebi'., and there are also three of his brothers living in Cherry county, same state. In March, 1877, while in Illinois, David H. Hutchison married Miss Sarah. dauohter of Calvin and Marietta Buffing- ton, of Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Hutchison was a farmer, and settled near Dixon, Illinois, in 1856, and thei'e died about ten years later. To the marriage of David H. and Sarah Hutchison have been born seven children in the following order — Frank, Marietta, Fred, Jessie (died in 1883, at the age of eleven months), Seth, Charles and Malcolm. In politics Mr. Hutchison is a republican. Mrs. Hutchison is a member of tlie Metiiodist Episcopal cluirch, but Mr. Hutchison, although a member of the same church when he was a resident of Illinois, does not at present affiliate with any religious society, but his upright and moral life wins for him the full respect of the com- munity with which he has so happlily cast his lot. J OHN S. SxiLSBUEY, a farmer of Garfield township, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Saratoga county, in the State of New York, October 8, 1842. His father, James Salsburj', was also a native of New York State, and by occupation was a farmer, which vocation he followed until his death, November 4, 1844; but while pursuing his life-work on the farm, was much interested in polities, and was honored, b}' his fellow-citizens, with several positions of trust and duty. He married Miss Caroline, daughter of John W. Creal, of New York State, and to this marriage were born two children — Polly M., who died June 7, 1S44, and John S., the subject proper of this sketch. In July, 1864. John S. Salsbury married Miss Rachel H., daughter of John and Anna BUFFALO f'OVNTY. 205 Runnels, natives of Ohio, who first moved to Indiana, and then to Iowa, of which latter state Mr. Salsbury was a resident when liis marriage toolf place. To the union of John S. and Rachel II. Salsijury have been born seven children, in the fol- lowing order — Elmer W., Annie C, Rachel P., Cady M., Mary E., Roy C. and Guy A. Of these children, Elmer died while yet an infant; Cady M. died June 8, 1883, at the age of twelve years; Rachel P. died in February, 1886, at the age of seven- teen. John S. Salsbury came to Nebraska, January 1, 1879, and located first in Sher- man county. In Ma}', 1881, he changed to Buffalo county, and entered a home- stead claim on the northwest quarter of section 31, township 12, range 14, where he first built a sod house and went to work at getting his farm ready for cultivation, breaking twenty-five acres the first year. Pie has since built a good, large frame dwelling, has one hundred and ten acres under cultivation, lias a fine orchard started, and is possessed of every conven- ience to make a comfortable home. He has always been successful in raising good mixed crops, since his residence here, and live stock has received much of his atten- tion. On his first coming here, there were only three farms opened up in tlie townshi[), but now the whole township is dotted with Hourishing farms, among which his is one of the best, owing to his industry and skillful management. Rail- roads have come in, and towns have been built up, and Mr. Salsbury is now close to a market and a shipping point. Reared to be a farmer in the State of Iowa, to whicii state his jiarents had moved while he was yet but a lad, he gained a full knowledge of agricultural work, and hence comes his success in that pursuit in Ne- braska. Wliile m Iowa, Mr. Salsbuiw enlisted, in June, 1861, at Clarinda, Page county, in company F, First Nebraska infantry, and served in Missouri, Tennes- see, Kentucky and Arkansas ; he veteran- ized in January', 1861, and the latter ]iart of his service took place on the AVestern plains. He was mustered out in July, 1866. During his service in the army he was transferred from the mfantry to the cavalrv branch of the service. At the fight at Helena, Ark., lie was taken pris- oner, and for a week or so was confined at Little Rock. Released on parole, lie went to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to his home, where lie was arrested as a deserter, but, after the Resident's pi'oclamation. returned to his regiment, then at Cape Girardeau, and served with it until the close of the struggle, without further mis- hap. On his return to Iowa, he engaged in building bridges, and was also engaged in the milling business — the latter business occupying his attention until the time of his coming to Nebraska. After his arri- val here, Mr. Salsbury was made the fii'St justice of the peace of the township in which he located, and served two terms ; subsequently he was elected supervisor, and in this capac it}' served also two terms. He has also served as assessor and road overseer, and in every position gave the utmost satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Salsbury and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are devoted in their attention to its sei'victs and discipline. Mr. Salsbury is also com- mander of Cedar Mountain Post, No. 220, G. A. R., in which he takes the utmost interest. His interest in the granuer 206 BUFFALO COrNTV. movement is likewise unbounded, and lie with much ability, acts as lecturer and state delegate for the P'armers' alliance. His habits are strictly temperate, and he is a strong advocate for the prohibition of the manufacture or sale of intoxicants in the state. His politics he confines alto- gether to the republican partj'. His stand- ing before the public is of the highest, and the various positions of honor and trust which he has held, unsolicited, give evi- dence of the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors. HENRY NANTKER was born in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1848. He is the sonof AVilliam and Mar}' (Laing-- kanip) Nuntker, natives of Holland. The former was born in 1816, and, when nine- teen years of age, came to America, set- tling m Pittsbui-g, Pa., where, for a num- ber of years, he was in the employ of Jones & Coole}', a firm handling steam- boats' supplies. Later he formed a part- nership with his sons in the wholesale flour, feed and grain trade, in which he continued until retiring from active busi- ness. In 1841:, he was married to Miss Mary Laingkamp, and to this union have been born three children, viz.^William, Henry and John, the first and third living in Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. JSTantker were both active members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Nantker was a democrat in politics and his popularity was such that he was elected repeatedly to the oifice of treasurer of South Pittsburg. Henry Nantker, the subject of this biographical notice, was engaged in the flour, feed and grain business in Pittsburg for a number of years with his father. His popularity' was such, while there, that he was elected councilman of the city, in which capacity he served for some time. In 1879, he migrated to Nebraska, settling in Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, first lo- cating on section 1, township 8, range 18 west, there remaining four years, and then moving to section 36, township 9, range 18, and remaining three years, and from there he moved to the vilhiiie, where he now resides, engaged in the (h-uggist and notion business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Nantker married Miss Matilda Borman, a native of Pitts- burg, born in 1857. Their union has been blessed with three children, viz. — Addie, born July 20, 1877 ; William and Harry. Previous to coming to Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. Nantker were honored members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Mr. Nantker is a supporter of the democratic platform, and, since coming to Elm Creek, has held various offices in the gift of the people. In 1886 he was nominee for the leoislature. WILLIAM W. POOL, • farmer, and secretar}' and manager of the Nebraska Land and Cattle Company, with headquarters at Ravenna, Nebr., was born in Niagara county, N. Y., March 17, 1844 His father,, William H. Pool, a native of Massachusetts, was I'eared a farmer, and in 1844 emigrated to Michigan, in which state he is still residing at the advanced age of eighty- BUFFALO COUXTY. 207 two years — his earliest recollection of any notable object being a sight of the soldiers of the war of 1812. He mar- ried Miss Irena, daughter of Obed Smith, and this union was blest with the follow- ing ciiildren — A. II. Pool, now living nine miles north of Kearney, Nebr. ; A. S. Pool, in the coal business at Chicago, 111. ; B. F. Pool, a farmer near Romeo, Mich.; Harriet M. Pool, unmarried and living at Romeo, Mich., and William W., the subject proper of these lines. At the age of four years, William W. Pool was taken by his parents to Miciii- gan, in which state he remained until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Oil City, Pa. He was reared chiefly on a farm, but had a taste for general busi- ness, and although he received but a limited share of schooling, acquired later a practical education, which enabled him to transact or enter into .any branch of trade. In 1872, Mr. Pool married Miss Eva II., adopted daughter of Charles Williams, a foundry and millman of Wellsborough, Pa., who died in 1889; her mother, Sophia J. Iloyt, having died in 1854, and her father, Joseph B. Hoyt, having been killed while serving his countr}' in the Union army in 1801. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pool have been born four ciiildren — Ella; Bartlett F., who died in January, 1880, at the age of five years; Gertie S., and Eva I., who died wiien but six weeks old. William W. Pool came to Nebraska in October, 1876, and at first pre-empted a quarter section, in section 12, township 11, range 15; subsequently, he secured a homestead claim of a quarter section, and a timber claim for another quarter, both in section 6, township 11, range 14; he at once commenced to improve his farm, erecting substantial buildings and farming until 1883, when he, with others, organized the Nebraska Land and Cattle Company, under the laws of the State of New York ; in 1889, however, the com- pany was re-organized under the laws of Nebraska. To this company Mr. Pool disposed of one-quarter section of his land, reserving one-half section for his home. The company owns ten thousand acres of land, and is engaged in raising and handling live stock, and its officers are B. F. Peck, of East Bethany, N. Y., president ; R. L. Downing, of Kearney, Nebr., vice-president ; and W. W. Pool, the subject of this sketch, secretaiy and manager, and for the last named position no better selection could have been made. In addition to stock-raising and trading, the company cultivate three thousand five hundred acres in mixed crops, and in 1889 grew eight hundred acres in wheat, with a fair y\e\A. The average number of cattle raised, fattened and shipped annually, is one thousand, two hundred head, and hogs are also handled. The average number of hands employed by the company is thirty, and it requires about one hundred and fifty horses to do its work. Mr. Pool has a fine residence in Ravenna, but pays daily visits to the company's ranch, and gives its affairs special attention. Tele- graphic communication is had between the ranch and his residence, the two being about five miles apart. Besides being the manager of this large business, in Avhich he has been a stockholder from the beginning, Mr. Pool is vice-president of the First National Bank of Ravenna, and president of the Ravenna Creamery 208 BUFFALO COUNTY Company. Since becoming a resident of Nebraska, he has served as justice of the peace, and at present is a member of the town board, although he is not an aspir- ant for office, and takes no particularly active part in politics. AVhen Mr. Pool settled on his pre- emption, neighbors were few and far aj)art, and but few improvements were to be seen, but soon the prairie began to be settled up, and was dotted with houses and farm impniveraents; the railroad was run through, the town of Ravenna sprang up, and the development of the country is still going on rapidly, and much of this improvement is due to the enterprise an'd pusii of such men as the subject of this sketch, William W. Pool. E PtASTUS SMITH, a retired cap- italist, at Ravenna, Buffalo ^ county, Nebr., was born near Shelby ville, Ind., August 3, 1830, and was reared on a farm until seventeen years of age. He received his education at the common schools, and at the seminary in Shelbyville, in which latter institution he studied civil engineerino-, following- this as a profession for many years, and helping to locate and build a number of railroads. His father, Jonas Smith, was a native of Vermont and a farmer, who moved to Indiana in ISJS, and settled near Shelb}'- ville, where he ended his da3's in 1852. His wife, the mother of Erastus, was Abigail, daughter of Elisha Mavhew ; was a native of Maine, and both of English descent, the ancestors having come to America before the Revolutionarv war. The children born to Jonas Smith and wife were twelve in number, of whom Erastus is the fourth. At the age of twenty-four years, Erastus Smith went to Iowa and entered four hun- dred acres of land near Des Moines, lived there two years, and then sold out and came to Nebraska, in 1856, and located in Omaha, where he was eng-aged in real estate business until 1858. He then be- came a commercial traveler, and when the war broke out, in 1861, he was at Burning Springs, West Ya., in the interest of oil ! wells. Of course, his business was brought to a standstill through the war. Mr. Smith then went to Polk county, Iowa, and for several vears taught school, and for ten years engaged in farming. In 1874, he came back to Nebraska and settled his homestead on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 12, range 1-4, and at once began improving for a farm and cattle ranch ; he also located a timber claim, and bought five hundred and forty acres of railroad land in addi- tion, and continued farming and stock- raising in later years, keeping on hand an average of one hundred and fifty head of graded Durham cattle. January 1, 1886, the Burlington and Missouri River Rail- road Company began to push their road through, and the same month Mr. Smith sold to the Lincoln Land Company a two- third interest in a section of land for a town site, he retaining every third lot. The town was laid out in June, 18S6, the first lots were sold in July, and Mr. Davis, banker, erected the first building. The town has had a steady and healthy growth, the population on January 1, 1890, being about one thousand. The sale of lots and land by Mr. Smith has placed him in most comfortable circumstances financially, and he lias retired from active business, with the exception of looking after his town interests, as he has some buildings forrent or for sale. Mr. Smith is the jiioneer of his township, and about his first experience was the loss of his crop by grasshoppers in lS7-t and 1876, which disaster, at that time, was a serious, loss, but he possessed indomitable courage and energy, and went to work to recover his fortune, and it will have been seen that in this he has been successful. His neighbors in the early days were but few, and for several years his children were the only childi-en within nine square miles, with section S as its center. In 186-1: Mr. Smith was married, in Iowa, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Aaron and Mary J. (Dudley) Pearson, of New England. Mr. Pearson was a cattle dealer, and died in Iowa in 1871:. The marriage of Mr. Smith has been blessed by the birth of live children, as follows — Laura, who is married to Charles David- son ; Mary B., married to F. P. Boyd ; Charles D., who died in December, 1886, at the age of seventeen years ; Eva E. and Clara, at home. Mr. Smith in poli- tics is a republican, and while a resident of Iowa was a member of the Masonic fraternity, but the absence of Masonic lodges in the West caused him to become delinquent, and he is now non-affiliating. Mr. Smith does not owe his prosperity simply to good luck ; it is the result of his own foresight and prudence. His early experience as a civil engineer on railroads, and the geography of the coun- try before him, satisfied his mind that a railroad would be lun to the Northwest, and he located his land with a view of availing himself of any benefit that might accrue from its construction. He has not reasoned in vain, nor has he been disappointed. The road has been built, the town is here, and wealth has resulted to reward his sagacity and business tact. JW. IIARREL is a representative business man of the town of Gibbon, Bufifalo county. lie is not an old timer, and the record of his exper- ience does not therefore run back to the early days of the colony. He settled in Gibbon in February, 1879, and is a man of comparatively recent growth. As the common saying goes, he started "at the bottom round of the ladder,'" and although not yet rich or famous, he has secured a footing, and is in a fair way to get on in the world. Given the case of a young- man age twent3'-five. married, thrown into this new western country, amono' strantr- ers and without a dollar to go on, what will he do? His first impulse will be to return home. If he overcomes this im- pulse and decides to stay, the chances are that he will hear in a siiort time of some more attractive phice furtlier west, and, catching the migratory fever, will move on toward the front. If he "strikes it rich," he will settle down, but failing in this he goes out with the next exodus, and so he drifts from place to place in his wandering jiursuit of wealth till fortune graciously smiles upon him or deatli comes at last to his relief. The race for wealth, the contest for glory, become too absorb- ing to admit of tlie tedious process of growth and development, the idea being 310 BUFFALO COUNTY. to get to the front, to get there on terri- tory, to get there in time, to get there in point of success, and to get there fully, freely and unmistakably. The subject of this sketch, when he decided to stay West, made up his mind to locate in one place and remain there. In April following the date of his locating in Gibbon, Mr. liarrel engaged in the mercantile establishment of A. D. George, in whose employ he re- mained for six years. Here he gathered the knowledge of the local trade and formed an acquaintance with the buying public which have since stood him in good stead. At the end of the six years he liad saved enough from his earnings to begin business for himself. He opened a gro- cery store in Gibbon in the spring of 1885, and has been engaged exclusively in the grocery business since. His business has been reasonably prosperous, and measured by his means and opportunities, he may be considered a fairly successful man. The secret of what success he has attained, if there be any secret about it, is to be found in his industry, economy and strict application to business. He has followed steadily one purpose — that of developing liis business interests in accordance with his means and opportunities. He has allowed no distracting pursuits or diver- sions to lead him away from this pur pose. In politics Mr. Harrel is a republican — a stanch believer in the principles of his party — but not a politician even in the mildest sense of the word. As a citizen he is alive to the welfare of his community, ever ready to help, to the extent of his means and abilit}^, any enterprise of gen- eral interest — a liberal contributor to all charitable purposes and a zealous worker in that most benevolent organization, the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Harrel possesses an agreeable pres- ence. He is large of mold and generous of heart. He has an open, frank face, and a hearty manner. He is somewhat of the st>'le of "rough and read^'." He has his own opinions and speaks them freely to friends and strangers. He is broad in his views and believes in each one having the largest amount of personal liberty consist- ent with the public good. He asks noth- ing for himself that he is not willing to grant to others. He is, in short, an in- dustrious, useful citizen, a successful busi- ness man, a clever companionable fellow, whom everybody knows and familiarly greets as " Joe." MAURICE A. HOOVER, M. D., was born in Marion county^ Ind., near Indianapolis, April 6, 1858, and is a son of Peri'y C. and Cath- erine M. (Bender) Hoover, the former of whom was born September 13, 1832, in Marion county, Ind., and is now a sub- stantial grocery merchant of Indianapolis ; the mother is a native of Boiling Springs, Pa., and was born November 13, 1836. His father is a son of Andrew Hoover, one of the first settlers of Indianapolis, Ind., whose homestead was one mile from the western boundary of the city. The section of six hundred and forty acres was purchased of the government by Andrew Hoover, and it is intact and owned by four of his children. The old deed with the president's signature is still in their possession. Of four children, the *. M. A. HOOVER. BUFFALO COUNTY. 213 subject of this sketch is the eldest, and is the only one residing in Nebraska. He was educated at Wabash College, Crawfords- ville, Ind., where he took, in addition to his literary studies, a special two-years' course in the study of chemistry. In 1879 he began reading medicine with Drs. P. H. & 11. Jammerson, of Indianapolis, and March 3, 1881, graduated, with the degree of M. D., from the Butler University Medical College of Indiana, of that city. He began the practice of his profession at Mount Jackson, Ind., but a year later moved to Indianapolis, and until March, 1883, continued practice there, meeting with more than ordinary success. April, of the same year, he came to Kearney, Nebr., where his abilities were soon rec- ognized, and professional success natu- rally followed. It was not a long time, either, before his genial niannei's and social qualities attracted attention, and in the fall of 188-1: his friends elected him coroner of the county for the term of two years. November 3, 1883, he was married to Miss Eva A. Cox, daughter of B. F. Cox, a prominent citizen for manv \'ears of Crawfordsville, Ind. Dr. and Mrs. Hoover have one child, Bessie B., five years old. Dr. Hoover is one of the leading phy- sicians of central Nebraska, and enjoys a large and growing practice. He is a mem- ber of the Nebraska State Medical Asso- ciation, and was a member of the Indiana State Medical Association while a resident of that state. He is also a member of the National Surgeons' Society, composed of railway surgeons, and is resident sur- geon for the Union Pacific and Burlinff- ton & Missouri River railroads. At the organization of the United States Pension Board, in 1887, at Kearney, Dr. Hoover was elected secretary, and has held that position ever since. He was appointed examining physician of tlie board of insanity by Judge Hamer in 1887, and still retains that office. The doctor and wife are members of the Methodist church. Of a cheerful disposi- tion, he prescribes bountifully of the " medicine of mirth," which makes him a very popular guest of the sick-room. He is thoroughh' in sympathy with the big- hearted West, and gives cheerfully of his time and means for its development. AD. GEORGE. Another man who settled in the vicinity of Gibbon at an early day is A. D. George. Mr. George came to Buffalo county in Sep- tember, 1872, and located one mile east of the town of Gibbon, taking as a home- stead the south half of the southeast c|uar- ter of section 18, township 9, range 13 west. To this he subsequentlv added by purchase the north half of the same sec- tion. He began his improvements soon after making his selection, starting in a humble way, as did all the old settlers. For eleven years he lived on his home- stead and followed farming and stock raising. During this period he passed through the trying times of the grasshop- per season and the dry years, and there fell to him the usual hard experiences that fell to the common lot of all. What these experiences were are known to all the old settlers, but not so well known to, or properly appreciated by, those who have come in at a latex' date. The case of •Hi BUFFALO COUNTY. Mr. George was even different from that of the average settler, and the situation thoi'eby rendered the more discouraging. Prior to coming to Nebraska he had spent all his maturer years in the mercantile business. Farming was practically new to him. He was in a new country and launched at once into an untried condition of atiriculture. far from market and unsur- rounded by any of the helps and conven- iences common in the old communities of the East. .To make a success from the beginning could haidly be expected. Sim- ply how to live, soon became a problem. But Mr. George had confidence in the ultimate outcome. He believed in the countr}', believed in the soil, in the climate and in the ability of himself and his asso- ciates to make something out of them. He never allowed his courage to weaken, nor his interest to flag. He stuck to his farm and pursued his fixed pur- pose to labor and to wait. The suc- ceedine: years brought their reward. Tiie logic of events has demonstrated the cor- rectness of his views. His present condi- tion — the success he has attained — is a signal vindication of his position and a befitting remuneration for his long j'ears of patient toil. In 1S79 Mr. George pur- chased the mercantile establishment of Henry Cook & Son, at Gibbon. Since that date he has been actively engaged in the business, being now one of the oldest and most successful merchants of Gibbon. For the mercantile business Mr. George possesses a special aptitude, and for its successful pursuit he is well qualified by experience. He has spent the greater part of his life in a store. When a lad he began as a clerk in Canton, Mass., and afterwards going to Boston, he was engaged as a clerk there for ten years, being seven years with one house, Hiram M. Stearnes, and three years with Newell & Kankin. At the end of that time he engaged in business for himself, opening a gentlemen's furnishing goods establish- ment in Boston. He was so engaged for five years. In the meantime he stalled a laundry business which has since grown to be one of the largest anywhere in tiie East. It was ill-health, brought on by the exacting nature of these business interests that brought Mr. George west. He never possessed a robust constitution. Tying himself down when a boy to the exacting duties of a clerk, the confinement told on his physical development, and the cares of his personal concerns in later years aggra- vated his ti'oubles. It was due to this fact of ill-health that Mr. George was never accepted for military service during the late war, altliough he twice offered himself as a volunteer and was once drafted. A. D. George is a New Englander by birth and in his })h3'sical, mental and moral make-up preserves, in a large meas- ure, some of the prominent characteris- tics of the people of his section. He was born in the town of Sunapee, Sullivan county, N. H., January 25, 1836. His father, Rodney George, was also a native of Sunapee, as was also his paternal grand- father. His father lived in Sunapee to middle age, moved thence to New Jersey, and later to Nebraska, Buffalo county, where he died in 1881, at the age of sev- enty-four. Mr. George's mother bore the maiden name of Achsa Dodge and was a daughter of Benjamin Dodge, of New Boston, N. H. She was born in that place and was herself a descendant of an BUFFALO COUNTY. 215 old New llumpsliire family. Mr. George is one of a family of eitjht cliiklren, as fol- lows : Amanda, John A., Amos D., Mar- cia A., Ira P., Jason K., Alice and Mary il. All of these reached maturity and most of them became citizens of Nebraska, moving west about the same time the sub- ject of this sketch did. In his own domestic relations, Mr. George has been happy, yet he has not escaped some of the afHictions which fall to the lot of humanity. Ho was married in Marlboro, Mass., in November, 1S59, to Miss Lucy M. Ciiipman, of that place. This lady died in 18(59, leaving one child, Editii, now widow of George E. Nathecut. Mr. George next married November 25th, ISOi), Miss Abbie M. March, of Garland, Me. By this marriage he has an interest- ing family of children. Mr. George's career has been that of a business man strictly. He has devoted liis whole life to his own personal affairs. Yet he is not a man whole sole aim is to make money. lie is not lacking in enter- prise or public spirit. He possesses pro- nounced views on most matters of general interest, and while he avoids the wrang- lings of [)olitics, he does not neglect his duty as a citizen. He has affiliated with tiie republican party since its organization until the last year or two, and is still an advocate of its principles on national mat- ters. But with all its achievements in the way of progress and reform, he considers the party lacking in aggressiveness in dealing with some of the most momentous issues of the day. In other words, he is a progressive republican. The principal issue on which he differs witii his party is the temperance question. He is an ardent temperance man and believes that it is the duty of all good citizens and every asso- ciation of citizens and every pai'ty or organization having at heart the public welfare, to take a decisive stand on the temperance question and to labor indi- vidually and by co-operation for the su])- pression of the vice of intempei'ance. On this question Mr. George is outspoken, and, what is more, he lives up to his preaching in a way ecpialled by few, even of the most zealous advocates. He be- lieves that a vast number of the men who are lured into the paths of drunkenness start with the smaller vices and approach their ruin imperceptibly. For this reason he opposes the use of tobacco, and altlu>ugh he has been in the mercantile business for years where the luindling of tobacco might be profitable, he has not suffered a pound of the article to be sold in any shape over' his counters since the year he opened busi- ness. As might be inferred from this, Mr. George is a man who takes the live- liest interest in the welfare of his fellow- men. He is a man of the broadest chari- ties, the most benevolent impulses. He has been almost a life-long member of the Baptist church, taking an active interest in all church work. In the matter of education he has exhibited equal zeal, and his efforts have not failed of the reward the}' merited. He was one of the organiz- ing members of the First Baptist church of Gibbon and has, since the date of the founding of that church, been one of its chief pillars. While the State Baptist seminaiy was located at Gibbon, Mr. George occupied the responsil)le position of treasurer of the institution, and during the last term it was in operation he bore the entire expense of running it. He is a lib. oral contributor to all charitable purposest 211! BUFFALO COUNTY. Personally, Mr. George is modest and unassuming, and lias no desire lo make a fuss in the world. Wliat he does as a citizen is simpl}' the outgrowth of his con- victions. He is not the apostle of any new faitii nor the exponent of any new polit- ical idea. He works along the lines pur- sued by the wortiiies of the past. The most notable feature of his faitii and the distinguishing trait of his character is that he believes in the philosopiiy of things well done — the gospel of true labor — as contradistinguished from pretense and profession. For church, for school, for home, for all that helps to keep men and women from the slippery paths of sin and win them to lives of usefulness, sobriety and iiappiness, fitting them for the best possible life here and liereafter, tlie name of A. D. George stands pledged, and in all these things he himself rises to the full stature of a man. H GRACE P. SMITH is one of the young,intelligent and progressive farmers of Gibbon township,Buf- falo count\', who, having come into the county at a com])aratively recent date, and availing himself of his opportunities, has secured a good start and is in a fair way to grow into a land-holder of means and a citizen of influence. Mr. Smith came to Buffalo county in October, 1878, looked over the country, went back home and returned in the spring of 1879 and located. He bought a small tract of land in section 27, township 9, range 14 west, lying three and a half miles .southwest of the town of Gibbon, on which be settled and made improvements. Mr. Smith came west with limited means, and his first purchase of land was, accordingly, not large. He has added, however, to this by subsequent purchases, until now he is the ow^ner of three hundred and sev- enty acres, all of which is under cultiva- tion except a tract of eighty acres reserved for hay-laud. Mr. Smith has made the money with which he has bought this land by his own labor. The improvements on it he has also placed there. It is well improved, desirably located, and, better than all, is paid for. This, of course, has not been done with- out much labor ; it represents also good management. Mr. Smith is an industri- ous, thrifty, economical farmer, looks after the details of his affairs wifh great care, and studies the condition of his soil, its necessities and capabilities. He keeps considerable stock and sells but little raw material. He is careful to see that his annual income exceeds his annual expen ditures by as large a margin as possible, and judiciously avoids debt. He has the proper material in his make-up to succeed. This material is not altogether a personal trait. To some extent it is a hereditary gift. He comes of good stock, and he has been properly trained. His ancestry will bear historical research. Horace P. Smith is a son of George T. and Sarah (Farnham) Smith and a grand- son on his paternal side of Parsons and Nancy (Waters) Smith. His grandfather, Parsons Smith, whose name in part he bears, was a native .of Massachusetts, a son of a revolutionary soldier, and him- self for twenty-one years in the service of the United States government. He was in the war of 1812, serving with credit to BUFFALO COUNTY. 21^ himself and fidelity to his country during that war, and afterwards continuing in tlie service in the regular army for j'ears, a large part of which time he was in the United States arsenal at Watertown, Mass. After a life of great activity and usefulness, the best years of which were spent m behalf of his country, he died at the advanced age of seventy-four. Mr. Smith's paternal grandmother, Nancy Waters, whose father was also a revolutionary soldier and was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, was a native of Massachusetts. She was born in a iiouse which stood iialf in old Ciiarlestown and half in Cambridfje, and first saw lio-ht on the moiMiing of tiie memorable day on which the battle of Bunker Hill was fought. It is a tradition of the family that only a half-hour before she was born a tliirty-two-pound shot from a British cannon tore its way through the upper ])art of the house in which her mother lay and lodged in a beam overhead. Mr. Smith's lather, George T.Smith, was born in the United States arsenal at Water- town, Mass., September 7, 1818, lived there till thirty years of age, going thence in 1847 to Maine, where in February of the following year he married Sarah Farnliam, of the town of Mercer, Somer- set count}', and there lived till 1806, ex- cept the time he was in the army. He went into the service late, enlisting March 17, 1864, and entering Company K, Tiiirty-first Maine infantry. His regi- ment was organized in March and April of 186-4, and leaving the state the 18th of the latter month, it proceeded at once to Ale.xandria, Va., where it was assigned to duty in the 2d bi'igade, 2d division, 9th corps. In less than a month after it left home it went into action at the Wilderness and following that the en- gagements at Spottsylvania, Bethsaida church. Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Poplar Springs church, and all intermediate af- fairs, in all of which its losses weie heav}'. In less than one year's time the Thirty- first Maine lost six hundred and seventy- four men, killed or wounded in action, three-fourths of this loss occurring in May, June and Jul}', 1864. Mr. Smith's father followed the fortunes of the fi'jhtino: Thirty-first till the close of the war. being mustered out July 17, 1865. In 1866 he moved west and settled in Illinois, where he lived till 1882, when he came to Buffalo county, this state, following his son, Horace P., and settling where he now re- sides, in Gibbon township, on an adjoining- farm to the subject of this sketch. Mr. II. P. Smith's mother, who bore tlie maiden name of Sarah Farnham, was born and reared in the town of Mercer, Somer- set county, Maine, and is a descendant of a respectable, well-to-do family of that place. She is also yet living. To George T. and Sarah (Farnham) Smith have been born a famih' of eight children, as follows — Waitstill J., Mai'V M., Horace P., whose name heads this article; George W., Tena A., Cora E., William A. and Nellie M. These have all reached maturity, and most of them are now married and are themselves the heads of famil}'. Horace P. Smith and Mai-y L. Mercer were married m February, 1881, Mar}' L. Mercer Smith being a daughter of Vei'uon T. and Nancy llebecca Mercer, whose biograpliies will be found in this woik. Mrs. Smith was mainly reared in Buffuhi county, this state, her parents coming here 218 BUFFALO COUNTY. in 1871. She has by long usage become familiar with farm life, and especially that part of it that relates to household affairs, her recollections running back to the sod shanty of the "seventies," when what are necessities now Avere luxuries then, and the housewife's ways and means of getting on with her economic duties were by no means what they ai-e now, albeit the\' are none too luxurious at this time. Mrs. Smith is a lady of intelligence and kindness, and possesses the greatest of all virtues, genuine hospitalit}'. WN. JACKSON. A man of good personal record as a citizen, of exception- ally good record as an old soldier, and withal, one of the old settlers of his locality, is "W. N. Jackson, of Gibbon townshi]i, Buffalo county. Mr. Jackson settled in Buffalo county in the spring of 1871 — tlie date, it will be remembered, that the Soldiers' Free Homestead Colony was located at Gibbon and the settlement of the county properly begun. He filed a soldiers' homestead claim on the north- east quarter of section 28, township 9, range 14 west, lying three miles west and south of the village of Gibbon. There he located, and there he has con- tinued to reside since, except during tem- porary absence at intervals. He improved his homestead in accordance with the law and secured a patent for it. One hun- dred acres of it are now under cultivation, and the remainder in hay-land, pastures and groves. It is provideil with com- fortable and commodious buildings for man and beast, and in every respect gives evidence of the industry, thrift and good management that have prevailed there. The land lies well, being every foot sus- ceptible of cultivation, is in a good neigh- borhood, has at hand good school and church facilities, and is convenient to market. The place is richly worth $50 an acre, and [)robably could not be bought for tha^t. Mr. Jackson has been farming since coming to Buffalo county, and is recognized as one of the jirosperous, well-to-do agriculturists of his localit3'. Mr. Jackson came from Elmira, N. Y., to Nebraska, having been a resident of New York state some years prior to moving west in 1871. He is a native of Canada, iiaving been born in the ]irovince of Ontario, in March, 1838, and was reared there to the age of twenty. He then came to the States, locating in New York. His parents were both Canadians by birth — his father of English extrac- tion and his mother of German. These are still living in Canada, and are named David and Debby (Huffman) Jackson. Mr. Jackson passed his youth and part of his maturer j^ears in York state, and it was there that he met and married the lady who has borne him companionship for nearly twenty-five years. This lady's maiden name was Susan Ann Davis, a daughter of Henry E. and Jane (Coi'- ruthers) Davis, of Elmira, N. Y. Mrs. Jackson is a native of Ulster county, N. Y., and is a descendant of an okl York state family. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were married in August, 1-803. The}^ have but one child, William E. Jackson, born in Bradford county. Pa., July 9th, 18(!(>. When the country was torn asunder with civil discord, and the hydra-headed BUFFALO COUNTY. 210 monster, treason, was threatening the destruction of our institutions, Mr. Jack- son was one of the men who shouldered iiis musket and patriotically marched to the front in defense of tiie common gootl. He enlisted for two years in the service, in April, ISfil, entering Company K, Thirty-fifth (Jefferson county) New York volunteers. His command served with the Army of the Pqtomac. Mr. Jackson was present and participated in the fol- lowins: en(ja":emcnts — The second Hull Run ; Fredericksburg ; second Manassas ; Fairfax court house ; Culpeper court house; Cedar mountain and Rappahan- nock stati<;n, besides numerous smaller ones. After the expiration of his term of enlistment in the Thirty -fifth New York, he re-enlisted, entering the Fifth Now Jersey independent battery of light artillery in September, 1803. This com- mand had six light twelve-pound guns and one hundred horses. It participated in the followino-enoufroments — Howlett's house. May 9, lSi'oved, half of it being under cultivation and the remainder in pasture, furnished with comfortable buildings and ornamented with groves, natural and arti- Jicial. For several 3'ears after coming to the state, Mr. Gibson lived a bachelor, having too much regard for the tender feelings and gentle natui'e of the opposite sex to ask an}^ woman to share with him the har/:lsliips and privations which fell to his lot in the earlier years. But with the imjn'ovement of his worldly condition, the gradual settlement of the country and the appearance of better times, he got the consent of his mind to change his lot of single blessedness, and, as was most nat- ural in such a case, his eyes reverted to his old home in Lawrence county. Pa. In 1878, February 13th, he led to the marriage altar Miss Virginia McGary of that county, a lady whom he had known from earl}' childhood, she, like himself, being a native of that county. Mrs. Gib- son comes of Pennsylvania parentage, his father, John McGary, having been born and reared in Lawrence county, where he always lived and where he died in 1875 at the age of sixty-two, and her mother, a native of Armstrong county and still liv- ing, being a resident of Lawrence count}'. Mrs. Gibson is one of a family of twelve children, of whom, besides herself, two daughters and one son reside in PulTalo count}"-, viz. — Mrs. Mary Thompson, Miss Nan E. McGary, and James McGar}'. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have only one child, John M., a bright, intelligent bo}', around whom their chief hopes and ambitions gather, and who gives every evidence of being the realization of their fondest ex- pectations. WILLIAM ROACH. A man who has lived in (iibbon town- ship, Puffalo county, suffi- cient 1}^ long to be called an old settler and a man who has been one of the most successful, as he is one of the most higlily esteemed, citizens of the locality where he resides, is William Roach, the subject of this biographical notice. Mr. Roach is an Englishman by birth, having been born and reared to the age of seventeen in that famous island, whicli has furnished the world more navigators, expUjrers, jno- neer settlers, empire makers and city builders than any other spot on earth. He comes of good old English stock, the Anglo-Saxon strains running through his ancestral line from time immemorial. He is a native of Cornwall, and was born October 20, 1830. His father was Thomas 228 BUFFALO COUNTY. Roach, a native also of Cornwall, and his mother bore the maiden name of Jennie Hare, being a daughter of AVilliam Hare, and a native of the same county. His parents immigrated to Canada in 1847, bringing their family, but remained there only about one year, when they came across into " the states," settling in Erie county. Pa. There, after a residence of a few years, the mother died, leaving, sur- viving her, her husband and nine children, her father, accomjianying his .son, the sub- ject of this sketch, to Nebraska, died here the 12th of June, 1888, at the advanced age of sevent^'-nine. He was a plain man of quiet tastes and orderly habits, having led an industrious, upriglit, useful life. William Roach, our subject, was reared on the farm and adopted farming as the calling of his life. He married in Erie county. Pa., having grown to maturity in that county, the lad}' Avhom he selected for a life companion being a native of Pennsylvania, reared mainly in Erie county — Miss Caroline Ames. As his family began to grow up around him, like a thoughtful parent solicitous for the wel- fare of his children, Mr. Roach decided to move West, where opportunities were bet- ter for getting on in the world than in the more thickly settled communities of the East. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1871, settling in Gibbon township, where he took a homestead about three miles north of tlie town of Gibbon, and where he has since I'esided. Starting with the limited means at his command, Mr. Roach has steadily progressed from year to year in spite of the obstacles, failures and discouragements that fell to his lot in common with most of the old settlers at an earl}' day, and also since, until now he is one of the best-to-do farmers in Buffalo county, owning more than seven hundred acres of land, mostly in this county, a large part of which he has under cultiva- tion, well stocked and otherwise well im- proved. He gives particular attention to the raising of horses, having several Nor- man and Clydesdale thoroughbreds and a number of high-grade animals on his place. He is a thoughtful, industrious, progressive farmer and deserves all the success he has attained. Mr. Roach has a pleasant home, and is surrounded by an interesting family of children, having been the father of eight — Charles, George, Frederick, Julia, Perry, Mark, Clinton and Pearly. Of these, three are deceased. The third, Frederick, was born in Erie county. Pa., September 1, 1SG8. Coming to Nebraska with his parents in 1871, he has been reared mainly in this state, growing up on the old home place in Gibbon township, Buf- falo county. He has received a good common-school education and has been reared to habits of industry and useful- ness. He has always taken great interest in farming and stock-raising, being a great fancier of good horses; and with the en- ergy, thrift and self-reliance born to his nature and encouraged by the judicious training of his father, he began to accum- ulate when small, and his savings have gradually grown until now ; although he is but little past his twenty-first year, he is in a much better condition financially than the majority of men who are many years his seniors in age. He is a sober, intelligent, hard-working young man, and will one day be a man of wealth, position and influence. D. P. ASHBURN. B UFFA L CO UNTY. 231 DP. ASIIBUIIN came to Buffalo county, Nel)rasl«a, April 4, 1871, as a member of the Soldiers' Free Homestead Temperance Colon\^, and set- tled at that date at Gibbon, where, with the exception of temporary absence, he has since resided. He has been yilentified with tlic leading interests of his locality, material, political and social, and is prob- ably one of the best known, as he has been one of the most active and useful men, not only of his township, but of his county and state. Mr. Ashburn is a native of Ohio, having been born and reared in Trumbull county, that state. lie was brought uji on the farm, and has always been more or less interested in agricultural pursuits, having, also, in liis earlier years, followed the car- penter's trade. He married in his native county, and resided there till coming to Nebraska. His original homestead, where he settled on coming to the county, lies only about a mile west of the town of Gibbon, he still holding the title to it, and having resided there, more or less, since living in the county. Mr. Ashburn has been, and is now, a man of diversified pur- suits and manifold interests, and has spent not a little of his time in the public ser- vice. For the first few years after he located in Gibbon, he was mainly engaged in contracting and building, and farming. Then, when the grasshopper invasion came, followed by the dr}^ years, and the problem of life narrowed down to a struggle for bread and butter, he was for a few years in the employ of the Union Pacific Railway Company as express messenger, running west from Omaha. Resuming his farming pursuits, with the return of good crops, in 1870, he was so engaged till 1879, when he left the farm, and, moving into Gibbon, began the grain trade, building a grain elevator, which he subsequently sold to the parties who built and operate the present one there. In 1881 he built the Gibbon creamery, which he continues to own and operate, and which bears the distinction of being one of the most successful enterprises of the kind in central or western Nebraska. Mr. Ashburn has filled a number of public offices, and has done a vast amount of labor of an official and semi official nature. He was elected justice of the peace of Gibbon township in the fall of 1871, and held that office for one term. In the fall of 1872 he was placed in the field by his friends as the republican can- didate for the legislature, against the then well-known frontiersman and since cele- brated showman, " Buffalo Bill," demo- cratic candidate. Mr. Ashburn received a majority of the votes cast, but by mis- take, the returns from Franklin and Harlan counties were sent to the cit}' of Lincoln instead of the county seat of Lincoln county (North Platte), as the law I'equired, and these returns were not before the canvassing boaril. The remain- ing returns showed a majority for " Buffalo liill," and he received the certificate of election. Mr. Ashburn brought a con- test, and, producing the returns of all the counties in the district, ])roved his major- ity and was seated by a unanimous vote of the house, " Buffalo Bill " not appearing or claiming the seat. His district, the twenty-sixth, embraced all that jjortion of the state lying west of a line extending through the state from north to south, parallel with the east line of Buffalo and Kearney counties, thus giving him a large 232 BUFFALO COUNTY. area of country to look after. He took an active part in tlie general legislation before the house and in the committee rooms. During the last session of the legislature, he was selecteti by his county board as a delegate froui his county to act in connection with others similarly selected to consider the revision, and pro- pose measures for the recasting of the township laws of the state, and at the first meetmg of those delegates, held at Columbus, he was made chairman of the convention, and at the second meeting, held at Lincoln, he was sent as a delegate froni that convention, to urge before the legislature the passage of the measures proposed by the convention, nine out of twelve of which measures were passed and became laws. He also had in charge a measure from the Nebraska State Dairy- men's Association, asking for an annual appropriation of $1,000, for which he drafted a bill and secured its passage. He has been particularly active in behalf of the dairying interests of the state, being now president of the State Dairy- men's Association. He has served his township on the county board of super- visors, being the pi-esent member of the board from Gibbon township, and has been a member of the town council of Gibbon several terms, and active in its mu- nicipal affairs. In Januarj', 1889, lie was admitted to the Buffalo county bar, hav- intr since given some time and attention to the practice of law, and, in July. 1889, he was appointed postmaster at Gibbon, an office which he continues to hold. With these interests and pursuits, Mr. Ashburn's life has been and continues to be, an active, not to say laborious, one ; yet, as exacting as bis duties have been and are, he has discharged them with entire satisfaction to those concerned, and has succeeded in his own personal affairs far beyond the average of business men. It would be doing injustice to his most excellent and deserving wife not to say in this connection, that in his labors, both of a public and private nature, he has been materially assisted by her, and not a little of the success he has attained has been reached through her efficient labors and zealous co-operation. As has alread}' been noted, Mr. Ashburn married in his native county, in Ohio. The lady whom he selected to share his life's fortunes was Miss Emily Amanda Brown, v/ho was reared in Trumbull county, Ohio, but was a native of New York. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Ashburn were married August 3, 1862, since which time they have borne each other the cherished companionship which they sought with each others' hands, and have reared, almost to maturity, an inter- esting family of children. For these duties, as well as for those in the more extended sphere, in which she has been called in connection with her husband's business, Mrs. Ashburn is admirably fitted, being a lady of not only sound intelli- gence, but of an abundance of jiractical sagacitv, discriminating judgment and business methods and accomplishments, possessing, witlial, a well-cultured mind and a nature rich in the treasures of her sex. ID. LaBARRE, the first man who ever sold a dollar's worth of goods in the town of Gibbon, is still a resident of that place and is j'et engaged in mercan- tile business there. He settled on the BUFFALO COUNTY. 233 present town site of Gibbon on April 7, 1871, being a member of the Soldiers' Free Ilomesteati Temperance Colony, b}' which the village of Gil)bon and most of Gibbon township was settled. Most of the mem- bers of tliis colony, as appears in tlie his- tory thereof, were from Ohio, but it was recruited by volunteers from other states who fell in at different points, there being in all representatives of more than twenty states. Mr. LaBarre came trom New York, of which state he is a native. He is a descendant of two old York state families, the advent of whose ancestors on this con- tinent runs back into the mists of the past, and he is of French extraction and Huguenot stock on both sides. The familj^ name is variously spelled and abbreviated, appearing as La Bar, De LaBar, LaBarre and LaBaire, and representatives of the name are now found in many parts of the United States, especially scattered over tlie states of New York, Pennsylvania and western states. Mr. LaBarre's father, grandfather and greatgrandfather were natives of York state, and it is highly probable that his first ancestors on Ameri- can soil were as man\^ as four or five gen- erations removed from himself. The La- Barres, DuBoises, LeFevers and Beviers were early settled families of New York, as appears from the mention of their names in connection with the first settle- ment of the French Protestant refugees there. Whether his people belonged to the Ulster County colony or the Staten Island colony is not known, but in either case his ancestry would run l)ack to the earh' part of the seventeenth centur}', as these colonies were settled about the same time the colony at Jamestown was. I. D. LaBarre is the second of seven children born to John and Rosetta (Walker) LaBarre and first saw light August 4, 1831:, in Hartford, Washington county, N. Y. He was reared in Wash- ington and Essex counties, which join, and was brought up as a sailor on Lake Champlain and LIudson river and off the coast of New Y'ork. He married in Janu- ary, 18.56, Miss Mary W., a daughter of Minus Winter, his wife having been born and reared in the same community with himself and being like himself a descend- ant of old settlers of the northern part of Y^ork state. He engaged in business in his native county and in Essex, and was so engaged when he ilecided to move west. The circumstances which led to his com- ing to Nebraska were such as have hap- pened to many others and doubtless have been given to print man\' times before. He became dissatisfied with the over- crowded condition of things in his own state and wanted to get into a new country, where oppoi'tunities for getting on in the world were better than the}' were where he was. He cut loose from friends, rela- tives and business connections in the spring of 1871, and started west, not knowing at that time where he would cast his lot. He left AVashington county in compan}"^ with Dr. I. P. George, who will be remem- bered by all the old settlers, and as above stated fell in with the Old Soldiers' Home- stead Colony and became one of the founders of the town of Gibbon, Buffalo county. Mr. LaBarre's first experience as the first merchant f>f Gibljon was suffi- ciently novel to satisfy the taste of an}-- lover of pioneer methods. He opened his first stock of gootis in a boxcar, on a part of tlie train which was side-tracked where 234 B UFFA LO CO UNTY. Gibbon now stands and used by the colon- sits until houses were erected, and this stock of goods he brought with him and began selling the day after his arrival. As soon as the town site was located lie secured a lot and built a store house and moved in, becoming one of the fixtures of the place. This lot adjoins the one on the west of that on which his store now stands. Business, never very prosperous in the early days, grew distressingly dull after the first year or two. The men who set- tled in Gibbon and vicinity, like the early settlers of all new countries, were men of brawn and brain, but not men of means. They came west to better their condition. Their wants were few and their ability to buy limited. In the early days, at least, the town was not a place where small tradesmen could soon bloom out as mer- chant jn'inces. The tradesman shared the lot that fell to the average citizen. In many instances he fared worse. When the hard years came, the years when the grasshoppers and drouth spread suffering over the land, the shopkeeper found it as difficult to maintain his foothold and keep starvation from his door as did the poor homesteader. Yielding to the pressure of hard times Mr. LaBarre went out of busi- ness in 1874, and remained out till the return of good crops brought a revival of trade. With the exception of this period of general distress, when all of the old set- tlers had to resort to one makeshift and another to live, hardly anyone remaining at his accustomed business, Mr. LaBarre has been engaged actively in the mercan- tile business in Gibbon since the date of the founding of the colony in 1871 to the present time. His is the oldest establish- ment of the kind in the place and he is in point of residence Gibbon's first merchant. He has seen all the changes which have marked the growth and development of the town and vicinity — has seen a countr}'^ which twenty j'ears ago was one unend- ing stretch of prairie rapidly settled up with a thrifty class of citizens and become dotted over with peaceful and happy homes. lie has seen the spot where the pioneers of Buffalo county first pitched their tents grow from a train of box cars to a prosperous town of several hundred people, having all the conveniences and comforts of an eastern village, and he has seen many of the first settlers, whose earlier years on the plains were marked by a prolonged and arduous struggle for bread and butter, become well-to-do citi- zens, owning broad acres, well improved and furnished with commodious and ele- gant buildings. Thousands of dollars' worth of goods have been brought to Gib- bon, sold and consumed, since Mr. LaBarre sold his first article of merchandise from a box car in 1871. Store buildings have been erected by the score and merchants have come and gone, many of whom are not now remembered. Through all the changing years and all the varying seasons, except only the grasshopper period, the subject of this sketch has remained prac- tically on the spot where he built his first building and has continued to supply the local trade with whatever was wanted in his line. Mr. LaBarre, alihough an old-timer, is not a type of the Western rustlers in busi- ness such as have i>assed into common fame and newspaper notoriety. He is destitute of the grasping, money-getting spirit characteristic of the avei'age West- erner. The restlessness, scheming, worry B UFFA L CO VNTY. 2.15 and anno3'ance tbat come of lliat spirit he is singularly exempt from. He believes to tiie fullest extent m the maxim, " Live and let live.'' He believes in accumulat- ing by natural but not bv artificial means. As a merchant he sells to supply demand, but does not seek to create a demand by clap-trap advertising, or otlier means, that he may supply it. For this spirit of fair- ness, his equanimity and settled habits, he is largely indebted to heredit}'. The peo- ple from whom he is descended were dis- tinguished for their liberality, their large- ness of thought and fairness in dealing; for their settled convictions, the evenness of their temper and the general serenity of their lives. Strongly religious and shockingly persecuted for religion's sake, they learned to deal with others in a spirit of charity unequalled by any other sect. They exemplified in their daily lives in a trul}' admirable manner the whole- someness of the maxim, " Live and let live." It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. LaBarre has never mixed in politics. He has no taste for the wranglings of public life. He held the position of postmaster at Gibbon during Grant's administration — the only position of a public nature he lias ever tilled. He is a republican in pol- itics and a strong believer in the teachings of his party. In the matter of religion, he adheres to the doctrines of his fathers, being a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Mr. LaBarre has but one child, a dausrh- ter grown and mai-ried — Mrs. Cora La- Barre White, wife of Alva White, of Gibbon. Socially, Mr. LaBarre and his family are among the foiemost of the community. GEORGE H. SILVEENAIL is one of the old settlers of (ribbon townshit), Buffalo county, having come with the Soldiers' Homestead Colony in April, 1871. He is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, and was born in July, 1845. He comes of pioneer stock ; his parents were born in New York, but settled early on the Ohio frontier. His father, Calvin Silvernail, and his mother, Abigail Rath- burn, are still living, being residents of Gibbon and now well advanced in years. Besides himself there were six children in the family to which the subject of this sketch belongs, the full list being — Eliza- beth, George H., Eugenia R., John H., James, Eliza and^Fredei-ick. The subject of this notice, George H., was reared in his native county to the age of sixteen, moving thence in 1861 to Wis- consin. There, in September, 1804, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Union army, entering Company K, Fifth Wis- consin, on its reorganization, and serving with it until the suri'ender. He took part in all the battles in which his regiment par- ticipated, chief among them being those at Petersburg, Hatcher's run and Appo- mattox. He was mustered out in Septem- ber, 1865, at Ball's Hill, Wis. The fol- lowing six years he lived in Wisconsin and Michigan, coming to Nebraska, in Ajiril, 1871. He was accompanied to this state by his brother John H., now of Ivearne\% and two others, Daniel R. Davis ami Samuel Mattice. In the choice for home- steads these four cast their lots together and agreeii to locate as near each other as possible, one man to draw, as was the arrangement, for the entire four. iMr. Silvernail drew for his comrades and him- self, getting the twenty-eighth choice He and his friends took claims on the south sitle of Wood river, a short distance west of the town of Gibbon, but not hie- ing the soil they gave up their claims tliere and selected otliers in section 10, just nortli of the river. There they lo- cated, and our subject, being the only old soldier in tiie crowd, got one hundred and sixty acres while the others took eighty each. He filed on the southwest quarter of the section, improved it and lived there till 1SS3, except one year he resided in Gibbon. • Selling this he afterward moved to his present place of residence, four miles north of Gibbon, in Valley township. He has been steadily engaged in farming and has filled the usual number of local offices, having been the first precinct assessor (elected in the fall of 1871), one of the organizers of his school district and for several years a member of the school board and more recently clerk of Valley township. Mr. Silvernail was a single man when he came to Buffalo county, but married in the fall of 1872, November 17th, taking for a companion a young lad_v who, like himself, braved the hardships and priva- tions of frontier life at that date iu search of a home — Miss Marcia E. Howe, a native of Newport, N. H., her father, George W. Howe, and her mother, Sarah M. Carr, both being natives of Newport ; the father died in the town of Marlow, that state, in 1881, at the age of seventy-three, but the mother is still residing there. Mrs. Sil- vernail is one of a famil}' of six children, two of whom besides herself were among the early settlers of Buffalo county, Nebr.; these being Mi-s. E. C. Griffin, now of Gibbon ; and Mrs. Dr. Ira P. George, of Elkins, Colfax county, N. M. Mrs. Silver- nail came to Buffalo county in the fall of 1871. Three children, all boys, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Silvernail — Merton L., Ei'rol H. and Halbert G. Among the few remaining old settlers of Gibbon township, those who came earl}' and in the arduous undertaking of subduing na- ture and planting the seeds of civilization, " bore the heat and burden of the day," none have been more faithful in the task imposed on them and none are more high!}' esteemed than George H. Silver- nail and his estimable wife, whose mem- ory and the part they took in the settle- ment of their ado])ted home are here com- memorated. DE. M. V. CHAPMAN, veterinary surgeon and farmer, of Gibbon Buffalo count}', is a native of the town of Worcestor, Otsego county, N. Y., and was born June 16, 1834. He comes of York state parentage, his father and mother, Jonas and Polly B. Chapman, both having been born and reared in the " Empire State." The father was killed by the explosion of a steamboat boiler while returning from New Orleans, in 1840, and the mother died in Pennsylvania in 1870. Thei'e were six children born to these, all of whom reached maturity, and five of whom are now living, the full list being— Leonoi'a, now wife of Huron Daniels ; Orcelia, deceased ; Eosabella, wife of L. Close ; Andrew Jackson ; Stephen Ma^'ne and Martin Van Buren. ' The subject of this notice, the youngest of the above children, was reared to the age of twenty years in Otsego and Cayuga counties, N. Y., coming West at that BUFFALO CO U KIT. 237 date, and settling in Steuben count}'', Ind. There, on tiie 20th of April, 1855, he married Miss Delia McLouth, daughter of Rev. B. McLouth, of that county, and settled down to the pursuit of agriculture. In December, 1SG3, he entered the Union army, enlisting- in Company F, Twenty-seventh Michigan volunteer infantr^^ His was one of the historic regiments of the Union army and did excellent service during the two years it was in the field. It took part in seven- teen strongly contested engagements, and lost, in killed and wounded, over eight hundred men out of one thousand, four hundred and eighty-five. Those actually killed in battle were two hundred and twenty-five, being over fifteen per cent. Its heaviest losses occurred at the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Bethsaida church and at Petersburg, it being in the assault, the mine explosion and the trenches at the last named place. Our subject was not witii his regiment, however, during its entire term of service. During the latter part of the war he was on detached duty. After the surrender he was assigned to a place in the department of the Freedman's Bureau, being assistant superintendent and provost-marshal for Halifax county, Va. He quit the public service in Octo- ber, 1805, and returned at that date to Steuben county, Ind., where he resumed farming and his other private pursuits. Being a great fancier of horse flesh, a man of close observation and studious habits, our subject began, when only a youth, to give his attention to veterinarv matters, reading such books as fell into liis hands, and "doctoring " his own and neighbors' horses. With the increase of years, he gathered increased knowledge and experience, and discovered in himself a growing taste for the profession of a veterinary surgeon, until at last he made up his mind to perfect himself for this as a pursuit and did so, having followed it successfully for some years. He came to Nebraska in 1878 and purchased land north of Gibbon in Buffalo county, locat- ing there and residing in that vicinity since. He has at difi'erent times been largely interested in Buffalo county real estate, but has recentl}' closed out most of his interests of this nature. He is also interested in the state bank of Gibbon being a stockholder therein. He has a pleasant home one mile north of the town of Gibbon, lying on the banks of Wood river. Having had the misfortune to lose his wife in 1871, Dr. Chapman mar- ried again in August, 1872, the lady whom he selected as a companion the second time being Miss Mary Stiles, of Sauk Center, Minn. He has had bora to him a number of children ; three surviving of his first marriage, and six of the second. In private intercourse. Dr. Chapman is pleasant and affable, being of a quiet, txnobtrusive disposition and verv thought- ful for the feelings and welfare of others. He is a man of good intelligence and pos- sesses a large fund of general information. He has never aspired to public office, being content to pursue the even tenor of his way as a humble citizen of the com- munity where he has lived. In politics he is independent, though he formerly affiliated with the republican jiarty and still votes that ticket in national elections, but for local men and measures he follows his judgment, believing in the survi- val of the fittest, regardless of i)art\' affiliations or personal predilection. 238 BUFFALO COUXTY. A EDDY, an old settler of Gibbon township, Buffalo count}', a prom- inent and successful farmer, and as kind-hearted a christian gentleman as lives in the State of Nebraska, is A. Eddy, the subject of this short biography. Mr. Eddy has been- a resident of the locality where he lives since May, 1874, and he has been identified with the best material, social and moral interests of that locality since settling there. lie is well known throughout the county, and those who know him never mention his name but to speak his praise. Mr. Eddy is a native of Wyoming county, N. r., and comes of two of the early settled families of western York state. His father, John Eddy, was born in Rhode Island, December 9, 1795, and was taken to western New York by his parents when a lad, settling in Genesee count}', where, December 17, 1817, he married Caroline Ward, and there subsequently lived and died. He was a farmer, a man of plain tastes, settled habits and uneventful life. He died, February 14, 1881, after a long life of great activity and usefulness. His wife, mother of our subject, was born January 6, 1799, and died October 29, 1881, after a life of pious, christian en- deavor. In the family to which Mr. Eddy be- longs there were eleven children, as fol- lows—Alfred, born November 2, 1818, married February 21, 1843, died October 2, 1887; Lydia, born May 20, 1820, married to Lewis W. GUI October 7, 1811; Laura, born February 1, 1822, married to George Nichols February G, 1851 ; Asahel, subject of this sketch, born October 2, 1823, and married January' 1, 1845; Parthena, born September 27, 1825, and married September 28, 1842, to Joseph Dickerson ; Edwin, born March 30, 1829, and married Mai'ch 10, 1850 ; James, born May 30, 1832, and married February 19, 1857; Caroline, born June 13, 1834, and married. May 14, 1856, to Elliott Barber; John, Jr., born October 7, 1836, married March 23, 1859, and killed May 31, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va.; Eachel, born January 22, 1840, and married, January 6, 1861, to Abram Thompson ; and Spaulding, born Januar\' 5, 1843, and died July 25, 1843. The subject of this sketch was reared mainly in his native count}', passing his niaturer years in the county of W3'oming. He was brought up on his father's farm, I'eceiving as good common-school training as could be had in the public schools of those days, and being brought up to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. January 1, 1845, he married a neighbor girl, Sarah Cook, a daughter of Samuel and Chloe (Warner) Cook, early settlers in western New York. Mrs. Eddy, born August 10, 1825, is a native of Vermont, as were also her parents, but was reared in York state. Her father and mother died in Buffalo in 1831, during the great cholera scourge. Mr. Eddy settled down to the pursuit of agriculture after marriage, and followed it successfully a short time in Wyoming county, but moved West, without any family, and settled in McHenry county, HI. He was residing there when the trouble came on that re- sulted in the great Civil war, and like the the patriot he was, when the call was made for volunteers to defend the Union, he shouldered his musket and went to the front, enlisting August, 1862, in Company BUFFALO COUNTY. 239 E, Ninety-fifth Illinois volunteer infantry. He served with the army in the West and took part in the Vicksburg campaign, being ])resent at the engagements at and around Vicksburg, continuing actively on the front for one year, when, on account of failure of health, he was compelled to take a ]>lace as prison guaril, in which ca]iacity lie served till the end of the war, at Kock Island, III. Returning to Illinois he resided there, engaged in farming,till the spring of 1874r, when his mind once inore luj-ned towards the great West and he decided to take up his aboile on the rich prairies west of the Missouri river. He landed at Gibbon, Buffalo county. May 1st, that year. He at once purchased a place, buying the his- toric tract of land known as " Boyd's Ranch," lying about a mile west of Gib- bon on Wood river, and there located and has since resided there. Mr. Edtly has bouglit and sold several tracts of land since he made this purchase, owning now as much as four hundred acres in Buffalo countv. He has been steadily eno:ao;ed in farming and stock-raising, at which he has been successful far beyond the average old settler. His home place is one of the most desirable places in the famous Wood River valley, noted as that valley is for its man\' line farms. He has his entire farm under cultivation and it yields him an abundance of Nebraska's sovereign pro- ducts, corn and hay. It has an abundance of native timber, and, lying on the banks of Wood river, it is furnished with an ample sufficiency of flowing water. It is' in as moral a community as there is in Buffalo count}'; being only one mile from the town of Gibbon it has ail needful mar- ket, school, church and social advantages. Mr. Eddy is the father of nine children, eight of whom, four boys and four girls, are living and married. These are Amanda C, born July 13, 1847, and mar- ried October 2, 18C6, to A. Watcnpaugh; Spaulding, born November 14, 1840, and married August 9, 1871, to Amanda E. Norton; Henry A., born February 14, 1852, and married March 9, 1887, to Rebecca Peoples ; Laura Belle, boi'n June 17, 1854, and married July 2, 1873, to L. S. Buck; Caroline E., born April 15, 1857, and married Jul}' 2G, 1875, to E. B. Dun- kin; George A., born August 2, 1859, and marrieil November 21, 1881, to Martha Trout; Frank D., born December 2, lS(il, married January 2, 1887, to Mary E. Hays; Mary R., born October 27, 1806, and mar- ried May 10, 1887, to Bailey E. Yesey. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy's first child, a son born February 1, 1846, died in infanc}'. In politics Mr. Eddy was reared a dem- ocrat and voted the tlemocratic ticket up to the war. He then affiliated with the republican party and for many years voted that ticket straight through on all national and state issues. Of late years, however, he has been an independent rei)ublican with decided convictions on the {jrohibi- tion of the drink traffic. He possesses strong temperance views and is outspoken in his opinion on temperance issues. He is active in his efforts towards temperance reform, and now has enlisted in the great uprising of the farmers to free us from the corporate rule into which the old parties political have fallen and which legislate for the few at the expense of the many. Mr. and Mrs. Edtly are both members of the Baptist church, having belonged to that church for many years and reared most of their family in that church. 240 BUFFALO COUNTY. CC. HOLLOWAY. It must not be inferred from the great num- ber of sketches of old settlers of Buffalo county, which appear in this volume, that all the positions of trust and emolument, and all the avenues of success, have been monopolized by the first settlers, and that they onl}' have done things worthy of preservation in a memo- rial record like this. There are numbers of young men and new recruits, as it were, to the army of workers, who, for the length of their residence, and measured by their means and opportunities, have accomplished quite as much, since casting their lots in the county, as the majority of the old timers. While yielding, there- fore, to the pioneers the prominence which is due them, by reason of the greater length of their residence, and the hard- ships which fell to them in the earlier years, it is still in keeping with the char- acter and purpose of this volume to give a fair share of space to the 3'ounger men and the new-comers, in order to tell some- thing of their accomplishments here, and to preserve for those of heir name, who may in after 3'ears read this record, an account of their ancestral and personal history. One of the men of this class deserving of mention in this connection, is C. C. Holloway, cashier of the State bank of Gibbon, Buffalo countv. Mr. IloUoway came to Gibbon in May, 18S6. His father, Ira Holloway, had previously made invest- ments in Gibbon, and it was to take charge of these investments that the subject of this sketch became a resident of the place. The interests here referred to, consisted mainly of stock in the State bank, of which Mr. Holloway's father was one of the founders. The State bank, one of the institutions of the town of Gibbon, was organized July 1, 1885, under the state banking laws, succeeding at that date, a private banking firm. It was organized with a capital of ^50,000, the charter members being Ira Ilollowa}'^, H. F. Flint, C. E. Woodruff, D. M. Fulmer, F. C. Hitchcock and W. H. Morrow. Ira Hol- loway became president ; H. F. Flint, vice- president, and F. C. Hitchcock, cashier. Several changes have since taken place in the official organization and working force of the bank. At present, C. E. AVoodruff is president ; C. M. Beck, vice-president, and C. C. Holloway, cashier; Mr. Hollo- way having the general supervision and practical management of the institution and its concerns. The bank was started with a view of meeting the demand for local banking facilities. Its business has increased with the general increase of business of the town of Gibbon and vicin- ity, and its affairs are now in a fairly prosperous condition. Being organized under the state banking law, it is founded on a sufficientl}' solid basis to insure its permanent existence, and being backed by men of recognized means and al)ility, its affairs are managed in accordance with the best business princijiles and methods. It has, for the past year or two, had to divide business with the First National Bank of Gibbon, which has been started since the State bank was organized, but it has nevertheless held its own, and has gone steadily forward in its career of jirosperity. Mr. Holloway is a banker somewhat by accident. He was not trained to the busi- ness, but took it up on locating in Gibbon. He was a teacher b}' profession prior to coming to Nebraska, having received a thorough education in his youth, graduat- BUFFALO COUNTY. 241 ing from the Normal School of Milan, Erie county, Ohio, and for a number of years being actively and successfully engaged in school-room work. In many respects he is admirably qualified for the profession of teaching, being a good scholar, the first recjuisile. lie has re- ceived the necessary training to enable him to impart his knowledge in a clear and concise wa\', is a hard worker, pos- sesses executive abilitv above the average, and is painstaking and systematic in his methods. And he is, withal, an ardent advocate of thorough training for the 3'oungand a warm sym|)atliizer witli youth in its struifijles for the rudiments of knowl- edge. These qualities have also helped to make him a success in his present busi- ness and would go far towards helping him on to success in any business he might choose. They are not qualities necessarily peculiar to him, but are qualities held in common by the great mass of successful business men. In a general way they are (pialities characteristic of the average Amei-ican. It is the possession of these qualities that enables the general man of atfairs to turn his hand with equal facility from one business to another and to prose- cute all with a fair degree of success. Besides the excellent school advantages enjoyed by Mr. IloUoway in his3'outh, he gained a jjood insight into the affairs of o o o tiie world through his father, who was a highly successful business man. The elder IloUoway was a native of New York state, but moved to Huron county, Ohio, when a lad, where he settled, married and sub- setjuently lived until 1883, when he re- moved to Lenawee county, Mich., where he resided until his death, September 3, 1887, al the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was variously engaged during his earlier years, but retired in late life. He was distinguished for his industry' and conscientious devotion to his own personal matters, and much of the success that crowned his life was due to the possession of these admirable qualities. He died about two years ago, somewhat advanced in age, but retaining up to the close of his life the full possession of all his faculties and exhibiting the same marked interest in his business matters and the success and welfare of his famdy that distinguished him in the more active years of his career. Mr. Holloway's mother bore the maiden name of Achsa Broughton. She is still living. She was born in Lorain county, Ohio, of which her parents wereamongthe first settlers. Mr. IloUoway himself is next to the youngest of a family of ten children, all of whom reached maturity and most of whom are now living. He was born in the town of Peru, Huron county, Ohio, and there raised. He lived there and in ad- joining counties till coming to A'el)raska four 3' ears ago, and, as already stated, was engaged in teaching. He was married in Lucas county, in Se])teudjer, 1880, the lady of his choice being Miss Ruth Smith, of that county. If more of Mr. IloUoway need be said, what he is and what he has done may be summarized in the statement that he is an honest, industrious, capable man of busi- ness; an enterprising, intelligent, useful citizen and a pleasant, genial gentleman — a valuable acquisition to the community where he has cast his fortune, and one whom his fellow-citizens rightly appre- ciate and will willinglv indorse what is here said of him. 242 B UFFA L O'^CO UNTY. WL. E AND ALL. A young man in years but a compar- ativel}' old settler and one of the most progressive, enterprising and public spirited man of his locality, is W. L. Randall, the famous, one-price, cash merchant of the town of Gibbon, Buffalo count}'. Mr. Randall came to the county when about seventeen years of age ; while therefore he is hardly "to the manor born" he is nevertheless almost a jiroduct of the soil, having grown up in the com- munity where he resides and having been identified with the best interests of that community from his earliest days. He is a son of a former well-known citizen and old settlor of Gibbon township, now de- deceased, and before entering on the rec- ord of the subject of this notice it will be proper to refer to a few facts of his father's history. John D. Randall was born in New York and was reared there to the age of seventeen, being brought thence to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Clermont county. There he grew up and married a neighbor girl, Jane Beatty, a daughter of John Beatty, one of the first settlers of that county, and settled down to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture. He was so engaged till the clouds of a civil war burst over his unhappy country. Then, with an alacrity born of the patriotism in him, he offered his services for the preser- vation of the Union, enlisting in Septem- ber, 1861, in Company C, commanded b}' his brother, W. S. B. Randall, Second Ohio volunteer infantr}', commanded by his brother-in-law. Col. William T. Beatty- His regiment was assigned to dutj' in the western department, and, beginning its services in Kentucky, it was in the en- gagements at Perryville, that state ; Ivy mountain and Stone river, Tennessee ; Chickamauga, Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge, and then, entering the Atlanta campaign, down to the taking of Atlanta. He entered as a private and was discharged as a sergeant, having served out the term of his enlistment Returning to Ohio he resumed farming and continued there so engaged till 1877, when with his famih' he moved to Ne- braska and settled in Gibbon township^ Buffalo county, four miles west of the town of Gibbon, where he lived till his death, which occured July 23, 1887, he having attained his seventieth year. He never had any aspirations for jiublic life, but filled a number of loc il offices both in Ohio and this state with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. He was a man of plain tastes, quiet habits and settled disposition, leading an active, in- dustrious, useful life, and laying down his burden at the end of his journey with a consciousness of duty well done, and bear- ing with him to his grave the sincere re- gret of those whose friendship and esteem he had enjoyed while living. He was for many years a zealous member of the Methodist church and a liberal contributor to all charitable purposes. Being an old soldier, he took much interest in Grand Army matters, and no man had a warmer ])Iace in his bosom for an old comrade than he. He left surviving him a widow and six children, one having preceded him to the unknown world. His widow is still living at Gibbon, and his children are all married and are themselves the heads of families. These are Mrs. Jane Seeley, wife of C. G . Seele}' of Goshen, Ohio ; Mrs. Lida Osborn of Wilmington, BUFFALO COUNTY. 243 Ohio, ^vife of I. II. Osboni, who moved to Gibbon, September 11, 1890; Mrs. Caro- line Schooley, wife of N. Schooley, of Gib- bon, Buffalo county, this state ; Mrs. Kate Huffman, wife of Amos Huffman of Wil- mington, Ohio; John E. of Buffalo county, and William L., the subject proper of this sketch, the one that died beingFrank, tiie second ciiild in point of age. William L. Randall was born in Cler- mont county, Ohio, September 5, 1860. Ke was reared in that and Buffalo county, this state, growing up on his father's farm and receiving a fair common-school education. His earlier pursuits were of an agricult- ural nature. He quit the farm, however, in 1884, and after spending two years in the Gibbon creamery and running the Commercial hotel of that i)lace, he went to Wood River, in Hall county, where he besan the mercantile business. Returning to Gibb(m in July, 1889, he opened his present store, inaugurating- at that date the well remembered era of low prices for people of that vicinity. Having been brought up on the farm and having si)ent the greater part of his life among the farmers, he knows their wants perfectly, and is in entire sympathy with them, and is therefore prepared to furnish them what they need and do it at living prices to them. Mr. Randall has built up an immense trade for the time he has been in Ijusincss and the volume of his business is constantly increasing. He is no resi)ecter of persons or prices when they conffict witii liis sense of justice to his patronage. He reserves the right to buy where he can get the best for the least money and to sell at such figures as he sees fit to put on his goods. He is thoroughly independ- ent, and is a man of good intelligence. shrewd and practical, attending strictly to his own affairs but disciiarmn'r his duties as a citizen with promptness and fidelity. He has a family, having married April 19, 1882, the lady whom he selected for a wife being Miss Emma AVescoatt, daugh- ter of Riley Wescoatt, a merciiant of Wood River, Hall county, Nebr., and a native of Albia, Iowa, but reared mainly in Hall county, whither her parents moved in 1876. Mr. Randall has a pleasant home and a host of warm friends. He was elected member of the board of trus- tees in April, 1890, and took his seat as same the first Monday in ]\Iay, 1890. He has enlarged his store to double its former capacity and now carries tiie largest and best assortment of general mercliandise in the city. He also runs a large stock of general merchandise at Wood River, Hall county, he having bought his father-in- law's stock at that place. Mil. NOBLE. Tlie observation is frequently made that the second crop of settlers in a new country always reap the fruits of the labors of the pioneers. Strictly speaking this is not correct, but the general state- ment contains considerable truth. The (lualities that make a good pioneer do not necessarily make a successful man of tlie world, and it is a fact that, as a new coun- try becomes settled up, the old-timers, as a rule, move on to the more sparsely set- tled districts while the new-comers pick up the desirable locations and not unfre- quentl}' monopolize the most lucrative professions and absorb the best paying business enterprises. There is something 244 BUFFALO COUNTY. in the free and easy way of living prac- ticed by the old settlers that seems to unfit them for coping successfully with the aggressive forces that come with the better settlement of the country. On the other hand the more newly arrived settler, fresh from the over-crowded communities of the East and thoroughly' practiced in all the approved methods of getting on in the world, feels freer for his change and sees opportunities where his discouraged neighbor can not, and not being slow to avail himself of the opportunities he soon forges to the front and begins to attract attention as a man who " has come in recently but is making it pay right along." One of the citizens of Buffalo county who falls within the designation of " sec- ond-crop of settlers " is M. H. Noble, a representative business man of the town of Gibbon. Mr. Noble came to Buffalo county July 31, 1879, more than eight years after the town was located and the county properly opened to settlement. He had friends who were residents of Gib- bon and who were among the first settlers of the place, and it was from a knowledge of the country gained through thera that he decided to make his home in Nebraska. On his arrival here Mr. Noble went to work in the Gibbon mills, where he learned the business of milling. He was in the emj)loy of the Gibbon mills for three years and a half, the last year of which time he was first miller. From the mills he went on the ranch of I. N. Davis in Valley township, four miles north of Gibbon, and there remained two years and a half. He put up the buildings on this ranch, did a large part of the fencing and superintended tiie breaking out of a considerable portion of it. He raised three crops and was getting in a fair way to make of the place one of the best ranches in the county, when, on account of failure of health of wife, he was forced to give up. He moved into Gibbon and bought out the half interest of James A. Kelsey in the drug house of Kelsey & Murnen, entering into partnership with Mr. Murnen, the firm becoming Murnen & Noble. Later he bought out his part- ner's interest, since which time he has been alone. He has the best drug house in the town of Gibbon and one that would do credit to a town twice the size of Gib- bon, carrying a clean, neat, well-selected stock and sufficiently large to meet all local demands. He drives a prosperous business and may be set down as one of the money-makers of his town. Mr. Noble received exceptionally good training for the mercantile business in youth and doubtless his success is due, in no small measure, to the knowledge he so acquired and the methods he learned. For five 3'ears prior to coming to Nebraska he was in the mercantile establishment of William Bell & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, entering that establishment as cash boy and quitting it as cashier. Dur- ing this time he had abundant opportuni- ties to learn all the " ins and outs " of the mercantile business — wholesale and retail — city and country. He availed himself of these opportunities as a quick, active young fellow might be expected to, and he came away from Cincinnati with the foundation of a successful business career well laid. Mr. Noble is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, and was born October 4, 1858. He is a son of Alfred and Susan BUFFALO COUNTY. 245 (Longstreth) Noble, his father being a native of Virginia and his mother a native of Indiana. His father was a pli\'sician of excellent attainments, being thorougldy enamored of his profession and enjoying an extensive practice. Unfortunately for his family and for the community where he lived, he was cut ofif in the midst of an enviable professional career and in the prime of life. He died July 2G, 1858, at the age of fifty -five. Mr. Noble's mother was a daughter of AVilliam Longstreth, of Phihuleli)liia, Pa., an old, honored and useful citizen of that county. She is yet living, and is the sec- ond wife of Di-. Noble, he having been previously married and having by his former marriage two children, both of whom are now living. These are Alfred B. Noble, now a resident of Hamburg, Iowa, and Mrs. Addie Bell, wife of Will- iam II. Bell, of Knightstown, Ind. To Dr. Alfred and Susan (Longstreth) Noble were born a family of seven children. These were Julia, wife of L. C. Simpkins, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; John, now a resident of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and an electrician of some note ; William, a resident of Col- orado ; Adelia, wife of M. S. Cook, of Gibbon, Nebr.; Frank, of Rome, Ga.; Charles, of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Milton II., whose name is placed at the head of this article. The last two are twins. Milton IT. Noble was reared in his native county, and received an ordinary common- school education. What his career might have been had his father lived to superin- tend his training and counsel him in the selection of his life-work, can not now of course be told. So far as this is con- cerneil, only the sad fact remains to be recorded that he never saw his father, and that what training he got in 3'outh was such as fell to the average boy ; all he has and all he is he owes to himself, aided, as he was in his earlier years, by a kind and faithful mother. In his domestic life Mr. Noble's lines, like tliose of many others, have fallen partly in sunshine and partly in shadow. He was married, in Sei)tember, 1882, to Miss Ida E. Day, of Alfred, Me. This lady died in January, 1883. He married again July 15, 1884, his second wife being Miss Blanch Seaver, a daughter of Parley Seaver, of Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in which city Mrs. Noble was also born. Mr. Noble has never aspired to be more than a man of business. He has devoted himself strictly to the pursuit of his own personal affairs, to the discharge of his duties as a citizen and to those dependent on him. He is a iiberal-mindeil, open- handed man, ready to help any worthy enterprise or deserving person to the ex- tent of his means in an honest purpose or endeavor; and this is not the opinion of a stranger to him, but it is the report given of him by his neighbors and accpiaint- ances who have lived by him and have done business with him for years, and whose opinions are therefore entitled to consideration on this point. VT. ]\[ERCEK. An old settler and highl}' esteemed citizen of Gibbon township, Buffalo county, is \. T. Mercer, the subject of this notice. Mr. Mercer is a native of Delaware county, Pa., and was born in July, 1828. He is 246 BUFFALO COUNTY. next to the j'oungest of a family of eleven children born to Euclid and Mary (Watts) Mercer. His father was also a native of Pennsylvania, was reared and married there and moved from there to Ohio, set- tling in what was then Guernsey, now Noble county, from which, after a resi- dence of some years, he moved to Fulton county, 111., where he died with the cholera. He was an industrious farmer and an hon- ored and useful citizen. Mr. Mercer's mother was a native of Maryland, moving with her parents when young to Pennsyl- vania, where she met and was married to Euclid Mercer. She survived her husband twenty-eight years, dying also in Fulton county, ni. Of the eleven children born to them six were boys and five girls; all of them reached maturity, and, with the exception of thi-ee, are now living. Their christian names in the order of their aires are as follows: John, Elizabeth, Richard, Job, Chalklev, Hannah, Julia Ann, Sarah, Susan , Vernon T. and Hiram B. Vernon T., the subject of this sketch, was reared mainly in Guernsey (after- wards Noble) county, Ohio. He was brought upon the farm and trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life, receiving during the winter months, according to the custom of those (lays, the rudiments of a common-school education by attendance at the country schools of the neighborhood. In 1860 he married Nancy Ilebecca Waggoner, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wag- goner, of Noble county, she being a native of that county and a young lady whom he had known from early childhood. He settled down to the pursuit of agriculture and was so engaged when the Civil war came on. He entered the Union army in 1864, enlisting in Company F, One Hun- dred and Seventy-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, his regiment being attached to the Army of the Cumberland, with which he served, being mustered out in May, 1865. Returning to Ohio he remained there, engaged in farming, till the sjiring of 1871, when he moved to Nebraska, set- tling in Gibbon township, Buffalo county, in June that year. He took a homestead in section 26, township 9, range 14 west, being 162.88 acres and embracing a frac- tional part of the old Fort Kearney mili- tary reservation. There he located and has since resided, having been steadily engaged in farming. He has one of the best places in Gibijon township. It lies only about two miles from the corporate limits of the town of Gibbon ard is thus sufficiently near mills, markets, schools and churches. Every foot of it is sus- ceptible of cultivation and it lies near enough to the Platte bottoms to place it in reach of an abundance of hay and graz- ing land. It has growing on it an excel- lent grove of trees, the result of Mr. Mer- cer's industry and foresight, and is sup- plied with all other needful conveniences. Mr. Mercer has never aspired to be more than a humble citizen of the community where he resides, being content to follow the even tenor of his way, finding therein his chief pleasure as well as his highest reward. He has reared up around him- self an interesting family of children, all of whom are now grown and some of whom are married and are themselves the heads of families. His children are — Charles Wilbur, MoUie L. (now wife of H. P. Smith, a sketch of whom appears in this work), John B. and Flora K. F. G. KEENS, BUFFALO COUNTY 249 FG. KEENS came to Kearne}' in July, 1872, and is, therefore, one of the earliest settlers. The town site was not surveyed until the Scptcniher following, nor the town organ- ized until January, 1873. But it is not this fact alone that entitles him to special mention in this volume. There are Inm- ()n t(j lill public office. In the fall of 1879 ho was elected to tlje legislature from Buffalo county and served one term, taking an active part ih the general course of legislation before the lower house and doing a large amount of efficient work as a member of the several committees on which he served. One measure of signifi- cance for which the people of Buffalo county have special cause to remember him was the bill which he secured having enacted into a law, locating the State Industrial school at Kearney. For the passage of this bill he was a tireless worker and it was due mainly to his efforts that Kearnev and Buffalo county secured the much coveted prize. To the discharge of his general duties as a legis- lator he brought the same zeal, energy and sound and discriminating judgment which had characterized him and yet continues to characterize him in his conduct of his own personal affairs. In the growth and development of his own locality he has exhibited equal zeal and fidelity. He has been a member of the village school board of Gibbon for more than fifteen years, he has served as a member of the village council when called on for that purpose and he has been among the first, both with money and with personal influence and effort, in securing and promoting indus- tries, enterprises and interests of a local nature for his town and community. He is a man of progressive ideas, broad and liberal in his views and practical in his methotls. Honest and frank by nature, generous in disposition, he is not without friends and admirers and his influence is sought by those who know his ability and who prize his judgment. Mr. Davis married in August, 1864, taking for a companion Miss Emily M. Avery of Franklin county Massachusetts, who like himself is a descendant of old New England stock, being a daughter of James Avery, a native of tlie " P>ay State. " Two children have been the result of this union — a daughter, Emma L., now wife of Charles Galloway, of Broken Bow, Nebr., and a son, Roy. In politics Mr. Davis is a republican, a 262 BUFFALO COUNTY stanch believer in the teachings and methods of his party. He is a zealous mason, having taken all the degrees up to and including that of Knight Templar, being also a member of the Mystic Shrine. THOMAS W. ELDRED, the sub- ject of this biographical memoir, is one of the most prosperous farmers and perhaps the largest stock raiser in Grant township, Buffalo county, Nebr. He was born at North Kingston, R. I., December 1, 1837, comes from a long hne of New England ancestry, and has the pluck and energy which is charac- teristic of that people. His father, James EJdred, a contractor and mason by trade, was a native of Rhode Island, born June 29, 1809. There were ten children in the family — seven boys and three girls — of whom Thomas is the third. Having first obtained a somewhat liberal education in the common schools, Thomas W. Eld red for two years attended a seminar}^ at East Gi'eenwich, R. 1., and later graduated from East- man's Commercial College at Poughkeep- sie, N. Y. He then engaged in the gro- eery business at Providence, R. I., for two years. Disposing of his business, he began the manufacture of spinning rings for cotton-mills, which he continued with considerable success for two years, when he sold his establishment and engaged in buying, sorting and selling cotton waste. At this business he continued for a period of eight years, accumulating, in the mean- time, quite a fortune. During a big real estate boom in Providence, R. I., and while he was j'et engaged in buying, sort- ing and selling cotton waste, he made heavy investments in realty. Contrary to his expectations, the boom collapsed, and realty depreciated to such an extent that he lost every dollar he possessed. This circumstance, instead of robbing him of his ambition, only served to nerve him for the conflict of life; and instead of sink- ing into a state of lethargy, as many an individual under similar circumstances would have done, he set to work once more with an invincible determination to retrieve his lost fortune. To Mr. Eldred's reverse in fortune is due the fact of his location in the West- After earning a considerable sum of money, he made a trip to the Red River country, Dakota, \vith a view of locating there ; but, not liking its general appear- ance, he came south into Nebraska and decided to locate in Buffalo county. He came to this country July 9, 1879, and pre-empted the northeast quarter of sec- tion 24, Grant township ; moved his fam- ily here February 14, 1880, and here he still resides. He first built himself a sod house, which he occupied for four j'ears. The country was new at the time of his coming and very sparsel}^ settled, there being but one frame house for seven miles in the direction of Kearney ; the balance were sods and dugouts. In 1880 he broke and put out thirty-five acres of wheat, from which he harvested and thrashed only seventy-three bushels. Corn, oats and potatoes were also a failure, there having been no rain to speak of from September 1, 1879, to June 8, 1880. From that time to the present he has had abun- dant crops and has been prosjierous. The old sod house has been replaced by a large and commodious frame, and a me- BUFFALO COUNTY. 263 diiira-sized barn, together with other out- buildings, attest the fact of his pi-ospei'ity. Of late years he has engaged on a large scale in the raising of fine Poland-China stock hogs, which he sells and ships by express to all parts of Nebraska. lie now has some two hundred head of these stock hogs on his farm. Mr. Eld red was married January 20, 1864, to Carrie Pitcher, daughter of John .and Isabella (Greene) Pitcher, both na- tives of the state of Rhode Island ; the former was born September 14, 1819, and the latter May 11, 1820. To them were born five children, Carrie being the old- est. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Eld red has been blessed with six children — Mamie, John, Lillie Estelle, Willie and Carrie Belle, and one that died in infancy, not named. Politically, Mr. Eldred is a republican and a firm believer in the party's princi- ples. GEORGE FORRESTER was born in Lee count3\ Iowa, May 22, 1843, and is the son of Oliver C. and Elizabeth (Loughhead) Forrester. His father was a Canadian by birth and a farmer by occupation. His mother was a native of northern Ireland and died in 1845. George had not yet reached his majority when he concluded to accept the advice of Horace Greeley and " go West and grow up with the country," and started out, with Central City, Colo., as his objective point. There he met the frontiersman in all his glory, but he was not delighted with the picture of western life, and, after working for a freighting company' some little time, he returned to Iowa. He taught school until the spring of 1864, and then entered the Union army, enlisting in the Forty-sixth Iowa infantry. His regiment was assigned to the duty of guarding railroad propert}', principally in the South, and he was mustered out in the fall of 1864, after serving the time for which he had enlisted. Returning to Iowa, conscious of having discharged his duty to his country, he attended a school at Tabor for a time, and then followed teach- ing for several years. In the meantime, however, he had completed a course in a commercial college in Chicago. He had thus thoroughly fitted himself for the transaction of business in the commercial world, and he soon found a position as clerk and manager of the warehouses of the firm of Henry Lee & Co., of Red Oak, Iowa. In the fall of 1879 he met with a most peculiar accident by being struck by lightning, while he was in a granary mov- ing some grain. The lightning melted a hole through his watch case and burned his clothing badly; portions of his body were jjaralyzed and he was rendered per- fectly helpless for some time. Shortly after his recovery a horse fell on him, breaking his leg and crippling him for life. In the sjiring of 1883 he came to Ne- braska and took a soldier's claim in Har- rison township, Buffalo county. He also took a tree claim, and now has three hun- dred and twenty acres of good land under a fair state of cultivation, on which he has planted fifteen thousand trees, and erected acommodious frame dwelling, which attests his present prosperity. He was married, September 29, 1875, to Miss Harriet C. 264 BUFFALO COUNTY. Jenkins, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Jenkins, both natives of Kentucky, ami the}"^ have had six children — Fannie F., Eldafonso B., Raymond R., Marmaduke M., Hazel G. (deceased), and Earl. Mr. Forrester and his estimable wife are active members of the Methodist church. He belongs to the G. A. R., and affiliates with the republican party, although he is no politician. SS. ST. JOHN. In these "flush times" of material growth and develo]mient, and especially in this progressive western country, but few men have the time or inclination to look after as antic[uated a matter as ancestral history. " It don't pay — nothing in it," is the reflection of the average mind, and, failing on the crnical test, the sub ject drops from consideration. Still, we must all have been born — must have come from some sort of stock, and have had our origin in some locality. It is pleas ant, therefore, when the fact exists, to know that we come of fairly represent- ative people, and that we started the race of life in at least respectable quarters. The subject of this sketch is a New Eng- lander by birth, and may therefore refer to the land of his nativity with some pride and satisfaction. He is a descend- ant of New England stock as far back as memory or ti'adition goes — his ancestors being people of resjiect ability, honest, in dustrious, frugal, rising into the higher virtues and graces of life with increasing advantages. His father, Albert St. John, was a native of Fairfield county, Conn., and a son of a Revolutionary soldier, Jesse St. John, M'ho, family traditions say, served as escort to General Wash- ington, enlisting in the colonial cause when a lad seventeen years of age. No other fact in the elder St. John's history is preserved. Albert St. John grew up in his native place, married Clarissa S. Hoyt, a native also of Fairfield county, and when his family came on to be ])rovided for, moved them to the inviting fields of industry in the new Northwest, settling in Janesville, Wis., where he subsequently lived, and where he died in 1873 at a somewhat advanced age. There his wife also died some ten years later. Sylvester S. St. John, their son, and the subject hereof, was born in Fairfield county. Conn., October 8, 1840, and was reared mainly in Janesville, Wis. He was early apprenticed to the printer's trade in accordance with the New Eng- -land idea of bringing up the young to some calling of usefulness. The first event of importance in his life, as it was in the lives of many of his age, was his .enlistment in the army at the opening of the Civil war. He entered the Union army, August 20, 1862, as a member of the Twelfth Wisconsin light artillery, the organization of the command having be- gun the April previous, and finished about the date of his enlistment. Tiiis is the reminiscential period in the history of the country. It is pre-eminently the war history era in American literature. While the generals and special correspond- ents are giving to- the public the biog- raphies of the noted leaders and the his- tory of the several campaigns, corps and division movements, the record of the private soldier may be mentioned in its SYLVESTER S. ST. JOHN. BUFFALO COUNTY. 267 appropriate place in the life of the private without exciting any undue suspicion of ulterior designs on tiie "sovereign voter" or tlie unsuspecting public. Especially ma\' the record be referred to, if it be an honorable one, and the owner has not lieretofore attempted to ride into fat office nor sought exemptions from duty as a citizen on the strength thereof. Mr. St. John has a commendable record as a soldier; it is only that of a pri- vate, but it is a record of duty well done in times and places that tried men's souls, when the " summer soldier and the sun- shine patriot " shrank from the service of their country. The Twelfth Wisconsin batter}', in wliicli lie enlisted, soon after its organiza- tion, was attaclied to Grant's army and saw it first service at luka, September 19, 1862. Following that it participated in the second battle of Cornith, October 3d and 1th ; was then in Grant's raid on Holly Springs and tlie Yazoo Pass expe- dition, the Yicksburg campaign, compris- ing the engagements at Raymond, May 12, ISti.S, Ciiampion's Hill, May 16th, the assaults on Yicksburg, Ma}' 19th and 22d, Missionary Ridge, November 25, and the Atlanta campaign, embracing all the bloody battles down to and including Alatoona Pass, October 5th, 1864, where the Twelfth made a heroic defense. It was the only battery present at that memorable engagement, and there oc- curred its greatest loss — six killed and Jifteen wounded, including Lieutenant Amsden, who commanded tiie battery in that fight. Here also Mr. St. John re- ceived a wound, but continuetl in the ser- vice and was witli Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and the campaigns through the Carolinas, being mustered out at New Berne, N. C, May 1st, 1865. Returning to "Wisconsin at the close of the war, he went again to his trade, estab- lishing a job office at Janesville, in con- nection with G. Yeeder, under the firm name of Yeeder & St. John. With the revival of business on the cessation of hostilities, and witli the amount of energy they were enabled to throw into their undertaking, they made a success from the start. Put prosperous as affairs might go with a job printing office in a small country town, tliere was neither great wealth nor great fame in the busi- ness, and Messrs. Yeeder & St. John, if not with a view of attaining great fame, certainly with a strong desire to make more money, and to supply what they were assured was a pressing need, started, in connection with their job printing plant, a weekly newspaper, called the Rock County Recorder. Their experi- ence with the Recorder was the same as that of most men who have founded rural papers to meet a " long felt want." Tiiey toiled incessantly, did cords of gratuitous work, heralded abroad the ftn- mense advantages, material, political, social, moral and otherwise of their town and county, chronicled the daily and weekly do- ings, local, state and national, pelted iniqui- ty in high places and scourged littlenessand low dealing wherever found, taught their patrons how to be happy and contented and, in sliort, made money for everybody but themselves. Tliey ran the Recorder and the job printing business until 1ST2, when Mr. St. John, desirous of engaging in a more remunerative calling, and with a view also of clianging his localitv, sold out his interest at Janesville and started for 268 BUFFALO COUNTY the great "West. He had heard much of the Piatt river country of Nebraska, and particularly of Buffalo county. The town to be built at the junction of the B. »fe M. E. R. with the Union Pacific and then known as Kearney, but not then in exis- tence, cauglit his attention, and hither he came. He struck the present town site of Kearney September 19th, 1872, the same month it was surveyed and laid out. He engaged at first in the agricultural imple- ment business, but followed this only a short time. In January, 1873, he started an insurance and real estate agency, being the first established in the town. In fact, its establishment was simultaneous with the founding of the town, which was oi'ganized in January, 1873. Mr. St. John was present at the time, was elected town clerk, and recorded the first act of the town of Kearney as a corporate body. His official duties were not very onerous or remunerative. The fact that he was the first town clei-k is mentioned here as an item of some interest in the light of the subsequent growth and development of the place. He held the office one term Th'at which engrossed most of his time and attention was his newly established business. The town and surrounding country grew rapidly — houses went up on every hand and the field for insurance was wide and constantly increasing. Mr. St. John's agency kept pace with the progress of events and became a source of good revenue. From his earnings he picked up jjroperty — in town and country — from time to time, and having confi- dence in the ultimate outcome of the city of Kearney and Buffalo count}', he held on to what he got. His investments, judi- ciously managed, have made for him the bulk of what he has. He is now one of the financially solid men of Kearney. He still owns a large amount of realty which is gradually increasing in value. In the meantime his insurance agency continues to do a thriving business, growing in strength and metropolitan proportions, as the growing importance of the city of Kearney demands. The agency now runs in the name of St. John & Baldwin, Mr. St. John having sold out a one-half inter- est to Mr. B. L. Baldwin not long since. On April 1st, 18S8, Mr. St. John, in con- nection with Judge John Barnd and east- ern parties, organized the Mutual Loan and Investment Comjiany, of Kearney, with a capital of $250,000, $125,000 of which is paid up. Mr. St. John became secretary and manager of the comi)any and now holds that position. August 1st, 1889, he and Judge Barnd bought tiie pri- vate bank of L. R. Robertson, known as the Commercial and Savings Bank of Kearney, which they re-organized under the state banking law. The bank li;is a capital of $100,000, -±0 ])er cent, of which is paid up. Mr. St. John became presi- dent of the institution at the date of its purchase and re-organization, and now holds that position. It is established on a sound basis, and has a board of directors composed of some of the best rejiresenta- tive business men of Kearney. Its affairs are judiciously managed and it is doing its share of the legitimate banking busi- ness of Kearney and Buffalo county. Mr. St. John now gives his entire attention to his duties in the bank, the loan and trust company, of which he is secretary and manager, his insurance agency and his private investments. He has never been a public man in the generally understood BUFFALO COUNTY. 260 meaning of the word, although he has filled some minor local offices, such as every good citizen is expected to accept when duty demands. In addition to having served as the first clerk of the board of councilmen of Kearney, he has served as city clerk, treasurer, and cit^' councilman, but has never been afflicted with the itch for office. The abundant opportunities offered for exercis- ing ail his talents has been improved in attending to his own personal affairs. He does not believe that he is the apostle of any great thought nor an agent especially commissioned to reform any great abuse. lie has no desire to pose as an example of any great truth or exalted virtue. He is content to be a plain untitled citizen — simply a man of affairs — a business man in the strictest and best sense of the word. Yet it must not be supposed that his life has been, nor is it now, devoted ex- clusively to the selfish purpose of accumu- lating money. He has borne his full share of the burden of helping along all public enterprises ; has contributed liber- all}' from his pocket and has helped with his own hands when his help was needed, or he deemed that it would be of anj' avail. He is somewhat conservative and is not, therefore, an easy man to catch with visionary schemes, but whatever measure by the wisdom of its purpose or its fitness in time and place commends itself to his judgment receives his assistance. He be- lieves m growtii and development. He is a constructor and builder. He has added to the solid wealth of his town by putting his money in l)ricks and stone. He is one of the very few of the first settlers of Kearney who has grown with the growth of the town and county, — who has risen to a keen appreciation of the advantages of his surroundings — who has shown himself equal to the emergencies as thej' arise. Mr. St. John married, July 15, 1868, Miss Ilattie E. Carter, of Rock county. Wis. He has a family of interesting children growing up around him, to whom he is much devoted, and in the training of whom he finds most congenial labor. He should be happy. He resides on the corner of Twenty-ninth street and Central avenue. EDWARD W. THOMAS is one of the oldest pioneers of Buffalo county. He was born at Browns- ville, Maine, April 24, 182S, and is the third of seven children born to Jonah and Sarah (Wilkins) Tliomas, as follows — Charlotte C, Artemus C, Edward W., Moses S., Bray W., Susan S. and Louisa. His father was a native of Maine, born at Sidne}', March 26, 1796, and was by occu- pation a farmer ; his mother was born in Billerica, Mass., December 25, 179i ; his paternal grandfather, Schabed Thomas, a farmer bj' occupation, was born in 1756, and was a soldier and pensioner of the Revolutionary war. Of his paternal grand- motlier, Mehitable (Crosby) Thomas, little or nothing is known. Edward W., the subject proper of this memoir, resided at home, in Maine, until twenty one years of age, attending school, helping on the farm and woi'king in the pineries. Arriving at his majority, and being the possessor of quite a little sum of money, he set out for himself, finally loca- ting in Cabell county, Va.. where he eno-aged in the timber business. He con- tinued in this business for some three 270 BUFFALO COUXTY years, and lost $2,200, all the money he had. He moved his family to Greenup, Kv., and he secured employment on a flat- boat, on the Ohio river, which he followed for twenty-five years, moving his family, in the meantime, to Ironton, Ohio, and thence to Portsmouth, Scioto county, Ohio, where he enlisted in the three months' call, April 21, 1861. Mr. Thomas was one of the first to respond to his country's call when the rebellion broke out, enlisting in Company D, Twenty-second regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, and was made second lieu- tenant, April 18, 1862. He was trans- ferred to the Thirteenth Missouri regi- ment, in September, 1861, and sent to jirotect St. Louis. He continued with this regiment one year, participating in battles at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, sieire of Corinth and luka. He was then transferred to his former regiment, with which he participated in the battle of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg and the engagement at Little Rock, Ark. He was in command of his company at luka, and at both the siege and battle of Cor- inth. At the battle of Shiloh, a shot in the right leg inflicted a severe flesh wound ; he also had five bullet- lioles put through his blouse, and his gun-stock shot off in the same battle. While on picket duty at Trenton, Tenn.. in the fall of 1862, he had two bullet-holes put tlirough his overcoat. He veteranized in the Fifth United States volunteers, First army corp, and was mus- tered out of service March 25, 1806, having served his country faithfully for five years, lacking but a few days. He emigrated West, and landed in Buf- falo county, Nebr., October 18, 1873, and filed claim on a quarter-section in Divide township, on which he erected a frame shanty, twelve by twenty feet. In those da3's, that portion of the country was \ery sparsely settled, and wild game (deer, elk, antelojie and some buffalo) was quite plentiful. There were a few Pawnee Indians along the Platte and Wood rivers. For the first three years, crops, on account of droughts and grasshoppers, were almost a total failure; but since 1877, with the exception of 1880, Mr. Thomas has had fine croi)s. He was married in Cabell county, Ya., February 2, 1851, to Eliza Smith, who was born at Newport, Ky., March 15, 1838, and is the fourth of seven children born to Andrew and Mary Smith. The union of Ml', and Mrs. Thomas has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows — Charles T., born November 9, 1851 ; Mary S., born September 2, 1851; George E., born September 2, 1857; Ida L., born February 9, 1860; Emma, born June 3, 1867 ; II. Esworth, born November 2, 1869, and John W., born July 22, 1872. \\\ political matters, Mr. Thomas is a repub- lican. JOHN HARSE is the oldest pioneer settler in Harrison township, Buf- falo county, Nebr. He is a native of England and the date of his birth is October 17, 1852. His father lived and died in England and was a stock-raiser of considerable not§. John Harse frequently had pictured to his youthful fancy glow- inj;: accounts of the new world, and he lono-ed to visit the land of freedom and promise. Accordingly, at the age of BUFFALO COUNTY. 271 twenty, lie bade old England farewell and set sail for. America, and early in the year of 1871 he landed on the shores of the Western continent. He was convinced on the start that the "West was the place for him, and with this settled conviction in mind he made bis way westward as far as Iowa, where he stopped for a short time, but in the spring of 1872 he turned up in Polk county, Nebr., where he fol- lowed farming and stock-raising for six years. In the fall of 1879 he came still farther west and took a homestead on the Loup river near the northwest corner of Buffalo county. There was no settlement in this section at that time, and vast herds of cattle I'oamed at will over the countiy for miles around. Wild game was ])lenty and Pawnee Indians frequently tramped up and down the Loup river on their hunt- ing expeditions. He built a small sod house, which afforded him protection for two years, when he replaced it with a substantial hewed-log house, there being excellent timber then along the sandy banks of the Loup. The country along the Loup river afforded excellent grazing, and cattle ranches were numerous. The surrounding teri-itory was literally covered with cattle and the semi-annual " round- ups" were events of considerable interest. He was married Mav 1, 1881, to Miss Abbie J. Cassel, daughter of Joseph W. and Mary (White) Cassel. She was born in Clayton count}', Iowa, and came with her i)arents to Buffalo county, Nebr., in an early day. They have three children — James W., Ethel E., and Howard. Mr. Ilarse has a splendid farm containing four hundred and eighty acres, two hun- dred of which are under cultivation. He is now serving his second term as super- visor of Harrison township, is a stanch republican and one of the ])rominent and substantial men of Buffalo county. MORPJSON A. BENTLEY, one of the highly respected citizens of Buffalo county, was born in Brown county, Ohio, October 6, 1831. His parents were natives of Ohio, and were married November 10, 1830. Thev had two children, Morrison A. and Martin C. The senior Bentle\' was a merchant at Georgetown, Ohio, in an early day, and went to Philadelphia and New York city by stage, once a year, to purchase goods, there being no railroads in those tlays. These long journeys by stage were made at a great risk of life and property. The route was through the Alleghany mount- ains, and passengers were often held up by robbers. Mr. Bentley sometimes returned from these long, perilous trips with his clothes perforated with bullet holes, and it was his custom always to arrange his business affairs before start- ing, just as though he never expected to return home alive. In 1840, he engaged in the manufacture of iron (pig metal) in Gallia and Madison counties, Ohio. In a short time he gained, by honest}', perse- verance and energy, a competency suffi- cient to enable him to retire from active business. For nearly forty years he has resided in Portsmouth, Ohio, enjoying the reward of his youthful labors, living in comfort and affluence, esteemed by all who know him. Morrison A. Bentley, in the fall of 184'.t. entered Alleghany college, at Meadville, 272 BUFFALO COUNIY. Pa., and was an industrious and deserving student, until failing health compelled him to relinquish the thought of graduat- ing. He left college to accept the posi- tion of book-keeper for the firm of Bentley, Campbell & Co. Finding office work detrimental to his health, he was given the position of general manager, which business required him much of his time to be in the open air. About this time, Mr. Bentley bought an interest in the iron works in which he was employed (his father retiring from active business) and the name of the firm (Bentley, Camp- bell & Co.) remained unchanged. In 1862, he, with two other gentlemen, bought another iron furnace in Hocking count}', Ohio, under the name of M. A. Bentley & Co., which he financiered suc- cessfully until after the close of the war, when again failing health and the ])ro- tracted and almost fatal illness of his wife caused him to sell out his interests in Ohio and engage in agricultural jmrsuits in Iowa. Morrison A. Bentley was married Feb- ruary 14, 1856, to Elizabeth H. Davis, of Portsmouth, Ohio. She was born Febru- ary 1-1, 1837, and educated at the seminary in Steubenville, Ohio. She graduated from that school in 1854, when she was seventeen. Tiie parents, James W. and Amanda Baldwin Davis, were born in Pittsburgh, Pa. Her father was for many yeai'S largely interested in the steamboat and iron business, and was one of the pioneers of Portsmouth, Ohio, where he lived many years, but subse- quently became a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, where he died December 12, 1869. He was a man who commanded the re- spect of all who knew him. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bentle3%allof whom are now living. Mr. Bentley has given his children every opportunity within his power to obtain a good education. His two eldest daughters are graduates from the high school and Callanan college, of Des Moines, Iowa. These young ladies came to Nebraska soon after gi'aduating, and took advantage of Uncle Sam's offer to pre-empt home stead and timber claim land, teaching country schools " while holding down their claims." They have been successful both as teachers and land claimers, having grit enough to prove up both on pre-emption and homestead. Their brother, too, took claims and is now a prosperous farmer. It required a great deal of " grit, grace and gumption " for these three young- people to hold on to their claims, as there were many hardships and discouragements in the way ; but they held on and came off victors in tiie strife, and are peaceahJe, honest possessors of the land. In the beginning of the late war, Mr. Bentle}', then in his young manhood, offered his services to his country, but was rejected on account of physical disabilit}'. He, however, showed his great interest in the cause by hiring a man to go in his stead. Both he and his wife took an active part in promoting the welfare of '' the soldier boys." He assisted the gov- ernment in oi'ganizing troops in southern Ohio, and one company went out from his own works, commanded by his foreman. Regardless of his own interests, he did all in his power to encourage volunteers. He was one of many who suffered loss b^^ Morgan's raid in that state. Mr. Bentley is a quiet, unassuming man, and during his residence in this countv has won the BUFFALO COUNTY 273 respect of all who know him. Although no politician, he is a firm believer in the principles of the republican party. In 1881 Mr. Bentley moved to Beaver city, Nebr., but in a few months located on the banks of tiie Loup river, where the family possess about seventeen hundred acres of land. He was instrumental in organizing tlie fii'st school district in the township, and aided in building the first school- house. Tlie countiy was then ver3^ sparsel}' settled, and the family realize very many changes since their settlement on the Loup. A BEAM STEDWELL. Tins gen- tleman is an earlier settler of Buffalo county. He wag born in Cu3'ahoga county, N. Y., September 25, 1S2G. flis father, Abraham Stedwell, a wheelwright by occupation, was a na- tive of Connecticut, born about 178L His mother, Eebecca (Sheffield) Stedwell, was a native of New York state and was born about 1771. Abram, the subject of this biography, moved with his father's familv, at the age of three years, to Huron county, Ohio, where he attended school until twelve years of age, when his father moved to Hancock county, 111. Here he lived about ten years and then moved to Lee county, Iowa, wliei'e for two years he engaged in farnung, after which he moved to Peoria, 111., and worked at the carpen- ter trade. He resided in Peoriaand Peoria county about six years, and then moved to Knox county, 111., and a little later to Mason county, where he resided six years, and in 1860 moved to Henry county, Iowa, where for fifteen years he engaged in farming. He enlisted February 28, 1862, in Company C, Fourth Iowa cavalry, but, before active sei'vice was reached, con- tracted lung fever and was left March 10, 1862, in the hospital at Holla, Mo., where he was confined until January 1, 1863, when he reported to his regiment, but, being still unable for duty, was sent to the hos- pital at Helena, Ark., where he remained until July, 1863, when he was transferred to the Marine hospital at St. Louis, Mo. He reported to his regiment in the rear of Vicksburg, in November, 1863, at which place he re-enlisted. He was in active ser- vice from that time till the close of the war, with General Sherman in what is known as his Meridian Raid. With Grier- son, from Memphis to Vicksburg, and with Wilson in his last raid througli Alabamaand Georgia. He was discharged August 25, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. He emigrated west in the spring of 1875 and stopped in Gage county, Nebr., where he put out crops which were nearly all destroyed by the grasshoppers. In November of the same year he came to Buffalo county and the next spring pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 12, township 10, range 16, which he afterwards entered as a homestead and still owns. When he landed here his entire worldly possessions con- sisted of $20 in money, one span of small mules, a wagon, one cow, and a dwarf mule. Pie spent $15 of his money in fix ing up a house in which to spend the winter, and the following spring borrowed seven bushels of wheat, which he sowed. The drought and grasshopi)ers proved so ruinous that year that he harvested only three bushels of wheat from the seven which he had sown in the spring. His family was reduced to such straightened 274 BUFFALO COUNTY. circumstances that bis wife took in wasli- ino-, and with the money thus earned pur- chased potatoes at five cents per bushel, while he hauled wood from government lands on the Loup river to Kearney, which required two days' time for each load, and received from $2 to $5 per load for his wood. In this manner they managed to live. He rented a set of blacksmith's tools from a neighbor, giving him one-lialf of the earn- ings, and at odd intervals managed to make something at this employment, and finally, when the neighbor, scared out by the grasshoppers, traded his wagon for the tools, and ran the shop for twelve years in connection with the farm. After that year he raised good crops, and in February, 18S9, moved into Kearney, where he built three houses and has con- siderable properly. He was married March 8, 1853, to Sarah M. Holmes, daughter of Henry G. and Keturah (Yaw) Holmes, both natives of New York state; the former, a farmer by occupation, was born July 16, 1806; the latter was born No, vember 2, 1804. Her father, Henry G. Holmes, went to California in 1849 and on his return trip was registered for passage on a steamboat, but was never heard from afterwards. It is supposed that the steamer was wrecked and he perished. Mr. and Mrs. Stedwell have had no children, but have raised several. They are both active members of the Christian church, and politically Mr. Stedwell is Independent. He was elected, in the fall of 1882, by the Farmer's alliance of the county, as repre- sentative in the state legislature,and served one term of two j^ears in that capacity. He has held various other minor offices, such as justice of the peace which officehe held eight years), town clerk and assessor. D AYID B. CLAKK, a son of Thomas L. and Mar}' (Blakely) Clark, is a native of Kortright, Delaware count}', N. Y., and adescendant of old York State ancestors. His father was a plain, industrious, useful citizen, a man of quiet habits and domestic tastes, a lifelong member of the United Presby- terian church, and not only a stanch de- fender of the faith but a great worker in the cause of Christianity, possessing the the most benevolent impulses and kindly feeling towards all his race. Mr. Clark's mother was also a devoted christian and led an active and laborious life, devoting all the energies of her noble christian character to the good of her kind. Both of these are now dead and have gone to receive their reward. They were the parents of seven children, viz. — David B., Margery, Mary E., Thomas H., John N., and Margaret J. The eldest, the subject of this notice, was reared in his native place in New York, received a good common and high- school training, finishing with a commer- cial course in the Eastman business col- lege at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after whicli he engaged in the earnest duties of a teacher. He entered the Union army in 1864 while yet young, enlisting in Com- panv I, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York infantry, and served along the South Carolina coast, taking part in the battle at St. John's Island, James Island, siege of Wagner, Deveaux Neck, and Honey hill. He left the service before the expiration of his term of enlistment on account of disease con- tracted and returned home, and after re- covering his health came West in 1867 and located at Omaha, this state. He D B CLARK. BUFFALO COUNTY. 277 taught penmanship there for some lime, coming in 1872 to Kearney. Here he took a position as bookkeeper in Dake's bank at that date, wliich he held for some time. He was also elected police judge of the town of Kearney and justice of the peace for Kearney precinct, which offices he iield during the famous cow-boy times and dealt out even-handed justice. Mr. Clark's life during those years was not without its interesting episodes nor was it always free from danger. He dis- chai'ged his duties, however, witiiout fear or favor and left the positions to which he iiad been called bearing witii him the highest respect as well as the genuine gratitude of his fellow-citizens. Engaging- later in sign writing and artistic painting, he did a tliriving business for some years, the rapid improvement of the town and the erection of many buildings affording him plenty of work. Like a prudent man he saved his earnings and judiciously invested them in real estate in Kearney. Tiie rise in values made his investments profitable and he has realized haiulsoniely on all of them. He has large real estate interests in Kearney even now, and is con- stantly buying and selling, iluch of his property he has improved, adding to the substantial gi'owth and develojunent of his adopted town and to the comfort and conveniences of home seekers. In 187-i he married Miss Mary J. Row- land, daughter of James S. and Marjjaret Rowland of New York. Mrs. Clark is a sister of the Rev. Samuel Rowland, a dis- tinguished Presbyterian divine of Clinton, N. J. Mrs. Clark is herself a lady of cul- ture and refinement and presides with becoming ease, grace ant! dignitv over her elegant home. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have a large circle of friends who find an ever welcome place at their fireside and in whose society they find much of tiie pleasure of this life. Tiieir pleasant dwelling, erected recently at a cost of $6,0u0, is one of the handsomest in the city of Kearney. It is s])lendidl\' fur- nished, complete in its appointments, and adorned with tastil}' wrought work of art. It is an asylum of hnppiness, where the stranger and friend are alike welcome. LB. CUNNINGHAM. The fatiier of the subject of this sketch was ^ Samuel J. Cunningham, born in Virginia December 5, 1702, and his father a native of the same state, his name also being Samuel. Samuel Cunningham, Sr., removed to (leorgia in 1795, thence to Maury county, Tenn. (about 1820), wliei-e he died some years later. Samuel J. was married to Jliss Dovey Stinson, a native of North Cai'olina, SeptembeV 20, 1827. Eleven children were tiie fruits of this union, five daughters and six sons. The mother died December 19, 1849, and with two daugiiters and one son are buried upon the old farm near Cornersville, Tenn. The subject of this sketch, whose full name in Lyman J5eecher Cunningham, named for Dr. Lyman Beecher, was born in Giles county, Tenn., September 3, 1844. In Api'il, 1853, his father I'emoved to West Grove, Davis county, Iowa, where he died in July, 1879, in his eight\'-si.xth year. The fatlier was a successful farmer and miller, and also mastered several trades, among which were those of black- smitliino: and cabinet or furniture-making:. The family now have articles of furni- ture made by him sixt}^ years ago. He was a Presbyterian in religion, having been an elder m the church from' early manliood till death. In politics he was a a whig and republican. Lj'man B. followed the usual duties of a farmer boy in summer and attended school in winter until December 25, 1863, when he enlisted in Company A, Third Iowa cavalry, to serve in defense of the Union and against those of his native South arrayed for its destruction. He was anti- slavery and in favor of his native state remaining in the Union. He participated in the various battles in which his regi- ment was engaged, a regiment second to none for galiantrj', and served with credit to himself and country until mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., August 9, 1865; he was dischai'ged August 19th at Davenport, Iowa, reaching home August 21st. He lost two brothers in defense of the Union, Cyrenius T. and Orosius A., the former a member of' Company A, Third Iowa cav- alry, who received a wound in the neck at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., in March, 1S62, which caused his death February 7, 1S6G, and the latter a member of Com- pany B, Thirtieth Iowa infantry, Avho died of sickness at Memphis, Tenn., October 22, 1863. Our subject entered school at the Wes- leyan University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in the spring of 1866, graduating from that institution in June, 1870. He taught school one year at West Grove, Iowa, and one year at Unionville, Iowa, and in Au- gust, 1872, removed to the new village of Kearney Junction — now Kearney, Nebr. — where he, in connection with Mandel & Clapp, began the publication of the Kear- ney Junction Times. This paper is now developed into the Buffalo county Journal and tiie Kearney Daily Journal, of which Mr. Cunningham was sole proprietor until a stock company was organized June 15, 1890. He also took a soldier's homestead and has improved this and also another farm in the vicinity of Kearney. He took an active part in the upbuilding of Kear- ne}"^, being ever alive to its interests and ever working for its advancement. He was a charter member of the Presby- terian church, in which he is still active. His paper is known as a stanch advocate of republican principles, temperance and sobriety, good morals, decency and justice, and is ever known as a clean sheet to enter the familv circle. It is independent and fearless and a bitter opposer of anything akin to deception, fraud, folly and preten- sion. Wherever read it is known as a re- liable newspaper, the farmers having long since learned to obtain the facts, as well as could be ascertained, from that journal. Although it is uphill business conducting a newspaper in a new country, yet by economy and frugality, and by the aid of his excellent wife, he has been enabled to accuinulate property to the amount of several thousand dollars. September 3, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. Clapp, a lady of excellent qualities of mind and heart, a graduate of the Ladies' Seminary of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and a daughter of William D. and Elizabeth Clapp, natives of North Carolina and In- diana, the daughter having been born to them November 1, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have been blessed with but three children — Carl Shannon, born in BUFFALO COUNTY. 279 1875, became a bright, loving dutiful boy, who died April 7, 1884, bitterly mourned bv broken-hearted parents and a large cir- cle of friends; lialph Elmo was born July 1, 1887, is still living, and is a bright, promising child, full of life and energy; and third, a daughter, born Jul\' 29, 1890, who is named Lois Be, a health}' and ap- parently promising child. Mr. Cunning- ham has truly had a helpmeet in his estimable wife, who is noted for her energy, economy, tact, skill and christian integ- rity. The couple are highly esteemed and respected in their community. HIRAM HULL. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citi- zens of Kearney, Buffalo county, and a man who has a history, ancestral and per- sonal, well worthy of preservation in a memorial record like this. Mr. Hull's stock is of English origin, his ancestors having removed from Eng- land to New Enolangd some time in the Seventeenth Century, and among the early colonial settlers, were people of honorable distinction in church, state and military matters, as well as in framing the great fundamental laws for the republic when it was in its infancy. His father, Joel Hull, was born near Boston, Mass., and near the birth-i)lace of our American independence, in 177G. He grew up in his native place, and, after receiving a collegiate etlucation, began life as a merchant and afterwards moved into New York State, where he spent several years, and in the year 1816 moved into the State of Ohio, settling in Meigs county, where he entered upon the peace- ful pursuit of agriculture and died in 1827. His wife was Mar}' Wallace, a native of the town of Benniuirton, Vt., was born in 1779, and died in Adams county, HI., in 1859. She was a devoted member of the Free Will Baptist church, a strong believer in saving faith, and led a life consistent with her belief. The subject of this sketch is the A'oung- est of a family of ten children born to Joel and Mary (Wallace) Hull. He was born in Utica, N. Y., Sei^tember 30, 1812. He was reared in Meigs county, Ohio, whither his parents had moved when he was young, and there spent his life until the year 1852. He began the active pur- suits of life as a farmer, but in the year 1831 moved from his farm to the town of Chester, Ohio, and there engaged in the several occupativms of merchandising, tanningand buildino- boats — active, enter- prising and successful in everything he undertook. In 1852, for the better advantages of educating his children, he moved to Dela- ware, Ohio, where he was enabled to D-raduate his two sons and three dauohters in the Ohio AVesleyan University and the Female College there located ; and there resided until the year 1872, when he removed to the State of Nebraska. He sto])ped at Lincoln a few months, then settled at LqjrN'ell, in Kearney county, on the thirtieth of June, 1872, where he resided for two years and then moved to the city of Kearney, where he has contin- uousl}' resided since Septeml)er, 187-1. He entered into the mercantile business exten- 280 BUFFALO COUNTY. sively at Lowell, and continued in that pursuit the first two years after arriving at Kearney, when he closed the business and soon after commenced the real estate and brokerage business, at which he has been more or less actively engaged since. Mr. Hull has made a wise use of his opportunities, investing considerably in real estate at an early day in Kearney, on which he has realized handsomely. He has never been a speculator, being content with the returns brought him by the gradual rise in values incident to tiie set- tling up and improvement of the town and surrounding country, and he has been willing to help, and has helped, in bring- ing about this state of improvement, lend- ing his aid and influence towards inducing immigration, and giving cheerfully of his means to those enterprises of a public nature which have sought favor in his com- munity. Mr. Hull married November 10, 1830; the lady whom he chose to share his life's fortunes being Miss Luna Bos- worth of Meigs county, Ohio. Mrs. Hull was born May 30, 1812, at Whitehall, N. Y., and is a daughter of Hezekiah and Hiddah (Pearce) Bosworth. Her father was a native of England and her mother of New York State. Her father died in Meigs county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 23, 1859, aged eighty-nine years. His occupations of life were teaching school and farming, and throughout was a man of quiet tastes, studious habits, and exceptional h' temperate and systematic in all things. Her mother died in the same county February 23, 1863, aged eight3'-eight years, a pious, good woman, she and her husband having been almost life-long mem bers of the church, having sei'vices of the pioneer Methodist preachers in their own house many years after they settled in Oiiio. Mrs. Hull's ancestors all lived to remark- able ages: her grandfatiier Pearce dying in his seventy-ninth year, her grandmother at one hundred and four, and her mater- nal great-grandfather in his one hundred and sixteenth 3'ear. Mr. and Mrs. Hull have had born to them a family of ten children, of whom there are now living five — Joel, the eldest, born November 23, 1831, a sketch of whom appears in this volume as one of the representative men of Minden, Kear- ney county ; Wyman, born March 27, 1835; Catharine (now wife of Wm. K. Goddard, residing in Dane county. Wis.), born January 3, 1837; Helen, born May 27, 1840, now wife of Wm. L. Kidd, of Oakland, California; and Marinda, born March 2, 1842, now wife of S. W. Switzer, of San Diego, California. Mr. and Mrs. Hull have been zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, having united in 1831, and ever since have been active and efficient workers in that church and all its benevolent associations. Mr. Hull never aspired to political honors, but has taken a keen intei'est in general politics and is a man of wide range of information on political and his- torical topics. In early life he was an old line whig and a stanch supporter of the doctrines of that party. Upon the forma- tion of the republican party he became one of its organizers and has steadfastlj^ adhered to the platform adopted by its founders — Protection — Loyalty — and Lib- erty. He voted for the elder General Har- rison—the iiero of Tippecanoe — and also BUFFALO rouxrr 281 for the younger Harrison, the present chief executive. Mr. and Mrs. Hull have ever been strict temperance people and have always been active workers in the cfpuse of temperance. Mrs. Hull joined the Good Templars nearly forty years ago and has constantly been found in the front in all the efforts made for the deliverance of her community in which she resided from the curse of rum ; associating herself for that purpose with several orders and societies. She is, and has been since its formation, a hearty worker in the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Though, for several years in feeble health and almost an invalid, she has never failed when called upon to aid any and all endeavors for the salvation of souls from sin and from intempei-ance to the utmost of iier ability, and raanv there are to rise up and call her blessed. LYMAN M. BRIG HAM. Among those who came to Buffalo county _^ in the early " seventies " and passed through the historic hard times, and wiio lias since accumulated, slowly and honorably, an ample fortune, thus crowning a youth of labor with an age of ease, may be mentioned Lyman M. Brig- ham, tiie subject of this biographical memoir. He is a native of New York, having been born in Wyoming county, that state, December 27, 1832. H is father, Jabez Brigham, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Massachusetts. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Hart, was also a native of Massachusetts. These were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this notice is the youngest. Lyman M. Brigham, in his earlier days, attended the district schools, helped his mother on the farm and entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade at the age of seventeen years. He adopted blacksmithing as a pursuit and fol- lowed it for twenty years. He started West in the summer of 1874: and got as far as Omaha, when he rai; out of money. Being a man of indomitable will, his plans were not to be frustrated by this, and he and his son walked the remainder of the way to Kearney, for which place he had started, a distance of two hundred miles. He took a homestead on the old Fort Kearney military reservation, there lo- cated and began farming with a yoke of four-year-old oxen, at the same time open- ing a bLicksmith shop in Kearney, riding back and forth daily from his claim to town. The first year he broke out thirty acres of sod and put it in corn, and also rented sixty acres of old ground, which he planted to corn, Avheat and oats. That year the drouth and grasshoppers de- stroj'ed his entire crop except twenty- seven bushels of potatoes, which he raised on two town lots. He was forced to boil grass for his two remaining pigs, while he " hustled up " something to keep soul and bodv together for himself as best he could. This year's experience served to nerve him for the contest the following vear. He had a brother living in Polk county, this state, from whom he had arranged to bor- row his uext year's seed wheat and corn. His stock in store at this time consisted of his yoke of oxen, a lumber wagon and twenty-five cents in money. Giving his wife ten cents of the money with which 282 BUFFALO COUNTY. to supply the famil\''s wants, and taking the other fifteen cents, he started with his team for Polk county, a distance of one hundred miles. "When below Grand Island, and about lialf way on his journey, he ran out of hay, but secured some from a farmer who, on learning that he had only fifteen cents, refused to accept pay. He completed his journe}' in five days, sleeping in hay -stacks over nights. But worse trials awaited him. On his way back his wagon broke down. There were no shops at hand, and he had nothing to pay for the mending of it if there had been. Still, he was equal to the occasion. He was near the Union Pacific railroad, and as soon as night came on he " bor- rowed " a tie from the road, and with the aid of a farmer's ax he hewed out an axle, fixed up the wreck, and started once more on his homeward journe3\ He got back after an absence of nearly two weeks, and with renewed energy and determination began again to settle the bread and butter problem in the uncertain state of agricul- ture at that date in Nebraska. Many were the hardships and privations whicii he underwent ; but, like most of the old settlers who stood steadfastly by their choice, he at last succeeded, and to-day he is one of the well-fixed farmers in Buffalo county. He owns eight hundred acres of valuable land in the county, and a large amount of property in the city of Kear- ney. It all represents his own toil, pluck and endurance. In 1877, Mr. Brigham raised and marketed seventeen thousand bushels of grain. Tiiis will give a-n idea of the rapidity of his growth as a farmer. In March, 1888, he left his farm and moved into Kearnej', where he now resides. It must not be supposed that Mr. Brig- ham has made his way to the position of comfort and ease that he now occupies unaided and alone. He has been materi- allv*assisted in his labors by a most ex- cellent wife. He married, January 1.3, 1853, the lady whom he selected for a life companion being Miss Catherine Brigham, a daughter of Harry and Sarah (Eggles- ton) Brigham, both natives of Massachu- setts, the father having been born in the year 1800 and the mother in 1804. Mrs. Brigham is the third of a family of six children born to her parents. Mr. and Mi's. Brigham have had born to them a family of four children, three girls and one boj% as follows — Emory (now de- ceased), born October 11, 1854: ; Luella (now also deceased), born March 7, 1858; Ferado, born April 7, 1860, and Pearl, born August 13, 1870. A MOS H. EDWARDS was born in Mt. IIolU', Rutland county, Vt., Januai'y 29, 1817, and is a son of Frederick Augustus and Polly ( Barker ) Edwards. Frederick Augustus Edwards was born in Temple, N". H., July 27, 1791, married in 1814 and emigrated to Mt. Holly, Vt., where he eno-affed first in teaching, afterwards in farming, and then in cabinet making — following these several pursuits through life. He died in Ches- ter, Vt., in 1842. He was a zealous mem- ber of, and deacon in, the Baptist church till his death. He took a decided interest in his church, was prominent in relig- ious affairs througiiout his state, and was a BUFFALO COUJSiTV 283 man of the most benevolent impulses and spent most of his time administering to the wants of the sick and afflicted. Mr. Edwards' paternal grandfather was Eben- ezer Edwards, a native of England, wiio immigrated to America in early life. He engaged in the mercantile business at Temple, N. 11., and amassed considerable wealth, which, however, he lost through the mismanagement of others, princi])ally by the failure of the Amherst bank, in which he had deposited $50,000. He died about the year 1825. Mr. Edwards' mother, Polly Barker, born January 4, 1793, was also a native of Temple, N. H., and was a daughter of Theodore Barker. Amos H. Edwards began life for him- self about the age of eighteen, his father giving him his time at that date. He at- tended the common schools in his youth, but in the fall of 1835, he attended Black River academy at Ludlow, Vt. He began teaching in the fall of 1835, teaching his first school at Mt. Holly, Vt., in the very building where his father had taught his first school many years before. In the spring of 1836 he attended an academy at Chester, Vt., where he re- ceived the jirincipal part of his education. He has taught school every year since, ex- cept one, till 1890, having taught in all one hundred and thirty-five terms. He emigrated from Vermont in the s]iring of 1838 to Pennsylvania and taught school there one year. He then went to Ohio, where he tauglit several years, in the meantime teaching several terms in Ken- tucky, and moving later to Wisconsin, in 1850,wherehe taught for twenty -five years. He came to Buffalo county, this state, in the spring of 1876, and located on a farm six and a-half miles northeast of Kearney, where he lived until January, 1888, mov- ing into the city of Kearney at that time- He has been steadily engaged in teaching since coming to Buffalo county and he is well and favorably known in many local- ities throughout the county as an able instructor. He has belonged to several secret societies in his life, among then a number of temperance organizations. He is a man of warm nature and the most gen- erous impulses, and he has devoted the greater part of a long life to the good of his fellow-man. He isalwaj's punctual to the minute and desires strict ]iunctuality in others. His organ of philoprogenitive- ness is very fully developed. Mr. Edwards married, August 1, ISiS, Miss Eliza C. Grant, of Greenfield, N. H. She is a daughter of John and Sallie (Taj'lor) Grant. Her father, John Grant, was born in Greenfield, N. H., and was a farmer by occupation, an upright, indus- trious and useful citizen. He was a life- long member of the Presbyterian church, and died in the faith by which he had lived, passing away in 1852. His wife was a native of the same state, a member of the same church, and died in 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been born a family of eight children, as follows ~ Altaire H., born August 7, 1844 (died in the Union army during the late war) ; Charles P., born January 23, 1847; Al- phonso C, born June 10, 1851 ; Ella C, born March 25, 1853 ; Eo E., born July 23, 1855; Eddie S., born October 29, 1856; Bert E., born February 18, 1860, and Ivers C. born April 25, 1863. Mr. Edwards, in addition to the posi- tions he has held in connection with his school work, has also held a number of 284 BUFFALO COUNTY. local offices, such as any good citizen might be expected to fill when called on for that purpose. In politics he is a pro- hibitionist, and an able exponent of the principles of his party. lie has been a contributor to a number of journals on the subject of prohibition, and his writings under the nom de plume oi Charles Chester, are widely read and highly appreciated, and unquestionably have done much good for the cause of tempei'ance. He has also written a great deal of poetry, and some of his contributions to the press have be- come very popular. He is the author of the longest poem ever written by an American, which is entitled "The Great Rebellion." Mr. Edwards is a pleasant, genial gen- tleman, a finished scholar and a man of sound heart. He makes a lasting impres- sion even on casual acquaintances, and those who meet him wish that there were more men in the world like him. CG. OSTERHEIL (deceased) was born February 28, ISli, and reared in the town of Zittau, Saxony, and is a descendant of German parentage. He was educated in the best schools of his native countrv, and began life as a teacher, becoming a director of learning in tlie Royal school at Crimea, Russia. In 1862 he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Lafayette county, Mo. Having previously prepared himself for the ministry, and having done considerable church work, he went active- ly to preaching on locating in Missouri, and continued at it tliere for a period of live years, moving, in 1867, to Des Moines, Iowa. There he engaged in the drug business. Three years later he lost all he had by fire, and, moving to Omaha, lie became a teacher of languages, giving instructions especially in his native tongue. He also practiced medicine among his countrymen. He moved to Buffalo county, this state, in 1871, and took a homestead, locating on it and retiring at tiiat date from all active pur- suits. May 20, 1888, he died, well advanced in years, after an active, indus- trious and useful life. He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, ant! a man of very charitable impulses. His wife, E. L. Osterheil, who survived him, is a native of Switzerland, and was born June 11, 1837. She received a thorough collegiate training when young, finishing with a special course in French, tiie teaching of which she adopted as a pro- fession. She began teaching in her native country, but a few years later, 1865, came to America, accepting a position as private teacher in her brother's family in Chicago. She filled this j)Osition till 1867, marrying April 2, that j'ear. Join- ing her life's fortunes with Carl Gotthelf Osterheil, she bore him the cherished companionship which he sought with her hand, accompan3'ing him to the jilace of i)is last residence in Buffalo county, tiiis state, she being now a resident of the city of Kearne}'. Slie is a lady of man}' excellent qualities of head and heai't. She has only one child, a daughter, Olga Alex- andria, now grown and man ied. R. H. EATON. BUFFALO COUNTY. 287 RICE II. EATON. The personal liistory of most men partakes of .. a sameness, but the biographer finds an inspiration in the story, simple and true, of some lives, and the narrative charms the reader. Such a career is the embodiment of higher and nobler princi- ples of human nature, a life ideal because unique, an existence whose individuality is blended and lost in a natural effort to live and die without hope of reward or fear of punishment — a life of supreme un- seifish^ness. Mr. Eaton was born in Eochester, N. Y., December 8, 1838, and received a common and liigh-school education. His parents were Joel and Sarah (Sibley) Eaton, the former a native of Vermont, and the lat- ter of Massachusetts. By profession and training he is a printer and journalist, having begun at the "case" and working himself up. While yet very young he served an apprenticeship in the book and job office of William Hughes, of Roches- ter, and having learned all the arts of his trade, "stick" in hand, he began that nomadic life for which devotees of the "black art" are famous. But travel to his keen, observant mind was more than mere pastime. An experience and knowl- edge thus acquired have served liim to a good purpose in a profession upon which his labors have reflected honor and credit. The greater part of iiis early professional life was spent in the South, where his op- poitunities of studying the slave question were the best and most satisfactory, but his observation was terminated by the fir- ing upon Ft. Sumter. Finding himself in a country the inhabitants of which held opinions on the momentous issue of the hour diametrically and uncomfortably op- posed to his own, he quietly returned to his native state to take up arms in defense of his flag. lie enlisted in June. 1802, in the Sixth company of the First New York sharp shooters, and served in the army of the Potomac. He saw considerable ser- vice, participating in the battles of Gettys- burg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsyl vania and the assault on Petersburg, where he was wounded in the left leg, necessita- ting his discharge from the service in 186-1, when he returned to Rochester. He re- sumed his trade, working on the daily papers of his native city a short time, when he emigrated to Iowa, where he and his brother, Webster Eaton, started the Fremont Trlhnne, a weekly paper. They sold the ]iaper, however, and removed to Shelby county, Iowa, where lie founded the Shelhy County Record, which he pub- lished about one year, when his wife died. Soon after this sad event he returned to Rochester, N. Y., working on the Demo- crat and Chronical till May, 1873, when again he set his face westward, locating at Kearney, Nebr., where his brother, Webster Eaton, had established the Cen- tral Nehraslia Press, the first pajier printed and published in Kearney. He had editorial charge and the general management of the Press till he sold it to W. 0. Holden in 1879 to accept a position in the United States railway mail service, which he held till 1883, when he retired. Moving to his farm four miles east of Kearney he spent five years of a hitherto active life in the peaceful quiet of a granger. His previous experience had not to a remarkable degree fitted him for the vocation of a farmer and his career as such was accordingl}' not a successful one. He afterwards declared that if the 288 BUFFALO COUNTY cost of production is the standard of value of an article, he produced a ver}' high grade of farm products. Nature and edu- cation had done notliin"' in fittinjj him for farm life, so in the fall of 1888 he resumed his profession. With Mr. M. A. Brown and others he organized tlie Hub Printing Company, of which he is the president, and in 1889 was appointed postmaster at Kearney. The marriage of Mr. Eaton took place in September, 1864, to Miss Matilda Aiten, who was also a native of Rochester, N. Y. She died in Harlan, Iowa, in Febru- ary, 1871, leaving a son, Joel, the fruit of this short but iiappy union. Mr. Eaton was next married, in the full of 1872, to Miss Jane McMillen, a native of Canada. Mr. Eaton is a hard student, and the well-used volumes of his library are the companions of his leisure moments. He is possessed of a very line memor}', and a cursor}' glance at the page is all that is necessary to reveal to him its contents. He is a student of " index learning," but the grasp of a fine mind furnishes the de- tails. Fond of the writings of the best English novelists of the early days he keeps posted not only in them, but also on cur- rent literature. His literary tastes, per- sonal experiences and the originality of a mature intellect, have made him a ready, versatile, apt writer. As a journalist he occupies a front rank. A clear, logical reusoner, concise writer and satirist, his retirement from the field of journalism is to be regretted. He looks upon the bright side of life and was the pioneer journalist of the mid-West to give this spirit a living expression. The graver matter of life he tempered with the sunshine of the tender, but humorous disposition, and the same spirit that has made his writings so popu- lar he display's in his private life. Loyal to his friends, uncompromising itoward his foes, he is a man at once be- loved and disliked. But his sword is sheathed in the presence of a fallen enemy. The poor and oppressed are his friends because he is theirs. The earnings of a long and busy life have gone to alleviate the sufferings and wants of his less fortun- ate fellow-men. His big-hearted gener- osity is not confined to the extent of his purse, for he practices a broader charity than mere giving. Sympathy and liber- ality of thought, ciiarity for the opinion of others, are admirable characteristics of the man. In religion no dogmas or creeds confine or obscure his unselfish acts. He devotes his means and oppor- tunities toward making the world better for living in it. In public life he is liberal and enterprising ; in private he is devoted to his family, loyal to his friends, doing all the flood he can. WILLIAM ELLSWORTH SMYTHE was born in Wor- cester, Mass., December 24, 1801. His family, on both sides, had resided in New England from the lime of its earliest settlement, his first American ancestor being Edward Winslow, one of the " Mayflower's " passengers and an earl}' governor of Plymouth Colony. Another ancestor, Thomas Starr, was a leader of the famous " Boston Tea Party," who first resented the tyranny of Great Britain. His paternal grandfather ren- dered notable service m the navy during the war of 1812. BUFFALO COUNTY. 2sn The father of William E. Smythe, a man widely known throughout New England as a successful manufacturer and a promi- nent figure in the religious and political movements of his time, selected journal- ism as the profession for his son before lie had finished his course in the grammar school of Worcester. Consulting his friend, the late Delano A. Goddard- — the memorable editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser — he was advised not to send the boy to college, but to "'put his nose to the grindstone'; get him a place as ■ devil' in a country printing office ; hand him a copy of James Parton's 'Life of Horace Greeley '; tell him to study poli- tics and American history, and if he has the making of an editor that course will develop it." The father's plan had been a course at Harvard, but he followed the advice of the great Boston journalist. The boy became "devil" in the office of the Southbridge, Mass., Journal, worked at all sorts of hard labor from daylight to dark, read history and biography half the night, wrote Southbridge letters for the Worces- ter Gazeite, Worcester letters for the Southbridge Journal, and filled in spare moments by repoi'ting sermons and dog fights, weddings and funerals, for the county weekly on which he was employed, all for the munificent stipend of $2.50 per week. At the end of his first year's apprenticeship he was the proud wearer of the title, " assistant editor of the South- bi'idcre Journals At the suggestion of Mr. Goddard he was appointed local reporter for the Mornin^"|'^ONY CORNELIUS. The subject I of this sketch is known every- 1 where as " ' Tony ' Cornelius, the champion hose-coupler of the world." He is a son of Casper Cornelius, who was born in Westphalia, Prussia, November 2, 1822, immigrating to America in 1847, and settling in Platteville, Grant county. Wis. He then came to Kearney, this state, in 1878, and died here August 26, 188i. He was a miner in Germany and for many yenvs a prominent and success- ful business man of Kearney — an industri- ous, useful citizen, a zealous member of the Catholic church, and a liberal contrib- utor to charity'. In politics he was a democrat and took an active part in the workings of his part}'. The subject of this biographical notice was born in Platteville, Grant county, Wis., January' 2, 1866. He received a good common-school education and began life for himself at the age of fifteen. He has followed various callings. At present he is engaged in the liquor business in Kearney, Nebr. October 26, 1881:, he married Miss Ida Reynolds. One child has been born to this union, a daughter, Gladvs. Mr. Cornelius is known everywhere throughout the country as the champion hose-coupler of the world. He has taken several prizes, never having been beaten at a tournament. He is a public-spirited citizen, and gives the city of his adoption not only the benefit of his best efforts as a fireman, but yields to it a fair share of the man}'^ honors he wins abroad in his contests. JACOB MILLER is a representative farmer of Platte township, Buffalo county. He settled on his present homestead in March, 1878. his claim being part of the Fort Kearney military reservation, which was thrown open to settlement about that date. Mr. Miller came to Nebraska from Preston county, W. Va., but is a native of New York City. He is of French extraction, his parents both being natives of the town of Straus- burg. His father, George Miller, came to America after his marriage and settled first in New York City and afterwards in Preston county, W. Va. He died in the latter place in 1852 in his fortieth year. He was an engineer, an industrious, hard working man, of studious habits and very strong domestic tastes. Mr. Miller's mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Long, survived her husband many years, dying also in Preston county, W. Va., in August, 1872, aged seventy -two. These BUFFALO COUNTY 301 were the parents of three children, all of whom reached maturit}' and are now liv- ing. The eldest of these, Margaret, now wife of John Nine, and the youngest, George, both live in Preston county, W. Va. The second is the subject of this sketch, who was born in New York, March 9, 1839, and was quite a lad when his par- ents moved to West Virginia. He was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade, learned it, and followed it till the war came on. He enlisted in the Union army in May, 1861, entering Company D, Sixth West Yirgmia cavalry, which regiment first formed the Third West Virginia infantry and was afterwards mounted. His company was commanded by Capt. A. J. Squires and was mustered into service at Newburg, Va., June 28, 1861. Ilis regiment served with the Army of tlie Potomac and took part in the fol- lowing engagements: Sliaw's ridge, bat- tle of McDowell, Franklin, Cross Keys, Cedar mountain, Rappahannock station, Waterloo Bridge, Sulphur Springs, second Bull Run, Warm Springs, Rocky gap. Mill Point, Di'oop mountains and other smaller ones. He was captured near New Creek, W. Va., in September, 1863, and was released on parole in February, 3 864. During part of this time he was held at "Libby." When the war was over he continued in the regular service for more than a 3'ear, being on the frontier in the Indian service, ranging the plains and Rocky mountains, mostl}'^ along the stage lines. lie was mustered out May 22, 1866, at Ft. Leavenworth, and returned to his old home in West Virginia, where he lived till coming to Nebraska in 1878. Mr. Miller has been twice married. lie married first in December, 1868, his wife being Miss Mary Shaw, a daughter of Thomas A. Shaw, of Preston county, W. Va. To this union were born three chil- dren — William W., Marshall McCurdy and Thomas Clark, the last now deceased. Mr. Miller married the second time De- cember 24, 1876 — the lad^' on whom his choice fell being Miss Helen Louisa Par- sons, a daughter of James William and Catherine Parsons, of Tucker county, W. Va. Mrs. Miller is a native of Tucker county, as were also her parents. Iler father is still living there ; her mother died in 1856, aged forty-eight. Mrs. Mil- ler is one of a family of eight children who reached maturity, namely — Jane Rebecca, Samson Ellion, Hannah, Agnes, Ann Melissa, Helen Louisa (Mrs. Miller), Diana Elizabeth and Solomon John. Being a public spirited citizen as well as a man of good business qualifications, Mr. Miller has naturally- been called upon to fill some offices in connection with the ad- ministration of the public affairs of his township. He has been moderator of his school district, road supervisor, and is now serving as township supervisor. In poli- tics he is a republican. He cast his first presidential vote for the Bell-Everett ticket, but soon afterwards, affiliating with the republican party, he has voted that ticket since. Mr. Miller is an intelligent, liberal-minded, progressive citizen, and well esteemed by his neighbers. MAURICE O. KESLER (de- ceased). One of the first men to take a homestead on the Fort Kearne}' reservation after it was thrown open to settlement was Maurice 302 BUFFALO COUNTY O. Kesler, wlio settled in 1879 on Elm Island, in what is now Platte township, Buffalo county. Bu3'ing a relinquish- ment at that date on the northeast quar- ter of section 3, township 8, range 13 west, on which he filed a soldier's home- stead claim, made his improvement, and there lived till iiis deatli. Mr. Kesler was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and came di- rect from his native state to Nebraska. He was born in Union county, and came of old Pennsylvania stock,^ originally of German extraction. Hif father, William Kesler, who was a tanner, and his mother, Mary Swartz, lived and died in their native state, and were plain, industrious, useful citizens. Maurice 0. Kesler was tlie j^oungest of a family of five children, all of whom reached maturity and all of whom except himself, are living. These are — Ellen J., now widow of Hugh McCuUough, of "VVilkesbarre; Lewis, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, HI.; Joseph, of New Ber- lin, Union county, Pa.; Agnes M., wife of William Loughridge, of Cass county, Nebr., and Maurice O., the subject of this notice. Maurice O. Kesler was born in New Berlin, Union county, Pa., December 18, 1840, was reared in his native place and began the active duties of life as a boat- man on the Pennsylvania canal. He was so engaged in 1SG2, when he entered the Union army, enlisting on July 31 of that year in Company F, One Hundred and Fourteenth Penns3'lvania infantry, being a member of the "Collis Zouaves." He served with the Army of the Potomac and was in all the principal engagements in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, in which that army participated. Most of the time he was under " fiffhtinjj Joe Hooker," and his regiment bore its full share in winning for its general that honorable soubriquet. At Chancellors- ville, Mr. Kesler was wounded by a shot in the heel, from which he was disabled from service for some time. He was dis- charged May 29, 1865, at Arlington, Va. Returning to his native place he re- sumed his position as a boatman on the canal and continued at this till 1878, when he moved West and settled first in Hall county, and afterwards in Buffalo county, this state. He was engaged in the active pursuit of agriculture from that time on till his death, being also prominently identified with the best interests of his township and vicinity. He was assessor of Platte township for five years, treas- urer three years, and on the school board of his district for several years, and was a public-spirited, progressive citizen and discharged his duties as an official, citizen and neighbor with zeal and fidelit}'. He died March 27, 1889, surrounded by his family and friends — a genuine loss to his community and a sad bereavement to his family. In personal appearance Mr. Kes- ler was prepossessing, being nearly five feet and a half in height, of dark com- plexion, having keen black eyes and a large, well developed head, which was covered with a profusion of jet black hair, inclined to curl, and an open, frank face, square jaw and thin lips, indicative of energy, firmness and strong individuality of character. He was a man of great kindness of heart and warmly attached to his family, lived chiefly for them, and at his death left them well provided for. The surviving members of this family are ti widow and six children, of whom some B UFFA L CO UNTY. 303 of the latter are vergins: on to manhood and womanhood. Mrs. Kesler, who bore the maiden name of Mar}' J. Weaver, daughter of Henry and Catherine Weaver, is a native of Ly- coming county, Pa., and comes, lilce her husband, of old Pennsylvania stock. Her parents lived always in Lycoming county, being plain, substantial, well-to-do people of that county. Her father died there October 28, 1876, in his fifty-seventh year, having been born February 19, 1819 ; her mother died February 9, 1889, in her sixty- ninth year, having been born May 17, 1820. Besides herself there were six other children in the family to which Mrs Kes- ler belonged, the full list being — Charles B., Mary J. (Mrs. Kesler), Jacob W., Sarah E., John B., Maggie A. and Harry L. Most of these reside in their native county of Lycoming, in Pa. Mrs. Kesler and her brother, Jacob W. (who is a resident of Shelton, Buffalo county), being the only representatives of the family in this state. With her six children — Harry W., Annie H., Kate W., Sadie S., Eodney J. and Maggie A., Mrs. Kesler continues to reside on the old home-place, which she manages and which gives every evidence of the industry, order and thrift that pre- vail there. She has one of the hand- somest residences in the township and within its walls friends and strangers are alike welcome. BEXJAMIN ASHTON, of Platte township, Buffalo county, is a comparatively old settler of his localit}', a successful farmer and an old soldier of honorable distinction. He is a native of Bucks county, Pa., born in 1848, and comes of old Pennsylvania stock. His father, Samuel Ashton, lived most of his life in the Keystone State, being a farmer and leading tlie active, industrious and useful life common to his calling up to his death, which occurred in the fall of 1862, when he had attained the sixty-sixth year of his age. Mr. Ashton's mother bore the maiden name of Matilda Bryan. Ten children were born to these, only three of whom are now living — John, residing in St. Louis; Benjamin, our subject, and William H., in L3'coming county, Pa. Benjamm Asliton grew up on his father's farm and received the training common to his years and calling. He entered the Union army in May, 1862, enlisting in Company E, Fourteenth United States infantry, his regiment being assigned to the Fifth corps, Army of the Potomac. He was in the campaigns and engagements participated in by that army from the second Bull Run to Gett3'sburg, at which latter place he was disabled by a gun-shot wound in the left shoulder and compelled to retire from active field service. He continued on duty, however, being placed in the I'ecruitins: service and servine; out his term of enlistment, being mustered out Ma}' 8, 1865. Settling down in Ly- coming county after the close of the war he married and devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits till 1878, when, seeing a family growing up around him and being desirous of getting into a new country where the opportunities were better for giving them a start in the world, he de- cided to move West, and accordingly, in October of that year, he came to Ne- braska and settled on Elm Island in Platte township, Buffalo county, where he now 304 BUFFALO COUNTY. lives, taking a soldier's homestead of one hundred and fifty-four acres. He has been steadily engaged in farming and stock-raising since that time, and, having added other land by purchase, he now owns two hundred and thirty-four acres well stocketl and well improved. Mr. Ashton married, May 13, 1867, Miss Susan Siglin, a daughter of Frede- rick and Susan Siglin, natives of Monroe county, Pa., where also Mr. Ashton was born and reared. Her father died there, but her mother continues to reside there Mr. and Mrs. Ashton have had born to them a family of eleven children, only four of whom, however, are now iivmg, the full list being— Walter, Matilda (de- ceased), Mabel (deceased), William (de- ceased), twins who died j^oung, Samuel, Edgar P. and Flossie. Mr. Ashton has filled t! e usual number of local offices, having been treasurer of his school district, justice of the peace of his township, township clerk, and moder- ator of his school board. Mr. Ashton is a pleasant gentleman, kind and accom- modating, and to his home and family devotedly attached. JL. PARROTTE. Tiiere are many men in Kearne}' who have lived here longer than the subject of this sketch ; there are many who have figured more conspicuously in public life ; many who have made more money ; but there are not man)' who have attained better success — who have achieved more solid results, in accordance with their means and opportunities, than he has, and who in so doing have better illustrated those sterling qualities of the successful business man : intelligence, industry, pei'- severence and upright, honorable dealing, on which all true and lasting success must be based. This sketch is not written to commemorate any special personal achievements of the subject ; it is not writ- ten to flatter any supposed vanity he may have touching his record ; it is simply written to place him in the category of Kearne3''s representative business men where he properly belongs, and to teach in cidentally, as all such biographies must, the great value of self-help and the indispensa- ble necessity of personal character in busi- ness as in all' other things. Whatever of character Mr. Parrotte has established, like that of all others, has been the result of growth and development, he being in- debted for the germs of it to heredity. " The child is father to the man." Fortu- nately he conies of stock noted for their strong qualities, fi.xed habits and settled convictions. He is of Welch, French and English extraction, French and Welch on his father's side, and English on his mother's. To his father's line he is in- debted for his chief characteristics. ()n that side he is of Huguenot stock. The name indicates the nationality, family tradition, and the history of the church settled the question of faith. There is a marked similarity between the name Par- rotte and those of Garrotte and Tourette, names of honorable distinction among many of greater luster in French Protest- antism, such as LeFever, DuBois, LaFount- aine and others. It is not known when his first ancestors immigrated to this country or exactly where they settled. But inasmuch as the family has been traced back to Maryland, it is believed that J. L. PARROTTE. B UFFA L CO UN TV. 307 l)is lirst ancestors on American soil came witli the large tide of Huguenot immigra- tion which poured into this country by way of Ilolhind after the revocation of tiie edict of Nantes and settled in Mary- land, A'irginia and the Carolinas. His father, Josiah Parrotte, was a native of Maryland, born in the year 1800. He emigrated when a young man to Tennes- see and Kentucky, and thence to Illinois, and settled in 1825 at Rushville, then the tiiird town in size and commercial import- ance in the state. He was an honored citizen of that place for more than a half- century. He was a merchant of large means and extensive interests, owning at one time as many as six stores in Tennes- see and Kentucky. He also had consid- erable I'arming interests, and altogether led an active, energetic and unusually successful life. He died in 1S82. He was a type of his I'ace, modified by local sur- roundings. The persevering industry and careful husbanding of resources that made the wild lands and waste places where the French Huguenots settled in this country •• blossom as the rose," characterized, though in a different direction, all his life, and made a success of all his undertakings. He had the same love of home, the same conception of men's duties to one another, the same attachment to country and the same devout recognition of his Creator. He believed in the freest liberty of con- science, the largest independence of thought and action consistent with public good. He bore arms in the public defense during the early Indian and Mormon troubles in Illinois. J>ut he never aspired to office, lie had a proper appreciation for the lighter pleasures of life, and it is an admirable tribute to the qualities of his head and heart that his declining \'ears were solacetl with those genuine friendships anil gai'nished with those ardent home-loves which should and do come to all who live uprighlly, who main- tain an abiding faith in their kind and who preserve tlie evenness of their temper to a serene old age. J. L. Parrotte's mother bore the maiden name of Katherine A. Sci-ipps. She was a daughter of George Scripps, and was boi-n in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Her father was a pioneer of Missouri from England, moving to Cape Girardeau in the early Indian days. He afterward moved to and settled at Kushville, 111., where his daughter met and was married to Josiah Parrotte. She bore him twelve children, the suliject of this sketch being next to the oldest son. She is still living and enjoys all her mental faculties. She is a devoted mother, and noted and beloved for her charity to the poor and afflicted. One fact further in Mr. Parrotte's ancestral history is noteworthy : Both branches of his family had their origin in this country in the South, and left that sec- tion on account of slavery. His father and maternal grandfather were both slave- owners, actual and prospective. Yet such were their instinctive feelings of justice and their strong sense of personal liberty that they gave up all benefits they were entitled to under the institution, and rather than stay where they would be anno\'ed by its iniquities sought the far West. J. L. Parrotte was born in Rushville, 111., in November, 1844, and was reared and educated there. He was brought up to mercantile pursuits mainly. He enlisted in the Union armv in May, 1864, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and r^ns B UFFA L n CO VNTY. Thirty-seventh Illinois volunteer infantry, and served in the Army of the Tennessee under Gen. A. J. Smith. He was commis- ary sergeant and was in the service till the general surrender. He married, De- cember 12, 1S66, Mary L., daugliter of Dr. K. M. Worthington, a native of Ken- tucky who left that state on account of slavery and moved into the Hlinois terri- tory at an early date. Mrs. Parrotte was born and reared in Rushville, and is a de- scendent of President James Madison on the paternal side. Mr.Pjirrotte was engaged in business in Rushville from the close of the war till 1882, when, on account of a failure of health, he moved to New Mexico, near Las Vegas, residing there some time, coming thence in 1883 to Nebraska and locating in Kearney on the I? 1st da}' of July, that year. He was engaged for two years with Andrews & Grable in the law and collecting business. A stock company was then formed, of which he became a member, and he went into the hardware business, following this two years. Kearney having started on its career of prosperity in the meantime and the rise in real estate values having made the handling of real estate profitable, he embarked in that business. From his own investments and sales and exchanges made for others, he made considerable money. He is still interested in this line, but does not handle the volume of business he form- erly did, owing to the increase of his other business. In April, 1889, he, with others, organized the Midway Loan and Trust Company of Kearne}', with a capital stock of $100,000. He assisted also in the organ- izing of the Kearney Savings Bank, which was started in April, 1889, with a capital of $100,000, being organized under the state banking laws. He is assistant cashier and director of the savings bank, a member of the exchange committee of the Midway Loan and Trust Company, and also a director and a stock-hokler in the Buffalo County National Bank, member of the board of directors and secretary of the board. He is also secretary and treasurer of the National Building and Loan Asso- ciation, which has its home office at Min- neapolis, Minn., and a branch office at Kearney. These institutions are among the heaviest of the kind in Kearney and are doing a large part of the legitimate banking and loan business of the city, of Buffalo county and of central Nebraska. They have good financial backing and are in tlie hands of men who are distinguished for their discriminating judgment, conserv- ative business methods and unyielding integrity. Mr. Parrotte's rise to the jjosition he occupies with reference to the Inisiness interests of Kearney has been rapid and deserved. It has not come by accident nor by the aid of others. It is due to his own personal effoi'ts. Fortunate by cir- cumstances, he has been blessed with the insight to see and the energy to act. Ilis success has not been ]ihenomenal, but it been exceptional. It is deserving of this special reogonition by reason of the fact that it has been reached by patience, by perseverance, by industry and by the exer- cise of good judgment. It shows what men can do by using their hands and brains. To the man of average attainments and limited means it will give encouragement, iL will be eminently helpful. Mr. Parrotte is a zealous Mason, and he has been for some years. He is an active and consistent member of the Methodist BUFFALO COUNTY. 309 cliurch, and has been on the official board of tliis church twenty-seven years; was a delegate to tlie general conference in New York City, ]\Iay, 18SS. He is a Hberal contributor to all charitable purposes. He and his family are leaders in the best society of Kearney. In all these respects lie has developed to their full measure the inherited tendencies of his people. The fact of his Huguenot origin has almost passed out of the traditions of the family, yet he has preserved in his mental and moral make-up much of the distinguishing traits of his ancestors — their persevering industry, tlieir tastes for the quiet pursuits of life, their attachment to home, their love of liberty, theirbroad humanity, theirdeep sense of religion ; and these several traits, with their imperceptible shadings into one and aiiothei', have entered into his daily life, liave shaped his career, and have madehim wliat lie is. Mr. and Mrs. Pai'otte have one daughter — Miss Anna Ivatherine P. She is a most estimable young lady and a great worker in the Sunday -sciiool, and a general favorite with old and young in societv. KNAPP FAMILY. The Knapp family were originally from Saxony, a pi-ovince of Germany. P)y some they are regarded as Germans, by others as of Saxon origin ; but their early history in England leads most of the descendants to fix their nationality as Anglo-Saxon or English. In the fifteenth century they w ere peo- ple of wealth and position in Sussex county, England. The name Knapp is derived from the Saxon word, the root of which is spelled Cnoep. signifying a sum- mit or hill-top. John being the given name, and living on a hill, he was called John of the hill ; and there being others of the same na,me on the hill, and said John living on the summit or knob, he was called John of the Cnoep or Knob. Subsequently the proposition was omit- ted, for convenience sake, and he was called John Cnoep, the German forma- tion John Knopp, and in Englisii John Knapp. The family arms, together with a full description, may be found in the Herald's college, London. These arms were granted to Roger de Knapp by Henry VIII., to commemorate his skill and success at a tournament held in Norfolk, England, 1540, in which he is said to have unseated three knights of great skill and bravery. By the descendants of his son John, these arms are still preserved as a precious memento of worthy ancestry. The anns of a family are what a trade mark is to a merchant. It is his own private property. It is generalU' expres- sive of some important principle. The origin of the arms of the Knapp family is given in English heraldry. It describes the arms of the Knapp family as used by John Knapp and by his son John, in 1600. It will be seen that this coat of arms is ver\' expressive and full of meaning. The shield and the helmets, clad in mail, de- note a preparation for war. The shield on which the arms are displayed is gold, expressive of worth and dignity ; the arms in sable or black, denote antiquity ; the three helmets on the shield ai'e ac- knowledgments from high authorities of victories gained. The helmet, which is placed between 310 BUFFALO COUJ^TY the sliield and crest, and rests upon the former, is an esquire in profile of steel, with visor closed and turned to the right side of the shield. Tlie wreath borne away by the victor, as represented on the sword, is positive proof of laurels won and honors bestowed. The lion passant on the shield denotes courage and consciousness of strength, and yet walking quietly when not provoked or forced to defense. The arm that bears the broken sword indicates the character of the family. Though, having fought in defense until the sword^is broken, his courage does not fail him ; his arm is still uplifted, grasping the broken sword, and in the heat of battle he exclaims: "In God we trust.'' Tradition sa^'^s, three brothers emigrated to this countr}' from England in early days; if this be true, AVilliam, ISTicholas and Koger Knapp of these records were brothers. The earliest records we have in this countr\' are in Bond's genealogies of the families and descendants of the early set- tlers of Watertown, Mass.. including Walt- ham and Weston, in which it mentions William and Nicholas Knapp — Vol. II, page 815. It there appears that Nicholas Knapp had some connection with a case in court. Later it states that Nicholas Knapp came with Winthrop and Salstanstall's tleet in 1630. Then is given the name of his wife, Eleanor, and their children, as found in tiie Stamford (Conn.) town history. Sav- age, in his Genealogical Dictionaiy, agrees with Bond as to Nicholas' immigration in the above-named fleet. A former printed history of the Knapp family mentions William Knapp. of Rye, N. Y., who im- migrated from England with a family of children, though his wife never came. This is probably the same William Knapp, of Watertown, Mass., 1636 and 1658, who moved back to Watertown after living in Rye. In this century a single "p" was used in spelling the name Knapp. Nicholas Knapp, of Watertown. moved to Stamford, Conn., in 16-48. His children by his first wife, Eleanor (who died Aug- ust 16, 1658), were — Jonathan, born De- cember 27, 1631 ; Timothy, born Decem- ber 24r, 1632 ; Joshua, boi'n June 5, 1635 ; Caleb, born January 20, 1637 ; Sarah, born Januarys, 1639; Ruth, born Janu- ary 5, 1641 ; Hannah, born Mai-ch 5, 1642. For his second wife, he mai'i'ieil Unity, widow of Peter Brown, and by her his children were — Moses and Lydia, the dates of whose births are not recorded. He (Nicholas) died Ajn-il 16, 1670. Joshua, third son of Nicholas, was Ijmn in Watertown, Mass., January 5, 1635 ; moved to Stamford in 1648, and married Hannah Close, January 9, 1657. Their children were — Hannah, born in Stam- ford, March 26, 1660 ; in 1663, he moved to Greenwich, which was then called Horse Neck, in which town Joseph was born in 1664; Ruth in 1666; Timothy in 1668; Benjamin in 1673; Caleb in 1677, and John in 1679. Joshua, Jr., was born in Greenwich in 1662, and married Miss Close about 1682. They hud one son — John, born March 1, 17oS ; and he had two sons — John, Jr., born in 1731, and Justus, born January 19, 1735. Joshua Knap[), of Greenwich, 1670, son of Nicholas, married Hannah Close at Stamford, 1657; had a good estate inven- tory of 1685, though he died October 27, 1684, leaving eight children — Hannah, aged twenC3'-five; Joshua, twenty-two; Joseph, twenty; Ruth, eigliteen ; Tinio- tliy, sixteen ; Benjamin, ten ; Caleb, seven ; Jonathan, five. His widow married John Powers. Moses Knapp, of Greenwich, 1670, broth- er of the preceding, probably youngest, but was probably onU' a land holder and never lived at Greenwich, but at Stam- ford as earh' as 1607, antl there his father gave him land by his will ; he married, about 1669, Abigail, daughter of Richard Westcott. "Whether he had children, I am not advised, but he was living- cer- tainly, at Stamford, up to 1701, perhaps later. The following is from Savage's Genea- logical Dictionary of the first settlers of New England, etc., Vol. Ill, pp. 33 and 34: Caleb Knapp, of Stamford, son of Nich- olas, freeman, 1670, made his will Decem- ber 11, 1674, and died soon afterwards. He names his wife Hannah, and children Caleb, who was born 1661 ; John, 1664, Moses, Samuel, Sarah and Hannah. Timothy Knapp, deputy of Rye, N. Y., October, 1670; Joshua Knapp, of Green- wich, Conn., admitted freeman 1669; Caleb Knapp, of Stamford, Conn., admit- ted freeman May, 1669 ; Moses Knapp, of Greenwich, Conn., admitted freeman May, 1670; Timothy Knapp, of Stamford, son, perhaps oldest, of Nicholas, representative for Rye, 1670, was of Greenwich, and was living in 1697. Roger Knapp, who was probably a hunter among Indians in 1639, relinquished all his right and claim on land in Branford to the New Haven Colon V. Roger Knapp, of New Haven, 1643-7; Fairfield, 1656-70 and probably later, had made his will March 21, 1673, naming his wife Elizabeth and children — Jonathan, Josiah, Lydia, Roger, John, Nathaniel, Eliza and Mary ; some of whom were minors; his inventory is of September 20, 1675. Roger Knapp, of Fairfield, son of the preceding, died 1691, but no account is found of the family. Jonathan Knapp, of Fairfield, son of the first Roger, dietl young, for his inventory is of February 1, 1676. William Knapji, of Watertown, 1636, died August, 1658, aged about eighty years. He came with Nicholas and had in his will of 1655 not named any wife; i-eferred to children, of whom several were by him from England — and His children were Wil- liam, Mary, Elizabeth, John (born 1624). James, 1627 ; Ann and Judith. Mary married Thomas Smith ; Eliza- beth married in England, a Butlery. The will of Thomas Knapp, of Water- town, mentions William, John and James, and daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Ann and Judith. Witnesses, Richard Beers and Nathaniel Salsbury. Mid. Deeds, Vol. 2, page 201-2, says he died intestate and his estate was divided by oi'der of the court. Perhaps his will was set aside; because October 15, 1658, administration was granted to Ephraim Child, Richard Beers and Priscilla Knapp. The next April she was released from the administration. December, 1658. the constable ot Watertown was ordered bv the court to deliver widow Knap]) Ium- chest and other things which John Knapj) brought grandchildren 312 BUFFALO COUNTY. had detained from her h\ attachineut. December IS, 1662, Ephraim Child and Sergeant Beers were discharged from administration of William Knapp, and John Coolidge and Henr}' Bright ap- pointed in their place. William Knapp, of Watertown, son of the preceding h\ his wife Mary, had prob- abl}' Joseph, besides Priscilla, born Nov- ember 10, 16-12 ; and by wife Margaret had Judith, born March 2, 1653 ; Eliza- beth, born July 23, 1657, and perhaps others. He left widow Priscilla, who had been widow of Thomas Akers, and son John. Widow Margaret Knapp died previous to January, 1703. James Knapp, of Watertown. in 1652, son of William the first of Watertown, Mass., born in England, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Warren ; had Elizabeth, born April 21, 1655; and James, born May 26, 1657, who died September 26, following. In autumn of 1671 he lived in Groton. He was one of the original pro])rietors of Groton; a sergeant, and was one of the four men to whom a grant was made to encourage the building of a mill at Groton. Elizabeth Knapp, of Groton, wife of James, was one of the bewitched persons mentioned bv Cotton Mather. This was ])robably the Elizabeth Knapp who lived in the family of Samuel Coles of Boston, in November, 1657. Thomas Knapp, of Sudbur}', married at Watertown, Septem- ber 19, 1688, Mary, daughter of John Grout, and died beyond sea, leaving widow and children — Sarah, aged nine years, and Mary, aged six 3'ears — when administra- tion was issued May 28, 1697. David Knapp settled in Spencer, Mass., in 17i7. — Drapier History. John Knapp, of Watertown, son of William the first, married Sarah Young- May 5, 1660. Tiiey had John, born May 4, 1661 ; and Sarah, born Sejitember 5, 1662 ; and several others, for his will of January 22, 1696, proved the 27th of April following, though it names not either of these, who were perhaps dead, mentions Sarah and children — Henry, Isaac, John, Daniel and Abigail. John Knapp, of Taunton, married Sarali Austin, October 7, 1685. He was proba- bly a son of John Knapp, of Watertown. Joshua Knapp, son of John, of Taunton, married and had one son, Samuel, born in Roxbury, June 12, 1716. Joshua Knapp and family of Poxbury, cautioned against settlement in Cambridge. Joshua Knapp married in Xewton, 1727, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Bertha Prentiss. Tradition says, Daniel Knapp was com- missioned by the colonial government to survey and locate Danbur}- town, and was promised if he located a certain num- ber of families there, in a given time, he would receive a tract of land for his ser- vices. He located them, and the land he received was located at the foot of Main street, Danbury, and that was the same piece of land on which Joshua Knapp, Sr., built a house, and his sons, Daniel and Frances, kept a hotel during the Revolu- tionary war. It was located directly op- posite the Danbury meeting house, where were stored the American supplies, and which was burned with the town ; and Knapp's tavern, as it was called, was the only house in the town saved, and is still standing, 1887. It is a two and a half- story frame building, with old-fashioned small windows and shingled sides. It is still one of the landmarks of Danburv. BUFFALO COUNTY. :n3 After a cai'cful research I am satisfied this is true, and tliat he (Daniel) was the father of Joshua Knapp, Sr., and the son of John, and grandson of "William, of Watertown, Mass. Joshua Knapp, Jr., of Danbury Conn., 17C2, after moving to Butternuts, moved back to Sherburn, N. Y., where he died July, 1829. Lodema, his wife, died at Cherokee, Logan county, Ohio, May 28, 184:5, aged eighty years. Daniel, his brother, and son of Joshua, Sr., of Dan- buiy. Conn., 171C, married Lucy Gray. They had children — Daniel Bostwick, Ezra G., Aniie, Palmer, William, Harmon, Levi E. and Horace B. and six daughters besides. Part of his children were born in Danbury and part in Great Barrington, Mass. He died at Sherburn, N. Y., June 25, 1842. Lucj' Gray, his wife, died at Sherburn, N. Y., March 8, 1S34. Francis Knapp, brother of Joshua J., and Daniel, of Danbur}', Conn., 1765, married Abigail , for his first wife, who died January' 22, 1810, aged forty- five years. Their only daughter Lucy, and wife of Comfort S. M3'gatt, died March 8, 1804, aged thirty-seven years, • six months. His second wife was Betsey. Their childi'en were — Comfort, George, William, and seven diiuglitei'S ; they lived at Danbury, Conn.; Great Barrington, Mass.; and Shei'burn, X. Y. He, Francis, died at , January 11, 1834, aged sixt\'-eight j'ears. Levi Knapj), brother of the preceding, and son of Joshua, Sr., had threfe sons — Joshua G., who died at Danbury, Conn., 1883. aged about ninety ; William A., and Levi S., of New Milford, Conn. Archie W. Knapp, first son of Joshua, Jr., married Betsey Roberts, January 26, 1806 — his sons were Alonzo and Joshua. Joshua died quite young, and Archie moved on the Western Reserve, and died at Ottokee, Fulton county, Ohio, January 22, 1852, aged sixty-six years ;and his wife died in Dover, Lucas county, Ohio, June 26, 1846, aged sixty-three years. His son Alonzo, who was born in New Milford, Conn., November 7, 1806, died in Ottokee, Fulton county, Ohio, June 30, 1852, aged forty-six years. Levi P., second son of Joshua, of New Milford, Conn., 1789, mar- ried Ellis Brooks, August 25, 1808. They had two sons — Royal Carlos, and Samuel B. Levi P. died in Canastota, N. Y., August 11, 1824. Royal Carlos, son of Levi P., married in California, a Miss De- Coe. They lived in Rochester, N. Y., and had one son, John D. C, and a num- ber of daughters. He (Royal Carlos) died in Rochester, N. Y., 1883, aged about seventy years. Edwin Joshua, first son of Edwin G., married Emily Cargill, May 6, 1840 ; had one child, who died quite young; and lie, Edwin J., died in Catskill, April 16, 1853, aged fifty-eight years. Urania Cornelia, his sister, mari'ied John R. Sylvester, of Catskill, N. Y., December 10, 1837, and died April 21, 1882, aged sixty-two years. Revilo Wells, his brother, of Canastota, N. Y., 1826, married Elizabeth Millett, December 31, 1850. They had sons boi'u at Catskill, N. Y.— Charles F., George E. and Frank R. Joshua Knapp, Sr., was born in Dan- bury, Conn., February 5, 1716, O. S., and married Abigail Bostwick, a widow Dibble, who was born in Brookfield, Conn., September 28, 1725, and was the first white child born there. 314 BUFFALO COUNTY. He (Joshua) died at Danbury, Conn., August 8, 1798, leaving children — Lucy Gray, born August 22, 1760 ; Joshua Jr., born May 6, 1762 ; Daniel^ born July 2, 1763 ; Francis, born June 16, 1765 ; Levi, born June 4, 1768. Abigail Bostwick Knapp died at Dan- bury, Conn., October 7, 1812, aged eighty-seven years. Joshua Knapp, Jr., of Danbury, married Lodema Warner, October 26, 1785 ; had Ai'chie Warner Knapp, born September 10, 1786. The}' then moved to New Milford, Conn., and there were born — Levi P., March 4, 1789; Edwin Gavin, August 25, 1795; Sally Julia, December 31, 1800. Edwin G. Knapp, of New Milford, Conn., married Marietta Ferris, November 29, 1815, who was granddaughter of Sarah Ferris, the first white child born in New Milford. Their children, Urania Cornelia, born in New Milford, Conn., April 18, 1820, and Edwin Joshua, born in Greene county, N. T., December 22, 1817. They, with Joshua Knapp, Jr., removed to the Butternuts, N. Y. Not liking it, they moved east to Canastota, N. Y., where was born Revilo Wells, May 2, 1826. From Canastota, they moved to Louis- ville, Otsego count}', N. Y., where was born Charles Ruggles, August 11, 1832. The family then moved to Catskill, Greene county, N. Y., where Edwin Gavin died, November 1, 1853, aged fift\'-eight years, and his wife, Marietta Ferris, died December 3, 1881, aged eighty-one 3'ears and ten months. Charles Buggies Knapp, third son of Edwin Gavin Knapp, married Mary Eliz- abeth Shepard, of Cairo, Greene county, N. Y., February 8, I860, and had two children, born at Catskill, N. Y. — Ella Augusta, November 21, 1860, and Charles E., Jr., February 10, 1863. Charles R. Knapp, Sr., died at New Milford, Conn., June 1, 1862, aged twenty- nine years. He was buried at Catskill, N. Y. Charles F. Knapp, fii'st son of Revilo Wells Knapp, married Alice Peri-y, of Catskill, N. Y., March 27, 1876. They had six children — tlii'ee boys and three girls. Frank R., third son of Revilo Wells Knap]), married Kate Broad wick in Sep- tember, 1878, and had four children — three girls anil one boy. — [By Chas. R. Knapp, Interlachan, Fla. LEONARD P. WOODWORTH, M. D., was born in Compton Cen- _/ ter, Canada East, July 12, 1839, and is a son of Commodore Perry (who was a cousin of the great Commo- dore Perrv) Wood worth. The father was born also in Canada; moved in 1847 to Indiana, and settled in LaGrange county, where he lived till 1859, when he moved to Columbia county. Wis., residing there until 1883, and thence moved to Iro- quois county. 111., where he died in 1887, aged sevent^'-five years. By trade he was a cabinet-maker, for many years was engaged in the furniture business, and towards the latter part of his life also in farming. Subject's mother was DrusiUa Stearns, who was a native of Massachu- setts, died in the fall of 1889, in Iroquois county. III., aged seventy-six. L. P. WOODWORTH. BUFFALO COUNTY. 317 Leonard P. Woodwoi'th is tiie fourth of eleven children — Julia, Mary, Sarah, L. P., Rosanna, Levi, William, Cornelia, Susan, an infant that died unnamed, and Carrie. The Doctor educated himself, and has done for himself sincehe was twelve years old. He attended Delton academy at Delton, Wis., and began reading medicine, in 1860, with Dr. G. W. Jenkins, but at the first call to arms entered the Union army in 1801, entering Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin infantry, as a private. Tie was immediately detailed as a hosj)ital steward, and served as such for three years. He first went to Weston, Mo., and then to Kansas Cit}', Mo., having been ordered to New Mexico, but got onl}' as far as Fort Riley, Kas., when he was ordered back to Columbus, Ivy. lie was in the Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns of that date, then the Vicksburg campaign, then the Meridian campaign, and afterwards on the "March to the Sea." Later he was com- missioned second lieutenant of the regular arm\', on duty with the Sixty-fourth col- ored infantry, and was president of the commission appointed to investigate the claim of Joe Davis for damages for prop- erty destroyed ; and still later was provost marshal of the district of Yazoo, and located at Yazoo, iliss. lie remained at Yazoo till March 13, 1806, and was then mustered out. Returned to Wisconsin, he opened a drug store at Necedah, Juneau count}', where he also practiced medicine for two years. lie then attended lectures at the Rush Medical college at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1870, taking a si)ecial course on diseases of the eye and ear. Returning to Necedah he resumed practice and the drug business, and con- tinued at^hese till 1880, when he went to Milford, 111., and engaged in the pi'actice of medicine, in tiiat place, in connection with Dr. J. C. Rickey, remaining there till 1883, when became to Kearney, where he has since resided. lie practiced alono after locating in Kearney, till 1887, when he admitted Dr. B. F. Jones to a partner- ship, the firm becoming Woodworth iV Jones, and so continuing. Dr. AVoodworth owns about sixteen hundred acres of land in Buffalo county, has farming carried on extensively, and owns a number of fine horses and fine cattle — some thoroughbreds. Dr. Woodworth, while still in the ai-my and while at home on a brief furlough, was married Januar\' 5, 1865, to Miss Maggie A. Dai'ling, but the honev-moon DO O^ ^ lasted only two short weeks when the groom, in obedience to the stern de- mands of military discipline, returned to the front to resume his duties in behalf of this struggling country, while the bride betook herself again to the class-room to prosecute with undiminished faithfulness and vigor her daily labor of love and kindness. They were I'e-united after four months, and since liave borne each other the cherished comjianionship which the^' sought with each other's hand, and have realized in a large measure the fervent hopes and happy expectations promised them as the full fruition of their wedded life. Mrs. Woodworth is a lady of culture and refinement, being a graduate of Bunson Institute of Point Bluft', Wis., and keep- ing up even in her maturer years an in- terest in the studies of youth. At the time of her marriage she and her sister had charge of the Delton academy, at Delton, Wis., which school reached a high rank, under hei- able numagement, among 31 S BUFFALO COUXTY. the educational institutions of tiie state. Two children born to Dr. and Mrs. "Wood- worth are now living, a son and daughter — Herbert L. and Emma L.. Dr. Woodworth has always exhibited great zeal and intei'est in matters pertain- ing to his profession and he has, whenever opportunity offered, allied himself with all associations seeking the promotion of the good of the profession, and to help to the extent of his means and ability all purposes of that nature. While a resident of "Wisconsin and Illi- nois he was an active member of the county and state medical societies where he resided, and took an active part in the workings of these societies. He is and has been for years a member of the Masonic order, having taken all the degrees up to and including that of Knight Templar, being a member also of the Mystic Shrine. He, his wife and children are members of the Methodist church and give liberally to charit}'. In personal appearance Dr. AVood- worth, while small of stature, is large of head and pleasing in address, being gener- ous of heart, with a kindly face, and a voice which has been attuned in tenderness to the many var3nng forms of sorrow which he has witnessed in his miuisti'ations among the afflicted. Unlike many of his ))rofessional brethren he does not believe in the all curing power of drugs, but believes in carrying common sense into the sick room and making use of many of the so- called simple remedies. Ever bearing with him an air of cheerfulness he inspires hope and confidence in his patients, and to the weak and despondent he prescribes liber- all}' of the " medicine of mirth." Yet withal is he positive, requiring the strict- est compliance with his orders and instruc- tions, and tliat done he holds himself re- sponsible for the rest, so far at least as an honest conscientious phj'sician who knows the limits of his profession and the bounds of his own knowledge and skill — can hold himself responsible for final results. THOMAS J. PECK. One of the oldest settlers of Platte township, Buffalo county, as well as one of the most prosperous citizens of the com- munity where he lives, is Thomas J. Peck, the subject of tins biographical notice. Mr. Peck has been a resident of the locality where he now resides for about seventeen years, coming to Nebraska in December, 1873, and settling first in Hall count}', whei'e he remained three years, moving thence across the line into Buffalo county, living there since. He came from Iowa to Nebraska, but is a native of Penns\d- vania. He was born in Chester county, near the city of Philadelphia, and comes of old Pennsj'lvania ancestr}', his parents and his grandparents being residents from time immemorial of the '• Ke}' -stone State." Ilis father, John Peck, was born, reared and passed his entire life in Chester county, being a farmer and following the peaceful pursuits of agriculture up to the close of an industrious, well-spent life, d^'ing in 1864 at the age of forty-five. His mother, Margaret Taylor, who was a native also of Chester county, passed all her years near the place of her nativity, dying in Juh', 1886, well advanced in years. Only two children were born to John and Margaret (Taylor) Peck, both boys, they being now residents of Platte BUFFALO COUXTV. 310 township, Buffalo county, tliis state, the elder, Thomas J.,' the subject of tliis sketch, and the younger Samuel E. T. Thomas J. was born in July, 1843, and reared near liis birth-place, not far from Philadelphia. He grew upas most farm boys do, receiving a fair common-school education and being trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. In June, 1861, not yet having at- tained his eighteenth year, he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company K, fourth Penns^'lvania reserves, and, his regiment being assigned to the Ai'mv of the Potomac, he served in that command for twenty-two months. Enlisting under age, his mother had him taken out of the service at the end of that time under habeas corpus proceedings, and he was kept at home until .IStU, when, in Feb- ruary of that year, he again entered tlie army, enlisting in Company K, Eighth Pennsylvania cavalrj', and served till after the surrender, being mustered out and discharged at Richmond, Va., August 11, 1865. During his terra of service the last time, he was under Gen. P. 11. Sheridan and was in tlie saddle continuously from the time he entered the service till the close of the war. Returning to Pennsylvania he remained there a short time and then, tilled with a growing desire to see the great West and tind some suitable location, where he could settle down and grow up with his sur- roundings, he emigrated to Iowa in 1866, where he settled, married and resided till 1873, coming thence in December of that year, as above noted, to Hall county, this state. He settled in Hall county, near the corners of the four counties of Hall, Adams, Kearney and Buffalo, taking a soldier's homestfad. Three years later he bought a relinquisiiment on the southeast quarter of section 36, just across the line in Buffalo county, on which he filed a pre-emption claim, settled, and lias since resided there. Taking tiiis claim when it was almost all raw land, he has, by great industry and unremitting attention to all the details of the farm, made of it one of the best improved and most pleasant places in histown'ship, having one hundred acres of it under plow, handsome groves and large and comfortable buildings, resi- dence and barn. The secret of his success has been in his hard, persistent labor, his strict economy and his judicious manage- ment. He is regarded as one of the best farmers of his locality and as a business man of sound sense and discriminating judgment. Mr. Peck married June 10, 1867 — the lady whom he selected to share his life's fortunes being JVJiss Mary E. Elter, then of Iowa, but a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. I'eck's father, Nicholas Elter, was a native of France and was reared in his native country to the age of eighteen, coming thence to America and settling in Pennsylvania, where he married, and after a residence there of some years moved to Iowa, and there died in August, 1887, at the age of sixty-five. Mrs. Peck's mother, Julia Elter, was boi-n in Tioga countv, Penn., and is still living, being a resident of Iowa. Of the eleven children in the family to which Mrs. Peck belonged, si.x are now living, being married and settled off in life. The eldest, John B., was killed in the late war at the battle of Peach Orchard, Va., he being a member of the Eighth Pennsylvania cavaliy; Charles died young, and the others are — Sarah, 380 BUFFALO COUNTY William, Charlotte (deceased), Emma, Minerva, Hattie, George and Susan. Mrs. Peck is the third of the family and the eldest girl. In politics Mr. Peck is a democrat and comes of a line of ancestors who drew their political faith from the teachings of Jefferson and Jackson, and is a stanch supporter of the doctrines and methods of his party. And he is withal an intelli- gent, hosjiitable, pleasant gentleman. JAMES F. LIPPINCOTT is a Penn- sylvanian b}' birth and a descendant of old Pennsylvania stock. His father, John Lippincott, and his mother, Mary Dillon, were both born and reared in the " Keystone State," the father in Delaware count}'^ and the mother in Adams county. The father was a shoe- maker by trade and followed that nearly all his life, passing most of his \'ears in his native state, dying, however, in Ohio in 1876, after having attained his fifty-sec- ond year. He was a quiet, industrious, useful citizen, a man of plain tastes, sys- tematic habits and pleasant, genial dispo- sition. Mr. Lippincott's mother, Mary Dillon, was a daughter of Andrew Dillon, and an industrious, frugal housewife, and a dutiful and affectionate mother, who bore her husband the cherished compan- ionship which he sought with her hand through the many years of their wedded life. She died in 1862 at the ao:e of thir- tv-ei"ht. Thirteen children were born to these, only five of whom, however, reached maturity ; these being — James F., John F., Jeremiah F., William B. and Mary. These are still living. The first is the sub- ject of this sketch. John F. is a resident of Fillmore county, this state, Jeremiah F. and William B. are residents of Hall county, this state, while the sister, now wife of Samuel Robaugh, lives in Al- toona. Pa. Our subject, James F., was born in Adams county. Pa., 1846. Tiie first event of importance in his life, as it was the first of any moment in the lives of hundreds of others of his age, was his enlistment in the Union army. He entered the service September 7, 1861, enlisting in Company F, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania volun- teer infantry. The organization of his regiment having been completed the fol- lowing October, it moved at once to Louisville, Ky., joined Buell's army and saw its first active service at Pittsburg Landing, helping to save the day to the Union cause at that place. His regiment served afterwards in the campaign into Kentucky and in the Atlanta camj)aign and Avas with Thomas on his return into Tennessee in pursuit of Hood, as far as Nashville. At this point Mr. Lippincott was taken sick with the small-pox and disabled from service till April, 1865. He then joined his command, which was at that time at Nashville, and went with it to Texas, where it was stationed as an army of occupation till December, 1805. Eeturning thence to Pennsylvania it was mustered out at Philadelphia January 19, 1886. He served as a private from the date of iiis enlistment till mustered out, was never wounded, but was once cap- BUFFALO COUNTY. 321 tured and got some taste of prison life, liaving been taken prisoner at the battle of Stone river and confined for ninety da3's in " Libby." At the close of the war, Mr. Lippincott returned home and settled down to the peaceful pursuits of life, marrying in March, 1S67, and engag- ing in farming. He came to Nebraska in the spring of 1878 and settled in Fillmore county, in June that year. lie lived tliere till October, 1883, and moved then to Eivffalo county, locating on Elm Island, in Platte township, where he has since resided. He has been steadily engaged in farming and has succeeded far beyond the average. He owns land in Adams, Ilall, Buffalo and Gosper counties, a large part of which he has under cultivation and most of which is yielding jiim a revenue in some shape. His home-place in Duffalo county is one of the best farms on Elm Island, well improved and well sup|)lieti with comfortable buildings, orna- mented with groves and stocked up to its capacity with good graded stock. Mr. Lippincott has quite a family grow- ing up around him, for whom he is pro- viding with that care and thoughtful solicitude characteristic of him. He mar- ried, as noted above, in 1867, the lady whom he selected for a life companion being Miss Jane S. Vance, a daughter of Captain David Vance, of Loudon, Frank- lin county, Pa., Mrs. Lii)pincott and her parents both being natives of that place. She is one of a family of ten children, as follows — AV^inlield S. and John W., both of Loudon, Franklin county; George E., a conductor on the Pennsylvania Central railroad, he being the one who ran the express train out of Johnstown during the late flood; Jane, Mrs. Lippincott ; James W., of AVintield, Kans.; Ann Rebecca, wife of George Mullom, of Chambersburg, Pa., and Catherine Abigail, still with her father at Loudon, Franklin county. Margaret and David are deceased. Mr. anil Mrs. Lippincott are the parents of seven chil- dren — John David, Mary Catherine, now wife of George W. Walverton ; James William, Charles li., Abbie Jane, Ethel Alma and Kimber Augustus. In politics Mr. Lippincott is a repub- lican and is a stanch supporter of the principles and methods of his jiarty. His first vote was cast for Grant in 1868, and he has supported his party's ticket in each presidential election since, as well .as in state and local elections. He has never aspired to public office himself, finding much more pleasant and remunerative emplo\'ment in the pursuit of his own affairs. He is a man who is well informed on matters of general concern and takes mucli interest in them. He has pronounced views, and when occasion demands does not hesitate to speak them, and he is one of as kind, accommodating and hospitable gentlemen as can be found in Puflalo county. CHARLES EDWARD CJRES- HAM was born in Woodford county, III, February 11, 1S56, He is the son of Archibald Gresham, a native of Virginia and a very prosperous farmer, his prosperity being traceable to 322 B UFFA L CO UNTY. hard work and good management. Archi- bald was an active member oi' the Baptist cliurch, but later id entitled himself with the Christian church, of which he was a ruling elder at the time of his death. He was much esteemed for his excellent christian character and the poor and needy always found in Mr. Gresham, a good frienil. Mr. Gresham was born in 1808, and from Virginia moved to Christian county, Ky., and thence to Woodford count}', 111., where he remained until death. At the time of his death he left a farm of two hundred acres, well improved and stocked. In 1833 he was married to Miss Susan Boyd, a native of Kentucky. Like her husband she was an active mem- ber of the Baptist church, but later joined the Christian church. She was considered a ver}' exemplary and consistent christian woman, and died in 1880 at the advanced age of sixt}' -eight. By this marriage twelve children were born, viz. — George, farming in Missouri ; Mary, (Mrs. Bays- ton) in Illinois; Susan, in Missouri with George; John AY., who served three years in the war, but now is in Kentucky ; Olive, in Illinois with James; Bobert, in Illinois; Louise (Mrs. x\yers), deceased, in Illinois; Kicliard C, in Illinois on the old home- stead ; Jennie V. (deceased); C. E. ; Lucy A. (Mrs. Irvin), in Bloomington, 111. C. E. Gresham came to Nebraska in 1884 with about $1,100, and now owns a ivell improved farm of two hundred and forty acres and well stocked. He makes a speciality of tine hor.ses and hogs. He is a member of the Christian church. He was married, in ]87y, to Miss Alice E. Spencer, a native, of Illinois, and born March 30, 1858. For years she was an active and faithful worker of the Chris- tian church. She was married at the home of her father. Rev. Harney officiat- ing. She is the mothei' of three children, viz. — Etta, born November 28, 1879; Min- nie, born July 7, 188-1, and Ollie. born March 15, 1888. EMORY PECK, a gentleman of lit- erary and social culture, is of Puri- tan ancestry, his progenitors hav- ing come over in the "ilayflower." Luther Peck, the paternal grandparent, was a native of Connecticut, and died in 1846, at a good old age. He was the parent of five sons, all of whom entered the Meth- odist ministry, and Jesse T. rose to the distinction of bishop, and was one of the founders of Syracuse University, do- nating to the institution at one time $50,- 000. A biographical sketch of Jesse T. and George Peck is given in the People's Encyclopedia. Andrew Peck, the subject's father, was born in New Y'ork in 1800. He was, in the most literal sense, a self- made man, acquiring sufficient prepara- tion, by the utmost diligence and economy of time, to enter the ministry at the age of twenty. For tiiirty years he continued in the active ministrv, and was for years presitling elder in the Oneida, now the Central New Y'ork, conference. He was superannuated in 1850, but continued a member of the conference till death, which occurred in 1887. Politically, Mr. Peck was a republican, until a few years before his death, wlien he gave his sup. port to the prohibition cause. In 1830, he married Miss Electa Gun, a native of New York, wiio was the mother of the subject BUFFALO COUXTY 323 of this sketch. She was a zealous co- laborer with her husband in chiistian work, being, with, him, a member of tlie Meth- odist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck were born four children — Mary S. (deceased), Emor\', William G. (who en- listed in the war under Sheridan, in 18fi4r and was killed in the Valley «f Virginia), and Elbert A., who is now, and has been for nineteen years, a member of the Central New York conference. Emory, the subject of this biography, was born in Hamilton, Madison county, N. Y., in 1836. Having taken a course in Oneida seminary he, at the age of eight- een, migrated to Portage, Wis., and there engaged in teaching. From there he removed to Winnebago county, same state, and there taught and farmed alter- nately for five years. He ne.xt moved to Livingston county. Mo., and there taught for one year. He then took the princi- ])alship of the public schools of Clarinda, Iowa, and remained thereuntil 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army. First regi- ment Nebraska volunteer infantry. He was soon after commissioned first lieuten- ant of his com])any, and was in the engage- ments of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and others. He re-enlisted in the same regiment as vetei'an and was placed in the recruiting service, with headquarters at Brownville, Nebr. Tliere he resigned and engaged in farming. In 1868, he moved to Pates county. Mo., and followed farming for eight years, and from there came to Ne- iiraska, settling in Puffalo county, on a homestead and engaged in farming. Mr. Peck was elected two successive terms to the office of county clerk and has also served as county supervisor. He is now residing on his ranch, of about six hundred acres, in Odessa townsliip. What- ever success he has gained is due to attention to business and correct habits. Socially, Mr. Peck gives evidence of tliat magnanimit}' of soul which is characteristic of his lineage. He is a supporter of the republican ticket and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 185!) he was married to Miss Mary F. Burin, who was born in New York city, in 1842. To them eight children have been born, and five are now living:. LPv. MORE, a native of Delaware county, N. Y., was born in 18;!1>, _^ and is the son of Edward H. and PoUy Ann (Moffatt) More, prominent and thrifty people of their locality and both active and consistent members of the Methodist E]>iscopal church. In politics, Edward H. More was an enthusiastic sup- porter of the republican platform. He was nominated, in 1867, for representative of Delaware county, but died the day fol- lowing the convention. Mr. and Mrs. More were parents of six children, viz. — Francis, who died when two years old ; Albert, v,-ho was born in 1837, in Dela- ware county, N. Y., and served seven months in the war of tlie Rebellion, but was discharged for rheumatism contracted before service. He, after several years' residence in New York. Virginia and New Jerse}', moved to Nebraska, settling in Odessa township, Buffalo county. In 1866, he was united in mari-iage to Miss Caroline Brewster, a native of New York, who died in 1870. Mr. More next married Miss Martha Reed, a native of Illinois in. 324 BUFFALO COUNTY. 1886. L. R. More, our subject, was the third in order of birth, and of the remain- ing three children, Mary is deceased ; Samuel I., who served in the war, first as as |)rivate in the Fourth New York heavy artillery, and afterwards as lieutenant and acting captain of a mortar battery before Petersburg, is now residing near Mores- ville, N. Y., and George, the youngest, is still living on the old homestead. The subject's paternal grandfather, Alexander More, came from the highlands of Scotland and settled in Ilobart, Dela- ware county, N. Y., just before the Cherry Talley massacre, instigated by Brandt. Being warned by friendly Indians, he took what household effects he could on one horse, his wife taking her two children in baskets, one on each side, on another horse. Thus they journeyed to Catskill, on tiie Hudson river. On the journe\', one of the children, Alexander More, our subject's grandfather, fell out of the basket into a miry place and nearly drowned. lie afterwards settled near where Moresville now stands. The pa- ternal great-grandfather's family consisted of five boys — Alexander, James, John T., David and Edward. The subject's grand- father, Alexander More, mariied Nancy Harlow, of Eoxbury, Delaware county, N. Y., by whom he had twelve children, viz. — John H., Thomas, Daniel, Joseph II., Edward 11. (the subject's father), Robert II., James, William W., Betsey, Abbie, Gitty and Mary (the mother of Jay Gould, the railroad king). AV. W. is the youngest and only survivor of the family. L. R. More, the subject of this sketch, was born September 22, 1839, in Rox- burv, Delaware county, N. Y. He moved to Chicago in the fall of 1855, thence to Newaygo. Mich., where he was employed in a saw-mill. He there contracted fever and ague, which caused him to return to the old homestead. He later returned to Chicago, where for a time he acted as salesman for a business fiim, after which he entered into partnership with Duncan Sinclair, in the lumber and planing-mill business, Mr. More acting- as travelin"' salesman, and Sinclair conducting the business at home. Bj' fair dealing and close attention to business, in about three years he accumulated the sum of §25,000. His health failing, he sold out to Sinclair and came West to Kearney Junction, Nebr., in 1871. He established the first lumber yard and built the fii'st brick store, the upper story being the only opera house in town. He also established the first bank, in 1872, known as More's bank. He owned the first hotel, known as the Grand Central, also was partner of John Seaman, one of the first wheat buyers in Kearney. He also speculated in broom corn. He bought and enlarged the first grist-mill on the present site of the Kearney Mill and Elevator Co.'s mill, and was the sole agent of the celebrated Rock Spring coal from 1876 to 1885. Mr. More also owned a considerable amount of real estate, and was always one of the first to assist in any enterprise that per- tained to the welfare of Kearnev. In 1873, Mr. More was appointed Captain of the "Kearney Guards" by Governor Furnas. Under his leadership the cow- boys' "reign of terror" came to an end, they losing two of their number in a run- ning battle. In the year 188-i, he sold out what was known as More's bank, now the Kearney National, and tiie brick store HENRY FIELDGROVE. BUFFALO COUNTY 327 adjacent for $22,000, he taking $13,000 stock in the bank, and also becoming its first president. In 1885, on account of failing health, Mr. More started for Florida, stopping at Hot Springs, Ark., where, against the advice of his physicians, he took a sulphur bath, from which he contracted a severe cold that settled on his lungs and soon resulted in his death. He was buried beside his father, in Mores- ville, Delaware county, jST. Y. L. K. More came to Kearney when it contained but three buildings, and by aid- ing the then infant town and the home- steaders in securing the passage of the iierd law, in more senses than one may he be called the patriarch of Kearney. Mr. More was a very popular man and had endeared himself to many by his kind- ness and generosity. In politics he was a republican, and at one time received the nomination for state senator, but was defeated b}'^ A. H. Connor, nominee of a coalition of women's rights, anti-monopo- lists, democrats and others. H ON. HENRY FIELDGROVE, a prominent citizen and old set- tler of Buffalo county, is a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born December 17, 1S31. He comes of German ancestiy from time immemorial, his parents, Julius and "Wilhemina (Slier- man) Fieldgrove, being natives also of Hanover, where they always lived, and where they died, both dying in 1886 — the father at the age of eighty-five and the mother at the age of seventy. These were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being Gottleib, Charles, Louis, Fred- erick and Dora. The only one of these who ever became a resident of the United States is Henr\', our subject. He came to America in 1854, stopping in Clarion county, Penn. Remaining there only about a year, he went to Lawrence count}^ the same state, where, in 1857, he married a Lawrence county lady. Miss Maggie A. Myers, a native of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man extraction. Mr. Fieldgrove then began the real duties of life. He set about to solve the bread and butter prob- lem in earnest. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might,'' became a living principle with him, and he carried it out to the letter, possibly more in things material than spiritual. He worked at farming, mining, saw-mill- ing, engineering, and, in fact, anj^thing else that came to him in which there was an honest dollar. He saved some means from his earnings, and being desirous of securing for himself a home, and settling his growing family down in life, where he could do more for them than he could hope to do in the more thickly settled communities of the East, he came West in 1871, and settled in Buffalo county, this state, where he now lives. He took a homestead at that date, filing on a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, lying on Wood river, about a mile north of the town of Shelton. There he located, and has since lived. He has been steadily engaged in farming and stock-raising, and it is doing no violence to truth nor sjieaking flatterly of him to say that he has succeeded far beyonil the average of Buffalo county farmers. He has added to 328 B UFFA L CO UXTY. his original homestead by purchase until he now owns a tract of four hundred acres in one body, lying in the famous Wood Kiver valley, near the corporate limits of the town of Shelton, all of which he has in a splendid state of cultivation, and which, under his judicious management, yield him a handsome revenue in some shape. Besides this he also owns two hundred and forty acres in Snider township, nine miles north of his home-place. He has extensive stock interests and is a good all-round farmer. His chief pursuits have been agri- cultural, he never havino: allowed anv- thing of a conflictino- nature to interfere with these. He has, however, been called on to fill a number of local ofRces, and has probably done more gratuitous work of an official and a semi-official nature than an}"^ other man in the eastern j^art of Buffalo county. In 1871, shortly after locating in the county, he was elected road supervisor of his district, and discharged the onerous and unremunerative duties of that position for nine years. Following that and during part of that time, he was deputy sheriff for the eastern part of the county. He has been a member of the school board of his district for several years. He was chairman of the count}' board of super- visors for two years, and is now serving his precinct as justice of the peace and his county as representative, having been elected to thelatter position in November, 1888, and to the former in November, 1S89. Duriniy the last term of the leo-is- lature, in addition to the part he took in the general legislation before the house, he was a member of the following com- mittees, and did special dut}' in connection therewith : Public lands and buildings, county boundaries, county-seats and town- ship organization, privileges and elections and fees and salaries. While not conspic- uous he was nevertheless active and useful, discharging his duties with zeal and fidel- ity, winning the favor of his co-workers and approval of his constituents. Mr. Fieldgrove is a public-spirited man, pro- gressive in his views, a man of sound in- telligence and discriminating judgment. He is more than a good farmer ; he is a clear, level-headed business man. His ojiinion is sougiit by his friends and neigh- bors on many matters outside of those with which he is daily engrossed, and his influence and favor are courted b}' many who prize his good will. In politics lie is a republican and votes tlie straight repub- lican ticket. He is a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, and his feelings of fellowship towards his race and his good v.'ill towards his kind take largely the practical turn inculcated by this oldest and most benevolent of all the beneficial orders. He and his excellent wife, who has borne him for more than a third of a centuiy the cherished companionship which he sought with her hand, are both active and eilicient members of the Pres- b3'terian church. They have reared to maturity a family of eight children, some of whom are now married, and are them- selves heads of families. Their cliiklren's names in the order of their ages are as follows- — Dora, Rachel, Mary, William IL, Charles, Maggie, John, and Jennie. In personal appearance Mr. Fiekigrove is large of frame and hearty in manner. He has a kindl\' face and a warm, gener- ous nature. He is genial and companion- able, a steadfast friend, a pleasant ac- quaintance and an affable gentleman. B UFFA LO CO UNTI '. :320 A K. IIAYDEN is the fifth son of Elijah and Hulda (Scott) Ilay- (len; the formei* a native of Alle- gheny county, Pa., who, when eighteen years of ago, left the paternal roof to seek his fortune in distant lands. lie traveled through most of the states north of the Mason and Dixon line, and for some time, also, was engaged in the lead mines of Illinois, and the gold mines of California, and was at different times engaged in farming, owning at one time two thousand acres of land in Cass and Adams counties, Iowa. Mr. Havden was a great reader, and upon all the current topics of the times was a very well informed man. In politics he was at first a republican, but be- came a democrat before the war. He believed the war to be unnecessary and strongly advocated peace. He joined the Mormon church before his marriage. A murder was committed in Lee county, Iowa, and suspicion rested upon the Hodge brothers, who were members of the Mor- mon church. Mr. Hay den was earnestly besought to swear that they did not enter the city that night, but, altiiough that was the link of evidence which would release them he would not perjure him- self in defense of the criminals or the church. Being convinced of the corrup- tion which prevailed the Mormon church, of which he was a member, he separated himself from it. While in Nauvoo, he married Miss Hulda A. Scott, also a mem- ber of the Mormon church, but she left the church with her husband, and has since united with the Christian church. She was born in 1818 in Genesee county, N. Y. When at the age of fourteen she moved to Ohio, thence to Eel River Bot- toms, Ind., and from there to Nauvoo, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Ha3'den's marriage was blessed by seven children, viz. — Elijah, Byron, Leonard, Gila (deceased), Adrian K., Japhan and Huldah. Mr. Hayden, after an absence of fifty years from Alle- gheny county. Pa., returned to visit his old home in 1883 and there died. A. K. Hayden, the subject of this me- moir, is a native of Adams county, Iowa, and was born in 1855. In 1858 he moved to Cass county, and there engaged in farming and teaching. He came to Ne- braska in 1883, continuing to teach and farm. Mr. Hayden inherited the inclina- tion to read and inform himself on the topics of the day, and as a result is quite conversant on all subjects of public inter- est. He was agreenbacker until the dis- solution of that party and has since been independent in politics. He was married in 1886, to Miss Maiy Broat, a native of New York, who, in 1879, came with her parents to Buffalo count}^, Nebraska. To them one child has been born — Amelia Mabel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hayden have been identified with the Christian church for several years. WILLIAM E. KNOX. If Mr. Knox were stripped of all other virtues, his geniality alone is sufficient to cause him to be es- teemed, but with it he can truly be said to be honest, frugal and industrious. He is a son of Ambrose and Mary (Reed) Knox, natives of Kentuck3\ The former was a generous-hearted man, much es- teemed by those who knew him. In poli- tics he was a republican, and for two years he served as assessor. He was mar- ried to a Miss Reed, who was a strict 330 BUFFALO COUXTT. member of the Christian church and she exemplified her profession by a christian life. Their familv consisted of six eirls and three boys, viz. — Amikla (deceased) ; Caroline (deceased) ; John, "William E., Elizabeth, Taylor, Mary, Sarah, Georgean (deceased). The father and mother both de]>arted this life in the same year, 1866. William E. Knox, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bath county, Ky., in lS3-t. In 1868, he moved to Montgomery county, Ind., there engaging in farming till 1879, when he came to Nebraska and settled on a homestead of one hundred and sixt}' acres in section 12, township 9, range 17. In 1862, Mr. Knox enlisted in the Fourteenth Kentucky cavahy at Mount Sterling. He was twice taken prisoner by Morgan, and once, when attempting to escape, on his road home he passed a church when the congregation was dispersing; two of them were his neighbor's boys, who were in the Confed- erate service ; they at once captured him and he was marched all da}' in the rain, and was taken with the measles ; as a re- sult his eyesight is very much impaired, which fact entitles him to a pension. Mr. Knox married, in 1867, Miss Emily Trim- ble, a native of Montgomery county, Ky. She is the daughter of D. F. and Narcis- sus (Fox) Trimble, both natives of Ken- tuck}', and zealous members of the Christian church. Mr. Trimble was one of the home guards and in 1866 was killed by bushwhackers. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born five children, viz. — Frank, Oscar, Homer, May and Georgie. Mr. Knox is a republican, but favors a reduction of the tariff. Mr. and Mrs. Knox are quiet but faithfql members of the Christian church, JOHN B. NEAL, an enterprising far- mer of Odessa township, Buffalo county, is the son of Henry and Eliz- abeth (Jerome) Neal, natives of Ohio, who were married in Richland county, Ohio, in 1830 and remained there till lSi3, then moved to "Waukegan, Lake county, 111., and there remained till Mr. Neal's death. Politically, Mr. Neal was a repub- lican. Their union was blessed with twelve children, viz. — Caroline (deceased); Sarah Jane (deceased), Martin, Henry, Sylvester, John B., Charles J., Mary Eliz- abeth; Susan E., David Leroy, Theodore and Augustus. John B. Neal, the subject of this notice was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1841. "With his parents he went to "Wau- kegan. 111., and in 1863 enlisted in Com- pany C, light artillery, Second Illinois reg iment, and was in two engagements: Fort Donelson and what was called the Pine Bluff engagement. Mr. Neal, in company with an Irishman, Mr. Bartlet, was once surrounded by a band of sixty guerrillas, and they succeeded in killing eighteen of the latter and making their escape -with- out receiving a wound. He was mustered out of service on the 5th of August, 1865 at Springfield, 111. He then returned to his home in "\Yaukegan, 111., and there re- mained till he came to Nebraska in 1875, settling on section 32, township 9, range 17, Odessa township, Buffalo county. Mr. Neal has been a supporter of the repub- lican platform but is now a strong alliance man. He has been justice of the peace of Odessa. He was married in 1862 to Miss Louise Cloes, a native of Lake Bluff, 111., Rev. Little, of "Waukegan, officiating. To Mr. and Mrs. Neal have been born nine children, viz. — Laura (deceased), Mintie, BUFFALO COUNTY. 331 Augusta, Benjiuuin Martin, Clifton Parkes, Henry "Wilson, Kittie Elizabeth (deceased), Sadie Lulu, Evan John and Royal Elmer. If Mr. and Mrs. Neal possess one virtue in e.'ccess of others, it is hospitalit}'; all, with- out distinction of persons, receive a cor- dial welcome. They were connected for some time with the Presbyterian church of Kearney, but for a number of years have been identified with the Seventh Day Adventists and are consistent ailherents to that faith. JEPtOME IIATTEN. Men who begin life with no capital but hands and brains, and m\'riads to compete with in the struggle for a competency, and come out victorious, winning b\' honesty, frugality and industr3\ truh' deserve to have perpetuated their life's record. Such a man is the suljject of this biogra])hical notice, who is the son of Robert and Rachel (Brown) Hatten. The former was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Easton in 1806, and was reared to farming. Po- liticall}'^, he was a democrat. lie was an earnest and faithful worker in the Metho- dist Episcopal church for years, but his influence and work were by no means con- lined to the church ; he was always ready to help the poor or do good in any way when opportunities presented tiiemselves. lie was married Miss Rachel Brown, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. She, like her husband, was a zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, ])roving the sincerity of her profession in her daily walk and conversation. Mr. Hatten departed this life in 1873, followed by liis wife in 1886. To them were born seven children, viz. — Theodore, John (de- ceased), Sarah Jane (deceased), Alfred, Morris, Mary and Jerome. Jerome, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wilkesbarre, Pa., in 1847. He remained at home till going to the war, enlisting in Company A, Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, in ISei. He was in several skirmishes ; was in the battle of Five Forks, and followed Lee till the time of his surrender; he then marched to Washington and was in the grand review. He was mustered out the tenth of June, 1865. He then located in Penns3'lvania, and there remained till 1878, wiien he came to Nebraska, settling on section 2, townshi]) 9, range 17 west, in Odessa township, Buffalo county. Mr. Hatten first found employment, after coming to the state, with Mr. B. L. Cunningham, for whom he worked by the month for one year ; he then took the homestead and timber claim which he now owns, the most of which is under cultivation and well improved. Mr. Hatten is not a man whose energies are slackened by unfavor- able conditions of times, but, believing that honest labor judiciously directed will be rewarded, has practiced economy and given close attention to the details of his business, so that each year finds a balance in his favor. He is a republican in poli- tics. Mr. Hatten has been an unpreten- tious but consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church for years. In 1871, he was married to Miss Mary Ellen Ilar- ve}', born in Fairmount township, Luzerne county. Pa. She is the daughter of Lewis and Diana (Boston) Harvey, both natives of Pennsylvania, and the former a sup- porter of the republican ticket. Lewis Harvey was born July 12, 1816, and 332 BUFFALO COUNTY. Diana (Boston) Harvey July 8, 1821. They were married August 1, 1840, ami had born to them the following children — Almira P., January 28, 1842; Mary E., January 9, 1843 ; Harriet A., December 18, 1850. Lewis Harvey died September 14, 1881, but Diana Harvey still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey were co-workers in the Metliodist Episcopal church, with which church they were identified for years. Mrs. Hatten is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Hatten have been born seven children, viz. — Nellie, Maud, Eckford, Ealph, Boyd, Ida and Ora. CONARD B. BEOWN, a highly respected farmer of Odessa town- ship, Buffalo county, Nebr., is a native of Morgan count}^ Ind., born in 18.57. He is the son of Jefferson Heze- kiah and Lucy (AVellnian) Brown, natives of Kentucky. The former, in early life, settled in Morgan county, Ind., and there followed farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred Fiftj'-first Indiana vol- unteers, was taken to the hospital at Nash- ville, Tenn., and there died. Mr. Brown was connected with the Christian church for years and although quiet, he was an earnest christian man. He was married to Miss Lucy Wellman in 1850. She also was a member of the Christian church. To them were born two children, viz. — Con- ard B., and Ella (Mrs. Greeson) now living in Morgan county, Ind. Conard B.Brown, the subject of this biographical notice, migrated from Indiana in 1883, settling on section 4, township 8, range 17, in Odessa township, Buffalo county, Nebr., upon which he now resides. Mr. Brown was married to Miss Lurena Bourn, a native of Morgan county, Ind., in 1881, and to tliis union have been born three children, viz. — Daisy, born August 30, 1883, and died September 10, 1884 ; Clara May, born July 17, 1885, and Carl E., born May 18, 18S7. In politics, Mr. Brown is a republican, and for three successive terms has served as township clerk. Mr. Brown well deserves the reputation which he bears for uprightness and geniality. HH. WINCHESTER. An old and honored citizen of Buffalo count}' and one of the first set- tlers of the locality where he lives is H. H.'Winchestei',of Platte township. Mr. Winchester moved into the county in May, 1879. He took a homestead shortly afterwards on the old Fort Kearney mili- tary reservation, which had been thrown open to settlement a short time previously, filing on lots in sections 5 and 32, his claim lying on Clark's island, in the Platte river. There he located and has since resided. He has a small, well-improved farm, de- sirably located and one that yields well. He has been actively and exclusively engaged in farming since settling in tlie county. Mr. Winchester had his first experience, however, at farming on his present place. Before moving West, he was for many 3'ears a manufacturer of carriages in Coleraine, Mass. Misfortune overtook him, as it has done thousands of others, and he came AVest to regain what BUFFALO COUNTY. 333 he could. Measured bj bis means and opportunities, he has succeeded reasonably well. It is no mean tribute to his pluck and energy that he has done as well as lie has. He was considerably past middle life when the business which be had been engaged in for twenty-one years went to ])ieces. It would unquestionabh', under the circumstances, take a strong resolution to make a man pull up, go to a new coun- try and set out afresli in a business con- cerning which he knew nothing practically. The natural impulse of most men would be to remain among the friends and asso- ciates of tiieir earlier years. But Mr. Wincliester's pride and sense of duty to tliose dependent on liim forbade him doing this. He came West, where, if he could not materially repair his own fortunes, he might at least put his children in a better way to make theirs than they could hope to do in the East. Mr. Winchester is a native of Marlboro, Vt., and was born in lS2i. He was reared there till he readied maturity' and went thence to Massachusetts, where he resided, mainly at Coleraine, till coming to Ne- braska. He comes of old New England stock, ills father, Martin Winchester, being a native ot Marlboro, Vt., and his mother, wlio bore the maiden name of Chirissa Ilillyard, a native of Stonington, Conn. Tiiese were reared in tlieir native places, mai'ried in the latter state, and settled in Marlboro, where they subsequently lived and died. The father died in ISW, at the age of sixty-one; the mother in 1S02, in her sixtieth year. They were plain, well- to-do people, spent their lives on the farm and were characterized for their industry and the economical management of their domestic affairs. . Thev left a family of six children, onl\' three of whom are now liv- ing. The full list is as follows — Betsie, Cyrus, Horace H., Eliza, George and Hi- ram. The last three sons are tlie ones now living. Horace H., the subject of this sketch, and Mary Ann Felker were married in June, 1849, Mrs. Winchester being a na- tive of New Durham, N. H. She is the eldest child of William and Susan (Holmes) Felker, her parents both being natives also of New Hampshire. Her father was born March 18, 1799, and died December 2, 1832. Her mother was born January 19, 1799, and died at the age of fort^^-two years. Their children were Mary Ann (Mrs. Winchester), who was born October 9, 1827 ; Hannah Abigail, who was born October 19, 1829; William, w^ho was born Januarj^ 19, 1832, and who died one day after; Deborah J., who was born December 23, 1832, and died May 17, 1839, making Mrs. Winchester and her sister, Hannah Abigail, the only survivors. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester are the par- ents of five children, all of whom are now living. These are — William, John, Clara, Ella and Charles. To these Mr. Win- chester has given good educational train- ing and they are all making their own way in the world in a creditable manner. Only two of them now remain at home, these being the two younger. Coming of New England stock Mr. Winchester retains many of the qualities of his people. His persevering industry, strong self-reliance, as well as his thrifty, economical habits, he owes to this source. Mellowed by age and softened b}' his experience with the world, his character has lost that metallic nature (if indeed he ever had it), which the New England 334 BUFFALO COUNTY. character is popular!}' supposed to have, and he presents the appearance of a man who has hved to a reasonabl}- good age, soothed and sustained b}' a consciousness of having discharged his whole duty to those dependent on him and to liis t'ellow- nien. He has never aspired to an}- public life, being content to follow the even tenor of his way as an humble citizen. He has not failed, however, to bear his full share of the burden of public and neigh- berhood duties of that unremunerative kind which fall to the lot of all. JUDGE JOHN BARND is a native of the town of Finle^', Hancock county, Ohio, and is the fifth of a family of eight children born to Adna F. and Delemma (Whitelock) Barnd. On his paternal side, he is of German extraction ; on his maternal, English. On both sides he is a descend- ant of two of the first settled families of Ohio. His father, Dr. Adna F. Earnd, was born in Pennsylvania, reared in Ohio, moved after his marriage to Illinois, and is now a resident of Pike county, that state. He was educated for the medical profession and has long followed the practice of physic, being now well advanced in years. A great lover of books, a close observer of men, and an interested spectator in all public matters, his speculations have taken a wider range and his sphere of activity extended beyond the limits usually' allotted to a common medical practitioner. Judge Barnd's mother died when he was j'oung. The subject of this sketch was born February, 2, 18J4, and was reared in McLean county, 111. April 22, 1861, when he had just turned his seventeenth year, he enlisted in the Union army as a mem- ber of Company C, Twentieth Illinois infantr}'. This regiment enjoys the dis- tinction of having been one of the three hundred fighting regiments of the Union arm}'. It was organized in Lovejoy's old district, and composed of ten companies, one from each county, except Will, which furnished two. It was organized May 14, 1861, at Joliet, and mustered into service June 15. It left camp the following week for Alton, and July 6 it moved to Cape Girardeau, Mo., reinaining there seven months, during which time it engaged in minor exjieditions, including the battle at Frederickstown, Mo., against Jeff Thompson February 2, 1862 ; then, in W. H. L. Wallace's brigade, McCler- nand's division, the regiment started for Fort Donelson. It participated in the battle there, and lost eighteen men killed, one hundred and eight wounded, and six missing. Lieutenant-colonel AVilliam Ervin was killed there by a shot irl the breast. Every man of the color guard was either killed or wounded. At Shiloh, the regiment's loss was twenty-two killed, one hundred and seven wounded and seven missing. In the Vicksburg cam- paign the Twentieth served in General Logan's division. At Raymond, it went into battle with two hundred and forty guns. It lost seventeen killed, sixty-eight wounded and one missing. It also engaged in Champion hills, Black river and siege of Vicksburg. It was stationed in the vicinity of Vicksburg from July, 18C3, to February, 1864:, and during tlie .) " ^^ ^ JOHN BARND. month of February, went with General Sherman on tlie Meridian expedition. After the Meridian expedition they left Sherman and returned to Big Black river, whence, after a furlough, thej' marched to Iluntsville, Ala., and then to the front of Kenesaw mountain, where they again joined Sherman's army. June 8, 186^, it was assigned to dutj' in Force's brigade, Leggett's division, and took part in the Atlanta campaign ; was in the famous March to the Sea, the campaign through the Carolinas and also took part in the grand review at Washington. The histor}^ of this regiment, so far as it can be applied to an individual soldier, consti- tutes the military record of the subject of this sketch. It is certainly an honorable one. A regiment that entered the ser- vice with a total enrollment of one thou- sand and ninety-two men, as did the Twentieth Illinois, and lost in killed and wounded five hundred and three, or nearly half, has given ample proof of the service it saw, and no words of praise could con- fer on it greater distinction than these cold figures. Judge Barnd bears the marks of his service, having received a wound in the hip at Fort Donelson, and one in the head at Ilaymond, Miss., where he had four bullet holes throuirh his hat, and the top of his coat sleeve cut off. In the latter of these enoaw- ments, his regiment sustained the heaviest loss of the day. In July, 1865, after the close of the war, he returned to Illinois. Mr. Barnd married. May 5, 1865, Mary C, daughter of William and Susan Steven- son, of Lexington, McLean county, 111. They have two children living, viz. — Ruth A. and Lizzie. Settling down to the less martial but no less exacting duties which the return of peace brought, he began to cast about for some calling, which, if it did not in-ing great honor, would, at least, bring that which was then of much more practical use, bread and butter. He began teaching, and in the meantime took up the study of law. He continued in the school-room and pursued his law studies several years; in fact, until his health became seriously impaired and he decided that a change of occupation and locality was necessary. He was examined before the supreme court at Springfield, and admitted to the bar January 9, 1874. Coming West in the following spring, he located in Kearney and immediately opened a law office, and in connection therewith a collecting and land agency. He followed this business continuously and successfully for fifteen years, relin- quishing it only recently. In the mean- time, he served his count}' two terms as county judge, having been elected first in November, 18T0, and re elected in Novem- ber, 1881. He was nominated for attor- ney-genei'al of the state by the anti- monopol}' party at the convention held at Hastings, and was an opposition candidate to Judge F. G. Hamer, but was defeated by a little over one hundred votes in Buffalo county. Subsequently he was nominated for the same office by the temperance party at Omaha. April 1, 1888, Judge Barnd, in connec- tion with S. S. St. John and eastern parties, organized the Mutual Loan and Investment Company of Kearney, with an authorized capital of $250,000, he becoming vice-president and treasurer. August, 1889. he, in connection with Mr. St. John, bought of L. R. Robertson, the Commercial and Savings Bank of Kearney, 3b8 BUFFALO COUNTY a private bank, which they re-organized under the state laws, with an authorized capital of $luO,000, foi'ty per cent, of which is paid up. Judge Barnd became cashier and has since had the general management of the bank's affairs. It is one of the solid institutions of the city of Kearney and of Buffalo county, and is recognized as doing a safe, conserv- ative business. It has interested in it some of the best business men in Kearne}' ; men known for their honesty and discrun- inating judgment in financial matters. It has good backing, the stockholders own- ins: large amounts of real estate and other securities. Judge Barnd has had absolute faith in the future of Kearney and Buffalo county from the beginning, and he is one of the few " old timers " who availed themselves of early opportunities. He came to Kear- ne}' poor. As he gradually accumulated he invested in acre and city property, and these investments have brought him hand- some returns. He has large landed inter- ests, not only in Buffalo county, but in otlier localities of the state. He is no longer known in the law, his banking and other interests now engrossing all his time and attention. He has been some- what active in politics and is occasionally heard from in local matters. Formerly he voted and worked with the democrats, but more recently he has affiliated with the prohibitionists. He is, as he sa3'S, sometimes known as a " kicker." He does not court popularity' and cares but little for majorities. He fights for principles, and when once committed to a measure, believes in fighting it out without com- promise, fear or favor. He is clear in judgment, prompt in action and steadfast in tlie faith by which he acts. Personally, he is popular and socially stands high. His feelings for the old soldiers are naturally warm and his relations with them inti- mate. He can not but help feel that every old soldier is, in some sense, his brother, and as such entitled to a consideration at his hands that but few are, outside of the now fast-vanishing brotherhood. It is natural for him to feel so, for with them are "associated memories of the most event- ful years of his life. None but those who were actors in the scenes of ISfil-Sknow what these memories are. JW. BLAIR, a prosperous farmer of Platte township, Buffalo county, is a native of New York and a descend- ant of York State parentage of Irish and English origin. His father, Charles Blair, and his mother, Delilah White, were both born, reared, always lived and died in York State. His mother hav- ing died when he was \'oung, but little of her personal and famih' historv has been preserved in his recollection and none in manuscript or other more enduring form. His father lived to a great age, liying January 2, 1870, having passed his ninety- ninth 3'ear. He was a man of remarkable vitality and great physical vigor. He led a very orderly, temperate life, and thus in a great measure husbanded his strength. He served in the war of 1812, but never occupied any civil positions of distinction, being a plain, industrious, useful farmer. He was three times married and was the father of twelve children, three bj'his sec- ond marriage and nine by the last. These were (by the second marriage) — Charles, BUFFALO COUNTY. S3o Mary and Katie; by the last — Julia A., Ann, ^fary, Maggie, John "Wallace (our subject), Eliza, Elizabeth, AVilliam and Melissa. He was of Irish ancestry, his father, whose christian name was also Charles, being a nativ^e of Ireland who came to this country when a lad sixteen years of age, as family tradition relates. John Wallace Blair, the subject of this notice, was born and reared in St. Law- rence count}', N. Y., growing up on his father's farm, where he received the rudi- ments of an elementary education and was trained to the habits of industry and use- fulness common to farm life. The first event of importance in his life was his en- listment in the service of his country at the opening of the Civil war. He entered the Union army in December, 1802, going into Company K, Sixtieth New York in- fantry. His regiment started from Og- densburg, N. Y., but he joined it at Wash- ington, D. C, where it rendezvoused. It saw its first service at the second Bull Run, and was soon afterwards transferred to the Western department, being part of the detachment that was sent to the relief of Burnside, at Knox- ville, Tenn. It then entered the Atlanta campaign, and, beginning with the en- gagement at Lookout mountain, he was in all the fights down to Atlanta, chief among them being Resaca, Ringgold, Marietta, New Hope church, Peach Tree creek,Kenesaw mountain and the two days' fight at Atlanta. He was then with Sher- man in his famous march to the sea, wind- ing up with the camj)aigns through theCar- olinas and surrender of Johnston's army at Goldsboro, N. C, participating in the grand review at Washington and being dis- charged at Ogdensburg, N. Y., July 31. 1865. He served as a private and had the good fortune never to be captured or wounded. Returning to his native place at the close of the war he settled down to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, which he followed as assidiously as he had fought to suppress the rebellion, and, measured by his means and strength, with as much success. He married in 1869, and sometime af- terwards moved West and settled in Muscatine county, Iowa, where he resided till coming to Nebraska in Julv, 1884. On coming to this state he bought a relin- cjuishment on a tract of land in Platte township, Buffalo county, being part of the old Fort Kearney military reservation. On this he filed a soldier's homestead claim, settled, and has since resided tliere. This tract comprises one hundi'ed and fifty-two acres and a fraction, and lying be- tween the channels of the Platte river, is mostly hay-land. Mr. Blair has added to it bj' pui'chase a quai-ter section adjoining it, making a large tract, which he has well stocked and some of which is well improved. He is a farmer in the strictest sense of the word, and is a successful one. He believes in the diversification of farm interest and carries out in practice what so many teach onl}^ in theory. He has a good home and good improvements; every thing on his place gives evidence of the thrift, order and good management that prevail there. Losing his first wife after moving to Iowa, Mr. Blair married again in August, 1876, the lady whon) he married being Miss Nancy E. Hallenbeck, then of Iowa City, Iowa, but a native of Pen.nsylvania. Seven children have been born to this union — Gertrude A., Isaac Herbein, May Ursula, William Wallace, George Robert, Maud Delilah and Schuyler Morton. For these, and because he is a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Blair has taken great inter- est in the educational interests of his township, having been a member of the school board ever since he has resided in it. He has never aspired to pul)lic life and has never filled any public position. He votes the straight republican ticket and is a stanch supporter of the principles and practices of his party. HS. TOWERS is one of the oldest settlers, and one of the best farmers and most intelligent and upright citizens of Platte township, Buffalo county. Mr. Towers is a New Englander b}^ birth and comes of New England ancestry, of Scotch and English origin. His first ancestor in this country on his father's side was Robert Towers, his grandfather, who was born in Scot- land, and emigrated to America when a lad, settling in one of the New England states, probably Vermont. The name of his first ancestor on his mother's side, who came to this country, is lost in the mists of the past. His father, Safford Towers, was born and reared in the town of Rich- mond, Vt., and there met and married Eunice Manwell, daughter of Stephen and Dulcina Manwell, of that place, where she also was born. From that point he set out in 1854: with his little family for the Pacific coast, with the intention of making his future home in Cahfornia. This was a hope, however, never to be realized, for he died on the passage and his family remained on the coast only six months, returning thence to Vermont, where the two children — Henry Safford, the subject of this notice, and Frances, now wife of A. W. Edwards— grew up, and where the latter, with her mother, continues to reside. Henry Safford Towers was born in the town of Milburn, Mass., in 1847, but was reared mainly in Richmond, Chittenden county, Vt. He grew up mostly on the farm and received a good common-school education. The first event of importance in his life, as it was the su]ireme event in the lives of hundreds of young men who came on the stage of action about the time he did, was his enlistment in the army. He entered the service in Decem- ber, 186i, enlisting in Company M, First Frontier cavahy, being part of the arm of the Union service that was organized by the States of New York and Vermont to guard the St. Lawrence river. He served till after the surrender, being discharged June 29, 1865, at Burlington, Vt. On December 2, 1867, Mr. Towers mar- ried Miss Marion Rogene Jewell, a daugh- ter of Sawyer and Maria Jewell, she then being a resident of Richmond, Vt., where she was reared, but a native of Schuyler Falls, N. Y., her parents being natives of Vermont, her father still being a resident of the Green Mountain State, her mother dying in 1857. Settling down to the pur- suit of agriculture, Mr. and Mrs. Towers resided in Vermont and Massachusetts, mostly in the latter state, till 1878, when they came to Nebraska and settled in January of that year on a claim- on th& old Fort Kearney military' reservation in Buffalo count}', which had been thrown open to settlement just previous to that time. There they have since resided. BUFFALO f'OVNTY. 341 Mr. Towers has been steadily engaged in farming since settling in the county, his place being one of the oldest, as it is one of the best improved, places in his town- sliip. lie moved on to it when it was a raw prairie, and what it is be has made it oy his own patient industry and thought- ful attention. He assisted in the organi- zation of his township and school district and has held a number of local offices, having been school director, road super- visor and justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Towers are the parents of five children — Wilbur Henrv, Ethel E., Lena M., Albert S. and Anna A. He and his excellent wife are devout adherents of tlie faith of the Seventh Day Adventists. Their home life is distinguished for its earnest devotion to religious duty, for its simplicity and many acts of christian charity. Mr. and Mrs. Towers are botii peo})le of a vast deal more tlian ordinary intelligence and refinement, and possess a marked appreciation of the social ameni- ties of life. The neatness, quiet and order of their home, their kindness, generosity and hospitality, as well as the purity and uprigiitness of their lives, are the best commentary that could be made on their religious faith. "By their fruits 3'e shall know them." A NDREW J. HEERICK, farmer of Platte township, Buffalo county, is a native of New York, having been born on Grand island in Niagara river in June, 1833. He comes of York State par- entage, originally from New England. His father, Joshua Herrick, was born and reared in New York, served in the war of 1812, and died in the town of Alabama in Genesee county, his native state, in 1837. Mr. Herrick's grandfather Herrick was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being colonel of a Vermont regiment and an as- sociate of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and John Stark, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Herrick's mother bore the maiden name of Margaret Shutter and lived and died in her native state, New York. There were four children born to Joshua and Marga- ret Herrick — Nathan, who died in tiie Union army during the late war; Rufus, Abigail, and Andrew J., the subject of this sketch. Andrew J. Herrick grew up in his na- tive place, and starting west in pursuit of his fortunes, made his first stop in Law- rence count}', Illinois. In 1852 he entered the United States army, enlisting in Com- pany G, Fourth regulars, and serving on the frontier. He crossed the plains many times during the term of his service and rendezvoused about old Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie when all the countrv west of the Missouri was an endless stretch of prairie, covered with Buffalo and infested with Indians. He served till September, 1858, when he was mustered out at Jeffer- son barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Returning to Illinois he stopped at Springfield, but remained there only a short time, going thence to Michigan, where, in 1861, on the opening of the Civil war he again enlisted in the service of his country, entering as a volunteer in Company G, " Piper's Western sharp shooters." After several months' service in this command he was discharged on account of his defective hearing, but entered the service again in September, ISG.'i, enlisting in Company G, Eleventh Michigan cavalry. He served through 343 BUFFALO COUNTY. Kentucky, being in the engagements about Lexington, Paris, Mt. Sterling, C3'nthiana, and intervening points. He was wounded in the fight at Saltville, October 2, 1864, and taken prisoner, being subsequently exchanged at Richmond, Ya. He served till July, 1865, returning then to Calhoun county, Mich., where he settled down. August 7, 1865, he married Miss Caroline E. Bemis of that county, who was born in N"ew York State, moving to Michigan when sixteen years of age with her parents. He resided in Michigan till August, 1881) when he moved to Nebraska, settling on Elm Island in Platte township, Buffalo county, where he took a soldier's home- stead and where he has since continued to live. Hr. Herrick is getting well along in years now and has seen a vast amount of hardship, most of it while serving in his country's cause. He comes of the patri- otic stock of which the best Araei'ican sol- diers are made, his famil}^ having fur- nished a volunteer soldier to the three great wars through which this country has passed — the Revolutionary war, the war of 1812 and the late Civil war. Mr. Herrick talks interestingh^ of his war days, and lie has many thrilling episodes and experiences, whicii, if faithfully taken down and properly embellished, would makes an interesting and valuable record. He still stands like tiie ruo'o:ed oak which has withstood the winds and rains and lightning blasts of many storms, yielding only to the crumbling touch of time, its scarred and weather-beaten form contrast- ing strangely with the peaceful quiet of its surroundings. Mr. Herrick has but one child, a son now grown, William, around whom cluster the interest, care and solicitude of an affectionate father. JK. DAVIDSON is the son of Beverly and Sarah S. Davidson. The former, a native of McLean county. 111., was born in 1832, and from there he moved to Missouri, thence to Iowa, and then returned to Illinois, where he re- mained till death, which occurred in 1872. He was a democrat in politics. Mr. Davidson was, for years, a member of the Christian church, and married Miss Sarah Hood, in 1852. She was a native of Illi- nois, born in 1837, and also was a member of the Christian church, and, although quiet and unassuming, was zealous in ad- vancing the interests of the chuix-h. Their family consisted of five boys and two girls, viz. — J. K., our subject ; Alvin Wil- son, (died 1881) ; Ida Theodosia (Mrs. McBride, lives in Ilhnois) ; Chas. Newton, Cora Francis, Beverl}' Earl. Tiie father of Mrs. Sarah S. Davidson was W. T. Hood, a native of Virginia. Her mother, Theodosia Hood, was also a native of Vir- ginia. J. K. Davidson, the subject of this memoir, is a native of Iowa, born in 185 J:. He, with his parents, moved to Woodford countj^. 111., thence to Missouri, and there remained about five j'ears and then re- turned to Illinois. Thence Mr. Davidson came to Nebraska, in 1884, settling in Logan township, Buffalo county, on sec- tion 32, township 9, range 19 ; then on sec- tion 20, township 10, range IS west. Mr. Davidson had launched his bark and began to paddle for himself in 1877. He began with nothing; and now has a quarter sec- tion of land, horses, hogs and all necessary farming implements. Politically he is a democrat. In 1877 he was married to Miss M. C. Roby, a native of Columbus, Ohio, born in 1860. She is the daughter of P. and Mary Roby, natives of Ohio; B UFFA L CO UNTY 343 the former born in 1810 and tlie latter in 1820, and both members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have been born four children, viz. — Bessie L., born July 5, ISSO, died February 22, 1881; Leslie Honor, born 1882 ; Cash C, born 1884, and Beverly C, born 1887. MILTON J. SPRY. This gentle- man is one of the earliest settlers of Buffalo county, and although he has not accumulated as much of this world's goods as many others in this vicinitv, he has, b}' his honest, upright christian life, established a repu- tation among his neighbors and acquaint- ances which is woi'th far more as a herit- age to his posterity than the riches of this world. He was born July 27, 1841, in JMuskingum county, Ohio, and is the son of \Yiiliam M. and Mary (Vernon) Spry, both of whom are natives of Ohio, the former having been born in 1810; the latter in 1812. There were twelve children in the father's family, as fol- lows — Elizabeth J., Lucinda, Emily, Martha A., Milton J., Joseph W., Samuel U., William E., John E., Mary, Chas. W., and Christina. Mr. Spry lived at home in Muskingum county, Ohio, until eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his fatlier to Henry county, Iowa, where he followed farming until the spring of 1873 when, in March, he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and took up as a homestead one hundred and sixty acres in section 24. township 10, range 16, on which he lived for eleven years. The first four years, up to 1877, the crops, on account of drought and grasshoppers, were almost a total failure, and Mr. Spr}^ and family hatl to endure much suffering and privation. In the spring of 1873, there were few settlers in the vicinity of Mr. Spry's claim, and deer and antelope roamed at will. Elk, while not plentiful, were yet to be found, and an occasional buffalo was killed. The Pawnee Indians trapped along the Wood and Loup rivers, and fre- quently called upon Mr. Spry for some- thing to eat. In 1877, a new era of pros- perity dawned upon this section of coun- try, and the drought and grasshoppers, which proved so ruinous to the crops for the three preceding 3'ears, were no longer to be contended with. He has had good average crops ever since. Mr. Spry was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and participated in some of the hardest battles that were fought. He enlisted August 22, 1862, in Company B, Twenty -fifth Iowa infantry, and was in what was known as the Western depart- ment of the army, under General Grant. He took an active part in the battles of Mission ridge, Lookout mountain, Arkan- sas Post and Vicksburg. During the charge at Vicksburg, he was wounded in the hand, and lost two fingers in the battle of Mission ridge, for which he receives a pension of eight dollars per month. He was discharged July 17, 1805. Mr. Spry was married, November ."), 18ti8, to Charlotte L. Morrison, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Decem- ber 12, 1849, and is a daughter of John S. and Susana (Steenrod) Mori'ison, both natives of Ohio; the former was born in 1823 ; the latter in 1820. 344 BUFFALO COUNTY Tlie union of Mr. and Mrs. Spry has been blessed with nine children, as fol- lows — Minna A., born August 5, 1869; Frank N"., born June 7, 1872; Louis J., born June 14, 1874 ; Emma F., born November 14, 1876; "William II., born February 20, 1878; Dora M., born Decem- ber 24, 1879 ; Lero\' E., born August 3, 1883; John E., born October 31, 1885, and Horton H., born September 22, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Spry are both active mem- bers of the Metliodist church, and take a great interest in church work. Politic- ally, Mr. Spry is a republican. GEORGE MEISNER. If in this volume of recorded personal achievements space should be apportioned among its several subjects according to the degree of their success, George Meisner, of the town of Shelton, \vhose part in the settlement and develop- ment of his adopted county this article commemorates, would demand an amount of attention at our hands which we fear his usually modest nature would hardly approve of. As Mr. Meisner has reached tlie jiosition he now occupies by starting, in all his undertakings, at the very beginning of them, and proceeding, step by step, in an even, stead}' and orderly wa3% we shaJl imitate his example, at least to some extent, in the unfolding of his record by beginning with some facts which will be worth the recording con- cerning his earlier years and come down with the record to the present time. He was born in the province of Bavaria, Germany, March 19, 1845, Wiien three years of age, he came with his parents to this countr}^ locating in Troy, N. Y. Here his father went into business and lived till 1853, when, on account of a dis- astrous fire, he lost all he had. Deciding, then, to come West, he moved to Iowa and settled in Tama county, going onto a farm and beginning life anew. There the earlier years of the subject of this sketch were spent, and it is no disparagement to the management of his father nor any discredit to Mr. Meisner himself to say that those years witnessed a series of long, hard struggles in the Meisner household. Those struggles did not consist alone in the difficult undertaking of making a start in a comparatively new country unsur- rounded by the helps and conveniences found in the East; they were struggles, oftentimes, for bread and butter, with nothing with which to keep " the wolf from the door " save the willing hands and stout hearts of father, mother and children. Mr. Meisner told, in an amusing way, to the writer of this sketch, of the time when, as a lad, he was sent on the prairie with the only yoke of cattle to graze, and how, a storm coming up, they got away from him, drifted off and were lost, thus losing to the family the last hoof they had. A dozen yoke might be cut out of the fourteen or fifteen hundred head which he now owns and he would never miss them. Not so then, however. Those cattle were a sore loss. It was during those years that Mr. Meisner learned something of the value of money, and something also of the way to make it. It was then that he formed the habits of industry and economy' which have been the chief sources of his success since. There was no idling around the GEORGE MEISNER. BUFFALO COVNTY. 347 Meisner homestead. There was no wast- ing eitlier of energy or material. Every- thing was turned to account. Everything was made to pay. Sucli industry and management must of necessity win. The Meisners could not always remain in straightened circumstances. Each j'ear hrought an improvement in their worldly affairs, and as the children grew up and added their aid to that of their parents the progress became more rapid. Old neighbors of Mr. Meisner, who lived by him in Tama county, state that the sons were regarded as good farmers when they were boys. Mr. Meisner himself was one of the largest farmers in his county before he was twenty-one years old. An instance showing this is told by the old soldiers who went from Tama county and who are now residents of this, Buffalo county. When the call was made for volunteers Mr. Meisner's father, elder brother and brother-in-law volunteered and were ac- cepted. Mr. Meisner, then just turned into his sixteenth year, offered himself at the first call and at each succeeding call, making five efforts to get into the service; but the committee of ladies to whom was delegated the authority to select those who should go, struck Mr. Meisner's name from the list each time, and gave their reason that he was the best farmer in the county and he could be better spared from the army than he could from home — • which opinion was concurred in by all who knew the facts. Mr. Meisner has made money from the beginning of his career and he was in good circumstances when he came to Ne- braska. In fact he owned over four hundred acres of good lantl in Tama, county, Iowa, which he had well im- proved and well stocked and which was 3'ielding a handsome revenue. But he wished to do better and he believed Ne- braska was the place to do it. He decided to try it at any rate. lie came to the state first in the fall of 1870 and bought a section of land in Buffalo county about two miles north of the present town of Shelton. He returned to Iowa, sold out, and in company with his father (Casper Meisner), T. J. Taylor, William Wallace and Thomas Carson, moved out in the spring of 1871 and settled. The tract of land which he bought was section 25, township 10, range 13 west. He was entitled to a homestead of SO acres and he filed on that amount in section 24-, where he located and began his career as a Nebraska farmer. His first years here were much like those of the average set- tler, except that they were marked by greater activity and closer management. He made no very lasting improvements on his homestead. He had no urgent need for any at that time. He was still a single man and he could afford to live in the primitive dug-out. After about six years spent in this way he built a combi- nation barn and granary on a place which he had bought in the meantime, being the one where he now lives, got married and moved in, occupying his granary until he could erect adwelling. He began his ))res- ent residence in May, 1878, and soon after moved into it, and here he has continued to live since, excepting about three years of residence in the town of Shelton. Mr. Meisner has been farming and stock-rais- ing since the day he came into the county, and no man has ever been in Buffalo county and discussed the conditions of agriculture there and the chances of success at farm- 348 BUFFALO COUNTY. ing, who has not heard of George Meisner. He has been a signal success and is uni- versally pointed to as such. The most of his accumulations have been made since settling in this county, although, as al- read}^ stated, he had a reasonably good start. He now owns between twenty-six and twenty-seven hundred acres of land lying in the famous Wood Eiver valley at its junction with the Platte valley, nearly every foot of which is bringing in a revenue in some shape. This land lies in Buffalo and Hall counties and most of it in the immediate vicinity of the town of Shelton. Mr. Meisner is a large stock dealer, handling from fourteen to fifteen hundred head of cattle all the time. He is constantly buying, feeding and shipping. In the town of Shelton, he owns eight business buildings, these comprising some of the handsomest brick blocks in the place. He built the Opera House and the First National Bank block, both of which are a credit to the town and a monument to his liberality and public spirit. Besides these he owns something like a dozen residences, large and small, in the town. Mr. Meisner began to handle bank stock some years ago, before Shelton was large enough to support a banking institution. He then did his banking at Kearney. Later, how- ever, he decided to establish a bank for himself, and in 1S8J: he started a private bank at Shelton with a capital of $35,000. This answered the purpose for which it was organized and ran successfully until June, 1889, when it was re-organized as a national bank, with a paid-up capital of $50,000, the charter members being George Meisner, J. H. Bobbins, H. J. Bobbins, M. G. Lee, Henry Fieldgrove and George Smith. Mr. Meisner was elected president, H. J. Bobbins vice-presi- dent, and A. H. Sterrett cashier. These con- stitute the present working force of the bank, with the addition of F. H. More, assistant cashier. The First is the only national bank in Shelton. Although not the largest, it is, nevertheless, one of the most prosperous banks in the county. It owes much of its success to the wise coun- sel and judicious management of its effi- cient chief executive, and not a little also to the solidity of his reputation as a finan- cier. Let us turn again for a moment before closing this sketch to Mr. Meisner's domes- tic life and record some facts whicli, if they may not seem of the utmost import- ance to the general reader, will, neverthe- less, be of absorbing interest to the little ones now around him who will in after years read this record. When Mr. Meisner's father, Casper Meisner, enlisted in the army in the late war, he entered as a member of company C, Tenth Iowa infantry. He was with his regiment through its entire ser- vice and took his part in evciy battle it fought and did a soldier's duty faithfully. When the war was over he returned to his iiome in Tama county, Iowa, and lived there till he came to Nebraska. He farmed for some years in Buffalo county, and then went into the mercantile business in Shelton, at which he continued success- fully till his death, in March, 1879, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was a man of indomitable energy, and a hard worker all his life. Having met with some financial reverses he knew the value of a dollar, and thus learned to manage his affairs with care and discre- BUFFALO COUJSITY 340 tion. He \Tas devotedly attached to his family, and it may be said that the latter part of his life he lived chiefly for them. He gave his children the besfof counsel, and he enforced all his teachings with a good personal examjile in himself. George Meisner's mother died in IStJ-i, while the family was yet all together in Iowa. She was a good type of her race and sex, being an industrious, frugal housewife, and passionately fond of her children. Mr. Meisner is the youngest of three children, the eldest being a sister, Mary, now wife of Frederick Shaffer, living near Alburn, Iowa, and John, of Toledo, Tama count}', Iowa. Both of these are in prosperous circumstances, having splen- did homes and plenty around them, and themselves the heads of families. In his own married life Mr. Meisner has passed through tiie sunshine and the shadows. He married October 3, 1877, his choice falling on a neio-hbor girl whom he had known for several years. Miss Rachel Fieldgrove, daughter of Hon. Henry Fieldgrove, an eminent and re- spectable citizen of Buffalo county. For more than twelve years Mr. JNIeisner's wife bore him the cherished companion- ship which every true man seeks in mar- riage, sharing with him his jo3's and light- ening for him his burdens, not only by the kind and generous offices which every true wife is supposed to perform, but by extending her help and sympathies beyond a wife's usual sphere, entering actively into all his business matters and render- ing him most practical and efficient aid. After a lingering illness of some weeks, during which her condition brought alter- nate hopes and fears, the shadow of the grim spectre finally crossed the threshold and her spirit passed away, her eyes closing for the last time upon the Hght of this world November 9, 1S89. Besides her hus- band, four little girls survive her — Dora, Nora, Cora and Lulie. Around these now cluster the chief interest of Mr. Meisner's life. For these only does he live. JASPER FISH. This much honored and esteemed gentleman is one of the early settlers of Buffalo county, having settled in the Wood River valley in the spring of 1872. He was born at "Woodstock, Vt., March 23, 1826, and is the son of Nathan and Betsey (Hale) Fish. The former, a farmer by occupa- tion, was a native of Vermont, born Feb- ruary 28, 1786 ; the latter, a native of New Hampshire, was born March 30, 1786. There were seven children in Nathan's family, two boys and five girls, as follows — Marcia, Lucia, Harriet, Linus (died 1877), Laura, Jasper and Isabel. The father died in 1843, aged fifty-seven years ; the mother in 1868, aged eighty- two years. The paternal grandparent, Nathan Fish, was a native of Massachusetts, born in the year 1758, and was a farmer by occu- pation, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandmother, Abigail (Pierce) Fish, also a native of Massachu- setts, was born in 1757. The mater- nal grand])arents were John and Mary (Whitcomb) Hale, both natives of Massa- chusetts, and born respectively in 1754 and 1753. Jasper Fish, the subject of this bio- graphical memoir, resided at home on his 350 BUFFALO COUNTY. father's farm in Vermont, until nineteen years of age, during which time he attended school in the winter and helped his father on the farm in summer. In the spring of 1845 he went to Lowell, Mass., and after working there one year, entered New burg seminary, Vt. He continued his studies there, and at Springfield, in his native state, working and teaching to pay his expenses, until the spring of 1851, when he entered the sophomore class in "Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. He graduated with honors in the classical course, in 1853, receiving the degree of A. B. After leaving the university he taught in Virginia and in Massachusetts, and in 1856 came "West and taught in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. May 16, 1864, he responded to his coun- try's call for more troops and enlisted in Company C, Forty-fourth Iowa volunteer infantry. He served on picket and guard duty in Tennessee under General C. C. Washburn and was mustered out Septem- ber 15, 1864. He went East in 1865 and continued teaching until the spring of 1868, when he located at Syracuse, N. Y., residing there until 1872, during which time he worked on directories and gazet- teers. He came to Buffalo county, March 21, 18Y2, and entered a homestead, a quarter- section in the Wood Eiver valley, four miles north of Keai'ney, and built an eight by twelve board shanty on his claim, in which he kept bachelor's hall. This was the third house built in the township, and the first one north of the Wood river. The Pawnee Indians were quite numerous in those days, and were engaged in trap- ping and hunting on the Wood river. They paid his cabin an occasional visit, for the purpose of begging flour and meal, but other than this they never molested him. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and elk were to be seen occasionally. Mr. Fish boarded with a family, for a time, on the opposite bank of the river, and relates a rather humorous experience which occurred during a spring freshet. He arose one morning, and, proceeding in the directoin of his boarding house, found the river had risen during the night beyond the capacity of its banks, and the bridge gone. He was in a sad plight, as there was no bridge for miles on which he could cross. His landlord contrived a plan for relief by t3'ing a cord to each handle of a dish-pan and throwing one end across the stream. In this manner he received his breakfast ; milked the cow, which was on his side of the river, retained enough for his dinner, then started the remainder on the return voyage, in the dish-pan. But, alas! in midstream the vessel swamped, and the milk mingled with the turbid waters. After this, the liquid refreshments were transported in a jug, tightly corked, while chunks of bread and meat were tiirown to him b}' his landlord, with all the accuracy of a professional base-bali player. In this manner Mr. Fish received his meals for three days. During the winter of 1873, Mr. Fish built himself a sixteen by twenty story- anda-half frame house. He raised fair crops for the first two years, but in 1874 the grasshoppers destro\'ed everything, with the exception of a few bushels of wheat. The crops of 1875 were fair, and 1876 were a repetition of 1874. and Mr. Fish states that if he had sold his seed and turned his team to pasture, he would have had more mone}' m the fall. By BUFFALO COUNTY. 351 selling butter and eggs, eating wild game and practicing the most rigid economy, lie was able to keep soul and body together. In 1882 he sold his quarter-section for $2,500, and bought for $1,000 the quarter just east of it, where he now resides. One thing can be said of Mr. Fish which can be said of few Western farmers, that he has never mortgaged a single dollar's worth of real or personal property, and has never paid a dollar of interest on mone}' at a higher rate than ten per cent. He is a member of the Methodist church ; was one of the first trustees of the church in Kearnev, and in the early days he was prominent in the organization of a Sunday-school in his district school house. Mr. Fish has never been married. His sister, Lucia Fish, has been his house- keeper since 1873. She is a native of Ver- mont, born at Woodstock, May 12, 1817. A consistent member of the Methodist church, with her brother she helped to organize and conduct the first Sunday- school in their vicinity. Mr. Fish is a firm believer in the prin- ciples of the republicans, having voted that ticket ever since the organization of the party. ROBEET G. PAEKEK, a frugal, industrious farmer of Eiv^erdale ^ township, Buffalo county, is the son of Henry and Henrietta (Gayetty) Parker, the former of whom was a native of London, England, and came to America in 18-i-t, locating in Pittsburg, Pa., thence moving to Hlinois. He \vas a cabinet- maker by trade and was considered a very skilled workman. Turning to farming: he purchased his brother's farm in Carroll count}'. 111., and resided there till death, which occurred in 1S71, at tiie age of seventy-seven. He was united in mar- riage with Henrietta Gayett}', a native of Pennsylvania, in 1853, at Galena, 111., by the maj'or of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born three children — Eobert G., George (now living in Dakota anil by occupation a farmer), and Ehzabeth (Mrs. Eeed), who lives in Brown county, Nebr. Eobert G.,the subject of this biography', was born in Carroll county. Ills., in 1856. Being of an adventurous and independent turn of mind, he determined to seek a home for himself in the then " wild West," and first settled in Eiverdale township, Nebr., in the spring of 1873. The first year his entire crops wei'e destroyed by the grasshoppers and he was obliged to go to Adams county for necessary pro- visions. His perseverance and courage not being daunted bv these calamities, he still evinced that characteristic peculiar to him, pertinacity of purpose. Being without money, his only resoiu-ce was an enviable reputation for honorableness, and Mr. Green, knowing this, supplied him with the necessary seed grain, to be paid for after harvest. From this seed, when sown, eleven hundred bushels were harvested, which sold at 90 cents per bushel. In 1881 he went to Colorado and there prospected for silver for some time, and from there went to New Mexico, and put in one j'ear on a sheep ranch. lie then re- tui'ued to Eiverdale township, Nebr., in 1885, and engaged in farming, giving es- pecial attention to raising recorded Ches- ter white hogs. Mr. Parker, at present owns two hundred and forty acres of land 352 BUFFALO COUNTY. beautifully located and well improved. His success is largely due to economy and hard work. Politically, Mr. Parker is independent, but is friendly to tariff reform. Mr. Parker was married June, 1886, to Miss Angeline Grammer, tlaughter of Charles M. and Martha Grammer, of Adams county 111. WILLIAM C. HUGGINS is a frugal, thrifty and enterpris- ing farmer of Eiverdale township, Buffalo county, and is the son of Edward and Elizabeth Wright Huggins. The former VA'as a native of Kentucky, and from there moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and thence to Iowa, and there died in 1871. Mr. Huggins was a quiet prosperous farmer and politicall}'^ was a democrat, and was noted for kindhearted- ness and generosity to persons in need. Mrs. Huggins, the subject's mother, was a native of Indiana. She was identified for years with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and distinguislied herself as a kind, devoted christian woman. Mr. and Mrs. Huggins were blessed with nine children, viz. — Martha Ann (deceased), Ellen Ora (deceased), Nancy (Mrs. Wynn), Maria (deceased), William C, Kate (Mrs. Sawyers), Susan (Mrs. Blank- enship), Tliomas and John. William C. Huggins, the subject of this memoir, was born in Davis county, Iowa, in 1S54-, and there remained till 1S75; he then came to Nebraska and bought one quarter of section 8, township 9, range 16 west. He I'eturned the following year to Iowa and remained there till 1881:, then came to Nebraska, settling on the farm which he had bought and which is now well improved and beautifully located. Mr. Huggins is in good financial condition, and possesses that which is more to be desired than wealth — a good name. Mr. Huggins was united in marriage to Miss L. Q. Ewing in 1876. She was born in Davis county, Iowa, in 1860, and has for some time been identified with the Presby- terian church. Their home has been blessed with three children, the eldest of wiiich diedin infancy; the living twoare — Zana Beryl, born October 3, 1880, and Edna Pearl, born May 13, 1886. Mr. Huggins is a supporter of the democratic platform. ISAAC K. WEIGHT is one of the first settlers in the South Loup valley. He was born in Bourbon count}', Ky., July 4, 1821, and remained at home, working on the farm, until about twenty- two years old, and then went to Shelby county, Ky., where he remained one year. He then came West and traveled over a portion of Missouri in search of a suitable tract of land, and finally purchased six hundred and forty acres in Andrews county, near St. Joe. He remained there three years, and in 1846 went to the Mexican war; in 1848 he started across the plains for California, as assistant wagon-master in a train of provisions, and remained in California twenty years. He began mining for gold, but, having no BUFFALO COUNTY. 353 success, soon gave it up. He then opened a hav market in Sacramento, which he continued for one 3'ear, with considerable success. He next engaged in faro and monte, and made $150,000, after which he engaged in buying and selling cattle, which business he continued until 1868, when he returned to Kentuck\% having made in all since he left, $l(»0,00O. He remained in Kentuck}' but a short time, ■ and then went to Missouri and engaged in the cattle business. In 1873 he sold out his cattle interests in Missouri and came to Buffalo county, Nebr., purchasing 320 acres on the South Loup river, and went into the ranch business. In those days, deer, elk, antelope, beaver and otter were plentiful ; also a great many Indians. Mr. Wright was very friendly with the Indians and could speak their language perfectly. The Indians made his place a kind of rendezvous and he used to fre- quently kill a heifer and treat them to a feast. In this manner he made them his friends, and while others in that region were continually having cattle stolen, he was never molested in any way. He trapped along the Loup river with the Indians and never even had a trap stolen by them. In the early days Mr. Wright was well acquainted with Kit Carson, Pegleg Smith and Stephen Greenwood, old moun- taineers. Mr. Wright was never married and has kept bachelor's hall the greater part of his time. Politically he is a democrat and is now serving in the capacity of constable, being one of only three democrats who have ever been elected in his township, and having received sixty votes out of a total of seventy-nine. JAMES H. MILLS was born in New York State August 13, 1843, and is a son of Nahum and Lucy (Wisewell) Mills, the former a native of Massa- chusetts and the latter of Vermont. The senior Mills was reared to manhood in the Green Mountain State, and the couple were married there. Subsequently the}' located in York State, but Mrs. Mills died in 1872, in Nebraska. Mr. Mills was a blacksmith in the early part of his life, but followed farming in the latter part. He died in 1890. Both were devoted Bap- tists and honored and respected by every- one. James H. Mills, the subject of this bio- graphical notice, is the youngest of a fam- ily of seven children, only two of whom are now living. He had no special school advantages in his early days, but notwith- standing this fact he has been a close ob- server and has kept himself posted on al- most all the leading questions of the day. Mr. Mills was an active participant in the late war and his record is one that no man need be ashamed of. He enlisted August 11, 1862, in the One Hundred and Twenty- second New York regiment, and ])artici- pated in the battles of Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville and Gettysburg. He was wounded on the third day of July on the famous field of Gettysburg, from the effects of which he suffers to this day. He was struck by a bullet in the right shoulder, shattering it all to pieces. He was in the act of aiming his gun and getting read\' to pull the trigger when he was shot. The ball entered his shoulder from the top, and the physicians who dressed the wound, were considerably puzzled to know \w\y he could have been wounded in sucli a 354 BUFFALO COUNTY. manner unless he was lying down, but he insists that he was on his feet and in the act of shooting. It was afterwards learned that the lientenant of his company acci- dentally discovered a "Johnny" cleverly seated in the bow of a tree shooting Union men as fast as he could load his gun. Pie had already shot six of Mr. Mills' com- rades in the head, and it was then that the mystery was explained as to how he came to be shot in the top of the shoulder. The lieutenant who discovered the ingenious rebel in the tree pointed him out to the boys in blue and a volley from a score of muskets brought him to terra firma. Mr. Mills was confined to a hospital for two years, and to-day has but partial use of his right arm. He was mustered out of the service in May, 1865. Mr. Mills came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in the fall of 1S71 and took a homestead in Sharon township, taking the southwest quarter of section 30. He built a sod house and prepared to receive his family, who came out the following spring. The country was wild and presented a barren and forlorn appearance, but he had faith in its ultimate development and believed it was onl3' a question of time when it would become a great country. He stood b_v and looked on three years in succession while the grasshoppers harvested his corn crop. The grasshoppers in those days were almost as thick as snow flakes in a blizzard, and were without doubt the most destructive arnn- that ever invaded any country. On April 24, 1866, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Susan Baker, a native of Vermont. This union has resulted in the birth of .nine children, namely — Clayton, born JSfarch 17, 1867 ; Frank, born Sep- tember 15, 1869; Lucy, born July 13, 1873; Lua T., born April 18,1876 (de- ceased ) ; EfRe, born August 27, 1878 ; Ivie, born October 27,1880 (deceased); Elvie and Elsie (twins), born October 29, 1884, and Susie, born February 3, 1888. Mr. Mills is an honored member of the G. A. E., A. O. IT. W. and Alliance organizations, and his political views have always been in accord with the principles of the republican party. He and his estimable wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church and both enjoy the confidence and esteem of the community in which they live. GEORGE E. NOREIS, one of the most prosperous and highly re- S])ected farmers of Buifalo county, traces his ancestry to Thomas and Jane (Bowers) Norris, early settlers of middle Tennessee and prominent slave- holdei's when slavery was the great insti- tution of the South. Being people, how- ever, of a strong sense of personal liberty, and possessing an inherent dislike for slavery, they gave up all rights they were entitled to under the institution, selling and freeing their slaves. They were the parents of several children, one of whom was John, the subject's father, who was born in North Carolina in 1774, and when three j'^ears of age was taken to Tennessee by his parents, who settled in Davidson county, near Nashville. He was depend- ent upon himself from the age of sixteen, at that ao'e learning the blacksmith's trade and continuing at the same till he reached his thirty-second year. He then enlisted GEORGE E. NORRIS. BUFFALO COUNTY. 357 in the war of 1812, entering as a private and being' promoted for liis distinguislied services in the field to the position of cap- tain. He was in the battle of Tippecanoe and several smaller engagements. In September, 1812, a frontier post known as Pigeon Roost, Ind., was attacked by a band of hostile Indians, the only occu- pants of the post being William Collins and familj' and Captain Norris. These successfully defended the post until the flints in their guns gave out. Thev then stole away, bearing the small children in their arms, and made their way to the house of Zebulon Collins, a kinsman of William Collins, ten miles distant from the post. Captain Norris died in 1855. He was a devoted member of the Ciiris- tian church, always zealous in advancing its interests, and was largely instru- mental in establishing Bethany church in Clark county, Ind. In politics he was an uncompromising democrat. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Epler in 1819, his wife being a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and born in 1777. She was an active member of the Christian church, and lived a life consistent with her profession, dying in 1S81. Their union was blessed with ten children — Nancy and Thomas (twins), Eliza Jane, Delilah, Catherine, Ze- relda (who was killed by accident at the age of sixteen), Sarah Maria, John M. (deceased), Isaac E. and George E. George E., the subject of this sketch, was born in Clark county, Ind., in 1831. Being thrown upon his own resources he migrated to Illinois in 1857, and was there employed on a farm at $13 per month, attending school apart of the winter of that and the succeeding year. In 1852 he moved to Indiana, and after a residence there of only one year he returned to Morgan county, HI., and tiiere re- mained till 1854. That same year he took the steamer, " George Law," for California, by way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama, and after a voyage of thirty-five A&js passed through the " Golden Gates," landing on the western shores of this con- tinent, where he remained six years. The lirst two vears he was engaged in mininj)', and the remaining four years in stock- raising. He then went toCharitfm, Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. While there he was married, in 18fi6, to Anna L. Jay, a native of Trenton, Iowa. After a residence at Chariton, Iowa, of three years, they moved to lied Oak, Iowa, and from there came to tlieir pres- ent home in Kearney, Nebr., in 1871, settling on section 4, township 8, and range IG west. At that time there was no town on the i)resent site of Kearney, and Mr. Norris was obliged to haul lumber from Gibbon, fifteen miles distant, with which to build liis house. He enwieed in the dairy business in Kearney in 1872, and continued at tiiis twelve years. Mr. Norris came here under the burden of debt, was legally released fi'om payment, but being true to the principles that are characteristic of him, l)y hard work and economy he liquidated his indebtedness, and in addition has amassed a good-sized fortune, which was partly due to his locating so near Kearney, that prodigy in enterprise, thrift and growth, but more especially due to his foresight and superior judgment in business transactions. This he exemplified by selling a part of his homestead at §500 per acre, and the bal- ance, excei)ting four and a half acres, at $100 per acre, to the West Kearney Ini- 358 BUFFALO COUNTY. ))roveiiient(!()iiii)iiny. lie owns, williin a Jew miles of Kearney, nine liunclred and forty-five acres of land, five fiiindred and forty of wliicli are under cultivation. This, however, is but a j)art of his ]iosses- sions. Mr. Norris is well and favorably known throughout the county. He has taken two degrees in the Masonic oixlerin Iowa. Politically, he is a republican, and is now serving his second year as super- visor of his township. Mrs. Norris is a kind and gracious woman, admired most by those who know her best. She has taught school for sev- eral years and was for some time teacher in the Chariton schools, of Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Norris five children have been born — George Milton and Anna L. (twins), born 1868 (the latter d3'ing at her birth, the former two years later) ; Maggie Blanche, born 1873 ; Charles Ed- ward, born 1S74; Minnie Kate, born in 187G. Evan Jay, the father of Mrs. George E. Norris, was a native of Indiana. lUi was a man not to be thwarted in his ])urposes by unfavorable circumstances, pos.sessed an indomitable will, and was able to bend circumstances to it. He was looked upon as a leader in matters of public interest wlierever he lived. He always endorsed anything tending to educational advance- ment, being himself denied the privilege of school training. He was at different times engaged in farming and mercantile business, and between the years 1840-50 he was three times representative and once senator in the Iowa legislature. In politics he was a whig, and his last vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In 1827 he was married to Miss Hannah Way, a native of North Carolina, who is still living, and is eighty-two years old. She adheres strictly to the Quaker faith. Mr. Jay died in 18G1. To Mr. and Mrs. Jay were born nine; children — Lydia, died at the age of two years, in 1830 ; Nathan (at the age of fifteen), died in 1845; Ilebecca (twentv- one), died in 1853 ; Henry W. (thirty-four), died in 1868; Joseph R. (twenty-nine), died in 18G(J (Henr}'^ and Joseph were both surgeons in the army) ; Mary Jane (three years), died in 1842. Anna L. and Evan T., a lawyer and extensive stock- raiser in Frontier county, Nebr., are the only surviving children of the family. KARL B. SCHIECK was born at Werbustedt, Germany, Novem- ber 20, 1851. His father, John G. Schieck, was born near Berlin, June 19, 1815, and was a clockraaker by trade, lie served in the Revolutionary war of 1848, afterwards followed farming and for one year was postmaster of the burg in which he lived. He came to America in the fall of 1860 and made his home in Canada, where he was engaged as a lum- berman and farmer until 1874. He then moved to Hall county, Nebr., but he dis- liked the location and started with a col- ony of Germans for Schneider township, Buffalo county, and there took up a land claim, which he still holds. He married Martha Fisher while still a resident of Germany. Karl B. Schieck received four years of schooling in the old country and came to America with his parents, settlmg with them in Canada, where he was BUFFALO COUNTY 359 reared a farmer, and then coming to Nebraska witli his fatlier. At tlio ago of twenty-two he married Carolina Straw, and to this union have been born four children, viz. — Wiiliam. Enuna, lleniT and llo^'al. Mr. Scliieck is Lutheran in religion, anil in politics is a republican. ISAAC WILLAEI), one of tiie I'epie- sentative farmers of IkdTaio county, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Jolinson county, tiiat state, Mai'cii S 1829. He is tiie youngest son of John Wiilard, a, Tennessean by birtii, wlio wiis one of tiie lii'st settlers in Johnson county and cieariHl liis way tiirough the forests of that state in 1821). lie died in 1830. He was by occu])ation a farmei', and was also a zealous member of tiie Baptist church- Tiie niotlier of Isaac Wiilard bore tiio maiden name of Elsie Wright. She was a native of Tennessee and died in 18;'.;). The Wiilard family are of English with slight mi.xture of German extraction and are noted for their longevity. .lohn Wiilard was the only son of a largo fain, ily to die under tlie age of eighty years. Tiie forefatiiers were soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war, and ail liveti to a good round old age. Isaac Wiilard, our sub- ject, wont to live with an uncle in l8;it'), in Pratt county, Illinois, when lie was seven years old. The territory now com- posing that' prosi)erous county was then a vast wilderness, inliabited by only live families. Mr. Wiilard well remembers when the county seat was laid out on th. Fourth of July, a few years after he went to reside witli liis uncle. The first appro- priation made by the county board amounted to exactly thirty-seven cents. Young- Wiilard grew to manhood in I'ratt county and I'csided tliei-e for twenty-seven years. Wiuui he was twenty-live he began learning the carjientor trade, wiiicli he has followed more or less of the time since. Wiieii the war broke out, Isaac Wiilard was among the first to respond to tlie call for volunteers, enlisting on the first of December, 1801, in tlie Sixty-tliird Illinois regiment. He participated in the terrible siege of Vicksburg, but only happeneil io be in two severe engagiMueiits after that, during his two years' service. He was discharged on I)eceiiib(!r 11, 1803, on account of jihysical disability. He located in Macon City, Mo., in 180-1, where lie did an (i.xtensive business as a contractor and builder for about nine years. In 1873, Mr. Wiilard came to Kearney, Nebr., where he landed on Ciirist- mas eve. He immediately investigated the new country and at once saw its great future ])ossibilities. He worked at his trade in Ivearney for the first two years and in tlie meantime located a homestead in Sharon township. He located his family on this lioinestead, Deceinljor 3, 1875, where he has since resided. He was grass- lioppered two years in succession, but he inner became discouraged or lost faith in the future of the country. Mr. Wiilard was married Marcli 4, 1804, to Virginia C, daughter of William New- ler. The Newlers belonged to the F. F. V.'s, and, like the Wiilard family, are noted for their longevity. Mr. and Mrs. Wiilard have had three children, namely — Louie M., born in Missouri, November 25, 1872, now the wife of D. W. Scott, of 3G0 BUFFALO COUNTY Haxtun, Colo.; Charlie F., born Au<;ust 9, 1874, and II. J. Ray, born October 27, 1878. Mr. Willard was originally a member of the whig party, but has alwa^'s been a republican since the organization of that party. While he has never been an aspir- ant for political honors, he has filled very acceptably some important positions of public trust. He has alwaj-s, however, taken a pi'ominent part in the manage- ment of the political affairs in liis county ami state, and is recognized as one of the leaders of his ])arty in the county. He has also been identified, for several years, with the agricultural society of Buffalo county, and is at this time a member of the boai'd of management of that organi- zation. He takes considerable pride in raising fine horses and cattle, and is con- sidered one of the most successful fruit growers in Buffalo county. He has one hundred and twenty acres of splendid land, equipped with nearly all the modern con- veniences. H K. SMITH. Of the many young men who came to Buffalo county, Nebr., early in the seventies, few, if any, have been more suc- cessful than the subject of this brief biographical notice. Every dollar Mr. Smith posesses has been earned by hard work. Whatever he undertakes to do he does, and does it right, too. He is intelligent as well as energetic and is noted for his ability as a,n excellent manager. He was born in Lawrence, county. Pa., October, 11, 1856, and is a son of J. P. and Sarah (Fox) Smith, both of whom are natives of the Keystone State and of German descent. His father is one of the honored pioneers of Buffalo county, having immigrated from Pennsylvania in the spring of 1871, Jind was the first actual settler to build a frame house north of the Wood river in Sharon township. Wild game and Indians, too, were plent}'. The settler had to watch the game to kill it, and had to watch the Indian to keep from getting killed. The senior Smith came near being a victim of the terrible blizzard in April in 1873. He was some distance from home when the great storm began, and it was with much difficulty that he succeeded in reaching it safely, so blinding was the storm. It was only by the most heroic exertions that the cattle belonging to Mr. Smith were prevented from perishing during that awful storm, which lasted three days and nights. Mr. Smith shared the usual fate during the grasshopper raid, but soon recovered from its effects, and since that famous raid he has not suffered from an entire failure of crop. When Mr. II. K. Smith was twenty-five years of age he purchased a quarter section of the best land in Sharon township. Since that he has purchased more, until he has now three hundred and sixty acres of fine land. In 1886 he began contracting with the great seed house of D. M. Ferr}', of Detroit, to furnish vegetable seeds. He has been engaged in this enterprise since and is making a coniplete success of it. In 1890 he raised twenty-five acres of cucumbers, seven acres of tomatoes, fifteen acres of squashes, and thirty acres of sweet corn. Mr. Smith was married August, 1881, the lady of his choice being Miss Fannie BUFFALO COUNTY. 361 M., daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Trip) Ilerr. She was born in Illinois, August 14, 1868. This union has been blessed by the birth of three bright children, namely — Earl, born July 4, ISSti; Lavena May, born January 12, 1888, and Elsie (irace, born September, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Metho- dist Ejjiscopal church and enjoy the confi- dence and esteem of all who know them. IORENZO PLUMB. Among the young men who accepted the _^ advice of the former journalist and came West to grow up with the coun- try, none have shown more pluck and energy than Lorenzo Plumb. He had faith in the marvelous development of the West, and early in life determined to come hither and seek a fortune. In the fall of 1871, the subject of this sketch, then about twenty-four years of age, might have been seen wandering about the boundless prairie in the eastern portion of Buffalo county in search of a suitable quarter section of land to take as a home- stead. He finally made a selection of the twentieth section of what is now Sharon township, on which he immediately pro- ceeded to erect a small frame house. No one had yet dared to settle in that im- mediate locality, and one could look a long way without seeing a house or even a sign of one. He was accompanied by two companions, and the trio kept " bachelors' hall," and no doubt spent the long winter evenings of 1871-2 in dis- cussing the future possibilities of the new country. Early in the spring of 1872, Mr. Plumb purchased a span of horses and began " breaking " preparatory to planting a crop. His idea was to break and plant all he could tend with one team, and he never stopped until he had turned eighty acres of sod upside down. In 1873, the crop was rather light, but he obtained seventy-five cents a bushel for his corn, and realized hand- somely, after all. His first wheat crop yielded five hundred and fifty bushels, for which he obtained a dollar per bushel. In 1874, the grasshoppers harvested his cro]i on shares, but the portion left him afforded a small remuneration for the trouble and expense in planting it. The festive hoppers visited the Plumb ranch three 3'ears in succession, and seemed to grow more numerous each year. This was enough to discourage even a young bachelor, and made him even wonder what the world was coming to anyhow. But the grasshopper ceased to make his annual tour, and a succession of good crops followed, and Mr. Plumb took courage and prospered. Our subject was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, June 20, 1847, and is the son of Gerard and Emeline (Hawkins) Plumb, both of whom were natives of New York State. They unmigrated to Ohio in 1835, and were among the early settlers in that region known as the West- ern Reserve. The senior Plumb died in 1863. He followed the quiet and peace- ful vocation of a farmer, and held the office of justice of the peace for many years. The mother now resides in Ohio at the advanced age of eighty-two They were parents of eight children — four boys and four girls, four of whom are now living. Mr. Plumb was nuirried 362 BUFFALO COUXIY. April 30, 1890, the lady whom he chose as a companion to share his fortunes being Miss Mary E. Golf, a native of Ohio, and born in 1859. He has repre- sented Sharon township on the county board of supervisors, but has never aspired to public offices of a political nature. lie now owns three hundred and twenty acres of choice land, which is already in an advanced state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Plumb- purchased most of this land from the U. P. K. R. Company for $3.00 per acre. WALTER J. STEVEN. The subject of this sketch bears the distinction of being not only one of the first settlers of the locality where he lives, but also one of the most successful and influential citizens of his community. lie has been a resident of Buffalo county since 1871, coming to the county when a comparatively young man and casting his fortunes with those of his adopted county at that date and remain- 1^ ing steadfastly by his choice since, passing through the grasshopper scourges, the diy years and all the hard times incident thereto. He has seen the country at its best and its worst, and probably knows as much about the ways and means of getting on amid the privations and hardships of frontier life as any man of his years and opportunities for observation and experi- ence. Mr. Steven comes of the stock of which pioneers are made, being a Canadian by birth and of Scotch ancestry. He retains in his general make-up many of the most signal qualities of his people. That thrift, industry, strong personal energy, tenacity of ])urpose and marked endurance, all of which have been compressed into the phrase, " as sturdy as a Scot," he pos- sesses, and to these he is indebted for the success he has attained. Mr. Steven is a brother of James Steven, of Shelton, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and in which will be found the facts concern- ing their ancestral history. He is the third of a family of eight children, was born near Ottawa, Canada, April 1, 1848, and reared in his native place, receiving a good common-school education and being trained to the habits of industry and use- fulness common to farm life. He resided at his birthplace near Ottawa till 1S69, when, filled with a desire to see the world and to select a place where he might locate and grow up with his surroundings, he came to the United States, and, traveling for some months in the west and north- west, finally settled on Nebraska as his permanent home and located, in 1871, in Buffalo county, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sharon township, four and a half miles northwest of the town of Shelton, where he settled, and, be- ing then unmarried, began the bachelor life of the West. His experience during the first few years of his residence was such as fell to the lot of all the old settlers. Hard work, great privations and many discouraging adversities made up the daily, monthly and yearly course of life. He pulled patiently and courageously through all those trying times, improving his place and adding by purchase from time to time to his original holdings, until he now owns eight hundred and eight}' acres of good land, a large part of which be has in culti- vation. He continues to reside on his old BUFFALO COUNTY. 363 homestead where he first settled, having transformed it from a chiim on the open prairie into a pleasant, prosperous home. To the casual observer, this transformation seems simple and natural enough, but it represents a world of experience which the casual observer knows not of. Such a place serves as a milestone on the high- way to mark the progress of the country in its advance from savagery to civiliza- tion ; it serves to show the capabilities of the race ; it serves as an everlasting mem- orial of the achievements of the sturdy pioneers who opened this country to set- tlement ; and more than all does it show the pluck, energy and endurance of the man who, moving onto it while its virgin soil was yet marked only by the track of the buffalo, reclaimed it from nature, and after numerous disastrous experiments and unrecorded failures, has finall}' made of it a peaceful, happy home. In addition to being identified with the best interests of his locality as a farmer, Mr. Steven has filled the usual number of local offices, having been active in pro- moting the school interests of his district and serving his township as supervisor. In 1874 he married, selecting as a life com- panion Miss Annie M. Henninger, a daughter of one of Buffalo county's best and most popular citizens, Solomon F. Henninger, a sketch of whom ap]iears in this work. Mrs. Steven was born in War- ren county, Ohio, and was mainly reared there, coming to Nebraska with her parents in 1872. She is a Iad\' eminently qualified to bear her husband the companionship which he sought with her hand, possessing the strong sense and many domestic vir- tues for which her race and sex are distin- guished. Mr. and Mrs. Steven are the parents of two children — LeAnna and Edna. They have a pleasant home, and within its walls friend and stranger alike are welcome, for they both possess, in addition to their many other good quali- ties of head and heart, that greatest of all domestic virtues — genuine, unstinted hos- pitality. K UGUSTUS HAAG, a prominent and successful farmer of Sharon township, Buffalo county, is a native of Germany, having been born in the kingdom of Wurtem- burg, August 15, 1837. His father, Frederick Haag, and his mother, Eva B. Hagelstein, were both natives also of Wurtemburg, the father having been born in 1800 and d\'ing there in 1850; the mother was born in 1801, and died in 1857. They were plain, substantial people, the father following the trade of a tanner and vine grower, at which he was fairly successful. Tliese were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this notice is next to the youngest, the others being George (now deceased). Christian IL, John G. and Earnest. Our subject grew up in his native place to the age of fifteen, and then, with an ambition and an amount of self-reliance not often met with in one of his years, he decided to come to America to try his fortunes. He made his first permanent stop in Iniliana, and was variously engaged there till the opening of the Civil war. When the call was made for volunteers, he entered the Union army, enlisting in the fall of 1861, in Company 364 BUFFALO COUNTY. E, Fifty-first Indiana infantry, and served one year, when he was discharged on account of pliysical disabilities contracted in the service. Returning to Indiana, he remained there only a short time and then went to New York City, but leaving there shortl}'^ afterwards he went to Newark, N. J. At that place he entered the grocery business, and Avas the pro- prietor of a grocery store for three years, and subsequently entered business as an insurance broker, which he fol- lowed up to 1877. Having married in the meantime and knowing the limited opportunities for getting on in the world, for one with a growing family, Mr. Haag made up his mind to come West in 1877, and that year he moved to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo county, taking a claim in Sharon township, where he located and has since lived, having a most pleasant home. He has become one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of his community, having thoroughly identi- fied himself with the farming interests of his locality. lie has filled the usual number of local offices, having been a member of the school board of his dis- trict and justice of the peace, and holds the position of director in the Farmer's Union Insurance Company, of the State of Nebraska. He married in June, 1873 — the lady whom he selected for a com- panion being Miss Elizabeth K. Storr, daughter of Rev. Isaac and Mary S. (Ancelien) Storr, then of Newark, N. J., being natives of that state, but having moved to Pennsylvania, Mrs. Haag having been born in Strausburgh, Sulli- van count}', that state. Her father being transferred back into New Jersey by the conference, he removed again to that state, where he died in 1866. The mother moved to Kossuth, Iowa, 1876, where she lived with the rest of her family and where she married Mr. J. L. Yost; they finally moved to Hastings, Nebr., from which place Mrs. Yost went to visit her daughter, Mrs. Haag, at Shelton, Buffalo county, where she was suddenly taken sick of pneumonia, and died in Januarv, 1889. Three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Haag yet abide with them — Mary E., Grace C. and Homer A. In politics, Mr. Haag is a republican. He is a zealous member of the Farmers' Alliance, and has been of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. CS. BAILEY. Considering the great number of settlers who cast their lots in Buffalo county seventeen and eighteen years ago, the date of the greatest influx of immigration, it is a matter of frequent remark that but comparatively few now remain. The col- ony that located Gibbon comprised eighty- five qualified homesteaders, only about thirty of whom are now citizens of the count3\ Near the same date, but scattered over two or three years, about an equal number of settlers took homesteads in Shelton and Sharon townships, of whom hardly as great a proportion as the Gib- bon colony now remain. One of the latter number, however, who has stood stead- fastly by his first choice is C. S. Bailey, now of the town of Shelton. Mr. Bailey came to Buffalo county in the fall of 1873 and settled four miles north of the pres- ent town of Shelton, in what is now C. S BAILEY. BUFFALO COUNTY. 367 Sharon township. He took a homestead of one hundred and sixtv acres, tiling on tiie sou til west quarter of section 12, town- ship 1(1, range 13 west. After a residence there of two or three years he purchased one hundreti and sixty acres of railroad land in section 11; lying opposite his home- stead, and went somewhat actively into farming. He lived on the farm for ten years engaged in agriculture and stock- raising, at which he was reasonably suc- cessful. In the spring of 1884 he moved into the town of Shelton and began at that date to handle agricultural imple- ments, pumps and wind-mills. Two years later he added harness, since which time he has been doing a fairly prosperous busi- ness in these lines. Mr. Bailey retains most of his farming interests, being a con- siderable land-holder as well as one of the representative business men of Shelton. While he has never sought office, he has nevertheless been called upon to fill some places of trust in connection with the administration of the public affairs of his town and township. He has served on the county board as township supervisor two years and he is now justice of the peace for Shelton township. He is, how- ever, a business man strictly, and his career has been that of the man of private affairs. The small offices he has filled he has been called to because of his recog- nized ability to handle tlie business part of them, and not to gratify any supposed personal pride he may have touching that ignis fatuus, public office. As this volume is designed to preserve something of the earlier history, ancestral and personal, of the old settlers of the county as well as an outline of their careers since locating here, some pertinent facts touching Mr. Bailey's origin and per- sonal record, particularly his military life, may here be inserted. Charles S. Bailey was born in St. Law- rence county, K Y., July 19, 18-13. He came "West in 1855 with his father, who settled in Tama county, Iowa, at that date. There Charles S. grew up. He en- listed in the army July 31, 1801, having just turned into his eighteenth year, en- tering Company C, Tenth Iowa volunteer infantrv. His militar}' record of course is merged in that of his regiment, as he served as a private. Let us therefore briefly review the history of the Iowa Tenth. The regiment was formed in Sep- tember, 1861. It moved to Jefferson Bar- racks, St. Louis, Mo., was ordered thence to Cape Girardeau, that state, and went into winter quarters at Bird's Point, oppo- site Cairo. In the spring of 1862 it was placed under General Pope, was present in the movement against Island No. 10, and after the evacuation of that place was ordered to Osceola, Ark. Active move- ments having begun in the meantime in western Kentucky, Tennessee and north- ern Mississip})!, it was ordered to join Grant's army, then preparing for the bat- tle of Pittsburg Lariding. It reached the latter place too late for the engagement there, but was placed in the arm\^ of the Tennessee, and after a few weeks' skir- mishing around Memphis entered on the Yicksburg campaign. It served through all that campaign and sustained some heavy losses — notably at Champion's Hill. In the engagement at that place its casualties were thirt\'-six killed, and one hundred and sixty -six wounded and eight missing, being tiie largest list of casualties sustained by any regiment in that engagement. After 3G8 BUFFALO COUNTY. the evacuation of Vicksburg the Tenth was placed in Sherman's armj' and started towards what was afterwards the famous battlefield of Chickamauga, Lookout mountain and Missionary Eidge. Mr- Bailey's term of enlistment having ex- pired about this time he re-enlisted along with most of his regiment, got his veteran furlough and went home, missing a few of the intermediate engagements. He re- joined his regiment at Kingston, Ga., soon after it had started on the Atlanta campaign, and was in the series of battles from there down to Atlanta. On the division of the Union forces at Atlanta the Tenth continued with Sherman to the sea and took part in the Carolina campaigns, being present at the surrender of John- ston's army April 26, 1865. It was at tlie grand review at Washington, ordered on special duty thence to Louisville, Ivy., and afterwards to Little Rock, Ark., where it was mustered out, Mr. Bailey receiving his discharge at Davenport, Iowa, September 27, 1865. He returned to Toledo and was six years deputy sheriff of Tama county, or until the fall of 1873, then came to Nebraska as before stated. Mr. Bailey married at Toledo, Tama county, Iowa, in March, 1866, his wife bearing the maiden name of Margaret E. Fisher and being a native of Indiana. He has a family of children, some of whom are now grown, his oldest son, Fred A., being associated with him in business. Being an old soldier, Mr. Bailey natural- ly takes much interest in matters relating to the welfare of his comrades. He joined the G. A. R. association in Iowa before coming to this state. He helped organize Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R., the pioneer veteran association of Slielton, anil has taken an active part in the affairs of the post. He is also a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity. In matters of general interest he takes the part which every good citizen is ex- pected to take, and extends to all deserv- ing enterprises a helping hand, aiding when necessary with his efforts and giving liberally in proportion to his means. SH. GRAVES. Connected with the banking interests of Buffalo county are a number of men who deserve more mention in this volume than the mere statement of their official posi- tions. This is so because of the fact that the banks owe their origin and success in a great measure to these men, their his- tory being in truth onl\' a cross-section of the personal history of their founders and managers. A man falling within the scope of this statement is S. H. Graves, cashier of the Shelton Bank. Tiie bank with which he is connected is the oldest one in the town of Shelton. Mr. Graves is not the founder of it, but he has been the principal stock- holder in it for a term of years and has practically made it what it is. The bank was started as a private affair in June, 1882, by Coleman & Leachey. They were succeeded in about a year by Huggins & Leachey, and these in turn were succeeded in June, 1883, by H. J. Bobbins and S. H. Graves, under the firm name of R()l)bins & Graves. For the first year Mr. Bobbins carried on the business alone, Mr. Graves not taking up his residence in Shelton till />' UFFA L CO UN TV. 369 1884. For a year following the bank was under tlie joint management of Messrs. Ilobbins & Graves till June, 1885, when Mr. Graves purchased Mr. Robbins' inter- est and assumed exclusive control, con- ducting the bank still as a private affair till July, 1889. At this date it was organized under the state banking laws, retaining the name of the Shelton Bank and having an authorized capital of $50,000.00, half of which was paid in. The charter members were J. S. Hedges, D. P. Junk, George Mortimer, S. II. Graves and L. F. Stock well. Mr. Mortimer was elected president, Mr. Junk vice-presi- dent and Mr. Graves cashier. By reason of his greater term of service and liis official position, Mr. Graves was given, and continues to exercise, cliief con- trol over the bank's affairs. These, it is fair to say, are in a prosperous condition and have been at all times. It is also fair to say that the fact that they are so is due in no small measure to the judicious management of the cashier. Mr. Graves is not a born and bred banker, having had his first experience at banking in the pres- ent institution ; but he is a thoroughlv com- petent business man and has had a training as such that would enable him to take iiold of any general enterprise with a reasonable hope of conducting it success- fully. He is a hard worker, clear headed, systematic, painstaking and attentive. He knows the value of a dollar, as he has made what he has himself, and this knowl- edge of the labor value of money all the better qualifies him to jealously guard the earnings of wage-workers intrusted to his custody and management. Prior to coming to Nebraska, Mr. Graves was a commercial traveler for ten vears, and he has, therefore, seen a great deal of the world and knows much of the wavs of men. He started on the road at nine- teen years of age for a New York drug house, Curtis & Brown, and during the terra of his service with them he "made," in the parlance of the craft, all the towns in the province of Ontario, Canada, and those in six of the chief states and terri- tories of the west in this country. He traveled three years in Canada, and for seven years he traveled in Dalcota, Kan- sas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Mr. Graves has swung a sample case and " bached " in a grip over thousands of miles of territory; he has taken thousands of tradesmen by the hand and felt their pulse as to their commercial wants, and he has sujjplied those wants in instances without number and in a way which only the accomplished salesman knows how to do. What his success was, or whether above that of the average commercial man, need not be elaborated on here. But this much can be said : He did what not one traveling man in a hun- dred ever does— he quit the road with a good share of his earnings and settled down to a jileasant and remunerative busi- ness. The ordinary man of fixed habits and circumscribed views of living will hardly appreciate the amount of self-de- nial and rigid husbanding of resources that it takes to do this. Onl}' the man who has once been " in the swim," as it were, and knows what life on the road is in all its phases, will be able to understand the self-imposed discipline under which Mr. Graves constantly kept himself. "All, well lur liiin wliose will is strong: He sulTcTS, but will not sufTci' long; He siilTcrs, but can not sullcr wrony" — 370 BUFFALO COUNTY An excellent thought to which Mr. Graves has given point antl practical force worthy of note. But this sketch must, in pursuance of the plan of the work, embody some other facts to which we now turn. These are a few facts in reference to the subject's birthplace, earlier years and ancestral his- tory in which those of his name who come on in after years will feel most deeply interested. S. 11. Graves was born in Chazy, Clin- ton county, N. Y., March 10, 1855. He is descended from two old New York families, tracing his ancestry back b\^ family tradition for at least four genera- tions, beginning with himself. His pater- nal great-grandfather, Seth Graves, was a pioneer settler in northeastern New York, going into Clinton county when that and all the surrounding country was a wilder- ness. He was in his life, habits and exploits a "path-finder," not strictly of the novelist's kind, but one of the practical sort. After locating in Clinton count}' he spent the remainder of his days there. He was succeeded among others by a son named Chauncy, who was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. The latter was a miller hy trade — a quiet, sober, earnest man, who devoted all his 3'ears to the industrious ])ursuit of his call- ing, and died, leaving a family, one of whom, Joel W., was the father of our sub- ject. Mr. Graves' father is still living in Clinton count}', where he was born and reared. He is a farmer, a man also of modest pretentions, a respectable and fairly well-to-do citizen. Mr. Graves' mother, who is yet also livincr, bore the maiden name of Louisa J. McCulloch. She is a native of Clinton county, N. Y., and a descendant of an ancient family of respectability in that state. Mr. Graves is tlie only representative of his father's family who has ever come West to live. The advantages of the West, and particularly of Nebraska, were brought to his attention during: his travels over the state, and in fact, as already noted, he bought the interests which finalh' brouglit him as a i-esident to the state, while he was yet on the road. He still has interests, however, in his native county and his ])eople living there; he has for years paid occasional visits to his old home and has kept up an acquaint- ance with the scenes of his childhood and the friends of his youth. Tliese visits led to an attachment some years ago, which resulted, later, in his marrj'ing a neighbor girl of Chazy, who, though not a native of that place, was mainly reared there, and, like Mr. Graves, is a descend- ant of an old Clinton county family. This lady was Miss Myra W. Fisk, daughter of Hiram C. Fisk. The mai'- riage here referi'ed to took place Sep- tember 22, 1884. Mrs. Graves was born in Vermont, in which state her father lived for some years, although he was a native of Clinton county, N. Y., being reared there and dying there on the old Fisk homestead in the town of Chazy. Mrs. Graves' father was a man of note and above the ordinary run of men. He was distmguished for his persevering industry, his great enei'gy and determina- tion. He was a shrewd man of business, anil in the course of his lifetime accumu- lated a considerable fortune. The one wish of his life was to become able to re-purchase the old family homestead BUFFALO COUNTY 371 which, tlirough misfortune, liad ])assed into strangers' hands — a wish which he fully realized, buying this place as he did and spending his declining 3'ears tliere. It will hardly be necessary to add that the subject of this sketch has no polit- ical triumphs or defeats to record in this connection. Having set out with the fixed pur])ose of making of himself a man of business, he has had no time for politics. Even had he had the time and taste, his mode of life has precluded the possibility of gratifying any ambition in that direction. The extent of his public service has been his five years' term as treasurer of the Shelton public school fund, an office he has filled acceptably, handling the funds thereof with care and discretion ; also as member of the board of trustees of Shelton. As a citizen, Mr. Graves naturally takes considerable inter- est in public questions and public enter- prises, and he can usually be relied upon to perform his duty and bear his share of the expense in securing for his town and community any enterprise, institu- tion or interest of a public nature. In ordinary social and business intercourse he is exceedingly approachable, and has for friend and stranger alike a cheerful word and a hearty grasp of the hand. Having spent a large part of his life among strangers and in a situation where the friction of business competition brings out all the unpleasantness of men's natures, along with some of the noblest qualities as well, he has learned to place a pi'oper estimate on the value of those little social amenities which go far towards sweetening human intercourse and lessening the cynic's charge of "man's inhuuuinity to man.'" "We use no honeved woriis of doubtful import or propriety when we characterize him as a worthy citizen and a ]ileasant, affable gentlemen JOHN S. HEDGES. This gentleman is a well known business man of the town of Shelton. Buffalo county. He came to Nebraska in July, 1883, and settled at that date in Shelton. He came from Iowa to Nebraska, but Iowa not being his native state, nor \'et his native state the one where he was reared, it will be best for the purposes of tliis sketch to go back at once to the place and time of his birth and bring the record down in chronological order. John S. Hedges was born in Chemuii"- county, N. Y., April 2, 1839. He comes of New York parentage, his father, Jeremiah Hedges, having been born and reared on Long Island, and his mother, whose maiden name was Martha R. Saun- ders, having been a native of Steuben county. His father went into western New York when a young man, settled at Elmira, married, and there lived for some 3'ears. As soon, however, as his famih' began to grow up he decided to moveWest, and in 1847 emigrated to Illinois and settled in Kane count}*. There he lived till 1864, when he moved to Fairfax, Linn county, Iowa, where he died the following year in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a farmer and led the plain, un- eventful life common to his calling. Mr. Hedges' mother survived her husbaml 372 BUFFALO COUNTY. some years, d^'ing at her son's home in Nebraska, December 1, 1888, having attained her sevent3'-sixth year. The famil^^ to which the subject of this sketch belonged embraced eight cliil- dren, who reached maturity. These were Laura B., Emma C, John S., Isaac S., Edmund Julius, Charles H.,Mary K., and William G. These are all living but Isaac S., who died towards the close of the war from disease contracted in the army, and Edmund Julius, who died March 6, 1S66, at the age of twenty -two. The eldest daughter is now Mrs. Laura B. Gibson, of Aurora, III.; the next is Mrs. Emma C. Goodell, of Ellsworth, Kans.; Charles H. is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal.; the youngest girl is Mrs. Mar^^ K. Sargent, of Eoscoe, 111., and the last, William G., is a resident of Ainsworth, Nebr. John S., with whom this article is more immediatel}^ concerned, was, as the dates already given will show, onlv about eight years old when his parents immigrated to Illinois and settled in Kane county. He was reared mainly' in the towns of Aurora and Batavia, in that county. The first event of importance in his life, as it was an event of much moment in the lives of thousands of other young men of his age, was his enlistment in the army. He offered himself as a volunteer to the Union army when the first call was made in April, 1861, but was not mustered into service till the August following. He entered Compan}^ I, which was made up mainly of volunteers from Kane county. His company reported at once to Chicago for duty, and was placed in the Forty- second regiment of Illinois infantry, then forming to go to the front. From that date his compan3''s history of course be- came merged in the history of his regi- ment, a brief outline of which we will here give to preserve in its appropriate place the facts of Mr. Hedges' military career. On September 21, 1861, the Forty- second moved to St. Louis, Mo. It took part in various movements in Missouri till February, 1862 , when it was ordered to Fort Holt, K}'.; was sub- sequently engaged in the operations at Island No. 10 ; joined Pope 's army April 11 ; moved to Hamburg. Tenn., April 22 ; was engaged in the siege of Corinth, also the battle of Farmington, Miss., May 9, losing in the latter engage- ment two killed, twelve wounded and three missing; was ordered thence by forced marches into Tennessee ; was pres- ent at the siege of Nashville, and was held in that vicinity for two months during the see-saw campaigns conducted by Buell and Bragg in Kentucky ; was then at- tached to Sheridan's division ; took part in the battle of Stone river, where it lost twenty-two inen killed, one hundred and sixteen wounded and eight^'-five prisoners; moving thence south it was in the engage- ment at Chickamauga, where its losses were twenty-eight killed, one hundred and twenty-eight wounded and twenty- eight jirisoners. At Missionary Eidge it lost five killed and fort}' wounded, being on the skirmish line during the entire engagement. After pursuing the enemy to Chickamauga creek it returned and entered the east Tennessee campaign. Januarj' 1, 1864, it veteranized and was granted a thirty-day furlough. Returning it entered the Atlanta campaign and was engaged at Eock}' Face creek, Eesaca, Adairsville, New Hope church. Pine mountain, Kenesaw mountain, Peach Tree BUFFALO COUNTY. 373 creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro ami Lovejoy station, losing in the campaign twenty killed, eighty-nine wounded and seven prisoners. Being then in the fourth corps it formed part of Thomas' array and was on the return campaign into Tennessee ; took part in the battles at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, losing in these en- gagements twenty-six killed, one hundred and six wounded and thirty prisoners. It followed Hood to Decatur, Ala., and was there till April, 18(J5, when it was ordered into east Tennessee to cut off an antici- pated retreat of Lee into that locality, and it was there engaged in that niiss'on when the surrender took place. Returning to Nashville, it was ordered by way of New Orleans to Texas, being stationed at Port Lavaca as an army of occupation until December, 1865, when it was mustered out, left Indianola, arrived at Camp But- ler, Springfield, 111., January .'?, ISfiO, and on the twelfth received final payment and discharge. This record speaks for itself. Comment is not called for in this place. Mr. Hedges was with his regiment from the beginning to the end of its service, except the thirty days he was home on his veteran furlough, and twenty da3's when wounded. He participated in all the battles it fought? and helped to win for it the honorable position which it occupies in the annals of the war. He entered the service as a pri- vate, was promoted at once to corporal \ in May, 18G2, to sergeant ; in October' 1864, to orderly sergeant ; in November' 1864-, to first lieutenant, and in September. 1865, to captain. At the battle of Chick amauga he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left leg below the knee, but was off duty only thirty days in consequence This wound gave him trouble during all the following winter, not entirely healing till the next spring. A man with such a record would natu- rally continue to feel much interest in militar}' matters, and so Mr. Hedges does. He joined the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1883 and has been an active member since. Besides this he organized a '-Couave company at Shelton in 1886, which was re-organized in June, 1887, and made Company A, Sec- ond regiment of the Nebraska national guards, of which he was elected captain. August 25, 1887, he was made brigade commissary of the first brigade on General L. W. Colby's staff, which position he now holds. Adverting to Islr. Hedges' business career it may be recorded that when the war was over he went to Fairfax, Linn county, Iowa, ^"hither his people had moved during the war, and there settled, and in October, 1866, engaged in grain, lumber and coal business, which he fol- lowed successfully till coming to Nebraska. On locating in Shelton, this state, he embarked in the same line of business, forming a partnership with D. P. Junk, who came with him from Fairfax, Iowa. As this volume is not an advertising medium it will be sufficient to say that the firm of Hedges & Junk is one of the representative business firms of the town of Shelton and tiiat they handle their share of the trade in their line. Mr. Hedges is also a stockholder in and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Shelton, having helped to organize that bank about a year ago. He has never lieen an aspirant for public otticc of any kind and we there- 374 BUFFALO COUNTY. fore have no political successes or defeats to record of him. His career has been that of a business man strictly. He takes such interest in public enterprises and matters of general concern as any good citizen might be expected to, working witli liis own hands when his efforts are needed and giving of his means in propor- tion to his ability. As evidence of the interest he takes in the welfare of his fellow-men and the practical and com- mendable turn his charitable impulses take, it may be mentioned that he is a member in good standing in the following fraternities — The Knigiits of Pythias, Ancient Order of United "Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America and Iowa Legion of Honor. Mr. Hedges was married in Marcli, 1864, the lady of his choice being a girl witli whom he had been almost reared, Miss Lettie M. Hanvey. of Batavia, 111. Mrs. Hedges was born in Wyoming count}', N. Y., and moved to Kane county, 111., with her uncle, N. Wolcott, when small. Til is volume is not a work of romance and we can not therefore give way to flights of fanc}' or indulge the tender feelings, yet the reader who peruses this sketch carefully and notes the fact from the dates above given that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hedges took place while he was home on his veteran furlough, carrying an ugly wound, will form for himself a mental picture, a wartime etch- ing, which can not but be pleasing to the fancy, albeit the picture may take on something of a sober coloring when he remembers how cruelly shoi't the honey- moon was and the long and weary months that passed before the mated ones were /•e-united again. DP. JUNK. Measured by the length of residence of the oldest settlers, the subject of this sketch ma\' be considered a comparatively recent accession to the population of the town of Shelton, Buffalo count}', where he settled in May, 1883. Mr. Junk came from Fair- fax, Linn county, Iowa, to Nebraska ; his native place, however, being Fa^'ette county, Ohio. He is descended from pioneer ancestors, people of strong limbs and stout hearts. He is of Welsh and Scotch exti'action, his paternal grand- father, Thomas Junk, being a native of Wales, who came to America when a lad and settled when a young man in Fayette county, Ohio, and his mothers people coming from Scotland to the Western states by way of Pennsylvania. Mr. Junk's father, whose christian name was Thomas, was born in F:iyette county. Ohio, was reared and married there, and in after 3'ears moved to Blooraington, 111., and then to Linn county, Iowa, where he subsequently lived and died. He lived till 1876, having reached his seventy- second year. Mr. Junk's mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Pinkerton, being a daughter of William Pinkerton, was born in Pennsylvania and came West at an early date with her parents, who settled in Fayette county, Ohio. There she was reared and married. She is still liv- ing. Tliomas and Elizabeth Junk were the parents of five children, of whom the sub- ject of this biographical notice is the third. The others are — Amelia, now wife of Thomas Springer, of Fairfax, Iowa; Emily, wife of Andrew D. Karr, of Dakota; Ada, wife of Calvin Harrow, of Des Moines, BUFFALO COUNTY. 375 Iowa, antl James C, of Fairfax, Iowa. These are all living. Tiie third, David P., an outline of whose life is here proposed, was born in Fayette county, Oliio, April 4, 1844. He was reared mainly in I]looniington. 111., whitiier his father moved when he was small, and was a 3'oung m.in when liis father moved to Iowa. Entering the army earl}' in the spring of 1862, when he liad just turned into his eighteenth year, the next three years of his life were spent " where the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry made the only music that gi'eeted his ears," while the long, fatiguing marches and the privations and hardships of camp life contrasted forcibly with the ])eace and comforts of the home in which he had been reared. Mr. Junk enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Iowa volunteer infantry, his regiment forming a part of the famous Iowa brigade, which, under the command of Colonel Crocker, did such noble execution, and an outline of its his- tory is here worth mentioning, as sliowing in some measure the part Mr. Junk took as one of the countless thousands of brave men, now " to fortune and to fame un- known." The Fifteenth Iowa was organized at Keokuk, February 22, 1862, and mustered in on March 14th. It left tlie state, one thousand and thirty-eight strong, on March 19th. stopping at St. Louis, where it was armed and equipped, and on the morning of April Gth arrived at Pittsburg Landing, just as the battle of Shiloh was beginning. It had been previously as- signed to Prentiss' division, but, unable to find that command, Colonel Keid ordered the regiment into line and it fought in McClernand's division; though entering the battl« with so little preparation, it rendered eiticient service and acquitted itself creditably. Its loss at Shiloh was twenty-one killed, one hundred and fiftv- six wounded, and eight missing — a total of one hundred and eighty-five out of seven hundred anil sixty engaged. Soon after this battle the famous Iowa brigade, com- posed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fif- teenth and Sixteenth, was formed and placed under command of Colonel Crocker, and in the battle of Corinth fought in McKean's division. The Fifteenth, Col. AVm. W. Belknap commanding, sustained the principal loss in the brigade, its casualties amounting to eleven killed, sixty-seven wounded and eight missing, out of about three hundred and fifty en- gaged. In the early spring of 1803, the regiment encamped near Lake Providence, La., and assisted in digging the mditary canal, connecting the lake with the Mis- sissippi river. It was then placed in McArthur's division,seventeenth corps,and served through the Yicksbui'g cam})aign of tiiat summer. The regiment re- enlisted, and, retui-ning from its veteran furlough, joined Sherman's army, June 10, 1S64, at Kenesaw, Ga., and served in the remainder of the Atlanta campaign. In the battle of Atlanta, July 21 and 22, the regiment lost one hundred and seven- ty-eightmen, killed, wounded and missing, and captured the flags of two Con federate regiments. It was on the march to the sea and in the campaigns through the Carolinas. Mr. Junk's term of enlistment expired while the army was around At- lanta and he did not re-enlist, lie was in all the engagements, however, up to that date. He served as ])rivateand laier as sergeant. He returneil iiome in the 376 BUFFALO COUNTY. summer of ISOiand went to farmiiig. A few \'ears afterwards he embarked in tlie mercantile business in Fairfax, Iowa, and remained there in that business till coming to Nebraska, in May, 1883. On locating in Shelton, his present jjlace of residence, he entered into part- nership with John S. Hedges, who came from Fairfax, Iowa, with him, forming the firm of Hedges & Junk, and began handling grain, lumber and coal. He has been so engaged since. In addition to this, Mr. Junk has nn in- terest in the Shelton State Bank, having helped to organize that institution, and is now vice-president of it. He is chairman of the board of the town council of Shel- ton, and chairman also of the board of trustees of the Shelton high school. lie belongs to Joe Hooker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Shelton, and is a zeal- ous member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Junk is a man of family, having married in Fairfax, Iowa, in October, 1867. His wife before marriage was Miss Anna McLaughlin, a daughter of Ira McLaughlin, a citizen then of Fairfax. Mrs. Junk was born and reared in Clare- mont, N. H., and comes of old New England stock. To this union have been born four children, three girls and one boy, the eldest two of whom are now dead, the others being — Bertha and Her- bert L. Mr. Junk has been an almost life-long member of the Presbyterian church, in- heriting his belief from an ancestry dis- tinguisiied for their attachment to that faith. The Junk family are socially of very higli standing in the community in which tiiey live. EL. SMITH, M. D. The town of Shelton, Buffalo county, has a population of nearl}' a thousand souls. It has a scope of country' tribu- tary to it which, in density of population, is hardly exceeded in central Nebraska, yet in all that community there are but two physicians. The citizens give two ex- planations for this. Tiie first is the re- markable healthfulness of the locality, and the second is that, as experiment has demonstrated, none but first-class physi- cians are needed or can prosper there. Each of these reasons seems reasonably satisfactory, and we dismiss the inquiry with them. One of th^ physicians of Shelton, a man of strictly first-class medical acquire- ments, is Dr. E. L. Smith, who located in Shelton, in May, ISSi. He came direct from Chicago, where lie obtained his med- ical education and where he was partly reared. He is a native of Cook county, 111., having been born there November 24, 1847. He was reared at Palatine, that county, and in Chicago; selected medicine as a profession when a young man, and secured his training under Dr. S. P. Brown, of Elgin, 111., and Dr. A. N.Shef- ner, of Palatine, reading with these gen- tlemen in all three years, and finishing at the Rush Medical College, of Cliicago, taking in that institution, besides the reg- ular curriculum, sixteen special courses. As these things constitute part of a phy- sician's public record, and especially as they show his qualifications for his pro- fession, they are things that the public are entitled to know, and it can therefore be deemed no bad taste on the part of the writer to state tiiem explicitly in this ar- ticle. Dr. Smith first attended the free BUFFALO COUNTY. 377 dispensary of Chicago for two summers. He then tooli a special course in otology and ophthalmotology (eye and car), and afterwards these : Dental pathology, laryngology, dermatology, two courses in anatom\% one in gynecology, two in phys- ical diagnoses and diseases of the cliest, one under Prof. J. H. Etheridge in opj'^- naiology ; attended the clinical institute in the hospital, and subsequently also took a course in taxidermy. This training ex- tended over a period of more than five years, and was abundantly interspersed with the usual hospital practice and actual bedside experience. Such a course of training not only represents valuable time and much money, but also a vast amount of hard study, patient effort and pains- taking observation and experiment. But long, arduous and costly as it is, it is nev- ertheless necessary to the successful pur- suit of the profession, and the one who has gone througii with it goes to the dis- charge of his duties with a degree of preparation that is the surest guaranty of success. Dr. Smith is an entiiusiast in his profession. He inherits the taste that brought him to it. He comes of a family where some branches of materia mcdlca afforded a topic for daily discussion. His parents, grandparents and all his uncles and aunts read medicine as an accomplish- ment, but few of them, however, practic- ing it as a calling. He therefore received, with the hereditary bent for the profes- sion, exceptionally good advantages in his earlier years, and these, supplemented by the training he has had, admii'ably fit him for all the varied and responsible du- ties of his calling. Dr. Smitii has con- fined himself and his life entirely to tlie preparation for and the practice of his profession. His business has been such as falls to the lot of the general practi- tioner, and it could hardly be otherwise in a country practice. He attends, to all calls promptly ,responding with as much alacrity to the wants of the poor as of the rich. His services are at the com- mand of the suffering. His first thought is to give help. For tlie benevolent iiii- pulse that prompts such conduct he is as largely indebted to heredity as for the taste and knowledge which suggest the means of relief. To do good, to alleviate the sufferings of humanity and prolong and sweeten the life with which it is blest, were the chief incentives that actuated his people in their zealous pursuit of med- ical knowledge. And it will be appropri ate in this connection to make some more minute references to Dr. Smith's ances- trial history than we have done. Tlie doctor is a cross between New England and Pennsylvania stock. He combines in some degree the qualities of both — the religiously zealous, lil)erty-]ov- ing, knowledge-seeking Puritan and the sturdy, plodding, frugal, home-loving and peace-making peo]ile of Quaker training. His father, Israel Smith, was born and reared in Maine, and took up the line of travel to the West when a young man, settling iu Cook countv, 111., 18;i7, being one of the pioneers of that locality. He passed his J'oung manhood and maturer years there helping subdue the wild- ness of nature and opening the country to settlement, and there also spent his de- clining age, dying in the home of his adoption in 1878, well advanced in life. He was a farmer, devotedly attached to his calling and measurably successful at it. Dr Smith's mother bore the maiden name of 378 BUFFALO COUNTY. Caroline Baker and she was born and reared to young womanhood in her native state, moving thence West with her parents and settHng also in Cook county, 111., in the vicinity of Chicago, but long before that place had attained anything like its pres- ent population or commercial importance. She is still living, having through her sys- tematic habits and quiet peaceful life reached a good old age. Dr. Smith is the third of a family of three children and is the only professional one of the family and the only one who has taken up his permanent residence in the West. He married June 16, 1809, in his native place. Palatine, Cook county. 111., his choice falling on a girl whom he had known from childhood. Miss Carrie Kit- son, a lady eminently fitted to bear him the companionship he sought in this alli- ance. As a citizen Dr. Smith is progressive, en- terprising, and public spirited. He seeks no pi'ominence, political or otherwise, but for all that goes to build up his town and community he can be counted on to lend a helping hand. lie has a host of friends who on occasion give heed to his counsel and advice. Personally he is pleasant and agreeable, being large of mould and generous of heart, warm of his sympathies and hearty in manner. He would attract attention by his personal presence in an assembly of a hundred men, and could hold their attention by his conversation if he chose to do so, and his friends say that this attention, so attracted and so held, will change to admiration, and that to friendship, which will remain steadfastly to the end. GEORGE W. CARLETON, the efficient Union Pacific I'ailway agent at Shelton, Nebr., is emi- nently a self-made man. Losing his father at an early age, the entire support of a large family devolved upon him, and to the fact that he bravely met and shouldered the responsibility may be largely attributed those habits of business push and industry' which have since made him a most successful business man. Born on March 28, 1861, at IVIilford, Mass., he is still on the hither side of thirty. His father was a native of Derby Center, Vt., but while our subject was still a child, removed to Green Top, Mo. where, in 1S77, at the age of forty-six years, he suc- cumbed to the dread destroyer, his death being, perhaps, directly attributable to disease, the foundation of which was laid during his service to his countr}' in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Carleton, senior, was a member of Company F, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts infantry, entering the army at the age of twenty- five years. Up to that time he had fol- lowed the ]iursuit of farming, but subse- quent to that time he engaged in the boot and shoe trade. The mother of our pi'esent subject bore the maiden name of Narcissa N. Doggett, was a native of South Carolina and was born in the year 1840, March 28. She is the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Watton) Doggett, and is still Jiving at Shelton. Mr. Carleton is the third eldest of eight children, of whom Mrs. Eva Wells resides at Green Top, Mo. ; Ella, now Mrs. Allister, and Anna,- live in Chicago; Frank, at Shelton, Nebr. ; Ida, in San Francisco, Cal., and Alfred, in Paxton, Nebr. The youngest of the family died BUFFALO COUNT Y. 379 in infancy. Our subject received his early education in the county schools at Mendon, in Worcester county, Mass., attending school during the winter season onh', his summers being spent in work- ing at the shoemaker's bench. At the age of fifteen, he removed, as before stated, with his parents to Green Top, Mo., where his father died shortly after- wards. Determining to find some more lucrative as well as less laborious occupa- tion than that which he had heretofore followed, he turned his attention to the subject of telegraph}^, which he studied for a short time at Green Top, finally completing his knowledge at Batavia, 111., on the Chicago & North-Western line. Thence he went to Rochester, Minn., where he took charge of an office, work- ing for the railway company there for six years, at the end of whicli time he resigned, returning; for a short time to Batavia, and then in Jul}', 18S0, coming to Shelton, Nebr., where he began as night operator, subsequently being pro- moted to the position of station agent, which he has since held. By industry and careful habits, he acquired a little competency which, in 1889, he invested in a livery stable, w^hich he still owns and which is superintended by his brother, F. A. Carleton. In addition to this prop- erty, he owns the residence which he occupies and some forty-eight lots of city property. In 1885, he entered into life partner- ship with Miss Laura M. Hull, daugliter of John M. Hull, of Iowa, and to whom have been born two children — Ida S. and Allister G. In politics, Mr. Carleton is a republican. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also a master mason. In church matters he lias allied himself with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. Carleton is highly respected by his fellow-citizens, and is counted as one of the leading men of the city with whose interests he is identi- fied. . JAMES STEVEN. In making up a list of the representative business men of Shelton mention must of necessity be made of James Steven, the harness and agricultural im[)lement dealer. Mr. Steven is not a pioneer set- tler nor is he, strictly speaking, a new- comer. He located in the town in ISSD, but had previously visited the county and made some investments, coming "West first in 1ST3. He came from Ontario, Canada, his native place, being then young and un- married. He believed that this country had a good future before it, but he thought that he could afford to wait about taking up his residence here, and in the mean- time could spend a few j'ears to good ad- vantage further east. He returned home to Ontario, afterward crossed again into the States, and went to Monmouth, III., where he took a position with the AVeir plow company of that i)lace and was in their emplov for a perioil of five years. His business was mainlv gathering mate- rial for the factory and he spent most of his time in the timbers. He quit this posi- tion in ISSo and came AVest, locating as stated in the town of Shelton. His first and only business enterprise was his jires- ent one, naniel}' — harness and agricultural implements. In this line he was a pioneer. 380 BUFFALO COUNTY opening the first establishment of any con- sequence in the town. His business has grown steadily from the beginning, and he now owns and rims a house which is a credit to his town and to himself. What he has, he has made by his own exertions, and it is the result of patient industry, economy and strict attention to business. He not only carries a full stock in his line, such as implements, carriages, harness, organs and sewing machines, but he owns the large two-story brick building where he does business — a building he erected in 1885, and which also repi'esents part of his earnings since embarking in trade ten years ago. It is not the purpose of this article to elaborate on Mr. Steven's suc- cess as having been anything phenomenal, for it has not ; but it has been exceptional and it is doing violence neither to truth nor good taste to sa}^ so. Success is what every one desires, and every rightly con- stituted man is glad to hear of others suc- ceeding, even though he fail himself. Mr. Steven succeeds simply because he sticks to his business and manages his affairs in accordance with business principles. " Stick to thy business, young man, and thy business will stick to thee," was the honest old Quaker's advice, and there are hundreds of men all over this country, besides the subject of this sketch, who are demonstrating the correctness of this maxim. Yet it is no more than right that he should be allotted credit for the point and practical force he has given it. As stated above, Mr. Steven is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was born January 17, 1851. He was reared in his native place and brought up to the plain life of a farmer. He is of Scotch extraction, his l)areuts both being natives of Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father, James Steven, emigrated to Canada when a lad sixteen years of age and settled in the Province of Ontario, where he now resides, having led the quiet, uneventful life of a farmer all his years. He is a fair type of his race and his calling, being honest, frugal and intlustrious, and a man of serious views of life. Mr. Steven's mother bore the maiden name of Jean McGibbon, carrying in her name satisfactory evidence of her nation- ality. She was brought by her parents when an infant to the Province of Ontario, Canada, where she was reared, married and yet lives. Like her husband she is now well advanced in years, having led a life of activity and usefulness, the ciiief incentives to which have been her family and her church. She and her husband are of the religious faith of their native country — Scotch Presbyterians. James Steven, the subject hereof, is one of a famil}' of eight children, six of whom reached maturity and are now living. These, in the order of their ages, are as follows — Jennette and Walter, inShelton; James, Jean, Allen and Pobert. Mr. Steven married, Oct. 1, 1879, Miss Jessie J. Nichols of Monmouth, 111. To this union have been born four children — J. Ilalph, Glenn A., Laureen A. and Eifie L. While personally pleasant, Mr. Steven shows by his conduct and conversation that he is strictly a man of business, and his methods are the short, direct methods of the business man. He is plain and pointed in his address, sees quickly, acts promptlv, and is matter of fact in all things. He is progressive and public spirited, entering with zeal and energy into all public enterprises whicli his judg- BUFFALO COUNTY. 3S1 ment approves of. He is member of a number of benevolent associations and his charitable impulses take the practical turn inculcated bv these. OLIVER PERRY GUFFEY was born in Cladwell county, Mo., October 29, lSi2. Ilis* father, William Guffey, was a native of Tennes- see and died in Clad well county, Mo., whither he had moved in 183G, his death taking place twenty years later. All his life he spent in farming. The mother of Mr. Guffey bore the maiden name of Margaret Pile. She, also, was a native of Tennessee — dying in Cladwell county, Mo , in 1886, at an advanced age. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of fourteen children (seven sons and seven daughters), seven only of whom are living. Of this number William F. resides in Cladwell county. Mo., as also does Stokely S.; Ashley R. is in Indian Territory; Andrew J. resides in Stone county, Ark.; the subject of this sketch in Shelton; and Abner J. on the old homestead in Cladwell county. Mo.; Delilah, now Mrs. Pemberton, lives in Caldwell county. Mo. Mr. Guffey has seen in his time a good deal of Western life and has also experienced man}' of its common and some of its uncommon phases. Reared on a farm, at an early age he engaged in freighting goods overland from Atchison, Kans., to Denver, Colo. This was before the day of railroads. lie drove across tlie plains with an ox team, making the trip in forty-five days. Spenil- ing a few months in the vicinity of Denver he then went to New ]\[exico, hauling: supplies with mule teams to the military post at Ft. Union. Subsequent to this he engaged, with indifferent success, in mining, but abandoned it for the saw-mill business, and finally returned to Caldwell county, Mo., making the return trip this time with mules. For a time he settled down to farming, operating the old home- stead; then, buying forty, acres and rent- ing some adjoining land, he continued to farm till 1882, when he removed to Ham- ilton, Mo., and engaged in live stock spec- ulation. This business he followed for four years, buying, feeding antl shipping, at the end of which time he removed to Shelton and engaged in the same business This was in 1886. In the following year he bought out the general store of F. H. Moore, which he has since operated in connection with his stock interests. The style of the firm is Guffey, Fine & Co. Mr. Guffey was married in 1871 to Miss Mahala Hale, daughter of Richard Hale of Missouri. From this marriage came two children — Richard A. and Lulu M. Mrs. Guffey died in the spring of 1880, being at the time at her father's home in Daviess county, Mo. In 1883 Mr. Guffey contracted a marriage with Miss Ella Brooks, born in Ohio, daughter of James Brooks of Missouri. One child has come to bless this union — James P. by name. Mr. Guffey is a democrat in politics and is a member of the order of A. O. U. W. In all his wanderings Mr. Guffey has found no section of the great West which pleases him more than central Nebraska, and he has wisely concluded that this is a good enough country in which to spend his renuiining days. 383 BUFFALO COUNTY NELSON A. BAKER, mayor of the city of Kearney, Nebr., has been a resident since 1879. He is a native of Clinton county, N. Y., and was born December 2, 1S51. His father, Zebulon Baker, was also a native of Clinton county and died there, at the old home where his life had been ])assed, in 1855. Mr. Baker's mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Albee, was a native of Vermont. She died in 1890 at Grand Island, Nebr. The subject of this sketch is the young- est of a family of eight children. His education was obtained in common schools and at an early age he began to assume the trusts and responsibilities of mature life. His first business venture was the building and operating of a grist-mill at Oak Creek, Lancaster county, Nebr., to which place he had emigrated the year before. This business he continued for two years, re]in(|uisliing it then for a more lucrative situation as traveling sales- man for an Iowa nursery concern. "While working for this concern he was married, in the year 1875, to Miss Ximeua M. Brooks, a native of northern Pennsylvania. In 1879, having previously become con- vinced that Kearney, with which he had become acquainted in his travels, was to be a city of future great importance, he decided to locate there, and severing his connection with the tirm for which he had previously operated, he moved to Kearney and started in the nursery busi- ness for himself. This he successfully conducted till the j'ear 1888, at which time he embarked in the real estate busi- ness, which he has since followed. He is one of the leading promoters of East Lawn, the beautiful sulnu'b of Kearney, and is also largely interested in real estate in all parts of the city. Mr. Baker has ever been active in all enter])rises looking to tlie advancement of the public interest of the city with which he is identified. He was a prime mover in the organization of the Kearney Street Car Company, of which he was also secretary till the time of its sale to the G. W. Frank Improvement Company. He also organized the Midway Land Compan3% becoming its first vice-president and one of its business managers, which position he has continuously held since. In the spring of 1889 he was appointed to fill the vacanc}' caused by the death of one of the members of the city board, and at once took an active part in the affairs of the city, displaying always sound business judgment and broad public spirit. His favorable record as a public citizen led to his nomination and subsequent election to the ofliice of mayor of the city at the en- suing municipal election in the spiung of 1890. Among other enterprises in whose organization Mr. Baker has been active, may be mentioned the Canning Company, one of the leading industi'ies of Kearney, and the inception and organization of the Chamber of Commerce, which has been a ver}' potent factor in the development of the Midway City. Three children grace the home of Mi', and Mrs. Baker — Earle R., M. Claire, and Nell Marie. Mr. Baker is a Knight Templar Mason, also a member of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a repub- lican. He is counted one of the substan- tial, public-spirited citizens of Kearney and has before him, undoubtedly, being \-et in the prime of life, a successful career of still wider usefulness. N. A BAKER. BUFFALO aOUNTF. .-iSo WILLIAM NUTTER, one of a family of nineteen children born to John and Elizabeth (Knowles) Xutter, is a native of England ;nid was born January 3, 1829. He comes of English ancestry and is the only represent- ative of his family in this state. He was reared in his native country and in his earlier years was apprenticed to the trade of cotton carder and spinner, which trade he mastered and followed for some time in some of the chief cotton factories in Eng- land. He married in April, 1853, taking for his wife a neighbor girl of his native ))lace, Miss Dinah Hingam, a daughter of William and Olive (Hayworth) Hingam. In the latter part of March, 1855, with his wife and two children, Mr. Nutter set sail for the New "World, on the sliip Juventa. After a voyage of six weeks, he landed in Philadelphia, May 5, 1855, looked around the factories for work, but could not get the kind of work that he had been raised to and so went to Gloucester, N. J., and engaged in the print works, in the mean- time keeping his eyes open for a chance iu the cotton factories. He was there two years, and in the spi'ing of 1857 engaged with Guy Taylor *fe Co., in Philadelphia, to superintend their carding and spinning departments. He held that position for a period of three years and then, in the spring of 1860, with his faniil}', he started west to seek a home in the trackless prairies beyond the Mississippi, ilaking his wa}' by rail and boat he reached the Missouri river about the middle of that year and joined the great caravan of over- land immigrants then making their way to Utah. Locating in Session settlement, Utah Territory, he remained there for twenty months engaged in fai-ming and laying the foundation for what he hoped would be a peaceful and happy home. But with the rapidly passmg events of those times he soon found that he had mistaken his company, and breaking friendshi}) with his former associates, he turned his back upon the treacherous Mormons and retraced his steps towards the East. He settled in Hall count}', Nebr., in the spring of 18G2, taking a homestead on the banks of Wood river near the west- ern line of the count}'. That was an early date for central Nebraska — some years before the advent of the railroad with its civilizing influences. " Life on the plains I " What memories are awakened in the breast of many a resident of Nebraska at the sight and sound of these words : When the golden spike was driven which bound together the iron links in the great national highway, the knell in that wild period in the history of the West was struck. The whistle of the first locomo- tive in its fierce rush across the hitherto trackless expanse ended forever that scene in the drama of progress, which was alike comedy and tragedy. " I crossed the plains," are words which, spoken by the bronzed and hardy pioneer, signify more than the men of a later generation can conceive of. The toiling caravan of im- migrants to the El Dorado of the Pacific slope ; the venturesome cavalcade of dar- ing huntsmen ; the solitary group of mountaineers have passed beyond the view, and all that now remains of them are scattered traces of forgotten graves, a few survivors of those scences, busied with other tasks, and vague traditions of the times, which horrify or charm, as deeds of murder, robbery or love perchance give colorinc; to the tale. Among the verv 386 BUFFALO COUNTY. early trials were the dangers incident to crossing a country inhabited b}' fierce Indians. If the truth could be known, probably ever}' mile from the Missouri to tiie Pacific would demand at least one headstone to mark a victim's grave. The stages of life, from birth to the closing of tiie drama, were here exemplified. Many a poor mother hushed her new-born babe amid the rough scenes of a camp while she herself was suffering from lack of those comforts so essential to maternity. Along the trackless plains many a maiden awoke to the revelation of love and many a troth was plighted. Even the marriage rite was sometimes celebrated ; and death, in every form, paid frequent court to the lone wanderer and the straggling settler. Through these scenes and the manj' changes since, the subject of this sketch has passed and from them he has gained a world of observation and experience not met with in the lives of many men. When he settled on his present homestead there were but few settlers along the Platte river in central Nebraska ; all the central and western part of the state was one unbroken prairie, threaded by a few streams and dominated by the aboriginal red man and roaming herds of buffalo ; the county of Buffalo had not then been marked on the map. When Mr. Nutter settled on Wood river there was a stage station where the village of Shelton now stands, and a family or two settled along the river in that vicinity. To the west, north, south, and one might almost say to the east, the country was simply part of the unknown world so far as the abodes of white men were concerned. The Union Pacific railroad had not then been projected, this part of the great public domain had not then been sur- veyed, and the country at large was con- sidered worthless, except as a hunting- ground for the Indians. These were present in great numbers, and included some of the most powerful and warlike tribes on the continent. The Cheyennes, Sioux and Pawnees roamed over this part of the country then, and they not un fre- quently left the evidences of their savage- ry in murdered men and women and in desolated homes. To peoj)le of a later generation, not one in ten of whom ever saw a "'painted red devil," it is hard to convey an adequate idea of the terror which these prowling bands of savages spread tii rough the country, and tlie con- stant strain which the settlers labored under. The air was often full of rumors, and occasional outrages were committed in the settlement, but no organized forays were made against the whites as far east as Buffalo county, after Mr. Nutter settled there. Indian scares occurred frequently, and even if they were not prompted by any real danger, the danger, nevertheless, seemed imminent to the settlers, and they were for the time being exceedingly serious affairs. The greatest of these scares, which occurred after Mr. Nutter settled, was in August, 1864, (hir- ing the Indian outbreak, wliicii culminat- ed in tlie Plum Creek massacre. Tliat scare depopulated the country, and Mi'. Nutter, abandoning for the time all hope of making for himself and family his long-wished-for home in the AVest, re- turned to his native country, England, leaving behind him to the ravages of the Indian and the freebooters of the jilains his several yeai's' earnings. Remaining in England only a short time, however. BUFFALO COUNTY. 387 be came again to the United States in April, 1865, and was again, for a period of three j'ears, engaged with the linn of Guy, Taylor & Co., of Philadelphia. Returning then to Nebraslia in 1868, he settled again on Wood Kiver, Buffalo county, buying a place where he has since resided. Mr. Nutter has raised up around him a large and interesting family of children, some of whom are married, settled off in life, and are themselves heads of families. The christian names of his children in the order of their ages are as follows — Olive (deceased), Maroni (deceased), John. William, Hingam (deceased), Ellen, lona, Liona, Elizabeth, Jennie, Frank, Mira- beau, Louise, Alice and Thomas (de- ceased). REED BROTHERS. One of tiie oldest newspapers in Buffalo ^ county, as it is one of the best, is the Clipper, published at Shelton, by Frank D. and Williani M. Reed, under the firm name of Reed Brothers. The Clip- per office was opened and the first paper published December 1, 1879, by A. C. Edwards, under tlie name of the Shelton Clariiin. It so continued to be published until October lotoni y creek, Weklon railroad, Snicker's gap. 390 BUFFALO COUNTY. Strasburg, "Winchester, Charlestown, Opequan, Fisher hill, Newmarket, Mount Jackson, Cedar creek and Middletown, Hatcher's run, Fort Stedman, capture of Petersburg, Ya., April 2, 1865, Sailor's creek, April 6,1865; Farmville, April 7, 1865 ; and at Lee's surrender, Appomat- tox, April 9, 1865. He came out of the battle at Cedar creek with nineteen bul- let holes in his clothes. His regiment was composed of the best men, physically, in Hunterdon county, N. J., and was made up exclusively of farmers, but his health was ruined in the hospitals. He was mustered out June 22, 1865. He came to Nebraska in March, 1878, and settled in Thornton township, Buffalo county. At that time there were only four families located within a radius of four or five miles of him. His farm, which is a splen- did one, is located on the highest point in the township and commands an.excellent view of the surrounding countr}'. Per- haps no man in Buffalo county has taken more interest in fruit raising than has he, and certain 1}' none has succeeded better, as he has a large number of thrifty fruit trees of excellent varieties. He also has succeeded remarkabl}' well in raising small fruits, and he has demonstrated, be\'ond doubt, that with proper care fruit can be grown in this countr}'. HON. SAMUEL W. THORNTON, one of the oldest settlers of Thornton township, was born in Madison county, Ohio, October 23, 1832. His father, Abner Thornton, was born in North Carolma in the j'ear 1800 and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. He emi- grated with his parents in early child- hood to Highland county, Ohio, where the family resided for several years, when they removed to Madison county. The senior Mr. Thornton was a school-teacher for a quarter of a century and was a man noted for his intelligence and good judgment. He was a man of exemplary habits and was strictly honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men. He joined the Presbyter- ian church in his early boyhood days and served as deacon during the major ])or- tion of his life. He died in September, ,1864, respected and loved by all who knew him. Samuel Strain, the maternal grandfather of the subject of our sketch, was a native of Highland county, Ohio, was a most zealous Presbyterian and a man of extraordinary influence in the community where he lived. He was mar- ried four times and was the father of twenty-two children. His first wife was Nancy Watts, by whom he had four chil- dren ; his second wife was Elizabeth Miller, who bore him seven children ; his thii-d was ]\Iartha Wilson, who also bore him seven children ; the fourth and last was Nancy Johnston, by whom he had four children. A hewed log house erected b\' Mr. Strain, in Highland countj% Ohio, in 1808, is still standing in a good state of preservation. The subject of our sketch was married September 14, 1854, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Br3'son) Larimer. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the father having been born in Fayette count}', September 7, 1802, and the mother in Fayette county, September 23, 1805. . Thomas Larimer was a farmer by occupation and a promi- nent and influential man in the commu- nity in which he lived. He held various BUFFALO COUNTY 391 local offices, but never aspired to political honors. He wiis a devoted member of the Presbyterian church for fiftv vears and never kne\y that he had an enemy in liis life. The maternal grandparents of Mi's. S. W. Thornton, were Andrew and Elizabeth (Porter) Bryson, both natives of Ireland. They were driven from their native land, however, during the religious revolution in the time of Charles I. Immediately after marriage, Mr. Thornton engaged in farming in Fayette county, Ohio, until 1S59, when he emi- grated to Washington, Washington county, Iowa, where he resumed his chosen occu- pation, about three miles from the countv seat. In August, 1861, he responded to the bugle call of his country by enlisting in Company C, Eighth regiment, Iowa infantry. He participated in various skirm- ishes in Missouri in 1861-2. In the spring of 1862 his regiment was ordered up the Tennessee river as far as Pittsbura- Land- ing, where it arrived in time to take part in the terrible battle of Shiloh. It was here on the eve of April 6, 1862, that Mr. Thornton was taken prisoner. He was first taken to Memphis, Tenn., later to Mobile, Ala., and finally to Macon, Ga., where he was paroled and sent home to await exchange. He soon re-entered the service and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and in Forrest's raid on the city of Memphis. Here, on the twenty-first of August, he was shot in the thigh and wounded so badly that he was confined to the hospital until February 6, 1865, when he was discharged. lie returned home on crutches, which he was obliged to use for sometime afterwards. After his re- turn from the service, lie filled acceptably several public positions of honor and trust. He served as city collector, assessor and marshal of Washington, and one term as deputy sheriff. lie also took the census of Washington county, Iowa, in 1870, receiving the appointment without pre- vious knowledge. He immigrated to Buf- falo county, Nebr., in June, 1874, and took a homestead and timber claim in what has since been called Thornton township. The country was wild and exceedingly barren, there being no settlement in the immediate vicinity at that time. Wild game was quite plenty, deer and antelope being frequenth' seen on the surrounding bluffs. No grass of any consequence grew, except in the "draws.'' Mr. Thornton was obliged to cut all the grass, for two years, that grew in the "draws" within a radius of two miles, in order to pi'ocure enough hay to feed his stock during the winter. In July, 1874, the grasshoppers made their first appearance and destroved everything that was gi-een. The next year the few discouraged settlers suc- ceeded in raising a fine crop, considering the extreme newness of the country. In the summer of 1876, however, when the growing crop gave ever}' promise of an abundant yield, and when the few scatter- ing settlers had renewed their courage in the hope of gathering a rich liarvest in the autumn, behold, the festive grasshoppers rose in black clouds in the distant hori- zon and descended wherever a green blade of anything was visible, and before night of the same day not a vestige of anvthin"- green could be seen. Fortunately this was the last year of the grasshoppcM-s. Since then there has been unexcelled prosperity. Mr. Thornton now has four hundred and eight}' acres of splendid land adapted to ])roducing anything 302 BUFFALO COUNTY usually grown in this section of the country. He has been experimenting for twelve years in raising tame grasses and has a reputation for raising more tame grass than any other farmer in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have reared a family of eight chiltlren, namely — Eva J., born June 5, 185.5, wife of John Swenson ; William D., born February 24, 1858, mar- ried to Fann\" Borders; Charles A., born November 28, 1860, drowned at the age of sixteen in Loup river; Mary E., born Sep- tember 6, 1865, wife of T. R. Lionberger; IJarry L., born October 3,1867; Mabel C, born February 9, 1870, wife of Albert S. Lionberger of Hancock county, HI.; Kate D., born October 28, 1872; and Lillie B., born November 10, 1877. Mr. Thornton was elected in the fall of 1886 to represent Buffalo county in the State legislature and took an active part in the discussion of various important measui'es which passed during the session. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are both consistent members of the Congregational church and Mr. Thornton is also an honored mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Eepublic. BAKTLETTE TURNEE was born in Scotland county, Mo., October 6, 1851. His father, William A. Turner, was born in Virginia in 1827 but emigrated to Illinois when quite 3'oung, and in 1845 moved to Missouri, where he engaged in farming. He has alwa3's taken great interest in agricultural pur- suits and still resides at Granger, Scotland county. Mo. His wife is Eliza Powers, born in Indiana in 1831. William H. Turner, the paternal grandfather of our subject, emigi'ated from Virginia to Illinois and later to Missouri, where he died in 1877. The maternal grandfather, Richard Pow- ers, lived in Missouri and died before the war; his wife, Mary Powers, died in Mis- souri in 1885. Mr. Turner, the subject of this sketch, began life for himself in 1872 by working a farm by the month. His sole ambition was to get a home of his own, and with this purpose in view he provided himself with a "prairie schooner" and set out for the boundless West. He joui'ne\'ed as far as Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he arrived on the first of October, 1873. After prospecting about for a while he concluded to take up a homestead in Thornton township. Here he built a sod house and went to work in earnest to secure a home. The country was new, and he had to labor under many disadvan- tages, but he eventually overcame these obstacles antl is to-day one of the prosper- ous farmers of his locality. His farm con- tains 240 acres of land, mostly under cul- tivation and otherwise improved. A sub- stantial farm dwelling has superseded the old sod house and beautiful forest trees break the monotony of tlie rolling prairie. Mr. Turner was united in marriage December 26, 1872, to Miss Mary E.Stand- ard. Three children have been born to this union, namely — William L., born Jan- uary 30, 1874 ; Fred A., born July 6, 1876, and Frank, born June 25, 1885. The father of Mrs. Turner was Thomas Stand- ard, who was born in Ohio and who emi- grated to Missouri when a 3'oungman, and engaged in farming. He died in the ser- vice of his country at Cincinnati, Ohio, R. BEECHER. BUFFALO COUNTY. 395 during the war. lie was inarrieil to i[iiry Phelps, a native of Missouri, who is now living at Arbela, Mo. Both were devoted members of the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlette Turner remem- ber seeing herds of antelope passing only a few rods from their present home, and the former has seen buffalo in this country since his residence here. He has hauled fuel, during his earl}' settlement, from fif- teen to thirty' miles and has paid as high as $1.20 for a busiiel of corn. He erected his first sod house, fourteen by sixteen feet. at an outlay of only $3.00. Mr. Turner has never aspired to political honors, but has several times served in the capacit}' of clerk and treasurer of his township, lie has always afiiiliated with tiie democratic party. RBEECIIER, M. D. Dr. R. Beecher is a homeopathic piiysician of prominence residing in tlie town of Shelton, Buffalo count}', and is also an old Nebraskan, having come to the state in 1872. His record, tlierefore, will be doubly interesting to a volume like this. Dr. Beecher was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, December 13, 1835, and was reared there to the age of thirteen, moving thence to Winnebago county. 111., with his parents, who settled in that county in the vicinity of Rockford in 18i8. There his youth was spent. He received a good literary education in the schools of Beloit, Wis., and on reaching his majority went to Iowa and started in the world for himself. He selected medicine as his profession and prepared himself for lectures under tlie direction of Dr. II. C. Markham. of Inde])endence, Iowa, and Dr. R. B. Cauch,of Winthrop, Iowa. The former of these belonged to the allopathic school of medicine and tiie latter to the homeopathic school. Having posted him- self on the relative merits of the two schools sufficiently to enable him to make a judicious choice, Dr. Beecher decided to give his allegiance to the latter, and set about vigorously to prepare himself for tiie piactice. He graduated from the Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis, and settled to the practice of his profes- sion in Iowa. He spent some years there successful!}' engaged at the practice till 1872, when he made up his mind to change locations, and came that year to Nebraska and located at the town of Exeter, Fillmore county. He followed his profession there for a period of nine years, moving in 1881 to Shelton, Buffalo county, where he now lives. Since the date Dr. Beeclier embarked in the profes- sion he has given his time whollv to it, and the great success he has met with has been a just reward for his diligent labor and faithful application. He has been in the {)ractice now over a third of a cen- tury ; he has ridden over thousands of miles f)f territory and has visited the bed- side of hundreds of suffering fellow-mor- tals. His practice has been that of the general practitioner. Much of it has necessarily been done for those too poor to pay the "accustomed doctors' fee," yet not the less faithfully has it, on that account, been done. He has made it a point always in his practice to respond to the wants of those in distress, and render his best professional services, regardless of the prospects of financial returns. He :m; BUFFALO CO UN TV. looks upon liis profession as one of the highest honor, and believes that every member of it should be actuated by the one supreme purpose of doing good. Of his methods, his conduct towards his patients and his cures it is not necessary to speak with great minuteness in this place. If witnesses on these points were needed, clouds of them could be summoned from many soui'ces. He has, time and again, effected cures of cases pronounced hopeless by other plu'sicians, and his patients restored to health are living all around him. There are numbers of people of the highest official position and social prominence living in his county who will readily testify to the satisfactory cures he has made falling under their observ- ation. Some of these people are them- selves the subjects of such cures. With two malignant troubles, particularly, has Dr. Beecher been most successful. These are typhoid fever and rheuma- tism. With an\'thing like a reasonable start with either of these he never fails of a cure. In his practice Dr. Beeclier uses the simple remedies devised and made use of b^' his school. He is particularly attaciied to the use of the electric battery, and not the least of his most noted cures have been made through this modern agency. Dr.Beecher has in a course of a long prac- tice accumulated a vast amount of valu- able matter, being a man of close observa- tion and diligent research. This he designs giving to the medical profession in printed form as soon as the work of digest- ing and re-writing can be performed. His work will cover all the years of his prac- tice and will embody a wide range of study and actual bed-side experience. Dr. Beeclier takes an active interest in the literature of his profession and in the workings of the various medical associa- tions. He takes the journals, of course, and does some contributive work for them. As often as the exacting duties of liis practice will allow, he attends the sittings of the various associations and contributes articles for discussion. As illustrative of the oft-repeated obser- vation oriffinatino- with the medical fraternity — that men are what they are more by heredity than by education — it may be well to record some facts in this sketch touching Dr. Beecher's ancestral history in order to show how far his case falls within the scope of this observation. Dr. Beecher is a descendant of New England stock and connected on both sides of his house with two distinguished families. His grandparents were all natives of Connecticut. His father, Augus- tus B. Beecher, who was a cousin of the eminent divine, Henry Ward Beecher, was a native of Hartford, Connecticut. He was a ship carpenter by trade, but tiring of his location came West when a young man and took up his residence in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he married, settled down to carpenter work, following that occupation there for years, subse- quently moving to Illinois, then to Iowa, and finally to Nebraska, dying in the latter state at his son's home in Shelton in 188i, having attained the eighty -third year of his age. He was a man of quiet life, sober, industrious, of a serious turn of mind and very domestic in his tastes. Dr. Beecher's mother bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Sweet and was a daughter of Ara Sweet, who emigrated from his native place in Connecticut, came BUFFALO COUNTY. 397 West and settletl in Ashtabula county, Ohio, soon after that ])ai't of the state was thrown open to settlement, beincr the first one to take up a permanent residence in Geneva township, Ashtabula county. Dr. Beecher's mother was born in Ashtabula county, was reared and married there. She lived to the age of sixt3'six, dying in 1879 of injuries received from a fall. The Sweets from whom she sprang were a family that furnished many eminent physicians, there running through the family a strong tendency to the medical profession. It is from this source chiefly that Dr. Beecher gets his taste for his calling. His people upon this side, as well as upon his father's, were tlistinguished for their quiet, even, temperate, S3'stematic habits and their sober, settled views of life. They were noted also for their strong vigorous constitutions and their great longevity. Dr. Beecher married in 1857 wliile still living in Illinois, the lady on whom his choice fell being Miss Adella Adams, a native of Rochester, New York. To this union have been born two children, both now grown and both of whom remain with their parents. These are a son and a daughter. In physical, mental and moral make-up. Dr. Beecher preserves many of the charac- teristics of the people from whom he is descended. Though not strong and robust in apjiearance, he has a closely knit, tough, wiry physique, indicative of a sti'ong in herited physical culture and temperate habits. He has the broad humanity and benevolent impulses that one would look for in a man bearing his name, and especially does he exhibit that love of home and attachment to his family wliich lias run through his people for several generations. Dr. Beecher is agreeable in personal appearance, being entertaining in conver- sation and engaging in manners. He is small of stature, but his frame is sur- mounted by a large head. His square jaw and partially shaven face, revealing his thin lips, indicate the decision of character that has marked his course through life, while the pleasant smile with which his countenance lights up in ids softer moods, tells of the warmtli of his nature and the genuineness of his feelings. PETER F. H. SCIIARS is one of the most popular and influential men in Buffalo county. One has but to call at his beautiful home in Thorn- ton township and be greeted with that warm and genial welcome extended alike to everyone, to discover the real secret of Mr. Schars' popularity. The " latch string" of his door hangs out to king and peasant alike, and no one goes from his threshold without having been made to feel that the welcome he received came from the heart of an honest and sincere man. Mr. Schars is a native of Germany, was born December 20, IS-t-i, and came to America in 1852, with his parents, both of whom were natives of the "Father- land." Young Schars was not old enough yet to appreciate the great possibilities offered in the new world to the honest, industrious sons of toil who flock to its shores from the overcrowded marts of 398 BUFFALO COUNTY. other lands. A periiKiiient settlement was made at jS'ew Baltimore, Micb., where the parents of this worth3' son still reside. It was here that young Schars was reared to manhood ; where he enjoyed the blessings of free schools; where he received his first lessons in patriotism ; and where he had the prin- ciples of American manhood instilled in his ver\' being. After Mr. Schars had attained his majority, he engaged in mer- cantile business at New Baltimore, Mich., and for eight years he continued to do a successful business. During his career as a business man, he was called upon by the people to fill various local positions of trust, and the prompt and efficient manner in which he discharged his public duties have been the chief characteristics of his successful career since. In 1879, he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and immediatel}' purchased a farm in Thorn- ton township, where he now resides. His home-farm comprises a half-section, and a more beautiful tract of land can not be found in the country. The buildings are neat and substantial, and the sprinkling of numei'ous shade trees lend an air of ciieerfulness that is so essential to a pleas- ant and beautiful home. Mr. Schars was married, September 13, 1870, to L3'dia H. Hatheway, who was born in Marion, Mass., and is the daughter of New Eng- land parents. He was elected sheriff of Buffalo county, Nebr., on the republican ticket, in 1883, and reelected in 1885. His career as sheriff was distinguished chiefly by the fearless, j-et courteous, promptness with which he discharged his official duties. He has since served as supervisor of his township two terras, and is now the president_of the county board. JAMES JENKINS is one of the oldest settlers, one of the first business men and one of the most reputable citizens of Kearney — a man, who, from his naturally retiring disposition and his settled habit of attending strictly to his own personal affairs, would jirobabl}' never become known to the casual visitor were he not so well and favorably known to all the old settlers of Kearney and by them pointed out to strangers as one of the first men of tlie place. ]\[r. Jenkins settled in Buffalo county Jfarch 22, 1872. He located at first in the country, taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 21, township 9, range 16 west, his place lying two and a half miles north of Kearne\\ This was six months before the town-site of Kearney was surveved. When the town was started in the fall of 1872, he saw an opening for himself at his trade and he came in and started a boot and shoe shop. He continued to reside on his farm, worked at the bench during the day, and returned home at night. His business increasing and the growth of the town demanding it, he subsequently bought a stock of ready made boots and shoes to supply the local trade. He did well from the start, and in October, 1881, he gave up farming and moved his family to town, and has since given his entire time and attention to his store. The Boston Boot tt Shoe Store is the result of his long years of patient industry and close attention to business, and it is no more than justice to saj' that it is one of the largest and best retail boot and shoe houses in central Nebraska. A simple story, shortly told ; yei back of it is a use- ful lesson. This success has not been achieved by happ\' accident but only by BUFFALO CO f 'A TV. 39. the exercise of great patience, great industry and an amount of self-sacrifice tliat but few men are willing to practice. Throughout all discouraging seasons and amidst all distracting considerations Mr. .Jenkins has toiled steadily on, working out his own unchanging purpose of build- ing up a house with a trade that will be a credit to his town and an honor to his name. Others of his comrades of former years, after ineffectual efforts to establish themselves in one line and another, have moved on, most of them further west. Some did establish themselves, but, failing for one reason and another, have dropped to the rear. Still others, caught witii the frenz}' of speculation, have had their earn- ings swallowed up and are either left penniless or so tied u]) as to be helpless, and still others have succeeded even at speculation, and some in legitimate lines. Buttlie last mentioned ai-e not numei'ous, and of tiieir nuinber— that is of the strictly legitimate business men and not money grubbers — none have been more successful or achieved their success by the exercise of better virtues than has the subject of this sketch. Mr. Jenkins served the City of Kearney as mayor in 1SS2, being elected on the republican ticket. He has been town councilman twice. For the general growth and development of the city he has been active at all times, yet he is no boomer. He believes that solid results are attained only by hard persist- ant effort — that there is no "talking point" about any man or measure equal to real merit — that lasting success is reached only b}' it. He has absolute faith in Kearney and TUiffalo county. He has shown his faith by his works, for he has spent seventeen years of the best part of his life building up a business here, which, were he so inclined, he could not abandon without irreparable loss. Of the town and county of his adoption, of the people among whom he lives whose pluck and energy have made the town and county what they are, he is proud, and of him as a sturdy, self-reliant, industrious useful citizen, the City of Kearney and her appreciative people are equally as proud. So much for Mr. Jenkins' business career since coming to Buffalo county. For the benefit of his posterity who may turn to this volume in years to come to learn something of the early history of their first ancestor who settled on Ne- braska soil, the following notes may be added : James Jenkins was born in Wales, March 1, 1845, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Bevan) Jenkins, natives also of "Wales. His jiarents immigrated to America in 1S51 and settled in Green Lake county. Wis., where they both now live, the father aged eighty-one, tlie mother seventy-seven. They are plain, unpretentious people, and have reached their great age by the tcnqierate. oi'derly, systematic lives they have led. Mr. Jen- kins is one of a family of eleven chihiren, the list in the order of their ages being as follows — Marv, Eliza, Charles, Thomas, James (the subject hereof), Maggie, Kate, John, Winnie, William I. and Frank. The three eldest sons, being all that were then of a sulficient age, were in the late war. Charles and Tiiomas were members of Company B, Fourth AVisconsin infantry, Federal army. Tiie former died at Port Hudson, La., of wounds received in battle at that place, and the latter died at Car- rollton, a suburb of New Orleans, of disease contracted in service. The Fourth 400 BUFFALO COUNTY Wisconsin has a record as one of the best fighting i-egiments in the Union army. It was changed to cavahy in September, 1863, and did its best fighting prior to that date. It sustained its greatest loss at Port Hudson, La., where its loss in killed, wounded and missing was two hun- dred and nineteen, the actual death loss being forty-five or twenty per cent, of the total number of the regiment engaged. The subject of this sketch enlisted in Compan^v K, Foity-third Wisconsin volun- teer infantr}', September 12, 1864, having just turned his seventeenth year. His regiment was commanded by Col. Araasa Cobb, present associate justice of the state supreme court of Nebraska. Mr. Jenkins served nominally under Gen. George II. Thomas, being stationed at Nashville, Tenn. Going into the army late he saw but little active service. He was mustered out at Milwaukee, Wis., July 8, 1865. Eeturning to Green Lake county he en- gaged in work at his trade — boot and shoe making. January 1, 1868, he mar- ried Miss Emma L. Morse, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., and came as stated to Buffalo county, this state, in March, 1872. Aug- ust 12j 1875, his wife died, leaving two children — Frank B. and Florence L. July 15, 1877, he again married, iiis second wife being Miss Mary E. Morrison, of Mt. Pleas- ant, Iowa. By this marriage he has the following children — Charley A., Paul B. and Noble. Mr. Jenkins is a man of social turn, has a heart full of sympathy for his fellow-men and is willing at all times to. help any in need or distress. He has been an active worker in a number of the beneficial orders, using these orders as a means to do what good he is able to for struggling humanity. ELIZA K. MORSE, M. D. Among the women who have had the cour- ' age and independence to devote their lives to some special line of endeavor, it is no rash prediction to say that the subject of this sketch is destined to hold a useful and honorable place. Born in the town of Metamora, Woodford county, III., the daughter of Levi P. and Mary (Parmiler) Morse, she passed her earlier years in that locality' and from the schools of her native place received a thorough com- mon and high school training, acquiring her literary education at Eureka and after- wards at Knox (Jollege at Galesburg, 111., which education was supplemented by a special course in the ])rivate Normal at Valparaiso, Ind. With a desire to de- vote her life to one of the liberal pro- fessions and having a special taste and aptitude as she believed for the practice of physic, she began to read medicine in 1884 with Dr. W. Mansfield of Meta- mora, III., pursuing her studies assiduously under this gentleman for many months. As she progressed in her knowledge of the profession, she became more and more enamored of it and the more firmly fixed became her determination to master its m3'steries and to thouroughly prepare herself for its practice. Entering the Woman's Medical College at Chicago, III., she graduated from that institu- tion in the spring of 1888, and then returned to Metamoi'a, where she began the practice of her chosen profession with her preceptor, and met with the most flattering success from the beginning. Encouraged by this, she determined to enter upon an independent professional career, and with an instinc- tive confidence in the American sense of BUFFALO COUNTY 401 honor and fair play — displayed nowhere on this continent to such good advantage as in the great West, where all are abso- lutely free and equal according to merit. Slie came hither and in the spring of 1889 cast her fortune with the promising city of Kearney,where she at once took up the practice and has since continued at it. Her venture has not proved disappointing. She has met with as cordial reception from the fraternity as she could have asked and as liberal patronage from the public as she had any reason to expect. She has met the crucial re- quirements as to honesty and capability and her subsequent career therefore is only a matter of time and patient labor. She has qualified herself for the general practice and she pursues her profession in in all its branches, giving special attention only as time and opportunity afford to the tliseases incident to women and childi'en. She is a thorough student and keeps fully abreast of the best thought of the day in her profession. She realizes that in the science of her profession as in all progres- sive sciences there are but few axioms, the perfection of the known and the discovery of the unknown being the constant ends in view. In the adaptation of the infinite variety of means to these ends, the realm of materia med'ica unfolds and discovers to the eye of the student, philosopher and humanist an ever widening field of research and labor, so that he or she who has selected this line of endeavor for his life work is not only not privileged to rest his knowledge on the dicta of the curric- ulum and the teachings of the books, but be commits a grave crime against his race when he does so, and one which soon or late returns in its consequences to plague him in his professional career. Not only is Dr. Morse fully alive to the responsibil- ities of her profession, but she is admira- bly fitted by nature for its successful pur- suit. Endowed with that subtile symjia- thy which makes the whole world akin, her presence in the sick room is felt before she begins to prescribe. Cautious in the steps by which she proceeds, hei" first ef- forts are always directed to the task of se- curing the confidence of her patient, then an understanding of the ailment and then an application of the resources of her art to the trouble in hand. AYith such meth- ods, re-inforced by a natural and profes- sional acumen rare even in one of her sex and fraternity, distinguished each alike for their signal intuitiveness, she does not often fail of a cure when called in time, and where, from a neglect of proper pre- cautions at the outset or from a dissolu- tion of the forces of nature, restoration to health and vigor are beyond the reach of her skill, with a frank acknowledgment of this to herself and a discreet intimation of the un})leasant fact to the friends and rela- tives of her patient, she plies her utmost care to lengthening the feeble span of life for her unhajipy sufferer and to robbing the dark and shadowy vale and depriving the death bed of at least its physical agonies. CHAKLES D. A YRES, one of Kear- ney's successful and enterprising citizens, had his birth in the Buck- eye State in Medina county, Ohio, thirty miles from the city of (Cleveland, on the twenty -second of October,! 852. His father, Nathan W., a native of New York State, moved to Ohio with his parents at an 402 BUFFALO COUNTY. early age; subsequently removed to Henry county, Iowa, in the year 1867, and shortly thereafter to Van Buren count\', Iowa, where he spent his remaining \'ears till his death in 1878. His father — the grandfather of the subject of our present sketch — was a physician and a native of Connecticut, but spent his last days with his son in Medina county, Ohio, dying there at the age of sixty-nine. The father of Charles D. Ayres followed the business of farming all his life. Mr. Ayres' mother, Mary J. (Quilhot) Ayres, is a native of Johnstown, N. Y., where she was born in 1823, is still alive and resides in Kearney. The subject of our present sketch moved to Kearney from Iowa in the year lS7i, and is consequently one of the pioneers of this section of the country, and could doubtless relate many interesting occur- rences to which the present generation of new-comers are utter strangers. Mr. Ayres is the second of four cliiidren, of whom three — Edward J., William K. and him- self — are still living, all in Kearnej'. One, Gertrude, is dead. Mr. Ayres was educated in the common schools, and when he was of sufficient age to begin the active duties of life he engaged in farming. In ISSO, however, he embarked in the coal business, to which lie has continued since to devote his time, handling also farm machinery. Mr. Ayres is a republican in politics, but has never given it very much attention, being content to discharge the duties of an en- terprising and progressive citizen and de- voting his energies to business pursuits, which are more to his taste. Mr. Ayres is a man of quiet and modest demeanor, but of very social disposition. He has passed all the ciiaiis in the I. O. O. F., and encampment, and last year his brethren recognized his worth and ability by making him grand patriarch of the State of Nebraska. For the past six years he has been a member of tlie committee on appeals and grievances of the grand lodge of this state. He is also a member of the Rebecca lodge and of Canton Ex- celsior, No. 3, Patriarchs Militant. Mr. Ayres has also allied himself with the order of Knights of Pythias, both subordi- nate and uniform rank, and for the past year has been captain of the division. He is one of the substantial citizens of Kear- ney and is taking an active part* in the development of this thriving j'oung city. GEORGE FLEHARTY was born in Grant county, "Wis., August 27, 1837, and is a son of William and Martlia (Toogood) Fleliarty. His father was born in Maryland in 1802, and emi- grated to Ohio when a boy, where lie re- mained for a few years, after which he moved to Springfield, 111.-, and subse- quently located at Galena. He taught his first term of school near Springfield, where he also studied law. He was a man of marked ability. He served througii the Black Hawk war, and entered the min- istry of the Methodist church in 1S3.5. His efforts in the ministry were attended with marked success, but he was com- ])elled to retire after ten years' service on account of failing health. He was a mem- ber of what was then known as the Rock River conference. -He died on his farm near Apple River, 111., in 1873. Two hundred years ago a person stand- GEO. FLEHARTY. BUFFALO COUNTY. 405 ing on the wharf at Baltimore, Md., might iiave seen two persons swimming towards shore in advance of a ship; one of these was no other than William Fleharty, the founder of the Fleharty family in America, lie determined to reach America in ad- vance of his comrades. He was a native of the north of Ireland. He became an extensive slave owner, but freed tiieni all before his death. George Fleharty's mother was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1796. She resided after her marriage at Wilkesbarre, Pa ; removed from there to St. Louis, Mo., where her husband died. She had a flat-boat con- structed, and placing her few household utensils thereon, she and three little chil- dren, with the aid of a hired man, poled their little boat up tlie river to Galena, 111. Here she met AVilliam P'leharty, to whom she was married in 1S30. Four children were born of this union — Eveline M., William H., Margaret A. and George. Mrs. Fleharty died at the home of her daughter, Eveline, February, 1887. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. George Fleharty was married, Decem- ber 25, 1860, to Annie Kell}', daughter of Eichard and Katie Kelley, and born in Ireland in 1838. She emigrated to this country in 18-t5. Her father died in Warren, 111., March 10, 1862 ; her mother resides in Chicago. Eleven children were born to them, seven of whom are still living, namely — Rosette, born November 11, 1863 (wife of William W. Pierce); George F., born July 27, 1868; Jennie, born August 15, 1870; Josepij II., born December 12, 1873; Nellie, born March 21, 187G; Charles F., born May 1, 1878; and Walter B., born December 28. 1881. Mr. Fleharty came to Buffalo county, Nebr., November 13, 1871, and took a homestead in Center township, upon which he has resided continuously ever since. He made wiiat imj)rovements he could the first year, but the next winter his only team died, and for several years the grass- hoppers swept away his crops, but he never became discouraged, like many others, and return to whence he came. The Indians were quite numerous, and were a source of constant annoyance to the settlers on account of their habit of beg- ging and stealing. He was elected county surveyor in the fall of 1872, and served two years, and was elected county com- missioner in the fall of 1873, and served a term of three years. The county jail, Platte river bridge, and other works of internal improvement were completed during his supervision. He was the first postmaster at Buda. He is an old soldier. Enlisting in a Wisconsin regiment, in 1862, he served his country' faithfully during the war of the rebellion. He is an influential member of the republican party and a man of considei'able learning. JOHN WILSON, sheriff of Buffalo count}^ is one of the best known gen- tlemen as well as most pojiular and efficient public officials in central Nebraska. He comes of Scotch-Irish par- entage, and retains in his make-up many of the most signal qualities of the race from which he springs. His parents, Samuel and Maiy (Owens) Wilson, were brought to the United States by their jiarents when young, the former at the 406 BUFFALO COUNTY. age of nine and the latter at the age of sixteen. They grew up in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa., where they met and were married, and from which place they emigrated West in 1865, and settled in Henry county, 111., where they now live, being engaged in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. They are the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, the others being Mary A., Jane L., Samuel, William A., James, Archie, Eichard B. and Ella — the last named now deceased. The subject of this notice was born in Allegheny county, Pa., on the twenty- first day of February, 184:9. He was reared mainly in his native county, going to Henry count}', 111., with his parents in the spring of 1865. He was brought up on his father's faim, received a good com- mon-school training, and began his career as a farmer in Henry county, 111., but remained on the farm only a short time, when he was appointed deputy sheriff of Henry county b\' W. J. Vannice and served as such for three years. Vannice's term of office having expired and B. H. Goodell having been elected as sheriff, Mr. Wilson received the appointment of deputy under that gentleman and held this position for four years. In the fall of 1883 he moved to Nebraska and settled in Kearney, and began to speculate in real estate, following this for about a year. In 1884, in company with his brother Samuel, he engaged in the livery business in Kearney, continuing at it till the fall of 1887, when he was elected sheriff of Buf- falo county. He was re-elected to the same position in the fall of 1889, and is now holding under that election. As evi- dence of the popularity he has achieved, he was re-elected by a majority of 1,300 votes, the largest majority ever given any public official in Buffalo county. He is a faithful and efficient officer and discharges his duties without fear or favor. He has won the popularity he has attained in the only wa}' such things can be done — that is, by treating his office as a pxiblic trust and bringing to the discharge of his official duties the same zeal, energy and discrimi- nating judgment that he exercises in the prosecution of his own affairs. That he should have some enemies is naturally to be expected, yet, as was said of another, his warmest friends "love him most for the enemies he has made." His name is a terror to evil-doers, as his presence is the best guarantee of peace, order and the faithful execution of the laws. Besides being a capable public official, he is a suc- scessful man of business and a wideawake progressive, public-spirited citizen. He has been identified with the best interests of his community since locating in Kear- ney and has worked with a will for the promotion of all the enterprises which have sought favor there, giving liberally also in pioportion to his means. He is now and has been for years chief of the Kearney fire department, is also president of the State Fireman's Association, and at the State convention held January, 1890, at Wahoo, he was elected delegate to rep- resent the state at the National Conven- tion of Engineers to be held at Detroit, Michigan. He is president of the Sheriffs' State Association and is now serving his second term as such. Mr. Wilson married. May 18, 1880, Miss Eosa M. Beecher, daughter of Benjamin J. Beecher, of Henry county. 111. To this union have been born four children, two /)' UFFA L CO UNTY. 407 living — John Howard and Ella Mary. Pearl "W. and Archie E. died in infancy. Mr. Wilson is a republican in politics and is a stanch supporter of the principles of his party. He is a member of a number of the beneficial orders, among them the masonic, in which he has taken all the degrees up to and including tlie Knight Templar; the other societies of which he is a member comprise the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In private life he is polite, companionable and accommodating. No man would go further to assist a friend or a stranger than he, and this is the secret of much of his popularity. He counts his friends by the hundreds, and no man in ISuffalo county has warmer ones than he has. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the First Baptist church. CW. YAN ALSTINE is the leading artist and photographer of Kear- ney, has his studio at 2111 Main street, and has had an experience of thirty years in photographic work. When a lad of twelve years he lost his father and at that early age started out to make his own way in the world He first went to work at Watertown, N. Y., where he learned the trade of carriage trimming. Aband- oning it on account of his poor health he learned the daguerreotype business, trav- eled two years, and then located at Pots- dam, N. Y., where he remained until 1877. Poor health again caused him to relin- quish his business, but in 1878, however, he regained his health and removed to Big Rapids, Mich., where he opened a photographic gallery, remaining there six years, when, being attacked once more with poor health he sold out and went south to Kansas ; soon afterward he went to Richmond, Va., where he remained a few weeks and recovered sufficiently to remove to and open a gallery' at Red Oak, Iowa, where he soon became fully restored to health and where he remained until 1889, when he sold out and opened his present photographic parlors at Kearney. Mr. Van Alstine has been married twice — first, in 1864, to Miss Theresa A. Clark, bv whom he had one son — Charles H. Van Alstine, now a practical photographer. Mrs. Van Alstine died in February, 1878. She was a member of the Episcopal church and for many years was organist of recognized merit. In April, 1884, Mr. Van Alstine was united in marriage to Miss Emma T. Green, then of Big Rapids, Mich., but a native of Belmont, N. Y. Mrs.Van Alstine is an artist and a finished and natural retoucher, and has had, for the past eight years, the reputation of being one of the finest artists in this re- spect in the country. She makes it very pleasant for the ladies, as she has excel- lent taste in the arrangement of drapery. Mr. and Mrs. Van Alstine rank among our best people and enjoy the confidence and respect of all who know them ; they are members of the Episcopal church and Mrs. Van Alstine is amemberof thelv. P. Sisterhood. Mr. Van Alstine is a Royal Arch Mason. The negatives used in mak- ing the portraits of Buffalo county citizens that appear in this work were made by Mr. Van Alstine. 408 BUFFALO couxry. HOMER J. ALLEX. One of the prominent and influential citi- zens of Kearney, Nebr., as well as one of the oldest settlere in this section of the state, is Homer J. Allen. Born in Erie county, Pa., in ISiS, he came to this state while the major pai't of our beauti- ful and now well-settled territory was lit- erally a howling wilderness. His father, Josiah X. Allen, was a Congregational preacher, born in Otsego county, X. Y., but wiiile yet an infant movirg with his parents to Erie county. Pa., where the earlier years of our subject were passed. It was in 1S72 that Josiah X. Allen emi- grated with a colony of neighbors and friends to this county, locating near the present village of Shelton. His entire life has been given to the Master's ser- vice, his labors having begun as early as 1S5S. He is still alive and resides near Shelton, where he first located. He can tell manv an interesting and thrillincr tale of pioneer experience, but for these there is scarcely room in a brief sketch like this. Suffice it to say that he preached the firet sermon in what is now Buffalo county, and also married the first couple. His faithful wife, Polly Miller, a native of Erie county. Pa., was born on the third of August, 1S37, and still lives to share the comforts and trials of his declining veai-s. The Aliens trace their lineage back to Samuel P., the great-grandfather of Homer J., who was of English de- scent. His son, Clother B., was born in Xew York Stale, but passed the greater part of his later life in Erie county, Pa., whither his son, as above stated, had emi- grated about 1S27. He died there at the age of seventy -seven years. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of six children, of whom five are still liv- inar. Emoijene, wife of a Mr. Geortre, is a resident of Custer county, this state; Er- nestine, now Mrs. S. J. Hedges, lives near Sidney, Xebr.; Milly. wife of Stephen Stonebarger, lives at Shelton; Mertie B. lives with her parents at Shelton ; Had ley Dean is dead. Our subject was reared up a farm boy in Erie county. Pa., and during his boy- hood yeai-s attende. and Sarah A. (Mabry) Jones, both natives of Pennsylvania — the former being born in Philadelphia and the latter in Berks county. They have a family of nine children, of whom seven are living, viz. — Sarah, the wife of Milton Spangler; Margaret R., wife of C. C. Case; George W.; P.. Frank ; Lilly, wife of Noble McClelland ; Nellie S., wife of Ebenezer Butterfield ; Lena B., wife of Norman Hazlett. John B. Jones was a railroad conductor and was killed in an accident, when our subject was but five years of age. After attending the AVadsworth schools until fourteen 3'ears of age, B. Frank Jones became a tlrug clerk in his native town, and in this position he remained for four years, then clerked in Medina, Ohio, and Akron, for five years. He then traveled for Ault- man. Miller & Co., manufacturers of the celebrated reapers and mowers, for five years, when he entered the Jefferson Med- ical College, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated April ■!, 1888, having taken a special course in anatomy and surgery. He at once settled in Kearney, and being a natural mechanic as well as a natural anatomist — the two essential things that make a surgeon — his success has been phe- nomenally great. Dr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Dyraae Jane Hurling, Januarv 8, 1881 ; she was born at Wadsworth, Ohio, and he and she were schoolmates in youth. She is a daughter of James K. and Lydia (Copley) Hurling — the former a banker of Wadsworth. Dr. Jones and wife have had one child — a girl that died at the age of four years. Dr. Jones is a member of the K. of P., R. A., and other societies. He has performed a number of the most 416 BUFFALO COUXTY. difficult operations known to surgery, and, best of all, ever}' one has been entirely successful. This fact has given the doctor the reputation he so justly deserves. Among other qualifications he has devel- oped a taste as a naturalist, and taxider- mist, and his office and residence contain many fine specimens of birds and animals which he has mounted himself at times when not otherwise occupied. His work speaks for itself andean only be produced bv one who is a close observer of nature. GEORGE S. POST is one of the leading and influential men of Gardnertownship, Buffalo county, as well as a progressive and prosperous farmer. He was born in Niagara county, •N. Y., January 4-, 1S37, and is the son of Orange and Lucy (Capron) Post. Orange Post was a native of Vermont, born in 1806. He located in Canada, then in New York, and then came West to Iowa, and afterwards settled in Michigan. He was a carpenter, but made farming his princi- ple occupation. His father, Moses Post, was a New Englander by birth, but chose Michigan to live in. He died in 1856. George S. Post was the sixth in a familv of seven children, and, when fourteen, worked out away from home most of the time. He participated in the late struggle between the North and South, being a member of an Iowa regiment. He saw some rugged service in the Vicksburg campaign, and also was present at the capture of Jackson, Miss.; Champion hills and Cedar run. He was also present during the heav}' charge on the rebel works around Vicksburg on May 22, 1863, and took an active part in the capture of Winchester and Fisher's hill. He was taken prisoner at Cedar creek, was con- fined four months in a Richmond prison, and was in Libby prison during the admin- istration of " Dick " Turner. The date of his discharge is Ma}' 12, 1864. He im- migrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., from Iowa in 1878. took a soldier's homestead claim in Gardnertownship, was one of the first settlers in the township, and saw some pretty tough times. He had limited means when he came here and conse- quently labored under great difficulty in getting a start. He cites the winter of 1880-1 as being the longest and severest he ever experienced, and a great deal of suffering was experienced, principall\' among the new arrivals. Many had to grind corn with their coffee-mills for food and burn wet straw and cornstalks for fuel. George S. Post was married March 5, 1861, to Miss Caroline M. Turck, who was born August 14, 1831, and is the daughter of Abrara and Marv (Draper) Turck ; the former was a Hollander and the latter was a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Post have had seven children — Willie, born March 11, 1862 ; Annie, born April 10, 1863 ; Edwin, born December 25, 1865 ; Fannie, born Ma}^ 12, 1867 ; Frank, born March 4, 1870 (deceased) ; Jeff A., born November 4, 1872, and Herbert, born January 31, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Post and all their children belong to the Presb\'- teriaii church. Mr. Post affiliates with the republican part}', has had various local offices, and he is a man who stands high socially and morally in the community. BUFFALO COUNTY 417 GEORGE N. SMITH, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Center townsiiip, Butfalo county, was born at Goffstown, N. 11., October 30, 1843. His father, William Smith, was born a* New Boston, N. H., in 1802. The senior Smith was married, in 1826, to Susan Eastman, by whom he had five children, namely — Eichard (deceased), Esther (deceased), Esther Ann, Tliomas and William. His second marriage was in 1835, to Betsy Eowell, who bore him eight children — George W. (deceased), David R. (deceased), George N., Esther A., Erastus K. (de- ceased), Reuben G., Susan A. (deceased), Isaac (deceased). Mrs. Smith died Ajiril 6, 1859, a devoted christian woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Smith's third marriage was in 1861, to Mary Hook. Thomas Smith, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, w^as a native of New Hamp- shire. He was the father of thirteen children and a man of prominence and influence, especially in church affairs, being a Presbyterian deacon for forty years. The maternal grandfather, Rowell, was also a native of New Hampshire. George N. Smith enlisted August 17, 1864, at the age of twent}', in the First New Hampshire heavy artillery, and served one year. He cast his first presiden- tial vote for Abraham Lincoln while in the field. Soon after returning from the war he met and married, August 25, 1866, Elizabeth Dunbar. He then engaged in the hotel business at Woodstock, Vt., but was not pleased witii hotel life, and after an experience of two years he returned to the old homestead in New Hampshire, where he remained one year. He emi- grated to Gibbon, Buffalo county, Nebr., in October, 1871, and on Novemljer 3d of the same year he took up a homestead in Center township. There were onlv three or four families then in that township and the surrounding country looked wild and desolate. In exactly ten days from the time he settled on his claim, there was a terrible blizzard, which lasted three days, during which time there was great suffering and some loss of life, and considerable stock perished for want of food and shelter. The following winter was a noted one for the large snow- fall and intense cold weather. He built a sod house and in the spring of 1872 was joined by his wife and family. When he arrived at Gibbon seventy-three cents was all the money he had, and it was two years before he bad any stock of his own. The country was full of Indians, who hunted and trapped along the Platte and Wood rivers. In the summer of 1873 he raised his first crop — seven and a half bushels of wheat. During this j'ear a great many settlers came in, and by fall the population of the county had increased quite materially. The three following years the crops were almost entirely de- stroyed by the grasshoppers, and it was not until the year 1877 that a fair crop was harvested. During these discouraji- ing times Mr. Smith was in destitute cir- cumstances financially and was compelled to live within his means. He made hominy and ground corn in his coffee mill. He had no flour and no money to get any. The following winter he received two sacks of corn meal from the general supi)ly store at Kearney, and never ft;lt richer in his life. There were scores of families in a destitute condition at that 418 BUFFALO COUNTY. time and provisions were sent in from the Eastern cities to supply' the needy. He has had apparently more than his share of bad luck. In the spring of 1875 he lost seven head of horses and one thousand dollars' vrorth of hogs at one time. He now owns one of the best farms in the county, on which is some valuable timber set out by his own hands. He has paid particular attention to fruit, and has some fine apple trees ready for bearing. Mrs. Smith's father, William Dunbar, was a native of New Hampshire and a tailor by trade. Her mother was Catherine (Elumphry) Dunbar, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Humphry of New Hampshire. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely — Minnie B., born in New Hampshire February 20, 1868 (wife of John Power) ; AVilliam (deceased), born March 18, 1870; George W., born Febru- ary 24, 1872 (deceased); Grace P., born April 21, 1874; Flora A., born August 17, 1876 (deceased) ; Bert, born July 26, 1878 ; Arthur G., born August 10, 1880, and Orren, born July 10, 1882 (deceased). Mr. Smith has filled various local offices, is a member of the G. A. E.,I. O. O. F., K. of L., O. U.W., Modern Woodmen of Amer- icaand Farmers' Alliance. August 30, 1890, Mr. Smith was nominated for senator from the twenty-sixth senatorial district of Ne- braska, by the Farmers' Alliance, endorsed b}"^ democrats. GOTTLOB SCKEIHING is one of the earliest settlers of Buffalo county and one of its most sub- stantial farmers. He was born at Wit- tenburg, Germany, December 13, 1853, and is one of a family of ten children born to John G. and Christena (Munck) Sckeihing, both of whom are natives of Germany, the former having been born in 1819 and the latter in 1824. Gottlob, the subject of this biography, came to this country in 1869 with his parents, being then sixteen years old, and located near Burlington, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for six years. Arriving at his majority, and being thrown upon his own resources, he decided to seek his fortune in the far West, and, accordingl}!-, came to Buffalo county, Nebr., Api'il 4, 1876, and pre-empted a quarter section in section 6, township 10, range 16 ; built a small house and " bached it."' He broke twenty-five acres that spring and put it into sod corn, which flourished for a time and gave promise of an abundant crop, but was to- tally destroj^ed in August by the grass- hoppers. For three consecutive years the grasshoppers had destroj'ed the crops in that section, and the few settlers, beine: discouraged, left that fall for the East, with the exception of Mr. Sckeihing, who alone remained to spend the winler. He lived on corn bread, a few potatoes, with an occasional jackrabbit sandwiched in; and his nearest neighbor being some three miles distant, there was a time when for two months he never saw the face of a human being. He hauled some wood from government lands upon the Loup river, it requiring three days to prepare and market in Kearney a single loail of wood, and he received the small sura of $2 per load for his trouble. The follow- ing spring he entered a homestead of a quarter section in section 6, township 10, range 16, and took a timber claim in sec- tion 32, township 11, range 16, and put BUFFALO COUNTY. 419 out a large amount of crops. That year proved to be a ver}' prosperous one, and from thirty-five acres of wheat he thrashed five hundred and eighty bushels, which he sold at 80 cents per bushel. He has been very prosperous ever since, and now has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, two hundred and twenty acres of which are under cultivation. He has a spacious frame dwelling and has just cora- jileted a new frame barn. Mr. Sckeihing was married, April 5, 1880, to Mary Sterley, who was born April 15, 1857, and is the only daughter in a family of eight children born to George and Barbara (Kroft) Sterley, both of whom are natives of Germany, the for- mer having been born in 1825 and the lat- ter in 1822. Her father is a I'esident of Buffalo county, having located here in 18(i9. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sckei- hing has resulted in the birth of six chil- dren, as follows — George, born May 1, 1881 ; Christena (deceased), born October 13, 18S2; Barbara, born March 23, 1884; Emma, born July 13, 1885 ; Samuel (de- ceased), born January 7, 1885, and Julia, born August 28, 1888. ilr. and Mrs. Sckeihing are both active members of the Lutheran church. Polit-- ically he is independent. A F. SILVERTHOEN. "Tisnotin our stars but in ourselves that we are underlings." Practical illus- trations of this poetical expression can be found in the lives of hundreds of men all over this country. One is found in the life of tiie subject of this notice. A. F. Sil- verthorn is neither rich nor famous ; he may never be, but he is now on the highway to prosperity, on the road to success, and he owes it solely to himself. Born with- out the traditional silver spoon in his mouth, but with the greater gift of an affi- davit of honesty and good nature in his face, he has made his way from a position of dependence to one of comparative ease; from a position of toil for others to one of well remunerated labor for himself. He is one of Kearney's most enterprising and most popular druggists, a 3^oung man with a good business and a host of friends. Arthur Fiavel Silverthorn was born in Muscatine count}', Iowa, Februar\', 1857. He is the third of six children, the result of the union of Oliver J. and Harriet H. Silverthorn, the former of whom was a Pennsylvanian by birth, the latter a native of Illinois. His parents came of the staple stock of the localities where they were born and reared, being plain, substantial, frugal folks with sufficient industry to crown their lives with the wholesome fruits of toil, and sufficient integrity and fixity of purpose to enable them to build up characters of stabilitv, rising on occasion into the higher graces of benevolence, kindness and chi'istian charity. The father, after a life extend- ing over fifty -five years of labor in various avenues, pursued in different localities and under varying conditions as to success and failure, died at Kirwin, Kans., in 1888, his loss dee)il\' regretted by those who knew him and sincerely mourned by those whom he loved. The mother is still livino:, beino- at present a resident of San Antonio, Texas, where also live two of her sons. The eldest of the children of the family, a daughter, Lucy by name, died j'oung; Oliver resides at San Antonio, Tex., 420 BUFFALO COUNTY. engaged in the drug business; Maggie, wife of Dr. A. J. Meyers, lives at Creston, Iowa; Grace, wife of Burton Jones, lives also at Creston; and Wood, the youngest, lives at San Antonio, Tex., engaged with his brother there in the drug business. The subject of this notice was reared in his native place and in his youth received an ordinary common-school training. On growing up he selected teaching as his first employment and taught for a period of three years, giving his time assiduously to his school-room work, and it is not the least of the achievements of his early career that he, as he now relates with some pride, taught as good a school as any pedagogue in all the country round. Since coming West he has been too much ab- sorbed in other matters to keep up with the whereabouts of his old pupils to see how man}' of them have reached the higher paths of life as the result oi the excellent precepts he instilled into their 3'outhful minds. But he feels morally certain that those who have lived up to his teachings have at least become good citizens, even if they have not reached any great eminence. Quitting the school- room at last, Mr. Silverthorn went to Creston where he learned the drug busi- ness under his father, subsequently enter- ing into partnership with him and remaining there so engaged for five 3'ears. Marrying in the meantime he took his wife and worldly possessions and in 1881 moved to Kearney, casting his fortunes with the Midway City, where he has allowed them to remain and where they have steadily prospered since. The first year he was in Kearney he clerked for J. M. Hoi)wood in the drug business. lie then formed a partnership with A. J. Shepard as Silverthorn & Shepard, which lasted for three years. He then sold out to his partner, soon afterwards engaging in business alone and remaining alone since. ^h\ Silverthorn runs an exclusive drug house. He has built up a good trade and each 3'ear his stock grows in bulk as his trade increases in volume. He is a thoroughgoing business man, wide awake and up with the times. He has also invested some money in Kearney real estate and is earnestly in sympathy with every movement for the success and pros- perity of his town. He has an open hand and a generous heart, and to the extent of his means he ! elps everv public enterprise that comes his way. Mr. Silverthorn was married July 26, 1883. His wife before marriage was Miss Anna E. Battey, daughter of S. W. and Mary C. Battey, tlien of Creston, Iowa, now of Hoxie, Kans. Mr. and Mi's. Sil- verthorn have a pleasiwit home in Kearney and their friends ai'e numbered by their acquaintances. ^LFRED E. THOMAS first saw / \ the light of day at Ilicksville, 1 V Ohio, February 28, 1848. He is a son of James and Eunice (Strong) Thomas, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Young Thomas volunteered his services to his country when not seven- teen 3'ears of age, enlisting October 29, 1864, but the war was drawing to a close and he was not assigned to active duty. Returning to his home he engaged in farming in Defiance county, Oliio, but he was not altogether satisfied with farmins: among the stumps in Ohio, and deter- BUFFALO COUNTY 421 mined to emigrate westward. The j'ear 18r>6 found him in tlie State of Missouri, where he remained for about seven years. In 1873, after a wearisome journey of twenty-one daj's in a " prairie schooner," he located in Buffalo count\', Nebr. It was early in the spring, and the first thing he did was to look for a house to shelter his family until he could select a claim and provide a home of his own. He finally succeeded in finding a newlj' built sod house on the shore of the Wood river, almost directly north of Kearney. About the time he got his family comfortablv housed there came up suddenly a terrible blizzard, April 14th and 15th of the same 3^ear. The wind blew so fiercely that it removed the roof from the house, leaving the occupants without shelter. It was in the night-time when the storm commenced, and Mr. Thomas and family, including his sister and brother-in-law and three vouno- men stopping at the house at the time, sought shelter in their beds for two da3'S and two nights. The snow was very deep, when Mr. Thomas, with his wife and child, started for a neighbor's through the terri- ble storm. It was intensely cold, and Mrs. Thomas was almost chilled through before they started, but to remain there was certain death. On the way Mrs. Thomas became exhausted, and had their cries for help not been heard by the neighbors, whose house the^' were endeavoring to reach, they doubtless would have perished. The storm lasted three days and was the most severe in the history of the country. There was great suffering among the set- tlers, and hundreds of cattle were frozen to death. Mr. Thonuis has alwa3's taken great pleasure in hunting, and during his early settlement in this country wild game was plenty, and the time was when the rafters of his sod house hung full of smoked ven- ison of the choicest kind. He killed plenty of deer, antelope, and some elk. During the summer of 1874, Mr. Thomas, in company with two companions, set out on a hunting expedition in the Loup river countr}'. On their return, one bright moonlight night, they passed by a herd of Texas cattle, numberingseveral thousand. Their wagon was filled with venison and antelope, and the cattle smelling the fresh meat started to follow. Mr. Thomas and his companions, knowing as they did the viciousness of Texas cattle, became alarmed at the terrible noise made by them and at once started their horses on the run. For a time it seemed that the cattle would stampede them, but fortunately they succeeded in making their escape, after being chased by the cattle for several miles. Mr. Thomas never experienced any trouble with the cow-boys, always treat- ing them courteously and frequently wel- coming them to his home for a meal. Alfred E. Thomas was married January 3, 1871, to Miss Isabelle Lewis, who was born December 16, 1852, and whose pa- rents were Milton and Sarah (Clark) Lewis. Milton Lewis was a native of Pennsylvania," but was reared in Rich- mond county, Ohio. In 1866 he emigrated to Missouri and in 1881 to South Dakota, where he now resides. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas five children as follows — Lewis J., born in Grundy county. Mo., March 6, 1872 ; Clarence B., born May 10,1874; Ella M., born March 4, 1878 ; Zenoa C, born January 25, 1880, ami Oscar V., born January 26, 188G. 422 BUFFALO COUiMV JAMES McCREAEY. a prominent and successful farmer of Buffalo county, and an old settler of Sharon town- ship, where he lives, is a Pennsyl- vanian by birth. His father, Enoch McCreary, and his mother, Margaret Pearson, were both natives of the " Key- stone State," and always resided there, the father dying in 1856, at the age of fifty-nine, and the mother in 1885, at the age of eighty. These were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this notice is the sixth, the full list being — Pearson, Belinda, Samuel, Sarah, William, James, John and Enoch. James, our subject, was born in LaAv- rence county. Pa., September 26, 1838, and was reared in his native place, grow- ing np on his father's farm, receiving a fair common-school education, and being trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to his calling. In August, 1861, when it became known that the country must go through a civil war of greater or less length, and preparations began to be made therefor, by calls for volunteers to defend the Union, Mr. McCreary, with the enthusiasm of youth, and a devotion to his country born of the purest patriotism, responded promptly to the call, enlisting in Company F, One Hundredth Pennsylvania infantrj^. ■ His military history is best told in the recorded triumphs, suffering and losses of his regi- ment, whose fortunes he followed from the date of his enlistment to the close of the war. The One Hundredth Pennsyl- vania, which bore the designation of "roundheads,'" was recruited mainly in the part of the state which was settled b}' English roundheads and Scotch-Irish cov- enanters, and it proved itself eminently worthy of its ancestral origin and name- sakes. It was officered by Col. Daniel Leasure and Col. Norman J. Maxwell, both brevet brigadier-generals. It began its service at the opening of the war and continued on the front and in the thickest of the fight till the surrender. Like most of the other Ninth corps regiments, its ser- vice was a varied one ; it made long jour- neys b}' sea and land, and fought its battles in many and widely separated states. It participated in twenty-three of the hardest fought battles of the war, being present at only four engagements in which it did not ])articipate, and it lost, out of a total enrollment of two thousand and fourteen enlisted men, eight hundred and eighty- seven in killed and wounded, only twenty- nine of whom died in Confederate prisons. Its heaviest losses were sustained at James island. South Carolina; ]\Ianassas, Vir- ginia; South mountain, Maryland ; Spott- sylvania, Cold Harbor, siege of Peters- burg, Petersburg mine and Port Sted- man. Lieut.-Col. Dawson fell, mortally wounded, in the assault on Petersburg ; Lieut.-Col. Pentecost was killed at Fort Stedraan ; Major Hamilton and Adjutant Leasure fell in the fighting at the Peters- burg mine, and five line-officers fell at Manassas. Mr. McCreary was temporarily disabled by the explosion of a shell before Petersburg, receiving a severe shock and having his hat cut into holes. He was mustered out at the close as sergeant, having entered as private. He retui'ned to Pennsylvania, and moved afterwards to Ohio, and then to Illinois, and still later, in 1873, to Nebraska, settling at that date in Buffalo county, where he took a home- stead in Sharon township, where he has since resided, except a year or so spent in BUFFALO COUNTY. «3 Shelton, near by. Mr. McCi'eary has become thorouohlv identified with the farming interests of his community, and it is no flattery to him, nor injustice to his neiglibors, to say that he has made better success than the average farmer. He owns five hundred and sixty acres of splendid land, agricultural and grazing, all of which he has in a paying condition. lie is a large cattle feeder, and is recog- nized as one of the clear, level-headed business men of his locality — solid and I'eliable. Mr. McCreary married, in 1863, a lady of his native county, Miss Catherine Craig, and this union has been blessed with five children— J. Craig, Frank A., Lula, Gertie and Nettie. He and his excellent wife are zealous members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. JEKEMIAH TAWNEY, farmer, was born in Westmoreland count}'. Pa. June 30, 1836, and there learned the trade of a stone mason. His father, Adam Tawney, was also a native of Penn- sylvania and was brought up to black- smithing, which trade he followed until his death in 1854. Adam married Eliza- beth, daughter of John Rudolf, of (Tcrman descent. John Rudolf was a pioneer of Westmoreland county, was the keeper of the fort in that territory during the Indian troubles, and followed the vocation of a farmer during the intervals of peace. To the marriage of Adam and Elizabeth Tawney were born seven ciiildren, Jere- miah being the sixth ; he and his brother, David M., are now the only survivors of the family — the latter residing still on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Jeremiah Tawney, responding to the call to arms in defence of the Union, vol- unteered in Company F, Eleventh Pensyl- vania infantry, was mustered in at Har- risburg, October 14, 1861, .and assigned to the arm\' of the Potomac. He took part in twenty-six battles in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, taking an active part in that of Gettysburg and being present also at the surrender of Gen. Lee. At Fredericksburg he was shot through the right ear and also received a gun-shot wound in the top of the head. His gallantry in action and his attention to his military duties in general raised him to the rank of second lieutenant, which position he held until mustered out. At the close of the war his command marched from Richmond to Washington and took part in the grand review, and thence went to Harrisburg, Pa., Avhere he received an honorable discharge. After his return home he pursued his regular trade, and in 1867 married Miss Melissa, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Snow, both natives of Pennsylvania. Samuel Snow is a cooper by trade, is also a farmer, and is still living in his native state. To the union of Jeremiah Tawney and wife have been born six children, named as follows — Harry A., Lettie M., Alice M., Delia M., Nannie E. and Sarah Maud. February 4, 1881, found Mr. Tawney and his family in Nebraska, with his homestead in section 26, township 12, range 14, he having purchased a quarter section, of which twelve acres had been broken. He has now a comfoi'table frame 434 BUFFALO COUNTY duelling, one hundred and forty acres of land under cultivation and fenced in, and an orchard of one hundred and fifty apple trees, all the result of his own industry and enterprise, as he had but little capital when he settled here. He had become very popular in his neighborhood and has been twice elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify for the second term ; he has also served two terms as road over- seer and five years as school director. While in Pennsj'lvania he was for five years a captain in the National Guards, his company having been named the Col- ter Guards, in honor of Gen. Colter, who had presented it with a fine stand of col- ors. In religion, Mr. Tawney is a, Pres- bvterian, to which church he and his fam- ily belong and in which he has been a dea- con over five years. He is a member of the G. A. E. and of the Farmers' Alliance. Politically he is a republican. JUDGE WILLIAM K. LEAKN, one of the most popular citizens of Kear- ne3', Nebr., was born in New York State, December 19, 1853, and is a son of William R. and Charlotte (Green) Learn, the former a native of Wales, who came to America when 3'oung and here met and married Miss Green, but was not spared long to aid and comfort her, nor even to behold the face of her offspring, as he died a few months before the sub- ject of this sketch was born. Subse- quently, however, Mrs. Learn found a protector in the person of H. Z. Hayner, who in 1851 was chief justice of the supreme court of Minnesota. William R. Learn, the subject proper of this sketch, received a preparatory educa- tion at Yonkers, N. Y., and at the early age of fourteen entered the law office of E. Delafield Smith, ex-United States dis- trict attorney and corporation counsel for New York Citj', with whom he began the study of law, but afterward read with R. W. Ilawkes worth, of 115 and 117 Broadway, in the same city, and later studied further with W. Q. Judge, also of New York City. After being admitted to the bar he began practice on his own account in the New York World building, and was so employed when that noble structure succumbed to the ravages of fire. In 1881 the aspiring and now well qualified j'oung attorne}' came to Kear- ney, Buffalo count}", Nebr., yet did not at once enter on the practice of his profes- sion, but took a more prudent course and eno-affed as clerk in the store of G. Kra- mer, preferring an appreciable and certain income for a time, rather than depending on the somewhat precarious fees of a newh'-come attorney. He afterwards en- gaged in the insurance business, but. the office of constable having become vacant, he accepted that position, under appoint- ment, and filled out the unexpired term, his knowledge of the law being of no mean assistance to him in the performance of the duties pertaining to the office. At tlie expiration of the term he was elected to the office, so great was the satisfaction he had given in carrying out its functions under appointment. Following the expira- tion of his duties in this position, he was advanced a step in political life by his admiring constituents, and in November, 1887, was elected justice of the peace, the county stepping-stone to higher official BUFFALO COUNTY. 425 preference. April 1, 1888, he was elected police jiuloe of the city of Kearney, and in the fall of 1889 was re-elected justice of the peace, and in April, 1890, was elected police judge, this fact showing that his executive abilities have been fully recognized. He is, in reality, a conserv- ative executor of the law, and his thorough knowledge of the statutes is his guide in making his almost infallible decisions. His intuitive knowledge of human nature also comes to his aid and enables him to discriminate between the hardened crimi- nal and the novice in transgression of the law. To the former he deals out the full penalty due as an expiation of his offense, while to the latter his leniency is extended, with a hope that a redemption to virtue may be made of the incipient culprit, and that he may in the hereafter become a good and worthy citizen. The matrimonial union of the judge took place April 18, 1884. Two children have blessed this marriage and are named William R. and Eugene George. The Judge is a member of the A. O. U. W., of the K. of P., and also of the Modern Woodmen's fraternity. A F. GIBSON is one of the few re- maining old settlers left of the original eighty-five composing the Soldiers' Free Homestead Colony', b}' which the village and township of Gibbon were mainly settled. He came with the colonv m April, 1871, and has been a resi- dent of the town and township since. He had just turned into his twenty-first year when he came to Buffalo county, and was one of the unmarried men of the colonv. He came West like all of his associates to better his condition. He came to stay, and, whether by accident or design, he came in a condition to effectually carry out this purpose, being unincumbered by any ties and unconcerneil for the future except as to himself. In the general selection of homesteads which took place a few days after the settlement of the colony, Mr. Gibson chose an " eighty " in the south- west quarter of section 22, township 9, range 14, west, lying only a short dis- tance from where the town of Gibbon was located. He settled on this soon after selecting it and immediately began his improvements. His first efforts toward making a farm on the raw prairies, with little or nothing to go on, in a new and untried condition of agriculture, far from market and unsurrounded by an}^ of the helps and conveniences common in the older communities of the East, were such as are well known by experience to hun- dreds of old settlers all over this state, but which doubtless will not be sufficiently known to or appreciated b}' those who will come in after years. He began in an humble way, as did all. The first tedious stages of building and breaking being over, the seasons of grasshoppers and dry years followed. He suffered the privations and hardships which all were forced to sufiPer during those times of trial, but he stuck to his purpose and never allowed his interest to flag or his courage to weaken. He took a cheerful and even hopeful view of the situation and remained, confidently awaiting better times. Better times came, but they came very gradually. Even after the crisis of 1873-4-5 was passed it was a long and arduous struggle and a conflict of ajipar- 426 BUFFALO COUNTY. ently unequal strength and often of seem- ingly doubtful issue. Mr. Gibson remained on his farm making his way as best he could and demonstrating the virtue in the homely old maxim of '' keep pegging away" until in time his footing was as- sured and he reached something of a breathing spell. During this time he had remained single, fighting the battle alone, determined to win it if he could, and if he could not to go down without dragging an}' one with him. In the fall of 1877, however, when he felt that he had reached a point where he could afford to take the step, he decided to marry, and on Octo- ber 9th of that year he was united to Miss Louisa A. Brodrick, daughter of James and Maria Brodrick, then of Buf- falo count}'^, having moved to this county a few years previous. Mr. Gibson re- mained on the farm and continued to im- prove his homestead and gradual!}' ac- cumulated property till 1883. He then moved into Gibbon, where he now resides, but 3'et retains his farm interests. In 1883 he engaged in the livery business and at the same time began, in 1886, to deal in agricultural implements. He sold his liver}' business in 1886 and in 1888 bought of T. B. George the Enterprise mill, which had recently passed out of the hands of its builders and was then strug- gling to maintain its existence as a paying institution. Mr. Gibson divides his time between his farm, his implement business and his mill. The mill is one of the promising- enterprises of Gibbon and will doubtless groW into an industry of great profit. It was built in 1886 by F. C. Hitchcock, then cashier of the State bank of Gibbon, with funds which, as it after- wards turned out, belonged to the bank. It was transferred to the directors of the bank to secure them against loss, and by them sold to T. B. George and thence passed into the hands of the present owner. When built, it was designed to meet what was then believed to be a growing demand for mill products such as were not made in the regular flouring mills. It is a buhr-stone mill, run by steam, and makes everything excejjt wheat flour. Formerly it was not a paying in- vestment, but under its present manage- ment it is developing a good local trade and is reaching out considerably towards the northwest, in which direction there is unquestionabh' a good field for its prod- ucts. Mr. Gibson's farming and stock in- terests and agricultural implement busi- ness are gradually growing, so that all round his affairs seem to be in a reasonably pi'osperous condition. Further comment on his ability and standing as a business man or his value to the community as a citizen need hardly be given. The above facts show what he is and what he has done. He has been a quiet but neverthe- less a ver}' efficient force in the growth and development of his adopted home. He is a prudent, thoughtful man. He watches the details of his business with care and personally sees that all things are done in a proper manner. He has been schooled mainly in the affairs of the world and is in the strictest and best sense of the word a business man. He is plain and straightforward in his dealings and practical and matter of fact in his methods. Probably his chief characteris- tics are those which have been developed and brought into p'ominence by his long residence and hard experience in this com- munity, these characteristics being his BUFFALO COUNTY. 427 persevering- industry, strict attention to his own personal concerns, his liberal manner of dealing with others and his broad and generous sympathy with those struggling under difficulties or misfortunes. As remarked at the beo'innino: of this sketch, Mr. Gibson is one of the few old settlers who still remain in this vicinity. He is one of the fewer still who have never resided elsewhere, even temporarily, since he first settled here, now nearly twenty years ago. How much courage it has taken to pull patiently througl* twenty years in Buffalo county those who do not know ma}' gain some idea of by reading tlie history of the county. The first dec- ade were yeai-s of toil, of privation and suffering, which none but those possessing the stoutest hearts could endure. They were years of pathetic interest, for they carried with them the issue of life and death to strug-oling men and women. In the men who passed through the trials of these years are to be found some of the best specimens of manhood, some of the highest-minded, most reputable citizens of the country, not the least of whom is the subject of this memorial article. Reverting to his earlier \'ears in order that we may preserve something of his ancestral history for tliose who may grow up to read this work, it may be recorded that A. F. Gibson was born in Mercer county, Pa., July 17, 1850, of parents who were also Pennsylvanians by birth. He is a son of Samuel and Mary E. Gibson and a descendant of two of the first settled families of western Pennsyl- vania. His father is a native of Lawrence county, and his mother was born in Mer- cer county. Tiiese counties join, and his parents have at times been different resi- dents of each, and are still living. His mother bore the maiden name of Wilson and was a daughter of John Wilson, a na- tive of Westmoreland county, Pa., who settled many years ago in Mercer county. Mr. Gibson comes of good stock, his peo- ple as a rule being substantial well-to-do farmers. They are marked chiefly for the quietness of tlieir lives and, on his mother's side, for their love of home and their attachment for one another. They are not as a rule migratory, though both his grandfathers were pioneers, with, it may be presumed, a taste for the pleasures of pioneer life, and were not unacquainted with its hardships and dangers. These qualities Mr. Gibson in a large measure inherits ; and these qualities, modified by the peculiarities of his local surroundings, have made him what he is. Mr. Gibson has a pleasant home and a family of four children — Claude Wilson, Carl Brodrick, Guy and Glenn. JACOB GABPJELis one of Kearney's oldest, and has been one of her most industrious citizens. He is a native of Prussia and comes of Prussian- born parents. His father, Jacob Gabriel, Sr., was born in the town of Sarlonis, Prussia, in the year 1797. He was reared in his native country, served in the Austro-Prussian war, married a few years after and immigrated to the United States, coming in 1841 and settling in Grant county, Wis., where he shorth' after- wards died, and was buried at the town of Plattville, that county. He was an industrious, upright, useful citizen, a devout member of the Catholic church 428 BUFFALO COUNTY. and a devoted husband and father. Mr. Gabriel's mother came to the United States a year or so after her husband did, bringing with her the subject of this sketch. He was then quite small, having been born in 1841 in Sarlonis. He was reared in Grant county, Wis., and as soon as he was old enough began the battle of life alone and unaided. He followed his first employment as a laborer in the lead mines in Grant count}' ; then, in his twen- tieth year, he started for the great mining reo-ion of the Pacific coast, making his wa}' across the "plaint" in the early days before the time of the railroads. He lived in California for six j'ears, engaged in mining in one locality and another, and making during the time some money and gathering a world of experience. Return- ing in 1867, he paid a short visit to his old home in Grant county, Wis., and then went to Memphis, Tenn., where be en- gaged as overseer on a cotton plantation. Two years later he came to Nebraska, and, settling at Nebraska City, in Otoe county, began stock-raising and boring wells. In 1872 he came to Buffalo county, locating at Kearney, which was then just starting. He took a homestead at that date in the county and continued farming, stock-rais- ing and well-boring. In 1878 he opened a saloon in Kearney, which he conducted successfully for some years. He built the third brick house that was erected in Kearney, which was occupied by him as a saloon, he furnishing the capital and his partner, Casper Cornelius, conducting the business till 1886, when they closed out. He has since gone into the stock business, for which he has always had a liking and at which he has been very suc- cessful. Mr.Gabriel married, February 10, 1879 — his wife being Miss Jennie Pearson, of Kear- ney. This union has never been blessed with any issue, but in 1884 Mi\ and Mrs. Gabriel adopted a bright little fellow, now thirteen years old, whom they have named Joseph Cower Gabriel and to whom they are gi'eatl^^ attached. Mr. Gabriel is a member of the Catholic chui'ch, while Mi's. Gabriel is a member of the Lutheran church, and, being of a kind and generous disposition, give liber- ally to all benevolent purposes. WL. COOK. The subject of this sketch is one of Kear ney's enterprising 3'oung business men. He is a native of Han- over, Prussia, where also his parents and grandparents were born, his people being of German ancestry' from time imme- morial. Mr. Cook, with that commendable adaptability to local surroundings that characterizes his counti'ymen as well as in accordance with good taste and sound sense, Americanized his name on coming to this country, it originally being Will- iam Ludwig Joachim Kock. Mr. Cook's father, Johan Heinrich Joachim Kock, was born in 1831, grew up in his native country, served his term in the Hanover army, married Louisa Stephens, of his native place, in 1851, and immigrated to America in 1869, settling at Laporte, Ind. There, after several years of suc- cessful business pursuits, he was over- taken by financial disaster, and lost the bulk of his life-earnings, spending his later years in an ineffectual effort to BUFFALO COUNTY. 429 regain his wasted fortunes. He died in 1887 and was buried in Laporte. lie was a lifelong member of the Lutiieran church and a man of warm heart and generous impulses. The subject of this notice was born May 15, 1852. He came alone to America in 1869, and was reared mainly at La- porte, Ind., where they settled. His early education was limited. Being of an active and independent disposition, he struck out for himself at the age of fif- teen, finding his first em]iloyment as a farm hand. Since that date, his career has been a checkered one, he having seen much of the ups and downs — the sunshine and the shadows — of this life, lie has visited many places and followed manj' different vocations for a liveli- hood. He came to Nebraska in 1878, driving through from Laporte, Ind., with wagon and team. He traveled extensively over this state during the first few years of his residence here, and taking two or three trips back East, and one or two further West. He came to Kearney in 18S1, and after following different pursuits secured a position with the Union Pacific Land Comi)any, anil went to Europe in their interest. He succeeded, after two years' residence and hard labor in the old country, in inducing many of his countrA'raen to immigrate to America, and assisted them in securing homes in Nebraska along the line of the Union Pacific railroad. He located per- manently in Kearney in 1886, engaging at that date in manufacturing cigars and tobacco, a business he lias prosecuted steadily since. He is one of Kearney's live, progressive men, public-spirited and wide-awake, thorough-going in iiis busi- ness methods, and attentive to his own personal concerns. He is popular not only in his trade, but as a citizen at large and has a host of friends and well-wish- ers. He is a zealous member of the Knights of Pythias, having been past chancellor of that fraternity, and is now chairman of the boai'd of trustees of his lodge. He is an efficient member of the Kearney fire tlepartment, being foreman of Wide-Awake Hose Company. He married at Behring, Mich., in 1875, the lady whom he chose for a companion being a native of that place. His wife died May 26, 1876, leaving one child — Birty William Cook. Mr. Cook married again August 2, 1879, his second wife being Miss Hukla Strand. He was elect- ed councilman of the third ward of Kearney, Nebr., the spring of 1890, also received his commission as lieutenant adjutant of the Third regiment, Nebraska brigade, U. R. K. of P., in the year of 1889. DR. J. C. HULL, born June 14, 1827, is a son of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Van Winkle) Hull. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, but went with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, when fifteen j'ears of age. After some years there he moved into Iowa, where he resided until he died. His life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and was a quiet, uneventful one, filled with peace and contentment. Dr. Hull is of old Pennsylvania and Virginia stock. He was born and reared on a farm, and followed the vocation of farming until he reached his majority. 430 BUFFALO COUNTY. He possessed a bo\'ish ambition to become a physician, and the desire to gratify the ambition of his boyhood increased with his 3'ears. At the age of twenty-five he left the old farm home, and all its endear- ing ties, and entered the office of Dr. Henry Hull, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he began reading medicine. He after- wards attended lectures at the Eclectic College of Medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from that institution in 1854. He entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at Trenton, Henry county, Iowa, and remained there till 1874, when he went to Colorado Springs, Colo. After remaining there one year he moved to Kearney, Buffalo county, Nebr., locating there in 1875, and resuming the practice of his profession. Dr. Hull is one of the pioneer ph3'sicians of Kearney. His prac- tice has increased with the growth of the city, and no phj'sician ranks higher in Kearney tlian he. Februar}' 15, 1855, he married Miss Nancy Updegraff. This union has been blessed with four children — Charlie M., Frank W., Howard J., and George M. Mrs. Dr. J. C. Hull's birthday was April 22, 1832. She is a daughter of Abraham Updegraff of Henry county, Iowa. He was a leading and influential citizen in his county, and took an active and conspic- uous part in its affairs. He was a popular man, and was elected by his fellow-citi- zens to represent their county in the legis- lature. He was born September 30, 1807, and died June 13, 1855, in Henry count}', Iowa, after a short but well spent life. Mrs. Hull's mother was Elenor Updegraff, daughter of Kobert Currigan. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and died in the happy consolation of her religious faith. Mrs. Dr. Hull is an exce])tionall\' intelligent woman, and is a leading spirit and zealous worker in the cause of tempei'ance. She has been for ten 3'ears a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, is known for her zeal and enthusiasm in promoting its cause, and has served as president of the organization in Kearney for several years. Dr. Hull is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He for many years affiliated with the democratic party, but is now a prohibitionist and is a co-worker with his estimable wife in the cause of temperance. Dr. and Mrs. Hull move in the highest social circles of Kearne}', and their friends are numbered by their acquaintances. PATEICK DOOLEY was born in Ireland, March 18, 1843, and is the son of Michael and Alice (Murray) Dooley. His parents were both devoted members of the Catholic church, and died about 1850. Patrick Dooley came to America in 1860, landing in New York City on the fourth of April, after a tempestuous voyage lasting six weeks and five days. He first located at Marshall, Calhoun county, Mich., but when the tocsin of war was sounded, Pat. Dooley was among the first to volunteer, the date of his enlistment in the Second Michigan cavalry, being September 12, 1861. He faced the enemy fii'st in Missouri and afterwards at the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Stone river, Franklin, Spring hill, Perryville, Chickamauga, Nashville and Blue mountain. He was taken prisoner at the last named place and BUFFALO COUNTY. 431 sent to Coon Bridge, Ala., where he was paroled May S, 1805. lie was also taken prisoner at Brentwood, Tenn., but was released soon afterwards at Columbia, S. C. He was wounded in the left thigh at the battle of Chickaniauga, September 20, 1S63. He was mustered out at Colum- bus, Ohio, June 20, 1SG5, and few men saw more actual service than Pat. Dooley. He came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in the spring of 1879 and took a homestead in Gardner township, where he has since resided. He was married in November, 1865, to Miss Agnes Cassidy, who was born in Lee, Mich., November 25, 1847, and is the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Balf ) Cassidy, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Her father came to America in 1832 and was one of the early pioneers of Marshall, Mich. He died in May, 1888. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dooley has resulted in the birth of sixteen children — Mar^', Jennie, Eugene, Thomas, Christo- pher, Bernard (deceased ), Isabel, Mabel (burned to death at the age of seven), Joseph, Hugh, Bessie, Evilen, Zoe, Ada- iaide and two died in infancy. Mr. Doole\' has a fine farm of 320 acres and has lately erected a handsome frame dwelling. In politics he is an Alliance man. CHESTER W. PUTNAM was born in Centerville, N. Y., November 18, 1833, and is the son of Ebenezer and Philena (Maxson) Putnam. His father was a native of Ver- mont and was a carpenter bv occupation. He died in 1834, and his widow died December 12, 1859. The paternal grand- father of Chester W. was a cousin of Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame. C. W. Putnam began working for the Lake Shore and ]\Iichigan Southern R. R. Company in Soutiiern Michigan when twenty years old, and continued in the em])Ioyment of this corjioration for several years. He iiad in the meantime become quite proficient as a painter and worked at his trade in Racine, Wis., for about twelve years. He enlisted in Februaiy, 1805, in the Forty-ninth Wisconsin regi- ment. Ad this time, however, the war was drawing to a close and he saw no real service, but was mustered out in the fol- lowing November. He had offered his services three years previous, but was rejected on account of a disabled arm. After the war he continued his occupation as painter until 1877, when he came to Buffalo county, Nebr., and took a claim in Cedar township, on which he has since resided. When he landed at Kearney he had barely $200. He pnrciiased a team of mules and necessarj^ farming imple- ments and began work in earnest. The first season he harvested four hundred and four bushels of wheat, which he sold at 70 cents per bushel, and has sjnce been quite successful in raising both wheat and corn. When he first settled in the town- ship there were only three or four families, and wild game was plenty. He has often seen large herds of antelope and deer. Mr. Putnam was married in December, 1856, to Miss Caroline Thompson. They hav^e three children — Charles 11. , Chester W., and Carrie P. Mrs. Putnam was born in Pennsvlvania, February 21, 1834, and is the daughter of Lyman and Annie Thomp- son, natives of New England. Her father 432 BUFFALO COUNTY. died in Indiana in 1883 and her motliei- had preceded liim some time. Mr. Put- nam has held various offices of trust in the township and is quite well known throughout the county. JOHN WOLF was born near Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa, No- vember 13, 1855. His father, John D. Wolf, was born in Germany in 1815. He came to America at the age of twenty-two, served in the United States army in the war with Mexico, and then made a tour of the Eastern, Western and Southern states before deciding to locate permanently at any place. He finally settled in Johnson county, Iowa, and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. During his residence in Iowa, he took consider- able interest in local affairs and filled va- rious local offices with credit. He immi- grated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1880, and settled in Thornton towmship. He married Catherine Brunner in 1853. She was a native of France, having been born near Strassburg, but came to America when a young woman. Seven children were born to them, of whom John, the subject of this sketch, was the second. John Wolf remained on his father's farm in Iowa until twenty-three years of age, when he emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in company with four other young men, former neiglibors. All except one settled in this county. Mr. Wolf pur- chased railroad land in Thornton town- ship and began life's battle in earnest. At that time the country thereabouts was sparsely settled, there being only two houses in sight. He built a sod house, which served his purpose until 1886, when it was superseded by a modern frame building. He now has one hundred and twenty acres of well-improved land about eight miles north of Kearne}'. Mr. Wolf was married, November 29, 1880, to Miss Maggie Henderson, who was born in Illinois October 2, 1865. Her par- ents were Abraham and Elenor (Rough) Henderson, natives of Illinois. They emi- grated to Missouri, and in 1872 came to Nebraska, settling in Centre township, this county. Mr. Henderson was a far- mer by occupation, and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Henderson died December 2-1, 1878. Three children now bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, namely — Ida M., born May 24, 1882; Lillie K., born November 11, 1885, and Nettie E., born October 22, 1887. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Wolf has held various important township offices, and alwaj's affiliates with the democratic party. NATHAN P McDonald. Al- though Mr. McDonald has been a resident of Buffalo county only since 1887, he has succeeded in mak- ing himself sufficiently prominent to deserve mention in the county's biograph- ical souvenir. He is a son of Donald and Arcelia (Badgley) McDonald. The former, a native of Scotland, was born in 1830, and came to America when he was about twenty-five years of age. In 1860, he was married to Mrs. Badgley, a widow lady, having two sons, viz. — Levant, who is now B UFFA LO CO UA' Tl \ 43:} clerk of the district court in Pattawatomie county, Kans., and John, now principal of the public schools of Kimball, Nebr. To Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born two sons, Nathan P. and Leniont. The paternal grandfather was Duncan McDon- ald, a native of Scotland, and the maternal grandparents were Lj'man and Amy (Alby) Calkins. The subject of this memoir was born near Columbus, "Warren count}'. Pa., in 1802. Living on a farm, he had the early training of industry and economy incident to thriftv farming with moderate means. His education during bo3'hood was acquired in the district school, where he was always among the best of his class. When sixteen years of age, he accepted a position as clerk in a store, which position he held for two and a half years, always enjoying the confidence and esteem of his employer. Mr. McDonald left the store to extend his education. Two years hav- ing been passed in the cit}' school of Corry, Pa., and one year at Sugar Grove Seminary, Pa., be decided to go to college. This was a difficult task, as he was depending entirely upon his own resources to provide means. By dint of economy and strict frugality, he maintained himself two years in a classical course in Otterbein university at Westerville, Ohio. "While in college, Mr. McDonald was a close student, and carried a high grade of scholarshiji. He took special interest in literary work, and was a prominent member of the Philophronean Literary Society of that institution. Circumstances over which he had no control compelled Mr. McDonald to abandon his hope of conipieting the two remaining years of his college course. He came AVest in December of 1886, and engaged in teaching near Louisville, in Kansas. From there he came to Elm Creek, Nebr., where he engaged as prin- cipal of the Elm Creek school. He has proven himself a successful teacher, and a popular gentleman, in every way worthy of the confidence of the people. Being a republican, he was the choice of that partv for the office of county superintend- ent of public instruction, of Buffalo county, in the election of 1889. This position he now holds. In 1888, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Ella Upton, of Kearne}', Eev. Leslie Stej)hens officiating. Mrs. McDonald is a native of Illinois, born in Olney, Richland county. In 1875, she, with her parents, moved to Roanoke, "Woodford county, and in 1887 she moved to Kearney, Nebr. Mrs. McDonald is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. One child, Archie, born in 1889, makes music in their home. JAMES M. SMITH, son of Andrew and Selenor (Mackley) Smith, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, October 9, 1839. His father was born in Kentuckj'^ in 1811, and emigrated to Jackson county, Ohio, early in life. In 1842 he moved to Indiana, and in 1845 emigrated to Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1S82, where he has since resided. He has been an active member of the United Brethren church for fifty years. His father was a native of South Carolina and was of Irish descent. He died in ISjII. Tlie maternal grandfatiier, John Mackle}', was born inVirginiaand was of Dutch descent. 434 BUFFALO COUNTY. He also died in 1S50. His wife was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and died in 1842. James M. Smith was a strong Union man during the dark days of the rebellion, and enlisted November 2, 1864, in the Thir- teenth regiment, Iowa infantry, and went immediately^ to tiie front. He partici- pated in the battle of Nashville, and also in the terrible struggle at Decatur, Ala. He served under Gen. Thomas during most of his service and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, June 20, 1865. After he returned from the service he continued to farm in Iowa for ten years, then emi- grated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1874, and took a homestead in the southern part of Thornton township, built a sod house and began breaking sod preparatory to planting his first crop. The country was, or seemed like, one vast barren waste, inhabited only by wild beasts; antelope and deer were plent}', and one only had to go a short distance north of where Mr. Smith now resides to see herds of elk. The first year he planted considerable corn and had splendid prospects for a crop, but the grasshoppers came along by and b}'^ and soon destroyed every hope of raising any corn that year. Mr. Smith, however, was not discouraged, and the year following planted and succeeded in raising a good crop. His experience the third year, however, was simply a repeti- tion of the first, his entire prospect of a crop being destroyed by the grasshoppers. Even this did not wholly discourage him, for he had great faith in the future of the country and was determined to stay and give it another trial. He did so and has never e.x[)erienced a failure of crop since. He was formerly the owner of two hun- tired and forty acres of choice land, but has just presented each of his sons with a deed for eight}' acres. Mr. Smith was elected supervisor of Tliornton township in 1888 and filled the office with entire satisfaction to all his constituents. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, September 27, 1862, to Miss Nancy Ilendrickson. There were born to this union five chil- dren, namely — Minnie May, born July 27, 1863 (deceased); John J., born May 20, 1866; Andrew, born December 16, 1869 (married Hattie Carter); Maud, born March 6, 1872 (wife of Presley Clark), and Bertha Viola, born Sept. 11, 1876. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active and devoted members of the United Brethren church. CHAELES H. DOW, SE., farmer of Schneider township, Buffalo count}', Nebr., was born in Clark county, Ind., February 17, 1828. His father, Nathan Dow, was a native of Con- necticut, who was born in 1807 and died in 1842, having passed a quiet and industrious life as a weaver and farmer. He married Matilda Eobertson, who was born in Virginia in 1812. In politics Nathan Dow was a whig and in religion a Carmelite. The grandfather of Chas. H. Dow, Sr., was named Henry ; he was born in 1755, was a manufacturer of woolen goods, and also served as a captain in the war of 1812. His death took place in 1843. Charles H. Dow, Sr., began attending school at the age of four years and at the age of eight was removed to Morgan county, Ind., where he lived for eighteen 3' ears, engaged in bhicksmithing and farm- BUFFALO COUNTY 435 ing ; he then moved to Owen county, Ind., where he continued to follow the vocation of blacksmith. August, 1S62, he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-ninth Indiana volun- teers, and served at Corinth, Ft. Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champlain hills, Ed- ward's station and Vicksburg, and at the last named place was attacked with a pro- tracted sickness. On his recovery he rejoined his command at Huntsville, Ala., thence he went to Atlanta, and at the fall of tiiat city followed Sherman to the sea. His last action was at Bentonville, N. C, March 19 to 21, 1865, and his discharge took place at Washington, D. C, May 31, 1S65. August 14, 1S51, Mr. Dow married Lecena Porter, and to this union have been born thirteen children, viz. — Christiana J., Martha E., Thomas F., Charles H., Pressa M., Sarah M. (deceased), William S., Saletha A., Mary E., David B., Lorena A., Lily L., and Annie M. (deceased). Mr. Dow is a consistent member of the Methodist church; he is a member of Owen Lodge, 263, A. F. and A. M., Owen county, Ind., and of the G. A. R. JAMES THOMAS was born June 18, 1815, and is a son of Micliard and Barbara (Shedron) Thomas, the for- mer of whom, a wagon-maker by trade, was born and reared in Adams county. Pa., but emigrated to Stark county, Ohio, when a young man. where he lived until he died. There were nine children in the family, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, was the sixth. He was cast out among strangers, when a small boy, to make his way through the world. At the age of eighteen he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and afterwards folio wed mill-wi-icrhting. Wages in those days, even for skilled mechanics, were small in comparison with what they are now. After he had learned his trade he worked a long time as a journeyman receiving but $10.00 per month, and never received to exceed $1.2.5 per day. In 1840 he moved to Williams count}', Ohio, where he found employment as a mill-wright. He would work all day, then walk two miles to his home and work until a late hour at night clearing ground to raise his crop. He emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in the spring of 1873 and settled on a homestead in Thorn- ton township, where he built a small sod house and began to break prairie for his crop. He went to Gibbon on an errand one day soon after his arrival in the new country, and on his return home his team drowned while attempting to cross Wood river. The bridge gave wa\% the water being so high at the time. This was indeed a sad misfortune to him,for the loss of a team at that time meant a good deal. There was no settlement at all in the vicinity where he lived and wild game was plenty all about him. He has seen as many as five hundred elk in a drove along the Loup river and has killed many a one. He has hauled fuel for twenty miles and was a sufferer on account of the grass- hopper raids in 1874 and 1876, and thinks the chintz bugs were brought to this country by the grasshoppers. He has always had great faith in the future development of this country and its bright future when he first settled here. His wife was a daughter of Daniel Strong a native of Connecticut. He emigrated to 436 BUFFALO COUNTY. Ohio and later to De Kalb county, Ind., where he was struck by a falling tree sev- eral years afterwards and killed. Mrs. Thomas now resides with her son, Sheldon B., who is an honest hardworking young man. JS. HARRINGTON, 'merchant and real estate dealer of Kearney, Buf- falo county, is an old settler and prom- inent business man of his locality. He settled in Buffalo county in 1872, and has resided in that county and the city of Kearney since, and during all those j'ears has been actively identified with the best interests of his adopted home and com- munity. Mr. Harrington is a native of Vermont, having been born at Hyde Park, in the " Green Mountain " State, March 26, 1842. He comes of New England parentage, his father and mother both being Vermonters also by birth. His fatiier, Elisha Harrington, was born and reared in Middlesex, Vt., and passed all his years in his native place, being an in- dusti'ious, useful and highly respected farmer. His mother, Hannah Wisnall, also lived and died there. The subject of this sketch is the second of three children born to his parents. He was reared in his native place, and re- ceived a good common-scliool education in the schools of Hyde Park, finishing with a course of three terms at the Morrisville academy, at Morrisville, Vt. In May, 1861, at the age of nineteen, he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company E, Tliird Vermont infantry. He belonged to one of the "Tliree Hundred Fighting Regiments" of tlie Union armv and saw much service in the field. His regiment left the state in the fall of 1861 and moved at once to the front. On April 16, 1862, occurred the remarkable action at Lee's Mills, on the Warwick river, one of the defenses of Yorktown. Four companies of the Third— D, E, F and K— forded the stream in the face of the enemy, with a view of making a reconnoissance in force. Through mismanagement and lack of sup- port they were driven back, with a loss of eighty-nine killed and wounded out of the one hundred and ninety-two oflBcers and men that crossed. The detachment was ably commanded by Capt. Samuel E. Pingree, who was wounded twice during the fight. The regiment crossed the Rapidan May 4, 1864, with about six hundred effectives, under command of Colonel Seaver. On the following day, in the battle of the Wilderness, it lost thirty -eight killed, one hundred and sixty-seven wounded, and six missing; total, two hundred and eleven. At Spottsylvania it lost twenty- one killed and fifty-three wounded. At Cold Harbor the gallant Seaver, who com- manded the regiment at Marye's Heights, and in most all its battles, again led them in a blood}' assault, and, though there were less than three hundred in line there, the casualties were fourteen killed, fifty-three wounded and five missing. On July 16, 1864, the remnant of the regiment was mustered out, the recruits and re-enlisted men having been consolidated into a bat- talion of six companies, which remained iu the field. The regiment participated in eighteen of the leading battles of the war, and was present also at ten otiier i)rincipal engae'ements. Out of an enlistment of seventeen hundred anil fortv-eioht it lost J. S. HARRINGTON. BUFFALO COUNTY. •130 six hundred and seventy-nine in killed and wounded. At the battle of the Wilderness Mr. Harrington received a severe wound and being disabled from active service in the field was place on hospital duty at Mont- ])elier, A^t., and continued there until peace was declared. At the close of the war he, purchasing a farm near Montpelier, set- tled down to the peaceful pursuit of agri- culture. In 1869 he decided to immigrate West and at that date moved to Iowa and settled in tjie town of Red Oak, where he was alternately engaged in farming, butchering and merchandising. In 1872 he moved to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo county, taking a homestead of 160 acres seven miles northeast of Kearney. Remaining there one year he moved into Kearney and began to invest in real estate. Recently, in 1887, he opened a mercantile establishment in Kearney, since which time his interests have been real estate and merchandising combined. He is known to be one of the heaviest investors in real estate in the city of Kearney, and has probably erected more buildings than an}^ other one man in the city. lie has been activel}' identified witli man\' of the lead- ing enterprises that have sought favor in his community, and he has given liberally of his means towards their support and encouragement. lie is a man who believes in growth and development, and he has attested his faith by his acts. His career has been that of a business man strictly, and he is an indefatigable worker. He has never aspired to any public position ; and with the exception of the position of city councilman, he has never held any public office. Mr. Harrington married in 1866, the lady whom he selected to share fortunes being Miss Sarah A. Eastman, a native of New Hampshire, and like himself a descendant of old New England stock; Four children have been born to this union — Francis L., a leading hardware merchant of Kearney ; Clarence Eugene, a merchant at Stanley, Buffalo county ; Wilbur J., clerk in his father's store, and Elmer E. In politics Mr. Harrington is independ- ent, reservino: the right to vote for men and measures according to their merits. JAMES GASS first saw the light of day in New Brunswick, Canada, January 25, 1855, and is the son of Jose]ih and Isabella (Hannah) Gass, both of whom were born in Scotland, were married in Scotland, and came to America in 1850. They came to Nebraska in 1873 and were among the first settlers in Thornton township, Buffalo count3^ James Gass was twenty-three years old when he took up a claim in Thornton township. The countrv was very new and wild game was plenty, especially antelope, elk and deer, and he has seen a few wild horses and hundreds of Indians since his residence here. The settlers in those days were few and far between and the prairie was bare, except in the draws. As civilization advanced rain began to fall more evenly and the soil retained mois- ture better as it began to be cultivated. The climate has changed materially and grass grows much more profusely now tlian it did several years ago. During the grasshopper raid Mr. Gass did not leave, 440 BUFFALO COUNTY. as many others did, but concluded to stay as long as he could succeed in getting- enough to eat. He made up liis mind that he could stay on the money it would require to get awa}' on. The first election young Gass attended in this county was at Buda, in the fall of 1876. There were no township organizations then — only pre- cincts. There were only a few voters, and a few came the day before and camped out over night. They had too far to come to make the trip in one day. He herded cattle a gi'eat deal in an early day in the summer, and hunted in the autumn and trapped beaver in the winter. His terri- tory extended along the South Loup and Dismal for over one hundred miles northwest. He has been out all alone from August until November, and would only see two or three men in that time. He is the first son of a familv of nine chil- dren, the others being Rachel, Jane, Mary, Nicholas, Thomas, Joseph, Hannah and Nettie. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land under a fair state of cultiva- tion and lie has always succeeded in rais- ing good crops excepting two seasons. OSCAE F. HAMILTOIJ was born in Portage county, Ohio, June 8, 1845, and is the son of An- drew and Eliza (Mott) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was an iron woi'ker and worked in the rolling mills at Youngstown, Ohio. When the rebellion threateneil tiie life of the country he immediately enlisted and served through the war. His mother was a daughter of Elijah Mott, who was the first settler in Deerfiekl township, Portage county, Ohio. He died about 1842. Oscar F. Hamilton was but a bo}' when he enlisted, October 15, 1861, in the Tenth Ohio cavalry. He participated in the battles of Stone river, Chickamauga and Resaca, and followed Sherman to the sea and back through the Carolinas to the surrender at Greensboro, N. C. He was mustered out July 4, 1865, but re-enlisted in the regular army in the spring of 1866 and walked from Leavenworth, Kans., via Ft. Kearney, to Montana. He helped establish Ft. Reno, Ft. Phil Kearne}^ and Ft. C. F. Smith. During his service in the regular army he experienced several thrilling episodes while on the western frontier. He relates one incident espe- cially worthy of note, which happened near Ft. Phil Kearney in Montana. It was on the ninth of September, 1866, when about four hundred regulars were en- camped in Ft. Phil Kearney. Young Hamilton, with a party of soldiers, was sent to the timber about nine miles dis- tant to cut logs to be used in completing the fort. The fii'st thing tlie3' did was to erect a small log shanty in which they could lodge during the night. They knew, of course, that there were Indians in the country, but they did not suspect that they were in any immediate danger of being molested by them. However, they took the precaution of carefully stopping ever}'^ hole about the walls of their cabin, in order that no light from the fire within might penetrate the dark- ness without and disclose their where- abouts to outside intruders. One even- ing, just after they had retired for the night, they were suddenly startled by a BUFFALO COUNTY. ■141 shot from without. Although one of the boys had been severely wounded in the heel, he did not make the fact known to his comrades, but they at once suspected tJKit their cabin was surrounded by the I'ed skins. A kettle of water was daslied on the tire by one of the boys, wliile the others grabbed their guns and stationed themselves at the four port holes. Noth- ing could be seen until the Indians began to shoot lighted arrows of pine-pitch in order to set fire to the shanty. Whenever an Indian would shoot, thereby disclosing his location, the boys inside tiie shanty would shoot in that direction. The Indians were unsuccessful in their attempts to set fire to the shanty, but the firing was kept up between them for some time. When morning came Mr. Hamilton and a comrade volunteered to go out for water, which they had been in the habit of get- ting from a small creek near by. Wiien thev emerged from the shanty no Indians were in sight, so they proceeded to procure their kettle of water, while the few soldiers engaged in hauling the logs to the fort arrived, and while the awful experi- ence of the night before was being dis- cussed by the small group standing about the cabin, about sxxiy Indians emerged from a thicket near by and killed and scalped two soldiers who had just com- menced to cut down a tree within a few yards of the shanty. Before the soldiers could recover from their surprise, the wily Indians had disapjieared in the woods. It was supposed that they concealed them- selves in the bushes the previous night and were awaiting a favorable opportunity to commit their murderous acts. Oscar F. Hamilton left tiie regular army, March 3, 18G0, and was married July 17, 1870, at Three Oaks, Mich., to Charlotte Smith. She was born in Por- tage county, Ohio, June 2, 1841, and the daughter of Noah and Rebecca Smith, both of whom were natives of Ohio. This union was blessed by the birth of three children — Nettie (decea^d), Frank (deceased), and Ella. Mr. Hamilton came to Buffalo county, Nebr., October 3, 1873, and took up a homestead adjoining the present town of Armada. He was one of the first to settle in that locality and has been identified with every step of the wonderful progress made since. He laid out the present town of Armada and is doing as much as any other one man in furthering the growth and development of the town. He has been justice of the peace for several 3'ears and served as postmaster of Armada during Cleveland's administration. JAMES K. SMITH was born in Co- shocton county, Ohio, August 26, 1812, and is the son of Eli and Cathe- rine (Hastings) Smith, both of whom were Pennsylvanians by birth. Eli Smith came to Ohio with his parents when a lad, and remained with them until he was married. In 1850 he moved to McDonald county, 111., wiiere he died in 1878. He was a farmer and a highly re- spected and infiuential man in the com- munity where he lived. He was a justice of the peace for several years, and he and his faithful wife were members of the Methodist church. James K. Smith was only nineteen years of age when he joined a company of Illinois 443 BUFFALO COUNTY. volunteers in August, 1861. He was a gal- lant young soldier, and faced the enemy at the battles at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry and Pittsburg Landing. He was wounded five times in the last named battle, and Avas taken to the hospital at Savannah, and from «there to Marietta, Ohio, and thence to St. Louis, where he received his discharge November 1, 1863. After he had sufficiently recovered from the effects of his wounds he spent two years in school at Prairie City, HI. He then engaged in the marble business for four years, during which he had remarkable success. In 1869 he located at West Liberty, Iowa, and engaged in raising Osage orange for hedges. He planted and cultivated the first nursery in the state. A fter successf ulh' prosecuting this business for four years he retired, and engaged in farming for several years. He conducted a hotel at Tipton, Iowa, for three years, and in the spring of 1885 he came to Buffalo count3\ Nebr., and took a soldier's claim in the Wild Horse valley. He moved to Armada, Nebr., in the fall of 1S8S. and erected a hotel, which he is now conduct- ing with splendid success. He was married, March 18, 1869, to Sarah Dickerson, of West Liberty, Iowa. They had four children — Linie L., Annie, Willie and Clara. She was born in Ohio and died in 1878. He was next married. May 7, 1882, to Mary A. Linn. She was born in Iowa May 7, 1853. Her father was born in Tennessee and her mother in South Caro- lina. Her grandparents on both sides were large slave owners, and had large plantations in the South. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and of the G. A. K. BPtlNTON F. HAEBAUGH was born in Hamilton county. Ind., March 28, 1854, and is the son of Samuel and Amelia (Seaman) Har- baugh. His father was born in Kentucky in 1808, but was reared in Ohio. In 1S33 he moved to Indiana and in 1875 came to Nebraska. He was a wagon-maker by trade and was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He has several times been elected justice of the peace and is a respected member of the Christian church. B. F. Ilarbauffh leai'ned the wagon- maker's trade with his father, while a res- ident of Indiana. Being an industrious young man he concluded to accei)t the advice of that revered journalist, Horace Greeley, and go West. The spring of 1873 found him in Kearney, then a mere hamlet on the frontier. He followed the Wood river as far west as the present vilhge of Armada, where he filed a soldier's declar- ator}' claim to a quarter section for his brother and held it down for six months, when he purchased it for himself. He built a sod house and survived the grass- hopper raid, but witnessed great suffering among settlers in those dark daj's. There were few ways of earning mone\' then and many had to resort to hunting and trap- ping to gain a livelihood. In 1885 he moved to Armada and engaged in the implement business, which he continued for about three 3'ears. Mr. Ilarbaugh is now justice of the peace for Armada township, and has held various other local offices. He is a young man of excellent habits and of exceptional ability, and has a bright future before him. He manifests a deep interest in the rapiil development of Armada and the surround- ing countrv, and is confident that at no BUFFALO COUNTY. 443 distant day the success of tlie town will be assured. lie was married November 1, 1882, to Miss Judy Burt. Tiiey have two children — Georgia, born August 17, 1S83, and Annie, born November 21, 1884. Mrs. Harbaugli was born June 1 5, ISGl, and is the daughter of Arthur F. and Elizabeth (Campbell) Burt. JAMES M. FRANTZ was born at New Lexington. Perry county, Ohio, Februarv 21. 1835, and is the son of William and Nancy (Rush) Frantz. His father was born in Somerset county. Pa., April 8, 1808. At the age of twenty he moved to Perry county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Nanc^y Rush three j'ears later. William Frantz was a farmer by occupation and lived in Perry county until 1807, wiien he removed to Warren county. 111., where he died in 1867. His wife died in 1875. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was John Frantz, who was a Penns\'lvanian by birth, and Samuel Rush, the maternal grandparent, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a captain in the war of 1812. James M. Frantz was the eldest of a family of nine childi'en, and at twenty-one went to Warren county. 111., where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for a few years. He also spent several years in various mercantile pursuits. In 1873, he emigrated to Kearney, Nebr., and en- gaged in the drug business. The present lively young city of Kearney was then a mere frontier hamlet with only two or three hundred inhabitants. During the terrible blizzard on April 8. 1873, Mr. Frantz was there keeping a drug store and living in the upper story. The storm raged so fiercely that he did not come down stairs to open his store for three days. There were several car loads of cattle and hogs snow bound on the side tracks that actually perished. After the storm had passed over, the cars were emptied, and the dead stock hauled some distance south of town, where a good por- tion was consumed by a band of Pawnee Indians. During Mr. Frantz's residence in Kearney, he purchased and shipped fiftv car loads of buffalo bones. A great many settlers, for want of other emplo}'- ment, would gather buffalo bones from the prairie and market them to get money to supply themselves with the necessaries of life. He witnessed the trouble with the drunken cowboys in Kearney, in 1874, and saw two of them shot on their horses by village officials. James M. Frantz was married, Januar}- 31, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Campbell. The five children born of this union are named Canzada, Mina, Areta, Harry and Charlie. Mrs. Frantz was born in Fayette county, Pa., June 28, 1842, and is the daughter of James M. and Jane N. (Smiler) Camp- bell, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania. They emigrated to Illinois in 1853, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Her mother died in 1875 and her father in 188i). Mr. Frantz is now in the di-ug business in the flourishing little town of Armada, Nebr., and is meeting with splendid success. He is a prominent member of the masonic fraternity, and both he and his estimable wife belons: to the Christian church. 444 BUFFALO COUNTY JOHN" MAHON was born in Dela- ware county, N. Y., October 5, 1824. His father, Paul Mahon, was born in Ireland and came to America in 1798. He was well educated and taught school in New York State for several years. He married Miss Lyda Moore, daughter of Col. John Moore, who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. Soon after marriage they emigrated to Penns^'lvania, where they resided during the remainde»of their lives. John Mahon was the fourth of a family of nine children. He left home when a lad ten years old, and has never seen his parents since. He went to New York and lived with an aunt until he was old enough to learn a trade, and then served an apprenticeship as a machinist at Troy, N. Y., and soon afterwards accepted a po- sition in the United States arsenal at Springfield, Mass. He was in Washing- ton, D. C, during the Polk administra- tion, where he was connected with the Adams & Shoemaker Express Company'. In 1846, he enlisted, at Brooklyn, N. Y., in the navy department and served on board the Trenton in the Mexican war. In 1848 he returned to New York, and soon sailed for California on the steamer Fremont. While in California he was en- gaged in mining and various enterprises. During his stay in the West he made sev- eral trips to Panama and various other places of note. He also spent several years in the Mare Island navy yard, now one of the largest in the United States. During his several years' residence in Cali- fornia, he became intimately acquainted witli many of the most prominent public men in that state. He was a special friend of Senator Broderick, who was killed by Judge Terry, and knew the latter very well, but disliked him very much. In 1869, he visited Pennsylvania, where he met and married Miss Harriet liilgore. She was a daughter of W. H. and Lyda Kilgore, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania. Soon after marriage Mr. Mahon went to Idaho, where he worked at his trade for about a year. He came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in October, 1871, and was the first settler on the site where now stands the magnificent city of Kearney. He built the first house and lielped to lay out the town site. He had charge of the real estate in the town belonging to tlie Pt. R. com- Union Pacific and B. & M. panics', for about two years. In the spring of 1875 he assisted in the survey of the Fort Kearney I'eservation and then took a claim on which he resided for about four years. He tiien moved to Custer countj^, where he was engaged in stock-raising for about ten years. He next purchased a farm near Armada in June, 1889, and is now living on it. Mr. Maiion had a varied and interestino- O experience duiing his early settlement in this county. He was one of its earliest settlers and knows something about pio- neer life in a new country. He has seen the time when buffalo were plenty in this county and has eaten some of the meat of a buffalo killed on the ground whei'e Kearney now stands. He has watched with a keen eye the wonderful develop- ment of this counti'3', and the rapid pro- gress made has far exceeded his most sanguine expectations ; but he believed from the start that there was a bright future in store for this rich and unde- veloped vallej' of the Platte. BUFFALO COUNTY. 445 Mr. and Mrs. Million liave but one cliild — Willie, born in Kearney, July 23, 187*"). Mr. Mahon is a member of the Masonic and K. of P. fraternities and is also a member of the Pioneer Association of California. He is an ardent believer in temperance, and during his varied ex- perience in life he has never tasted a drop of intoxicating liquor. lie is no politician, but has always voted the republican ticket, lie stands high socially and morally and enjo^'s the confidence and respect of all bis associates. HENEY C. GREEN, one of the highly prosperous and influen- tial farmers near Armada,Nebr., was born in the county of Kent, in Dela- ware, February 22, 18-42, and is the son of James P. and Hester (Conley) Green, both of whom are natives of Delaware. His father was a farmer and a member of the Ba])tist chui-ch. He was born in 1804 and died in 1855. Mrs. Hester Green was a member of the Methodist church and died in 1849. Henry C. Green had onlv such educa- tional advantages as were afforded by the common schools of the day, and his oppor- tunities even then were not the best. When he was but fourteen years old he lost his father, and after that sad event he went to live with a neifrhboring cren- tleman. He enlisted at the age of nine- teen in the First regiment of Delaware infantry, and rendered honorable service in the late war. He participated in the engage- ments at Antietam, Fredericksburg and ChancellorsviUe; was severely wounded in the left leg at the last named battle and was removed to the hospital at Poto- mac creek, where he remained until June 14, 1868, when he was transferred to Washington, where he remained until the war closed. He was confined to his bed for twenty-seven months and was unable to walk for some time after his discharge — January 1, 1865 — and so remained in Wash- ington until he had sufficiently recovered to be able to travel. He was there when President Lincoln was assassinated and witnessed the grand review after the war closed. He returned home and attended school at Wilmington, Del., for two years, and then entered Crittenden's Commercial Col- lege in Philadelphia. In the fall of 1868 he embarked in mercantile business in Wyoming, Del., and in February, 1871, came to Buffalo county, Nebr. fie took a soldier's homestead near Gibbon, where he remained a little more than two years, after which he spent about two years on the Fort Kearney reservation. In 1876 he conducted a large cattle ranch near Burr Oak, on the Loup river, and was at this business for about four years, when he purchased land in the Wood River valley and went to farming. He now owns sev- eral tracts of valuable land and is one of the most successful farmers in the county. DARIUS B. JONES, ex-commis- sioner of Buffalo count}', was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., Au- gust 9, 1834. His father. Miles Jones, was a native of Massachusetts and settled in Illinois, in 1859, where he died in 1881. His 440 BUFFALO COUNTY mother, who bore the maiden name of Pamelia, K. Turner, was born in Canada, and died in 1879. At the age of eighteen young Jones concluded to learn the blacksmith trade and accordingly went to Canada, when he served an apprenticeship. In 1856 he went to Kansas and joined an emigrant company, under the direction of the Mas- sachusetts Aid Society. It was during the great excitement concerning the exten- sion of slavery into Kansas, and when John Brown and Jim Lane were popular leaders of the anti-slavery movement. He knew both of these men and for a time shared in the kicks and cuffs received by these heroes. He spent several years on this battle-ground, during which he re- ceived his share of the hardships inflicted by the Kansas raiders. In 1862 he went to Illinois,where he remained for ten years ; during which time he was engaged in the mercantile business at Elmwood. His next move was to Iowa, where he spent five years as a merchant at Emerson, Mills county. In 1879 he moved to Buffalo count}', Nebr., and took a homesteatl in Armada township. He has .since pur- chased considerable additional land and now has four hundred and forty acres. He like many others had to hustle when he first came here, and has hauled cedar posts for one hundred and thirty miles to market and there would receive small pay for his labor ; but it was the only way there was of making money in the winter time. He was married November 29, 1857, to Margaret B. Cowan, who was born in Canada, in 1832, and is the daughter of Hugh and Mary Cowan. This union has been blessed with fourteen children — Mary P., John A., Laurence P., Ella, Hettie, Ar- thur, Annie, Effie, Willie, Alice, Fred, Addie, Flora and Frank ( deceased ). Mr. Jones has served one term as county commissioner, having been elected in the fall of 1882. He is a republican and quite prominent in the councils of the party in the count}'. He is a Mason and Odd Fel- low, and one of the well-known and ])op- ular men of Buffalo county. AL. AEMSTRONG is one of the first settlers of Armada pre- cinct, Buffalo county. He is a native of Genesee county, N. Y., and was born Nov. 5, 1831. His father, Aden Armstrong, was a Canadian by birth, but emigrated to New York in an early dq,y, where he met and afterwards married Lydia Aldrich. In 1833 the senior Armstrong moved to Michigan, and located in McComb county. He was one of the first settlers in that county and was for many years one of its most prominent citizens. He held various local offices and was active and influential in the political affairs of the county. He died in 1854. Aden L. Armstrong, the subject of this sketch, was one of twelve children, and, being reared in a new country, did not enjoy the common school privileges accorded the youth of to-day. At the age of eighteen he began serving an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, and worked about ten years in McComb county, Mich., at his trade after learning it. He then moved to Kalamazoo county, and engaged in farming for a few years. When the war broke out, Mr. Armstrong BUFFALO COUNTY . 447 tlirew ill! his influence on the side of the Union and in April, 1SG2, was commis- sioned b\' tlie governor of Michigan as a recruiting officer. lie traveled over the state and used every means in his power to induce men to enlist and save the Union. August 15, 1864, Mr. Armstrong enlisted in the New Third regiment Michi- gan infantry, was promoted to duty ser- geant before leaving the state and saw con- siderable active service until the war closed- He participated in the engagements at Decatur, Ala., and Franklin and Nash- ville, Tenn. He was taken sick at Jones- borough Tenn., and sent to the hospital at Nashville, where he remained two months, and was mustered out July 15, 1865. He liad served as orderly from November, 1864, until he was mustered out. In 1869 he went to Mills county, Iowa, and worked at his trade about four years, and in the spring of 1873 came to Buffalo county, Nebr., locating, as above stated, in Armada precinct. He selected his homestead on the banks of Wood river and was one of the first to settle in that fertile valley. The country was of course new and wikl and neighbors were few and far between. Mr. Armstrong was married Feb. 19, 1853, to Miss Amelia Ilice, a native of Connecticut, born Feb. 19, 1833. To this union were born seven children, as fol- lows — Elias (deceased), Elmer (deceased), Eose, Lenettie, Stella T., Comer C. and Earnest. Mrs. Armstrong died Feb. 11, 1883, and Mr. Armstrong manned for his second wife, June 6, 1883, Miss Mai-y E. White, who was born in Illinois in 1861. Mr. Armstrong caused to be established the Armada postofiice in 1876 and was appointed postmaster. lie was located then about three miles east of the present village of Armada. In order to get the office established, Mr. Armstrong paid for carrying the mails from Kearney once a week for si.K months out of his own pocket. He has held various local offices and has always affiliated with the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic, G. A. R. and Good Templar fraternities, and is an ardent temperance man, not having tasted a drop of liquor in his life, and has always been actively identified with temperance movements. He has 320 acres of land located in the Wood River valley, 200 of ivhich are under agood state of cultivation. A NDREW J. FREEZE, one of the most prosperous farmers and real estate men in Euffalo county, Nebr., was born in Union county, Ohio, July 25, 1839, and when about eleven years of age was taken by his parents to Piatt count}', 111., where he grew to man- hood, and wiiere, in 1858, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Jonathan Carne, of Illinois, and of English descent. The father of Andrew J. Freeze was a native of Virginia, and was by profession a law- yer. He married Barbara Cubbage, of the same state, and to their union were born eight chililren, of whom the subject of these lines is the third. When first married Mr. Freeze and his wife Barbai'a traveled from Virginia to Ohio on foot, but eventually reached Nebraska, in which state Mr. Freeze died, near Red Cloud, at the age of seventy-four years. Jonathan 448 BUFFALO COUNTY. Canie, the father of Mrs. Jane Freeze, died in Illinois in 1886. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Freeze have been born seven cliildren, viz.: William II., Mary E., OUie, Noah, Earl E., Horace and Min- nie. August 12, 1862, Andrew J. Freeze en- listed in Company I, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois infantry, under Col. Thos. Snell, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. Among other battles in which he took part were those of Knox- ville, Mossy creek, Bean station, Salina and Greenville, Tenn.; he also was in an encounter with John Morgan at Eliza- bethtown, Ky., and after twelve months' service in the infantry was transferred to a batterv in the First Chicago light artil- lery, in which he served until the close of the war, when he returned to his old home in Illinois. There he remained until 1879; then made his home in Eoone county, Iowa, until 1885, in March of which year he came to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo county, his present home. He bought the east half of section 3, town- ship 9, range 15, two hundred and eighty acres of which were broken and improved ■with a fair dwelling; this dwelling he re-modled and now has a fine residence and also has the entire half section under cultivation and improved with commodi- ous granaries and other out-buildings. He devoted the first three years of his resi- dence here to the farm, raising mixed crops and live stock — chiefly hogs. He then entrusted the farm to the manage- ment of his four sons, and turned his attention to real estate, of which he has bought and sold largely in Kearney, and still holds large interests in that city. Mr. Freeze is a self-made man, having received a somewhat meager edu- cation in his youthful days ; but he is naturally shrewd and has availed himself of every opportunity for self-improvement — watching his business interests with a keen eye and alwa3's holding himself ready for a bargain. His standing in the community is very high and he enjoys to the full extent the respect and esteem of his neighbors. JOHN NASH. To be considered an old settler anywhere in central Nebraska does not necessarily impl}'^ that one is an old man. There are numbers of men to be found scattered over the territory covered by this volume, who are now only in middle life, but who nevertheless have seen this country when it was in the undisturbed possession of the Indians. Buffalo county, for instance, which contributes a large share of the sketches composing this work, began to be settled earl}' in the "Seventies." With but ver}' few exceptions does the residence of even the oldest settlers of this county extend back of 1870 — or even aj'ear later, 1871 — at which time the settlement of the county began in real earnest. One of the citizens of this county, not yet an old man by any means, but still a man justh' entitled to be called an old settler, is John Nash, of Gibbon township. Mr. Nash settled in Buffalo county in the spring of 1877. He took a homestead at that date in the old Fort Kearney military reservation, filing on the southwest quarter of section 4, township 9, range 13 west, lying between the south and main channels of the Platte river on Elm Island. There he located, BUFFALO COUNTY. 449 and lived for two years, at the end of which time he sold out, and, being tlien unmarried, struck for the Northwest. lie went to Oregon, but remained there only about a year, returning to Buffalo county and purchasing a farm near his former one, and again settled. Shortly after- wards he married, and, selling out again in 1882, went to Texas, settling in Callahan county, but not liking it there came back to Nebraska and located in Buffalo county, in the vicinity of his former place of resi- dence, since which time he has continued to reside there. Mr. Nash is a farmer, and has been steadily engaged at the buisness since he came to the state, except during wliat might be called his tempo- rary absence as noted above. He is an honest, hardworking, economical man. He came to the county with no means, and began the struggle for existence as a common laborer. His ways have not been ways of pleasantness, nor have all his paths been paths of peace. He has had his share of difficulties to contend with, and he has had to meet them alone, never having had a dollar in his life that he had not made himself. Friends he has not been witliout, but from tliese he has received only the coin of friendship, "esteem." He has relatives, but they have never been able to help him, beyond extending their sympathy and kindly encouragement. He has made his waj^ alone, and the fact that he has done it as well as he has, although he has neVer attained any great degree of success, ought to be a matter of pride and pleasure to himself as it is a matter of remark by those who know him. Mr. Nash was born in Ora township, Ontario province, Canada, and is of Eng- lish and Scotch stock. His fatiier, John Nash, was born in Somersetshire, Eng- land, and came across and settled in Can- ada when a 3'oung man. He there mar- ried, and, some years after, moved to the United States, settling in Michigan, where he died m July, 1S81, at the age of seventy-nine. He was a farmer, a ]ilain, unpretentious man. Coming of sturdy English ancestry, and trained to the steady-going, easy habits of his country- men, he led the life of the plodding, well- to-do Englishanan, working hard, living well, and dying comparatively poor. Mr. Nash's mother, who, before mar- riage, bore the maiden name of Christina McCallum, was a daughter of Peter Mc- Callum, and was born in Glasgow, Scot- land. She was a child when her parents emigrated to Canada and settled in Ontario province. There she was reared and there married. She died in her native place in 1876, in middle life. These, John and Christina Nash, were the parents of sixteen children, ten of whom reached maturity, and eight of whom are now living. The ten who became grown were — Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, Marion, Maggie, John, Tiiomas, Christina, Duniel and Mary Ann. Two of these, besides the subject of this sketch, were among the early settlers of Adams county, both since having moved on west. These were Peter and Daniel. Mr. Nash had just turned into his twent^'-first j'ear when he came to Nebraska, having been born in 1856. He married in 1881, July 25, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma Belle jNIcKiuley. Mrs. Nash's parents were among the first settlers of the county, coming in April, 1871, with tlie soldiers' colony. Her father, Jeremiah McKinley, was born in 450 BUFFALO COUNTY. Milc.sburg, (Jeiitre county, Pa., in August, 1837, was reared there, and lived there till coming to Nebraska, excepting the time that he was in the army. He enlisted in the Union service in August, 1862, entering as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Penn- S3'lvania infantry. He served in Virginia, and was in all the principal engagements up to Gettysburg, at which place he was wounded by a gunshot through the lungs, and compelled to retire from the service in consequence. He never regained his health afterwards, and finally' died in November, 1872, from the effects of his wound. Mrs. Nash's mother, who still remains as one of the original colonists, is also a native of Centre county, Pa., having been born there in March, 1835. She, too, -was reared there, and there married in the fall of 1857. She is the mother of two children — Emma Belle, just mentioned, and Alma Catherine, wife of Hector Bookey. Mr. and Mrs. Nash have one child, a son, Harry Nelson. HALLECK H. STONEBARGER, one of the rising young farmers of Shelton township, Buffalo county, was born in Jasper county. 111., April" 23, 1863. His father, N. P. Stone- barger, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Thomas, was born in Ohio. The parents were married in the Bucke3'e state and shortly afterwards immigrated to Illinois, where his mother died in 1873, and his father came to Nebraska in 1874 and died in 1889. Both were zealous members of the Baptist church. The bo^diood days of young Stonebar- ger were spent in attending the common district school and working on his father's farm until he was fifteen years old. After that period he had little opportunity for attending school. Mr. Stonebarger came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1880, and bought a farm in Shelton township and has been successfully engaged in cultivating it ever since. He was married May 29, 1887, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Buck, a native of old England and one of the pioneers of this county. Mr. Buck bid farewell to John Bull in 1869 and sailed for the United States. He came almost direct to Buffalo county, Nebr., and was here in plenty of time to say farewell to the Indians as they made way for advancing civilization. Mr. Buch was here in advance of any actual settler, and, indeed, the county presented a wild and desolate appearance. Plenty of wild game abounded everywhere ; buffalo, elk, deer and antelope grazed in great herds on the broad prairie, almost within gun shot of the homesteader. Mr. Buck obtained a position with the Union Pacific Railroad Company and earned means with which he secured pas- sage for his familj' the following year. He organized the first Sunday-school and was elected the first coroner of Buffalo county. He is now a well-to-do farmer in Shelton township. Mr. and Mrs. Stonebarger have had two children, viz. — Ethel (deceased) and Rus- sell. He has one hundred and twenty acres of improved land, which produces excellent cro])S, and' nearly all of which is under a good state of cultivation. He is a member of the Alliance, and. while he BUFFALO COUNTY. 451 has al\va\'s atlhered to the principles of the republican party, he is becoming more and more inclined to vote independently in the future. He is an industrious young man and is on the road to success. JOSEPH OWEN, the subject of this sketch, has been a resident of the territory now comprising Buffalo county, since the summer of 1863. He was born in Manchester, England, February 16, 1849, and is the son of David and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Owen. His father, who was of Welsh descent, was a black- smith by trade, and came to the United States with his family in 1863. The voyage was safely made on the steamer Adriatic, which arrived in the New York harbor after a wearisome journey of seven long weeks. Soon after landing in tlie metropo- lis of the new world, the family came west as far as Omaha by rail. They then joined a Mormon train bound for the famous city of Salt Lake. The journey from this point was made with ox teams, a somewhat slow, but sure wa}' of travel- ins. The senior Owen had relations living on the "Overland Route," near where the thriving little city of Shelton now stands, who had preceded him a year or so, and he determined to drop out of the train and remain at this point. A log house was provided for the family, who were soon snugly quartered on the cheerful banks of Wood river,alraost in the heart of what was once considered as the " Great American Desert." The country presented a wild and forlorn appearance, and was only in- habited by Indians, buffalo, elk, deer'and antelope. Immense herds of these wild animals could be seen in almost any direc- tion. The Indians, however, were re- gai'ded as peaceable, and as long as they were well treated and closely watched, there was not much danger of being harmed by them. Reports of Indian massacres, however, were frequently cir- culated, and at one time every settler left the country to escape the reported ven- geance of the red men. The father of the subject of this notice worked at his trade as a blacksmith at Shelton until 1864, when he died. His faithful wife followed him to the mys- terious realm in 1S74. Joseph Owen spent his boyhood days in raising vegetables and disposing of them to immigrants as they journeyed westward in great trains. Ready sale was found for corn at $3 a bushel, flour brought §11 per sack and hay $40 per ton. Old Fort Kearney, located up the Platte river a few miles, also afforded a ready market for all kinds of produce raised by the few squatters along Wood river. Mr. Owen is, therefore, familiar with every phase of pioneer life on the Western frontier. He has been identified with the settlement, growth and development of this locality, and has done as much as any man toward accomplishing these great results. Mr. Owen was married, in 1872, to Miss Sarah A. Oliver, a native of England, and who accompanied her parents to America in 1860. The Olivers settled in this same locality three years before the arrival of the Owen family. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Owen, viz. — Edward H. (deceased), Elizabeth J., Alice, Josie, Ida, and Annie. Mr. Owen was deputy sheriff of Buffalo countv under Mr. John Oliver, and has 452 BUFFALO COUNTY. also been justice of the peace two terms. lie is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. fraternities, and has always affiliated with the republican party in political matters. lie owns two hundred and fort}' acres of choice land near the town of Shelton, and he enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. DE. WILLIAM J. NEELY, one of the enterprising farmers of Thornton township, Buffalo county, was born in Virginia, May 21, 18-41. Plis father, Bashrod Neely, was born in Monongalia county. May 21, 1820. He was in the mercantile business in Mc- Gahe\'sville, Va., for several years previous to 1887, when he emigi-ated to Buffalo count}'^, Nebr., where he now resides. Dr. Neely 's grandfather was James Neely, a native also of Virginia. He died in 1879. Dr. Neely enlisted at the age of twenty, September 6, 1861, in the Sixth West Vir- ginia infantry. His regiment was sta- tioned at Grafton, W. Va., for about three years. While here young Neely acted as post clerk for the regiment. He was mustered out in June, 1865, as quarter- master sergeant. After that he was en- gaged in the mercantile business at Man- nington, AV. Va.. for a short time. In 1866 he began the study of medicine and sub- sequently graduated from the American Medical College, St. Louis, Mo. He emi- grated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in Sep- tember, 1833, and settled on a homestead in Thornton township. His first purchase, upon his ari-ival at Kearney, was a yoke of stalwart oxen, which served as his team. Dr. Neel\' was among the very first settlers in Thornton township, and he and his faithful wife stood in a great many hardships, incident to those early daj's, and fi-equently suffered for the necessities of life. Their first night on the new homestead was spent in a hole in the ground, which was used subsequently as a cellar. They had no money and were obliged to adapt themselves to their sur- rounding circumstances. They had no well of water, and no money to aid them in constructing one ; consequently, the doc- tor carried what water they were obliged to have for three long months from the house of a neighbor, one mile distant. He was used to walking in those days, and it was not an unusual thing for him to walk to Kearney, a distance of nine miles, and home again with his arms full of groceries. He built a sod house ten by twelve feet, which servecf them for several years. During the summer of 1874, the grass- hoppers destroyed everything in the shape of crop, and Mr. Neely was obliged to move to Kearney, where he might be able to get work in order to suppl}' his family with the necessaries of life. He returned to his homestead, however, the following spring, and he has continued to reside there since. Notwithstanding the innu- merable hardships endured by Mr. and Mrs. Neely during their eai-ly experiences in this country, they have survived them all and are now among the most prosperous citizens in the county. The doctor practiced his profession during fourteen years after his arrival in the county. He was exceed- ingly generous during the dark days in grasshojiper times. He administered to the needs of the sick and affiicted then and charged only half price f(jr his services- BUFFALO COUNTY. 453 He now has three hundred and twenty acres in liis splendid farm, which has yielded abundant crops every year since 1876. He has set out and cultivated with his own hands 40,000 trees, some of which now measure eighteen inches in diameter. He has alwavs had great faith in the raising of fruit, and now points with pride to his fine orchard and well cultivated vineyards. He deserves especial credit for his marked success in this direction. He planted fruit trees and nurtured them when other men laughed at the idea of raising fruit on these "Western plains. He has finally suc- ceeded in demonstrating that with proper care the choicest kinds of fruits can be raised in this country. Dr. Neely has served as justice of the peace, and held other offices in his town- ship. He was married August 17, 1867, to Eebecca S. Lesion, at Mannington, W. Va. Mrs. Neely's parents were both Virginians by birth. Both the Doctor and Mrs. Neely are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have no children. GEOEGE E. TEACY was born in Licking county, Ohio, Nov. 21, 18-17. His father, George Trac}', was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio at an early period of his life, and subsequently to Hlinois, where he remained until his death. He engaged in various pursuits during the early part of his life, but farming was his chief occu- pation. He was a minister of the old school Baptist ciiurch ; a close student of the Bible and one of the best posted men of his day on the scriptures. Pie died in June, 1858, in Hancock county. 111. His wife was Barbara (Lineberger) Trac\', a native of Germany. She is still living in Illinois and is a devoted cliristian woman. George E. Tracy, the subject of this sketch, worked on a farm in Illinois until twenty -two years of age. He then deter- mined to go to Missouri and try farming on his own responsibility. He finally purchased a small farm of Mary Power, who, on January 22, 1870, became his wife. Three children were born of this union, namely — Luella May, born November 27, 1872, Emma B., born February -4, 1880, and William H., born July 4, 1882. Mr. Tracy immigrated to Nebraska in February, 1875, and took a homestead in Thornton township, Buffalo county. He built a sod house in which the family lived for twelve years. It still stands and is in a tolerably fair state of preservation. At the time of their settlement the country was new and settlers were few and far be- tween. Wild game was plenty, especially deer and antelope, which were frequent- ly seen in the vicinity. Mr. Tracy was amone: those who suffered on account of the terrible scourge of the grasshoppers. They descended in great clouds in the summer of 1876, and completely destroyed everything green, even eating a bed of fine onions growing in the garden. They flew in such droves that they fairly darkened the sun and made a roaring noise similar to amoving train of freight cars. When Mr. Tracy first settled on his homestead there were only a few houses in sight and it would frecpiently be days and even weeks before they would see a stranger or even any one they knew. 454 BUFFALO COUNTY. During the first few winters they experi- enced several severe storms and blizzards, when the snov,- would di-ift so that it would be impossible almost to get about. They frequently were compelled to burn hay and corn-stalks for fuel. Mrs. Tracy was born in Scotland county, Mo., July 3, 1849, and was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Turner) Power. Both her parents were natives of Kentucky, and after marriage located in Rush count}', Ind., where severa,l years of their early life were spent. In the spring of 1838 they started West, stopping in Illinois, however, long enough to raise and dispose of a crop, then they pushed on to Missouri, where they resided the remainder of their lives. They had nine children — four sons and five daughters. Mr. Tracy is a pronounced religious man, although not at present a member of any church. Mrs. Tracy is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. JOHN T. MALLALIEU, superintend- ent of the Nebraska State Indus- trial School, was born in Millington, Md., September 23, 1852, and is a son of Tiiomas and Mary Mallalieu, natives of England. His education was received at the common schools, and his early busi- ness training was acquired in the office of his father, who was an extensive wool manufacturer. At twent}' years of age he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa., from which he gi-aduated in June, 1876, and in the fall of the same year came to Nebraska. At Columbus he was elected principal of the Gibbon Academy, which position he held three j'ears, and was then elected count}' superintendent, which office he filled in a most satisfactory manner for four years. In 1881 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1SS3 was elected regent of the University of Ne- braska, which responsible office he filled for six years. In May, 1885, he was ap- pointed superintendent of the State In- dustrial School. Tliis institution at that time found its needs fully supplied b}' the occupancy of one small building, but now nine large brick buildings are required to carryout the designs for which the insti- tution was established and to accommo- date the attending inmates, whose num- bers have increased from ninety to two hundred and sixt}'. September 11, 1875, Mr. Mallalieu was united in marriage to Miss Alice Gotwald, a native of Indiana, and this felicitous union has been blessed by the birth of three children, viz.— Thomas G., Mary M. and Bessie. DR. GEORGE M. MILLS is the third of thirteen children and was born in Liberty, Adams county. 111., December 17, 1812. He is a son of Franklin Mills, who was born Octo- ber 17, 1822, in New Haven, Conn., and while a young man emigrated to Illinois, where he was b\' turns, farmer, mechanic, and merchant, following these pursuits for years. Dr. Mills' mother's maiden name was Mary Galbreath, and she was born in 1822. These are still living at Perry, 111. At the age of three years the subject of this sketch was taken by his parents to BUFFALO COUNTY. 455 Brown county, HI., where and in Pike county, that state, he was reared. He began the work at preparino: himself for the duties of his profession in the fall of 1S69 under the tutorship of Dr. Harvey Dunn, of Perry, 111. He attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, graduating in 1878, and then at the Hush Medical College of Chi- cago, graduating in 1883, taking three full courses in the latter institution. He began the practice before he graduated, locating in 1871 at Birmingham, Schuyler county, 111., where he continued to admin- ister to the wants of the sick till the fall of 1876, when he removed to Kipley, Brown count}', 111. He lived at the latter place, continuing at his profession till May, 1885, when he removed to Nebraska, locating at Kearney, where he has since remained. He is a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society, ranking high in his pro- fession and enjoying an extensive prac- tice. Dr. Mills was married July 2, 1874, to Miss Eliza H. Burch, daughter of Preston H. Burch, of Springfield. 111. It is rare that a husband finds in a wife traits and tastes congenial to his own, but in this instance Mrs. Mills is also a physician and is a companion, student and partner of her husband, in the art of healing. DPv. ELIZA B. MILLS is the youngest of six children, and was born in Springfield, Illinois. She is a daughter of Preston H. Burch, who was born in Ilarrisburg, Va., in 1809, and when a small boy moved with his parents to Kentucky, while that region in fact was the dark and blood}' ground. In 1820 he emigrated to Illinois and located at Lincoln, where he continued to reside till his death. He was intimately ac- quainted with the illustrious man for whom his adopted town was named, and was an ardent admirer and warm sup- porter of " honest old Abe" in the em- br^'onic stage of his political career ; and when his fame as a statesman burst upon the dazed vision of the world, as the great war president, Mr. Burch was still a fol- lower of the flag of the Union and Lin- coln, determined to share their fortunes whatever they might be. At Port Hud- son, La., while filling the responsible po- stition of brigade quartermaster, he suc- cumbed to the hardships and ravages of war. He died at his post of duty in the service of his country while his honored chief and friend was guiding the ship of state upon a tempestuous sea of a cruel and bloody civil war. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Elizabeth Suter. She was born in Charleston, S. C, "the beautiful city by the sea," and at an early age moved with her parents to Louisville, Ky., where she was educated. She died in 186J:, at the age of forty-six. Mrs. Mills received her education at Eureka college in Woodford county, 111., and began the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, of which she has been a student ever smce. She was graduated an M. D. at the college of physicians and surgeons at Ke- okuk, Iowa, in 1881, and also took a course of lectures at the Woman's medi- cal college of Chicago, 111., during the ses- sion of 1882 and 1883. Since her graduation she has devoted 456 BUFFALO COUNTY. herself exclusively and assiduously to the practice of her profession. Mrs. Mills has done much to allay the prejudices in localities where she has lived. In fact, if her large practice is any test, she has succeeded in turning the tide in favor of woman as man's equal and co-laborer in the professions as well as the manual trades. She was married, Jul}' 2, 1874, to Dr. George M. Mills, and in May, ISSo, she came with her husband to Kearney, Nebr. She is a splendid type of western womanhood, imbibing the spirit of her surroundings, and is energetic and pro- gressive; not only as a healer of the bod}' is she so favorably known, but many a ragged and hungry family, unable to keep the wolf of want from the door, bless her for the good she does. The poor and sick of her adopted city are pen- sioners upon her bounty and skill. As a physician she ranks high; as a generous, kind hearted woman she is without a su- perior. WH. SALISBURY. Among the many representative farmers and stock-raisers of Buffalo count}', Nebr., is that worthy and genial gentleman, W. H. Salisbury, an American by birth and certainly one by principle. His father, John Salisbury, was born in Madison county. New York, where he married Miss Lucinda Brown. After the marriage he moved to Lake county, Illi- nois, taking an active part in progressive farming. Giving tliis up, he moved to Chicago, engaging in mercantile pursuits, at which he acquired a splendid compe- tence. While on a visit to his daughter at Dundee, 111., being then past his seventy- seventh year, he was taken ill, and died Januar}' 9, 1877. His wife survived him eight years, then quietl}' passed away December 30, 1885, in her seventy-third year. Of this happ}' marriage there were born the following children — John C, Sarah, Emeline (now deceased), Leroy (also deceased), Annie, George (a hero of the late rebellion, who died at his post of duty), William H. and Bessie. William H. Salisbur}', the seventh child, was born in Lake county. 111., but was raised mainly in Elgin and Chicago, being educated to mercantile pursuits, which he followed until his health failed him, when he resolved to seek quarters where he could regain it, and finally settled upon Ne- braska. Hither he came, settling in Buf- falo county in 1876, on the northwestern quarter of section 3, township 8, range 15, which he purchased; later on, he bought the quarter east of this, thus making him the owner of the north half of section 3. This land is under cultivation, the nen'est and best methods having been used. Mr. Salisbury has turned his attention to fine horses, making a specialty of Clydesdales, and having five head of stal- lions. He also has a large, handsome stock, some of which are imported direct from Scotland, among which are some very fine brood mares. Mr. Salisbury hopes to rev- olutionize breeding methods, and his suc- cess so far entitles him to a great deal of credit among horsemen. His barns, pas- tures and groves are all in accord with his progressive nature, thus making his farm of the most attractive in the township. Mr. Salisbury is a veteran of the late BUFFALO COUNTY. 457 rebellion, having enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois volun- teers, at the earl}' age of fifteen. Owing to his youth he was appointed post-boy, car- rying the mail for his regiment, serving mostly in Kentucky, and remaining with the troops until the surrender of Lee to Grant at Appomattox. He married, March 0, 1S73, Miss Addie M., daughter of Albert and D. M. Bessie, both natives of Onon- daga county, N. T., where Mrs. Salisbury also was born. Her worthy parents are at present residing at Kearney City, this state. To this union has been born a son, Frederick IJ. Owing to the great respect Mr. Salis- bury has acquired from his fellow-citizens, he has been honored by election to the offices of treasurer of Centre township, road supervisor and school trustee, serving in each capacity with thorough capability. Progressiveness is his motto, geniality his characteristic quality, and thus he plods onward through life, beloved and honored by his fellow-citizens. JAHUGH WINSLOW, one of the first settlers on the old Fort Kear- ney reservation and a prosperous farmer of Centre township, Buffalo county, was born March 4, 18-11, in Wash- ington count}', Ind. His father, Josiah Winslow, a farmer by occupation, was also a native of Indiana, born in the year 1819. The mother, Sarah (Shields) Win- slow, was born 1821. There were twenty- one children in the father's family. Jahugh Winslow, the subject of this biograjjliy, in his earh' days attended the neighboring school and assisted his father about the home place. He worked with his father at the tanning business in Washington count}' until thirty years of age. He enlisted in the war, in response to a proclamation calling for more troops, in September, 1864. He was assigned to Company E, Fifny -third regiment Indiana volunteers, and served in Sherman's army, Seventeenth Corps. His company was sent from Indianapolis, via Louisville, Nashville and Chattanooga, near which last-named place they v/ere deserted by their com- mander and for four days were without a mouthful of food, after which they pro- cured some moldy bread which the men eagerly devoured. The regiment joined Sherman at Atlanta, and was with him on his famous campaign through Georgia, during which Mr. Winslow was taken with the measles and had to march thirty miles through the rain. Arriving at the rebel works at Savannah, he was put into an ambulance and sent to the hospital at Port Koyal Island, where he remaired from December to February, when he was transferred to Fort Schuyler, where a month later his folks came after him, pro- cured a furlough and took him home. He remained at home two months and then joined his regiment at Louisville. He was discharged July 29, 18G5. He continued to reside in Washington county until October, 1875, when on account of his health he decided to emi- grate West. He accordingly came and located first in Kearney, where he resided until January 3, of the following year, when hehomesteaded a quarter section in what is called the old Fort Kearney reser- vation, on which he still resides. In 1876, he broke out and put into crops a portion of bis place. The crops 458 BUFFALO COUNTY for a time flourished and gave promise of a rich harvest, but the grasshoppers came that 3' ear and destroyed everything, leaving the famih' with neither monej'' nor food. That winter Mrs. W. plied her needle dili- gently, while Mr. W. trapped beaver and otter along the Platte river, the skins of which he tanned and made into gloves and mittens, for which be found a ready market. Mr. "W". also shot prairie- chickens, which he shipped to Eastern markets. With the mone}' they were able to earn in this manner, they managed to live. In 1877 Mr. W. took a load of flour in a train of provisions to the Black Hill country in western Dakota. He reports good crops ever since 1878, with the ex- ception of 1887, when he had his crops destroyed by a severe hail storm. Mr. "Winslow was married March 14, 1867, to Sally A. Jones, daughter of Ben- jamin and Elizabeth (Newby) Jones; the former a furniture-maker by trade, was born in 1819; the latter was born in 1817. They are both living and have been blessed with ten children. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Winslow has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows — John, Lydia, Alelia, Cora, Elbert E. and Ben- jamin T., and one that died in infancy not named. In politics, Mr. Winslow adheres to the principles of the republican party. CHAELES E.STIMPSON, a promi- nent farmer and cattle man of Bufi'alo county, is a native of Huron county, Ohio, and was born Feb- ruary 4, 1833. At the age of seventeen he left the home farm and went to Minne- sota, where he grew to manhood and where he was married in 1861. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Minne- sota volunteer infantr}^ and saw his first service in the Indian campaign at Fort Hudson. On his return home in 1864 he joined the Eleventh Minnesota infantry and was sent to Tennessee, where he was chiefly employed on garrison duty until the close of the war, when he again re- turned to Minnesota, and for a short time followed carpentering, also engaged in merchandising, and for a while worked for a railroad company. In June, 1872, he came to Nebraska. In August of the same year, Kearney city was platted and a hotel commenced, and for five years Mr. Stimpson followed his trade of a carpenter in the new town. When he came to the county Gibbon was the county seat and the land he now lives on in Center town- ship was included in the Fort Kearney military reservation. After a residence of three years here he was the first to take a claim in this reservation, much to the surprise of his neighbors, but in a very few daj'S afterwards the entire tract of ten square miles, on both sides of the river, was under "squatter" claims. The fall of the same year he built his house and moved in, being the first man to take that step. The land cost $1.25 per acre and is located in section 32, in the northwest quarter of the reserve. Mr. Stimpson was the prime mover in securing from the gov- ernment the right of settlers to this piece of public territory, to the exclusion of railroad companies' claims, and no com- pany has ever owned an acre in the square by congressional grant. Mr. Stimpson served for several 3'ears as marshal of Kearney, during the notori- BUFFALO COUNTY 459 ous cow-boy troubles. In those turbulent times these boys committed numerous depredations and perpeti'ated numerous murders, and quite a number of the des- peradoes also met their death at the hands of the citizens in defense of their own lives. In those days, Indians were numerous and many citizens were killed by them, while others were killed by their fellow-citizens or sti'aggling strangers, and the blame thrown upon the Indians. Many efforts were made by the ranch- men to oust the settlers from the reserva- tion, as it was then an unorganized terri- tory, but these efforts were in vain. Mitchell and Ketcham were among the ranchmen who took part in the nefarious scheme and shot down more than one man, trumped up charges of cattle steal- ing against others, but were themselves eventually Ijmched. The country was for a time in a lawless condition, and it re- quired pluck and nerve on the part of the honest settler to keep his residence in it. Lovett Stimpson, the father of our sub- ject, was a native of New York and was a veteran of the war of 1812. He married Miss Ilai'riet Crane, also a native of New York and a daughter of Captain Crane, of the war of 1812. The Captain received for his services a land warrant, which he located near Little Rock, Ark. To Lovett Stimpson and wife were born twelve chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. The marriage of Charles R. Stimpson took place, as stated, in 1861, to Miss Arvilla Harrington, daughter of J. S. Har- rington, of Ohio. Mr. Harrington has always been a very popular man and has held man}"^ offices of honor and trust, and is still living, at the age of seventy -five years, in Minnesota. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stimpson has been blessed by the birth of five children, viz. — Adel, Byron, Leonard, Homer and Helen, all residents of Nebraska, excepting Adel, who is living in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Stimpson is one of the most enter- prising citizens of Center township. Among other projects of an industrial character he assisted in organizing a stock company for the erection of a large four- story structure for the production of oat- meal, and is himself one of its largest stockholders. He and son own an exten- sive cattle ranch, located near Medicine lake, Nebr., and he is, besides, interested in several other branches of business. Mr. Stimpson is an Odd Fellow and is also a member of the P'armers' Alliance. In politics he is independent and casts his vote as best suits his judgment. Socially, he and family stand in the front rank. HON. R. R. GREER. Among the early settlers of the city of Kearney, and a man who has been prominently identified with the best business interests of the Midway city, as well as those of his adopted county and state, is Hon. R. R. Greer, more generally and familiarly known as " Bob " Greer, a biographical notice of whom here follows. Mr. Greer is of Irish-American origin and in his make-up he presents a happy blend- ing of the chief traits of the two people from whom he is descended. His father, James L. Greer, was a native of Ireland and was brought to this country by his parents when a child. He was reared mainly in Pittsburgh, Pa.,where his parents 4G0 BUFFALO COUNTY. settled, immigrating West at the age of nineteen and locating in Schuyler county, 111. There he met and married Miss Nancy Wilson, a Kentucky-born lad}', whose parents, Elijah and Martha Wilson, had immigrated some years before from Kentucky into the Illinois territory when that countrj'^ was thrown open to settle- ment and had cast their fortunes on the then frontier, in what is now Schuyler county. Settling down to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture in the count\' of their adoption, James L. and Nancy Greer are living, engrossed in their personal and domestic affairs. They are both zealous members of the Methodist church and take an active interest in all church work, being generous contributors also to all charitable purposes. They reared a family of six children, four boys and two girls, as follows — Emma, Eobert R., George, Charles, Ilattie and Moulton. The sec- ond of these and the eldest son, Robert R., the subject of this notice, was born and reared in Schuyler county. 111., having been brought up on his father's farm and fol- lowing agricultural pursuits during his earlier years. Quitting the farm on reach- ing his majority, he began life for himself as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at Rushville, 111., following clerical pursuits there and in that vicinity for some years. Coming West then, he lived awhile at Peru, Nebr., and afterwards in Ilolt county. Mo., and finally in the spring of 1873 he came to Buffalo county, this state, and located in Kearney, which was just starting, having hardly then reached the dignity of a cross roads village. Mr. Greer engaged at once in the mercantile busmess, becoming one of Kearney's first merchants, as he afterwards became one of the most successful ones. He was en- gaged in business for more than sixteen years, and it is no exaggeration to say that he sold, during that time, many a hundred thousand dollars' worth of goods, having a trade extending not only throughout all Buffalo county, but into the southwestern counties across the Platte river and into the northwestern counties among the ranchmen along several forks of the Loup and Dismal and beyond that. Of course he made money — with the early oppor- tunities he enjoyed and his attentive busi- ness habits and methods, he could not do otherwise. Like a prudent man, he invested his means as they accumulated beyond his business acquirements, in real estate in Kearney and Buffalo county, and with the gradual improvement of the county and the consequent rise in values these invest, ments brought him good returns. Closing out his mercantile affairs in July, 1889, he has since given his time and attention to his investments and to duties of a public nature, in connection with offices with which he has been honored. Mr. Greer has been identified with the growth and development of Kearney and Buffalo county since the day he cast his fortunes with them, and he has taken an active and, in some instances, a conspicuous, part in different enterprises which have been set on foot for the betterment of the material and social condition of his community. He has kept up his interest in agriculture and has been the able champion of the farmers' rights and ])rivileges in this state. He is now president of the Nebraska State Fair Association and has done much valuable work for the agricultural, horti. cultural, live stock and dairying interests of the state. Mr. Greer visits other states, BUFFALO COUNTY. 4fil attends fairs anci stock shows and gathers information, which lie lays before tlie pub- lic, from time to time, in the sliape of annual rejiorts, and thus carries theor3' and practice along hand in hand and gets at the same time the benefit of tlie ex- perience of others engaged by similar lines of endeavor. Mr. Greer is often called in consultation with Gov. Tha^'er. Personally, Mr. Greer is popular, being well and favorably known by all the old settlers with whom he had dealings in the early days. He is wide awake and pro- gressive in his views, and welcomes all new-comes and encourages the bringing of capital and new industries. He is, in short, a thorough-going man of affairs. Polite, genial and affable — one whom it is a pleasure to meet either in business or social relation, and of whose personality even the casual acquaintance retains a dis- tinct and happy remembrance. Mr. Greer was united in marriage to Miss Susie Peter in 1873, a very lovely lady of Eushville, 111. Mrs. Greer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. EGAR H. ANDREWS is one of the most popular and best known \'oung farmers in Buffalo county, and was born in "Williamstown, Yt., Jan, 3, 1855. His father, David Andrews, was born in Cabot, Vt., August 1, 1821; was reared on a farm and upon arriving at the age of maturity chose farmingas his occu- pation. He married Elizabeth House, daugliter of Halsey House, a native of Vermont, who died about 1868. The senior Andrews came West about the close of the war, and resided at Black Hawk, Colo., for a short time; but, not being pleased with the appearance of the country in that region, he retraced his foot-steps, stopping at Grinnell, Iowa, where he pur- chased land and immediately engaged in farming. His experience in the field of agriculture at this point extended over a period of eight years. He was not satis- fied, however, and, disposing of his chat- tels and realty, he moved to Buffalo county, Nebr., arriving here in the spring of 1873. After prospecting about for a short time he purchased a (Quarter section of land on the banks of the Wood river in Centre township, where /the soil, for rich- ness and fertility, can not be excelled in the county. He then and there decided to make this his permanent home, and seventeen years of marvelous development have proven the wisdom of his decision. He and his estimable wife are still living in the enjoyment of a ripe old age of almost three score j'ears and ten. E. H. Andrews, the subject proper of this brief memoir, was only eighteen years old when he came with his father to Buffalo county, but he had faith in the great future development of the Platte valley and took advantage of the exceed- ingly low price of land by purchasing two hundred and eighty acres in the Wood River valley in Centre township. The country then was one vast desert of unbroken prairie, and farming, as one can well imagine, was not a very paying busi- ness for the first three or four years. The grasshopper plague in 1874—5-6, was one of the most vexatious and discouraging things with which the early settlers iiad to contend. Fields of waving corn which gave every promise of an abundant crop in the morning, would be strijjped of every vestige of life bv niglitfall. Tiie destriic- tion was not so great the next year, but the third was simply a repetition of the first. Many, disheartened and on the very verge of starvation, returned to their former places of habitation, while others, some of whom did not have tiie means to get away with, remained. The next year a bountiful crop was harvested and the few remaining settlers renewed their courage and went forward, improving and developing the country, until now they know no such thing as a failure of crops. Young Andrews was one of the few who never lost faitli in tlie future of the new country ; but, instead, redoubled his energies in the midst of famine, and was prepared to welcome the new era of prosperitj'^ with a smile of serene confidence. E. H. Andrews was married September 14, 1880, to Miss Carrie Longstreet, who was born in Syracuse, N. Y., December 11, 1858. She is the daughter of Cornelius and Esther Longstreet, both natives of New York, the former having been born October 11, 1833, and the latter Decem- ber 27, 1830. Her father was a farmer and mechanic, and for three years was paymaster on board a ship. They were both strictly religious people and active members of the Methodist church. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews has resulted in the birth of two children — Abbie, born July 15, 1883 (deceased), and Bessie, born September 5, 1885. Mr. Andrews has always exhibited a fondness for fine stock, and his efforts for several years have been directed toward the production of the very best horses, cattle and hogs. Besides being quite an extensive dealer in cattle and hogs, he makes a specialty of pure-bred horses. His stables contain several as fine speci- mens of imported Clydesdale and Norman stallions as the foreign markets afford. He also has a few imported brood-mares of the same pure blood, and takes great pains in raising their progeny. He be- lieves the best is always the cheapest, and that it costs no more to raise a pure-bred horse than it does an inferior one. Mr. Andrews is a young man of good educa- tion, full of the vigor of life, and thor- oughly posted on the leading issues of the day. He has several times been honored with the secretaryship of the Buffalo county agricultural society, and, in fact, is one of the rising young men of the county. GEORGE W. CORNELL was born in Warren count}', near Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1835, and is the son of Sylvenus and Sara (Flora) Cornell. His father was born in New York in 1790, and served in the war of 1812. About 1810 he moved to Ohio, where he died in 1879. John Cornell, grandfather of our subject, was a Canadian by birth, but whose father came from England and is believed to have constructed and operated the first flouring mill in the Dominion of Canada. George W. Cornell began life as a farmer in Warren county, Ohio, at the age of twenty-four. He had, however, served an apprenticeship at saddle-making, but never followed the trade to any great extent. In 1852 he entered Delaware University, at Delaware, Ohio, where he remained for three vears. BUFFALO COUNTY 463 In 1859 he joined a company at Kansas City, comprising about seventy -five men and fifty j^oke of oxen, and went on an expedition to Pilve's Peak. He returned in a year or so, however, and engaged in farming, until 1808, when he moved to Dayton and engaged in the coal and wood business. In the fall of 1870 the Soldiers' and Sailors' Emigration Colony, of Dayton, Ohio, was organized, with Mr. Cornell as president. In 1871 several members, in- cluding the president, were sent to Buffalo county, Nebr., to inspect the country and report to the organization the result of their observations. The re- port sent back was highly satisfactory and in the following spring several more members came out and took claims. Mr. Cornell purchased 539 acres of railroad land just outside the present limits of the city of Kearney. Mr. Cornell was appointed distributing clerk for Buffalo county during the grass- hopper times, when provision and clothing were sent from all over the East to the unfortunate settlers in this desert region. Many families were so destitute of the actual necessities of life that they were obliged to live on frozen potatoes, corn meal and boiled wheat. It was indeed a time of great suffering throughout the en- tire county, and many men came to Mr. Cornell in those days and told him they . did not have a mouthful to eat in their houses. In 1877 an era of pros})erity set in and since then there has been very little suffering among the people for want of food and clothing. Mr. Cornell was married January 25, 1 860, to Rebecca Davis, who was born near Xenia, Ohio, January 7, 1837, and is the daugh- ter of Jonathan and Six children were born of this union, namely — Florence, born November 17, 1860 (wife of William Paterson); Willis E., born July 31, 1862 (deceased); Carrie I., born September 8, 1863 (deceased); Mary A., born October 10, 1865 (wife of Wm. Bishop); Sarah A., born September 23, 1873. George S., born October 22, 1879. Mr. Cornell was deputy sheriff under Capt. Anderson in 1875. RW. FARE (deceased) was born in Ohio, July 23, 1832. His parents moved to Boone county. 111., when he was seven years old, and there he was reared on a farm and had few opportu- nities for obtaining an education as the country was new and sparsely settled. He proved to be an industrious youth, however, and took advantage of everj^ opportunity presented him for self-cul- ture. In this way he managed to secure a fair business education, which proved a a great boon to him in after life. In 1855 he was married to Miss Mar}' C. Mullen. She was a native of New York and born August 10, 1838. She was a daughter of Philip and Rachael (Canty) Mullen, the former a native of New York and the latter of Wales. Her parents located in Illinois in 1852, and in 1871 they came to Nebraska, where her father died in 1884. Soon after marriage Mr. Farr concluded to immigrate to Iowa, then being rapidly settled by Eastern people. He finally located near Fayette, Fa^'ette county, that state, where he purchased a farm and entered upon the quiet pursuits of agricul- 464 BUFFALO COUNTY. ture, but liis success ii\ tliis line was fre- quently interrupted by ill-health. He suf- fered from frequent and serious attacks of a complicated natui'e and at one time he was confined to his room most of the time for four years. He finally disposed of his farm and moved to town, engaging in the liver}' business, but was sick so much of the time that he was unable to attend to his affaii's in a satisfactory^ manner, so he finally disposed of his business and con- cluded to try his fortune further West. He set out for Nebraska, where he arrived in March, 1871, locating in Hall county, near Grand Island. He took a homestead, which he sold six years later and located in Buffalo county, where he took a tree claim in Cherry Creek township in August, 1877, but sold this in a few years and purchased a quarter section of railroad land in the same vicinity. He began breaking and otherwise improving until he made it one of the most attractive farms in the com- munity. During these years he sufl'ered from the usual anno3'ances incident to the early settlement of this part of the coun- try. The crops were either entii'ely des- troyed by the grasshoppers or were injured by hail or drouth. Mr. Farr, though suf- eringfrom ill health, was a man of remark- able courage and determination and was always of a jovial disposition and never appeared discouraged, although his pa- tience was many a time put to a severe test. To Mr. and Mrs. Farr were born two sons— Earnest H., born February 6, 1857, now a prosperous young farmer, and Levi J., born August 22, 1875. The last named has had poor health for some time, and the fond parents, thinking a change of cli- mate would prove beneficial to the invalid youtl), spent a year and a half in Tennes- see, returning in the spring of 1887. Mr. Farr seemed to have gained renewed vital- ity as well as his son, and upon his return began his farm work. He was taken sud- denly ill, however, and died on the fif- teenth day of July, 1887. Mr. Farr was a man who never lacked for friends and who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. To his faithful wife, who bestowed her tender care and sym- path\' through all his years of sickness, he was ever grateful. WILLIAM McLELLAN is a prosperous farmer living eight miles north of Kearney in Divide township. He was born Novem- ber 18, 1837, at "Washington C. H., Fay- ette county, Ohio, and is the sixth in a familj' of twelve children born to AYilliam S. and Margaret (Wright) McLellan, who were natives of New England ; the former, a farmer by occupation, was born at Port- land, Me., in 1795 ; the latter was born in 1810. The other members of the paternal family are as follows — Maria L., Mary J., Eliza, Alfred, Theodoi-e, Joseph, Eliza- beth E., Maggie, Horton H., Oscar W. and Frank. His paternal grand- father, Joseph McLellan, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born April 18, 1762. He was captain of a boat on the Atlantic ocean, and the chart which he used has been handed down and is now in the possession of our sub- ject. William in his earl}' days attended school in the country until a rudimentary education was obtained, after which he BUFFALO COUNTY. 465 attended the high school in Washington C. H. lie engaged in farming until the war broke out, and on April 2o, 1801, he responded to his country's call, enlisting in the Twenty -second regiment, Ohio volun- teers. He accompanied his regiment to Parkersburgh and Clarksburgh, Va., and was mustered out at the expiration of his time,August 19, 1861, at Athens, Ohio. He returned home and remained two months and then re-enlisted October 19, as a musician, with the same regiment, playing lirst baritone. The first engagement of note under this enlistment was the battle of Shiloh, where, on account of many of the soldiers being sick, the band boys left their horns in their tents and took guns, participating throughout the fight. In pursuance of an order sent out from head-quarters to discharge all band men who desired to go, he was mustered out April 24, 1862. He returned home for a short time, but the old war fever was too strong within him for resistance, and he accordingly volunteered August 9, 1862, and continued in the service until the close of the war. He did guard duty at Wash- ington city, was with Kilpatrick on his raid to Richmond, and in ail participated in seventeen battles, including the battles of Gettysburg, Brandy station (at which battle he had his horse shot from under him) and manj' others of note. He was discharged June 13, 1865. Mr. McLellan was married August 26, 1862, just before returning to the war the thiril time, to Mary E. Saunders, which union has resulted in the birth of elevenchil- dren, as follows — William, born Decem- ber 28, 1863 ; Nella, born August 5, 186.-5 ; Charles, January 28, 1867 ; Etta, January 31, 1869 ; Harry, March 13, 1871 ; Edwin, Februai'y 13, 1873; Alvora, January 19, 1875; Maggie, March 4, 1878; Ilorton, December 8, 1883 ; Oscar, Se))tember 13, 1885 ; and Grace, born September IS, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. McLellan continued to re- side in Fayette county, Oliio, until March, ISSO, when they came West and located on their present farm in Divide township, which they have greatly improved, hav- ing built a neat frame dwelling and put one hundred and thirty aci-es of their quarter section under cultivation. They are both active members of the Methodist church, he having been one of the trustees of the first organization in their commu- nity. Mr. McLellan, politically, is a stanch republican, and is now serving as the clerk of his town. WILLIAM G. PATTERSON is one of the earliest settlers of Divide township, Buffalocounty, having located here in the early seventies, when but twenty-one 3'ears of age. He was born in Wayne county, Pa., July 27, 1853. His father, Robert Patterson, was a native of Ireland, born in the year 1827. His mother, Jane (Henry) Patterson, was also a native of Ireland, and was born in 1830. When William was one and a half years old his parents moved to New York, where they resided for nine years, after which they returned to Leadsdale, Wayne county. Pa. Remaining there two years, they next moved to Lincoln county, Wis., where they resided for two years, daring which time William attended the neigh- boring school. In 1869 he, in company with his parents, returned to Wa3'ne county. Pa., where he served a three- 466 BUfFALO COUNTY. 3'ears" apprenticeship at the tinner's trade. In the spring of 1872 he went to Chicago, where, on account of the big fire the fall before, there was great demand for workmen at his trade, and there he was emplo\-ed on the dome of the great exposition building and many other struct- ures of note. He remained in Chicago, working at his trade, for two years, and in April, 187J:, came West and located in Buffalo county, Xebr. He farmed and worked at his trade in Kearnej' the first year, and the following year devoteii his time exclusively to farming, putting out a large crop of corn, oats and wheat, from which he harvested a fair crop. In 1876 he put out forty acres of wheat, ten acres of corn and seven acres of oats, which were entirely destroyed by the grasshop- pers; and he, like many others, was obliged to haul corn from Smith Centre, Kans., a distance of one hundred and twent\'-five miles. When Mr. Patterson first came to this county deer and antelope were plentiful and some elk were still to be found. He hunted considerably in those days, and reports having killed both deer and elk. His well-improved farm, Ijnng north of Kearney, in Divide town, ship, speaks of itself of his prosperity since coming to this county. Mr. Patterson was married February 27, 1877. to Florence E. Cornell, who w^as born November 17, 1860, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Cor- nell, whose biographical memoir appears elsewhere in this volume. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson has resulted in the birth of two children — George H. born November 14, 1878, and Stella A., born January 23, 1880. In politics Mr. Patterson is independent. /t AEOX HEDGES is of the line of / \ a thrifty Maryland famil}', who J_ \_ were pioneers of that state. His father was Moses Hedges, born in Maryland, in 1799, and in early child- hood was taken by his parents to Virginia and remained there till 1861; thence he removed to Woodford county, III., and there remained till death, which occurred in 1872. He was a republican in politics. For a number of years Mr. Heiiges was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was an active member and liberal supporter. He married Miss Nanc}"^ Jones, a native of Virginia, and to them were born eight children, namely — David (died in 1868); Mary Ann, lives in Dawson county, Nebr.; Aaron ; Sarah, wife of Mr. Ward, a retired farmer, and M. T., in Kansas. Three died in infancy. The subject, Aaron Hedges, is a native of Virginia and was born in 1831. In 1864 he moved to Woodford county, 111., and thence to Nebraska, in 1881, settling on section 20, township 9, range 18 west. Elm Creek township, BuS'alo county. In 1851 Mr. Hedges began life for himself with only a strong boiiy and willing hands. His first earnings were invested in cattle, which proved to be a good investment. He continued to be prosperous till 1873, being worth at that time $22,000, when a firm, in which he had implicit confidence, failed; leaving him a security' to pay $16,000. He remarked " I have made it once and I can make it again." In 1873 he began a second time, and at present has 720 acres of land, fifty-three horses and 220 head of cattle, in company with his son. Mr. Hedges was married to Miss Linsey, a native of Virginia, born in 1831, and an BUFFALO COUNTY. 407 active member in the Metliodist Episcopal church for a number of years. Their union was blessed with an only son, Joshua K. (born 1851, died October, 1889). After the death of his wife, Mr. Hedges, in 1873, married Miss Sarah Boyd, a native of Illinois, and a graduate of Eureka Col- lege, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Hedges are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their union has been blessed with four children, namely — Charles (born 1S74, died 188{i); Brook Taimage (born 1875); Ula (born 1877); Ella (born 1880). JAMES SMITH. A history of Buffalo county, containing biographical men- tion of her prosperous farmers would be incomplete without the name of James Smith. He is the son of Robert and Nancy (Crawford) Smith, both natives of Ireland, who came to America, in 1827, to make their future home. Eobert Smith first located at Paterson,N. J., remaininer ten years; thence he moved to York State, where he remained three years, and from there to Monroe county, Mich., in 1840, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1865. Just previous to death he called his children to his bedside and his parting counsel was for all to live a Christian life. When he had finished speaking he gently and peacefull^^ fell asleep. Mr. Smith was a consistent and much beloved member of the Congrega- tional church and was strongly opposed to secret orders. In the community in which he lived he was alwavs hii;]ilv es- teemed for his upright and honorable dealing, and his word was considered as good as his note. His occupation was farming, but in Paterson, N. J., he was engaged in weaving. He bore the repu- tation of being a good financier and was very prosperous in all his work. In poli- tics he was a republican. Mrs. Nancy (Crawford) Smith was born in 1797, and was also an active member of the Congregational church for j'ears. She was a kind and affectionate mother, with a heart full of sympathy for persons in pov- erty or distress. She survived her hus- band twent^'-one years, and departed this life in 1886, well prepared to enter the "Heavenly Rest." She bore eight chil- dren, six of whom still live to mourn Tier loss — Jane (deceased), James, John, who lives in Los Angeles, Cal.; Robert, who lives on a homestead in Michigan; Thomas, Sarah (Mrs. Graham), Nancy (deceased), Martha (Mrs. Kimball), living on Indiana avenue, Chicago. James Smith, the subject, was born April 15, 1823, in New Jersey. He re- mained with his parents on the farm until twenty-one years of age. He then went to Toledo, Ohio, and in 1883 migrated to Nebraska, settling on section 19, town- ship 9, range 18 west. He now owns five hundred and sixt}' acres of good land, due to industr}', but his prosperity has not caused him to forget the " Giver of all good," and he stands an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, ever ready to respond to the calls of charity. He has been blessed with two children to bring cheer to his declining 3'ears — Julia Augusta, a graduate of the Toledo high scliool and a teacher for several terms, but now at home with her father, and James Joshua, also at home. 4fi8 BUFFALO COUNTY. JOHN TYLER. Prominent among tlie early pioneers of Buffalo county is the subject of this sketch. His father was Joseph Tyler, a native of France, born in 1801, and who came to America in 1829, settling in Buffalo, N. Y. There for awhile he followed his trade — weaving. From Buffalo he moved to Burlington, Racine county, Wis., where he continued at his trade and also engaged in farming to some extent. From Wis- consin he moved to Elm Creek, Nebr., where he died in 1SS4. He was a kind and generous man, and from childhood was a devoted member of the Catholic church. His marriage took place in France to a Miss Barbara Ring, born in ISO-l, and likewise a devoted member of tlie Catholic church from childliood. She was a woman dearly beloved by all who knew her, and departed this life, May 9, 1S80, four years previous to her husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tyler were born the following children — Barbara, de- ceased ; Joseph, who died in Andersonville prison, after a confinement of thirteen months ; Jacob, living in Sterling, Nebr.; Catherine, now Mrs. Arendt ; John, the subject of this sketch, and Josephine, who died in 1885. John Tyler was born in 1841, in Buffalo, N. Y. " While in Wiscon- sin he began life for himself by engaging in the lumbering business. In 1873 he came to Elm Creek, Nebr., and engaged in mercantile business, in which he continued for ten or eleven years, and since then he has farmed. At one time he took a homestead along the Platte river but traded it for a sjjotted coach dog. He then settled on section 28, township 9, range 18, and also owns one- fourth of sec- tion 20, townshii) 9, range IS. Mr. Tyler is a member of the Catholic church, as is also his wife — Mrs. Bridget (Rodgers) Tj'ler. She was born in New Brunswick in 1813, and when ten \'ears old moved with her parents to Carlton, Kewaunee county, Wis., and there was married in 1865. To this union have been born seven children — Josephine (Mrs. Loible), living in Elm Creek; John, who died when eight years old ; Joseph, Charlie, Freddie, Georgieand Eddie at home. EDWARD FITZGERALD, one of Buffalo county's most prosperous farmers, is a son of Patrick and Kate Fitzgerald, natives of county Water- ford, Ireland. The father died in 1860, and was a man kindly thought of for his many good qualities. Both father and mother were devoted members of the Catholic church, and were the parents of eight children, viz. — Kate (deceased), Ellen and Lawrence (at home), Edward deceased), James (in Australia), Matthew, Edward and Mary (Mrs. Coffee). Edward Fitzgerald, the subject of this sketch, is also a native of county Water- ford, Ireland. He came to America in 1875, first settling in Nebraska ; he then moved to Colorado, where he remained for six years. In the year 1881, he returned to Nebraska, locating in Elm Creek township, Buffalo county, and settling on section 26, township 9, range 18 west, where he now resides. By economy and industry Mr. Fitzgerald has accumulated enough property to be called "well off"' and he sustains an enviable reputation for honesty. He apparently BUFFALO COUNTY. 469 makes it a rule of life to " Owe no man anything." In 1881 he was married to Miss Kate Coflfee, a native of county Waterford, Ireland, born in ISo-l. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald are both members of the Catholic church. Politically, Mr. Fitzgerald is a democrat, and is now serv- ins: as school treasurer. JOHN LUCE, a prosperous farmer in Gardner township, Buffalo count}'^, was born in Wyoming count}', Pa., November 20, 1831, and is the son qi Abram and Amanda (Osier) Luce. The senior Luce was born in New Jersey, in 1804, and after marriage settled in Penn- sjdvania. He was a wagon-maker by trade, but devoted most of his time to farming. He died in 1869. John Luce, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of a family of six chil- dren. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Osier, died when he was but six days old, and he was reared by his grandparents. His youthful ambition was to be a carpenter and he began serving an apprenticeship at sixteen. After an expe- rience of four years he was obliged to quit work on account of trouble with his eves, and for two years he was entirel}' blind. He regained his eyesight, however, in time to offer his services to the govern- ment before the war closed. He joined the Second Pennsylania heavy artillery, and saw some hard fighting in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Richmond. He helped tear up the Wel- don i-ailroad and was stationed at Peters- burg for nine months after Lee's surrender. He was discharged January 29, 1866. In March, 1878, he emigrated from Pennsylvania to Buffalo county, Nebr., taking up a soldier's homestead in Gard- ner township. His was the fifth family to settle in the township, and it was some time before there was any settlement to speak of in his immediate locality. He came to this country with very limited means and was compelled to practice economy in every way possible. He built a sod house and began breaking the prairie prepara- tory to planting a small crop the follow- ing season. He paid $2.50 per acre to have fifteen acres of sod broke, and worked, himself, at sixty cents a day to pay for it. There were no regularly laid out roads in those days, and every trav- eler selected his own route. He made frequent trips to the Loup for fuel, and during: the long and severe winter of 1880-81 he was obliged to burn hay and cornstalks for fuel. John Luce was united in marriage, October 17, 1858, to Miss Annie MaGee. She was born in Susquehannah count}'. Pa., October 5, 1888, and is the daughter of Ebenezer and Lucy (Root) MaGee, the former a native of New York and the lat- ter of Connecticut. Her father died in February, 1876, and her mother in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Luce have had six children — Riley W., Benny (deceased), Mary (deceased), Charley, George and Ella E. In April, 1885, Mr. Luce was instru- mental in establishing the Luce postofiice, and has since been the postmaster. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Farmers' Alliance, and is independent in politics. He is one of the leading farmers in the township, and enjoys tlie confidence and esteem of all who know him. 470 BUFFALO COUNTY. K LBEET G. WELCH, one of the enterprising and well-to-do citi- zens of Gardner township, Buffalo county, was born in Vermont, March 10, 1854. His parents, George W. and Electa M. (Cone}') Welch, were both natives of the Green Mountain State and moved to Illinois in the spring of 1856, when Albert was only two j^ears old. The family set- tled in Henry county, where they re- mained for ten years. In 1866 they moved to Cass county, Iowa, where the father died in 1871. He was a farmer all his life, a zealous member of the Meth- odist church and a man respected and ad- mired for his many good qualities. Albert G. was the eldest of a family of six children. His educational advantages were limited to the common district school, which he attended during the winter months while engaged in assisting his father on the home place. Being brought up on a farm his natural inclinations seemed to run along on that line, and when he arrived at his majority he conckuled to adopt farming as his vocation through life. Mr. Welcli, being of an ambitious nature, believed the West offered greater opportunities to a young man just starting in life than the older settled states. In 1878 he came to Buffido county, Nebr., with the fixed determination of securing a home no matter what obstacles he might meet with. It was the last day in December, 1878, when he filed his papers on the northwest quarter of section 8, in Gard- ner township. He built a dug-out in a convenient jilace, and settled down for the wiater. He brougiit two teams, some cattle and about $200 in money with him from Iowa. A few settlers were erecting houses in the neighborhood, but the settlers were few and far between. His claim was located on the very backbone of the divide be- tween the Loup and Platte rivers, and he could stand on one spot and look over into four counties. When spring ojiened he went seven miles to find ground enough broke that he could rent to plant some potatoes and corn. The second year he purchased a riding plow and his good wife broke sod while he did the planting. She also helped him put up sixty tons of hay that fall. There was plenty of deer, ante- lope and other wild game roaming about the bluffs, and the settlers who cared to shoot them could keep themselves well supplied with fresh meats. The Welch ranch was headquarters for some time for cattlemen driving their herds from the south Loup country to Grand Island to market. It was the only place on the route where they could corral and get water, and they always made it a point to stop over night when passing through that country. The first two or three years in the new country tried the courage of the settler. Mr. Welch was no exception to the rule, lie had come with limited means and had hard work to cope with the many disap- pointments and make both ends meet. In the fall of 1879 he procured emplojnnent in the mill race at Shelton and the money thus earned proved of great assistance. He often went sixty miles after timber with which to build sheds to shelter his stock. Mr. Welch was married Jul}' 2, 1874, the lad}' whom he selected as his compan- ion through life being Miss Amy Ayels- woi'th. She was born in McIIenry county, 111., July 20, 1856. She was a daughter of William II. and Amanda (Gardner) A H. CONNOR. BUFFALO COUNTY. 4?3 Ayelswortb, both of whom were natives of New York. The}' immigrated to Illi- nois in 184S, where her father died in 1870. He was a tailor b}' trade but fol- lowed farming the latter part of ins life. Mr. and Mrs. "Welch have had two chil- dren, viz. — Flora A., born September 7, 1877, died December 16, 1887, and Theron Earl, born February 13, 1886. Mr. Welch has one hundred and si.Kty acres of choice land, which he has supplied with all modern improvements. He has taken great pains in raising fruit and has one of the finest young apple orchards in the county. It comprises over four hun- dred thrifty trees which are beginning to bear handsomely. He has a large variety of the smaller fruits growing and is recog- nized as one of the most successful fruit- growers in the county. He also takes con- siderable pride in stock-raising and is just entering upon a successful career in that line. GEN. ALEXANDER H. CON- NOR. General Connor's father, William Connor, was of Irish ex- traction, was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Michigan and Indiana. In western Pennsylvania, while a lad, he was captured by the Indians and taken to Fort Detroit, Mich., where he was re- leased and conducted by white settlers to the Northwest Territory, now southeast Indiana, where he finally located near the present town of Brookville, and where he was for many years a surveyor and In- dian trader. Inured to the dangers and hazards of pioneer hfe, he was a typical frontiersman. He founded ConnorsviUe, Ind., where he resided man}' years, after- wards moving to Hamilton county, that state, and then to Noblesville, where he died in 18.55. He was a member of the Indiana legislature and held a number of minor positions in different localities where he lived. Like the earl}' settlers of that period, he served in the Indian wars, and participated in the battle of Tippeca- noe, the importance of which made the elder Harrison president of the United States. He rested at the ripe age of seventy-five. The maiden name of General Connor's mother was Elizabeth Chapman, and she was a native of New York. She is still living, having attained the great age of eighty-six. Alexander H. Connor was born in Ham- ilton county, Ind., in 1832. He was reared on his father's farm and received such an education as the common schools of that period afforded. He studied law under the tuition of Judge Earl S. Stone, afterward attending the New York law school, and was admitted to the bar at Noblesville in 1854, where he practiced till 1856, when he was elected a member of the state legislature. After serving his term in the legislature he located at Indianapolis, where he resided for a num- ber of years, practicing his profession, taking an active part in the politics of the state, and being prominently con- nected with local interests in and around the capital city. In 1860 he was chosen chairman of the Indiana state republican central committee, and by his political sngacity and leadership the state threw its support to Lincoln. He was thus honored in 1862, 186G and 1868. He was 4?4 BUFFALO COUNTY appointed postmaster at Indianapolis in 1861 by President Lincoln in recognition of his valuable political services, and held this position till the tragic death of Lincoln made Andrew Johnson president ; then he tendered his resignation in antic- ipation of being removed. From 1862 to 1871 he was interested in the Indianapolis Journal, then the leading party organ of the state, and now one of the repre- sentative papers of the West. His news- paper experience, while a success politic- ally, was a failure financially, and to free it from the embarrassment of debt. General ^Connor gave up the hard earn- ings of a successful career and began life again almost penniless. As many others had done, he turned his face westward, and in September, 1S72, he formed a part- nership with F. G. Ilamer in the practice of law, which continued till Judge Ilamer went on the bench. General Connor possesses an aptitude for politics. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1874, presi- dential elector in 1876, and has been elected to the senate three times, and is serving his third term at the present time. His sterling integrity gives him a hold upon the people that renders his political aspirations devoid of opposi- tion. His chosen profession has been the ambition of his life, and success has attended his efforts in this direction. He is a logical thinker, eloquent speaker, ripe lawyer, able legislator, good citizen, beloved neighbor, earnest, liberal, pro- oressive and charitable without stint. He seems to have inherited the world-famed patriotic eloquence of the sons of old Erin. "Whether on the hustings, the ros- trum, or in the forum, the pathos of his earnest appeals, the rhetoric of a silver tongue, and the logic of a well-drilled legal mind, carry his audiences away. As an orator, he has few equals in the state, and the secret of this dramatic power lies in his profound earnestness. He will live in the history of Nebraska, for he has helped to make it. CAELTONB. CASS, editor, publish- er and proprietor of the Ravenna News, is a native of Albany, N. Y., and was born June 9, 1867. He is a son of Horatio G. and Mary (Babcock) Cass, natives also of ISTew York and descend- ants of old York State ancestors. His parents came "West in 1875 and settled in in Aurora, Hamilton count}', this state, where they now live, his father being superintendent of the water works. The subject of this sketch started out for himself at the age of thirteen, entering the office of the Hamilton county News, where he began to master the rudiments of the " art preservative." In 1886, then eighteen years old, he went to Eavenna, Buifalo county, and started the Ravenna Star, this being his first newspaper venture. After running this successful!}' for some time he sold it out and went then to Stratton, in Hitchcock county, this state, where he established the Stratton Democrat. He conducted this successfully for more than a 3'ear, when he sold it out and re- turned to Ravenna and bought the N'eios, of wiiich he is now editor, publisher and proprietor. Mr. Cass is a bo)'n and bred newspaper man. He has a strong liking BUFFALO COUNTY. 475 for the business, is a good rustler and a reaily and forcible writer, and possesses decided convictions and is fearless and out- spoken in opinion. He has a taste for politics and has been somewhat active in political matters. He is a thorough hater of pretense and profession, and scourges vice and iniquity with a vigorous hand wherever he finds it. In politics he inclines towards the democratic faith, but conducts his paper as an independent organ. He is young, ambitious, and posesses the will to do and the soul to dare. He is a hard worker, and is atten- tive to business. Although active in politics he has never sought office for himself, being content to pursue his own business purposes. He is public-spirited, however, and has attended several con- ventions and associations of a political and social nature. He is pleasant and com- panionable in common intercourse and as kind and accommodatino- a gentleman as one could hope to meet. LJ. EABCOCK is a representative business man of the town of Gib- > bon, Buffalo county. He is not an old timer, strictly speaking, and the record of his experiences does not, there- fore, begin with the date of the settlement of the colony. He located in Gibbon, October 20, 1875, four years and a half after the colony was started. He struck the receding end of the grasshopper season and got a few breaths of hot air from the dry years. He saw something of the historic hard times. Still he is a man of more recent growth than the original old settlers. But he is, like them, almost a product of the soil. He came West, as most men do, with little or nothing. He started in, as the com- mon saying goes,on the bottom round of the ladder. He is not yet either rich or famous, but he has secured a footing and, as appearances indicate, is in a fair way to get on in the world. Tlie steps by which he has risen have necessarily been slow and tedious. His case at the outset of his career did not differ very widely from that of the average young man who comes West in pursuit of fortune. His methods and their results, however, have been decidedly different. But few young men come West with a settled determination to locate in one place and by hard and persistent effort build up a business and a character which will serve them in years to come. The race for wealth, the contest for glory, becomes too absorbing to admit of the tedious processes of growth. It is worthy of note (and the fact is here emphasized because of the rarity of its occurrence), that the subject of this sketch, when he decided to stay in the West, made up his mind to locate in one place and remain there. His purpose was to grow with the place. He began at once to gather a practical knowledge of his intended bus- iness, of his surroundings and of the people among whom he expected to live. Mr. Babcock served an apprenticeship to the tinner's trade in his youth and worked at it as a journe3'man after grow- ing up. lie was master of the craft when he came to Nebraska. It was the chosen business of his life. On settling he at once secured a location and opened a shop. In connection therewith he opened 476 BUFFALO COUNTY. a small stock of hardware and tinware. His start in accordance with his means was modest. His chief income came from his labor at the bench. But as the town and county settled np, the demand for iroods and wares in his line increased and his business prospered from year to year until now he owns the best equipped establisiiment of the kind in the town of Gibbon, and one which woixld be a credit to a town having twice the population that Gibbon has. Mr. Babcock has worked steadily at his trade during all these years and yet continues to do so. He has a business in the general line of hardware, which would reasonably occupy his entire time and attention, provided he chose to devote his time and attention to it. But he does not. This he carries on by means of a clerk while he, himself, works at the bench. Perhaps the explanation of this is to be found in the fact that compe- tent clerks are plentiful while competent journeyman tinners are not. Certainly the fact illustrates one of the chief sources of his success. Besides his mercantile business, Mr. Babcock has an interest in the First National bank of Gibbon, being a stock-holder therein and a member of the boards of directors. He was one of the organizing members of this institution. Recurring to Mr. Babcock's earlier personal and ancestoral history, it will be in keeping with the character and pur- pose of this article to record that he was born in "Walworth county, Wis., October 2, ISoi. He was reared there and lived there till coming to Nebraska in 1875. He received an ordinary common-school education and was early apprenticed to the tinner's trade, a trade he mastered and the business he has since followed. He is a son of James and Lovie (Koberts) Babcock, his parents both being natives of the town of Plattsburg on Lake Cham- plain, Vt. They were married there and moved West soon after and settled in Wal- worth county, Wis. There the mother died in 1856, in middle life, leaving a fam- ily of five children, of whom the subject, of this sketch is next to the youngest, the others being three sons and a daugh- ter — Charles, Justina, Wesley and Marion. Mr. Babcock's father, after a second marriage, lived some years in Wisconsin, dying in his adopted county, Wal- worth, in 1862, somewhat advanced in years. He was throughout life a farmer being a plain substantial representative of his calling. In his own domestic relations Mr. Babcock has been as fortunate as the average man. He was married, in July, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, of Walworth county, Wis. His wife was reared in the same community with him- self, but is a native of New York State. Her parents moved West years ago and settled in Walworth county. Wis., where her father died and where her mother yet lives and her grandmother too. Being a descendant of New England stock, Mr. Babcock retains man}^ of the characteristics of his people. His patience, his industry, his perseverance, his econom- ical habits and his business sagacity, come largely from this source. In addition he received a correct early training. He was brought up in accordance with the New England idea of rearing children to callings of usefulness. He was imbued with no unreal views of life! The fact was placed before his mind, in an exceedingly compre- hensible form, that the matter of living is BUFFALO COUNTY 477 a serious problem to be solved in a practi- cal way. His methods, tiierefore, are the methods of the man of business. He is plain in manner, pointed in speech, practi- cal in means, and punctilious in all things. He is devoted exclusively to business. He is engrossed with his own personal concerns. He makes no pretension in the matter of religion or politics. Asa citizen lie takes an interest in matters of general concern, at least as far as all good citizens are expected to. He gives to worthy purposes in proportion to his means. He is a zealous member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his benevolent impulses take the practical shape incul- cated by that fraternity. JOHN M. BAYLEY. Any list of the old settlers of Buffalo count}', however long, would be incomplete without mention of the name of John M. Bayley, of the town of Gibbon. Any record of the early experience of the first settlers of the county would be lacking in interest as well as historical accuracy that did not include the personal reminiscence of this gentleman. Mr. Bayley is an old settler in the strongest and most signifi- cant sense of the phrase. He was in Ne- braska years before Buffalo county was ever thought of — when all the country now comprised within this county was part of the great domain of the northwest, and marked on the map as practically unin- habitable. Mr. Bayley came to Nebraska in April, 1857, three years after the terri- tory was organized, and when it had a population of only a few thousand settled in widely scattered communities, and not a village of over one hundred souls. He therefore saw the country almost in its primitive state, and gazed with his own eyes on the enchanting picture presented by the poet when he directed the eyes of the beholder in these fines : "Behold the prairie, broad and grand and free ; 'Tis God's own garden, unprofaned by man." Mr. Bayle\' was one of a colony of Pennsylvanians, twenty' -seven in number, who made their way with ox teams and pack horses to the state, or ratiier terri- tory, years before the railroads had belted the country with their glistening bands of steel or even the cumbersome stagecoaches had penetrated far into the interior, off the main line of overland travel to the gold fields of the Pacific coast. A minute description of the mode of travel and the manner of living at that early date, would hardly be appropriate in a sketch like this, those things belonging more properly to the history of the state — but it ma}' be here recorded with truth and historical accuracy, that Mr. Bayley was a pioneer in those days and lived the life of a pioneer with all that the term implies. The colony of which he was a member settled near Table Rock in Pawnee county, which was then considerably beyond the outposts of civilization. Most of the members took up land in that vicinity and many of them made permanent improvements. Some, however, returned to the old state as is usual in such cases ; others moved on west and still others scattered off, settling in differ- ent localities. Mr. Bayley remained in Nebraska till tiie fall of 1857, when, being a young man and unmarried, he desired to see more of the world and accordingly, 478 BUFFALO COUNTY. in the fall of 1857, be started soutli, pulling up in Arkansas a few weeks later. A large part of that state was then new and just starting up, and offered some inducements to young men in search of locations. But Mr. Bayley did not take kindl}' to the malaria, mosquitoes, soda biscuits and six shooters of the swamp-land state, and he remained there only a year, returning in December, 1858, to his native place in Pennsylvania. He settled down there and was variously engaged until 1862, when, the Civil war having come on, and calls were being made for soldiers to de- fend the Union, he entered the military service of the United States as a member of an independent company, organized for the purpose of repelling invasions of rebel forces into Penns^'lvania and especially the city of Philadelphia. He remained in the service of the government in this capacity for nearly a year, when the term of liis enlistment having expired, he remained in Philadeljjhia city, where he took a position on the city police force, which position he held for three j'ears. He lived there, engaged in this and other capacities, till 1869, when his mind again turned towards the great West, and in the fall of that year he moved to Michi- gan, having married in the meantime, settled and went into the lumber business on the Muskegon river. He lived in Michigan till 1871, coming thence to Nebraska and settling in Buffalo county. Beginning the record of his experience, therefore, as a resident of this county*, even with the year 1871, he can justly be numbered as one of the old settlers, for the settlement of the county began in that year. Mr. Bayley came in the spring — April 7 — the same time the colon}' did, and, like most of the colonists, he was not bur- dened with an abundance of this world's goods, but came West purposel}' to better his condition. An actual inventory of his finances showed, at the date he landed in Buffalo county, that he had an even twenty dollars, his wife and babies, and a limited amount of household goods and wearing apparel. Like all the others, his first step was to secure land. He filed a home- stead claim on the northeast quarter of section 22, township 9, range 13, lying about two miles east and a little south of Avhere the town of Gibbon was located. On this he settled and began his imjn'ove- ments. After the first tedious stages of breaking and building were over, the invasion of the grasshoppers occurred, followed by the seasons of dry years with all their train of hardships and privations, through which Mr. Bayley passed, and of which he saw as much as anyone. He was not alone in his experi- ence in those years. He shared the lot that fell to all. The fact is simply adverted to, here in this sketch, as one of the incidents of his first years in the county, and as showing that he furnished his part of the patient fortitude and heroic endeavor that carried the little settlement through their trials to more prosperous times. Mr. Bayley has been engaged in farming continually since com- ing to the county. He lived on his farm up to about a ye&v ago, when he moved into the town of Gibbon, where he now resides. He has added, by purchases at different times, to his original homestead until he now owns five lumdred and twenty acres of as good land as there is in Buffalo count}', lying in Shelton town- ship, all of which is under cultivation, BUFFALO COUNTY 479 anil which yields an abundance of Ne- braska's sovereign products — corn and native hay. Mr. Bayley lias been engaged in the stock and dairying busi- ness since he came to the state. lie is one of the few men of tlie county who seem to have an intelligent conception of the possibilities of Nebraska soil, and who go about their work in a way to make it i)ay. One of his first moves the year after he located was to buy thirteen head of cou-s, in connection with Henry Green, a neighbor, and immediately embark in the dairying business. He now owns ovei- one hundred head, which he has raised from scrub stock to high grades and thoroughbreds, and he has made and sold thousands and thousands of pounds of butter, having some cus- tomers to whom he has furnished this wholesome domestic article for more than fifteen years. He is a member of the State Dairymen's Association, and has been an active worker in its interest. He rarely misses a county fair with his exhibits and it is a fact worth mentioning that he has never failed but once to take the first premium on butter at any fair he has entered his products. He is also largely interested in the breeding and rearing of horses, and he now has some improved strains and thoroughbreds, which he shows with commendable pride and which are a credit to his zeal and judgment in this direction. He began in the horse business at an early day, also hav- ing had the honor of raising the first span of colts in the county. Asa citizen laboring in the interest and welfare of his adopted county, Mr. Bayle}' has been equally as active and his efforts have met with equally as fruitful results. He helped to build the first school house in the county and heljied organize the first school district. Tliis was school dis- trict No.l, the school for which was taught about midway between the towns of Gib- bon and Shelton. Later on, when the pop- ulation of the district would authorize it, he, with others, secured a division of the old district, with others which were formed of it, and erected a new one, designated as No. 22, of which he became an official, holding the office of director for three vears and that of treasurer for seven. He is not a politician even in the mildest sense of the phrase and therefore we have no political triumphs or disasters to record of him. He has been content to lead the life of an humble citizen, contributing by the work of his hands to the solid pros- perity of his country rather than seeking the questionable honors that come of po- litical machination and personal intrigue. Mr. Bayley comes of a family of pio- neers and he gets by heredity some of the qualities that best fit him not only for a pioneer but for a useful citizen as well. He was born in Wayne county, Pa., Jan- uary 28, 1836, and his earlier years were passed amid scenes and incidents of a primitive kind even for that country, and among people most of whom had been the first settlers of that |)art of the Keystone State. His father, William Bayley, was a native of Newburyport, Mass., having been born there in 1702. He moved to Wayne county. Pa., in 1814, andsettled in Clinton township. He was one of the first settlers of the to\vnship, going into tiiat locality at a time when he had to cut his wa}'^ through the timber and make a road over which to move his household goods and farmins: utensils. He settled nine miles 480 BUFFALO COUNTY. from the town of Honesdale, now the county seat of Wayne county, and there lived and died. He was identified with the early organization of the county and his own particular township, as well as active enterprises of a general nature. He held a number of smaller offices in the count}^ such as county commissoner, as- sessor, bridge and road supervisor and the like. He was also a member of the state militia, when that was one of the insti- tutions of the day, and he volunteered in the service of his country, raising a company of which he was elected captain to fight the British in the war of 1812-1-i. The war, however, was over before he got into the field with his command. For the most part he led a quiet, unassuming life, devoting himself to agriculture in which he succeeded reasonably well. He died at his old home place in Chester township in 1853, then in the fifty-ninth 3'ear of his age. He was a life-long member of the Baptist church, a deacon of that church for years, and one of the founders of the First Baptist Association, and the builder of the First Baptist church in Chester township, Wayne county, where he set- tled. He was twice married, his first wife bearing the maiden name of Ruth Morse, a native of Haverhill, Mass., and a cousin of the inventor of the electric telegraph, Samuel F. B. Morse. This lady died a few years after their marriage, leaving two sons, both of whom are now also dead. He married again, his second wife being a sister of his former one, and a na- tive of the same place. This lady's Chris- tian name is Mary A., and she is still living. The second marriage was solem- nized July 4, 1830, at Haverhill, Mass., and the newly wedded pair immediately started to their home, then in the some- what distant West. The fruit of this union was eight children, all of whom reached maturity and most of whom are now living. These are — Ruth, the wife of William Porter ; Mehitable, John M., the subject of this sketch ; Edgar S., who died at Hilton Head, S. C, during the late war, being a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania regiment. Union Army; Harriet, wife of Offin B. Marshall ; Jennett, wife of Sydney Newman; Syl- vester E. and Charles. John M. Bayley, himself, married in Honesdale, Wayne county, Pa., October 30, 1860, his wife being Adeline A., daugh- ter of Lester Phelps and Margaret (Cooper) Adams. Mrs. Bayley's parents moved from Washington county, N. Y., to Wayne county. Pa., in 1830. Her father was a native of Troy, N. Y., and was by turns a farmer, tanner, shoe- maker and turner, a man of considerable mechanical genius and an industrious, hard-working citizen. He was killed in a turner's factory in Sterling, his home, Pa., in 1864, being then in the sixtieth year of his age. Mrs. Bajdey's mother was born in Red Hook, N. Y., and is yet living, having attained the great age of eighty-three and being at present a mem- ber of her daughter's household. Mrs. Bayley is herself one of a family of eight children, the full list in the order of their ages being as follows — Maria, wife of John Edwards; Henry N., Enoch N., John A., Thadeus Z., Adeline A. (Mrs. Bayley), Lester V., Aurelius Sylvester and Margaret T., wife of Amasa Megargill. Of Mrs. Bayley's -brothers all but one served inthe Union Army — John A., in tlie One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania, BUFFALO COUNTY. 481 Henry N., Thadeus Z. and Aurelius Syl- vester in the One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Pennsylvania, and Lester V. in the Third Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Baylev are the parents of five chililren, whose christian names are — Ilattie, now deceased, Lester W., John A., Mabel A. and Nettie E. It would be robbing this sketch of much of its value and denying a good woman her just deserts to fail to record that much that Mr. Bayley is and much that he has is due to the efficient help of his wife, who has willingly seconded and materially aided him in all his labors, bearing all and more than her full share of their common burden. She is not only a lad\^ of great industry and intelligence, but she possesses culture and refinement, having been in her young womanhood a teacher for some years and still retaining in her later life her taste for the studies of her youth. Like all of her sex she is kind-hearted, ever ready to help the sick and the af- flicted, ministering in times of need with her own hands to the wants of others. Her pleasant home is open to friend and stranger alike and she dispenses therefrom a warm and generous hospitality. SPv. TRAUT, of the town of Gibbon, Buffalo county, is a Pennsylvanian bj' birth and comes of Pennsyl- vanian parentage. His father, Samuel Traut, and his mother, Sarah Royer, both having been born and reared in Berks county, that state. His parents belonged to pioneer families, which moved into northwestern Pennsylvania, where they met and were married, and where they passed the most of their lives, the mother dying in ISfifi and the father in ISSl, both in Erie county, and both well advanced in years. They were the parents of eight children, besides the subject of this sketch, these being four boys and four girls, by name and in the order of their ages as follows^Lydia, Reuben, William, Henr}', Jesse, Eliza, Ann and Margaret ; our subject, Samuel R., being the youngest and making the ninth. He was born in Erie county and lived tiiere until moving West in 1S71, being brought up on his father's farm, receiving a good common- school education and being reared to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. He married in August, 1862, the lad}' whom he selected for a companion being Miss Sarah R. Shugert, daughter of Caleb and Ruth Shugert, of his native county, and began the race of life in the place and at the calling to which he was reared. He resided there till 1871, when having determined to move West, where land was more plentiful and opportunities for getting on in the world were better, he came in October of that year to Ne- braska and located a claim in Buffalo county, four and a half miles northeast of the newly-settled town of Gibbon. Going back to Pennsylvania, he returned with his family in the spring of 1872 and set- tled on his place, where he continued to reside for a number of years, engaged in farming. He saw much of the hard times, having passed through the grasshopper seasons, the dry years, the hail and all the trying times incident thereto, as did all the old settlers who remained steadfastly by their choice and, as they say, " toughed it out." After the first few years Mr. Traut made some progress and in more 482 BUFFALO COUNTY. recent times he 'has reaped in a lai'ge measure tlie result of liis lirst year's labor, privations and hardships. He quit the farm in 1879 and moved into Gibbon for the purpose of educating his children and has since resided there, but retains his old homestead and his farming interest. Mr. Traut had the misfortune to lose his wife in ISSO, she dying that year. A j'^ear later he married Mrs. William Brady, of Gibbon, an old settler and a lady of many excellent qualities of head and heart. Mr. Traut is an intelligent, progressive, public-spirited citizen and one who is highl}^ esteemed, as is also his excellent wife, who is now pointed out by her neighbors and friends as the most heroic woman of the original Gibbon colony. Mrs. Traut certainly did have a hard time of it in the earlier days and she deserves all the praise bestowed on her for the courage and fortitude she has displayed. She and her first husband came to Buffalo county with the Soldiers' Free Homestead Colony, coming from New York State. William Brady was a native of Ireland. He came to America when a lad, grew up in New York, enlisted in the Union army from that state, served during the war, married in Washington county, New York, in 1865, and lived there till 1871, when he came West, settling at Gibbon. He was killed by an accident in the sum- mer of 1873 while making brick for the court house then being erected, his being the first death in the township. By his death Mrs. Brady with four little children was left to make her way as she could. She had only her homestead and, as it may be guessed, her lot was by no means an eas}^ one. But by industry and good manage- ment she held on to her homestead, kept her' children together and reared them, giving to each the benefit of a good edu- cation. Mrs. Brady is herself a native also of the " Emerald Isle," coming to America when a girl and stopjnng in New York, where she met and was married to William Brady. By this union she has four children as noted above, all of whom are now grown, these being three daugh- ters and a son — Ida M., Mary E., James A. and Gracie. Mr. Traut also has six children by his former marriage — Sarah E., Ida M., Lilla Belle, Sydney D., Seth L. and Katie I. Mr. and Mrs. Traut live on the old homestead where Mrs. Traut first settled, it being the first homestead taken in Gib- bon township. JW. BEREY, farmer of Gibbon town- ship, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Noble county, Ohio, and there reared. He enlisted in the Federal army. One Hundred and Twenty -second Ohio volunteer infantry, November 6, 1862, which command was attached to the Army of the Potomac and served with that army during the entire war. He was in all the principal engagements fought by the Army of the Potomac. Being a mere lad he was detailed as a musician, but carried a gun most of the time. His command participated in some of the heaviest battles fought by the Army of the Potomac, and sustained heavy losses in several engagements, notably at Mine Run and the Wilderness, Virginia. The total loss of his regiment in killed and those who died of wounds, disease, acci- BUFFALO COUNTY. 483 dent and in rebel prisons during the war, as shown by the official records at Wash- ington, were: officers, nine, and enlisted men, two hundred and twenty-three. Mr. Rerr\' has especial reasons to remember the battle of Cedar Creek as he there barely got oflf with his life. He had just been relieved of guard duty wlien Early made the charge on the Federal lines be- fore sun-up and, there being a heavy fog, there was considerable confusion during which most of the Federal pickets took siielter in an old house. Mr. Berry was not fortunate enough to get in, it being crowded to over-flowino' before he g'ot to it. Being hard pressed by the enemy and seeing that something must be done, and done at once, he determined to vnake good his escape if possible, and keeping the house between himself and the advancing pickets the best he pould, he battered down a large paling fence witli his gun, made his way through, escaped and assisted in bearing off the (ieltl his general, who was wountled in the engagement. In this venture Mr. Berry lost all his accoutre- ments, had his cap shot off, seven bullet holes shot in his clothes and he was cut through the skin on both hips, but other- wise uninjured. He served as a private and was in from the date of his enlistment till the surrender, being pi'esent at A]ipo- mattox and saw Lee, as he says, " give up under the famous apple-tree." He was discharged July 5, 1865. Returning to Ohio, he moved shortly afterwards to Fulton county. 111., where he lived, en- gaged in farming till March, 1872, when he came to Nebraska as a member of the Old Soldier's Homestead Colony and set- tled in Gibbon township, Buffalo county. He homesteaded tlie southwest quarter of section 6, township 9, range 14, which he subsequently sold and moved on to the northeast quarter of section 7, adjoining where he now lives. He has a good farm, small, but well improved and pleasantly located, and everything on liis })lace is in a thrifty, prosperous condition. He has been devoted strictly to agriculture and is now one of the oldest settlers in Gibbon township. He has served as assessor of his township three terms and has been active in school matters. He has a family — wife and two children. He married, No- vember, 1862, Anna E. Mercer, of Noble county, Ohio; his children, Frank M. and Lula, now being grown. Mr. Berry cast his lot with the republican party on the w^ar issues and has never seen cause to waver in his allegiance to that party since. In personal appearance he is pleasant and affable. He has an honest, open countenance and greets friend and stranger alike with a hearty grasp of the hand. He is generous in disposition and as kind and hospitable about his home as any living man. GEORGE II. BAKER was born in Clinton county, N. Y., March 20, 1848. His father, Zebulon Baker, was a native of New York State, and for manj' years was known in the mercantile world as an extensive dealer in iron and lumber at Plattsburg. He won distinction as a messenger bo\' in the War of 1812, although he was quite young. He died in 1860. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Albee, is a native of Vermont, and after her husband's death 484 BUFFALO COUNTY. emigrated to Fort Dodge, Iowa, but re- turned as far east as Cleveland, Oliio, in 1862. Two years later she removed with her family of children to Linn count}^ Iowa. About four years later she came to Lincoln, JN^ebraska. George IT. Baker, the subject of this brief biographical sketch, came to Buffalo county in the spring of 1872, and located on Beaver creek, in Loup township, where he pre-empted a fine quarter section of land. There was no settlement in that section at that time and plenty of wild game abounded ever\' where. Mr. Baker built a comfortable sod house and at once set about to bring order out of chaos. Being a man of remarkable courage he was prepared to undergo all the trials and vicissitudes incident to the first settlement of a county, lie was visited by the festive grasshoppers, when the}' sampled the green products of the Nebraska farm- ers in 187-lr and '76, and saw as fine a crop of corn, as any one would wish to see, dis- appear almost like a snow flake in the bosom of the ocean. Indeed Mr. Baker is as familiar with the ups and downs of pioneer life as any other man of his day. In the course of a year or so he located in the south j)art of the country, where he remained three years on a farm which he cultivated to good advantage. In 1877 he moved to Gibbon and engaged in the real estate business. During his several years' residence there he has prospered by his own enterprise and business sagacity. In 1888 he engaged in the dry goods busi- ness and is at this present time one of the leading merchants of that thriving town. George II. Baker was married Septem- ber 24, 1873, the lady of his choice being Miss Susie Lewis, a native of Indiana, and adaugiiter of Horatio Lewis, also a native of the lloosier State. He was a farmer by occupation jind came to Nebraska with his famil}' in 1872, where he resided until his death in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have an interesting family of four children, namely — Ray, Arthur, Bert and Georgie. Mr. Baker is an honored member of the Masonic order and also of the A. O. U. W. He is a republican, and, while he has never aspired to any public office, he has always taken an interest in politics. He has one hundred and sixty acres im- proved land near Gibbon, besides other landed interests in the western part of the state. A LBERT FELLOWS is a prosperous farmer in Grant township, and one of the first settlers of Buf- falo county. He was born April 6, 1840, at Cambria, Niagara county, N. Jf. His father, William L. Fellows, a wheelwright, was a native of Conneticut. His mother, Polh' (Higby) Fellows, was a native of New York State, and was born in the year 1826. There were five children, four boys and one girl, in the paternal family, of which Albert is the third. Albert resided at home the greater part of his time until twenty -one and was engaged in farming and attending the neighboring school. In 1801 he emigrated West and located at Pontiac, Livingston county. 111., where soon after he responded to his country's call and enlisted August 28, 1861, in Com- pany C, Thirty-ninth Illinois regiment. The first battle in which he participated was in the Shenandoah valley, with Gen. B UFFA L CO UNTY. •I80 Shields in command on the Union side and Gen. Jackson on the rebel side. The rebel forces were not only treated to a severe whipping but were routed and driven in hot haste down the valley. The next battle in which he took an active part was fought at Port Koyal, after which his regiment was ordered to Harrison's landing and finally to South Carolina. He was through the siege of Ft. Wagner and participated next in the battle at Chapin's farm and a little later in the bat- tle of Bermuda Hundred, at which he was captured May 16, 1864, and taken to Petersburgh, where he was confined for two weeks and then transferred to Ander- sonviile prison, where he remained from June 1st to September 19th, and was then taken to Charleston, kej)t two weeks and finally taken one hundred miles north to' what was known as the Florence stockade, where he remained until December 10th, and was paroled. Out of eleven men captured from his company at the same time and confined in Andersonville, only five lived to get out. There were thirty- five thousand prisoners confined in Ander- sonville at the time he was there, and the story of his experience and ^^'hat he there witnessed is heart-rending in the ex- treme. After being paroled, he went to An- napolis, Md., received a thirty-day furlough, came home and returned again, shortly after which, February' 19, 1865, he was mus- tered out. Althougii in his three and one- half years of experience in the war, he was never wounded, he had his gun shot from his hands at one time and two bullet holes put through his clothes at another. After being discharged he returned to Pontiac, 111., and followed farming for four years, after which he moved to Tazewell county. 111., where he farmed for two years, and in April, 1872, emigrated "West and lo- cated in Bufl'alo county, Nebr. He took up a homestead six miles west of Kearney in Odessa township. There were but few settlers in this section of the state at that time, and wild game, deer, antelope, elk, etc., were quite plentiful, and buffalo were not infrequently killed. There were many Indians along the Platte river and for the first two 3^ears proved very troublesome. One afternoon, when Mr. Fellows was away from home, and a neighbor woman was staying with Mrs. Fellows, a band of eighteen Indians stopped at the house and made threatening demands, where- upon the two women fired several loads from the barrels of a couple shot guns at them, and the Indians fled at full speed, hallooing, "brave squaws." In the grasshopper times, 1874-76, Mr. Fellows lost all his crops and was compelled to haul corn from Eed Cloud, Kans., a dis- tance of ninety miles. He finally sold his claim for $350 and later bought the claim on which he now resides in the AYood Piver valle}^ He was burned out at one time and had nothing left but his team, wagon and some household goods. He was married, September 14, 1865, to Mar- garet Haines, who was born June 17, 1845, and is a native of Illinois. Their union has resulted in the birth of eleven children, as follows— Harriet E., August 10, 1867; William L., June 11, 1869; Emma J., May 9, 1871 ; John F., Septem- ber 8, 1872; Alberta, July 7, 1874; Fran- cis M., July 22, 1876 ; Albert, June 24, 1878; Guy, August 24, 1880; Lee, Jan- uary 28, 1883 ; (^race, April 17, 1885 ; Jessie, March 5, 1888. In political mat- ters Mr. Fellows is a democrat. 486 BUFFALO COUNTY. EW. BURKS, a jirominent citizen of Buffalo county, was born in Hendricks county, Ind., August 14, 1841. His father, John D. Burks, was a Kentuckian by birth, but emi- grated to Indiana, wliere he resided for several years; In 1856 he removed to Davis county, Iowa, where, for a time he became interested in agricultural pur- suits. In 1865 he engaged in the mercan- tile business at Drakesville, whicli lie continued for twenty years, eighteen of which he was postmaster of that town. "When he finally resigned he was requested to name his successor, and did so. He served as commissioner of Hendricks county, Ind., for two terms, and held various other local offices during his life- time. He was a prominent and influen- tial man and enjo\'ed the entire confidence of all his fellow-citizens. E. W. Burks, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and enjoyed no special educational advantages other than those afforded by the common schools of the day. In September, 1861, while yet a bov, he enlisted in the Third Iowa regiment of cavahy and rendered nearly four years of honorable service to his country. His first experience in battle was at Pea Ridge, Ark. He also partici- pated in the teriible siege of A^icksburg, and marched under Generals Steele and Banks in the Red river expedition. He was a prisoner for eighteen months, dur- ing which time he was taken from place to place, and even taken down to Home- stead, Tex., where the yellow fever was raging at the time. He had no clothing to speak of, no medicine, no shelter. His food for a while consisted solely of corn, ground, cob and all, and three-quarters of a pound of Texas beef. He was always promptl\' on hand, ready to perform anj' duty, no matter how arduous. During his service for two years and a half he never missed a single day from active duty. During the third year an order was made to record the daily deportment of each soldier. When the first report of his company was made he was one of the two that received a furlough for meritorious conduct. He did not accept it, however, but gave it to a comrade who had a sick wife at home. He went through the con- flict without a scratch, but had thirteen bullet holes in his clothes. His discharge dates from Februar}^ 1, 1865. During his long term of imprisonment his e^^e-sight became seriously affected, and, acting upon the advice of physicians, after he returned home, he engaged in farming. He came to Buffalo county. Nebr., in April, 1884, and immediately occupied a quarter section of land he had ])reviously purchased, in what has since been called Harrison township. Mr. Burks petitioned the board of supervisors in June, 1888, for the separate organiza- tion of the township of Harrison. The ]ietition was passed u[)on favorably and Mr. Burks was appointed supervisor. He has also served two terms as justice of the peace for Armada township. He was married, December 27, 1866, to Miss Mary N. Quigle_y, daughter of George and Sarah (Pifer) Quigley. She was born in Ohio, August 8, 1845. They have ten children, named — Fannie E., Sarah A., Ella, Melvin, Walter, Frank, Agnes, Clyde (deceased), Thomas (deceased) and Ralph. Mr. Burks is granting his children all the educational advantages within his power and some of his daughters are now BUFFALO COUNTY. 487 successful teachers. He is a reading and thinking man ; he thinks and acts for himself, leaving others to do the same. He is a stanch republican and is recog- nized as one of the leaders of his party in the couutv. STEPHEN S. HILL. This gentle- man is one of the few remaining settlers who came to Buffalo county in 1872, and braved the storms, droughts and grasshopper raids of those earl}^ days. He is a native of New Eng- land and was born at Sharon, Vt , February 21,1822. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Scales) Hill. The former was a native of Massachusetts, born in the year 1789; the latter was a native of New Hampshire and born in 1779. He has little recollection of his ancestiy back of this, farther than that one Ickaber Hill, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts and a farmer by occupa- tion. Stephen S. Hill resided in Vermont State until 1872, during which time he engaged in farming, buying and selling cattle, and the practice of veterinary surgery. In 1872, although fifty j-ears of age, he decided to emigrate West, and acting upon this decision he came to Buf- falo county in the fall of 1872 and pre- empted a quarter section in Eiverdale township, nine miles northwest of Kear- ney'. The country was new and set- tlers were few and far between. A few native Indians still remained and an occa- sional buffalo was to l)e seen grazing on tiic plains. Deer and antelope roamed at will and furnished the principal meat for the few settlers at that time. Mr. Hill frequenth^ saw as high as fifty ante- lope grazing in a single bunch. April 15, 1873, occurred the worst wind, sleet and snow storm that this section of Nebraska had experienced within the memor^^ of the oldest settlers. The storm began on Sunday and for three days the wind and sleet came with such terrific force as to render it unsafe for anyone to leave his door. So fierce was the storm that Mrs. Hill was obliged to tie the clothes-line about her husband in order that he might find his way back to the house when he went to the wood-pile, which was distant only thirty feet, for an armful of wood. A great many head of stock perished during this storm. One of Mr. Hill's neighbors was only able to save three out of thirty- six head of cattle. In 1873 the crops, on account of exces- sive drought, were almost a total failure. From ten acres of sod-corn Mr. Hill harvested but thirty bushels of grain. In 1874 the grasshoppers came and de- stroyed nearly everything. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon of Aug- ust 8th, when Mr. Hill heard a noise like the distant rumbling of a train of cars and noticed a dark object ris- injr like a thunder-cloud in the distant northwest. His curiosity, which was aroused, was soon satisfied. It was the grasshoppers. They fell like lava thrown from the crater of old Vesuvius, and in less than two hours, destroyed everything green on his place. This so discourae:ed Mr. Ilill that he sold his quarter section of land that fall for $150. This money, a team, one cow and a hog, were all of his worldy possessions left at that time. * Those were discouraging 488 BUFFALO COUNTY times and many settlers left the country. There was no corn in the county and Mr. Hill, Samuel Thornton and some others, hauled corn from Kansas, a distance of thirty miles. In 1875 he homesteaded a quarter section and began farming again. For several years thereafter he had about the same ex])erience with drought and grasshoppers as before, but after 1877, had good average crops. In 1882 his wheat yielded twenty-five bush- els to the acre, oats thirty-five bushels to the acre, and he raised five hundred and fifty bushels of rye from twenty-five acres. In March, 1883. he retired from farm- ing and moved to Kearnev, where he now resides. He keeps a barn and practices veterinary surgery, having followed this jirofession for over forty years. He has treated over five hundred sick horses and has never lost a case of colic. Mr. Hill has been married twice. He was first married, September 5, 1840, to Adaline Hicks, by whom he had three children. He married Martha Dockrel, his present wife, October 23, 1870. In religious belief, Mr. Hill is a Univer- salist. Politically, he is a democrat, having voted for everj' democratic nominee for president from Buchanan down, with the exception of Horace Greeley. STANLEY THOMPSON, attorney- at-iaw, member of the Buffalo county bar, was born at Hemp- stead, Tex., March 31, 1856. He comes of Southern ancestors, and is connected by kinship with two of the best families in tiie South — the Thompsons and McAfees of Kentucky. His father. Dr. James N. Thompson, born in Kentucky', reared in Missouri, educated in New York and Paris, France, married Elizabeth McAfee, a Kentucky-born and Missouri-reared lady, and settled to the practice of his pro- fession in Hempstead, Tex.; where un- happily he died just as he was reaching the full tide of a successful professional career, leaving a wife and two children — daughter and son— surviving him. The wife followed him, only two years later, to another world ; and the son, Stanley, the subject of this notice — then a lad about nine years of age — was taken into the family of his sister, Mrs. James Ellison, at Kirksville, Mo., to be reared. His sister not long afterwards died, leaving him to the guardianship of her husband. He was reared in the family of his brother- in-law, and in that of his uncle, John Thompson, was educated at the Northeast Missouri Normal school at Kirksville, read law and was admitted to the bar in September, 1878. Coming West, he located at Sydney, Cheyenne county, Nebr., where he resided till June, 1SS7, when he moved to Kearney", entering on the practice of his profession there, where he has since continued. Mr. Thompson's career as a lawyer is yet before him ; his fortunes are to be made. If it be proper in a sketch like this to predict what tiiose fortunes will be, we predict they will be good. He is a man of clear head, sound sense and proper industry; and has brought to the discharge of his duties as a lawyer, a thoroughness of jireparation not often met with in young men, even among those supposed to be " learned in the law." His early opportunities for acquiring a knowl edge of his profession, both theoretical and practical, were good : having been BUFFALO COUNTY. 48(» reared under the roof and had his studies directed under the personal supervision of one of the best la w\'ers in western Missouri, his brother-in-law, Judge James Ellison, now appellate judgeof the Western district of Alissouri. He availed himself of these o))portunities and acquired not only much valuable knowledge, but what is of more importance — the habits of a lawyer : that rare combination of student and man of affairs. Mr. Thompson is ambitious — not for public position, but to succeed, to be a lawyer, in the truest and best sense of the word, and we predict he will be. JEREMIAH KARN is one of the well known men of Buffalo county, and was born near Massillon, Ohio, No- vember 22, 1833. His father, Samuel Karn, is a native of Lancaster county. Pa., and has been a German Baptist preacher for many years. He moved to Ohio soon after marriage, but in 1S56 settled in Wabash county, Ind. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Liza Moler, died in 1863. She was a devoted companion to her husband and an earnest christian woman. Young Karn was reared on his father's farm until he reached his majority. He was married May 22, 1S56, to Elizabeth Fulgroad, daughter of John and Elizabeth (I'age) Fulgroad, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage, Mr. Karn devoted ten j'ears exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He then entered the employ of the Phoe- nix Liglitning Rod Company of La Porte, Ind., and acted as their trusted agent for 28 nine years, and then embarked in the busi- ness himself. He emigrated to Kearney, Nebr., in 1879 and three years afterwards took a homestead in Thornton township, where he remained five years and then returned to Kearney. About one year ago he moved on another farm near Armada, where he now resides. He is the father of seven children, namel}' — Armega, John W., Samuel H., Charles J., James and Jessie (twins) and Tommie. Mr. Karn now owns three tracts of land, four hundred acres in all, and is energeticalh' engaged in improving the same. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., believes in the principles of the republi- can party and has many friends through- out the country. JW. LELAND is one of Kearney's oldest and most highly respected citizens. He is a native of the town of Grafton, Worcester count}^ Mass., and come of " old Bay State" stock. His father was Luke Leland, a native also of the town of Grafton, an industrious, useful and highly honored citizen of that place, |representing for several years his native county of Worcester in the state legisla- ture. Mr. Leland's paternal grandfather, Elijah, and great-grandfather, Phineas, were also born, reared and passed their lives in Grafton, Worcester count}', the former representing his county in the state legislature. The mother of J. W. Leland was Sarah Mellen, born in Middlesex county, Mass., July 24, 1792, and was a daughter of Jolin and Mary (lUillard) Mel- len, both natives of Middlesex county. 490 BUFFALO COUNTY. Mr. Leland traces his ancestry on this side of his house back to the first families of Middlesex count}^ being respectable, well-to-do people ; his maternal grand- father Mellen having represented his county many years in the state legislature. His ancestors were all people of strong religious convictions and all stanch mem- bers of some religious denomination, mostly Baptists. Three children were born to Luke and Sarah (Mellen) Leland — Joseph Warren, Sarah M. and Luke. The youngest two are now dead. The eldest, the subject of this notice, was born June l-t, 1816. He was reared in his native place, received a good common-school training, and began life as a school teacher. He afterwards engaged in manufacturing and then mer- cantile trade, and has, in the course of a long and active life, followed many pur- suits. He lived in Chicago some years, and while a resident of that place, in 1871, lost the bulk of his life's earnings bv fire. With characteristic energy and determina- tion, he came West after meeting with this misfortune, for the purpose of starting life anew, and settled, in 1872, m Kearney, Nebr. He has been a resident of Kear- ney since and has profited well by his resi- dence there. He has been identified with the best interests of his adopted home since casting his lot there, and has always possessed an abiding confidence in the future greatness of the town. He took the census of Kearney in 1873, when the population numbered onl}' 245. He took the census the following year also, when the population had increased to 775. He has seen the place grow and develop from a straggling railway station to a city of the first importance, and in the making it what it is he has borne the full part of an energetic, public-spirited citizen. Mr. Leland has been thrice married and has reared a large and interesting family of children. He was married first in 1839, his wife being Miss C. A. Slocum, daughter of John W. Slocum, of Grafton, Worcester county, Mass. This lady died in 1858, leaving four children — Charles Henry, Fannie, William E. and Lucinda. He next married in May, 1872, Miss L. A. Bostwick. This lady died August 20, 187i, leaving no children. He then mar- ried Miss Samantha D. Houghton, his present wife. At the age of thirteen Mr. Leland signed the temperance pledge, and he has led a strictly temperate life since, never having violated this pledge. He joined the Ma- sonic order in 1841 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows m 1846, anil he has been a zealous worker in each since. He is a man of good intelligence, ]iossessing a large fund of general information, and an interested spectator in all events of public note. He possesses a clear judgment and discriminating views. He has never sought public position, although well qualified to fill any position to which he might aspire. FKEDERICK LEBHART, a repre- sentative young business man of Kearney, Buffalo county, is a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, and was born December 31, 1855. He is a son of Christian and Barbara (Straehle) Lebhart, natives of the same place, wiio lived and died in the old country. His BUFFALO COUNTY. 491 father was born July 1, 1813, and died Api'il 2, 1880. He was a wine-maker, an upriglit, industrious, useful citizen, and a zealous member of the Lutheran church, having been for twenty-four \'ears a ruling elder in the local church where he wor- sliiped. Mr. Lebhart's paternal grand- father, Frederick Christian Lebhart, a native also of Wurtemburg, was a wine- maker ; served in the Russian war of 1812-15, and was taken prisoner in that war, but afterwards released and returned to his native country, where he passed his remaining \'ears in the peaceful pursuit of his calling. Mr. Lebhart's grandfather Straehle also served in the Russian war of 1812-15, and was wounded near Moscow, in April, 1813, losing his left lower limb; but he survived many years to tell to his descendants the thrilling story of the burn- ing of Moscow and the famous retreat. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native country, coming to the United States in 1880. He made his first stop at Mason City, W. Va., and found his first employment, as a salt-maker, at that place. A year later he went to Toledo, Ohio, where he secured a position in the piano and organ factory of Whitney & Courrier, remaining with them a year. He then went to Peru, Ind., and lived there a short time, and in 1882 came to Nebraska and settled at Kearney. He has been variously engaged since settling in Kearney, mostly in the hotel and liquor business. He began as clerk, but by saving his means he was enabled, on May 1, 1888, to engage in business on his own account, opening a saloon at that date, at which he has since continued. He is suc- ceeding beyond the average, and has a large circle of friends. He keeps an I orderly house, and gives his time and attention strictly to his business. He is pleasant, accommodating, and observes and insists on a strict observance of all of the social amenities that should obtain among gentlemen. Mr. Lebhart married, May 31, 1886, Miss Catherine Roeck, of Kearney, and this union has been blessed with three children, born as follows — Minnie, born May 14, 1887; Annie, January 4, 1888, and Louisa, August -4, 1 889. Having been reared in the Lutheran church, Mr. Lel)hart naturally leans towards that faith, and he has been very liberal in his donations to that church. He is kind and charitable and gives freely to all benevolent purposes. COSMO S. HILL, the subject of this biographical memoir, is a ])rosper- ous farmer in Riverdale township, and one of the very earliest settlers of Buffalo county. He is a native of the State of Vermont, and was born Septem- ber 5, 1848. His father, Stephen S. Hill, also a native of Vermont, was born at Sharon, February 21, 1822, and is still living at the ripe old age of three-score and eight years, a resident of Kearney, having emigrated West and located in this county in the fall of 1872. He was married to Adaline Hicks, the mother of our subject, Se]itember 5, 1840. The mother was a native of Vermont, born August 19, 1805. To them were born three chikh-en — Cosmo S. (oui' subject), Francela and Rosa. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin 492 BUFFALO COUNTY. Ilill, was a native of Massachusetts, born in the year 1789. He was by occupation a farmer. The paternal grandmother, Sarah (Scales) Hill, was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1779. The paternal great grandfather, Ickaber Hill, was a na- tive of Massachusetts, but be\'ond this fact little or nothing is known. Cosmo S., our subject, resided in Ver- mont until twentj^-one yeais of age, en- gaged part of the time on a farm and part of the time as sales clerk in a wholesale shoe store at Saysville, Vt.; attaining his majority he emigrated West in 1869, locating at Princeton, 111., where for two years he was engaged in a liver}' barn. He moved, in 1871, to Palatine, 111., where for one year he worked in a harness shop, and then returned to Ver- mont ; remaining there one year, be finally decided to seek his fortune in the far "West. Acting upon this decision he came to P)uffalo county in May, 1873. He pre-empted tlie quarter section in the Wood River valley, in which he now re- sides. The country was sparsely settled at that time and looked wild and barren. An occasional Indian strolled by his door, stopping long enough to beg a mouthful of food, but never molesting or offering to harm his famih'. There were a few buf- falo, plenty of antelope and deer, and an occasional elk to be seen. For the first five years he had a hard struggle for ex istence. The drought and grasshoppers destroyed his crops to such an extent that ho hardly got back the seed that he sowed. In the summer of 1876 he met with the same result. During the first five years, wlien crops were a failure, Mr. Hill cut wood on government land and hauled it to Kear- ney, disposing of it at a nominal sum, and thus keeping the wolf from his door. He was united in marriage, October 3. 1872, to Mary (Higby) Hill, a native of Ver- mont, born August 26, 1846. To them have been born three children — Earnest, Rolla and Earl. Mr. Hill is a firm believer in the princi- ples of the democratic party. SYLVESTER WEIBEL is a native of the city of Hohenems, Austria, and is a son of Charles and Marie Weibel, natives also of Austria, who lived and died in that country. He was born December 31, 1832, and, being left an orphan at the age of seven, grew up in the place of his birth, among family friends and acquaintances. Although reard in a country noted for its educational advantages, his early training- was none too thorough, even under tl;e compulsory' system. He had to worlc for his living, earning it as best he could, and there was but little time at his disposal for going to school. As he grew up he heard frequently of America, and he determined on reaching his majority to come to this country. He immigrated in 1854, landing at New York June 21, that year. The first few years he spent in this country he drifted about a good deal, iry- ing his fortunes in various localities, east, west and south, and at various pursuits. He lived awhile in Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana and Illinois, and followed successively log- ging, steam-boating, hostlering, butcher- ing and merchandising. During this time BUFFALO COUNTY 493 also be served for a while in the Confed- erate army, enlisting in tiie service in 1861, at Memphis, Tenn. lie was in tlie battles at Belmont, Shiloh and Perryville, Ky., being captured in the latter engagement and after a short term of imprisonment released, and sent across the lines into Indiana, not entering the service again. Mr. Weibel came to Nebraska in the spring of 1872, stopping first at Lincoln and afterwards going to Butler county and then to Kearney county, settling at Lowell, then the county seat. A year later he started a brick-yard at Kearney, and then a saloon at Lowell. He con- tinued at Lowell till 1S75, when he took up his permanent residence at Kearney and has lived there since. For a number of years he was engaged in the liquor business in Kearney, giving it up, in fact, only recently. He has made a great deal of money, and hy making a wise invest- ment of this means he has become quite wealthy. He is recognized as one of the heaviest capitalists of the city of Kearney, and has been and is now connected with a number of the leading business enter- prises of the place. He is one of the largest stock holders in the Kearney National Bank and is a memlier of its board of directors. He is a public-spirited, liberal-hearted man, and assists all enter- prises of a public nature, and is willing at all times to give encouragement to anj'' deserving person. Having come up from the common walks of life himself, and spent the most of his years at hard toil as a common laborer, he is thoroughly in sympath}' with the common people and trives generouslv of his means to anv in- dustry that will give them employment and support, and he contributes liberally also to charity. He is a plain, unassuming, modest man who, having made all he has, fortunately has the wisdom to know how to use it. Having retired from active pursuits he is now devoting his time to his investments and doing what good he can as an humble citizen, with the means which have come into his possession. CHARLES A. WILLIS was born in Auburn, N. Y., in 1855. His father is C. W. S. Willis, also a native of Auburn, N. Y., born in 1822. He remained there till ISll-, then moved to Oak Grove, Wis., there settling upon government land, which he held till 1858. He then returned to New York State, to East Bloomfield ; thence moved to Auburn, and there remained for three years. In 1878 he came to Nebraska, settling in Kearney. Mr. Willis is a skilled mechanic, and before retiring from active business he was a building contractor. The fact that he is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church of Kearney, attests the esteem in which he is held by the community. He was married to Miss Amanila Smith, a native of New York, born in 1824. She was also an active member in the Presby- terian church, previous to her declining health. Their union was blest with two children, viz.— C. A. (our subject) and Ella (Mrs. Quinley), who lives in Kearney. Chas. A. Willis, the subject of this biographical notice, was engaged for sev- eral years with his father in the mercan- tile business, in Auburn, N. Y.; but, being seized by a violent desire to go West, he 404 BUFFALO COUNTY. urged his father to sell out and come to Nebraska, which course has 3'iekled them a very handsome profit. Charles A. now owns a very nicely located and well im- proved farm, of three hundred and sixty acres, well stocked and supplied with all necessary accoutrements, and the father owns a quarter section of good land and property in Kearney. In 1882, Charles A. Willis was married to Miss Phebe L. Thomas, a native of New York, born in 1855 — Eev. R. Spencer performing the ceremony. She was educated at Stamford Seminary, and for several years taught in the public schools of her county. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Willis is a republican in politics, and has been assessor of Logan township for two years. WILLIAM H. AUSTIN, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1859, is the son of Lloyd Austin, born in Pennsylvania m 1824. Lloyd, the father, migrated to Ne- braska^in 1881, settling in Wallace, Lincoln county. He was a mason by trade, and is quite energetic and prosperous. He is allied to the democratic party in politics, and has been connected with the Method- ist Episcopal church for a number of years, and although not demonstrative in his profession of religion, he is considered a good quiet christian man. He was married, in 1811, to Miss Matilda Keller, a native of Pennsylvania, and born in 182G. To them have been born the fol- lowing — Ilattie (deceased) ; Mary, born 18-t7, died 1881 ; John, born 1849, died 1879 ; Julia (deceased); Anna (Mrs. Keene), lives in Penns^'lvania; Edwin, lives in Lincoln countv, Nebr.; Ida, lives in Penn- sylvania; William H., Rosa (Mrs. Toby), lives in Steuben county, N. Y. William 11. Austin, the subject of this sketch, is a hard working, prosperous farmer of Logan township, Buffalo county. He emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ne- braska in 1879, first locating in Elm Creek; after a few years he took up a homestead of one-fourth of section 28, township 10, range 18 west. Mr. Austin began life for himself when twenty years of age, with no capital ; he now has 240 acres of well improved land, well stocked. In 1884 he was married to Samantha Bale}', a native of Ohio — Mr. Frank Hull, county judge, officiating. She is a daughter of William and Mary (Stevens) Baley, natives of Ohio. Their marriage has been blessed with three children, viz. — Carl, born April 21, 1885 ; Perry, born February 23, 1887, and Emory, born May 23, 1889. Politi- cally, Mr. Austin is a republican, and at various times he has held different town- ship offices. HII. BOWIE, one of the largest land-owners and stock-raisers of Buffalo county, is the son of George and Kate (Ross) Bowie, natives of Scotland. George Bowie was born in 1809, and emigrated to America in 1834, settling in New York City. He was mar- ried to Miss Kate Ross, in Scotland, in 1830. To them have been boi-n nine children, viz. — Alexander, lives in Ontario; BUFFALO COUNTY. 495 George; M. G.; William (deceased); Jolin (deceased); Charles, lives in Buffalo county ; Delia (deceased) ; James (de- ceased), and H. H., the subject of this biographical notice, who is a native of New York City, born in 1851. At the age of nineteen, being a boy with a man's head, he was able to take the position as foreman for Campbell, the contractor of the Hudson tunnel ; he remained with him for two or three years and then took a contract for the construction of 2,000 feet of it himself. Mr. Bowie came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1880, settling in Logan township, where he now resides, owning four and a half sections of land, and in the winter of 1889-90 fed about one thousand head of cattle. Mr. Bowie is to Logan township what a town of four or five hundred is to surrounding country. He buys annually about one hundred thou- sand bushels of grain, always paying above market price. Although Mr. Bowie is managing a business of such proportions, he at all times treats a person with the utmost cordialit}'^ and considers it a privi- lege to extend a favor. In 1878 he was married to Miss Deveraux, who is a native of Boston, born in 1860. She was the daughter of Walter and Margarette (Smith) Deveraux, the former a native of England, who came to America when j'oung; the latter was a native of Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Deveraux both departed this life in 1878. They were strict adherents to the Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowie two children have been born, viz.— Henry V., born September 12, 1881, died August, 1882, and Edith Gracie, born October 29, 1889. Mr. Bowie is a republi- can in politics and has been county super- visor for five successive vears. RICHARD F. WATEES is a son of Alien and Francos (Foster) Waters, k^ the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a devoted mem- ber and liberal supporter of the Presbv- terian church, and he enjoyed the reputa- tion of being a good, honest, christian man, and was not conscious of having an enem}'. In politics he was a whig. Mrs. Waters was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1828, settling first in Ohio. Mrs. Waters was also a member of the Presbyterian church, and was looked upon as a kind, consistent, christian lady. In 1889 Mrs. Waters departed this life, en- titled to the pliudit, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Mr. and Mrs. Waters' union was blessed with seven children — Catherine, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Joseph A., Richard F., Margarette and Andrew. Richard P'., the subject of this sketch, was one of the pioneers of Buffalo county, and, while he has not distinguished him- self in any public capacit}', he has dis- tinguished himself as an honest, straight- forward, reliable man, always encouraging anything that is in the interest of the county. He was born in Ohio, in 1849. His school advantages were meager, being chiefly tutored by that stern teacher — Ex- perience — whicli, no doubt, was a principal factor in making Mr. Waters the cautious, frugal, thrifty man that he is. In 186-4 he enlisted as a one-hundred- day man in the One Hundred and Forty- third Ohio infantry, under General Butler, and was in the engagement at Peters- burgh. He was nuistered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, the same j'ear. In 1866 he moved to Scotland count\', ilo., and thci'e engaged in farming. From there he came 496 BUFFALO COUNTY, to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1873, settling on section 30, Odessa township. In the winter of the same year, while camping on his claim, he experienced a terrible storm, in which hundreds of cattle and two persons near Gibbon were frozen ; but Mr. Waters, only sheltered by his wagon, escaped unharmed. Mr. Waters' next encounter was with the grasshopper plague. In this be shared the common fate, losing his crops for three years, but since that time has had good crops. In 1870 Mr Waters was married in Scotland county, Mo., to Miss Jane Hage, a native of West Virginia. To them have been born eight children — Ida, Thomas A., Mabel, Roy, Cecelia, Mary, Hugh and Gracie. AD^ DAM WILLIAMS is a son of Fred, erick and Catherine (Mown) Williams, the former a native of the good, old, historic, Ke^'stone State, Pennsylvania, the latter a native of Stark county, Ohio. Frederick, the father, mi- grated to Crawford county, Ohio ; from there he went to California in 1851,engaged in mining, and continued in that business till death, which occurred in 1861. Politic- all3% he was a whig. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Williams were married in Stark county, Ohio, in 1824. To them were born seven children, viz. — Johnny, died in infancy ; Rebecca, living in Grant count}', Nebr.; Willie, died in infancy ; Sarah, living in Hancock county, Ohio ; Thomas, served three years in the war and lost his health, unfitting him for act- ive business; and is now living in Wash- ington, Adam and another. Adam, the subject of this notice, is a highly respected and prosperous farmer in Riverdale township, Buffalo county. lie was born in Crawford county, Ohio, in 1837. He there remained till he came to Nebraska, in 1873, settling on section G, township 9, range 16. In 1874, 1875 and 1876 he experienced the common fate of the Nebraskans, losing his entire crops, excepting wheat ; but, not despairing and hoping for better times for Nebraska, he remained, and now has a competency for himself in declining age. Mr. Williams was married, in 1860, to Miss Anna Ditty, born in Crawford county, Ohio, in 1842. She is the daughter of Amos and Sarah (Lenker) Ditty, natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born seven childi'en, viz. — Willie, who was scalded to death in 1862; Charlie, who was born June 14,1865, and died May 30, 1870; George Franklin; Freddie; Eva; Eddie and James Garfield. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and their home life and reputation accord with their profes- sion. DAVID C. HOSTETTER was born in Lebanon county. Fa., in 1843. His father, Abraham Hostetter, was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1852 they moved to West Lebanon, Wayne county, Ohio, and there pur- chased a farm on which they resided but eight months, then returning to Leba- non county. Pa. Mr. Hostetter was alter- nately engaged in farming and mercantile business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter BUFFALO COUNTY. 497 were active and consistent members of the Lutheran church for a number of \-ears. Politically, Mr. Ilostetter was a supporter of the republican ticket, and was a member of the Odd Fellows order for years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ilostetter were born eight children — Mar}^, Edwin, David C, Kate, Henry (dead), Lena, Christina, and Jacob (dead). All, except- ing Mary (who lives m Wayne county, Ohio), and David C. still remain in Leba- non county. Pa. David C, the subject of this biograph- ical notice, began life for himself in 1863, by first evincing possession of that God- given element of true manhood — i)atriot- ism — enlisting in the service of his coun- try and enduring the hardships of war for three years. He offered this service as a willing tribute, without now asking com- pensation for his patriotism.' After being mustered out of the service, he located in Missouri, and there followed his trade, " stove molder," for seven years ; then moved to Nebraska, settling in Kearney in 1873. He did not predict, then, the Kearney of to-day, there being about two hundred inhabitants. He first found employment with A. S. Webb in the hardware and implement business, and remained with him two years ; then woi'ked on the transfer eighteen months, at the expiration of which time he again engaged with Mr. Webb, remaining nine years. He then settled on the farm on which he now resides, which is nicely located and well improved. He is a republican in politics. Mr. Hostetter led Miss Lautz, a native of Lebanon count}'. Pa., to the altar in 186-4. Mrs. Hostetter has proven herself a valuable helpmeet, rejoicing with him in prosperity and shar- ing with him the responsibility in adver- sity. She has for years been a member of the M. E. church. To IVfr. aiul Mrs. Hos-. tetter have been born four children — Eliza S. (Mrs. Feather), Henrietta A. (Mrs. Lautz), Edwin H.,at home, and Bernice B., at home. JOHN SWENSON. Very few of those who came to Buffalo county in the early " seventies " and homesteaded claims have had such marvelous suc- cess as this gentleman. He was born in Sweden, December 15, 1840, and is one of nine children born to Swenand Christena Swenson, both of whom are natives of Sweden, the former having been born in ISll and the latter in the year 18<>7. John, our subject proper, resided at home, in Sweden, until eighteen years of age, during which time he attended school and clerked in a hardware store, and then went to Norway and engaged in merchandising, which he followed for three years. He came to this country in 1861, landing in Chicago July 4th. He engaged emplo}'- ment on a boat on Lake Michigan, and worked as a sailor for a short time, and then, true to the countr}' to which he bad sworn allegiance, he responded to its call, and enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Illinois regiment. He participated in the battles of Atlanta, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Corinth, and was with General Sherman on his campaign from Resaca to Atlanta. He was wounded twice — once in the back at Shiloh, and in the arm at Corinth, on account of which his arm was ami)utated. He was dis- 498 BUFFALO COUNTY. charged, July 12, 1865, and receives a pension from the government of $45 per month. After the war, he went to Batavia, 111., and for one year was engaged in clerking in a clothing store, after which he entered the Soldiers' college at Fulton, 111., remain- ing there five years, and graduating in 1871, receiving the degree of V. S. The following year he taught school in Clinton county, Iowa, and in April of 1873 came West to Nebraska, and located in Buffalo county. He entered a quarter section twelve miles north of Kearney, in Divide township, and engaged in raising sheep. In 1874, he was elected superintendent of county schools, which office he held for two consecutive terms. He made some efforts at farming, which, on account of drought and grasshoppers, was practically fruitless up to 1877, after which he raised good crops. In 1879, he moved to Sar- toria, in the northern part of the county, and bought up considerable railroad land beside pre-empting a quarter section. He now owns fifteen hundred acres of fine land, the greater part of the little town of Sartoria, and operates two stores of general merchandise, besides dealing largely in cattle and sheep. Few, if any, of those who came to this county in its early days, with practically nothing to begin with, have amassed such a fortune, and surely none are held in greater esteem by their neighbors and acquaintances than humble John Swenson. Mr. Swenson was married, January 11, 1875, to Eva J. Thornton, who was born June 5, 1855, and is the daughter of Sam- uel and Sarah Thornton, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Their union has resulted in the birthrof no children. They are both members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swenson affiliates with the republican party. PHILETUS PIEECE is a native of Illinois, born at Springfield, November 5, 1827, and is one of five children born to Lanson and Mary Pierce, both of whom are natives of New York State. His father and mother emi- grated West in an early daj', locating in Illinois, or what was then known as the Western frontier. His father followed farming, and was a sawyer hv trade. Philetus lived in Illinois until nineteen years of age, during which time he attended school and labored on the farm. In 1846 he went to Iowa county. Wis., where he resided for ten years and was engaged in mining lead. He next moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he engaged in mining for four and one-half years. He then moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and farmed one year, after which he moved to Buchanan county, same state, and fol- lowed farming for two years. He after- wards located in Harrison county, Iowa, and for a period of fifteen years was engaged in the lumber and tie business, and also farmed a portion of the time. From there, in July, 1878, lie started West, with a view of looking up a suitable loca- tion and taking up a government claim. For two months he traversed Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, and finally decided to locate in Buffalo county, Nebr. He accordingly filed a claim on his pres- ent land in Sartoria township. In those days that section of the county was scarcely settled at all, and Mr. Pierce's BUFFALO COUNTY. 490 nearest neighbor was four miles distant. In those times money was a scarce article and, in order to get some with which to purchase flour and clothing, Mr. Tierce trap])ed beaver and hauled cotton-wood bai'k to Kearney, a distance of thirty-five miles, and sold it at one dollar per load. There were plenty of deer, elk and ante- lope only a few miles away, and he reports having killed a fine large buck near his place with a load of fine bird-shot. Mr. Pierce took, in addition to his homestead, a timber claim, and now has three hun- dred and twenty acres, most of which is well improved. He lives in a commodious frame house, and his surroundings in general speak well for his prosperit}' since coming to this county. He was married in January, 1850, to Louisa Noyes, who was born May 13, 1832, and is one in a family of ten children born to Harman and Mary (Harrison) Noyes. The former was a native of New Hamp- shire, and was born in the year 1800 ; the latter, a native of New York State, born in^l798. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce has been blessed with the birth of fifteen children, as follows — Ira N., September 7, 1851 ; Harman L., December 8, 1852; Mary E., March 5, 1854; Abiatha E., May 13, 1855; Maria L., November 13, 1856; Percie A., February 5, 1859; Emma A., November 5, 1861 ; Eva B., August 12, 1863; Chester S., March 6, 1865; Lillie M., March 17, 1866; Albert P., March 27, 1869 ; Laura M., January 23, 1872; Eeuben W., April 11, 1874; Minnie V., August 23, 1876; Ella M., August 3, 1879. In political matters Mr. Pierce is a stanch republican. HETs^IlY PETEPtS is one of the eai'liest settlers in the Loup val- ley and one of the best known farmers in Buffalo county. He is a native of Germany, and was born October 21, 1833. His father, Henry Peters, Sr., a farmer by occupation, was a native of Germany, born in the year 1797. His mother, Catherina (Meumen) Peters, was also a native of Germany and was born in 1796. There were five cliildren — three girls and two boys — in the father's famil)^ of which Henry is the youngest. Henry lived in the old country until twenty- seven vears old and was engaged in farm- ing. In 1861 he came to this country and located at Connville, 111., where he resided seven years and was employed part of the time as a common laborer and part of the time at farming. In 1868, lie emigrated West and located in Cass county, Nebr., at first renting a farm and afterwards leasing school lands. He came to Buffalo county in the spring of 1875, and bought the claim on whicli he now resides, which he afterwards pre-empted. In those days the country in that section was wild and barren and very sparsely settled. Deer and antelope roamed through the valley in abundance, and elk, while not plentiful at that time, were fre- quently seen near his place. His nearest neighbor, in 1875, was three miles distant. lie put out a small crop the first year and harvested from live acres of corn an average of eighty bushels to the acre. The following year his crops were entirely destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he was left in almost destitute circumstances The grasshoppers ate holes through the blankets which were spread over vegeta- bles and ate the cabbage roots in the 500 BUFFALO COUNTY. ground. That summer and fall be earned money, with which to keep the famih' during the winter, by hauling a load in a provision train to the Black Hills coun- try. In 1879, he had twenty-five acres of wheat, thirty acres of corn and twenty- one thousand young, growing trees de- stroyed by a severe hail storm. The hail stones were so large as to knock the horns ofl' the sheep, break window-glass, etc. With few exceptions, he has had good crops. Mr. Peters was married March 27, 1859, to Tolcke C. Dires, who was born in Germany, January 15, 1836, and is the youngest in a family of three chil- dren born to John and Sofiah Dires, both of whom are natives of Germany. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peters, as follows — Riche, John, Fred, Benjamin, Eiche 2d., Henry, Louis and William. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are both active members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Peters is a republican. JOHANN YELINCK was born in June, 1845, in Budweiser, Bohemia, and came to Schneider township, Buffalo county, Nebr., directly from his native land, July 28, 1887, and here he has ever since been engaged prosperously in farming. Mr. Yelinck was married June 23, 1870, to Johanna Julsen, who has borne eight children, viz. — John, Karl, Mary, Heinrich, Franck, Laurence, Con- rad and Anastasia. The family are de- vout members of the Catholic church and are pursuing peaceful, industrious and prosperous lives. Joseph Yelinck, father of Johann, was born in Heimath, Bud- weiser, Bohemia, March 19, 1823; was a farmer, died in March, 1875, in the Roman Catholic faith. The mother of Johann Yelinck bore the maiden name of Theresa Keiser. JAMES M. DEVALL is a native of Preston county, West Virginia, and was born February 20, 1821. Mr. Devall spent the earh'partof his life in Virginia and enlisted in the Union army from that state, on the fifth of October, 1861. He joined the Si.xth West Virginia I'egiment of infantry and saw his first service at the battle of Cedar creek. He chased Morgan along the Ohio river, when that noted rebel raider was playing havoc in Ohio. He was captured near Oakland, Md., while on the Jones raid in that state. He fell into the hands of the men who were his neighbors in West Vir- ginia, and was paroled in the field a^id sent home for ten days. He returned to Wheeling, when his regiment was soon ordered down on the Potomac river. He participated in the engagement at Antie- tam and was for some time afterwards put on guard duty on the B. & 0. R. R. He spent one month in hospital and was dis- charged at Oakland on the nineteenth day of December, 1864. Mr. Devall came to Buffalo county, Nebr., on the twenty-eighth da>' of March, 1874, and filed on a homestead on section 4, in Sharon township. He was among the very first settlers in that section of the county and has endured some of the vicis- situdes of a pioneer life. The grasshop- BUFFALO COUNTY 501 pers took all he raised for three years in succession, but he never gave up. He still hail faith in the ultimate development of the countrj', and, though disheartened by loss of crop, he never gave up. Mr. Devall was married in 1882 to Mary M. Kirkpatrick, a soldier's widow from his native county. To this union has been born one child, Abigah L. lie has filled the office of justice of the peace, but has never been an aspirant for political favors. In politics he is independent and will not allow himself to be dictated to by any party or faction. He has 240 acres of good land, 160 of which are under good cultivation. Mr. Devall suffered untold exposures during his service in the army, from the effects of which he is now almost totally blind. lie is an intelligent man and talks iluently upon any of the leading questions of the day. WILLIAM R. WHEELER, one of the early settlers of Buffalo county, was born in London, England, March 16, 1846, and is the son of William D. H. and Jane (Hazel) Wheeler. He was brought to the United States by his parents, who located at St. Louis, Mo., in 1847, where they lived for several years. They subsequently located at Alton, 111., where the father followed his trade as a machinist. He was an industrious, hard-working man; he died in 1880. The educational advantages of William R. Wheeler were somewhat limited. He attended the common schools until about fifteen years of age, when he entered Scleartloff college, at Alton, 111., one of the oldest institutions of learning in the state. He gave close application to his studies here for nearly two years. In June, 1864, Mr. Wheeler enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illi- nois regiment, and determined to help put down the cruel rebellion. His regiment was sent up and down the Mississippi river twice and participated in a part of tiie famous Red river expedition. Mr. Wheeler was an active participant in the battle at Vicksburg and afterwards was sent to Alton, 111., to guard prisoners. He was corporal of the six men detailed to take the rebel general, Marmaduke, from the boat to the prison. Gen. Marmaduke afterwards became governor of Missouri. Mr. Wheeler was mustered out at Camp Butler, on the twenty-third day of July, 1865. He returned to his home in Illinois and decided to adopt farming as his vocation through life. This he has followed more or less of the time since, but prior to this reso- lution he followed railroading about two years. He accepted a position as break- man on the Rock Island & St. Louis rail- road and was soon afterwards promoted to conductor. His promotion was in recognition of his efforts in preventing a terrible wreck by flagging a train in time to prevent it from plunging into an ob- struction on the track. Mr. Weeeler is one of the first settlers of Buffalo county, having come here from Illinois on the twenty-sixtli day of March, 1873. He came with the express purpose of making his home here and to that end took a homestead on section 30 in Valle}"^ township. Of course the countr}' was 503 BUFFALO COUNTY. new and settlers few and far between. The broad prairie was well stocked with wild game, such as antelope, deer, and occasionally a bulfalo was visible. Mr. Wheeler and Mr. S. C. Aj^ers killed the last wild buffalo ever seen in the county. Indians were by no means scarce in the days of 1S73. It was not an uncommon thing to see live hundred Indians at a time strolling over this part of the country. Mr. Wheeler was not absent from home when the grasshoppers paid their long-to- be-remembered visit to this section of the county. They feasted sumptuously on his promising fields of corn for three years in succession. They boarded with the farm- ers of Buffalo county as long as the green corn lasted and then they moved on. The marriage of Mr. Wheeler to Miss Etta M. George was celebrated on the sixteenth day of January, 1874. Mrs. Wheeler was born in Massachusetts, April 14, 1855, and is the daughter of Truman Q. and Abbie M. (Gilfast) George. The former is a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Massachusetts. The children in the Wheeler family number five and are as follows — Hasell, born October 6, 1870; Thyra, born June 7, 1879; Ethel, born November 13, 1882; Viola, born March 24, 1885 and Chester, born March 7, 1890. Mr. Wheeler has taken considerable interest of late years in the cultivation of various kinds of vegetables and in this particular is one of tiie most successful men in the county. During the year 1889, he raised and marketed one thousand four hundred bushels of tomatoes, one hundred and eigiity-four bushels of small pickles sixty bushels of onions for which he re! ceived $4 per bushel, and seventeen thousand five hundred heads of cabbage. No man thus far in the county has any- where near equaled this enormous crop of vegetables. Mr. Wheeler has never specially under- taken to learn any trade, but he possesses rare mechanical talent and is handy at most anything he goes at. Several fine specimens of furniture in his house attest his rare genius in this particular. SOLOMON F. IIENNINGER, a prominent and influential farmer of Sharon township,Buffalo county, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and was born January 3, 1833. He comes of Pennsylvanian parentage, his father, Solo- mon Ilenninger, and his mother, Catherine Lawrence, both being natives of the " Key- stone State." They were married in their native state and moved West in 1830, set- tling in Trumbull county, Ohio, where they afterwards lived and died, both pass- ing away in the year 1864, the father at the age of sixty-four and the mother at the age of sixty-three. They spent their entire lives on the farm, engaged in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. They were among the early settlers of the locality where they lived and saw much of the hardships as well as many of the pleasures of pioneer life. They belonged to the industrious, thrifty, sturdy class of people by whom the middle states were mainly settled, and they exemplified in their lives man}^ of the best qualities of the race, that race' peculiar to tiie Ameri- can frontier. Carrying the Bible in one hand and the ax in the otiier, the\' sub- B UFFA L CO UN TV. 503 dued the savagery of nature and made the waste places blossom Avith the best fruits of an advanced civilization. Solomon and Catherine Henninger were devout mem- bers of the Lutheran church and died strong in the faith by which they had lived. The}' left a family of seven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this notice is the third, the others being Christopher, Priscilla, William, Nathan, who was killed at the battle of Atlanta, in the Union army, July 22, 1864, Polly and Jacob. Solomon F. Henninger was reared on his father's farm in Trumbull county, Ohio, and received an ordinary common- school education, such as could be ob- tained in his day from the district schools where he grew up. Having something of a mechanical turn of mind antl his father being able to spare his services from the farm, young Henninger, while yet a lad, took it into his head to learn ihe miller's trade, a thing which he successful!}' ac- complished and after wai'ds devoted him- self to the calling for some years. In 1855 he married Miss Barbara A. Coflf- man, a daughter of Isaac Coffman, then of Trumbull county, Ohio, but formerly of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1861) when the clouds of the Civil war had fully burst upon his unhappy country and calls were being made for volunteers to defend the Union, Mr. Henninger, with a cheerful- ness and alacrity born of the patriotism in him, responded promptly to the call and enlisted in Company H, Twentieth Ohio infantry. The organization of his regiment having been completed in Sept., 1861, it moved at once to the front and began act- ive service. Mr. Henninger was with it from that time on till the surrender. He participated in the Vicksburg campaign. his regiment being one of four that sus- tained the heaviest losses at Eaymond, Miss., losing at that place in killed and wounded sixty-eight men. It was also in _ the Atlanta campaign and sustained heavy losses in the assault on Kenesaw and in the attack on Atlanta ; its casualties in these two engagements in killed and wounded being two hundred and twenty- seven. Mr. Henninger was in the service till the surrender, being mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in September, 1865. Keturning to Trumbull county, he pur- chased a farm of forty acres and settled down to the peaceful pursuits of life, which he followed as zealously and with as much success as attended his military career. With an increasing family grow- ing up around him, he decided, in 1872, to move West, where land was more plenti- ful and opportunities for giving his chil- dren a fair start were better, and in the spring of that year he came to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo county, in what is now Sharon township, taking a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has since lived. From a modest, not to say humble, beginning he has grown to be one of the most prosperous farmers in the locality where he lives, owning a tract of five hundred and sixty acres of land, most of which he has purchased with means accumulated since settling in the county. He has his land in a good state of cultivation, making it all yield iiim a rev- enue in some shape. He has stuck steadily to farming, allowing no interests of a conflicting nature to interfere with the prosecution of his chosen calling. It could not hai)pen, however, that a man of his extensive interests and well known busi- ness qualifications should not be called on 504 BUFFALO COUNTY to fill some positions of trust in connection with the administration of local affairs. He has served his township two years as asses- sor and is now serving as township supervi- sor. In politics he is a democrat, and, his township being largely republican, it is needless to add that the positions he has filled he has been called to because of his recognized fitness for them and not through political favors. He made the canvass a few years for the legislature, running on the democratic ticket, and was beaten by only about eighty votes in the county, as largely republican as Buffalo county is. Being an old soldier, Mr. Henninger affiliates with the G. A. R. boys, being a member of Joe Hooker, Post at Shelton. As a citizen he is popular with everybody. He weighs over two hundred pounds and is as kind-hearted, jolly, good-natured a man as lives within the borders of Buffalo county. He has an interesting family of children growing up around him, some of whom are married. In these and his pleasant home he naturally finds much of the pleasure of this life. His children, in the order of their ages, are Annie Mariah, now wife of Walter J. Steven, a sketch of Avhom appears in this work ; Stephen, A. D., Monroe, Isaac, Minerva and Cora. TD. THATCHER, one of the earliest settlers of Sharon town- ship, Buffalo county, and a man who has been actively identified with the best interests of his locality, is T. D. Thatcher, the subject of this brief bio- graphical notice. Mr. Thatcher came to Buffalo county in 1871, taking a home- stead of eightv acres at that date in Sharon township, where he settled and where he has since lived. He had then just turned into his twenty-first year, was newh' married and came West in pursu- ance of the farmer-editor's advice "to grow up with the country. " Pie came direct from his native place in Medina county, Ohio, where he was born March 2, 1850, and where he grew up to matur- ity and resided till moving West. Having had the misfortune to lose his father when he was hal-dly two years of age, and being- one of a large family of children, Mr. Thatcher was, in a measure, in youth, his own preceptor, guardian and counselor, and has made his way almost entirely alone in the world. What education he received he obtained mainly in contact with the prac- tical affairs of life, supplementing this with a meager common-school training, such as could be had by irregular attend- ance at the district schools during the winter months. He was brought up partly on the'farm, parth^ at the dairy business, being chiefly engaged in cheese making, following this as a pursuit after growing up until moving West in 1871. The close application and exacting duties of his posi- tion in the latter business broke down his health, and it was partly also to regain this that he left Ohio and moved to Ne- braska. He has been steadily engaged in farming since settling in Buffalo county and has succeeded far beyond the average in his chosen calling. To his original homestead of eight^^ acres he has added by purchase from time to time, until now he owns 240 acres, all of which he has under cultivation and yielding him a rev- enue in some shajje. He is one of the wide-awake, progressive and successful farmers of the Wood River valley in Buffalo county, noted as it is for its enter- prising, substantial, well-to-do citizens. lie is also a stock-holder and member of the board of directors of the Shelton State Bank, which institution he assisted in organizing, and with the affairs of which he has been actively identified since. Mr. Thatcher has never suf- fered the buzzing of the bee for public office to interfere with his private pursuits or disturb the serenity of his mind. He has found his chief enjo\Mnents, as well as his highest reward, in attending strictly to his own business. He has a pleasant home and an interesting family, to which he gives his time and which yield him in return for his care and thoughtful solici- tude in their behalf that highest form of earthl}' happiness, peace and contentment, garnished with those delightful home loves and fire-side attachments, which neither wealth can buy nor position give. Mr. Thatcher was married in 1870, the lady whom he selected for a life compan- ion being Miss Flora M. Blanchard, a daughter of William M. Blanchard, of Medina county, Ohio. Four children have graced this union, all girls, tlie eldest of whom is now dead — Emma H., Angle, Lora and Hazel. Mr. Thatcher's father, as already stated, died when he was young. His christian name was Buckley and he was a native of New York; married and came West, settling in Medina county, Ohio, where he followed the peaceful jnir- suit of agriculture till his deatli, which took place in 18.52 and was caused b}' a railroad collision. Mr. Thatclier's mother, Emerancy Culver, was also a New Yorker by birth, and following the fortunes of her husband to the West, she discharged her duties of wife during his life and a mother before and after his death, in a way be- coming her sex, rearing to maturity a family of nine children, to whom she gave up to her latest hour wholesome advice, and enforced this with an example in her own person of a pious, christian mother, havins been a life-long member of the Congregational church. She died in 1886, at the age of seventy -seven. The children who survived her were Koland C, Gil- bert J., Melvina, Georgia, Mattie, Sarah, Abbie, Charles P. and Timothy D., the last mentioned being our subject. Mr. Thatcher and his excellent wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church and gen- erous contributors to benevolent and char- itable work. GEOEGE MILLER, one of the most prosperous farmers of Buf- falo county, is the son of Wil- liam and Fannie (Hicks) Miller. The former was a native of Delaware count}', N. Y.; from there he emigrated to Perue, hence to Iowa, and from there to Missouri. In 1861 he returned to Iowa, where he still resides. In politics he is a democrat. He was married to Miss Fannie Hicks, a na- tive of New York State, in 18—. They were both active and zealous workers in the M. E. church. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born twelve children, viz. — Charles, George, Calvin, Lynas (dead), Mary Catharine, William, Josephine, Willis, Miles, Martha, Lizzie and Samuel. George, the subject of this biographical notice, was born in New York in 1841. With his parents he moved to Pennsylvania and thence to Missouri. He then began 506 BUFFALO CO UNIT. life for himself, first ^oing to Kansas. He therebeganfreio^htingacrossthe plains, making bis first trip to Mexico, next to Colorado, and then to Wyoming, where be remained four years; he then retm'ned to bis old home in Iowa, and thence came to Nebraska, first locating in Omaha, then came to Buffalo county in 1871, where he has since remained. Mr. Miller has met with very marked success, ivhich is due to hard work, good management and econ- omy. He now ranks as one of the most prosperous farmers of Buflalo county, own- ing at present over one thousand acres of land and feeding 150 head of cattle and 50 horses, this being but a part of his present possessions. While Mr. Miller has made a financial success, he has made a success which is moi'e enduring, in securing for himself a reputation for being of irreproachable character, in all things doing unto others as he would v;ish to be done by. In 1S72 he was married at Anamosa. Jones county, la., to Miss Angeline B. Coliorn, — Eev. Lease officiating. Mrs. Miller is a native of Iowa, born in 1849. Being a lad}- of keen insight and good judgment, she has proven herself to be a valuable helpmeet to Mr. Miller. To them have been born eight children, viz. — Alma, Alva Howard, Henry Augustus (dead), Arthur C, Bertie, George E., Dolly (died in infancy) and Kattie Blanche. Politically, Mr. M. is a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church for a number of vears. BIOGRAPHICAL. MATTHEW D. BOGERT, a pros- perous farmer and highly es- teemed ciiizen of Kearney county, is a native of New York, and through his veins courses the blood of the sturdy old Dutch stock, which for many generations has formed the best citizen- ship of New York, and won for it the dis- tinctive appellation of the "Empire State." He is the only surviving child of David and Sarah (Tinkey) Bogert, the former of whom was a son of Matthew T. and Polly (Demorest) Bogert, and the latter a daugh- ter of Andrew and Jane (Vanderbilt) Tinkey. His grandfather Bogert was a native of New Jersey and a soldier in the War of the Revolution, a faithful adherent to the cause of the colonies, and one who attested his faith by his services in the long and arduous struggle by which the liberties of the colonies were achieved. Mr. Bogert's paternal grandmother was also a native of New Jersey. His great grand- father, Jacob Tinkey, was a native of New York, and was reared an orphan, being brought up in a family in which he afterwards married; his wife, Sarah Onder- donk, being born and raised in York State. Mr. Bogert's father, David Bogert, was born in New Jersey in 1791. He was reared in his native state and in New York, whither he moved when he went in busi- ness. He was a brickmason by trade and followed contracting and building. He married in 1812, and the same year en- listed in the United States army to fight the British during the War of 1812-li, dying in 1815 from fever contracted in the army. He was a man of active life and robust ph^'sical constitution, a great lover of sports, and noted as the most graceful dancer in social society in the city of New York. He was a democrat in politics in the days when the two great parties were whigs and democrats, and he was an ardent patriot. Mr. Bogert's mother, Sarah Tinkey, was born in New York in 1794, dying in 1861. She was a pious, good woman, a life-long member of the Dutch Reformed church. There were only two children in the family to which the subject of this sketch belonged, himself and a sister, Ann Maria, afterwards wife of James Eckerson. She died in 1882, leaving a family of five children — Matthew, John Esler, Sarah Catherine, Maria Elizabeth and Harriet Anna. Mrs. Sarah (Tinkey) Bogert was married the second time to Jolm A. Sewin, by whom she had two children — Andrew T. Sewin, who now is postmaster at Lenox, Mass., and John L. Sewin (now deceased). The subject of this sketch was born in 1813 in the citv of New York. He was fint) 510 KEARNEY 00 UNI Y. reared mainly on a farm, receiving a good common-school education and being brought up to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. In 1831 he married Miss Catherine Blawvelt, a lady of his own age, being a native of New York, and a daughter of Dowah and Elizabeth (Van Houten) Blawvelt. Mr. Boaert continued to reside in New York State, engaged in farming and kindred pursuits until 1879, when he moved to Nebraska and settled in Kearney county, taking a homestead in section 26, town- ship 7, range 16 west, where he now resides. He has led an active, industrious and useful life, and, although somewhat advanced in j'ears, he continues to look after his affairs with undiminished inter- est and prosecutes them with unabated vigor. He has held a number of public positions in life, the duties of which he has discharged with zeal and fidelity. He was elected to the state legislature in New York, in 1849, and represented his people acceptably in the state assembly for one term. The legislature of New York State is composed of one hundred and twenty- eight members. Mr. Bogert was one of fifteen members that came out boldly as free soilers, opposed to the extension of slavery. He was then appointed treasurer of Rockland county, and after filling that office for one term he was elected county treasurer, which office he held for eighteen years by successive re-elections, and during said time held the office of deputy county clerk for sixteen years. Since locating in Kearney county he has filled the office of county supervisor from his township for five years, and was elected in November, 1889, for two years more, and has served as postmaster at Blaineville from March, 1880, to the present time; and was chair- man of a committee appointed to exam- ine the county ti'easurer's accounts four years in succession. In politics he is a democrat, and he has been for a number of years a member of the Masonic order. He is a man of sound intelligence and possesses a wide range of knowledge. He was left a widower in 1884, his most ex- cellent wife now sleeping in Oak Hill cem- etery', at Nyack, on the Hudson river, in her native place. CYRUS A. WEBSTER, a thriving farmer of Blaine township, Kear- ney county, Nebr., was born in 1848 in Fulton county, 111., and is a son of Elisha and Lovine (Pigsley) Webster. Elisha Webster is a native of Chautauqua count}', N. Y., and was born in 1819, but in 1835 moved to Fulton county. 111., and thence came to Nebraska in 1880. He is a farmer by vocation, in politics is a repub- lican, and in religion a Methodist. Mrs. Webster is a daughter of Welcome and Thiza (Clark) Pigsley, and was born in the State of New York in 1830; from New York she went to Ohio, thence to Michi- gan, and thence to Fulton county. 111., where her marriage took place in 1847. She has had three children, as follows — Cyrus A., Asel M. (who died in 1878, at the age of twent^'-seven years) and Mrs. Louie Love. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Martin Webster, a native of Vermont,, who married Susan Rogers, a native of New York. Cyrus A. Webster was reared on a farm and received a good common-school educa- KEARNEY COUNTY. 511 tion, and at the age of twenty years began his business life on iiis own account. In 1879 he came to Nebraska and for ayear re- sided in Polk county, then for two years in Buffalo county, and then came to Kearney county, settling on section 24, township 7, range 16. Here he has a farm of six hun- dred and forty acres, of which four hun- dred acres are under cultivation. He keeps from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle and about the same number of hogs and from twelve to fifteen horses. Mr. Webster is a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal ciiurch and has of late held large and successful revival meet- ings. Politically, he is a stanch repub- lican. In January, 1869, Mr. "Webster married Miss Mary I. Barnes, who was born in 1851, in Oiiio, fi'om which state she was taken to Illinois by her parents. To this felicitous union have been born ten chil- dren, viz. — Otis Melvin, Stella, Etta Belle, Ada L. (who died December 10, 1887) Louis, Thomas (who died in 1882), Adol- phus(who died also in 1882), Clyde, Laura and Fa3\ The parents and surviving children hold a very high place in the esteem of their neigiibors and their walk through life is such as to merit this esteem. PETER NYQUIST, an old settler and prominent fai-mer of Kearne}'^ county, is a native of Sweden and a splendid representative of that large class of industrious, enterprising citizens, the Swedish-Americans, by whom Kearney county is in a great measure settled. He comes from a long line of Swedish ances- tors, being a cion of that sturdy, thrifty stock tiiat has made the "snowy kingdom amid the icy seas " blossom with the best fruits of an advanced civilization. His father, Olaf Nyquist, was born in the year 1818, and is still living, being a resi- dent of his native countr\', where he has been engaged all his life in the pursuit of agriculture. He is a good type of his race and calling, being an industrious, hard- working, economical man, diligent in the discharge of his duties as a citizen and greatly devoted to his family and church. He has affiliated with the Lutheran church almost all his life, and is not only a man of great devoutness, but possesses a very tender regard for all his fellow-men and is ever read}' to render any assistance in his power to those in affliction or distress. Mr. Nyquist's mother, whose maiden name was Mary Magnuron, was born in 1807 and died in 1875, having led a life of great industry and christian devotion, a zealous member all her years of the Lutheran church. These were married in 1836, the father, for lack of age, obtain- ing special permission for the purpose from the Crown. They had born to them a family of six children, all of whom reached maturity, and all but one of whom are now living, the full list in the order of their ages being— Carolina, Joannah, Helena, Peter, Gustave and John. The subject of this notice was born in the year 1844, was reared on his father's farm and received an ordinary common-school edu- cation. He came to America in 1868 and stopped in Illinois, where he engaged as a farm laborer and railroad hand for seven years, working industriously and saving 512 KEARNEY COUNTY. his earnings with a view of putting them to a good use later on. He returned to Sweden in 1875 and secured the promise of a neighbor girl, Miss. Ann Soloman, to join her fortunes with his in the new worki ; and, bringing her with him, re turned, and in tlie city of Chicago was married and came at once to Nebraska. He settled in Kearney count}', taking a homestead in section 33, township 7, range 16 west. It is needless to state tliat the country at that time bore an appearance of newness to which Mr. Nyquist was decidedly unaccustomed, and that he en- countered many obstacles of a discourag- ing nature in his first efforts to make a home in the West. When he settled in Kearney county it was ten miles to his nearest neighbor on the north and twelve miles to his nearest one on the south, and the whole country to the west was prac- tically unsettled. He had $500 with which to begin, and with this and two willing hands and a stout heart, re-enforced by the efficient aid and sustained by the sympath}^ and counsel of a good wife, he set about to build out of the rude and in- hospitable forces of nature a home and an asylum where he might spend his declin- ing days in peace and plenty. He worked hard and managed well, and as the result of long years of patient toil and thoughtful attention, he now has what he so much desired, a good home surrounded by the necessaries and comforts of life. He owns two hundred and fortj' acres of good land, most of which he has under cultivation and otherwise well improved, his sod-house and barn having given way to larger and better buildings, and his place being ornamented with trees and shrubbery, and showing in every detail the industry and thrift that prevail on his premises. His marriage has been blessed with six children, four girls and two boys — Mary, who departed life June 26, 1884; Caro- line, Emma, John, Charles and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Nyquist are both members of the Lutheran church, being zealous in the support of all church work and gen- erous in their contributions towards the furtherance of the gospel cause. OFFER POULSON is a native of Denmark and was reared on a farm until about twent3'two years of age, when he began to learn wagon-making. At the age of twenty- six he came to America, landing in Balti- more and going thence directly to Chi- cago, where he arrived in 1872, and fol- lowed his trade there until coming to Nebraska in February, 1876. Here he located a homestead of eighty acres (all the law allowed at that time) in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 5, range 14, in Cosmo township, Kearney county; since then, however, in 1881, he has purchased the southeast quar- ter of section 35, township 6, range 14, in Lincoln township, adjoining his first tract, and his farm now comprises 240 acres. His first dwelling. was a small, cheap shanty, in which he managed to live until 1880, when he erected his present com foi't- able dwelling. His farm is now highly improved with good barns, groves, or- chards, and every convenience calculated to make home desirable, and he has 240 acres under cultivation in mixed crops. KEARNEY COUNTY. 513 When be first came he had about enough money to pay the expenses of himself and family on the way, and his onW farm stock consisted of two small mules and two cows. The first two or three years were disastrous ones, and it was a hard matter for him to make ends meet. The grass- hoppers the first year destroyed every- thmo- green in the country, and the second year, 187S, hail was equally as destructive, he being one of the greatest sufferers in the neighborhood. He was in debt for his farm machinery, but his creditors never annoyed him, but waited patiently until he could raise and dispose of a crop or two. He is now as nicely situated as he could desire, and is giving much attention to breeding fine-gi'ade live stock. He has on his farm an imported English stallion tliat weighs 1,800 pounds, and his stock of hogs is very large and of choice varieties. Paul Cristoffesson Poulson, the father of the subject proper of this sketch, was also a native of Denmark and came to America in 1879, and died in Nebraska in 1888. He married Anna C. Ottasan, who died in her native country in Denmark in 1877, the mother of six children, of whom our subject is the second and the first of tiie family that came to America. All of these children are now in Kearney county, Nebraska, with the exception of the eldest brother, who is still in Den- mark. Offer Poulson was married at Piano, Hi., to Mary Larsen, just prior to coming to Nebraska. She is the daughter of Dal- gaard Larsen, of Denmark, who never reached America. The widow of this gentleman, however, died in this country soon after arriving here. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Poulson have been born three children, viz. — Louie C, Arthur M., and Emma E. Politically, Mr. Poulson is independent; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Farmers' Alliance and Club, the latter organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of agriculturists. WARD SHUE, a native of Penn- sylvania, was born in 18-19. liis father, E. H. Shue, was born in 1812, in New York State, whence he moved, when a young man, to Wayne count}', Pa. He was a successful farmer, and for years was a deacon and ruling- elder in the Presbyterian church. In pol- itics he was a republican. About 1881, wliile visiting our subject, he was taken sick, and a short time after returning to iiis home in Pennsylvania, passed awa}' to his long home. Vashti (Wright) Shue, the mother of Ward Shue, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1820, and for some time was a school teacher. In 1848 she was married to E. II. Shue, to whom she bore four children, namely — AVard, Nancy A., EHzabeth P., who died young, and Edward A., who died in 1881. AVard Shue was reared a farmer and was educated at Deposit Academy'. He taught school for a while, and at the age of twenty-six went to Iowa. In 1878 he came to Nebraska and settled in Kearney county, on section 34, township 7, range 16 west. For some time after ari-iving here he was engaged in teaching, often being away from home a week at a time, leav- ing his newly-wedded wife alone, half a mile from a neighbor, and seeing no human being except her husband for 514 KEARNEY COUNTY weeks at a time. His worldly possessions on reaching Nebraska were very limited, but he now owns a quarter section of well stocked and well improved land. He has always made it a rule of his life not to go in debt for anj^thirig, and to this rule he attributes much of his success. In poli- tics he is a republican and a prohibitionist. In 1878 Mr. Sliue married Miss Amelia Vaupel, an estimable German lady, who was born in 1855, and who was left an orphan at the age of seven years. Her father was George Vaupel, a native of the city of Hanover, Germany, and a tailor by trade. Her mother was Minnie (Berg- muller) Vaupel, also a native of Germany, who boi'e her husband five children, namely — Anna, now teaching in Brook- lyn, N. Y., and who has traveled through Europe, studied French in Paris, and who has given lessons in French and German for years ; Mary, now Mrs. Reynolds ; Amelia, now Mrs. Shue ; Minnie and Antoinette, who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward Shue have been born four children, as follows — Emma Elizabeth, who died when young; Anna Althea ; Minnie Vashti, who died last winter of scarlet fever ; and Eddie Ezra. Upon the death of Minnie, her uncle, Mr. Reynolds, wrote the following touching lines: Dear Minnie is dead ! So gentle and beautiful, Loving and dutiful — Her last prayer is said. So trusting and mild, So sweet in her piirity She rests in security. By sin undetiled. But God's way is best ! "We give her up tearfully, Yet think of her cheerfully In heaven at rest. JOHN N. WARP, a farmer of Cosmo township, Kearney county, was born in Norway, near Kcenigsburg, August 23, 1847, and was reared to farming. He was but seven years of age when he lost his father, and was but a little older when his mother died. His struggle with the aifairs of life began at the age of thirteen,' when he hired out as a common laborer. At the age of twenty- two he came to America, landing in New York, whence he went to Chicago, and then to Wisconsin, where, for two or three years, he was employed in rafting timber ; he then returned to Chicago, and for nearly two years worked in a foundrv and machine shop. In March, 187'i, he came to Nebraska and passed two years in Omaha; in 1876, he located a home- stead of eightjr acres in the southwest quarter of section 10, township 5, range 14 ; in 1877 he had five acres broken, and then returned to Omaha, where he passed another year, and then came back to his farm to stay. He built the usual sod house, in which he lived alone two years, when, in December, 1880, he married, but still kept his habitation in the old sod house until 1888, when he put up a nice frame dwelling. When Mr. Warp came here he had a small amount of mone\^, but it was soon exhausted, and his prog- ress has been made hj hard labor. He has added to his original eighty acres the adjoining tract of eighty acres, and of the one hundred and sixty has one hundred and ten under cultivation in mixed crops and well slocked with choice animals, as well as improved with orchards, groves and convenient barns, etc. Mr. Warp married Miss Hilza Johannes, daughter of Johannes Johannsen, the latter a stone- KEARNEY COUNTY. 515 mason and farmer, who died in Norway. Mrs. Warp came to America witli a bro- ther in 1S7S, and this brother is .still liv- ing in Kearney county. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Warp, named as follows — Julius N., Edward M., Oscar, Lena and Ida. Since Mr. Warp has lived here he has been very successful as a farmer, and has fully established himself in the good opinion of his fellow-citizens, whom he has served in several official capacities. In 1885 he took the census of Cosmo township! ; he has filled the ofiice of assessor five terms, and has just been elected to fill it a sixth term ; but politically, he is independent. Since 1876 he has been a member of the I. O. O. F.,and has long been a consistent member of the Danish Lutheran church. Nelson Warp, the father of our subject, for a number of years worked for the irovernment in the silver mines of Nor- way, but in 1850 emigrated to California, where he remained about four years, when he returned to his native country and soon after died. lie married Miss Inger M. Jacobstatle, who bore him three chil- dren, of whom John N. is the eldest. One daughter is a resident of Omaha. MICHAEL C. BANG, farmer of Cosmo townshi]i, Kearney county, was born in Denmark, October 5, 1849, and was reared on the home farm until nineteen years old, when he left his home and worked out as a farm hand for two and a half years. In Octo- ber, 1872, he departed from his native shore and soon found himself in Quebec, Canada. The same vear he came to the United States and worked in the great canal at Sault Ste Marie, Mich., till the spring following, when he went to the copper mines of Lake Superior, where he worked for fourteen months; he tlien went to Kendall county, 111., where he worked for monthly wages until 1878, when he married and lived on a rented farm until January, 1880. when he came to Nebraska and bought a claim and located his homestead in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 5, range 14, Kearney county. The place contained a dug-out, a stable and a well, and twenty- five aci'es of the land were broken. He lived in the dug out at first, but soon built a sod house, in which he lived until 1884, when he erected a fine frame house, in which he now resides. When he came here he had a small amount of monev, which he paid out for his land. He had brought some farming implements from Illinois, and had four head of horses. After the first year he was very successful with his crops and now has 115 acres under cultivation ; he has groves, orchards, and fine livestock, has everything in good shape, and is looked upon as being one of tiie best farmers in his township. Mr. Bang married Mary Anderson, daughter of Andrew C. Nelson, from Denmark, and this union has been blessed with seven children, viz. — Andrew C, Nora M., Kristena E., Ingeborg A., James E., Emma Johanna and Saddle C. Since coming to Nebraska Mr. Bang has served two terms as school treasurer — six years ; he was justice of the peace two terms and has served three terms as count}' super- visor. He was nominated at a recent democratic convention for sheriff of the county, and came very near being elected. 516 KEARNEY COUNTY. receiving a flattering vote for the repub- licans, and carrying his own township with a heavy majority, receiving every vote but eleven, as well as carrying the township of his opponent. He and his family belong to the Danish Free Luth- eran church. Kristen Bang, the father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade, but passed the best part of his life on the farm where he died in 1878, at the age of seventy-one years. His first wife, the mother of Michael Bang, bore the maiden name of Dorthea Jensen, and became the mother of eis:ht children, four of whom were reared to maturity. By a second marriage Kristen Bang had born to him ten children. A year after our subject reached America he was followed by a brother, who is also now living in Kearney county, Nebr. JENS IVERSON, one of the most en- terprising and wealthy farmers of Cosmo township, Kearney county, was born February 16, 1854, in Schleswig Holstein, at one time a province of Denmark, but now belonging to Prus- sia. He was reared a farmer and fol- lowed that vocation in his native country until 1872, when he came to America, landing in New York, but immediately departing for Lee county, 111., and passing a few days in Chicago, en route. He went to work as a farm hand, was married in Lee county, in 1874, and both he and his wife toiled on together until 1878, in October of which year they reached Nebraska. Mr. Iverson located his home- stead on section 34, township 5, range 14, and at the same time took a timber claim on tlie southwest quarter of section 34, township 5, range 14. On his homestead claim Mr. Iverson built a sod house, broke twenty acres of land, dug a well and made other improvements, and, after a residence there of about two and one-half years, abandoned it and in 1880 settled on his timber claim. He has added two hundred and forty acres to the original plat and has two hundred and fifty acres under cultivation in mixed crops, has plent}' of live stock, including graded Durham cat- tle ; his granaries and barns are all com- modious frame structures and supplied with every convenience, and groves of tim- ber are pleasant features of his farm. Since residing hei"e he has never met with a total failure in his crops, but in 1887 came pretty close to one, on account of dry weather and chinch bugs. Otherwise, he has been very successful and is now one of the' wealthiest farmers of Cosmo town- ship — all his wealth having been gained by his own industry and the aid of his most excellent wife. It will be remem- bered that when he was first married he lived on a small piece of rented land ; in the cultivation of this, his wife assisted at the plow, and since coming here she has never tired of rendering herald in any re- spect. He commenced his career in Ne- braska with five dollars in his pocket, and owned, besides, an old team and two colts, but no cattle. Now he has an abundance of everything, and Mi's. Iverson has no longer to aid in the farm work ; but the couple still cling to the old sod house as a residence. The maiden name of Mrs. Iverson was Sophia C. Grisen, a native of Prussia, but she has borne her husband no children. In politics Mr. Iverson is a republican. KEARNEY COUNTY. 517 and lias filled the offices of school treas- urer and township treasurer. With his wife, he belongs to the Lutheran church. Jacob Iverson, father of our subject, is a farmer and is still living in Prussia, at the age of seventy-six years. He married Cristine Damgaard, who bore him nine children — Jens, our subject, being the seventh. Jens Iverson has one sister in America, who is married to Fred Cristis- son and resides in the neighborhood. Mrs. Iverson has one brother and two sisters in this country. CHAELES A. HANSEN, a pros- perous farmer of Cosmo town- sliip, Kearney county, was born at Thisted, Denmark, May, 14, 1S4S. He attended the school of his native town until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed for live years to the painter's trade, and followed this business in the old country until 1869, when he came to America. He landed in New York, but at once went to Chicago, where he con- tinued working at his trade until 1876, in March of which year he came to Kearney county and located a homestead on the east half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 26, township 5, range 14, and also bought the remaining half-quarter adjoin- ing, of the railroad company. On this projierty he erected good buildings, set out groves and addetl all the conveniences necessary to make farm life profitable and pleasant. One hundred and ten acres are under cultivation in mixed crops, and the live stock is all of the best class, hogs being a specialty. During the first four years of his residence here Mr. Hansen had a rather tough time of it, as at the start his only possessions consisted of a team and one cow ; but his industry and skill have made him quite wealthy. Mr. Hansen was married at Chicago, in 1872, to Miss Cristena Neilson, a native of Denmark, and this union has been blessed by the birth of five children, viz. — Harrel, Anine, Ilosana, Christian and Loruad. Mr. Hansen is politically a democrat and has served one term as justice of the peace. The father of our subject, Hans August Hansen Bronderslev, is still living in Denmark, and was at one time chief of the fire department of his native cit\'. His regular business, however, was that of ale brewer, but he is now retired, at the age of sixty. He married Cristena Thorp, who bore him four children, Charles A. being the eldest. Another son is in Kansas City, Mo., engaged in steam dye- SOCEATES ATWATEE was born in Wells, Eutland county, Vt., January 12, 1823. His parents, Daniel and Louise (Stevens) Atwater, were both natives of the Green Mountain State. His father was born October 27, 1785, and his mother, June 27, 1795. They were married about 1816, and had ten children. His paternal grandfather, Simeon At- water, was a native of Vermont and a soldier in the Eevolutionar}^ war. The Atwater family are of English-French descent. The maternal grandfather of Socrates Atwater, named Stevens, was 53 8 KEARNEY CO UNI Y also a native of Vermont and a Revolution- ary soldier. His father and mother both died on the same day, in 1861, and sleep side by side in the same grave. Botli were members of the Methodist church. Socrates Atwater, the subject of this sketch, was married, March 30, 1850, to Lydia Wendover, who was born in Butler, Wayne county, N. Y., July 11, 1831. She IS a daughter of Thomas and Margaret "Wendover, both natives of New York, the former having been born at Sand Lake, January 2, 1808. They have rpared two children, namely — Erastus W., born July 8, 1855, and Orlando D., born December 30, 1865. He came to Kearney county, Nebr., in 1879, and settled in Eaton township, where he purchased railroad lands, and now has three hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as lay in the state. He has taken great pains with the cultivation of trees, and he can show as thrifty a lot as one would wish to see. He has served the people of his town as justice of the peace, and is regarded as one of the repre- sentative men of the county. He has several interesting relics which carry us back to old revolutionary times, having an old flint-lock, brass- barreled horse- pistol, such as wei-e used by cavalrymen in revolutionary days ; also a powder- horn, on which is artistically carved an ingenious representation of the harbor of New York city, also showing the courses of the Hudson and Moluiwk rivers, with a description of the country along each. Another interesting specimen in his col- lection is a Dritisii red military coat. All these were captured from the British by Mr. Atwater's two grandfathers. JOSEPH SEWARD FRANK was born in Will count}', Illinois, Sep- tember 7, 1838, and is the son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Curtis) Frank. His father was born at Gran- ville, N. Y., September 22, 1805, and his mother was born August 28, 1807, in Berkshire count}', Mass., and died Decem- ber 15, 1870, in Omro, Wis. His paternal gi'andfather, Nathaniel Frank, was born in Connecticut, November 26, 1776, and died January 31, 1824. He was a colonel in the War of 1812, and one of the prom- inent and influential men of his day. Nathaniel Frank, Jr., engaged in mercan- tile business at Gawanda, N. Y., in an early day. and continued in that line for several years ; subsequently he moved to Omro, Winnebago county. Wis., where he continued his former business together with buying and shipping stock. He served as justice of the peace for over forty years in the States of New York and Wisconsin. During his official career he performed the ceremony which united, for better or for worse, over ninety couple. He is still living, and has been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church for many years. Joseph Seward Frank was next to the youngest of four children, and remained at home assisting his father in business until he enlisted. He attended the common schools of his day as well as the high school at Omro, Wis. When the war broke out he was a young man, but not too young to off'er his services in defense of his country's flag. Enlisting for three years, December 7, 1861, in Company F,. Eighteenth regiment Wisconsin volunteer infantry, he served under the gallant Gen. Prentice, and was KEARNEY COUNTY. 519 an active participant in the terrible battle of Shiloh, where he was taken prisoner on April 6, 1862, and held as such for six long months. He was a sufiferer in Libby, Montgomery and Macon prisons, when he was finally exchanged. The prisons were examined, and all those unfit for further service were discharged and sent home. He had suffered the tor- tures of prison life until he was a mere skeleton. After partial health was restored, Mr. Frank spent seven 3'ears in the mining regions of northern Michigan, and a few years in the mercantile business at Omro, Wis. He came to Kearney county, Nebr., July, 1876, in a prairie schooner, and took a homestead in Eaton township, where he has since resided. Tliere was scarcely any settlement in the vicinity at that time, and the country presented a wild and somewhat dreary appearance. On October 15, 1868, Mr. Frank was married to Miss Anna H. Amerman, who was born at Tompkins, Delaware county, N. Y., December 24, 1842, but reared in New York City. She was a daughter of Eev. Thomas Amerman, a prominent Presb^'terian divine. Her parents emi- grated to Wisconsin in 1850. Her father was compelled to quit the ministry on account of ill-health, and died in 1884. He was a graduate of Amherst College and of the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick, N. J., and was ordained in 1830. Mrs. Frank was a frequent con- tributor to the religious press and was a devoted christian woman and a very successful teacher in the public schools. She died November 6, 1889. To this union were born eight children, viz. — Charles E., born July 20,1869; Irving A., born April 21, 1871 (deceased) ; George S., born August 18, 1873 ; Percy L., born March 17, 1875; Cornelia E., born January 19, 1877; Eleanor Anna, born December 16, 1880 ; Sarah H., born August 3, 1883 ; Jennie L., born January 3, 1886. Mr. Frank was justice of the peace for a number of years, and was the first su])ervisor of Eaton township. He has been a zealous christian for many years, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. He is an enthusiastic temperance man, and hopes to live to see the total prohibition of the liquor traffic. Mr. and Mrs. Frank were charter members of the First Presbyterian church of Kene- saw, Nebr., and, when the country got more thickly settled, helped to form the Eaton, now the Hartwell, Presbyterian church. Mr. Frank has been for years a ruling elder, and Mrs. Frank one of the main supporters of the Sabbath-school. DAVID JONES, a prominent farmer and early settler of Eaton townsiiip, Kearney countj', was born in Wales, February 16, 1820. .His father, Jenkins Jones, came to America in 1830 and his wife came ten years later. David came in 1832 and settled at Phila- delphia, where he found employment, and while there served an apprenticeship at wagon-making. He was but a young man when he moved to La Salle county, 111., in 1843, and worked at his trade there until 1854, when he went to farming. He came to Nebraska in the spring of 1875, and settled in Eaton township, Kearney 520 KEARNEY COUNTY. county, wliere lie has since resided. He had his entire corn crop destroyed by the grasshoppers the second year, but aside from that he has enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity. February 22, 1880, however, he lost by fire all his buildings, except his house ; all of one year's crops, and macliinery to the amount of $1,500, carrying no insurance. Mr. Jones was married April 8, 1848, to Lucitia Peck, a native of New York, born May 10, 1829, and a daughter of David and Levilla (Hawkins) Peck, both of whom were natives of New York and members of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. David Jones have five children, viz. — Margaret, born February 28, 1849 ; John, born March 1, 1851 ; India, born January 27, 1854; George D., born July 21, 1860 (deceased) and Ida May, born February 6, 1864. Mr. Jones was elected county commissioner of Kearney county in the fall of 1875, and served three years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1881 and served until a change of town- ship representation was made. During his oSicial term as commissioner, the county seat was changed from Lowell to Minden. Mr. Jones is one of the sub- stantial farmers of Eaton township, and one of the best known men in the county. JOEL HULL. More than any other man, Joel Hull, the subject of this sketch, has been instrumental in the founding and developing of the city of Minden. Born in Meigs county, Ohio, November 23, 1831, he traces his ances- try back through a long line of standi New England stock, members of whom were prominent in the early struggles with the Indians in the Revolutionary war, and in everv conflict in which the nation has had a part, from its earliest history to the present. His father, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, was Hiram Hull, son of Joel Hull, of Massachusetts, whose father was William Hull, of same state. Luna (Bosworth) Hull, the mother of our sketch, was a daughter of Ilezekiah Bos- worth, of Vermont, and Huklah (Pearce) Bosworth, of New York. Mr. Hull was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. At this point he took up the stud\' of law, which profession he had decided to adopt for his life work. His preceptors were the law firm of Sweetser & Pleid, both of whom were eminent men, not only having made a success of their professional work, but having also served in Congress. Too close application to study soon im- paired the health of young Hull and com- pelled him for a time to abandon his chosen work and he consequently engaged in the business of dealer and manufacturer of leather. At the outbreak of the war of 1861, he was one of the first to spring to the aid of his distressed country, and in 1862 received a commission to recruit a company for the Ninety-first regiment Ohio infantry volunteers, and was com_ missioned a lieutenant in Company B of the regiment he helped to form. He was prominent in leading the army in the battles in the Shenandoah valley, at Win- chester, Lynchburgh, and many minor engagements. His unfiinching bravery was demonstrated at the battle of Bunker Hill in the Shenandoah valley, wliere he JOEL HULL. KEARNEY COUNTY. 523 led the skirmish line of the little force of thirteen hundred men against the enemy wiiich numbered seventy-seven hundred men, under Rosser, of Earley's corps. Tlie spirit which animated their leader thrilled his men, and they undauntedly followed him to success, routing the entire rebel force and capturing all their artillery, taking prisoners, and disabling the enemy in greater numbers than the little force, of which he was the prominent part, con- sisted. For his brilliant service in this action and the military ability there dis- played, he was the next day promoted to the responsible position of adjutant-gen- eral of his brigade, then commanded by General Crook. His brigade was engaged in the battle of Winchester, where the army under Crook was defeated by the overwhelming numbers of the opposing army, but the retreat was effected in good order and with such military precision, that his brigade was carried out with but slight loss. His service expired in 1864 and he was immediately, by the governor of Ohio, tendered the colonelcy of a new regiment ; but before he accepted, the call for more men was countermanded and the war came to a close. The war being ended. General Hull located in Toledo, Ohio, and there estab- lished a large steam tannery, and in com- pany with a firm of dealers in hides and leather, he operated the business under the firm name of Joel Hull & Co. till 1872, then selling his interest to his part- ners he came to Nebraska, and, after inspecting various portions of the state, decided to cast his fortunes in Kearney county, and there located June ;^U, 1872, just ten days after its organization as a county, it having then a voting population of only thirty -one. Thus it will be seen that General Hull was a pioneer in this part of the state. Of his com- peers at that time but four remain, the others having passed over to the silent majority. Hon. Lewis A. Kent, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Dr. Cooper, of Lowell, and Charles Sydenham, in company with the subject of our sketch, constitute the quartette still living in the county of those brave men, who, in early days, paved the way for civ- ilization. Mr. Hull entered a homestead near the site of the present city of Minden, and at once engaged in farming. He early con- ceived the idea of moving the county seat from the village of Lowell to a more cen- tral portion of the county, and to this end began to agitate the question in his vigor- ous wa_y. Hard work, and against strong opposition, accomplished his end and he succeeded in having the county seat lo- cated at Minden, where it still remains. He, himself, laid out the town and built the first four houses after the removal of the county seat to the site had been se- cured b\' a very large majority of the voters of the county. He presented city lots to seven different religious denominations and aided six of them in erecting their church ediffces upon the donated lots, and presented to the school district a quarter block on which to erect its first school house in the city. In 18.55, in Newark, N. J., Mr. Hull was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Frisbie, daughter of Nathaniel Frisbie, of New York State. To bless this home, five children have been sent, whose names in the order of their birth are — John F., o2i A'K I RyEY CO UN TV Arthur E., George H., Frances E. (now Mrs. E. L. Marsh) and Carrie A. On March 31, 1879, Mr. Hull was married the second time to Mrs. Elsie E. Granger, daughter of Robert and Mary D. Scott — this being the first marriage celebrated in the present city of Minden. A fine baby boy in due time put in an appearance ; to him, as the pioneer baby of Minden, the town site association deeded a lot. Joel L. is his name. Two others, Walter Scott and Otis H., followed in due time. Judge Hull was admitted to the practice of law in Nebraska, in 1878, and since that time he has followed the practice of the profession of his first choice, from which he was, by unavoidable circumstances, so long delayed in entering upon. Judge Hull is a stanch republican, although political aspirations have never given him any trouble. Since the location of Minden, his efforts for its upbuilding have been untiring, no opportunity having been lost to forward the interests of that communit\^ He has had the pleasure of witnessing its growth from its incipiency, and of knowing that to his efforts is largely due its present thriving and growing condition. Though his own private interests have often been sacrificed for the interest of the commu- nity of which he is a part, he feels amply repaid for any sacrifice he may have made ; but to enter into the detail of all that he has done for the county of his choice and the town of his creation, would require pages where we can devote but paragraphs. Judge Hull and his wife are both broad- minded christians and are especially noted for their widely spread and judicious charities. Their church affiliations are with the Methodist denomination. It is not necessary for as to add, perhaps, that Judge Hull is counted as a part of the bone and sinew of Minden, of Kearney county, and of the State of Nebraska. His friends are legion. DAVID SCEAMLIN is one of the well-to-do farmers of Eaton township, Kearney county, and one of the most successful agriculturists in the county. He was born in Grand Eapids, Mich., June 3, 18-12, and is the son of Jacob and Ann (Dickie) Scramlin, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Brunswick. David Scram- lin is the fifth of a family of seven chil- dren and was reared in Illinois. He began working out when seventeen years old, and at nineteen went to northern Mich- igan, where he remained several years. He was a resident of La Porte county, Ind., from 1865 to 1872, and from there he went to Minnesota. He came to Kearney county, Nebr., in the spring of 187-1 and took up a homestead, on which he built a sod house and began breaking sod for a crop. He could only see two houses when he first settled where he now lives. He was married January 31, 1866, to Harriet Cowgill. She is a native of Eoss county, Ohio, and was born June 21, 18-43. Tliey are both devoted members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. S. has always affiliated with the democratic part}' and at one time was iy member of the K. of L. He has three hundred and twenty acres of ri(;h land, well improved, and is one of the most liighly I'espected citizens of Kearney count}'. KEARNEY COUNTY. 525 MILES FIERO, one of the most jirominent men of Eaton town- ship, Kearney county, was born in New York, December 11, 1838. His jiarents were John and Nancy (Comcross) Fiero, both of whom were natives of New York. His father was a farmer and died in 1847. At the age of eighteen, the subject of tliis sketch began farming for himself. Five years later he responded to his country's call by shouldering a musket and joining the Union army. He joined the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth regi- ment New York volunteer infantry, in August, 1862, but was transferred in about three months to the Ninth New York heavy artillery. He saw service at the battle of North Ann river, and was with the Army of the Potomac in the battle of the Wilderness, but was not in the engagement himself. He was also at Cold Harbor, where he was wounded by a minie-ball in the left leg, just above the ankle. He was sent home on furlough, where he lay under the doctor's care for one hundred and twenty days, when he rejiorted back to New York hospital, and was mustered out June 6, 1805. He hob- bled about on crutches, about eight years in all, and his left leg was amputated twenty-three years after it was shattered b}^ a rebel bullet. Mr. Fiero came to Nebraska in the spring of 187-i, taking a soldier's home- stead in Kearney. The entire count}' was scarcely settled at that time and cast only forty-four votes. He was a victim of the grasshopper raid, and like hundreds of others saw his corn crop dissappear before the army of h()|)pers in a I'emark- ably short space of time. During those dark days Mr. Fiero was obliged to go to Kansas for corn to feed his horses. Our subject was married, October 4, 1857, to Jane E. Tiffany, who is a native of Ontario county. New York. Four children have been born to this union, viz. — Emma Jane, born January 16, 1860, now the wife of John D. Jones ; John Miles, born November, 1862; Hattie Belle, born May, 1866, now the wife of Stanley Carpenter, and Carrie Alice, born August, 1869, wife of W. D. Howard. Mr. Fiero has served as justice of the peace for several years and is now post- master of the village of Hartwell, having been appointed in December, 1889. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., also the G. A. R., and is a republican. He came to Hartwell in 1884 and engaged in the implement business, but is now in the groceiy business and enjoys the good will of everybody in the town and community in which he lives. CHARLES A. ROHDER was born in Germany, September 17, 1834, and is a son of Adam and Mary (Niederhof) Rohder, both natives of the Fatherland. The subject of this sketch left his native land when nineteen 3'ears old to escape the draft. He first went to England, and there found an opportunit^y to work his passage to America on a boat which was about ready to sail, landed at New York and immediately went to Cam- bria county. Pa., where he had a sister living. He next went down the Ohio river to Cairo and served as a cook on a steamer on the Mississippi for eight years. 526 KEARNEY COUNTY. He came to Lowell, Nebr., in tlie spring of 1873, and immediately engaged in the bakery business. The town was prosper- ous, and Mr. Rohder's business flourished, and he remained there till the town went down, when he purchased railroad land in Eaton township, where he has since resided. He went all through the grass- hopper famine and has seen great herds of liufl'alo, antelope and deer in the vicinity where he now lives. Mr. Eohder was married, February 8, 1805, to Eva Ebel, by whom he had four children, born as follows — Augustus, September 1, 1866 ; Fred, July 27, 1868; Elizabeth and John. His second marriage was on February 20, 1871, to Dora E- Reeder. This union has been blessed with the following named children — Henry W., born June 25, 1872 ; Dora E., born September 8, 1874; Chas. S., born Octo- ber 23, 1876; Leona, born September 17, 1878; Emma, born August 23, 1880; Frank, born March 17, 1882; William, born October 18, 1884, Earnest, born June 6, 1886, and Josie, born November 7, 1887. Mr. Rohder has 160 acres of well improved land, and has a considerable number of trees growing. He is a demo- crat and has held various local offices ; in religion he is a member of the Catholic church. JOHN DAVIDSON is one of the pros- perous and well-to-do farmers of Kear- ney county. He was born in Scotland, January 14, 1850, and was reared on a farm in Ayrshire, south Scotland. He came to America when he was twenty-one years old, and is now thoroughly imbued with American thrift and enterprise. He landed in New York city and spent the first year in that state. He came West as far as Silver Creek, Mich., in 1872, where he spent two years, coming to Kearney county, Nebr., in the spring of 1874, and was among the first to take a homestead in that county. There was scarcely any settlement previous to that time, and the country was anything but inviting to a man like Mr. Davidson, who had so re- cently come from one of the oldest and most densely populatetl countries of Europe. But he was here, and he de- termined to stay. He was young and ambitious, and he made up his mind that what others had done he could do, so he located his claim and erected a small frame house upon it. He was single and without means, so he went to Lincoln and worked during the summer, returning to spend the winter upon his claim. He hired some breaking done, and the second year pre- pared to do some farming, but the grass- hoppers came and destroyed everything green. This caused great suffering among many of the early settlers, and had not aid Ijeen sent them from the East, many would doubtless have suffered greatly for the necessaries of life. When the provisions were distributed, Mr. Davidson refused to accept anything, as he was young and had no family to look after and could take care of himself. The following year crops prospered and a fair yield was made, and since that time the farmers have had no cause to complain. Mr. Davidson was married April 28, 1879, the lady whom he chose for a com- ))anion being Miss Lydia J. J!arnhart. She is a native of Michigan, having been born in Berry county June 29, 1852. Her KEARNEY COUNTY. fatlier, Samuel Barnhart, is a native of Ohio, and her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Everdeen, is a native of Vir- ginia. They were married in Ohio, and located soon after in Michigan, where the father died in 1885, the mother in 1878. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Davidson lias been blessed with three children — David, born August 19. 1884 ; James, born March 7, 1886, and John, born November 16, 1889. Mr. Davidson has been county super- visor, and made a reputation as a careful and conservative official. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as cnn be found in the state, has it under good cultivation, and his improve- ments are among the best in the township of Eaton. IAPtS PETERSON, a native of Den- mark, was born March 5, 18-45, _^> and is a son of Lars and Kate (Johnson) Peterson. The senior Peterson was a farmer and died in 1847. There jvere eight children in the Peterson fam- ily, five boys and three girls. Lars Peter- son is the youngest of the famil}' and remained on the old liomestead, attendina: school when he could, until he was about twenty years old, when he came to Amer- ica in 1865, and landed at New Yoi'k bity August 5, and came West immedi- ately as far as Muskegon, Mich. lie worked in a sawmill at tiiis j)oint for a few months, when he departed for Eock Island county. 111., and found employment on a farm there at fair wages. He ne.xt went to Omaha and worked for a transfer company for two years. Subsequently he visited Denver and spent three j'ears in the gold and silver mines of Colorado. His next move was to California, where he was employed at farm woi-k for about three years. In 1878 he visited Denmark, and, after his return, spent six months in Omaha; he then came to Kearney county and bought railroad land in Grant town- ship. Mr. Peterson was married, October 26, 1878, to Kirstine Hoist, who was born in Denmark, June 23, 1853, and came to America in 1876. Eight ciiildren grace the happy home, born as follows — Andrew, July 19, 1879 ; Christian, Novem- ber 14, 1880; Matilda, November 16, 1881; Frederick, January 24, 1883 ; Willemoes, March 19, 1885; George, November 29, 1886 ; Eva and Adam (twins), May 28, 1889. Mr. Peterson has three hundred and twenty acres of land, all under culti- vation. His house and barn are new and substantial structures and everything bears the mark of a thrift}' and enterpris- ing husbandman. A NDREW P. PETERSON was born in Sweden, January 29, 1848, and is a son of Andrew and Anna Catrena Anderson. His father died in 1860 and his mother in 1876. Mr. Peterson came to America in 1871, and went first to Connecticut and later to Micliigan, where he worked in the mines along Lake Superior. He subsequently worked in the marble quarries in Ver- mont. In 1875 he spent five months in Sweden, and shortly after his return he 538 KEAEXEY COUNTY. came to Xebraska and settled in Grant township, Kearney county. He took a homestead and had only $160 in money. He purchased a yoke of oxen, for which he paid $75, constructed a dugout and later a sod house. At first he met with much difficulty and worked on a railroad for a short time in order that he might get money to provide for his family ; but he has been industrious and economical and has prospered. He was married December 26, 1873, to Miss Imer Rayena. a native of Sweden, who was born January 1, 1S54, and came to America in 1870. They have six chil- dren, viz. — William, born August 20, 1874 ; Ida, born January 16, 1876 ; Frank, born June 10, 1878 ; John H., born October S, 1885 ; Peter J., born December 17. 1886 ; and Alice E., born August 3, 1889. Mr. Peterson has been a deacon in the Lutheran church for several years and has alwavs endeavored to live an honest, con- sistent and upright life. He addresses the people at Xorman and other points, at regular intervals, upon religious topics. JAMES THOMPSOX was born in Canada. January 21, 1853. and is the son of James and Mary (Tarne\-) Thompson, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. He was one of a family of fifteen children, and left his home and kindred in Canada when only thirteen vears old to fi^ht his own battles through life. He crossed oVer into the States in the fall of 1866, and wended his wav as far West as Win- nebago count}'. 111., where he hired out to work for a farmer. He soon gained an established reputation as an industrious young man, and he always found a de- mand for his services during the seven and one-half years he remained in that locality. In March. 1874, he came to Kearney county, Xebr., with a view of securing for himself a fann. After pros- pecting about for a short time, he located a homestead and tree claim in Grant township, and constructed adugout, which served as his place of abode for some years. There was scarcely any settlement in all that section at that time, and it was not an uncommon thing to see a herd of antelope, and occasionally a few buffalo. He worked in the Gibbon settlement north of the Platte most of the time during the first season, and in this way managed to secure money with which to provide himself with the necessary food for the winter. He passed through the famous grasshopper raids of 1874 and 1876, and witnessed considerable suffering among his less fortunate neighbors. He was young and unmarried, and refused to ac- cept aid that was sent to alleviate the wants of the sufferers, seeing about him* men with families, who stood in greater need of assistance than he. Mr. Thompson lived the qoiet life of a bachelor until February 13. 1890. when he was married to Miss Kate M. Doal, who is a native of Denmark, born July 29, 1864. and came to America with her par- ents when about six yeare old. Mr. Thompson has two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as can be f(_)und in the county, and it would be difficult to find as many acres as pleasantly situated. On his timber claim are fuUv twenty KEARSEY COUNTY. 529 thousand large, thrifty trees, planted and nurtured by his own hands. Being a son of poor parents, 3'oung Thompson was denied the excellent ad- vantages enjo^'ed b}' the youth of to-day for obtaining an education, but, since thrown upon his own resources, he has improved his spare time and collected a generous fund of useful information. He is well posted upon the topics of the da}', and is a ready conversationalist upon almost any subject. He has filled the office of justice of the peace acceptably, and and has held various otiier local offices. Although formerlj' an enthusiastic repub- lican, he has changed his political views and become an ardent advocate of the union labor party. He is one of the rec- ognized leaders of his party in Kearney county, and a man who is highly respected bv all who know him. LEWIS T. MEYER was among the first settlers of Kearney _^ county, Nebr., and is today one of the substantial farmers of Grant town- ship. He is a native of Illinois, born in St. Clair county, April 23, 1844. His father, Charles A. Meyer, is a native of France, but is now residing at Davenport, Iowa. He is a sboemakur b\' trade and an ardent believer in the Catholic religion. Lewis T. Meyer was only seventeen years old when the Civil war broke out, but he bad a loyal heart in him and was among the first to offer his services to his countr}'. Heenlisted August 10, 1861, in the Thirty- seventh Illinois volunteer infantry, and rendered gallant service at Pea Kidge, Prairie Grove and Vicksburg. His regi- ment was also placed in charge of Ft. Blakely, near Mobile, Ala., for some time. He marched into Texas under General Ord, and was in the Army of the South- west until mustered out May 15, 1866. After returning from the scene of the great civil conflict, Mr. Meyer went to Iowa and engaged in farming for several years. He came to Kearney count}', Nebr., in the spring of 1873, and his was one of the first dozen families that settled in Grant township. When he halted on the vast ])rairie, where he has since lived, there was not a house in sight and the nearest trading paint was Lowell, some twenty miles distant. Wild game was plenty, and it was indeed fortunate for the early settler that such was the case, for he depended largel}' on the antelope and buffalo for iiis meat. His first act after selecting his homestead was to construct a sod house. This done, he proceeded to break prairie enough to plant a few acres of corn, onl\' to have it entirely destroyed by the grasshoppers. He tried to smoke themoff from a small patch of corn, but his efforts were all in vain. The grass- hoppers had come to stay as long as a green blade of corn was left. Thus he has endured all the trials and vexations inci- dent to the life of the earl}^ settler, and has lived bravel}' through them all, and is now in possession of a splendid farm for his reward. Mr. Meyer was married November 2, 1870, to Miss Ehoda A. Owen, who is a native of Kentucky. This union has boen blessed with eight children as follows — Carrie C, born November 11, 1871 ; Olive E., born December 20, 1872; Nolle, born October 25, 1874; Anna M., born 530 KEARNEY COUNTY. July 31, 1876 ; Effie Bernice, born March 10, 1878 ; Lewis T., born September 2. 1880; Alberta P., born April 16, 1884:; and Walter L., born November 17, 188G. Mr. Meyer has served the people of his township as county supervisor and has filled numerous other local oiRces. lie has taken special pains in raising fruits, and, as an evidence of the success he has attained, it might not be out of place to remark that he has been awarded several first premiums at fairs. In politics he is a republican first, last and all the time. He and his estimable wife are devoted members of the Presbyterian church. JAMES PKICE, one of the representa- tive pioneers of Kearney county, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., March 10, 1835. His parents, |Aaron and Jemima Price, both died in 1889; the for- mer was a native of New Jersey and the lat- ter of New York, and both were members of the Congregational church. At the age of sixteen Mr. Price came west to Ohio and found employment in Fulton county, where he remained for six years. He was married March 28, 1885, to Miss Jane Por- ter, and this union has been blessed with eight children, nameh' — Mina (deceased), James (deceased), Elmer (deceased), David (deceased), Charles, William, Adelina and Guy. Mr. Price enlisted September 12, 1864, in the Fourteenth Michigan regiment, but served on detached duty mainly, and was engaged in guarding recruits through to headquarters. He was mustered out May 16, 1865, and returned to Michigan, at the close of his militar}'- service, and resumed his favorite occupation as farmer. He emigrated to Decatur count}^ Iowa, in 1869, where he farmed for four years and then removed to Kearney count}', Nebr., in the spring of 1873, and is one of the first settlers in Grant township. He took a soldier's homestead and broke fifty acres of sod, but his entire corn crop was destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he was left without a thing in the world to sup- port his family on, so he went to Arkan- sas, where he worked on the Arkansas river for some time. In the spring of 1875 he returned to Nebraska and resumed his efforts at farming. Many settlers became so discouraged at seeing their crops des- troyed, that they offered their claims for almost nothing in order to get out of the country. In 1875 Mr. Price secured the crop on a half section of land for a horse. Lowell was the nearest town, and there was only one house between his place and that. It was not an uncommon thing for settlers to get lost in those daj's and be obliged to camp out on the prairie all night. Mr. Price has had experience of this kind frequently, and he knows what it is to spend a night on the prairie during a terrible thunder storm. He has 320 acres of splendid land, for when he selected his homestead he had the pick of nearly the whole township, and he could not have selected a more beautiful piece of land. He has improved it from time to time, as his circumstances would permit, and lias taken special pains with fruit trees, and now has one of the best young orchards in the county. He set his apple trees out in 1880 and during the summer of 1889 gathered 160 bushels of that fruit. KEARNEY COUNTY. 531 Mr. Price affiliates with tlie democratic party, hoUling pronounced views in regard to the tariff tiiat are in harmony with tliat pai'ty. SOREN C. LARSON, one of the well to do farmei's of Kearney county, was born in Sulsted Sogn, Kjaer Hirre, Alborg Amt., Denmark, August 22, 1843. His father's name was Lars Peter Sorenson, and his mother's name was Karn Kirstine Pedersdotter, before marriage. His father was a wood- worker, and, although born poor, he proved to be a hard-working, industrious man, and by his rigid economy and unceaseless perseverance succeeded in acquiring con- siderable property. His first wife (the mother of the subject of this sketch) died in 1860, and he remarried. He died about 1868, the father of thirteen children, seven of whom were boys. Nearly all of the bo3's learned the same trade as the father had, and as fast as thev became of age invariabh'^ left for America. After serving about three months in the marine service of Denmark, Soren C. Larson came to America in April, 1866, and came as far west as Milwaukee, but soon returned as far east as Michigan, where he worked for a few months. He then went to Racine, Wis., where he found emjiloy- ment in the great wagon shops there. In 1867 he came as far west as Omaha and hel})ed erect a large number of houses in that city, during the nine months he was there, then returned to Racine, Wis. After the great fire in Chicago, he went there and worked at the carpenter trade for some time and again returned to the shops in Racine, Wis. He came to Ne- braska in 1882 and settled in Kearney county, where he purchased a quarter section of land, on which he has since resided and has greatly improved. He was married in Racine, Wis., Ma}'^ 15, 1868, to Miss Johanne Katrine Ander- son. She was a native of Denmark, born August 15, 1848, and came to America in 1865. This blessed union has resulted in the birth of ten children, namely — Louis, born January 3, 1860; George, born Au- gust 24, 1872; Clara, born December lU, 1874; Rosa C, born June 9. 1877 ; Arthur, born October 14, 1879 ; Alice, born Octo- ber 27, 1885; and Harry Alwin, born December 28, 1888, and three deceased. Mr. Larson has been treasurer of Grant township for two years and is now serving his third term as county supervisor. JOHN ANDERSON, one of the honoi'ed pioneers of Kearney county, is a native of Denmark, and was born January 25, 1840. His father, Andrew Anderson, was a native of the same country and lived the modest pnd unpretentious life of a farmer. He was twice married and was the father of four- teen children, thirteen of whom were by his first wife, who died in 1862. The senior Anderson lived to a ripe old age, and alwavs remained a loyal subject of his native country. He died in 1886. John Anderson, the subject of this sketch, served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade. The year of 1863 marked the breaking out of the war between 532 KEARNEY COUNTY. Germany and Denmark. Young Ander- son, loyal to his country, left his work- shop and joined the army. The Danish throne passed that year from Frederick VII. to Christian IX., who began his administration with an attempt to detach Schleswig from Holstein and to incorporate the former province with his own kingdom. This action on the part of Christian was not in accordance with the treat}' of Loudres of 1852, and naturally produced great excitement throughout Germany. A diet was con- vened and it was determined to prevent by force the consummation of Christian's plans. A German army was accordingly thrown into Schleswig, and the Danes were driven back to a line of fortifications called the " Dannewerk," which they had drawn across the peninsula. The Prussian army greatl}' outnumbered that of the Danish, and in April of 1864 these works were carried by storm. The brave and plucky Danes could doubtless have resisted the attacks of four times their own num- ber, but an army of two hundred thousand men against twenty-four thousand was too powerful and they were compelled to succumb to the inevitable. Mr. Anderson belonged to the department of heav}' artil- lery, and was stationed at Fort Dybbcel, where the brave Danes were under the constant fire of the opposing armies for five long weeks. John Anderson proved his loyalty to his native country, but, as an industrious and ambitious young man, he longed for opportunities that were beyond his reach. He had already heard considerable about the advantages enjoyed by the citizens of America, and he deter- mined upon further inquiry, which event- ually led him to resolve to become a citizen of the western world. He accord- ingly set sail and arrived on the shores of the new country in the spring of 1866. He journeyed as far west as Milwaukee, and thence soon after to White Hall, Mich., where he worked a short time as a mill-wright. He subsequently established himself at Paintwater, Mich., where he remained for seven years. Mr. Anderson came to Kearney county, Nebr., in the s])ring of 1874, and was among the first to take liomesteads in Grant township, where he has since re- sided. Settlers in Kearney county then were few and far between. Antelope, and occasionally a few buffalo, roamed about the vicinity with little fear of molestation. Mr. Anderson, being an expert carpenter by trade, found plenty of employment in neighboring localities, and concluded to hire his " breaking" done the first season, while he worked at his trade. He planted twenty-five acres of sod corn, which was entirely destroyed by the grasshoppers, that being the first year of their famous raid. He had bi-ougiit with him from the East, lumber and other necessary mate- rial, with which he erected a sixbstantial frame house in the following fall. He planted seedlings, which have since de- veloped into shady groves, and other- wise improved his farm from time to time as circumstances would permit, until he now has one of the choicest farms in the county. Mr. Ander.son was married in Novem- ber, 1867, to Miss Mary Rassmussen. She, too, is a native of Denmark, born Decem- ber 21, 1840, and came to America in the spring of 1863. This happy union has been blessed with four children, namel}' — KEARNEY COUNTY. 533 Clara, born November 15, 1869; Minnie, born September 15, 187;3; Annie, born November 6, 1876, and Clara Annie, born April 3, 1880. Great sorrow was brought upon this liapp\' family by the death of the three eldest daughters in a single week, in 1879. Mr. Anderson has filled the important office of assessor for three times, has served once as supervisor, and took the United States census of Grant and Cosmo townships, in 1880. He is a prominent member of the Farmers' Club, and enjoys the high esteem of all who know him. JACOB MATSEN was born in Den- mark, June 14, 1852, and came to America in the spring of 1873. He first located in Ludington, Mich., where he spent two 3'ears, and went from there to Kacine, Wis., where he worked on a farm for about two years. Next he came to Kearne}' county, Nebr., in the spring of 1876 and settled on a homestead in Grant township, and built a sod iiouse, and farmed some the first year. His farm now comprises two hundred acres and it is well improved. One of his first acts was to plant fruit trees, and as a result he now has considerable choice fruit. Mr. Matsen was married August 9, 1879, to Miss Carrie Larson, who is a native of Denmark, born July 6, 1850. She came to America in 1879. This union has been blessed with tl ree children, viz. — Annie M., born July i, 1880 ; George, born October 7, 1882 ; and Jim M., born March 9, 1888. He has filled various local offices and is one of the representative Danes of Grant township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Matsen belong to the Lutiieran church. LEWIS J. LORAIN, one of the first settlers in Kearne}' county, is a _^ native of Ohio, born in Washing- ton county, November 5, 184r5. His father, Croton J. Lorain, was born in Bedford county. Pa., and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Lobdell, was a native of Ohio. She died in 1855. The senior Lorain, wiio has resided in various states, now lives in Franklin county, being one of the early settlers in that section of the great state of Nebraska. Lewis J. Lorain, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and, like most farmer bo^'s of his day, had to depend solely on the common district school for his education. When the war broke out he was but sixteen years old, too young to be accepted as a soldier, but the following year, 1862, his services were gladly accepted, and he accordingly' en- listed, joining the Fourth West Virginia regiment. His first skirmisi) was with Moccasin's Eangers. He afterwards was at the battles of Cedar creek, Winchester and Petersburg. He was taken prisoner while under General Hancock in the Shen- andoah valle}', but was fortunate enough to make good his escape. He served till March 1, 1864, when he was mustered out. He then re-enlisted in the three-months' service, and was mustered out the second time in September, 1865. being one of tlie 534 KEARNEY COUNTY. last boys in blue to leave tlie field of tlie great civil conflict. After the war, Mr. Lorain emigrated to Jersey, 111., where he was a successful farmer for ten years. His next move was to Nebraska, where he arrived in 1877, settling in Kearney count}', which at that time bordered on the frontier, and took a tree claim in Grant township, in the south- east corner of the county. At that time there were very few settlers in that sec- tion, and the country, of course, was very new. There was any amount of antelope and deer, and once in a while a few buffalo could be found. He built a comfortable sod house and was not loncf in brinffinjj Q DO order out of cliaos. Mr. Lorain was married, March 13, 1869, to Miss Mary C. Whitten. She is a native of Jersey county. 111., and was born De- cember 1, 1849. As a result of this happy union, four children have been born — Mary A., born March 26, 1870 ; Charles, born January 20, 1874; Minnie B., born De- cember 2, 1876, and Crayton J., born Feb- ruary 19, 1881. Mr. Lorain has one hundred and sixty acres of land well improved, and has fully thirty thousand thi'ifty trees growing nicely. He also has a large variety of fruit trees, many of which are beginning to bear. He is one of the few Nebraska farmers who believe all the common kinds of fruit can be successfully raised in this country. He is a firm believer in the principles of the republican party, and has always strictly adhered to the party on all state and national questions. There is a bit of ancestral history con- cerning the Lorain family, which is of sufficient general interest to deserve men- tion. Mr. Lorain's father was one of the radical abolitionists of Ohio in the ante l)elhim days, and was a member of the famous James G. Birney party. He was a conductor on the " Under Ground " rail- road, which was successfully operated in those exciting daj's. Like most radical leaders of great moral reforms, he had enemies by the thousa,nds and was closely watched on every side. He and his com- panions were arrested at one time, charged with aiding negroes to escape, and were thrown in jail, in which tliey suffered con- finement for six months. His comrades were Peter Garner and Mordecai Thomas. Mr. Lorain's paternal grandfather was a private soldier under Genei-al LaFa^'ette, and came to America along with that dis- tinguished personage. JOHN F. FRANKLIN, the subject of this sketch, was born in Sweden, February 20, 1849. His father, Benjamin Franklin, a farmer bj' oc- cupation, was also a native of Sweden, born in the 3'ear 1792, and was an officer in the regular arm}', and when a mere boy our subject traveled with him as one of the camp followers and was wounded dur- ing an engagement with Napoleon, in one of his campaigns through Germany. Anna (Anderson) Franklin, mother of our subject, was also a native of Sweden, born in 1809. There were in all eight children in the family — three brothei's and five sisters — as follows — Andrew, who is now a farmer in the old country ; Ephraim, who is a section forenuin in the old ccjun- try ; Anna, Christena, Clara, Jane, Mary and John F., our subject. KEA RNEY CO UNTY. 5:55 Swan Franklin, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Sweden, and throughout life was an officer in the )"egular army and was commander of the Esworth regiment, lie was noted for his bravery and was wounded in tlie battle of Leipsig with Napoleon. He died at the age of sixtj"^- eight years. John F. Franklin spent his early boy- hood days at home on the farm and at- tended school until sixteen years of age. He had the advantage of one term of high school and received what was considered a liberal education. He helped his brother farm the home place, and for a sliort time was engaged with a telegraph compan}'. Arriving at the age of twenty years, he decided to seek his fortune in the western hemisphere, and accordingly embarked for America. After visiting a few weeks at Burlington, Iowa, he en- gaged emplo\'ment as brakeman on the I. B. & W. railway, between Urbana, and Peoria. He followed this for nine months and then went South and for two 3'ears worked on the old Jeff. Davis plantation in Mississippi. He then came North and hired to a farmer in Henderson county, 111., as stock feeder. At this he worked for five years, and in February, 1879, emi- grated West and located in Kearney county, filing a claim under the home- stead law on tlie southwest quarter of section 6, townsliip 6, I'ange 15, on wiiich he still resitles. At tiiat early da\' tiie country, wiiich is now studded with fine farm residences, j^resented a wild and bar- ren aspect. Antelope were numerous, but the settlers were few and far between. Mr. Franklin built a small frame shanty in which he kept bachelor's hall, and broke out eighty acres of his land the lirst year. The following 3'ear he built a more sub- stantial frame dwelling and is now replac- ing it with a still more substantial one. He was married December 11, 1880, to Anna Carlson, who was born in Sweden, November 3, 1855, and came to America in 1S71. Her father, Carl Peterson, was a native of Sweden, and was a carpenter by occupation. Her mother, Anna L. Peterson, was also a native of Sweden, born in 1826, and came to America in 1872. There were eight children in the Peterson family, viz. — Caroline, John, Fred, Anna, Matilda, Sophia, Ida and one that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have four children, viz. — Amanda W., Jessie L., George B. and Eudoljih C. The parents are both members of the Swedish "Bethania" church. Mr. Franklin is a republican in politics and for the past four years has held the office of assessor. GUSTAF A. STRAND, a highly prosperous farmer of Haj'es township, Kearney county, is a native of Sweden, and was born Septem- ber 18, 1842. He is a son of John and Anna (Johnson) Strand, natives also of Sweden. His father was born January 21, 181S, and still lives in the old country, being a small but successful farmer; and yet over thirty-seven years of his maturer life were spent in the regular army of his country. Mr. Strand's mother was born in February, 1821, and is still living in the old country. Four children were born to these — three boys and one girl, of wIkmii Gustaf A., our subject, is the eldest, the 536 EEA RNET CO UNI Y. others being John A., Glaus O. and Anna C. Three of these are in America. Gustaf A. was reared in his native country, received a good common-school education, learned the shoemaker's trade and followed it and railroading until he was nearly twenty-eight years of age. He came then in the spring of 1869 to America, reaching New York May 7th and going direct to Red Wing, Minn. There he found his first employment as a laborer on the railroad, but followed that only a short time, going soon afterwards at his trade as a shoemaker, in Cannon Falls, Minn. Subsequently he went to Burlmgton, Iowa, and engaged in the nur- sery business, following it for fifteen years. In the fall of 1880, he came on a prospect- ing tour to x^ebraska, and. after looking over a considerable portion of the south- western part of the state, he made up his mind to locate in Kearnej' county, and bought, at that date, the northwest quar- ter of section 3, township 6 and range 15 west. The country was then new and in a comparatively unsettled condition, and Mr. Strand, not caring to settle his family so far west, returned home to Burlington and continued to reside there till March, 1885, when he came back, bringing his family with him, and settled on his pur- chase. He built a small farmhouse, 16 by 20, which he occupied till the fall of 1889, when he erected his present large and handsome residence. He has been steadily engaged in fai'ming and the nur- sery business, having established the first nursery in the county, and having been very successful in the handling of trees and shrubbery. Mr. Strand has been twice married, and is the father of six children. He inarrieii first, March 8, 1869, his wife being Miss Louisa Sampson. She died February" 2, 1886, leaving four children — Gustaf, born March 8, 1870 ; Charles E., born Septem- ber 24, 1871 ; Anna L., born February 24, 1883, and Amelia C, born December 29, 1885. Mr. Strand married again Novem- ber 13, 1886, his second wife being Mrs. Anna Headstrom, widow of Eric Head- strom. She is a native of Sweden, and was born October 2-4, 1850. She is a daughter of John Johnson and Hettie Miller. Her father and mother were both born in 1818, and lived always in their native country. Mrs. Strand has one child by her former marriage — James AV. Headstrom, born April 4, 1872. To the latter marriage have been born two chil- dren — Edward, July 16, 1887, and Paul W., May 19, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Strand are zealous mem- bers of the Swedish Lutheran church. JOHN M. LEWIS, the subject of this biograi)hical sketch, was born in Wayne count}', Ind., March 19, 1838. His father, Caleb Lewis, a farmer by occupation, was born in West Virginia, February 22, 1793. His mother, Polly (WilliLts) Lewis, was a native of Indiana, and was born March 6, 1803. There were ten children in the family to which our subject belonged, three boys and seven girls. George Lewis, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Virginia, and was born January 8, 1762. Leah Lewis, the pater- nal grandmother, was also a Aitive of KEARXF.Y COUNTY. 537 Virginia, and was born November 12, 1769. There were eleven children in their family. John M., the subject proper of this sketch, attended the neighboring schools in early life and worked the farm until his father's death, which occurred in 1870, after which he settled up his father's estate. In 1S76 he moved to Illinois, and worked on a farm for his brother in Mer- cer county, where he worked till January, 1878, when he emigrated West and settled in Kearney county, Nebr., homesteading the eighty-acre tract on which he still lives, in section 14, township 6, range 15. At the same time he took a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres in section 22, township 6, range 15, which he still owns. The country was wild and unbroken, and one mile from where the city of Minden now stands were only one store and a sclioolhouse, and wliere scores of good farm houses are now were then only small sod huts. Wild game was plentiful, and antelope roamed over the unbrolcen prairie in herds. The first year Mr. Lewis erected a small frame house, twelve by fourteen feet, and broke out forty-seven acres of sod, on which he har- vested an abundant crop, lie has been very prosperous since coming to Nebraska, and tiie elegant residence and other build- ings which adorn his place show his success. Mr. Lewis was married, October 3, 1879, to Nancy A. Kobbins, who was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, August It), 18-40, and is the daughter of Abram and Nancy (Johnson) White, both natives of North Carolina, but no cliildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. Politically, he is a republican. A UGUST JOHNSON is one of the most prosperous farmers of Hayes township. He was born in cen- tral Sweden, August 15, 1839, and is the son of John and Sarah (Styne) Larson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. Our subject spent the first thirty years of his life in his native place, attending school and working on the farm. He came to America in 1869, landing at New York, June 15, and soon found employ- ment in the stone quarries there. He then came West and located in Henderson county. 111., Avhere for eight years he labored on a farm. In 1873 he came to Kearney, Nebr., and with the money he had saved through his industry and rigid econora}^ he purchased a half section of railroad land at $3.50 per acre. At that day there were but two or three settlers to be found between his place and Kear- ney (city), and it was one wild, unbroken prairie, and antelope could be seen in herds of twent\^ or thirty. Mr. Johnson returned to Henderson county, 111., and in 1875 came back to look after his land The grasshoppers had devastated the coun- tre the year previous, and when he arrived were fast destroying the crops of that year. Mr. Johnson was so discouraged that he offered his half section of land for sale at a great discount, but did not dis- pose of it. He went to Kearney, there being but five stores there then, and while there witnessed the grasshoppers come in clouds like an approaching storm and fall so thick and fast that lie could not place his finger on the gi'ound without touching one. He returned to Illinois, and, February 15, 1876, came back to look after his land. The outlook was but little better. Hearing better reports as time 538 KEARNEY COUNTY. advanced, he came back in 1879 to stay. He traded his 160 acres of raih'oad land for eighty acres homestead and eighty acres raih'oad land, constructed a small dug-out and began " baching" it. He lived a lonely life for three years and then built a fine frame house. He has had good crops ever}' year except one, when he had a partial failure. The fine build- ings, together with the high state of culti- vation of his farm, are good evidence of his prosperity since coming to Kearney count3^ He was married March 15, 1885, to Louisa Wielhemena, who was born Novem- ber 21, 1863, in central Sweden. She came to America when eighteen j'ears of age, with an uncle, her father and mother having died when she was quite young. Her father and mother were Andrew P. and Sarah Louisa Weisman, both natives of Sweden. Tiiere were four children in the family, the other three still living in the old countr3^ Mr. and Mrs. Johnson both incline to the Lutheran faith, although the}' are not members of the church. He iielped to build the old sod church in his community, and later on contributed towards the erection of the present fine structure. Politically, Mr. Johnson is a republican. SALMON C. STEWAET. A com- paratively old settler of Kearney count}', as he is one of that county's most prosperous, most intelligent and most highly esteemed citizens, is Salmon C. Stewart, casiiier of the State Bank at Axtell, a sh(jrt biographical sketch of wlium is here inserted. Mr. Stewart comes of the pioneer stock of the "Buckeye State," his parents both being natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Hamilton county and the mother in Belmont county. His fatlier, James A. Stewart, who is still living, being a resident of Minden. Kearney county, this state, was born in the year 1811 and reared in his native county in Ohio. He has been twice married, his first wife hav- ing been Miss Bradley of Hamilton county, by whom he had one child, Willliam H. Stewart, now residing in Danville, Iowa, and holding a prominent position with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company. His second wife was Miss Lu- cinda Cowles, a daughter of Salmon and Polly (Miner) Cowles, natives of New- York. Salmon Cowles was an eminent Presbyterian minister, who served his church with distinction to the age of eighty-five years, passing most of his life in southeastern Iowa, where he is still most pleasantly remembered. The elder Stewart was married the second time in 1843, and by this marriage had born to him ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth, the others being — Oscar E., who resides at Ottumwa, Iowa, being assistant superintendent of the C. B. & Q. R. II., which position he has held for seven or eight years — a gal- lant ex-federal soldier, who served with dis- tinction as a member of the Fifteenth Iowa infantry during the late war and carrying with him wounds received in the battle of Atlanta ; James II., another volunteer to the Union cause, wiio died of disease contracted in the service of his country ; Mary E., widow" of A. G. White and now resident of Minden, Kearney county, this state ; Laura M., wife of J. 11. Cheney, S. C. STEWART. KEARNEY COUNTY. 541 of Livermore, Cal. ; Kebecca A., wife of J. W. Gilman, of ]\Iinclen, Kearney couiitv, this state ; John M., assistant attorney- general of this state ; Nellie, wife of J. M. Bird, of Hastings, this state ; Sybil L., wife of M. J. Wickersham, of Axtell, Kearney county, and Emily T., residing witii her father at Minden and a teacher in the public schools at that place. The subject of this notice, Salmon C. Stewart, was born in Henry county, Iowa, in 1850, and was reared mainl}^ in Des iloines county, that state, being brought up on his father's farm. He received a •rood English education and was trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. In 1874, lie mar- ried Miss Ellen Goldsmith, of Lee county, Iowa, and, returning shoi'tly afterwards to Henry county, that state, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed till ISSO, moving that year to Kearney county, this state, and locating on a farm near Minden. He was engaged in farm- ing in Kearney county, only two years, when he moved into Minden and engaged in the loan business. In 188-1: he, in com- pany with others, organized the State Bank, at Axtell, of which he became cash- ier at that date and has held that position since. He has extensive interests outside of the bank, being identified with the leading enterprises and a zealous supporter of tiie leading interests where he lives. Mr. Stewart has been a hard worker and has been rewarded for his labor far beyond the average man. Foi'tunate by circum- stances, he lias been singularly happ\' in the turn in which lie has been able to give his affairs. He began with comparatively little, his start having been secured from his earnings as a school teacher. His in- vestments have been judiciously made, and under his watchful attention have yielded him good returns on every hand. He is a man of sound intelligence as well as discriminating judgment, and he bestows on his affairs that care and solici- tude which are the surest guarantees of success. In 1882, Mr. Stewart was called upon to mourn tiie loss of his most estimable wife, who had borne him for several years the cherished companionship which he sought with her hand. She had been a life- long member of the Presbyterian church and died happy in the faith which had born the richest fruits in her life and shed over her ever}^ act its sweetest fragrance. Besides her husband she left surviving her three children — Lona S., now a student in the Wesleyan University at Lincoln, this state, and Yallie E. and Viola D., at home with their father. In 1885, Mr. Stewart married again, selecting as a second companion Miss Dora Carpenter, then of Kearnej' county, but a native of Iowa, who, abandoning the home of her nativity and foregoing the pleasures of youth, came to Nebraska and cast her lot on the then frontier, tak- ing up the rude and inhospitable life of the pioneer, braving all the dangers and hardships of that life, in order to secure an independent living. She took up a claim and became one of the first teachers in Phelps county, making her way heroic- all}' and successfully alone until she joined her fortunes with those of her husband. Their union has been blessed with two children — Stanley and Maxwell. In politics Mr. Stewart is a republican. He has never aspii-ed to public life, but is a stanch supporter of the ])rinciples of his 543 KEARNEY COUNTY. party, and renders it efficient aid when called upon for that purpose. He is a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, and, although a member of no church, he is a liberal contributor to all charitable purposes. A UGUST E. ANDERSON, the sub- / \ ject of this biographical memoir, J^ \. is one of the rising young men of Kearney county, and was born in Sweden, December 21, 1859. His father, A. M. Anderson, an earh' settler of Kear- ney count}', was born in Sweden on Ma\' 2, 1835, and is now living. His mother, Mary (Anderson) Anderson, was also born in Sweden, in 1839, and is now living in Kearney county. These were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living in this county. His paternal grand- father, Andreas Anderson, a farmer and carpenter by occupation, was born in Sweden in 1801. The ]iaternal grand- mother, Elizabeth Anderson, was also a native of Sweden, borq in 1807. His trreat-ffrand father on his father's side was Nicholas Anderson, a native of Sweden, but bej'ond this nothing is known. His maternal grandfather, A. P. Nelson, a blacksmith and farmer by occupation, was born in Sweden in 1805, and died at the extreme old age of eight\'-iour years. His maternal grandmother, Carrie Nel- son, was born in Sweden in 1810. August E., the subject proper of this sketch, attended school in his earl\' boy- hood days, received a liberal education and also helped his father al)out the farm. Hearing flourishing reports from friends in this country and desiring to better his condition, he, in 1871, at the youthful age of fifteen, embarked for America. In 1876 he came with his ])arents toKearne}' county, when there were but five dug- outs and shanties in sight. The country was new and work was scarce, so he went to Iowa and for three years worked on a farm near Mt Pleasant. He afterwards worked for some time on a farm in Hen- derson count}', Illinois, and after accumu- lating a small sum of money, returned to Kearne}' county and bought one hundred and twenty acres of railroad land, paying $4.00 per acre. This land was in section 35, township 6, range 15. He had about fifty acres broken out, when he sold it and in 1882 bought the quarter section on which he now resides, in section 28, town- ship 6, range 15. He at once built his present neat frame dwelling and moved on the place, and now has his farm under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Anderson married January 17, 1882, taking for a life companion Miss Gussie Peterson, who was born in Sweden October 14, 1862, and when only three years of age came to America. Their union has been blessed with four children, as follows — Arvid H., born Ma\' 11, 1SS3; Lillian M., born March 18, 1884; Elmer C. born June 5, 1886; Eber E., born May 1, 1888. Mr. Anderson and his excellent wife are both members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Politically, Mr. Anderson is a stanch republican. He has held ever\' office in his township, having first been elected road overseer in 1882, which office he held one 3'ear. He was elected assessor for three continuous vears, town clerk two [{BARNEY COUNTY 543 years, town treasurer one year, and is now serving his second year as a member of the board of supervisors. All tliese offices he has filled with credit to himself, and, notwithstanding his youthful age, he is already prominent!}' mentioned as one of the coming candidates for the office of representative for his county in the state legislatui'e. ADELBERT B. ANDREWS is one / \ of the early settlei-s and most X \. prosperous farmers ^r^HOMAS VAN DUZER, one of I the representative men of Kear- 1 ney county, was born in Che- mung county, N. Y., April 25, 1841. He is the son of Charles and Jane (Andrews) Van Duzer, both natives of the State of New York, the former having been born in 1818, and the latter in 1822. Both are now living and zealous members of the Methodist church. Thomas Van Duzer remained with his parents until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first regiment Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry; but he was discharged, however, after three months' service, on account of chronic rheumatism. On October 11, 1865, he wis married to Miss Frances Jane Bloodgood, and soon afterwards moved to Xew York State from Pennsylvania, where he had lived for many years. He settled in his native county, where he remained eight years, during which time he was engaged in the milling business at Van Ettenville. The only cliild vouchsafed to Mr. and Mrs Van Duzer was Victor by name, who was born May 25, 1869. Mr. Van Duzer came to Kearne}' county, Nebr., in the spring of 1876, and settled on a homestead on the old Military reservation. This tract of land, about ten miles square, was opened to actual settlement in 1878, by act of congress, Mr. Van Duzer being one of about sixty who petitioned congress to throw the Military reservation open to settlement. AYhen he first settled on this famous piece of prairie land, it served as a great field for thousands of Texas cattle. Lowell, then the county seat of Kearney county, was situated near by, and at that time was already on the decline. The county seat in the course of a couple of years was moved to Minden, and what was once a promising little city, is now but a mere village. The year of his settlement in the county was made famous by the re-appearance of the grasshoppers. They were so thick that the}' ate the cotton screens in the doors and windows, and it was by the most persistent efforts tliat he managed to save his garden truck. He came here with limited means, and, like many others, saw hard times. He would often walk ten miles to do a day's work in harvest time, and his family was actually witliout bread of any kind for two weeks. During the harvest of 1877, Mr. Van Duzer liad five acres of wheat. He was the first to harvest, and several of his neighbors bor- rowed wheat of him in order to supply themselves with flour until thej' could thrash. The first year of Mr. Van Duzer's resi- dence in Kearney county he had no team, and he would wade the Platte river (which was about half a mile from his house), to the little islands, situated in the river, and on which grew small box-elder, cotton- wood and elm. He would cut them down, trim and drag them to the shore, often wading to his waist in the water with a heavy load of these poles on his shoulder. This he would do in the forenoon of each day, for several weeks, then in the after- noon he would carry them to the house and cut them up, where it could become seasoned and fit for. fuel. His shoulder became so tender carrying such heavy loads, that he had Mrs. Van Duzer make a sort of a pad or saddle to protect his shoulder. Until the fall of 1878 the nearest school- house was at Lowell, three miles distant. Their son, Victor, eight years of age, attended school there for one year. In the winter season, the days being so short, the little fellow would have to leave home before it was scarcely light in the morn- ing, and it would be nearly dark before he would reach home at evening. The mother would often become so anxious that she would go to meet her boy on his return, for it seemed a long, lonesome road for one so young to travel alone, and it was a glad day for the family when there was built a neat and comfortable little school house within a mile of their home. Mr. Van Duzer has served his township as supervisor for three terms and has been 578 KEARNEY COUNTY. an efficient and faithful official. He is one of the most ardent believers in tem- perance in the county, and while he was reared a republican, he now votes with the prohibitionists. Mrs. Yan Duzer was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1845, and is the daughter of Cyrus and Caty (Wright) Bloodgood. Her father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and is a leading citizen in the com- munity in which he lives. Mrs. Van Duzer met with a shocking accident in the summer of 1889. being struck by light- ning, during a terrible thunder slorm, on the eve of August 6. She, in company with a lady friend who was paying a visit to the family, were passing from the house to a summer kitchen, when both were struck and rendered insensible for several hours. Both were under the watchful care of a physician for several weeks before they recovered sufficiently to be free from the danger. ilr. and Mrs. Yan Duzer are among the highly esteemed citizens in the commu- nity, and their generous hospitality has won them many lasting friends. DE. H. T. COOPEE, one of the first settlers at Lowell, Kearney county, was born in Yenango county, Pa., May 22, 1828. His parents were John and Nancy (Acorns) Cooper, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His grand- father was Samuel Cooper, who was a second lieutenant in the War of 1812. John Cooper died in 1840, and Nancy Cooper in 1874. In 1868, Dr. Cooper emigrated to Montgomery county, Iowa, where he resided for two \'ears, and then came to Lowell, Nebr., in the spring of 1871. He was a practicing physician, having entered upon the profession in 1856. He pre-empted a piece of land near the Platte river and continued the practice of his profession, and in 1872 he was employed to attend the sick at Fort Kearney, which position he held until the fort was abandoned. When the Doctor first located here, his nearest neighbor was twenty miles east of him. Lowell was laid out in May. 1871, and flourished for a few years — becoming one of the principal trading points in the West. The town began to decline in 1874, when the county seat was changed to Minden. Dr. H. T. Cooper was the first probate judge of Kearney county, having been elected in 1872, and has also held various local offices since. He has always been a republican in politics, and is a member of the Masonic order. In his early days in Nebraska, the Doctor saw manv herds of buffalo and antelope numbering up to the hundreds, and has been a member of several noted hunting parties. In 1873 he joined the surve^'ors and other officials of the St. Joe and Republican Railroad in a butfalo hunt, and relates many thrilling tales of similar expeditions. In 1^76, the Doctor married Catherine Cari)enter. Nancy Cooper bore the maiden name of Nancy Acorns, and was a native of New York. On the eve of the blowing up of Fort Erie by Gen. Wayne, and the sacking of Buffalo, Nancy, with her sister and David Kino-, embarked in a canoe at the mouth of the French creek, and followed it to where it empties into the Alleghany near Franklin, the county seat of Yenango KEARNEY COUNTY. 579 county. In that year, 1813, Samuel Cooper came with his family across tlie Alle^hanies from Westmoreland countv, Pa. Nancy Cooper was a school teacher atTitusville, which is twelve miles up the Alleghany from Oil city. Pa. John Cooper was born in 1800 ; Nancy Cooper was born in 180.5. H. T. Cooper was born in poverty and raised in the woods. During the adminis- tration of Martin Van Buren, under his free trade policy, John Cooper lost all his property. John Cooper died in 1841, leaving a wife with five helpless children, three girls and two boys, II. T. Cooper being the oldest, and Fulson the youngest. At the death of President W. H. Har- rison, who lived one month only after his inauguration, our subject and his mother started for Ohio, and at Barnesville young Cooper found employment and also received tlie rudiments of an education. The motlier and the otlier members of her family in a short time moved to Belleville, Ohio, where for two years our subject worked for Jesse Morris. Mr. Morris still resides in Belleville at the age of one hundred and seven 3'ears. From this point Mr. Cooper went to Cumber- land, Ohio, where he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Evan Cagill; thence he went to A f ton, Iowa, thence via St. Louis up the Missouri river to Plattsmouth Nebr., in 1868, reaching Lincoln in March, 1871. He filed his pre-emption claim on the half section 20, east of section 24-, Lowell town site. He built a house, broke four acres of ground, and planted it in corn. When tliis corn was soft, the Pawnees came on a hunt. and as Mr. Cooper had a well noted for its good water, the Indians surrounded it. Mr. Cooper was at the time about four miles away hunting wood, and in crossing the mouth of Whisky run on his way home, he caught siglit of his house sur- rounded by tlie redskins. He at once took in the situation, and started for his farm on a full run, but before he had got within two miles of his liouse he met the Pawnee ciiief, who cried out — " No hurt the pretty squaw," thus relieving Mr. Cooper's anxiety. In the fall of 1871, the Doctor built a house on the site of Lowell, where he still resides, and wliere he and famil}^ enjoy the respect of all who know them, and there are very few who do not. That winter was the hardest of any the Doctor has experienced since coming to the state, a constant and severe frost lasting fully ten consecutive weeks. It was almost a daily occurrence for scouts to bring in some man lost while on a hunt and found frozen to death. With the exception of the grasshopper raids and the drought, times since then have been fairly pros- perous in Nebraska. CHRISTIAN WEBER is one of the enterprising young farmers of Lowell township, Kearney county. He first saw the light of day in Alle- gheny county. Pa., March 6, 1852, and is the son of Peter and Mary Ann AVeber. His father came from Germany when about thirty years of age. He was a weaver by trade, and died April 29, 1871. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and is now living with her ciiildren. Christian, when fourteen years of age, began doing for himself, working by the 580 KEARNEY COUNTY. month on a farm. He later served an ap- prenticeship as a wlieel-right, and worked at his trade for about seven years. lie came West in the spring of 1876, and freighted from Cheyenne to Dead wood for a few months previous to his final set- tlement in Kearney county, Nel)r. He took a homestead in Lowell township, on which he iias since continued to reside. He was elected county commissioner of Kearney county, and served one year. He has served as supervisor of Lowell township four years, and is one of the most popular j'oung men in the township. There were six other children in the Weber family — Barbara, born July 18, 184:1 (died November 1,1887) ; John, born March 11, 184-t ; Abraham, born January 7, 18-49; William, born December 21, 1854 ; Cornelius, born April 5, 1858 (and drowned June 12, 1884), and Annie, born April 4, 1862. HARDEN J. YENSEN was born near Steubenville, Ohio, Novem- ber 14, 1859. His parents were Nicholas and Karen Yensen, both natives of Denmark. They came to America in 1854, and lived in various states, until they finally settled in Nebraska, where the father died in 1888. Harden came with his parents to Nebraska in 1872, and lived in Webster county. The country then was new, and no settlement had been made previous to that time, except by a few bachelors along the Little Blue river. The Yensens hauled wood from the Little Blue to Lowell, and in this way made their living during grasshopper time. Mr. Yen- sen well remembers when Lowell was a flourishing little city, with great possibili- ties for the future. The sudden removal of the county seat to Minden, however, killed the town. He has seen buffalo, an- telope and deer as plenty as domestic an i- mals are now and "has often met and con- versed with the Big Sioux Indians. He also visited the Spotted Tail Agency in 1876, while on his way to the Black Hills. He settled on a farm near Lowell in 1881, where he now resides. Mr. Yensen was married June 9, 1884, to Miss Ida Frances Gibson. She was born in Mecosta county, Mich., September 22, 1864, and is the daughter of William and Lottie (Taylor) Gibson, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Custer county, Nebr., in 1881, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Yensen have two children, viz. — Llarden J., born April 3, 1887, and Lottie Mabel, born November 25, 1888. Mr. Yensen has served as jus- tice of the peace and filled other local offices of trust. He has one hundred and fortj'-eight acres of land, and makes a specialty of broom corn, marketing all of twenty tons a year. PETER C. BOASEN, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Kear- ney county, was born in Denmark, November 4, 18-42. His parents, Christen and Sicilia Boasen, were also natives of Denmark. His father was a tailor by trade and a noted musician. He was born in 1802 and bis wife in 1804. They were married early in life and lived to- gether almost sixty years. Thev had KEARNEY COUNTY. 581 seven children, tliree boys and four girls, of whom two boys and two girls came to America. Peter Boasen worked out from the time he was fourteen years old till he was twenty-two, and the liighest pay he received was $25 per year. He was industrious and economical and saved enough money to pay his way to America in 1866. He landed at Castle Garden, New York Cit}'', and immediately proceeded West as far as DeKalb county; 111., where he secured employment at $17 per month. He worked steadily for seven months and saved every cent of his earnings. He came to Omaha in Novem- ber, 1866, and engaged with a transfer comjjany at $25 per month. Proving to be a trusty and faithful employee, his salary was increased to $80 at the end of three months and to $35 at the end of five months. He remained in the employ of this companjf three years, and then entered the service of Mr. Herman Kountce. president of the Fii'st National Bank of Omaha. His term of service here covered a period of three and one- half years. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Boasen visited his native country, being absent about six months. Previous to this time, however, he took a timber claim and })urchased a quarter-section of rail- road land in May township, Kearney county, Nebr. He had also secured a pre-emption in Saumiers county. Upon his retni'u from Denmark he worked for the firm of Slieely Brothers, of Omaha, in whose em])lo3' he remained for two year's. In 1876 he was appointed to the responsible position of gardener and chief engineer for the State Deaf and Dumb Asy- lum located near Omaha. In 1879 Mr. Boa- sen sold his farm in Saunders county, receiv- ing $1,600 for it. He invested a portion of this sum in real estate in the suburbs of Omaha, and concluded to go into the gar- dening business, and, with tliat purpose in view, he purchased ten acres, for which he paid $60 per acre. He continued in this business for about seven years, when he sold this tract for the magnificent sum of $1,0U0 per acre. In 1882 he moved his family on his farm in Kearne_y county, where he has since resided. He now has seven hundred and twenty acres of splen- did land, the greater portion of which is well improved. Mr. Boasen was married. May 7, 1879, to Miss Maggie Corbid, a native of Ohio and of English descent. This union has been blessed with six children, namely — Char- ley C, Fanny, May, Irene, Frank and Her- man. Mr. Boasen is an extensive raiser of stock and now has more than one hun- dred head of cattle. He is a breeder of thorough-bred Short-horn cattle and takes great pride in exliibiting his fine speci- mens. In politics, Mr. Boasen is independent. He believes it to be his duty to honor God and to respect man, and he also be- lieves that fair dealing makes long friend- ship. GEORGE P. KINGSLEY, Jr., president of the Bank of Nor- man, Norman, Kearney county, Nebr., was born at Freeport, 111., Novem- ber 11, 1864. His.father, George Kings- ley, is a native of Northampton, Mass., while his mother, whose maiden name was Harriet Swift, is a native of Geneva, N. Y. 582 KEARNEY COUNTY. His parents emigrated West in 1853, locating at Freeport, where the senior Kingsley has practiced his profession as a dentist up to witiiin the past few years. George P. Kingsley, Jr., availed himself of the common-school privileges afforded at Freeport, and in addition spent two years in Hobart College, at Geneva, N. Y. He also spent two years at Cornell Uni- versity, where he could more successfully prosecute his studies in the higher branches. After he had completed his collegiate education, he secured a position in the Lincoln K^ational Bank, at Lincoln, Nebr. He filled a responsible position in this establishment for two years, when he resigned and came to Minden, Nebr., where he remained a short time previous to his locating at the thriving little city of Norman. He went to Norman, then a village about one year old, and determined to start a bank there, and accordingly, on the eleventh day of August, 18S8, he or- ganized the bank of Norman with a capi- tal stock of $10,000. Mr. Kingsley is a young man of fine presence and splendid business capabilities. He is shrewd and energetic and already' enjoys a business surpassing his most sanguine expectations. He enjoj's the esteem and entire confi- dence of the communit}', and is on the broad road to success. AUGUST SW ANSON was born in / \ Sweden, September 14, 184-t, and J_ \. has been dependent upon his own resources ever since he was fifteen. He reached America in 1871, and coming as far West as St. Paul he found employ- ment on a railroad for about one year, and next followed the same vocation in Michi- gan for a short time. He worked in the iron mines in northern Michigan for about four years, and came to Nebraska in the s|)ring of 1876. He took a homestead in May township, Kearney county, on which he has since resided. Being a hardwork- ing, industrious man, he now has one of the best improved farms in tliat section of the country. He lived the life of a bache- lor for awhile and saw some pretty hard times during his early days in the country He was married May 30, 1881, to Miss Hilda Oberg, a native of Sweden, born March 21, 1863, who came to America with her parents when four years old. They have two children, namely — Albin, born February 20, 1883, and Arthur, born January 2, 1885. He and his wife are both members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swanson has been deacon in the church and is a republican in politics. MRS. MAPtY A. WHITLOCK, one of the pluck}' pioneer women of Kearney county, Nebr., was born in Clinton county, N. Y., March 28, 1833, and is the daughter of John Van Horn and Lucinda (Tubbs) Vandervort. Her father was born on the Mohawk river in New York, while her mother was a native of Vermont. The former died in 1856, and the latter in 1867. Both were devoted members of the United Brethren church. The subject of this brief memoir was married to Hiram P. Whitlock, Janu- ary 1, 1851. He was a native of the Green Mountain Stale, having been born in Rut- land, May 10, 1827. He was a son of James and Elmira (Eaton) Whitlock, both KEARNEY COUNTY. 583 of whom were natives of Vermont. His parents immigi-ated to New York soon after marriage, and suljsequentiy to Illinois, where they died. Mr. Whitlock came with his ])arents to Illinois in 1845, and upon arriving at the age of maturity, began farming, which vocation he has since followed. To this union were born four ciiildren, namely — John C, born August 11, 1852 (deceased); Cornelius L., born November 29, 1855 (deceased) ; Lucinda E., born April 24, 1858, and David L., born April 25, 1863. Mrs. Whitlock came to Kearney county, October 5, 1877. The country was n&xf and thinly settled, but she was delighted with it and determined to make her home here. She accordingly took a home- stead in May township and began to improve the same at once. She caused a substantial frame dwelling to be erected, and planted several acres of timber, which has since grown to a considerable height. Settlers were few and far between and buffalo and antelope roamed almost at will. She now owns 240 acres of as fine land as can be found an3'where in the state, and the improvements are of the best. She is a woman of more than ordi- nary intelligence and possessed of an indomitable will. JUDGE A. II. HAELAND, one of the first settlers of Kearney county, was, born in Butler county, Ohio, November 24, 1822. Pie is the son of John and Frances (Hoffman) Harland, the former being a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both were reared in Kentucky, where they were married, and soon after removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Indiana. John Har- land was a minister in the Christian church. The subject of tiiis sketch learned the wagon-maker's trade when a young man, which vocation lie followed for sev- eral years. He subsecpiently found farming more profitable and followed it for a few years in Montgomery county, Ind. He moved to Douglas county, 111., in the fall of 1859, and continued farming for several years. In the spring of 1874, became to Kearney county, Nebr., bringing considerable stock and farming utensils witli him, and took a homestead in May township and began at once to break prairie for a spring crop. The country was new and settlers were few and far between ; wild game, such as buffalo, antelope and deer, was plenty on every hand. He was poorely rewarded for his toil the first year, for the grass- hoppers came when his crop looked most promising, and remained long enough to destroy all. The strange appearance of the pesky little things was a great mys- tery to the early settlers, and their disap- pearance two or three years later was equally as mysterious. The Judge declares in all candor that he has seen the 'hoppers so thick that they fairly darkened the light of tiie sun as they flew over. Many settlers were not prepared for the famine caused by the grasshoppers, and in consequence there was great suffering among many. Mr. Harland was married, in 1846, to Miss Margaret Bailey. To this union were born seven children, namely— John M., Martha P., William M., Ashley R., Arthur B., Mary M., and James J. 584 KEARNEY COUNTY. Mr. Ilarland was elected judge of Kearney county in 1876 and was re-elected ao-ain in 1878. He has also filled various local offices. He has been a member of the Masonic order for forty years and both he and Mrs. Harland were members of the Christian church, the latter leaving the church below to join the church above in 1871. The homestead comprises one hundred and sixty acres of choice land adapted to raising almost any crop. Mr. Harland has always taken great interest in the planting of trees, and previous to its destruction by fire had one of the finest eroves of timber in the countv. A H. HOLMES is one of the rising young business men of Norman, Kearney county, Nebr. He was born in Canada June 6, 18C3, and is a son of Henry and Harriet (Elliott) Holmes, both natives of Ireland. The parents emi- grated to Canada in 185-1, and there the father followed the peaceful vocation of a farmer for several years. In 1862 the Holmes family located in Jefferson county, N. Y., where the father died in 1868. The mother and two children, A. H. and Maggie, accompanied by the maternal grandparents, emigrated to Harlan county, Nebr., in November, 1874. They took homesteads and built the first house in Antelope township, now the wealthiest in the county. The country was exceedingly wild at that time, and antelope and buffalo could be seen in great numbers almost any time. Here this pioneer family lived, en- during all the trials and hardships incident to frontier life, moulding the raw unbroken prairie into well cultivated farms. The mother died in 1888, and the only daughter, Maggie, became the wife of N. G. Stevens, January 22, 1890. . A. H. Holmes, whose name heads this sketch, is now the only living representa- tive of the family name, as far as he knows. Being left alone, and being a young man of keen perception, he con- cluded to become a druggist. He accord- ingly obtained a situation in a drug store at Wilcox, Nebr. He subsequentlj' became proprietor of the only store in town, but sold out in a short time and went into business as a partner of Dr. English, at Bird City, Kans. lie continued there for a short time onh', then came to Norman, and established a drug store, July 24, 1889, and has since been doing a most successful business. Mr. Holmes is a young man of splendid business capabilities, and enjoys the high esteem of all who know him. He owns two excellent farms near "Wilcox, Harlan county, and has considerable means in- vested in his business at Norman. He is full of push and enterprise, and never fails to make a success of whatever he under- takes. WILLIAM P. ACKEKMAN, an enterprising 5"oung hardware merchant of Norman, Kear- nej' county, is a native of Wisconsin and first saw the light September 29, 1857. His parents, William 11. and Alzina L. (Amous) Ackerman, were natives of Jef- ferson county, N. Y., and emigrated to Adams county, Wis., in 1856, but returned KEARNEY COUNTY. 585 to JS'ew York in 1863. They, however, conchided to try the West once more, and in 1880 moved to Nebraska, setthng in Adams county, where they now reside. The senior Ackerman became a sailor on tiie great hdies when a young man, but subsequently followed farming. He served in the war nearly a year, rendering honor- able service in the One Hundred and Eigiity-first New York volunteers. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist church. W. P. Ackerman, our subject, was the elder of two children. He had no educa- tional advantages other than those ob- tained from the district school which he attended when a youth. Being a young man of temperate habits and of an indus- trious disposition, he has managed to acquire a splendid knowledge of business. He came to Nebraska with his parents, with whom he remained for a year or so after coming to the state, and then pur- chased a farm in May township, Kearney county, and followed farming for a few years. In 1886 he purchased a half-inter- est in a hai'dware store at Juniata, Adams county, and in 1887 completed the first business building in the thriving town of Norman, Kearney county. On April 7, 1880, Mr. Ackerman was married to Miss Harriet L. Luther. She is a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., born November 7, 1858, and is the daugh- ter of Aldrich S. and Amanda (Thumb) Luther, both of whom are natives of the Empire State. Her father is a farmer and was a soldier all through the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman have two chil- dren, viz. — Paul A., born July 11, 1883, and Mason A., born January 6, 1885. Mr. Ackerman has 120 acres of good land near Ncjrman and conducts a successful hardware business in the town. He was appointed to take the census of May and Grant townships in 1885 and has held various townshi|) offices with credit to himself and constituents. He is an ardent temperance man and in politics generally votes with the prohibition part^^ GEORGE W.WASHBURNwasborn at Beloit, A\' is., January 17, 1844, and is the son of L'a F. and Jane E. (Pratt) Washburn, both of whom are natives of New York. His parents emi- o-rated to Wisconsin in 1839 and were among the first settlers in the section of the county in which they settled. After spending a few years in Illinois the family came to Nebraska in 1876 and settled in Kearney county. The senior Washburn was a farmer by occupation. He died October 31, 1889, anil iiis wife died in 1877. Both wei'e members of the Baptist church. George W. Washburn remained at home until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Chicago and worked in a sash and door factory for a few 3'ears. He enlisted August 28, 1861, in the Thirty-ninth, Illinois regiment and served two years in the war. He Avas in the second battle of Winchester, was a partici- pant in the storming of Ft. Wagner ;ind several short skirmishes, and was dis- charged August 5, 1863. for disability. He returned to Chicago and engaged in car- penter work, which vocation he has con- tinued to follow more oi' less of the time since. In 1869 he went to Arkansas, where he spent a few years in the vast 586 KEARNEY COUNTY. timber regions of tiiat state. lie came to Kearney count}', Nebr., in 1875, and was among the first settlers in this new coun- try. He took a homestead, which he at once put under cultivation and which he now owns, it being among the best im- proved farms in the township. "When he first settled here the countr}' was full of wild game, such as antelope, deer, etc. He was a victim of the grasshopper raid and witnessed a great deal of suffering among the early settlers. Many of the settlers of those days have gone and their places filled with new-comers. During the grass- hopper raid he has seen eighty acres of land exchanged for a common cook stove, an incident which well illustrates the small value placed upon land b}' tiie settlers, after they had had their grasshopper ex- perience. JOHN BINGHAM, a limb from the branch of the noted Bingham family, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, February 17, 1826. His father, Joseph Bingham, was born on Cape May, in 1797, and his mother was a native of Chester county, Pa. Both died in Ohio, about 1875. John was the eldest of twelve children and started out for himself at the age of eighteen. He learned to be a wagon- maker of an uncle, and followed his trade in Morgan county, Ohio, from 1844 to 1873. From Ohio he came to Nebraska in 1878, settling in Kearney county, and took a homestead in May township, where he has since resided. His pioneer residence con- sisted of a dug-out, which was superceded by a comfortable sod house. He came to Hartwell in 1884, when that town was first started, conducted the first hotel, and did a successful business while the town was booming. He was also interested in a store, which was stocked with a gen- eral line of merchandise. He was married, December 26, 1853, to Minnie Mitchner, who was born in Chester county. Pa., on March 10, 1824. She is the daughter of John and Mary (Good) Mitchner, both of whom belonged to a noted Quaker family. The Bingham family ctjnsists of six children, namely — Foneta, born October 15, 1855 (deceased); Laurena, born June 22, 1857; Francis, born July 21, 1859; Mary A., born May 4, 1861 ; Alice, born March 5, 1863, and Joseph J., born Septem- ber 20, 1864 (deceased). In 1863, while a resident of Morgan county, Ohio, Mr. Bingham joined the state militia in an effort to capture John Morgan, who was then raiding the south- ern part of the state. He is perfectly fa- miliar with every detail concerning the fa- mous pursuit and final capture of that noted Southern rebel. He firmly believes John Morgan was assisted in his escape from the Ohio penitentiary b}' persons holding high official positions in the state. Mr. Bing ham has been justice of the peace of May township, and is recognized as one of the best informed men in the town. Several of the daughters are school teachers and their ability to successfully conduct a dis- trict school is not confined within the boundary lines of their own township. Mr. Bingham and his estimable wife are zealous members of the Christian church, and both take great interest in Sunday- school work. In politics, Mr. Bingham is a republican. KEARNEY COUNTY. 587 JOSIAH A. MATHERS, one of the honored pioneers of Kearney county, is a native of Indiana, born in Wash- ington county, July 30, 1831. His jiarents, Lyman and Fannie (Bonard) Mathers, came from the New England States and were among the early settlers in Indiana; the former died in 1852, and the latter in 1853. "Joe," as he is familiarly known, early chose farming as his occupation in life, and has followed it since with no small degree of success. He came West, settling in Iowa, but was not satisfied there and so crossed over into Missouri, in 1853, where he remains for ten j'^ears. During the war it became necessary for every loyal man in Missouri to shoulder a musket, and in the earl}' days of that gi'eat strug- gle we find Joe Mathers a volunteer on the side of the Union. He enlisted in June, 1862, in the Twenty seventh Mis- souri regiment, and saw tiie liardest kind of fighting at Vicksburg, Lookout moun- tain, Eesaca and Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to Charlottesville. He was wounded at the battle of Resaca, but was laid up for only two weeks. He was mustered out June 13, 1865, after three years of most honorable service. After the war he went to La Porte county, Ind., where he farmed for about ten years. In 1SG9 he immigrated to Cass county, Nebr., and in 1871 came to Kearney county, and is now perhaps the oldest settler in the county south of the sand hills along the Platte. He pre-empted a claiin in Eaton township when there was not a famih' liv- ing in sight — and one could see a long way then. He brought with him about one luindred head of cattle from Missoui'i, but losl them all in the great Easter storm of 1873. When he first came to this sec- tion of the county he procured a cotton- wood pole about fifteen feet long and planted it near his sod house, and on this he hung a buffalo hide to serve as a guide to him, when miles away from home. This section of the country was settled mainly in 1874-5 and 6, but manj' left during the famous grasshopper famine. Mr. Mathers came here well supplied with means and was exceedingly generous towards many of the unfortunate settlers. In 1854 he was married to Malinda Cowgill, who bore him seven children. His wife died in December, 1873, and Mr. Mathers was married September 4, 1875, to Mary Jane Conyers, by whom he also had seven children — Fannie, Riley, George, Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia and Mag- gie. Mr. Mathers has been justice of the peace, is a member of the G. A. R. and is one of the most respected citizens in the county. WT. THORN. This well known gentleman is one of the oldest settlers of Kearney county, as he has been one of the most successful business men of its thriving count3'-seat town, Minden. He is a native of Hills- dale count}', Mich., and was born April 11, 1840. He was reared in his native county, and from there, at the age of twenty-one, entered the Union army, enlisting in Companv G, Eleventh Michi- gan infantry. He immediately went to the front, and during the term of his ser- vice participated in the following engage- ments: Gallatin, Tenn., August 13, 1862; Fort Riley, Tenn., September 1, 1862; 588 KEARNEY COUNTY. Stone river, Tenn., December 29 to 31, 18t')2, and January 2 and 3, 1863; Elk river, Tenn., July 1, 1863 ; Davis' cross- roads, Tenn., September 11, 1863; Chick- amauga, Ga., September 19, and 20, 1863 ; Mission ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1863; Buzzard's Roost, Ga., May 10, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864; Kenesaw, 6a., June 22 to 27, 1864 ; New Hope church. May 27, 1864; Rough's station, Ga., July 3 and 4, 1864; Peachtree creek, Ga., June 20, 1864; siege of Atlanta, July 21 and 22, 1864. His term of enlistment expired l)rior to the taking of Atlanta, but, ])rompted by a soldierl^^ ambition, he con- tinued in the service till Atlanta was cap- tured. His military career is remarkable. He never missed a day from service and was never sick a day from the time of his enlistment ; he never missed a battle in which his company was engaged, and was never wounded or captured. He served as a common private, bearing from the field no titles or honors, save the proud consciousness of duty well done. In 1873 Mr. Thorn came to Nebraska and settled in Kearney county, taking the first homestead tliat was filed on in town 6, that county. Most of the country now comprised within the geographical limits of Kearney county was then one vast prairie. There were but two houses on "the divide," and these were next to the sand iiills. Mr. Thorn continued on his farm for some years, successfully engaged in farming and stock-i'aising. He was the first merchant in the town of Minden, opening a store there, in fact, before the town was started. He was the first post- master at Minden, and he has been actively identified with all the material interests of the place since the town was founded, being now the oldest, as he has been the most prominent and successful, of all of Minden's business men. His career has been that of a man of private affairs strictly, he never having aspired to any public position. He possesses sound intel- ligence and discriminating judgment, and when in business his conduct was marked for his thorough-going business ways. He has been very successful, having accumu- lated a competence, and has retired to enjoy it in comfort and ease. He married, March 3, 1867, Miss Sarah A. Dutton, daughter of John and Evaline Dutton, of Hillsdale county, Mich. Jan- uary 26, 1871, he lost his wife. He married again, April 22, 1879 — the lady whom he selected for his companion being- Miss Ida L. Schmidt, a daughter of Andrew Schmidt, then of Kearney county, but a native of Germany. To this union have been born four children — Eva S., Wray, Clara and Edward L. Mr. Thorn has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for some years, and is a man of generous impulses and kindly disposition. Having been successful in the accumulation of this world's goods, he uses them with wisdoni and discretion, applying them to the com- fort and social improvement of himself and family, and giving liberally to all charitable purposes looking to the good and improvement of others. GEO. II. HARTSOUGH, county clerk of Kearney county, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., May 23, 1852. He was reared mainly in his native place, received an ordinary common-school education in the district KEARNEY COUNTY 589 schools of Ontario county, finishing with an academic course in the Canandaigua Academy of Canandaigua, N. Y. He be- gan his career as a school teacher, going South about the time he reached his ma- jority, and taking a school in South Caro- lina. He remained South only long enough to reach one term ; when he returned to New York and engaged with D. M. Os- born & Co., manufacturers of reapers and mowers at Auburn, that state. While in the employ of this firm he took up the study of telegraphy, and, discovering in himself a growing taste for it, he quit Os- born & Co. after two years and went to Akron, Ohio, to perfect himself in his chosen study. In the spring of 1873 he came to Nebraslva in search of work as a telegraph operator, iiaving mastered his craft and acquainted himself with the forms and business branches which usually go with a knowledge of telegraph}'. He beffan work for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company at Harvard, this state, and worked for it at several ]ilaces until December, 1883, when he was placed in charge of the station at Minden, Kear- ney county. He located there at that date and looked after the B. & M.'s inter- ests for six years, or until December, 1889. He was elected clerk of Kearney county at the November election, 1889, and re- signed his position as station agent of the B. & M. to accept this office. Mr. Hart- sough's rise in life has not been very rapid, but it has been well deserved, including his recent election as clerk of Kearney county. He is a thorough business man and a man of intelligence. He owes his position and his success in general to his own efforts, having begun his cai'eer alone, and he has come up solely by dint of hard work and faithful attention to business. He is systematic in his habits and his work, careful and painstaking, a rapid penman, competent accountant, and possesses a talent for the details of business. He is polite and accommodating, genial and companionable. His personal popularity is well attested by the fact that he was elected to his present position in a county largely republican in politics, while he is a democrat. He was elected solely on ac- count of his well-known ability and fitness for the place, and has not disappointed his friends and those who stood by him. He has taken to the discharge of his public duties the same industry and application, the same thoughtful attention and marked solicitude for the public interests, that he displayed in the prosecution of his own af- fairs, and as he grows in public knowledge he also grows in pulilic favor. Mr. Hartsough married, in 1ST9, Miss Delia Babcock,of Dundee, Mich., the lady whom he selected for a companion being one in every way worthy of him and emi- nently fitted to bear him the companion- ship which he sought with her hand. Mr. Hartsough is a member of a num- ber of the benevolent orders and has held several positions of prominence in them. He is a man of broad views and charitable impulses, and he finds the best field for his endeavors in behalf of his fellow-men in the avenues opened through these fra- ternities. LEWIS W. HAGUE, attorney at-law, member of the Kearney county _^ bar, was born in Fayette county. Pa., January 9, 1853. His parents were natives of the same county and descendants oOO KEARNEY COUNTY. of Scotch and Irish ancestry. His father, Albert G. Hague, after following the business of an iron-worker and merchant for some years in his native state, moved West, and settled in Jefferson county, Iowa, where he took up agricultural pur- suits, which he has steadily followed since. In 1861 his father enlisted in tiie Union army and served until the close of the war. Mr. Hague's mother, who bore the maitlen name of Martha Antram, died in 1860, in her thirty-first year. Four chil- dren survived this union, only two of whom, however, are now living. These are — Lewis W., the subject of this notice, and Loretta B., now wife of J. S. Dedrth, of Grand Ridge, 111. Lewis W. Hague attended the public schools of his native county, but being thrown on his resources early in life, after working on a farm for some time, in order to complete his education, he alter- nateh' taught school and went to Waynes- burg College, Waynesburg, Pa., the State University of Iowa, and finished his edu- cation at Knox College, Galesburg, 111., graduating in the spring of 1880. He read law with Blanchard & .Blanchard, attorneys, at Ottawa, 111., and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He came to Nebraska in February, 1885, and located at Minden, at which place he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He has held the position of city attorney of Min- den two years. In politics he has always been an active republican. In 1887 he married Miss Clara M. Chisler, a native of Wisconsin, a lady of culture and refine- ment, being a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and one who is eminently fitted to bear him companionship through life. Mr. Hague is a zealous member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a prominent communicant of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. LEWIS A. KENT. In writing of the early settlers of Kearney count}', _^ there comes to mind at once the name of Lewis A. Kent, now a prominent business man of the town of Minden. Not only is Mr. Kent an old settler of Kearnej'^ count}', but he has been actively identified with all its interests, its settlement, growth and development, having assisted in its organization and having held a num- ber of responsible offices, and is therefore deserving of special mention in connection with its history. Lewis A. Kent is one of a family of seven children born to David and Hester (Guynn) Kent, there being besides himself three brothers and three sisters — William Alex- ander, Benjamin Franklin, Aaron Lytle Maggie E., Emma and Anna. The sub ject of this notice is a native of Richland county, 111., and was born October 29,18-17. He was reared in his native county on his father's farm, receiving an ordinary com- mon-school training. His first pursuits were those of agriculture. Marrying in 1870, he came to Nebraska a year later and settled in Kearney county, taking a homestead four miles east of the town of Lowell, and there began his career in the West. He began in an humble way. In fact, he drove through from Illinois with a team, and after two years' fanning he moved into Lowell and began clerking in a store. In the fail of 1873 he was elected county clerk of Kearney county, having assisted in the organization of the countv LEWIS A. KENT. KEAR.WEY COUNTY. 593 in June, 1872, and held the office of clerk by successive re-elections for five terms. The county seat was then at Lowell After it was moved to Minden, Mr. Kent moved there, and after he finished out his term of office as county clerk he bet^an the banking business, opening a private bank at that date in partnership with Rush H. Palmer, which bank was re-organized as the First National Bank of Minden, in 18S3. Mr. Kent became president and has been the active and efficient chief executive of the First National since. He has given his time almost exclusively for the piist ten years to his private interests ; l)ut, as stated at the outset of this sketch, he has held a number of public offices at one time and another in Kearney county. After assisting in organizing the county, he was elected superintendent of public instruction ; he was then elected county clerk, serving five terms ; he served then in the legislature ; in the senate, from Harlan, Kearney and Phelps counties, and he has been a member of the State IJoard of Agriculture for fifteen years, having been manager of the board for five years and treasurer five. He was the first mayor of Minden, and has at all times been actively identified with the best interests of his adopted town and county. Mr. Kent married in 1870, prior to mov- ing West — the lady whom he selected to share his fortunes with him being Miss Leona M. Barney, then of Woodford county. 111., a daughter of Hiram Barney, now of Kearne}', Buffalo count}^ Nebr. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have a pleasant home in Minden. They are members of the Methodist church and liberal contributors to all charitable purposes. ED. L. ADAMS, judge of the Kear- ney county court, is a native of Monroe county, Ind., was born May 24, 1861, and is the fourth of a family of seven children born to Joseph and Minerva (Whisenand) Adams. On his father's side he comes of one of the his- torical families of America, being a great- grandson of Captain Samuel Adams of Revolutionary fame. Judge Adams' father was born near Charleston, S. C, Septem- ber, 1823, and was brought when a lad to Indiana by his parents, where he was reared and where he now resides, being a resident of Monroe county. He has been a life-long farmer, a man of plain tastes and industrious habits, and is a good rep- resentative of his calling. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county and received an ordi- nary common-school education. Perhaps to get a correct idea of the sort of educa- tion Judge Adams obtained, it will be nec- essary for the reader to lay emphasis on the word ordinary, for his school training, even with the best advantages his parents could give him, was of a very ordinary kind. Yet what he got was sufficient to arouse in him a thirst for knowledge, and he made up his mind while j'et a lad that he would have an education. He sat about studying in private, and having ac- quired considerable knowledge in this way he started out at the age of sixteen as a' teacher of country schools, beginning his career as thousands of other ambitious boys have done who have had to carve out their fortunes in the world. It was never his intention to make a professional teacher of himself. His school-room work was only to affoi-d him the best attainable means to a higher end, He taught during 594 KEARNEY COUNTY. the winter months in different localities in his native county, and worked during the summer months at &ny sort of manual labor he could find, reading and studying and perfecting himself as best he could, continuing at this for a period of nine years. In the meantime, in 1881, he mar- ried — the lady on whom his choice fell for a life companion being Miss Alta Strean, a native of Monroe county, Ind. Having determined in the meantime, also, to devote himself to one of the liberal pro- fessions, he selected law and begart read- ing with Fulk & Mulky, of Bloomington, Ind. His law studies were pursued under some difficulties, but he kept them up as closelj^ as possible, and never lost sight of his purpose to fit himself for a calling of usefulness and one, as he believed, of con- geniality, in that of the law. In March, 18S5, he moved to Nebraska and settled in Kearney county. He rented a farm in Sherman township and devoted himself for a time to agriculture, but in the fall of that year he was appointed to the position of assistant principal in the public schools at Minden, when he moved into town and assumed the role of teacher. In the fall of 1887 he was solicited to make the race for judge of the county court, a flattering recognition of his ability, but a step which he hesitated about taking. He knew that Kearney county had a large republican majority, and being a man of strong dem- ocratic principles he naturally considered his chances for an election as by no means promising. He yielded, however, to the importunities of his friends and made the race, and was elected by a majority of three hundred and sixty-three. Taking the office in January, 1888, he served the people of Kearney county for two years, at the end of which time he was re-elected and is now serving his second term. The best evidence of the satisfaction he has given is to be found in the fact of his en- dorsement with another term at the last election. Had he failed to give this satis- faction the people of Kearney count}' would have been quick to emphasize the fact at the polls, while self-sacrificing citi- zens would not have been lacking to have taken up the work he could not do. But Judge Adams has steadily grown in pub- lic favor. He came into notice rather suddenly, but he has met public expecta- tion, and it may safely be said that he has passed the probationary period in his pub- lic career. He has won the esteem and res]iect of all citizens, even of those who differ from him widely in political faith, and has done this in the only way such things can be done, and that is by a con- scientious discharge of his public duties, using his office as a public trust. He is a man of intelligence, and therefore pos- sesses one of the first requisites of a public official, whatever the capacity he may be chosen to fill. He has a good knowledge of the law, without which he could not be a good judge; he possesses a taste and apti- tude for the duties of his office, without which he could .not give satisfaction, whatever his intelligence or special train- ing in the law might be ; and above all is he a polite and accomodating, genial and affable gentleman, which qualities, while they adorn the man, whatever his position, set with special grace upon him who has been elevated to a position of trust and and honor by his fellow-citizens. Judge Adams is universally and deservedly pop- ular, and, being yet a young man, has a bright future before him. KEARNEY COUNTY. 595 LEVI M. COPELAND, the pioneer druggist of Minden, Kearney coun- _^ tj', is a native of Henry county, Ind., and was born December 26, 1842. lie is tlie oldest of nine children born to Natlian and Amelia (Clanton) Copeland, and is tlie only representative of his family in this state, most of his brothers and sis- ters residing where they were born and reared in Henry county, Ind., where also live the parents, now well advanced in years. The subject of this notice was reared on his father's farm in Henry county, Ind., and received an ordinary common- school training, working as a farm hand through the summer months and attending the district schools in the winter. He entered the Union army in July, 1862, then just turned into his nineteenth year, enlisting in Company I, Sixty-ninth Indiana in- fantry. He served till the close of the war, participating in all the campaigns and engagements that his regiment served in till the surrender. This simple narrative of Mr. Copeland's military career will probably excite no special interest in the mind of the general reader, as it is the oft-told stor^', true of tiiousands of old soldiers, but it will, nevertheless, be of absorbing interest in years to come to his descendants who will treasure the meagre facts thus preserved of his army life as the miser treasures his gold. Tho\' will look upon those 3'ears as the eventful ones of his life as well as of this nation — those years when patriotism flushed through the land like an electric thrill; when the canker of gold and the dust of cotton drop|>ed from the manhood of the nation, and men went forth to battle for their countrv ; when thev sur- rendered the search for wealth, dropped the plow in its furrow, the hammer at the forge, the pen at the desk and marched cheerily to wounds and to death. The war over, Mr. Copeland returned to his home in Henry county, Ind., and again went to farming. March 6, 1867, he married Miss Sarah E. Ilarrold, of his native county and a lady whom he had known from childhood. He resided in Henry county, engaged in farming, till 1876, when he moved to Henry county, Iowa, thence in 1878 to Cowley county, Kans., thence in 1879 to Harlan county, Nebr., and in December of the same year to Minden, Kearney county, where he has since resided. On locating in Minden he bought of George W. Espey a drug-store and began the drug and book business. In addition to this he has been identified in a general way with the best interests, material and social, of his adopted town and county, and there is hardly a more liberal-minded oi' public-spirited citizen to be found in this community than himself. He has never aspired to public office, pre- ferring the peaceful paths of pi-ivate life and the pleasure that comes from a con- sciousness of duty well done as a humble citizen to the turmoil, disappointments and heart-burnings incident to the life of the office-seeker. He takes an active in- terest in the Grand Army of the Kei)ublic, having been commander of Strong Post, No. 91, at Minden, and adjutant of the post for three years, and a liberal contrib- utor to all purposes looking to the better- ment of the condition of his old comrades. He is also a zealous member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined them over twenty-two years ago. He has passed all the chairs in this frater- 596 KEARNEY COUNTY. nity and has represented his lodge on two occasions in the grand lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have a pleasant home and are justly popular with the best jieople where they live. They have two daugliters — Cecil C. and Anna B., both grown and around whom now naturally chisters the chief interest of their lives, and in the unfolding and development of whose characters they find their keenest pleasures. JAMES A. MARTIN, A. B., M. D., a prominent physician of Minden, Kearney county, is a native of Scot- land and was born November 8, 1853. He is a son of William and Ellen (Young) Martin, both natives also of Scotland and descendants of Scotch stock fi'om time immemorial. His father was a pliysician, a graduate of the best schools of his native countr}'. He came to America in 1859, and after a short resi- dence in St. Louis settled in Madison county, 111., where he practiced his pro- fession till his death, which occurred March 22, 1883. The subject of this notice, accompanying his mother, came to the United States in 1867, joining the husband and father at that date. Young Martin Avas educated at Lincoln, 111., receiving both his preliminary and collegiate course there, graduating from the Lincoln Uni- versity in 1878. He read medicine with his father and graduated from the Ameri- can Medical College at St. Louis, Febru- ary 28, 1884. The following April he came to Nebraska and located at Minden, where lie at once entered upon the practice of his profession. February 16, 1887, he married Miss Joe Heal}', of Richmond, Va., a lady who by her birth and training is eminently fitted to bear him the companionship he sought with her hand. Dr. Martin is a trained physician, a ripe scholar for his years, and a pleasant gentleman. He devotes himself exclu- sively to the practice of medicine, believ- ing inthehomeh' old saying that " What- ever is worth doing at all is worth doing well " FINDLEY DUNN, boot and shoe merchant of Minden, Kearney county, is a native of Erie county, Pa., and was born September 15, 1841. He is one of a family of thirteen children born to Oliver and Elizabeth (Du Mars) Dunn. He was reared in his native county, attending the district schools dur- ing the winter months and working on his father's farm in summer. On August 11, 1862, he entered the Union army, en- listing in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania infantry. His regiment enjoys the distinction of having been one of the '-three hundred fighting regiments" of the Union army in the late war. It was recruited mainly in Erie county, and left the state September 12, 1862, arriving five days later on the field at Antietam. While at Harper's Ferry it was assigned to Caldwell's brigade, Han- cock's division, 2d corps. At Freder- icksburgh it took eight companies into action, two companies having been de- KEARNEY COUyTY. 59': tailed on the skirmish line. The eight companies lost thii'ty-four killtHl, one hun- dred and fifty-two woiuuled, and forty- three missing, a total of two hundred and twenty nine out of five hundred and five in action. The missing ones were wounded or killed. Nine of the officers lost their lives in this blood}' assault, and the com- mander of the regiment, Col. Hiram L. Brown, received a serious wound. The regiment fouglit at ChancellorsviJle and Gettysburg, taking part in tlie latter en- gagement in the famous contest in the wheat field, where, with about two hun- dred men in line, its casualties amounted to ten killed, sixt\'-six wounded, and eight missing. During the winter of 1863-4 the One Hundred and Fortj'-fifth pccupied a well-built camp, which combined a neat, tasteful appearance, with substantial warmth and comfort, and took the field in May, 1864, in efficient condition. A large number of the men were captured at Petersburg in June, 1864, which, with previous losses, left but few in line at the subsequent actions in which the division was engaged. The regiment took into the service one thousand four hundred and fifty-six men. It lost in killed and wounded six hundred and fifty-one. It was in four- teen of the principal battles fought in Vir- ginia and Penns3'lvania and was present also at eleven others. In the engagement at Fredericksburgh Mr. Dunn was wounded, December 13th, by a gun-shot in the left knee. He lay on the battle-field after he was shot until he contracted a cold, which brought on congestion of the lungs. Re- tiring from the service on account of his wounds and the diseased condition of his lungs, he returned home, where he went on crutches for more than a year. As soon as he recovered sufficiently he began teaching school; then kept books for different firms in Erie City, and then, on the bursting out of theoil fever in western Pennsylvania, he went into the oil regions, where he began operations, and there continued during the "flush times" of that famous period. He made mone}', but like hundreds of others he was caught in the panic of 1873-4, and lost all he had made. He then went to Wayne, Erie count}'. Pa., where he engaged in mer- cantile business and remained there for a period of seven years, making some money during that time. In 1881, he came to Nebraska and settled in Thayer county, where he began farming and stock-raising. In 1883, he moved to Minden, Kearney county, where, after a year, during which time he was engaged in clerking and book-keeping, he in part- nership with W. E. Nichol, opened a store and embarked in general mercantile busi- ness. Selling out his interest after the expiration of a year, he began handling real estate, in which he was engaged up to March, 1888. He then bought of Meek Brothers the boot and shoe business, in which he in now engaged. Mr. Dunn is strictly a man of business, and has never aspired to any public posi- tion. Of quiet tastes and studious habits, he finds more pleasure in the peaceful pursuit of his own affairs than in chasing the phantom of public office. January 6, 1887, he married Miss Flora Kibble, of Page county, Iowa, a lady emi- nently fitted to bear him companionship throughout life. Mr. Dunn is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a stanch adherent of the republican party, and is now and odS KEARXEi' COryTF has been for years a zealoas member of I he Uniietl Presbvterian church. MrSv Dunn was bom Januarj- li, lSot>. is a native of Page county. Iowa, and is the eldest of a family of ten children bom to D. C. and X. J. (Martini Kibble, was eilucateil in the high school of Clarinda. besan teachine in the fall of IS 72, and followed that profession successfully for eight years in Page county, and was prin- cipal of the gradeil schools at Burlington Junction. Mo., two years. She caaie to Nebraska in IS^l, and taught steadUy in the common schools of the s:ate for seven years — three years in Pawnee county and four years in Adams and Kearney coun- ties, and settled in Minden in 1SS6. and was married to Findlev Dunn. Janoarv 6. ISS". JOHN HAMMEP^TROM. saddle and harness merchant of Minden. Kearney county, is a native of Sweden and was bom April 6, 1S54^. He came to the United States in 1S69, and after a short slop in Xew York city went to Cook county. Minn., where he began work as a laborer on the railroad. Continuing there till 1S7S, he came at that date to Kearney county, Xebr.. and took a homestead and settled down to forming. He followed farming till ISS 7. then moved into 2)rmdeii. and opened a saddle and harness store, continuing at this since. Mr. Hammerstrom's life has not been an eventful one. bat it has been one marked by great industry and crowned with success f&r beyond that of the avei^ ase man. When be landed in America he had only fifteen dollars; and this was soon consumeil while looking for some- thing to do. He literally began life in the new world on the bottom round of the ladder. His rise was slow, but steady. He worker! harvl and faithfully savetl up all he earned. He applied himself indus- triously to the task of mastering the English language and the American ways of doing things. His first few years, although spent in unremitting toil and not without much hardship, brought him. nevertheless, much experience, which he has since turned to good account. He is not only an industrious, economical man. but he possesses good intelligence and thorough-going business ways. He is hit^hlv esteemed in the coramunitv where he lives, and is pointed out by his admir- ing fellow-citiiens as a splendid example of what one with sound head and strong heart, coupled with industry and frugality. mav accomplish in this land o' peace and plenty. CHARLES W. SPE^XE. senior editor, publisher and proprietor of the £'€tirnet/ Couiity Democrat. is a native of Fulton county. IlL. and was bom April 6, 1865. He is the fifth of eight children bom to William and Caro- line (Ruble) Spence, now of Fulton oonnty. He is a newspaper man by choice and long years of training. He left home at the age of ten. and went to Peoria, IlL. where he learned the "art preservative" on the Tran^ript of that |dace, and then, at the age of fifteen, he started on the road as a journeyman KEARNEY COUNTY. 599 printer. He traveled for some years, work- ing in different localities and gathering a knowledge of his business and of the world, pulling up in 1881 at Lincoln, this state, where he held a place as composi- tor for some time on the State Journal. Leaving there, he went to Alma. Harlan county, where he published the Alma Times for about six months. Returning to Lincoln, he was again engaged on the journal for six months longer, going thence in January, 1856, to Minden, Kear- ney county, where he, in company with H. H. Dunkle, bought the Kearney C'/unty Democrat, continuing its publication under the firm name of Spence «k Dunkle, till the summer of 1889. At that date H. W. Mackey bought Mr. Dunkle's interest, and the firm became Spence «fc Mackey. and has continued so since. The Demo- crat is a six-column quarto weekly, demo- cratic in politics, and is devoted to the interests of Minden, Kearney county, and the great southwest of Xebraska. It is a live, progressive, newsy sheet, the cham- pion of the right, and the uncompromis- ing enemy of the wrong: free, fearless and without favor in dealing with public questions. It is the exponent of the best thought of the times, and the leader in all public enterprises in the community where it is published. It has a large and con- stantly increasing circulation, and is pop ular with the citizens of Kearney county, even among those who differ tvidelv with it in political faith, and even on some matters of public policy. Messrs. Spence . and Rebecca (Armstrong) Smyth, his father having been a native of Scotland and his mother coming of Scotch parent- age. His father came to the United States when a comparativel}' young man 652 PHELPS COUNTY and settled in New York city, leaving there in 1843 and moving West to Wis- consin, where he settled and subsequently lived and died. He was a stone and mar- ble cutter and followed his trade exclu- sively in his earlier 3'ear, first in the old country and afterwards in New York. In Wisconsin he was engaged in the marble business and in farming. He was an in- dustrious, enterprising man and succeeded well. Ho, died in 1S69. His wife, mother of the subject of this notice, survived him a few years, dying in 1874. William A. Smyth was reared mainly in Wisconsin, his parents moving to that state when he was ten years of age. He grew up on the farm, receiving an ordi- nary common-school education and being trained to the habits of industry and use- fulness common to farm life. He began life for himself on a farm in Wisconsin, and followed farming there till the spring of 1879, when he came to Nebraska and settled in Phelps county, locating at that date on the southeast quarter of section 20, township 7, range 20 west, taking that as a homestead. Being unmarried he beean his career as a Nebraska farmer with the bachelor life common at that date, putting up a sod house and erecting a temporary sod barn. For a while he hauled water ten miles and "hustled" fuel where it was to be had. He " broke" only twenty acres the first year, which he seeded to sod corn, and then added totiiis each succeeding year. He has also added to his original homestead other tracts by purchase, until now he owns in Phelps county nine hundred and sixty acres, four hundred and fifty acres of which he has under cultivation. His sod buildings have been succeeded by others of a more sub- stantial and sightly nature, he having now as well improved and handsomely orna- mented place as there is in his vicinit\', has been steadily engaged in farming and stock-raising and has been one of the most successful farmers in the county. He is a man of clear head and sound judgment, and these, coupled with industry, applica- tion and a strong determination to succeeil have made him what he is. He still owns his old farm in Wisconsin, where he started in the world, and he may be set down as a well-to-do man. He is also a stockholder and director in the First State Bank of Bertrand, Nebr. He has never married, preferring to pursue the even tenor of his way in single blessedness. He has two excellent house-keepers in the persons of his sisters, who look after his domestic affairs and make his home pleasant for him and a cheerful retreat for friends and strangers who visit him. Mr. Smyth votes the republican ticket and takes great interest in a general way in political matters, but he has never sought office for himself. He has no false ambition in that direction. JOEL KEOPPEL. One of the oldest, settlers of Union township, Phelps county, and a man who has j^rofited as well by reason of his long resi- dence there as any man in the township, is Joel Keoppel, the subject of this brief biographical notice. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1878 and located a home- stead in Gosper county and a tree claim in Phelps county, the latter being the northwest quarter of section 6, township 6, range 20 west. After improving his PHELPS COUNTY 653 honiostead he sold it and subsequently moved on to his tree claim, where he has since resided. This lies in the western part of Phelps county, adjoining and partly covered by the town of Bertrand. What is not occu])ied by the town site, Sir. Keoppel has in a splendid state of cultivation, he having gro wing- on it a large and thrift}' grove and furnished with commodious and substantial buildings. He laid out several acres of it as an ad- dition to the town of Bertrand a few years ago. This is now covered with handsome residences, making homes for a number of families. Mr. Keoppel has been identified with the best interests of his communit}', and has been especially active in promot- ing the interests of Bertrand. He has given liberally of his means and has worked with untiring industry in behalf of his adopted town. As a return for his liberality and as a monument to his energ}' and foresight, he sees growing up around him a town which will be the center of business and afford man}'^ happy and peaceful homes to the people of his local- ity for years to come. Joel Keoppel was born in Mercer county, Ohio, November 16, 1848. He is the fifth of a family of twelve children born to George C. and Catherine (Deal) Keoppel, the former a native of Germany tiie latter a native of Ohio, of German de- scent. His father came to this country when a voung man and settled in Ohio where he raarrielack Hills miner to a prairie home- steader, and knows what it is to subsist on hope and fresh air. He went through the dry years, the grasshopper scourge, and he has had his crops destroyed by hail and his property by prairie fires. He has lived in a dug-out and a' sod-house and has had for his only companions coj'otes, antelope buffalo and Indians. He has hauled water and wood for miles and has gone to bed many times supperless. In 1883, Mr. Sandsted, having got suf- ficiently far along in a worldly wa}'^ to ask a Unl}' to share his fortunes with him, married Mrs. Hanha Amelia Sophia An- derson, a widow who had one child by her first marriage, and who, like himself, came on to the prairies at a comparatively early day and saw some of the hardships and ]irivations of pioneer life. This union has been blessed with five children — Lillie, born in 1884; Rosie, born in 1885; Earn- est, born in 1886; Arthur, born in 1888) and Alfred, born in 1890. Mr. Sandsted wears the dog-collar of no political faction, being independent in politics as in all other things. CHARLES S. BRADLEY, a well- known citizen of Phelps county and a native of Vermont, was born in Williston, October 1, 1833, and is the fifth of a family of ten children born to Eli J. and Sarah Bradley. His father was a farmer, followed farming through- out life, and was an intelligent, upright citizen. He accomplished much good during his life, and died in his eighty- third year, regretted by a large circle of friends, who loved and revered him as an upright, and ver}'^ earnest christian man. The mother of C. S. Bradley bore the maiden name of Sarah Cooley, and is now living in Nebraska with her son, our sub- ject, and is in her ninetieth year. Charles S. Bradley was reared in the place of his birth, being brought up on his father's farm, and was early trained to habits of industry and usefulness commOn to farm life. He attended the common schools, and received a good common- school education. He then began to stud}' for the ministry and to teach, and was first licensed in 1854 by the quarterly conference of the Methodist church. He went to Ohio, taught school tiiere one year, and then returned to Vermont. From Vermont he went to Missouri, and there he was engaged in teaching and preaching. While there he married, tak- fi64 PHELPS COUNTY. ing for a life companion Miss Matha Wil- liamson, a daugiiter of Thomas William- son, of Cooper count}-. Mo. After a residence of five years in Mis- souri, Mr. Bradley returned to Ohio, and remained there till coming to Nebraska in 1876. When he came to Nebraska he settled in Seward county, bought railroad land and began to make improvements. Being disabled by the "grasshopper raid," from fully meeting his annual obligations, the railroad company sold him out for a small amount of unpaid monev, although he had paid them as much as §1,200. In 1878 he came to Phelps county, and located a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 18, township 5, range 19, and a timber claim on the northwest quarter of section 19, township 5, range 19. He has also added, by purchase, another quarter section, now owning four hundred and eighty acres of good land, lie has one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, and raises mixed crops, mainly corn. His chief line of business is raising corn, cattle and hogs. He now owns one of the finest farms in Phelps county, with good building improvements, groves, and a fine orchard. The success he has met with is the result of good man- agement, and has been obtained by a life of unremitting industry and perseverance, united with frugal habits, and to his esti- mable wife who has so long aided and counseled him in all his praise-worthy efforts, much of his success is due. He is a man of truly religious principles, and lives up to all his professions ; is scrupu- lously honest in all his dealings, cautious in his conversation, never speaking aught to the detriment of his neighbors, and is much respected by all who know him. Mr. Bradley has been twice married. He lost his first wife by death, July 27, 1864 August 24, 1865, he married Miss Rosanna Creamer, a daughter of C. C. Creamer, of Fayette county, Ohio. Mr. Bradley is the father of eight children, two by his first marriage and six by his last. The children by the first marriage are — Eli W., and Charles H. (deceased). By his second — Henry C, Minor (deceased), Ab- blex, Charles A. (deceased), Ancel M. and Myron W. Mr. Bradley's work being mission work, he has traveled almost constantly' since 1862, but now has a short vacation. In politics he affiliates with the prohi- bition party, and is speciall}' interested in all reform movements. OJ. GAMEL was born in Oliio in 184:6, and is a son of Henry and Susanna (Davis) Gamel. Henry Gamel, also a native of Ohio, was born in 1819, and served under Gen. Fre- mont from 1861 to 1864, his death occur- ing in the year last named. Mrs. Susanna (Davis) Gamel was born in Ohio in 1823, was married in 1843, and died in 1863, the mother of seven children, namely — Orin (deceased), Malinda (deceased), O. J., Henry II., Amanda (deceased), Melvina, Thomas Jefferson and C\'rus P. O. J. Gamel remained in his native state of Ohio imtil 1861, when he drove a flock of sheep through to Illinois, occui>y- ing fifty-two days on the way. In the latter state he lived with his maternal grandfather, Henry Davis, from 1861 until 1863, at which time his mother died PHELPS COUNTY. G65 aiul lie returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained until 1807, when he attain went to Illinois, where for eleven years he engaged in farming, and for six 3'ears in the mercantile business at Mahomet. In 1885 he came to Nebraska and for two years he lived on a rented farm in Fillmore county, from there he came to his present home in Phelps county, on section 33, township 5, range 17. Mr. Gamel began life with a horse, saddle and bridle, and came to Xebi'aska with a capital of $10,000 ; he now has four hundred and eighty acres of land, well stocked and unincumbered. In February, 1868, Mr. Gamel married Miss Sarah A. Ehrlich, a native of Ohio, born in 184:8. Three children now brighten his hearthstone and are named — William E., Cora Anna and Clarence Carl. In poli- tics Mr. Gamel is a republican. TAY. BONSER,of Lake toivnship, Phelps county, Nebr., was born in Illinois in ISiO. His father, W. T. Eonser, was born in England in 1800. He was a farmer by vocation, and on coming to America settled in Schuyler county. 111., where he passed the remain- der of his days. He was an active mem- ber of the Union Baptist church, and in politics was a democrat. In 1834 he mar- ried Emeline Stephens, a native of Indiana, born in 1813, and also a member of the Union Bajitist church. Thirteen children were born to this marriage, namely — Mrs. Keziah Rawson, in Illinois; William, in Phelps county, Nebr.; Mrs. Eliza Sugget, in Wyoming Territory; John,' in Illinois; Nancy Jane ; James (deceased) ; T. W. Mil- borne; Henry; an infant that died un- named; Edward; another infant that died unnamed, and Marion. T. W. Bonser was reared a farmer and was educated in his native county, which he left at the age of twenty -eight, in 1878, and came to Nebraska, settling in Phelps county, on section 25, township 5, range 17 west. When he began his business life, at the age of twenty-one, he had nothing in the way of wealth; when he came to Nebi'aska he had a team of mules, a wagon and two hundred dollars in cash • at present he is the owner of two hundred and seventy-five acres of good farming land, well stocked and improved and clear of all incumijrance, all earned by hard work and good mana<>:ement. In 1878 Mr. Bonser married Miss Nancy E. Strong, a native of Illinois and born in 1869. She has borne two children, Everett, in 1884, and Cora, in 1888. Mr. Bonser is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a democrat. A NDREW HOLLENBECK, a far- mer of Lake township, Phelps county, Nebr., was born in New York in 1843, where he remained until about 1878. Jacob B. Ilollenbeck, his father, also a native of New York, was born in 1820 and was a prosperous farmer and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was of Holland descent and of the second generation born in this country. In 1840 he married Maria Van Ness, who was born in New York in 666 PHELPS COUNTY. 1822, and who bore hira six children, namely — Mary (Mrs. John M. Deroe), Andrew, Arcliibald, Catherine M. (Mrs. Mortimer), Maggie and Sidney (deceased). The paternal grandfather of our subject was Battus Ilollenbeck, a native of Fulton county, X. Y. His paternal grandmother was Mar\r (Argersinger) Hollenbeck, of New York. His maternal grandfather was Andrew Yan Ness, and his maternal grandmother was Catherine (Vosberg) Yan Ness. Andrew Hollenbeck jiassed .his early summers on the home farm and his early winters in getting out timbers. For a number of years after reaching manhood he lived on a rented farm in his native state, and on coming to Nebraska, in 1878, and settling in Phelps county, had a capi- tal of only $75 in cash and a team. He was, moreover, incumbered witli quite a large family. He went manfull^y to work, however, and is now the owner of a half section of land, of which two hundred acres are under cultivation and improved with all necessary- buildings, etc. He is a democrat, has served several years as jus- tice of the peace, and is a popular man generall}'. In 1867 he married Miss Sarah E. Cowles, who was born in Fulton county, N. Y., in 18-19, and this union has resulted in tlie birth of ten children, namel}^ — Laura (Mrs. Whitney), Elijah, Jacob, Wil- liam (deceased), George, Elmer, Herbert and Plerman (twins), Sidney and Earl. LARS OSCAR OLSON is a native of Gothenborg, Sweden, and was _^ born August Ifi, 1841. He was reared in his native place and in his earlier days was apprenticed to the carpenters trade, which he mastered and followed for some time. After reaching maturity he was engaged a few years as a sailor on the North sea, the vessel he was on ply- ing between England, Sweden, Belgium and France. Coming to AmeiiA, he made a short stop at Hinsdale, Mass. From Hinsdale he went to Chicago, where he found his first employment in an imple- ment factory. For twenty years he made Chicago his headquarters, living there a large part of the time, his main occupa tion being bridge -building and mill- wrighting, the former of which lie followed nine years and was emploved in building, among others, the principal bridges on the Union Pacitic railroad, between Omaha and Ogden, Utah, in the years 1867-8-9. He also worked in Dunlap's National and Indiana elevators a large part of the time while in Chicago. He has worked in six- teen states in the Linion, being as far east as Massachusetts, west as Utah, north as North Dakota and south as Florida. In 1880 he bought a quarter section of land whei'e the town of Holdrege now stands for $610. Six years afterward he sold fort}' acres of it for $3,200 and within a year afterwards he sold eighty acres more for $8,800. He then moved to Phelps county, purchasing a half section in Laird township for $4,400, and still another quarter for $2,500, and built on the former place a house and barn that cost $7,500, and has since resided there and is now largely engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married. May 25, 1872, the lady whom he selected for a companion being Miss Albertina C. Magnusson, also of Gothenborg, Sweden. Six children have been born to this union, namely — Axel B, r HE LPS COUNTY. 6G7 born Marcli 27, 1873; Annie C, born Decen)ber 13,1874; Oscar, horn Septem- ber 15, 1876; Oscar Alfred, born August 1, 1881 ; Clara M., born January 31, 1888, and Iledwig, born Novenil)er 25, 1889. Of these, Otcardied the thirteenth of June, 1881, and Oscar Alfred, May 19, 188-1. J[r. Olson evinces tiie good sense that characterized him througli all his business career by remaining independent in poli- tics and keeping aloof fi-oni all political squabbles and connections. K XDKEW J. NELSON was born in Elsburg, lower Sweden, March IS, 1S54, He was rearetl on a farm and attended the common district schools, till he was seventeen years old, coming then to America, reaching New York the twenty-sixth of May, 1871, with- out a penny. He borrowed money enough to pay his passage to this countiy, his mother going his security. Going at once to Hartford, Mich., where he had acquaintances, he obtained emplojMiient on a railroad, and remained there about three months; then went to Iroquois county, III., and worked on a farm. By fall, he iiad earned enough money to pay back what he had borrowed to bring him to America. He worked in Iroquois county three years, and at the end of that time, with the money so earned, bought eighty acres of land. He disposed of this, however, four years afterwards and in the spring of 1879 came to Phelps county, Nei)r. This he found to be a wild prairie country, then very sparsely settled, but he determined to locate and go to work to secure a home. After prospecting about for some time he selected a home- stead in I'rairie townsiiip and set about to erect a sod house. He never discovered that the future county seat would be located on land ail joining his claim. He had onlv about two liundred dollars when he came to Nebraska, and aft(M- he had secured his claim and purchased feed for a team he had brought with him he had but little left. He remained on this home- stead about nine years. In the meantime, the Burlington & Missouri Eiver railroad was built through Phelps county and the county seat located at Holdrege, which place seemed to spring up out of a corn field after the railroad was built. The officials of the road concluded to locate their extensive shops at Holdrege and made Mr. Nelson an offer of eight thou sand dollars for his farm, which lay about one mile from the new town. He ac- cepted this offer and immediately invested the money in land in Laird township, where he now" owns six hundred and forty acres. Mr. Nelson was married December 25, 1870, to Miss Gusta Lindgreen. She was born in Elsburg, lower Sweden, Septem- ber, 19, 1823, coming to America \\\l\\ her parents when quite small. To this union have been born five children — Minnie S. born October 23, 1877 ; George W., born February 19, 1879; Lewis IL, born November 1, 1883; Call E., born January 11, 1886; Hattie E., born July 12, 1888. Mr. Nelson is an ardent advocate of temperance and votes the prohibition ticket. His farm where lie now lives comprises three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has recently erected a handsome residence. Every thing indi- G68 PHELPS COUNTY. cates tlirift and prosperity, and shows Mr. Nelson to be a shrewd and careful mana- ger. He deals extensively in stock and does his own shipping. He ranks among the most successful farmers of Phelps countv. EZEA EEAD, an enterprising young hardware merchant of Loomis, Phelps county, was born in Iowa, September 29, 1850. He is a son of Joiin and Ann (Sturmni) Eead, both natives of England. They emigrated to America in 1850, and came west as far as Madison county, Iowa. The senior Read was a carpenter by trade but followed farming largely. He was born February 8, 1813, and died August 23, 1888. His wife was born December 25, 1812, and died October 31, 1888. Ezra Read, the subject of this sketch, worked with his father in the milling busi- ness till he became of age, when he started out for himself, continuing in the milling and lumber business till September, 1878, when he came to Nebraska. He was one of the first settlers in Industry township, Piielps county. Taking a homestead there, he made a hole in the ground and lived in it all winter. He had to haul water over two miles. The prairie had been burnt and there was no grass or feed to be had. When he got settled on his claim he had onl}' $2.80 left to live on during the long winter. He lost his team after he had been there about two months, and had to go in debt for another in the spring. There were times when he did not know where his next meal was to come from, but he managed some way to get along. Mr. Read was married June 29, 1872, to Barbara Lukecart. She is of German de- scent and was born in Iowa August 14, 1855. Four children grace their happy home — Annie, born May l-l, 1873; Wil- liam O., born December 19, 1874 (de- ceased); Lester, born August 17, 1876, and Benjamin F., born November 15, 1888. Mr. Read sold his homestead Novem- ber, 1889, and moved to Loomis, where he opened a hardware store Deceml)er 1st, that year. He carries a splendid stock, comprising a general line of hardware, in- cluding a stock of harness. Mr. Read is a careful business man and enjoys the con- fidence of his communit}', and although he has only been in business a few months he is succeeding beyond his most sanguine expectations. Both himself and wife are zealous mem- bers of the United Brethren church, and are always found at their post when any religious duty is to be performed. JAMES LUKECART was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 14, 1S27. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Chambers) Lukecart, the former being a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey. They were mar- ried in Ohio, and moved to Illinois in 1849, locating in Coles county, where they remained till 1860, whence they moved to Marshall county, Iowa, where they remained for seven years. Both died in 1869. He was a miller, and fol- PHELPS COUNTY. 609 lowed his favorite vocation nearlv all his life. James Lukecart was inari'ietl October 15, 1S4S, to Miss Nancy C. White, who was a native of Illinois. Soon after mar- riage they settled in Marshall county, 111., where he was employed in a packing house. In 1858 he emigrated to Powshiek county, Iowa, and was among the early settlers. The nearest trading point was Iowa city, fifty miles distant. He killed wagon-loads of deer and took them to Iowa city, where he exchanged them for provisions. After four years of pioneer life in this Avild country he removed to Strong county, where he remained about eleven 3'^ears. Mr. Lukecart enlisted, October 27, 1862, in tiie Ninth Iowa infantry, and his first experience in battle was at Nashville, Tenn. He was a participant in the engagements at Tunnell hill. Lookout mountain, Coui'tland, Ala. ; Kingston, N. C. ; Goldsborough and Raleigh, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and, received his discharge July 27, 1865, at Clinton, Iowa. Mr. Lukecart came to Phelps county, Nebr., in the fall of 1878, and located on a homestead in Laird township, and built a sod house when there was not another in sight. He had some live stock, but only $2.40 in money, but, nevertheless, has been a successful farmer from the first, always having good crops. There have been born eleven children to Mr. and Mrs. Lukecart, viz. — Jolin W. (deceased), Annie, Mary Jane, Barbara, Lavina, James (deceased), Sarah, Stephen D., Jacob (deceased), Sherman (deceased), and William C. Mr. Lukecart has eighty acres of well improved land, the soil of which is ada]>ted to raising almost any- thing grown in this climate. He is a member of Glover Post, No. 111,(1. A. R., of Hoklrege, and has always affiliated with the democratic party. F^Y. KIPLINGER, an enterpris- ing young banker at Loomis, Phelps county, is a native of Plain- field, 111., and was born December 3, 1805. His father, Elias Kiplinger, is a native of Ohio and was born in 1835. He was an Evangelical minister of considerable note for several years, but has retired from active work and is residing in Iloldrege, Nebr. He has preached in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Nebraska, and was presiding elder in Indiana for twelve years. He came to Hoklrege in 1885 and preached there three years. The mother of the subject of this sketch bore the maiden name of Elizabeth R. Ruth and is a native of Germany. She was brought to America when seven years old by her parents, who located at South Bend, Ind. Mr. F. W. Kiplinger entered the North- western College at Naperville, 111., in the fall of 1882, having completed his prej)ar- atory work in the common and graded schools. He left college while in his junior year, but completed a course in the commercial department, which laid the foundation for a successful business career. After his return from college he taught school near Hoklrege, and in the fall of 1885 was called to the principalship of the Bertrand schools. In June, 1887, Mr. Kiplinger purchased 670 PHELPS COUNTY. an interest in the bank at Looinis, his partners being his father, E. L. Kiplinger, and his brotlier. Earnest Kiplinger. The banlv was establisiied in 1886 with a capi- tal of 85,000, but was reorganized in 1888 as a state bank, and tiie capital stock in- creased to 820,0U0, and is now known as the Loomis State Bank. The officers are: E. L. Kiplinger, president; F. W. Kip- linger, cashier, and Earnest Kiplinger, assistant cashier. At the close of business Februar}' 10, 1S87, the resources of the bank were shown to be $7,429.35, and on the same date, in 1890, §38,162.57. The volume of business for 1889 amounted to over $1,500,000, with collections amount- ing to $52,130. This is an excellent show- ing, considering that the town was only started in 1SS6, and speaks well for the careful management of the officers. Mr. Kiplinger was married October 19, 1888, to Miss Ida M. Morgan, daughter of Mr. M. S. Morgan of Holdi'ege. This union has been blessed with the birth of one child. Aline Marie, born July 13, 1889. Mr. Kiplinger is a stock bolder and treasurer of the Loomis Milling Com- pany, capital stock, $25,000. He and his estimable wife are members of the Evangelical church. EDWIN BARNUM is a native of Illinois and was born August 5, I 1839. He is a son of Albert and Abigal (Truesdell) Barnum, both of whom are natives of New York. The senior Bai-num was a cabinet-maker and came West, locating in IlHnois in 1839. He died in 1880. Edwin Barnum was tlie second of a family of four childi-en and reniainetl with his parents until 1861, when he turned his attention to farming for himself. He continued this favorite vocation for seven years, and then engaged in tlie grocery business at Hopedale, Tazewell county, 111. He returned to farming, however, after a few years. His next move was to Ilartsburg, in Logan county, where he bought and shipped grain for several years. He was justice of the peace and did considerable business of an official character. Mr. Barnum came to Nebraska in the spring of 1883 and settled in Hall county. He only remained there one year, how- ever, when he located at Plielps Center, then the county seat of Phelps county, and conducted a hotel as landlord. Mr. Barnum is a success and duiinghis stay in Phelps Center he did a thriving business When the count\' seat was removed to Holdrege, Mr. Barnum purchased a farm in Union township and farmed for six years. He mari'ied, October 18, 1860, Miss Mary J. Smaliey. She is a native of Michigan and was born Februar}^ 28, 1842. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children — Nellie L, born April 1, 1862 (now deceased) ; Henry, born April 8, 1864; Ada J., born July 2, 1866; Mary E., born August 26, 1868 ; Lavanche, born August 1, 1871 ; Abigal, born August 1, 1874 ; Albert, born January 10, 1877; Ross, born August 25, 1884 (deceased). Mr. Barnum moved to Loomis and began the erection of a commodious hotel about the first of November, 1889, and had it PHELPS COUNTY. 671 completed ready for the public by the first .of April, 1890. He was appointed postmaster at Loomis in December, 1889, and received his commission in January following-. He is quite well known througliout the county, and he wields considerable influence in local and political alia Irs. HENKY P. BANNING is a native of Ohio, and was born at Chilli- cothe September 28, 1835. His father was a native of Ohio, while his motlier was born in Pennsylvania. The former dipd in 1889, and the latter in 1846. Mr. Banning was seventeen years of age when he went from Ohio to In- diana, where he engaged in farming for about live years. He then emigrated to Des Moines, Iowa, and was married in Polk county, October 27, 1855, removing immediately to Stoiy county. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Banning came to Nebraska, settling in Phelps county. He took a homestead and built a sod house, but about the time he got moved into his new house a terrible prairie fire swept over the county and destroyed everything he had. Being thus entirely burnt out he was obliged to spend the winter in Harlan county. Twelve children have been born to Mr. Banning, viz. — Sarah J. (deceased), John H. (deceased), Vince, George and Lizzie (twins), Emma, Charles, Thonias, Alfred, Ada, Nettie and Mattie. Mr. Banning lias moved to Loomis, where he has just erected a neat fi-a me dwelling, but he stdl owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land south of the town. He has a splendid war record, having enlisted, July 28, 1862, in the Twent3'-third Iowa infantry. Com- pany A. The first engagement he par- ticipated in was at Magnolia church, near Vicksburg. He was also present at the terrible siege of Vicksburg, at the storm- ing of the old Spanish fort. Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black Biver bridge and Milliken's Bend. At the battle of Vicks- burg he was placed on picket guard, but got over the lines ; the rebs opened fire and the pickets were ordered to fall back; they lodged in a ditch, but a comrade jumped on him, seriously injuring him. He was discharged July 26, 1865 SAMUEL REED is one of the early settlers of Laird township, Phelps county, having homesteaded the southwest quarter of section twent^'-six in the spring of 1879. The country was then new and plenty of wild game such as antelope and deer could be found. Al- though the country presented a wild and desolate appearance, Mr. Reed came with a determination to make a home for him- self and family. He at once erected a comfortable house from sod and in this rude structure he spent his pioneer days. Mr. Reed is a native of Indiana county, Pa., and was born July 9, 182-1. He was reared on a farm, and upon arriving at the age of maturity, he concluded to adopt the jjursuit of an agriculturist. He enjoyed no special school advantages, other than the common district school of the early days. He lias made iiis own way through life and has kept himself as well G72 PHELPS COUNTY. informed as his lime and means would permit. Mr. Reed was married December 27, 1849, to Miss Sarah Stalie, a native of Indiana county, Pa. She was born Jan- uary 10, 1825. To this union have been born nine children, of whom the following are stillliving — Lydia C, John, Martha, William, Elizabeth, Susan and Joseph. In the spring of 1858, Mr. Reed removed with his family from his native county in Pennsylvania to Des Moines count\'^, Iowa. He, five years after, purchased a farm on which he continued to live till he came to Phelps count}', Nebr., in the spring of 1879. On August 22, 1862, when the war of the rebellion was raging, Samuel Reed joined the Thirty-ninth regiment Iowa volun- teers and marched to the field of action. His service covered a period of nearly three years, during which he participated in sixteen noted battles and skirmishes, among which were the battles of Lookout mountain, Parker's Cross-roads, and Al- toona pass. He was mustered out June 5, 1865, and participated in the grand review at Washington. Mr. Reed has never taken much interest in jjolitical affairs, but never- theless he has been called upon to fill various local ofiices. He has, up to recent years, always affiliated with the republi- can party, but that party having diverged from the firm views which he has alwaj's entertained, he has decided to act independ- ently hereafter. He is a member of the Alliance and a firm believer in the prin- ciples it advocates, and at present county chaplain for the same. He and his esti- mable wife each hold strong religious con- victions and have been members of the United Brethren church for many years. The one hundred and sixty acres compris- ing his homestead are now under a good state of cultivation, the soil beins as rich as that of an}' section of the county, and in point of production having never been surpassed. He expects to remain there during life with the exception of an oc- casional visit to his friends in other parts. GEORGE F. RACINE, tiie subject of this sketch, is one of the pro- gressive young men of Phelps county. He was born in Williams county, Ohio, May 2, 1817. His father, Charles Racine, was a native of New York. He was a farmer and died in 1853. His mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Racine, is a native of France and is now living. Mr. Racine has always cultivated habits of industry and economy. At the age of fifteen he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, and after serving an apprenticeship of two years, continued to work at his trade till he was twenty-seven years old. In 1869 he came to Missouri and kept a shoe store at Gallatin, Davies county. He did a thriving business for about two years. Mr. Racine was married April 14, 1870, at Stryker, Ohio, to Miss Adeline Kitzmiller, a native of Richland county, Ohio. She was born August 17, 1851. To this union have been born five child- ren — Fred, born in Davies county. Mo., February 14, 1871.; William, born in Car- roll county, Mo., May 8, 1874; Albert born in Harrison county, Mo., August 8, 1878 ; Francis O., born in Phelps county, r HELPS COUNTY. 673 Nebi'., December 27, 1883, and Josie born in Flielps county, Nebr., February 2, 1885. Mr. Eacine resided in various localities in Missouri until in the spring of 1879 he removed with his family to Phelps count}', Nebr. He took a homestead on the northeast quai'ter of section 26, where he has since resided. He built a sod house and broke fifty-five acres of sod the first season. He is a careful, judicious farmer and has always raised good crops, his average yield being fully as high as any reported in the county. His homestead, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres, is now under a good state of culti- vation and lies on a high elevation over- looking the surrounding countrj^. Mr. Racine already has an established reputa- tion as a bi'eeder of fine Poland China hogs and he has now about seventy- five registered. He is also interestino- himself in Shorl-horned cattle. He believes that the best is the cheapest, and thus far he has made it a point to secure the best. JAMES M. SKILES is a native of Schuyler count}'. 111., and was born on Christmas day, 1839. His father, Moses Skiies, was a native of Mis- souri, and emigrated to Illinois at an earl}' day. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and was a man of prominence and inrtnence in the community where he resided. He was justice of the peace for man}' years, and was elected to various other local offices. He was a farmer by occupation, a iiard-working, industrious man. He died in 1877. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Luttrell, died in 18'12. Both were members of the United Brethren church. James M. Skiies, the subject of this sketch, was one of a family of eleven children and started out to " hoe his own row " at the age of seventeen. His opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited and he had to confine himself to the advantages offered in the district schools. He worked on a farm until March 22, 1862, when he enlisted in the Third Missouri cavalry. His service was rendered mainly within the borders of Missouri, where many of the most noted skirmishes of the war took place. He was a participant in the famous skirmish at Hartsville, Mo., where great efforts were exerted on both sides. He served as corporal for sometime previous to being mustered out, and followed after such dis- tinguished leaders as Generals Warren, Steele and Merrill. He was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., in March, 1865, making his term of actual service three years. Soon after his return from the war, Mr. Skiies purchased a stock of gen- eral merchandise and kept a store at Ray Station, Schuyler county, 111. He was activelv engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at this point for about seven years, when he disposed of his store and decided to seek a home in the West. ]\[r. Skiies was among the first homesteaders in Laird township, Phelps county, N'ebr. It was early in the spring of 1879 when he first began prospecting for a claim, and, as might be expected, his countenance wore a doubtful but earnest expression. He found himself out on a boundless praii'ie almost uninhabited, and where the 074 PHELPS COUNTY. antelope and deer roamed at will. There 3'et existed a doubt concerning the future of this particular portion, which was once known as the •' Great American Desert." In appearance the country was a rolling prairie, beautiful to behold, but difficult to understand. This township is located on the Divide between the Platte and Ile})ublican rivers, and consequently it is from two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet to water. This fact discouraged many who preferred to locate near the streams. This, however, did not prevent Mr. Skiles from selecting a choice quarter section and locating on it. He had faith in the country, and set about immediatel}' to kindle the fire of civilization. He built a sod house, and began breaking the sod preparatory to planting his crojj. He came with the determination to endure the many hardships and privations inci- dent to the life of the early settle)', ir order that he might have a home for him- self and family in years to come. Mr. Skiles married April 20, 1865, the lady whom he selected for a partner being Miss Cyntliia Tracy, a native of Schu_yler county, 111. She was born April 10, 1848. Her parents were Lyman and Annie (Car- lock) Tracy, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Tennessee. Her father died in 1853, and her mother in 1882. There were ten children in the Tracy family, of whom Mrs. Skiles was the voungest. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. Skiles have been born nine children, as follows — Mary Ann, born February 23, 1867; Thomas Logan, born October 2, 1868 ; Agustus, born December 15, 1870; Eose, born January 31, 1873; Dora, born May 19, 1875; Frederick, l)orn October 11, 1877; Luther 15., born February 15, 1880; Arcadia, born March 11, 1882, and James, born December 9, 1885. Politicallv, Mr. Skiles is a republican, but he is not a professional politician. He has, however, filled various offices with credit to himself and to the entire satis- faction of his constituents. He served one term on the county board of super- visors, and has been justice of the peace for several years. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and one of its most ardent advocates. His once barren home- stead is now under a good state of culti- vation and yields an abundant harvest each year. HON. ERIC JOHNSON was born in Sweden July 15, 1838. In 1846 he moved with his parents to Amei'ica, settling in Henry county. 111. September 14. 1861, he enlisted as a pri- vate in Company D, Fifty -seventh Illinois regiment volunteers. At the organization of the companj' a month later in Camp Bureau, near Princeton, 111., he was elected first lieutenant. The first battle engaged in was in the capture of Fort Donelson and after the battle of Shiloh he was pro- moted to captain. He resigned in Sep- tember, 1862, upon the recommendation of regimental surgeon, on account of sick- ness. C'aptain Johnson married December 31, 1863, taking for a life companion Miss Mary O. Troil, who died April 23, 189(i. This union was blessed with eight children, five of whom are now living, viz. — Axel T., Sadie O., Julia C., Eric Sixtus and Earnest PHELPS COUNTY. G75 G., aged respectively twenty-one, nineteen, sixteen, tliirteen, antl ten. Captain Johnson entered tlie journal- istic field in 186-i as editor and proprietor of tlie Galva lIU)wis Union, launching upon the sea of journalism in 1869. The ininois Swede, at Galva, Illinois, which was afterwards changed to jVi/a Verlden, and moved to Chicago in 1871, and is to- day the leading Swedish paper in Amer- ica, being now published under the name of Suensl'u Tribanen. Captain Johnson never had the advan- tage of any higher grade of education than a few winters in the pioneer district schools of Illinois from 1849 to 1854.^ He cast his first presidential vote in 1860, for Abraham Lincoln and voted for him again in ISC.I-. In 1868 he voted for U. S. Grant; in 1ST2, he voted for Horace Greeley; in 1876, he lost his vote for president by a short residence in Kansas; in 1880, he voted for Garfield, renewing Ijis allegiance to the republican part}', but he has never been a strong party man since 1872. In 1871 he was journal clerk of the Illi- nois House of Representatives. In July, 1885, he became a resident of Nebraska, and for one 3'^ear edited the Sti'omsljurg Repvhlican. Moving to Ilold- rege in Juh', 1S86, he started the Uoldreije Citizen, remaining on tiiat paper until December, 1887. In April, ISSS, he took charge of the Iloldrege I'rogress, of which he has been the editor antl business man- ager up to date. The I'rogress has for several years been the official paper of the county, and has an actual circulation of one thousand and one hundred. It is now ])ublisiie(l by Eric Johnson & Son. This same firm commenced, April 16, 1800, the publication astinen, a |)aper printed in the Swedish language devoted to prohibition, and has a circulation of five thousand. In the fall of ISSS, Captain Johnson was elected to the legislature from Phelps county, as an independent candidate, by a plurality of one hundred and forty-seven. T. M. Hopwood was the regular repui)li- can nominee and James J. Ehea the dem- ocratic nominee, the county giving Harri- son a majority over all of six hundred and twentv-five votes. Johnson's career in the legislature was so acceptable to the peo- ple of Phelps county, irrespective of party, that upon his return he was given a sur- prise at his residence by a large number of his constituents, many of whom had worked and voted against him when a candidate, and presented him with a purse of money and an elegant gold watch, bearing the following inscription: " From the people of Phelps county to Captain Eric Johnson for honest and faithful work as legislator in 18S9." MC. BRADLEY, editor of the Iloldrege Citizen, Holdrege, Phelps county, Nebr., is a na- tive of Waterbury, Vt. Lie was reared in his native place and in Reading, Mich., whitlier his parents moved when he was small. He learned the printei-'s trade in Reading and began his career as a jour- neyman in the office where he learned his trade. He came to Nebraska in 1875 and located in Seward county, taking a place as a compositor on the Bcporter, published at Seward, soon afterwards becoming fore- man. In the fall of 1878 he came to 676 PHELPS CO UNTY. Phelps county, which was then beginning to settle up, and took a claim in Industry township in the southwestern part of the county. In 1884 he returned to Seward county and worked on the Fe^wrter till the spring of 1887, when he came back to Phelps county, located at Holdrege and was one of a number of the leading busi- ness men of that place interested in buy- ing out the Holdrege Republican and the Citizen, consolidated the ])lants, formed a joint stock company and began the publi- cation of the new Citizen. Mr. Bradley later became editor and business manae:er, and as such has had practical control of the paper and all its affairs. The Citizen is a seven-column quarto weekly, devoted to the best interests of the town of Hold- rege, Phelps county and southwestern Nebraska. It is republican in politics, but stands fearless for tlie riglit in ail things It was formerly published semi-weekly and also ran an edition in the Swedish language, but these features have been abandoned, the patronage not being suffi- cient to warrant the additional expenditure in keeping them up. In addition to its newspaper patronage the Citizen office has one of the largest job-work depart- ments in the soutinvestern part of the state and turns out a very superior quality of work in that line. Its phmt will invoice between ^6,000 and $8,000, and it does a thriving business all round. In the build- ing up of the Citizen establishment, while ably assisted by his associates in business, the bulk of the work has necessarily fallen to Mr. Bradley, wlio has had the general management of the paper and its business and who is the practical man of the con- cern. For this labor Mr. Bradley is well qualified by nature and training, being a steady, sober, industrious young man, of good business habits, possessing a special taste for his work and having come, as all successful newspaper men have, from the position of "devil" up to editor. WT. LINDSAY. There are probably few old settlers in southwestern Nebraska who have been more prominently connected with the newspaper interests of this sec- tion, or who have been more active in local politics than Mr. Lindsay, now of the Holdrege Nugget Mr. Lindsa}' came to Nebraska in March, 1873, and settled at that date in Harlan county, since which time he has resided in Harlan, Fur- nas and Phelps counties and is well and favorably known, not onl\' for liis per- sonal character, but for his public labors. His chief labors of a public nature have been in the newspaper field, and in that field he is known as a hustler. Mr. Lindsay came from Iowa to Ne- braska. His native state, however, is Ohio. He was born in Guernse\' county, that state, in 1847, and was reared in that county and in Rock Island county, 111., whither his parents moved when he was young. Going to Warren county, Iowa, in 1860, as a member of his father's family, he there began the race of life. Ilavino' been reared on the farm, his first pursuits were of an agricultural nature. He worked on his father's farm for some years, and then in the fall of 1868 he mar- ried Miss Jennie Adams, of Osceola, Iowa, and settled down in earnest to the solu- tion of the bread and butter problem. PHELPS COUN'IY. 677 He followed farming in Warren county, Iowa, till the spring of 1873, when he came to Nebraska and took a home- stead six miles north of the present town of Orleans, in Harlan count}^ Tliere he passed seven years in the toilsome pursuit of his fortunes amid the grasshopper scourges, the drouths, hot winds, blizzards and other discourage- ments, until, wearying of the struggle, he gave it up and in 1880 moved into the town of Orleans, where he engaged in clerking for a year or so. In 1882 he moved to Oxford and in the fall of that year founded the Register, a live, seven- column folio, republican, weekly news- ])aper, wiiich he conducted about two years, then sold out. Not long afterward he started the Standard, a publication simihir to the Eegister, and consolidated the two papers, running his new paper under the title of the Standard. This he conducted till the fall of 1888, giving to the people of Harlan and Furnas coun- ties a sheet eminently worthy of them as well as of the wide-awake, progressive lit- tle town where it was jiublished. In De- cember, 1889, Mr. Lindsay leased the IIol- drege JShigget of Mr. J. M. Hopwood, the veteran newspaper man of Phelps county, which he at once took charge of and which he is now running. The Nxigget is not onl}' the oldest newspaper in Phelps county, but it is one that has shown itself equal to the demands of the enterprising and public-spirited citizens for whom it is published, and it is needless to sa\' that it has not fallen off in interest or public favor since it went into the hands of its present managei'. Mr. Lindsay is a news- paper man possessing many of the best qualities for his calling. lie has the nat- ural acumen for the business, sometimes called the "newspaper nose"; he is an in- dustrious worker, a man of sound sense and good taste and a good writer. And above all he is devoted to his calling and pursues it with enthusiasm. lie has a host of friends and of course is not with- out enemies. No honest, earnest laborer in the wide field of politics and newspaper life ever was without enemies. WP. HALL, attorney at law, Holdrege, Phelps county. Neb., is a native of Illinois, and was born February 6, 1850. He received his education at the poor boy's university', the common-schools of his native state. At the early age of thirteen he began life for himself as a farm laborer. Having a natural taste for books, he spent his leisure hours reading such works as came in his way, and in this manner accumulated a considerable store of knowledge of a gen- eral kind. He began reading law with Judge M. T. Layman, Jacksonville, 111., in 1871. He was admitted to the bar at Springfield, and started at once to the West in search of a location. He settled at Holdrege, in 1884, just as that place was starting on its career of prosperity. At that time, however, there was not a brick house, school house or side-walk in the town. He is a public-spirited citizen and labors assiduously in building up his city and developing the surrounding county. In April, 1889, he was elected mayor of his adopted city. Plis sterling integrity, mental and moral worth brought him this honor without solicitation on his part. 678 PHELPS COUNTY. lie is a member of the firm of Hall & Patrick, leading attorneys of Holdi-ege. In 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah, daiigliter of William Mclntyre, a native of Kentucky. Four children — Walter E., Ruel Glen, Mabel and Delia, shed the sun- light of happiness in their elegant home. Mr. Hall, by dint of industry, enjoys a large and growing practice. Republican in politics, yet he is very popular with all parties. FRANK HALLGREN was born December 1, 1852, in Ostergotland, Sweden. He is a son of Ham pus Y. Ilallgren. Having heard of the El- dorados in America, it stimulated a desire in him to seek his fortune in the land of promise ; so, at the age of thirteen, he kissed the loved ones of home good-bye, and, bidding a long farewell to his native land, single-handed and alone he set sail for Columbia, a land of freedom and equality. He made the long voyage of the Atlantic alone, not a familar face nor a welcoming smile to greet the brave- hearted boy when he stepped ashore at Castle Garden, New York cit\^ He lin- gered not a da}' in the great American metropolis, but set his face westward, stopping in Henry county, 111., where he had a brother and other relatives, and began life in the new world as a farm lad. He came with his brother, Leander Hall- gren, who was traveling agent for the Union Pacific Railroad ComjJan}^ to Ne- braska in 1876, and located in Phelps county. Here they were appointed land agents for the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany, and the subject of this notice was employed to look after the interests of the company in Phelps and Kearney counties. The railroad company would solicit excur- sion parties from the older settled states, and Mr. Hallgren would sliow them the advantages of Nebi'aska lands for agri- cultural purposes. He delighted to tell the homeseeker of the wonderful fertility and depth of soil, and through his efforts he was instrumental in attracting attention to that portion of Nebraska, and thus de- veloping and advancing the growth of Phelps and Kearney counties. In the meantime he located a timber claim and homestead for his own benefit, in the center of Phelps county, which he has made final proof on and still owns. In 1879 he married Miss Hulda Sampson, an old school-mate of his in the old coun- try. In 1885 he moved to Iloldrege, Nebr., and in 1886, without solicitation or effoi't on his part, he was elected treasurer of Phelps county. He has been a successful man in every department of life. A hand- some fortune now ministers to his wants, for which he deserves great credit, coming to this country when a small boy, with no capital save an abundance of energy and thrift. He stands high in financial and political circles. He is vice-president of the Iloldrege National Bank, in which he is a stockholder and a member of its board of directors. His handsome residence in the northern part of the prosperous little city of Ilold- rege is a monument to the enterprise and thrift of its popular owner. Its luxurious a]>pointments and furnishings, combined with the genialit}' of its host and the domestic harmony of his interesting family, render it a model home, and one PHELPS COUNTY. 679 wliose portals are always open lo his legion of friends. Tiiere is a lesson in the life of Frank Hailgren for the emulative youth. His life is a model for his children to follow. He is a striking example of the self-made man. He deserves the success that has at- tended him. DR. SAMUEL F.SANDERS. J.T. Sanders, the father of Doctor Sanders, was a native of Eng- land, who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He was a lawyer of emi- nence, and, embracing Christianity while the "warm and licjiiid dews of youth were full upon him," he became an expounder of the common law, devoting a great deal of his time in the advocacy of his Master's cause. His hospitable home was the re- sort of the ministers of his acquaintance and was justly termed the "Shepherds' Rest." He was an exemplai-y christian gentleman and his dutiful son is following in the footsteps of his pious father. In 1878 he was called to that rest, the prep- aration for which he had devoted a long and useful life. The mother of Doctor Sanders is a sis- ter of Judge J. M. Beck, Iowa's most eminent jurist, and is still living at Busliell, 111. She is a member of the Primitive Baptist church, an organization noted for the pure, sweet devotion of its members to the teachings of the Bible. At a ripe age she is waiting for the summons to come wiien she shall join her devoted iuisband in the enjoyment of the fruition of hope in the great beyond. The subject of this sketcli was born April 16, 1845, and received his literary training at Abingdon, 111. He studied medicine with Dr. W. T. Wright, of Bushell, 111., attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, and graduated in the spring of 1868 ; after- wards he graduated at the Missouri Med- ical College at St Louis in 1872. His desire to avail himself of later discoveries in the science of medicine and surgery ]irompted him to take a course of instruction at the re- nowned Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1881. He began the prac- tice at the town of Goodhope, McDon- ough county. 111., where he continued to enjoy the fruits of a liberal patronage till 1888. He decided to move West at that date and accoi'dingly came to this state, settling in Holdrege, Piielps county. He at once took a high stand in his profession where he located and lie has enjoyed a constantly increasing practice. So rap- idly has his business grown that he has of lace confined himself to the practice in Holdrege and to office work. On May 8, 1871, Dr. Sanders married Miss Matilda A. Morris, daughter of Thomas Morris, of McDonough county. 111. Three children have been born to this union, UlaM., Frederick M., and Roy A. Dr. Sanders and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in the affairs of which they take an active and conspic- uous part, contributing to its support and otherwise aiding in the promotion of its work. Dr. Sanders is an elder in this church, a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Not only does he stand higli in his profession, but he occupies a front 680 PHELPS COUNTY. rank as a citizen and moves in the highest circles of society, culture and refinement. Dr. Sanders has a pleasing address, refined manners, and is a constant student. When not engaged in business connected with his ]irofession, he can always be found among the books of his well se- lected library. Generous, without being extravagant, he is always ready toaid any legitimate enterprise, and responds to all calls for charity. Iloldrege is fortunate in being able to number such a man among her thriving and enterprising citi- zens. JOHN P. NELSON was born March 3, 18,55, in Jonkopings Lon, Sweden, and is a son of Nels and Karrie John- son. He came to America in 1868 and located in Cannon River Falls, Good- hue country, Minn., where he followed farming. In 1877 he immigrated to Ne- braska, settling at Phelps Center, Phelps county, where he took a timber claim. He accepted a position in a mercantile estab- lishment and moved to Kearney, Nebr., in 1878. While there a fire broke out in the business portion of the citj', which he helped to subdue, and by his heroic efforts was instrumental in preventing a destruc- tive confiagration. The exposure he underwent at this fire so impaired his health that he was not able to do any thing for more than a year. After regain- ing his health he entered the employ of Mr. G. Kramer, at Kearney. Mr. Kramer did an extensive mercantile business, own- ing establishments in various parts of the country. He established himself at once in the confidence of his employer, which was demonstrated in 18S4 when Mr. Kra- mer put Mr. Nelson in charge of a branch house at Holdrege. His employer in tlie meantime having retired from business, our subject, Ledlie and Rea began business in the same line. His fair dealing and in- tegrity made him ver}' popular among his customers. Business men looked upon him as a man of more than average busi- ness ability', and, looking over the field for an available man for county clerk, he was chosen by his part\' to fill that position in 1887, and began the discharge of his official duties January 5, 1888. He is a painstak- ing, accommodating and thoroughly effi- cient officer, as the neatness and accuracy of the count}^ records and his popularity will bear witness. His official career was endorsed in 1889 by a re-election to the same position, and he will no doubt con- tinue to meet the confidence of his constit- uents as long as he is retained in office. He is the right man in tlie riglit jtlace. He was married November 13, 1880, to Miss Hilda, daughter of Johan Johnson and a native of Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Free Lutheran church, m the afl'airs of which tliey take an active part. Mr. Nelson affiliates with the republican party and is capable, hon- est and progressive, and, being a thorough business man and public-spirited citizen, he has a bright future before him. FD. TRAYIS was born in Indiana county. Pa., April 12, 1830, and is a son of William and Jane Travis, both natives, also, of Pennsylvania. His fatiier engaged in agricultural pur- PHELPS COUNTY. 681 suits all his life. The maiden name of her mother was Jane McPlierson. They moved to Illinois, where they passed a great part of their lives and where they died, having been life-long members of the Presbyterian church. The subject of this biographical notice is tiie fourth of seven children. He received his education at the Glade Run Academy, Armstrong county, Pa., and afterward located at Paxton, 111., where he engaged in the mercantile and grain business. He subsequentl}' opened a branch house at Pelleville, 111. In 1884 he immigrated to Nebi'aska and located in Holdrege and engaged in the real estate business, dividing his time between Hold- rege and Kearney. AY hen Cleveland was elected President, Mr. Travers was appointed postmaster at Holdrege, serv- ing the people faitiifully till the close of that administration. His sterling integ- rity and executive ability were at once recognized by his fellow-citizens by his election in 1889 as treasurer of Phelps count}'. Being a democrat and his party being largely in the minority, his election indicates the appreciation of the man by the people of his adopted county. As the political sentiments of his constituents is largely opposed to his own, he has the satisfaction of knowing that his selection to fill this important position was made from purely personal qualilications and the unqualified confidence in his ability as a man and character as a citizen. His administration of the county's finances has not only been satisfactor}' to his sup- porters, but pre-eminently so to those opposed to him politically. On September IS, 1SS7, he married Mrs. L. J. Evans, a lady eminently qualified to bear him the companionship he sought with her hand. Mr. Travis is personally verj' popular and is one of Holdrege's representative citizens and a polished gentleman. He takes an active interest in all the affaii's of his adopted home and that place is justly proud of him. CA. BOEHL. The parents of this gentleman, Carl and Mary Boehl are natives of Germany and came to America in 1856, locating in Iowa. They moved to Nebraska in 1858, settling in Hall county, where they acquired large property interests. They subsequently located at Holdrege, where the senior Mr. Boehl ranks high socially and financially, being one of the earliest pioneers of cen- tral Nebraska. The subject of this notice was born in Grand Island, this state, March 6, 1S59, and was the first child born in that pros- perous little city. The Land Association, in honor of the event, deeded a lot in that city to the pioneer baby, which has been improved by the erection thereon of a substantial brick block, the rentals from which bring in a handsome income. He was married in 1887 to Miss Carrie Hugland, daughter of M. Hugland of Phelps county. He is one of Holdrege's substantial business men, being a member of the firm of Boehl &, Son, who are the proprietors of the Empire Eoller Mills, the products of which have gained an exten- sive .sale until they have nearly monopo- lized the trade of that section. They also own the Sappa Valley Mills, located at 682 PHELPS COUNTY. Orleans, this state. Besides their large milling interests, the firm has large invest- ments in Holdrege real estate. Holdrege is destined to become a city of no mean proportions and then this property will be the means of adding to the already in- creasing fortune of this firm. For finan- cial abilit}' the firm of Boehl & Son rank high. The junior member is a hard worker, possessing fine executive ability. No citi- zen of this bustling little city has done more for the development and improvement of Holdrege and Phelps county than he. lie is liberally inclined to all public enter- prises, giving freely of his means and freely exercising his superior judgment. He possesses to a remarkable degree the enei'o'v and snap that have been such wotiderful elements in the subjugation and development of the West. Guided by the more mature experience of his father, he is quick to heed his advice. Father and son are potent factors in the unparalleled growth of their adopted city. In financial busi- ness and social circles no one stands higher than C. A. Boehl. GUSTAVITS NOEBERG. The fatlierof Gustavus]Srorberg,E. U. JSforberg, is a native of Sweden^ who emigrated to the new world in 1842. He settled in Michigan, but is now a resi dent of Toulon, 111. The subject of this sketch was born December 6, 1853. He was educated at Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio, and began the study of law under the super- vision of Hon. T. E. Milchrist, of Galva, 111., for several years United States district attorney. He also pursued his studies under the tuition of Martin Shel- lenberger, of Toulon, 111. After having acquired a thorough knowledge of the elementary principles of the law, he was admitted to the bar in the supreme court of that state. He came to Nebraska in 1883 and began the practice of his chosen profession at Phelps Center, Phelps county, whence he removed to Holdrege, in December, 1883, continuing the practice of the law at that place. His legal ability and moral worth as a citizen were soon recoo-nized. He forged his wav steadilv to the front, and was elected county attor- ney in 1886. He gave almost universal satisfaction as an officer and was re- elected in 1888. He married Miss Carrie E. Burnett, a native of New York and a daughter of C. H. Burnett, Esq., now a citizen of Holdrege. Mr. Norberg is very popular among his agricultural friends, in whose afl'airs he takes great interest, and is an earnest advocate of the diversifica- tion of farm products. Possessing an ample store of snap and energj', he is a recognized leader in matters of public import. Endowed with a keen apprecia- tion of the busy scenes of active life, he nevertheless loves the peaceful quiet of his cheerful home life. The cares and responsibilities of his professional career he banishes from his mind the moment he crosses the threshold of his delightful home. A J. CARLSON is one of the early settlers of Phelps county, having located there in 1877. He is a native of Sweden, and immigrated to America in 1870. By economy and PHELPS COUNTY 683 industi-y he has accumulated enough of this world's goods to satisfy the wants of life. Pleasantly located on a beautiful farm, he is spending his days in the happy quiet of farm life. Although thoroughly in sympathy with the progressive, big- hearted West, and identified with the sub- stantial development of his adopted country, yet native ties, the duty of the religion of the soil, turns his heart to the home of his childhood and the associates of his youth across the water. He desires to go back and look again upon the familial' haunts where rustic jo\'s gilded the monotony of peasant life in years long agone — happy years, halcyon days — the pleasures of which crystallize the frost-woik of sweet day dreams of the present, called recollections of other days. PETEK J. MOON. The ancestors of the subject of this sketch fig- ured conspicuously in the wars that antedated and that out of which was born the Republic which has been and is the wonder of political organizations in the world's history. His paternal grand- father served with distinction in the French and Indian wars; the grandfatlier, Williain Moon, a native of New York, was a Tlevolutionar}' patriot, and died at the age of seventy-seven, from a wound re- ceived in the war of independence. The father, Philip Moon, was a farmer, re- moving to Michigan in 1828, being one of the pioneers of that state, where he died at tiie ripe age of eighty. Peter J. Moon was born in New York, May 7, 1818. His mother, whose maiden name was Charlotte Johnson, was a native of Vermont and died in Michigan. He began his career as a farmer in the Lake State. In 1880, he came to Nebraska, settling in Phelps county. Was married June 9, 1839, to Miss Harriet Tomlinson. She died April 4, 1881, and was buried in Harlan county, this state, leaving surviv- ing her venerable husband and six chil- dren to mourn her loss. Mr. Moon is one of Phelps county's respected citizens. He is justly proud of the glorious achieve- ments of his ancestors. In politics he is a democrat of the Jackson school. He is now in his seventy-third year, having lived out the time allotted to man — three score and ten years. Although healthy and vigorous for one of his age, 3'et in the nature of things he will not long survive the inevitable decree that awaits us all. Three quarters of a centuiy, happy, peace- ful years, lie behind him, and ere long he most emigrate to that unknown country to meet again the beloved wife of his youth and the solace of his declining years. HS. MOON was born in 1840, in Van Buren county, Mich., and is a son of Peter J. and Harriet Moon. A sketch of his father appears in this work. The subject of this notice moved to Nebraska in 1879 and settled in Adams county, wiiere he resided a 3'ear and then moved to Phelps county and h; s since lived there. He took a home- stead on settling in Piielps and has been engaged in farming since that date. He 684 PHELPS COUNTY. was reared on a farm and has been identi- fied witli farming interests all his life, and now owns one of the best farms in Phelps county and a fine one also in Har- lan county. In 1866 he married Miss Susan, daugh- ter of Thomas Ensign, of Ohio. Three children have been born to this union — Leroy, Arthur and Eugene. Mr. Moon is an old soldier, having enlisted in the Union army in 1862, enter- ing the Eighty-Ninth Illinois infantry. His first service was in Kentucky, under Gen. Buell. He was in the engagements at Perry ville. Stone river, Liberty gap, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Missionary rid"e. He was wounded in the latter engagement hy a gunshot in the left arm and hand, and was sent to the hospital, but as soon as he recovered sufficiently to get about he ran away from the hos- pital and rejoined his command at Kene- saw, Ga., and participated in the battles around Atlanta. He was also with Gen. Thomas at the engagements at Franklin and Nashville, in the former of which he saw the distinguished Confederate Gen- eral, Pat Cleburne, fall mortally wounded. He was in the memorable retreat from Pulaski to Nashville, where Thomas made his stubborn resistance to Hood, winning the battle of Nashville. Mr. Moon was mustered out of the service soon after this, the term of his enlistment having expired. He carries with him, as memen- toes of his services in behalf of the Union, two scars made by the enemy's guns. In the quiet, peaceful battle for existence he has been equally as suc- cessful as in those for the honor of his country's Hag. GUY CRANDALL, the well-known horseman of Holdrege, Phelps county, is a native of Fulton county, 111., and was born October 20, 1857. He was reared in his native count}', and in Schuyler county, whither his parents moved when he was but twelve years of age. Most of the education he obtained was got in contact with the practical affairs of life. His father was a breeder and dealer in fine horses, and young Guy, inheriting much of his father's love for horse flesh, began handling stock when a lad, going on the road as a buyer and shipper at the age of fifteen. He accumulated but little book lore ; but he was a deep student of the markets and a close observer of stock. While other lads were pourmg over his- tory, locating the geographical positions of the remote places of earth, digging out cube roots and constructing philosophical essays on the duties and responsibilities of youth, Gu\' w^as hunting up the pedi- grees of famous horses, running down the different strains, stud^'ing the sti-ong and weak points of an animal and speeding his favorites around the track to test their mettle and see what there was in them. Increasing years and observation brought increased knowledge, and j^oungCrandall came to be a splendid judge of horse flesh, an expei't buyer and seller, long before he reached his majorit}'. It is hard to say when he began business as a man of his own affairs. He grew into business as naturally as he grew into manhood, and there has never been a time since he was old enough to sit on a horse, that he has not had an interest of some sort in horses. He is now one of the largest dealers in horses in southwest Nebraska, PHELPS COUNTY. 685 aiul his reputation as a fancier of liorse fiesh is not confined to his own section either. He is known abroad. His splen- did stables at Holdregenow contain some of the finest strains of blood to be found in the West. Mr. Crandall's judgment of a horse is unerring, and many people buy stock of him solely on his knowledge and recommendation. As the success he has attained would indicate, he is also a shrewd business man, capable of succeed- ing at anything else to which he might turn his attention as assiduously as he has to horses. He stands high in the commu- nity where he lives and is universally popular. He is a practical, matter-of-fact, jolly, good-natured fellow, with a hearty taking manner, a broad smile and a help- ing hand for all. Mr. Crandall has resided in Holdrege since 1884, and there is no man who has become better known, or who has made more friends in that time among the citizens of Phelps county, than he has. He has a pleasant home and an interesting family, having married in 1SS3, the lad\' whom he took to share his fortunes being Miss Lulie McCreary, of Schuvler county, 111. A E. WHITCOMB, born in the town of Windsor, Vt., April 29, 185-i, is a son of Daniel and Arvilla (Adams) Whitcomb, natives also of the "Green Mountain State," and de- scendants of old New England stock. His parents immigrated to the West when the subject of this sketch was a child, settling in Kock county, Wis. There his earlier years were spent and there he began the race of life. He was brought up on his father's farm and his first pur- suits were those of afjriculture. Taking a position with the Eclipse Wind Mill Company of Wisconsin, in 1871 at the age of seventeen, he remained in their em- ploy for a period of seven years, engaged in selling wind-mills and pumps, master- ing all the arts of the craft during this time and getting a world of experience and valuable business training, as any shrewd, wide-awake young fellow might be expected to do. He came to Nebraska in 1878 and located in Phelps count}'^, where he opened an establishment of his ovvn and began selling wind-mills, pumps, tubular wells, etc. Moving to Holdrege when that place started, he enlarged his stock with his growing trade and has -since done a thriving business. He owns a large store and carries a full line of sup- plies in his line. Mr. Whitcomb has built up a very desirable business in his adopted town and county and is a man of recog- nized business talent and integrit}'. He has considerable real estate intei'ests in Phelps county and is actively identified with the general growth and development of his communit}'. He is a progressive, enterprising public-spirited citizen and has abundant confidence in the future of Holdrege and Phelps county. He has never aspired to any public position, being a man of quiet tastes and strict business habits. Like all good citizens he keeps up with local, state and national questions and the progress of general events. He has his opinions and when occasion de- mands he does not hesitate to express them. He is a stanch republican and usually votes that ticket. Mr. Whitcomb has been twice married ; 686 PHELPS COUNTY. his lirst wife Miss Rosa Farnham, his sec- ond Mrs. Mary Lepper, both of Davis county, Iowa. He has an interesting fam- Wy and a pleasant home. RT. MoGREW, president of the First National Bank of Holdrege, Phelps count}', is a native of Illinois and was born October 25, 1848. He was reared in Shelby county, 111., whither his parents moved when he was small, and he received his education in the common schools of that county, finishing at Farmersburg Academy, at Farraers- burg, Ind. He was brought up on a farm and his earlier years were spent in agricul- tural pursuits. He came to Nebraska in 1878, located at Hastings, Adams county, and went into the wind-mill, sewing ma- chine and pump business, at which he con- tinued till January, 1882. He then wont to Phelps Center, Phelps county, Nebr., and oriranized the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which he conducted till July, 1884, orffanizing at that date the First National Bank of Holdrege, in which he placed the bulk of his funds and with which he has been prominentlv connected since. The First National Bank started with a capital of $50,000. A. L. Clark was the first president and R. T. McGrew first cashier. There have been several changes in the working force of the bank since its organi- zation, but Mr. McGrew has been a heavy stock-holder in it at all times, and has been its president since the fall of 1887, and a member of its board of directors, and in whatever official capacity he has served he has had the practical management of the bank's affairs. The capital has been increased to $60,000 and there has accumulated a surplus of $30,- 000. The following figures taken from the last published statement show the bank's condition : RESOURCES. LIABILITIES. Loaos 8138,703.15 Capital stock Over-drafts .... 240.99 Surplus U.S. Bonds 1,5,000.00 Bkng. House 16,B7S.35 Prms. Paid 2,013.90 Redpt. Fund 675.00 Cash & sght 30,8S3.59 30 Undivided pfts.... 3] Circulation 13, Deiiosits 80,488.82 Re-discounts 17,659.10 ,000.00 ,(I00.W) ,278.21 500.00 8204,926.13 $204,926.13 The subject of this sketch is now pres- ident of the bank, P. O. Hedlund is vice- president and S. E. McNaul is cashier. The First National is one of the solid financial institutions of Phelps county, es- tablished upon a firm basis and recognized as doing a safe, conservative banking business. The prominence it has attained, as a business factor in the community where it is, has been the result of the un- tiring energy and splendid executive ability of its able chief executive. Mr. McGrew is a trained man of affairs, he has devoted himself strictl}' to business all his fife, and. knowing himself as not many men do, he has set the proper limits to his aspirations. He has grown along the line of his natural tastes and gifts, and has industriously used his talent. So liv- ing, his career has of necessity been one of success, and he has escaped many of the disappointments and heart-aches which come to those who strive for what is the unattainable for them in this life. Mr. McGrew married in December, 1884, Miss Carrie L. Anderson, daughter of Olaf Anderson, of Chicago, 111. He has a pleasant home and an amiable family. In personal appearance Mr. McGrew is striking, in manner captivating, hearty PHEirS COUNTY. 687 and full of that indefinable force some- times called magnetism, by which the stronger draw the weaker natures around them. His acquaintance wears well, his friendships are of the warmest nature. / P. ERICKSOX, one of the repre- sentative business men of the 1. V town of Holdrege, Phelps county, was born near Linkoping, Sweden, No- veml)er 20, 18i6. He came to America in 1866, and stopped among some of his countrymen at Galesburg, 111., wiiere he lived for a year and a half, going thence to Iowa and locatincf in Burlington. He lived in Burlington for thirteen years and was engag-ed there in the mercantile busi- ness, first as clerk, and afterwards as pro- prietor. He then moved to Nebraska and lived for awhile in Kearney, Buffalo county, settling, in 1883, in Holdrege, Phelps county, where he now resides. Dur- ing the first two ye.ars of his residence in Holdrege, he was engaged in the mercantile business, but ^juitting this he was appoint- ed deputy county treasurer in 1885, which position he held one year, going then into the Commercial State Bank as assistant cashier and remaining there for more than two years. January 1, 1890, he opened an office in Holdrege and began lending money on personal and chattel security at which he is now engaged. Mr. Erickson is one of the successful men of Holdrege. He is a clear, level- headed financier, a man of intelligence and discriminating judgment, well })osted in commercial and banking matters, a competent accountant, attentive to busi- ness and a polite and accommodating gen- tleman. He is po])ular among his fellow- citizens, as is evidenced by the positions of trust he has held, and is a liberal- minded, progressive, public-spirited man. Mr. Erickson married in 1874. his wife before marriage being Miss Bettie Ander- son, of Burlington, Iowa. Two daughters gladden his household, Melia and Olivia. In politics Mr. Erickson has always affiliated with the republicans, being a stanch believer in republican principles and methods in dealing both with state and national questions. He is a zealous Mason, having taken all the degrees up to and includmg the Knight Templar and Shrine, and he and his estimable wife are both members of the Evangelical church and liberal contributors to all charitable purposes. EDWARD W. ROBERTS. In writing of the men who have been actively identified with tiie settling of Phelps county and the found- ing, growth and development of the town of Holdrege, mention must be made of Edward W. Roberts, who, as contractor and builder, has done more towards build- ing up the town of his adoption than any other man in it. Mr. Roberts, although a comparatively 3'oung man, has led an active, not to saj' laborious, life, and nowhere are the fruits of his labor to be seen in greater abundance or to better advantage than in the proud and pros- perous little town of Holdrege, where he has resided for the last few 3'ears. Edward W. Roberts was born in the town of Union, Rock county, Wis., Octo- G88 PHELPS COUNTY. ber 6, 1S4S. He is next to the youngest of a family of seven children boru to Edward and Ann (Thomas) Eoberts, the others being three sons and three daughters — Elizabeth, William, John, Sarah, Kate and Albert. His parents were both natives of Wales, came to this country, were married in Ohio, and settled in Wisconsin, where the father died in 1852 ; the mother resides in Duluth, Minn., with her daughter Kate. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and followed different occupa- tions till he was twenty -three, years old, at which time he went to work at the car- penter's trade, mastering the craft and afterwards working for some years as a journeyman. In 1879 he came to Nebraska and located at Minden, in Kearney county, soon after that town was started and while Phelps county was still but sparsely settled and the present town of Holdrege was a bare, unbroken prairie. At Mindjn he worked some at his trade and was also for awhile postmaster. Moving to Holdrege when that town started on its career of prosperity about 1884, Mr. Koberts began contracting and building, and he has followed that successfully up to the present time. No man ever visited the town of Holdrege without being struck at once not only with its clean, neat, thrifty, prosperous appearance, but also with the splendid structures, resi- dences and business blocks that line its principal streets and adorn its expansive suburbs. These structures are not the common cheap buildings made of ship- lap, putty and paint, usual in the new Western towns ; they are large, commodi- ous, well constructed, tastily designed buildings, made of the best material, lum- ber, brick and stone. Most of these rep. resent the industrj% ingenuity and skilled labor of Edward W. Roberts and they are no greater credits to the enterprise and public-spirit of their owners than they are monuments to Mr. Roberts' skill as a work- man and his ability as a man of business. But in building up a town and community Mr. Roberts is the ritrht man in the rio;ht place ; for he is not only a skilled me- chanic, with a thorough knowledge of his callins:, but he is an intelligent man of business, a live, progressive, public-spirited citizen. He takes an active interest in all local matters of public concern, and, being a man of strong personal energy, accus- tomed to pushing ahead in his own affairs, he naturally adopts the same methods in dealing with public matters, and like all men of that kind he frequently finds him- self placed at the fore-front in public en- terprises and not unfrecjuenth' pushed into positions where energy and executive ability are in demand. He is now chair- man of the board of supervisors of Phelps count}', member of the board of education of the city schools of Holdrege, and one of the city aldermen. Being a man who does not stand back when work is to be done and a good man to lay out work for others, he finds plenty to do. Mr. Roberts is a man of family and finds not the least of the pleasures of this life in his home, surrounded by his wife and chil- dren. He married April 2, 1871, Miss Mary E. Child, who is a native of the town of Barford, Stanstead county, Prov- ence of Quebec. The fruits of this union have been eight children, and as a result of thecare witli which Mr. Roberts has looked after those matters of family history con cernino' which his descendants will be phi: LPS COUNTY 689 most interested in years to come, the names and exact dates of the births of his children and of the deaths of those whom he has lost can here be given. These are — Loova May, born January 28, 1873, at Union, Rock county, AVis., 1:15 p. m.; Eddie Carlton, born September 14,1874,at Union, Hock county. Wis., 12:30 p. m., and died September 18, 1875, at 1:15 p. m.; Emer}' lianiville, born December 5, 1875, at 1:15 A. M.; Arthur Samuel, born November 22, 1878, at Union, Rock county. Wis., 12:20 p. M.; Ray Ellsworth, born August 15, 1881, at Minden, Kearney county, Nebr., 10:20 p. M.; Clara Maud, born June 19, 1883, at 3:20 a. m., and died August 14, 1883, and Minnie Ulissa, born July 30, 1884, at 4:35 a. m., and died August 25, 1884, and baby chiughter who died at llold- rege September 9, 1887, at 3 p. m., just after birth. Having led an exceptionally active life, Mr. Roberts has had but little time to de- vote to fra.ternity work and the cultiva- tion of the social amenities within these orders. He, however, is a zealous member of the Ancient order of United Workmen and takes an active interest in its matters. He lias alwa_vs voted the straight republi- can ticket in ]iolitics. PO. HEDLUND. One of the best known young men in southwest- ern Nebraska, a prominent mem- ber of the Phelps county bar and a man of solid business interests of the town of Holdrege, is P. O. Iledlund, the subject of this sketch. lie is a son of Olof Iledlund, whose biography appears in this volume as one of the first settlers in Plicl})S county, and whatever facts may be deemed of interest in reference to the ancestral history of the subject of this notice will be found in his father's history. P. O. Iledlund was born in Gefleborg's Lon, Sweden, September 14, 1856. A year later his parents immigrated to America and settled in Knox county, III., where he was reared. He came in 1876 with his father to Nebraska, settling in Phelps county. In 1877 he was elected surveyor of Phelps county, served two years, and was re-elected in 1879. His father having in the meantime been elected treasurer of the county, young Hedlund resigned his position as surveyor to accept a deputyship under his father. At the same time he received tlie appointment of deputy county clerk and filled these two offices for a term of two years. In 1881 he was elected county clerk and held that office by successive re-elections till Janu- ary, 1888. He began reading law in 1884 and was admitted to the bar in 1887. On quitting the county clerks' office he embarked at once in the law, loan, real estate and abstract business, continuing at this since, being now the senior member of the firm of Iledlund & Roth. In No- vember, 1889, he bought an interest in the mercantile Arm of Fredricks & Engstrom, the firm becoming Fredricks & Hedlund, which interest he still retains. He is also vice-president of the First National Bank of Holdrege, a stockholder in the Citizens' Publishing Companj' and interested in various other enterjinses in and around Holdrege. Mr. Hedlund has taken an active part in politics and is one of the most popular and influential men in the county. He is public-spirited and jiro- gressive in his views, a hai'd worker and 690 PHELPS COUNTY. an enthusiastic believer in the future of his adopted town and county. From his well known personal energy and discrim- inating judgment his name has come to be an unfailing guarantee of success in any enterprise with which it is associated. Thoroughly honest and correct in his busi- ness relations and methods he enjoys the absolute confidence not only of his coun- trj^men by whom the town of Holdrege and the county of Phelps are largely settled, but b}' all, regardless of national- ity, who know him and have had deal- ings with him. Mr. Hedlund married, in 1880, Miss Ellen Anderson, then of Knox county, 111., a lad}' well litted to bear him the companionship which he sought with her hand. In his pleasant home in Holdrege, made so b}' the untiring industry of his amiable wife, he finds rest and relaxation from the worry and anxieties whi'ch, as a bus}' man of the world, he can not find elsewhere. JE. PATRICK, attorney-at-law of Holdrege, Phelps county, is a native of Armstrong county. Pa., and was born March 4, 1855. He comes of old Pennsylvania stock, his father, A. C. Patrick, being a native of Armstrong county ; his mother, Catherine (Hill) Pat- rick, was born in Westmoreland county. His mother is dead, l)ut his father still lives in Armstrong county and is well advanced in years. J. R. Patrick was reared in his native county and received an academic educa- tion. He began teaching while 3'et in his teens, and, conceiving a great liking for books, he decided to devote his life to the pursuit of one of the liberal professions, and in 1880 began reading law. Mr. Pat- rick was a poor bo}', and his first steps towards acquiring a knowledge of his profession were attended with many dif- ficulties. But he adopted the methods pursued by ambitious young men of lim- ited means who aspire to the higher walks of life. He made the earnings from his school-room work pay his way through the preparatory stages of his career, and what advantages he had not money to procure he abundantly made up for by his assiduous application at home by private study. He started West in 1880, and stopped first at Paxton, 111., where, after reading awhile in the law office of Kinnear & Maffett, he was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1882, and at once began practice. Not long after, he was elected prosecuting attorne\' of his district, and held the ofiice for a year, when he resigned to move further west. He came to Nebraska and located at Holdrege in October, 1884, and immediately formed a partnership with John Smith, of that place, and entered on the practice. This partnership lasted only a short time. He then formed another with W. P. Hall, the firm becoming Hall & Patrick, and so continuing until the present time. It is no flattery to these gentlemen nor any injustice to their many deservins: brothers of the bar, to sav that the firm of Hall et Patrick do the bulk of the legal business of the town of Holdrege and Phelps county. It is ?-ecognized as one of the strongest law firms in south- western Nebraska. No small amount of the success it has attained has been due to the junior member. rH ELI'S COUNTY. 691 For his chosen profession, Mr. Patrick ])ossesses a special aptitude, liaving a re^ inarkably slrongand vigorous mind, a clear and discriminating judgment and a knowl- edge of men and tlieir many devious ways far beyond the average of his years. He is a close student, especially in the facts of his cases, and he has the happy faculty of tjetting at the true inwai'dness of a complicated statement of facts and pre- senting the merits of an issue in a clear and intelligent manner to court and jury. He has achieved much of his reputation as a trial lawyer. He is a strong, forcible speaker, rising to the " height of the ar- gument " on all occasions, his speech fre- quently reaching the dignity of true elo- quence. Mr. Patrick married April 13, 1887, the lady whom he took to share with him the pleasures and sorrows of this life being Miss Lulu Ballard, daughter of D. H. Bal- lard, of Hastings, Nebr. Mr. Patrick and his worthy lady have a pleasant home in Holdrege and they are deserved!}' popular in the best society of their place. REV. LEWIS EINSEL was born in Fairfield count\', Ohio, October . 22, 1813, to which place his parents, Henry and Barbara (Seitz) Einsel, emigrated from York county, Pa., in the year 1805. Lewis was reared on a farm, gi'owing up as a country lad. At tiie age of twenty-three, having embraced the faith of the Evangelical church, he began preaching its doctrines and spent eight years in different localities in Pennsvl- vania, Ohio and Illinois, activel}' engaged in the ministry. His health failing from his arduous labors, he was compelled to re- tire from active service in the church, and in 1844 he settled in Pickaway county, Ohio, and began farming and stock-raising and was also engaged a i)art of the time in merchandise. He lived there for twenty years, devoting himself mainly to the prosecution of his own affairs and render- ing to his church as a local preacher such service as he could without endan fieri no- his already shattered health. He moved in 1862 to Tippecanoe county, Ind., con- tinuing in the peaceful pursuits of agricul- ture, but more largely in stock-raising, serving as minister to local churches and doing evangelical work. In 1881 he moved to Holdrege, Pheljis county, Nebr., where two of his sons and their families had previously settled, mention of whom is made in this volume. Mr. Einsel mar- ried in 1842 — the lady whom he selected to share his life's fortunes being Catherine Dreisbach, a daughter of the Rev. John and Fannie (Eyer) Dreisbach. Mrs. Einsel was born in Union count}', Pa., August 17, 1820. Her parents settled in Ohio in 1S31, her father being a pioneer preacher of the Evangelical church, the fourth minister who was ordained to de- clare the doctrine of that denoniiuacion. Mr. Einsel has devotetl his life to the pursuit of his own affairs and to the min- istry of his church. In each of these departments of endeavor he has met with the success which his earnest efforts have merited. He has lived an active life and has devoted his best energies to the good of his kind. He is a man of large exper- ience and a wide range of knowledge, particularly on religious subjects, and when his tonjjue has been silenced from 692 PHELPS COUNTY. disease contracted in the cause of his Mas- ter his pen lias still been busy expounding the great truths of Christianity to his fel- low-men. To his church and the doctrines upon which it is founded he has ever rendered the loyalt\' of an earnest and faithful nature; and now, having almost finished the race and kept the faith, he still finds the chief source of his pleasures and the solace of his declining years in the study and contemplation of those same gi'eat truths which he spent the vigor of his manhood in declaring to the world. DR. E. H. MABERLY. The sub- ject of this sketch is a native of Berkshire, England. He was born April 28, 1853. He comes of Eng- lish parentage from time immemorial. His father, Thomas M. Maberly, and his mother, Mary (Steele) Maberly, were both born, reared and passed their lives in Berkshire. E. H. Maberly was reared in his native place and educated in the public schools, growing up as most lads do, variously en- gaged, till he reached his seventeenth year. He then set out to try his fortunes in the new world. He came to America in 1870 and settled in Carroll county, HI., where he lived for eight years. He fol- lowed different pursuits during this time and traveled around learning the Ameri- can ways of doing things, and, as a shrewd, intelligent young fellow would, contrasting them with the ways of the old country and gathering therefrom valuable lessons of experience. In 1878, when his ideas had matured and he had settled on his plans for the future, became West, located at Ellsworth, Kans., and took up the stud}'^ of dentistry under Dr. C. D. Day, of that place, pursuing it for some time. He returned to Hlinois and began the practice in Savannah, that state, and remained there till 1883, when he came West again and settled at Iloldrege, Phelps county, this state. There he has resided since and has devoted himself ex- clusively to the practice of his profession. He is the only dentist in the town of Holdrege and the only one that has ever been there. He is a competent workman and well read in the literature of his pro- fession. He is popular among his fellow- townsmen and does a prosperous business. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the Knight Templar degree. He is also a zealous member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge for two years past. He belongs to the Evangelical church and gives freely to charity. LBANTA, the subject of this sketch, now in his forty-fifth year, was / born and reared in the West. He is a Westerner by instinct and education. He is moulded after the broad and gener- ous plans of all Western products. He practices the free and liberal methods characteristic of the people of the bound- less prairies. He is a typical rustler of the better sort. He possesses in an eminent degree the happy genius of the typical Westerner for getting on in the world. His career has been that of tlie successful man of the world, beginning m the humble PHELPS COUNTY. 693 walks of life. His record is of value be- cause it is helpful. L. Banta was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, April 25, 1846. He is a son of Abraham and Rachel (Van Arsdale) Banta, his father being a native of Ken- tucky. He was reared in his native county, learned the blacksmith's trade when a lad, following it when he grew up as a jour- neyman. He resided in Iowa till 1878, when he came to Nebraska and took a homestead in Harlan county, near the present town of Oxford. He lived there four years and moved then to Holdrege, which has since been his home. He mar- ried, in 1872, Miss Roxie Van Nuys, daughter of Albert Van Nuys, of Des Moines county, Iowa. His wife died September 5, 1889, leaving six children, who, with their father, mourn her loss. These are — Grace L., Albert A., Minnie M., Nellie B. and Aurel M. Mr. Banta married again March 2, 1890, Mrs. M. F. Wilkins. Mr. Banta stands high in a number of the benevolent orders, being a zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Gi'and Array of the Republic. He is also an enthusiastic prohibitionist and an active aud consistent member of the Meth- odist church. ED. EINSEL, president of the South Platte Loan and Trust Company and president of the United States National Bank, both of Holdrege, Phelps county, is a native of the town of Circleville, Pickaway' county, Ohio, and was born March 17, 1850. He is a son of the Rev. Lewis Einsel, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and in that sketch will be found the facts relating to the ancestoral history of the subject of this notice. E. D. Einsel was reared in his native place and in Tippecanoe county, Ind., whither his parents moved when he was twelve years of age. He was educated in the common schools of the communities where he resided and finished at the Northwestern College at Naperville, III., taking a three-years course in this institu- tion. He selected the ministry as his profession, began preaching in the Evan- gelical church at the age of twenty-two and was engaged actively in church work for seven years. In 1872 he married Miss Emma S. Miller, daughter of J. G. Miller, of Madison, Wis. This estimable lady shared the fortunes of her husband during all the years of his ministry', accompany- ing him from one field of endeavor to another and rendering him the efficient aid which every man seeks in the selection of a life companion. But her health, never too vigorous, gave way, and in the hope that a change of locality and calling would benefit her, Mr. Einsel gave up the ministry in 1879 and moved to Nebraska, settling in York county, where he engaged in farming. After three years spent on the farm he moved into the town of York and filled the office of deputy county treasurer of York county for a short time. He then, in connection with others organ- ized the York Exchange Bank and took the position of cashier of that institution, which position he held for one year. In the meantime he organized the Commer- cial State Bank of Holdrege, Phelps county, and closing out his interests at York be moved, in 1S83, to Iloldrege to assume control of the bank there. He occupied the same position in tliis institu- tion that he did at the date of its organi- zation, that of cashier, for seven years, to July, 1890, when the bank changed to the United States National Bank and he was elected president. He has had the ])ractical managment of the bank's con- cerns, and what success it has attained has been I'eached mainly through his efforts. The bank was organized with a capital of $30,000, which has since been increased to $75,000. With a few changes in its woi'king force its organization remains about the same as when started. E. A. Washburn is now cashier; J. H. Einsel, vice-president; E. D. Einsel, president, and J. R. Shreck, assistant cashier. The United States National Bank is manned by competent oflBcers and backed by men of unquestioned ability and integrity. Besides his banking interests Mr. Einsel has large land and stock interests, owning in connection with his brotlier, J. H. Einsel, over twenty thousand acres of land in Nebraska and Colorado, having one ranch in Phelps county of three thou- Siind acres over which are running five hundred head of fine Galloway cattle. It would hardly be possible for a man possessingthe business qualifications which Mr. Einsel does and who has achieved the marked success which he has, to escape being pushed into some positions of public trust, however distastful the wranglings of political life might be to him. Mr. Einsel was elected to the state senate from the twenty-nintli senatoral district, in 1884, and served one term. He was not present at the convention when he was nominated and made no special effort in the canvass, but was nevertheless elected by a flattering vote. He took to the dis- charge of his duties as a public official the same zeal, enei'gy and discriminating judg- ment, the same fidelity to principle and faithful regard for the rights of others, that he had always displaj'ed and yet con- tinues to display in the management of his own affairs. And he left his office bearing with him the approval of the best citizens of his district on his conduct as a public official, as well as tiieir highest esteem and praise as a courteous christian gentleman. In addition to the part he took in the general legislation before the senate, he served as a member of the committees on engrossed and enrolling bills, railroads, banks, public printing and immigration. Mr. Einsel was a delegate to the National Republican convention wiiich met at Chicago in June, 1888, and took an active part in the delib- eration of his delegation. But his best work, like that of all true laborers, has been outside the arena of politics. It has been done as a private citizen. When Mr- Einsel relinquished his calling as a min- ister he did not la}' aside his zeal in behalf of his church nor his interest in the wel- fare of his fellow-men. If anj'thing, he redoubled his energy and enthusiasm in the cause of Christianity and in the up- building of the church's interests, and he has made a wise and effective use towards this end of the means which have come into his hands. He has given liberalh' to the church and to every charitable purpose. He assisted in organizing the Young Men's Christian Association in Holdrege, and has been its able and efficient president since. He is a member of a number of benevolent orders, among them the PHELPS COUNTY. 695 Masonic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and his charitable impulses have also taken in a large measure the practical turn incul- cated by these fraternities. Fortunate by circumstances, he has been singularly happy in the prosperity of his affairs. Yet his life has not been all sun- shine. Across his pathway have fallen some shadows. He lost liis estimable wife in 1884 after more than twelve years of a most cherished companion- ship, she sinking to rest in the same faith in which she had zealously labored so many years with her husband. Mr. Einsel subsequently married her sister, Miss Sara Miller, a lady who draws from the same source his former companion did, many of the amiable christian graces that adorn her character and render pleasant their quiet, peaceful home. FEANK JOHNSON. This gentle- man is one of the leading merchants of Holdrege, Phelps county. He is a splendid representative of that intelli- gent and enterprising class of citizens b}' whom the town of Holdrege and the county of Phelps are mainly settled, namely, Swedish- Americans. Mr. Johnson was born in Smoland, Sweden, January 23, 1853. He came to America at the age of sixteen, unaccompanied b}' friend or rela- tive. He stopped in Henry county, HI., among some of his countrymen whom he had formerly known, and went to work to repay his friends who had advanced his ship fare to this country. He found his first employment as a farm hand, working by the month. He afterwards went on the railroad, and after knocking around for some time and acquiring some knowledge of the English language, he engaged in clerking for A. P. Johnson & Co., at Altona, HI., remaining as clerk with this firm for ten years, when he was taken in as a partner. He retained his partnership interest there for four years and then de- cided to move West. He came to Ne- braska in 1884, and settled at Holdrege, in Phelps county. Holdrege at that time was just starting, and Mr. Johnson was one of the first merchants in the place, his store being built from the first load of lumber shipped into the town by rail. He at once opened out a general line of mer- chandise and began supplying the local trade. As the town and surrounding country settled up his business grew, keep- ing pace with the general progress of the community, and in a few years he found his quarters too small for his growing trade. He then erected the elegant double- front two-story brick building which he now occupies, and which is a credit to his town and a monument to his industry, liberalitj' and public spirit. He deals now in dry goods, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes and carpets. He has handled thou- sands of dollars' worth of goods, and is widely and favorably known by the buy- ing public where he lives. Mr. Johnson's success has been reached by the exercise of great industr3', economy, strict attention to business and fair dealing by all. He married, in 1878, the lady being Anna Anderson. To this union have been born three children, two girls and one boy — Mabel, Lutennis and Luella. While looking assiduously after his own interests Mr. Johnson has given due atten 696 PHELPS COUNTY. tion to the claims of the public on him as a citizen. He is progressive in his vieus> liberal with his means and willing to lend a helping hand to any deserving enterprise, and the needy never leave his door empty- handed. GEORGE STENNETT, a prom- inent and influential farmer of Phelps county, was born in Edwards county, 111., March 5, 1839, and is a son of John and Mary (Fowler) Stennett. Mr. Stennett's parents moved to Logan county, 111., when he was a lad about fourteen years of age, and in that county he was reared and began the race of life. He was brought up on the farm and se- lected farming as his life work. He mar- ried in Logan county on reaching his majority, the lady whom he selected for a wife being Elizabeth, a native of that county and a daughter of John Houston, one of its earliest settlers. Mr. Stennett moved to Nebraska in 1885 and settled in Phelps county, where he has since resided. He owns 320 acres of fine land two miles north of the town of Holdrege, most of which he has under cultivation. He has his farm well improved, having bestowed upon it much labor and thoughtful atten- tion. He is recognized as one of the best farmers of his community, being thor- onghljr alive to the responsibilities as well as the possibilities of his calling. He is more than a mere tiller of the soil ; he is a reading and thinking man. He is well respected and regarded as a man of intel- ligence and sound judgment. He has a pleasant home and a family of interesting children, Avhom he is rearmg to lives of industry and usefulness. These are John H., Charles H., Louetta H., Frank IL, Hattie H., Florence H. and Albert II. Stennett. OLOFHEDLUND, one of Phelps county's best known and most successful farmers, like many of the representative citizens of his commu- nity, is a native of Sweden and was born January 13, 1827. He was reared in his native country, being brought up to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in his earlier years and at which he was a competent and successful workman. He married in July, 1854, being then in his twenty-seventh year — the lady wliom he marrietl being Miss Brita Holmstrand, born June 3, 1836, at his native place, and two years later, in August, 1857, he im- migrated to the United States and settled in Knox county, 111. He was a resident of Knox county till 1876, when he moved to Nebraska and settled in Phelps county. In Illinois he was engaged partly in farm- ing and partly at his trade as blacksmith, but since coming to Nebraska he has been engaged in farming exclusively. He owns a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sheridan township, which he has in a fine state of cultivation and on which he has bestowed much labor, care and thoughtful attention. His })lace is noted for its clean, neat, thrifty, prosperous appearance, and, like all Nebraska farms, PHELPS COUNTY. 697 for the ahundiince of its productions. Mr. iledliind is a practical fanner, yet he is a reading and thinking one as well. He is probably as well posted on agricultural matters as any man in the county, and is identified with every interest affecting the community. He has never aspired to any l)ublic position and yet he has been hon- ored with public office. He was elected treasurer of Phelps county in 1879 and iield the office two years, administering its affairs with credit to himself and fidel- ity to his county, and left the office taking with him tiie gratitude and esteem of all of his fellow-citizens. Ml'. Hedlund is a man of large heart and genei'dus impulses. He is now and has been for many years a prominent member of the Lutheran church and not the least of the good he has done has been accomplislied through the means of his church. He takes an active interest in all church work and gives liberally of his means to all church and charitable pur- poses. No man would go further than he to help a friend or accommodate a neigh- bor, or render assistance to the needy or afflicted. He has lived to a good old age in the practice of those great virtues which were first announced bj^ him "who spake as never man spake," and in the study and practice of those virtues he still finds the comfort of his declining years. He has an interesting family of children, most of whom are now grown, and some of them settled off in life and dointr for themselves. He has reared five children, two boys and three girls — P. O. Hedlund, a prominent lawyer and business man of Hoidrege, a sketch of whom appears in this work; Anna E., Emma A., Mary A., and Charles L. THOMAS M. HOPAVOOD. editor and proprietor of the Nehra-'ska JVugyet, is the oldest editor and newspaper publisher in Phelps county. The Nugget was first established under the name of Phelps County Pioneer, and published at the original Sacremento, Phelps county, and the first issue was March 22, 1879. It was a small sheet containing eight pages, two columns to the page. May 3, 1879, the paper was en- larged to a four-page journal, four columns to the page, and continued so until July, 1879, when it became a five-C(jlumn four- paged pai)er. In the spring of 1880, the paper was removed to Phelps Center, the new countv seat, which had been removed that year from Williamsburg, on tlie Platte river, to Phelps Center. In June of the same j'ear (ISSO), Mr. Hopwood purchased this paper and became proprietor and editor, changing the name to the Ne- hraska Nugget. In politics the paper con- tinued the same, which was I'epublican, and in the salutatory we find the follow- ing : " Our politics first, last and all times are in perfect harmony with the princi- ples of the republican party; we are en- couraged to look forward into the years to come, believing there is a place of power in the march of Nebraska for Phelps county. Tlie enterprise and talent of states East will find place with us ; the element that conquers obstacles, that is equal to emergencies and glorious in ac- complishments, will send us booming on in the path of progress. All that is broad, useful and kindly shall have our consid- eration." Mr. Hopwood had continued editorand proprietoi' until December, 1879, and has since been its editor and owner. 698 PHELPS COUNTY. When Mr. Hopwood took charge of the paper he enlarged it from a five col- umn four-page, to a five-column eight- page, and in December, 1882, enlarged the paper to an eight-column and then, in the following year, again enlarged it to its present size. Mr. Hopwood was born in Fayette county, Pa., August 20, 1847, moved with his parents to Iowa county', Iowa, in 1861, settling on a farm, and remaining there until he reached his majority, when he entered Western Col- lege, Iowa, where he remained four years. His health having failed through too close attention to his studies, he traveled some years in the interest of several fire insur- ance companies, and in 1887 he \\ as united in marria<2-e to Miss Mina Wooldrido-e of Fillmore county, Minn., who had gradu- ated at Western College, Iowa, in the class of 1887. She is a daughter of Ed- ward and Marv (Smith) Wooldridge, both of Clearfield county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Hopwood have two sons, viz. — James E. and Chester L., aged eleven and nineyears. Mr. Hopwood is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. He first settled on a claim ten miles east of Phelps Center, where he remained nearly three years. He was nominated by acclamation four months after his arrival in the county, and two months later was elected county commissioner and was re-elected twice after, servmg in all five years on the county board. In 1878 he was nominated for representative to the state legisla- ture on the I'eiiublican ticket. In the convention which nominated him, how- ever, Eric Johnson was the choice of the Swedish element, which, being in the ascendenc}' in the county, bolted the con- vention and nominated Johnson on an independent ticket. The democratic party nominated James I. Rhea as a candidate, and in the three-cornered contest Mr. Johnson was elected on a small plurality vote, Mr. Hopwood coming out second best. Mr. Hopwood is one of the enterprising citizens of Holdrege and is highly es- teemed bv all who know him. He built and owns the Arlington hotel and is one of the founders and a director in the Hol- drege National Bank, a stockholder in the Holdrege Manufacturing Company and is liberal in all church and school enter- prises which tend to build up a permanent moral and business community. Mrs. Hopwood, now thirty-five years of age, is one of the most popular edu- cators in the West and is to-day holding the oflBce of county superintendent for the fifth consecutive term. She attends nearly all the educational conventions in the state and was a member of the National Teachers' Association held at St. Paul, Minn., last summer. y^LFRED JOHNSON, a large and / V influential farmer of Phelps J_ \__ county, is a native of Sweden and was born June 15, 1844. He was reared in his native countrj' and lived there till the age of twentj'-five, coming to the United States in 1809. He settled in Minnesota and began life in the new world with §3 in his pocket. He found his first employment as a common laborers He applied himself industriously to what- ever he could find to do and saved his wages as they were earned. Coming to PHELPS COUNTY. 699 Nebraska in 1878, he settled in Piielps county where he tooic a iiomestead, the northeast (juarter, section 22, townsiiip 6, range 18, and began farming. Tlie first few years of his residence in tlie county were not noted for any astonishing amount of progress. He began in an humble way^ but his progress was steady and his success assured from tlie beginning. He bought other land as he accummulated the means, all of which he improved, giving to the details of the business his undiviiled atten- tion, to which fact much of his success is due. Mr. Jolinson is justly regarded as one of the most intelligent and successful farmers of his community. What he has is the result of his own industry and per- severance, he being in the truest and best sense a self-made man. He owns a half section of as fine land as there is in Phelps county, lying four miles northeast of the county seat, Holdrege, nearly all of which he has under cultivation, in some shape. Mr. Johnson is a wide-awake man, an enterprising, public-spirited citizen. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance of Phelps count}' and identified with the best interest of the farming community- He is an active member of the Lutheran church and a man of benevolent impulses. His home gives evidence of the system and good management that prevail on his place, and at it all are alike welcome. Mr. Johnson, careful and deliberate in all things, was unusually so in the selection of a life companion. He did not many until July 25, 1889, taking to share his life's fortunes with him at that date Miss Josejiliine Larson, who is also a native of the Fatherland — the snowy kingdom amid the icy seas. JOHN DANIELSON, farmer of Phelps county, was born in Sweden, April 6, 1849. He is a son of John S. and Martha (Anderson) Daniel- son, both natives also of Sweden. His parents immigrated to America in 1854 when the subject of this notice was in his fifth year, and settled in Moline, 111. Thev resitted there onlv two vears, movins: thence to Altona, 111. There our subject was mainly reareil. He followed various pursuits, agricultural, mercantile,- stock and others till 1880. He then moved to Nebraska and settled in Phelps county, where ho has since resided. Since he has lived in Phelps county he has been engaged exclusively in farming, and measured b}' his means and opportunities he has made a fair success. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land lying within two miles of the corporate limit of Holdrege, the county seat of Phelps county, all of which he has in a splendid state of culti- vation and which yields an abundance of Nebraska's great product, corn. He owns considerable stock, being engaged in mixed farming. He takes an active interest in all agricultural mattei's, being a diligent reader of the best periodicals and a close student of his own surroundings. He has served his township in several local official capacities and has made a careful and faithful official. Mr. Danielson has a familv, liavino- married on February 13, 1882, the lady whom he married being Miss Tilda Olson. To this union have been born four chil- dren, as follows — Walter J., born Ajiril 18, 1883; Alfred W., born September 1, 18.s4 ; Gertrude P., born May 3, 1886; Elmer (J., born December 17, 1887. 700 PHELPS COUNTY JOHN LINDBLOM. In a state like Nebraska, where the cliief interests are agricultural, the farming com- munities oftentimes absorb some of the best business talent of a country, and they furnish in return some of the most signal instances of success to be found in a county. An instance of this is to be found in the subject of this sketch. John LindbJom is one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Phelps county. He is not an old man, either, and what renders his case the more marked is that he is a foreigner b}' birth and has been a resident of this country but little more than twenty-five years. He began, as most immigrants to this country do, on the bottom round of the ladder. He is deserving of prominent mention in con. nection with the history of his adopted county. John Lindblom was born in Sweden^ Februar\' 11, 1842. He was reared in his native country to the age of eighteen, coming thence in 1864 to America and stopping first in De Kalb county, 111. He went at once into the government employ, becoming a member of the supply corps for the United States army, gathering commissar}^ stores for Hlinois regiments then on the front. He held this position till the war was over. Being then a j'oung man, unmarried, and his fortunes yet to make, he started out like a stout- hearted fellow to carve his way alone. He found his first employment as a com- mon laborer on the railroad. This he fol- lowed between three and four years, mostly in Minnesota. Afterwards he farmed some in Minnesota, having saved enougli from his earnings to bu}' a small place in that state. In 1878 he decided to move to a new country where land was more plentiful and opportunities for acquiring wealth were better. He came to Nebraska that year and settled in Phelps county, taking a homestead and beginning on the raw prairie. Mr. Lindblom had the usual experiences of the early settler ; saw all the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the pioneer, but he never allowed his courage to weaken nor his faith in the countr}' to be shaken. Like a prudent man, he bought up cheap land as he accumulated the means, im- proved these lands and held them for the advance in prices. He began handling stock as soon as he located, and he has increased his flock and herds from time to time since. He is now regarded as one of the largest and most successful farmers in his county, as well as one of the shrewd- est, most intelligent business men. He is a live, progressive citizen, a reading and thinking farmer, and not a mere tiller of the soil. Mr. Lindblom has a splendid farm, fur- nished with large and commodious build- ings with comfortable appointments and conveniences, and an interesting family to share its pleasures with Jiira. He married in 1868, while a resident of Minnesota, the lady whom he selected for his life companion being Miss Maggie Swanson one of his own fair countrywomen, who, like himself, left the friends of her youth and the scenes of her childhood to seek her fortunes in this country. This union has been blessed with a family of seven— Tillie, Albert, Lottie, Frank, Hilca, Otto and Nina. The rearing and training of these afford Mr. Lindblom not the least of the pleasures of his life. r HELPS COUNTY. 701 GEORGE W. HILL is a native of Putnam county, W.Va., and was l)oi'n October 9, 1854. Ilis father, Charles Hill, was a native of New York, and went to Pennsylvania at an early da\' and from there to West Virginia, where he died in 1S5S. His mother, whose maiden name was Susannah R. Tremble, is a native of Renns\'lvania, and now resides with her son. George W. Hill left his native state when twenty years of age to come West in search of employment. His first stop was at Fort Wayne, Ind., where he remained for about one year. In 1875, he came West as far as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he established himself on a farm. In April, 1879, Mr. Hill came to Phelps county, Nebr. He took a homestead in Union township, being one of the first set- tlers in that section. He erected a sod house and had only nine cents after securing his homestead. The country was sparsely settled, and a man without money and a stranger in a strange land, as can well be imagined, had a hard time to get along. People of this time have but a faint idea of the trials and privations endured by the early settlers of Nebraska. Mr. Hill was married, March 31, 1887, to Miss Virginia Morehead, who is a native of Quincy, 111. She was born November 24, 1860. Her parents were Thomas M. and Carolina Morehead, both of whom are natives of Kentucky. They came to Illinois in the spring of 1860, and were among the early settlers of Adams county. Her father has been deputy recorder of Adams county for several years, and has filled various important offices durinir his life. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have two children — Edith A., born May 2i, 1888, andEdwai'd T., born December 8, 1889. Mr. Hill was elected county supervisor in the fall of 1888 and reelected in 1889, for a term of two years. He belongs to the Alliance and is a wide-awake and progressive young man. He has one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, a good frame house surrounded by a grove of splendid trees. He has a fine lot of fruit trees, and is confident fruit will flourish in Nebraska. CHARLES L. HARPSTER was one of the early pioneers of Ham- ilton county, Nebr., having come from Ohio early in the seventies. He is a native of Ross county, Ohio, and was born February 10, 1846. His parents were both natives of Ohio. His father, Rudolph Harpster, was a farmer and died in 1853. His mother's maiden name was Lydia M. Cartright. She was a devoted member of the United Brethren church, ami lived a life consistent with her pro- fession, dying in 1863. Charles L. Harpster, the subject of this sketch, was obliged to go out and work to support his widowed mother when he was only nine years old. He learned a valuable lesson of self dependence early in life, and although he was denied the privilege of special school advantages, he has managed to gain a large fund of prac- tical information. Mr. Harpster was only eighteen 3'ears of age when he enlisted, February 15, 1864, in Company M, First Ohio calvary, and served with credit to himself till the 702 PHELPS COUNTY. close of the gre;it civil conflict. He went through the Atlanta campaign, belonged to the famous Wilson raiders and was in many exciting skirmishes. He partici- pated in the engagement at Montgom- ery, Selma and Plantersville, Ala., and also at Columbus and Macon, Ga. He was an active participant in the Kilpat- rick raid about Atlanta. During the fight at Lovejoj' station he had a mule shot from under him, and a bullet hole put through his hat. He was mustered out at Hilton Head, S. C, September 13, 1865, and received his discharge at Co- lumbus, Ohio, on the twenty-seventh of the month. Although suffering from ill- ness incurred during his service in the army, he has never drawn a pension. October 20, 1872, Mr. Hai-pster took up a homestead claim in Hamilton county, Nebr., and next came to Phelps county, February 5, 1883, and purchased a farm in Union township where he now lives. He belongs to the G. A. E., and is an effi- cient member of the Farmers' Alliance and Patrons of Husbandry. He organ- ized Union township in 1886 and named it. He also organized the school district in which he lives. He has always taken an active ])art in every progressive move- ment, and generally makes a success of what he undertakes. He hasone hundred and sixty acres of splendid land which he is improving as rapidly as his means will allow. In politics he is strictly independ- ent, for he seldom takes sides with either of the old parties, but is generally found advocating reform measures. In all local matters he supports good men regardless of their politics. He has been assessor of his township, but has never aspired to any office. Mr. Har^JSter was married December 27, 1873, to Miss Minerva Harpster, who is a native of Ross county, Ohio. To this union have been born seven children — Lesley L., Cora F., Cecil W., Effie M., Flossie B., Annabel R. and Merle I. J A. MASTERS is one of the early settlers and represent.itive men of Union township, Phelps county. He is a native of Kentucky and was born September 23, 1846. His father, Wesley Masters, was a native of Kentucky, and lived the quiet and uneventful life of a farmer. He died in 1887. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Marthena Masters, was also of Kentucky birth, and came from Virginia stock. She died in 1882. J. A. Masters left home before he was sixteen years old and engaged to drive a supply wagon for the Army of the Cum- berland. He continued in this capacity for two years, when, in March, 1863, he enlisted in the Seventh Kentucky cavalry. He participated in man\' a lively skirmish, especially at Hopkinsville, Ky.; Franklin and Columbus, Tenn.; Resaca, Ga.; Selma and Montgomery, Ala. He was with tie Wilson raiders from East Port, Miss., to Macon, Ga. He saw plenty of hard fight- ing and endured man}' hardships. He was mustered out in September at Louisville, Ky. At the close of the war he farmed one year and then emigrated to McClellan county. III., where he remained one year. His next move was into Brown county, that state, where he remained from 1867 to 1879. Mr. Masters came to Phelps r HE LPS COUNTY. 703 count}', Nebr., in the fall of 1879. After pi-ospectino' about for some time he selected a homestead in the western ]iart of the county, in what has since been called Union township. Being one of the first settlers in this section his neighbors were few and far between. lie built a sod house, but had to go six miles to find a well of water. One team and $3.50 was all he had when he settled, but he has been an industrious and hard-working man, and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the township. Mr. Masters was married November 24, 1870, the lady whom he chose to share his fortunes being Aliss Addie Minium. To this union have been born eleven children — Julia (deceased), Estella, Martin, Florida M., Marida, Lena, Klida E., John W., Eiley S., Elsie P. and Jennie B. Mr. Masters has been town treasurer and collector for several years, and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He has two hundred and fort}' acres of splen- diil land and is a prosperous farmer. He has always affiliated with the republican party. A UGUST J. VAUGHAN, a success- / \ ful farmer and stock-raiser of 2. \. Williamsburg township, Phelps county, was born in Sweden, February 8, 185-1. He was reared on a farm and at- tended school for about seven years. He landed in New York Citj', after a some- what stormy voyage, on August 3, 18G8, and came west as far as Oneida, Knox coun- tv, 111., where he remained for ten years working out by the month on a farm. Mr. Vaughan came to Phelps countj% Nebr., in July, 1878, homesteading the southeast quarter of section 32. There was plenty of antelope and other wild game, but ver}' few actual settlers in that locality then. Mr. Yaughan was a young man and came here with very limited means, having only three horses and about $50 in money. He built a sod house and at once set about laying the found- ation for his future home. He under- went all the hardships of frontier life, was com])elled to haul water three miles for his stock, being unable to have a well dug, and was subjected to many other incon- veniences. He has worked hard, early and late, however, until the once wild and desolate prairie homestead has been trans- formed into a productive and beautiful farm. Mr. Yaughan was married to Miss Ma- tilda S. Peterson on December 31, 1877. She was born in Sweden in 1S56, and came to America in 1868. This union has result- ed in the birth of five children, namely — Oscar, Ira (deceased), Alice, Eddie, and Carroll. Mr. Yaughan has three hundred and twenty acres of improved land, all fenced and under a good state of culti- vation. He is a progressive man and be- lieves in keeping well-bred stock of all kinds. He has some as fine standard- bred Hambletonian horses as any one would wish to see, and his Shoi't-horn cat- tle and Poland-china hogs are among the best to be found in Phelps county. He is regarded as one of the most successful stock-raisers in the county, and his ex- ami)le is well worthy of emulation. Both Mr. Yaughan and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Mission church. In politics he is a I'epublican, and a man who stands high in the estima- tion of his fellow-men. 704 PHELPS COUNTY. RICIIAKD EICHARDS, the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in ^ County "Wexford, Ireland, Jan- uary 27, 1834. lie enjoyed only such educational advantages as tlie common schools of Ireland afforded in that day, and, at the age of seventeen enlisted, at the city of Dublin, September, 1852, in the Thirty-fourth regiment infantry of the British army, its depot then being at Aberdeen, Scotland, but was afterwards transferred to the Thirtj'-ninth regiment, then in Cork, Ireland, and at that time preparing for the Crimean war, and it was his unstinted loyalty to the British flag that prompted young Bichards to enlist. Some time was spent in drilling, then the Thirty-fourth depot was sent to Fort George, in the Highlands of Scotland. From this point the depot proceeded to Manchester to meet the troops of the Thirth-fourth regiment from India. After considerable preliminary maneuvering, the Thirty-ninth regiment proceeded to Gi- bralter, where, after nine months' delay, the army sailed for the seat of war. Mr. Richards is familiar with every detail of the siege of Sebastopol, having been an active participant in that fampus battle. He received an honorable discharge in Canada, April, 1857, and was also pre- sented with a silver medal, which he now has, for his services rendered at the seige of Sebastopol. liis term of service ex- tended from September, 1852, to April, 1857. After his discharge from the army, Mr. Richards located near Brockville, in upper Canada, and engaged in farming until the year 1880, in the spring of which year he came to York county, Nebr., and farmed there two years. His next move was to Phelps county, where he arrived in the s]iring of 1882. He purchased one-hun- dred and sixty acres of railroad land in Williamsburg township, where he has since lived. At that time the country thereabout was new and sparsely settled, consequently the first settlers were sub- jected to all the inconveniences incident to the first settlement of any new country. Mr. Richards has twice married. His fii'st wife was Sarah M. Edwards, whom he married March 4, 1859, and b^' whom he had eight children, namely — Charles F., born July 13, 1860; Edward T., born September 24, 1861 ; Harriet, born Decem- ber 30, 1862; William C, born February 5, 1864 ; Margaret, born December 13, 1867; Joseph, born April 25, 1871; Rich- ard, born March 4, 1873, and Sarah L., born October 16, 1874. His wife died in 1875. His second marriage was with Jane E. Ross, on August 24, 1875. She is a native of Canada, born October 9, 1838, and is of Irish descent. To this union has been born one chiUl, John Albert, Decem- ber 18, 1876. Mr. Richards has seen some military service since coming to Nebraska. He joined the state militia soon after coming to the state, and. as a member of that body, was called to Omaha to put down the great Burlington strike, and thus knows what it is to do military service under the stars and stripes. Mr. Richards has one hundred and sixty acres of im- proved land and he is numbered among the enterprising farmers of his vicinit\'. While a resident of Canada he belonged to the conservative party, and since his residence in the United States has always remained strictl}' independent, so far as politics is concerned. He believes in ele- PHELPS COUNTY. 705 vating none but good, capable men to, public trusts, and lie supports only such no matter from what political party they may come. He is a well-posted man, and can talk intelligently upon all the leading issues of the da\^ He and his wife are both zealous Presbyterians. HON. THOMAS H. MARSHALL, one of the representative men of rhelps county, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, April 28, 1838. He is a son of John and Sarah (Bresee) Marshall, the father having been born in Connecticut in 1794, and the mother in Vermont in 1801. John Marshall went with his father to Canada wlien a lad. He gvQw to manhood and was married tliere. He was a black- smith by trade, and a hard-working indus- trious man. He was noted for his enter- prising spirit and was one of the best known and most popular men in the section of country where he lived. He took an active part in politics and was always identified with the great reform party. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for forty j^ears and always lived an u[)right life. He died in 1865, his wife following in 1883. Hon. Thomas. H. Marshall, the subject of this sketch, was one of a family of ten children and was the last one to leave the old homestead. His father being !a ^^ BIOGRAPHICAL. PETER BERGQUIST is a native of Sweden, and was born November 8, 1856. He accompanied his parents to America in 1865. They lo- cated first in Henry county, 111., and after a few years removed to Webster county, Iowa, where he remained for about ten years engaged in farming along the Des Moines river. In the spring of 1875 the senior Bergquist removed to Harlari county, Nebr., where he spent the remain- der of his life. Shortly after settling in Harlan county, Peter Bergquist took a timber claim in Albany township, and in 1879 homesteaded a quarter section. When the Bergquist family landed in Har- lan county, the country was new and wild; no settlement had yet been effected. The prairie was fairly alive with antelope and buffalo, and many a one has Mr. Berg- quist chased as well as ca])tured. Houses then were few and far between and man\' inconveniences had to be endured. He passed through a portion of the grasshop- per raid and knows what it means to be almost eaten out of house and home. On June 23, 1880, Mr. Bergquist was married, the lad}'- of his choice being Miss Annie Nordbloni, a native of Swe- den, who came to the United States in 1861. Her parents located first in Henry county, 111., and subsequently in Iowa. The congenial union of this couple has resulted in the birth of three Ijright and intelligent children, as follows — Emily, Madora and Wesley. Mr. Bergquist owns an estate of four hundred and eighty acres of good land and engages in raising nearly all kinds of stock. He is a mem- ber of the Farmers' Alliance, and has held various local offices in his township. He is an ardent temperance man and both he and his wife are devoted mem- bers of the Swedish church. Mr. Berg- quist is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick on his farm. The quality of clay to be found there being especially well adapted for that purpose. G EORGE F. SHELBURN is one of the rising young men of Harlan county. He is at i)resent aprosper- ous farmer in Albany township, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of good land, one hundred and eighty of which are broken and under a good state of cultivation. The subject of this notice was born in Warren county, Iowa, No" vember 8, 1858. He is a son of William T. and Sarah A. (Spurgin) Shelburn, the former a native of Indiana and the latter 715 716 HARLAN COUNTY. of Kentucky. They came to Harlan county, Nebr., in 1879, where they still reside. The country between the Republi- can and Platte rivers, known as the great "divide," was just being settled, when Geo. F. Shelburn put in an appearance. The country presented a somewhat wild and desolate appearance, but he had faith in its ultimate development anti made up his mind to stay by it. He took a home- stead on section 17, and a timber claim of a quarter section on section 18. His first house consisted of a dug-out and he beoan farming on a small scale. He worked for a neighbor a day in exchange for the use of his team for a day, to break witli. In this manner he managed to get along until he was able to purchase a team for himself. Mr. Shelburn was married April 17, 1882, to Ambrosia Whittacer, a native of Iowa and born March 24, 1858. She is a daughter of Josiah and Margaret Whit- tacer, who lived in Iowa several years previous to 1877, the date of their settle- ment in Nebraska. In politics Mr. Shel- burn is a firm believer in the principles of the democratic party, and is well posted in the doctrine of that organization. He was elected assessor of his township in 1889, and performed the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of all interested. CAEL BLOOM was born in Ger- many, February 11, 1844r. His father, John Bloom, was a com- mon laborer. His mother died when he was quite small and he has little recollec- tion of her. He came to America in the fall of 1865 and located in Marathon county. Wis., where he hired out and for seven years was engaged in the saw-mills and woods of the neighboring country. He came fi'om thei'e to Harlan county, Nebr., in March, 1871, and was one of the first to locate in tiie Republican valley. He homesteaded his present place, in section 32 township 2, range 18 west, on which he built a log cabin, 18x24 feet, and in which he lived for fourteen years. The country at the time of his coming was alive with buffalo, elk, deer and antelope, though he, not being a hunter, killed but one buffalo. The first few years, with tlie exception of the second, his crops,on account of drought and grasshoppers, were almost total fail- ures and in consequence thereof he had a hard time, like many other early settlers, to make a living for himself and family. He occasionally got a job of hauling freight from Kearney, and with this money thus earned and the practice of the most rigid econom\', he managed to get along and keep soul and body together. In 1876, on account of his brother's death, he fell heir to 160 acres of land in the same section as that of his own and has since prospered and purchased additional land until he owns nearly 400 acres, which is finel}' improved. He has raised and dealt in cattle and horses considerably, and notwithstanding the hardships of his early pioneer life, has amassed considerable of a fortune. He was married in September, 1870, to Anna Bartell, who is of German descent and was born in Wisconsin in June, 1855. Their happy union has been blessed with the birth of five children as follows — Aurora, born April 29, 1871 ; Wm., March HARLAN COUNTY. 717 4, 1874; Otto, November 20, 1877; Mary, January 16, 1883 and Carl, November 25, 1883. The entire family are members of the Lutiieran church. Politically, he is independent. MRS. MARY R. MORGAI^ is tlie editor and manager of tlie Valley Beacon, published at Alma, Harlan county, Nebr. The paper was organized in 1888 and its first issue was April 6, that year. It is now in its third volume. It is published in the inter- est of prohibition and has done much in the furtherance of that cause. The finan- cial standing of the paper is A No. 1. Mrs. Morran is the wife of J. F. Morgan, an old soldier and most estimable citizen, who owns and manages a lai'ge stock farm in the southwest part of the county. He and his wife came to Nebraska in 1878, settling in Alma, Harlan county, where they have since resided. Mr. Morgan entered the Union arm}^ November 14, 1861, enlisting in Company A, Sixty-sixth Ohio. He was in tiie fol- lowing battles, in addition to many less important engagements — Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862 ; Cedar mountain, August 9, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862 ; Chancellorsville, May 1, 2 and 3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863 ; Lookout mountam, November 25, 1863 ; Missionary ridge, November 26, 1863; Ringgold, November 28, 1863; Resaca, May 2, 1864; and all the fighting around Atlanta. He was severely woundetl at Antietam, being shot tii rough the neck and tlie riglit shoulder. After he recovered sufficiently to take his place in the field. he was promoted to first duty sergeant and later to first-lieutenant of his company. He was honorably discharged at Louis- ville, Ky., July 20, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were married November 14, 1865. Mrs. Morgan was su|)erintendent of the public schools of Harlan county, from 1881 to the close of 1887. She is now serving her second term as president of the Woman's Relief Corps, G. A. R., of Nebraska. Mr. Morgan is a member and past commander of Van Meter Post, G. A. R., No. 94, at Alma. Both are active and efficient workers in their respect- ive organizations. WILLIAM 0. SHIPMAN was born January 4, 1840, in Northumberland county. Pa., and is a son of James and Susanna (Thomas) Shipman, who were also natives of Pennsylvania, the father being of German extraction and the mother of French. Mr. Shipman's parents moved to Ogle county. 111., in 1861, where the mother died in 1873, and the father in 1880. They were pious christian people, and their lives blossomed with the best fruits of the faith they possessed. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, leaving home, however, when a young lad and living out as a common laborer, turning his wages over to iiis father in order to enable him to support the large family of which he was the head. Tlie son preceded the [)arents to Illinois, settling there in 1859. He was there when the great war of the rebellion broke out, and, with an alacrity born of the patriotism within his breast, he offered 718 HARLAN COUNTY. his services to the Union soon after the first call was made for volunteers. lie en- listed in August, 18C1, entering the Fourth Illinois cavalry. He was first under fire at Fort Henry, participating in the capture of that place, and also in tlie taking of Fort Donelson. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and then at Corinth, after which his regiment was assigned to duty as a body-guard to General Sherman, on his march to Memphis. Later he was in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., and Holly Springs, Miss. His regiment was then ordered to Trenton, Tenn., where he was en gaged for some time in hunting guerrillas. He was in an engagement at Coifeyville, Tenn., about that time, but was shortly ordered back, and joined Grant's army ; was in the advance guard in the Vicks- burg campaign, and after the suri'enderof the city did scouting duty in that locality during the s]n-iiig and summer of 1863. Having enlisted for three years, his time was out in November, 1864, and he was mustered out of the service the third of that month at Springfield, 111. Keturning to Ogle county, he remained with his father a short time and then went to St. Louis, Mo., where he secured work as a common laborer and followed it for a few months. He next turned his face towards the East, returning to his native State of Pennsylvania, stopping successively at Pittsburgh and Northumberland county, and in tiie pine regions of Center and Clearfield counties. In January, 1867, he went again to the State of Illinois and engaged in farming until the spring of 1872, when he came to Nebraska and settled in Harlan county. He thus became one of the pioneer settlers of that county, and as such he underwent all the hard- ships and privations common to the lot of the pioneer, passing through the grass- hopper seasons, the dry vears and all the times of trial incident to those years. But by industry and courageous self-denial he pulled thi'ough the pei'iotls of distress into which he was so frequentlj' thrown, and he has been rewarded by becoming one of the solid, substantial men of his com- munity. His affairs are in a prosperous condition, and he is one of the most highl}' esteemed men of his community. He owns four hundred and eighty acresof land, all of which is well "improved, furnished with all needful buildings for man and beast, ornamented with groves, stocked with good strains of cattle, horses and hogs, and in every respect is a most de- sirable place. Mr. Shipraan married on the twenty second day of Januarv, 1867, taking to share his fortunes Miss Laville Snyder, a daughter of Adam and Martha Snyder, the father of Mrs. Shipman being a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of New Jersey. Mrs. Shii)man herself was born on January 22, 18il. Mr. and Mrs. Shipman have had born to them three ciiildren, as follows — Martha Bella, born October 18, 1867 (now deceased); James B., born March 23, 1870, and Dolly M., born May 19, 1876. Mr. Shipman is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in politics is a republican. He also belongs to the local post of the G. A. R. WILL DOWNS was born Sep- tember 28, 183-1. He is a son of David and Mary Downs, being one of a family of six children. His brothers and sisters are David, Charles, HARLAN COUNTY 719 Eosanna, now the wife of A. Sands, of Wisconsin ; Melissa, wife of W. Slieppard, of Indiana, and Julia, now Mrs. Hartman of Iowa. The sul)ject of this sketcii was left an or|)han at the age of six years and at the age of eleven he started out in the world for himself. His early educational advantages were necessarily very limited. He was too much absorbed in the bread and butter problem to give much time to acquiring knowledge. lie however got the rudiments of an ordinary English edu- cation and what he lacked in early advan- tages he made up by his zealous study in ])rivate. On casting about for some pur- suit, his mind turned to railroading and he learned the business of an engineer and followed it successfully for some years. He was so engaged when the Civil war came on. When the first call was made for soldiers to defend the Union, like thousands of other patiiotic men, he quit his post of duty, for that which he deemed higher, and entered the Union Armj^, en listing in the Seventh Indiana volunteer infantry. His regiment was organized in Sejitember, 1861, and immediately went to the fi'ont. He bore a conspicuous part in the war, beins engaged in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, in all of which Mr. Downs acquitted himself witii credit. Mr. Downs followed the fortunes of the Seventh Indiana all through its service and helped to make for it the gallant record which stands opposite its name on the rolls. The principal engagements in which it took part were Winchester, Va.; Port Republic, Ya.; Cedar mountain, Md.; Thoroughfare Gap, Va.; second Bull Run, Va.; South mountain, Md.; Antietam, Md.; Fredericksburgh, Va.; Chancellors- ville, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Rappahan- nock, Va.; Mine Run, Va.; the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania court-house, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Weldon railroad. The Seventh lost, in killed and wounded on the battle field, one hundred and sixteen men, and from disease, accidents and in prisons two hun- dred and twenty-nine, making a total of three hundred and forty-five men. Mr. Downs enlisted for thi-ee years and he served his time exactly to an hour, enter- ing the arnij' at 2 p. m., on September 13, 1861, and being mustered out at 2 p. m., September 13, 1861. After the expiration of his term of service he returned to North Salem, Ind., where he remained till 1868, at which time he deciiled to seek a home in the boundless West. He came to Nebraska that year and made his first stop in Plattsmouth; in 1870 moved to Lin- coln, Nebr. Two years later he moved to Harlan county antl took a homestead four- teen miles northeast of Alma. He lived on his homestead, engaged in a desultory warfare with the grasshoppers, droughts and hard times, till the fall of 1875, at which time he was appointed county clerk of Harlan county, and in order to assume the duties of his office moved into Alma, the county seat. He held the office of county clerk and gave his attention to the duties of that office till 1881. Going out of that office at that time he enmiired in the mercantile business in Alma and fol- lowed this till 1887. He was then elected clerk of the district court, a position he has since held. In 1859 Mr. Downs was married, tak- ing as a life companion Miss M. J. Cay- wooil, a daughter of Thomas Cay wood, of Kentucky. The wife of his vouth abides with him still, having: borne him 720 HARLAN COUNTY. the companionship he sought with her hand nearly a third of a century. Tiiis union has been blessed with three children, all daugliters, the two eldest being n(jw married. These are Lillie, wife of J. E. Schrack ; Hallie, wife of C. R. Fuller of Kansas and Jessie E., still with her parents. Harlan county has no better citizens nor has she ever had a better public ser- vant than Will Downs. " Honest," as the saying goes, '' as the days are long," dili- gent in his labors, kind and accommodat- ing, a man of thorough business methods, whom it is a pleasure to meet, a greater pleasure to do business with, and the citi- zens of Harlan count}' honor themselves in honoring him as they do. EDWARD R. TILLOTSON, one of the first settlers of Harlan count\', is a pioneer in the fullest sense of the word. He came to the county before the buffalo left, while the antelope were yet plentiful and the noble red man roamed the country in great force, and he knows what it is to endure the hardships of frontier life, its privations and many vicissitudes. He has lived in a sod shanty, has subsisted on short rations, has gone miles to market and mdes fur- ther to mill. He has grappled with the famous Nebraska blizzard ; has seen his fondest hopes, in the shape of a crop, disajipear before the ravenous grasshop- per, and has endured the scorching blasts of the hot wind. He has seen the country grow from a barren prairie, marked onlv by the hoof of the buffalo, into a never- ending stretch of farms and dotted all over with peaceful, happy homes. He has seen prosperous little villages spring up on every hand, furnisiied with all the necessaries and conveniences of modern metropolitan life, and each the center of a trade that would be the envy of many older places of twice the size in the East. Out of the chaos of frontier life lie has seen come the order that marks Nebraska as one of the most law-abiding common- wealths of all the grand sisterhood of states. In the labor of bringing about these man\' changes, Mr. Tillotson has borne liis full share as a humble citi- zen, and he is therefore deserving of the recognition which he receives in this volume. Edward R. Tillotson was born in Me- dina county, Ohio, November 15, 182-i, and was reared in his native county, growing up on the farm and being tr,ained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. He resided in Medina countv, engaged in farming till 1847, when he moved to Dane, Dane county. Wis., continuing in agricultural pursuits there till 1873. Com- ing to Nebraska at that date he settled in Harlan county, taking a homestead, on which he located, and began the life of the pioneer. It is not necessary to go over in detail the man}' experiences tlirough which Mr. Tillotson passed dur- ing tlie earlier 3'ears of his residence in the county. These have been given to print as often as the life of an old settler has been written, and it will be sufficient to say in this connection that all that others saw and endured,, he saw and endured, " even unto the uttermost," and whatever praise is to be given the old settler for his fortitude and heroic bear- ing under the trials to which he was sub- HARLAN COUNTY. 721 jected may justly be bestowed upon the subject of this sketch individually. He is now one of the most prosperous far- mers of his community, as lie has always been one of its most highly esteemed citi- zens. He owns three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is susceptible of culti- vation, and yields well. Mr. Tillotson married October 2, 1846, taking to wife Jliss Betsie Santieson, who was born July 30, 1824, in Grand Isle county, Vt. Her parents were natives of Massachusetts and descendants of old Bay State stock. Mr. and Mrs. Tillotson have had born to them a family of seven children, as follows — Caroline, Erie, Amy, Marcia, Harriet, Zadock (now de- ceased) and Alonzo. Mr. and Mrs. Tillot- son are members of the Seventh Day Adventists' Society. In politics, Mr. Tillotson is a republi- can, although he does not dabble in poli- tics to the extent of allowing political pursuits to interfei'e with his own affairs. JOSEPH H. WILEY was born No- vember 2, 1857. He is a son of David and Catherine (Morris) Wiley, the father being a native of Pennsylvania and the mother a native of Ohio. The parents were married in Ohio in 1836 and moved afterwards to Iowa, in 1856. The father went to Nebraska in 1879. There were eleven children in the family to which the subject of this sketch belonffetl — eight of whom are now livinir. Our subject received an ordinary common- school eilucation and also attended normal school at Chariton, Iowa. He resided on a farm and remained with his father till he became of ajie. He was eno'ao'ed mainly in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, at which he was fairly successful. In the fall of 1876 he came to Nebraska and settled in Alma township, Harlan county, where he took a homestead, built a sod house and, being unmarried, began the bachelor life of the West. The coun- try was new and very sparsely settled and Mr. Wiley experienced "life on the plains" in all its varying phases. He had man}' ups and downs, but, being alone and unincumbered with no thought for the future, he willingly cast his fortunes with those of the county, stuck to his home, improved it and began to prosper. On November 7, 1886, he married Miss Lizzie Richards, who was born in Macon county, Mo., September 28, 18G9, being a daughter of Morgan and Sarah Richards, who are natives of Wales and now resi- dents of Nebraska. This union has been blessed with two children — Elmer born October 4, 1887; and Edna, born Mav 5, 1889. Mr. Wiley is recognized as one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers of Harlan county, being thoroughly alive to the best interests of his calling and in sympathy with every movement for the improvement of the condition of the farmer. He owns a large farm of four hundred and eigiity acres, which he has in a good state of cultivation, and deals largely in stock, cattle and hogs. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance and a zealous supporter of that organization. In politics he is a republican, a stanch believer in the principles of his party; but he has never dabbled in politics and beyond a few local offices has never held any public position. 722 HARLAN COUNTY. JOHN L. EVERSON was born in Louisville, Ky.. November 10, 1838, and was reared in Cincinnati, Ohio. When a youth he learned the trade of a harness maker and followed his trade some time after growing- up. He was also engaged, when a young man, in boat- ins on the Ohio river. In 1870 he moved to Cedar Rajiids, Iowa, and in 1873 to Harlan county, Nebr. He took a home- stead at that date in Harlan county, where he settled, building a sod house and launching on the life of a pioneer. He went through all the vicissitudes incident to the opening of the country for settle- ment, and saw as much of the hardships and privations as any of the old settlers. Bv iiard work and good management his affairs have prospered, until today he is one of the best fixed farmers in the countv, owning live hnndred and sixty acres of land, three hundred acres of which he has in a fine state of cultivation, and on which he raises an abundance of farm products. In 1889 he raised seven thou- sand two hundred bushels of corn, one thousand two hundred bushels of wheat and two hundred and forty-eight bushels of barley. He has ids barn well stocked with a superior grade of stock. His farm is furnished with comloitable buildings for man and beast, and ornamented with beautiful groves, all the result of his own ])atient laljor and commendable foresight. lie is credited with being one of the most intelligent and enterprising farmers of Harlan county, thoroughly in sympathy with all movements looking to the im- provement of the condition of the farmer, and exceedingly popular, not only among his fellow-farmers, but all citizens of his county. He is a member of the Alliance of Harlan county, is its treasurer, and is assessor of Alma township. In August, 1860, Mr. Everson married, taking to wife Miss Elizabeth Mitzger. This excellent lady died December 13, 1882. after bearing her husband, for more than twent3--two yeai's, the com|)anion- ship besought with her han^0,000; he had also a controlling in- terest in wliat was known as the " Pitts- burgh & Warren Turnpike." He served through the War of 1812 from beginning to end and was in every sense a true American. He was a very active member of the Presbyterian church, but, neverthe- less, was genial, social and jovial, and was highlj' respected by the people of his neighborhood. His wife, Maria (DeWitt) Frear, was born in New York State in 1797, and was likewise a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. She bore her husband eleven children, as follows — Lear (deceased), DeWitt, Catherine, John, Cornelius, Stephen, Eachel, Baker (deceased), Lawrence, Diana (deceased), and Elias, the subject of this sketch. Elias Frear was reared a tanner, which trade he followed until 1862, when he en- listed in Company I, Fourteenth Penn- sylvania cavalry. He took part in tlie engagement at Gettysburg, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Salem, having had his shoulder dislocated while with Sheridan on his ride from Winchester to Fisher's Hill. He was mustered out at Alexan- dria, Va., in 1865, and returned to War- ren county. Pa., where he worked at lumbering until he came to Nebraska in 1874. Here he settled on section 19, township 2, range 17, Harlan county. He then had about $1,000, but is now the owner of half a section of land, two hun- dred acres of which are under cultivation, and he has, besides, money at interest. When he came here he found the people in a rather destitute condition, but many of them are now wealthy. He had to go forty miles to mill, and in 1875 had to go fifty miles for seed potatoes ; but Mr. Frear had been dependent on his own resources since eleven years of age, and was equal to the emergencj'. In 1862, Mr. Frear married Miss Efiza McKee, a native of IVLissachusetts, born in 1843. Three children have been born to this union, namely — Charles, George K., and Melviu G., the latter having died in infancy. Mr. Frear is a devout Meth- odist, was a class leader and superintend- ent for eight years, and was largely in- strumental in erecting the Scott Hill church in Pennsylvania. In politics he is a prohibitionist. RE. PATE. The official position whicli one occupies, however un- important, is always some evi- dence of his character as well as a tribute to his honesty and ability. This is so be- cause a man will not suffer himself to be thrust into a position tliat is wholly dis- tasteful to him and for M'liich he has not the slightest qualification, nor is one's fellow-citizens at all likely to do such a thing. Tiie men who plod, who are capa- ble of hard work and great endurance, who can do what others plan, who are steady in their habits, jn'ompt at their posts, clean and neat in the mechanical HARLAX COUXTY. W.) execution of their work, always fill the clerical positions. Men of clear heads, strong wills, keen insight and great activ- ity are usually to be found in offices where the duties are chiefly executive. And especially are these distinctions ob- sei'ved in this live, progressive Western country, where the prosperity of a town or community depends so largely upon the intelligence and executive ability of the man or men who aie placed in execu- tive positions. R. R. Pate is the official head of the en- terprising town of Orleans, Harlan county. He is an Indianian by birth, a descendant of two eavh' settled families of the "Hoo- sier" State, and was born in Dearborn county. His father, John Pate, was also a native of that county and lived always in that and in the county of Ri])ley adjoin- ing. He was an extensive stock man and cattle shipper, led an active, useful and successful life, and died where he had spent the most of his maturer years, in Ripley county, in 1874, having passed his forty-eighth year. Mr. Pate's mother, who bore the maiden name of Susannah Jarvis, was born and reared in Riple\' county and died there in January, 1SS4-, at the age of fifty-eight. Besides the sub- ject of this sketch, John and Susannah Pate were the parents of six otliei' chil- dren, all of whom became grown and are now living and settled off in life. These are Jeremiah M., who is a I'esident of Ripley county, Ind.; James E., of Harlan county, Nebr.; John R., of Furnas county, Nebr.; Virginia P., wife of John K. Arford, of Furnas county, Nebr.; Marvin L., wife of W. R. Wycoff, of Del Norte, Colo., and Mrs. Mattie McGee, widow of James A. McGee, of Orleans, Harlan county, Xebr. Randell R., who is the third of the family of children alluded to, and who is the subject of this notice, was born Febru- ary, 1851, and was reared in his native county. He received an ordinary common- school training, working on his father's farm and going to school during the win- ter months. Taking kindly to books, he decided to have an education, and as soon as he could conveniently do so he sat about in the usual way to secure it : that is by teaching district schools and with the means so obtained paying his way through college. After completing his education Mr. Pate taught several terms, but finally abandoned school-room work and entered the mercantile business at Center Grove, Jefferson county, Ind. He left that county in the fall of 1878 and came to Nebraska, settling in Spring Grove township, Furnas county, where he took a homestead. Mr. Pate was a resi- dent of Furnas county for five years and a half, moving in the spring of ISSi to Or- leans, Harlan county, where he now re- sides. During the first two years of his residence in Orleans he was engaged in the coal business. Closing this out he went into real estate, loans and insurance, at which he is now engaged. He has served as justice of Orleans precinct for a number of terms, holding that office now; he has been mayor of the town of Orleans for two years past. Mr. Pate is a plain, straightforward, matter-of-fact business man, and is progressive in his views and liberal in his methods. He is for what- ever is for the good of his community and lends a helping hanil as far as lies in his power. Mr. Pate was married in Jefferson county, Ind., in October, 1874, the lady 750 HARLAN COUNTY. on whom his choice fell being Miss Ellen E. Buchanan, a native of that county. This union has been blessed with five children, four of whom are living, namely— Nellie, Walter, Merle, Holman. Evie died September, 1886, at three years of age. Personally, Mr. Pate is a pleasant gen- tleman. He is deservedly popular with his fellow-citizens. DE. W. H. BANWELL was born in the town of Ashtabula, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, September 10, 1832, and is the only child born to Plenry and Hannah (Castle) Banwell, natives of North Hamptonshire, England. His parents came of English stock from time immemorial. His father was a silk- stocking weaver and his mother a lace- maker, and belonged to the sturdy, in- dustrious and useful class of their coun- try. They immigrated to America in 1831, not long after their marriage, and settled in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where the father died in 1834 at the age of forty. The mother struggled on as best she could in a new country and reared her son, giving him as good education as her means and opportunities would permit. In 1857 they moved to Clark count3^ Ohio, and the son that year began reading medi- cine under Dr. James S. Hazzard, having decided to adopt medicine as his profes- sion. His progress in his studies was impeded by his lack of means, he having to do like most young men who make their way alone in the world : carry their studies along hand-in-hand with their labors. The war put a sudden end to his reading, for he promptly obeyed the call for volunteers, enlisting on April 23, 1861, at Springfield, Ohio, in Company E, Six- teenth Ohio volunteer infanti-y. After a service of four months he was dis- charged, but soon after opened a recruit- ing office at Springfield, Ohio, and assisted in organizing the Forty-fourth Ohio in- fantry', commanded by Col. S. A. Gilbert, enlisting himself for three years. He was soon elected second lieutenant of his com- pany, afterwards promoted to first lieu- tenant, and still subsequently to captain. He served the three years out, and at the end of that time was appointed to a posi- tion in the United States detective service, at Nashville, Tenn. He held this position till March 1, 1866, when he quit the public service and returned to Sjiringfield, Ohio, and set about again to finish his education and enter upon the practice of his profes- sion. AVhile in the detective service he was instrumental in the capture of and in bringing to trial the noted guerrilla chief. Champ. Ferguson, who was subsequently sentenced to death by a court-marlial for murder, and hanged. It was proved on his trial that Ferguson had killed over one hundred Union men with his own hand. Di\ Banwell's two half-brothers, George C. and Henry Stevens, were also in the army. George C. was a member of the same company with the Doctor, and Henry was captain in the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, losing his life in battle April 2, 1865. November 14, 1867, he married Miss Lucina E. Sprague, daughter of Darius Sprague, a prominent farmer of Clarke county, Ohio. He grad uated from the Cin- cinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in June, 1870, and located at once in Clarke HARLAN COUNTY roi county, Ohio, to practice his profession. He was actively engageil in the practice there till 1883, when, on account of ill- health he was compelled to reliiupiish his calling and tr\' a ciiange of location. He moved to Nebraska that year and settled at Orleans, Harlan county, where he soon afterwards opened a furniture store, and has there since i-esided, continuing in that business. He has built up a good trade in his line, and has an establishment which is a credit to his town and a monument to his industry and attention to business. It was his purpose on embarking in the mercantile business to give up the practice of his profession entirely, but this he has been unable to do. Old friends and those who know of his knowledge and skill as a physician still press him into service. He is also a member of the United States Pen- sion Examining Board, resident surgeon of the Burlington & Missouri River Rail- road Company, and is frequently called in consultation with local physicians. He keeps up his interest in the literature of the profession and contributes occasionally to the journals. During his residence in Ohio he was a me;nber of the county and state medical societies, and took part in their meetings and discussions. He is a zealous member of the benevolent orders, and his charitable impulses take the prac- tical turn inculcated by these. Having no taste for politics, he has held but few public offices, yet takes an active interest in public questions, is well posted on matters of general concern, and has affiliated with the republican party since its organization, being a stanch advocate of its principles and methods in dealing with state and national questions. He and his estimable wife are both members of the Methodist church and liberal contributors to all charitable pui'poses. They have an in- teresting family of children, tiiree in num- ber, around whom now cluster the chief hopes and ambitions of their lives. These are two daughters and one son, the youngest in his fourteenth year. The oldest daughter. Miss Jessie Banwell, is assistant principal of the high-school at Alma, Harlan county; the other two — a daughter, Ollie, and a son, Hayes — are still in school. To his family Dr. Banwell is particularly devoted, and the names of his parents he holds in the tenderest re- membrance. GW. COOK, the subject of this sketch, is a merchant of Orleans, Harlan county, Nebr., and was born in Susquehanna county. Pa., in June, 1846. He is the elder of two sons, now living, born to Leonard and Betsie Cook, both natives of Pennsylvania, the other son being Almond B., now a resident of Carbondale, Pa. The father died in his native county of Susquehanna, Pa., when the subject of this sketch was but ten years of age, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Gellatt, being a daughter of Collin CTcllatt, died also in Susquehanna county in 18G0, after which sad events our subject was compelled to dependupon his own efforts foraliveliliood. At the earl}' age of fifteen he entered the United States army in the fall of 1861, enlisting in Company A, Fifty sixth Penn- sj'lvania infantry, and after a service of three months was discharged for disabil- ities. Returning home he remained there 70'^ HARLAN COUNTY until tlie summer of 1S63, when he again enlisted in the arm\', entering Com panj' H, One Hundretl and Forty-fourth New York infantry. Ilis regiment was placed in Hatch's division, department of South Carolina, and saw the most of its service along the South Carolina coast. It sustained its heaviest losses at John's Island, James Island, siege of Wagner, Deveraux Neck and Honey Hill, its total loss being 217, most of which occuri'ed in the last-named engagement. "When the war was over, Mr. Cook re- turned to Susquehanna county, Pa., where, in September, 1866, he married Miss Alma L. Steenback, daughter of J. B. Steenback of that county, his wife being a native of Susquehanna county and a neighbor girl whom he had known from childhood. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Cook began farming, which vocation he followed for about a year, when he engaged in the lumbering business as an employe of Bennett & Co., of Susquehanna county, at which he continued for about two j'ears. After this he worked as a stone-mason until coming West. In this section of the country he first located in Shelby county, la., where for a year he was agtiin engaged in farming. Thence he came to Adams county, Nebr., but later took up a home- stead in Furnas county, this state, and then returned to Adams county, where for another year he engaged in farming. His next move was to Arapahoe, Furnas county, Nebr., where he worked in a liv- ery-stable for six months, at $20 per month, on which sum he was expected to board himself and wife and two children ; but this brave lady, seeing her husband's earnings were not sufficient to make both ends meet, proved herself to be worthy j by taking in washing and sewing and thus I assisted in meeting the family expenses. 1 From Arapahoe, Mr. Cook moved to Cam- bridge, Furnas county, where he conducted the Cambridge Ilouse, a hotel which for a I 3'ear met with popular favor under the i management of its genial landlord. From Cambridge he came to Orleans, Harlan county, and for a year was landlord of the Orleans House, now known as the Gard- ner House; next he returned to Cambridge and resumed the proprietorship of the Cambridge House, but six months later came back to Orleans (in 1887) and en- iragedinthe confectionery business with a capital of $100, and this business he has raised to its present proportions, carry- ing a stock that invoices S-1,0U0, and gain- ing trade every day. Eecently Mr. Cook has taken into partnership Mr. M. T. Stowell, the fii-m name being Cook & Stowell, and each holds a half-mterest in the business. For the successful ])ursuit of the mercantile business Mr. Cook is well qualified. He is a careful, conserv- ative man, and is attentive to business and watchful of the public wants. As a citizen, he is progressive and public-spir- ited. He takes hold of local enterprises with a will and helps to push them as vigorous!}' as he does his own affairs. He has never been an aspirant for public honors, but has filled the usual number of town and township offices such as all good citizens are expected to fill when called on. Mr. Cook is a member of Whitehead Post, No. 114, G. A. K., Orleans, having been a member of the G. A. E. ever since 1867, and has done as much as any man to build up the organization. When the fact is recalled that Mr. Cook began the HARLAN COUNTY. 753 battle of life when a mere lad, his industry and tact in business will be appreciated for all it is worth, and when it is further added that, after ari-iving in Nebraska from Iowa, with onl}' a pony team and $7 in cash, which latter was taken to file a homestead claim, still more credit will be awarded him. HT. FERGUSON was one of the first men to engage in busi- ness in Orleans, Harlan county. He came to Orleans in March, 1879, began business there at that date and has been actively at it since. He came from Osceola, Iowa, but is a native of New York. He was born in the town of Owego, Tioga county. N. Y., January 13, 18-15. He comes of New York par- entage, his father, Hiram Ferguson, being a native of New York city and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Stedman, being a native of Tioga county. He is the second of a family of four children who reached maturity, the others being Albert, now a resident of Dixon, III.; Arazi M., a resi- dent of Elmwood, Nebr., and Hannah, wife of Clifton Brown, of Freetown Cor- ners, Courtland county, N. Y. Mr. Fer- guson's father died in New York State in 1853, in middle life. He was a manu. facturer, a man who was reasonably suc- cessful in accordance with his means and opportunities. Mr. Ferguson s mother is still living. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native ])lace to the age of ten, when he was taken to Dixon, 111., by his parents, and there grew up to manhood. He I'eceived an ordinary common-school training and entered the Union army at the age of eighteen, enlisting in the faUof 1803. He enlisted in Battery F, First Illinois light artiller^^ and served in the Fifteenth (Logan's) army crops. Entering the Atlanta campaign in the fall of 18(53, he was in all the engagements down to Jonesboro, Ga. From that place his, with nine other batteries, was sent back to Nashville to hold that point in antici- pation of Hood's raid into Tennessee, and was in the fight at Nashville and remained there for some time after the dis]iersion of Hood's forces. He was mustered out at Chicago in July, 1865, and returned to his home in Dixon, 111. He went to Iowa in 1870, settling in Osceola, where, after engaging in other pursuits for some time, he engaged in the drug business, follow- ing it successful!}' for some years. During his residence there he married on May 31, 1876, Miss Sadie Glasser, then a resident of Osceola, but a native of Pennsj'lvania and reared in Illinois. Coming to Nebraska in March, 1879, and settling in Orleans, he engaged a month later in the hai'dsvare business as a member of the firm of H. C. AVilliams & Co. After a year and a half he sold his interest to A. M. Barker and purchased of Manning Bros, a stock of drugs and embarked in this line. He has conducted a drug and book-store since that date and now has the best equipped es- tablishment of the kind in the town of Orleans. In connection with his drug and book tratle, Mr. Ferguson has been conducting a loan and insurance business for some j'ears, operating on his own funds and meeting with marked success. Mr. Ferguson is a trained business man and has made the pursuit of his own per- 754 HARLAN COUNTY. sonal concerns the exclusive object of his life. He has never held public office nor dabbled in politics. Being a man of broad views and generous impulses, he has taken considerable interest in the liberal frater- nities and his feelings for his kind have taken the practical turn inculcated by these associations. JUDGE LEWIS H. KENT, the sub- ject of this sketch, is a pioneer set- tler of Harlan county, a leading business man of the town of Orleans, and one of the best known citizens in the Republican valley. Coming to Nebraska when a 3'oung man, fresh from his books, ambitious, full of enthusiasm and with a boundless confidence in the future of the country, he threw himself at once into the current of events, and the part he has taken in the development of the state of his adoption is well attested by the mani- fold interests with which his name is associated as well as by the esteem in which he is held by those who know of him and his labors. Judge Kent's bio- graphy can not fail to interest the readers of this volume, and to many young men who are just starting on the road over which he has come thus far so successfully it will afford matter for encouragement. Judge Kent is a descendant of the New Jersey family of Kents, there being, ac- cording to tradition, two branches of the family — one in New York and one in New Jersey, originating from brothers, natives of England, who settled in this country in colonial times. His father, John Kent, was born in New Jersey in 1816, moved West when a young man and settled in Illinois, where he has since lived, being a resident now of the town of Morrison. He has spent his life in the peaceful pui-suit of agriculture, living the steady, sober, industrious, useful life com- mon to his calling. Judge Kent's mother was a native of New York State. She was born in 1818 and died at Morrison, 111., in 1876. She bore the maiden name of Mary Jeffries. She was a pious, good woman, who, like all good mothers, centered her love and her affections on her home and famih\ Judge Kent is the fifth of a family of six children. He was born in the town of Morrison, Whiteside county. 111., June 11, 1854. He was reared on his father's farm near that place, and received his preliminary education in the district schools of Whiteside county. He took a collegiate course in Fulton College at Fulton, III., graduating in 1871. He read law with Frank Ramsey at Morrison, 111., and spent some time acquainting himself with the detail of office work and in get- ting something of a practical knowledge of the preparation and management of cases. Entering the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, he graduated from there in 187(3 and came at once to Nebraska, settling in Nebraska City, Otoe county, for the prac- tice of his profession. A year later he moved to Orleans, Harlan county, which he decided to make his future home and where he has since lived. It is hardly necessarv to say that the town of Orleans was a mere trading point at that time. The traditional dug-out with its roof of sod rose here and there over the cheerless prairie, while the more pretentious frame "shack" had not made its appearance HARLAN COUNTY. 755 except ill tlie few straggling towns. "With a keen .ap|)reciation of his advantages and unbounded confidence in tlie future of the country, lie set about to acquire as much hind as possible while it was clieap. He also practiced his profession in the local courts and before the United States land office, then at Bloomington, in Frank- lin county. In 1879 he was elected judge of the Harlan county court, and was re- elected two terms, serving till 1885. In February, 1885, he started the Bank of Orleans, with which he is still connected, and wliich he practically controls. In June, 1889, lie assisted in organizing the Orleans Flour and Oatmeal Milling Com- pany, taking a large share of the stock and becoming secretary and treasurer. He has been a member of the school board of the town of Orleans for years, and has taken an active interest not onl}' m school matters but in all matters of public concern. Judge Kent is a hard worker. He believes in the gospel of labor — the philosophy of things done — and he has brought to the discharge of his duties as a citizen and as a public official the same direct and busmess-like methods which he has practiced in the management of his own affairs. His support of any enterprise is a guarantee of its success. Besides his other interests he owns several thousand acres of land lying in the Republican valley, and is actively identified with the farming and stock interests of his section. And this has all been made in the last twelve or fourteen years. Hard work and good management are the secret of it all. Judge Kent married in 1883, the lady whom he selected for a life partner being Miss Eva L. Coats, of Boscobel, Grant county, Wis. In his pleasant home in Orleans he finds relaxation from his many labors and responsibilities and he is never so happy as when surrounded l)y his many friends, by whom he is greatly respected and admired. GEORGE F. GEHLEY, a farmer and early settler of Orleans township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Prussia in 1845. His father, Frank Gehley, also a native of Prussia, filled out his allotted time in the army of his native country, and while in the service received a medal for marksmanship. He came to America in 1856, passed two or three years in Mississippi, and in 1859 moved to Lee county, Iowa. In 1871 he came to Nebraska and settled on his pre- sent farm on section 25, township 3, range 20. In 1830 he married Elizabeth Harlan, who was born in 1810, and to this mar- riage were born no less than thirteen children, as follows — Mrs. Mina Lusk, of Hancock county. 111.; Elizabeth (deceased) ; John, a resident of Harlan county, with whom the father is living; Casper, in Illinois ; Ferdinand, in Blooiiiington, Iowa ; Frank ; George F., our subject ; Mrs. Kate Dich, residing in Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Setonia Figart, in Iowa ; Mrs. Christena Harold, in Nebraska, and three that died in infancy without names. The parents of these chiklren were steadfast adherents of the Catholic church. George F. Gehley came to America with his parents in 1850, and with them resided in Mississippi, until the}' all went to Iowa. From this latter state, at the 756 HA RLA N CO UNTY. breaking out of the late war, he entered the volunteer service as teamster, and at the close of the struggle found himself in New Mexico, whence he returned home in 1867. In a few months he went to St. Clair county. 111., from which place, in 1871, he came to Nebraiika, and settled on sec- tion 9, township 2, range 19 west, Harlan count3', where he has since lived. March 17, 1871, Mr. Gehley married Miss Anna Scheppel, who was born in Prussia in 18-18, and came to America with her parents in 1868. To this marriage eleven children have been born, as fol- lows — George, a book-keeper in Wyoming; Ferdinand, also in Wyoming ; John F.; Matilda; Anna; Albert; Leo; Mary; Joseph (deceased) ; Claia and Eddie. In politics Mr. Gelde}' is a democrat, and in religion he and his family are Catholic. CAPT. J. M. LEE, postmaster at the town of Oxford and a prominent citizen of Furnas county, is a na- tive of Bartholomew county, Ind., and was born September 21, 1828. He is a de- scendant of pioneer stock on both sides of his house, his paternal and maternal grand- parents being among the first settlers of Ohio. His father's parents, who were Virginians by birth, emigrated to Ohio at the beginning of this century and set- tled in what is now Warren county, near the present city of Cincinnati, when that place was a mere boat landing. There his father, David R. Lee, grew up, married and moved into Indiana, settling in Bai-- tholomew county. He moved to Iowa in 181:6, settling in Louisa county, where he followed the pursuits of agriculture for ten years, moving afterwards to Warren county, that state, where he lived till his death, which occurred in the spring of 1872, in his seventy-fifth year. Capt. Lee's mother, whose maiden name was Polly Payne, was a descendant of old Pennsylvania stock, she being born in the Keystone State. Her parents emigrated to Ohio over a half-century ago, settling near Cincinnati, where she was reared. She died in Warren county, Iowa, in 1887, at the age of eighty -one. The subject of this sketch, who is one of a family of fourteen children born to his parents, was reared in his native county in Indiana to the age of eighteen. He accompanied his father's family to Louisa county, Iowa, in 1846, and there, four years later, on December 31, 1850, he married Miss Sarah J. Wilson, of that county, and entered on the active business of life as a farmer. He enlisted in the Union army, August 13, 1862, in Company D, Thirty-fourth Iowa infantry. His regi- ment was assigned to dut\' in the Western department, and saw its principal service in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He was in the Yicksbui'g campaign, at the en- gagement at Arkansas Post and on the Red River expedition under Banks. He served a little less than three j^ears, the term of his enlistment, and was mustered out in December, 1864. He entered the service as a private, was soon appointed second lieutenant, promoted to first lieutenant, and soon afterwards to the captaincy of his company, these several promotions occurring within six months after his en- listment. When the war was over, Ca])t. Lee returned to his home in Warren county, Iowa, and resumed farming. In 1871, he was elected to the legislature from War- HARLAN COUNTY. 757 ren county and represented that county one term, discliargino; Ids duty with fidel- ity to his constituents and credit to him- self. One fact connected with his legisla- tive career is particularly woithy of men- tion. His vote and another one which he controlled in the caucus secured the nom- ination of W. n. Allison for senator and started him on a career in which he has since achieved a national reputation. In May, 1870, Capt. Lee moved to Nebraska and settled in Furnas county, taking a home- stead two miles north of the present town of Oxford. He engaged actively in farm- ing and stock-raising', and, barrin": the ac- cidents and misfortunes necessarily inci- dent to life in a new countr}^ he was fairly successful. Having learned the carpenter's trade when a voung- man and having fol- lowed it some time in Iowa, he engaged also aftei' coming to Nebraska in contract- ing and building. In 1SS2, he was elected to the legislature from Furnas county, was re-elected in 1854, and again in 18SS. He made a faithful public ofHcial, serving up to July, 1889, at which time he re- signed his seat in order to take charge of the postoltice at Oxford, to which he had previouslv received an ap]iointment. Capt. Lee is a deservedly popular man, a public- spirited citizen and a genial, affable gen- tleman. He has a pleasant home and an interesting famil}', being the father of eleven children, all of whom are grown and most of whom are settled off in life and doing for themselves. These are- Edward W., Stewart W"., Charles F., Emor^' E.,Waltei' S., John R., Dock, James W., Cora E., Dora and Fannie. Capt. Lee and all his sons are republicans in politics, and he and his seven eldest ones voted for Harrison and Morton at the last election. Capt. Lee's first presiacity. He is a man of liberal views and sound ideas on educational mat- ters, and is enthusiastic in his support of educational enterprises. He is a public- spirited citizen and foremost of tiiose in his vicinity in advancing the welfare of all of that community. J A. PIPER is the veteran public official of Harlan count3\ of which he has been a resident for eighteen years and twelve of those j'ears have been spent in tlie service of tlie jieople. A man with such a record is deserving of more tiian a passing notice, ill a volume like this. J. A. Pi|)er is of German and English extraction — German on his father's side and English on his mother's. The family tradition as handed down from father to son concerning the origin of his paternal ancestrv in this country is that the origi- nal Piper on American soil immigrated to this country in colonial days and settled first in Massaciiusetts. Afterwards he went to Canada, and settled in what is now Oxford county, Province of Ontario, but which was then a wilderness. The place wiiere he settled was called Piper's Corners, and is so called to this day, being nuirked by two churches and a school 46 house, which have since been built on the site. There was established the seat of the subject's family. His paternal grand father lived there, his father was born there and so was the subject himself. Joseph B. Piper was the father of J. A. Piper, and, as he was for many years a resident of Nebraska and died leaving a number of childi-en in the state, it will lie worth while recording these facts con- cerning him. He came to Nebraska in 1869, and settled in Nemaha county, and lived there some years, subsequenth' mov- ing further West to Red Willow county, with a view of getting out to where he could find cheap lands for his younger cliildren. He located and resided there till 1887, when, March 16tli of that year, he died at his home of heart failure, being then in the sixty-second year of his age. In his earlier years he was a teacher, but after settling in this state he devoted himself to farming and stock-raising. He led the plain and uneventful life common to his calling. If he was distinguished for one thing more than another, it was for his diligent application to his home affairs and his devotion to his faniilj'. " Wise in liis daily work was he, To fruits of diligence And not to faiths or polity He plied his utmost sense." Mr. Piper's mother bore the maiden name of Lucinda Ford. She is still living, being now a resident of Red Willow county, this state. She was born in Ox- ford county, Ont., Canada, and is a daughter of Robert Ford, a native of Ire- land, but himself born of English parent- age. He emigrated to Canada when a young man many years ago, and settled in Ontario, where he married and after- wards lived. ;s2 HARLAX COUNTY. Joseph B. and Lucinda Piper were the parents of eleven children, next to the eldest of whom is Joel Alfred, the subject proper of this biographical notice. He was born, as we have stated, in Oxford county, Ont., Canada, June 3, 1851. He was mainly reared in his native place and was educated partly in the public schools of Oxford county and ])artly at home under the supervision of his father. He was just turned into his eighteenth 3'ear when he came to Nebnaska. His iii'st 3'ears in the state were spent in Nemaha county, on his father's farm, which is now covered by part of the town of South Auburn. Mr. Piper broke the first fur- row on that place, it being a raw prairie when his father moved there. As soon as he became of age so he could take up land, he came to Harlan county, settling here in June, 1872, and filing at that date on a homestead in Alma townsliip on tlie head of Methodise creek, about six miles northeast of the town of Alma. He took this place with a view of making it iiis permanent home, and began at once to make substantial improvements. He started in, as most young men do, in a new country, as the saying goes, on the bottom round of the ladder. He was in the county in time to get his full share of the grasshoppers and the dry years, and there fell to his lot the same experiences that fell to the lot of all the old settlers. He stood by his choice, however, con- tinued to improve his claim and in course of time proved up on it. He still owns it and has added to it by purchase, until he now has a section and a half in a block lying around it, well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs, being one of as heavy farmers as there is in the county. Mr. Piper's first public office in the county was that of sheriff. He was elected to this in the fall of 1875, and held one term. In the fall of 1879 he was elected to the office of superintendent of public instruction for the county and held that one term. Then in the fall of 1881 he was elected county clerk and has since been reelected four terms, being now in tlie ninth year of his service in that capacity. Being a stanch republican, Mr. Piper has always, with one excejHion, been elected on the republican ticket. For tlie offices of sheriff and superinten- dent lie had little or no opposition. For the office of clerk he has always had more or less, that is at the polls. In his first race for the clerk's office lie ran on an independent ticket, there being no poli- tics in the contest, the election turning on the county seat question. In each subse- quent race he has been nominated by acclamation in convention and opposed at tiie polls by the nominees of the demo- cratic and prohibition ])arties. The sharp- est contest he has ever had was at the last election, November, 1889. Iiis ma- jority was small, but nevertheless safe. Sucli a record as this speaks volumes for Mr. Piper's personal popularit3\ The office of county clerk in Harlan county is one of the best offices in the county. There are men without numbers who would be glad to get it and many of them have tried. But he has held it against all opposition since first entering it up to to the present time. And tiiis he has done where there has been the strongest possible feeling, growing out of old eounty seat troubles. There is but one explana- tion of the matter ; that is, Mr. Piper's fair dealino- towards all factions and all HARLAN COUNTY. 783 parties. He has administered tlie affairs of liis office with absolute impartiality, and lias regarded his office as a public trust, and has conducted himself towards the i)eople as their trustee. He is thoroughly coni])etent, as all know, and he is fearlessly' honest. The other virtues of a successful public official he also pos- sesses. He is polite, attentive to the ■wants of all, neat with his work, dispatch- ing it with promptness, and he is always at his post. It will be years before his recoi'd is ecpialled in the county, if indeed it ever is. Mr. Piper was married February 22, 1877, to Miss Jennie E. Proctor, daughter of William and Maria Proctor, who were natives of England but came to America in 1856, when Jennie E. was four years of age. Thefaniil}' made their first stop for a short time at Guelph, Canada, and then moved to Kane county. 111., locating near Chicago. In 187-1, the}' came to Harlan county, Nebr., where they settled on a farm adjoining that of the parents of our subject. To the union of Mi', and IVErs. Piper have been born three children, named as follows — Jennie Lou, Helen M. and Elsie Ford. Both these parents have liresided in the school-room, Mr. Piper having begun to teach after he had entered his homestead, and also taught while serving as sheriff and while Riling the position of superintendent of public instruction. He taught in Alma, in 1876 and 1877, receiving the highest salary ever paid to a teacher at that place up to that time. Mrs. Piper had taught in Illinois previous to coining to Nebraska, anil is at present engaged at the vocation in Harlan county, where she is looked upon as fully qualitied for her work. CHARLES W. EOSA, a prosperous farmer of Sappa township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in New York, January 6, 1829, and is a son of George Rosa, also a native of New York, and born in 1802. From New York, George Rosa moved to Marion county, Ohio, and thence, in 1819, to Indiana, where he died in 1870. In 1824 he was married to Miss Filena Garnor, a native of Vermont, born in 1805. She migrated with her parents to New York, and in that state for a number of years was a school teacher. To her union with Mr. Rosa were born ten cliildren, as follows — Willard G. (deceased) ; Lucy P., now Mrs. Dr. Lawson, of Maiion county, Ohio; Charles W.; William W., a farmer of Tippecanoe count}', Ind.; James E. (de- cased); Edwin R.; Stephen W., who died in 1863 of quick consumption; George Riley, who was in the service, and died at St. Louis, Mo., of the mumps ; Helen M., now Mrs. Mallett, of Cedar county, Nebr.; and Caroline, who died when young. At the age of ten years, Charles W. Rosa was taken by his parents to Marion county, Ohio, where he resided until 1853, and then moved to Jasper county, Ind.; in 1858 he removed to Adams county, 111., remained until 1860, and then returned to Jasper county, Ind., whence, in 1876, he came to Nebraska and located his home- stead. With verv few exceptions he has had good crops, and at no time has the entire family been off the farm for four- teen years. Mr. Rosa has lieen twice married. His first wife was born in Ohio in 1826, and bore the maiden name of Barbara Cone. She bore two children — Maria Elizabeth (the deceased wife of a Mr. Ilite) ami 784 HARLAX COUNTY. Oren Franklin. The second marriage of Mr. Eosa was in 1861, to Mrs. Margaret Hiiney, who was born in Indiana in 1833, and to this union six children have been born, namely— Callie L., now Mrs. Lewis; Ada v., now Mrs. King, of Furnas county, Nebr.; Clara D., a teacher, at home; Samuel Newton, Zilpha Y., now Mrs. Tlule, and John W. Rosa. Mr. Rosa, although he began life with nothing, is now one of the most substantial farmers in Harlan count \'. In politics he is a democrat; has been justice of the peace a number of years, and has also held a number of other positions of trust. ^^M ^ J. MALOY, surveyor and farmer I of Sappa townsh ip,IIarlan county, jI_ Nebr., was born in Washington county. Pa., April 19, 1846, and is of Irish and English descent. He was reared on a farm, but received a good education, and at the age of seventeen began teaching school, following the vocation in Washington county. Pa., and also at Lacona and Pal- myra, Warren county, Iowa, having left his native county in 1868. While thus engaged, he mastered Davis' System of Surveying, and later bought an instru- ment. In 1870, he engaged with John Hoyt, county survej'or of AVarren county, Iowa, and survej'ed one half the county, while Mr. Hoyt surveyed the other half. In 1871, Mr. Hoyt's official term expired, when our subject went to Chicago to study further the science of surveying under Avandernailen (Room 41 Reynolds Block), a graduate from a French institution. The tuition fee was $20 per month, and at the end of two months Mr. Maloy had completed his course. He then returned to Warren county, Iowa, \vas elected county surveyor and filled the office until March 4, 1873, when he resigned and came to Harlan county, IS'ebr., at the in- ducement of his former emjjloyer, Mr. Hoyt. He located on sections 11 and 12, township 2, range 20, and engaged himself in surveying for settlers. In 1877, he re- turned to Iowa and employed himself in teaching and farming at Indianola. In 1881 he went into the grocery business, in which he continued until 1883, when he came again to Nebraska and settled on section 13, township 2, range 20, and en- gaged in farming. He was then worth $3,000 ; at the present he owns four hun- dred and eighty-six acres of good land, well stocked ami imjiroved, and is engaged in breeding thorough-bred Poland-China hogs. Mr. Maloy was married, October 22, 1879, to Miss Nancy Shrewsbury', a native of Indiana, of Irish and English descent, born September 27, 1855, and to this union have been born four children, namely — Walter C, February 10,1881; Jeff.'L., August 19, 1882 ; John W., March 21, 1884, and Mary M., May 22, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Maloy are members of the Pres- byterian church. In politics he is a pi'o- hibitionist, and for four years after his arrival in Nebraska served as county sur- veyor, declining further election. On his first coming to the state buffalo were quite common and were frequently in close view of his cabin. During the mem- orable Easter storm of 1873, Mr. Maloy was attending to his official duties, sevent}'- five miles west of his home, when, with nine othei's, he was compelled to seek I HARLAN COUNTY 785 refuge in a log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, where tiiree days were passed in telling stories, singing songs and discussing different topics to while away the monot- onous hours, and in devouring dried buf- falo meat and molasses to retain the life within them. Thomas Maloy, the father of the subject of this sketch, was of Irish descent and was born in Frederick, Va., October 10, 1806. He was a farmer by vocation, and from his native state moved to Pennsyl- vania. In 1831, he married Miss Margaret Gregg, who was born in 1818, in "Wash- ington county, Pa., was of English descent and died in 1850. After marriage, Thomas Maloy moved to Warren county, Iowa, and there died, September 2, 1872, lamented by all who knew him and hon- ored for the life of integrity that he had lived. Tlie children born to Thomas and Margaret Maloy were seven in number, and were named as follows — Sarah (Mrs. Bundy), of Ackworth, a miller by occupa- tion, Warren county, Iowa, now deceased; James H., of Washington county. Pa., a farmer and teacher ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Es- sick), wife of a farmer in Harlan county Nebr.; John, who enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania volunteers and fell in the battle of the Wilderness, in 1861; Margaret, in Des Moines, Iowa ; T. J., the subject of this sketch,and William,whodied December 10, 1868. His ancestors were, as far as known, strong republicans, as well as himself. But, seeing the enormous political and moral evil growing out of the liquor trafKc, he has become an uncompromising foe to the present liquor law, and it is his earnest desire to see the prohibition amendment engrafted in every state in the Union. JOHN M. JOHNSON, one of the early farmers of Sappa township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Sweden in 1819, and was reared to farming. His father, P. Johnson, was born in 1828, and is still a resident of Sweden, where lie is engaged in farming. In 1870 he paid a visit to America, and was so much pleased with the country that he thinks of coming again. In 1818 he married Guner Anderson, who was born in 1819, and who bore six children, namely — August, now a farmer in Har- lan county ; Harry, in Furnas county, Nebr.; Christina, now Mrs. Anderson, in Sweden ; Andrew, of Colorado, now on a visit to Sweden; Tilda, now Mrs. Bolin, in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are both members of the Lutheran church. In 1869 John M. Johnson came to America and for two years worked by the month on a farm in Illinois. In 1871 he came to Nebraska and settled on sec- tion 21, township 2, range 20, having a capital of $150. At that time there were only four or five inhabitants of Sappa township ; Kearney was the nearest post- office, and the trading post was sixty-five miles away. The country was full of hostile Indians, and three hundred or four hundred camped about a mile from Mr. Johnson's cabin. About three hundred soldiers, under Capt. Madden, of Fort Hayes, camped where our subject's barn now stands, and the soldiers' pit and target are still to be seen near the spot. Buffalo meat was the principal article of food, and buffalo moccasins took the place of boots. At one time Mr. Johnson had ten acres of corn tramped down by the buffalo, but he has had his compensa- tion in killing two of them for foot!. 786 HARLAN COUNTY. Sevei-al times he saw and met tribes of Indians, but no sei ious encounter occurred. One morning, in 1872, he heard a noise on the roof of tiie dug-out, and he got his gun out and ready to fire, thinking the noise was made by Indians, but it proved to be buffalo hoolcing the roof. Another time he witnessed a herd of five hundred mire in a creelc, and out of that number he got two. In the fall of 1873, Mr. Johnson, in company with three others, started out on a tour across the sand hills to Reckerce. Three days before Christ- mas they met a band of Pawnee Indians, who advised them to go back, as the country was full of Sioux. Utes and Clieyennes, but Mi'. Johnson and his friends went on and reached Keckerce after having been witiiout water for three davs for themselves and team. They killed four buffalo during those three davs. They went on to the Smoky river and came to a camp that looked as though white men had been there, and further on they found two men digging a grave for a companion named Brown that had been killed by the Cheyenne Indians the day before. They returned home safely with a load of buffalo meat. In 1885 Mr. Joimson was married to Amanda Anderson, a native of Sweden and born in 1850. She came to America in 1871, and located in Illinois, whence she moved to Nebraska in 1885, being at that time a widow. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson — Edward in 1886 and Walter in 1888. The parents are constant attendants of the Lutheran church. Mr. Johnson now owns a quar- ter section of land, with eighty acres under cultivation. In 18S5 Mr. Johnson was elected a justice of the peace in Sappa townshi|), and held that office until \i when he was elected a member of the countv board of Harlan countv. /% LBERT C. EOBBINS, a promi- / \ nent citizen of Sappa township, X \. Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Julv, 1818, in Jefferson county, N. Y., and was I'eared on the home farm. In 1839 he went to Alton, 111., where he taught school one .year, and also clerked in a store ; he then went to Woodville, Wilkerson county. Miss., where lie again engaged in teaching for a while, and then retui'ned home, where he passed two years. His health being somewliat impaired, he sought Wisconsin for a change of air, and in 1845 or 1846 located at Ripon, where for twenty years he was engaged in the lumber and wheat business. He then went to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where for five years he was in the milling and furniture business. In 1871 he came to Nebraska and preempted a claim on sec- tion 22, township 2, range 20, whicii he still owns. His nearest trading point was Grand Island, one hundred miles away, but later on Melrose was started and soon had a population of over two hundred, and better facilities were had. In politics Mr. Robbins is an Alliance democrat and has been intrusted with several important public trusts. For seven vears he served as county judge; for two years as justice of the peace, and for sometime was postmaster at Orleans. He is also president of the local organization of the Farmers' Alliance, and is a Master Mason. The marriage of Mr. Robbins took place in 1847 to Miss CvnthiaO. Wilson, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, born in 1830. To this union have been born eight children, in the following order — Frank, in the State of Washington ; Carrie, now Mrs. Wilson, in Wilsonville, Nebr., which town was named after her husband, a merchant ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Mr. Gibson, hardware dealer of Wilson- ville ; Euth, now Mrs. Mayer, in Wash- ington ; Olive, now Mrs. Wheeler, in Furnas county, Nebr.; Eunice M., assis- tant postmaster at Orleans; Walter, at home, and Millie, attentling school at Orleans. The mother of these children is a conscientious member of the Presbyte- rian church. The family from which our subject springs is one of the oldest in America. John Robbins, the first to reach our shores, immigrated from England and settled at Weathersfield, Conn., in 1638. Of the fifth generation from John was Aus- tin Robbins, who was born in Weathers- field, Conn., in 1786, and who was the father of our subject. He married Eunice Morton, who was of the fifth generation born in this country of Richard Morton, a Scotch blacksmith, who landed at Ply- mouth from the " Little Jane," July, 1623, and settled in Hatfield, Mass. Austin Robbins moved from New Marlboro, Mass., to Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1800, living there until his death, which occur- red in 1865. NICOLAI NIELSEN, one of the most prominent farmers of Sappa township, Plarlan county, Nebr., was born in Germany in 1853. His father, Peter Nielsen, was born in 1820, was a prosperous farmer, and died in his native country, Germany, in 1862, a member of the Lutheran church. In 1851 he married Maria Anderson, who was born in 1830 and died in 187-i, the mother of five chil- dren, namely — Nicolai (our subject), Ida (Mrs. Clausen), in Germany; Andrew at Oxford, Harlan county, Nebr.; Maggie (Mrs. Ilellner), and Peter, in partnership with Andrew in the hardware business at Oxford. Nicolai Nielsen attended school in his native land until sixteen years of age, and then superintended the home farm for his widowed mother until 1872, when he came to America. Here he first bought a quarter section of land in Saunders coun- ty, Nebr., and while working it lived with an uncle. In a short time, however, he rented out the place and engaged in freighting one summer from Sidney, Nebr., to the Black Hills; the following fall he engaged in selling and buying cattle, at which he prospered, but in a short time returned to Germany to look after his property interests there. In 1878 became back to America, rented out the farm again, and commenced dealing in cattle and feeding and dealing in horses. He then sold his farm in Saunders count3r and in partnership with his brothers, Andrew and Peter, bought land in Harlan county, and continued to purchase as chances offered until the firm owned twelve hun- dred and eighty acres. He now jjossesses in his own right six hundred and fifty-five acres well stocked. He takes a special interest in fine horses, and owns four of the best in the countv, ranging in value from $1,200 to .$2,000, three of them being imported. He is also proprietor of the popular Stanford House at Stanford. 788 HA ULAN COUNTY. In 1881 Mr. Nielsen nuirried Miss Car- rie Casse, a native of Illinois, born in 1865, who has borne two children— Anna and Arthur. Mr. Nielsen is an Odd Fellow; in politics he is a republican, and has been town treasurer four or five vears. JUDSON A. PALMER, one of the first settlers of Sappa township, Har- lan county, Nebr., is a son of Silas and Adelia (Champlain) Palmer, and was boi-n in Michigan in 1841. Silas Palmer was a native of New York, born in 1814. He was a farmer and a prosperous one, being worth, at the time of his death, which occurred in Michigan in 186.5, not less than $12,000 to $15,000. He was a devoted member of the Baptist church, in which for years he filled the position of deacon. He was married in 1839, and there were born to him six children, as follows — Judson A.; Ellen, now Mrs. Laine, of Michigan; Amelia, widow of a Mr. Stone, and residing in Hudson, Mich.; Sarah, now" Mrs. Darling, of Kansas; Byron, a resident of Michigan ; and Homer, who died in infancy. All the girls were teachers, and Ellen, a graduate from Adrian College, Mich., was principal at one time of the public schools of Hud- son in the same state. Judson A. Palmer remained with his parents until 1862, when he enlisted in Comjiany C, Eighteenth Michigan infan- tr}'. He took part in many severe en- e:ao:ements and was mustered out at Nash- ville, Tenn., in 1865, but received his final discharge and pay at Jackson, Mich. He then rejoined his parents, and in 1868 was united in marriageto Miss Julia Chapman, who was born in Miciiicran in 1S4S. Eight children have blessed this union and are named Alfreil, Homer, Mabel, Orville, Eugene, Bertie, Ina and Leslie. In the sjn-ing of 1869, Mr. Palmer bought a farm in Phelps county. Mo., on which he resided two years, and then came to Nebraska and located on section 22, township 2, range 20, Harlan count\', but two years later came to his present home on section 26, township 2, range 20. In- dians and buffalo abounded in those days. Snow storms were not unfrequent. On one occasion Mr. Palmer and others lay out for three days in one of those bliz- zards, and it was so severe that it be- came necessary to ai)ply the black-snake (whip) to one of the part\' and drive him around the fire until he could get up a cir- culation of blood. Mr. Palmer is an active member of the Christian church, and for a long time was Sabbath-school superintendent. He is a Master Mason and in ]iolitics is a republi- can. GEORGE W. PASSMORE, one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of Harlan county, Nebr., is a native of Chester count}', Pa., and was born October 24, 1834. Plis parents, George and Phcebe (Harlan) Passmore, were both natives of the same county. Hisgrandfather, George Passmore, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Welsh descent. George Pass- more, our subject's father, was a miller by trade, but followed contracting consider- HARLAN COUNTY. 78!) ably, and was a successful man of affairs until 1835, when he failed, losing his all. He then moved to Ohio with his family of small children in 1838. He died in 1872, surviving his wife one year. George W. Passniore worked in Jennings count^^lnd., with a carpenter, in 1853, but worked at the trade only a short time. In 1856 he engaged in the milling business, and con- tinued in that business for several years. He was burnt out in the spring of 1863, losing $500 more than he was worth, but he rebuilt and did a successful business for three j'ears. In 1866 he disposed of his interest in the mill and purchased a farm in the woods in Jennings, which he cleared and worked successfully for six years. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1873, settling in Otoe county, where he con- tinued his vocation as a farmer. In 1879 he disposed of his farm and came to Harlan count}^ in 1880, purchasing a homestead right in Scandinavia town- ship, where he now has one of the finest farms in the county. Mr. Passmore was married December 25, 1856, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah J. Haycock, daughter of Milton and Rebecca Haycock. She was born in Ohio in 1839, and is of good ancestry. They have had nine cliildren, nameh' — Rebecca E., Alvernon (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased,) Martha J., Milton (deceased), Harlan (de- ceased), Morton (deceasehine Ellsner, and of his three chil- dren, William, our subject, is the youngest. His widow still resides in Peoria, at the age of sixty-eight years. William Riesenberg first learned the photographic business and later the trade of a machinist, and worked at the latter in Peoria until 1878, when he came to Ne- braska and located a homestead, on which be I'eraained three years, and then returned to Peoria and worked as a machinist five HARLAN COUNTY 809 years. In 18S5 lie married Miss Sarah Ward, daughter of Pliilip and Lydia Ward, of Logan county, 111., who live at Emden. To this union have been born two children — Elsie and Carl. When he was twenty-one years of age, Mr. Eiesen- berg filed his homestead papers, and has since bonglit an eighty-acre tract, all situated in section 30, Turke\' Creek town- ship, Harlan county, and has about fort}'^ acres under cultivation. In 1887 he took uj) his permanent residence in the state, and when the town of Huntley was estab- lished he opened a grocery and drug store n the new village, and about the same time was appointed postmaster, which position he still holds. He is also serving as township clerk, and is highly respected bv all who know him. He is a member of the order of the Sons of Veterans and of the Catholic church, and in politics is a stanch republican. F HH N K li IN^ e O U N W'\ •STjJNii ^'Wl •'^ "**" V ■'■'iiK-^ "*5Beii'- BIOGRAPHICAL. CHARLES A. GEISWOLD was born in Pennsj'lvania August 5, 1840, and is one of a family of ten children born to James F. and Lydia (Franklin) Griswold, both of whom were natives of New York State, his mother be- ing a daughter of Daniel Franklin, a Revo- lutionary soldier, and a distant relative of the famous Dr. Franklin, and his father a son of James Griswold, who served his country with distinction in the War of 1812 and subsequently became a man of some local political note. Mr. Griswold's parents moved to Pennsylvania in 1830, when the country was comparatively new, settled on a timber farm which the father cleared and on which he maintained his family, both parents living to the ripe age of sev- enty-three years. Here now live the most of C. A. Griswold's brothers and sisters, he being the only representative of the family in Nebraska. Charles A. Griswold was in his native country brought up on a farm and trained to the habits of indus- try and usefulness common to farm life. He received but an ordinary education, having mostly to make his own way in the world. He learned the carpenter trade when a young man and followed it till he enlisted in the Union army in 1861, on the opening of the Civil war, entering Company E, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry. and serving his country faithfully three years and three months, during the most trying period of her history. His com- mand was with the armies of the Cum- berland and the Tennessee and took a part in all the hard-fought battles in which those armies were engaged, ending with Sherman's " March to the Sea." He was never wounded, but was once captured while charging a battery at an engage- ment on the French Broad river in East Tennessee and narrowly escaped the hor- rors of ])rison life which befell many of his gallant comrades. He regained his liberty, however, through his own vigi- lance and fleetness of foot, and did a sol- dier's duty till the expiration of his term of enlistment instead of having to lan- guish in a rebel prison. After leaving the army Mr. Griswold returned to Pennsyl- vania and shortly after went to work at his trade. In 1867 he married, then kept a store, farmed a little and subsequently worked at his trade in Pennsylvania up to 1877; in April of that year he came to Nebraska and located in Franklin county, entering a homestead claim on the south- east quarter of section i, township 4, range 14 west, Antelope township. That was an early date for that part of the state and Mr. Griswold was the third man to locate in the township. He settled on 813 814 FRANKLIN COUNTY. raw land and began on the sod and had rather a hard time of it at first, but he stuck steadily to the claim, and after the first season of hardship was past, his con- dition began gradually to improve and his affairs have prospered since. The home- stead has grown from a mere claim on the prairie to a well improved, neat, comfort- able place, furnished with a good dwell- ing, barns, orchard and groves, and is well stocked with good breeds of cattle, horses and hogs. He has given his atten- tion mainly to farming, but in 1881 he put up a building on his place which he filled with goods and began mercantile business. He shortly afterwards secured a postoffice for his locality and received the appointment of postmaster, conducting the ))ostoffiice and selling goods till the spring of 1887, when, the B. & M. E. K. having built within a mile of his place, and a station being started on it near by, he was obliged to remove to the new town with his stoi'e, and the postoffice was given to a Mr. Porter, there being a dem- ocraiic administration at that time. In 1888, when Harrison was elected, Mr. Griswold received the appointment of postmaster and took the office in June, 1889. The new town was called Upland and Mr. Griswold became one of the chief factors in building it up. Three postoifices of the vicinity being consolidated into one, Mr. Griswold now divides his time be- tween the postoffice and his store, keeping one clerk. In 1867 Mr. Griswold married M^ss Martha M. Arnout, a daughter of Joshua and Martha (Chilson) Arnout, natives also of New York State. Mrs. Griswold's father died in 1859; her mother is still living, being a member of Mr. Grisw^old's household. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have had born to them a family of four children, all daughters — Cora B., May M., V. Grace, and Lillie G., the last named being deceased. Mr. Griswold has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his township, having served as justice of the peace and assessor, dii-ector of the school district three times, and, as stated, as post master. In politics he is a temperance republican, as might be supposed from his antecedents and personal histor\% already recorded. He is a zealous Mason and a member of the Grand Array of the Re- public. WILLAED WESTON is a native of Broome county, N. Y., and was born July 15, 1836. He accompanied his parents to Susquehanna county, Pa., in 1847, where he lived several 3'ears. His father was a miller and mill-wright for man}' years. WilJard was apprenticed to a carpenter at the age of sixteen, and, after learning iiis trade, he followed it for twentv-four years, during which time he followed con- tracting to quite an extent. He was also in tiie mercantile business in Pennsylvania for two years and owned and operated a saw-mill for some time during the winters. Mr. Weston came to Franklin county, Nebr., in April, 1874, and was one of the first settlers in tlie northwestern part of the county, where he located a homestead, and built a sod house in which to receive his famil\'. He was eaten out by tiie grasshoppers and saw some very hard times. When Mr. Weston came to Frank- lin county the entire country was undevel- FRANKLIN COUNTY. S15 oped and the boundless prairie was un- broken for miles. No towns had sprung up and few railroads passed through that section, and Mr. Weston knows all the ups and downs incident to the settlement of a new country. He was married November 17, 1858, to Abbie M. Lester, a native of Pennsylvania, born November 28, 1838. Five children have been born to this union, namely — Mary M., Elmer E., Elias J., Jonatlian O. and Elizabeth J. Mr. Weston has been justice of the peace and notary public for many \'ears. In 1880 he w^as appointed postmaster of Moline, and in 1882 he opened a small general store, and is now doing quite an extensive business. He belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Good Templars orders, and has been a strorg prohibitionist for some years. He owns four hundred acres of good land which is in a good state of cultivation- Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Congregational church, and he has always been an active church worker and a contributor to every good cause. WM. F. NELSON came to Ne- braska in the spring of 1877 and settled in Antelope town- ship, Franklin county. He was boi'n in Michigan, February 26, 1844, and is the eldest of a family of seven children born to Thomas Kelson and Emma L. Perry. His father is a native of England, havino- been brouglit to America by his parents when a lad eight years of age. He re- sided most of his life in Michigan, and there married Emma L. Perry, daughter 48 of Ira Perry, of the State of New York. In earlier years he followed the trade of a carpenter, and afterwards farmed. He moved to Nebraska, and resided in this state till the death of his wife, which oc- curred in 1889, when he sold out and went to New York, where he lives with a married daughter. Only two of the seven children of this marriage live in Nebraska - -these being Richard I., who resides near Lincoln, and William F., the subject of this sketch. William F, Nelson was reared in his na- tive place, growing u]i on the farm and receiving only a limited education. He resided in Michigan till he got well along in his teens, and then went to Wisconsin, where he remained for nine years. Re- turning to Micliigan, he married, and then, in 1877, coming to Nebraska, he settled, as already noted, in Antelope township, Franklin county, where he took a pre-emption claim, which he afterwards changed to a homestead, filing on the northeast quarter of section 22, township 4, range 14 west. When Mr. Nelson came to the county, he had a small team, his household goods and $30 in money. With these he began the solution of the problem of living on the frontier, amid the hardships and privations that then suiTounded the settlers. He had many ups and downs, and met with many dis- couragements which would have over- come weaker natures than his. But he has succeeded through it all, and is to-day in a fairly prosperous condition. While looking sharply after his own affairs, he has been active in promoting the welfare of the community where he resides, hav- ing filled a number of local offices, and standing out prominently at all times for 816 FRANKLIX COUNTY. the enforcement of tlie laws and the fos- tering of a spirit of morality, education and sobriety. Mr. Nelson married Miss Eliza A. Lock- wood, daughter of John Lockwood, a na- tive of New York, but now of California. To this union have been born a family of four children, as follows— Jennie A., Will- iam E., Stephen D. and Eugene A. In politics Mr. Nelson is a democrat, standing squarely for the men and meas- ures of bis party on all occasions. ELBERT S. PHELPS was born in Portage county, Ohio, June 6, 1847, and came to Franklin county, Nebr., on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1872, being one of the first to take a homestead in the northern part of the county. There was no settlement then, and there were no neighbors nearer than ten miles, but there was })lenty of buffalo and other wild game. He has stood in his own door and shot buffalo while they were passing. Lowell, thirty-five miles distant, was the nearest trading- point. Indians were plenty, often passing his house, and he has cooked many a meal for red men. He passed through the grass- hopper period and saw some very hard times, but gallantly overcame them. He was married in the fall of 1879 to Miss Ellen Chisholm, a native of New York State, and to this imion have been born four children, viz. — Carrie, Ray, Gu}' and Edgar. Mr. Phelps owns one hundred and sixty acres of improved land as good as can be found in the county. He is democratic in politics, and is well posted in the principles of his party. PERRY" P A R K E R, a successful farmer residing in Antelope town- ship, Franklin county, came to Nebraska in the spring of 1875, and there- fore knows something of pioneer life, and all the privations and hardships incident thereto, Mr. Parker is a native of Miclii- gan, having been born in that state in April, 1848, and is next to the youngest of a famil}' of eight children born to John and Tamer (Walters) Parker. His father was born in Ohio, but moved to Michigan at an early date ; his mother was born in Tennessee ; but they met and were mar- ried in Michigan. They now live in Mis- souri, having moved there in 1871. Perry Parker grew up on a farm in his native state and received the rudiments of an ordinary common-school education from the district schools of the county where he was reared. He lived with his parents till he reached his twenty-second year, going then to Missouri, where he rented a farm and began for himself. He lived in Missouri five years and came thence to Nebraska, settling in Franklin countv. He filed a homestead claim in the south- east quarter of section 21, township 1, range 11 west, and there began the life of a pioneer. He had a hard time of it at first, as did all the old settlers, but by industry and good management he has made a success of it, now having a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and thirty-five of which are under cultivation and otherwise well im- proved. He has usually raised good crops, and, beginning with seventy-five cents and a yoke of oxen, he now has ])lenty around and is recognized as one of the most intelligent and prosperous farm- ers of his county. In the labor of making FRANKLIN COUNTY. 817 for himself a home in the West, Mr. Parker has been ably assisted by his excellent wife. He married after coming to Nebraska, taking to share his fortunes a courageous young lady, who, like him- self, came West in pursuit of her fortune, Miss Serena McKenzie, daughter of John and Mary McKenzie ; the former a native of tlie State of Tennessee and the latter a native of Illinois. The father died in Iowa, 1808 ; the mother is still living, be- ing a resident of Franklin county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Parker liave had born to tliem a family of three children — Jessie C, Clara M., and Dola W. Mr. Parker has borne a conspicuous part in the local affairs of his township, having served on the school board of his district for the past eleven years. He belongs to the Grange Association, and in politics af- filiates with the republican party. WILL BREBNER is a native of Scotland, and was born April 4, 186L He came to the United States in 1877, landing in New York city July 4, and came to Franklin county, Nebr., in the fall of 1877, and here took a homestead. He was accom- panied by his mother, who kept house for him until her death, which occurred in 1889, and to whose wise counsel, untiring zeal and energy in his behalf, he attributes much of his present success. Our subject came to this county with very limited means (having but $4.50 in his pocket when he arrived here) and settled in a pretty new section of the coun- try, where he built a sod house, but by hard work and rigid economy he has made for himself a comfortable home already. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, some of which is ver}' productive and yields abundant crops, and he has great faith in the future of Nebraska. He is an independent republican in politics, and has been elected to the posi- tion of assessor of his townsliip two terms. He is also an officer of the Farmers' Alliance, and takes an active interest in the workings of that organization. He is an energetic and higlily respected young man. CARSON HILDRETH, one of Bloomington's business men, is a native of Micliigan, and moved from that state to Franklin county, Nebr. in 1873. Mr. Hildreth served the county as its treasurer four years, 1884-88, and has since been engaged in mercantile trade. Mr. Hildreth is a strong prohibitionist and is chairman of the county temperance league. '^r~>HE BLOOMINGTON ARGUS, I theofficial countypaper of Frank- A. lin county,Nebr.,is now in its elev- enth year and is all " home print." Its able editor, H. M. Crane, was born in Vassar, Tuscola county, Mich., in March, 1861, a son of R. H. and Laura Crane, natives of New York. Mr. Crane was brought by his parents to Nebraska in 1871, and here for several years he chased buffalo and played with Indians. He learned the printing business under Conoressman Laws of the Orleans Senti- nel, beginning in 1876, and in 1880 he started the liejmhlican Valley Echo at Franklin, but sold out in 1884 and moved to Keya Paha county, whei'e he started the Norden Borealis ; this jouinal he sold in 1886 and returned to Franklin and bought back the Echo, which paper he again sold in 1888. In 1889 he ran the Trenton Torpedo, and fin all \' settled in Bloomington in the fall of 1889 and bouglit the Akgus. On September 22, 1890, he bought the good will of the Echo and consolidated the two papers under the name of the licjyuhliean Yalley Echo. It will thus be seen that Mr. Crane has had an extensive career as a journalist, and his ability as an editor is proven by his success. Mr. Crane was married November 20, 1882, to Idah J. Barker. They have two children — Queena, two years old, and James Laird, two weeks oki. He was a charter member of Lodge, No. 93, Knights of Pythias, of Bloomington city. JAMES E. KELLr, of Bloomington, Nebr., was born February 16, 1842, in Westmoreland county. Pa., and is a son of F. P .and Margaret J. (Easley) Kelly. The father was also a native of Penns3'lvania, and botii parents died in that state, the father in 1876 and tiie mother in 1878. James E. Kelly is the eighth in a family of nine children, namely — Joseph, Sarah, Margaret,William, Cath- erine A., Martha, Henry, our subject, and Michael. He was educated in the public schools in Pennsylvania, but at the age of seventeen went to Ohio and began life for himself. At the expiration of one year he went to Indiana. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty- fourth Indiana volunteer infantry, and rose from the rank of private to that of corporal, then to orderly sergeant, then to second lieutenant, then to first lieuten- ant, then commissioned captain, but was not mustered in as such inasmuch that the number of men in his compan}^ was below the minimum. He with his regiment re-enlisted in the fall of 1863, and was mustered out of service in Feb- ruary, 1866, at Indianapolis, Ind., serving in all four years and six months. Captain Kelh' was in some of the fiercest battles of the war, and was in the last that was fought, which occurred May 13, 1865, on the old battle-ground of Resaca de la Palma,Tex. One man was killed, that being the last life that was lost in the great struggle to save the Union from disruption. Captain Kelly's brother Henry was a member of the Sixteenth squadron of Ohio cavalry with Kilpatrick. He was taken prisoner and died from the effects of his treatment in Andersonville prison. Joseph, William and Michael all served in the war in a Pennsylvania regi- ment — Joseph four years, Michael three years, William one year in the Army of the Potomac ; Joseph and Michael were wounded and made cripples for life. Captain Kelly, after leaving the ser- vice, engaged in mercantile business in Indiana. From Indiana he went to South Carolina, and from there to Wis- consin. In 1879, he came to Nebraska, settling in llarlan county, where he took up a homestead which he still owns, and which is well improved and in a fine state FRANKLIN COUNTY. 819 of cultivation. There were but few set- tlers at that time in Harlan county, and he was among the earliest. In 1880 he moved to Bloomington, Franklin county, where he now resides. On January 1, 186-i, while Captain Kelly was on a veteran furlough, he married — taking for his life companion Miss Margaret J. Lawrence, a daughter of John A. Lawrence, a native of Penn- sj'lvania. Three children have been sent to bless this union — Maud L., now Mrs. James H. H. Hewitt, of Henimingford, Nebr.; Pearl D., and Alton L. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are both members of the Lutheran church and contribute liberally to its charities. Captain Kelly is now receiver of the United States Land Office at Bloomington, Nebr., also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a stanch republican. He is a refined, pol- ished gentleman, and a progressive, public- spirited man. If Franklin county had for her officials such men as Captain Kelly, strangers entei'ing her gates would be favorably' impressed. BENJAMIN H. KEAMS is an old Nebraska?! and a prominent and influential farmer of Franklin count}'. He comes of Southern parentage, originally of Irish extraction. His father, James T. Reams, whose sketch appears in this work, is a native of Tennessee and a son of Harrison Reams, who was a Virginian by birth and a son of John Reams, also a Virginian hy birth and an early settler of Tennessee. The Reamses were near rela- tions to the Harrisons in Virginia, Mr. Reams' great-grandmother being a full cousin toWilliam Henry Harrison,the ninth president of the United States. Mr. Reams' mother bore the maiden name of Mary A. Dowis, whose parents were Isaac and Bet- sey Dowis, nativesof North Carolina, being early settlers of Kentucky. James T. and Mary A. Reams had a family of ten chil- dren, of whom the subject of this notice is the eldest son living and the third in point of age. He was born in Kentucky, in 1849, and was reared partly in Indiana, pai'tly in Missouri and parth^ in Nebraska, his parents being successively residents of these states during his childhood and early youth. They moved to Nebraska in 1863 and settled in Douglas county, near Omaha, where the father engaged first in farming and afterwards in contracting, being one of the builders of the Union Pacific railway. He worked on that rail- way till 1869, when it was com})leted. He then returned to Omaha and engaged in grading streets and afterwartls working on other railroads in that vicinity till 1872. He then moved with his famil}^ to Franklin county, where he took a homestead and located. The subject of this sketch, accompanying him to Frank- lin county, parted with him there and went to Burt county, where he took a homestead and lived for eight years. Abandoning iiis homestead he returned to Franklin county, and, purchasing a tract of railroad land adjoining his father's homestead, settled there and has resided there since. He has a pleasant ])lace and one which in time will be valua- ble. He began on the raw prairie and now has his farm in a fine slate of cultivation and fairly well improved as to buildings and other conveniences. Mr. Reams has taken an active interest in the affairs of liis township and has filled a number of local oifices with credit to him- self and satisfaction to his neighbors. In politics he is a democrat, and is, besides, a member of the Farmers' Alliance. When Mr. Reams went to Burt county to live he was a single man, but there he met a lady who afterwards became his wife. Her maiden name was Louisa Han- nick, she being a daughter of Frederick M. Hannick, a native of Germany, who came to this country and settled in Burt county in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Reams have had born to them a family of six cliildren — Ezra, Emma, Maud, Pearl, Elsie and Ai Therman. TRA SMITH, the leading furniture dealer of Franklin, Franklin county, Nebr., was born in the State of Maine, December 8, 1831, and is a son of Owen and Anna (Fenderson) Smith, both of whom were natives of the State of Maine, where they lived a happy life together until, growing tired, the}^ peace- fully fell into that long sleep that knows no waking. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Daniel and Mary Smith ; and the maternal grandparents were John and Dolly Fenderson, all natives of Maine. The subject of this biographical sketch is the third son in a family of nine chil- dren, named as follows — Moses, Charles, Ira, Colby, Allen, Harriet, Louise, Lavina and Ann. Mr. Smith, having learned the carpenter trade in his native state, started West in 1856 and settled in Jasper county, Iowa, where he continued to follow his trade. In 1857 he took as a life com- panion Miss Annie Slater, daughter of Thomas Slater, a native of England. Three boys have been born to this worthy couple, which the}' have named — Charles W., Ira E., and Thomas O. Mr. Smith continued to follow his trade until Sep- tember 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Second Iowa cavalry, and went out to defend the grand old stars and stripes. His war life was a very haz- ardous one. Being of a bold and daring nature, he took many risks while on scout (lutv, and was in many close jilaces and took desperate chances to escape capture. On one occasion, while alone, he was at- tacked by a dozen of the enemy, but ho refused to surrender and escaped without a scratch. He was with Gi'ierson on his noted raid to Baton Rouge and went with Hatch on his detour to lead the rebels off from Grierson's rear. He was never absent from duty and was continuously engaged in all those dangerous duties per- taining to the cavalry service, and was honorably discharged in November, 186-4. After, his discharge he returned to his home in Iowa, where he resided till 1878, when he moved to Kansas and remained there for a few years. In 1882 he came to Nebraska, settling in Franklin, where he built the house he now occupies, and ensraffed in the furniture business. He is at present doing a furniture and undei'- taking business, and leads the trade in that line in the town. By honesty and fair dealing he has built up a fine busi- ness, and has the confidence of the entire community. When Ira Smith tells his customers the quality of a piece of furni- ture, they know that it is what he repre- sents it to be and act accordingly. He is FRANKLIN COUNTY. 821 a member of the Ben. Franklin Post, G. A. R. As will be seen from his an- cestral record, Mr. Smith is of the okl Maine stock, and is as stanch a republican as the great Maine statesman, James G. Blaine. THOMAS STURGEON, one of the prominent business men of the town of Franklin, Franklin count}', Nebr., was born in Essex county, England, March 4, 1845, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Rutherford) Stur- geon, both of whom were natives of Eng- land. Oui- subject has two brothers and two sisters, nameU' — Aleck, Richard, Sarah, wile of Lewis Pharmer, of New York, and Elizabeth. In 1S50, young Sturgeon, when only five years of age, came with his parents to America and located in Kingston, N. Y., where he received his education and learned the trade of sliip-building from his father, after which he went to New York city and followed his trade there for three years. He then returned to Kingston, N. Y., and took charge of Thomas Cor- nell's steam-boat works, filling the posi- tion of superintendent satisfactorily for eight 3'ears. In 1878, he came to Nebraska and took a homestead on section 8, townshi)) 2, range 14, in Franklin county, where he resided until 1882, during which year he moved into the town of Franklin. He has seen the town grow from a mei'e ham- let to its present large proportions. Be- fore the bridge was built across the Re- publican river, he built a ferry-boat for the purpose of transporting passengers. and by this and other acts of his he lias done as much to build up and make the town of Franklin what it is as any man in it. In 1887 he engaged in mercantile business, and by Jionesty and fair dealing has established an excellent trade. Mr. Sturgeon married Harriet Harnden, a daughter of George Harnden, of Eng- land. They had known each other from childhood, their fathers having worked together in Chatham dock-yards, and were old friends. This union has been blessed with nine childi'en, namely — Fan- nie, Tommie, Mamie, Lizzie, Kittie, Jen- nita, and three who died in infancy'. When the war of the rebellion broke out, Thomas Sturgeon, at the age of sixteen, enlisted in Company F, Twentieth New York State militia, or Eightieth New York volunteers, and went to the army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Wilderness and Mine Run, and was engaged in numerous skirmishes. He also served in the' State nailitia, Company E, Twentieth New York. On a midnight retreat from Fred- ericksburg to Falmouth, he was exposed to severe weather, from the effects of which he has almost lost tlie use of his left arm. No man in Franklin stands higher in the estimation of the i)eople than Thomas Stursreon. HORATIO H. WALDO was born January 20, 1833, and is a son of David and Theoda (Ilaskill) Waldo. His parents came to Nebraska in 1875, where they resided until they died. The father died on November 14, 1879, and the mother eight years later. 822 FRANKLIN COUNTY. There was just ei;^lit years difference in their ages and they both died at the same aoje. They were noted for their many charities and other christian graces. The father was particidarly noted for his honesty and integrity in business and his motto always was — " Do as you would be done by." Our subject is the fourth child in a family of eight children, named as follows — Catharine, wife of John" Van- horn of Polk county, Nebr.; Sallie, wife of Robert Eaton, of Franl^lin count}', JSTebr.; Oscar L.; Horatio H., our subject ; Annie, wife of Eugene AVheeler; Chauncey H., who was a member of Company E, Fifth Iowa cavalry and died in Omaha, Nebr., from disease conti'acted while in the war; Helen M., wife of Iliram P. Edwards, of Ogle, 111.; Abbie M., wife of Henry M. Warriner, of Bloomington, Nebr. H. H. AValdo was educated in the com- mon schools until he reached the twentieth year of his age, when he began life for himself by engaging in farming. He con- tinued farming until he made a contract with the government to carry the mail. In 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Iowa cavalry, and was engaged in tlie battles of Fort Donelson, Nashville and F^ranklin, Tenn. While in the service he never shrank from those dangerous and hazardous duties peculiar to the cavalry service. At one time he was out with a squad of a dozen cavalr^'men, when they were surrounded by many times their number of the enemy, but by courage and detei'raination they bravely cut their way througli, and thereb}' escaped capture. In 1864, while in an engagement near Duck river, he received a wound on the cheek, and, having noticed the man who shot him, he returned fire and killed him. He was honorabl}' disciiarged June 27, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. He still suffers from disease contractetl from exposure during the war, and will never be a well man again. In 1867, he chose for a sharer of his fortunes Miss Mary Prince, of Virginia. By this union one child, named Annie Blanche, was born. His wife died, May 10, 1871, in Wyoming, Jones county, Iowa, and is buried there. She was a strict member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was noted for her many charities and christian deeds. In 1875, he married Arabella L3'ness, a daughter of Joseph Lyness, of Jackstm, Iowa. To this union three children have been born, namely — Caroline Nebraska, who died at the age of thirteen months in Polk county, Nebr., and is buried there • Charles A. and Clarence H. Mr. Waldo has been in the livery busi- ness for seventeen years. In 1885, he moved to Franklin, bringing with him a fine lot of stock, and opened a livery, in which business he has been very success- ful. He is a "hustler" for business and is known by every traveling man who comes to Franklin and is liked by all of them. He has never been known to "gouge" a man, and he has adopted and follows his fathers motto, " Do as you would be done by." He is a member of I. O. O. F. and G."^ A. R. Post. He and his wife attend the M. E. church. HO. HENDRICKS, of North Franklin township, Franklin county, Nebr., was born in Ohio in 1842, and is a son of Samuel K. and Martha (Prichard) Hendricks. Samuel FRANKLIN COUNTY. 823 K. Hendricks was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, was reared a farmer, and from liis native state moved to Columbiana count\% Ohio ; thence he moved to Indiana, in which state he died in 1873, a consistent member of the Cliristian church. In poli- tics lie was originally a democrat, but in 1856 joined the rejjublican ranks. Mrs. Martha Hendricks was also born in Penn- sylvania, was left an orphan at the age of three years — her father having been killed at the battle of Baltimore, in the War of 1812, wiiile defending his country's flag, . the stars and stripes — and in 1830 was married to Mr. Hendricks. To this union were born twelve children, as follows — Mary E., now Mrs. Saunders, of Michigan • George, in Fi'anklin countj', Nebr.; Joel, in Michigan ; Eliza M., who died in August, 1858; Sarah J. and Andrew, who both died young ; H. O., the subject of this sketch ; Salathiel P., in Missouri ; Maria C, married and residing in Ohio; Martha J., now Mrs. Gibbons, of Nebraska; Samuel S., in Michigan ; and Emanuel D., in Indiana. H. O. Hendricks was reared as a farmer, but also was engaged in teaching for seven winters. In the meantime, however, in 1864, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Eighty -second Ohio volun- teer infantr}', from which he was mustered out July 14, 1865. He then returned to Ohio and resumed farming and teaching until 1870, this period being included in the seven winters alluded to above. He then came to Nebraska and located on a homestead in Saunders county, where he resided five years ; thence he came to Franklin county, and in IS 75 settled on section 18, township 4, range 13 west. Although he had no means at all when nineteen years of age, and had but about §600 when he came to Nebraska, he is now the owner of eight hundred acres of good land, well improved and well stocked. Mr. Hendricks has been twice married, his first marriage having taken place, in 1866, to Rachel Hall, a native of Mich- igan, born in 1849. This lady bore five children, named Samuel O., Nancy E., Yinnie, Caressa and Bessie. Tiie second marriage of Mr. Hendricks took place in 1884, to Laura Casey, who was born in Kentucky in 1854, and became the mother of two children — Alvin E. and Ernest. Mr. Hendricks is a member of tlie G. A. E.. and of the Farmers' Alliance. In poli- tics he is a republican, and has served as assessor, justice of the peace and town clerk. He was also postmaster at Orange, Nebr., nearly nine years. He has always been successful in his business under- takings and has been popular in ever}' community in which he has lived. JE. PETERSON, of North Franklin township, Franklin county, Nebr., is a native of Sweden, and was born in 1854. His father is John Peterson, a prosperous merchant tailor, who was born in Sweden in 1830, and is still a res- ident of that country. Josephine Peter- son, the mother of our subject, was born in 1833, and died in 1855, when her only child, the subject of this sketch, was an infant. The latter was only thirteen weeks old when he was taken in charge by his grandparents, who sent him to school until he was sixteen years of age, when he decided to come to America, and this country was reached by him in 1871. 824 FRANKLIN COUNTY. He located first in New Windsor, Mercer county, III., where he worked on a farm in summer and in a blacksmith shop in winter. In 1870 he' hired a farm, on which he remained until coming to Ne- bra.ska in 1885, having in the meantime acquired about $2,000. He is now the owner of a quarter section of well-stocked land, which is also highly improved. The marriage of Mr. Peterson took place in 1876, to Miss Sophia A. Johnson, daugiiter of John and Mary John.son, of Galva, III. Two children have come to shed sunlight in the household, namely — Edward Walter, born Sei)Cember 18,1877, and Frank Emmett, born July 22, 1879. In politics Mr. Peterson is a democrat, and is now serving his second term as county supervisor. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and president of the local branch. Industrious and tiirifty, he has won the respect of all who know him. I >^^^I1£ CAMPBELL PliESS is a six- column folio and was established in January, 1876, by Frank W. Barber. Its present editor, U. G. Knight, was born in Constantine, Mich., in 1864-, and in thespring of 1871 was brought to Ne- braska by his parents, who settled in Web- ster county, and still reside there. George W. Knight, father of U. G. Knight, was born in Canada, but came to the States several \'ears before the breaking out of the rebellion. At the first call for volunteers he enlisted in the First Minnesota infantry and served out his full term of three months. Immediately after being mus- tered out he re-enlisted, joining the Third Minnesota infantry, and served through the war and Indian campaign of 1864, and until the close of the war, when he was mustered out as captain. Broken down in health, he hjcated with his fam- ily in Michigan, in which State he resided until coming to Neljraska, where his health has materially improved. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster at Inavale, and still retains the office. U. G. Knight remained with his parents until twenty years of age, working on the farm and attending school. At the age mentioned he went to Colorad(j, where he spent some months teaching school and working in the grain business, but in the early winter he returned to his home, taught school a few terms, and in the spring of 1885 went to Los Angeles, Cal., and there entered upon his first news- paper work, becoming city editor of the Laborers' Advocate a/tid Shipping Gazette, but, on account of a difference in politics, soon fell out with the manager, the famous Captain Ja3'ne, and took his departure for San Francisco, where he became a re- porter on the Daily Call. In a short time, however, he quit the Call and went into the interior of the state, where he remained until August, 1887, and then came back to Nebraska and taught school one term. In the spring of 1889 he went to Hebron and was employed in the com- posing room of the Journal, and, in fact, there learned the mechanical part of the business. Three months later he went to Red Cloud, where he was employed until April, 1890, as foreman of the Democrat. The next move was to take editorial charge of the Campbell Press, which journal he has placed on a sound financial basis, making of it a good, lively, and FRANKLIN COUNTY. 825 able new'spapet". He is a re})ul)lican in ])()litics and an active worker in tiie party, and has already gained considerable prom- inence in the state and sui'rounding coun- ties, lie is a hustler and will make his mark in the political arena befoi'e' many years. JOSEPH ELLIOTT, a prosperous farmer of North Franklin township, Franklin county, Nebr., was born in England, in 1840, and is a son of William and Christina (Charles worth) Elliott, the former of whom was born in 1811, and died in 1876 — a farmer by voca- tion, a tnember of the Methodist Episco- pal chunih, and one who by his daily walk through life evidenced the sincerity of his profession of faith. Mrs. Christina Elliott was born in 1816, was married in 1834, and became the mother of seven children, namely — Elizabeth, now Mrs. Pugmore, and a resident of England ; George, who died in 1882 ; Joseph, whose name heads this sketch ; Ann, who died in 1884; Will- iam, a resident of England ; Susanna, now Mrs. Smith, and Charles, also a resident of England. At the age of nine years Joseph Elliott left the parental roof and went to work on a farm at the rate of $5.00 per annum and board for the first 3'ear, and an additional $5.00 per annum each year until he came to America in 1861. Here he worked on a farm in Illi- nois for a year, when his soul caught the martial spirit of the day, and he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company C, Seventy- fourth Illinois volunteer infantry'. At the action at Mission Ridge he was wounded in the arm by a shot and was mustered out Juno 13, 1SG5. Returning to Illinois he hired out as a farm hand for another year, and then rented a farm, which he worked on his own account until 1870, when he came to Nebraska, the possessor of $1,000 in cash, the result of his own industry. For awhile he re- sided at Beatrice, Gage county, but not liking the location removed to Iowa, and there remained until 1879. when he re- turned to Nebraska, and settled in Frank- lin county, where he now owns a quarter section, which is well impi'oved and well stocked, although he has had the misfor. tune of losing two crops. Mr. Elliott is a member of the G. A. R. and of the A. O. IT. W., and in politics is a repidjiican. Socially, he and his famil}' stand very high in tiie esteem of the community, and as an agriculturist he is looked upon as one of the best in the township. McKEE CRILLY is a native of Ireland and was born in 1846. Hugh Crilly, his father, was born in 1813, was reared a farmer, and came to America in 1877, choosing Frank- lin county, Nebr., as his home. He was a man of good habits, was strictly honest, and was quite prosperous. He died in 1883, a faithful member of the Presbyte- rian church. The father of Hugh was James Crill3\ The mother of our subject, Sarah (McKee) Crilly, also a native of Ireland, was born in 1813 and was a daughter of Patrick McKee, who was born in 1775 ami died in 1850. He was a lawyer by ])rofession, having been educa- ted at Queen's College, Belfast, and hav- 826 FRANKLIN COUNTY. iiig also gi'adiuited from a college in Scot- land . The wife of Patrick McKee bore tlie maiden name of Hannali Mcllwrath. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh CriJly were married in 1837, and to tlieir union were born nine children, namely — Mar^^, now Mrs. A. M. Johnson, of Kiverton, Nebr. ; Mrs. Sarah Schell, of Denver, Colo.; McKee, our sub- ject ; Margaret J., James, Hugh, and Sam- uel, Katie and Elizabeth, the latter attend- ing school in Denver, Colo. McKee Crilly came to America in 1865, stopping at Joliet, 111., whence he came to Scott county, Iowa, and for three years worked by the month on a farm ; the next two years he passed on rented land. In 1872 he came to Nebraska and stopi)ed awhile at Kiverton, then a stockade. The same year he took up a homestead, on section 2, township 1, range 13 west, in Franklin county, on which he resided until lS8i, when he settled on his present place. In the spring of 1873 occurred one- of the most memorable snow and hail storms on record, lasting three days, and during this time Mr. Crilly was safely housed at his father-in-law's, a few miles from his own home. It was in this year Mr. Crilly married Miss Alice L. Fowler, a native of Illinois, born in 1858. Five children have been the result of this union, namely — Hugh Clark, who was born in 1876 and who died in 1879; Herbert, born in 1878 ; Samuel, born in 1880 ; Earl, born in 1884, and Glenn, born in 1887. Mr. Crilly began life for himself when nineteen years old. When he came to America he had about $35 or $40, and when he came to Nebraska had one team and $25. There were about fifty inhabi- tants in Franklin when he came, and of these only six remain. Hundreds of Indians camped about his place for tlii-ee or four winters and he was frequently annoyed by their de])redations. AVhat was then a barren waste is now a land of civilization and plenty, and the change has been effected by just such hardy pio- neers as our subject. Mr. Crilly now owns a splendid farm of three hundred and twenty acres, well stocked and improved with every convenience. 1 A M. JOHNSON, of Grant town- ship, Franklin county, Nebr.^ was born in Sweden, in 1836. His father, John Monson, was born in 1792, was a prosperous farmer, and died in 1871, a member of the Lutheran church. He was married, in 1812, to Mar}' Greta Anderson, who was born in 1797, became the mother of five children, and died in 1873 — a good, kind, christian woman. The children were named as follows — Caroline, Gustaf, Halda Sophia (deceased), Nels (in Nebraska), and A. M. A. M. Johnson came to America in 1868 and traveled through the country, looking for a desirable abiding place, until 1872, when lie reached Nebraska. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the old country and had also studied music, but his first employment in this country was at coffin-making in Chicago. On arriving in Nebraska, he settled on section 35, township 2, range 13 west, Franklin county, where he is highly respected as a good, honest, reliable citizen. January 15, 1872, he married Miss Mary Crilly, who was born in Ireland, in 1840, and in 1868 came to the United States with her FRANKLIN COUNTY 837 brother, McKee Crilly. They stopped at Davenport, Iowa, and there her marriage to Mr. Johnson took place. No children have beeti born to this union, but they iuive an adopted son, Fernando, whom they took from the Orphans' Home at Elmira, N. Y., and who gives pi'omise of becoming a useful and respected citizen. Mr. Jolinson and family are members of the Congregational church, of which he is now a trustee, and for a number of years was a deacon. In politics, he is a repub- lican. HON. A. II. BUSH was born in Lewis county, New York, June 8, 181S. His father, Roland Bush, was a native of Massachusetts, and was born March 12, 1793. His mother bore the maiden name of Harriet Phelp, and was also a native of Massachusetts, born October, 1790. They settled in New York in an early day, where they were afterwards married. In 1850 they migrat- ed to Wisconsin, where he died in 1883 and she in 1887. The senior Bush was in the AVar of 1812, and was a man of con- siderable prominence in the communities where he lived, having held various local offices. They were adherents fo the Free- will Baptist faith. There were only three children in the paternal family — two besides the subject of this notice, all of whom are living. The Bush family are noted f(jr their longevity. The boyhootl days of our sui)ject were passed on a farm. He attended school and obtained a fair education, and at nineteen was engaged to teach at a salary of $16.00 per month. After teaching one term he prepared himself for schodl work and taught several successful terms afterwards. His success as a teacher led to his election as county superintendent of schools, a position he llllcd with credit for four years; he also organized and held the first institute in Lewis county, N. Y. In 1849 Mr. Bush moved to Wisconsin, locating on a farm in Richland county, and was elected county treasurer of Rich- land county in 1856, and served two years. He came to Franklin county, Nebr., in June, 1872, in advance of his family, and selected a homestead near Naponee, whei'e he has since resided. His first house consisted of a dug-out, which was afterwards replaced by a log dwell- ing. Buffalo were plentiful, and antelope roamed over the adjacent prairie in great herds. He was visited three years in suc- cession by the grasshoppers, which de- stroyed his crop entirely ; consequentl}', he experienced some very hard times during his first few years of settlement. On September 13, 1843, Mr. Bush was married to Miss Rosanna Metcalf, a native of the Empire State, born in 1821. She died in September, 1846, leaving one child — John M. Our subject then contracted a second marriage, which was celebrated on the fourth day of July, 1848 ; the lady who that day became his wife bore the maiden name of Cordelia A. Devoe, and was born in New York April 12, 1832. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows — Harriet K., born Nt)vember 18, 1849; Charles R., born Sei)tcudjer 2, 1854; Alfredellice M., born Ai)ril 4, 1857; Cora R ., born May 17, 1859; Minnie E., born July 10, 1862 (deceased) ; Fred D., born October 10, 828 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 1866; Carl F., born January 12, 1871; and Helen M., born August 2, 1878. Mr. Bush was elected to represent Franklin county in the legislature in 1876 and voted for the adoption of the present constitution of the state, and took an active part in tlie election of Senator Saunders. He served on three important committees and was an active and efficient worker in that body. He entered the United States mail service in 1880, and made the run between Omaha and Lin- coln, served in that capacity for four years, ami was one of the oldest mail agents in the service. He has been an active and efficient worker in the cause of temperance all his life, and is a stanch republican in politics. He now owns one hundred and seventy acres of splendid land. He is as clever a man as one will meet in a day's journey, and is an active and influential man in the community in which he lives. ISAAC CROLETis a native of Shelby county ,lnd., was born September 3, 1845, and is a son of Absalom and Mary (Babb) Croley, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Both were zealous workers and members of the Baptist church. The father died in 1866, and the mother in 1857. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the War of 1812. Isaac Croley obtained a fair, common- school education, but being the eldest of the family, he was denied the school ad- vantages enjoyed by the youth of this dav. The war of the Rebellion breaking out, he enlisted December 15, 1863, in the Ninth Indiana cavalry, and served till September, 1864-, when he was taken pi'isoner and remained in prison till the close of the war, and when released was unable to stand on his feet. He was married February 20, 1S67, to Mar}' Jones, a native of Indiana. They have had four children, as follows — Laura (deceased), Riley, Charles and Harrv- Mr. Croley came to Franklin counts, Nebr., in April, 1876, and homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 33, township 2, range 16. There were only few settlers at that time, and wild game was plentiful. Mr. Croley has held various local offices, and is the present supervisor of his town- ship. He is an Alliance man, and is in- de])endent in politics. He owns two hundred acres of land, which is in a fine state of cultivation and very productive. JOHN BRUNK, the subject of this biographical sketch, is a native of Brown county. 111., was born Sep- tember 25, 18-42, and is a son of Abram and Matilda (Bond) Brunk, both natives of Kentucky, who married and settled in Illinois in an .early day. The father was a "forty-niner" and died in California in 1850. He was a successful mine operator, ilrs. Abiara Brunk died in 1875, the mother of nine children, of whom the subject of this notice is the seventh. John Brunk took care of his mother for several years, remaining on the old homestead. He enlisted Febru- ary 14, 1865, in the Fourteenth Illinois regiment, and served till the close of the FRANKLIN COUNTY. 829 war, when he was discharged at Spring- field, 111., November 16, 1S65. Mr. Brunk came to Franklin county, Nebr., in April, 1877, and took a home- stead in Lincoln township, but prior to his coming to settle, built a sod house and prepared to receive his family. He was married in July, lS6fi, to Miss Alice Slmpkin, of Illinois. Her parents came from England. Six children have been born to this union — Carlota (de- ceased), Elizabeth, George T., Maggie (deceased), John W. and Alice May. Mr. Brunk is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Grange. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal cliurch. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land and is a stanch be- liever in prohibition. RICIIAED B. ROWLEY is a native of Ontario county, N. Y., and ^ was born at East Bloomfield, April 29, 1833. He is a son of Daniel and Eachael (Tomiller) Rowley, both of whom were natives of New York, but moved to Illinois in 1857. The senior Rowley enlisted at the age of sixty years in the war of the rebellion, and served about one year, when he was taken sick anil was placed on board a steamer that is supposed to have been blown up. Mi'S. Rowley died in 1886, the mother of twelve children, six of whom are now living. Richard Rowley engaged in fanning when he arrived at tlie age of twenty-one years. He enlisted September 5, 1864, in the First New York veteran cavalry, saw considerable service, and was dis- charged June 8, 1865. He located in Illinois in 1866, and in Franklin county, Nebr., in the spring of 1876. He pre erapted tlie southeast quar- ter of section 17, Lincoln townsliip, on which he built a sod house, and was among the ver}' first settlers, passing through the grasshopper times. He was married August 5, 1856, to Evi- line Rowley, a native of New York, born January 27, 1841. Eight children have been born to this union — Steward, born November 28, 1863; Mary, born Septem- ber 5, 1860 (deceased); Earnest (deceased); Frank, born July 17, 1869 ; Daniel, born November 31, 1871 ; Ray, born June 26, 1873; Maud, born July 12, 1876, and Carrie C, born June 28, 1878. Mr. Rowley affiliates with the republi- can party, and is an honored member of the G. A. R. He has four hundred and eighty acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, and buys and sells cattle and hogs, and is one of the best- known men in his locality. LESTER SHADDUCK is a native of Erie county. Pa., born December '_^ 4, 1828, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wiliard) Shadihick, the former of Yermont and the latter of Maine. The\' weie early settlers in Pennsylvania. The elder Shackluck was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was educated for a Uni- versalist minister. He was a circuit judge in an early day and died June 25, 1 835, aged about sixty-two. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The mother of Lester Shadduck died in 1863. When 830 FRANKLIN COUNTY. our subject was about fourteen he began working out at $5 per month. In 1850 he went to Wisconsin on a prospecting tour, but was not favorably impressed with the country. He next visited Iowa and purchased eighty acres of land in Clinton county, that State. He returned to Pennsylvania, but in a short time set out for the West again, and located on the land he had purchased and set .to work to improve it. He enlisted October 12, 1801, in the Eleventh Wisconsin regiment, Company I, and participated in the fight at Peach Orchard bluffs. Magnolia hills, Champion hills, Black Eiver bridge and Vicksburg. He was wounded at the last- named battle on May 22, 1863, and was sent to Memphis, whei'e he lay in the hospital for some time. He was dis- charged at New Orleans, June 11, 1864-. Mr. Shadduck was married October 6, 1858, to Miss Tabitha Clews, a native of England. Mrs. Shadduck departed this life on April 2, 1S61, the mother of two children — Ann E. and Joseph H., both deceased. Mr. Shadduck next married, April 1, 1865, Mrs. Catherine McEwen, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Her parents were John and Catherine Johnston, who came to America in 1830, and settjpd in New York city, where Mr. Johnston lived for many years. He was with Col. John Astor for nine years, and died in 1887, in Columbia county, AVis. Mr. Johnston was a graduate of the National college of Dublin, Ireland. Ml". Sliadduck had the foUowine- chil- dren by his second wife — William A., born May 2, 1866; LiJiie E , born Decem- ber 23, 1870; Eva Ptosella, born Marcii 23, 1873. Mr. Shadduck came to Franklin county. Nebr., August 8, 1881, and has one hun- dred and sixty acres of good land in a fine state of cultivation. Politically, he is a republican. PS. FLITCEOFT is a native of St. Lawrence count}^, N. Y., and was born near Ogdensburg, on the St. Lawrence river, September 4, 1837. He isa son of James and Bricea (Snider) Flit- croft, both of whom were also natives of New York. His mother died in 1868 and his father in 1873. When ]\[r. Flitcroft was twenty-one years old he embarked in the boating and lumbering business on the St. Lawrence river and followed his business quite suc- cessfully' for several year. He piloted the rapids for about eight years, and subse- quently worked at the mason trade in Illinois for some years. He also spent four years in Butler county, Iowa, and came to Franklin county, Nebr., in the fall of 1874 and took a homestead in Lincoln township. He was among the first settlers, not a tree or a house -being in sight. Wild game was plentiful, and he could see from two hundred to five hundred antelope in a drove. The times were hard but the people in tliose days were plucky, happy and contented. He was married January 3, 1857, to Miss Helen Call, a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., and born in 1837. Seven children have been born to this union — Charles, Emma, Augustus, Edward, Oscar, Annie and Jane, all deceased except Edward. The second marriage of Mr. Flitcroft took place April 5, 1879, to R'^becca E. Jack- FRANKLIN COUNTY. 831 son, daugliter of Eobert and Lucy Jackson. She was born in Illinois, June 25, 18(53. Two children have resulted from this marriage — Helen J. (deceased) and Byron D. Mr. Flitcroft has one hundred and sixt\' acres of choice land, all under good cultivation. He was elected county com- missioner in the fall of 1877 and served three years. He organized and named several of the townships in the county, and was one of the most active and popu- lar officials the county has had for some time. He is a republican and a promi- nent and active member of the Farmers' Alliance. JAMES M. DIMMICK is a success- ful fai'mer residing in Logan town- ship, Franklin county. He is a na- tive of Schuyler county, 111., and is one of a family of nine children born to Ebenezer and Margaret (Phillips) Dim- mick, the former of whom was a New Yorker i\y birth, and the latter a native of Ohio. The father was born in Oneida county, N. Y., in 1803. When a young man he moved to Ohio, where he married, and in 1834 went to Illinois, settling in Schuyler county, where he subsequently lived and died. He was a man of diversi- fied pursuits and extensive interests. Starting as a farmer, he became a mer- chant and in later years officiated as a class leader. He established the town of Pleasant View, in Sclniyler county, was the first merchant of the place, and the first postmaster, whicli office he hekl from 1861 to 1882. He was always a promi- nent citizen of his community and a leader in religious matters, having been an active member of the church for sixty- eight years, and his house was always open to the pioneer preacher. He was twice married and the father of nine children — all, however, by the first mar- riage. The subject of this notice was reared in his native county, growing up on the farm, and receiving an ordinary common- school education. At the age of eighteen he entered the Union army, enlisting May 24, 1861, in Company G, Sixteenth Illi- nois volunteer infantry, was ordered at once to the front and served with the armies of the Southwest. He served mostly with the army of the Cumber- land, and took part in all the engage- ments participated in b}"^ that army. He served out the terra of his enlistment and was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn., in May, 1864, when he returned home. By an accident, he received a severe in- jury to one eye, and was once sick in a hospital, but with these exceptions he came off unscathed, doing a soldier's duty dur- ing his entire term of service. After re- turning: to Illinois he engaged for a few 3'ears in farming, and then went to saw- milling, and followed this till 1873, when he moved to Nebraska, and settled in Franklin county, in August, 1873. He filed a homestead claim at that date on the southeast quarter of section 6, town- ship 3, range 14 west. In 1877 he lo- cated a timber claim in the same section, making him three hundred and twent}' acres. He began with a wagon and team, his household goods, one pig and a few chickens, and, as may well be imagined, he had for the first few years a hard time of it. He lost a few crops in consequence of the grasshopper invasions and drought, 832 FRANKLIN COUNTY. but on the whole, did well and lias pros- pered in recent years. Pie is regarded now as one of the most successful farmers of his township, and the order and neat- ness of everything on his farm gives evi- dence of the industry, system and good management that prevail there. Mr. Dimmick has from the beginning been identified with the best interests of his locality, and has taken an active part in the affairs of his township, lie has been township treasurer two terms, and at all times a member of the school board in one capacity or another. He belongs to the Grange and tiie Alliance and in politics is a republican. He is an active membei' of tlie Methodist church and a strong supporter of all church organiza- tions. He married Annie E. Hamilton, a daughter of James T. and Malinda Hamil- ton, natives of Virginia and emigrants to Illinois at an early da^^ Mrs. Dim- mick's parents are still living, being resi- dents of the the newly made State of Washington, and Mr. and Mrs. Dimmick have seven children, all girls — Nettie J., Malinda, Margaret, Enola, Emniarette, Theodosia and Mar}' A. MICHAEL HUFFMAN, one of the most highly respected men of Franklin county, Nebr., was born in Bourbon county, Ky., February 10, 1826. His father moved to Brown county, 111., in 1833, was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, and died in 1872. Our subject engaged in farming when be became of age, and has stuck to it ever since. He came to Franklin county, Nebr., in the fall of 1875, took a homestead and was one of the first settlers in the county. He lived in a sod house and shared full}' in the vicissitudes of the early pioneers, having had his crops de- stroyed by the grasshoppers and laboring under other disadvantages common to the early settlement of a new country. When he came there were plenty of antelope, but the buffalo were beginning to disap- pear. Mr. Huffman was married January 21, 1847, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Shelly, a native of Indiana. To this happy union there have been born nine children, namely — Henr}', born Ma}' 23, 1848; Elizabeth, born December 26, 1849; Mary A., born November 19, 1853 (deceased); Sarah A., born June 3, 1855; Eli, born June 23, 1859 ; Harriet A., born April 6, 1863; Charles, born April 10, 1865, and Berdella, born August 8, 1867 (deceased), and a boy that died unnamed when eight days old. Mr. Huffman has belonged to the Masonic organization since 1859, and is also a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has two hundred and forty acres of choice land, which is well timbered and has plenty of fruit growing on it. In 1850 Mr. Huffman, with the great rush of gold seekers, went to California with an ox-team, and in the spring 1852 returned by the way of Panama, having done fairly well. From 1867 to 1872 he was engaged in the milling business, with his brother Henry, in Schuyler county, 111., on Crooked creek. His failing health was the cause of withdrawal, but he never gave up farming. The mill which they FRANKLIN COUNTY. 833 erected is still operated by Henry Huff- man. In his early Nebraska days Michael Huffman's house was a stopping place for the homesteaders that freighted their pro- duce from the Solomon and Kepublican rivers, and countr}' adjacent, to Kearney to exchange for the necessities of life, but for these accommodations Mr. Huffman made no charge whatever, and he is to- day noted for his cleverness and genuine hospitality. SAMUEL H. DOUGLASS, an old Nebraskan, and an early settler of Franklin county, is a native of the state of New York and a descendant of York State ancestry, his parents both havino' been born and reared there, and his grandparents also. His father, Thomas Douglass, was a small farmer in New York, and spent all his years in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Mr. Douglass' mother, wlio bore the maiden name of Chloe Howe, was a frugal house- wife, thrift}' and industrious and greatly devoted to her family. She was the mother of eleven children, only two of whom are now living, these being the subject of this sketch and an elder sister. Samuel H. Douglass was born May 10, 1819. He was reared on his fathei''s farm, received an ordinary common-scliool education, and was trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. His father being a man of limited means and having a large family to pro- vide for, the subject of this notice had from necessity to make his own way in the world from an early age. He was variously engaged alter reaching maturity, beginning as a farmer, going from that to the brick business and still later to mer- cantile pursuits. He inarried, in his native state, in 1851, taking, to share his life's fortunes. Miss Carrie Delano, a daughter of Frederick and Caroline Delano, who, as well as their daughter, were born in Vermont. The wife of his youth still abides with him, having borne him four children, three of whom are now living, having reached maturity. The full list is as follows — Lillie (who died in infancy), Thomas F., Sidney H. P. and Miles C. Mr. Douglass came to Nebraska in March, 1871, making his first stop in Richardson county, where he remained two years, engaged in farming. Selling out there, he moved to Fi-anklin county in 1873, and settled on a homestead, taking the northwest quarter of section 28, township 3, range 14 west. After im- proving this, he sold it, and taking a timber claim in the same vicinitj% it being the northeast quarter of section 30, town- ship 3, range 1-4 west, located there, and has continued to reside there since. Mr. Douglass followed farming, exclusively, up to 1886, and met with fair success. At that date, he opened a store in Macon, and has since given his attention mainly to that. He has made a reasonably good success in the mercantile business, being a safe, conservative business man. In 1885 Mr. Douglass received the apjiointment of postmaster, at Macon, and held the office till the close of Cleveland's administration. He is a democrat in politics, being a stanch supporter of the principles of his party, and has served his township as justice of the peace and has been quite 834: FRAXKLIX COUXTY active in school matters, having served man}' terms as school director, and now serving as treasurer of his school district. He is a worthy citizen and highly esteemed by all who know him. JAMES T. REAMS is a pioneer and a commonwealth builder. He comes of pioneer ancestry, his parents hav- ing been early settlers of Kentucky, his grandparents earl}' settlers of Ten- nessee and his great-grandparents Virgin- ians and Mary landers. He is originally of Irish extraction, both Ins fathers and motiier's families having come from the Emerald Isle some time in the colonial days, the tradition as to the Keams side being that there were thi'ee sons, who lived during the Ilevolutionar\' period, the two older ones serving in the war. These subsequently became the heads of families and started the several branches in this country. They intermarried with the Harrisons, of Virginia, and in that way the name of Benjamin Harrison became introduced in the famih^ and has since run tlirough it, the mother of the subject of this sketch being a cousin of William Henry Harrison, better known as " Old Tippecanoe." The father of James T. Reams was Harrison Reams, who was born in Virginia but reared in Tennessee, whither his father, John Reams, moved at an early da}'. Harrison Reams mar- ried Lida Daugherty, then of Tennessee, but whose parents, Benjamin and Eliza- beth Daugherty, were natives of Mary- land, who moved to Tennessee at an early day. Benjamin and Lida (Daugherty) Reams were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this notice is the second in age. James T. Reams was born in Tennessee September 3, 1826. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Kentucky, and he there grew to man- hood.. He married in Kentucky in 1847, taking to wife Miss Mary A. Dowis, a daughter of Isaac and Betsey Dowis, who was a native of Kentucky, but whose par- ents were South Carolinians. In 1857, Mr. Reams moved to Indiana, a year later to Missouri, and in 1863 to Nebraska, settlino; in Douglas countv, near Omaha. For a while he farmed in Nebraska, but afterwards became a contractor on the Union Pacific railway, and followed that till the completion of the railroad in 1SC9. He then returned to Omaha, and after making a prospecting tour through the southwestern part of the state, he again engaged in contracting, grading streets in Omaha and railroads running out from that place. He gave this up in 1872, and, with his family, moved to Franklin county and took a homestead, tiling on the southwest quarter of section 10, town- ship 1, range li west. The same year he bought the northwest quarter of the same section, wiiich was owned by the railroad, and there he located and began his im- provements. Having been raised in a wooded country, he managed to settle where he would have plenty of timber, and his first house was a log one with a stone chimney. He encountered the usual amount of hardships that fall to the lot of the first settlers of a country, but, hav- ing already been considerably on the fron- tier, he was not discouraged by these. The chief diflicultv he met with in those davs was in bread stuffs. Meat I FRANKLIN COUNTY. 835 was plentiful, the prairies abounding in buffalo, antelope and deer; but the grass- hoppers and drouth played havoc with the crops, and the question, "What shall ■we do for bread to eat ? " frequently be- came one hard to answer. Even when corn and wheat could be had, there were no mills within reasonable distance, the nearest one being at Beatrice, one hun- dred and fift}^ miles awa\'. He continued on the farm, however, seeing, as he says, some good times along with some prett}' tough ones, till 1879, when, the Burlington & Missouri River RailroadCom pan}' having built up the Republican valle}' and a sta- tion established where the town of Frank- lin now stands, he built a hotel there and moved to that place and began to man- age the hotel. He was engaged at two different times in the hotel business in Franklin, but never relinquished his farm- ing interest, and finally returned to his farm to live the remainder of his life. He has a beautiful place, well improved, and one that, under his careful management, yields him a competence. Mr. Reams is recognized as one of the best farmers of his community, as well as one of the first settlers and most influential citizens. He has been identified with the best interest of his locality, having served his town- ship as supervisor, and having been al- most continuously on the school board since his school district was organized. In politics he is a democrat and a stanch supporter of the principles of his party. He belongs to the Farmers' Alliance of Franklin county, and takes an active in- terest in all matters relating to the farm- ing interests of his community. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternitj'. Mr. Reams has had born to him a fam- ily of ten children, as follows — Isaac (who died at the age of six), Margaret, Benja- min H., Sarah, John F., Andrew J., Bart- lett, Lucy, Alice and Rosa. WILLIAM E. AUSTIN is one of the oldest settlers and most highly esteemed citizens of Logan township, Franklin county. He is a native of Massachusetts, and comes of old New England stock of great re- spectability, and is the fifth of a family of ten children born to John and Lodemia (Daniels) Austin. His parents were both born in Massachusetts, as were also their parents, and his father was a successful farmer and a man of some local public note. The mother was a daughter of Dan Daniels, whose father was an Irish- man by birth, an immigrant to America at an early day ; a man of wealth, a lover of liberty, and a stanch supporter of the colonial cause against the mother country'. He was the commander, under the British, of the fort at Boston when the Revolu- tionary war began, but deserted and joined the Americans. A prize was offered for his head b}' England on ac- count of the part he took in the Revolu- tion, but his head was never obtained. He used his great wealth in furthering the cause of freedom, cashing colonial script and equipping soldiers for the field. Mr. Austin's maternal grandfather, Dan Daniels, served in the Revolution as a courier, was once captured and tried for his life, but escaped the death penalty. The family name was originally Mc- 836 FRANK LI X COUNTY. Daniels, but Dan changed it to Daniels. Dan Daniels held a commission as justice of the peace for sixty years, the longest period of any man in Massachusetts, and held the office at the time of his death. The subject of this notice was born June 23, 1815, and was reared in his native place, growing up on a farm. He lost his father at the age of twelve, and he, in consequence, made his way alone from that time on. He resided in Massa- chusetts till 1863, engaged in farming, but sold out then and moved to Iowa, where he lived till 1872. That year he came to Nebraska, settling in Logan township, Franklin county, where he has since re- sided. He took a homestead, filing on the northwest quarter of section 30, town- ship 3, range 14 west, which he began at once to improve. He began in a humble way, and, as may be supposed, suffered many hardships. The first few years he lived in a dug-out. He raised a crop or two of pretty fair sod corn and then came the grasshoppers. Fortunately he had some means and thus was enabled to tide himself over that season of failure and want, but he saw much suffering on the part of others. He was at that time running a small store in his township, and such was the suffering among the settlers that he could not witli_ stand his charitable impulses, and as a re. suit he gave away almost all he had to his neighbors. He has been steadily engaged in farming at all times since settling in the county, and, with the exception of the grasshopper years and the dry years of 1880 and 1881, he has had good crops. He has taken an active part in developing the country and particularly the locality where he lives. When he settled there it was all open country, raw prairie anil no improvements, but he has made his home- stead a handsome place and has rendered much assistance to others in doing the same for themselves. The next year after settling in Logan township he secured a postoffice for his community, giving it the name of Macon. His son Frank was the first postmaster, and he held the office for many years. A pleasant, thrifty, village has sprung up there, and it has become the local market for the vicinity. Mr. Austin has been married twice. He first married in 1845, taking to wife Miss Emaline Clark, a daughter of Alexander Clark of Massachusetts. By this mar- riage he had born to him four childi-en — William H., John Franklin, Edward L. and Charles F., the latter dying in infancy. Mr. Austin lost his wife in 1862 while still residing in Massachusetts. He married again in 1867, his second wife having borne the maiden name of Fannie Lester, being a daughter of Thomas and Abigail (Phelps) Lester. No children have been born to this union. In politics Mr. Austin is independent. He believes in judging every man and every measure strictly according to merit. He is also independent and non-sectarian in matters of religion, and established a non- sectarian Sunday-school in the township in 1872, which has continued to grow and prosper since, and has been a powerful fac- tor in the moral growth and development of his community since. Mr. Austin has ideas of his own on many subjects, some of which do not agree with prevailing notions. He believes, for instance, that all land titles should be held according to the law of Moses, and he opposes, strongly, usuri- ous interest. He is prompted to those FRANKLIN COUNTY. 837 beliefs by his warm and zealous nature and by its uncompromising hatred of wrong and over-reaching on the part of the strong and wealthy. JOHN J. CHITWOOD, the subject of this biograpliical sketch, is one of the earliest settlers and most prosperous farmers of Logan township, Franklin county. He was born in Schuyler county, 111., Febi'uary 20, 1836, and is one of a family of six children born to John and Sarah (Lamaster) Chitwood. His father was a native of Indiana, moved to Illinois when a young man and died there in 1877. John J., our subject, was reared on a farm, received a good common-school education, and made his home with his parents until twent3'-five years of age. August 12, 18G1, he enlisted in Company H, Second Illinois cavalrjr. His command served mostly with the armies of the Southwest, covering the territory of Ken- tucky,Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. He served three years, being mustered out at Baton Rouge, La. The war being over he returned home, and on the twenty- third day of March, 1865, he married, tak- ing for a life companion Miss Jane Martha Jackson, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Jackson, natives of Indiana. After marrying he rented a farm and lived on it for eight years. April, 1874r, he came to Nebraska, settling in Franklin county. He located a homestead and purchased a timber claim in section 10, township 3, range 15 west, built a sod house and began to improve his place. The first year he had all his crops destroyed by the grasshoppers, but he did not let that dis- courage him. He determined to stick to his claim and make for himself and family a home. He worked hard and managed well, and now has one of the finest farms in Franklin county, having about three hundred acres under cultivation. His sod house has given waj' to a substantial frame, surrounded by all necessary out- buildings, groves and orchards. In addition to farming, Mr. Chitwood has made stock-raising an important branch of business, having on his place a herd of well-graded cattle, and gives special attention to the improvement of horses. Starting out in life without a dollar, Mr. Chitwood has achieved a marked success, and it is due to his intel- ligence, industry and good management. Mr. and Mrs. Chitwood have had born to them a family of five children, as follows — Charles A., James W"., Harriet E., Mary E. and Minnie J. In politics, Mr. Chitwood is a republican and takes an ac- tive interest in his party. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and a stanch supporter of the Grange. He and his estimable wife are both mem- bers of the Methodist church and active in all church work. LEVI D. HAGER is one of the very best farmers and one of the ver}' _> earliest pioneer settlers of Frank- lin count}', and is one of the men, who, by their enterprise and industry have made the country what it is to-day. He is one of the few whose lives are full of good 838 FRANKLIN COUNTY. lessons whicli sliould not be lost, but pre- served as an example worthy of imitation by the coming generations. He was born June 10, 1844-, at "Wallingford, Rutland county, Vt., and comes of good old New England ancestry, being one of a family of twelve children born to Steadman and Sylvia (Davis) Hager, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the former hav- insr been born in the year 1809, the latter in 1812. His parents left Vermont and moved to Outagamie county, Wis., when he was but one year old, and there the father pre-empted a quarter section of timbiir land on which the family settled. On this place our subject resided, attend- ing school and choring about his father's farm until twelve years old (18r)0), when he emigrated with the family still farthei- "West and settled in Dodge county, Nebr., eight miles west of where the city of Fre- mont now stands. His father's claim was located near Pawnee Indian village, and for a long time the family were troubled by the thievishness of the natives. The winter of 1850 was one of the severest ever experienced within tlie memory of the oldest settlers of Nebraska; and it was during one of those driving, blinding snow storms, known as the Nebraska blizzard, that the father of our subject perished. It seems that he was some distance from home when the storm overtook him, and not being able — as any one iiaving expe- rienced a Nebraska blizzard well knows — to find his way home, he wandered about until overcome by the elements and com- pelled to lie tlown and die. His remains were not found until six months later, when his skeleton and pieces of his cloth- ing, sufficient for identification, were found lying in the forks of a tree, which had blown down. A small pile of brush near by indicated that he had attempted to kindle a fire, but probably owing to the driving wind was unable to do so. The family being thus depi'ived of the father, one on whom it had always de- pended for guidance and supjjort, and the boys being young and inexperienced and the country new and sparsely settled, nat- urally were compelled to endure liardshijjs and privations which douijtless would have otherwise been averted. Our subject remained at home doing what he could to alleviate the wants of the family until twenty-one years of age, when, the balance of the family having grown well up to maturity, he left home to begin life on his own account, lie came to Franklin county, June 3, 1871, and pre- empted a claim on Centre creek, four miles north of where the town of P'rank- lin is now located, in section 15, township 2, range 15 west. But few persons had at- tempted to settle in the country up to this time, and the few that had taken claims were to l)e found along the river and creeks. Wood and water were among the first essentials to permanent settlement, and for this reason Mr. Hager settled on Centre creek. His claim was about half timber and half prairie, and later, when the country became more thickly popu- lated, he divided his wood land into small lots and disposed of it to other settlers having no timber. His first house was a ir)xl8foot two-story log house, in which he lived for seven years. The country was full of wild game — buffalo, deer, antelope and wild turkey — and he has killed many of the former, dried the meat and carried it with him to eat, while on long trips or in the field at work. He used to cut up the hides FRANKLIN COUNTY. 839 of the buiralo into straps which he used to lariiit Ills oxen. It was customary among the early pioneers to divide tiie meat of a buffalo, killed by one of them, with all his neighbors, and in this manner the little neighborhood was kept well supplied with meat. For the first few years Mr. Hager's nearest trading point was at Lowell, fifty miles to the north, and thither he would go with his oxen over the broad prairie, making the trip to that jilace and back m four davs. There being no water on the vast space of prairie lying between the Repub- lican and Platte rivers known as the "divide," and over which he had to i)ass, he carried pumpkins along, on which to feed the oxen, tiius quenching, in a meas- ure, tlieir tiiirst. In making one of these four-day trips to and from Lowell, he was oldiged to camp and spend the niglit on the open prairie. Let the reader imagine, if he can, a night thus spent on the broad open prairie, with nothing but the dome of heaven for his shelter and the radiance of the stars for his light ; with no sound to greet his ears save the munching of the oxen and the occasional bark of a hungry coyote in his swift Might over the prairie in search of food. Mr. Ilager's entire stock in store when he landed in Franklin county consisted of one yoke of oxen, a half interest in a cow, some provisions, and three dollars m money. It will be seen by this, that the circumstances under which he began pio- neer life in Franklin county were not as favorable as might be expected, after con- sidering the marvelous success he has achieved in the score of years intervening. Crops, from various causes — chief among which were drought and grasshoppers — were almost a total failure the iirsl four years; but witii that invincible determi- nation characteristic of his people, he kept toiling on until prosperity at last dawned upon the country and justly re- warded his assiduous efforts. In Ma\', 1879, he disposed of his old pre-emption on Centre creek and purchased a quarter section of railroad land on the "divide," in Macon townsiiip. on which he now resides. He also filed a timber claim on a (|uarter section across the road from his newly ])urchased land, which claim bears the distinction of being the first final pi'oof filed untler the new act of Congress, known as the timber claim act, and en- titling settlers to tlieriglitof land under its provisions. The first house constructed on the new jiurcliase was a 12xl0foot sod house, in which he lived six years, and then built the present spacious brick man- sion, which is oneqf the best residences in the county. Mr. Ilager has ilealt largely in stock, and from this source he has made and accumulated considerable money. His farm, of three hundred and sixty acres, is one of the best in the county, anil is fully equipped with all the modern improvements. He has nuide a some- what phenomenal success at fruitgrowing, and now has apples and peaches bearing on his j)lace. Mr. Ilager was married March 21, 1872, to Miss Lilly B. Thompson, who was born in Scott county. 111., December 9,1853. Her parents are John and Mary (Chap- man) Thompson, the foi'mer being a farmer by occupation and a native of Kentucky by birth ; the latter was a na- tive of Maryland. The congenial union of Mr. and Mrs. Hager has resulted in the birth of four children, namely— Ida B., 840 FRANKLIN COUNTY. Frank E., Mary A. and Ebbert D. Reli- giously, Mr. and Mrs. Hager are believers in tlie ilethodist Episcopal faith, and are active membei's of f lie organization in their neighborhood. Politically, Mr. Hager, although reared a republican, and for many years a believer in its principles, has of late years allied himself with the prohibition pjirty. lie has held various local ollices, serving in the capacity of justice of the peace, of Franklin precinct, in 1872, and also as county commissioner for a term of three years, coninieiu-ing in 1877. He is a member of the order i;f A. F. and A. M., at Bloomingtnn, and a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. He has been class-leader in the Metho- dist Episcopal church since 1873, and director of the school district in his neighborhood for ten years past. HIPPE YELKEN, one of the most extensive farmers in Franklin county, Nebraska, was born in GeriiKiny, October 19, 1845, and is a son of John n. and Jedy Yelken, both of whom are natives of Germany. The father was quite an extensive farmer in his native country. The mother is now living in America. There were fourbo^'s and three girls in the family. Hipjie Yelken, the subject of this sketch, lived in Germany until nineteen years of age, when he sailed for America. His youth- ful ilays were spent in attending school and laboring on the farm. May, 1865, after a six weeks' voyage, he landed on the shores of America, and settled thirty- two miles south of Chicago, 111., where he lived on a farm a short time, then moved to Menard county, same state, where he resided on a farm for seven years. He came from thereto Franklin county, Nebr., May 28, 1872, and was the first settler and homesteader on the divide in Frank- lin county. The " Divide," as it is called, is an elevated tract of land lying between the Republican and Platte valleys, and was by the first settlers of that section of Nebraska considered worthless for farm land. It has, however, since proven to be the best farm land in Nebraska, and is improved far beyond that of any other section. His homestead lies in section 20, township 3, range 15 west, on which he still resides. At the time of his coming to the county there was not a house between the Republican and Platte rivei's, a dis- tance of forty miles, and buffalo, deer, elk and antelope were plentiful. He killed some buffalo, and for the first few years lived principally on buffalo meat. Ante- lope, for a number of years after he settled there, were often seen strolling over his farm. His first dwelling consisted of a log house fourteen by eigheeen feet, made from the small trees grown along the creek bottoms. lie lived in this house six years and then built a twelve by twenty- six-foot sod house, which he lived in seven years, and then built the present fine frame house, which is one of the very best in the county. When our subject came to Franklin county he had only a team and one cow and was in debt $450. Dur- ing the grasshopper period of 1874—76 he lost nearly all his crops. The first few years he had to go to Lowell to trade, a distance of thirty-seven and a half miles, and down to the Republican river for his FRANKLIN COUNTY. 841 fuel. During tlie great Easter snow stonn in 1873, when the snow blew for three daj's and nights so that no one dared venture from doors, he lost one colt and six head of cattle. Notwithstanding all these losses he has been one of the most successful farmers in Franklin county. By persevering hard work lie has got his four hundred acres in a splendid state of cultivation, which, with its ex- cellent improvements, makes it one of the best farms in the county. Mr. Yelken devotes his time principally to raising good stock, and in this line he has been equally successful. Our subject was married, February 27, 1868, to Miss Mana Blank, who was born in German3', September 21, 1850. This union has resulted in the birth of six chil- dren, namely — Katie, Thomas, John, Martie, Frank (deceased), Anna. He hag also an adopted son, Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Yelken are members of the Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Yelken is a demo- crat, and has held the offices of road overseer and treasurer of Macon township since 1888. CHARLES SHIELDS, an honored and respected citizen of Hildreth, Franklin count}^, Nebr., was boi-n in Portage county, III., August 19, 1844. His father, George II. Shields, was born in Susquehanna county. Pa., January 17, 1809, where he resided until twent^'-one years of age and then moved to Illinois. During the early part of his life he worked in a large factory and for fifteen years managed a carding machine. Later he purchased a farm and during the reimiinder of hi.s life was engaged in farming. He lived a long and useful life, being an honored and influential citizen of his community until his death, which occurred December 1, 1883. The mother of our subject, Susan (Butchal) Shields, is a native of Ohio, born December 12, 1814, and is a woman noted for her kind disposition and benevolent acts. She is still living in Brown countv, 111., and is the mother of eight children, four boys and four girls, as follows — Cyrus, born January 15, 1835, is now liv- ing on a farm in Brown county, 111.; William F., born July 2, 1837, is now a farmer in this (Franklin) county ; Electa A., born March 29, 1840, is married to a Mr. Wright tind resides in this county; Sarah E. (widow Engles), living in Brown county. 111.; Mary (deceased); James F., born December 15, 1850, died at the ao-e of twenty-one years; Amanda, born Octo- ber Y, 1853, is married to a Mr. Stofer and now living in Brown county, 111. The paternal grandfather of our subject came from Ireland and the paternal grand- mother from Germany. Charles, the sub- ject ])roper of this sketch, resided in Portage county. III., until about eight years of age, when he moved with his parents to Brown country. 111., where he was reared on a farm and lived until 1875, being engaged in many and varied pur- suits of life. His early life was occupied with attending school, working on the farm and serving an apprenticeship at the potter's trade. He enlisted in the war of the rebellion August 22, 1862, and was jn Company E, Sixteenth Illinois infantry, 2d brigade, 1st division and 14th corps, lie served his country faithfully for a period of nearly three years and was dis- 843 FRANKLIN COUNTY. charged June 12, 1865. The war being over, be returned to Brown county and worked for five 3' ears at the potter's trade, finall}' purchasing a half intei'est in the factory and a 3'ear later the entire plant. After running the factory one 3^ear he sold a half interest to a man by the name of McNeal. Under the management of the new firm a steam clay crusher costing $5,500 was placed in tiie factoiy. Tu'o vears later he disposed of his interest and that fall, September, 187-4, came West to Franklin county, Nebr., and homesteiided a claim in section 6. township 4, range 15 west, and the following spring returned, and, March 20, 1875, moved his family out. The nearest settler to his claim at timt time was on what was known as Walk- er's Ranch, which was four and a half miles distant. He hurriedly constructed a sod house, twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions, which, when completed, cost but seventy -five cents in actual mone3\ In this he lived a 3'ear and a half and then built a new one, twelve by twenty-six feet, and made use of the old one for a stable. Crops, on account of severe drought and the grasshoppers, were prac- tically a failure for the first few j'ears and ever\'tliing tended to discourage the pioneer settlers. He experienced all the hardships and privations characteristic of the time and was barely able to make a living for himself and family during the first two years. He took a timber claim across tlie line in Kearney county and afterwards purchased eighty acres of rail- road land. He made a marked success at farming and three \'ears ago moved into Hildreth, where he now owns two resi- dences, one hotel, one store building, an office building and numerous lots, from all which he receives a monthh^ rental of $40 and at present manages the hotel himself. Mr. Shields was married to the lad}' of his choice. Miss Geneva Alice Anderson, December 31, 1870. She was born in Quincy, HI., June 12, 1855. Of this con- genial union seven children have been born (five of whom are living), as follows — George S., born January 19, 1872; Otie S., born September 0, 1874, died February 6, 1876; Maud, born July 20, 1877 ; Chester D., born January 27, 1880, died July 9, 1888; Lydia M., born No- vember 16, 1884 ; Charles L., born July 20, 1881 ; Earl, born March 20, 1887. Politically Mr. Shields affiliates with the republican party. He served in the capacity of justice of the peace four years, that of constable two years and a like period as member of the town board. He is a member of the G. A. R. order and also of the order of Odd Fellows for twenty years. HEXRY J. NEAD, the subject of this biographical notice, is a native of Germany and a de- scendant of German ancestry from time immemorial. His parents, who belong to the plain, substantial stock of the Father- land, are still living, being residents of their native country. The father, Michael Nead, is a miller by trade, and has led the industrious, useful life common to his call- ing all his years. The mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Zikenburger, being an industrious, thrifty, frugal house- wife and devoted mother. These are the FRANKLIN COUNTY. 843 parents of five children, of whom the subject of this notice is the third and only boy. He was born in the town of Gross, Gottenberg, in September, 1842, and was reared in his native country, receiving a good common-school education in his youth and learning tie trade of a miller under his father. He started out at the age of seventeen to make his own way in the world, coming at that date to America. He made his first permanent stop in this country in Peoria, 111., and engaged in the milling and distilling business at that place. He began as an employe of others, but by industry and economy he managed to save money from his earnings, and in time was able to embark in business on his own account. His affairs prospered from year to year until he finally came to be fairly well fixed, but an accidental fire swept away all he had made and he was forced to start again on the bottom round of the ladder. He came to Nebraska in 1876, settling in Franklin county, where the following year he took a claim, it being the southeast quarter of section 32, township 2, range 14 west, on which he filed and began the arduous task of making a home out of the rude and inhospitable elements of the West. He underwent the usual number of hardships and privations incident to opening a new country and fought the battles of the pioneer hero- icallv from the be87 Rice, F 171 Roach, W 237 Rog<:rs,H.P 2.58 St. .John, S. S 264 St. Peters, A .....1.54 Salsbury, J. S 204 Salisbury, W. H 456 Schars, P. F. H 397 Sckeihing, G 418 Rchieck, K. B 3!)8 Shreeve, W 185 Shovel, A 166 Short, N.W 2.55 Silvernail, G. H 335 Silverthorn, A. F 419 Smalley,O.H 201 Smith, E 208 Smith, E. L 376 Smith, G.N 417 Smith, H. K 360 Smith, H. P 216 Smith. J < 467 Smith, J. K 441 Smith, ,T. M 433 Smith, M.H 197 Smythe, VV. E 288 Snyder, G. W 189 Springer, B. N 410 Spry, M. J '. 343 Stark, P 200 Stedwell, A 273 Steele, H. S 180 Steven.J 379 Steven,W.J 362 Stimpson, C. R 4.58 Stonebarger, H. H 450 Swenson, J 497 Tawney, J 423 Thatcher, T. D 504 Thomas, A. E 420 Tbomas, E. W 269 Thomas, J 435 Thompson, O.E 222 Thompson, S 488 Thornton, S. W 390 Towers, H.S 340 Tracy,G.R 453 Traut, S, R 481 Turner, B 393 Tyler.J 468 Ulrich, J. 1 188 (Jpton,S 198 Urwiller, F. 409 Van Alstine, C. W 407 Volk.R.N 178 Waldron.S.J ... 155 Walsh, P 290 Waters.C.R 153 Waters, J. A 164 Waters, R.F 495 Weibel,S 492 Welch,A.G 470 Wheeler, J. B 253 Wheeler, W. R 501 Willard, 1 359 Williams, A 496 Willis, C. A 493 Wilson, J 405 Wilson, J. H 143 Winchester, H. H 332 Winslow. J 457 Witmer, G. W 187 Wolf, J 433 Woodworth, L. P 314 Wright, I. K 353 Yelinck, J 500 Young, J. P 172 Young, M. A 148 KEARNEY COUNTY. Ackerman, W. P 584 Adams, E. L 593 Ander.son, J 331 Anderson, A. E. Anderson, N Andrews, A. B. . .\twater, S 543 546 ,543 517 Bang, M. C 515 Bayer, T .567 Bingham, J 586 Bloodgood, JF 576 Bloomfleld,A. G 553 Boasen, P. C 580 Bogert, M.D 509 Brauu,J 564 Brothe, C 554 Broman, C. G 599 Brown, L. R 573 ()ooper,H.T 578 Cope, H. M 616 Copeland, jj. M 505 Coutant.G.D 606 Davidson, J 526 Dickman, S. G 604 DriscoU, M 621 Dunn, F. 596 Etzelmiller, J 5,50 Fiero, M .525 Fleming, ,1.0 569 Frank, J. S 618 Franklin, J. F 534 Glenn. S. R 636 Gormly, W.W 555 Hague,L.W .589 Hart, W. D 559 Hammerstrora, J 598 Hansen, C. A 517 Harland, A. H .583 Hartsough, G. H 588 Hawkins,J.W 551 HoUister, A. P 606 Holmes, A. H 584 Householder, J. M 6t0 Hull, J .520 Inglis, G 614 Iverson, J 516 Jensen, C 634 INDEX. 865 Jensen, J. H Johnson, A Johnson, S. J Jones, D Kennedy, P. I Kent, L. A Kingsley, G. P., Jr.... Krick, E Larson, S. C Layton, W Leasure, W. H - Lewis, A. R Lewis, J. M Lienhartlr, J Lindbeek, A. J Lindsay, E. L Lorain, L. J Lyden, C McDonald, A Martin, J. A Mathers, J. A Matsen, .T Meyer, L. T Nilson, N. E., Jr Nyciuist, P Newbold. D. S Oline, N. Orcutt, R. H Paulson, O Peterson, A. P Peterson, C Peterson, J. B Peterson, L Peterson, O Pinkham, J Price, J Rohder, C. H . . . . Scramlin, D Seckman, J. K Shelden, C. E Shotf,F Shue, W Smith, C. A Smith, T Spence.C. W Stewart, S.C Strand, G. A Sutton, O Swanson, A Thompson, J Thorn, W. T Tipton, J. W Travis, W. F Van Duzer, T VVallean, E Warp, J.N Washburn, G. W Weber, C Weedlun, C Webster, C. A Whitlock, Mrs. M. A Wier, K Wilcox, H Wilson, J Witters, G Yensen, H.J 57U 537 .568 519 60S 590 581 549 531 . B15 . 605 . 60T . 536 . 562 . 603 . 613 . 533 . 630 . 573 . 596 . 587 . 533 . 539 547 . 511 . 548 . 635 . 571 . 512 . 527 . 563 . 617 . 537 . 545 . 560 . 530 . 535 . 524 . 619 . 560 . 600 . 513 . 555 . 544 . 598 . 538 . 535 . 565 . 582 . .528 . 687 566 . 618 . 576 . 622 . 514 . 685 . 579 . 545 . 510 . 582 . 575 . 611 . 5.52 . 623 . 580 PHELPS COUNTY. Anderson, N 641 Armstrong, J. V 650 Balyeat, O. B 706 Bannins?, H. P 671 Banta, L 692 Barnura, E 670 Beem, V. B 656 Berkman, A 647 Black, R. S 661 BoelU, C. A 681 Bonsor, T. W 665 Bradley.C.S 663 Bradley, M. C 675 Brandt, H. L 659 Carlson, A. J 682 Crandall, G 684 Dahlstrom, J. M 711 Danielson,J 699 Einsel, B. D 693 Einsel, L 691 Erickson, A. P 687 Erickson, P 648 Frank, J. W 636 Frank, W. H., Sr 634 Fiaser, J 638 Fry, D. F 660 Funk, P. C 640 Gamel, O. J 664 Greenarayer, J. W 710 Hall, W. P 677 Hallgren, F 678 Harpster, C. L 701 Hazlett, W. 1 659 Hedlund, 696 Hedlund, P. 689 Hill, G. W 701 Hollenbeck,A 665 Hoog:, O. M 632 Hopwood, T. M 697 Horn.J.A 637 Hymer, W. E 642 Johnson, A 698 ,Tohnsou, E ...674 Johnson, F 695 Johnson, J 710 Johnson, J. S 641 Kennedy, G. W 658 Kcoppel, J 652 Kiplinger, F. W 669 Latta, S 655 Lewelling, A 633 Lindblom, J 700 Lindsay, W. T 676 Lucas, M 638 Lukecart, J 668 McGrew, R. T.. Maberiy, E. H. Marshall, T. H Masters, J. A. Melin, J. J Moon, H.S Moon, P.J... . Mullen, L.D . Nelson, A. J... 686 702 649 683 707 Nelson, J. P 680 Norberg, G 682 Oleson, A 646 Olson, L. 666 Patrick, J. R $90 Peterson, N. P 639 Racine, G. F 672 Read, E 668 Reed,S 671 Richards, R 704 Richardson, O. A J09 Roberts, E. W 687 Roberts. O. F 654 Rowland, G. D 653 Sandstead, E 662 Sanders, S. F 679 Singleterry, J 646 Skiles, J. M 673 Smyth, W. A 651 Stennett, G 696 Swanson, J. E 632 Swanson, J. P 631 Travis, F. D 680 Vaughan, A. J 703 Whitcomb, A. E 658 Wolfe, W.S 708 HARLAN COUNTY. Allen, L. E 724 Banwell, W. H 750 Beeman, J 741 BeU, G. A 792 Bergquist, P 715 Bloom, C 716 Brown, G. McC 728 Burtchet, J 793 Burton, G. W 744 Carroll, J. H 734 Chrisler, B. H 762 Cobeldick, J 768 Coe, W. O 806 Cole,A.H 739 Cook, G. W 751 Cre8s,M.J 790 Daniels, S. W 791 David, J. F 802 Doak.J.Y 776 Downs, W 718 Elliott, A 737 EversoD, J. L 723 Ferguson, H. T 763 Field, E 731 Frear, E 748 Gehlev.G.F 755 Gipe. O. W 767 Gould, A.H 774 Gould, G. H 777 Harvey,A.E 799 Hawkinson, M 739 Hawksby, J 736 Herndon, J. H 731 Hooper, M. G 757 Houk, J 770 j Johnson, J. M 786 I Kent, L. H 754 866 INDEX. Lee.J.M .^ 756 Luce.C.A 775 McNees.S 'i'94 McNew, J. B "92 Maloy, T. J 784 Mitchell, J. C ''I Mock, E. J 729 Morgan, Mrs. M. R 717 Morgan, S 795 Newman, A 773 Nielsen, N •• ■ -787 Palmer, J. A 788 Parish, G. K 763 Passmore, G. W 788 Pate,R.R 748 Pease, E.J 759 Petteys,J.T 730 Piper, .7. A 781 Pond, L.J 769 Reneau, J. D 740 Reichardt, E. P 761 Riesenberg, W 808 Bifenburgh.L .■ 743 Rinehart, J.T 805 Robbins, A. C 786 Rosa,C. W 783 Ruben, A 796 Russell, T 742 Sandated, M 789 Seick,F.L 803 Shelburn,G.F 715 Shipman, W. 717 Snyder, J 722 Teeter, A 766 Ternahan, J 735 Tillotson. E. R 720 Uphnger, J 807 Vandike, G 804 Vaughan, J. M 801 Vaughan, G.C 734 Walker, R. T 7:13 Wilcox, M. V 738 Wiley, J. H 721 Willits, E. L 726 WoIf.J 757 Ziegler, J. F 772 FRANKLIN COUNTY. Austin, W. E 835 Averhoflf, A 858 Blomington, Argus 817 Brebner, W 817 Brunk, J 828 Bush, A. H 827 Campbell, Press 824 Chitwood,J. A 847 Chitwood.J.J 837 Clapp, G. W 854 Crilly,H 859 Crilly,McK 825 Croley, 1 828 Dimmick, J. M 831 Douglas, C. H 848 Douglass, S. H 833 Elliott,J 826 Ellis, J. D 860 Flitcroft, P. S 830 Glenn, R. A 843 Griswold, C. A 813 Hager. L. D 837 Hendricks, H. O 822 Hildreth,C 817 Hutchison, J 850 Hutrman,M 832 Hunter, E 855 Johnson, A. M 826 Kelly, J.E 818 Nead,H. J 842 Nelson. W. F 815 Parker, P 816 Patterson, J. M 856 Peterson, J.E 823 Phelps, E.S 816 Pickett, T.J 853 Pomeroy, G 858 Ready,R.D 857 Reams, B.H 819 Reams, J.T 834 Rowley, R. B 829 Shadduck, L '. 829 Sheuneman, J 845 Shields, C... 841 Smith, 1 820 Stark, R.M 852 Stinson, J. W 8.51 Sturgeon, T 821 Waldo, H,H 821 Weston, W 814 Worth, J. C 847 Yelken, H 840 PRESIDENTS. Adams, J 22 Adams, J. Q 38 Arthur, C.A 98 Buchanan, J 74 Cleveland, S. Q.. 102 Fillmore, M 66 Garfield.J.A 94 Grant, U. S 86 Harrison, W.H 50 Harrison, B 106 Hayes, R.B 90 Jackson, A 42 Jefferson, T 26 Johnson, A .". .. 83 Lincoln, A 78 Madison, J 30 Monroe, J 34 Pierce, F 70 Polk, J. K 58 Taylor.Z 62 Tyler, J 54 Van Buren, M 46 Washington, G 18 PORTRAITS. GOVERNORS. Butler, D 110 Dawes, J. W 126 Furnas, R. W 114 Garber, S 118 Nanpe, A 122 Thayer, J. M 130 BUFFALO COUNTY. Ashburn, D. P 230 Aspinwall, G. D 175 Bailey, C. S 365 Baker N. A 383 Barnd, J 335 Beecher, R 394 Clark, D.B 275 Connor, A. H 472 Eaton, R. H 288 Fieldgrove, H 326 Fleharty, G 403 Gamble, R 193 Hamer, F. G 158 Harrington, J. S 437 Hoover, M. A 211 Keens, F. G 248 Meisner, G 345 Norris, G. E 355 Parrotte, J. L 305 Patterson, W. W 296 St. John, S. S 265 Woodworth, L. P 315 KEARNEY COUNTY. Hart, W. D 558 Hull, J 521 Kent, L. A .'i91 Stewart,S.C 539 Wilco.x, H 610 PHELPS COUNTY. Hymer, W. E 643 HARLAN COUNTY. Burton, G. W 745 Harvey, A. E 798 Piper, J. A 780 8950 V'i^ L<» " «. fi.*' .0^ ..•^•. -^o, /\o^,\ /.l^;^'>o ^^-.C^^/^-t. L " ^ «. c. ' 'Cf^'i' Vv «.* .&^>. » V n ■ • . >^ ^ ..-•. V* Vol •_■'« ^^ •- v.^-^ /.^ife\ ^^..♦^ .'i^fA-o v.<=r /.^i^\ ^r^..^-^ /i^^-o v.. -5 ^av*- O rt~ . o ■ • . :. •^^r.'? •« •^-o' L^«?^ "oV" '>6* 0^ .vVL'* *> '^ 'bV »bv* . ,/ "o^'^'%0'5 *^,'T^\/ ^o^'^-»/ *^,'^^\/ %*^- 4*''** "-o.^^^ .*'\ ■ U ^ »^ o^'^^V ' "N^*^^ V'"^ "V^^V' \J'^^V" "V^^/'.Z Tvi* .A ^- -.'^^•H. "' 6^